Spicy Dill Pickles and a Lesson!

This summer my brother Lee and I canned Spicy Dill Pickles and I learned alot!!
1. Get them as fresh as possible - and can them as soon as possible - we let ours sit all day and may be why they are a bit mushy.
2. Packing the jar is important - no critical! Now that we are done and you'll see in the photo - you MUST pack them as tightly as possible in the jar as they shrink.
3. Size matters - if we'd had some small and some medium the packing process may have gone easier.
4. Wedge the additional items like onion, jalapeno and dill in while packing.
5. Don't overcook in the canning process as it does make the cucumber part of the pickles a bit mushy. They still taste good - but no snap to our pickles!
6. Next year - make spicy dill pickle relish - I think that will be easier and I love the onions and peppers and garlic on sandwiches and in salads so add other things like carrots, zucchini, and celery chunks!
We actually used fresh regular dill - not pickling dill and the consensus is that people like that. We did put in more than we'd have used regular. But the flavor is not the issue - the mushy pickles are.

So here they are! Ta Da!!! Shrunk and all. These won't be gifts, but just wait until next year. We will have the best chopped pickle relish you've ever tasted!

A Labor of Love

Eliana, my grand-daughter turns 2 today! She has been the most amazing blessing in my and our families lives. It is hard to believe that it has already been 2 years - but that is how time goes - fast! She is independent, funny, loving, vocal, a mini me of her mama and we love her to pieces! I decided to make her a special gift and thought I'd show how I did it. The plan is for it to hold a special gift every year when she celebrates from her Bibi (that's me - swahili for grandma)

I started with a brown wooden box we had in our stash. I spray painted the hinges silver and sanded it to prep it for paint.                                                                                                            
                                                       
                                                       
Next I painted it green with latex paint. Then I used lace doilies to add some purple stencil design. You use spray glue to adhere it temporarily, paint and then after letting it set a bit peel the paper off and you are left with the design. I also painted and glued on little wooden feet to give it a different look.

 

I used a clear satin poly to give it a protective coating and also a bit of a sheen since the paint I used was flat. Then I added a few trim pieces - her name and paper inside to give it a few extra special touches.

I used a hot glue gun to add the flowers and the ribbon and a paint marker for her name.                                                                            

                                                                                                             
                                                                                                             
                                                                                                             
                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

I'm usually craft impaired, but this was such a fun project made with more love than skill! This year it will have a bracelet and necklace I also made - who knows what it will hold in the years to come - but fun treasures for my amazing grand daughter for sure!

The necklace and bracelet!

Can you paint a lampshade?

That was the question rolling around for me. After some research and mixed answers where some said yes, others no, I thought - guess I better give it a try to see. I had a perfectly good lampshade that I wanted a different color because it just didn't add anything to the decor of the room. I even shopped for the right color and didn't find it, so I decided to try the paint option.

 So here is what I did:

• Clean all the dust, cobwebs, etc off lampshade
• Tape the parts of the lampshade you don't want to get painted (you can stuff the inside with paper - it's easier than tape)
• Spray paint in one direction first - across the pleats. Go back and respray in an up and down motion. 

I used Metallic Bronze Rustoleum general use spray paint- not fabric paint, because I had it!
It worked! There is no paint smell at all when it is turned on - that was my worry. And it does have a sort of opaque color when lit -but the bronze color is exactly what I wanted in that room - not brown so it turned out GREAT!!

And now the new office with the newly painted lampshade - looking much better overall with the office decor.  It was a quick and easy project.

Table Make-Over

I have had this table for a long time and never liked the color of the top of it. It seemed too light for the dark base. Also in the room I had it in, it didn't seem to look quite right. I checked into getting a piece of granite for it and it would range from $350 - $400. I didn't want to put that much money into it and since the table is still in style I decided to paint it.

Step 1 - Tape paper to protect wood underneath the table top
Step 2 - sand the finish off
Step 3 - 2 coats of paint (used the type with primer) I went with the same color as my kitchen since this is a transition piece
Step 4 - 3 coats of Poly (I used the type that has acrylic in it so it has a stronger finish and shouldn't chip or get dings as easily.

It looks perfect and like the right piece of furniture for the space! And with a little time and some leftover paint - I now love the table. Do try this at  home!

A Gift that re-Purposes!

I love to find new uses for old things. My mom's birthday was approaching and I knew she wanted a bench for her front garden area. I had seen some very cool outdoor furniture in North Carolina that were bright colors but very expensive so I decided to re-purpose an old bench.

I loved the wrought iron and that it had a floral pattern. But the wood had broken and almost rotted. So I purchased all new wood. I cut them to fit the spaces, sanded them to round the edges a bit, sealed them, and painted them with 3 coats of outdoor paint. I then sprayed the wrought iron since it had some rusty spots, and then Chris helped me take it apart and we drilled new holes and put the new wood on and here is how it turned out!

