Lots of the same things continue to go on as usual but there are little changes happening here and there.
We are rearranging the Gathering Areas of the house and firming up plans for our Patio Garden. Still no photos but there is little to photo just yet. But, the seeds have been ordered, I'm so excited! This is my first garden since digging potatoes and shucking corn as a kid at my G-Mom's country home. I've order yellow crook neck squash, Zucchini, Brussel Sprouts (for hubs, who isn't sure they will grow), Jalepeno peppers, onions, beefsteak and Roma tomatoes, Bell peppers and Black diamond watermelon.
This morning on the back patio, the new garden space, hubs informed me this garden thing is 'his' baby. Oh, well ok.
There is a lot to learn and that's ok. Like everything else in life we learn by doing and watching others. So this time next week we will be planting seeds. We can plant tomatoes for the fall until mid July apparently. We are gathering up the old pots, crocks and potting soils.
I've been reading Homesteading blogs and have joined homesteading groups in our area and across the world. I would love to make a move 'out' of the area away from the concrete but that is most probably a dream for now. Though I did find a few homes 'out' that would be perfect. I even found a condo in the city for Hubs to live in during the week. I think it would be perfect, no mortgage, get some animals and chickens, and an out door shower.
For now, I'll enjoy the luxury of living 3 miles or less from any and everything we could ever need or want. During the next year or so I hope to learn about gardening AND new ways of eating what we grow. I'll going to experiment this week making an alfredo sauce for veggie pizzas. Veggie lasagne's will become part of our meal plan and I also want to learn how to make quality, tasty breads. Zucchini bread, carrot breads, i would love to grow strawberries and blueberries to make syrup for my famous pancakes, yep I got pancakes down good according to the males who live here.
Maybe one day we will have a goat and make goat cheese and I'd love to be involved in a micro economy where we share and barter our goods. This year, I'll share with the neighbors and my family any surplus.
We picked up some yellow and orange bell peppers at Sam's this morning, Albertsons has Red Bells on sale so I'll pick up some of those and then slice 'em all up and store them in meal size portions in the freezer. The last Bell's I froze didn't loose texture through the freezing process so I'll be that much further ahead this winter when we want Stir-Fry.
This time next year I hope the Bells will be from our own garden.
And then there are Raspberries. Beautiful fabulous Expensive Raspberries! Been told we can't grow them here in the Crock Pot of Texas. So I bought them frozen along with blueberries and blackberries frozen at Sam's. So, smoothies with yummy yummy berries! We will go to the Dallas Farmer's Market later in the season and hope to get some of these yummy berries to freeze up and make a jar of jam or two for the winter. When I was a little kid my neighbor had a mulberry tree in their back yard. We would eat them and they were wonderful.
Hopefully next post I'll have a photo of our little sprouts.
Till then,
Melissa
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Reuphostering and FirePlace Screen
A friend of mine downsized and gifted to me a chair of hers I'd long admired. I gave it a fresh coat of paint, distressed it a bit and then recovered it.
I wanted to go toile but some were too faded, some to crisp, others too biegey. Then I turned the corner at Hancock Fabrics and found a piece of embroidered fabric in sage and fell in love with it....I've heard all greens go together. Hopefully, I'm safe as the living rooms are all green.
There is a lot of embroidery that doesn't show through on that photo and I fell in love with all of it! It changes colors with the different light of day and night.
Here's how it turned out:
I always loved the ornate details and the curvy legs and arm area.
This is the Upper part trimmed in a slightly deeper shade of sage:
I think we will enjoy it for a long time.
This morning the neighbors were having a garage sale and Hubs and I went for a look.
There was a beautiful stained glass fireplace screen and I walked right to it. $20 was the price tag. Hmm... Then the owner came up and said, 'you can have it for ten, it is broken on the back'. She bent it forward and the glass backing had a couple of cracks in it. Then she said: 'You can have it for $5'. Hubs pulled out his billfold and handed her the cash, loaded it up and off we went.
It is light during the day and darker at night.
I am going to put packing tape across the glass cracks on the back as the front had survived the fall quite well.
It will be nice for the summer and for $5. Can't be it, woulda paid that for paint to paint those shutters I'd planned on decorating with a trail of hand painted roses.
I still might do those shutters, but they will go in the loft window instead.
We'll see.
Have a lovely Sunday,
Melissa
I wanted to go toile but some were too faded, some to crisp, others too biegey. Then I turned the corner at Hancock Fabrics and found a piece of embroidered fabric in sage and fell in love with it....I've heard all greens go together. Hopefully, I'm safe as the living rooms are all green.
