5 thing Friday - shoe bench, sammiches, rain, yardwork, empty day

Please forgive all of the dark photos - we've had nothing but gloomy days and rain rain rain.  After a few tweaks, I can't make these pics look that much better!

I was tired of the shoe basket in this corner by the front door.  The Shoe Basket was something we started when the kids were small.  It was a way not to play the "hunt for your shoes before we have to run out of the door to school" game.  Instead I now have a nice bench to stow my work/tennies/house shoes, and to sit when taking them off and on.  No more holding onto the wall, ha ha.

I have entered my Sandwich Era.  Toasting the bread with some cheese on top, adding some sliced tomatoes, plenty of Miracle Whip - my kind of lunch or dinner.  Cheaper than takeout, although I'm not sure its all that healthier.  But it gets me out the kitchen fast and makes for fewer dishes to wash.  Wins all around.

During a break in the clouds I took pics of the Wandering Jew in the backyard.

I know its considered an invasive species, but I like it.  I haven't had a lot of time to do yardwork in between storms.  I managed to get it mowed, and even sprinkled some grass seed.  That's about all Mother Nature is allowing right now.

On my "empty day" I took myself to Bertram for a trip to Donut Plus (an old favorite), 

a pedicure (sweet lilac color) followed by yet another sandwich, and a trip to "my" winery.  It was a lovely day, high of 63!, thunderstorms that shook me to my bones as I sat wrapped in a Mexican blanket on their patio, journaling and making plans.  I really don't have many complaints right now, and I will strive to get better at acknowledging that every day.

Gina

Crafty key art

I saw these cute shadow box framed keys at an antique mall in Burnet:

I thought, well, I have some old keys I could use for a craft.  They were on various keyrings of  Mark's so they have sentimental value to me.  Who knows?  They may have been to our first apartment, first house, the Galveston home he grew up in - I have no idea exactly what each one went to, only that they were important enough for him to hold onto.

I didn't have a small frame, but I do have several embroidery hoops.  I laid out the keys I wanted to use: two big keys for parents, four smaller ones for kids.  Six in all, to represent our family.  I stretched some burlap into a hoop, and trimmed off the excess on back. Then I added a dab of hot glue on the back of each key and set them on the burlap.  Done.

I kind of love the meaning here: each person "key" to the family that we built.  This was a very sentimental craft.

Symbolism was always big to Mark, as well.  Two peas in a pod we were.

Gina

Little project: cute curtain for laundry nook

I made a sweet cafe curtain for my laundry nook this week.

I saw this idea on a couple of blogs and thought it would be perfect for hiding the plugs and hoses behind the washer and dryer.  Plus, maybe it would add a touch of boho vibe to the area.

I decided not to hang a curtain to replace the doors to the laundry nook.  I would just be moving it out of my way, and it would bunch up at either end - just like the folding doors did.  Having no doors on this nook has made the hallway look roomier, too.  So I fished around and found some leftover oilcloth from several projects, including seat pads for folding chairs.

Originally given to me by a friend, I loved it so much I ordered the last of it from a seller on Etsy.  It doesn't "drape" as softly as regular fabric, but it is sturdy and splash-proof.  With time I think the fabric will hang nicely.

I painted the bottom half of the lower shelf's brackets so they would be less noticeable behind the tension rod and clip rings combo I planned to use.  I also hung the washer's surge protector on the wall, easily accessed from behind the curtain.

It looks dark in here, but it was such a cloudy day.

There is actually plenty of light in here to see the laundry!  And it looks finished and boho cute.

I like owls, but it looks like I'm obsessed with them, ha ha.

I took down the tension rods near the dryer as they were just visual clutter and I wasn't really using them for more than hangers.  And I love that I have the surface space to fold items, so I will probably leave the top of the dryer clear of clutter.  This was a sweet little project for a rainy week!

Gina

Jeannette's Peach Cobbler

 One of the things I wanted to rescue from Mom's house was her recipes.  I gathered up as many cookbooks as I could fit in my arms, and most of her recipe cards, many handwritten.  An oldie but goodie is this cobbler recipe, which she made fairly often, especially in the summer.  (If you use fresh, peeled peach slices, be sure to add about 1/2 c. water and 1/4 c. sugar to the syrup you make to pour over the peaches. This will sub in nicely for the syrup in the canned peaches)

Jeannette's Peach Cobbler

29 oz. can peach slices

3/4 c. brown sugar

1 T butter

2 T cornstarch

all of the syrup from the can of peaches

1/2 t. each ground nutmeg, cinnamon, ground ginger

dash salt

Biscuit topping: 1 c. flour, 1 1/2 t. baking powder, 1/4 t. salt, 1/2 stick butter, 2 T sugar, 1/4 c. milk, 1 beaten egg.

Preheat oven to 425. Drain the syrup from the peaches into a small saucepan.  Place peaches in a buttered 8x8 baking dish. (I like to cut mine up a little so its easier to take normal sized bites!)  Bring the brown sugar, butter, cornstarch, salt, spices, and reserved peach syrup to a boil.  Let boil one minute.  Pour over peaches.  Combine the dry biscuit ingredients.  Cut in small pieces of butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Add milk and egg. Stir just until moistened.  Drop by spoonfuls over peaches.  Bake about 20 minutes.

