A Metamorphasis Coming . . . . maybe!

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It's Metamorphosis Monday. Thank you Susan for hosting this terrific event. Somewhere to show people ideas who might just understand! So everyone go to BNOTP to see the participants. Just click this: http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

See this kitchen? It's not mine!! This is sort of the idea I have for mine. Below this picture are photos of my kitchen now. Don't get scared, it's not a pretty site.

I hope there's a metamorphasis coming here! I have been pretty careful not to show any photos of my kitchen. It is not good. It doesn't go with my 1850 house at all. I have had a contractor out that I want to use and I've had the first meeting with the kitchen designer. I just want the kitchen to look like it goes in my century farm house! I have lots of expensive ideas so I hope I can pull this off. Everything needs changed from floor to ceiling; from cabinets to lighting. Oh My. Gives me palpitations just thinking of it.

My lovely refrigerator loaded inside and out!! And that's the door to my little kitchen porch.

This is the island with a little sink and my dishwasher. You can also see part of the half wall that looks into the family room.

Now, that's all you get to see of the old kitchen. I don't know when (or if) this will all get started but The kitchen designer has some great ideas so we'll see. (If I don't chicken out!)

If I go ahead with this renovation, I will take lots of photos! I want to be one of the ones with the sledge hammer like on HGTV!!

Shirley

Re-Riding Echo

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This is Sunday Favorites. It's hosted by Chari at: http://happytodesign.blogspot.com/

Be sure to stop over there and see everyones favorite posts.

I'm putting this back on as this is what I'll be doing Sunday when you watch this! I know it's only been about a month since this was first on but this is what I love. I'm sure a lot of bloggers didn't follow me back then. So enjoy; this is me and my youngest horse Echo.

Went to the barn today. I spent the day letting horses run in the arena as it was muddy out in the pastures. I ran a little herd of 6 of them around to let them get some exercise out of their stalls. Thought you might want to see a video of me on Echo a couple months ago. My daughter was taping and incidentally she took this beautiful photo of him. Below is the link to YouTube.

By the way turn off the blog music before you watch YouTube as it has music too. ( The play list is near the top under my profile.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22f9aung8nA

You might also want to see my daughter's photography site:

http://www.mzezulakphotography.com/

Thanks and enjoy!

Shirley

Here's My Few Roosters

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Well, Rooster Day is finally here. So glad that so many are here!! You just have to to Barb's blog and see her beautiful collection . . . Wow!! http://barbsgoodlife.blogspot.com/

Well, here's my little collection. Hey, I'm just starting : ))

I love this plate that sits on the back of my stove. I guess this is a hen since she's sitting on an egg but she certainly has attitude!

I just recently got these S&P shakers at Marshalls for $3.95 each. They are quite large for S&Ps and can be used just for decor too.

What big feet he has! Well, this guy has a story. I got him in Hobby Lobby's 90% off aisle because his comb was knocked off. No comb at all. I got him for $1.30! I bought some air-dry polymer clay for $3.95 and made him a comb, then painted it red. Now there he is in all his glory!

This is a long table runner I have with roosters and other farm animals on it. I haven't even used it because I have no dining room table as yet!

And here's my fat little rooster that I just got this week. He is so cute. He's my favorite along with the plate!

Can't wait to see everyone's collection. It will take a week or more I'm sure! I'm glad so many participated : ))

Have fun.

Shirley

This week at Thrifty Thursday

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Thanks to Leigh at Bloggeritaville, we have a place to show off our fun buys of the week! Please visit her blog at: http://lbratina.blogspot.com/ and visit everyone that's participating.

This was my $2.00 buy of the week from Goodwill. It's fairly old; the insides are made partly from old cheese boxes. It will really look nice painted black then sanded.

Love this little whimsical chair with a bird house on it. I'll use it on the deck till the weather gets bad then bring it in.

Another nice primitive type wooden bowl from the same shop I got my other one a couple weeks ago. This one was $4.00. I know it's a repro but I like it.

I got this at GW for $2.00. I don't know what it's called but it's old and looks primitive so I got it. It has sharp saw type blades there in the middle so it was some sort of rasp or maybe even a kitchen shredder??

