Classic White Blouse

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Aww. A  crisp white blouse. It is a classic. No southern lady’s wardrobe has only one.  We have at least ten or more and they are  in different styles and length of sleeves. Some will be monogramed. Some will be fitted and others will be oversized for lounging, possibly your boyfriend’s or husband’s.  One thing for sure, you  can always use a new one. And when we are out shopping, we will go by the rack of white blouses just to see what it is complimenting in this new year’s fashion. A crisp white blouse adds a fresh look to many outfits. It  looks as awesome with jeans as  it does with a business suit . Paired with a long ballroom skirt, the look is stunning. It goes  from casual to sophisticated  and back to cuddly comfort for lounging. I wear mine tucked, untucked, wrapped, layered, unbuttoned, buttoned-up, sleeves rolled.   It is  the ultimate all-season wardrobe essential .    Tumblr O2ac47u7jj1v5e3oco1 1280

 

 

My white shirt collection goes way back and I couldn’t part with any of them. They vary in their styles but the one thing they  have in common ;  all have a crisp white starched look. Many are monogramed.  White on white and  there is the black monogram on white . This is my favorite. I wear my white shirt with the black monogram with jeans. It pairs well with black trousers , layered with a red sweater tied around my shoulders.  My accessories  include a  single necklace during the day. My daytime jewelry favorites are by Brighton.  For dinner, I change out to a single strand of pearls and dressier shoes to complete the look.

 

Bright white doesn’t flatter everyone’s skintone.. So a “white” shirt might be soft white or a very pale pastel . If it’s  makes you light up, it is the perfect white. Just remember if it is crisp and starched looking, you will look amazing. Whiteblouse

What  I’m looking for when shopping in a white shirt are several things.  It needs a structured collar,  The shirt collar brightens the face and should be sturdy. The  armhole seam should line up with the edge of your shoulder and they should not bind when you reach your arms across your chest. The seams of the shirt  should be tailored with darting. This gives the illusion of length in your middle. The length of the sleeves depends upon the style of shirt.  I make sure the shirt is opaque enough not show  any  undergarment . A rounded shirttail reduces bulk and flatters your hips by drawing attention to your center.  And always I look for the blend of fabric.  There are many classic white shirts that are made with stretch cotton. This keeps wrinkles to a minimum and they are so comfortable.

 

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My all time favorite crisp white shirt is a Brooks Brothers Non-Iron Dress Shirt specially treated to remain virtually wrinkle-free and machine washable. 

I Love my Chico’s ¾-length sleeved white no iron blouses. I have three: one is fitted .I wear it  tucked in or out . I have one size larger to wear out and use a belt with just a little of it hanging below my sweater.  My third is a longer length that I wear with leggings; and it’s perfect for travel.

And my classics are Jones New York and Talbots.  You can always use another white shirt.

 

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Categories: Ponderings of a Carolina Girl

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Set the Table

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beans and ribsDown South, we like parties and festivals. If a friends says they are throwing a party, you know it is going to be a good time. Throwing a party takes some preparation. You don’t want to be in the kitchen when the drinks are being pour. It takes a couple of weeks pulling a tailgating party together and for a backyard barbeque, we start planning sometime a month out. We even create our own invites and mail them out.  If you are in a pinch, and forgot someone, you will attach that pretty made invite to an email and hit send.  We know a phone call is not enough . A true Southerner wants you to have a written invitation. My Mother, Bless Her Heart,  has a tattered steno binder where she keeps addresses . All through the years when you visited at her home, before you left , she would gracefully ask your address and number. She would hand you a pen that wrote in sharp black tucked in the binder . She taught me to never write an address or a check in red.    Later, she compiled them in her address book that she carries in her purse.  Needless to say,  this was past down to me . Thank goodness, now for the handy apps for creating contacts. I never have to offer a pen.  Mother would be shaking her head at me if she knew.

A big amount of time is spent in creating the theme or “atmosphere” as Mother would say.  Tablescaping is born in a Southern Girl. We have sets of dishes we use for each occasion.   We have loosen up a little bit on plates and glasses. You can find paper plates and solo cups at some functions, but the standard is firm on the serving dishes. Food is served in cookware.  We take great pride in our serving bowls and cake stands.  The table is not complete without a floral arrangement.  Since I am a designer, I get the phone call  saying, “I’m throwing a Low Boil and have 30 guests. Will you fix me up something pretty for the tables?” Being I’m not the best cook in the world; Gosh , how I love Sandra Lee, Semi-Homemaking,   I happily say, “ Leave your party flowers to me.” Just know, if we are having a party, somewhere there will be flowers on the table, even tailgating, you will see queen anne’s lace in a Pepsi bottle.   

Good food, lots of it will be on hand . The recipes are true Southern. And there is going to be a big dessert table sitting by itself. Desserts in the South have their place in the South.  The tables will be loaded and when asked for the recipe , my goodness, you don’t really remember. It is an old recipe past down in your family and all you do is add a pinch of this and a dab of that. 

If you happen to make your way to the South and lucky enough to be invited to a party someone is throwing,  you’ll get their blessings , if you bring a dish of your own. It is not in the invite. Southerners just know.  It’s etiquette.  

