Monday, July 12, 2010

A FEAST

I drive by this cute little cottage all the time at the lake going into town. This time I brought my camera with me to share it with you. I believe it is the artist studio of the lady that lives across the street from it; that house is done in a pretty yellow, too.

Isn't it charming? I wonder what sort of art she is in to. She previously owned an antique store in town...it was darling, too.
You can get a better idea of the size of it from this picture...small, but enough room to create or just sit outside on the little porch having a glass of iced tea. I caught my side window with the camera but that's good, you can see the road I am on, which is how all the little roads along the lake look.
Saturday afternoon The Husband and I took a boat ride and I brought my camera. I didn't get it wet...Yay!! I took a lot of pictures, but I am saving them for later in the week. The lake was gorgeous that day and the water quite warm.
I promised The Husband a feast Saturday night and I was true to my word. My favorite little snack; pretzels and whipped cream cheese. It's very simple but delicious.
I mentioned Friday that I had bought some Little Neck clams. To prepare them I soaked them in a bowl with 1 part vinegar to 3 parts cold water for 30 minutes. This gets all of the sand and grit out. I rinsed them and boiled them in water on the grill burner for 10 minutes until they opened. I served them with melted garlic butter with a few drops of hot sauce. Yum!
The Husband grilled New York strip steaks...
...and I had made a pasta salad earlier in the day. I have been using good old Creamettes Pasta and I am finding that the noodles are so much more creamier and not slippery and sliding all over your plate. I made the salad with chopped red pepper and red onion. I used a creamy Greek vinaigrette to dress it.

I mentioned I was going to make the beer margaritas but we really weren't in the mood, but I do have the directions now. So many of you have had them from your comments and others wanted to try them. They are simply made with equal parts {12 ounces} of thawed limeade, 7 UP, Corona beer and tequila. We only use 8 oz. of Tequila because we didn't want them strong. These are so refreshing and perfect for a five o'clock cocktail outdoors.
We took a long drive in the country on Sunday and that was about it for a heavenly weekend. I hope you had one, too. Later in the week I will share some pictures on the water. Thanks so much for visiting! :-)

61 comments:

Tracie~MyPetiteMaison said...

Hi Jane,
What a cute little house, so inspiring. Maybe one of these times, the artist will be out and you can stop and see if she'd care to chat?

Your dinner looks great. We too love pretzels around here but with what we call "tub cheese", I know doesn't sound great, but sure is a treat! I will be thinking about those clams all afternoon. Can't wait to see the water photos.
xo~Tracie

Judy@cutest-little-things.blogspot.com said...

Cute little cottage :)

Whipped cream cheese is AWESOME on pretzels!

Love the Lake House sign!

Judy@cutest-little-things

The Lazy Peacock said...

It looks so beautiful there, and that cottage is the cutest thing I've ever seen!

Pamela said...

Hi Jane

I really have to stop visiting blogs when i'm hungry!!!! Yum you sure did cook up a mean dinner!!!

Love that little cottage like a doll house!!

The last photo of your wreath on the house is beautiful. Love it.
Have a great day!
Pamela xo

stefanie said...

its darling!!!! maybe she will let you have a peek one day!!!
and ok, I am drooling over your dinner!!!

Lynn said...

I think you should interview that lady about what she does in that cute little house. I know! Give her some of those margaritas! Then she'll talk!!! =)

Lynn said...

I think you should interview that lady about what she does in that cute little house. I know! Give her some of those margaritas! Then she'll talk!!! =)

Crystal Rose Cottage said...

Jane....that's a darling little cottage! I would love to have something like that in my backyard. Your photo of the water looked so inviting *sigh*....Yummy dinner feast that you made!~Hugs, Patti

Olive said...

Jane, such a sweet mini cottage. I love yellow houses. We have one. Thanks bunches for the recipe as my man is all about tequilla. hugs♥olive

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Hi Jane! What a cute little house...love it! Your feast looks yummy! Now you are maikning me want steaks and margaritas! lol Happy week!...hugs...Debbie

Kathy's Red Door Welcome said...

What a doll house! I think I could create in a house like that. Those steaks look heavenly. I wouldn't have thought to dip pretzels in cream cheese, but I bet that's delicious!

Rebecca said...

Hi Jane
Sounds like you had a very relaxing weekend... which sounds good. I am exhausted but it was fun.
That cottage is sooo cute! And such good food, yikes it's about supper time here - wish I could just grab your pictures
Blessings
Rebecca

Anonymous said...

Hi ~ I'm Debby ~ just found your blog! How cute is that little cottage? I can just picture her out there drinking sweet tea and painting! xo

Signing Out said...

Such a cute little cottage! Your dinner looks yummy, too. I was already hungry, but now I'm starved. Looking forward to seeing more lake photos...fun!

Deb said...

That sweet little cottage looks like one my daughter had when she was little in our garden :-) it had lace curtains on the windows and a swan by the door and over the front door window said "Katie's Cottage"
Your feast looks delicious ♥

Unknown said...

