Dinner

I am a fan of brussel sprouts...and I will not apologize...This batch was coated with olive oil, sprinkled with salt, pepper and parmesan cheese.  I put them on a cookie sheet and roasted them in a 400 degree oven for around 30-40 minutes.  Healthy, yummy and pretty!!

Table Re-do!

I picked up this shabby wood table at a garage sale for $5.00.  It measures 51 inches long by 17 inches wide.  It is just tall enough to hold my radio/cd player in the living room, and not over shoot the kitchen counter. 

And this is it all prettied up! A chocolate top and a cream bottom!

Banana Bites!

I had been searching for something to satisfy my chocolate cravings without expanding my waistline.  These banana bites, at least for now, are just perfect!  They are cold, sweet and salty all at the same time!  I keep them in the freezer and I swear the banana takes on an 'ice cream' kind of personality.  I am lovin' these!

I have no exact recipe.  I sliced a newer, firm banana into thicker discs.  I melted about 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips.  Added around a tablespoon of peanut butter and melted it all in the microwave.  I then dipped one side of each banana slice into the chocolate.  Next a press into a bowl of finely chopped mixed nuts.  I lined them all up on a cookie sheet, licked my fingers, and put them in the freezer for about an hour.  After everything was solid and in tact..they went into a freezer bag for storage...But not for long!!!

A Tuesday Night

This is the way I'm feeling tonight.  I'm sure tomorrow will be better.  But for now....

White Pillows!

I love white pillows and pillow cases to dream on!

No Smoking

"What's your problem?"...A question I've been asked a couple times this week from people who are actually allowed to ask me that.  Apparently I've been on the moody side for a few days.  Humm..I too am wondering what my 'problem' is.  Heat?..Charter Communications?.. Grinding my teeth because of the mass dying of honey bee's?  Lack of tobacco?  Wait!..that's it!  No smoking.

On Feb. 14, 2013 I smoked my last cigarette.  I cherished each and every lovely puff.  I inhaled it right down to the filter. For a few seconds after I flushed the little stub..I panicked.  I miss it. Smoking has been a part of my life for most of my life..but quitting was the right thing to do.  It has been 144 days from Valentines day to today.  At one pack a day, which was my norm..that's 144 packs.  20 cigarettes per pack equals 2,880 cigarettes..that I did NOT smoke!  Now the $864.00 I saved ($6 per pack..approx) is nowhere to be found!  I don't know what I spent it on and I'm wondering why I don't notice the extra money I have.  I'm not even sure I feel a whole lot better..Although I know I do and I'm positive if I were to smoke just one right now, I would notice a huge difference.  I still have cravings and probably always will.  I'm not giving in..144 days is a long time and right now I'm shooting for 145..One day at a time...No problem!!!

Lazy Me!

It's push button and I love it!  A lazy girl's Lazy Boy!

Under the right arm, there is a cup holder and a deep pocket for the remote or a book!
We're going to be good friends.

Bedroom Goodies!

 

I've recently given my downstairs bedroom a new look..complete with hardwood floors, closet doors and new 'old' furniture! First up, this fabulous vintage dresser I found at our newly opened Goodwill. It's nice and sturdy with deep drawers and lots of chippy paint. I didn't do anything but clean it up and put fresh paper in the drawers. I truly heart it!!

 

 

Next:  One of my regular customers and friend at the flea market, gave me this wonderful print of my very favorite painting..."The Starry Night" by Vincent Van Gogh.  It's been sitting with books on top of it for weeks to flatten it out..and also because I couldn't find a vintage picture frame large enough for it until now.  I bought this one at our thrift shop and painted a couple quick coats of creamy white paint and gave it a bit of distressing.  I had plexi glass cut for it instead of glass.  I wanted it to be light on the wall and light on my head should it ever fall, since it's hung right over my bed!

One other new addition is this little desk.  It used to be an ugly dark brown and hold my TV in the living room.  I painted it, gave it an applique and new drawer pulls.  The iron chair came in from the back yard and sports romantic, beige material on it's seat.  Another picture frame redo above.  I like the look and the whole room has a soft, comfortable feel to it.

