cloudy days

if it is cloudy out, i am baking.  today was no exception.

Farm-Style Oatmeal Cookies
These cookies were developed when most people  lived on farms (or in my case, dream of a farm!) and baked large batches of cookies to feed  their families.  Cookies were real multi-taskers; kids loved them, they kept a long time (not in my house) and they were welcome treats in lunch boxes for school or in the fields.

In this cookie the butter and brown sugar combination gives these treats an almost caramel-like flavor.  I'm sure you'll enjoy them!

The recipe says it makes 4 dozen.  I always get less, because I like to make my cookies BIG.  I also over bake (just by a minute or two) a few because crumbled over vanilla bean ice cream...you will think you died and went to heaven.

2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Heat the oven to 375.  In a large bowl, mix brown sugar, butter, buttermilk, and vanilla.  Stir in remaining ingredients.

Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.  Remove
immediately from cookie sheet to wire rack; cool.

top of the armoire

i recently painted my armoire white. i know, surprise!  i liked it, but thought it was missing something.  so i threw a large woven basket on top.  boring, but it seemed better than nothing. then, i went downtown last week to a few shops.  at a booth filled with industrial, architectural goodness i was totally inspired.

so i came home, headed to my stash in the basement (don't tell me you don't have a stash!) and pulled a few things.  tossed them on top of the armoire and fell in love.

i am still so in love with the mix of steel, concrete, aged wood, and galvanized.   at times, these items are scattered in different areas of my house.  but they live together on top of the armoire...for now.

joining white wednesday at faded charm again this week.  big hello to those that came over from there.  please leave me a comment and say hello!

linen love

you look, and find nothing.
you look, and find nothing.
you look, and low and behold!
you score!

 out thrifting yesterday, i found a ton of this beautiful linen. 
i have no idea what i will do with it, but i had to have it.  the possibilities are endless.

the look and feel of this is so beautiful.  what a find!  just love when that happens.

this old shoe rack was also a junking find...many months ago.  so functional and holds all my other thrifting finds.  plates, bowls, urns, baskets all used all the time.  pull your favorites out of the cabinets and put them on display.  looks great, and is easy to grab quickly when you need them. 

my latest obsession is finding white platters while out thrifting.  this stack gets used often and makes quite the statement when piled high. 

i'd love to know what you hunt for when out thrifting, leave me a message and let me know.

joining in at Savvy City Farmer for Thriftin' Thursday.  please go check out all the other thriftin' goodness and her beautiful blog.