Old Green & and now Cherry Red

Okay, Project  Re make of the 60's bread & spice box completed.. What do you think? I am using the bread storage cubbie for my everyday napkin storage, the drawers for cookie cutters, packaged spices, cookie decorating dye & sprinkles and the secret drawer with the lid is CHOCOLATE reserve...(shhhh.. don't tell anyone) there are chocolate chips in there...

Domestic Goddess Day

As I look ouside my "Sunroom" window I do not see the sun, instead rain, clouds and Winter.

I had planned to do a few Domestic  Goddess Duties, like change the bedsheets, clean the bathroom, do some laundry. It  sure would have been nice to hang out the sheets on my clothes line but as you can see they would never dry with rain & snow predicted and only mid 30 degrees.  With the Goddess duties now completed, I decided I would put on my " painting apron " head out to the garage and paint a thrift shop treasure I found last summer. I purchased Cherry Red paint and will redo a 60's breadbox for my kitchen.. It will not be used for that but as you will see when it's finished, the Martha Stewart side of my brain has taken over. I wonder what else I can create?

The Bed & breakfast...Bedroom

Yesterday, I decided to make our guest room a bit more cheery. Instead of the pink & lavendar quilt and pink accessories, I found a great bedskirt and two pillow shams at the thriftstore that I could not pass up.  Red plaid was screaming my name....Now the room is red & white. I call it our Bed & Breakfast Guest room for family & friends..  The white dresser came alive with the red don't you think?  I have some redwork embroidery to add and a few more red things. It looks like Valentines Day has come to visit..very fresh and Lovely...

Pondering

Pondering


Simple Definition: (To weigh in the mind with thoroughness and care.
To think or think about carefully and at length: chew on (or over
think out, think over, think through, turn over.)



I often sit and ponder about many topics, and with Spring so far away, I push thoughts of gardening away.. Our growing season is very short and nobody ( real gardeners ) don’t start planting until June 10th. I do have a few seed catalogs laying around, but I havent really read them or drooled over what herbs & veggies I plan to grow. But,

I did contact a landscape company Saturday, and will call on another this week….Hoping to have an ambitious talented person come check out my yard, pond and driveway to give me some ideas about what my endless possibilities are.. I am sure it will be costly but hey, a few  free professional  suggestions can’t hurt. Right? 
We know we want to get some major curb appeal going here. Trees, shrubs, flowers and to enhance the pond feature as well, and to beautify the entrance to Blue Sky Farm…Clay wants a hot tub added to  the back deck *which  we need one first* and I want lots of color… So Pondering we are doing, you may even call it dreaming… and hoping the budget can handle any new purchases.. Sadly some wont be visible, like underground water system and more good garden soil.. Why is it our fabulous ideas outweigh the pocket book? I suppose we will just do a bit now & add more as feel comfortable. In the meantime I shall make my list of wants and sit with the wishbook.

Doesn't Chicken Curry sounds good?

With winter still lurking here in Klamath Falls and I am sure Spring is still sleeping. My thoughts turn to soups, stews and curry dishes. I made a chicken curry last night and it was quite good. Usually my preference for chicken is breast meat, but I had thighs thawing , those are Clay's favorite. I know you are thinking.. "Are they eating their own  hens"? Absolutely NOT.

We could never eat them, Only their eggs...

The "seasoning part" can be tricky, too much pepper and its over the top..  too little and its bland. If you like med hot spicy food this recipe may need to be altered. Taste as you cook. Always a good Chef rule.

Chicken Curry

4 chicken thighs

1 can chicken stock

3 T tomato paste

1 can diced canned tomatoes

3 carrots cut in 1” chunks

½ Gr. Pepper cut in 1” chunks

½ med. yellow onion cut in large chunks

3 ribs celery cut in 1” chunks

2 cubes S&B Golden Curry sauce mix ( found in Asian section of grocery store) I use Med-Hot

1 cup chopped cilantro

½ cup shredded fresh basil leaves

Sprinkle top of dish with Coconut to garnish & serve.


