In and Out of the House

A Soapy Situation

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Hailstock) — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 20:58:00 +0000

Hi,

It's been a long while since I posted here. I'm still writing, but recently I rediscovered my love of crafts. I have many hobbies and I added to the list about six months ago. I was watching a segment of Home and Family on the Hallmark Channel. They had a woman on who made soap. After I finished viewing the segment, I thought, "I can do that."

So I started getting the equipment and ingredients, most of them are sold in the grocery or hardware store. After watching a large number of YouTube videos, I took the plunge and made my first batch.

They smell like lemon and I love them. I've made several batches since then. This week, with having to stay inside as much as possible, I made two batches.

This one is called the Taiwan Swirl. Mine doesn't look like the videos I watched, but it's close and I'm proud of it. Doesn't it look good enough to eat? The scent I used is called Seventh Heaven and they do smell heavenly.

After the Taiwan swirl, I kept thinking of another video I'd watched and decided to try to duplicate the technique. I got pretty close. The colors aren't what I expected, but I love them. They remind me of a Mexican Festival. Their scent is Cotton Candy. Can't you just smell it in the air and remember all the carnivals and theme parks you went to?

What are you doing while you spend many hours indoors?

Enjoy.

Shirley

Tennis Wreaths

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Hailstock) — Wed, 03 Jul 2019 06:30:00 +0000

In the same vein as the Tennis Clock, I also made two tennis wreaths as decorations for our tournament.

I wanted to use the colors associated with tennis courts: grass, white lines, blue surface, tennis balls, etc.

I cut out strips that were 10in x 30in. I used 36 of them.

Using ribbons with dots on them to mimic tennis balls and green strip ribbons to mimic the lines on the court, I created the wreath. The actual tennis balls completed the wreath.

We hung them on the wall of the tennis pavilion (using command strips). They added to the concession's decorations.

Tennis Anyone?

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Hailstock) — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 02:29:00 +0000

I love tennis. I play five days a week during the summer and watch as many professional games as I can. Consequently, over the years, I've collected a lot of tennis racquets. Since my local tennis group was about to have a tournament and I was part of the concession group, I decided to use one of the old rackets to build a clock.

Here's what the process yielded.

I chose the best racquet to use.

I got a small piece of wood from a craft store.

Then I covered it with Deco Mesh using Mod Podge as my glue.

As you can see, a paper plate worked well for me to draw the ball lines.

I checked the centering of the clock face on the racket.

Then I added the numbers and clock hands.

Presently, the clock hangs on the wall next to my computer.

Ignorance is Bliss

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Hailstock) — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 19:00:00 +0000

by Shirley Hailstock

I'm doing a simple job -- updating the bathroom from 1980's yellow to something more modern. I got the estimates, chose a contractor and they started work. From the day they came, my life has not been my own.

I realize some things would come up and that I needed to be ready for changes (translated that to more money). But every day, there is a new crisis, a new concern and a new dollar amount.

Is this a novel or not? Am I putting my characters up a tree and throwing rocks at them to make the story more interesting? That's all fine and well when it's fiction, but this is real life.

Day One - Think of this as the Opening, the Prologue or if you're into novel construction, the normal world. It was an easy day. They demo-ed the bathroom. No problems, other than dust. Even though they put up plastic sheets and taped them to the ceiling and floors, the dust still found its way in. I got a Roomba for Christmas. It doesn't really pick up fine dust. I had to do it manually.

Day Two - Translated as Act One or Chapters one through three. The bathtub I bought has the drain at the wrong end. I bought it a year ago when I hired a contractor who was doing such a bad job that I fired him. The current contractors tore the box apart getting the tub out. High stress ensues. I called the store and they agreed to take it back and sell me a new one. I have no truck, but the contractor drove me to the store and we replaced it for almost the same amount -- almost, but not totally.

Day Three - Climbing the tree to get away from rocks. There's a leak in the roof because one of the exhaust pipes had come loose from the inside pipe. I needed a roofer to come and repair a seal around the pipe. It's 30 degrees and snowing. No one can work in that weather, but momentarily hiding from the stones, I found a roofer who would come the next day. The temperature was 40 when they got here and fixed it.

Day Four - Bathroom is making progress. The walls and floor tiles are in, the ceiling has been closed. The light over my shower in installed as is the exhaust fan. While the painting is going on, the roofers returned to do the full inspection and what do they find? I have a squirrel living in my soffit and more in the attic. They can't get it out, so I'm called every animal control business in the region to try and get someone to come. My normal pest company wants a huge amount of money to come and do the whole house. They won't come for one squirrel or one opening.

Day Five is tomorrow. What's in store for the climax of this saga.

Thanks for being my sounding board. It's always good to have someone to bounce your plot idea off. All the while this renovation is going on, I've been working on a Heartwarming novel. It's due to my editor at the end of the month. So trees, rocks, roofs, leaks, and all, words still need to be on the page.

See you soon. And keep reading.

Just My Luck. . .I'm NOT Irish

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Hailstock) — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 11:13:00 +0000

by Shirley Hailstock

Everyone is Irish today. I'm in the Northeast and I hear New York City carted the snow off Fifth Avenue for the parade today. Don't ask me where they put it.

I'm not Irish, but I'm decked out in green and celebrating with all those who are.

I do not have a book out this month, but since this is a blog designed for readers, I have a gift for you. Lots of blogs and social media post will center on the creation of St. Patrick's Day or the way the holiday came into being. (Yep, I know that. I researched it.)

But I'm not doing that.

I have a story for you. Surprise, it's a St. Patrick's Day story. So enjoy.

The Magic Touch

A Tale From Blythe Cove Manor

Another St. Patrick's Day, Donahue thought donning his green tie covered in shamrocks and tying it around his neck. Shamrocks were a sign of luck and he needed all the luck he could get today. His shirt was green and his jacket a darker version of the same color. He had to wear this color or people would clap him on the back or grab his arm, demanding to know why he wasn't saluting the Irish holiday.

It began at midnight. And would be with him until another midnight released March 17th into the next day. He would like to spend the day relaxing in his room, staying away from the revelers and binge drinkers. But past years had taught him that didn't work. People would knock incessantly on his door. Most didn't even know why they were doing it. They'd apologize as soon as he opened it and they got a good look at him. So he decided to handle the day by making his own choices.

The first was breakfast.

Blythe, owner of Blythe Cove Manor, had a full array of breakfast foods available to celebrate St. Patrick's Day; green muffins, green tea, green milk shakes, even green eggs and ham for the kids. Donahue refused to even think about how Blythe turned the ham green. But from what he'd heard the manor's owner was a food-wizard.

Donahue needed to be careful. He didn't want to touch anyone, bump into anyone and he didn't want anyone offering him a hand to shake. He wore gloves, but he couldn't eat with them covering his hands. He poured hot coffee into a paper cup and set it in a protective corrugated heat-sleeve. Lifting a muffin with a napkin, and balancing the cup with the tips of his fingers, he left Blythe Cove Manor by the back door.

The garden was empty, its flowers straining for the coming spring. Going to one of the tables set in the sun, Donahue took a seat, even though the Massachusetts breeze off the Atlantic had yet to release it hold on the season.

