Monday Evening

It was snowing

- unexpectedly -

this morning as I got ready to

 leave for the gym.

It snowed most of the day.

 

I ran errands in the snow.

Found some bargains

shoveled the driveway

checked the mail

brought in garbage cans

made granola

did laundry

brought in firewood

created new Pinterest boards

put away the Christmas dishes

surfed for beret patterns

shuffled stuff for the new shelves

and a surprising number of

other things

while it snowed.

 



Friday!?

Did your week pass as quickly as mine?

 

Two days were spent sitting in

the dark as training sessions introduced 

the staff to a new cataloging/records

system for the library.

That kind of disruption in normal routines

always challenges my sense of

days/time.

You know that feeling, right?

 

It has been a productive week, though.

Furniture has been re-arranged.

Closets and cupboards addressed.

And with the onset of colder days my

kitchen has seen some action.

 

These two ideas/recipes were from

Pinterest:

 

 These pumpkin muffins contain just a dab

of molasses which makes them so

moist and mellow.

 

The apple chips - easy and oh, so tasty -

were a hit at work.

 

So I started thinking...

why wouldn't this work with potatoes?

 

Guess what's in my oven?

 

I used our garden potatoes - flavorful! -

 tried different thicknesses

sprinkled salt

and added cayenne to a small sample.

 

The very thin slices took hardly any time

to crisp and were so delicious!

Yes, that past tense is correct. 

 

My mantra for the rest of the day is

Mustsavesomefortim.

 

 

Passing Time

I've just applied the top coat to my nails

so I'm doing a bit of surfing waiting for everything to dry.

I work tomorrow and need nice nails.

 

Scrolling through Pinterest it occurred to me

that I haven't eaten any  pasta for over

three months.

Brown rice, wild rice, potatoes, but no pasta.

 

Last night I sautéed

 banana peppers from our garden

with red and orange peppers,

mushrooms, spinach,

and potatoes from the garden.

Of course, there is no photo.

You'll have to believe me when I say

it was colorful and tasty.

And will be repeated soon.

 

This pin:

 

will be used in the next few days.

It looks so tasty!

And the ingredients are already on hand!

It's too easy

- and enjoyable -

to eat the same rotation of foods.

 

Pinterest provides a nudge from time-to-time

 reminding me that some options

are really quite simple.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Monday Morning

Another grey week followed by

another grey weekend bringing us to

another grey Monday.

Are you seeing the trend?

 

But the other day a package arrived.

 

 

Packages, as you know, travel with

their own sunshine.

Doesn't a package always put a smile on your face? 

 

I'd recently seen something on Pinterest

that I figured could be replicated at my house.

So I searched Amazon for that *just right* option and ordered this:

 

 

 

to apply to my washing machine.

 

 

 

The dryer has a funny lip under the door which kept me

from running the decal across its front...

 

Bright, cheerful, cheap - always a good combination -

providing a small spot of sunshine in a grey winter.

 

 

 

a breather...

A quick trip to visit Naphtali and Aidan over the weekend

brought the expected pleasures of their company

as well as a couple unexpected projects 

generated by a stop at Unique Thrift.

Charlie's bed has a new cover.

A new tablecloth.

Several new chain loop scarves.

And there is a faux fur throw in the works for me.

My biggest problem recently has simply been that I don't stay home 

on days when I could be home attacking my list.

'Tis also the season for errands and shopping and appointments

while at home:

There are presents waiting to be finished.

Some are waiting to be started.

Packages to wrap.

Cleaning for company.

Cards.

Cookies.

Tim ran the errand that was scheduled for today which

meant that a couple things - like stopping for 

Charlie's new tags - can be moved to

tomorrow when I have an appointment and will

already be out and on the run.

So today I've been able to get some wrapping done.

New bird feeders have been made and are

setting up in the fridge.

This was a pinterest idea which I've modified slightly.

Turns out my birds prefer their food to be

somewhat stationary.

So rather than thread and hang - as in the pin that caught my attention -

I make a hole to slip over a short twig on

a branch.  The birds can then stand on the branch to eat.

(Using a thin branch will keep the squirrels at bay.)

As you can see below

I cut the top from several plastic cups and packed in the seed mixture 

rather than using the cute cookie cutters featured in the pin as I found it.

It's serviceable.

