5 thing Friday - Echeveria, cooking, embroidery, snacks, hearts

I have never had what you would call a green thumb, but when I noticed a small cup full of leaves from a succulent in the window of the breakroom at work, I grabbed one and stuck it into my lunch kit. 

Then I put a smidge of potting soil in a little clay pot (the artist is Bubbie, ca. 2006) and left it alone.  Now there are TWO babies growing in there!  I think this is an Echeveria.  They require mostly hands off and very little water. Its been in here maybe a couple months?

When I saw that Kathie made corn fritters, I knew I had to make them.  My mother used to make these for us when we were children.  Unfortunately, she didn't pass the recipe along.  I improvised with Jiffy cornbread mix, frozen corn, egg, milk.  Mine could have used a sprinkle of salt, but they were so good.

This was one of three meals I actually cooked this week, using up some foods in my freezer and fridge. (twice a week, going forward)

3 over-ripe tomatoes went into a pot with olive oil, garlic, seasonings, broth. I simmered this for about two hours, then make a little pot of spaghetti with a nub of ground beef from the freezer.

Lunch one day, dinner a future day.

I was *horrified* that The Girl wanted to flat out toss some of her embroidery into the trash!  I saved it in the nick of time.  Who would even want these?, she asked.  ME.  The racy ladies are perfect in the bathroom.

The botanical stems are in the sewing room.

Another made its way into my bedroom.  And a 6th one (not shown) is in my closet above my jewelry shelf.  I picture myself years from now, passing them on to her kids. If I can part with them. (and there are still 4 more of them!)

I'm doing the most important packing first for my trip to the beach - snacks. Ha. Between now and Tuesday morning, I will have the rest of everything ready to go, including myself.  Not gonna lie - I am a tad bit nervous of traveling alone.  Baby steps for me, as the beach is a mere 4 hours away.

I sewed some hearts this week and will take them on my journey.  It was a good boredom buster, in between reading and getting a few things done around the house.  Here's the link if you want to play along with fabric: https://ifoundaquiltedheart.com/

Happy weekend!

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

Treat bags for work besties

 I had some fun last week putting together a couple of treat bags for two work besties.  I combined it with a jaunt to IKEA since I haven't been there in years.

Along with treats for them, I bought some inexpensive watercolor pencils, some spring-y napkins, a bamboo bowl, and other small items. Treats for me, my own Valentine - ha!

When I got home I sewed these bags from scraps.  If you applique the heart on the fabric before you sew the bottom and middle seam, you can more easily line up your design to be front and center.  I used a zig zag stitch on the little calico hearts. Burlap is easy to sew - very forgiving.  {A bunny applique on these bags would be cute for Easter!}

IKEA snacks are fun and different.  One of my besties loves licorice so she's definitely getting some in her treat bag.  But also popcorn, cookies, and a candy bar.  Man, we love our snacks at work!

I hope they like them!

Having a couple of friends at work is a great thing.  You can share laughs, vent, and lean on each other for help with difficult things.  I have made many buddies at jobs over the years - a definite bonus to the  paycheck and one of the things that helps me keep working! 

Gina 

Empty Nest menu #154 and sewing

I hauled out the fabric and cut enough hearts to make 12 more quilted hearts to leave around town:

I think I have the sewing room all broken in...I should find some different things to sew.  I sewed a lot in college - making myself dresses, skirts, even a bikini!  Twice I have sewn dresses for bridesmaids, and I decorated all 4 of my babies' nurseries.  Its a pastime I want to pick up again.  The old Gina liked it a lot.

Monday - kitchen closed {Happy Radiologic Technology Week!}

Tuesday - (freezer) Beef Fajitas, refrieds, rice {11 a.m. appt., new book club in p.m.}

Wednesday - (skillet) Chicken Thighs and butternut squash, peas {oil change for Brigid, on-line CEU class, beer with a friend in the afternoon}

Thursday - Tilapia, bowtie pasta with pesto, green beans {Hospice Austin grief zoom at noon} 

Friday - KFC-ish Bowl (chicken meatballs, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn) {prep to paint?}

Saturday and Sunday - kitchen closed

Gina

5 thing Friday - curtain spiff, Dubai chocolate, a good dinner, stitching, Empty Nest

Projects around the house were very low key this week.

I installed a regular curtain rod in the office and ordered a simple rod pocket panel in a dusty blue: 

The walls in here are a gray called "Train", but it has a hint of blue to it.  And since I decided that it was rather plain, I added a beaded fringe along the top and the hem.  Is it perfectly done? No. If you examine it you will see a messy hem at the bottom, since I seriously underestimated how tricky it is to machine stitch not only that fringe, but the flimsy fabric as well.

The fabric is a crinkly gauzey polyester and slippery as an eel.

It's hard to get a good close-up of the beads, but they are lovely.  Its sort of boho chic and I kind of love it. 

I finally got to try a Dubai-style chocolate bar and it was as delicious as I imagined it to be.  The chocolate was Belgian, which I find a touch sweeter than your usual milk chocolate.  I think that it would be even better made with dark chocolate.  At $8 it was a splurge and not something I will be adding to my usual grocery order.