Setting his breakfast on the table, Donahue turned his face toward the sunlight. He drank in the feel of it despite the air temperature. He was alone for several minutes, thinking is solitude a blessing. Then someone asked, "Aren't you cold out here in this wind?"

Turning, Donahue watched as a woman approached him. Her hair was sunshine yellow and almost disappeared in the eastern light. She, too, was dressed totally in green and she carried a cup and a plate of matching green food. For a moment he thought she was a female version of himself. Her cup was ceramic with a shamrock along the side. The liquid inside steamed in the cool air.

"Not necessarily," he finally answered her question as the ocean wind ruffled his dark brown hair. Unconsciously, Donahue patted it down.

"I'm Sloane Gallagher," she said.

"Donahue O'Dwyer," he introduced, taking a drink from his cup and replacing it on the table.

"Pardon me if I don't shake hands," she said. "Both of mine are full at the moment." She looked down at the coffee and muffin filling both spaces.

Sliding onto a seat opposite him, she said, "I hope you don't mind me joining you."

"You like the cold, too?" he asked by way of consent.

"I grew up in County Mayo. This reminds me of home."

She looked out on the Atlantic. Ireland was well in the distance, County Mayo or Mayo Abbey stood on the northwestern side of the Emerald Isle.

Donahue stared at her. He'd grown up in the same county, yet he was sure he'd never met her. Mayo Abbey was the third largest country, so it was perfectly plausible that they had never seen each other. Donahue had been a hell-raiser in his youth and his reputation covered a large part of the county. Sloane Gallagher didn't appear to have known him, but how coincidental was it that she joined him for breakfast and that they were both on Martha's Vineyard during St. Patrick's Day and staying at the same B&B? Although she looked to be in her late twenties, the same age as he was, he decided to tread carefully until he could determine if all this was due to the universe laughing at him – again, the way she had laughed at him when she gave him his. . .gift.

"Are you new to the Vineyard?" Donahue asked.

"I come every few years, but not often at this time. More in the summer or early fall."
"Are you here for St. Patrick's Day?"

"There isn't much of a parade here, not like in New York City, Chicago or Savannah, Georgia, but it is the end of the rainbow."

Now why would she say that? Why use that particular phrase? He laughed, hiding his concern.

"Is there really a rainbow end?" Donahue asked.

She nodded. "And a pot of gold."

"You're not going to tell me you're a leprechaun, are you?"

She shook her head. "Like you, I'm a Transferer."

"A what?" he asked. He'd never heard it called that before.

"A Transferer. My touch transfers powers – temporarily, but they happen." She announced this as if she was asking him to pass her a napkin.

"What kind of powers?" He leaned forward feigning interest.

"That's the rub. I don't know, but you understand all this. We're the same kind."
"Kind?" he repeated.

"Our touch on this day passes our magic on. It's temporary, but whomever we touch shares in our magic until the stroke of midnight."

Donahue hadn't acknowledged that he had any magic, but he asked the question. "What happens if and I said if, we both have this gift," he paused. "And we touch each other?"
She took a moment to think about that. Her brow furrowed and her face changed into a frown. "I don't know."

"How many other people have you met with this magical ability?"

"You're my first," she said.

"And how do you know I have it?"

She opened her hand. He only saw the green gloves she wore. Removing them, she turned her hands palms up. At the end of her longest life line was a small dark blemish in the shape of cauldron. It was light green, but clearly visible.

"At first I thought it was a birthmark as I'm sure you did too. Remove your gloves." She didn't exactly ask it or command him. Her comment was somewhere in between.

Donahue hesitated. After a second, he pulled the gloved fingers free of his own, and showed her his hands.

She gasped.

There was nothing there, no mark, no blemish. She glanced toward his other hand. He repeated the procedure with slow, deliberate movements. When he presented his hand, again, there was no blemish, only the definition of lines intersecting other lines in his palm.

"I. . .I," she stammered. "I don't understand." She pulled her own hands back, gathering her gloves and slipping them back on. "I apologize," she said standing up. "You're not the one."

She made no attempt to touch him, to impart her magic as she walked away. Donahue watched her hurried steps as she crossed the grass, went up the few steps and into the back door of the B&B.

She'd left her breakfast behind. Donahue reach over, using his bare hands to hug her steaming coffee cup, pressing his palms against the warmth of the liquid that penetrated the cup. The coffee warmed his hands.

As he released his hold and opened his palms, images appeared, identical twins of a pot filled with a leprechaun's gold.

Donahue watched as the cool air touched his skin and the images disappeared.

The End

Good luck today. I hope you enjoyed the story. Remember the luck of the Irish is passed from person to person. So offer your own magic touch and enjoy a wonderful day.

Unknown Author

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Hailstock) — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 01:49:00 +0000

By Shirley Hailstock

I want to be an unknown author. I went to Barnes and Noble last night, admittedly to buy a new book by one of my favorite authors. And of course, I came home with more than the one book. As any reader knows, books are like potato chips – you can’t buy just one. So I was walking around the superstore, scoping out the books and looking at the guys to see who was just there to hang out.

There were a lot of tables and free standing book carousels and I found myself looking at the titles and authors. I’m a sucker for a good title, so I look at those first. These are the tables that publishers pay money to have the titled featured.

I consider myself fairly well read and well informed about books – all books not just romance or women’s fiction. But what I noticed on these tables were books by people unknown to me. Of course, I can’t know everyone, no matter now hard I try, yet on many of those tables, I didn’t recognize a single name.

I did recognize the publishers. And I decided that is who I want to be. I want to be one of those names that people come in the store find. My book and my name prominently displayed. I want to be the books they go home with, spend the night in bed with, and read from page one to The End.

100 Books to Read Before You Die - The Official List

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Hailstock) — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 05:30:00 +0000

by Shirley Hailstock

It started with a movie, The Equalizer. I like action movies and I like Denzel Washington. In this movie, his wife has died and she was a lover of books. She was reading the top 100 Books Everyone Should Read Before You Die. He truly loved her and as homage, he's reading the top 100 books. He's currently on number 91.

I looked for the list since I wanted to know how many of them I had read. What I discovered is there are countless lists of top 100 books by different groups, organizations or individuals. I had to choose one, so when I found a list that said it was The Official List, I went with that one. Click this link (The Official List) if you want to see all 100 titles. I am glad to say that the majority of the books appear on many of the lists. You'd expect to see The Great Gatsby and Pride and Prejudice on any reading list that claims to be the Top 100.

When I counted the titles I'd read, my number was 37. There were some collections like the Harry Potter series and the complete works of Shakespeare. While I've read all the Harry Potter books, I only get to add one to my total. I didn't count Shakespeare at all since I've only read a few of his books/plays. I've seen more of his works produced as a play or movie than actually reading the text. However, Hamlet was listed singularly and I included that one. In high school, I had to memorize parts of that play.

Some titles I tried to read and couldn't. The Hobbit is one of them. Even after The Lord of the Rings walked away with multiple Academy Awards, I tried to read The Hobbit and couldn't. Then I got it on CD and tried to listen to it. Still I couldn't get into it. There are some books, we're just not ready to spend the time trying to read.

There were also titles on the list I couldn't remember if I'd read the book or only seen a movie of the story. Little Women, Great Expectations, Wuthering Heights, and Anna Karenina have been movies, all with several remakes to their credit, and I can't remember if I ever read the book.

