Blairsvillager.com

Fried Green Tomatoes

2013-09-06T11:35:00.001-04:00

With all the rain here in the Blue Ridge Mountains this Spring and Summer, growing vegetables was either fabulous or disheartening, and I heard both kinds of stories from home gardeners. I’m a container gardener, and my Better Boy and sweet cherry tomatoes grew profusely – seeming to love the rain, as you can see in the photo below:

These are the lovely cherry tomatoes that grew on a vine 7’ tall! I had to get on a step ladder (I’m 5’2”) to pick the ones at the top. Anyway, I had lots and lots of tomatoes. I gave them to friends and ate tomato sandwiches until I couldn’t, even offered some to the neighbors and Jess said she was “tomatoed out!”

It’s September now, and the growing season is pretty much over here in the mountains, where Autumn is already bringing cool, misty mornings, but one tomato plant won’t give in. It’s producing bowlfuls of hearty green tomatoes that will never ripen.

But that’s OKAY! Because it’s Fried Green Tomato time in my kitchen – one of life’s greatest pleasures.

Fried Green Tomatoes is one of those recipes that everyone makes differently. If you follow my blog, you know I simplify recipes as much as possible. Most of us don’t have lives that allow for cooking complicated recipes from scratch.

Below is a simple three-basic-ingredients recipe that anyone can follow.

You will need:
A plate with some mayonnaise on it, and a plate with some seasoned Panko.

Slice some of those beautiful tomatoes. You might even find a little pink inside!

Heat a little oil in a large frying pan. Dry the tomato slices with paper towels, smear them first with mayonnaise, them evenly coat on both sides with the Panko crumbs. Fry them, turning to cook evenly until golden. Drain on paper towels.

Top with a grind of sea salt and cracked black pepper, and you’ll get one of the most delicious ways to eat tomatoes that will look something like this:

Now I ask you – was that so hard? Anyone can do this. Choose the oil that you consider to be healthiest, and don’t eat fried food everyday. You’ll live to be very old and very happy with Fried Green Tomatoes in your life. Bon Appetit! ~Jo

Great Coverup

2013-08-21T09:37:00.001-04:00

Now and then a great idea comes along, and I feel compelled to share. Such is the case in this great copycat coverup from Allison at Refunk My Junk, who spent a grand total of $2 to copy what would have otherwise cost her $90 from Ballard Designs. Check out the link below to be transported through cyberspace to Allison’s fun blog. Kudos, Allison, for sharing your pragmatic genius!

http://refunkmyjunk.com/ballard-designs-hack-2-00-jute-twine-chandelier-shade-update/

Outside the Box

2013-08-01T07:54:00.001-04:00

WHAT TO DO WITH A DEAD TREE…
I’m loving this idea from Pinterest, originally from a blog source that no longer exists, so I can’t even give them credit for this fabulous pin.

This idea would make a great playhouse in a residential or park setting, or a dynamite school bus stop shelter!

I’m a tree hugger, but I also believe in repurposing. So if a tree can’t be saved or is in danger of causing damage by falling on a building, driveway or sidewalk, why not do this?

Silverado

2013-07-18T11:14:00.001-04:00

I’m nuts about this wall treatment, and considering it for one wall in my casual kitchen. Can easily be done with metallic paint, and it takes on the appearance of stainless steel – a great updated look for kitchens.

If your kitchen doesn’t have many windows, this paint technique will also reflect natural light, making your room appear much brighter.

Always remember to keep metallic paint to a minimum, using it on walls broken up with cabinets or large pieces of furniture as in this photo, easing what might otherwise be glaring to the eye.

Flowerless, But Looking Good

2013-07-18T09:34:00.000-04:00

Have company coming and no time to run out for flowers? Just step out into the garden and cut some green things. Today I chose ivy – it grows profusely around Dove Cottage….and looks great in a mason jar.

World’s Easiest Pot Rack

2013-07-13T15:35:00.000-04:00

When my other pot rack fell from the kitchen ceiling to its death, I decided on a more simple replacement that was lighter and could be installed in a matter of minutes. I looked around in my shed for inspiration and found a travel extender bar for hanging clothes in the car. It was covered in red ribbed plastic, and could be expanded to the perfect length. I put two butterfly hooks in the ceiling, and with garden hangers, had the bar up in minutes. I added more hooks and hung a few pots. Voila! Instant Pot Rack!

