Friday, August 31, 2012

I wasn't "Gone", but I'm Back!....

I have absolutely No clue Why I can now 
add pictures....but I can!  Yeah!

I don't have any before pictures of the following 
projects so I will just try and explain what we've
done and plan to do.

Lots of work!

This is our upstairs landing.
This is our computer room
music room
kids hang out room
It use to be a bedroom.  But the people we purchased 
our Home from 12 yrs ago, had removed the wall that 
made it a "bedroom".  You can see the evidence of a
removed wall on the floor, where the white strip is now.

Until last weekend there was carpet in the hallway area
up to where the white strip is, then it was hardwood flooring
in the computer area.  They had refinished the wood floor in
that area and it is a much lighter color.  We are trying to figure out
what to do with the white strip to make it blend in with the 
two color difference of the hardwood floors.  

Notice the visitor we had the other day.
He was there all day long until my husband got 
Home from work after 6 p.m. that night....
He's now "gone"!
Another Yeah!

I believe the white strip is floor leveler that they kind of just
globbed on and covered with carpet.  I was a bit nervous to 
remove the carpet, but now we are so 
~Happy~
we did.  It looks so much better and feels so 
much cleaner too. I painted the flat panel closet doors
with chalkboard paint a few years ago.  It's been fun to
see what the girls and their friends come up with on them.

 This is the other end of the upstairs landing.
Imagine my surprise when we pulled up the carpet and found
beautiful original hardwood floors, in  pretty much
pristine shape minus a few little areas.
My Hillary was Home last weekend and did all 
of the pulling up of the carpet.  She got er done!
Thanks Hill!

 This part of the hallway had border....
~vinyl ugly border~
that was put up by the previous owners.  It took
a bit to get it off, but we finally did and I am so
Thankful and Happy it is gone!
I have been dreading that job since....
Day 1 pretty much....

 but, unfortunately there is one area I can not get at
to finish this project.  It is going to take my Guy
bringing in his BIG extension ladder and getting up there
and pulling it down and then painting where I can not reach also.
Might have to wait until the shed is done though....
or Snow flies!
This picture shows the old paint color.
I call it band-aide beige.  We didn't paint it
the previous owners had used this color in almost
every room in our Home.

It's hard to tell, but this is the new color.  There is a difference
this is called Toasted Almond and it is brighter and more of 
a creamy color.  I really like it and it makes the area look
~Fresh~
 As you see at this end of the hallway
there are some drywall issues.  This end of our Home
use to have an In-Law apartment.  We tore down the 
wall and it is a project that has been on the 
~back burner~
since we've lived here.....
12 Years Now!
At least there isn't a torn up area on the wood flooring,
just a color difference, shouldn't be too hard to correct.
Hopefully!

The carpeting went down the stairs as well.
Our girls tore that up one night this summer.  Glad to have it 
gone.  I painted the "good" steps with gray primer and left 
the steps that are broken undone.  There are 3 steps that 
need work.  My guy thinks he knows how to fix them
again, once the shed is done!
Darn Shed!
Hopefully that will be about complete this weekend!
Keeping my fingers crossed!

Can't wait to get the steps painted and looking nice.
So much better then the carpet that was there!


Thanks for stopping by....
Have a Safe and Happy Labor Day Holiday!

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Again, I sign on my blog, ready to do a new Post.
And when I try to add a picture....
it sits and spins!
Yesterday, I did as Vee suggested and totally emptied
my cache.  Boy, there was alot to delete. I shut it down
several times, but that didn't work.  In my frustration
I turned my computer off for the night and thought
maybe it will be better in the morning.
Nope!
I use Goggle Chrome as my browser.  One of the
suggestions for this problem is to change browsers.
I'm curious....
If you are a Google Chrome user, are you having this problem?
If you are not a Google Chrome user, which browser do you prefer?
Thanks for your suggestions!
Have a wonderful day....our heat is back today we are supposed to be in the 90's!