Of course, every list is going to come with surprises. This one had a few books that I wouldn't choose for people to read before dying. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger and The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams are two. This is my opinion. There are probably thousands of people who will disagree with me, but they will have their own list that differs from mine.

Another surprise came when I saw titles and didn't know a book existed. I thought these stories were made into movies from original screenplays. Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy, Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh, On The Road by Jack Kerouac, and The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane are a few.

The list was limited to 100 titles, so it stands to reason that some expected titles will be missing. For example, Middlemarch by George Eliot is listed, but Silas Marner is not. Neither The Scarlet Letter nor any other works by Nathaniel Hawthorne are included in the list. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is present, but not Lord Jim. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds by Paul Zindel and The Invisible Man by National Book Award winner Ralph Ellison, and Native Son by Richard Wright were not listed. There were no books by James Baldwin, Toni Morrison or Ernest Hemingway.

So, of the books on this list that I've read, what is my favorite – The Great Gatsby. A few years ago I read this book for the first time. I wanted to see if it stood the test of time. Would the book be just as interesting and relevant today as it was when it was written? My answer is yes. I thoroughly enjoyed it even though I'd seen Robert Redford and Mia Farrow play Gatsby and Daisy countless times. And I even visited the house in Newport, Rhode Island where they filmed the movie, I was still in the can't put-it-down-mode.

Reading 37 titles is good, but not great. It's only a little over a third of the 100. Just in case you want to know the 37 titles I have read, they're listed below.

So, like Ricky would say to Lucy, I got some readin' to do.

SPOOKED: A Halloween Dinner

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Hailstock) — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 22:07:00 +0000

With Halloween just around the corner I went a little overboard this year. While I don't have anyone to take out on the 31st and most of the kids in my neighborhood have grown up and are either in or out of college, the need to decorate should be low on the To Do List.

But it isn't. I dug out the black plates and the holiday took on a life of it's own.

I started with a napkin. While seeing some of Halloween commercials, I thought about the witches hat and during a long commercial break, I went and got the black napkins and folded one, then another and another until I had enough for the entire table.

Now it was time to go to the store and I found all these wonderful decorations on sale. The witches hat, needed a pumpkin spray. This is what I found.

I already had the black plates and the white china. The placements were hard to find in the number I needed, but eventually I prevailed.

And how could have set a Halloween table without skulls. These guys jumped out and I was forced to take them home.

Just a couple more, I said. At night the candles in the house turn the room to an eerie orange glow.

And finally we were ready for the food.

We're planning to have dinner here on Halloween. The menu is still under discussion. Hope you enjoy your time to dress up and collect candy.

Your Face on the Cover of a Romance Novel

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Hailstock) — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 06:36:00 +0000

Have you ever wondered about the models on the cover of romance novels? Are they professionals or regular people? You could be one. I'm running a contest to choose a person to appear on the cover of one of my novels. You can find all the details here where you can read the official rules and find the entry form.

If you want to be on the cover, know someone who does, have a daughter, son, child, grandchild, niece, nephew, son, or other friend or relative interested in the contest, keep reading...

Before you go to the link, here are some of the perks. The contest is open to anyone (male/female) 18 years or older, regarding of size, age, color or ethnicity, from the forty-eight contiguous states of the United States of America. We'll fly you to the Princeton, NJ area.

Add ground transportation to get you around the cities, towns, and municipalities of our state. Then we'll install you in a beautiful hotel.

Where you'll relax and eat at the best restaurants. (There may be a couple of surprises related to the meals, but I can't say what they are now.)

At this point, the real fun begins. First the makeover. A professional makeup artist will apply your makeup to perfection.

Next is the photo shoot. (smile.) We've hired a professional photographer to spend time taking your picture from every angle. He/She will get the best shot(s).

And a little while later, you'll find yourself on the cover of a romance novel Tentatively, the romance is titled Having the Genius's Baby. (Of course, that is subject to change.)

Go to the website http://www.yourfaceonaromancenovel.com and sign up. Be sure to read the official rules.

PLEASE FORWARD AND SHARE THIS NEWSLETTER or LINK WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

Thank you.

And as always, keep reading...

The MUST-HAVE Christmas Present

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Hailstock) — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 05:01:00 +0000

Happy Holidays!

We've come to my favorite holiday, Christmas. I love everything about it, even the jostling in stores for the perfect gift. I like the snow (not the shelving). I like all the lights and the music. I like the happy smiles on people's faces as they make eye contact instead of just passing by. I like all the Christmas cards spilling out of my mailbox as I open it each day.

As Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Years celebrations begin, remember when you were a kid and wanted the must-have toy of the season? [Note: I realize Hanukkah is over, but for the past several years it's occurred in December close to Christmas, so I wanted to include it here.)

For me the toy I had to have was called Mini-Brix. They were the precursor to Legos. I was about seven and I longed for them. You could build things with them just like you can with today's Legos. However, my father said it was a boy's toy and I was a girl. This was prior to the sexual revolution. On Christmas morning the mini-brik were not there. I got a doll and a tea set as all good little girls should want. I didn't grow up to be a great homemaker. I drink coffee more than tea. I also didn't become an architect or work at building anything. I've worked in many types of jobs, that we won't go into as this blog is about the must-have gift.

A few years ago the e-reader, specifically the Kindle was the gift of the season. Then the i's took over: iPod, iPhone, iPad, and now the Apple Watch of the Samsung phone.

What is the toy you want today? If you could get your must-have gift,
what would it be? You're never too old for the perfect holiday present. If I got to sit on Santa's lap and whisper in his ear what I want for Christmas, it wouldn't be anything tangible, no coat or that one (or more) of my books make the New York Times bestseller list (although I wouldn't refuse that). I want peace.

I used to think it was silly during the Miss American Pageant when the contestants said they wanted peace. But I understand now. And I agree with them.

This is probably why I choose to write romance. There is always a happily-ever-after, and the characters remind me of Superman. They stand for truth and justice. So as the year comes to a close, let us all
pray for our soldiers to come home safely, that the sons and daughters of our enemies lay down their weapons and return to their families, and for the world to work for peace.

When you begin to wine down from the aftermath of the holidays, when the family has begun to return to their homes, take a moment to relax with Summer Magic, a three-story anthology from authors, Lorraine Bartlett, Shirley Hailstock and Kelly McClymer. You'll learn the stories of three special guests who arrive at this beautiful inn overlooking the sea on Martha's Vineyard. AMAZON.COM NOOK APPLE KOBO

Sweet Dreams by Lorraine Bartlett: Serious life changes have pushed Paige and Alex Campbell to the brink of divorce. Still, they win a weekend at lovely Blythe Cove Manor and experience vivid dreams. Is there a chance this magical place inspires the nighttime fantasies that could help them fall in love again?

Forever Bound by Shirley Hailstock: What Ellie Sloan finds in the wall of her home sends her to Martha's Vineyard and irrevocably changes her life.

Honeymoon with a Ghost by Kelly McClymer: Wedding planners know that no wedding goes off without a hitch, but most don't expect the groom to vanish hours after the wedding. Emily Stevens heads for her honeymoon suite in Blythe Cover Manor alone, determined to find out who her husband really was.

