April 9, 2010

• Coming Together (and Cake)

  Things are still torn up around here, but a few areas are beginning to come together.

  My kitchen table is currently sitting in the den, with chairs willynilly in the same room.

  The painter installed a ceiling fan and light kit over our kitchen table today.  Those of you who have known me a while also know how hot our kitchen gets in the summer.  We have a ceiling fan in the cooking part of the kitchen, but one small heat/air vent in the floor of the table area.  Did I emphasize small vent?

  The heat from the kitchen drifts to the table area, where it stagnates and soars into ridiculously hot temperatures.  I know a fan over the table will cool off hot food fast, but I'd rather have me AND the food cool, than have hot food and a hot me!

                                    
                                                    Over my desk and to the left.
                                        Two shades of taupe against the white ceiling.

  I have a few pictures of the two colors of taupe as they meet.  It's a hard color to describe because sometimes the accent walls and other walls look exactly the same color.  In certain lighting, they look different and not even in the same color group.  Sometimes the same shade looks like two different colors.  We can look at 5 walls at a time and see 5 different colors.  It's been an interesting color choice, for sure, and has sparked many conversations that start with, "Wow!  Stand here.  Look at it, now!"

  At any rate, it is a much lighter taupe than I had originally pictured in my mind, but it's a very NICE shade of taupe and I'm happy with it.  The rooms look entirely different and I will have fun moving things around, digging out things I've put away, or buying a few new (cheap) things as accents here and there.

                          
                                                  The wall on the left is the DARKER taupe
                                         and the two walls to the right are the same light shade!!!
      

  I've already moved the old valances that were in the den (when it was red) to the formal living room.  With a cream panel hanging beneath them, the valances looks more subdued than they did in the den, on the red walls.  Amazing what a change of color can make.  That's why I enjoy going out on a limb and trying things, rather than painting everything white or cream. 

  Jesse used to doubt me, but now he trusts me.  He doesn't know "how" I can see things before they come together, but I guess it's just a God-given gift. 

            
                            Believe it or not, these two walls in the corner are painted the exact same color! 

  ****************************************************************
  
  Today,  we did homeschooling at the kitchen table, in the den, and everyone thought we should move the table there everyday for classes, from now on.  Of course, I'm the killjoy of the group and had to say, "No!" 

  Annamarie counted math book pages and said they only have 18 pages left.  She isn't known to be very accurate, but I didn't check for accuracy.  It sounded like a REALLY good number to me, and, furthermore, why upset my weekend?!!  LOL!

  She took her Nintendo game to their therapy appointment, yesterday, and lost it.  They checked the play room thoroughly and the lobby, but it was gone.  No doubt, she left it in the lobby on a chair and someone stole it.  Jesse was furious, and I pointed out it was really "our fault" for giving her something that expensive in the first place.  We KNOW she doesn't take care of her stuff.  It's not that she is destructive, her brain just doesn't function in so many ways.  The doll we bought her 2 weeks ago for her birthday, has already had a shoe torn up.  I wasn't happy, but I had to remind myself that *THAT IS WHY* she got a less expensive doll than Rissy.

  We aren't punishing her.  I think the fact her sister's have Nintendo games, and she doesn't, will be punishment, enough.  The other two aren't allowed to share their games (Annamarie might likely lose their games, too) and I think it will be painfully obvious that she should have taken better care of hers.  They have to wait a long time (20 minutes) sometimes on Thursdays and they take their games or a small activity books in their purses.

  Oh well . . .

  . . . moving on.

  My china cabinet is back against the wall and refilled with things on the shelves.  I've enjoyed picking a different cup and saucer for my coffee each morning!  AND, once the table area is cleared in the dining room, we can start having Sunday dinners there.  That might even happen this coming Sunday!

                            
  My dining room is VERY bright in the afternoons and so it's hard to get a picture without a glare.

  **********************************************************************
  

  Some wanted my cake recipes.

  Here you go.
  

  Apple Dump Cake

  2 large cans of apple pie filling

  1 large can of drained crushed pineapple
  1 package yellow cake mix
  1 stick butter
  2 tsp cinnamon
  1 bag chopped walnuts

  In a large rectangle baking dish, mix apples and crushed pineapple.  Spread out evenly in pan
  Sprinkle cinnamon over fruit mixture
  Sprinkle dry cake mix over fruit (do not mix with fruit)
  Cut butter into small pats and place on top of dry cake mix
  Sprinkle walnuts (I didn't measure, since I buy large bags) on top

  Bake at 350° for 50 - 60 minutes until the top is golden brown

  *****************************************************************************************
  

  Strawberry Cake
  

  
  

  1 box white cake mix
  4 eggs
  3/4 cup oil
  1 pkg strawberry Jell-O
  1 cup fresh mashed strawberries

  
  Mix cake mix, eggs, oil, and Jell-O and 1 cup of mashed strawberries 
  Bake in 2round pans at 350° for 2 0 -30 minutes

  Strawberry Frosting

  1 stick soft butter
  3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  1 tsp vanilla

  Whip butter, sugar, and vanilla gradually add mashed strawberries until the right consistency.*
  

  * There were notes from other cooks that said the frosting was a little runny.

  Not wanting a failed attempt, I opted for Whipped White Frosting from a can (used 2 cans) and decorated the top with some fresh strawberries.  The strawberries WILL mold, so it's suggested the cake be refrigerated.  I didn't - we ate it in 48 hours!

  **************************************************
  

  The painter is coming tomorrow morning to start on our bedroom.  He wants to prime two of the walls and one overhang area of the ceiling, and then get the green paint on it AND move our furniture back in place.  He'll get the other walls, the next time.  My birthday is Monday, so he'll have to come Tuesday or later. 

             

  Rissy just poked her head out of her room and asked what was for dinner.  I've thawed ground beef, and I have no clue what I'll do with it.  Since it's almost 6pm, I suspect it's time to start giving dinner more of my attention and quit typing!

  Be Blessed ~
  

  
  

  • 7:20 pm
  • 6 Comments