More Birds, In an Entry Way and on a Budget

The entry way in my house is not a normal square pad or rectangle pad.  My entry way has four different entrances.  The front door, a step down in to the dining/living room, a double door into the kitchen and a step down into the wet bar-which will be turned in to a small desk area as soon as I finish the other 20 projects in various stage of completion!  We have lived here for 10 years (3,650 days) and this area has always been a very big thorn in my side!

Finally, I have finally been able to create a space that is very welcoming.

I had been wanting an antique birdcage and during my Central Texas antique tour with my dear friend Jeanine, I was able to find one in Round Top. 

I have a beautiful Queen Anne dresser I inherited from my Grandmother.  I am surprised it is in such good shape, because when I was a little girl at every visit I would go through every draw to see what was new.  The jewelry box that always set on top was also visited often.

I added the church bird house in the top picture and then,

I added 2 buffet table laps that I had in another room.  The mirror was a bedroom find!

I found this sweet bird at a local antique store for $6.95, added a nest that I also found there for $4.50.  It makes the bird cage serve its purpose!

I found the 2 branches on sale for $1.50 each.  The welcome sign was another decorating item that had been stashed away for another day, well that day has come!

I had this navy blue material, I had bought for another project (that didn't get made!), so I used it as a table runner.  I found the cute little plate and metal birdie that I used as a key ring for the front door on sale for 50% off, along with the three metal bird plates on the wall.  All for less than $20.

And now for the Finale!

My Review of Kano Backless 24" High Faux Leather Counter Stool

Originally submitted at Lamps Plus

Solid wood construction, a reddish walnut finish, and luxurious faux leather make this counter bar stool a classic choice for your kitchen or dining room. Neatly tucks under a counter and provides comfortable seating.

• 15" wide.
• 24" high.
• Counter height seat.

Kano Backless 24" High Faux Leather Counter Stool

Perfect for Price

By BeeBee from Lewisville, TX on 2/2/2011

 

4out of 5

Pros: Easy To Assemble, Sturdy, Comfortable

Cons: Ht little lower than adv

Best Uses: Kitchen Island

Describe Yourself: Midrange Shopper

Great price! Looks really good in my renewed kitchen. Tucks under the island perfectly.

(legalese)

Three Birds on a Mantel

Having a bare mantel for almost a month was not cool!  I missed the Christmas lights and decor that made it sparkle all day long.  Having my dearest friends here for the week-end, Jeanine ran across a trio of  ceramic goldish, brown birds.  Coming up with some other objects around the house, I now have a pretty, soothing mantel!


I have had the topiaries for several years. They were in tin buckets and I tried to paint, but didn't like that either. In Joann's about a week ago I found a roll of ribbon "bark". The perfect fix to those not so attractive tin buckets.

Here are the precious birds that Jeanine found for me while visiting from Florida last week!

My husband had brought home some HUGE acorns last year, I added those. . . some cinnamon sticks, out of a candle that could burn no more . . .some tiny, tiny pine cones I had from a trip to Red River, NM, almost 30 years ago . . . lastly some thin blue and brown ribbon I had in the craft room.

I think I'll get nests for the birds to sit in, maybe a few little blue eggs and taadaa, I have a new pretty, soothing mantel! Best part it will cost me the cost of the little birds nests and how much can that be?

Christmas Shopping Fun!

I was doing last minute Christmas shopping and headed down to Fogo de Chao to get a gift certificate. I was doing a no-no, talking on my cell while going down I35, and I missed my exit. Since we are working on updating our kitchen, I thought I would stop by Fabric Factory, because I don't get down there that often. On my excursion, I had brought a blue bag to put all the gift cards in that I was accumulating.

Got out of the car with the blue bag and my handbag, open the trunk, throw the blue bag in the trunk to keep it safe. A nano second before the truck closed, I realized I had the blue bag on my shoulder and can you guess the rest? My handbag, keys, cell phone, wallet and all my other worldly treasures were locked in the trunk! Yes, I am 22.1 miles and 29 minutes (40 minutes IF there is traffic - Galleria, 2 days before Christmas, no IFs here) ...just a little ways from another set of keys.