At a Backyard BarBeCue, here is what you can expect.  Grilled Brisket and Chicken, Hot potato salad, coleslaw , and  Pork and Beans, seasoned with onions, green peppers and  thin slices of hotdogs. The kids go back for this one. There will be a pineapple casserole, squash casserole, and vinegar base salad. Don’t forget the rolls  On the dessert table, expect to find chocolate pie, lemon pound cake, and better than sex cake and cupcakes for the kids. And the older folks are sitting by the ice cream maker, keeping it packed with ice.There will be corn hole boards, country golf and a few fireworks.    The tables will have hydrangea, hosta, wax myrtle, sunflowers gracing the tables.

If your invite  says we are just tailgating down by the river, make sure you bring your own cooler, stocked with beer and wine coolers. It doesn’t have to be fancy foodwise. Just some fried chicken, wings, hotdogs, burgers and coleslaw.  Throw in a bag of sliced apples and cubed cheese. And the guys love the chips and pretzels.. Dessert is cookies.  And remember lots of beer. There will be a sound system sitting on the back of a fella’s tailgate.  You will hear Darius Rucker at least once, singing Rock Me Baby, like an Wagon Wheel.  The girls know first hand to bring bug spray and a hat.   I show up with queen anne’s lace in mason jars .  This party goes on til after dark.

Living near the coast , you will get invited at least twice in the year to a low boil.  Come with a big appetite and lots of napkins.  You’ll find grits, vegetables and few side dishes, but the main table will be shrimp, crab legs,corn on cob, taters, onions, bay seasonings and butter , lots of it. It is steamed boiled and then it  spread out on a long table covered with paper.  The guys don’t sit down. They stand around the table and jack jar and crack the crab legs and and you will hear more than once,  “This taste like more.”     Desserts are pies made with every berry from the South.   The flowers are bright. Zinnias and Mums.

And if are kin to someone from the South, you will get the invitation to come on home .  The annual family reunion.  Remember that steno binder, my Mother keeps her addresses in.  Well, she pulls it out and starts writing her envelops.  This can go on for two to three days.  Mother invites second-cousins removed and even forgives you  if you went up north to make a living.  She knows you are Carolina at heart. You will get an invitation.

Family Reunions are an event. And the best way to describe this menu.  Everybody brings their favorite recipe.    You just bring your appetite.   The flowers will be seasonal and each table will be graced with its own centerpiece. 

See you at  “The Fat Table !”

Categories: Ponderings of a Carolina Girl

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Free Design of Personalized Coasters

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My personalized burlap coasters were a hit. I made three dozen sets .  I am now ready for a burst of color.    I found an adorable DIY idea on creating your own coasters with Silhouette.  The results are adorable and functional too.  And so so inexpensive.  

I found  four clear coasters at a dollar store for a dollar. 

I designed my chevron circular insert for coasters using the Silhouette Cameo. I used heavy cardstock.  You can download my design at  this link.  Its Free and you can change your colors and design.

You paint the coasters any color you want. You can even leave them clear. I chose cornflower blue.

Let them dry.

You then a put a dab of Mod Podge Matte,Ir?t=msbeebeeinnc 20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0009ILH8C
inside the coasters and spread it around.

Insert your personalized designs, making sure you push all the air bubbles out.

Let them dry.

Spray with Modge Pod clear sealant. Any clear sealant will work. I just keep Modge Pod on hand.

Dry and do  this three times just to be sure the seal is tight

Let them dry.

And that’s it.   Voila..  They are so cute and practical and can be done to match any deco.. I am  making a dozen sets of  “ just because”  to accent a bottle of wine and cheese gift.

Categories: Ponderings of a Carolina Girl

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Hen on a Basket

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Ask any Southerner what  is a Hen in the Basket  and they will tell you. “Why, that is my Grandmother’s candy dish.”     Growing up in North Carolina, I was lucky to have family that lived in big farm homes. They had huge front and back porches.  The bedrooms were upstairs and the living and kitchen were downstairs . There was a sitting room where we gathered around  on Sunday afternoons.  My grandmother decorated with doilies on the back of her chairs and there was a Regulator Grandfather clock on the wall. My granddad cleaned it with a feather from a goose.

But what I remember the most and dearly loved when I visited were her teacakes she hid in a cupboard drawer wrapped in a cooking cloth and the Hen in the Basket sitting on the side table beside her rocking chair. The hen in the basket was made of milk glass. It was white.  I loved the way it felt in my hands. Smooth ,even the designs of the feathers glided when you rubbed your hand across it.  Inside the hen was candy.   Most of the time, it was filled with hard candies. At Christmas, it had peppermints and chocolate.  I could never get the hen to set back in place on the basket . My grandmother would go behind me and show me how it had to fit perfectly in the grooves of the basket.  Through a child’s eye, the hen in the basket was as unique as the little rooster toothpick holder that sat in her kitchen.  My grandmother had many grandchildren and I felt honored and humble when she gave me her Hen in the Basket. She said she was going to buy herself a blue hen in the basket and knew the white hen would be safe with me.   So this pretty hen in the basket who is now 90 plus years old sits on my side table.

I fell in love with milk glass and through the years have collected it.  You never know where you may find it. I have found pieces of pink milk glass in thrift stores. Of course, collectors know its value and when I visit an antique store,  I may find it , but the cost  sometimes keeps me from purchasing it.   There has been a comeback of milk glass in floral design in recent years.  The softness of the glass adds a touch of romance to any wedding.  It is beautiful when used in outdoor entertaining.  Because of its understated muted beauty, it creates a feeling of warmth and coziness.  Today you can find  dishes, vases, figurines, perfume bottles lanterns , even salt and pepper shakers made of milk glass. And of course, don’t’ forget the Christmas bulbs of milk glass.  