I love it, my mom loved it and it looks amazing in front of her garden area. A fun project that took some elbow grease but was well worth it!

Before the Snow Flies

There are a few things I like to do each fall before the snow flies. One is make and freeze Pesto. Here is my favorite basic recipe and some photos. A couple things - you can modify things like what kind of cheese you use and what kind of nuts you use - it changes the flavor and the consistency a little. The BEST way I've found to freeze it is to put it in old fashioned ice cube trays to freeze then store it in ziploc bags or a freezer container. You can then take out how ever many cubes you need for your recipe or to use for bread dip etc. I love to add a cube of pesto to bottled spaghetti sauce to intensify the flavor. And since I love intense flavor - I use romano and parmesan cheese in mine - you can do only parmesan if you like it a bit milder.

Pesto
2 cups fresh basil leaves washed well (I fill my 12 cup cuisinart bowl)
3-6 cloves of garlic (I usually go with 4-5, I like it strong)
1/2 cup grated Romano Cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
1/2 cup pine nuts
1/2 - 2/3 cup olive oil

 Fill cuisinart bowl with basil and garlic, chop well.

Add the pine nuts and again chop well.

Add the cheeses and chop well. 

Give it a good dash of sea salt and some cracked pepper. Slowly add the olive oil while it is on until you have a creamy but not runny consistency

You want it to stay in the ice cube tray so want it to have substance.
Cover well and freeze immediately. Store in a freezer container or ziploc bag. This makes it so easy to take out what you need all winter long for your favorite recipe or a taste of summer!
Enjoy~

Really - is it so hard to Re-Use?

We just did a garage sale and Craigs List massive list last week. It can be alot of work! And sometimes people don't show up - or they just want stuff for free - but it is FREEING to reduce your stuff and get it to someone that can use it. It was great fun watching a group of boys pour over the CD's that no longer get listened to - and they kept asking - are these really only 50 cents! or the woman that bought our bike - her daughter really wanted her to ride with her - but she didn't really want to - but for $20. even if she tried it once - it was ok, because the investment wasn't huge, and so the story goes.

Our garage and closets are less cluttered - we have packed the remnants in boxes for the church youth garage sale and it feels great to have gotten some things to others that can use them. Try it - instead of filling up your garbage can - let someone else use what you don't anymore.

Craigslist  - great place to sell items that are still in good shape
half.com  - great place to sell books - especially textbooks the beginning of each semester
onesight.org - takes old glasses and redistributes
booksforafrica.org  takes all kinds of books
Habitat for Humanity ReStores - take construction and building supplies
sportsgift.org - takes gently used athletic equipment
onewarmcoat.org - takes coats in October
thewomensallianceorg and careergear.org - take business attire for women looking for jobs
therootsofmusic.com - takes used music instruments
cristina.org - the National Cristina Foundation - matches your tech equipment to needs

And I'm sure the list goes on and on - but before you toss it into the trash - think - who can use this!
And remember there is always someone looking for exactly what you don't need anymore!

Under Construction

So why the ladder? I have been away from blogging but wanted to get back to the premise and what I may post in blog world. Life is under construction for me - figuratively and reality wise. I've spent the last months doing projects. On myself - on my house - and as soon as I learn more about blogdom will post pictures.

I am really loving figuring out ways to repurpose things. I notice on garbage day - just how much we throw out. It seems there is no regard for how we can re-use things. I seems at times (from my realist point of view) if it's not perfect we get rid of it. We hear about how people get rid of people in their lives - they trade in for a different model for a partner. hat's happened to committment? Marketers have convimced people to get new cars every 2 years (been there, done that) Some throw out a perfectly good item that someone else needs - with no thought as to how they could find a way to give it away. Some just get rid of it because they want a 'new one'. I wanted a new light fixture after painting my kitchen - but found I could just spray  paint it - it looks brand new and cost me $7, I'm trying to really watch how I deal with that whole concept. How can I update something instead of buying new. Paint - fabric - move it - so I will share ideas on that.

Also how can we take care of others with things we no longer need? If we do a home project can we donate gently used items to organizations. I'll post ideas on that.

You may find favorite recipes - gardening ideas - things that I enjoy posted. So enjoy as I share my view of the world.

Mother's Love

Since Mother's Day is just around the corner - I have all kinds of thoughts on that day! I have a mother, I am a mother.

I have a mother and she is awesome! Mind you there were days that I wouldn't have said that along my path of life - but no matter our differences which at different times seemed many - she has been a constant. She has been a great example to learn how to me a mom. I knew she would be there for me and has been there for me. I love that saying that when we hit 23 or so - all of a sudden our mothers possess great wisdom that they hadn't in many years. I went through that phase - and now that my mom is aging and I've seen her mom pass - I want to be there for her as she's always been there for me!

