The Strip District ( Food and Fun Atmosphere ) in Pittsburgh, PA

Above photo is a mural on the side of a building at The Strip District in Pittsburgh.

Click the photos to enlarge them.


Of course, you can purchase Pittsburgh Penguins, Pirates and Steelers shirts, hats , etc here at the strip !
Below is some of the breads, roll, etc. available, too !

A favorite store of mine shown below.. The smoked swiss cheese is delicious ! And a big variety of cheeses, olives and meats are sold here and yes, I had permission from the lady weighing the cheese to take photos !



Shown below is some of the seafood sold at Wholey's.. Look at the size of those crab legs ! They also have live fish you can purchase swimming in tanks. And I believe they clean them for you also.

Click photos to enlarge them .


Fresh crabs anyone ~



Fresh herbs at a great price and an old fire engine house at the Strip.


This section of Pittsburgh is one of my favorites. The Strip offers lots of fresh foods such as breads, cookies, great restaurants and a variety of foods from other parts of the world such as Italy ! My favorite, of course. I had to buy a package of fresh Italian Love Knot Cookies.. anise flavored .. delicious and fresh, too.

There is a place out of the weather where artists can rent a spot and sell their creations and paintings.

Lots of vendors set up on the sidewalks on Saturdays especially during nice weather.

It was a great weekend in Pittsburgh with nice weather and time spent with my sister. We also went to a couple shopping complexes , Robinson Towne and The Waterworks and McNight Road where there are lots of stores ! And we were able to get in a couple long walks around her neighborhood.

So, back to sewing I go...

Hugs,
Linda

Got Asparagus ?

Our garden is full of asparagus at the moment, so I thought I would make something different with it ~ quiche !

Asparagus Quiche

10 bacon strips, cooked until crisp ( I trimmed off the fat on the cooked bacon )
1/2 chopped onion, sauted in a 1 tablespoon bacon drippings and a bit of olive oil
1 pound of asparagus, trimmed
1 cup of shredded swiss cheese
1 tablespoon all purpose flour ~ I used about three tablespoons of flour.
A few dashes salt
A few dashes black pepper
****
4 eggs
1/2 cup half and half

Asparagus spears for garnish and a sliced tomato

1 unbaked pie pastry shell ( I cheated and used pillsbury in the dairy case ) I roll it and make it thinner and a bit bigger for my 10 inch pie plate.

Directions :

Cook bacon and drain, let cool and then tear or cut into small pieces. Reserve 1 tablespoon bacon drippings to saute the chopped onion.

Cut five asparagus spears into 4 " spears for garnish. Cut remaining asparagus into 1" inch pieces. In a saucepan cook all the asparagus in a small amount of boiling water until crisp tender.. and drain.

In a bowl, toss the bacon, sauted onion, cooked asparagus pieces, swiss cheese and flour , salt and pepper till mixed. Pour into pastry shell. In a bowl, beat the eggs and cream : and pour over bacon mixture. Place asparagus spears and tomato slices on top of quiche. Sprinkle with black pepper, if desired. Or red pepper if you want a little spice in your life ! :o) Or paprika !

Bake at 400 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean and crust is golden brown.. Cover crust with foil so it doesn't burn before baking. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

The dh liked it .. and it was the first time I ever made a quiche !



I changed out my daffodils in the wire fence basket and put some summery geraniums in their place .

Hugs,
Linda

~ TDIPT Mercantile Updating Tonight for May 1st ~

My offerings for TDIPT Mercantile tonight are two Civil War looking mail bags plus four envelopes and a letter (for each mail bag) I wrote from bits and pieces taken from a Pennsylvania 1863 newspaper article.

I made a rusty wire hook and eye for the mail bag closure. There is no glue used in the making of this mail bag. ( The only glue used was to seal the envelopes. ) I have handstitched the handle on the mail bag. I just love how these mail bags turned out ! The mail bag is a Dee Duncan design with my own touches added.

The Civil War started 150 years ago in 1861.

They will be listed tonight on TDIPT Mercantile after 9:00 p.m.





If you get a chance , please come by TDIPT Mercantile tonight after 9 p.m.

I hope you have a great weekend !

Hugs,
Linda

A Primitive Place Magazine Blog Giveaway

Hurry ! Another great prim handcrafted giveaway from A Primitive Place Blog ~ It is a wonderful handstitched framed sampler from Jen of Taylors Farmhouse Attic. I love the sweet detailed tiny stitches in these samplers !

Click the link below to view all the details !

http://aprimitiveplacemagazine.blogspot.com/2011/04/another-prim-giveaway.html

The Primitive Place magazine is chocked full of prim decor, creative ideas, recipes, stories and more with very little advertizing ! It is a magazine worth taking a gander at if you already haven't !

Have a fun day !

HUGS,

Linda

* Happy Easter *

The Dogwood Tree
Anonymous

When Christ was on earth, the dogwood grew
To a towering size with a lovely hue.
Its branches were strong and interwoven
And for Christ's cross its timbers were chosen

Being distressed at the use of the wood
Christ made a promise which still holds good:
"Not ever again shall the dogwood grow
To be large enough for a tree, and so

Slender and twisted it shall always be
With cross-shaped blossoms for all to see.
The petals shall have bloodstains marked brown
And in the blossom's center a thorny crown.

All who see it will think of Me,
Nailed to a cross from a dogwood tree.
Protected and cherished this tree shall be
A reflection to all of My agony."

Wishing you a very Blessed Happy Easter !

Hugs,
Linda

My Friend's Prim House !

Click the photos to enlarge them.

My friend, Mary, has found some really awesome prim treasures ! Thought you might like to see some of them !

I took these photos today while I was visiting.

For two days in a row here in Pennsylvania we have had warm weather ! The daffodils finally bloomed today !






Hugs,
Linda