Saturdays...

For many years -- Lilly and Warren have been spending Saturdays at my house. And THOSE WERE THE BEST DAYS...

Warren was always the first one up -- and he'd help me cook breakfast.

Both kids LOVE breakfast food...but Warren would often wake up with a specific menu item on his mind.

He thinks we invented sprinkle pancakes.

The first thing I cooked for myself when I was a kid -- egg in a basket!

Oh, yeah -- WAFFLES -- always a favorite!

Warren made some refrigerated cookies on this morning...

He even had time to set the table.  When the ONE POUND OF BACON was done -- he'd run upstairs to wake Lilly. (she is NOT a morning person).

There is usually some kind of art project...

I love this swivel chair ($20 at the Goodwill) -- but we poked a little hole in the leather.So -- DUCT tape was the answer!!

And the permanent markers (we used to make our bathroom floor)...to add some detail...maybe some words...

Lilly's Christmas gift to me earned a prominent place on the art wall.

It's always fun to CHANGE IT UP...(the hidden message here is I love You To the Moon and Back.

Rita's Vintage Buffet FINAL REVEAL...

IF I HAD BETTER COMPUTER SKILLS -- THIS BLOG POST WOULD BEGIN WITH A DRUMROLL...

I'd like to thank everybody for weighing in with their design opinions!! That was one of the most fun parts of this whole project.

And I learned A LOT...especially about the folly of trying to make-do with crappy leftover paint. Saving that little bit of money ended up being a huge TIME WASTER...and I know it compromised the quality of the product.

HEY -- I SEW -- so you would think I ALREADY LEARNED THIS LESSON...

Your finished project is only as good or bad as the elements you put into it. I would never, in a million years, think about putting all the time and effort into making a quilt -- using crappy fabric and cheap thread or generic sewing machine needles. So -- HOW DID I THINK THIS WAS ANY DIFFERENT??

I am now a big fan of the new iron-on decoupage technique -- the zebra fabric is one of the best things about this buffet.... (I already have another decoupage project in mind.)

The final design was suggested by Sharon, Judy, Carol and Sandy...(who even sent her own graphic)

 

AND I COULD NOT BE MORE DELIGHTED with the way it turned out. I applied 12 coats of varnish on the top of the buffet -- and it is smooth as glass.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT...

Here's the thing about this buffet For me, it has become a metaphor about my life. When we move this fall, I'll take it with me -- as sort of a symbol. My old life meeting my new life. 

Yep.  This is exactly how I see it...

Lilly's Measuring Spoons

I really don't know when or where I bought Lilly's measuring spoons...but they are AMAZING. There are words engraved on the little handles...and I just love this little set....

A Heap of love

A spoonful of laughter

A dash of kindness

A Pinch of Patience

Hey -- maybe life is just like baking, eh? And with those powerful ingredients -- how can you go wrong??

******

Tomorrow --  FINALLY -- my VINTAGE BUFFET REVEAL...

MY BAD....(silicone cutting board disaster)

Recently, I had a KITCHEN DISASTER...

My trusty cast iron frying pan was sitting on a burner...and I placed my favorite white cutting board on top of it I thought the burner was turned off....But, alas -- the burner was actually turned ON...and the silicone cutting board melted onto the skillet...

It was GLUED TIGHT...I could not bang them apart...ugh...

In a last ditch effort -- I decided to heat it up again...and then, once it was hot, I was able to pull them apart...

OMG...I pulled and pulled...and the silicone just kept stretching...

But, once they were separated -- the rim of my frying pan was encased with melted white silicone...

I've had this frying pan for 50 years. What a sad end...

But -- then -- after it cooled, I realized it would pull right off.

NO KIDDING..!! It came off in one big circle piece!!

Design Team Meeting

Every now and then, I think I blogged about something -- but I really didn't.

Like -- I thought I wrote about my Design Meeting with the Bettendorf Suites Co-op...but maybe I just talked about it so much, I THOUGHT I blogged it.  Or, maybe I put it up on Facebook? --

ANYWAY -- it was so much fun -- I'M GONNA DO IT AGAIN...

Deena and Jeanne with with me.  I brought Casey's breakfast bacon pizza and Kwik-Star doughnuts!!  (cause to celebrate, that's for sure)

Allison put every single choice up on the big screen...I got to pick out my kitchen cupboards, countertops all the flooring, plumbing and lighting fixtures, door knobs, light switches -- well -- you get the idea!!  It took half a day, people...There are a LOT OF CHOICES to make...

Deena and Jeanne were both LOVING the upgrades!!  Yes to Granite countertops -- YES to the fancy Delta faucets --

The office staff was SO MUCH FUN...thanks to Heather, Allison and Kimberlin (I gave each of them a flannel microwave bowl)

And I had a great support team!!  Deena and Jeanne were A BIG HELP..!!

I'm holding up the rendering of the building -- and the view out this window is of the actual site.  Because we're on the first floor -- our house already has WALLS...

 

Potatoes, Stewed Tomatoes and Cheese

Every since John's disastrous car ride across the State of Iowa -- Ross has been coming out for supper one night during the week. It's nice to have somebody to cook for...cuz most days, John is content with a salad or maybe a bowl of cereal... 

