Life in Rehab

Stitching Heartstrings

2012-02-02T09:44:00.001-05:00

Psssssssst.

That's right, it's me, Little Guy.

I'm the feral one of the bunch, untamed, unruly.

You may have never seen me before.

I definitely do not wear Santa hats.

I do however enjoy a good open can, and the Redhead With Thumbs is my hero in that respect.

She has been busy lately with Valentine's Day projects,

but not so busy that my Seaside Super Supper is forgotten.

For this, I do introduction to the first

Love at Rehab post.

Get ready to craft.

We're going to do this project in two parts.

Why?

Well, it does take some time, and I want you to be able to get started.

Oh, right, and I only have the first part done.

For this project, which makes a fabulous Valentine's Day gift for the grandparents, or for a newish mom, you will need:

Children. Preferably your own. The law frowns on "surprise adoptions"

The cast off clothes of said children, still in adorable condition.

Background fabric.

Needle and coordinating thread.

And yes, that IS Savannah, don't let the lack of chains and skulls throw you.

Wash all little outfits and fabric. Iron these items if you really have to and are mildly masochistic.

Cut the background fabric to suit the size of the frocks. My squares are 18".

Pin the little outfits down, and don't forget to include the accessories.

Using needle and thread, stitch the clothes to the background.

This is easy.

I used tiny stitches all around the perimeters of each piece to make them secure.

Vary your layouts for interest.

See how small and nearly invisible?

Hats and bows are great touches.

Don't be intimidated. If a whole throw is too much for you, just do one outfit as a pillow.

We'll finish this up in a couple of days.

This is still stash busting, so I'm using things I have on hand, right down to fabric that I used to make curtains for Savannah's room as a toddler.

Basically, this gift for my mother will cost me nada.

Now get busy.

Can you believe she once wore pink?

Don't Trifle with Me

2012-02-01T11:48:00.001-05:00

It's been a long day, and this is how you feel.

Dinner is done, but you haven't so much as bothered to think about dessert.

And why should you?

You can open a sleeve of cookies, right?

Come on, let's get a little creative.

Do you have:

Milk (2%)

Chocolate cake mix

4 Boxes of Pistachio instant pudding

12 oz tub Non-dairy whipped topping

Good!

Then you have THIS!

This is easy.

Bake the cake mix according to the box and allow it to cool. Make it a sheet cake.

Why fuss?

Mix the pudding with about half of the milk it calls for.

4 boxes usually takes 8 cups; I use 5 cups.

When the pudding is all mixed, fold in half of the whipped topping until it's completely blended.

Using a clear serving dish or one of these fantastic trifle bowls, tear the cake into squares and make a layer in the bottom.

Cover that with 1/3 of the pudding mixture.

Repeat, reserving a little of the pudding for garnish.

Spread the remaining unsullied whipped topping over the whole affair and dollop on a little pudding just to make it interesting.

Dig in, and prepare to never have anyone settle for pecan sandies again.

If you don't have this exact flavor combination on hand, put together anything your family loves.

To save time, I bake layer cakes and freeze them for just such an emergency.

That way, dazzling my crew is a few minutes worth of commitment, and I look like

a super hero.

"There's Something in the Closet"

2012-01-30T10:33:00.000-05:00

So...my temporary quarter round molding appears...

moldy.

NOT a good sign.

A worse sign was that the closet door was swollen shut.

Add to that the fact that our showers were getting cold a lot faster.

It doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to figure this one out.

The water heater behind Door Number 1 is experiencing issues.

Prying it open with a crowbar was getting us nowhere.

Drastic measures...

...not to mention plunge cuts...

...oh, this is so not good.

Get the bleach, and a big fan, and the tape, and the Goop,

and a glass of libation, Boo.

We have some fun ahead.

What's Blooming?

2012-01-29T10:01:00.000-05:00

Sunday morning at Chateau Inferno...

Happy Sunday.

Going Shopping

2012-01-28T11:26:00.000-05:00

In between gardening prep this week, we were sorting through mounds of things that were formerly in storage. I'm determined to fish or cut bait with all these possessions I haven't seen since before the fire.

Like 80 pot holders to tie onto baking kits as Christmas gifts.