So just what is the origin of milk ?  
Milk glass originated in Venice in the 16th century. However, back then milk glass came in all different colors including yellow, brown, black, pink and blue. All of these colors were ‘milky’ color So the tone is thick and coated. Some of these colors still exist in milk glass, especially the blue.  Throughtout  the years it has been a glass that is heavy enough to be used in dishes and vases, yet the colors delicate enough to be used in celebrations and deco of each century.Tumblr O2aczuOmL71v5e3oco1 1280

 

Milk glass became very  popular at the end of the 19th century in France. It was  considered a product of the ‘fin de siecle’.   Milk glass was synonymous with French cultural awareness . 
During the early 20th century, milk glass was synonymous with the prosperity of the wealthy Americans. Milk glass made in the early 20th century  still remains some of the best ever made. It is known for the delicacy and elegance and were often seen on dressers and shelf tops in upper-class American homes.  So when you are browsing in the antique malls, check the dates and manufacturers  on the bottoms of the piece.  During the 1930’s, milk glass made during the Depression was considered less elegant and delicate. Because of this, milk glass made during the 1930’s and 1940’s is  considered of lesser quality. Tumblr O2acj6aonr1v5e3oco1 1280

During the 1930 and 40’s , many glass companies started producing the hen in the baskets.  And they weren’t in just milk glass. One of my favorites is the cranberry clear hen. Indiana Glass produced them and you can even find them on online auctions.   They are called by many names;  candy dish, jewelry dish, pickle dish, hen dish, chicken dish, rooster dish but if you are from the South, you know. they are the Hen in a Basket dish.heninabasket

Categories: Ponderings of a Carolina Girl

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A White Bowl of Lemons

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I always have a big white bowl of lemons sitting my kitchen.  Growing up I learned from my mother, that lemons were a staple in a Southern home.  They are just as  important as having butter in your fridge. From homemade lemonade to lemon sugar scrubs or repelling insects, lemons share their sunshine in my life..  If I don’t find myself needing a lemon in a day , I will slice one up  and arrange it  in a clear vase, topping it off  with a bouquet for the kitchen table.  The yellow color just makes a happier table,  even on a cloudy day.  

Lemons are one of the most versatile fruits . They love to join in cooking, from squeezing one on pasta or layering on broiled fish. It is packed with nutrients.   And all southern sweet tea comes with a slice of lemon.  Lemon juice is an acid and it is  a natural disinfectant.  The lovely lemon even deters pests. It helps preserve food and can easily replace harsh chemical-based ingredients. For me, I love the luscious lemon in the bath .   There is no lovier scent than lavender and lemon.  Even Yankee Candles  know this.  I light the candle by my Jacuzzi and pour oils of lemon and lavender based into the water. What a way to unwind.   After cleansing my face, I use lemon juice as an astringent.  I use a homemade lemon sugar scrub and afterwards, a lotion of lemongrass by Dani. 

I know I’m a little obsessive about lemons, but what Southern Girl isn’t ?

Here are just a few reasons why you want a bowl of lemons.  

Sooth Sore Throats
Gargle a mixture of lemon juice, warm tea and honey before bed. Helps ease your sore throat .

Travel Sickness Cure

Suck on a slice of lemon to help you stop feeling nauseous.

Create a Scented Humidifier
If you live in a dry winter climate, put lemon peels in a pot of water and simmer on low to humidify and oh the aroma is divine.

Bleach Dishes

Fill the sink with warm or boiling water and lemon skins. Soak the dishes for a couple of hours. Rinse and wipe dry. All stains will be gone.

Clean Microwaves
Combine 3 tablespoons lemon juice and 1-1/2 cups water in a microwave-safe bowl. Cook on high for 5 minutes, allowing the water to boil and the steam to condense on the walls and tops of the oven. Carefully remove the hot bowl and wipe away the mess with a wet sponge. This works every time. No harsh chemicals.

Cutting Boards
Because of their acid, lemons have antibacterial properties that makes them perfect for refreshing a cutting boards. Scrub the cutting with a heavy pad and then rub the surface with half a lemon . Let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing.  

Create Blond Highlights
if you are lucky enough to be a blond, then you need to  keep a lemon with you in the summertime. Shampoo hair and rinse with a mixture of 1/4 cup lemon juice and 3/4 cup water. Bask in the sun until your hair dries. Repeat daily for one week to maximize the effect. 

Make Fires Smell Good
Fires smell divine on their own, but a few lemon peels tossed on the flames give off a twist of lemon that is just lovely. And I love to watch the Sparks that rise up .

Create Your Own Sugar Scrubs

Use Pinterest to find a great homemade sugar scrub with lemon. You can check My Pinterest for the recipe I use .

Cooking with A Lemon

And of course, the reason my mother kept her bowl of lemons. She used them in  any recipe that needed a touch of zest.

Please try  this Lemon Olive Oil Seasoning.   The recipe is

1 cup extra virgin olive oil or 1 cup olive oil or 1 cup grape seed oil or 1 cup other vegetable oil

2 -3 tablespoons lemon zest, finely grated

Delicious and easy to make…

  1. Place the oil and the zest in a glass jar. Let it stand at room temperature for at least 2 weeks, shaking occasionally.
  2. Pour the oil through a strainer and discard the zest. Transfer to a jar and store, tightly covered, in refrigerator.
  3. Yield: 1 cup.

