It just happens. While shopping you notice a display of plants. You glance over the varieties and think you’d like to take one home. You make it your own and give it a special location and watch it thrive. Before you can refill the watering can you are a bonafide caregiver to an array of living greenery. Keep track of those gorgeous plants in a houseplant journal.Continue Reading
Houseplants
Streptocarpus
I am a houseplant enthusiast from way back. In the mid-1970’s, just starting out as newlyweds, we had more plants than we did furniture. Houseplants were relatively inexpensive and filled in lots of empty places in our apartment. Four decades later, I am still a ‘happy houseplants’ lady but I am not alone!Continue Reading
Toad Lily
Summer is waning and there isn’t much happening new in my yard this time of year. Except for this little gem. Beautiful, purple tricyrtis, or more commonly known as toad lily. It is a shade-loving herbaceous perennial and a lovely garden plant.Continue Reading
ladders and painting
I like this quote. I think there is some wisdom in these words. What I do not like is heights.
But when I got an estimate for a painting job that was higher (ha, that could be a pun) than I was willing to pay, I looked for alternatives.
Paint by Numbers
Paint-by-number kits… do you remember them? Have you completed one?
This Playful Kittens piece was painted by my mom in 1954 and truly a piece of Americana.
The Nursery
Sleepovers and playtime, this bedroom has become what the grandkids call
The Nursery.
It is a mix of vintage, garage sale and whimsy.
A room where cousins sleep and little ones head to as soon as they arrive.
Vintage French Provincial Bedroom Set
My sister, Carol, just went to closing on a house she sold.
I lent a hand helping her pack.
We began in mid-November and through sorting and wrapping, taping and stacking, hauling and heaving, lugging and loading, stooping and stretching, sunshine and raindrops, lost keys and cell phones and frustrating inspections, there was much chatting and memories, stories and updates, giggles and laughter and sisterly love.
This vintage French Provincial bedroom set belong to our parents, purchased in the early 1960’s. It went to Carol when Mommy passed several years ago and I got the new set mommy was then using.
Carol doesn’t want to take this to her next home and though I wasn’t in need of a bedroom set, the sentimental value was too great to pass it up and now resides in our guest room.
The chest on chest belonged to Daddy and how I remember, as a kid, snooping through his top drawer and seeing his neatly folded hankies, perfectly placed wallet, coins, keys, pens, deck of cards and trinkets stored there.
I left the white iron bed that we had purchased and used until we received mommy’s new set. It is a queen-size and better suited for visitors than the full bed that is part of the set. I think it works with the other pieces.
Searching old photo albums for shots with the furniture in the background, I found these:
My 8th grade graduation
Cousin, Karen and I as flower girl and junior bridesmaid for Carol’s wedding
Daddy and his first grandchild, Chrissy (Carol’s oldest) at his organ
and
Carol ready for her senior prom
Carol, John and I looking a wee weary, took a selfie after a long, busy day, with only the steps to sit upon. Still happy together
(John may have been a just a tad grumpy being forced in a silly selfie photo, but he was a good sport)
and still finding fun in being together.
yes, sisters. she is so kind, smart, poised, beautiful and generous and I love her to pieces
❤
Next time, I will show you where I put the bed to this set and then my dining room changes.
ta-ta for now!
Favorite Houseplants
A couple months ago, I was a guest host on Laura’s beautiful blog, Decor to Adore, to share My Favorite Five Houseplants. Here is that post.Continue Reading
Porch Planters
Do you have beat-up, sad looking porch planters that have seen better days? I do, or rather did. I finally got around to tackling a project that was easier than I thought making me regret my procrastination.Continue Reading
Beautiful New Family Room Seating
Our oldest daughter, Erin, recently moved into a new home and had the opportunity to purchase some of the furniture. My heart skipped a beat when I saw her sofa and chairs and couldn’t help thinking how perfect they would be in my home. They didn’t really match her other pieces as she prefers soft, cushy leather.
So…
we traded!
we traded!
Of course, not until I agonized over the decision.
The pieces were beautiful and the colors so right.
But, for my family room?
With 11 grandchildren?
Sticky fingers
leaky sippy cups
I even asked my friends opinion
they all agreed
go for it!
They suggested I spray them with Scotchgard.
Has anyone done that and if so, did it help prevent stains?
They suggested I spray them with Scotchgard.
Has anyone done that and if so, did it help prevent stains?
what do you think? just right, huh?
The tan sofa and the two patterned chairs came from Erin. The two oval-back chairs belonged to my mom and have been in our bedroom. I took the two garage-sale wing-back chairs that were in this room to our bedroom and they actually look okay there. I also switched the rug under the coffee table with the one in our living room.