There is a lot of embroidery that doesn't show through on that photo and I fell in love with all of it! It changes colors with the different light of day and night.
Here's how it turned out:
I always loved the ornate details and the curvy legs and arm area.
This is the Upper part trimmed in a slightly deeper shade of sage:
I think we will enjoy it for a long time.
This morning the neighbors were having a garage sale and Hubs and I went for a look.
There was a beautiful stained glass fireplace screen and I walked right to it. $20 was the price tag. Hmm... Then the owner came up and said, 'you can have it for ten, it is broken on the back'. She bent it forward and the glass backing had a couple of cracks in it. Then she said: 'You can have it for $5'. Hubs pulled out his billfold and handed her the cash, loaded it up and off we went.
It is light during the day and darker at night.
I am going to put packing tape across the glass cracks on the back as the front had survived the fall quite well.
It will be nice for the summer and for $5. Can't be it, woulda paid that for paint to paint those shutters I'd planned on decorating with a trail of hand painted roses.
I still might do those shutters, but they will go in the loft window instead.
We'll see.
Have a lovely Sunday,
Melissa
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Pear Blossons are a sure sign of a Freeze!
Last week out running errands I made note of the Pear Blossoms. Followed by sunny days, then a surprise snow-ing. Just yesterday I noticed a big glorious burst of blossoms all showy and promising of Spring covered our neighbor's tree. After the snow fall earlier this week I thought we were out of the woods concerning a freeze.
Well, did I tell you I talked to my Mom again?
Yep, she said more snow.
HOW does she know these things?? Does she have a different weather guy? Weather.com, The Weather Channel, MSN weather. ALL got it wrong.
I think we should elect my Mom for National Weather Guy. She could pull it off and clean up a whole lot of silliness and waste like she did as an executive. Yep, I knew early on to pay attention to that woman or find a good place to hide.
Long story short.
It snowed today...just like she said it would.
How funny is that?
She called, told me to be careful going out of town this weekend because black ice will still be on the roads. Weather guy, MSN, Weather.com all say high of 68* on Sunday. Guess what I'll be watching for on those roads?
Until then, I'm having Vanilla Chai Tea, with a little cream. YUM!
Well, did I tell you I talked to my Mom again?
Yep, she said more snow.
HOW does she know these things?? Does she have a different weather guy? Weather.com, The Weather Channel, MSN weather. ALL got it wrong.
I think we should elect my Mom for National Weather Guy. She could pull it off and clean up a whole lot of silliness and waste like she did as an executive. Yep, I knew early on to pay attention to that woman or find a good place to hide.
Long story short.
It snowed today...just like she said it would.
How funny is that?
She called, told me to be careful going out of town this weekend because black ice will still be on the roads. Weather guy, MSN, Weather.com all say high of 68* on Sunday. Guess what I'll be watching for on those roads?
Until then, I'm having Vanilla Chai Tea, with a little cream. YUM!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
It Snowed!
It caught my son's attention first as he walked by the front door on his way upstairs. "It's snowing" he said. Mom had said we would get snow. One thing about my mom, it can be 108* and if she says it's gonna snow you need to get out the rock salt and mittens, so I wasn't surprised, though we toggled between the air conditioner and open windows the last week or two.
It does snow here...yes, Mr. Pizza delivery guy in Maryland it Does TOO snow in Texas!
The biggest snow I remember, short of the ice storm in 1980, was February 14th, 2004. It snowed all day! Not like the usual 20 minutes of snow that melts by the time you find the camera.
Which reminds me how pretty the house across the street looked that year with those huge flakes blowing across it!
This perfect little cottage has been on the market for a year at a price WELL above what it should have been. It has been a lonely house and sat empty with few showings.
Thankfully, the owners have brought the house down to market value and now it's generating interest! It was shown several times over the weekend and three times today. I am guessing there will be a contract by the end of the week. *clapping hands*
I saw an older couple view it earlier today. It is about 1800 sq ft. and would be great for a single couple.
Isn't this a nice entry? Love the niche!
To the left of the entry is a nice Family room and the dining room is to the right.
Then later this afternoon there was a family viewing it. The family was exiting the property as yet another Realtor was bringing a client to see the home.
This is the second bath, perfect for sharing with the dual lavs.
A couple new fixtures, couple new lighting bars and towel racks and it will be beautiful.
I don't know there isn't a photo of the Master Bath. The rooms are nice sized and it has a covered patio that is shielded from the hot afternoon sun.
We are hoping this sweet home will have a new family for Spring!
I hope you enjoyed the home tour. Have a blessed week and remember...Forgiving is the way to Joy and Peace.
