You remember the Andy Griffith Show don't you? I'm sure you do if you were born before 1970 and am reasonably sure even if you weren't. Mayberry is the fictitious town where Sheriff Taylor and his son Opie lived with Aunt Bea.
I love the way they lived life in Mayberry. They enjoyed meals together, sat on the swing after dinner, looked after each other, and got together for simple things like a talent show, playing music on the porch, or a school play. Ah, such a gentle life they led!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Laurie's Cobalt World Moves To Mayberry
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Cocktail Tasting Party
You might ask why I wanted to focus on non-alcoholic cocktail recipes. The answer is simple. There are many sources for alcoholic cocktails and many of those recipes are tried and true.
There are fewer resources for non-alcoholic cocktails. But there are many people for whom an alcoholic cocktail is not an option or is not preferred. Consider the following:
Laurie's Cobalt World Blog has moved. Finish this post at
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
I'm Planning An Afternoon Tea
I really must be a slow mover - at least in some areas. I've been thinking about hosting an afternoon tea in honor of my mother for several years now. This year, I'm actually going to do it.
I am so excited about it. It will be held on Mother's Day and the guests will include our local family.
Following the English example, this tea will include both male and female guests. We often think of matrons with floral dresses and large hats sipping tea, but teas were originally for everyone.
Laurie's Cobalt World Blog has moved. Finish this post at
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Announcing Our New Monthly Newsletter
In less than two weeks, I'll be sending out the first ever newsletter for Laurie's Cobalt World. I'm very pleased with how it is turning out. I hope that you will take a minute or two to sign up for the newsletter.
Just go to our special newsletter sign-up page and enter your email address. There are a few more questions that you can answer or leave blank. Answering them will help us build a better newsletter, but that's entirely up to you.*
Once you click "Subscribe To List," you will be sent
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
In Praise Of Compote
“Compote” seems to be a word not well known among the younger generations, but it is well worth holding onto. Compote is a very versatile and very delicious dish, either served alone or with other equally delicious offerings.
Compote is a fruit dish, often served warm. Frequently it is a mixture of fruit rather than a single fruit, sweetened and perhaps flavored. Compote can be made sugar-free and/or fat-free. It can be made from dried fruit, fresh fruit, frozen fruit, or canned fruit. There are no hard-and-fast rules, but rather many choices and many successful combinations.
Laurie's Cobalt World Blog has moved. Finish this post at
http://www.cobalt-world.com/blog/2008/03/12/in-praise-of-compote/
Monday, March 10, 2008
End-Of-The-Academic-Year Gift Giving
May is just around the corner and with it comes a host of banquets, recitals, graduations, and every other kind of end-of-the-academic-year occasion you can think of.
Now is the time to plan for thank you gifts for teachers, scout leaders, coaches, piano teachers, dance instructors, and all of the people who enrich our lives with their personal services.
A small token of our appreciation can
Laurie's Cobalt World Blog has moved. Read the rest of this post at
http://www.cobalt-world.com/blog/2008/03/10/end-of-the-academic-year-gift-giving/
Friday, March 7, 2008
Getting A Large Family Meal On The Table - All At One Time
Easter is coming soon and many families will be having a large meal together. But will everything make it to the table at the appointed time? It’s a huge job to coordinate a large meal. Here are some ideas to help you bring it all together.
Visualize
The first step is to visualize the end you have in mind. In your mind’s eye, look at the table, the people, the place settings, candles, and flowers. Do you have everything you need?
If you do not have enough of one type of china, think about
http://www.cobalt-world.com/blog/2008/03/07/getting-a-large-family-meal-on-the-table-all-at-one-time/
Monday, March 3, 2008
Love, Weddings, Cake, and Cake Stands
My brother married his childhood sweetheart. It's a sweet story, but doesn't sound all that unusual. What's unusual about the story is that there was a 25-year interruption between the time they were sweethearts and the time they got married.
When my brother falls, he falls hard. But their parents thought they were too young to be serious and broke off their relationship.
My brother didn't date another girl all throughout highschool. And he never forgot his first love.
Nearly twenty-five years later,
http://www.cobalt-world.com/blog/2008/03/03/love-weddings-cake-and-cake-stands/