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

I have tried several times this morning to do a new post.
But, when I try to add photos, it just sits there and spins
trying to process what I want and when I try to X out
it tells me that I have "unsaved" changes and do I want 
to Leave this page or Stay on this page and then just 
sits there and spins.....
Any suggestions?  I've never had this happen before!

Monday, August 27, 2012

Still Going Strong....

Happy 29 th Anniversary
~to My~
Best Friend
I'll Love you Forever!

Thursday, August 23, 2012

If I do say so myself....

The Pie was a Huge hit!

 So, if you like Rhubarb and have never made a pie
with it before, like me, I can honestly say
Try this recipe!
My husband kept asking me if I ran to the
Amish Bakery 
we visited a couple weekends ago and purchased 
this pie....Right!  He Loves Me!

 So, this morning I thought....
Why not!
and had a small piece with my coffee
Shhhh....don't tell!

No different then having a muffin....
Really!
Well, maybe a little bit....
it was Better!

As a side note, if you do decide to try this recipe 
(in my last post)
I would double the amount of Rhubarb.  Other then that
it was Perfect!  The crumble top was so buttery and crunchy
Great with my morning coffee!

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

It's All Good Stuff....

Along with enjoying a Great smelling candle
because of the cooler temps at night and in the morning....
I'm also in the mood to bake.  I've been wanting to try
making a Rhubarb pie and went looking for a recipe.

My Mom gave me this cookbook years ago and I pull 
it out as a trusted reference when I want to try something
~Homey~

 Some of you may even have this cookbook.
I'd love to know if you do and what recipe you enjoy making.

 I was a little surprised to find this recipe....
for some reason it just struck me funny that the
Amish being of German descent 
would have a French recipe....
sounded like a good one and French is so "in" right now
Why not with my pie!

 So I assembled all my ingredients 

 and  it's now in the oven....
Yum....whole house candle au naturale!
See my little "confiture" dish in the back?  I just picked it up 
the other day when I got my Summer Boardwalk candle.
It was at Williams Sonoma clearanced for $4.99 from $19.00.
At the register they took off another 20% and I got it for 
$4.49....it holds my butter.  But as you know it is

confiture [ˈkɒnfɪˌtjʊə]
           n (Cookery) a confection, preserve of fruit, etc.
[from French, from Old French confire to prepare, from Latin conficere to produce
I still enjoy it for my butter....real butter?   Yep!


 I also pulled out my crockpot this morning and after
I put my Country Style Pork Ribs on the grill to help
seal in the juices, I put them in and sliced some onion and added
a few more seasonings and ....

 about 6:30 tonight
(that's when my Guy gets Home)
they will be so tender and Good
they will fall off the bone
You can almost taste them right now can't you?
Yep....I know you can!
Wish I could share the smells in my Home right now!
Just sayin'!

Then to finish things off for the perfect 
Summer Evening meal....
Fresh Corn on the Cob and Garden Tomato from our 
local Farm Market down the road....

Oh....Hold on....
Just one second!

 My Pie is done!

Smells Wonderful....
Hope it tastes good too!

What's on your dinner table tonight??

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

If Only....

The morning temps are changing...
so is the morning light....
there's a chill in the air that is 
refreshing and has me lighting candles again.

 I picked this one up the other day while in the 
~Big City~
with my Hillary.  It was at Bath and Body Works and
was in their clearance rack for $1.75....
~If  Only~
you were here and could smell all the goodness
coming from this candle.  It is quite Yummy smelling
and to me it smells like 
~Carmel Corn~
it is called Summer Boardwalk....
My youngest came down and said to me....
Mommy, I hope you know it's not Fall yet!
I said Why do you say that?
She said That candle smells like Fall!
(school starts soon, she wants No reminders!)

 This little candle packs some good smells in it....
Now I want a bigger size!
I don't think there were any :(

I must use this sparingly....
to make it last.  It will be part of my morning
for a few more days anyway.

Do you have a favorite candle you like to burn in the morning?

Saturday, August 18, 2012

I'm Late!!
Oh My, I slept past 8 a.m. 
almost 8:30 a.m. actually....that never happens!