I got those for $0.10 each.

Or these ornaments from Crate and Barrel.

Originally $15.95, the clerk looked at me like I was mental when I left with 40 of them for $0.49 apiece.

Sort, catalog, and get ready to take my life back in an organized manner.

I've been making lists and boxing things like a maniac.

So....

Headed for storage, BRB

If not back, avenge death.

Decor Salad with Vignette Dressing

2012-01-26T08:41:00.000-05:00

Last year, we started some scallions from the ends we trimmed during dinner preparations.

It's a simple process, and you can have pungent green onions every meal with just a snip of the kitchen shears!

Since I'm running a house and not just a blog, that's what I did yesterday.

I decided I owed you more than a rerun though, so how about a little walk through the house

to see how we're kicking off Spring on the inside this year.

Then you can go plant your free scallions.

The nest was my 50th birthday gift to myself, and it

stays under glass for Feline Overlord reasons.

This little cloche was assembled from Dollar Tree plateware and a dome

from Goodwill.

Shells and silver spray paint. I've gotten serious mileage out of these.

I found some of my goodies when we cleaned out the storage pod.

A little extra light for the dining room in vases the cats would have to plot together to budge.

Ahhhhhh, Home Goods.

The tablescape is flourishing, with the succulents taking off.

The coffee table got a shot of white.

"Vannah, could you take some artsy shots for me?"

Why do I say things like that?

And finally, the top of the TV cabinet, which is a work in progress still.
I had stuff to do.

What? There's nothing wrong with an afternoon nap.

My doctor highly suggests it.

And I went to Momma Kitteh for a second opinion.

Grab some herbal tea, we'll wait.

Sea Glass?

2012-01-25T06:57:00.001-05:00

I have a slight romance with sea glass.

I love the colors, the versatility, and the sparkle of it.

It's so easy to sprinkle around the house when I need a little subtle hue,

and it catches the light perfectly.

So why not add some to the garden?

Get ready to make some pots that will have you itching for that last frost.

All you're going to need is:

Terra cotta pots in whatever size you'd like

Your favorite color of spray paint. We used Rustoleum's Gloss Black

Silicone adhesive

Sea Glass in an array of colors

First, paint the pots using three light coats. Allow this to dry completely.

Over night works.

Working in small sections, spread some silicone adhesive on the rim of the pot

and crust it with glass.

This is random and it overlaps a bit to cover.

You can't make a mistake.

Let that section set with the pot propped on it's side.

If your adhesive is glued shut, snip off the bottom and squeeze it on the pot rim.

No wasting product, we're still on a stash busting mission.

Once that are has set, turn the pot and continue gluing more glass.

Find something to do in between drying sessions.

You have to love that jewel-like shine.

Once it's dry, you're ready to plant!

...or stash jewelry, hair supplies, cooking utensils, remote controls, sunglasses...

You get the idea.

And say, what a great place for those little root clippings you have in the kitchen, eh?

Free Garden Starters

2012-01-24T09:14:00.000-05:00

Slightly wrinkled tomatoes may be too weird to eat, but don't toss those babies!

We're going to plant a few free veggies today.

Slice these wilted gems open and scoop out the seeds.

And watch any other vegetables as you prepare dinner...

...like these lovely chili peppers that are a future ingredient.

There's nothing fancy needed. Just save a few egg cartons.

Poke holes in each compartment with a toothpick.

Fill it with potting soil.

No need to toss the lid, you can use that too.

Now just poke a hole in the soil, drop in a few seeds and lightly cover with dirt.

Tuck them in.

Set the trays in a sunny, protected spot.

Your kitchen is okay.

Mist the dirt lightly and have brief, polite conversations with them daily. No baby talk though, they hate that.

The process is quick- within two weeks, we have the beginnings of a garden, all for nothing.

Remember, if you have tons of that white stuff outside,

you can pot your new plants and keep them indoors with you.

Let them watch TV with you, just be selective about the programming.

A quick paint job in Sunshine Yellow brings some discarded shelves back to life.

Missed a spot.

THERE we go.

This will keep all of our new babies together and in a cheery environment.

It's important to keep the new plants happy.