Serve warm with your choice of ice cream!  Mom always had Blue Bell in her freezer and loved the old fashioned vanilla.  Every time I make this I will think of her and wish she were here to enjoy a bowl of it with me.

Gina

5 thing Friday - weatherstripping, cobbler, El Rancho, KFire Winery, mornings

 I finally got around to changing out the weatherstripping on the attic door in the hall ceiling.  Took me an hour or so.

One package of this stuff was just enough - about $3.

I also used these small detail sanders to help smoothe out the wood so the adhesive sticks better.

It was painstaking work - someone before had not only used adhesive weatherstripping, but bolstered it with a power stapler.  I scraped and sanded and made a huge mess on the carpet.

But I think I did a good job.

There are a couple of spots that I may add staples to - we'll see.

I made a peach cobbler from an old recipe card of Mom's - I will post it on Monday.  It was so good and really hit the spot!  I enjoyed it with butter pecan ice cream and man, was it good.

On my "empty day" I took myself to Burnet and Bertram - just a short drive from Austin.

I ate at a restaurant that Mark and I visited often, and had an amazing $10 breakfast of barbacoa, beans, eggs, potatoes, and corn tortillas.  It held me throughout the day.

Then in the afternoon I visited a winery in nearby Bertram and joined their wine club!  It has been years since I have visited this particular one.  The wine is good, priced reasonably,  and the owners are very friendly.

It being in the middle of nowhere is a PLUS.  Its time to reclaim things I once enjoyed doing.

I have been heading out to my deck each morning to catch the sunrise.  I get there just after it breaks, and I light a candle and enjoy my coffee, sans creamer.  Its been a very pleasant 5 days off and now I am recharged for the weekend!

Gina

What the week holds and rainy days

This week I am off five days in a row, which always feels like such luxury to me!

the prickly pear is starting to bloom here

There's a chance of  rain for most of the week, and hail one of those days.  So I will need to practice parking Brigid in the empty side of the garage.  Why have I not done this yet?  The garage has been under control for some time now.

Also this week:

*I am determined to get further on the photo album project.  The photos are stacked in chrono order, waiting for their new home, and I am making slow progress.  I ordered two more empty albums from Hob Lob, and once all albums are complete, I will scan in the pages.  I knew this was going to be time consuming.  What I didn't realize is how hard it is to review the last 40 years or so, in photos.  I take breaks from it often.

*I need to replace the weather stripping on the attic opening in the hall and I have a new roll of that. Might as well do the front door, too, since I bought the supplies over a year ago.  Procrastinate much, Gina?

*I will pick up filler groceries from HEB Curbside.  The savings in gas is negated by the slightly increased cost of food from curbside ordering, but I need a break from both temptation and general grocery shopping.

*A book will be finished: Not All Bastards are From Vienna.

*I'm on call one evening

*I will take a walk all 5 days and log my food into the Vida app

*Perhaps I will take a day trip to Burnet 

Its gonna be a good week - what do you have planned?

Gina

5 thing Friday - crayons, surge protector, earrings, scrub tops, leisure

 This week for some reason (I mean, its not Back to School time), HEB had all of their crayons, markers, and such for 20% off, so you know I had to get some supplies for my little art cart.

As one of many children at home, I remember well the thrill of a big box of crayons all. for. me.  So I got a box I don't have to share now, either, ha ha.  Because apparently 65 is the new 5.  Therapy in a box.

I don't know what it is with me and batteries (and plumbing, and car tires).  Mark had many devices around the house that require them and sometimes figuring them out is challenging to me.  When I heard a mysterious beeping coming from the office, I discovered that this back-up/surge protector in fact has a battery.  I'm not sure when he purchased this - 2020?  As with a lot of these gadgets, he didn't really explain how they work or how to set them up.  I am assuming he bought it because he was working from home.  Its a nice one, and the battery is pricey.  Of course it is.

Did I rely on Google lens to identify it?  Yes.  I also watched a short You Tube video on how to replace the battery.  Which I then ordered from Amazon.  And now my printer, computer, router, and sharpener are back in business.  And I will take the old battery to Home Depot to recycle it.

A couple of fun purchases.  The first one are these pretty Mother of Pearl earrings from an Etsy shop.  Kinda small, but appropriate for work and light and easy to wear.  Me like.

Also two new scrub tops because some of mine are getting tighter...

I have made some changes in how I care for me, and if someday they are too large, that's OK.  I also managed to buy myself some protein powder, a blender bottle, and a thrift store novel.  And a hotel for a beachy vacay in June.

In keeping with my plan to relax the To Do list and do things for leisure one day a week, I took myself to a movie yesterday, seeing The Drama.  What an interesting, quirky film and very thought provoking!  I wouldn't call the ending "happy" but it took the story back to the start, full circle.  I liked it.

Have a great weekend,

Gina