two new beauty marks

Find more of Country Girl's Beauty Marks here .

ENJOY!

p.s. the right edges of these may appear cut off here because of their size, but they won't be when you copy them onto your sidebar.

xo country girl

country girl's free beauty marks!

I think blog sidebars are the perfect opportunity to individualize and beautify one's blog, and to let the pieces of your personality shine through. I've been having fun making buttons, or what I like to call 'beauty marks,' and would like to share them with you....FOR FREE. 


I'll be making more...and more...and more....


If you have any suggestions, let me know!


All of Country Girl's Beauty Marks are made using my original photographs and/or graphics. If you're in the mood for being fair and friendly, make these pictures a link to my blog when you add them to your sidebar.


Instructions are simple:
Click on the beauty mark you want and, while keeping image selected, drag it to your desktop.
Go to 'Customize' on your blogger account and go to 'add gadget.' Select the 'picture' option. Upload the beauty mark, and add a link to my blog if you're feeling friendly in the 'link' section by copying my address and pasting it in. Et voìla! Your blog will be sporting a cute, free button that says something about you.


Here's my first batch:

You will find these, and all those to come, by clicking the Country Girl's Free Beauty Marks button in my sidebar.


Hope you like these, and find a place for one or more in your pretty blog.

coffee crunch bars

I've had Orangette's recipe for Coffee Crunch Bars stuck with a magnet onto my fridge for quite some time now. The only thing keeping me from making them was my lack of sliced almonds, which seem to constantly be sold out at the local supermarket. But I finally got them, and quickly whipped up a batch of these. 

While they were in the oven, the timer ticked faithfully...I had set it for 45 minutes as it stated in the instructions. Soon the tasty fragrance of almonds turned into a darker, burned smell. I checked the clock...still 15 minutes to go. I went online to make sure I had written everything down right...wait, why wasn't the recipe on Orangette anymore? And why did it smell like my bars were burning? I googled the recipe and found this information on a (fantastic) blog called The Bitten Word : I wasn't the only one who had been given the wrong instructions, the baking time had been written down wrong! It was supposed to be 25 minutes instead of 45. I raced to the oven and pulled them out just in time...the edges were a little dark, but once the bars had cooled and I tried one, I knew I hadn't failed. They are DELICIOUS. Smoky coffee flavor mixed with the delicate crunch of almonds and luxurious chunks of chocolate...the perfect companion to Chai Latte or a tall cold glass of milk. Highly recommended, unless you've made a New Year's resolution about self-control.

MOLLY WIZENBERG'S ORIGINAL RECIPE:

Coffee Crunch Bars
Adapted from Leah Reich and her grandmother, Mamie Chaiffetz

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
8 oz. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup tightly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup tightly packed dark muscovado sugar
1/2 tsp. almond extract
2 Tbsp. instant espresso or instant coffee powder
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (I used bar chocolate broken up into chunks for a more rustic look)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. In another medium bowl, cream the butter and sugars with an electric mixer, beating until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the almond extract and instant espresso, and beat 1 minute more. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the flour mixture in three doses, mixing until just absorbed. Stir in the almonds and chocolate chips. The dough will be thick. Turn the dough out onto an ungreased (approximately 12-inch x 17-inch) rimmed baking sheet. Using your hands, press the dough evenly into a 12-inch by 12-inch square. Bake for about 25 minutes, or until the edges are browned and the top looks set. Cool in the pan for 1 minute; then, while still hot, cut into 24 (2-inch by 3-inch) bars. Transfer immediately to wire rack to cool completely. Bars will crisp as they cool.

Note: Bars will keep, sealed in an airtight container at room temperature, for up to 5 days. Their flavor improves with time.

Yield: 24 bars



p.s. the fellas over at The Bitten Word suggested trying this recipe out with an egg included if you want a more brownie-like consistancy...I'm thinking about it...though the original recipe is just DELISH...

ENJOY!

xoxo

pink string

“If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you."

- a.a. milne

tiny treasures abound...plus, easter inspiration!

When my twitter friend Sandra, or 'sweetpeas4me' as she's called there, heard about the project we have going on here, she told me she had some treasures she had collected over time and that she would love to share them. She quickly put all these little items together and sent me the pictures. Here they are, for us to admire:

"Found these along coast of Maine in September of 2008. I love Maine."

"Found these feathers in my yard over the past three years. Hawk, Blue Jay, Cardinal, Junco or Chickdee. Don't know what the white one is."

Thank you, Sandra, for sharing these tiny treasures with us. They are very beautiful. I especially like the beach glass and the cardinal feather. We are looking forward to seeing more of the beautiful things you find.

We finally took down the Christmas ornaments this morning. When the bobbles and birdies were nestled safely in their cartons they looked so beautiful that I had to take pictures. I've seen some people decorate white or silver artificial trees or bare branches in a vase for Easter and was wondering if I should do the same with some of these. They are almost too pretty to use only once a year.