We're being watched by The Kraken

Easy Propagation

2012-01-23T06:28:00.000-05:00

I like to keep herbs hanging on the gazebo by the grill.

This makes it convenient for Sam to add that pop of fresh flavor to meats,

and even tofu.

We use a lot of herbs.

In fact, we use so many that a couple of baskets aren't going to keep up with the demand.

It can get kind of expensive constantly replenishing the garden with new plants.

So how do you keep up with the supply of flavorings?

Not to mention, how do you freshen up the flower pots when they start to fade?

Go get the clippers.

For this, we're going to make something practical into something decorative.

I like to start by saving the little containers you purchase with scented oils and bamboo sticks

as room fresheners. These make great individual vases at table settings too.

We also grabbed a great basket to contain the whole thing and

put it in the middle of the litchen island where it will get

proper parental supervision.

I have a couple of larger bottles and vases for taller clippings.

Now just cut any plant you'd like to try to root.

Woody stems may not work, but trying isn't going to cost you a dime.

Cut the stems at an angle.

Then just put the plants in water.

Easy enough?

Try whatever you'd like.

It'll also green up your indoor spaces while you're waiting for Spring to sneak up on you.

Can you feel the warm weather already?

As they grow roots and you plant them, add more clippings.

Can you ever have too many free plants?

And with your basket packed tightly with bottles, maybe this won't happen.

Maybe.

With Feline Overlords, there are no guarantees.

What's Blooming?

2012-01-22T11:46:00.000-05:00

Happy Sunday.

Going Shopping

2012-01-21T10:41:00.000-05:00

I'm putting on my walking shoes and hitting the garden center.

Next week will be Planting Week here in Rehab, and no matter where you live, we're going to have a trick of two to get some dirt under your nails.

Before we go shopping though, I'd like to say hello to regular reader and Special Olympics medal winner, 12 year old Randy from Arkansas.

He's a huge fan of the Feline Overlords, so in his honor, may we present...

Legless Overlords!

We now return you to our regularly scheduled Saturday Post, already in progress.

Going to Home Depot and Lowes, BRB.

If not back, avenge death.

Tie It All Together

2012-01-20T09:35:00.000-05:00

Well, all the storage boxes are painted, trimmed, and filled with their designated goodies.

The antique china cabinet found a home and a purpose.

And I got my house back, even with all of the extra possessions hauled back inside from the storage pod.

I'm starting to recognize this house.

First, this baby needed a good cleaning, oiling, and moving.

Wine crates are free for the asking at most shops and liquor stores. Call around and score some interesting, sturdy storage.

It beats plastic.

And it will hold your table settings in plain site with style.

But onto how the storage project turned out. Follow us.

Steel shelving is inexpensive and very popular right now. They adjust for a perfect spot to nestle all those Christmas boxes we just painted.

All of your essentials are close at hand, Chef.

My crystal...oh, did I miss you.

I like to have a comfy spot to perch if I'm not the cook that evening.

And wine crates also make a good wall display,

not to mention a convenient spot for your wine glass.

All in all...

I'd say it pulled together nicely.

Grab a glass and have a seat.

Third Time with Charms

2012-01-18T06:42:00.000-05:00

Okay, this is the last time I'll do a rerun of this photo, I promise.

This is just to remind you what I started the project with.

That's right, Christmas boxes and a sentence ended with a preposition.

Does anyone else smell my English degree smoldering?

But I digress...

We also already know that three light coats of spray paint will hide that hall-decking pattern.

I DID neglect to divulge that this was stash busting exercise.

I didn't paint the inside of the boxes to conserve the little bit of Rustoleum Apple Green and Aqua we had left in our inventory.

And we just made it.

Now, the boxes look clean and fresh, sure, and they match our decor, but what else can we do to give them a little shot of pizazz?

Throw the craft cabinet open wide and start digging.

We want a trim that's different, eye-catching, yet still works with everything else.

How about hot gluing some beaded trim by-the-yard left over from a costume?

What made a pretty fairy now flirts from my kitchen shelves.

Nothing wrong with a little sparkle, right?

This remnant was three inches too short to encircle the box completely,

which I concealed in the back, so it's our secret.

If you're looking for my place card holders, this would be the spot!