Until next time, keep reading...

Shirley.Hailstock@comcast.net

http://www.shirleyhailstock.net

Move Over Julie Andrews - These are My Favorite Things

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Hailstock) — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 05:01:00 +0000

by Shirley Hailstock

I'm having a Christmas party. Of course that means cleaning the house, at least the part that the guests will see. So I'm vacuuming the dining room, when I start thinking about how I love seeing the lines the vacuum cleaner makes on the carpet. And the idea for this blog comes to me. This is proof of that common question writers get: where do ideas come from -- from the great and powerful and the mundane and necessary.

So, my first favorite thing is a clean carpet. Mind you, I don't like being the cleaner. I avoided the cleaning gene while I was still in the womb. However, in order to get what I want, something I have to suck it up. Writing and reading reference: submitting a clean manuscript to your editor; providing a reader with wonderful experience devoid of typos and distractions that throw them out of the story.

The smell of fresh cut grass is another favorite. I like the smell all summer long, but that first cut of the year is like all the fragrance buds opened up and offered their scent to the wind. I don't cut my own grass. I have a service that whips through the process in record time. Yet, that first cut welcomes the change from winter to spring. Writing and reading reference: The writer has finally
birthed the baby and she's holding it in your arms, ready to allow someone, a stranger who plucks it off the shelf (real or virtual) to read her story. It's going to be a new world as soon as she
lets it go. Her feeling of fear increases ten-fold, until that first review comes in, until she can exhale and allow all the pent-up emotion out. For readers, a new voice just entered the world and you're there to receive it. With hope and admiration, you settle in your chair riveted to the pages, waiting for the end, for your ahhh moment as you reach the last page. That's the first
smell of cut grass.

The heat on my face when opening an oven. It's a flash of heat, but it's dripping with anticipation. There's something good in there. I can feel the heat of it. At the first snow, I love to make
cinnamon rolls. They remind me of home when I was a little girl. We'd make them from scratch, eagerly waiting for them to finish cooking so we could open that oven door. This brings me to a complementary favorite -- sticky hands. We couldn't wait for the cinnamon rolls to cool down, so we'd ice and eat them, still hot from the oven, as the icing dripped down the corners of her mouths and onto our hands -- ala sticky hands. Writing and reading reference: It's a favorite book. All writers have one. Most won't tell you which one. We don't want you to think there is a best
because the writer's favorite may not be the reader's favorite. What sticks to your hands may not stick to mine. But something will stick. And you won't be able to put the book down.

I love people who smile. I find that smiling makes the day better. It begins that way and continues. This is not to say that life doesn't happen, that disappointments don't come, sometimes in droves, but putting on that happy face can make it feel a lot less irritating. Long ago, I read something (probably in science class) about it taking more facial muscles to frown than to smile. I was skinny then and thought smiling would be better. I still think that and I also know that frowning uses more energy, but not enough to make you lose weight -- so smile. You'll feel better. Writing and reading reference: Books make you laugh and cry. They touch your emotions and introduce you to fictional family and friends. They are people you can laugh with and most often, they make you smile. You may not know it, but they do the authors and readers have the same reaction. Sometimes we're reluctant to let them go. Readers want another story with their new-found friends. Writers have new ideas, new directions to travel with the people they've brought to life. Come on people, let's all get together for a group photo. Say SMILE.

I also include chocolate among my favorites (only about a dozen people in the world don't). However, I'm a chocolate snob, a cheap snob if that's a consolation. I'm a Hershey girl. I like milk chocolate. I don't favor expensive chocolates. When I was in San Francisco, a friend walked me around for an hour trying to find a very famous chocolate store, Ghirardelli. I'd never heard of them. (I can hear you gasping.) I tried several different samples they had in the store, didn't like any of them. I've tried Cadbury Chocolate, Dove Chocolate, Whitman Samplers, Russell Stovers, even Godiva Chocolate (which always reminds me of a naked lady on a horse), and none of them appealed to me as much as a Hershey bar. There are other favorites in the chocolate category that I adore; chocolate cake with chocolate icing, chocolate mousse, hot chocolate, chocolate milk, the list goes on. Writing and reading reference: different books appeal to different people. Some like historical, some small town contemporaries, some Navy Seals, others FBI thrillers, there's something out there for everyone's taste.

I
could go on listing my favorite things, but Julie has come in and wagged her finger with the enough is enough gesture. So, let's leave it with a favorite wine, a fireplace with a roaring fire, and good friends.

What are some of your favorite things?

As always, keep reading...

The Best Tea in the World

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Hailstock) — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 04:55:00 +0000

by Shirley Hailstock

Since Father's Day and Independence Day are practically upon us, I thought about my father and one of the gifts he gave me. I was also reminded of a previous trip to England by several of my friends (who were in Ireland) posting messages on Facebook. One thing I enjoy and miss about England tea time. The entire country seems to stop for an hour and enjoy a soothing cup of tea and a little conversation.

Photo Credit: Morguefile

I have a friend in D.C. that I’ve known since college. She’s a neo-natal nurse. We met when she was in nursing school. I tutored her in chemistry and we became life-long friends. She spent a lot of time in my apartment and used to say I made the best iced tea in the world. Of course, I thought she was being facetious since I had very little money and tea bags were the only drink I could afford to buy. Consequently, there was always tea in my refrigerator. I didn’t find out until long after I'd married and had children that she actually meant it.

My son also says I make the best tea in the world. He’s unaware of the comments from my nurse-friend. But he should know. He’s traveled from Canada to Australia, New Zealand to Ireland, England to Scandinavia, seen a lot of the world and drank a lot of tea (his refreshment of choice). For several days one summer when he was about ten, he watched me make tea, asking questions about how much of this and how long to let it boil. Then one of his friends’ parents I ran across in the local grocery store mentioned the tea. Apparently, my son had gone to her house and made them the best tea in the world. Once he called me from Germany when he was an exchange student to find out how to make the tea for his German family.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Tea has been a part of human life since the Stone Age. Yet people used to only drink it iced in the summer time. Tea has now become an any time drink. I think my father personally championed this change, since we had iced tea year-round as I grew up in Buffalo, New York. My father was from South Carolina where tea is a staple.

He didn’t teach me to make it, however. And I didn't experiment with different ingredients. I just happened to try a different type of tea when I was low on tea bags and suddenly I had people turning their heads like on a television commercial and asking, “Who made this?” I will give a little credit to my father for one ingredient although the knowledge came to me indirectly through one of my sisters. She told me about the baking soda.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Sun Tea was popular about ten years ago and I tried that, but quickly realized it was only a method of getting people to buy more tea bags and therefore making the tea companies more profits. Quickly, I dropped that idea. One reason was the inconvenience. Sun Tea had to sit in the sun for hours to brew. I’d have to get it ready and put it outside in the morning before leaving for work. With all I had to do to get three people up dressed, breakfast prepared and eaten, beds made, and lunches ready (with kids who are not morning people), who had time to think about Sun Tea? And when it was gone, you couldn’t make more on the spot. Plus my kids didn’t think it was as good and the kind you boiled on the stove. So following the path of least resistance, I went back to the tried and true.

