Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Cow Surprises

I may have mentioned that I spent a whole day last week cleaning my laundry room.  The laundry room is a big unfinished room in the lower level of our home.  It is also my son's band practice space, storage for the golf clubs and some hunting items.  Also in the room is a work bench, "Barbie Land" and my two son's personal dressing room.
It is a large space....and it was a large mess.
I am pleased to report it has stayed clean all week....but I am afraid that will all change tomorrow when my oldest son comes home from college with his 3 weeks worth of laundry.

Oh yes....the Cows....
I came across these three tin cow advertisements when I was cleaning.  I may have gotten them in an auction box at one time...or possibly the previous owner left them behind....if I would have purchased them intentionally, they would have been put somewhere other than on top of the water heater in the laundry room.
I put the cows in my kitchen window.
I decided to check on eBay to see if these cows had any value.
I found a listing with the two black and white cows.....the exact same size.....same DeLaval Cream Separator advertisements.
They sold for $74.99!
I think Friendie is going to have to be content playing with his plastic cows from now on!




Sunday, March 28, 2010

The Perfect Thrifty Find

On Friday I decided to stop in at the Goodwill to see if I could find anything for decorating for Easter.
I couldn't believe I found this Last Supper print right when I walked in the door!  Can anything more perfect be found?
It was hard to get a photo of it because the glass is old and reflected something from every angle I attempted.




I found a sweet little Ironstone pitcher and a rusty egg basket (that I put on my front porch).
I was smiling the whole way home.....thrilled with my finds....and thrilled that I only spent 6 dollars!

Friday, March 26, 2010

The Kitchen Window

It is wonderful having the sun shine in my kitchen window again. 
I spend more time looking out my kitchen window than any other window in our home.  The reason for that is....the kitchen sink.  When we were looking at houses, I always took into account what I would be looking at when I was standing at the kitchen sink....because I do spend quite a bit of time there.
My favorite time is in the afternoon and when I am preparing the evening meal....the sun (when it is shining) is a pick-me-up.
I will soon be celebrating another birthday.....not all that exciting.....but around the same time I will also be hitting my 100th blog post...which may be a little more exciting because I will have another Give-A-Way.
I am 8 posts away from #100....and 11 days away from #46.....so it will be soon.
I hope the sun is shining in your window today!



Thursday, March 25, 2010

Failing My Youngest

Emily LOVES bacon.
It was just the two of us for supper last night, so I asked her if she would like an Egg In The Middle with her bacon.
She didn't know what I was talking about!
WHAT???
My Grandma would make them for my sister and I when we would stay at her house.  I KNOW I have made them for my own children over the years.  But Emily is almost 15....and she doesn't remember them.
My husband and the boys prefer plain old eggs and toast, so maybe I have just been catering to them all these years.....or maybe I have just failed my youngest. 
Emily loved it.  She ate 3 of them.  I will make it up to her.  She may end up getting tired of them in the end.  :)

I use a biscuit cutter to cut out the circle in the middle of the bread.  Butter both sides of the bread.  Place bread in pan and then crack an egg in the hole.  Fry over medium heat until done.  My family likes their yolks "runny", but I need mine nice and firm.
I season one side with Seasoned Salt, but the butter on the bread actually makes it salty enough.
Give it a try!

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Grammie's "Pretties"

Friendie is almost 22 months old.  He learns new things everyday.
Teaching manners and obedience are being introduced.....and he isn't always liking that two letter word.... "No".
Granted....Grammie doesn't use it as often as she maybe should.  :)

Today Friendie's Mommy told him these were some of Grammie's "pretties", so he shouldn't touch them.
Now I am not one to contradict the teachings of Mommy......but.....how could this Grammie put "pretties" with WHEELS on her table and tell a little boy "NO"????
Friendie wishes all of Grammie's "pretties" had wheels!

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Polish Pottery

I do have a fondness for Polish Pottery.....
but I have kept my collection small.
This is my favorite piece.....
but the matching mugs get the most use.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Wannabe

I am a coffee drinker.  I enjoy coffee...and can drink it however it is made.  I usually don't stop with one cup....unless it is a very large cup.  :)
Tea is a whole different story.  To be honest....I really don't like tea....at all.  But....I want to like it.....so I keep trying.
I wanna be a tea drinker.
I want to take time out of my day to enjoy a quiet cup of tea.....a calming cup of tea.....a refreshing cup of tea.  But.....it is more of a gag and quick gulps so I can get it over with type of moment.
I have tried dozens of types of tea.  I have tried it hot.....and I have tried it cold. 
I made another effort this week.  A positive step in the wannabe process.
Could I have found a combination that works for me?  Could I really "enjoy" a cup of tea?

Lady Grey Tea with a small spoon of Lemon Creme Honey for Tea stirred in....it was lovely!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Coming Home From Time Away

When I got home from my Time Away, the house was neat and tidy and the kitchen looked like no one used it.  Now, my boys are home for Spring Break and their girlfriends are also here....so there were 6 people in the house while I was gone.
 There is something you need to know about my husband....he is a "neat freak".  I am not, although I do like the house clean.
I confess, I have spoiled my boys over the years (20 and 22).  Mommy feeds them and cleans up the kitchen...even after their late night snacks.  Well....evidently Dad encountered the morning mess....and he wasn't feeling too gracious.
I came home to find this note posted on the cupboard door:




If you cook it....you clean it!

If you eat off of it....you clean it!

If dishwasher is dirty... rinse off dishes and put them in it!

If dishwasher is clean... put away clean dishes!

If you don't want to empty the dishwasher....wash your dishes by hand!

Mom shouldn't have to put up with this!

Show some respect!

If you don't like these rules....eat somewhere else!
 
 
 
(I think I will leave the note hanging there for a while)
:)

Monday, March 8, 2010

Time Away

I have a good friend.  We don't see each other much, but we have a scheduled time each year for catching up.....and working on projects.
We stay in a beautiful cottage and sew up in the loft that over-looks the frozen lake.


Or we sit by the fireplace and enjoy some knitting.
This year we spent more time working on hand-work....which allowed us many hours to "catch up".  I am pretty sure we solved most of the world's problems while we were at it.  :)
Life is good.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Who Donates These Amazing Things?

Yesterday I made a stop at the Goodwill.  I didn't have much cash in my wallet, but I was sooo thankful I had enough for these great purchases!



I went in to see if I could find some new slippers or soft soled shoes to wear in the house during the day....I couldn't believe I found these brand new soft leather Minnetonka moccasins for $3.99!!!
 A trip to the Goodwill always takes me to the craft section.  I almost started hyperventilating when I found a whole set of Thangles for .49 cents each!!!

But the one item that I NEVER thought I would find at the Goodwill, that I had on my "wish list".....
it had me doing the "Happy Dance" for the rest of the day....shoot...I'm still doing it!!!!
I paid $20.99 for this special edition Gingher Chloe rotary cutter...still new in the package....with an original price tag of $74.99!!!!
Just in time for my exciting weekend....which actually begins tomorrow!
More on that later......

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Buzzer Boy

Friendie got a haircut.  His mommy took the "buzzer" after him.  Of course Grammie thinks he looks adorable!  I think I notice his facial expressions more now.  Here he is enjoying one of his favorite treats...of course I was trying to get him to look at the camera and smile....but I couldn't compete with his food.  :)

Next time he will be smiling!