The second bedroom, also received a new hardwood floor and some much needed improvements.  Not sure what kind of decor it will have.  Right now it's an all purpose room...it stores the grand daughters toys and clothes, yet has beds for guests.  The cat eats her meals there. I'm just going to wait until inspiration hits before I tackle it!

I Found A Desk!

I had been looking for something to house my new flat screen TV and cable box for a long time.  I didn't like the usual paper board/entertainment center fair so when I saw this shabby desk I knew it was for me!  This is the finished product..I really need to remember to take 'before' pictures!

Awful at first sight, I had a vision.  I paid $20 for it at our St. Vinnie's, brought it home and let it sit for a while.  The previous owners had used sharp objects to engraved doodles, names and grooves in it's wood... generally abusing this helpless piece of beauty!  To shorten the story...I sanded the best I could.  Fixed the drawers so they would open and shut.  I gave it three coats of Glidden 'Misty Aqua' paint, then lightly distressed it...I almost felt guilty after all this poor thing had been through!!  There were 8 drawers...With one pull missing..It worked out perfectly as I eliminated the top middle drawer to hold the cable box.  Things almost never work out this way..but in this case, the box was 2 inches smaller than the opening and it fit perfectly!  The seven drawers each have a handle!  ..And check out their fabulous Bakelite!

Yes, I love it!

Halloween

Okay..I know I'm backtracking, but I want to catch up and this is too cool not to post!

Halloween.  Odawa Casino. Petoskey Michigan.  The traditional costume competition.  The Addams Family.  My daughter Charlie is Wednesday and her significant other, Tom, is Uncle Fester.  They placed second in their category...Just short of the money!  I think they should have been first!!

Junk Junkie

Wow!  Fall seems to have melted too quickly into winter, I can't believe it's December already...Just a week and a half before Christmas! ..I do get all giddy and soft, anticipating Santa's arrival.. For the grand-diva's you know.. :)

September brought a new adventure for me.  After a summer of garage sales, thrift store shopping, and endless 're-do's of vintage items..my tiny space was bursting with my collection of 'discared treasures'.  I had no choice but to take this show on the road!  I rented a 10 X 12 foot booth, at our local indoor flea market and it has been amazing!  I'm not getting rich by any means, but I am so much richer for the experience!  I've met some wonderful, special people, both vendors and shoppers.  I've sold lots things I know other people (like me) just can't resist and will love as much as I do...And I really am looking forward to the rest of this cold, snowy winter! 

Here's my booth..See anything you'd like?  Stop by, we'll be here til May!

Before and After

I picked up this child sized table and two chairs at a garage sale for $3.00.  Some handy dad or grandpa probably spent a weekend puting it together.  It is very sturdy and well built, although not very pretty!  When I purchased it, it looked to have been outdoors a while or at least stored in a non-weather proof area.  No warps or rotting wood...Just a bit 'rustic' to say it best!

The set originally had a pinkish white tint to it, and the paint had faded badly.  I cleaned it up the best I could, and sanded and sanded and sanded!  Here it is....Still rustic, but all made over with a couple fresh coats of vintage yellow paint and a very cool chalkboard top!  I hope some little people will enjoy doodling on it!

New Food Find! Almond Butter!

This stuff  ROCKS!!

A cousin to peanut butter, (which I love) this is my new favorite pantry staple!  Here's some nutritional info from 'Bestnaturalfoods.com'

Almonds and almond butter are nutritional powerhouses that contain significant amounts of protein, calcium, fiber, magnesium, folic acid, potassium, and vitamin E. Almond butter has extremely low saturated fat content and is rich in monounsaturated fats making it a heart-healthy choice. Of course, almonds have no trans fat. Studies consistently have shown that the addition of almonds into the diet effectively lowers cholesterol. Unlike low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets, adding almonds does not adversely alter insulin sensitivity in healthy adults or blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes.

In addition calorie count is 190 per 2 tablespoons..a tad less than peanut butter.  Fiber is 3 g. one more than peanut butter. Yeah, we need fiber!