Now to get that ugly ceiling painted!

Original Dove Cottage Makeover

2013-07-12T22:09:00.001-04:00

Best watched full screen! Enjoy!

Rain, Rain

2013-07-07T08:28:00.000-04:00

The creeks are running over and the county park is closed; the lakes are high; some roads are flooded and impassable; the flowers and vegetables are watered aplenty; the grass and trees are green and lush; and it looks like more rain for the next few days. I don’t remember such a rainy Spring and Summer here in the Northeast Georgia Mountains.

Rain is a good thing until it futzes with all the paint projects I had planned for this summer. The sunny hours are so few and far between, painting is almost an impossibility unless one has a big dry garage or basement with plenty of fresh air --- which I don’t have.

So here are a few photos of what’s going on around Dove Cottage. They ain’t too exciting, but this is REALITY BLOGGING!


Lush greenery around the entry to Dove Cottage


The Old Lion garden fountain in its glory


The birds' (and the cats') favorite of many bird baths

Japanese Holly (Sky Pencil) surrounded by Snapdragons

The first of my cherry tomatoes

The tomatoes are lush and prolific from all the rain

The sunflowers haven't seemed to notice there's no sun!

The rushing fountain at the driveway entry

A view of the harlequin porch stoop

The greening of the cottage interior for summer


The folk art garden where nothing will grow! Happy Summer, Blairsvillagers!

Appreciating Pop

2013-06-16T14:27:00.001-04:00

Thanks so much, Pop, for all you do!
Made this for you…..

The Two Marys

2013-05-31T21:13:00.001-04:00

It’s good to be back! Wow – May went by so fast, with so many projects, but internet woes kept me from posting. Guess I’ve got a lot of catching up to do. The Two Marys – Mary Dahl and Mary Elder are coming for lunch on Thursday, so trying to finish a few projects before they come to Dove Cottage for the first time.

Here are some photos of things that have been going on around Dove Cottage ---- and Majestic Acres, my parents’ 5-acre homeplace.

Painted all Mom’s and Pop’s porch rockers a fresh new coat of green

for their rocking chair porch at Majestic Acres.

Don’t they look better than the old gray-green?

Finished my folk-art garden at the entrance to Dove Cottage

complete with sunflowers, hollyhocks, allium, and poppies.

Decorated in neutrals for Summer – cool and easy to live with.

Made a new canvas awning to replace the vinyl one that was ripped apart in a winter

storm. This one will be painted white with black stripes as soon as I have a sunny

day when it isn’t so windy. Also got the Proven Winner baskets from English Country Gardens

installed in the window buckets under the awning.

Raked and cleared my walking trails in the woods

While clearing the trails, discovered Indian Pipes (fungi mushrooms) popping

up all over the woods after all the rain we had this Spring. Their white ghost like

appearance is always welcome. I’ll definitely show them to The Two Marys.

Happy Summer, Blairsvillagers!

Internet Woes

2013-05-01T20:34:00.001-04:00

Windstream is one of only three internet providers in my small town, and the service has never been great – it’s down, it’s up, it’s down, it’s up, it’s down, it’s still down…….

I wish I could just go down to the AT&T store and get a hot spot. But I stream Roku over the internet and watching Netflix movies, I would eat up the monthly data of a hot spot in about one day. So I decided to go with the new fiber optics internet service offered by our electric co-op. I hear only good things about it.

All this has, of course, affected my posting here on Blairsvillager.com and being active on facebook. As soon as the fibers are installed – in the next six weeks (there’s a long installation waiting list), I’ll be up and rolling again. I’m looking forward to it! ~Jo

Checking It Twice

2013-04-15T09:31:00.001-04:00

Wow – what a rainy (and some days chilly) Spring it’s been around Dove Cottage in Blairsville, Ga. 90 miles Northeast of Atlanta, and 10 miles from North Carolina, we’re having a strange Spring – not exactly Southern and certainly not Northern (what kind of Southern lady would admit to anything Northern?)