I can imagine some of them would look pretty mixed with blown white egg shells hung with pastel ribbons. Here is my inspiration:

GORGEOUS.

Hope you are all enjoying your weekend. It's a sunny, freezing cold Saturday here...my husband and my dog are both napping and the only sounds are of the clock ticking, hot water trickling through the heaters, and my two loved ones breathing. Glorious. 

Looking forward to hearing from you....what do you think of the Easter trees? Have you gone on a walk today? Did you fill your pockets with nature's humble treasures?

Tell me everything!

xo country girl

collection of tiny treasures!

The blog award I received, which has been passing through countless blogs for who knows how long, had me thinking. Thinking about this wonderful blog world and the way it connects us. As I was thinking, I was walking; walking through a snow-covered field, picking up tiny treasures as I went along as I often do...pheasant feathers, a piece of walnut shell, an oak leaf, a dried flower bud....and I decided today I would post about my tiny treasures, bits of natural beauty scattered along the vast and seemingly empty path I was walking. I wanted to prove that, no matter how bleak things may seem, there are always little treasures to be found for the one who is looking.


I then began thinking how much I would love to see what little things you all find on your walks...I love the thought of women in all different climates and countries, picking around their pathways, discovering acorns and feathers, rosehips and whisps of wild clematis. Maybe even an abandoned bird's nest, or arrowhead?


In some kindergartens there are Nature Tables where the children put anything interesting they've found, and where the teachers help them label them and learn about them. What I would like to initiate here, with all of you, is a mini version of the Nature Table. If you want to show us the little things you've picked up while taking a walk, please do...and please copy the picture to the left on my sidebar, and add it to your sidebar once you've posted a picture of your finds (add a link to this post too, if you'd like). Invite other bloggers to do so as well. Lets see how many people from around the world we can get to share their tiny treasures with us!


It will be a wonderful thing to observe these tiny nature tables throughout the seasons.


Can't wait to see yours!


I'd like to ask

Yiota @ shells and bells, flowers and showers in Greece
Morwenna @ bluebells and butterflies in England
Blaire @ B-mused in Massachusettes
and
Sharon Lovejoy @ sharon lovejoy writes from sunflower house and a little green island in California

if they would like to be the first to start?


Enjoy your Friday, and maybe....go on a walk??? Who knows what you will find.......


xoxo
country girl




p.s. as you will see below, i have begun ending my posts with a link to what i posted on the same date a year before (if something was posted). i think it's interesting to look back and see what was going on exactly 365 days ago in my life, and in my mind....


TODAY, ONE YEAR AGO: Study Nature....

happy 101!

I WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A LIST OF MY TEN FAVORITE THINGS WITH YOU.

if you try picking 10 things that bring you happiness, you will realize just how amazingly blessed you are.
i thought about my top 10 all morning long. what to include, and if there were any loop-holes i could use to cheat my way into loading a few joys into one answer. and yes, i found a few. :-) 

these are 10 things that make me happy:

BEING IN NATURE.

this photo makes me happy every time i look at it. it was summer, i was fit and freckled, kiki and i were enjoying an instant of pure joy, and my husband was there with us to record the moment. it combines so many things i love, like kiki, my husband, and nature. nature has proven itself to be the greatest healer, the biggest inspiration, and the most sacred church. i visit with nature every day, explore her, and simultaneously explore my own thoughts and my own self. i have had most, if not all, of my aha! moments while lost in thought walking through nature. i hope i am always blessed with the gift of living where nature is abundant and welcoming.

BEING MARRIED TO MY BEST FRIEND

in february we will have been in love for 11 years. i still have to pinch myself sometimes, because i can't believe how lucky i am to live with the person who is perfect for me, who thinks i'm funny and pretty, who takes me as i am and yet inspires me to become a better person. plus, he's gorgeous.  
you can read a little piece of our love story here ,
and little bits of married life here .

KIKI

this picture was taken the day ramon and i went to the breeder to choose a puppy. when we walked in and saw three adorable puppies, playing clumsily with their squishy paws and button noses, i told ramon, "i don't think i can choose...how on earth can we choose?"
so i sat and watched while ramon horsed around with one of the puppies. as i watched, one of the puppies ambled up to me and, with great effort, crawled up into my lap. she nuzzled her body against my arm and fell asleep. "this is the one," i thought, feeling the fast, tiny heart beat against my skin. i looked over at ramon and said, "i think this is kiki." soon after, she opened her eyes and looked up at me. her look told me: "i'm her, i'm kiki!" ramon took this photo, which we've named 'the look,' because that's what she was giving me: the look of looks, the one that let me know that this sweet being wanted to come join our family and live with us. and she makes me happy. she makes us happy. i cannot imagine life being half as fun and enjoyable without her. there's a whole lot of kiki to be enjoyed on this blog; for photos and stories, click here .