Just a wee stool with a whole lot of paint on it. I plan on giving it a good sanding, maybe making the legs a little shorter and it will probably end up dark, dark country blue or black.

And this little guy is my favorite! I set him on my stove and he looks at me every time I pass. I got him at the little shop too. I think he was $4.95.

Have a great Thursday everyone. I'm about to start the huge process of having my kitchen remodeled!! I'll be posting about it as it progresses.

Shirley

Some New Treasures

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Hi Rhoda and thanks for hosting " Today's Thrifty Treasures". Come along, after taking a peek here, and look at everyone's bargains at: http://southernhospitalityblog.com/

Here's my little group of things. Some candles, a couple glass bottles, the silver tray and the bunny candle holder.

I also got two huge pieces of this blue ticking material for $2.00!!

Here's a close up of the blue ticking. There's tons of things to do with this. Now, when I'll do them is another story!!

Isn't this the cutest candle holder. I got the bunnies for $2.00 and the candle for $.50.

Here's the pretty silver plate dish that's just a good size for a fat candle. The silver tray was only $1.50!

Well, those are my finds this weekend. I'll be on the search later on in the week again!

Have a great Monday!

Shirley

Re-Run of My First

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Well, I finally figured out how to do a re-run! Yea!!! (Thanks to Chari's instructions that I found.) I am just one of the participants in this weeks "Sunday Favorites" at: http://happytodesign.blogspot.com/

This was my first attempt at blogging last May. Had no idea yet about all these "parties"!

May 2009
I am attempting to get myself organized, simplify my life, become happier and living in each moment. I am a widow and my children are grown. I have a love of animals that is a big part of my life. My dog Rocky was my husband's hunting dog but was really always really attached to me. I have 2 cats and 3 horses. Unfortunately the horses have to be boarded as I only live on one acre. My son Carl is married and he and Linda have two little ones. A 2 yr. old girl named Ava and a 6 month old boy named Jack. My daughter Michele shares my love of animals and one of the horses; the arab, Satire, is her's. She is a professional photographer.

I love my old house and gardens but if I could sell it for a nice horse property I would. I have always wanted to be able to go out into the barn in the morning and sit with my coffee while the horses munch on their hay.

I finally got a vegetable garden in this year after not having one for about 6 years. Things are just starting to pop out of the ground. Don't you just love Spring!

Foodie Friday Bundt Cake

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It's time again for Foodie Friday. Join Michael and all the participants for loads of wonderful recipes! http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/

Don't you think I'm brave for cooking something again!! Well, this is baking; I'm a little better at that.

This is my new Silicone Bundt pan that I got at Marshalls for $3.99!! Thought I'd try it. I never had any silicone bake pans before.

Here is a photo of half the cake. (Yes, it made a whole cake!) I'm giving this half to my daughter as I shouldn't eat the whole thing myself!! (I COULD, but I shouldn't) It is just delicious.

I didn't take any photos while making this as it was after I had watched my grandchildren all day and it's just lucky I didn't get my hand caught in the mixer, let alone take pictures of all the steps of the recipe! I don't even know what possessed me to make a cake last night but I must've had a bad yearning for it!!!!

Here is the recipe. It came on the new bundt pan above that I bought.

Brown Sugar Coffee Cake

for filling:

1 tsp cinnamon

6 TBSP brown sugar

1 cup chopped nuts

Mix above ingredients together and reserve

For the Batter:

1 cup butter

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 cup sour cream

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1 3/4 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

In a bowl with an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add the eggs and mix well. Add the vanilla and sour cream and mix until well blended.

In a separate bowl combine the flour, salt, and baking powder. Add this to the batter and blend until smooth. Spray the bundt pan with pan coating and if silicone, place on a baking sheet. Add half of batter into mold and spread evenly. Sprinkle half the nut mixture on top of batter then add remaining batter and sprinkle with the last of the nut mixture.

Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 15 min. or until wooden skewer comes out clean. Cool completely in silicone form before turning out onto plate. Can dust with powdered sugar.

This came out good for me : ))

Have a good Friday

Shirley

My Willow Tablescape

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It's Tablescape Thursday and everyone that participates in this has been doing their thing with dishes : )) Please let me know what you think of mine then be sure to visit Susan at Between Naps On The Porch and see all the people participating. There's give-a-ways all week there for her 1 year "Blogoversary!!!! Fun!! http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ Susan is the most gracious hostess.

