First Things First

Since this post will be at the top of the page, you might just scroll down and read the next post first. Understand? That way, this might make more sense.

No, this isn't the kitchen. First I have to show you what I'm going to put in the dining room. I realize that monitors do crazy things to colors, but this is a happy on the rust side red... Love it. It is going to become the new color for my dining room. My Interior Design friend says I should put it on the walls as well as my draperies and cornice board. I'm thinking about it. At first I gasped, but the idea is growing on me... really growing.

The reason you are getting to see the dining room pics is to know what colors will flow into the kitchen. After all, we must coordinate.

I snapped a picture of part of the dining room. The lovely blue thing in the doorway just left is a nice thick tarp hung between the kitchen and dining room. We keep out as much dust as possible. Anyway... the rust flowered print is going in this room. I picked it out just before Master Carpenter Man (MCM) announced the kitchen redo was at hand. Actually, I was really proud of myself for being ahead of things and picking something for the dining room.

Of course, I'm not going to be doing anything in here until the kitchen is finished. I can't see the sense of getting that lovely fabric dirty, so it will wait for awhile. As soon as the kitchen is finished, I'm going to get that fabric in here.

My Kitchen Remodel Reality Blog

For those of you who I know like to check on any kind of doings that involve a remodeling mess, I hereby return from my blog vacation to post while this is going on.

Feel free to sympathize with me at any time. Pick up any useful tips... like planning ahead for such adventures.

Here is the deal. The last time Master Carpenter Man (pictured here) was here redoing the living and dining room ceilings, I mentioned that I really needed work in the kitchen. I had vaguely planned some updates in there, and I did mention to him in October that I wanted him to come back soon. I was afraid that if I let him get away, he wouldn't be back for a couple of years. I figured I had at least until March before he returned.

I was surprised one day when he showed up to tell me that he would be ready to come the following Monday.... which gave me two days to think about what I want to do. Let me tell you, one takes Master Carpenter Man when one can get him. He is a busy guy.

I whined a bit about the fact that the house was going to be torn up again, and everything would be a mess. I got no sympathy. Daughter Ineeda went so far as to say that she really couldn't work up any sympathy for me having to put up with a sexy man around lifting and stretching and flexing... all that stuff. I began to think perhaps she was right. I guess life is all about perspective. Friend Juju didn't come through any better as mentioned the fact that he was a 'hottie'. So there you have it.... no help from my family or friends.

So... I could expect MCM to arrive in two days, and I had no plans. Right. No plans. He did arrive on Saturday, and we spent a good deal of time looking around the kitchen and talking about what I wanted to have done. It turns out that I really want everything done. That wasn't the original plan, but it is now.

Now let me see.... I need to do the following: pick out everything. Right. I believe the word 'overwhelmed' surfaced about this point in time. I'm not sure anyone in their right mind would take on a complete kitchen remodel with NO plans.

This is what I know: I want a new ceiling, a cabinet update, new counter tops, new tile, a new floor. Yep... that is what I know.

So.... MCM has been at work for a week. I've been looking at magazines, and he has been working. I intend to show very shortly what he is doing. I'll just post this first one, then get on with more pics and the mess. I imagine he is going to be around for a few months. As a matter of fact, he brought a 2009 calendar and hung it in my kitchen. Ha.

New Year's Resolutions

It is that time of year when things are almost new again.  I have to admit being one of those who try to decide what is working and what needs to be changed.  I always have high hopes that I will accomplish more the following year.  I have a list, at least in my head.  

It has been awhile since I've posted.  I-Needa has been visiting, and we've had a wonderful time.  I must admit that I haven't thought much about writing for my blog.  I just seem to have so many things to do.

I thought I wanted to get back and do this, but in looking at what is working and what is not, I believe I'll take a vacation from thinking about writing something to post.  I appreciate all who have come to my tiny spot in the world and checked out my doings.  However, I'm thinking that I need to be spending my time doing other things.   

I wish everyone a joyous new year.  I hope that each one is blessed in spirit and in your everyday doings.  

Wassail

Sing along: 'Here we go (or is it come?) a wassailing among the leaves so green....'

Hey... I went to look through some of my music books to find the words... For some strange reason, it isn't in my church hymnal. I think I know why.

Yesterday I promised that I'd share this old recipe with you... only if I had done something about some of my Christmas decorations. I'll confess that I'm not finished with the decorations, but I have gotten some of them in place, so figured I'd met my own requirements and could share.

This 'Vintage' (Have you noticed how everything is vintage these days?) recipe box was the first one I ever had. I just haven't been able to throw it away and considered it replaced by my updated files. I acquired this decades ago... I won't tell how many. You probably have an idea if you've been in any of the flea markets and seen one like it sitting among the vintage section.

But.... I digress. This little box started out its life with me in high school. I had to have it for home economics class. We cooked, among other things. Our teacher was excellent, really excellent. Her name was Lillian. Lillian was one of those take charge gals. We were all thoroughly convinced as we walked through the door of her classroom that she was in charge of us... and she was. She was going to make young ladies of us, from our heads to our toes. We would be cleanly, well groomed, know how to walk and sit properly, know how to cook, and know how to sew. She was a marvel. She was... really.