Melissa
It does snow here...yes, Mr. Pizza delivery guy in Maryland it Does TOO snow in Texas!
The biggest snow I remember, short of the ice storm in 1980, was February 14th, 2004. It snowed all day! Not like the usual 20 minutes of snow that melts by the time you find the camera.
Which reminds me how pretty the house across the street looked that year with those huge flakes blowing across it!
This perfect little cottage has been on the market for a year at a price WELL above what it should have been. It has been a lonely house and sat empty with few showings.
Thankfully, the owners have brought the house down to market value and now it's generating interest! It was shown several times over the weekend and three times today. I am guessing there will be a contract by the end of the week. *clapping hands*
I saw an older couple view it earlier today. It is about 1800 sq ft. and would be great for a single couple.
Isn't this a nice entry? Love the niche!
To the left of the entry is a nice Family room and the dining room is to the right.
Then later this afternoon there was a family viewing it. The family was exiting the property as yet another Realtor was bringing a client to see the home.
This is the second bath, perfect for sharing with the dual lavs.
A couple new fixtures, couple new lighting bars and towel racks and it will be beautiful.
I don't know there isn't a photo of the Master Bath. The rooms are nice sized and it has a covered patio that is shielded from the hot afternoon sun.
We are hoping this sweet home will have a new family for Spring!
I hope you enjoyed the home tour. Have a blessed week and remember...Forgiving is the way to Joy and Peace.
Melissa
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Heard if from a Friend
Last November I visited my friend Dee. You would have to know her, there isn't anything she can't cook, NOTHING! If you want Neapolitans, she has them ready when you get there, if you want the bestest pie crust on the planet, she will not only make you pies but show you how to cut up the butter perfectly with knives.
So while we were waiting for the pecan pie she made for dinner to finish cooking, I browsed through her pantry. I asked first. Along with the Barley Green and vitamins, parchment paper and foil I found the Tapenade. Tapenade is chopped up olives in a yummy dressing that is spread on Panini sandwiches. Yum, didn't know you could buy it, thought you had to make it, made the mental note. Thought it would be good on an Omlette. So I went to the fridge where she pulled out some Stir Fry for our dinner. It was amazing!
Like I said, she can make her cell phone empty the dishwasher and she can cook like a chef, so I wanted to know the secret to this Stir Fry. And wouldn't you know, it came in bottles! Basically she shreds chicken, throws in veggies and tops it all with sauce...naturally I had to have some of those bottles.
Since that visit we have Stir Fry 3-4 times a month. I chop up left over chicken, add sliced zucchini, broccoli and peppers, onions. About 1/4 cup of water in the bottom of my wok skillet and let all that simmer with a generous helping of these two bottles. Sometimes I add Soy sauce and Dee uses a concentrated sauce without so much sodium. Stir Fry is so flexible and yummy, you can mix and match to taste.
The Szechuan is hot, but fabulous and the Classic is just to die for! It's a great way to get your veggies and SO easy to clean up. I used left over Bird's Eye Stir Fry frozen veggies from Sam's Club and some frozen broccoli and added zucchini and squash and mushrooms. It made a fast Saturday lunch. You can make rice to go with it.
Well, it's time for lunch here! Then off to polish the Princess Palace.
Hugs to all of you,
Melissa
So while we were waiting for the pecan pie she made for dinner to finish cooking, I browsed through her pantry. I asked first. Along with the Barley Green and vitamins, parchment paper and foil I found the Tapenade. Tapenade is chopped up olives in a yummy dressing that is spread on Panini sandwiches. Yum, didn't know you could buy it, thought you had to make it, made the mental note. Thought it would be good on an Omlette. So I went to the fridge where she pulled out some Stir Fry for our dinner. It was amazing!
Like I said, she can make her cell phone empty the dishwasher and she can cook like a chef, so I wanted to know the secret to this Stir Fry. And wouldn't you know, it came in bottles! Basically she shreds chicken, throws in veggies and tops it all with sauce...naturally I had to have some of those bottles.
Since that visit we have Stir Fry 3-4 times a month. I chop up left over chicken, add sliced zucchini, broccoli and peppers, onions. About 1/4 cup of water in the bottom of my wok skillet and let all that simmer with a generous helping of these two bottles. Sometimes I add Soy sauce and Dee uses a concentrated sauce without so much sodium. Stir Fry is so flexible and yummy, you can mix and match to taste.
The Szechuan is hot, but fabulous and the Classic is just to die for! It's a great way to get your veggies and SO easy to clean up. I used left over Bird's Eye Stir Fry frozen veggies from Sam's Club and some frozen broccoli and added zucchini and squash and mushrooms. It made a fast Saturday lunch. You can make rice to go with it.