Here’s my Spring To-Do List, and some photos of early projects.

Make new window awning (old one was ripped up in a storm)
~~Paint garden bicycle~~
~~Plant Morning Glory seeds~~
~~Finish monogrammed pillow for Mom~~
~~Clean garden fountains and get running~~
~~Repot Clematis~~
~~Plant herb seed in wheelbarrow~~
~~Plant sunflower seeds around bird feeders~~
Buy evergreens for fishbowls at front door
Buy baskets for window buckets
Touch up harlequin pattern on concrete
Rake walking trails in woods

HAPPY SPRING SPRUCING!

Faery Mushroom Garden

2013-04-04T13:51:00.001-04:00

No matter the season or weather, my mushroom garden is always in “bloom.” Yes, that’s poison ivy – the faery who lives in the little house says it protects her from humans

A Standing Ovation to Mamie Jane’s

2013-03-29T10:43:00.000-04:00

I saw this idea –- actually shared on Decorating Ideas Made Easy, and it’s so clever, I’m sure it’s going to be making the rounds. It originated from Mamie Jane’s blog. And if you’d like to see the instructions, you can access them here: http://mamiejanes.blogspot.com/2013/03/another-kitchen-tablet-holder.html

As you can see, it’s an old cutting board, with a scrabble letter holder glued across the bottom and a wedge of wood glued to the back as an easel stand. Then it’s painted – possibly with chalk paint, which I’m going to teach you to make in a future post (as soon as it’s warm enough to get outside and actually paint something, lol), and distressed.

Well done, Mamie Jane’s!

Happy Decorating! ~Jo

Spring has Sprung

2013-03-27T23:15:00.000-04:00

It may still be cold outside, but it’s beginning to look like Spring inside Dove Cottage.

I spent the winter perfecting a few monogramming techniques for linens and throw pillows, and even monogrammed a few shirts.

I’ll post more photos as I redecorate with cool blues and greens, that will take Dove Cottage right through Summer. Until then.....Happy Decorating!

Making Up Isn’t Hard To Do

2013-03-21T08:33:00.002-04:00

I committed the Cardinal Sin the other day. It was Sunday morning, and I opened my mineral powder makeup, shook that little bottle to call up some of the fine powder, and none came forth. Empty!

When I was a kid on the beaches of Miami, my skin was a smooth, even rosy gold from the sun. But the older I got, the redder my skin undertone became, until now as an adult, I have to cover it with mineral powder to even the tone. I looked at the clock and discovered there simply wasn’t time to rush down to the drug store for makeup. (We don’t have department stores or Clinique in Bville.)

My career has been interior design for more than 35 years, and personal chefing for the last 10 years, so I think like a designer and engineer. Studying the way things are put together and the way they work, for me, is relaxation – sort of like your sitting down and putting together a jigsaw puzzle. I can almost look at something – anything – and figure out the basics of how it’s made and put together, and short-cut it in some way. Your complicated recipe with 30 ingredients, becomes my simplified recipe with 3 ingredients – with the same result. So here I am taxed with the challenge of coming up with makeup. No problem!

I rushed into the kitchen and began pulling things from shelves and cabinets: cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, powdered sugar, canola oil. You'd think I was going to make Apple Pie! (NEVER use Turmeric or Saffron, or Curry Powder which contains these two ingredients --- unless you actually like a skin tone of screaming electric yellow that won't wash off!)

I began to mix a little of this and a little of that until I had what looked pretty close to the few grains left in the brand bottle, and voila – makeup! After sifting to remove lumps, I ran my finger through it and tested the mixture on the back of my hand, then added a little more ginger. Pretty good so far.

I continued sifting into a bowl, added a drop of Canola oil, mixed a little with a spoon (no need to mix until it’s thoroughly even – as you swirl it on, it will even out), used my little brush, swirled and tapped just like with the real stuff, and not even I would have known the difference --- except this home-concocted makeup smells and tastes good, lol, and is all natural without all those chemicals we support by buying the brand names. Truthfully, it was better coverage than my store-bought variety, and lasted longer before touching up. It also occurred to me that I could adjust homemade makeup as the seasons changed, and my skin tone changed with them -- I could go lighter or darker or pinker or yellower whenever I needed. Hmmmmm…..