Photo Credit: Morguefile

In my first book, Under the Sheets, I loaned my heroine the recipe for the tea. She owned a restaurant and it was a favorite of her patrons. It was also the defining moment for the hero when he discovers she’s the same woman he’d known and loved in the past. I put the recipe in that book. And here it is for you. I hope you like it.

Photo Credit: Pixabay & Morguefile

Apple Spiced Iced Tea

2 regular tea bags (a cheap brand, store brand is fine)

1 apple spice herbal tea bag

Sugar (to taste or optional)

Baking soda (as much as you can pinch between two fingers)

Cold water

Ice

Photo Credit: Morguefile

Fill a small sauce pan half full of cold water. Add the three tea bags and bring to a boil. Boil for two minutes. Remove from stove and add a pinch of soda (The box keeping your refrigerator fresh is fine to use. The soda will make the tea bubble to the top of the pan, so be careful. It will also give the mixture a rich, dark color.) Fill a half-gallon size pitcher half full of cold water. Pour tea into a pitcher and stir. (Discard tea bags.) Add sugar to taste. Fill pitcher to top with more cold water. Serve over ice.

Note: Do not add lemon. The strength of the lemon juice will negate the apple spice influence.

Substitutions: You can substitute any herbal tea you desire and experiment with the flavor. I’ve used Orange Spice and Cinnamon Apple Spice with good results.

Shirley Hailstock

Creating a Tablescape for the Groom

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Hailstock) — Fri, 01 May 2015 04:30:00 +0000

Summer wedding season is gearing up. I thought of creating a tablescape for the groom and his party.

Do you know what a tablescape is? It's decorating a table for some event. It could be a children's party, movie night, a holiday celebration, or dinner without any special reason. However, when there is a special reason, I like to do something a little more than putting plates on the table and loading them up with food.

There is no wrong way to do a tablescape. You don't have to design it or plan it, but that isn't a bad thing to do. I usually plan a theme, a color scheme, and a centerpiece. Once I have those items in mind, the other objects on the table fall into the plan. However, if none of these things come to mind, at least you should balance the table someway. Even if you're setting a table for one, you can still balance it.

The tablescape I created for this article I called the Tuxedo Table. Names don't generally come with a tablescape. You can name it or not. I like giving them names. It makes it easier for me to remember what it is. Once I had this idea, I thought of the napkins. I wanted them to look like a tuxedo. This table name is based on the way the napkin is folded. Folding can be elaborate or simple. The photo above has a simple fold. As this is a male oriented table, I didn't want it to be too feminine. Placement of the napkin can also be in various places, on the plate, next to it, in the glass, etc.

The idea for a Tuxedo table came because when we think of weddings, the bride usually comes to mind. Dressed in white and floating down the aisle toward her soon to be husband, is a mental image we can pull into view. But what about the groom and his before the wedding activities? We all have cliche images of the bachelor party, but even there, it isn't all beer and pizza. So the napkin I folded for the groom's party is above.

Earlier I mentioned a tablescape should be balanced. I also come up with a color scheme. For a wedding, the colors are coordinated between whatever the bride and the bridesmaids are wearing. The subtle message here is the bridemaids wear red and the groom and his men have white tuxedos.

Let's look at the balance on this table. In the photo below, if you remove all the place settings except the one at the head of the table, it remains balanced. The huge centerpieces balance the table. Don't be afraid to use large or tall centerpieces.

Most of the colors I used in these photos are red, black and white. Keep the number of colors to a minimum. As this is a set up for the groom and his party, the bride's colors are subtle and the groom colors are prominent.

The center piece in this tablescape is tall. The longer the table, the more centerpieces you might need. These can be spread out, but remember to balance them. Don't have different centerpieces for different sections of the table. Make them all the same, even if they are clusters. The clusters, like the ones above, would be repeated and evenly spaced.

I once worked in a bridal shop and saw mainly the bride's side of the wedding party. Many of my novels are wedding stories. The groom always has a part in the planning. And his bachelor party should be something to remember. Just as the bride will remember her shower, the groom should have pleasant memories of his last night of bachelorhood.

Doing tablescapes are not difficult. You do them every time you set the table. Next time you feel like doing a little more, think of a theme and add a little extra. You don't have to learn to fold napkins or find the exact color napkins, tiny bow ties (that took forever to find), or crystal glasses, but a little effort will make your guests feel special and you can take a well deserved bow.

As always, I hope you enjoyed your visit.

How a Wedding is like Writing a Book

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Hailstock) — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 06:00:00 +0000

How a Wedding is like Writing a Book
By Shirley Hailstock

Weddings, like books, come in all varieties. There are theme weddings, destination weddings, and ordinary weddings, although no wedding is ordinary. They are all special to someone. Theme weddings take their cues from popular culture to traditional heritage. Destination weddings are open to any place on earth (since there are people with seats on the first manned trip to the moon, earth could be a temporary condition). In books, the wedding can be on earth, but paranormal weddings are occur anywhere in any universe.

Photo Credit: Bigstock.com

I've been involved in more than a few weddings. One year I was in four weddings, three of them were destination weddings. So I know a little about being a bridesmaid. I've written five or six books with a wedding theme. Most of these books required some research. However, nothing beats the authenticity of writing from personal experience. Much of mine was garnered first hand; being a bride, a bridesmaid, maid of honor, baker of the wedding cake, and for a couple of years I worked in a bridal shop.

Credit:Freeimages.com

Credit: Freeimages.com

Every bride wants her wedding to be spectacular and for every single detail to unfold according to plan. When they walk through the bridal shop door, some may have an idea of the type of gown they want. In writing, these would be the plotters, people who plot their story from beginning to end. They have the entire story in their head. It's just a matter of writing it down. Other brides are looking for a dress that talks to them. They resemble the pansters in writing. Pansters have a vague idea of the story. They sit in their writing chair and learn what happens in their story as it happens. The bride sorts through the gowns and chooses the dress that speaks to her style.

Writers all want their books to attain bestseller status. The bride wants the perfect gown that is unique to her. It doesn't matter if the bride or writer is a plotter or a panster, it's amazing how many brides choose the same gown and writers choose the subject that works for them. It's their bread and butter, their go-to shot. The bread-and-butter sale at the shop where I worked was a Chantilly lace gown covered in pearls. While everyone has something about clothing they hate, this type of dress seemed to appeal to a large number of people. The bestseller is a book that huge numbers of people both buy and enjoy.

Credit: Pixabay.com

As a sales associate (no longer called a clerk), we walk hundreds of miles back and forth over the same flooring, in and out of dressing rooms, removing clothes from the plastic protective covers and rehanging them in the same condition. Workers need several pairs of shoes in reserve. Even if the shoes are exactly the same, they don't wear the same and will use different muscles, keeping your legs from getting tired. Unfortunately, nothing works for the feet. Just as in writing, nothing works until you get the words on the page.

Having never been to a wedding steeped in heritage, I only have cliche's to go on, so I won't offend anyone, by describing a wedding. This, however, is the confirmation that weddings can be different, but in the end, all the couples are married. The books are different, too. We know if given the same story idea to any number of people, the return will be a myriad of unique stories from the group. Like series romance novels, they may have the same look and feel, but the characters are different and the situations change. Yet happily ever after is almost a guarantee.

