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Monday, January 17, 2011

Weekend at the manor house

I had such a nice weekend and I hope you did, too. My two friends arrived around noon on Saturday, and brought a delicious lunch.

And it all came from Aversa’s Italian Bakery in NJ. I took a couple of photos to share with you. And then today, I got all artsy and put textures on them. The jury is still out on some of them, as far as I’m concerned – but that’s not going to stop me from sharing.

I’m adding links to the handwriting textures I used because I just found them today.


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Texture by SophieG* on Flickr – Postcard 2
Texture by NinianLif on Flickr – Texture 5

There were fresh baked rolls, sliced lunchmeats that included roast turkey, baked ham, roast beef and a provolone cheese with such a heady aroma that it had us all swooning.

Honestly, I rarely eat this sort of thing, so it was a real treat.

Peg had never been here before, so I showed her around the house before we sat down to eat. And guess what? They didn’t want to leave.


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Texture by Muffet on Flickr – Faded script 

So they stayed over!

My husband was actually glad to have them visit. Peg and I headed out to pick up a couple of overnight supplies like toothbrushes, and the fixin’s for some snacks including the one above. It was over-the-top delicious. Tomatoes, sliced mozzarella, shredded basil, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and a little salt & peppah.

Yum-o-licious.


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They even brought dessert. Mexican wedding cookies and cannoli’s.

Thank heavens I’m not on a diet.

Unfortunately, after this weekend, I now need to go on a diet.


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Early Sunday morning, I went to the local bagel joint and brought back some plain ones. We toasted them, smeared them with cream cheese, then topped with fresh tomatoes, diced red onions and a little crushed sea salt.

And the heavens sang.


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Texture by lizzie_anne on Flickr – orange background

Or maybe it was that little Carolina wren at the kitchen window.

: : ~ : :

So nice to have friends for a surprise visit.

Until tomorrow, all. Thanks for stopping by today.
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47 comments:

  1. KellyJanuary 16, 2011 at 9:23 PM

    I have recently stumbled on to your blog and have to tell you what a blessing it has been. I have been truly humbled by your photographs and stories. I have been surfing blogland for years and this has immediately become my favorite. You do such beautiful work! PS. I love your dog too!

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  2. UnknownJanuary 16, 2011 at 10:35 PM

    If a Dr. Wright from the Veteran's Affairs Clinic should call next month demanding to know why I gained weight, rather than losing the 10 lbs as he ordered it will be because I'm blaming you. Man, that all looks and sounds so delicious! Much better than these &#@$%!! celery sticks!

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  3. TexWisGirlJanuary 16, 2011 at 10:46 PM

    Glad you had a great visit and lots of good food. That little wren is just wonderful!

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  4. Kerri FarleyJanuary 16, 2011 at 10:49 PM

    How FUN!
    And your pics make me hungry!!!
    The Carolina Wren is awesome!!

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  5. MichelleJanuary 16, 2011 at 10:50 PM

    I knew you and your friends would love their visit; I'm glad your hubby ended up enjoying it as well! Love that last photo....

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  6. LindaJanuary 16, 2011 at 10:52 PM

    Love the textures you used today! Tomatoes, sliced mozzarella, shredded basil…YUM! Everything looks so good. I told you they weren't there checking on your housekeeping didn't I? :) So glad you & the husband had such a nice weekend.

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  7. judi/GmjJanuary 16, 2011 at 11:00 PM

    idyllic, simply.

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  8. SweetpeaJanuary 16, 2011 at 11:08 PM

    Thanks so much for all the linkies, CG, but thanks for NUTHIN' when it comes to not being able to join you all for all those fabuloso num-nums and joviality....waannnnhhhhhhhhh :>[

    I do prefer the west coast but sometimes....sigh.

    My wingeing aside, so happy for you all and the splendid hours spent in this idyllic way!

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  9. Low Tide High StyleJanuary 16, 2011 at 11:10 PM

    So glad you had a good weekend and that your friends stayed over! And I've been playing around with textures all weekend, so thanks for giving me a few more to try...looks like the house cleaning will wait another day...or 6! ;-)

    Kat :)

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  10. deborahJanuary 16, 2011 at 11:48 PM

    yummy textures, photos, food and friends!

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  11. Jen at Cabin FeverJanuary 17, 2011 at 12:27 AM

    Lovely textures and processing! Must be PW's latest challenge really did encourage you to take more food photographs :)

    One Word. One Photo. Everyday.

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  12. Ocean Breezes and Country SneezesJanuary 17, 2011 at 12:47 AM

    OMG, all the food looks delicious, and I love the textures that you applied! What a sweet little bird, I especially enjoy our bright colored feathered friends this time of year! Have a wonderful week!

    Mary

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  13. becky up the hillJanuary 17, 2011 at 2:07 AM

    Can't sleep and now I'm hungry too. lol...beautiful pix. I've never met a wren I didn't like. This one is lovely. Glad you had fun with your friends.

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  14. SkogkjerringJanuary 17, 2011 at 5:43 AM

    Lord, if I wasn't hungry before coming to your blog I am now...those bagels looked SCRUMPTIOUS...and Cannoli is on my list of things to try making someday...right now I'm working on my first sourdough starter...wish me luck, doesn't look right but I'm trying!
    Glad you had such a great weekend, like I said, I usually love my company but I also love it when they leave...does that make me a bad person? ;-)

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  15. Dawning InspirationJanuary 17, 2011 at 5:59 AM

    THOSE are cannoli's??? Yummo - think I'm going to have to find me some and taste!!

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  16. Karen thisoldhouse2.comJanuary 17, 2011 at 6:41 AM

    It all looks divine... and now I know what that bird is that's been visiting our feeder! A Carolina Wren.

