I won a vintage tea cup and saucer!



Woo-Hoo! I won this wonderful tea cup and saucer set from Edie Marie's Attic. Be sure to visit her for some nice eye candy! What a great way to start my day!

Oh, and by the way....I'll be gone for 2 weeks on a work assignment, but when I return, I'll have some great farm pics to share with you!

Hey honey! How long has it been since we grilled??!


Apparently, we haven't grilled at all this summer. Had company over today and had the meat ready. Opened the hood, and went all "awwwwwww." That mother bird sure picked a great spot to build a home - very protected from elements. Yes, we closed the lid and used my indoor griddle to cook the chicken.

Five Minute Chocolate Mug Cake



This is called the most dangerous cake in the world. Are you daring? Here is the recipe:
FIVE MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

1 Coffee Mug
4 tablespoons flour(that's plain flour, not self-rising)
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips(optional, but recommended if you want a rich chocolate)
Some nuts (optional)
Small splash of vanilla

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well . Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes on high.
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!

Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired. EAT!
(this can serve 2 if you want to share!)

And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world?
Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!

A collection of previous art projects


Some things that I created. Just wanted to share. (click pic for larger image)
-Grams garden shed
-Painted farm animals on my shed
-A painting for my sister
-Painting of Virgo
-Tropical scene
-Very Happy Renaissance Joker
-Funky chair with sleeping kitty
-Garden Gals, located on my mom's farm
-3 of my fur babies, sitting on my painted piano bench, scoping out the bird feeder
-Angel bringing a new soul to Earth

Bargains and Vera Wang

At a decorator's Outlet store I found this wonderful, heavy material at 50% off an already discounted price. (It was in the remnants section.) I think it makes a great covering for the guest room bed. The regular price for this material on the roll is $28/yard. Later, when (or if) I feel like it, I may just hem it. But for now, it is quick, easy and cheap. All this lux for only $11.

So.....then I went to Kohl's and they had Vera Wang's Signature Bed Linens on sale for today only at 50% off, too. So naturally, I went for it. This is soooo cute with the pleats on the top sheet and on the pillow cases. And soft? Wow, I didn't realize that 100% Egyptian Cotton was so nice. Worth every penny.

Great double stitching and I love the chocolate color. I think I will also look at Vera Wang's other collections as I find her products simple, elegant and refreshing. But only if they are discounted deeply. I am, after all, a bargain hunter to the very core!









My Craigslist Settee



Had to show you my "new to me" settee by Broyhill. Got it for $40 off Craigslist. Score! I plan on making a linen slipcover for it so that I can wash it and keep it looking fresh. Pillow is down-filled and only $5 new from a flea market. I did the painting above years ago, but it fits this vignette nicely, I think.

You know how one thing leads to another? By putting this in the breakfast room, I can see that the walls could be painted the same sage green that I have in the kitchen, which really is one big room anyhow.

T2T photo center doors


This is my cheap photo station. I curb-shopped the louvered doors and painted some flowers on it. Then I added some decorative wood flourishes and hung up some picture frames and a vintage mirror.

Everything is hung with bent paper clips that fit into the louver slats easily.

This stands in the corner of my guest room, or as I call it: The memory room, since here is where I display my family's pictures and treasured memorabilia.

As I acquire more treasures from my young family members, I can proudly display them here. No more wondering about "where am I going to put this" as I already have a place of honor waiting for all my future treasures.

Cooking done with care is an act of love


I love thoughtful quotes and I put one on the antique door that had been in my kitchen for a while. It reminds me of my love for my family and my desire to nourish them with good food.

Fireplace DVD


Brrrrr - it's about 50 degrees right now. And it's only September 15. Ike has brought us lots of wind, rain and cooler temps. Ahhh, but now I have a good excuse to cover up with a quilt, put on my reading glasses, curl up with a new book......and put in my fireplace dvd! No mess, no fuss and great ambiance. I've used my dvd for years and it's worth every penny.

Quiz on your decorating style


I saw a link to a fun picture quiz on The Inspired Room

This is a fun quiz that will help determine your decorating style. My style is: "Absolutely Fabulous"

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS

There's no such things as OTT in your book: why settle for average when you can have full-blown, unadulterated GORGEOUS? In some homes, the result is a riot of carte blanchecamp, but expressed more subtly, the glamorous look can be drop-dead sexy and sophisticated. It's all a question of how you combine colour and texture with attitude. Even if, secretly, you know that sometimes less is often more!


Try it and let me know your style and if you agree with it. Enjoy!

Movie Critique - The Holidays




I love looking at homes. This one is from the movie The Holiday, with Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet. This is set in England. I love the 2 fireplaces and the interior is warm and cozy. Would be great for a vacation home! I'm dreaming, of course..... And by our modern standards, we'd have that roof replaced in no time. And then, we'd ruin it all by modernizing the whole thing. It's probably good that I don't have the moola for this, huh?

Bathroom basket


My sister, KK, gave me this weathered basket last week (thank you!) and I found the perfect place in my river steamboat themed hall bath - holding our hand towels very conveniently.

I'm going to the P.O.O.P.I.E. party


The Nesting place is having an impromptu P.O.O.P.I.E party (People Opposing Objectionable Pretend plants In the Environment) and I'm adding a pic of my violation here. It's one measly little plant - is it thaaat bad? Of course, it's in the most grossly obvious place - top of the kitchen cabinet - and by that alone, it might be deemed to be cast out with, say, outdated ivy wallpaper? Tell me what you think - is this tacky?

In the meantime....go over to The Nesting Place and read all about it here.

EDIT TO ADD: Ok, the overwhelming guilt has gotten to me. I haven't been quite honest with you about using fake plants. (head bowed, toe scraping back 'n forth across the the Berber) I, ahem...... was going for the jungle effect and did THIS .

Fall brings out the suspense

When the weather gets a little nip in the air and the sun begins to go down sooner, I find myself reading more. I search out books on the best-selling lists and also I might open up an unread classic. So I thought I'd ask if anyone is reading any good books at the present?

Right now, I'm reading a suspenseful, Dean Koontz book: From the corner of his eye. I'm not one for fiction and it somewhat surprises me that I started this, but I'm glad I did because he writes very well and the story is compelling. I'm delighted to find out that he has written so many! Has anyone else read his works?

The last novel I read was Tuesdays with Morrie. And before that, The Notebook and The Five people you will meet in Heaven. I go through countless books from the library from cookbooks to DIY project books to autobiographies.

So, have you been able to spend any quality time lately with a good book? Or not? And what are your interests when you do
find time to read?

Edit to add: Ok, I have finished reading this very, very long novel. The best review I have read that rings true with my personal thoughts are Here. If you are a fan of Dean Koontz, read the review and let's discuss.