My Life Ramblings

'Not Manly Enough'

2012-02-13T15:11:00.002-07:00

Sitting at the coffee table filling out Valentines for the parties tomorrow.
Sprout got Toy Story.
Hoss got Spider-man and he told me
'Spider-man, isn't manly enough'.
He's in 3rd grade folks!

He then told me that
'the guys from Cowboys vs Aliens
or
the guys from Fast 5
or
Harry Potter'
would have worked better.

LOL

UPDATE on island

2012-02-12T12:44:00.002-07:00

I bought the sewing table (w/ machine) for $25.
Took out the machine (it worked).

Updated the sewing table to a kitchen island.
Less than $10 in pennies,
and the cost of the handles.

The Update:
I sold the machine for $25.
So, I have maybe $15 in the island.
Yay!

Sticking to the Deal

2012-02-11T14:01:00.003-07:00

Had to take the spark plugs out and see if the motor would turn,
it wouldn't.
(with hubs help - hands me the tools and tells me what to do)

Still need to find and S10 frame.
A motor.

Face plate/panel for the front of the bed.
The metal bars in the bed and replace all the wood.

Straighten out some bent metal.

and
and
and
and
and
...

I don't mind the snow...

2012-02-02T10:12:00.002-07:00

...when it comes down in perfect flakes.

I noticed 2 years ago (when I was in Alaska) that the flakes were PERFECT.

I've seen them a few times here,
but today I actually tried to take the pictures.
It was a lil difficult, because they would hit and then melt on the windshield.

These pics are from the side mirrors.

The pics would turn out better (more detail) IF I had a micro lens.

Applesauce Cookies

2012-01-31T16:22:00.005-07:00

Applesauce Cookies with homemade caramel.

Today's Lesson:
Do make homemade caramel.
Don't burn your finger and jam it in your mouth!

Ingredients

1/2 cup of butter
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of applesauce
1 tsp. of baking soda
2 cups of all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. of salt
1/2 cup of raisins
1/2 cup of chopped nuts (I went with 1/4 cup of pecans and 1/4 of walnuts)
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp of ground cloves

***I did 1 3/4c flour and 1/4c oats.

I also added 1 diced apple b/c I didn't have nuts or chocolate***

Directions

Preheat oven to 375F.
Cream butter and sugar, then add applesauce, blending in.
Sift flour with baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
Add sifted ingredients to applesauce mixture and stir until smooth.
OPT-Add raisins and nuts and stir until combined.
Drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheet, spacing the cookies 2 to 3 inches apart.
Bake about 12 minutes or until lightly browned.

Makes 4 dozen cookies.

http://tastesbetterwithfriends.com/2011/02/08/applesauce-cookies-350-word-post/

The cookies come out nice and moist, like a muffin top.

Mine only made 2dozen b/c I didn't use a teaspoon to drop. :(

More Yummy Fritters

2012-01-26T15:37:00.003-07:00

They look so much better with glaze, don't they?

Update the prep and cook to 30 minutes
(I was a lil off yesterday, huh? lol)

I counted and got 7 slices from the apples I used today and
I used the top and bottom nubs
(made them like nuggets).

Serve warm.

Would also be good with ice cream.

***I used the leftover batter from yesterday and added more milk to make it more wet -
so, they get battered, but are not as thick as a pancake***

2 apples make plenty to snack on for 3 people.

Homemade Apple Fritters - OMG!

2012-01-25T15:43:00.003-07:00

Pancake batter (I used Jiffy) and made it a lil wet,

I added a touch sugar and cinnamon.

Cut apples to a thicker slice (I got about 5 slices per apple - 2 apples)

I also used the lil nubs from the bottom .

Dip the apple slices in the batter and cook til golden brown.

Apples are soft, but still have a bite.

I drizzled a glaze over the top

(powder sugar+cinnamon+dash salt and milk).

*you may have batter left over*

They were so GOOD!

cook & prep about 15min

Pantry and Island pics

2012-01-20T15:19:00.003-07:00

The Pantry.

It's a smallish armoire (about 5' tall)
I want to build a 4" base to lift it up a bit
(I don't like being able to see over it)
*I don't know if I want to leave the finish or paint it*

My Mini Island.