I still need to go to the drug store, though – to buy mineral oil for the next batch I make. Who knew? ~Jo

Blue on Blue

2013-03-16T22:22:00.004-04:00

I’m certainly not encouraging you to drink this much vodka or wine or anything that comes in a blue bottle, but this idea comes from Lark, a member on gardenguides.com, and I think it’s a good one. Recycling is nothing new, and we’re forever searching for bigger and better ideas. I just happen to really like this one. What’s easier than tipping a bottle over and sinking its neck in the ground? Lark says she cut a deal with a guy at the bottle recycling plant, and voila, all the blue bottles she needed to create this fabulous garden border. Genius! Well done, Lark!

Happy Gardening!

Spring Basket Wreath

2013-03-10T00:14:00.002-05:00

You can either buy something like this from Door Wreaths by Design or make a simple version yourself. There are many hanging baskets that are flat-backed, allowing them to hang flush against a wall, window or door. If your door is in a sunny location, fill the planter basket with something like petunias, bacopa, or calibrachoa. If your door is in a shadier location, try pink impatiens mixed with caladiums. Nice change from a wreath. To keep basket from bumping against a glass window as in the photo, put a couple lengths of peel & stick foam weather stripping on the back. Happy decorating! ~Jo

Scrap Lace Curtain

2013-03-07T19:58:00.001-05:00

Here's a link to a fun blog, and a photo of something I think you'll love as much as I do -- I don't know if the photo is colored sepia, or if all the parts are actually the wonderful taupe color, but it's gorgeous!

Dishfunctional Designs: Scrap Lace Curtain

Happy Decorating! ~Jo

A Tisket, a Tasket, all in a Basket

2013-03-05T09:29:00.001-05:00

Here’s a pic of what I did this weekend – I finally got around to organizing the open pantry. I didn’t have the nerve to take a “before” photo, as it was too messy and embarrassing, and I couldn’t possibly let you see it that way... a Southern lady just doesn't air her dirty laundry!!

It was really stupid to let it get as messy and unorganized as it was. There was no real excuse, because I have a huge assortment of baskets in the shed along with more décor than several families need.

Speaking of all that décor, I have some unusual things from my years as a decorator, and it's maybe time to let some of it go. What do you think? I’ll tell you what I think - I think I should start a facebook page to sell it all. There are many yard sale pages, but beautiful home decor kind of gets lost between the jeans and guns and prom dresses. I'll keep you posted on that. Happy decorating! ~Jo

All You Need

2013-03-02T22:23:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you just need to move things around! What has been in one room for a while, gains a new life by simply moving it to another. Such is the story of what I did today.

Last summer, I drew up a plan to upgrade the kitchen a little. First the cabinets will be painted true white and a new floor is in my future. On the interim, I took two trellises from the garden and re-purposed them by stacking one on top of the other, and hanging them from the ceiling. This killed two birds (don’t ever really kill a bird!) with one stone. The trellises covered the fluorescent fixture that is in the plans to be replaced with pendant lights, and they also acted as a pot rack. While working on the fluorescent fixture the other day, I took the pot rack trellises down and they were just sitting around the kitchen for a few days. I needed to get them out of the way.

So I did this:

I simply stood them up against the mirrored wall behind the sofa, and they added instant texture and dimension. I’ve never been one to tell you to go out and buy all new furnishings when you need a change. Sometimes all you need is to re-think, re-purpose, and move around what you already have. These trellises went from the garden, to the kitchen, to the living room. And they're probably temporary even there, 'cause knowing myself, I'll find many more places for them. Happy decorating!

Touched

2013-02-20T07:45:00.001-05:00

We Southerners don’t give much thought to being raised in an orphanage; we’ve always been surrounded by family. It’s who we are. But imagine for a minute that all those family members are a mystery to you. The concept got me thinking about something we all need to do. Something so important in our family history, I’m embarrassed to say I never thought of it before yesterday. But yesterday, think of it I did. And I decided to take action.