My little recipe box holds basic, and I do mean basic, recipes. It contains a whole section on eggs: Fried, shirred, soft cooked, hard cooked, poached, steamed, scrambled, and French omelet. Can you believe that? Seriously. There is even a card on frying bacon. Seriously.

Currently, I'm wondering, seriously wondering, how a recipe to serve 100 wassailers, complete with wine options, came to be tucked among the more basic recipes. I will guess that it was added a tad bit later than the egg recipes. For one thing, it was done during the turquoise ink phase of my life. I'm not sure when that was, but I do remember having turquoise ink. Some of the words on the recipe have been water marked.... proof that I actually had this out in the kitchen. I know I've made this before. I do remember Mother making this for our choir after Christmas caroling. It hit the spot... without the optional wine.

Now, if you think that I'm going to get out my camera and whip up this 100 serving drink for you, guess again. You will get a no frills presentation. Deal with it.

Now, if you are even a tad bit curious about this drink (Yes, it is a drink) and its history, just check this quick link at wikipedia. Okay now, moving on. You are about to get the recipe. You hope.

The recipe from Lillian: Waissal Serves 100:


3 quarts hot tea (pour 3 quarts boiling water over 1 oz. tea) and let steep 5-7 minutes.
Remove tea.
Add 2 teaspoons whole cloves, 1/4 cup stick cinnamon tired loosely in a loosely woven cloth bag.
Heat to boiling, then simmer 10 minutes.
Add: 2 1/2 gallon apple cider
3 quarts orange juice (about 4 1/2 dozen oranges
1 quart syrup ( 1 pint sugar, 1 pint hot water heated to boiling)
1 quart Claret or similar wine if wished (that would be optional)
1 quart grapefruit juice
1 pint cranberry or loganberry juice (loganberry juice?)

Mix the day before and bring to boiling point, but DO NOT boil.
If sugar is needed, it may be added the next day.
When Wassail is heated, the spices are more noticeable.

Okay... I just looked up loganberry and found it is a hybrid of a raspberry and and American dewberry.. whatever that is. I believe I'll head to the local small town grocery store and ask for a pint of loganberry juice. That ought to be fun.

If you are planning on carolers dropping by or hosting a big party, you might try this hot spicy fragrant drink. Yum!

I Do Not What I Should

I'm going to write this post today (Friday) and set it to post tomorrow (Saturday). I'm going to confess that I'm not doing what I should be doing today (Friday). I'm sure I'm not so different from others.

As I begin this writing, it is early afternoon. My morning is gone, and I haven't accomplished one thing from the list of things that I really should be doing. I didn't even manage to feed my Man Cat Pumpkin on time. I was two hours late doing that. A faint mew from the porch jerked me into reality that I'd completely forgotten him. Bad ME! I'd gotten so focused on other things that I forgot about him entirely. He is a creature of habit, and I'm sure he had been standing on the back porch for a full two hours plus waiting for his meal and wondering what was up with his human. Bad human!

I'm just recovering from the same malady of nose and throat that has afflicted a good portion of those in our small town. Being in that wonderful state of retirement, I was able to stay inside and whine privately. I've also used up a vast amount of Kleenex.

Feeling yucky has not led me to get my Christmas decorating done. I'm one who usually puts out the decorations as close to Dec. 1 as I can. Not this year. I'm afraid if I don't get started on the process soon, I'll miss the whole event.

This morning I felt much better. I thought I might be able to do a little decorating. So.... what did I do? Not decorating. Not even feeding the cat.

No, I've sat at this computer and worked on my blog site. I've e-mailed friends and played with iPhoto. I have not gotten one thing done about decorating. I may just need an intervention.

I'm a gifted procrastinator. Perhaps I should phrase that as being gifted at procrastination. Heck, I do a darn good job of ignoring what must be done and doing what doesn't have to be done. One little voice tells me to 'Get on that list!' while another one says 'Go ahead and do what is fun.' Neither one of those little voices is gifted.

I hereby determine that I'm heading for the cubbyholes that house my Christmas decorations. I'm going to start on it.... NOW. As you read this post in the morning (Saturday), I hope to have something to show for my focus. Hopefully, I'll have something worthwhile to tell. Did you notice the double use of the word 'hope'? Hope is not a plan.

I think I'll dig out my Wassail recipe and post it tomorrow. I haven't made that in years. I'm not looking for it until the decorations are up. Period. Until then.... I'll 'hope' I get my act together.

Here I AM

I just haven't been able to completely give up this blog thing. I know... I said I was gone... but who really knows.

This morning I started messing around and ended up making a newsletter with Smilebox. I thought I'd just e-mail it to a few friends for fun. Then I realized that it was pretty big and some probably wouldn't be able to open it on their computers. I decided to post it here instead.

Please feel free to play my newsletter. It was just a fun thing I was messing with. I felt it went a little slowly at first, but then you do get arrows so you can turn the pages. Have fun.

Newsletter

Make a Smilebox greeting