To balance out the candy, I made a seasoned curry rice and some honey carrots to go with pan fried tilapia and that was also quite good!  I find that I can cook for myself with no great trauma about 3 nights a week.  I'm still working on it.

A work friend is leaving soon, and I bought her some wine she likes and thought I would stitch a quick something to hang on the bottle.

Also not perfect!  But heartfelt.

If you've been reading this blog a bit, you know that this has become an unofficial Cannary motto, and one I try to remember daily.  The rest of the quote states that "optimism is a magnet for good luck".  I am hoping that is true.

We did it, Mark!

I wish you could be here to share this milestone.

I got the last Cannary kid launched into his own apartment, living life on his own.  He took the rest of his things yesterday and whatever he didn't want went into my donate pile and directly over to the Habitat Restore.  As I told him yesterday, "you got this, I love you and am very proud of you, and don't forget: you know where to find me".  For launching four of them into adulthood with strong family support and a mom on their side, I'm proud of me, too.

Gina

Big project: painting the sewing room

Last week I spiffed up the walls in the sewing room, kinda like I did for the office.  Not using a terribly different color, just giving it a refresh. After a few years, all of my paint for touch ups had bit the dust.  But I wanted to keep a neutral color.

I settled on "Spiced Vinegar" by Glidden.  It didn't look all that different in the can, but it did dry a shade or so darker than the previous sandy color. Since my dental office rescheduled me, I figured no time like the present. 

 Within an hour I had the paint bought and the room as empty as it needed to be for the task.  One wall down and I was starting to question the color! (to the left is the new one)

As it dried it looked super blotchy, but I ignored that and pressed on!  I only put one coat of paint on since the color was so similar.  I used a roller for textured walls and got good coverage.

(I really need some daylight bulbs in here!)

The darker areas in this photo show the true color.

It evened out, but took a bit longer to dry for some reason.  Could be the high humidity we've been having.  But when it was mostly dry to the touch I went ahead and put the outlet covers back on, and moved furniture back in place.

I think it only looks like it has a yellow tint because of the lighting.  I could be wrong.  In any case, it took me less than 3 hours start to finish and around $40 and it's DONE.  No more nail holes or scuff marks.  Before I get the carpet replaced, I will go around in each room and spiff up the trim and baseboards.

With the overhead lights off, the walls are a soothing light brown.  This room looks fairly empty but it is the perfect space for creative projects!

Gina 

5 thing Friday - walking, scrub shopping, sewing plans, beer, spiffing

I have been good at walking lately.  But because the heat and humidity is a beast, I am going on shorter walks. Which is OK since I average four days a week of it, plus yard work, projects around the house, and my job.  Still haven't learned the hula hoop, but the summer is not over yet!

Lots of baby deer in my neighborhood as I walk.  And lately I have switched from listening to Brene Brown, to listening to Buddha teachings.  Very enlightening.

I went to a specific Wal-Mart because a work friend told me they had printed scrub tops.  Also, I needed spray paint for two projects.  And Twizzlers - very important.  On sale these tops were $5 and $13.  Cheap by scrub tops standards and they are nice tops.  Black is the color assigned to us, but we can wear "child friendly" printed tops. 

I also found 10 spools of thread for $5.  Beautiful colors for me to make more quilted hearts with.  With JoAnn gone, I will have to rely on Hob Lob and Wal-Mart for sewing supplies.

I took one of the new quilted hearts to a local spot to sit and sip while I journaled.  (then I left it there for someone to find) I haven't been to this brewery in forever - last time with a friend and with Mark the time before that.  Beer is my bevvie of choice in the summer - its just too hot for afternoon coffee.

Tiny project to do: replacement button covers for my 30 year old faucets. Moen doesn't make them anymore, and I had ordered some that never arrived.  Ebay to the rescue.

I could have left the covers off,

But they make the faucet look so much better.

Now, on to a big project.

Gina

Little project: sewing room

 I am enjoying a slower pace for the rest of February and making space to be creative.  About two weeks after Scout moved out, I made that room into a sewing room/crafts room.  Its still in progress, but here is where I started:

The light in here looks yellowy, so I may look for daylight bulbs.  The shelves are not all that useful except to place things, so I set some odds and ends mementos on them:

The space underneath will be where I set up my ironing board when I need to use it.

When I was switching out the closet contents, I decided to remove all of the family portraits from frames and store them another way.  Underneath one I found this mid 90s poster print from our first home.  I forgot I had left it behind the portrait.  It felt like a full circle moment, so I decided to use it in here.

I used the rest of the gold spray paint from this project to take the frame from silver to gold, cleaned up the glass, and re-hung the print.

The ironing board is behind the open closet door.  I plan to leave the closet door open so I can access the contents of my craft and sewing supplies. 

The sewing table is a folding table we had up in the barn at Highlands.  It got a good scrubbing.  Scout left this chair, so I claimed it, for now.  I want a pretty pink office chair eventually.

Other than the future chair purchase*, I spent zero dollars on this room.  It has a lot of potential space for me to spread out and enjoy some peaceful creativity.

Its going to be a nice place to get started.

Gina

*I think I might be able to find a pretty pink boucle fabric to update this chair, though.