When I make meatloaf, I do the mini-loaves...cuz I like the crusty edges.  And they freeze well, too.

This was an experiment.  A variation on Kathy Keefer's mashed potatoes with stewed tomatoes*...
I par-boiled four potatoes, drained then cubed them.

I combined the cooked potatoes with about half a can of salsa...

I topped the whole show with a bunch of grated cheese...and popped it into a hot oven for about 30 minutes.

+++++++

*  That night, Ross told a story about the time he was living with Keefer's.  Kathy made mashed potatoes with stewed tomatoes for a meal, which Ross had never had before.  While sitting out on their big porch, Denny told Ross that his Mom made this dish all the time when he was a kid.  "That's when you know you're poor, Ross, when you're eating stewed tomatoes instead of meat gravy."

I'm telling you, Kathy -- even after all these years -- Ross does a GREAT imitation of Denny!!


 

The GREAT DOWNSIZE...

So, my great DOWNSIZE begins. Ugh. I am SOOO looking forward to moving to the Co Op. But I am SOOO not looking forward to the actual move.

GOING THROUGH ALL MY STUFF?? This really is an overwhelming job...

I decided to take the excellent advice of Anne Lamott -- and I will tackle this job...Bird by Bird...

Or, in my case -- drawer by drawer...

HEY -- AS IT TURNS OUT, I HAVE THE TIME!!

And I am shocked by how easy it has been for me to pack up YEARS worth of collecting...!!

After Christmas, knowing we wouldn't be in this house next year -- I took BAGS AND BOXES of Christmas decorations to the Goodwill Store.  Which means I have a huge area in the basement which I can now use to "stage"...things that will go to the eventual auction.

So, now, every day, when I open a junk drawer, or get a pot out of the cupboard -- I assess what's in the drawer or the cupboard -- and I pack up a box. I label it, and stack it in the staging area...

The surprising thing is how much I am enjoying looking at ALL MY STUFF...and I am ready to let go of it...

This Wedgewood set of Peter Rabbit dishes lived in my vintage buffet for about 30 years...untouched...

It was a gift to Ross from a woman I worked with. In 1977. I can't remember her name -- and Ross never saw these dishes.  Yep.  Time for them to find a new home.

I love this trusty old waffle maker...but I've decided to part with the TWO others.

Nobody needs 8 cupcake tins or a dozen cookie sheets.

I packed up tupperware, roasting pans, heavy Dutch Ovens...sooo many things I seldom (or NEVER) use.

I collected embroidered samplers for many years...

But I've decided to take only SIX...

I've packed up many boxes of books -- and I considered each and every book before I carefully placed it in the box....but I'm ready to let them go. And that's the way I'm feeling about so many things. 

After packing stuff every day for a couple of weeks, my cousin Jackie said, "are you seeing a difference in the house?"....

I  laughed and said..."so far, it's like removing a teaspoon of water from the Atlantic Ocean.."

But I am determined.  And I can do this...bird by bird...drawer by drawer...book by book...

And -- like I said -- I'VE GOT THE TIME...!!

My New Hard Boiled Egg Plan...

This post is for you, Eileen....DO YOU REMEMBER this moment...in your kitchen??  To this day, I've never laughed harder in my life...

The other day, I was having a little pity party and I did what I often do -- I went into a thrift store.  When I saw the Eggstractor -- I actually laughed out loud.  And I needed that...

The "eggstractor"...worst invention EVER. (and you can still buy it!)

That same day -- this article zipped across my Facebook page.

It's all about how to make the PERFECT hard-boiled egg.  Apparently,if you do it right -- the eggs will be so easy to peel, you won't need an Eggstractor...

 We all get in a rut sometimes, and it's good to try NEW WAYS to do things. (and, hey, not everything works out). 

Years ago, Rachael Ray told me to put the eggs in cold water, bring it to a boil, and set it off the heat for 10 minutes.  Turns out, my preferred method wasn't one of the BEST options...

Here's the article...and it is gonna change the way I take care of my hard-boiling-egg-business...

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/we-tried-7-ways-to-hard-boil-eggs-and-found-a-clear-winner?utm_source=pocket-newtab 

Sometimes, you need to simply focus on the little things.....

****

John got home yesterday, and it went about as well as can be expected.  Fingers crossed...

Vintage Buffet Project: Stage THREE

I COULD NOT decide what to do with the side doors of the buffet.  I got so many wonderful suggestions, I decided to make some sketches.

And, well, the truth is -- I've got the time...So, I drew one actual sketch...then, made ten copies of it...to draw in the various door possibilities...

NOW whadaya think?

It's possible I am over-thinking this thing....

And, if I'm being honest -- I like most of the options...which is ONLY MAKING IT HARDER.

******

John didn't get home on Tuesday.  But maybe Wednesday...

It doesn't seem like he's receiving any actual treatment.  Every time I call the hospital, they tell me how agitated he is, so they had to give him another tranquilizer.  Ugh.  After five days of that, I'm worried it's gonna be a difficult re-entry.