Tomorrow: something other than painted boxes. I promise.

Hat Trick

2012-01-17T07:32:00.000-05:00

See the three cute little hat boxes at the top of our tower?
At $5.50 for the set, those were a steal.
And their size makes them great for napkin rings, tiny individual vases, and tea lights.
The poinsettias and red ribbon aren't doing it for me though.

Don't take, "But I don't have thumbs!" as an excuse when you ask for help.
Remove the ribbon handles and choose your hues.

The bottoms of these got 3 coats of Rustoleum Aqua and the lids were bathed in Apple Green.

I banded the lids with green polka dotted aqua ribbon by simply hot gluing it around.
The smallest box took the thin ribbon we used yesterday.

I replaced the handles with plain aqua ribbon. This is super simple to do.
The ribbon is just poked through existing holes in the box and knotted on the inside.

Take a break in there somewhere.
Make your enormous Feline Overlord stand on his hind legs for treats.

Okay, we're ready to store tiny things that end up stuffed in the back of a drawer.

Snippets of ribbon and leftover paint work together beautifully.

That's two box projects down, and one to go.
Tomorrow, we'll add a little flirty sparkle to our kitchen storage projects.
Are you playing along?
Then you've hardly had to open your wallet.

The Boxes of Christmas

2012-01-16T06:55:00.000-05:00

I know you.

You're the thrifty sort.

It's okay, it's why we're friends.

You've hit the after Christmas sales and giggled with glee at your 90% off scores.

Well me too, babies.

And after a cruise through Big Lots and Joanns Fabrics, I came home laden

with rock solid storage/gift boxes averaging under $1 apiece

Brilliant, no?

Well there IS the small matter of poinsettias, snowmen and Santas.

I want these for everyday use, just like the sturdy receptacles that run you $10 or better.

What to do, what to do, what to do...?

Oh, right, spray paint!

Those of you who have been here before know I favor Caribbean colors

to splash across my tropical home, so for these two boxes we

played with Rustoleum's Raspberry and Key Lime colors in a gloss finish.

Give them three light coats, allowing them to dry in between,

for a smooth, even finish.

These will be perfect for my cloth napkins.

While the paint dries, feel free to torture your Feline Overlord by playing

"The Pit and the Pendulum,"

a well know favorite cat pastime.

Nab a little ribbon and your hot glue gun.

Starting from the center of the back of the lid, we're going to add a little contrasting trim

that will tie the colors together with our main hues throughout the house.

Lap the ends over in the back.

Tailored and simple, without a reindeer in sight.

And at around $2 per box, c'mon people, this was CHEAP.

Feel free to duplicate this quick storage project in taupe, ecru, or eggshell.

I'm okay with neutrals...

...at YOUR house, of course.

The idea here is to have a little fun and get yourselves organized for a song.

Now, how do you tell what's in the box?

If the cardboard is too thick for a hole punch, drill a quick hole.

Hang a tag and your contents are clean and easy to find.

This week is all about hiding your stuff in style.

Your style.

I'm well aware that I have the personal taste of a clown.

Tomorrow's project: storage for your collection of red rubber noses.

Please do join us.

What's Blooming?

2012-01-15T10:35:00.000-05:00

Happy Sunday.

Going Shopping

2012-01-14T09:47:00.000-05:00

Where am I going today? Welllllllllllll...

Remember when we cleared some things out of the storage pod?

Here's a little secret: that stuff has to go somewhere.

Why don't we just keep this between us?

Let's face it, I'm not going anywhere.

We're hard at work shoveling our way out of this mess.

Frankly, I haven't felt truly organized since the fire (yes, I'm one of THOSE), and I tore everything

apart to put it back together with everything in its place.

The Minions are thrilled.

My husband is elated.

My mother is earning new nicknames uttered under my breath.

But this WILL get done.

There will be a few cool projects to show off next week in the name of organization,

and everyone is helping...

...as long as this is your idea of helping.

Get your Feline Overlord furry tush off my surprise for the readers.

So...

Going to the garbage, BRB.

If not back, avenge death.

In the Strata-sphere

2012-01-13T08:13:00.000-05:00

You have a hungry bunch.

Feeding them can be a challenge.