Jane I just love it when you take me to the lake with you!
What a sweet studio! I adore that front porch, don't you? It just makes me smile to see this sittong there under the trees. I bet I would love this lady!

Did you have to show me food? I have been trying to take off the same four pounds now for six weeks and too many of my friends tempt me with gorgeous food on thier blogs. LOL!
It looks so yummmm!
hugs

Terri Steffes said...

I could be so inspired there! Thank you for sharing it!

Dinner looks delish. I'm coming over!

The Lake sign is adorable.

Thanks for the recipes for the beer margaritas. I am not fond of beer but I liked everything else you mentioned!

Lorrie said...

Jane your weekend does sound heavenly, probably the perfect thing after the busy July 4th festivities you had. Love the little yellow cottage. We have a similar one in a neighborhood near mine. The owner of the house built it as a playhouse for his granddaughter.

Kathleen said...

That cottage is adorable!
We dig Little Necks down the block at the bay. The gkids love finding them! They won't eat them though!

Robin@DecoratingTennisGirl said...

Jane,
What a nice weekend you and hubby had! Good for you :) I love that little cottage. Thanks for sharing with us!
xo
Robin

Anonymous said...

Love the little cottage how adorable.

Dinner looks delish! I love clams and the pretzels oh we wont go there,lol.

Have a great new week!

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Hi Jane,
I'm so glad that you are sharing your little slice of heaven with us today. I am so in love with your lakehouse. That little cottage should be yours and then you could slip away and just dream and relax on the front porch.

The food looks wonderful and I really like the sound of the Margaritas. Might have to try those.

hugs
Sissie

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

Your meal looks great, Jane! I used to love eating pasta salad {until I had to go gluten free a couple of years ago}. I had no idea that was how you got the sand out of clams. Good tip to know!

Debra@CommonGround said...

The little yellow cottage is just so so cute, how fun to have that little creative space, and now my stomach is growling after seeing all that you had for dinner. yummy!
xo,
Debra

Julie Marie said...

Hi Jane, your photos are wonderful! The food looks sooo yummy! And I LOVE that little yellow cottage... I would go right up and knock on her door and introduce myself... that's what I do around here, and more times than not, the people are really friendly and want to chat... oooh how I would love to own that little place! Have fun and I can't wait to see all of your other photos! xoxo Julie Marie

Charlene said...

Jane, Thank you for your sweet supportive comments! I will have fun & bring back lots of photos. That dinner looked amazing. I've never tried little neck clams before but, love mussels. My French neighbor fixes them to melt in your mouth with garlic, chopped celery, onion, parsley & white wine. YUMMMMO. But, now I want to try your clams. Loved the cottage/studio. You should go introduce yourself & talk your way into a tour... heck as sweet as you are I bet you two would become buddies in no time. HUGS! Charlene

Debbie said...

Hi Jane~~~that little studio is adorable!
Don't you just love the water when it sparkles like little diamonds?
Where did you get that lake house sign??!!! I absolutley LOVE it!!
mmmmmmm...your "feast" looks so yummy.
Glad you were able to get away and relax with "the husband".
Debbie@houseatthelake

Kerry said...

A feast for the eyes and the tummy! I would love to have a studio. I kind of did (an extra room) but then the 22 year old moved back home before I got a chance to use it properly. Sigh. I love the thought of your lake house....such a joy to have I can only imagine :)

Createology said...

I could so live in this adorable cheerful tiny little house! And it probably fits my tiny little budget. :o) Happy creating...

Lori E said...

Well I guess you will have to knock on her door and find out for your nosy blog buddies.
Thanks for the margarita recipe. I will pass it on to my bartender son.

Miss Janice said...

LOVE that little cottage! We had something similar to that in our backyard in a former house...iti was so cute. Just my style:)

Carrie @ Cottage Cozy said...

I have been seeing those beer margaritas a lot...did you enjoy them! What a lovely feast for you and your hubby.
The pretzel idea is so simple and so genius!
And that sweet little cottage...oh my!

Kat said...

Your dinner looks wonderful, the perfect summer meal! I love that little cottage, it's precious. Sounds like the perfect weekend, and the water is gorgeous. Kat

Denise said...

What a cute little cottage, it would be interesting to see inside and see what she does there.
Yummy dinner too :)

Penny said...

I love seeing pictures of my neck of the woods, but I don't remember that yellow cottage. Is it on the way into Dowagiac?

Blue Creek Home said...

That little yellow house is so adorable! I wish it was in my backyard.

And, I love the photos from the boat. I haven't even gone out on the lake this year. I enjoy it more when it isn't quite so hot.

I am going to try the beer margarita. I will definitely have to reduce the tequila too.

Rhonda

GwendolynKay said...

What a darling house. I love the yellow.
That is some feast you had there. Hubby loves to eat food like that. I am not much of a meat eater but even to me that steak looks juicy and yummo!
Have fun on the lake:)
Blessings~
Gwen

Maryrose said...

Hi Jane,
Great post, makes me want to jump in the car and head for the lake. That little cottage is just darling. I would love to have that in my yard.
I had my first clams this past weekend and loved them.
It is nice to be back blogging, I have missed my visits.
Enjoy your day.
Maryrose

Marigene said...