Credit: Freeimages.com

The destination wedding couple looks for a beautiful locale for the perfect setting to showcase the bride and groom. In writing, some authors tour the setting for their stories. Like the wedding, these writers want the details correct. They want to immerse themselves and their guests in a unique atmosphere where their characters go on their adventure. And marriage is an adventure.

Credit: Fololia.com

Time for the reception. The ceremony is over and the happy couple celebrates with their friends and family. The book is done. The bride and groom dance about the decorated hall with large smiles and tearful parents. The author celebrates in her own fashion. Some people pop the wine, have dinner with a spouse or friend, share the news with a fellow author. Personally, I go to bed and get a good night's sleep. For whatever reason, I often finish a book in the early hours of the morning. So going to sleep is a luxury. The couple head for their honeymoon knowing everything went well and they are ready for a few weeks of fun before returning. The author has a breather before beginning the next book. She often cleans her office or writing area and attends to mundane tasks that were unimportant during the final days leading up to the deadline.

Credit: Freeimages.com

Each bride wants her wedding to be different, reflect her tastes and provide a beautiful showcase for the all important day. Writers want a beautiful package, too. They want a cover that reflects the story and is beautiful to look at. As the bride throws her bouquet on the way to her honeymoon, the writer looks to her readers to grab the book as soon as it's available and to tell every one of her friends that they must read it. Each has a trousseau and each wants to live happily ever after.

Credit: Pixabay

The next time you read a wedding story or attend the nuptials, smile at the comparison. And as always, keep reading.

SWIRL NAPKIN FOLDING- 3 SWIRLS

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Hailstock) — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 04:01:00 +0000

HOW TO FOLD A NAPKIN INTO THREE SWIRLS

Shirley Hailstock

Inspiration for learning the folding instructions

This is the final napkin with three swirls.

Attached is a link to the video explaining how to fold the napkin into three swirls.

This napkin folding technique is also available for a four swirl napkin. Please go to my website (http://www.ShirleyHailstock.net) or YouTube Channel for instructions.

SWIRL NAPKIN FOLDING - 4 FOLDS

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Hailstock) — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 02:44:00 +0000

SWIRL NAPKIN FOLDING - 4 FOLDS
By Shirley Hailstock

I saw this napkin fold as I was searching the web. I loved it but couldn't find any instructions on how they did it. After much thought and trying various methods, I finally stumbled on one that worked. However, instead of three swirls there are four.

This is the on I saw on a wedding tablescape.

This is the final one I created.

I used a 15 x 15 inch napkin. The larger the napkin, the higher it appears, but the amount of starch you might need to have it stand up straight could make it so stiff your guests would have trouble opening to use with their meal.

This is another rendition of the napkin, showing a greater contrast with color. Color makes the table more dramatic.

Below is a video of how to fold the napkin. If you're really interested in the three-swirl napkin fold, check out my next blog.

Pretty Feet

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Hailstock) — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:03:00 +0000

I always wanted pretty feet. Mine aren't bad. I've seen a lot worse, but they were never the truly beautiful toes and toenails that I noticed on other girls proudly wearing in the summer.

Recently my 10 year old daughter was invited to a birthday party at a place called Pinky Toes Party Palace. It's a spa for kids.

So if you have one who is -- SPOILED.

Thinks (knows) she's a -- DIVA

And believes -- IT'S ALL ABOUT HER.

You are in the right place.

When the girls (boys are not DIVA's and not invited) arrive, they discard their shoes and socks and cover their clothes with either pink or white robes. The entire place is done in pink, green, white and black stripes.

Queens must have glitterized chairs to remove sneakers and socks. All the shoes ended in a heap.

Their feet are placed in warm water (royal water, of course) and soaked. Isn't this how every Fashion Queen begins her day?

Once the feet are properly soaked, massaged, and lotioned by qualified staff members, the toenails are manicured and painted according to the choice of the DIVA.

From the feet area they move to the manicure seats and have their fingers receive the same care and affection as their feet.

These are purple.

She chose pink. After all this is Pinky Toes Party Palace. Pink is the color of the day.

The girls are ready to party now and the music is turned up. They dance under the glittering ceiling ball.

Sparkles scatter around the room to the sounds or artists this author has never heard of, but the kids know every song. And they dance. And they dance. And they dance. The staff also leads them in an updated version of musical chairs. With this game, when the music stops, so much the dancer. Anyone making a move is out of the game, but gets to be a spotter for the next segment.

Before exhaustion sets in, it's time for cake and drinks. So we move from the golden globe to the table under the chandelier.

Each DIVA gets a crown at her place so without thinking she knows where to sit.

The table is set for a queen -- for all the queens present.

Silver candles and all that bling hides the pink and green cake that will top off the party.

All parties must come to an end, so finding shoes and socks for the correct pretty feet takes at least fifteen minutes. Then we're off to our own personal castles.

Source: Morgue File

Thanksgiving 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Hailstock) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:02:00 +0000

I love having family and friends over for holiday meals. The cooking, preparation and the fun of sharing old times, new times is one of the adventures of life. Here's some of the tablescapes I did as I prepared the feast.

The napkins were a real hit with the kids (11-15 year olds).

How was your holiday?

Hot Air Balloon Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Hailstock) — Sat, 05 May 2012 15:54:00 +0000

Cakes are my weakness. Some people like salty snacks, potato chips, nuts and others. I like the sweet ones. I can forgo a lot of sugary snacks, but cake and chocolate are hard to pass by. This week was Teacher Appreciation Day at my daughter's school. I chose to send a cake. Here's the finished product.

And here's how I got to it. Years ago I took a course in cake decorating. It was during my learn-stuff-I-want-to-learn period. I took flower arranging, auto mechanics, photography, stone cutting, financial planning, and more in the adult education programs. The doll cake, Barbie cake were always winners and for the boys, they loved the car cake.

Betty Croker has always been one of my favorite people to turn to when I need instructions. I've used other brands of cake mixes, but find hers are the most moist. And what good is a great looking cake if it doesn't taste good. At office parties I would often take a small piece of cake and taste it, evaluating if it was worth the calories. With Betty Croker I'm never disappointed.

This is a Wilton cake pan. It makes the cake a snap. The framework is there.

Using one box of cake mix, prepare batter as directed. Use the 9 x 13 pan directions for cooking. I use PAM to oil the pan and I dusted it with flour even though it doesn't say to do so. I want it to flip out of the pan the way if does in the muffin commercials.

I shake the batter pan slightly and the batter self-levels. However, in the cooking process the cake will rise. To decorate a cake, you need it to be level. A trick my cake decorating teacher taught me was to put a can of water in the oven during baking. This will keep the cake from rising too high. It won't complete stop it, but it will lower it.

If you use a shiny pan (as I did) bake the cake at 325 degree instead of the normal 350 degrees.

Remove from oven and let cool (in the pan) for 10 minutes before turning it onto a rack and letting it completely cool. If time permits you might bake the cake the day before you decorate it. If time is not on your side, let it cool for a couple of hours. I've never refrigerated the cake to cool it. I think the cake would be took rigid and the icing, coming in contact with a cold cake, might make it harder to maintain a uniform look. But I've never used a refrigerated cake, so I could be wrong.

Now to the icing. I love Butter Cream Icing. Many people like other kinds, but we're all allowed our tastes. So whatever icing you like, use it. Just make sure it will pipe out of the tips and not melt from the warmth of your hand (as chocolate will) or come out in blobs.