Some of us also have a mix of carnivores and vegetarians lumbering around the house

(Hi, Heather!),

which compounds the challenge.

How about something you can assemble easily in the morning and bake up that night

when you're too exhausted to cook?

This veggie-packed crowd pleaser can use up leftovers, bread

that's no longer soft, and it's surprisingly light and puffy.

I'm sharing my favorite combination, and the recipe for two stratas, one vegetarian, one with ham.

To make just one, cut the amounts in half.

1 (10-oz) package frozen spinach, thawed
3 cups finely chopped onion (2 large)
1 pound thinly sliced mushrooms
1 pound broccoli florets
3 thinly sliced tomatoes
1/2 pound thinly sliced deli ham
Olive oil to saute
1 cup of wine. I like sherry as a compliment to the Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Garlic to taste
16 cups cubed (1 inch) French or Italian bread (2 loaves)
24 oz grated 6 cheese Italian blend
16 oz sliced Swiss cheese
5 1/2 cups milk. I use 2%
18 large eggs. Use egg substitute if you just clutched your chest
5 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Saute up the onion in a pan with the olive oil until just translucent. Add the seasonings, mushrooms, and sherry and saute for 5 minutes. Add the spinach and broccoli and toss until the broccoli is just tender.

Spray two baking pans with cooking spray and layer the bottoms with bread.

Spread the ham over the bread in your carnivore casserole.

Divide the veggie mixture, spreading it over the surface.

Sprinkle with the shredded cheese.

The kids are getting interested at this point.

Layer the remaining bread over the cheese.

Top with the sliced tomato, then the Swiss.

Crack the eggs into a bowl and whisk them until lightly beaten. Add the milk and mustard and beat until blended. Ladle the custard evenly over the top, slowly coating all of the cheese and bread.

Cover this tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 6 hours so the bread can soak up the egg and milk. This can even be done the day before. How's that for convenience? Go sledding. Return things to Macy's. Make a Lego kingdom with the kids.

An hour and a half before dinner, preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and set the strata on the counter top for a half hour to rest.

Then pop it in the oven for 45 to 55 minutes until it's puffy and golden.

Gooey, cheesy Winter love.

Savannah, a vegetarian who hates spinach, suspected nothing.

This one dish dinner satisfied everyone.

Get ready to hear, "OMG Mom, this is amazing!"

"Babe, you have another winner."

"This is definitely one of my favorites."

"Meow!"

And with Dinner, We'll Have Desert

2012-01-12T06:37:00.001-05:00

Okay, you were promised some bedroom shots.

And I'll get to it, I swear.

But we have a fun little trip to a warmer climate for you to shake those Winter blues,

and you can visit it every time you sit down for a bite.

My collection of cylinder vases is very versatile. I've gathered them in a variety of heights

and hefts, and they've really helped me create a lot of tablescapes, including this slice

of Winter forest we did for Christmas.

It's time for a cheap change.

Let;s clean out those vases and get ready for a quick trick.

You'll need a few succulents.

Pea pebbles and pool sand are SO much less expensive than those little packages of decorative vase filler from the craft store. You'll also need some potting soil.

Rinse off the pebbles to remove silt and dirt.

Then layer them in the hurricanes. this will provide drainage for the plants and a steady base for some candles.

Set your plants on the pebbles to "try the vases on for size."

Remove some of the base if you need to.

Take the succulent out of the plastic pot and break the root ball up a bit, burrowing it lightly into the gravel.

Add potting soil.

Use a sterling silver spoon to sprinkle sand over the soil in a thin layer.

You don't really need silver. It just makes for better photos than plastic.

Aren't the layers cool? We added some shells for fun and texture.

This is a centerpiece for the dinner table, so we have some pillar candles

nestled in Dollar Tree vases to corral the wax.

I just set them in the pebbles.

How easy was this?

The spare look is a little trip to Palm Springs.

I estimate the total cost of the new materials to be about $12,

and I have lots of sand and pebbles left over to get in trouble with...

Chocoholics Anonymous

2012-01-09T08:57:00.002-05:00

The following recipe is just wrong.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

But if chocolate is wrong, then I don't want to be right.

