scavenging =)

Happy Sunday!!!

...this past week was clean up week -  it was a scavengers dream!!  let me tell ya, I am SO bummed that I do not have a pickup truck -  if I did I would be the proud owner of a huge wicker furniture set for the yard, and enough old windows to build the greenhouse of my dreams...   sign.

However,  I did manage to liberate a few useful things from the trash =)  garden fencing never been used - I totally needed this!!  some books, wreaths (with tags still on the), planters, a glass punch bowl set, train set!!!  plastic tote, and a few random dishes that will coordinate with my set =D

some of my scavenging scores!!!  

I also picked up some cool Tonka and other random trucks, casserole dishes and  more dishes which I donated to my local conservation groups local garage sale  = )   Seriously the things people throw away  =/   I know it makes me happy to find good stuff I can use - but thinking about all the stuff that does not get liberated from the trash makes me sad...  I get like 3 flyers a month requesting donations...  I can not be the only one.

Meanwhile out in the garden - the lettuce just beginning to sprout, sugar snap peas pushing thur the soil    - built a little bamboo trellis for them...    

...the cucumbers I started inside have sprouted the 3rd & 4th leaves  ..   basil and lemon looking good,  waiting for the tomatoes and eggplant to sprout  =)


anyway...  anyone else scavenge any good stuff during this spring cleaning season?

clearly I need a schedule...

well...   it has been 12 days...  clearly I need a schedule... I need work on that - any thoughts? 

I am kind of stuck - my life is like SO random.  Random Tuesday, What I ate Wednesday, Thursday...   Friday....  Back yard Saturdays... Scrumptious Sunday...  

Mondays will be  "Thrifty Monday"  thrift shops, rummage sales, garage sales oh my = me blah blah blahing about about some of my most wondrous finds =D

like this past monday!! 

 - -  I scored a Vera Bradley clutch wallet for $2.99 found it stashed in the bins at goodwill - ya, you can't hide pretty little things from me =D

double kisslock in Paprika / Winter 2009

....  and a second Jack LaLanne Power juicer deluxe -  only $6.99  barely used!

sweet!!!  now we can have fresh juice at either home.  =) 

apple, orange, pink grapefruit and carrot - YUM!!   GO CUBS!!!   

ok, back to pondering the scheduled ....   

....  and Easter preparations http://wingsinthevoid.blogspot.com/2013/01/eggcellent-eggsact-made-in-usa.html

Peace be with you =D

Happy December - fa la lala la!!!

Happy Holidays 

some of the fun holiday stuff I picked up at the resale shops!

on the wall... and whats happened since my last post =)

During a little trip to San Diego, California in 2000 -  hopped the border to do a little shopping Tijuana  Mexico --  I got this pretty colorful pretty fish =)   

November 30 - one the wall #FMSPHOTOADAY

SO... Thanksgiving has come - it was a lovely stress free day =D  

starters

the best in a long long time!  it was just me, the HB and My little sis came out with the family. 

We had plenty of appetizers - so no one had to cry 'I'm hungry"   crackers, salami, pepperoni, 5 kinds of cheese - cheddar bacon cheeseball, swiss, mild cheddar, colby jack and brie, black & green olives, sweet pickles... oh and the  cheese & caramel popcorn -  nom nom nom!!!

The table was set with (all made in the USA) festive paper tableware and a "tablecloth" made for coloring =) having no plates and glasses to was a joy for the dishwasher (my HB) 

A certain young man came bearing a football adorned in GB Packers attire - I adore him none the less.   

The boys went out for a bit to throw and kick the football around a little, while we girls chatted, snacked, sipped a little Barefoot Red Moscoto sparkling wine & browsed the black Friday sale ads - oh and we also did a bit of cooking  =)

We had Ham, Turkey breast, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potato casserole, green beans, corm, cranberry sauce, crescent rolls, cornbread & peach orange jello with marshmallows - everything was SO good!!!