Sprinkle chicken thighs with generous seasonings by a coating of curry powder, ground chili pepper, paprika, black pepper. Fry in ¼ cup vegetable oil. Drain when browned. Set aside ( heat of dish depends on amount of hot peppers added) adjust to preference.

Place vegetable in Dutch-oven in 2 T butter. Cook all vegetables 4 minutes. Add chicken stock , tomato paste, tomatoes and 1 cup water. Bring to boil.

Reduce heat, to simmer, Stir in 2 cubes of Golden Curry sauce mix until cubes are melted. Toss in cilantro & basil and stir. Let all ingredients rest on low heat until ready to serve over cooked jasmine rice.

Coconut gives the dish just the right bit of sweetness balancing the spicy hot.

Bon Appetite!

What's for Breakfast?

Breakfast is said to be the most important meal of the day.. I must admit I often pass on breakfast... It's not that I don't like it because I love eggs.. and would eat them every day.

My girls are doing their part to insure we have plenty. Sometimes we even have them for dinner. I am down to 6 hens and they are providing us with 4-5 eggs a day. Not sure who is slacking but it doesnt seem to matter. I have two dozen waiting to be eaten.  Perhaps I should bake a cake... How does Chocolate sound?

Simplicity

It has been said that "Simplicity is making the journey of this life with just baggage enough." ~Author Unknown


To live simply is not an easy task. I think often that I too must think and live more simply. I have made a list of simple pleasures and realise how much I have in my life. The New Year is here and as I think about the things I'd like to do this year,  the changes I'd like to see and the goals I want to acheive. My list is not a simple list, It involves others and they too have their lists to do...so I will start with me because I know me best.
I did not make a New Years  Resolution to lose pounds and inches, if it happens it will be because I have simplified my eating habits. I am working on a Simple exercise program and do plan to spend 30 minutes each morning working out on it. I will try to drink more water... to not stress out about the small stuff that I have no control over. To laugh more at my shortcomings, and to allow myself time to experience new things. To trust my instincts and to meditate by scheduling 5 minutes of stillness and silence twice a day and most important to remember to Breathe...
These are a few Simple things I am thinking about as I sit quietly. I think I can be successful carrying just this much baggage....
 

The Pretty New Dresser in Guest Room

The Dresser looks very pretty in the room.. I have a white glass basket with raised roses filled with Vanilla Potpouri and Vanilla candles on the top of the dresser.. I found the basket last summer on a trifting trip. I loved it but really had no place to put it..It has been packed away until today.. The dresser is old and was painted. I will leave it as it is... for now as it matches the nightstand and a blanket chest already in the room..

New Thrift Store Treasures

Yesterday I met a few of the Charming chicks to go to some antique and thrifts stores. We had a grand time and I found some great bargains. I went with plans of buying a few items I really needed to organize my kitchen. I have wanted a new desk as well. It was a great day I found exactly what I wanted and at super great prices. The heavy pot rack is a "recycled wrought iron display shelf." I removed the 4 glass shelves and added some "S" hooks to hang my pots on. Now I have more to purchase  more as I have more pans that need to be hung. I love the new look..
I found the desk first and at another store there waiting for me was the bookcase, of course I had to buy it. All my cookbooks fit nicely.
Thankfully I had friends along to help transport my goodies. I also bought a dresser for our guest room. I will post that picture when I get it moved into the guestroom.. Yes, I think I did well..  best part I only spent $245 for everything and the Charming Chicks had a great day together.

My side of the story... by Buster..

I sure wanted to go outside and see what was going on in the back yard. But My mom says "No Buster,  it is too wet and I have to gather eggs. You stay!" I am sitting here watching her leave... That wet ground is right outside my window and I can see a few birds there at the feeder. Here she comes..... she is  bringing in the eggs and one is really tiny...I wonder if she will  give it to me in my bowl..I like eggs ya know?  When she came in and didn't give me an egg I decided I would sneak out the door first chance I got...to  see for myself just how wet it was. Thanks to my dad...He let me out...Well, It certainly was sloppy & muddy & wet! And nothing to do out  there, the birds all flew away and the squirrel was gone too...
As I sat at the back door waiting to be let back in... I knew I was in trouble... here came mom... with my fluffy towel .... I didn't think she would put me in the tub...but she did... she was kinda mad at me  for a little while... lucky I like a bath huh? I wonder why the chickens don't get in trouble like I do...

