Rocheport House

The other day as we were surfing online we found this house for sale in Rocheport, Missouri.  It's just around the corner from where we used to live, and they have been working on restoring it for years.  I think it's such a cute house, and from what I can see it looks like they did a fantastic job improving it.  A bookcase with a ladder would definitely be a dream come true!

Tart Lime Pops

I just made up some of these tart lime pops.  They tasted good before going into the molds, so I'm betting they'll be delicious when they're frozen!  Find the recipe from Real Simple here.

World Cup

OK - my life can get back to normal now that the World Cup is over!  It was a fun month of watching soccer.  In the 16 years that I've been watching the Dutch team, there have been many highs and lows.  I have to say that overall, I am pleased with their 3rd-place finish.  Here's Van Persie taking on the role of the Flying Dutchman and scoring one of the best goals of the tournament.  (The U.S. was also fun to watch - they're getting better all the time!)

Bernardaud Etoiles

Being in England got me thinking about fine china again.  Macy's carries this beautiful line by Bernardaud.  Etoiles Limoges Collection is made in France and is stunning.  But at $112 per dinner plate, I'll just have to admire it from afar (like les etoiles...).

Wrendale Designs

We saw these adorable mugs in many gift shops in England.  They are Wrendale Designs for Royal Worcester, and I love the depictions of British critters.

Benjamin West - The Nativity

One of the places that we visited in England was Petworth House, a 17th-century estate owned by the National Trust.  It is a truly great house with fabulous grounds and gardens.  It is noted for its fantastic art collection.  They own many paintings by J.M.W. Turner and other English artists.  One piece that I liked was The Nativity by Benjamin West.  It is a cartoon for a window that West was to paint in St. George's Chapel at Windsor.

Star Spangled Banner

Have you seen the original Star Spangled Banner?  It's pretty incredible.  The Smithsonian National Museum of American History houses it in a new gallery where you can appreciate its immense size and delicate condition.  Viewing it is a neat experience that every American should have.  Happy 4th!

Flapjacks

In England, flapjacks are not pancakes.  They're a bit more like an oaty, chewy granola bar, and they're delicious.  I found a recipe that I'm going to try.  I'll let you know how it turns out!

Lizard Girl

We saw some interesting 15-minute shows on BBC Two when we were in England.  One of them was called Lizard Girl.  Really it's about a girl trying to fit in.  It was cute and funny.  I'm still trying to find a place to view it online (this doesn't seem to be working)...

Travel Tip

Here's a travel tip that I picked up somewhere and found really useful.  When we went to England, we each took one carry-on bag and one backpack.  So we needed to economize our space.  Beauty products can take up a lot of space if you let them, but how much do you really need in one or two weeks?  For moisturizer and night cream you won't need a whole bottle!  Put some in each side of a contact case, and it should be plenty.  I found this cute owl case for a couple of bucks at Target.