As the 145th annual Kentucky Derby occurs this weekend, we are celebrating with mint juleps and Derby Pie.

This is my first Derby pie and it was easy to make. The recipe describes it as a thick, gooey chocolate chip cookie meets a warm buttery pie for a heavenly and decadent Southern dessert.

Using a pre-made pie crust (I always use Trader Joe’s brand as I find it to be the best), fill a 9″ pie dish.

Line the bottom of the crust with semi-sweet chocolate chips and toasted pecans or walnuts (I used a combination of both).

Pour a mixture of eggs, sugar, flour, butter, bourbon, vanilla and salt over the chocolate and nuts.

Bake 40 to 45 minutes until set.

Let pie cool to room temperature and add Bourbon Whipped Cream on top.

Click Here for the pie recipe!

While I was making the pie, my son was making Mint Juleps. With 4 simple ingredients~~simple syrup, mint, bourbon and ice, you can make this Derby Day drink. Click here for the recipe.

Here are some fun facts that you may not know about the Kentucky Derby. 

Nineteen past winners have had names beginning with the letter “S,” including Secretariat, the fastest horse in Kentucky Derby history, who completed the 1973 race in just under two minutes.

The amount of food consumed at the Derby is pretty astounding. On average, spectators will eat 142,000 hot dogs, 18,000 barbecue sandwiches, 13,800 pounds of beef, 32,400 jumbo shrimp, 9,000 scallops, 8,000 pounds of potatoes, 30,000 cookies and 300,000 strawberries.

The traditional drink of the Derby is the mint julep and over 120,000 are said to be consumed at the race each year.

The Kentucky Derby trophy only weighs 3½ lbs.

The Derby is also referred to as ‘The Run for the Roses’ because the winner is awarded a blanket sewn with over 400 roses post-race. This blanket weighs about 40 lbs.

Over $150 million in wagers have been placed over the last several Kentucky Derby races.

I don’t know anything about horse racing but I’ve always wanted to attend the Kentucky Derby to wear a big hat! May the best horse and rider win!

We have an old 2 stall horse barn on our property. We’ve never had horses even though the girls REALLY wanted them. I am always so impressed with those that do take care of animals larger than themselves.

Here’s what the barn looked like when we first purchased our home in 1999.

In 2011, my friend Susan and I turned the barn into a base for our business, 2 Connecticut Yankees. Susan LOVES to shop for unique items, which we would offer at a small mark up. The idea was to come to the barn, have a bite to eat, shop and socialize.

We freshened up the exterior of the barn with Ralph Lauren Barn Red paint. New flooring was added and the interior painted a bright white. String lights helped with the dismal lighting.

We had great fun and this venture lasted a few years. But we both got busy with our lives. Most of the items have sold, but the barn is still full of “stuff”.

It was finally time for me to sweep out the cobwebs and see what was behind the barn doors.

As dirty as the barn was, it was fun to find some treasures that I had forgotten about. Here is an old 1894 hope chest I had purchased for my daughter, Elisabeth.

Elisabeth also fell in love with a set of Limoges china when she was a little girl. I finally found the original set of dishes and some linens to match.

Each piece needed cleaning as years’ worth of dust had settled on them.

But slowly things sprang into life.

Here is the barn, all fresh and clean.

Susan and I need to decide what to do with the remaining items in the barn. I personally LOVE this piece I got at Round Top antique fair. Originally a display counter at one of the high end retailers in the early 1940s, it would make a fabulous kitchen island.

You may not know this but my website has a STORE tab with items that are still available. They’ve been all wrapped up and protected. If you are interested in any of them, please email me directly at marycrz@cox.net. I imagine that we will try to sell the rest on eBay, once I get my act together!

If you have a big project to tackle, happy cleaning! This was a very satisfying project.

As a result of freak accident, I have been unable to use my computer much so my apologies for not posting recently. Short version of a long story… an Easy Off Grill Cleaner can was accidentally punctured when I opened up an outdoor cupboard and the foam sprayed into both of my eyes. I am recovering quickly from chemical burns on my corneas. The good news is that this shouldn’t affect my vision. I am so lucky that my daughter was nearby and we acted quickly to minimize the damage. All is well and I am so grateful that I can see.

Strange incidents like this make me slow down and appreciate the simple things in life. So the purpose of this blog is to share some beautiful photos and remind you to be thankful for working eyes, ears and body parts.