The texture is a bit grainy, it's a little sweeter and thicker than pb, but tastes so very luscious on those crispy, Kashi TLC crackers!  Or on a spoon!

It's also kid approved as Lex took a taste outside her culinary comfort zone and gave it a big 'Yes!'

Try it, you'll like it! 

Framed!

About a year ago, while leaving a garage sale, a picture frame caught my eye.  It was laying on top of a pile of ragged blankets and moldy books slated for the trash.  On closer inspection I realized it was a 'Gesso'.

 Gesso is a preparation of plaster of Paris and glue. (Or many other combinations)  It is used as a base or surface for painting.  It can be molded and applied to wood...As on a frame.  Vintage Gesso's are highly collectible and decorative.  A Gesso on it's way to the trash!  I had to rescue it!

This poor frame had been treated with great irreverence.  It had been spray painted a tingy brown. It's backing was burlap and those funny 'pods and stems' people paint gold and display at Christmas time were sticking out and glued all over it's face.  I was embarrassed for it.  I offered to pay the owner a fair price.  He looked at me and laughed.  I took it home.

Here it is...A large 27 X 23 oval.  All sanded, painted a creamy ivory and slightly distressed.  It got tired of waiting for the black and white photo of my Grand-girls I had hoped to put in it.  So, it's up on my wall, empty.  It looks beautiful!

As a side note:  Today I picked up this 'just tacky enough to be Chic', black vintage paper mache vase with bright red artifical flowers.  The base is a huge 17 inches wide!  Overall height is 23 inches! Someone is going fight  me over this !!

Ahh..Breakfast!

I love breakfast!  It's my favorite meal of the day.  I don't usually have time to make the big sit down and eat extravaganza that I'd like to, due to my babysitting duties for the grand-diva's.  So, this is one of my easy, make ahead dishes that allow me to have something quick, nutritional, and much more tasty than the cereal or fruit bars I eat in a pinch.  I just call it 'The Egg Dish'.

2 Eggs and 2 egg whites  (I use Egglands Best)
About 1/4 cup milk
1 Morning Star sausage patty-crumbled (They really do taste like sausage)
1/4 cup any shredded cheese
I use olives, green pepper and sometimes cooked spinach, but anything goes according to taste.
About 2 tablespoons of salsa ( I like the kick)
Mix that all up in a bowl.  Spray an 8 1/2 inch pie plate with cooking spray and pour the mixture in.  Bake at 350 till set.

I cut the finished product in half and put it in the fridge.  In the morning I just pop one half in the microwave and make a piece of whole wheat toast.  This really does hold me over till lunch time. It looks like a lot, but even at half, I'm only eating 1 egg and 1 egg white.  Calorie wise with the toast it's about 200.  Not bad, and I'll still have the other half for the next day!

Red Kitchen

It may sound a little silly to be excited at finding a vintage cake carrier...

But not if one already has the matching canisters:

And bread box:

The kitchen is my most favorite room in the house!  When I moved here, I was happy with the green and pink theme I started with.  As time when by, I missed the RED  I had lavished my previous kitchen in.  So...I'm going back.  Changing linens, curtains, and accessories to reflect my likes.  You won't find many brand new or without flaw items in my kitchen, and some goodies such as depression glass and Hoosier jars will still be pink and green.  I will however make you a cup of coffee in an old enamel coffee pot and serve it to you in an antique china cup embellished with red flowers.  C'mon over!

Just Me

I'm not really one for manicured lawns or orderly thought out landscape balance.  I like to let things fall into place and just be what they are.
This old chair pictured above, I think used to be rocker..The rungs are missing..And I bought it at a garage sale for $5.  The paint is to say the least 'chippy' but so chic and perfect. It hugs my self planted flowers, beautifully!

The rusty plant stand was a $3.00  garage sale find and my sister gave me the long pots..dirt is free!!

The rusty chairs and plant stand to the left (actually 2 chairs) I picked up for $9 at various sales.  I had someone cut circular plywood basis for the chairs.  I bought cheap foam, cut and glued it to the plywood, then used a vinyl table cloth..doubled..to upolstery them.