There comes a times when you realize your surviving parent won’t be alive on this earth forever. I mean we all know that already, but one day, the reality of it will really hit you deep in your belly, will render you faint, and take you to your knees. Last Sunday, a friend at church shared with me that when her surviving parent passed away, she knew for the first time in her life what it feels like to be an orphan. I never thought of it that way, but it made a lot of sense.

So let’s say your last parent is gone, and you’re now left to sort through all their belongings, decide what to keep and what to let go. That’s what made me realize: I don’t know the family history of many of my mother’s cherished antiques, accessories, and sets of bone china. I don't know who's hands have touched them or whose lives the antiques have touched. What did Mom buy through the years and what came down in the family? I’d never paid attention, but there’s a reason.

I grew up with warehouses, storefronts, and homes filled with English and American antiques. Daddy's family were antique wholesalers who imported container loads of antiques from England, and bought estate lots of American antiques throughout Georgia and Alabama. All the homes I grew up in were decorated around English, Colonial, and Early American antiques, and Mother still has a farmhouse full of them right here in Bville. It also occured to me that when Mom married Pop, her second husband (Daddy died young), some pieces came into the family with him -- he's a decsendent of the Hatfields of West Virginia (yes, the same ones who feuded with the McCoys for generations.) Which ones have been handed down in our family, which came down through his, and which were acquired? I haven’t a clue. So I set out to learn and record the provenance of each piece that by fate, ended up in my Mom's and Pop's home, and under their dominion. There are hundreds of items to be entered. It’s going to take untold number of hours, and fill several journals. Time to begin.

To be continued…….

Peasant Wellington

2013-02-15T14:58:00.001-05:00

There's a lady in Mocksville, NC, population 5,051, who is pretty smart. Her name is Bea Long. Bea came up with a really great idea and posted it on a site called Just A Pinch, who gave her a blue ribbon for her idea, and where I happened to see it this very day, because I'm on the email list for Just a Pinch. It's one of those recipe sites where real people send in their recipes. They aren't professional chefs, or caterers or line cooks, and they're definitely not TV celebrities. Most of them have never worked in food & beverage. Just real people cooking real food.

"Why not just make it with meatloaf?"

Bea Long admitted to the whole world right there online, that when she makes Beef Wellington, it sometimes doesn't get done enough for her taste. If you don't like your meat with the blood running like I do, that could definitely be a problem. So Bea decided one day, "Why not just make it with meatloaf?" And I for one, am glad she did. Truth be told, I just had one of those slap your forehead why didn't I think of that moments. Little jealous, Bea.

Anyway, our hats are off to you, Bea, for your inspirational idea. And readers, Bea says use your own favorite meatloaf recipe, if you prefer, then follow her instructions from there.
Here's the link to Bea's recipe: Meatloaf Peasant Wellington Recipe
Tell her I said Hello!

Roses are Red, Sweaters are Blue

2013-02-14T15:20:00.000-05:00

There’s a lot of talk on St. Valentine’s day about expressing our love everyday, and not having one or two special days. I’m not sure I totally agree with that – wouldn’t our love then become washed out or even mundane? Doesn't it need a jump start now and then? We need special days.

Romance was not lost on my former husband, but in all the years we were married, he never got me flowers for Valentine’s Day. I grew all our flowers, thus the house was perpetually filled with vases of them. I'm not big on candy, so there's not a single Valentine's Day that really sticks out in my mind. Every Christmas, however, he gave me a very special navy blue sweater. J liked the way I looked in navy blue. The sweaters were individual works of art from various designers whose very names earn them millions of dollars. Those kinds of things were important to J. But the names in the sweaters didn’t matter. The fact J picked them out himself, did.

J had impeccable preppy taste, so the sweaters he selected were classics – right out of those ads you see in magazines of lackadaisical rich kids sitting around on sailboats or equestrian fencing, casually wondering what to do with themselves, and not having to do anything but sit around on sailboats or equestrian fencing.