Using a heavy duty mixer add the ingredients, one pound confectioners sugar, 1/4 cup of butter or margarine, 3 cups of solid vegetable shortening (liquid will not work), and 2 tablespoons of lemon flavor. The original recipe called for white vanilla, but I like lemon better, so I used that, but you can use white vanilla.

White vanilla prevents the icing from turning a brownish color. If you use white icing on the cake, you want it to be white.

Shortening and Butter

Love that lemony smell.

Confectioners sugar comes in this two pound bag. Use one pound at a time.

Mix until the icing doubles in size. This takes about 15 minutes on setting 4. I have a cover for my mixer, but I initially put a towel over it in case the flower makes a cloud.

After the first mixing add the second pound of sugar and 2 tablespoons of water and mix for 15-20 minutes, again on a high setting. When this finishes, you're ready to color the icing and decorate the cake.

Coloring icing takes elbow grease. Put an amount equal to what you think you will need for the project in a small bowl. I used plastic margarine containers and filled them about halfway. I made three colors, pink, green, and yellow. For the basket I used a container of Betty Croker chocolate icing that I bought in the grocery store. Deep, rich colors, like chocolate, Christmas red, navy blue, etc., take so much food color that it clouds the taste. Using various star and piping tubes, I followed the lines on the cake. To keep track of the colors and where they would go, I made a small free hand diagram and put the colors on it. You don't have to do this, but it helped me keep from making mistakes.

As an aside, speaking of mistakes, since I took the course years ago, I don't eat my mistakes. After you've decorated so many cakes, you just wash the icing off your hands and go on. My kids love the mistakes. They eat them.

One thing I mentioned above was to try and cook a level cake. This is nearly impossible, so when the cake is cool, turn it over and slice off the bulge until the cake is level. Be careful. This is not a huge amount of cake.

Using whatever surface you're going to present the cake on, add a little icing to it. This will allow the cake to adhere to the surface and it won't move around as you decorate it.

Now fill the pastry bags will icing and follow the pattern on the cake. Your outcome can be anything you want it to be, but it's sure to wow children and adults.

Happy Easter

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Hailstock) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 17:46:00 +0000

Do you remember the big-eyed look on your face Easter morning, when you'd run downstairs and find your Easter basket loaded with candy? It was like Christmas in April. My daughter's eyes bugged out the moment she saw me begin this tablescape.

Pink and Green are two of my favorite colors, especially when they are combined. Easter is the perfect time to pair them together.

Time for a bit of whimsey. Easter requires it.

Hand painted bunnies. Not painted by my hand. A friend did them years ago.

I loved the jellybean trees when I saw them. The store only had two or I would have gotten more.

I found this basket in a thrift story. It's beaded and I can't see why anyone would give it away. I love the feel of the beads.

We haven't colored our eggs yet. We'll do that Saturday afternoon. It's always a fun project to do with the kids.

Happy Easter!

Removing an Oil Tank

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Hailstock) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 16:12:00 +0000

Home ownership is always a surprise. Rarely are they good surprises. I had one recently when looking into getting a generator for the frequent power outages we have after a storm, huge snowfall, or other weather issues. This time I discovered after all the years I've lived here that there was an oil tank in my backyard. a 550 gallon tank and it was full of oil.

As the current homeowner, it was my responsibility to get it out of the ground and dispose of it safely. Leaving it there would create a bigger problem later on, so I immediately got three estimates on removing it, read through their terms and conditions and chose one.

A huge truck arrives and backs into my driveway. The backhoe trailer parks across the street and the driver drive the hoe to the backyard.

Bye-bye grass. When this is over, I have to buy grass seed.

The equipment arrived and proceeded to dig up my backyard. First they cut the concrete slab that hold my air conditioner and pool equipment. Then the backhoe began to dig.

The tank isn't that far down. A pump truck pumps out the oil, all 550 gallons of it. Thankfully, it was all oil and water had not gotten into the tank. If there was water in there, the cost begins to go up.

Now it's time to cut the top of the empty tank. With a reciprocating saw they cut the top of the tank wide and long enough to get a human body inside. The backhoe pulls it open.

The tank if virtually empty except for slug. The air going into the tank, causes the gas like fumes to escape. It's only because the day was windy and cold and the different in temperature makes it looks like smoke.

Our human suits up like an alien and goes inside the tank.

Using special absorbent pads, he cleans all the residual oil out of the tank. According to EPA requirements, the tanks can't be disposed of with oil inside them. They also cannot remove the tank with oil in it because of possible slippage which would cause greater problems.

With the tank clean of oil, it's time to remove it from the ground. The backhoe rolls in again, clears away any excess dirt from the sides and back and then lifts it out of the ground.

The backhoe rolls it a couple of time to get any excess dirt off the tank. It's time to check for holes and leakage. They test the dirt in the hole and yes, they smelled oil. Bad news.

Using large mallet hammers they knock the excess dirt away and look for holes by rolling the tank and checking for sunlight filtering through. As I mentioned they found a couple the size of a small knitting needle. Really small, but there.

This mean the EPA gets involves and cost go up. They take two samples of dirt from the hole and will send them to the EPA. Depending on their findings, I'll be advised if I have further work to do to clean up the soil.

They close up the hole in my yard, add additional fill dirt to prevent a sink hole. I pay and they take the tank away. Now I wait for the EPA's decision. Lesson learned, when buying a house, ask if there has been any changes in the heating types of the house. If so, make sure all the proper disposal methods have been done.

The good news, however, is if there is a EPA issue, the state will go after the former homeowners who did not reveal this issue when they sold the house.

At the moment, I'm thankful it's gone. I bought grass seed and replanted the area just in time for Spring.

A Simple Table

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Hailstock) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:25:00 +0000

The focal point to me for any table is the centerpiece. I found this cookie jar on sale at a discount store. I'd just made peanut butter cookies and it looked like the perfect storage container.

I have other cookie jars, but I liked this one and the top had a nice suction to keep the cookies fresh. We like them soft. Our other container houses Oreo's.

This is the other side of the jar. It has an apple on one side an a pear on the other. The creamy color of the background will fit into any decor.

To perk up the table I created the fan napkins and used colorful plates.

I used white souffle bowls to complement the flowery pattern of the plates. Gold placemats complement the chargers.

Peanut Butter Cookies - An Old Standby

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Hailstock) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 04:06:00 +0000

I know peanuts have gotten a bad rap in the past few years, but for me and my generation, it was a rarity to be allergic to any kind of nuts. Stewardesses (back when they were called that) used to serve them on airplanes before the main (and free) meal.

Peanut butter was a staple in most homes and continues today. The lowly peanut butter and jelly sandwich is comfort food, giving the right of amount of sugar and salt to satisfy the after-school kid, the college student starving in the dorm or the mom who needs a pick me up.

I was looking for something sweet the other day and nothing appealed, so I went to the my recipes and looked for something easy to make. Peanut Butter Cookies came to mind. For one thing you probably have all the ingredients in your cabinets.

These are staples at my house

With these already available, I could bake cookies and have them ready before the schoolbus came in the afternoon. My recipe is an old standby from the Betty Crocker Cookbook.