That is the cutest little cottage...I think you should go knock on the door and ask for a tour. Oh my goodness, those steamers look delicious.

Lovely Scribbles said...

Hi Jane! How adorable is that little cottage?! It sounds like you had a wonderful weekend, and it looks like the weather was perfect too, lucky lady. :)

P.s. Thanks for the sweet comments!

Brenda Pruitt said...

That little spot is SOOO cute! Introduce yourself and take lots of pics some day!
Brenda

Gypsy Heart said...

Darling little house. Now I'm wondering what is inside...

Your meal looks divine! A friend of mine is in FL right now on vacation and they made the beer margaritas. Guess it's the "thing" now for cocktails. :-)

Have a great week!

xoxo
Pat

Suzann said...

Awesome photos & recipes. Thanks for sharing.

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Oh, what an adorable tiny house, Janie! The perfect studio or playhouse. I love it. Cute! Cute! Cute! I'd love to have a precious little studio like that. Maybe she's a blogger, you think??? ;-)

And your food looks delicious! I loved seeing all the pictures of that and the lake, too. Can't wait to see the rest.

It's hot here, and I'm staying in as much as possible. Mr. Magpie went to the beach the other day and said it was nice with the breeze.

Hugs across the miles...

XO,

Sheila :-)

D. Jean Quarles said...

Oh what a sweet little house/cottage. Darling.

FLOWERSHOPGURL said...

Hi Jane, I love the sweet little yellow cottage house, it's just darling. I can picture someone in their creating beautiful paintings or something magical... Thank you for sharing your weekend at the lake house, the food looks delicious and I love your pretty sign with the wreath below it! Have a great week!
Hugz,
Kim

Sandra said...

That is a cute little house...I was just online looking at tiny houses on Tumbleweed Houses and the Katrina houses. They are between 100-600 square feet and adorable. Glad you had a great time on the water...dinner looked delicious.

Ribbonwood Cottage said...

Hi Jane! Love that sweet little house...It is little and perfect! Yummy looking food...I have not tried clams before except in chowder! I need to branch out I guess. Hahaha....and the whipped cream cheese and pretzels...that sounds easy enough and delicious. I'm a bit hungry now...hahaha...
Have a blessed week sweet one!
Debbie

raggygirlvintage said...

Sounds like a wonderful relaxing weekend. That little house is too cute!!
Tracey

Pondside said...

What a cute house that is. There are a few places near here where the artist has a little, separate studio - I'd love to see inside!
Your feast looked like, well, a feast!

Dana and Daisy said...

What a cute little house! But honestly, I would have to have one bigger for my studio or else stop buying yarn, ha ha!

the grass is so green around the lake! YOu must be having lots of rain like us!

we spent the weekend at the cabin, I did not take one picture. ha!

Anne Lorys said...

That little cottage is just darling!

Sounds like you had a wonderfully relaxing weekend! :-)

Hugs,
Anne

Barb said...

Hi Janie, that little house is so sweet. What a little perfect haven that would be.

The wake looks so familiar....so soothing and calming.

The food is making my mouth water...yummy! Hope you are enjoying your summer. Is it hot enough for you? Ha. I can only stay outside for a small amount of time. I am a whimp! heheh

Hugs, Barb ♥

My Grama's Soul said...

This post made me HUNGRY!!! (O: Boy did I ever love the picture of that little cottage.....oh what a beautiful spot to call your own!!

Xo

Jo

myletterstoemily said...

the darling little yellow cottage is just
enchanting. i can only imagine the
lovely creations made inside.

thank you for the cream cheese and
pretzel tip. sometimes the easiest
things are the best!

blessings,
lea

~CC Catherine said...

Hi Jane! This little cottage is precious and I'd wanna take pictures of it too. I've always thought it would be so special to have a place like this to be artistic in. I've still yet to find the special place in my home to create... I tend to take over every room and my husband is like ...hmmmmm. :) Your dinner looks tremendous! Have a great week! :)

Jeanne Henriques said...

Jane..
Great little cottage and what a feast is right!
Beer Margaritas sound very intriguing. I am going to take note of that one!!

Jeanne :)

Low Tide High Style said...

What a wonderful weekend you had, the food, the boat ride, everything! That little cottage would be perfect as an artist's studio, but I would love to have something just like that for a lovely little guest house too!

Kat :)

www.MaisonStGermain.com said...

Hi Jane,
That is the cutest tiny studio ever:) I'll bet it is adorable inside too. I wasn't hungry until I read this blog:)
~Debra
Capers of the vintage vixens

Shellbelle said...

What I'd give for an adorable little cottage studio like that! I love cute things and that is CUTE!

Thanks for sharing the beer margarita recipe, I'll definitely be trying that the next time I'm at my cousins.

As for your feast? I love steamed clams anywhere, anytime. Now you have to tell your hubby that I have had red meat in almost thirty years, but those steaks look FABULOUS!

The Single Nester said...

I love clams and posted about how I made them including eating them raw. Delicious.