I  am thankful for a lot of things -  food on the table, happiness on my heart, a comfy bed to sleep in, a good job, and not ever having to say President Romney  =D

Miss America 2012

After busting the doors <LOL> mostly we got great deals on Items we plan to donate =)  and a few little gift things - drank coffee and then tried to napped for like 3 hours <ha!>  we all went out for breakfast and then hit the Downtown for the annual lighten up festival...  we painted a ornament Christmas trees at the local "paint you own place" kinda a new tradition - this was our third year - can't wait to see how they turned out!  then we hopped from shop to shop to take part in all the festivities -   we meet Mrs. Santa Klaus and wrote letters to Santa, frosted & promptly ate cupcakes <yum> and made pine cone feeders for our birdie friends...  finally waited in like for like an hour to meet Ms. America - totally worth it, my niece was so thrilled!

Miss America 2022

Small Saturday we girls hit the local resale stores, a little holiday shop and a family run Christmas tree farm  -  among other fun things we picked up this pretty little dress - which we needed to play toddlers in tiaras!


other than that - I have been working one building a sweet Lego Police Spaceship - picked it up at Good will for only $3 ...  build most of it and found I am only missing a few pieces...  luckily the Lego website is awesome & I was able to find them all and order everything I need =)


started a diet last week - Dr's orders no wheat or refined sugar... ugh!!!  actually doing pretty good, eating more fruit...  been ok with the no wheat thing -  except what is in my beer =D   IDK, I guess I will have to try some of the gluten free beers... already lost 5lbs.

... adventure in soap "making" - happened this weekend

A few weeks ago I picked up a soap making kit at Goodwill - contained a book on actual soap making, a mold, glycerin melt soap and other soap making stuff for $2.99 and a 2 lb brick of coconut oil melt & pour soap for $1.99

The book that came with the kit is very good  thoroughly covers actual soap making - and clearly lets one know that is for the detail oriented, rule following type - which I am not but I DO like fancy soaps and getting a little crafty once in a while - so melt & pour is ideal for me - the book didn't have much on melt & pour - probably because it is so freaking easy!!!  you can read about it here ->  An introduction to Melt and Pour soapmaking.....   

I went a bit basic on my recipes & used what seemed like a good combination - here are some more involved & complex Recipes: Melt and Pour Soap to feed the creativity...  If you are wanting to make your soap therapeutic, as I did check this out  -> Medicinal Properties of Herbs   the book was helpful to - I recommend a book of you can find a good one second hand...  if you have any books on herbal remedies or natural cures - you might find ideas fro additives in there as well.  I was not able to find any particularly good & thorough websites on melt and pour - but I will be on the the lookout for a blog or 2 on the subject!

so with ideas in my mind, I gathered all the necessities  and started my makeshift double boiler.  I cut the soap into 1/2 - 1 inch chunks and melted it in my 'double boiler"  (a pot in a larger pot)   - -that's one more another thing to add to my wish list = small double boiler!

My first batch -  Soothing Lavender Oatmeal Rosemary.  I used about 4 oz of the creamy coconut oil melt & pour soap base, added about 1 teaspoon oatmeal, 1/2 teaspoon lavender flowers, a generous pinch of fresh rosemary - ground and add to melted soap - pour into mold. 

 * I do not recommend using oatmeal on you first try - maybe needs water added?   It took a bit more mix in it & it was kinda chunky..   not the prettiest soap - but i'm it smells lovely. 

**  If using your coffee grinder like I did - add about 1/4 cup instant white rice and grind it up to clean out the coffee residue  - this also allegedly sharpens the blades - IDK sure doesn't hurt)

#FMSPHOTOADAY "happened this weekend" 

Second batch - (soon to be famous) Coffee Cinnamon Clove Scrubby!! loosely based one this COFFEE SCRUBBY SOAP recipe...Nom nom nom  =)  again I used about 4 oz of creamy coconut oil melt & pour soap and took 2 tablespoons coffee beams, 7 cloves and a dash of cinnamon - grind and add to melted soap and pour into mold....    so pretty!  I can not wait to try this ...  and luckily I do not have to - another wonderful about melt & pour - no cure time needed  - that sure was $5 well spent =)

oh, my! something about cranberries just popped into my head... would it be wrong to add cranberry to soap and what about adding nuts to the cranberry sauce??? 

tomatoes FINALLY & totally junked up necklace =D

I LOVE summer!  longs days, sunshine, warm (hot even) temperatures!   I am wishing for 6 more weeks!   who's with me!!!  keep bringing the 90's! haha!  A girl has gotta have a dream  =D  

....but seriously, the garden is just now, FINALLY, kickin', into full gear - today was the fist day I picked more tomatoes than we could reasonably eat  =D


