Oh what a week it has been!  I am so thankful that dear husband and I decided to take a little time off for one more special day trip last week, before I had to go in for some more medical testing this week.  I can only say that the procedure this week was akin to my memories of the agony of labor and delivery, if you can believe that!   Needless to say,  I was so thankful when it was finally over!  It has taken me the rest of the week to recover, and finally my head is starting to clear!

Last week, I felt the urge to pamper myself and indulged in two new little delightful designs, to add to my stitching stash.  Our LNS was having a sale, and I couldn't resist these two precious pincushions.

                                                   "Pure and Pleasant"
                                                                  by
                                                   Primitive Bettys

                      "Small Token" (Reward of Merit Pincushion)
                                                                By
                                                  Blackbird Designs

If you ever visit New England, you must be sure to treat yourself to a visit to "Pickity Place", located in Mason, New Hampshire.  This charming little, 200 year old, red cottage, and the winding ash tree, in the foreground, served as models for "Grandmother's House", in the famous story of  Little Red Riding Hood, written in 1948, by Elizabeth Orton Jones.  

Inside Grandmother's Cottage, is a  bedroom, featuring the Big Bad Wolf in Grandmother's bed, along with all sorts of Little Red Riding Hood memorabilia.  It is great fun, and there is also a little bookstore with a collection of various other Little Red Riding Hood books, dolls, hand puppets, and lots of cookbooks that feature the use of  many of the sorts of herbs grown in the gardens at Pickety Place.  


One then steps outside of the little bookstore room into the tiny hallway where a menu is displayed on the wall, describing a 5-course gourmet herbal luncheon, which is served in the dining room of the little red cottage. 

Each month there is a different luncheon menu, created with fresh herbs and edible flowers, grown in the gardens at Pickety Place.   Believe me, when I tell you that the meal was not only beautiful to look upon, but just as delicious too!

"Fontina and Pancetta Beef Roulade" (This was Bruce's lunch.)  All of the flowers are edible too! 

                        "Zucchini and Garden Tomato Casserole"

                                              Raspberry Rhubarb Pie
No meal is complete without dessert!  This pie was "melt in your mouth" delicious!  


We also enjoyed walking around the gardens before and after our fabulous luncheon.  I loved the little herb house on the grounds, in which we discovered bunches of herbs, which were hanging from the ceiling being dried. We even discovered a dark grey cat, curled up on a tabletop, having a nap inside.  A lovely, sweet and peaceful setting for a nap I thought.

                                     Hanging Dried Flowers and Herbs

There is also a barn, attached to the little red cottage, which has been converted into a lovely gift shop, with a variety of herbs, dried flowers, and all sorts of goodies.  No visit would be complete without exploring the wonderful shop too!

I'll leave it to your own imagination, what sorts of wonderful things we discovered inside.  You'll just have to come and have a visit for yourself!  This is a truly fun and magical adventure for anyone, and even husbands enjoy it!  At least mine did!  What man could resist such delicious food?  


Well, my fingers are tired from typing and wanting some diffierent activity.....say, some stitching perhaps, along with a nice cup of tea?  That sounds very inviting...


Until Next Time.....
Crossing in Stitches & Friendship With You!