My guy brought me coffee....
in bed....how sweet was that!
~Very~

He made me pancakes too....
~I know, I know~
He's a definite Keeper!

 But, he needs My help with this....
and I want to be a Keeper too....

 Lots to Do!
Like creating doors....
We my guy actually digitally added these doors....
What do you think?
Yeah, gotta do something like this!

And one Last window needs Fixin'....
and paintin'....
That's My job!

So see ya later!
Hope you have a Lovely day!

Thursday, August 16, 2012

From a Mom of 3 Girls....

This is purely mid-day Venting!

Why is it that you have to ask "nicely" 3 times for something to get done
then state that you are going to the store and would like to see it done
when you get back then 1 1/2 hrs later when you do return what you asked
for is still not done and you have to 
~remind nicely~
to get it done and then you explain that something that has been
noticeably laying somewhere by that daughter and it shouldn't 
even be there (because it's not her room), and you ask
~God Forbid~
for something else that that said daughter left out
to be kindly put back where it goes and she walks
right by it and goes back upstairs and on her way states that
~She~
is trying to get ready to go somewhere and I (her Mother)
knows this and am asking her to do (as if I just asked)
~A Million~
Yes, A Million! Things!!

I don't know how all of you do Math....
but, I only counted 
3 things
Yep, Three!!
and I had to ask A Million Times!
Life is terribly tough when you are a teenager!
Just Venting!

Maybe Next Year....

You may remember my Wheelbarrow Makeover.
I had cleaned up my rusty old wheelbarrow. It has wood sides
that had rotted away and my husband replaced them.
I was so excited and planted it with 
~2 packages~
of Zinnia's.  I had never planted them before
but had seen the gorgeous blooms to be
over at Bird Nest Cottage
and was inspired to give it a try!

 I new I had started them too late, as hers were already 
quite tall at the time.  But I thought 
~What the heck~
and gave it my best!  Lots of water because of the hot 
dry weather we've experienced this summer.
I had lots of green appearing.  
Turns out most of them were weeds!
 This is all I got out of
2 packets of seeds
 Lots of bare spots....
just a few blooms!
Oh well, maybe next year!
I have to remember to start earlier.

Well, on to mums they are starting to appear
in our stores around here lately!  

Have you purchased your mums yet??
Falls just around the corner!

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

My Mom's Corn Stick Cast Iron Pan....

I've had this pan in my possession for more years then I remember.
It has sat in my area that I keep things until I want them everything
laundry room cupboard area.  I decided the other day during our rain
downpour when it was chilly, to pull it out and clean it up.  My hubby
decided to give it a try and since it was a bit rusty (not too bad), he oiled
and salted it and heated it on high on top of the stove. 
 It cleaned up okay,
but just touching it made our hands smell metallic. 
 Nope won't cook anything and have it taste like that. 
 So yesterday when I had a few minutes
 I decided to give it a try.  First I had Googled the best way to season a
cast iron pan.  Here's what I did....
I washed it in hot soapy water using a toothbrush, then an SOS pad.
Then I put it over our center burner on our stove
 and burned off the water,
then I coated it with vegetable oil and put it in a 500 degree oven for
about 30 minutes and then let it cool in the heated oven.  
This is how it looked when it was done:

 I didn't think to take before pictures,
 but it was dry and a bit rusty looking.
Now it is nice and seasoned.  And no more metallic smell! 
The article I read on seasoning it said that
the process may have to be done up to 4 times.  I only did it once and 
crossed my fingers....I wanted to try it!

I chose to use just the cheapy Jiffy cornbread mix....
just in case they stuck like glue and wouldn't come out.
I spray it with Canola Oil....
put it in the oven to preheat, as instructed for 10 mins....

 I put them in the oven and crossed my fingers....
Using the temp. and time as per instructions on the box.  

 Golden brown on top....
Looking Good!

 I Almost screamed.....
they actually came out, with No problem!