Breakfast table Blue Sky Farm

Snow on the ground again but, today is no exception. These Quail are here daily for their Breakfast and anything they leave behind they return for during the day. They are such beautiful birds.

Our first measurable snowfall

I received a new camera for Christmas, Now I will attempt to take better shots & then post them. One is a footprint that Clay took and one of Buster coming down off the road. and prints left walking to the end of the driveway. We have about 4 inches. It is pretty.  

Project completed ...Finally

I am sure I am not the first, last or only person to start a project and never get back to it in a timely manner... I am proud to say Today I finished a big soft white scarf that I started knitting over 4 years ago... I would bring it out and have full intentions of knitting a few more rows.. something always took priority over it...plus  I have the handicap of not ever taken a knitting lesson so perhaps thats one reason I would put it away for another day...Thanks to my sister Judy who knits beautifully and quickly I picked up a few tips but
she lives in Arizona  so thats another reason it was put on the back burner. I inserted a few spaced rows of colored feathery textured yarn to give it some color. She suggested I use circular needles  ( I thought all needles were circular) instead of 2 straight needles since I often dropped rows as well as stitches.. So It is completed now and we are expecting Snow tonight. I finished it in just the right time for Christmas. A pressie for me.. I was thinking about knitting stockings but.... changed my mind, maybe I'll try mittens...or not..It is a great feeling to finish a project and have it wearable...
You can bet I will be wearing it and smiling from ear to ear when asked "Did you really knit that?

Merry Christmas to all....

'Twas the night before Christmas & out on the ranch

The pond was froze over & so was the branch.

The snow was piled up belly-deep to a mule.

The kids were all home on vacation from school,

And happier young folks you never did see-

Just all sprawled around a-watchin' TV.

Then suddenly, some time around 8 o'clock,

There came a surprise that gave them a shock!

The power went off, the TV went dead!

When Grandpa came in from out in the shed

With an armload of wood, the house was all dark.

"Just what I expected," they heard him remark.

"Them power line wires must be down from the snow.

Seems sorter like times on the ranch long ago."

"I'll hunt up some candles," said Mom. "With their light,

And the fireplace, I reckon we'll make out all right."

The teen-agers all seemed enveloped in gloom.

Then Grandpa came back from a trip to his room,

Uncased his old fiddle & started to play

That old Christmas song about bells on a sleigh.

Mom started to sing, & 1st thing they knew

Both Pop & the kids were all singing it, too.

They sang Christmas carols, they sang "Holy Night,"

Their eyes all a-shine in the ruddy firelight.

They played some charades Mom recalled from her youth,

And Pop read a passage from God's Book of Truth.

They stayed up till midnight-and, would you believe,

The youngsters agreed 'twas a fine Christmas Eve.

Grandpa rose early, some time before dawn;

And when the kids wakened, the power was on.

"The power company sure got the line repaired quick,"

Said Grandpa - & no one suspected his trick.

Last night, for the sake of some old-fashioned fun,

He had pulled the main switch - the old Son-of-a-Gun!

-anonymous

The packages are wrapped...

I wrapped Clay's packages today, while he was out "shopping for me" At least thats where he said he was going... I didn't see any packages come through the door however... I wonder where he put them? He told me not to start looking around the house, so I am sure he hid them well. I love Christmas Festivities & Giftgiving.   This year I am completely finished shopping and wrapping and there are still 9 days  til Christmas. Annie is watching over the gifts and saying "Hurry up, Santa get your sleigh ready!"

More Christmas Decorating

  

 Fudge &  Baked Goodies ready for the neighbors...

Oh Christmas tree...

Tree is up.
It looks so much better with the lights lit at night.
Now it feels like christmas!