My tablescape this week is with my new Willow Plates by Johnson Bros. that I got on sale at Marshalls this past week. I love them and already had the teapot to match the color of blue.

Isn't this pattern elegant?

I used some white china I had to compliment it and the little candle holders matched too.

The little teapot I got at a garage sale for $3.00 and I'm so glad I did.

I got these four different but complimenting silver napkin rings on eBay

The sugar shell matches my Oneida silverware.

This is one of my favorite settings.
Have a great Thursday everyone.

Be Good.

Shirley

I'm No Cook!

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Thank you Debbie for hosting Crockpot Wednesdays! Please go over and see everyone's ideas on: http://diningwithdebbie.blogspot.com/ I know you'll find some really good things there!

I said right from the beginning that I don't cook much so I'm offering this with my apologies.

Here's the recipe right out of the book. So, I don't know . . . it's a mystery.

All in the pot. I did notice that there was a strange absence of any liquid. But I thought maybe the magic Crock pot makes some from someplace ????? I didn't have as much chicken as it called for (like only 1 lb.) and they were pieces of chicken breast, no skin. See the recipe . . . They only say 1 TBSP olive oil!

Sitting down enthusiastically to eat my Greek Chicken dinner. Where's all the sauce or any liquid at all!! Chicken is very dry. Tomatoes are good; beets are good . . .

Sort of looks good doesn't it? Well, it really doesn't have much taste for as much stuff that's in it. (like garlic, onions, oregano) This is not Greek cooking! We had good friends that owned a great Greek Restaurant called Theo's in Cleveland. Food to die for! The Greekest thing about this meal was the feta cheese on my garden tomatoes!!!!!

Oh well, I ate it and was thankful for it but that's a cross-off!

I know your things will be better. Remember, I'm trying these for the first time on you guys : ))

I make them once a week and you hear about it good or bad!

Happy days, I have left-overs! Anyone want to come over?

Shirley

Three or More & 2nd Hand Treasures

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This is the day for Three or More Tuesday and 2nd Time Around so I am double posting over to The Gypsys Corner to see what they've got over there. Please come along with me after you take a look here! http://www.thegypsyscorner.com/

AND

I have things here to show you! Take a look, then go back to Diane's at A Picture Is Worth 1000 Words also at: http://diane1876.blogspot.com/

Thank you Diane for hosting.

OK NOW

Today in town I found a new little antique and junk shop. It's in an old house that curls around from room to room. I love those. I saw this little glass jar with red and white buttons in it and loved it. I grabbed it and carried it around with me. I like the other things I got there too but this just spoke to me : ))

I found these two nice little benches. Look they stack really good. I don't know what color I'll paint them. ($10 and $12)

OK, I know I don't usually spend this much but after all it was a little antique shop. ($12) It's a great old wooden bowl and I love that primitive decorating!

Now, at Goodwill . . .

This pretty metal leaf was just laying around and got it for $.50. Looks pretty up there. That's my fall decorating so far : ))

Here's a group of things I got today at Goodwill. 3 little snowman dishes for $1.50 ea. Thought I'd use them in the bathrooms for pretty soaps at Christmas. Got a jar holder for $.50, 2 nice brackets that will hold a pretty good size shelf, and a teak salad serving set.

2 little snowmen for the tree. I must be thinking Christmas!! What happened to fall! (They were $.50 ea.)

I've been watching these Willow plates at Marshalls, hoping for a sale. And YES . . . I got them. I bought 4 but I may go back if there's more.

See, there it is $2.00 each : )) Marshalls price was $4.00 ea. before the sale.

Aren't these the cutest snowman plates by Debbie Mumm. ($1.00 ea. at GW)

Last are these Debbie Mum plates in a spring & summer mode. Only three of them this time. I need to go buy myself some plate hangers.

Boy, I ran around a lot to get all those treasures!! Now I have to clear out more scrap booking stuff to free my shelves up! It's all going up on eBay!! Come visit . . I'm seller scorwin814.

Be Good Now

Shirley