..that and planted a second round of zucchini and green beans a week ago - no zucchini for us, the heat done her in.!!!  (Raise your hand if you love My Fair Lady - best movie EVER ) and we got a total of 9 green beans (yes, I counted, we savored each one)  I love the warm summer - the effect it had on the garden  - not so much  =/

For dinner today, I made grilled cheese (Swiss and smoked Gouda), ham and tomato on Egg Bread.  I used the "chocolate" variety I planted a cherry and Plum type chocolate tomato (the chocolates look greenish in the photo the ripen to a purplish brown and SO very delicious with them - YUM!)  I am very pleased with them.


As much as I love bare foot, flip flops and strappy sandals - I also LOVE boots!!   

like how cute are these!?
 http://www.urbanog.com 

Boots!  I can not wait to wear boots again - sure I seem people wearing them.... nope, my feet might catch fire with boots on in this kinda weather...   

BUT I love boots -  oh and gloves & scarves oh my!!  but, I digress HAHA!!   Sadly I have this stupid high instep, so a zipper I required..   and then there is the reoccurring plantar fascia, hmm  round toe box and excellent arch support or room for orthodontic inserts ...  and then i have these beefy calf's, not complainin' just sayin'  ..  =D     and did I mention I prefer flats 1 inch heel a most please... yes,   the heels are SOOOOOOO  flippin' cute buy ugh!!!!! yup, so many cute boots that I can't wear ...  it is a exhausting proposition, but one of these day I will find this years pair of boots  =)  



I stopped in at Goodwill yesterday  - still searching for a lamp and roller skates! no luck with that, but I did find a Soap Making starter kit for 1.99  (Christmas presents for everyone!!), the Frugal Gourmet Cooks American (yeah, it a classic as far as I am concerned, my dad was a big fan....  seeing it made me think of dad and I HAD to have it...  yeah, getting all sentimental in my "old" age...

oh, and this totally junked up necklace.....  the lizard first caught my eye and I thought I was a tangled mess of necklaces... buy no..   IDK what I like best about it - the lizard, the butterfly, the purple pop of color..   just so freakin' cute and only cost me $1.99

hmmm, now that I am 40'something...  I think, perhaps I ought start wearing big necklaces more often  =D  

my Small Batch - Peach Jalapeno Preserves =D

GOOD Morning!!! 

today I finally accomplished my small batch challenge -> http://www.foodinjars.com/2012/08/sustainable-eats-august-urban-farm-handbook-challenge-food-preservation-edition/#comments

My inspiration along with very good step by set instructions & photos  -> http://taste-for-adventure.tablespoon.com/2011/09/13/peach-jalapeno-jam/

all the ingredients
OK ...  I wimped out! 
I was going to use 2 peppers, but when 
I sampled the first one (yikes) 
do that get hotter when they turn red?
   or am I becoming a sissy in my old age? 

… and my adaptation  =D  

3 medium/large peaches  

                - I used 2 white and 1 yellow - diced 

1 small Jalapeno (2 if you like SPICY)

               - I used a red one (pretty) finely diced 

1/3 cup plus 1 Tablespoon granular cane sugar 

Juice of 1/2 lemon  

1 teaspoon low/no sugar pectin 

  

adding it all to simmer

after about 15 min simmer 

all clean warn and ready  to fill

processed 10 min  - cooling off  & looking beautiful

yes, I liked the spatula and it turned out quite tasty - lots of great peachy flavor and a little bit of peppery heat!     oh, man!  I can hardly wait  =D


also check out round 2 - Small Batch  Ginger Lemon Basil Peaches Preserves  even better than the first  =D

Butterfly's in the fire pit

I started my daily gardening watching these little ones hanging around the fire pit...  not sure that they like so much, but the spend most of the morning there - a bit odd I thought, but lovely was well  =D 

...and evidently there was a bit pf partying last night...    you gnome me - right! 

worked for a bit in the veggie garden planted zuchinni (I forgot to plant the green beans - DON'T TELL)  I will do it on Monday I PROMISE!

