Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

Here's what we've been up to the last few days.

We went to the mountains nearby.

Went go-carting...this is the clearest photo I took.

We did this maze...

This is right before we went in.  It rained so hard that we didn't finish. 

There was at least two inches of water rushing on the ground, POURING rain, lightening

(which wasn't safe).

Hubby and I ended up crawling under to get out. 

We were all soaked, soaked good.

We sure won't forget this!

We went to Billy the Kid Territory.

Here is our nephew reading about Billy.

I thought is sign on an old box in the original store was interesting.

Here's our nephew again...walking like a cowboy...in a gun fight...

 Oh to be walking down one of the most dangerous streets (former) as an 11 year boy.

He is the only one who'd pose for me.

He is in front of some bullet holes supposedly from Billy the Kid.

The man he shot made it out the door and died.

This poor cow brings back memeories of when we went to England.

I left my first born at home.  I was nursing...couldn't pump for over 24 hours.

This is how I felt.

See you all later!

color

The color of...well, my next project.

Updates

A few updates...

I had my first sale!!!

I plan on making more.

Daughter had another Dr.'s appointment with a third Dr. for her back.  Long story short, X-rays got sent to wrong place and misplaced, need to get more taken and follow up to make sure her back's

not getting any worse.

Wednesday starts our "vacation".  We are going to have family here for two weeks. 

Then hubby and I are going away for the night. 

Then we will drive our daughter to my mom's.

Have a great day!

Mmmm Fresh Cherries

It's cherry season here and a dear friend did the dirty work fun part of picking some for us.

When we get some, we always try out a new recipe.

Well, look no more!

This recipe is really The Pioneer Woman's Peach Crisp with Maple Cream.

Which I made a few days ago...YUM!

We had some left over maple cream, and used cherries instead.
I divided it into two and took one over lunch at "the bachelor pad".

There were only a few cherries left in the dish.

Here it is without the maple cream.

I also made a recipe inspired by PW's Steak Bites here.

I cut up the steak,

melted maybe 1/4 of a stick of butter in a pan.

browned chopped onions and crushed garlic cloves,

sprinkled some salt,

stirred

then added the meat.

Cooked throughly.

Served with aspargus (cooked much like the steak)

amd baked potatoes!

YUM!

Etsy, Etsy spider (I mean shop)

I am open for business! 

I opened an Etsy shop!

I only have three items, but still!

Here's what's in my shop.

There's more to come. 

Pressed Petals

Projects

I have a few things that I am working on.

This chair...I have had since high school.

I so need/want to change the material on the seat

and maybe paint it.

(The wood looks better in the photo.)

Here I am taking off the material I put on a long time ago.

Here's the original fabric.  Groovy.

For now this is how it will be, until I find the right fabric.

Found these at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore today.

There are 4 of them.  I have many ideas.

I will let you see what I come up with.

I couple more projects.

(You can see our living room in the background.

The drapes aren't burgandy.  They are more of a dark taupe.)

Here we have an upcycled bathroom medicine cabinet.

I distressed the frame a bit and painted the mirror with chalkboard paint.

It will be up for sale after our family come and go.

Then some fun paint from the ReStore.

And some short legs or something.

I haven't a clue as to what I will do with these, but for $1.75, I couldn't pass.

Then we have my to-do list for before our family comes.

Sorry it's blurry!

Have a great day!

Random Mumblings

We had/have a dilema, if you will, at our house. 

Yucky toothbrush holder (wet, gooey, toothpaste, etc in the cup) +

Neither of the kids admitting to being gross doing it =

Separate cups.

The messy one is one we suspected.

However, that child is taking better care to be cleaner!

A few weeks ago I found this cute little shelf at the thrift store.

Gave it a little paint job.

And hung it in the bathroom. 

This is my dream car.

I don't know how much it is, how it drives, or how it feels inside...

BUT it is the cutest, chicest (is that a word?), coolest car!

There was one parked at a neighbor's and I fell in love right there.

Notice it's a two-door! 

I joke with the kids that this will be my car when they move out!

I want it just like the one on the photo, cream with the black strips!

I feel SO lazy today.  We have been non-stop for awhile.

A good non-stop.

And it is about to get busy again. 

We have family coming for two weeks in about a week.

So today is really the only day that is sort of chill.

So if I don't post as much you'll know why.

Trying Things Out

You probably noticed the new look.  I am trying the new Blogger designs.  I am also trying out the page tab option.  Does anyone know how to get them to go to the right topics?

"Mom can I have this towel?"

"Sure."  He was all sweaty from shooting hoops and thought he needed it just to wipe down.

Then I see this in the wash.

While I like the Celtics and I need new towels, I think I need to

make sure I know what he means next time.

Thanks!

Elbow Grease and Finger Grim, Keeping it Real

I have a challenge for you.

If you're like me, you read through all of those pretty blogs, (you know the ones).

The houses are gorgeous.

Always clean and tidy.

You think, golly, how do they make all of those goodies, keep up with the kids and hubbies,

and keep a clean house.

To be fair, I have seen some that keep it real by posting laundry photos, etc.

So my challenge for you is to post some real shots.

I may even make this a regular challenge.

This first challenge is to clean your table and chairs.

I don't mean your usual wipe down.

You need to flip them over (you'll be grossed out by what's there),

 scrub them down with cleanser

put some elbow grease into it.

(These photos don't show you the full extent of the grim.)

I am not going to be giving away prizes, but if you post your grimey cleaned tables on your blgos,

and link me to it in the comments I may feature you.

And who doesn't want more blog exposer.