I had mentioned a couple of nights before while we were making bread pudding for dessert that chocolate and orange is one of my favorite flavor combinations.

Naturally, Savannah started plotting just that for a birthday treat.

Now cake is one thing.

THIS is something else.

It's moist to the point of being nearly a brownie;

add cocoa icing and candied orange peel, and you have a dessert that

made me slide off of my chair and puddle on the floor.

Gather your ingredients:

The Cake

3 cups of all purpose flour (or wholewheat flour)

6 tablespoons of sifted good quality cocoa

2 teaspoon baking soda

2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt (optional)

10 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoon white vinegar
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cup cold water

The Icing

I stick of butter (NOT margarine), softened to a gooshie consistency

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

4 tbs cocoa powder

The Candied Orange Peel

4 thick-skinned navel oranges

4 1/2 cups sugar plus extra for rolling

1 1/2 cups water

The cake is easy and basic. Once you get used to scratch, you start to wonder why you ever opened boxes with alien ingredients in the first place. I like to mix equal parts of white and whole wheat flour in a container for baking to add a dash of food value.

Put your flour into mixing bowl, add cocoa, baking soda, sugar and salt and mix well.

Make three deep holes in the dry mixture. Into one, pour the oil, into the next, pour the vinegar, and into the next, pour the vanilla.

Pour the water into the bowl, over all of this --- making a great big mess.

Mix the wet and dry ingredients together until there aren't any more lumps and pour into two greased 9 inch baking pans, two inches deep. The layers will be shallow

Bake at 350°F. for about half an hour, test with a fork.

Set this aside to cool and make that icing!

This is extremely complicated, so pay attention:

Put the ingredients in a bowl and cream with a mixer. Adjust the consistency with a little extra powdered sugar if it's too thin. Add more cocoa if you're hard core.

Uh huh. That's it.

Now, the orange peel stuff...

Cut tops and bottoms off of the orange and score the orange into quarters, cutting down only into the peel and not into the fruit. Peel the skin and pith of the orange in large pieces, use the orange for another recipe, or get your brother to eat them. Cut the peel into strips about 1/4-inch wide. Put the orange peel in a large saucepan with cold water to cover, bring to a boil over high heat. Then pour off the water. Repeat 1 or 2 more times depending up how assertive you want the orange peels to be. (Test kitchen liked the texture of a 3 time blanch best, it also mellowed the bitterness. But it is a matter of preference.) Remove the orange peels from the pan.

Whisk the sugar with 1 1/2 cups water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 8 to 9 minutes (If you took the sugar's temperature with a candy thermometer it would be at the soft thread stage, 230 to 234 degrees F.) Add the peels and simmer gently, reducing heat to retain a simmer. Cook until the peels get translucent, about 45 minutes. Resist the urge to stir the peels or you may introduce sugar crystals into the syrup. If necessary, swirl the pan to move the peels around.

Drain the peels (save the syrup for iced tea), roll the peels in sugar and dry on a rack, for 4 to 5 hours. Return to the sugar to store.

Try not to just stand there and eat the peels.

By the way, these are a fantastic treat, a great gift, and you can also use lemons, limes, and grapefruit for a shot of color and a variety of tastes. We have vegan friends and are always on the lookout for goodies to take to their house that we can't screw up.

Assemble and frost the cake. You can chop some of the peel and sprinkle it between the layers.

Simply amazing. This was easy to do, the flavors blended beautifully, there was a fresh sparkle to the whole delicious concoction, and...

Just get me a fork and some soy milk. And my elastic waist jeggings.

What's Blooming?

2012-01-08T10:07:00.000-05:00

Work it, girl, work it!

The camera loves you!

Pouty!

Smidgen wanted to model for my birthday What's Blooming, so

welcome to Version Five Point One!

Not all kittehs can compete with orchids.

I admit it...I identify with Arthur.

Pass the bag please.

I have a little gardening to do today, obviously.

Happy Sunday.

Going Shopping

2012-01-07T11:35:00.000-05:00

I love getting comments.

I also love getting the emails where you admit I'm not the only one whose floor is

obliterated, whose garden has shriveled, whose projects have fallen apart,

and whose attempts at "clean" end up looking like a landfill.