Anyway, I did fill the planters big planters - with geraniums and moonflowers...  found a few seed-packs leftover from last year so I  tossed a few marigold seed in one...   and forget me not and gypsophila convent garden..      of course I didn't take photos..  maybe tomorrow...  maybe when they start to come in a bit =D

I also planted a herb garden in one - placed it right outside the kitchen door - sweet basil, lemon basil, parsley, rosemary, along with my lavender - smells so sweet  =)  I have another slightly smaller planter reserved fro chives - regular and garlic..    NOM...NOM...NOM...   I think I will use them much more this year!  walking waaayyy out to the garden just doesn't seem to work for my lazy butt!


oh, and I picked up some gardening books at Goodwill - got lucky, they rarely have any, but I found a load of them one of the new stock bins  =D  quite a few good ones, but these are great -




Found a great walk-way idea  - so cool...
I'm thinking brown stepping stones with bluish pebbles set in concrete - we can't have loose rocks in the yard -  I will not get in to that...  it is the the HB's issue, I can adapt.   =P











Time to enjoy some more of the the Ghirardelli Caramel Turtle Brownies I made today - SO GOOD!

TTFN!

... my milk glass collection ♥

The latest and greatest addition to my collection -  a flowery egg shaped candy dish made by Avon I saw it one weekend and resisted it.... it was still there the next weekend - clearly it was meant to be  =) only $3.  (am I the only one who LOVES this? )   and the the little votive I picked up for $.99

on the left is one of the 2 Fire King fancy baking dish of some-kind? I use them to contain small plants) the o n the right I picked up at a rummage sale in Kenosha  $1  again not sure of its intended use, but I use it to corral miscellaneous stuff on the mantel...

the other smaller Fire King - and isn't that plant cool - it is a Silver Philodendron...  yes, need to re-pot that one! 

and MY most most favorite - I got a of  pair of these at a rummage sale benefiting a local environmental group.. they didn't have a price....   I'm not a haggler.... so, I walked away with the awesome white ceramic frog toothbrush holder I found  ...  they called me back...  I asked - they said $8.... I hemmed... they told me that are Fenton and I said and well it is for a a good cause right - I'll take them!   I do LOVE them. (early the next day they had an everything must go give away - that's when I got the Fire King =) 

This was my first!  from my sisters wedding =) 

Last but not least - another little vase... 

my new toy = Sauce =D

Day 30 -Toy 

This is my new toy - NorPro  Food Master Food Strainer I picked it up at savers last week for $4.99 - still in original pakaging - never used good deal!   I wasn't  planning on using it until summer but since you mentioned it...  I went out and picked up 2 lbs of tomatoes, and went to work assembling and went straight to work... It did quite a nice job of crushing the tomatoes into sauce, which I seasoned with garlic (lots of garlic), dried onion, parsley, dried mushroom, a little basil, rosemary, salt and pepper...  oh and a few big swigs or wine - I used California "Chill Out" Red Table Wine, it is rather horrible drinking wine in my opinion, but adds wonderful flavor to red sauce - YUM!

monday...

It has been a while… spent Saturday morning cleaning out the basement... (how did we end up with SO much STUFF!!??!) and loading of the car with Goodwill donations…   now I could not stop myself from stepping inside for a quick peek, totally missed the 50% off everything sign (except new stiff) the place was trashed!! woo hoo ~ I did find 2 milk glass hobnail tumblers $.25 for the two of them! yes, white & frosted hobnail is my new ♥    I also, found a cute and roommy cream purse made of

pretty convincing pleather for $1.50 and a washable feather pillow for my fabulous cover I got a couple weeks ago for $1 it came with a cover that will look quite nice on our  bed - double bonus - yAY! 

  

ok, so… then I went back & loaded up (more STUFF in the shed!?!?!)...  so of course  went back in =)   picked up the little milk glass bowl I passed up earlier  $.25  and COMFY  night shirt $1.50..  last but not least a pampered chef tool turn-about  only $1.00 ~ a white one (I have a black one in the kitchen that I LOVE)  but this will will be used to organize "office" supplies - sweet =D  

Sunday was a YUCK fest…  end. 

Anyway, I survived Monday although I almost failed to get a “funny” one for my Photo a Day – just that kinda day… until I was ALMOST home…   maybe because I had to pee since Chicago, perhaps I was overtired, or quite possibly because I am just juvenile… LOL!  



Day 19 - funny

hmmm...  a car that runs on pee - Brilliant!!   ok now all you little geniuses out there, go figure out a way to make ot happen  =)