Use it to brush on baking pan to oven fry some fish and oh my goodness, it will be a staple in your home.  Wonderful to use when weather is too hot to cook. Use  on cauliflower, asparagus, and broccoli .

And while you are still squeezing those lemons, here is a great recipe for your own lemon extract.

Store-bought lemon extract costs an average of $1.98 per ounce.

  • Spirits ( Vodka )
  • Organic lemon peels – Free because I was already using the lemons. (If you don’t use 6 lemons all at once, you can squeeze the juice to use as needed)
How To Make Lemon Extract
Ingredients
  • Rind of 6 large organic lemons
  • 1 cup vodka
Instructions
  1. Wash and dry lemons.
  2. Using a vegetable peeler, cut thin slivers of the yellow skin in long ribbons. (Or if you have a zester, use that!) Make sure not to peel off the bitter white pith, just the outside will do.
  3. Place peels in a jar and cover with vodka. Shake well.
  4. Place in a dark cabinet for 4-6 weeks. Shake every few days for the first week, then occasionally after that.
  5. When the extract has reached the intensity you prefer, strain peels and pour extract into a clean jar. Store in a dark cabinet or the fridge.

The Lovely Lemon  .. 

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Pasta Noodles with Lemon Olive Oil
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Ingredients
  1. 2 teaspoons fresh lemon zest
  2. 1⁄4 cup lemon juice
  3. 1⁄3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  4. 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  5. 1⁄2 cup kalamata olive, sliced (optional)
  6. 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  7. 3 tablespoons basil, julienned
  8. salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
  9. Pasta noodles.
Instructions
  1. Combine the lemon zest, lemon juice, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, garlic cloves, Kalamata olives and cherry tomatoes.
  2. Cook pasta and reserve 1/4 cup (60mL) pasta water.
  3. Drain and toss pasta with olive oil mixture and reserved pasta water.
  4. Toss with basil and Parmesan cheese, season with salt and pepper.
  5. Garnish with extra Parmesan cheese if desired
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Categories: Ponderings of a Carolina Girl

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North Carolina Sonker

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NC Sonker

 

What in the world is a sonker ?  If the word sonker doesn’t ring a bell,

you probably have never visited North Carolina and if you have, you didn’t ask for dessert. A  saucer of sonker with milk dip sure hits the spot after a big plate of southern fried chicken, creamed potatoes and slaw with sweet tea.  A sonker  has  been and is still called by various names such as cobbler, tart, pie, torte, grunt, slump, buckle, crisp. But if you want a delicious cobbler in North Carolina, you want to order the sonker on the dessert menu. All the recipes use fresh  berries and even sweet potato cooked in their juices .  Whatever fresh ingredients are readily at hand is mixed with sugar , some cornstarch and butter and then the dough is made to cover it . They are all homemade and simple to make.  The difference between a sonker and a cobbler is the way you blend the fruit and unshaped dough,  mixed into the juices of the berries.  Cobblers have pastry, sonkers use dough.

A sonker is a deep-dish pie, juicier than cobbler. It is a dessert large enough to feed a big family It was often baked in a bread pan that ft inside a wood-burning stove.  I cook mine in a deep cast iron pan that bakes in the oven. My recipe calls for  pouring a batter made of flour, sugar, and milk on top to bubble up between the fruit.

And then there is the “dip,” a sweet, thickened milk flavored with vanilla extract or spices, such as cinnamon or allspice. It is   served  on top of the sonker.   

Recently I had a hankering for some sonker and dip  and decided to try the recipe with frozen blueberries instead of fresh. Served with the dip and a scoop of ice cream, there were no leftovers.  It is a simple , fast and tasty recipe. 

The sonker is so delicious that North Carolina has a festival in its honor. As you know in Carolina, we celebrate every fruit and nut with a festival with Fourth of July in between..You will definitely find something fittin’ to eat.

If you happen to be in North Carolina the first week of October  , please make a trip to celebrate The Sonker Festival.  You will be guaranteed to find plenty of homecooked specialties.  .   

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North Carolina Sonker
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Best way of serving fresh berries and dough in a dessert
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Filling
  1. • 4 1/2 half-pints blackberries
  2. • 1 cup granulated sugar
  3. • 1/4 cup arrowroot powder or cornstarch
  4. • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  5. • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Topping
  1. • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  2. • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  3. • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  4. • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  5. • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
  6. • 3/4 cup buttermilk
  7. • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Dip
  1. • 2 cups whole milk
  2. • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  3. • 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder or cornstarch
  4. • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Butter a 10-inch skillet or a 9-inch pie pan and set aside.
Prepare the filling
  1. Combine all the ingredients for the filling in a medium-size bowl. Stir until the dry ingredients are thoroughly mixed and the berries are well-coated. Cover bowl with a kitchen cloth and set aside for 15 minutes.
Prepare the biscuit topping
  1. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium-sized bowl.
  2. Using a pastry blender or fork, cut in the butter cubes until the mixture is crumbly and the size of peas or smaller.
  3. Create a well in the center of the mixture. Pour in the buttermilk, and using a large spoon, gently incorporate just until all of the dry ingredients are moistened. The mixture will look quite wet at this point, but that’s fine.
Prepare the dip
  1. Heat the milk in a medium-seized saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a gentle boil.
  2. Whisk the sugar and starch in a small bowl to mix well, then add to the milk along with the vanilla extract, stirring until thoroughly blended and smooth.
  3. Reduce the heat under the saucepan to a gentle simmer and cook, uncovered, 15 to 20 minutes until the mixture is reduced by half.
  4. Remove from the heat and transfer to a pourable container. Cover and set aside while the sonker bakes.
Assemble the sonker
  1. Place the blackberry mixture in the prepared skillet.
  2. Using a large spoon,dollop the surface of the blackberries with the biscuit topping, aiming for mounds of about 3 tablespoons of batter. You needn’t be terribly specific on the biscuit amounts; as long as the surface is dotted with reasonably similar biscuit mounds, you’re in good shape.
  3. Pour the melted butter over the biscuit topping and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F and continue baking an additional 30 minutes.
  4. Cool at least 30 minutes, then, just before serving, drizzle each portion with several tablespoons of dip.
Notes
  1. Serves 8
https://thepamperedintrovert.com/

Categories: Ponderings of a Carolina Girl

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North Carolina is Horse Country.