Made from an older hide away sewing table.
I built a shelf for the base.
I hung baskets under the top for fruits and veg.
Put handles on the sides to hang pots/pans.
I still need to put a clear coat of epoxy over the pennies -
Yes, pennies - just over $8 worth.
I also, want to build a 4" base, to lift it up a little.

***Don't mind the floor, it too is a work in progress***

January

2012-01-17T09:49:00.002-07:00

I feel it in my bones.

I see it with every breath.

Cold.

***we've had a very mild winter.
no snow yet, but it's coming.
still cold tho***

I still dunno

2012-01-16T17:21:00.001-07:00

*stands uncomfortably. looks around*
Hi. My names Amy.
*clears throat*
I'm a wife of 13 years.
*puts hands in pockets. shuffles feet*
A mom of 2 boys ages 5 and 9.
*deep breath. long pause. another deep breath*
and I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.
*sits back down*

I got dirty

2012-01-16T10:19:00.004-07:00

THE condition on hubs buying me the '54 pickup was -
I would have to learn to work on it.

***he has tried over the years to teach me car stuff,
but I don't care to learn -
I've told him 'you buy me a '50s pickup and I will learn'***

-older vehicles don't have all the bells and whistles as 'newer' vehicles -
less wiring, no computers, figure it would be *easier* to learn-

Well, it's started.

I used a wire brush to remove rust and loose paint from
the tailgate and inside the cab.

We bought new reflectors too.

*Baby Steps*

Bitten - Kelley Armstrong

2012-01-10T21:18:00.000-07:00

Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

View all my reviews

I'm not a writer. I'm not good with words.
With that said -
I enjoyed it! Now, I need to find #2.

My Toy

2012-01-08T14:20:00.004-07:00

We cleaned the bed out today and found the original
(was covered w/ plywood).
It's all going to have to be replaced.

Hubs tried to name things on the engine for me...
*points* 'that's the thermostat, blah blah blah'
after he named like 5 or 6 things, I said
'you lost me after thermostat'.

I wonder if he knows the challenge he has taken on?
Teaching me car speak.

I told hubs -
you might as well take a sharpie and write the name of 'whatever' on it, so I know what it is.

'51 vs '54 pickup

2012-01-07T12:34:00.004-07:00

Let me just say - I've wanted a '53 chevy since forever. I wanted one when I was in middle school (that was waaay before Twilight was conceived).

Hubs has known my love for the pickup since we first started dating, he would point some out and my reply would be 'not round enough'.

He came home yesterday and made a call. Today we went to look.

Pros to the '51-
I love the patina. Rust down to turquoise.
Has the motor.
Split window.
Doors close nice.
Hood closes nice.

Cons to the '51
shut the door and it 'rains' rust.
holes, lots of holes.
hubs doesn't like the front grill.

Pros to the '54
corner window (Always loved those)
less body work
curvy front

Cons to the '54
it was a 1 year only model
I hate the color
no motor

***

we bought a truck. he has his 'toy' and now I have mine. the only problem - now I HAVE to learn how to work on it. I told him 'buy me a truck and then I will learn, until then....'. I guess I didnt think that thru enough.

***

It's HERE!
Now, I have 1 question...

WHERE do we start?

Broken Angel

2012-01-04T14:29:00.003-07:00

I posted the bottom one on Pinterest.
She is so beautiful and yet sad.
I love cemetery angels, but this one is sad because-
her arms and wings are missing.

Haunted - Willow Cross

2012-01-02T20:15:00.001-07:00

Haunted by Willow Cross

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I book of short stories. I enjoyed it. I like hearing/reading other peoples experiences.

View all my reviews

It's been an adventure

2012-01-02T08:59:00.002-07:00

13 years ago today -

Hubs wore a long sleeve, black tshirt,
jeans
and his fave shoes
and I stood next to him in my navy blue, long sleeve tshirt,
my hot pink and navy blue plaid,
flannel pants
and shoes -
we stood in a parking lot in Pigeon Forge, TN -
behind us were the Smoky Mountains
and before us stood Judge King.
It was a quick lil ceremony, just the 3 of us.
It was our lil secret
that we announced in the Paper 2 wks later.
It's been an adventure -
I ♥ you Hubs.
Happy Anniversary!

