Here are some recent goings on at my house this past week:

Recently while scouring through some boxes in the garage, I came across my father-in-law’s old lunch pail.  He used to take his lunch in it when he worked on a construction site.  My husband has fond memories of his boyhood years when his dad would save a little treat from his lunch and bring it home in his lunchbox for his son to enjoy at the end of his workday.

When I put my hands on this old treasure I longed to find a way to integrate it into the decor in my husband’s office.  I knew it would be a clever place to hold all kinds of things, but I wanted it to be something my husband uses often, so he could have the joy of using it daily.

So, I placed it on the table beside the recliner in his office and put his prayer journal, his daily journal and his pens he uses to study in the mornings inside.  In the lid I just added a little greenery.  I like how it looks and it really meant a lot to my husband.  Take a peek…

A couple weeks ago I posted a recipe for Chicken with Blackberry Salsa from Taste of Home.  I hadn’t made it yet, but was excited to make this recipe for two.  I fixed it for us last week; here are the results:

It was very good!

Then last weekend for our church’s Sunday night fellowship, I made my mom’s recipe for Homemade Ice cream and followed my dad’s technique for layering in the ice and rock salt.  Here’s the end product, and trust me, it was as good as it looks!  You can’t beat homemade ice cream!

How about you – do you have an antique that is sentimental?  How have you integrated it into your decor?

Any new or yummy recipes going on in your kitchen this week?

With love from my country porch,