Friday, May 29, 2020

Scraping that "bottom of the barrel"

Whimsy and Hugs!



This week, that short one following a three-day holiday, has dragged out in what seems a typical fashion for me. It doesn't help that I have been cleaning out bottom cabinets, those caverns filled with untimely surprises, widowed lids, suspicious jars, and forgotten uh... stuff... 

Still! I am glad to hear about your cool drawers and I worked some magic with a few sturdy baskets to mimic that process! Thanks! Have a great weekend. 


Monday, May 25, 2020

Happy Memorial Day!

Good Morning!

The house is dark, and it took me a bit to think why my son was not hard at work from his computer. I could see he was sleeping in and then he slipped on the television! What? And then it hit me. Today is Memorial Day 2020, one I think we will always remember. Stormy predictions for the day follow a long night of lightning, thunder, wind, and rain. I have been cleaning in the kitchen. That stove, though... It had been the very patient recipient of that "lick and a promise" for too long... I am thinking I want a noodle board for the top... except where do people put that when they cook? Anybody have one?





I have been cleaning out under cabinets. Boy, I hate those. It is such a wasted space to have them so deep. And since I live and work in a wheelie-chair, they are about the only cabinets I can reach. Waa waa... lol. Just sayin' though.



Another junk journal just happened. I thought it would be so perfect to make this the week leading up to Memorial Day.






Ooooops.... Somebody is trying to sneak in with the patriots!


We had stir-fry, Hawaiian chicken, roasted asparagus (WITH the hard stems popped off this time!) and baby roasted heirloom potatoes.
(Oh, and served with the nectar of the gods for beverage, of course.)



Closing with my favorite veteran, My Daddy-o from WW2. 







Whimsy and Hugs!

Friday, May 22, 2020

Stoppin' in....

Whimsy and Hugs!


Good morning! Lots of little projects are popping all around me this week. I am still crossing my fingers for the long-awaited curtain valance to arrive today. The delays are still pretty significant with Amazon Prime. I think I was spoiled before! I have been creating some cards and another journal. This one I call an Autumn Country Red French... or Katrina, for short. She is so full of journal cards and photo tuck spots. I had so much fun making her. I spared you the majority of pages... She's pretty huge!







Yesterday my cousin, the sister one!, stopped by and we sat on the porch far away from each other and chatted! She brought me some of her pretty pansies, so I had to fix up a little table love after she left! The pretty runner was made by my Gramma Minnie I think... Mama might have done the embroidery. (My cousin kindly offered to put out my flowers for the cemeteries so I sent the ones I had purchased with her.) ---  I really looked rough... no makeup and questionable hair! ... Yep. I looked as if she had found me on the wild prairie.... which she did, I guess.


This runner was always on a dresser in my Gramma's bedroom. I was always pretty fascinated at the way the crochet arched around the edges and then surprisingly made the skirts... Still am! As much as I crochet, I don't think I ever did any fancywork lace... 



Pansies are doing well, I hear, because of our chilly weather. I don't plan to have any live flowers this year. I do think some faux geraniums will perk things up. Our locust trees are gorgeous right now!


I treated myself to a journal from a YouTuber called Book Vandal. She is delightful and works from her home in Indiana. Mama would approve of anything Indiana! I really want to get Mama's sewing machine up here and see if I can order a cord and if it will still run. It is in my lower level, also known as No Man's Land!


The screen in the window diffused the brilliant yellow of Mr. Finch. I honestly thought he was a yellow Iris blossom perched there so sassily tempting on our handrail. Callie was wide-eyed and making her bird-chirps.... She gets really mesmerized by the wild creatures who fly and taunt her beyond the pane.



Well, it had to happen. Even though we mustn't wear furs after May first, I couldn't resist this coat from Mama's Muffy Vanderbear. The look on her face says it all. "Take it off, Karen. This lockdown is getting to ya!"



Friday, May 15, 2020

A chilly May

Alexa and I were discussing the weather! Goodness! Rainstorms about all week and what she calls "dreary." I, as you might know, rather love that grey kind of day. Tonight is super stormy here in the heartland... It is half past midnight, laundry is spinning, and I am watching YouTube videos probably until dawn.



Earlier I made some Brussels sprouts for a salad. They are roasted with onions, celery, garlic, olive oil and red pepper flakes, salt and pepper, then chilled and added to fresh mushrooms with Parmesan, Italian dressing and a little Balsamic glaze. The house smells fabulous! --- which is odd because usually I am not a fan of cooking cabbage smells!



Today is "Curtain Day." ... I hope my little valances arrived from Amazon! I voted to stay in my nightgown (which is really a navy t-shirt long dress) all day. I have done that only 3 times since Christmas--- Valentine's, St, Patty's and I guess belated Mother's Day. Nobody would care or even know. Hey, it's actually an upgrade from my usual clothes. Boo. Amazon sent only one valance, Now I have to wait 9 days for the 2nd... So instead I will show you my summer valance in the bathroom.  I just skipped the bunny/spring one. We had snowmen until today! Well, we had snow flurries last week!


Let me tell you if you want a tablet, that 10" Kindle fire is great! Images are soooo sharp. I can take it in and follow tutorials right while I work.  I put the little Vicks jar in for size reference... Who am I kidding? I just had that there. I am one of "those" ladies!


I decided to begin washing dolls and doll clothes. My first attempt was this vinyl Shirley Temple. I talked to a doll expert (who is a dear friend who reads my blog!) about something to whiten fabrics. At the rate I am going, I need approximately 400 weeks to finish this job. I will be 7 years and 8 months older! Since I may never get out of the sheltering in place, I might as well do something, eh? They will say, "Boy, she had clean dolls!" ..... and my Mama will smile.