Life is just like that.

Then we have these great days where sticking branches on the wall works out.

One thing I've loved over the past several months is the support I've gotten from you guys, even when I disappeared for weeks at a time.

Even when I didn't answer.

You have been one giant Get Well card while I worked at becoming healthy again.

I'm hoping my energy is back to the point where I can reconnect with all of you, because I miss this virtual friendships we have. I owe apologies all over the place for not doing my visits and leaving a little love. I haven't answered emails in ages. So I'm asking forgiveness as I enter into

Version Five Point One.

I'm going to step back into being a better blogger.

I do have less to haul around. I've gone from this:

To this:

80's jeans. I dug up some size 12's later.

The shoes, however, are the same size.

Headed for Walmart and Lowes, BRB.

If not back, avenge death.

Sneak Preview: Remember the Bedroom?

2012-01-06T08:43:00.000-05:00

A few months ago, we started a little project I like to call

Clearing the Landfill.

During the remodel that followed the fire, I got used to saying,

"Just take that up to our room" when something was in the way.

Before we knew it, our room was officially storage, and we had anything but

a restful, romantic retreat.

I couldn't find shoes.

Some days, we couldn't find the bed.

We painted cast off things to coordinate.

We found perfect accessories to soften things.

We wondered aloud...what to do with THIS.

We put together new storage...

...and sorted through things that didn't fit our lives or us.

There was a lot of hot gluing.

An awful lot of painting.

Serious rehabbing.

Did all of this pay off?

Man, I really hope so.

Is the most pathetic Before pic ever or WHAT?

Monday, let's see where we got with this, shall we?

Either that, or someone come dig me out of the rubble.

Calorie Free Cheesecake

2012-01-05T13:39:00.000-05:00

Okay, it's calorie free if you don't eat it.
But I did.

You will need:
24: OREO Cookies, crushed (about 2 cups)
1/4 cup: (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, melted
4 pkg.: (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup: sugar
2 Tbsp.: flour
1 tsp.: vanilla
1 pkg.: 12oz chocolate chips, melted, slightly cooled
4: eggs

Add the eggs.

Heat oven to 325ºF.
Mix crumbs and butter; press onto bottom of 13x9-inch foil-lined pan. Bake 10 min.
Beat cream cheese, sugar, flour and vanilla with mixer until well blended. Add chocolate; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over crust.
Bake 45 min. or until center is almost set. Cool completely. Refrigerate 4 hours. Use foil to lift cheesecake from pan. Top with berries, whipped cream, or whatever decadent thing you come up with.

Doing it Mission Style

2012-01-04T09:54:00.001-05:00

What happened when my Mom decided I could inherit my great-great-grandmother's mission style china cabinet?

Nothing good, I assure you.

I honestly had no room for it; all the walls in my cracker style house (an early Florida design that maximizes air flow and shade to counter-act the lack of air conditioning in the 20's) were too narrow. I was determined that I'd find a place, but as time drew close for Sam to leave school and come home, I felt fair warning was in order. AIM to the rescue...

Sunny 3:58 pm

Hey, um, take your time at the grocery store

See if they have guitars

Maybe Bobby Flay will be there signing spaghetti squash

Sam 4:13 pm
Um, why do I have an odd feeling that I shouldn't be home for a while?

Sunny 4:14 pm

Um............I dunno?

How's the blood pressure today?

Do you love me?

Sam 4:15 pm
of course I love you
what did you do?

Sunny 4:15 pm

..........nothing............

Sunny 4:16 pm

Well, nothing you told me not to do

Sam 4:16 pm
there are quite a few things I've never told you not to do
I've always figured some things were implied

Sunny 4:17 pm

I'd learn from this experience then if I were you

Sam 4:23 pm    OK, I'm heading out
    and I'm taking my time
    if there is anything else you need give me a shout

Sunny 4:23 pm
See you at the landfill...I mean home
I love you

Sam 4:24 pm
I love you too
and you love to test that sometimes, don't ya

Sunny 4:24 pm

What fun would life be without the occasional pop quiz?

Sam 4:24 pm
if you say so
see you at home

Sunny 4:25 pm There's no real chaos, I swear. Byeeeeeeee