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imageHorse back ridingNorth Carolina is Horse Country. From the Outer Banks with native ponies to the mountains of Asheville, farms and stables abound. Growing up in Carolina, you will have experienced at least once in your lifetime a horse ride. As a child, I visited my grandparent’s weekly. And my granddad had a horse. Dan, the horse, was my Granddad’s pride and joy. Being a farmer, Granddad depended on Dan for many things.

Dan could be hitched up to a plow and Granddad followed him in the fields. On Saturdays, Dan got his weekly bath. I loved helping my Granddad with this. Dan stood still as we put the soapy water on him and scrub him, even behind his ears. After we dried him off, I got the honors of shining his hooves. Dan never kicked or bucked. I believed he loved the pampering. On Sundays, Dan was hooked up to the Buggy. Even though my Granddad own a Model T, it was the buggy he used to ride to church. Granddad’s buggy was classy. It even had an awning in the back that went up and down and a place in the footer for a warm brick to keep your toes warm in the winter rides. While we were in church service, Dan was tied to a hitching post in front of the church, along with all the other horses. I guess they chatted while we were inside. A fond memory of Dan is when my Granddad would let me ride him bareback on the back acre. I believe Dan knew I was depending on him to stay on top. And he would canter through the pecan trees and bring me back to the  steps of the house , never once galloping or breaking into a fast stride. And this is when I fell in love with horses.

I passed this love down to my daughter. She fell in love with English riding. English riding originated in Europe and was brought to America. There are many variations in English riding, but all feature a flat saddle without  the deep seat, high cantle or saddle horn seen on a Western saddle. English disciplines are all designed to allow the horse the freedom to move in any given task. . Words that describe English riding are smooth, beautiful, flawless, controlled, proper, good posture, quiet independent hands, steady legs and a secure seat. Basically any equitation class is judged with the emphasis on your riding ability and the quietness and effectiveness of the horse.

My daughter fell in love with horses around eight years old. And it was and still is a deep love. Her first horse was a pony and aptly was named “Dan”. She began her lessons at a stable nearby. She wanted to live and sleep at the stable. Her first event was in Halter. This event is where you show your horse or pony in a halter or bridle to the judge in hand, meaning that they are led, not ridden. You walk and trot with your horse to show the judge your horse’s conformation, obedience and way of moving. Halter classes are usually grouped by breed, sex, or age. Rules, breed standards, clipping patterns, grooming styles, use of grooming products and popularity of the halter discipline varies widely. However, all classes require that horses be meticulously groomed before entering the ring, be trained to stand correctly in the style dictated by their breed or discipline, and to walk and trot on command in a designated pattern or line. It is a fantastic way to get started with becoming one with your horse.

As the seasons progressed, my daughter became an avid and accomplished horseman. She entered huntseat, show jumping and dressage. Each of the styles of riding have their certain points and movements. And each are judged with experienced eyes of trainers and riders who have made  equestrianism  their life love.

Show-jumping was the sport that my daughter eventually enjoyed the most. In this sport, you have to jump with your horse over a course of fences. Your aim is to have a “clear round” This means that you must jump each fence without your horse refusing, running away or knocking any part of the jump down. If a tie occurs, then horse and rider do the course again timed. The fastest – clear round wins.

There are many equine events  held in North Carolina. We even have a college that offers degrees and studies in equine.

For the occasional rider or someone who hasn’t  ridden a horse, there is always the horse who is steady “Eddie” and is willing to ride you on a dirt beaten path through a Carolina field. If you visit the Outer Banks, you can actually see the native horses in Corolla. These animals are simply beautiful and to see them in their natural habitat is a trip worth taking. And if you are in the foothills of North Carolina, you can find many stables and farms that cater from pony rides to experience three day events .

Western North Carolina has many stables that offer trailblazing the hills and streams in the mountains. You even have a guide to go ahead of you and give a tour of what and where you are.

Above all, when you ride , remember as in any sport to wear protective equipment. Never wear shoes that tie and always wear your helmet or riding hat. And of course, if you are raised in North Carolina, you ride and if you don’t you definitely have  a family member that rides. And with that comes the braiding of tails, blankets and hay trips . And you never leave without your personalized shirt and helmet and your horse’s monogram blanket, That’s just what you do when you are from Carolina.