The weather here in Phoenix has been nothing short of glorious. This time of year our yard is at its best.

The rose garden and its blooms have been very generous this year.

For those of you who received hollyhock seeds last year, I hope you are having success ~~ our hollyhocks are growing EVERYWHERE and have started blooming! I still have many seeds left for anyone interested. Please email me (marycrz@cox.net) with your address and I will happily send you some.

The citrus trees in the orchard have been nearly gleaned and the blossoms fill the air with their heady fragrance. The poppies are showing their pretty faces.

With the warmer weather we’ve had some windy days. Perfect for drying linens on the line.

We have two graduations in May. One daughter will graduate high school and the other college, so I am knee deep in preparations.

You have heard me lament about not having lilacs grow here in Phoenix. I recently ordered very fragrant lilacs from Torchio Nursery in San Francisco. Four gorgeous bundles arrived this week and the smell is amazing. Reminds me so much of spring in Connecticut.

Happy Friday to you! My eyes are getting tired so I will sign off. Wishing you a relaxing weekend!

When my second born went off to college, I took my first art class. She will be graduating in May. I find it hard to believe that nearly 4 years has passed.

I am not a faithful painter. The easiest way for me to paint is to sign up for 4 to 6 week classes, which commits me to one 3-hour painting class per week. During the course of a year, I may take 2 to 4 class series. I never complete an entire painting in 3 hours, so I have several unfinished canvases laying around the house.

Everything I have read states you should paint daily if you really want to improve, but I am not there yet. I believe painting is a bit like golf. Some days are better than others. We just wrapped up a landscaping class and here are some of my nearly finished creations.

Painting comes in waves~~some days I want to just paint and drink wine (I’ve heard that really helps!) and other days, I have no desire to do so.

The fun part about taking a class is you learn new techniques with the help of a teacher. In the painting below (which I haven’t completely finished), we used a palette knife to create a chunky look.

One of my most favorite classes was where we were restricted to mostly using a very large brush. Since I tend to focus on the small details, I was pushed out of my comfort zone~~which is a good thing!

I am perhaps my own worst critic. It takes a lot for me to want to actually frame something I’ve painted. Practice does make perfect and I hope that one day I will have an actual studio set up in the house.

Trying a new activity later age in life is a bit intimidating, but so necessary to keep vibrant and interesting. I hope you have enjoyed my progress over the last four years~~I think I’m getting a little better.

Step out of your comfort zone and be creative! Please let me know what you have done lately to broaden your horizons.

Often I get questions about our chickens. I don’t recall the day we made the decision to have chickens. When we were living temporarily in a double wide trailer while restoring Bella Terra (that’s a complete story in itself!), I remember having 2 toddlers, a newborn, a puppy and baby chicks. Crazy times.

A daily trip to the hen house is restorative for me. The girls are always happy to see me!

Their quarters are designed for up to 25 chickens. If you missed my previous post on the hen house, click here.

Here are some questions I get asked about our having chickens:

How long do fresh eggs keep?

When an egg first comes out, it is covered in a wet coating and then dries within seconds. This invisible coating is called the “bloom” and works to keep air and bacteria from seeping through the pores of the shell.

In the United States, commercial egg growers are required to wash their eggs, which then requires refrigeration. Unfortunately, washing off the bloom accelerates the aging of the egg.

I never wash our eggs and if I do, it is just before I use them. I have read that an unwashed egg can last up to a year!

How do you tell if an egg is old?

Gently drop an egg into a glass of water. If an egg sits flat on the bottom of the glass, it is fresh egg. If the egg floats, it may still be good but it is definitely an older egg. As it continues to age, more air enters the shell and it will float at a steeper angle. But why eat an old egg if you can use a fresh one?

Why are hard-boiled fresh eggs hard to peel?

As an egg ages, air gets in through the pores on the shell. The air forms a pocket between the members and the shell making it easier to peel. Older eggs are best hardboiled.

Does each chicken lay an egg every day?

First, the female chicken, a hen, will lay eggs. It depends on the breed as some hens lay more eggs than others. Typically, a hen will lay only one egg per day but can also skip days. The average hen will lay approximately 300 eggs per year. Chickens require a certain amount of light per day in order to lay. Therefore, hens typically lay more eggs in the spring and summer.

Does a female (hen) need a male (rooster) in order to lay an egg?

No, the female lays eggs regardless. The hen does need a rooster if she is laying a fertilized egg = baby chicks.

Why don’t you have any roosters?