The weeds growing through the cement are an added perk..I think I'll let them live as they are trying so hard to push up through the concrete..Anything with that much determination for life deserves to flourish!

I have spinach, cherry tomatoes, basil, and onions growing in pots on the back deck..I'm growing salad!  Can't wait for it all to be ready!  I've found a wonderful vinaigrette recipe I'm looking forward to pouring all over the finished product!!  Gosh I love summer!!

Where Have I Been? June 12 2011

Wow-It's been six months since I've posted! 

The winter, although long, seems to have gone by quickly.  Living in the city through all the snow and blow didn't seem nearly as bad as when I was in the country...On secondary roads that don't get plowed till mid-day.  Ice that doesn't melt until April, and open spaces that give the blustery wind a turbo charge!  Yes, the city is nice.  I was able to get around with no problems.  I only had to use the four wheel drive to exit my garage once after a storm, and I never lost power.  I think I'll stay here.

I guess no matter where you live the spring not only brings the peeling off of down jackets and thoughts of sandals and lazy days, but yard work!  Fall leaves compact in hard to reach places.  Grass is matted and brown, and the ground is soggy.  This being my first year to fend for myself, I enlisted a little help from Lexie.  We went to the hardware store and bought rakes and clippers.  Items that had mysteriously disappeared from my fathers work shop when I wasn't looking I suspect. 

She was a trooper and worked hard..for about thirty minutes!  We didn't get a whole lot of raking done but we had a great time just being together and walking around the property.  I related old stories to her about the house, and dates that her grand dad had planted some of the maples and apple trees in the back yard. And how her grandma had been so proud of the now, nonexistent little garden she tended each summer.  Somehow, knowing a bit of the history made the work a little more important to her.

I'm looking so forward to the hot days ahead, when I can set up the sprinkler in the back yard,  make a pitcher of Koolaide, sit on the deck and watch my grand girls play and laugh in the same spot I once did.  I love this house.
Yup..I'm staying here.

• Trash To Treasure June 3 2010

  Can you guess which items in this pic came from a yard sale?  If you guessed ‘all', you would be correct! 

   In an effort to fund my bank account and pay my bills, I am a garage/yard/thrift store/freebie scrounger!  I look for unique vintage items I can refurbish..or not..and offer on Ebay, Etsy and Bonanzle.  Along the way, occasionally I find something I just cannot give up.  This mirror was one of those.

    It didn’t start out as a mirror, but a dreary grey and white, framed print of a colonial street.  I fell in love with the frame.  It is made of a lighter weight plastic or possibly Syroco material and is ornate and chic!  I removed the print, shined up the frame and took it to my local glass company.  They installed an 1/8 inch mirror  and it turned out absolutely beautiful!  At 5 feet by 3 feet it is exactly what my big ole’ wall needed.  I love it!  (the parrot you see on the front door belongs to baby diva, she is fascinated by color and the bird provides visual bliss!)

  Oh..Did I mention I only paid $5.00 for the frame?  Total cost after the mirror was installed..Including lunch for my handy and sweet  brother-in-law, who gave up a Saturday morning to hang it… $80.00.  I could never have purchased a mirror of this size and beauty for even close to that price.  My reflection is smiling!!
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Sisters July 10 2010

• Although they don’t know it now…Someday they will be the best of friends!

  
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•    June 14 2010 My Grandmothers Roses
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  In the back yard of my parents house (where I live now) is a very over grown rose bush.  Over grown due to my unintentional neglect.  I’ve been so busy renovating the inside of  this very old house, with a whole new mini living space upstairs, trying to figure out my fathers work shop…what are all these tools and boxes of receipts?  Plus generally getting used to and making these rooms my own, I’ve not had time to put any energy into the landscape.