Categories: Ponderings of a Carolina Girl

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Burlap and Lace

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Burlap Uses Burlap and Lace burst on the scene in weddings several years ago.Coming from a true Southern background, I couldn’t see the beauty of the two put together. My idea of burlap wasn’t for weddings. Burlap reminds me of being a kid and having a potato sack race. The races were fun, but I hated how the sacks felt when they brushed my legs. Growing up I remember burlap corn feed bags for the chickens . So needless to say, when a bride to be, came to me with the idea of burlap and lace and called it rustic, I nodded my head in agreement, but inside I was saying, “okey.” Of course, as a designer I was  going to give it my best to please the bride. It is her day, so I took it all in and after she left, I started researching burlap and lace. I was surprised to see that the idea of burlap and lace goes back to Ireland and the Irish Potato Famine of 1846-47. The Irish have a grand history of lore and charm. And to an Irishman, the lowly burlap bag had its place of legacy. Potatoes came in burlap sacks. And it was potatoes, or more accurately the lack of potatoes, that brought the Irishmen to America. The Irishmen did not want to leave their Ireland but poverty and famine gave them little choice. So to an Irishman, the brown burlap represents the poverty and powerlessness that drove thousands of Irish immigrants away from their homes and families. The term “lace-curtain” is an expression describing the upwardly mobile Irish Americans, during this period. The white lace shamrock, so often displayed on St.Paddy’s Day , represents to an Irishman, that they were willing to suffer to have a better life. So seeing, a white lace shamrock or any lace on a background of coarse brown burlap represents the challenges against many odds to make a better life for themselves. I thought,  “Why, this like a marriage “! Two people believing in their commitment for better or worse, and  during their lifetime they will sustain a love that has no bounds. I am not sure that today’s brides know this little piece of fact when they are deciding their day. But when anyone ask me for a design using burlap and lace, I love telling this story. Burlap and laceIr?t=msbeebeeinnc 20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00WLKV2PY isn’t just for weddings. I found once designing with it, the ideas are endless. Mason jars wrapped with burlap and lace, monogrammed burlap runners with lace and burlap napkin rings and coasters are used. Even personalized flags that weather really nicely outside can be created . Read More

Categories: Ponderings of a Carolina Girl

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Valentine’s Day Freebie

heart borderIf you love designing as much as I do, you actually enjoy the winter season.  You are inside and have a reason not to venture out into the snowy weather. With winter in full force, for me it means staying toasty warm and designing. I  get so into the design, I look up and find everyone has gone to bed and I am still putting one more finishing touch on it…  With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I wanted to share a freebie  Download Here. .  It is a cute valentine circle of hearts that can be used in bordering a monogram, name or even one initial.  This design  works well on cardstock and digital scrapbooking and I added a svg file, so you can use it in labeling a jazzy tumbler for your special teacher and friends.  I’m using it on a pink sweatshirt, adding my granddaughter’s monogram with dark pink flocked heat transfer vinylIr?t=msbeebeeinnc 20&l=as2&o=1&a=B005H3T8GM.  You use an iron to press the decal onto the sweatshirt.  Enjoy this design and if you like, please share a picture of your creation in the comments or share on your Pinterest page. My Pinterest has a board of Silhouette Hacks .  Take a look for more ideas. .I added one more surprise in the download.  Get a headstart for your St Patrick’s Day party. The surprise freebie can be used with either photoshop and/or  silhouette..Time to create! st Patrickk's Day

Categories: Ponderings of a Carolina Girl

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North Carolina BarbeCue

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  Every southern state has its own special way of making bbq and its sauces.  In fact, every state declares their sauce is the best and pig cooking too.  Of course a challenge of who makes the best bbq had to be in questioned. The competition was fierce and after it was all tasted and done,  North Carolina was named the bbq capital of the world.    That wasn’t going to satisfy the natives. We each know where the best bbq is in the state and so we take it to the next level.  We  taste tested  and voted  and here is the outcome. The  best bbq  eatin’ places  
in North Carolina.    By goodness, you can even download an app and decide yourself.

  I grew up eating pork cooked on an open grill.    My Daddy had an open grill and smoker he made himself. I am sure the design was passed down from an uncle or friend. What I do know, it was an all day affair to cook the pig and with it came games of checkers by the pit, along with roasting some marshmallows and even the men playing cards through the night after the children went inside for bed.

I remember my Daddy using hickory wood and there was about a half cord stacked by a burn  barrel. This burn barrel had a grate inside and a pipe for a chimney. The wood sat on top of the  grate. Embers would fall through the grate to the bottom of the barrel. It would take about a hour to have coals. The beautiful hickory smoke filled the air . Daddy would say,   “you can’t  get this  from  a bag of charcoal at the grocer “. Dad would spread the coals in two piles under the grill. He said, ” Don’t put too many coals in the middle. The belly and tenderloin cook quicker.”  And so we piled the coal on the edges. This would go on all day and night. I can see Mom and Dad’s friends now , turning the pig after 8 hours, shoveling more coals and the ladies in the kitchen making their sauces.   And that is what I know about BarBeCue with a squeal in North Carolina.