 Nice and crispy brown!

Very nice!

 Next time we will go with maybe a homemade recipe.
Add a bit of flavor and spice....
the options are endless!

And the best thing is, it cleaned up with a good rinse of 
Hot Water....

This pan has a patent date of July 6, 1920 on the back
It is by Wagner Ware.
I don't remember my Mom using it too often, probably because 
the Corn Stick stuck in the pan.  That seems to be the complaint.

Do any of you have one of these pans?
Do you use cast iron pans of any kind for your cooking?

It is kind of fun....glad I have it!
Oh yeah, if you have a good recipe for Corn Sticks and don't mind
sharing, I'd love to give it a try!

Monday, August 13, 2012

My husband was on vacation last week.  We spent the majority 
of the first part of the week working on the shed.  Hopefully in
 the not to distant future I will be able to show you a
completed shed.  I must say it is looking so
  cute good right now and I, for one,  am 
getting so excited for it to be completed.  One the heat
has made it so difficult to muster up the energy 
to even work on it and two....
It is a much needed addition to our backyard!

But, on Thursday and Friday we got some much needed rain.
Downpours actually for at least (almost anyway) 24 hrs
non~stop.  So my husband and I took a road trip up to 
see our Hillary and we took her out to lunch and then we came 
Home thru Amish Country.
Even with all the rain we had a good time.  We stopped at a 
couple of vegetable stands at some Amish homes.  My husband 
had to do the purchasing as I was blocked in with J~channel for the 
much needed shed.  But, I didn't mind too much because of the downpour.
By the time we reached this Amish Home the rain
had let up alot and I did get out and go into the bakery. 
We purchased some cheese bread, pop corn (un~popped),
a homemade candy bar (which I still haven't eaten), and a
pumpkin cookie sandwich....that we shared on the ride Home.

(Google image)

Surprisingly, I didn't even think to take out my camera while
my husband was at the 2 stands we stopped at.  Just as well, 
as you all know they don't like to have their picture taken.  But, I 
did watch from the car.  The first stop a young girl came out to help
my husband.  She had on a black prayer cap 
(which I just found out means she's single),
a coat that looked like it was made of wool
(it was chilly that day with the rain),
and a dress that went about mid~calf or so....
and she was barefoot!  I thought that was so cute!
My husband said she was a very friendly girl and 
probably would have talked with him as long as he wanted.
She had held out her hands and asked him if he could guess 
what she was doing today and he said, "You are peeling beets!"
She was amazed that he knew.  He told her that the stain would last for a
few days and is hard to get off. 
 She said, "That's okay, red is my favorite color!"
We guessed her to be about 14 yrs old.

If only our non~Amish kids were that joyful!

The second Amish stand a young boy ran out to help.
I had to laugh, because he had a plastic grocery sack over
his straw hat to protect it from the rain.  He too was in a coat 
and was also barefoot.  My husband said he was very knowledgeable
about his produce.  We guess him to be about 12 yrs old or so.  
He could name the heirloom tomatoes and that impressed my 
husband.  I remember their yard being so pretty and not a weed
in their garden that ran along the driveway.  Their neighbors were
"English" and I have to say, an old fashioned push mower was
in the Amish yard and their yard was kept so nice....
not so much for their "English" neighbors!

The Amish Bakery was having a fish fry this past Saturday.
I would have loved to have gone.  It was open to the public
and all donations were going to help pay hospital bills.  
"Mary" said that there were alot of babies in the hospital
this past winter and the money was needed to help with the bills.

I can only imagine the turn out of buggies.  
What a sight that would have been!

One last thing:  While we were in the bakery that day, both
my husband and I came out and said boy it sure was dark in there.
It was about 6:00 p.m. and raining, but we had forgotten
they don't use electric!  Kind of funny how use to things we become!

Hope you all are in Good Health and are making Happy Homes!
As Always, Thanks for stopping by!

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Calling ALL Creative People....

Okay....
we had some errands to run this morning to get more
stuff so hubby can work on the shed.  We stop by some 
antique stores and such and he finds this....