SUSAN BRANCH

since discovering her books a few years back, i have been inspired to paint and write what i love, because that's what she does. before i knew her work, there were these things bubbling inside of me, almost unknown to me...a love for baking, nature, good people, and creating little bits of beauty....and when i first held her book 'autumn' in my hands, it was like i finally saw a huge part of me i hadn't ever let exist before, because i didn't know it existed in the world at all! we met one day, and to my great pleasure, she is quickly becoming a good friend, someone i love being in touch with, someone who is every bit as funny and sweet as the pictures and words she shares with everyone. she is a bright light in my life. i am so glad she is here in the world, uplifting hearts and spreading joy. you can follow her through the seasons here on her beautiful website , where a warm fuzzy feeling is guaranteed.

BLOGGING

yes, blogging makes me happy!!! happier than i ever thought it would. initially i blogged as a way of keeping a journal which included photographs. i liked looking back over a week of blog entries and seeing myself, my life, reflected there. over time, people began stopping by and leaving little comments. (ya you!) a whole new dimension of blogging was introduced to me...Oh, there are people out there, nice people, who are reading what you are writing and looking at your world through your photographs! i may not have the biggest following, but i appreciate each and every one of you, who have been here in good times and heartbreaking times, who cheer me on in your own sweet, subtle ways, and make me feel like i'm not such a loner after all. :-) blogging is definitely one of my favorite parts of the day. it's like a grown-up (or not so grown-up) version of show-and-tell. yes. blogging definitely makes me happy.

SWEETS

i don't want to live a life without sweets. i love sweets. sweets make me happy. they make me feel like a kid, like a kid doing the jig, like a kid licking a wooden spoon of cookie batter and picking sprinkles off a tower of frosting with their teeth. i love visiting someone and being offered something sweet. i get very excited, but keep a cool exterior...because grown-ups aren't supposed to jump up and down or yell 'yipeeee!' when they are presented with a cupcake or a plate of cookies. i smile and say thank you on the outside, but on the inside i'm doing cartwheels. and i still find it deliciously delightful to have a stash of sweets i can snatch something from any time i want. ha-ha, i feel like chanting...i'm a grown-up and i can eat candy whenever i want!

NEW ENGLAND

i am homesick for it even though it's never been my home. just the words, new england, make me happy. the buildings, the autumn woods, the bucolic towns and hearty meals. i hope with all my heart that my husband and i will grow old together in new england. you see this amazing is-that real-or-a-painting place in the picture? that's shelburne farms in vermont. click here to read about it and see more photos. they have a working farm, an inn, and a farmstore. talk about dreamy.

LETTERS

i love love love opening my mailbox and seeing a letter or a package with my name on it! letters mean i get to enjoy a mixture of lovely things: friendship, pretty cards or paper, and the thought that someone thought of me. writing letters has become somewhat of a lost art to the majority of the world, so i am grateful to know a few people now who enjoy writing and receiving letters and parcels as much as i do. i think my love for letters is one of the reasons i enjoy your comments so much. they are like little reminders that there are kind and like-minded people out there. i feel less alone in this great big world. and it's always nice to know someone out there thinks you are an ok gal.

PUMPKINS

i don't care, i'm not ashamed to say it...pumpkins made it into my top 10 happy list. they are plump, humble, delicious, fragrant, beautifully varied, and magical. 
they really have the ability to make me smile just by sitting there, being their fat little selves. my love for pumpkins is very evident here . 
by the way, this photo is courtesy of country living magazine , which definitely makes me happy every time it appears in the mailbox.

BEING ME

as many of you know, my life isn't always pure joy. it isn't always laughter, and it isn't made up solely of the things that make me happy. but i love it. i love my life. i love getting to know who i am; i love living in the austrian countryside, surrounded by nature which feeds and inspires me; i love discovering talents i didn't know i had; i love meeting kindred spirits, people who are like twinkling lights glowing their goodness around the globe; i love being a wife to a man i adore; i love those moments when something which brought me so much pain changes in front of my eyes into something that was absolutely perfect and meant to be, something i learned from and now understand; i love having the years ahead of me to look forward to, the seasons upon seasons, the days just waiting to be filled up with beauty and laughter and lessons and adventure. i love being me. being me makes me happy. 


these bloggers make me happy. that's why i have chosen them as the next 10 recipients of this fun award.

i hope they will take part...wouldn't we all like to read their lists?

1.   lovely blaire @ b-mused

2.   warm-hearted johanna @ birds on a wire
3.   charming rachel @ lovely clusters
4.   courageous katrina @ kat's cradle
5.   creative silke @ metamorphosis
6.   thoughtful courtney @ scattering lupines
7.   enviable emerson @ emersonmade
8.   hilarious mette @ the muffin blog
9.   passionate lauren @ cat of curiosity
10. delightful heather @ a day in the country

they are to copy the 'happy 101' picture at the top of this post, and include it in a post all about their 10 happy things.

p..s. i was awarded this opportunity by my dear friend morwenna. if chickens, the english coast, optimism and generosity of spirit make you happy, visit her blog bluebells and butterflies.

hope you enjoyed reading my list....hope it made you happy! :-)


xoxo country girl