I still have 7 of those sweaters. The only reason I don’t have all ten of them, is because (1) was accidentally splattered with bleach, (2) shrank in the dryer, and (3) ran off with a few socks and didn’t even send a postcard. But the 7 navy blue sweaters I still have -- range from a GAP ribbed knit pullover that had a distressed salt-air look even when J bought it 20 years ago, to a hand knit boutique cardigan that looks great with pearls and a skirt. I cherish each one individually, and I still wear all of them.

Don’t they remind me of divorce and pain, you ask? No, they remind me someone loved me enough to specially pick them out each year. It was one thing in this crazy, mixed up world, I could depend on. J and I may have gone our separate ways years ago, but no one – not one single person in my entire universe since, has gone to the effort to select a classic navy blue sweater ~~ especially for me.

Ask Jo!

2013-02-02T10:31:00.002-05:00

Ask Jo! is a column written by Jo White, Interior Decorator, DIYer, Personal Chef, Exterior Designer & Garden Planner, and avid birder. You may send your questions to blairsvillager@gmail.com, or ask them on facebook. All questions will be answered, and some will be chosen at random to appear on either/or Blairsvillager.com and Facebook. Although each question will be answered with a professional solution, a lot of light humor will be injected just for fun!

Saturday, February 1

A wonderful fellow interior designer from Arkansas contacted me today. I know exactly how she feels -- we designers can quickly address other people's decorating challenges, but sometimes have trouble addressing our own! I've always thought it's because we're exposed to so much, love too many styles and ideas, that it's hard for us to zero in on anything for ourselves. I experience that more that I'd want to admit!

Designer from Arkansas wrote:

Love visiting your space on the net, Jo. I found you through a referral on HOUZZ and was pointed in your direction. I too am an interior designer and I bought this little cottage when my mother died in October. I moved from a BIG house to this little house and less than 1200 sq. ft., but the inside is wonderful. It was built in 1948 and recently completely renovated with 9ft. ceilings, two bedrooms, two baths, and a huge kitchen with island.

Am providing you with a photo (private) -- I love the inside and the location, but I really, really dislike the OUTSIDE as it is now. How can I make this little place darling -- I can take other people's projects and do wonders -- but my own house leads me to complete FRUSTRATION! PLEASE, please, please give me the help I need so I can move beyond my "stuck" position. Can this house be saved????

JO WHITE:

Always nice to brainstorm with a fellow designer! First, I want to say how sorry I am about your mother. I post funny stories and photos of my own little 85 year old mother on my JO WHITE facebook wall. We Southern girls really love our Mommas, don't we? I know you are missing yours.

Thanks so much for visiting my site, and YES! -- by all means -- there are a few simple, inexpensive things you can do to the exterior of your cottage, in keeping with cottage charm.

1) I would keep the front door black, but paint the shutters white, and paint your covered concrete porch black or white, or a black and white pattern similar to the one I used on Dove Cottage (click on Dove Cottage above).

2) I would then install trellises on either side of the porch, such as these Black Expandable Bamboo Trellis -- and grow morning glory, climbing roses, wisteria, or clematis on them. On either side of the front door, in your black planters, drop in planted azaleas, inpatients, or hosta, with an ivy underplanting, that will take a little shade, since they're on the covered porch. These changes will draw the eye to your front porch entry to make it the focal point.

3) If you want window boxes, I would keep them to the windows on either side of the front door portico, again, to keep the focus in that area. I've been recommending (to great applause) attaching two galvanized aluminum buckets under each window, so all you have to do is drop already-planted flower baskets in them from the retailer or nursery, and you can change them out for different seasons or a different color plan. You don't have to plant anything, and if something dies, lift the basket out and replace it. You can paint the buckets white, or leave them the silver aluminum color. It's a great alternative to narrow window boxes!

4) On the front window on the opposite end from the entry, I would hang an attractive awning, possibly in a black and white toile. The beauty of this, is an awning is the simplest thing in the world to make -- It's a hemmed flat piece of fabric run on rods, with extension arms -- (see the striped one I made for Dove Cottage). This can be cut from a table cloth or shower curtain, and if needed, can be treated by spraying with a clear coat finish -- it's simple!

This will be a good start -- you're a designer, so all you need are a few guidelines, and you can let your imagination take you the distance. I'm so excited for you to have such a lovely cottage -- I'd love to see pics after you've done a little work!