 A homemade....Chicken Coop perhaps???
or Rabbit Hutch....more likely!



Found this picture on Pinterest!

Very primitive as you can see.
What....can I do with it?
Should....I buy it?
I haven't yet!
Can't have Farm Animals in my small town.
Shucks!!

The top would definitely have to be replaced. It has little doors that open.
Hubby suggested taking the wire cages out and painting the wood frame
then re~assembling it....but what would I do with it?

That's where all of you creative bloggers out there come in!
Would YOU even bother with it?
If so, tell me what you would do with it.

On another note....
Thank You All 
for sending your prayers and kind thoughts for my Dad.
He is in very good spirits and is a man of God, so his faith is
keeping him strong!  I so appreciate all of you for showing
me and my family support.  It means so much!

Have a delightful weekend, I can't wait to hear your ideas
and if I should even bother with this thing!

Friday, August 3, 2012

For those of you who may not know....
or don't recall the few posts I have done.  This is my Dad.
He has not been doing well for a few weeks.  Not sick necessarily, but 
without going into too much detail he has had some issues going on.  

He is not one that ever "thinks" he needs to see a doctor. 
 Imagine almost 17 yrs ago 
when we had to convince him to go to the doctor....
first time I ever remember him going
because he was having major issues and turned out he had to have a
Triple Bypass

So these past few weeks have taken a toll on him and he actually
asked one of my sisters to make an appointment 
for him to see the doctor. That was this past Monday.  
He got the results back yesterday morning and was to have tests done
this morning at the hospital. 
 My sister told me she would call me when done.
It's 4:49 p.m. his appt. was at 11 a.m. this morning
No One has called....

I am going to give my sister a call and see what she can tell me.

This is the hard part of living 1 1/2 hrs away from family!

Please say a prayer for my Dad!
Thank you for stopping by!

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

A Huge Thorn in my Side....

Tell me you have a room (or two) in your Home
that you just can't seem to keep under control.
I can't be the only one out there with this problem!
I can't believe I am showing all of you this room....
but here goes (try to be kind, ha,ha!)

Welcome to my: 
Laundry Room
Mud Room
Dog Room
Back Entry 
Keep the Chainsaw so it doesn't get stolen out of the garage again Room
Drop all your crap stuff and carry on Room!
(when we moved here this room was also the ladies hair salon)
This room is busy I tell you!

 It is actually a pretty good sized room. Small bedroom size really.
Parts of it I really like. But, parts I don't.
I spent most of yesterday
after spending time around my desk area, cleaning this room.
It tends to get very disorganized very quickly.

 One thing I don't care for is the blue indoor/outdoor carpeting.
Someday it will go! There are NO closets in the downstairs of 
our Home....so coats, shoes and the like have to go here.  On hooks
behind the door and the antique coat rack....shoes on the floor.
The door you see leads to my "back door guests are best" entry!

 At one time this was used as the "closet"....
see the bar I tried to camouflage by painting it the same
color as the wall? I prefer this to a closet type entry.
More Welcoming....
Don't you think?

 I do like the black and white tile floor
and the built in wall of cabinets....
 there is another one on the other side of the door there
I will tell you these cabinets are full of my
 extra dishes, cook books, candles, chatzkies....you know stuff
that for some reason I can't get rid of but probably really don't need.

The door to the left goes into my kitchen and then there is a door
in front of the pink rubber boots that goes up to the old maid quarters
(absolutely No Pun intended....that's what it was called)
that is now my oldest daughters bedroom when she is Home....
Amanda please take your shoes up next time!
Thank you!

 Loosey & Delilah's Area
and the door to the 
basement and the garage husband's workshop 

Well that's my Thorn in my side space....
I hope to someday make it more appealing and welcoming
if only for me and the time I have to spend in there.  
But it is what it is....

Now, your turn, tell me what room is your Thorn!

Thanks for stopping by yesterday and leaving
 all your encouraging words.
Hope you have a delightful day!
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