Memories of Memorial days past:

      Marching Bands, Cemetery Ceremonies , Taps from the lone trumpet afar.

              Fond memories of Barrington, IL and days gone by.

Thank you to all who have served this Country and for those who have made the Ultimate Sacrafice.

  We, as Amiercans, are eternally grateful.

Memorial Day 2012 @ Opendoor Studio

Celebrate Memorial Day in style!

My New...Vintage  Refreshing Lemonade 

My front door Decked out for our Memorial Day Celebration.

This is OUR flag... be PROUD of it!

Memorial Day Weekend! Let the BBQ begin!

Ok, So it has been YEARS since we entertained family.   Last week my sister called and said  "what are you doing for Memorial Day weekend?"  I paused a moment, looked at my husband, my eyes darted about the house... not seeing too much of a mess to tidy... I said "we are having a BBQ... Can you make it?"
Yes!

 So now the plans begin.

I headed off to my little cookbook, you know, the one that includes all of my favorite recipes... and I mean all of them, and even parts of them... by that I mean... the pages have been spilled on, flour or puff pastry found its way to the pages, cookie dough, oil stains and more ( all wiped off of course, but the sign of a well loved and used cookbook!)

I remembered Mrs B's Ceasar Salad recipe.  This is one that she would prepare every New Year's Eve, when she pulled together the fondue.  I love to make it in the Summertime!

1/3 Cup Oil ( Extra Virgin Olive of salad oil)
1/2 Clove Garlic
1 Raw Egg ( I break it into a little bowl and pop it into the micro for about 10 sec. so it is warm but not cooked)
1/2 teaspoon Salt
Dash of Pepper
1/2 teaspoon Worchestershire
1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
Grated Parmesean Cheese ( fresh is best)
Croutons
Romaine lettuce

In a wooden bowl Rub the sides with garlic.  Place the oil and Garlic in the bottom of the bowl to season it.
Just before serving, add the next 5 ingredients to the oil.  Whisk until it looks like dressing.
Wash,  Rinse and Hand tear the Romaine lettuce.  Add it to the dressing and Toss
 Add Croutons and Parmesean Cheese.
  Your family will love it... guaranteed!

Then I was thinking about the old Jello and Pretzel dessert.  I quickly turned to my handy dandy floral recipe book and all I had ever written was "Jello + Pretzels"  "crushed pretzels, sugar, butter"... Gee, I thought, that will be helpful!  I logged into my computer to pull it up.. and finally found it!  I plan to serve it with a dollup of Whip Cream on top with some blueberries sprinkled on that... for the Red, White and Blue... "Martha" effect!

STRAWBERRY-PRETZEL DESSERT

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 2 c. crushed pretzels 3/4 c. melted butter 3 tbsp. sugar 1 (8 oz.) cream cheese, room temp. 1 c. sugar 1 lg. Cool Whip 1 (6 oz.) box strawberry gelatin 2 c. boiling water 2 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen strawberries, including juice (fresh berries slightly mashed and sweetened may be used) Mix crushed pretzels, butter and sugar and pour into a 9 x 13 pan. Press into the bottom and bake at 400 degrees for 8 minutes. Beat the cream cheese with 1 cup sugar. Stir into the Cool Whip. Spread on cooled pretzel crust.Mix together the gelatin, boiling water and frozen strawberries. Let set in refrigerator until it begins to jell. Pour over cheese mixture and refrigerate several hours or overnight. This can be served as a salad or a dessert.

What are the most often used recipes in YOUR cookbook?

     I hope you will blog about them and leave a link below!

In the garden

My garden is thriving without my help this year.
The honeysuckle vine is trailing to the roof and will soon cross paths with my climbing hydrangea!

Find Us at Kane County This Weekend!

Can't wait to see you at Kane County this weekend!

This will be the first for us! 

  We had the weekend free and since it is so close to home, we thought we would set up shop in the Poultry building!

 Booth 36. 

 You can find us in the center isle on the North side of the building.  

WE will be selling our Opendoor Surplus!

Vintage finds in quantity... Maps, globes, Vintage Games, Toys , Arrows, Lettering, Milk Glass, Postcards, Chippy Wooden Boxes, Colorful Ladders, Print blocks, Rulers, Yardsticks, Vintage Wrapping Paper, Fun Vintage Grab bags!

     

Come see us Saturday May 5th... 12 noon to five, and Sunday May 6th 7am until 4pm

       

It will be tons of fun... OpendoorStudio Style!

       martha and tony

Sometimes life hands you Lemons... and there is NO amount of sugar in the World to turn it into Lemonade!

I lost a nephew last week... He will be missed greatly by those of us who loved him!

Rest in Peace Greg... Rest in Peace!

        Love ,

  Auntie Martha

Beautiful Spring!

My wysteria have been amazing me now for about 8 years.... but NEVER have they been as beautiful as this Spring!

'minimalist' by opendoorstudio

purify, declutter, simplify... items from some of my favorite etsy shops

ceramic plate minimalist whi... OneClayBead $21.00	Red Oak Lamp- Wood, Rustic, ... WorleysLightin... $150.00	Sea Urchin Photograph, 5x5 F... TriciaMcKellar... $17.00	Silver Wire Spiral Ring - Mi... FioreJewellery $15.00
Minimalist Geometric Triangl... shoprarebird $26.00	STICHIES Word Embroidery Car... CuriousDoodles $7.00	Book Photography Print, Whit... theartofobserv... $18.00	ready to ship, minimalist bo... shannonpix $28.00
Minimalist Spring Home Decor... blueroompotter... $245.00	Vintage Industrial - Economy... junkyardlighti... $38.00	Sugar Rose - White minimalis... honeytree $21.00	miniature houses winter whit... TheHauntedHoll... $48.00
Vintage Taxidermy Cow Bull S... NifticVintage $17.00	neon gold bar bracelet - min... PetiteCo $10.00	Baltic Amber Earrings, Sterl... StonetreeJewel... $19.00	simple white a-line shift dr... SOLLEMNE $26.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio

'Tequila Sunrise' by opendoorstudio

I hope you will visit these wonderful Etsy shops! Click on the item you love to connect to the seller!

Patchouli Handmade Soap, Gly... CoquetteBath $5.00	Industrial Tins-Lot of Three... VintageRetriev... $15.00	Tequila Sunrise Original Wat... DanaLundy $25.00	Butterfly Pendant in Red and... MySelvagedLife $22.00
Rainbow Tulip Sundae Cups - ... KitchenCulinar... $32.00	30% Off Sale vintage gardeni... RecycleBuyVint... $21.00	Candy Dish in Orange RainyPenguinVi... $14.00	Vintage Scarlet Red Heels Br... zwzzy $55.00
30% Spring Sale, Flower phot... Raceytay $15.00	Handmade Pottery Votive Hold... blueroompotter... $8.50	Wearable Modern Art - Sgraff... ArtAffectionsJ... $25.00	Tequila Sunrise Tie-Dyed Cot... inspiringcolor $38.00
Sparkling Vintage Jewel Dish... RyanNicoleVint... $17.00	Fused Glass Cufflinks Tequil... GraceandFirefl... $25.00	Wool Sock Yarn - Superwash M... ShastaDaisyKni... $20.00	20 XL "Tequila Sunrise&... FeatheredFrenz... $28.99

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