I've since seen a pin with a large seed wreath that looks 

like it was made in a jello mold.

I'll probably try making a batch to fit a 

square grid suet feeder.

And if I get moving again now I can check off a few more 

items on my list before I go to work.

Cheers!

Time is flying by too quickly!!

Already Wednesday, somehow, Thanksgiving is next week!

A birthday package for a friend back in Nebraska is late!

On the other hand

next week I can begin decorating for Christmas.

My quilt top is done.

The spray painting I needed to get done is done.

I've got bird feed thingies that I found on Pinterest hanging outside.

And I've bottled the first of my cranberry cordial:

Tuesday morning

It's too wet to rake leaves so I've been in the kitchen:

whole wheat pasta with artichokes, mushrooms and spinach in a light alfredo sauce

 and

pumpkin muffins from a pinterest recipe

So very tasty!!

I've also tried something with the fireplace.

The colors on the following picture are skewed on purpose - trying 

to get more definition for the masking tape on the walls.

It's been terribly humid these last few days 

and the masking tape does not want to adhere.  It is

falling even as I write...

probably not the best conditions to try this.

Oops - one side is down.

The picture is so poor but there are boxes taped off on the walls

representing the placement of narrow trim painted in a contrasting

color  - in this case about 6 inches from the ceiling and side walls.

If you click to enlarge it the tape is much easier to see.

This was one of my inspiration photos:

I'm on the look-out for a set - yes, a matched set, of sconces to place in the boxes.

About 15-18 inches tall.  The cabinets can be painted. Or not.

That this will be a very traditional look surprised me but 

hey - it's calling my name.

And while it may be more traditional than expected our own 

touches will keep it on the casual side.

Would you believe I chipped the polish on one nail messing with the masking tape!?

I work after while so I will need to do a quick repair job.

Squirrely days

 This post could just have easily borne the title of Jackdaw days 

as my attention seems to be drawn to any variety of shiny distraction these days.

Squirrels, though, with their heads down bounding from spot to spot, 

digging, planning, working so hard at  what may be a fruitless cause in another month or so 

are an apt comparison to the prevailing mood chez moi.

Tuesday morning

There is no lack of reasonable tasks available each day.

More-urgent is not always the same as most urgent.

The siren song of interesting ideas lures me 

from the safe productivity of my lists.

Is it the layering of leaves outside

that prompts such a desire to replicate

the colors and clutter of fall inside our homes?

Is squirrelishness our response to the changing  seasons?

Tuesday night

One of my recent obsessions has been the fireplace mantle.

My pinterest page is suddenly full of mantle pictures. 

Studying them has made me aware that 

the mantle may be only a part of the problem.

It really is a big picture issue.

Let's start with a reminder that I love my fireplace.

Maybe not the glass doors - but the idea and use of it I love.

I've tried a variety of things over the course of the last year.

We have talked about major renovations:

a tile surround

paint

built-in bookshelves.

This week, though, the emphasis has been on 

spending no money - re purpose what is already here - a challenge

I always enjoy.

Wednesday morning

The windows come from Dad's house in Hampton.

They flanked his fireplace.

He gave them to me during the siding/windows project and I've 

carted them several times across the Midwest since then.

There are sliding glass doors opposite the couch which 

limit the seating options in the room.

The small cabinets on the side provide storage and balance.

Perhaps a bookshelf-type hutch on top?

The lamp relieves what had always been a dark corner.

Do I need one on the other table, too?

Well, this is today's look.

We'll see what tomorrow brings.

Another month will mean decorating for Christmas 

and it will all change again.

Confessions on a cold morning

My Kindle is searching the Oxford Dictionary for "succumbation" as I start this post.  

The yellow bar is barely crawling along...

My venerable print copy was checked first - found nothing - so I figured I should 

put the resources available through technology to work.

That yellow bar is still crawling...

If it proves to be a word then I may claim the privilege 

of poster child.

You may remember the recent meatloaf incident...

This latest succumbation resets the bar.

I bought Christmas ornaments the other day.

Still crawling....

Yes, I've had a list of projects posted for several weeks already.

Hold on while I put another log on the fire.

 0 results for succumbation.

Yes, I've revised the list several times and actually begun several projects..

Yes, I've looked through Pinterest and various books/magazines

 for Christmas ideas.  

None of that counts.

Buying ornaments is in a different category.