You use both white sugar and brown sugar. When you decide to use brown sugar, invariably, it will be in one hard rock. You can soften it by putting a slice of apple in a bag with the sugar. This requires planning ahead and I was working on a spur of the moment need. I often decide to bake on the spur of the moment and I didn't want to open a new box of brown sugar. That would mean I'd have more than one opened container of brown sugar getting hard in the refrigerator. My grandmother taught me to grate the sugar until I got the amount needed to complete the recipe. In this case 1/2 cup.

So I grated it. I could have taken out the food processor and whizzed it through there, but that would require the same amount of time. And I can bring a little of my grandmother in the kitchen with me as I work.

To the sugar mixture add the egg, oil, salt, soda, and baking powder. I add my ingredients one at a time and mix or blend them. It affords me the opportunity to smash any lumps that develop. In the case of brown sugar, even when grated finely, the sugar tends to lump the moment you add a second ingredient to it. However, the oil makes,it easier to work with.

Add the flour a little at a time and blend it well.

The mixture will become smooth and shiny.

At this point it's time to wrap it in cellophane and let it sit in the refrigerator for two hours. I hadn't thought of this, but I did it and at exactly two hours, I was ready to bake.

I rolled the dough, which is soft and oily into one inch balls.

Instead of placing these directly on the cookie sheet, I put them on the cellophane. This allowed me to make all the balls. Making only enough to fit on the cookie sheets you have or as many cookie sheets as will fit in your oven is like being in front of a traffic light. You keep stopping and going.

I put them on the cookie sheet (two sheets will fit in my oven) and using a sugar-dipped fork, I crossed them in both directions, baked them for 8-10 minutes and put them on cooling racks.

We used to make them thicker, but my kids like the thin ones. They tend to be softer.

At this point you just add a glass of cold milk and eat the warm morsels right out of the oven.

The yield was three dozen. And they were heaped under the dome when the school bus arrived.

Here's the recipe

Peanut Butter Cookies

3/4 cup granulated (white) sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/4 shortening

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1 egg (slightly beaten)

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

Mix sugars, peanut butter, shortening, butter and egg in a large bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients one at a time. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Roll dough into 1 to 1 1/4 inch balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Keep them about 3 inches apart to allow for spreading as they bake. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes. Remove from cookie sheet to a wire rack.

Office Remodel

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Hailstock) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:24:00 +0000

I'm slowly redoing my house, one room at a time. The first floor was done by professionals, but the second floor required finances above my budget, so I decided to do it myself. Thankfully no construction was needed. I had crown molding added, but everything else is cosmetic. This is how my son and I converted my office.

The walls were a muted peach. I think the former owners found a sale on peach paint and painted everything that color: the walls, woodwork, ceiling. We redid everything.

The room is not usually this junky, but as I moved from room to room, I kept storing things in the next room. All the junk that was not thrown out or donated to a good cause has been room to the next room.

The book case below is something I bought right out of college. It's put together with shelves and columns. It's still sturdy, but I removed it from the room and replaced it one that matched the other furniture.

Before I began this project, I watched a lot of YouTube videos and episodes of DIY. I decided to paint the walls exactly as they advised, following all the recommendations. The results were fantastic.

First, we removed as much of the furniture as we could.

The desk and credenza stayed in the room. We couldn't moved them. The credenza was built in the room, so I never tried to get it through the door. Plus its weight prevented me from moving it. We wrapped what we couldn't move in plastic. I used the plastic drop cloths because they are huge and covered tall and awkwardly shaped things. To cover the floor, I used the burlap drop cloths. First, they are environmentally friendly and second they are thick enough to prevent paint from seeping through if its dropped. When you walk they don't move like the plastic does.

I removed the fan blades and did some needed repair to the ceiling. I'd previously had a handy man refit my fan in the ceiling and he did a poor job.

I went to Home Depot and Lowes and found the right product to repair the ceiling. Anything you need to know about repairing something, the technicians at the stores can tells you. Often I find a professional in the aisles who will always help me, even draw pictures if needed. Now I take pictures and go to the store with them.

I also feel safer sitting under it, knowing that it's secure and won't come crashing down.

As every professional will tell you, preparation and equipment are key to the success of any project. From the first room I tackled (the smallest bedroom), I bought Benjamin Moore paint, good paint brushes and rollers, painter's tape,a 5-in-1 tool, KILZ-2 Latex primer and paint trays. I also got a good ladder. I bought one of the Little Giant brands they advertise that can be set in many different positions. I wanted to be able to use it in the scaffolding position so I wouldn't have to continue to go up and down. I never did it. The ladder is so sturdy, I could lean and reach greater distances than I expected.

This was a trick my nephew taught me when we hung my chandelier in the dining room and there was a lot of dust around. I covered the fan housing and taped it to keep out unnecessary dust. After everything settled I'd have less cleanup.

Preparation is 90% of the job. We used lots of tape, waiting in between for the drying process to finish. After painting, we waited an hour or two and pulled the tape off. Do it will the wall is still wet, so it doesn't pull the paint off with it.

The color I chose was sage and this is a fair representation of the final product.

I love the painting process. You get instant gratification at so many levels. If the plan for the day was to paint the ceiling. When it's done, you feel great. You smile and think the ceiling is done. The next day, you can go on to another section. I would look at the walls and decide if my plan was to finish one wall or two walls or the woodwork in the room. Often it would be only a section of the woodwork, like the doors (closet doors and room door). It could be the windows. Every room has either double windows or two separate windows. Two rooms have one Anderson window, so I didn't have to paint the woodwork, but I did have to do the frames. Most of the frames were raw wood, so we both primed and painted. And the instant gratification was at a high.

Not only was the painting done, but the contrast with the wall color made it pop!

At this point we decided to rearrange the furniture to give me more walk-around space. The desk was moved forward and all the stuff along the facing wall was cleared away.

We moved the bookcase back, but decided to get one that matched the other furniture pieces in the room.

I put the bookcase together. The package said it would take two hours. I did it in two hours. I still long for the days when furniture came assembled. But, again I had the gratification of saying, I did it.

After the paint dried and the tape was pulled, we started putting the furniture back.

I bought new curtains to complement the wall color and my son even said he liked them.

A Bit o' Blarney

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Hailstock) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 22:31:00 +0000

When I worked in a bridal shop a hundred years ago, green was the least favorite color for bridesmaids. However, when St. Patrick's Day comes around, we all looking for green.

It took a while to figure out how to fold the napkins, but I love learning and the napkins are a hit with people who haven't folded one.

I found these little Leprechauns at Michaels. I went in there looking for green bowls, but I found these guys and they looked so happy I had to have them.

I didn't really know the history of St. Patrick's Day so I looked it up. Living near New York City where the 1900's police force was practically all Irish, I should have known something more than that it appeared to be a drinking holiday.

I found this holiday has been celebrated for 1,000 years and that on St. Patrick's day, a restriction by the church in Ireland was lifted to allow the consumption of meat and the drinking of alcohol. I'm sure this turned into the proverbial give an inch, take a mile.

At my office, we'd take off early so we could go to the pub.

Napkins - Home Goods

Leprechauns - Michaels

Sunglasses and Whistles - CVS (for a Party last spring)

Wine and Water Glasses - Bought years ago