Sunday, January 31, 2010

Happy Birthday

    Today is my sweet hubby's birthday.  The whole family usually celebrates his birthday on Super Bowl Sunday, (that could be another lengthy post) but with the Super Bowl being later this year we had a little celebration tonight. Due to some bad colds, only 2 of the grandkids came, but as you can see, they had fun.  This is Kobi and Cade....(Not sure I want to know what is in Cades mouth)

" What kind of cake do you want?" I asked.
"The one with the tan interior" he said.
Now I ask you, is that a typical man answer or what. So I said " Would that be spice, apple, carrot cake or what?" He said "I don't  know,  just a tan interior with that creamy white frosting" Well that helped as I knew he meant Cream Cheese Frosting.  It just happens I make all three of those with that "Creamy White Frosting."
So I guessed and made Spice Cake


Now I ask you...Is that a tan interior or what?

This is the spice cake recipe I use. It is a Paula Deen recipe that I think she serves for brunch with out the frosting.  I will include my frosting recipe too.

 Ingredients
1 (18oz package) spice cake mix
1 (4 serving) package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup corn oil
5 tablespoons sugar
                                                      2 teaspoons cinnamon

Directions
                                                     Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease a 10-inch tube pan. Combine cake mix, instant pudding, sour cream, eggs, and oil and beat together well. In a separate bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon . Pour half of batter into prepared pan and sprinkle with sugar mixture,  Pour the rest of batter into pan and sprinkle with the rest of sugar mixture. Bake 1 hour. Let cool and remove from pan.

                                                       Cream Cheese Frosting
                                        
                                                       1 stick butter (room temperature)
                                                       4 oz. cream cheese (room temperature)
                                                       1 box powdered sugar
                                                       1 tsp. vanilla
                                                       1 Tbls. milk

Friday, January 29, 2010

Busy Week

It really has been a busy week around here. Not because I got my house put back together after Christmas decorations were stored. I don't know what happened there, but I really need to focus in on that next week. I have been busy sewing and I did get my table set for Valentines and my Candy Counter (that's what my grandkids call the counter where I put my Candy Jars)decorated. I'll show those next week. Back to the sewing. I was honored to be asked to make some models for my favorite Quilt Store here in Bakersfield. I have mentioned it before. Strawberry Patches is just the quilters dream store. Not just quilters, but anyone who sews or loves beautiful fabric, one of a kind trims and patterns, sewing machines, and they have classes too.  Can you tell I love going there.

This is a little girls top. They pick out the fabrics and pattern, so I just have to make it.
This is a real twirly top. I can just picture a little girl spinning around in it.


These are little boys shorts with lots and lots of pockets. You know how little boys love their pockets.

These are the patterns they were made from and if you would like to visit Strawberry Patches website they have these and many more and more fabric than you can imagine to choose from.

Soon I will have some very exciting news to share.  Possibly Sunday if I can get back here to post.

Monday, January 25, 2010

White on White


This fireplace and mantle are actually in my dining room.
I finally got my pitcher collection down from on top of my hutch, cleaned and placed on my mantle. They really could not be seen on top of the hutch except from one end of the room. It is in a little nitch and sets back from view. My pitchers are not all vintage and I picked them up one by one for several years. I have a few more that are placed other places around my house, but this is most of them.
I don't know if I should add some color such as greenery, but for now I am enjoying the simplicity of white on white.

This is one that I know is vintage. I bought it from a store called "The Feathered Nest" in Cambria several years ago. It has wheat embossed on it and says "Royal Crownford Ironstone " on the bottom
It also says "Weatherby Hanley Englnd Royal Falcon Ware Wheat" Several years later I saw a larger one, but it was way too expensive for my budget.

On a totally different subject.....I worked for a long time trying to put blogs and buttons of those that I follow and those that have followed me,  on my sidebar. I finally got one on.  I plan on adding all of the rest of you, (hoping I remember how I did that one), but it will take some time. Be patient, I will try not to leave any one out.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Comfort Food


With four days of wind and rain, I have been thinking soup all week.
I'm feeling fine, but one of the things my Mom always made to make us feel better was Chicken and Noodles.  She made her noodles from scratch, but I never seemed to be able to make them like hers. She would roll out the dough and cut them and then dry them on waxed paper. They were always so tender and yummy.  Mine are always tough, but I don't let that stop me, I just buy them in a package.

This is "My Mom's Chicken and Noodles"

Start with a  roasted chicken carcas. This one came from Cosco and we had a couple of meals off it already. There is still lots of yummy breast meat left. Cover it with water in the Crock Pot and add a bay leaf.
Cook on high for several hours until the meat is falling off the bone.
Take the meat and bones out and pick out all the good meat and coarsley chop.
I put the broth in the refrigerator until all the fat congeals on the top, skim it off and you have good low fat chicken broth.