I still attend  pig cookings now and then. They call them pig pickings now.  And  when I  want a sandwich and want it quick, I just used my app bb  and   hope the restaurant  has slaw and fries, plus some vinegar based sauce sitting on the table to go along with their famous bbq. Q? Encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B007VXSSOE&Format= SL110 &ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=msbeebeeinnc 20Ir?t=msbeebeeinnc 20&l=as2&o=1&a=B007VXSSOE

Before is my Mom’s special recipe of sauce and also the rub.   While the pig is on the grill, they rubbed it down .. The recipe is called simply  “The Rub.” And they used it generously…

 

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BBQ Sauce Vinegar Based
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Vinegar based sauce used on pork and chicken and ribs in the South
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Ingredients
  1. 2 cups apple cider vinegar
  2. 2 tablespoon brown sugar
  3. 1 tablespoon ketchup
  4. 1 tablespoon Texas Pete, made in Carolina
  5. 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
  6. 1 teaspoons of black pepper
  7. 1 teaspoon of salt
  8. Also you need the The Rub recipe to rub over the pork or beef before cooking.
  9. Kosher Salt 1 cup
  10. Granulated Sugar ½ cup
  11. Brown Sugar ½ cup
  12. Paprika ½ cup
  13. Black Pepper 2 Tablespoons
  14. Cayenne Pepper 1 teaspoon
Instructions
  1. You mix the sauce ingredients all together. Store . The longer it sits , the better it taste
  2. For The Rub
  3. mix the ingredients together and just rub on meat before cooking.
https://thepamperedintrovert.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Categories: Ponderings of a Carolina Girl

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Love and Valentines

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Valentine’s Day! Such a special day. It is the time the florist phone is ringing , right up to closing. Extended hours could go to 11:59 pm and there will be the one who just needs a few rose petals to layer the bath by midnight. It is a fun celebration and love is in the air. The many ways we love someone gives us ideas to be unique in how we really show it. I have seen tickets to concerts, spa gift cards, weekend getaways and yes, it is the best time to ask, will you marry me. What always accompanies the special idea is  flowersIr?t=msbeebeeinnc 20&l=ur2&o=1 . I enjoy creating floral designs for sweethearts. It is much like a wedding. A young man comes in to order flowers for a new girlfriend. He tells how special she is, her beauty, her smile,and her love . You know as a designer your design reflects his love. You personalized it  with her in mind. Valentine svg fileMoments later, you look up and an older gentleman is ordering his flowers. He has been with his wife who he calls his sweetheart for fifty years. He talks of her smile, her beauty and her love for him. And you know his love must shine through the design. You personalized it with his love for her in your thoughts. A favorite story I must share happened 15 years ago. I was busy working on arrangements . I finished most of my orders and one of the coworkers gave me a message. A customer had requested for me to design an arrangement for his wife. He didn’t care about the cost. He said she was the puzzle piece he had looked for. He felt like the day he meet her he had come home. I asked , what is her age, how long have they been married, what are her favorite colors and flowers. He hadn’t given that information and he hadn’t left a number to call back. He just said he would pick them up at five. I was nervous. He had said the cost wasn’t an issue. I started creating and then hesitated, wishing, I knew more about this lady. I took a deep breath and thought, what would I want for Valentines flowers. I started again and thought of my husband, and created the design of my dreams. Finished, it sat on the case all afternoon. Customers ooh and aah for it. Five o clock and we are closing and still no man shows to pick up the arrangement. I’m worried. I know it is closing time. It had been a very long day and yet, I couldn’t leave without delivering this arrangement. I called my husband and told him I would be late. He said, I’ll come down and wait with you and later we can celebrate with dinner. Thirty minutes later, still no customer pickup. I opened the shop door to my husband and he said Happy Valentine’s Day Sweetheart. And he smiled with his eyes. And then I realized the man who made the call had been my husband.

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Homemade Chocolate Pie

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chocolate pie

In Carolina, we take any reason to visit a neighbor and share food.  The place to meet someone for a chat is around the eatin’ table.   We don’t take a full meal .  We do that when someone loses a loved one.  Just to visit, we bring a bowl of chicken salad, pimento cheese wedgies, sausage balls and top it off, always with a dessert  A friend of mine has been under the weather  and I have checking on her by phone. Today after talking, I knew my friend needed more than a phone call. The weather today was perfect for making meringue  and so I went to my trusty old recipe file and pull my mama’s handwritten recipe for homemade chocolate pie.  It is stained and yellowed, but you can read it. She handed it down from her mother.  If you look at it close enough, you can see my mother’s  floured fingerprint on the corner.    Now I know Pinterest , All Recipes , Betty Crocker and Southern Living all claim their chocolate pie is the best. But my mother didn’t have a Pinterest page. Her recipe was past down from generations of great Southern cooks and most of these recipes were a dab of this or pinch of that.  What I can guarantee is that this  Homemade Chocolate Pie  will fix just about anything and if you add a hot cup of perked coffee, you can face the world. chocolate pie 

First I get all my ingredients together. There are two ingredients you can not substitute and they are Hersey’s Chocolate unsweetened cocoa and Carnation evaporated milk.  My mother used Watkins vanilla extract. I could not find it. I hope Sauer’s vanilla will work. Mother always said that Watkins was double strength. My fingers are crossed with Sauer’s.  My mother’s recipe  calls for a homemade pie crust, but I don’t make them. I buy it from the grocer.  I know. Please forgive me, Mama.  I learned this from Sandra Lee, Semi-Homemade.

You need to use a double boiler for the pudding. I have my water really hot, simmering when I add the top boiler on to start cooking. I have attached the recipe and please save or print. 

Remember to put toothpicks through the meringue to the pudding to hold it on your pie after cooking. The meringue is so light and airy.  I’ve seen the meringue take to traveling with an entire slice of pie. The best time to eat this yummy pie is while it is hot.  Serve with a glass of milk or cup of coffee. Put the leftovers, if there is any in the fridge.  Later it will taste just like a fudgesicle.   

I hope you make plans to try this hand me down recipe. It never stays around long. That is why I always make two. I never double the recipe. I make two batches. It seems the pudding doesn’t set as well when you double it.   

