Bradford Pears

The Bradford Pear Trees are flowering in our area. They are beautiful to see but some people think they are a stinky Tree when flowering. They do have a strong fragrance and the bees love it.

The tree seem to be fragile and easily damaged by storms. I alway feel so bad when you see them after a storm with broken limbs or even split down the middle.

Have you had experiences with Bradford Pears that you can share?







Linking to

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays


Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage 
Make the Scene Monday at Alderberry Hill  
Meet Me Monday at You're Talking Too Much 
Make-It-Pretty Monday's at The Dedicated House
Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings
One More Time at One More Time Events
It's Party Time at Three Mango Seeds

Table Top Tuesday  at A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday
You're Gonna Love It Tuesday at Kathe With an E
Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Cedar Hill Ranch for Cowgirl Up! on Tuesdays
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday's Treasures

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer 
DIY by Design for  Swing Into Spring
Ivy and Elephants for What Is It Wednesday


Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Favorite Things Thursday at Katherine’s Corner
Home and Garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life

Can't Believe The Weather

I can't believe the weather. I drove in rain then sleet then snow on my way to work at the university this morning. The temp was 31 degrees. It's April 23 and this is the current weather. The tulips and flowering trees are in bloom and now what is going to happen to these gorgeous blooms?

Here's what it looks like on the campus of Missouri Western State University






Linking to:
Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style 

A Tweak or Two

I made a few changes over the weekend. 

A little tweaking and my dining room table looks a bit more like Spring.

A move from the mantel (shown here) to the table and a new look arrived. 

Add a glass pedestal hurricane candle holder in the middle, and the look was complete.


So a tweak or two can make a big difference.


I love the Spring colors of pink, purple and greens in the wreath centerpiece and Guess What? It didn't cost me a dime.


Thanks for stopping by - Judy.


Linking to:
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage 
Make the Scene Monday at Alderberry Hill  
Meet Me Monday at You're Talking Too Much 
Make-It-Pretty Monday's at The Dedicated House
Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings
One More Time at One More Time Events
It's Party Time at Three Mango Seeds

Table Top Tuesday  at A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday
You're Gonna Love It Tuesday at Kathe With an E
Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Cedar Hill Ranch for Cowgirl Up! on Tuesdays
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday's Treasures

Centerpiece Wednesday at the Style Sisters

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style 

DIY by Design for  Swing Into Spring
Ivy and Elephants for What Is It Wednesday

Favorite Things Thursday at Katherine’s Corner
Home and Garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life
Transformation Thursday at Shabby Creek Cottage
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home on Thursday

Favorites on the First at The Polohouse
Feathered Nest Friday at the French Country Cottage
Inspiration Friday At The Picket Fence
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
Stuff and Nonsense for Friday's Unfolded
My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home
 Jennifer Rizzo for Fabulously Creative Friday

Seasonal Sunday at The Tablescaper



Fuji Japanese Steakhouse

For a recent birthday dinner celebration, we wanted someplace that was fun with a little bit of entertainment. 

Here's what we selected! A hot grill with a personal chef cooking right in front of your table.



The Fuji Japanese Steak House in Liberty, MO, was a perfect choice. A little fire brought lots of  oohs and aahs for each table. 



Although eating sushi has not been on my list of things I want to eat, I can at least say "I have eaten sushi." My SIL and his sister decided on the sushi to order, I had no clue what to try. 



The platter of sushi was displayed beautifully. 

TIP: You may eat sushi with your hands or with chopsticks, whatever is more comfortable.

Did you notice the pickled ginger and wasabi on the lower right corner of the platter. You can eat a little bit of it in between pieces to clear your palate. Eating gobs of it is considered bad form.




The Red Dragon Roll was a shrimp tempura roll topped with tuna.


Spicy Tuna Roll



Crunchy Sushi Roll was a lobster roll topped with shrimp, crab and tempura flakes.

Wow, and if the sushi wasn't enough to fill you: 

the grilled shrimp

the steak

the chicken

Plus fried rice and vegetables (didn't get a pic of the vegetables).


What a feast!!