The photo of my dad the other day was during his illness so I thought I would show you the two I have tucked in my yarn and fairy armoire. I smile at him every trip through my bedroom as he shivers laughing under an afghan at his 50th Anniversary party at my other home. It was August 20, 2000. My air conditioner was pumping, and he ducked under that cover because he was kinda cold -natured. The other photo I have shown before of him stopping for "coffee" while he was feeding cattle... so he could see my son... He also scraped my icy windows and started my car for me to go to school, as I've said before... Life is kind of like that moment learning to ride that bicycle... Dad is there, balancing,  holding the whole operation upright, running behind, boosting... and voila! On our own... we may wobble; we may tip... but that little push we were given does not stop.




Have a good weekend. Stay safe!





Whimsy and Hugs!

Sunday, May 10, 2020

May seems to be Chatty Month

I have blogged more in the past two days than some entire months. I don't know what pulled my string, but here I am... again!

The English teacher left inside my soul had to laugh at this meme I saw today, Apologies for the beer pic!



We had a stunning day today, just a lot like I had planned... I had fun getting lunch, but I need to refresh my mind before I prepare some things! I guess I forgot that we need to break off or cut a few inches off the asparagus stems!!!! I think I also forgot with the last batch, too! I suddenly at the table had a vision of the Food Network cooks snapping it to see where to cut, Well, duh! I quickly cut off the bottoms and Voila! edible asparagus! p.s. I need to clean my oven!!! Goodness!



So... about my dessert. I love strawberries. But we NEVER have ice cream. Oh, Aldi's... you are way too easy, so we had our cake and ate it, too?



This old ironstone pitcher was my Gramma Minnie's. I used to be the tea-maker for not only family dinners, but also for hay hands. We made tea in huge coolers for them, but Gramma had me dip it into this pitcher to serve.



Have a super week.



Whimsy and Hugs!

Saturday, May 9, 2020

Dreamzzzzz of a Spotless House

First, let me say I read that anonymous comment I just deleted! Wow! It sure was not a warm, fuzzy feelers kind of comment. I might put the blog on comment moderation for a bit. 

I had dreamed last Sunday I would kick this house into company mode just for us to enjoy on Mother's Day... but I spent way too much time working in the craft room. fixing up the internet outages. cooking. watching TV. NAPPING.  So I had to settle for just some high spots in the kitchen... That long shot of my kitchen is funny. Should set up bowling pins at one end, huh?


We added fresh asparagus to the menu for tomorrow and removed the ice cream sandwiches. (I think).


Either way, did you see the slider recipe, Ginny? It is below. Gosh, that didn't take long to fix and prep in the refrigerator.


This is such an odd year. I think lots of people are getting to see their families tomorrow. I am blessed to live with mine, I know.



Happy Mother's Day. Here are a few photos of my mom, grandmothers, and different days.

 I love you, Mama!
 Daddy
 My dear grammas.
 Ma and Grandad, Dad's folks
 Gramma and Paw-paw - chore time
 Dad in WW2
Miss Sally... my dear cat from a lifetime ago.





Whimsy and Hugs!

My very favorite Cat Meme


I spent too many hours looking for this. I tried Google, Pinterest, you name it. Really don't know why I just like this. It maketh me smile.


1, 2, 3 eggs for me... aw, no eggs for you.  Yep. That's a cat for ya!

Whimsy and Hugs!

Hawaiian Sliders

Cook time: 15 Min  Prep time: 20 Min  Serves: 12 (two sliders a piece)
Ingredients
2 pkg small Hawaiian sweet dinner rolls
1 1/2 lb Virginia ham slices
12 slice Swiss cheese ( also good with Muenster)
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 stick butter
1 tsp garlic powder (Optional)
1 tsp onion powder (Optional)
1 tsp poppy seeds (Optional)
Directions
1. Place bottoms of rolls in 2 9 x 13 cake pans. Layer the ham and cheese on the bottoms. Put tops of rolls on.
2. Melt together in a saucepan the butter, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and poppy seeds.
3. Brush tops of sandwiches with the butter mixture generously. Cover and let set in fridge overnight or at least 1 hour.
4. Preheat oven to 375 and bake for 15 min or until cheese is melted.
---------
I am making half of  this recipe for tomorrow with turkey and probably whatever cheese I have on hand. 



Whimsy and Hugs!

Friday, May 8, 2020

Friday Already!



What? This week has just flown by. I finished basically the overall sort/rearrange of the craft room. It isn't cute yet, so no photos! (No paparazzi, pleeeeze!_Now somebody tell me what to do with the 8 giant totes that don't belong in there. They sure don't belong in my bedroom where they are right beside my bed. They look like those "symmetrical stacking" shots of the library in Ghost Busters. (Get her, Ray? That's your plan?)



I ordered a few things, including some happy little curtain valances... To be honest, it has taken 65 years, living with the easiest-going son in the world who truly has no opinion of decor, and... a global pandemic for me really to just "do my thing." If I want to decorate, craft, clean, bake, cook, read, watch TV, nap--- then I do. If I don't... well, sometimes I still do, but less often!



I must say this has been a different kind of year. I am glad I chose the word of the year, Roar. Some days... that old roar is all it takes to scare off the blues.

And some days... I have to roar twice. 

So do you plan to do something new for Mother's Day? I am going to stay in and watch a movie that day... Seriously, my son bought me a set of Chinese soup spoons and a Kindle Fire 10-inch tablet. We don't seem to be able to wait until the holiday any more to give our gifts. I am making those little slider sandwiches made with turkey and Hawaiian rolls, and the marinade of Worcestershire sauce... And having ice cream sandwiches and strawberries... and a big Asian salad. I don't think my menu is very balanced. I will most likely have to chase it with a Glucerna! Just keeping it real.


Whimsy and Hugs! Stay safe!