Now it is out the door to chat with my friend and share this pie.  It’s eatin’ table time.

 


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Homemade Chocolate Pie
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Serves 8
Old Fashioned Chocolate Pie with Meringue
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Ingredients
  1. Chocolate Pudding
  2. 1 cup sugar
  3. 1/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  4. 1/4 cup Herseys unsweetened chocolate
  5. 1/4 teaspoon salt
  6. 11/2 cup of whole milk
  7. 1/2 cup of Carnation evaporated milk
  8. 4 extra large egg yolk, already whisked gently
  9. 2 tablespoon butter
  10. 1 tablespoon Watkins vanilla extract
  11. Meringue
  12. 5 extra large egg white be sure they are at room temperature
  13. 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  14. 1/4 cup of sugar
  15. Pie Crust
  16. Store bought
Instructions
  1. Bake your pie crust as directed while your double boiler water is simmering.
  2. Prepare the chocolate pudding by combining sugar, cornstarch, cocoa and salt. Then whisk in both milks gradually. Stirring constantly over medium high heat until the mixture comes to a boil. Continue to boil for a minute.
  3. Remove from heat. Pour a small amount of the chocolate mixture into the egg yolks. Stir constantly and mix it well. Now pour the egg mixture back into chocolate in saucepan. Put back in double boiler and bring back up to boil. Simmer for 3 minutes. Take off heat and set aside to cool.
  4. Meringue
  5. Using a mixing bowl and electric mixer, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar at highest speed. As it forms peaks, you can add the sugar in small amounts gradually. Continue to beat until meringue is peaked .
  6. Pour the chocolate mixture into the now cooled pie crust. Spread the meringue on top of pudding. Remember to add your swirls . Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes or until meringue is lightly golden... Let it cool before slicing. ....
Notes
  1. I never can wait for it to cool. I slice it warm and have it with a big glass of milk . Enjoy!!
https://thepamperedintrovert.com/

 

Categories: Ponderings of a Carolina Girl

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Relax .. Massage.. Spa

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What better than to begin this new year but to pamper myself. One way of slowing the pace is a massage and spa moment. I found while traveling abroad to include this moment. One of my favorite spas is Jean Louis David  in Doha, Qatar. The spa offers many ways to relax and de-stress after an 18 hour flight. I tried the  Swedish Massage first and later Thai and aromatherapy. The essentials oils are amazing. I fell in love with the scents. jeanlouis

While traveling abroad , I had the opportunity to enjoy their many luxuries. It is amazing what you see and read  in a travel magazine, is nothing like the personal experience of allowing the locals to share their world with you. Doha, Qatar was my first stop . As the plane hit the runway, I saw lights, sea and sand. Lots of sand. Being an American and not knowing their language, I was afraid it would be a barrier. It was unfounded. The people of Qatar pride themselves in knowing several languages. Their English is excellent. I soon found out they are proud their country and heritage and enjoy sharing their culture.

I settled into a luxury room, complete with fruits, beverages, chocolates, and hot foods that were waiting on a table by a window . After enjoying their special made mango juice and chocolates, I relaxed just watching the city’s movement. This is a city of movement even when you reach the sands of the desert . Once in the desert, you feel the wind. You look upward and see the starry sky at night. And then you look beyond and the magical Arabian Sea reflects the moon . It is calming. If you ever put Qatar on your travel bucket list, the souq is the visit worth taking. And plan to attend a falcon flight . Be prepared for beauty in flight.

 

Categories: Ponderings of a Carolina Girl

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Hoppin’ Johns …Happy New Year!

Peas

 

Eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s has been considered good luck for at least 1,500 years.

According the Talmud written around 500 A.D., it was Jewish custom at the time to eat black-eyed peas in celebration of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Possibly the tradition arrived in America with Sephardic Jews, who first settled in Georgia in the 1730s. What we do know is that peas and cornbread still grace the tables of Southerners on the first day of every year.

The humble nature of the black-eyed pea is echoed by the old expression, “Eat poor on New Year’s, and eat fat the rest of the year.” Another tradition to eat black eyed peas on News Year is that the dried beans loosely resemble coins, and as the dried beans greatly increase in volume, they symbolize increasing wealth. A lot of people closely associate good luck with monetary gain. That’s where the greens come in. You always eat a side helping of greens with your peas . Cornbread is added to the Southern New Year’s meal, and a well-known phrase is, “Peas for pennies, greens for dollars, and cornbread for gold.”  Grandma tells her version of Black Eyed Peas and shares her recipe.Take a look.

For this Carolina Girl, black eyed peas and cornbread are just plain good eating . And tradition in our home is I add a dime in the pot and whoever has the dime in their bowl can expect very good luck in the coming year. And to keep the festive spirit of New Year’s Eve into the new year, mimosas are served . Toast to 2016. May you have happiness, wealth, luck and know the Grace of God! Cheers!

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  Pour a little of the juice of those delicious peas  over your cornbread or onto your plate to sop up with your cornbread because this is delicious! The juice is known as “potlikker” or “pot liquor” by the fancy folks!

 

 

Categories: Ponderings of a Carolina Girl

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Carolina Hospitality

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994347_10201337492091919_1209636158_nIt is pleasure of mine to be able to stage homes for events.  One of my favorite rooms is the dining area. There is just  something inviting about a table.  It invokes memories of family gatherings, coffee inspired chit chat, homework with snacks while mom does the dishes.  This dining room graces  a beautiful home on the Perquimans River of Hertford NC .

 

 

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