There's the birthday girl (my daughter's MIL) enjoying the fried rice and enjoying the chef cooking the shrimp.

We all ate with chop sticks even the 5 year old. That's my SIL, oldest grandson and my SIL's sister. 
I only had my iPhone to take the pictures but they turned out ok. We had such a fun evening at the Fuji Japanese Steak House - Judy!

Linking to:

On The Menu Monday at StoneGable

Met Monday at BNOTP

Marvelous Monday at This Gal Cooks

Wow UsWednesdays at Savvy Southern Style 
Let's Dish  at Cuisine Kathleen on Wednesday
Centerpiece Wednesday at the Style Sisters
DIY by Design for Swing Into Spring
Ivy and Elephants for What Is It Wednesday

Full Plate Thursday at Miz Helen’s Country Cottage

Tasty Thursday at The Mandatory Mooch

Thursday’s Treasures at Food Done Light



Foody Friday at Rattlebridge Farm

Seasonal Sunday at The Tablescaper



Think Spring

I must have to admit, I have been trying really hard to "Think Spring" the last few weeks. I want to see Spring all around me.  Things like flowers blooming,  Spring colors, and buds bursting open. Just bring it on Spring.


Ok, calm down Judy. 

We are officially into Spring so those Spring flowers will soon be blooming here in the Kansas City area and I will be able to go for a walk and see daffodils, tulips, and lots of colors like purple and green. But for today, looks like I am just "thinking spring" with purple and green in my tablescape.



I bought these plates over a year ago at Home Goods but have been waiting for the perfect time to bring them out.


When I first bought the plates, I thought the flower was blue but when I put them next to something blue I discovered they were really a shade of purple.


I've been looking for a new centerpiece for my table; something with candles or votives with spaces for flowers to be tucked but not too tall so it would allow for conversation across the table. I wanted something I could just change out the flowers and use it again in another tablescape. Tuesday Morning seem to have just what I had in mind and the price was right - $19.99!

Plus it came with an extra set of red votives. What more could I want?

I don't have the flower arranging just perfect yet; I used the purple hydrangeas I had but feel they are a little big so next time I'll look for a smaller size of flowers and more of them. 


I think this centerpiece will work with many different tablescapes, just change the flowers and light the votives and a new look will be born. What do you think? Can you see it?


The green flatware is a recent find at Home Goods and is a perfect accent for the green stem of the flower on the plate and the green goblets. Don't you love to put colors together that accent each other and make them pop?




The green etched stemware has really been doing overtime for my tables lately. 

It made it's first appearance on my "Hoppy Easter" table here 

and appeared again on my "Easter Naturals" table here.


It makes me feel good to know I can use goblets, flatware and napkins again in my tablesscapes. Helps my spending budget too!!

Oops, I almost forgot to show you my breadrack.

You will remember I bought the plates about a year ago then recently was in Home Goods in the sale area and there was the matching platter to the plates. It was marked down to less than $5, what a bargain!

Thanks for stopping by and hope you are thinking Spring - Judy.

Linking to:
Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage 
Make the Scene Monday at Alderberry Hill
Meet Me Monday at You're Talking Too Much 
Mosaic Monday
Make-It-Pretty Monday's at The Dedicated House


Table Top Tuesday  at A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday
You're Gonna Love It Tuesday at Kathe With an E
Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Cedar Hill Ranch for Cowgirl Up! on Tuesdays
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday's Treasures
Transformed Tuesdays at PJH Designs

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style 

Let's Dish  at Cuisine Kathleen on Wednesday
Centerpiece Wednesday at the Style Sisters

DIY by Design for Swing Into Spring
Ivy and Elephants for What Is It Wednesday

Tablescape Thursday  at Between Naps on the Porch
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Favorite Things Thursday at Katherine’s Corner
Home and Garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life
Transformation Thursday at Shabby Creek Cottage



Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home on Thursday

Feathered Nest Friday at the French Country Cottage
Inspiration Friday At The Picket Fence
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home
Jennifer Rizzo for Fabulously Creative Friday
Seasonal Sunday at The Tablescaper
Sunny Simple Sunday at Sunny Simple Life