We had to wait a couple of weeks to make the switch because of all the snow we have been having.
This is the leather sofa. Nice, big, cushy, soft, easy to wipe off sticky stuff.
With matching over-sized armchair that held lots of wee folks, with an equally over-sized ottoman.
With matching over-sized armchair that held lots of wee folks, with an equally over-sized ottoman.
Very nice. But… dark. And, you all know I like light and white.
I even draped a white, crocheted afghan over a large portion of the dark sofa
and added pillows
but, still
dark
now, if you keep looking, you just might see me zip by doing a happy dance
I’m happy
and
Erin’s happy
🙂
Rosemary Wreath and Rosemary Parmesan~Crusted Pork Chop Dinner
I’ve got another wreath idea to share with you.
This one is not just decorative but also useful in the kitchen
A wreath made of Rosemary sprigs is both aromatic and handy to snip and add in meal preparation.
For the base of the wreath I looked for a small circle. I found a package of four, five-inch metal circles in the leather supply section of the craft store.You could use a heavy wire and make the circle yourself.
After cutting the rosemary into 5-6-inch pieces, I wired several of them into a bundle.
It took six bundles to go around and fill out this 5-inch wire circle.
That’s all there is to it.
It smells wonderful too!
My Rosemary was a windowsill-size gift from a friend. I kept it indoors for a year and then planted it outside in a pot. It grew and I transplanted it into a raised bed herb garden two years ago.
Rosemary is an aromatic, perennial herb with fragrant, evergreen, needle-like leaves. The leaves are used as a flavoring in foods such as stuffing, pork, chicken and turkey. It is native to the Mediterranean region. The name “rosemary” derives from the Latin for “dew” (ros) and “sea” (marinus), or “dew of the sea”. Rosemary is reasonably hardy in cool climates and it can withstand droughts. I live in zone 6b and my rosemary has no problem wintering over. It is easy to grow and pest-resistant and can be grown in pots. Be sure it has good drainage and a sunny location.
Parmesan & Rosemary Crusted~Pork Chops
adapted from Giada recipe
Ingredients
1 large egg
1/2 cup dried Italian-style bread crumbs
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/2-1 tsp. snipped rosemary
3 (1/2 to 3/4-inch thick) center-cut pork chops
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3-4 tablespoons olive oil
Whisk the egg in a pie plate to blend. Combine Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs and the rosemary in another plate. Sprinkle the pork chops with salt and pepper. Dip the pork chops in the egg and then into the cheese/bread crumb mixture, coating completely, patting to adhere.
Heat 1-2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add pork chops, and cook until golden brown and the center reaches 150 degrees, about 6 minutes per side. Add additional oil as needed when cooking second side. (My chops browned quickly, so I covered pan with lid, leaving slightly ajar and cooked for less time until just cooked through keeping them nice and juicy). I served with mashed potatoes and fresh green beans.
sharing at
Cupcakes & Crinoline Project Inspired party
Peacocks and Lemon Flower Teacakes for Tablescape
Joining Kathleen @Cuisine Kathleen for her Let’s Dish Tablescape Party with the theme challenge of birds, bees. flowers, trees and sharing a recipe for lemon flower teacakes.
Powder Room
This is the color of our dining room and it is my favorite in the whole house. I remember having many paint chips taped to the wall for days viewing them in the various light throughout the day. I settled on Aqua Frost (from Valspar) and have not grown tired of it since 2007. I had some leftover paint and used it in the powder room. I needed an additional quart and just squeaked it using every drop in the can.
Simple Re-Purposing
When replacing the light over your kitchen or dining room table, save the glass lamp shades to up-cycle. Usually the shades or globes are in great condition and too nice to toss in the trash. With just a few supplies and simple re-purposing, you can make sweet little pots to fill with springtime flowers.
Flower Berms Project Status: Completed… finally
Truckload of topsoil has been shoveled.
Mountain of mulch (that still didn’t go far enough) has been spread.
New berm created (to replace lost grass)
Walkway extended (for better footpath)
Perennials divided and relocated. (for low budget goal)
(billions) of weeds pulled
Watering system in place. (sort of)
Chicken wire installed (not soon enough for some plants)
Two (4′ x 8′) Square Foot Raised bed created (one for herbs and veggies and one as a cutting garden)
Leftover pieces of sod from daughter used to patch lawn.
Wheelbarrow and shovels returned to their place in the shed.
Knee pads and work gloves stowed.
Time required for project: grossly underestimated.
Re-purposed Curtains for the Patio
Create an inviting ambiance for dining and entertaining with an easy up-cycling DIY. Re-purposed Curtains for the Patio look lovely and romantic.