Well, it's time for lunch here! Then off to polish the Princess Palace.
Hugs to all of you,
Melissa
Monday, February 11, 2008
Girls Day Out
Photos of the wonderful shops my dear forever friend and I visited are locked in my cell phone. Yes, I know, I should have read the book or carried my camera...WHY didn't I carry my camera?
With or without a camera we had a wonderful day in McKinney, Texas!
We went here first, It's called Design Collection, located on the North East side of the square.
Beauty was everywhere in this shop, a little bit of something for everyone. My dear friend located the perfect cell phone carrier for me and I got some fabulous lotion! It's lavender and mint scented...yum!
She picked up an earthy toned sage pillar candle, it smelled HEAVENLY!
We moved to the other side of the square to a shop that was brimming with one piece of eye candy after another. I managed to escape with my debit card unused but my friend located the sweetest little birds and a nest.
After the birds were safely tucked in a sweet pink bag we toward the quilt shop we passed a beautiful Hearts topiary that was 10 feet tall and had the most amazing cyclamen growing around the base.
While admiring the cyclamen the sparkles from the window display at SHARLA'S caught our eye.
There were shelf liners promising a tea rose sent and rose petal soaps that had me nose to glass when the door flew open and we were lead inside by a sweet angelic pied piper.
Inside there were wonderful smells and bottles but we were captivated by the sparkly things. What we came out of there with were purse hangers.
Glitzy, shimmering, delightful, butterfly encrusted purse holders. We got a matching set that has a burgundy ground (not red like the photo) and they wrapped them in the sweetest burgundy organza bags to carry the purse hangers in our purse without them getting scratched. We LOVE them!
We made it to the quilt store and then headed off to our favorite restaurant for lunch where we had Tortilla soup, guacamole salad, and a hot chocolate éclair.
AND, I got to bring home all the shopping bags! She volunteered, what could I say?
With or without a camera we had a wonderful day in McKinney, Texas!
We went here first, It's called Design Collection, located on the North East side of the square.
Beauty was everywhere in this shop, a little bit of something for everyone. My dear friend located the perfect cell phone carrier for me and I got some fabulous lotion! It's lavender and mint scented...yum!
She picked up an earthy toned sage pillar candle, it smelled HEAVENLY!
We moved to the other side of the square to a shop that was brimming with one piece of eye candy after another. I managed to escape with my debit card unused but my friend located the sweetest little birds and a nest.
After the birds were safely tucked in a sweet pink bag we toward the quilt shop we passed a beautiful Hearts topiary that was 10 feet tall and had the most amazing cyclamen growing around the base.
While admiring the cyclamen the sparkles from the window display at SHARLA'S caught our eye.
There were shelf liners promising a tea rose sent and rose petal soaps that had me nose to glass when the door flew open and we were lead inside by a sweet angelic pied piper.
Inside there were wonderful smells and bottles but we were captivated by the sparkly things. What we came out of there with were purse hangers.
Glitzy, shimmering, delightful, butterfly encrusted purse holders. We got a matching set that has a burgundy ground (not red like the photo) and they wrapped them in the sweetest burgundy organza bags to carry the purse hangers in our purse without them getting scratched. We LOVE them!
We made it to the quilt store and then headed off to our favorite restaurant for lunch where we had Tortilla soup, guacamole salad, and a hot chocolate éclair.
AND, I got to bring home all the shopping bags! She volunteered, what could I say?
Sunday, February 10, 2008
And the next day....
Godfriend,
Thanks for your sweet comment! I could hear you say each word...made me smile. You are such an encourager.
You had asked when he came down with the flu and I couldn't remember exactly. Rereading 'As Monday's Go' reminded me.
Hubs came home shivering like a fearful chihuahua that following Wednesday night. Flu got him.
Then, a few days later, Son #1 the tummy version a couple more days Son Two had only the head/chest part...a viral cold or some such, the faux doc said.
January was a wash, we finally celebrated Hubs' B-Day with the Grands Feb 2.
Hugs,
Melissa
Thanks for your sweet comment! I could hear you say each word...made me smile. You are such an encourager.
You had asked when he came down with the flu and I couldn't remember exactly. Rereading 'As Monday's Go' reminded me.
Hubs came home shivering like a fearful chihuahua that following Wednesday night. Flu got him.
Then, a few days later, Son #1 the tummy version a couple more days Son Two had only the head/chest part...a viral cold or some such, the faux doc said.
January was a wash, we finally celebrated Hubs' B-Day with the Grands Feb 2.
Hugs,
Melissa
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