I've succumbed.

A post...

I'm loving all the fall looks - this one is from Pinterest -

and magazine covers are graced with comfort foods and
 fall cooking (you know what I mean)

but it was 100 degrees here yesterday!!

We leave Friday morning for Oregon.  There are piles everywhere

waiting to be consolidated into packable containers.

Two busy days left to pull it all together.

Can't wait!!

Feeling pleased with myself

My printer has been offline for quite some time.

I've been reminding myself - for quite some time - to ask Tim to take a look.

By take a look I mean fix it!!

You know, though, how this works:

I don't want to print very often, 

think of it at a convenient time, 

fail to leave a note, 

shuffle the priority list,

etcetcetc.

This morning I wanted to print this from a pinterest board:

Did I grind my teeth, remembering that my printer is offline 

and I had let another week go by without asking for help?

No.  I opened the control panel, clicked through the process

and reinstated my printer to full function.

I printed the page.

The view from my hammock

This will tie together eventually - just stay with me!

I enjoy lolling in the hammock on our deck.

With this summer's heat my opportunities have been few

 and mainly limited to around 8AM 

- a time when I normally feel the need to be productive.

I have a variety of decorative geegaws hanging from the lower branches of the tree

which give me a certain satisfied, jackdaw-like pleasure.

A chandelier, 

several small bottles, 

a couple of wire/beaded stars, 

glass balls

you get the idea...

I also enjoy Pinterest but don't want to be one who only gathers other people's ideas.

I actually want to try some of the beautiful/interesting/possible
 things I see posted.

The other day I saw this:

and knew that I wanted one hanging from my tree.

So I gathered my supplies:

a pan and silicon mold from the Dollar Tree

and a bag of $2.99 beads from Hobby Lobby.

20 minutes in the oven at 400 degrees.  

If your timing is good, you can use a toothpick to make the hole

 for hanging while the plastic is still warm.

Otherwise wait until it cools/hardens (about 10 minutes)

 and use a drill.

Can you spot it?

Catching up

While I'm still at the computer I may as well fill in a few blanks from the last month or so...

I am done with school.

google images

The paperwork is in the mail.  Somewhere.  But I have finished.

Of course, the keyboard had hardly cooled before we began discussions on *what next.*

*Next* may happen in January which will give me time to look at my options.

We've had company.  We've been company.

We have had Aidan and Proton for visits of varying lengths 

but everyone is sleeping under their own roof again.

We celebrated Naphtali's birthday.

The garden is producing.  

We are in green bean week which means that supper is a variation on green beans.  

Tonight I will add brown rice, baby bellas and 1/2 a chicken sausage to mine.

There are projects in various stages all over the house.  

Charlie and I are still walking in the mornings.

My wisteria produced a few blooms/blossoms/clusters.

I've joined the world of pinterest - barely.

I'm learning to drink fizzy water.

The days are full and I'm tired when it's time to go to bed.

Hope all is well in your world.

A bird in hand

or a needle in a haystack

Recently, Naphtali and I spotted a silhouette of a dove as we were skimming through pinterest, 

following links, and well, I'm not too sure what we were doing or where the whole chain of our search began, but pallet furniture probably figured in...

Anyway.  We found this dove - not this dove

but the perfect dove and we both made an "ooohh" 

or something embarrassingly close

and immediately discussed ways it could be used for Christmas gifts/tags/ornaments.

Did we pin it?  Bookmark it? Save it in any way? No, No, and No.

I have since been looking for said dove.

The one pictured above courtesy of google images as are all the illustrations in this post is close - though ours had no wing.

The array of dove representations from which one may choose is close to overwhelming.

You have the traditional dove signifying peace:

The one pictured below connotes religion:

You can find the fanciful

  as well as its poor country cousin.

And many that aren't even doves!

Persistence has its reward: these may be what I want:

Simple, clean, elegant.  I'll let you know if they work.



In an aside:  I have been told that Christmas = hand-made for the Jordisons this year.
Can anyone confirm that for me??

They Are Cute

I found these on Pinterest and decided to give them a try.

12" paper was cut into 1/2" strips then folded according to the directions here.

It makes an easy keeps-your-hands-busy-while-your-mind-is-somewhere-else project.

I'm thinking a  bowl of gold and white would look pretty at Christmas.

Enjoy the weekend.