While the broth is chilling, I chop all the veggies
3 large carrots
3 stalks of celery
one onion
2 garlic cloves
Put all of these in the Crock Pot with the broth and another bay leaf for about 2 more hours.
I usually taste at this point and salt and pepper to taste
Because the chicken is seasoned I usually don't need much more seasoning.



About 1 hr. before dinner time, I add these....The whole 8oz. package of wide noodles.



Check them often as you don't want them over cooked. Just before they are done, just turn off Crock Pot.


Now add all that yummy chicken meat and I throw in some frozen peas at the last minute.



It's ready to serve.
Just in time, as my sweet hubby walked in the door after another week working away from home.
I sat him down to a big bowl of "My Moms Chicken and Noodles", Biscuits and Honey Butter and Homemade Applesauce.

Note:  It is called "Chicken and Noodles" and not soup because (especially the next day) it is thick and not very brothy.  I hesitate to mention this, but my Mom always served it as leftovers poured over Mashed Potatoes and I confess I do too sometimes.  I know....too much starch, but oh so good.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Pinch me!!

Sometimes lately I feel like maybe I am dreaming.  You see, I raised 3 boys in a very athletic centered home. My husband was a professional baseball player and all three sons played multiple sports through college.  I sewed, and crafted to bring some balance into my life. With a friend, I did craft faires and home shows....well that's a story for another time.  I couldn't even imagine having girls to sew for, much less 6 granddaughters and another on the way.

Two of my granddaughters have birthdays this week and the one turning 8 has an American Girl doll and showed me a picture of a dress she wanted.  I'm thinking....I don't think I have time....need to be working on my house and some other sewing projects I have taken on. But wait a minute, of course I can. Isn't it my dream to have girls to sew for. So if I make a dress for one's doll, I will of course make one for the other as they celebrate on the same day....tomorrow.  I have sewn clothes for them often, but just did my first doll dress for my 10 year olds American Girl doll in October. Now in Febuary, I'll have another to do. Can't wait.
Here's what I came up with.



They are made of eyelet fabric with little daisey trim on the skirt and bolero. One ribbon is pink and white check and the other is a sheer red with white polka dots. Wanna know the best part....I did it with mostly things I had on hand.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

A Blank Canvas



  I finally got all Christmas decorations packed away and put up in the garage. Whew, it feels good.  These two pictures show what every flat surface in my entry, livingroom, dining room and kitchen look like right now....bare.
That is not a bad thing, I am kinda liking it. Don't know how long it will last, but I'm just going to enjoy the emptiness for a few days. I usually put things back in pretty much the way they were.  This time, I am going to try a little remix and move things a bit, so I have made a commitment to do that without buying anything new.  I also hope to pare down a bit.   I always start out with less and then seem to end up filling every little spot.  It will be a challenge, but with determination I think when I am done with  the "emptiness",  it will be fun.
What about you, do you put things back like they were before you decorated for a holiday, or do you try new things?

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Last Episode of My Great Escape


Two years ago, my husband and I had stayed a week at my friend MariEllens house and he built a mantle and surround for her used brick fireplace. She was changing her family room to a more cottage look.



We decorated the fireplace then with finds from her store and...of course a trip to HomeGoods. She and I picked out fabrics and she had her couch recovered and painted the walls. That left the wall over her couch empty and when I got there this time (two years later), she really wanted help decorating that wall. So we shopped at her store before we left on Tuesday and came up with two pictures and a shelf (and a large clock that I didn't get a picture of).
Then a trip to....you guessed it....HomeGoods the next day produced a few things to put on the shelf.


We also picked up some things for her living room and dining room while we were there and made another trip on Friday morning before I left. This should be an advertisement for HomeGoods. But if you have one within your driving distance, you should check it out. It is an inexpensive way to accessorize your home. Now on to the living room.


She got these valances from a friend and they match her couch. So, Dennis and I got them hung.  I happened to have these same fabrics that I had done my guest bathroom in. (Remember, we covered her diningroom chairs in the coordinating plaid) I made her a valance to match this one for her dining room, but didn't get it hung because we couldn't find the same rod anywhere and had to order it.


Again.....we found all of these white containers at HomeGoods for this shelf that is 10' high. I couldn't get a really good picture, but it did look good as she has all white in her didning room hutch. We also found the most beautiful cut glass cake plate and dome for the center of her table.
Well, that's the end of my week and I left her finishing several other projects that we started. She said she was inspired to get it done.
She has been so sweet to take my husband in while he is working down there and is such a good friend, it made me happy to help jump start her getting some things changed and finished.
Now, if I could just get inspired to put my Christmas away and spruce up my house some.


Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Aunt Fanny's Emporium

On Tuesday of my Great Escape, I got to go in to work with my friend. Her shop is in Long Beach, Ca. where I grew up.  It is near Long Beach City College where both my husband and I attended, dated and decided to marry, so it is always sentimental going back there. Of course, I get sentimental over about anything.
I had forgotton how much I love helping people pick out what they want.  I even love answering the phone and checking people out.  But there were other things to do too, as we packed away some Christmas and tried to fill the empty spots.
I walked through the store and took some shots. They have lots of new merchandise amid antique displays, collectibles, and one of their big sellers, the holiday decorating items.


This is just to the right as you walk in and is only one of the cases with dishes, both new and collectible.


Just part of a little garden area.



These two pictures are of a little retro ktchen area.


A little Cottage, shabby chic area.



This shelf is just as you walk in the front door and was empty after we packed away the Christmas. MariEllen allowed me to fill it and I just walked through the store to find anything red and white and tried to make it look "Valentiney" until we unboxed the new Valentines stuff.


Also put this little black display together on a dresser right behind the red and white display. It really showed up better in person, a little dark here.

I didn't capture even a portion of the merchandise they have. Hopefully soon, they will have it all on their website I gave you in a former post. I also encouraged them to start a blog for Aunt Fanny's, so hope that happens soon too.
I have to say after 2 days on my feet, as much as I loved it, this girl is just too old to work like that. I was exhausted.
Friday, I will post about the other things we did in her home to spruce things up.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

My Escape



I'll call it an escape, because I had a million things that I should have stayed home to do,(the most of which involved putting away my many Christmas decorations) I had sewing obligations and bookwork to wrap up for 2009 and....well I could go on and on.  I just decided I should go with my husband for a week and as wrote in my last post visit and old friend.
It was worth being so far behind this week. My husband was so appreciative to have me there to care for him and I just had the most fun week.
My friend, MariEllen has the most beautiful home, but as she has her own business, she doesn't have the time she needs to devote to her home and she said she needed inspiration to get some things done.
This was our first project. She recently bought a new couch which is Cottage Style and since she had more of a Victorian look before, these needed changing.



MariEllen took off the seat as I prepared to cover them.




Sometimes, I remove the fabric that is to be replaced, but these did not seem to show through, so we decided to save the time and just cover.  I usually cut the fabric about 3" bigger all the way around, but because we were using fabric I had left from my shower curtain, I had to make do with smaller pieces.




I used a hand staple gun to pull all four corners up and staple, then I work my way around, mitering the corners and working in any fullness until it looks like this.




This is such a quick fix, we did 4 of them in just a couple of hours.  MariEllen, screwed them back (and cleaned and waxed the chairs and table while I stapled.  This is so easy, that I change my 8 dining room chairs to red for Christmas through Valentines Day and then back to my blue and yellow plaid for the rest of the year.




Here it is, just like new. The chairs along with several other changes we made sure gave the living room/dining room a different look. MariEllen was thrilled with our start on her redo.

During this week, I will be posting some of the other things we did to spruce up her home, and as I promised, a little walk through her store.  I talked to her tonight and she has continued her dedication to getting some of the things done on her list.
Now, if  I just had someone to inspire me to start taking down my decorations tomorrow.  I would much rather sew.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

MIA

Can't believe it has been a week since I posted. I have been gone from home since Monday. My sweetie has a job in Southern California which is close to a a good friend of ours, so I hitched a ride with him and we are staying with her for the week. It has been a fun packed week as she needed some help redoing some areas in her home and I got to go to work with her and help with a couple of displays. She has a great little Gift/Antique store in Long Beach, CA ....Aunt Fanny's Emporium. She has started a website, but says it will have more soon. http://www.auntfannysemporium.com/  I don't have a way to put my pictures on today, but check in on Sunday as I will do a post showing all the fun things we did, If  any of you know about Home Goods, it involved several trips there.

Friday, January 1, 2010

New Year's Resolutions


For many years, I have not made resolutions. I learned from years past, I don't keep them anyway.
I can't tell you how many times I resolved to lose weight. It lasted about 2 days.
I've resloved to be a better Mom, wife, friend, housekeeper, you name it.
I've resolved to be more organized, do more charitable work, or catch up on bookwork, only to forget about it in....about 2 days.

For the last few months, I have stressed over my weight, family, finances, our future (retirement or lack of) and too many other situations I have no control over.

So, for the last few days, as I was thinking about 2010 and what I want for us and our family, I have realized where I am going wrong. It's not what I want, but what God wants for me. It's not that I have not always known that, because I am a Christian and I love the Lord and know he has a plan for me and those I love.
But, I have always been an "I can do it myself" kinda girl. It's only when I give up control to Him that things fall into place.

So, as a resolution (or prayer) this year, I am committed to being quiet and listening to what God has to say to me about certain situations. This is one resoulution I am relying on my Lord to help me with. I'm not going to try to do it "by myself", but am listening to what he wants me to do.

I wish for all of you who read this all the best the New Year has to offer. I look forward to my blogging experiences, as it has opened doors to people, friendships and situations, I had never dreamed it could.
A very Happy 2010 to all.