D8 T2 D8 D16 A19 A19 E3 BINGO!

2012-01-01T19:19:00.003-07:00

Went back home for the Holidays.

It's taken 14 years and 2 kids later for hubs to stick to promises he made me when we first started dating...
Went to the Gator Farm and Airboat Rides in Moss Point, MS
It's a lil expensive ($30 for adults and $15 kids 5-)
But it was fun!
We held baby gators.
Known as 'lil bits' because if they bite you...it will just hurt a lil bit.

Went to a wonderful lil restaurant that hubs always said had "GOOD FOOD',
I originally ordered Fried Chicken Livers, but they were OUT! For Shame!!!
Ended up getting Fried catfish and shrimp.

Went to the Island to look for shells.
Hoss found quite a few.

Drove down to Bayou La Batre, home of Big Shrimpin'.

Visited with family and friends, but wasn't able to see everyone we wanted.

The boys met their cousins.
(we don't live near any of them, so meeting for the 1st or 2nd time)

All in all it was a good trip, but did have a few hiccups.

The biggest of all was:
Having our 1st flight (the flight I paid for months ago)
was on time (when we arrived at the airport),
but cancelled as soon as we got to the gate 5a.m.
We were put on a flight for 7p that night,
but until then we played musical gates on standby...
thankfully we got one at 2p.

I've never loved SLC more than when we landed.

Happy New Year!

Birdnest take 2

2011-12-17T14:18:00.004-07:00

I wasn't feeling the larger image, w/ the word.

After looking at it most of yesterday-
I took to it w/ scissors.

It looks much better-small.

*this was a gift for a girlfriend*

***Also, I cut the word off,
but wrote it much smaller and put on the back***

Birdnest

2011-12-16T18:01:00.005-07:00

Maitatu is LOVE in Basque.
I don't know if I like it tho.

I don't know.

Thoughts?

Chickadees in color

2011-12-14T15:36:00.003-07:00

*please forgive, I took w/ my phone*

I went ahead and added a little color to the birds.
(you can see original post several posts down)

As w/ the sketch,
I tried to lighten the color as it went to the edge.
(more color around the birds and less as it goes further out)

'nuther project

2011-12-12T12:55:00.001-07:00

Does it need anything else?

*I posted this on FB and my more religious of family and friends
mentioned a few more names to add to it*

I have a kitchen island!

2011-12-10T15:30:00.002-07:00

It took us 5 years of living without
to realize what we need.

I have always wanted a kitchen island, but
always thought our kitchen was too small
9'x9'
(+- a few inches)

Several weeks ago
while out junking...
I saw a hideaway sewing table.

Right then and there
it clicked!

Tiny kitchen = Tiny island.

I connected the legs w/ 2x4's
then slats to make a shelf.

Painted it an off white -
then aged it w/ a grey/green
(dry brushing)

I put pennies on the top
(per Pinterest)
*about $8 in pennies for the top, couldn't buy tile to cover the top for that cheap*

Now, I just need to buy the 2 part epoxy to clear coat the top.

Thought about doing grout, but hubs and my fear is that the grout would
cover all the details to the pennies.

I have a pantry!

2011-12-10T15:23:00.004-07:00

I HAVE A PANTRY!

Some of y'all may not think much of this, but for me this is HUGE!

Our house is a 1928 rambler.
Our kitchen is 9'x9'
(+- a few inches)

We have been here 5 years.

That's 5years, of clutter
5years of stuff
EVERYWHERE

I watched Nate Berkus a couple weeks ago-
and he made mention of using an armoire as a pantry.
*LIGHT BULB*

WHY haven't I thought of that?!?

I was looking and searching for a good 2 or 3 weeks, finding nothing
OR
finding everything, but refusing to spend $$$ on it.

This here cost me $35.
It's about 5' high (I wanted something taller, but this works)

It's not vintage
(what I prefer)
but it IS wood!

I HAVE A PANTRY!

Corn Kernel

2011-12-09T22:48:00.003-07:00

Popped in my head today to sketch a kernel.

I am not one to watercolor, but lately...
I've wanted to 'play'
See if it would 'grow' on me...

I like it,
just need to practice more.