The City of Phoenix does not allow male poultry within the City limits. Since it is rather difficult to determine the sex of a baby chick, we have had roosters. Typically we discover a rooster when a neighbor calls to complain about the crowing.

Do roosters only crow in the morning? No, they tend to crow all the time.

Is there really a pecking order? Yes, the chickens do determine their own hierarchy of status.

Why do you have different colored eggs?

The color of the egg is based on the breed of chicken. We have white, brown, tan, blue and green egg layers. But like people, we may be different colors on the outside but the inside of the egg is the same.

Do you let your chickens free range?

Yes, with some supervision. We keep our dogs inside while the chickens roam the yard. Since we have birds of prey (hawks, owls, etc.) we let them stay outside but for a shorter period of time.

Do you eat your chickens?

No, we do not. Once the children named the hens, it was hard to think about eating Fluffy or Spotty.

What do chickens eat?

We provide them with scratch and crumble. With scratch, they use their toes to mix up litter or scrape the ground in search of various seeds, greens, grit, or insects to eat. Spreading scratch grains (cracked, rolled, or whole grains such as corn, barley, oats, or wheat) encourages this behavior. Crumble is their actual food that provides the nutrients they need.

Do you give your chickens treats?  

Yes, they get fresh greens from the garden, any healthy kitchen scraps and I spoil them with dried black soldier fly larvae~~they LOVE this!

I also add fresh herbs and flowers to their nesting boxes. Not only does it look pretty and smell nice, while keeping the bugs out. Who wouldn’t want to lay an egg in a nest of rose petals?

I hope you enjoyed this information on chickens and eggs!

There is something satisfying about a stunning dinner table.  It makes your guests feel special and honors the meal soon to be presented.  Unfortunately, in our household we don’t do it enough.  We can rarely get our senior in high school to be hungry at standard meal times. I love setting a proper table, and look for any opportunity to do so.

Lately, there are many Spring table ideas on Instagram and in blog posts.  However, I have noticed that often the table isn’t set properly. And because we are not pulling out the linen, china and crystal often enough, I tend to need a reminder on the proper way to set a table.

Here are some quick and easy reminders.

Where to put Cutlery

Cutlery should line up with the bottom of the charger. Not that you need to go all Downton Abby-ish and use a ruler, but put the bottom of the silverware in line with the bottom of the charger. If you are not using a charger, then line them up with the bottom of the dinner plate.

Size of Tablecloth

The tablecloth drop or overhang should be around 10 inches. I make an exception to this when we do dinners in the orchard as rental linens for rental tables go to the floor.

Seems obvious, but the salad and dinner forks go the left of the plate. Knife, teaspoon, and soup spoon go the the right.  Knife blade always faces the plate.

The photo below is one from the internet. See how the silverware is not lined up with the bottom of the charges. It is very pretty, though!

Where to Put Glasses

Guests need only two glasses~~one for water and one for another drink (typically wine).  It is okay to use one glass for either red or white wine. The water glass goes above the knife and the other cascades to the right.

Size of Centerpiece

You can be very creative with centerpieces. Flowers are nice, but depending on the them of the dinner, you could use seashells, branches, or just lots of candles. If you do build a centerpiece, please remember that the centerpiece should be 9-10 inches tall, maximum.  Avoid anything that would prevent eye contact across the table.

Table Linens

Putting fabric on a table warms up the space. However, placemats are a nice alternative to a tablecloth. I didn’t use a charger below because it would have dominated the placemat and hung off the edge.

Napkins-use cloth, quality disposables or inexpensive flour sacks or cotton dish towels.  For maximum lap coverage, the best size is 22 x 22 inches.

Seating Arrangements

How to assign seats? Seat each guest next to someone you think they’d have things in common with.  The most VIP person should be seated to the right of the host.  Couples should be seated separately to promote lively conversation.

What dishes to use

You don’t have to use fine or fancy china. Mix and match everyday ware for something a bit different.

You can make your table setting more formal with place cards, napkin holders, printed menus and chargers.

Chargers

Here are some tips on chargers.

Chargers should then be taken away with the dinner plate still on top, as this clears the table and leaves it ready for dessert to be served. When serving desserts, chargers are never used. Once all guest are seated, chargers can be removed. Or they may remain on the table throughout the entire length of the meal.

I hope this inspires you to create a beautiful table!

This post shared with Tablescape Thursday #624~hosted by Between Naps on the Porch