Month: April 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 ~


  • I have some pictures today of the girls, when JanaLyn came over for Annamarie's birthday.

    It's been almost a whole week since I last wrote.  That almost NEVER happens!  I talk too much!  LOL!!!

                            

    I haven't been disconnected from the computer, either.  When the painter moved out my desk, he plugged everything back in, when he was finished painting the wall behind the desk.  Then, unplugged it again when he added another coat of paint.

    So, I can't use the painter as an excuse!

    I have been keeping busy with many, many chores around here.  Rissy even commented, "I guess this is what they call spring cleaning!?!"  I guess it is.

                            

    The carpet beneath the china cabinet was so filthy!  We haven't vacuumed under there since we moved here five + years ago!  In fact, it's contents have never been emptied out, since November 2005.  The wood's been polished, the glass doors and shelves were polished, and the mirrored back was polished  (even the cobwebs under the base was dusted).  It probably hasn't been this clean since we bought it, eons ago!

    I took the time to rearrange the upper shelves, the ones you can see.  My china dishes are now stacked on the bottom of the shelving behind the glass doors - easy to get to for Sunday dinners.  I have all of my decorative bone china cups and saucers cleaned and ready to use.  I just have to open the glass door in the morning and choose which pretty cup I want to use that day. 

            

    I also took all of the stuff that was in the marble chest (the cabinet with the glass walls and doors that Annamarie broke) and I've temporarily stored those items in the bottom of the china cabinet, until the glass can be replaced in the marble chest.  The china cabinet job took two days because I washed and polished everything.  I still have to polish the few sterling silver pieces that were in the cabinet.  They are incredibly dark with tarnish..

    When the painter moved the desk and file cabinets, we found the carpet was filthy.  We can take the vacuum's hose and get behind the desk, because we (well, not "we" technically, more like one of the girls!!!) can crawl under the desk.  But behind the file cabinets it looks like dryer lint has accumulated!  Yuck!

               

    He moved my formal sofa and my grandmother's desk and it was pretty dusty, but not like the china cabinet carpet! 

    I'm sure our bedroom will be the same, when he gets to that.  We haven't moved furniture in the 5+ years we've been here.  We have a large bedroom, but large furniture, too.  There isn't any place to move it to clean.  So we haven't cleaned the nooks and crannies.

     

    I continue sorting the winter clothes (folding them and putting them in storage bins) and finding clothes from the spring/summer plastic bins that fit the girls this year.  Jesse's sister, JoAnn, sent the girls two large boxes of clothes and porcelain dolls.  Annamarie received two snow globes.  JoAnn remembered that Annamarie wanted some because Rissy collects them, so she gave her two.  Annamarie was thrilled.  I'm thrilled to have the box out of our bedroom!!!

    That's the next place I need to work because the painter will start there, probably next week.

    I have a few letters I want to write and there are still quite a few medical phone calls that need to be made.  I'm culling some of my books and giving those away.  AND, there is the every day teaching, cooking, bathing . . .

                     

    My list seems endless!

    My GI test came back "fairly normal" and the doctor wants me to schedule another test that is very uncomfortable.  A small tube goes up your nose and down to your stomach.  They don't put you out for the test, because you have to "participate" during the test.  I think he said they ask you to breath in, breath out, swallow, etc.  The only consolation I have is that a nurse told me the tubing was VERY small.

    Moving on to ANOTHER subject . . . (!!!)

    I made a new cake on Friday.  Apple and Pineapple Dump Cake.  REALLY good.

           

    Then, I made a layer cake on Monday that calls for mashed fresh strawberries.  We have one day left and we'll polish that one off!  It turned out pretty, and it tasted really good with the real strawberries, rather than the fake strawberry flavoring.

    Let's see . . .

    That may be all of the news.

    That's what has been happening for this past week.  I'll be glad when traditional school is finished.  I'm not telling the girls, but I have spring fever as bad as they do regarding school work!!!

    Be Blessed  ~

  • My House, My Life, Eeeeek!

    I didn't think I'd still be connected to the Internet today, because of the painter.  But, since my desk and file cabinets are cumbersome, he's saving this wall for last!

            

    Yesterday's barium swallow was uneventful.  I've had to drink more barium on past tests and this wasn't a big deal.  The people were nice, everyone is always nice at this one hospital, and the P.A. said he thought he saw a small perforation in my esophagus, but the doctor would have my results and a full report, later this week.

         

    We went to the grocery store, on the way home, and did our weekly shopping (a bit early) and bought a leg of lamb for Sunday.  Asparagus was cheap and looked really good - good color and like it will cook up tender.  The strawberries looked WONDERFUL, were cheap, and we bought two large cartons!  Yum!  Speaking of "Yum!" - the last of the birthday cake was eaten as dessert after yesterday's lunch.  Bye-bye Red Velvet!

        

    We ate leftovers again last night and I promised Jesse I would definitely cook a real meal tonight!  I'm still gathering recipes and trying new ones all the time.

    To say the house is in a state of disarray would be an understatement!  What a mess!  Even as I type, the last set of drapes are being taken down and placed on top of the drapes from the dining room.  Everything is piled on the sofa and coffee table!

             

    Everything is pulled to the center of the rooms with collectibles littering every surface of "safe" space.  I say "safe" with my tongue in my cheek. 

    Yesterday Annamarie (acting silly again and not obeying) ran into my marble chest in the foyer and put her foot (with a shoe) right through the glass side. I was furious.  She broke a gift (one of the first I can remember) that Nikki gave me when she was still a little girl.  I think I can glue it together, but I'm still not very pleased about the situation. 

    I don't want to even guess at the cost of the glass to be cut, beveled, and reset in the cabinet!

    How you run into a huge piece of furniture, is beyond me.  Plus, the fact we've said (umpteen times) the girls need to watch where they "walk" because the whole house is under construction.  There's plastic drop cloths, buckets of paint and tools everywhere, not to mention FURNITURE in the middle of the rooms.

            

    We are supposed to have thunderstorms moving into the state on Friday.  It was 88° yesterday!  We came home to a stuffy house and Jesse asked me to wait until he cleaned the filters in the system before turning on the a/c. 

    The house was 81 degrees at dinner time! 

    I was so glad to see Jesse return home and get that air cranked up!  Today I'm enjoying a cool house and the temperature is supposed to be in the mid 80s again today.  I believe Sunday is predicted to be nice. 

          

    We have NO warm weather clothes in the house - everything is still packed away in the attic.  Poor Luci had to borrow a short sleeved shirt from Rissy today.  Jesse said he'd take off from work on Friday (the rainy day)  and get the boxes down for us before we have to go to church. 

    We bought white shoes for the girls last week and new white socks yesterday; it's a sure sign that spring is here - for real!!!

            

    I should go eat lunch and sit in the kitchen for a while. 

    It's the only room that is in order, except for a silk fig tree by the table!!!

    Be Blessed  ~