  This rose bush as I remember, was a shoot from my maternal grandmoms  bush..Planted right after my parents moved in to their new house around 1960.  It sits against the back side of the garage and through all these years has survived and flourished.  It hasn’t had much attention over the years.  No one pruned it or fertilized it.  It was just given up to nature.  Still it remains strong and beautiful..And makes a loud statement to me..My grandmother whom I loved so much..and didn’t get to spend enough time with..is still here, at least in the roses.
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  May 25 2010 Lilacs

  Today is Tuesday and it’s been a busy week already!  A very good friend and co-writer is driving all the way from Chicago tomorrow to spend a long weekend with me and my family.  I’ve been trying to ready this old house to accept company.  I’ve cleaned, put new sheets on the bed, washed windows so we can actually see the beauty just outside and grocery shopped with my friends tastes in  mind.

  The last final touch was to ‘borrow’ a clump of lilacs from my neighbors bush.   Not really a bush, but a well-groomed, almost topiary like dome he has mastered it into.  I absolutely love the fragrance of Lilacs, they are by far my favorite flower.  I’ve put the bouquet in a vintage crystal vase and centered it, so it is both a focal point and an aromatic splash when walking into the main of the house.

  It was in the 80′s today, and after doing some last-minute sweeping, and prettying up the deck, where my friend and I will play guitars and hopefully write a new song..I flipped on the air conditioner to be sure it works..and it does.  It’s going to be a wonderful weekend!

  I’m signing off at 12:03 am=guess it’s the 26th now…Sweet dreams
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  May 13 2010 Banana Bread

  Today is cold and grey.  It  feels more like an early fall than spring, with low temps in the 40′s,  lots of rain and high winds.  A wonderful day to just stay cozy and warm inside.  After running some errands, and doing a bit of  tedious painting, I decided to take advantage of a free day (not baby-sitting grand-diva) and do some baking.  The oven offered a welcome heat to kitchen also.

  
  

  

  My hungry little gumbas love banana bread.  This recipe  freezes well, and I almost always have a batch ready for snacking, breakfast or just grabbing!  I made muffins this time,(about 10, depending on how full you fill the cups)  this recipe will also make one huge loaf.  I have, on occasion, substituted spiced pumpkin for the bananas, with great success. It could be made a bit healthier by adding some ground flax, raisins, half applesauce/butter..and only egg whites..but my family does not share my enthusiasm for nutrition, and this is one of those ‘Nobody makes it like grandma” things and I’m not willing to disappoint them, or lose my status as ‘Best banana bread maker!’

  Here is my secret grandma recipe if you’d like to give it a try.

  Banana Nut Bread

  1/2 cup butter

  1 cup sugar

  2 eggs

  2 cups flour

  1 tsp. baking soda mixed with 3 tbls. water

  1 tsp. vanilla

  3-4  ripe mashed bananas

  1/2 cup walnuts

  Cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs, vanilla, soda/water. Mix well.  Add flour, one cup at a time, folding.  Add bananas and walnuts, mix well.  Badder will be thick.

  Bake in a well greased loaf pan, or 10 paper muffin cups.

  350 degrees 60-70 minutes for a loaf.  30-40 minutes for muffins, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

  Enjoy!  The bread/muffins are also amazing warmed with a light spreading of peanut butter!

I’ve been painting today.  Not masterpieces or back yard acrylics, but vintage picture frames I will offer on EBay.

This beauty is a favorite of mine, and if I had a place for it, we wouldn’t part..The creamy white paint brought out all the bumps and pits characteristic of the ornate mold, it turned out so gorgeous!  I just know a bidder is going to fall in love with it and make us both very happy!!

I spent most of my Monday with my favorite grand-diva Lexie.  She did a hooky from school today, but not totally unfounded, as she does have a cold and was not feeling 100%.  We took a long walk to a neighborhood bakery and indulged in chocolate cream cheese muffins, then off  to the park where we tried out the swings and monkey bars.  A cool 50 something degrees and a bit windy, but sweet.  One more plus for living in the city

Tomorrow I will have baby grand-diva most of the day while mom works.  At 15 months she is inquisitive, noisy, awkwardly mobile and a good physical workout for me!  This little mini person owns my heart.

I’m signing off at 10:35 PM  April 26  Sweet Dreams!