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  17. AnonymousJanuary 17, 2011 at 7:10 AM

    I've found a few textures on Flickr before as well. Generally they are free if you mention the person in your blog. Can't beat that!

    Di

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  18. HilaryJanuary 17, 2011 at 7:55 AM

    You are the hostess with the MOSTEST.
    Everything looks delish, and I do believe that little bird is singing your praises.

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  19. Country GirlJanuary 17, 2011 at 8:06 AM

    My sincere apologies, Rocket Man. Could you put some cream cheese in those celery sticks?

    Welcome, Kelly. So glad you found me here.

    Thank you everyone. Yes, I guess the photos at PW's may have inspired me a little bit to try to take better food photos. But you have to have the food there in the first place, which is the problem!

    ~ C.G.

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  20. Country GirlJanuary 17, 2011 at 8:11 AM

    Hilary, I just read your comment. And I chuckled.

    ~ C.G.

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  21. mailladyJanuary 17, 2011 at 8:37 AM

    awesome visit... thank you again.and to everyone reading this george is sweeter than his pictures. kate and her husband are ok too.

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  22. Country GirlJanuary 17, 2011 at 8:43 AM

    Hi, Peg!
    People, the first thing Peg said was that George was so much smaller than his pictures. And then she tried to pet him and he ran away . . .
    But after an hour or so, George had developed a HUGE crush on her. He misses you already, Peggy.

    k a t e

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  23. Chesapeake Bay WomanJanuary 17, 2011 at 8:47 AM

    OK, now I must have fresh-baked bread. Except nobody around here makes fresh-baked bread.

    It's gonna be a long day.

    Love the textures and glad you had a good time with your friends.

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  24. AnonymousJanuary 17, 2011 at 8:48 AM

    Having friends come over and bring food has to be the best thing ever!!! Glad you enjoyed your weekend.
    CJ xx

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  25. Country Gal January 17, 2011 at 9:00 AM

    What a wonderful post and photos ! Glad you had a great visit ! Have a good day !

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  26. mrs mediocrityJanuary 17, 2011 at 9:09 AM

    Oh lovely! I really liked all the photos/textures, but the wren shot is just perfect!
    Glad you had such a great weekend.

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  27. Roberta WarshawJanuary 17, 2011 at 9:31 AM

    The bird! The food!

    I'm dying here!

    Yummy photos all!

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  28. bethJanuary 17, 2011 at 9:34 AM

    can you send those friends my way.....and will you come with them :)

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  29. Jill of All TradesJanuary 17, 2011 at 9:54 AM

    Oh my that food looks so awesome. What fun you must have had.

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  30. Driftwood and PumpkinJanuary 17, 2011 at 10:32 AM

    I am coming for a surprise visit. Please feed me that same exact fare. OMG. xoxo

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  31. Mental P MamaJanuary 17, 2011 at 11:14 AM

    I know I should have gotten in my car and come down!

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  32. AnonymousJanuary 17, 2011 at 12:49 PM

    This must be the most delicious post I've ever tasted!

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  33. CharJanuary 17, 2011 at 1:02 PM

    yum....fabulous visit for sure

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  34. GailJanuary 17, 2011 at 1:06 PM

    We are never too old for sleepovers.

    Good company can reenergize me, glad your weekend was great.

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  35. Jeanne WalkerJanuary 17, 2011 at 4:27 PM

    Well, congrats....you made my stomach growl! Now I have to go back to the store for tomatoes and Buffalo mozzarella!

    I kept looking for your food photo on PW's web site...did I miss it?
    I tell you what...you have some photos here that are contest worthy!

    'Carolina' is now my screensaver! I wish I knew how to add sound to it...if possible...you know the song of the Carolina wren...I just love those little birds...they make me smile when I see them on my patio chairs and about and they are singing!

    I'm so glad that you had a nice weekend with friends! Have a greatly blessed week, my friend.

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  36. JoyJanuary 17, 2011 at 5:01 PM

    I think the photos look great, and I love what you did with them. I really like the script. Of course, the food looks delish also.

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  37. Jan's cameraJanuary 17, 2011 at 5:18 PM

    Hi, these textures arebeautiful with your photos. Very artistic. Do you have a tutorial for applying textures? I would love to try it. I have Photoshop Elements but not to savvy with it yet.

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  38. EllenJanuary 17, 2011 at 8:17 PM

    Beautiful photos. So glad you had such a nice weekend.

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  39. Donna S.January 17, 2011 at 8:42 PM

    Man, I wish I were there with you this weekend!!!

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  40. LiliJanuary 17, 2011 at 9:26 PM

    That food is to die for, there's no doubt in my mind that ya'll had fun! Love the sweet little wren and all your new found textures. xo ~Lili

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  41. GailOJanuary 18, 2011 at 12:16 AM

    So nice to have things turn out so well! And so nice to have such good food!

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  42. The JRJanuary 18, 2011 at 10:12 AM

    Fantastic looking food. Those are things I would never think about making.

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  43. Carolynn AnctilJanuary 18, 2011 at 3:40 PM

    Not fair. I'm late for lunch and this is making me very hungry. What a delicious spread. You live very well, my dear!

    Love, love, love that wren.

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  44. ELKJanuary 18, 2011 at 3:45 PM

    good friends ..good food .. and good textures, how much better can life be!!

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  45. DarylJanuary 18, 2011 at 4:32 PM

    I love the new texture on the bird shot but not so much on the food but hey what do I know about textures ..

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  46. MaryJanuary 19, 2011 at 11:51 AM

    I love those textures! Thanks so much for the links. And all that food? Wow! I think I gained 5lbs. just looking at the pictures. :)

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  47. Ruth AndreJanuary 19, 2011 at 4:19 PM

    What lovely photos of the delicious treats and what a lovely Carolina Wren. I can understand why your friends did not want to leave.

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