I am a mother - and there is really no greater love than what I feel for my kids who are now young adults. Now trust me there have been phases when I may not have liked my kids choices - or their behavior but I have always felt so priveleged to be their mom. They are amazing individuals - so very different - but also there are similiarties. Now that they are grown I miss the family dinner times and the activities - but life is all about stages and there are many.

It is really fun to see my daughter who is now a mom - and an awesome one - and to have a new kind of love to experience that I understand now. That is the love of grandchildren. And just when you think you can't love someone as much as your own kids - these little beings enter the world and they have your total heart! We talk about how much of our brain we never use - and I love finding that there are places in my heart I've never used before.

Having just spent a week with my grandbabies - my heart is full. To hear my grandaughter call me Bibi (that's my swahili name for Grandma) warms my heart. To have her giggle and snuggle and watch her discover the world and love her brother and her mama and daddy - ah - the heart melts and bursts all at the same time!

So - just saying - I'm grateful to celebrate Mother's Day, as I know some can't. Because I'm so glad to have an amazing mom to honor and totally amazing kids to be a Mom to!

Focus!

Why is it when there is so much to do, there is so little focus? I just want to bypass today and get on the plane. But I have shopping, packing, cleaning, laundry, mailing, cooking, and all kinds of things to do before that can happen. I am so excited to be going to visit my amazing daughter, her hubby, and her beautiful kiddos! It seemed a long way off when we made our plans but time has sped by quickly.

So for today I need to focus and be purposeful to get the things done on my list! I was going to write about why I have a ladder on my blog page. But more about my life being a work in progress - under construction - constantly updating - later! For today the progress needs to be on updating my LIST! so here's to FOCUS!

Why "Good" Friday?

So when I woke up this morning - I wondered - why do we call it Good Friday? Why not Tragic Friday? or Bad Friday?  Now remember - I'm a realist - so things from my vantage point are not often gray! In my head,  I do know that sometimes there has to be bad so there can be good - and I know in my heart that I am forever grateful that Jesus died for me - for my sins and the sins of all - but I still have a hard time thinking of it as Good Friday. As much as I'm grateful for this day, I'm embarrassed that we humans have such heart issues and can do such things to hurt others. I remember when we went to the movie version of this time a few years ago and feeling such sadness.....and last night at the living last supper listening to the disciples wondering who would betray Him.....dark Friday......sad Friday.....but Good?

Oops - Forgot!

Since I'm new to this whole blogging thing - I forgot to add another post. Thought today I'd blog a bit about my new normal and why I easily forget!

3 years ago, I had a traumatic brain injury - TBI in the medical world. Up until that time - I was a fairly typical type A personality -driven - could more than multi task - as a matter of fact - often was working on or doing many things at once and that worked well for me and was very rewarding. I had 2 jobs - 2 kids - and did a stellar job at keeping LOTS balls in the air. That is why my new normal can be so exasperating! especially when people say, well you're just getting older, and that happens to us all. On March 2nd I could do all those things and do many of them well. After March 2nd  - not so much.

Now don't get me wrong - I am very grateful. It could have been way worse. The same injury and brain bleed on the other side of my brain could have destroyed my speech center. I only lost my sense of smell and taste - not sight and hearing. I could have died. That was a very real possibility. But I am here - able to talk - for the most part unless I'm really stressed and tired and get my words scrambled. I am walking around mostly functioning unless I do way too much and don't moniter my fatigue or get one of those debilitating headaches. So why do I call it the new normal?

I'm not as driven - just wish I could be! I can't multi task! and that can be very frustrating. I get tired - and used to not need sleep, but do now. I used to remember everything for everyone! And now can't remember what I did a couple hours ago or if someone called. I am easily distracted and live in the here and now, and for a perpetual planner, that can bring frustration because I remember who I used to be and recognize I am different. But try to be thankful that I am here to be who I am now and who I am becoming.

So there you have it - the new normal - or is it? Not really because we are all unique - I just have to learn to better appreciate MY uniqueness - I guess we all do!

Joining this blogging world! Am I crazy?

So lately I've realized that I have alot of thougths bouncing around and that a blog may be a great place to get them on paper so to say. So over the next days and weeks, I'll share thoughts from my realist point of view - which doesn't always fit nice and tidy into the current world view around me. What you'll get as a reader - straight talk -pondering - questions - thoughts from someone that sometimes finds herself wondering just what is the meaing of life.

I try not to appear pessimistic and wouldn't necessarily be viewed by many as an optimist - I leave that to my hubby - but really do just see things as they are. My gift/curse of discernment has not always made navigating through life smooth. But is is my view. To be able to see the broad picture of life in all small things, to see how things are interconnected and woven together proves to be interesting at times.

I'll share a life altering incident that happened a few years ago and changed who I am but not necessarily who I am at the core - just how I do life - I call it my new normal!

I'll share my hobbies and interests - my love of beauty, of living things, and of family!
And I look forward to your point of view as you join me on this ride!
Let's get REAL!!!