Plus you'll get a clean house while inspiring (sp?) 

millions (ok maybe I am getting carried away)

to do the same.

I had my daughter carry the table out to the lawn.

Tipped everything over, sprayed with Simple Green.

Did a first wipe down, then scrubbed these dirties

with Comet powder.

(Geesh, our grass looks super green thanks to the Pioneer Woman and her actions!)

While I washed the table on the ground

the chairs were washed on the table.

After a good scrubbing they all got sprayed with the hose.

I can't show you the after photo.

I am waiting for the kids to come home from the library to help me bring in the table.

And while I am not sure what's for dinner, I do know that it will be eaten on a clean table!

OH...tip...when you clean your chairs, start with the dirtiest one.  That way when you're getting
tired and your fingers are hurting...well, you know what I mean.

Are you with me?

Today is a much better day!

one of those days

Ever have one of those days?

*the kids are loud and bugging me

*the house, well, it's messy

*had a bad hair day

*rushed to get to the kid's eye appointment (hence the bad hair)

*there was at least a 45 minute wait (we will reschedule, thank you)

*can't wear the shirt i am wearing to church tonight (the car was HOT)
*files seem to be disappearing from our EHD.

*time if flying really fast

BUT i not complaining!

DIY (with help)

Are do-it-yourself projects ever really done by yourself?

Most of mine couldn't have been done without my hubby.

He is kind enough to go along with my projects and lend a hand, advice and a few bucks when needed.

Here he is (sick as a dog).  He and our son pulled out the rope for me.

They helped me pull out a bunch of things that held the glass in place.

And he took out the two glass panes.

He went to pick up this dresser, very last minute, right now kind of thing.

He finished up the painting in the office.

He even took off the sticker that was over the 2 for me.

All this and MUCH more in the midst of his own stuff! 

Thank you Honey!  Can't do these without you!

Layouts, Layouts

So, the last time I posted any LOs for you was in April!

Here are a few of my latest.

This one's a bit different for me.  BUT I love how it turned out!

For credits...here

Tomorrow, yard sale! 

Bits of Food

Ever boiled eggs, peeled them and found some ugly looking eggs?

Not good, especially if those eggs are going to be Deviled Eggs for a function.

I heard that some vinegar in the water is the key.

And...well, it works like a charm!

(I used apple cider vinegar.)

 

It's hot here (supposed to be up to 108 this weekend!!).

I have been into making fruit shakes again.

Hubby calls them Slim and Slender Shakes, has since we first got married.

Here I have vanilla yogurt, soy milk, ground flax seed,

red apple, banana (freeze them when the are just about too rip)

orange slices, left over canned peaches and

sweet potato chunks.  I had one sweet potato, not enough for a meal.

So, I peeled, cut it ino chunks and boiled it.

Now I just take out about 4-5 chunks for the shakes!

 

This one, blended, was orange.

The one I made the next day was more pinkish purple.

I bought frozen blueberries, strawberries and had frozen blackberries.

Blend with whatever fruit you have...yum!

I have also added spinach leaves...you never know they are in there!

Creamy Whites

It has started...my creamy white plate obsession collection.

I don't know what it is, but I have like plates for a long time. 

I have always liked whites, creamy whites.

Dear son has been saying lately, why does everything have to be white.

I am trying to move to the white side!

Anyway, I wanted to show you my new collection.

I made this from a plate and candle holder, both from thrift stores!

Easy peasy to make!

I am thinking about selling it. 

What do you think?  And what would you pay for it?

These are for keeps.  Found the dinner plates (2) and the smaller one at a thrift.

LOVE it when I find treasures!

Farewell Pompay

The office is done (minus a few minor additions)!!!

This is what I did Monday.

Ok...Brace yourself for the before photos.

Our office is in the garage, had become the catch-all room, homeschool stuff room, etc. etc.

I had tried to keep it neat, BUT

I think we all just threw stuff here and there.

I am a bit embarressed to show you.

But here it goes...

I took the photos on a "messier" day so you get the idea just how bad it had gotten.

Ready?

Before

After

(getting rid of a BUNCH of stuff, painting, new curtains, chalkboard, some rearranging, etc.)

This the same corner as the second photo!!!

The lockers came with the numbers already!

Number two was covered with an american flag.

While I LOVE America, dear hubby took it off for me.

Now Thing One and Thing Two can have their own space.

Now for the behind the scenes photos.

Walls after one coat of Kilz.

Dear Hubby took one of me painting the first layer of Kilz.

The room took a total of 4 coats of paint!

2 primar and 2 Buttercream.

Can you say my body still hurts.  (I did it all!)

Dear son came in; I thought he was going to help me paint, but left me this instead!

SOOO sweet and helped my day go along!

I stashed some goodies in here. 

The coffee cans (free) have the pencils, crayons, glue and such for school.

I found this dresser on an online yard sale similar to Craigslist.

I feel in love with it when I saw it, but it was too much for me.

She lowered the price and bingo, it's mine.

I hadn't planned on hiding it in the cranny behind the door

(which stills need to be painted!)

but it just didn't look right next to the lockers.

All of the kids school stuff fits right into the lockers!!!

I was concerned that I wouldn't have enough room since we downsized so much

but it worked. 

Dear hubby made the shelves for the lockers while I painted.

Each kiddo has a locker (though most of it is shared supplies).

The wooden box on the floor I have had since before marriage.

Hubby had been using it as storage in the garage,

but after seeing blog after blog displaying them I brought it back out.

It now holds our library books.  (another clutter situation solved!)

The map is for school and is reversable.

So I hung it up like so.

Thanks for looking.  I hope you had a wonderful weekend!