I go into Fabric Factory hanging my head like a dog that just lost his bone, and ask to use the phone, hoping that I get an answer on the other end of the line. My wonderful, loving husband answered and as I stumble through the story, thinking he is going to explode, he is fantastically unfazed by the new task that has been added to his busy day!

Thirty-five minutes later, my worldly treasures have been rescued from the dark and cavernous trunk!
Thanks to my knight in shining armor who rescued the day!

And thank you to all the great people at Fabric Factory that let me sit on a beautifully upholstered couch!  Rest assured that I will be back for my fabric on a less stressful day!
You can visit Fabric Factory at http://www.fabricfactory.com/

My Husband's Daughter

There comes a time in every young girl's life that she wants her father. My husband and Kelly's mother were divorced when she was just a toddler. Her mom remarried. Even though, try as he might, my husband was unable to keep a constant presence in his daughter’s life. There were several attempts at different ages to become connected again with her. I am testament to one such attempt when Kelly was around 14 years old. She visited us around Christmas and I dressed my daughter and Kelly in matching footy pajamas. They at least acted like they were excited!

There comes a time in every woman’s life that she wants her father. My story is similar to Kelly’s in a lot of ways. My parents divorced when I was 11 and because of my circumstances, I was not back to a consistent relationship with my father until I was 30 something. We met one day and I got his side of the story and then realized that there are at least two sides to every story. As our relationship renewed, I felt closeness that I had rarely experienced with my father before and it was wonderful!

The love between a young girl or a 30 something woman and her father can never be as sweet as this moment captured in time!

Pickled What?

My mother-in-law, Mama Lou, calls me on Friday to tell me about this great new recipe, "Pickled Grapes." OK, I have heard of okra, asparagus, and onions being pickled. Even eggs and one of my dad's after work snacks "Pickled Pigs Feet." That one I always declined to try!

So when Saturday dawns, I decided to try my hand at "pickled grapes." Mama Lou had told me the ingredients, so I went to the internet and found one that had all the correct spices, garlic, rosemary, red pepper flakes. I did all my Saturday errands and stopped at the local Tom Thumb last for groceries. Red, green, black grapes...check...rosemary, garlic...check...white vinegar, kosher salt...check. Sugar was in the pantry and we always have red pepper flakes.  Look for pint jars - none to be found. Jaclyn was with me and volunteered (I think) to go to Wal-Mart and get the jars.

While she was gone, I plucked the grapes off the stems and washed them well. When she arrived, we started making the pickled part. Water, rosemary . . . . . where's the rosemary? All three of us; I, Jaclyn and Ronnie looked everywhere, the fridge, the trunk of the car, the pantry, the microwave (I have been known to put items in there that belonged elsewhere). Looked at the receipt and I paid for it so . . . into the car and back to Tom Thumb. Customer Service was very nice and told me to go get another package.

Back to the house, add red pepper flakes. . . . NONE, I can't believe it, we have NONE.  This is a staple in the pantry and there are NONE.  Text the neighbor and a few minutes later her great kids show up with a baggy of red pepper flakes.  OK, we are ready but, did we put in the sugar, vinegar, kosher salt? Don't really remember, but we continued with the rosemary and garlic. Mama Lou's jars had a stick of rosemary, our recipe said to take the needles of a 4" stem of rosemary, so we did. Simmered this concoction and then poured over the grapes in the jar; made 3 pints. Let the jars cool to room temperature, and then into the fridge for at least an hour. By now it is time for Ronnie to cook our mini-steaks on the grill.

Bedtime. Ronnie and I decide to try the grapes - Mama Lou, REALLY? You liked these?!?!? Then I started thinking about the day. I think we may have skipped a few ingredients - mainly the sugar - oh, yea the vinegar was supposed to be white WINE vinegar. 

So come this Saturday, Jaclyn will be gone to the Citizen's Police Academy and Ronnie will be at Christian Brothers doing free oil changes for single mothers, and I will go the grocery store and buy more grapes, white WINE vinegar, stock up on red pepper flakes and check my bag before I leave to come home and make "Pickled Grapes Uninterrupted!"

The funniest part though was when Jaclyn came back over on Sunday. We told her how good they were and she tried one and promptly spit it out!

Here is a beautiful picture of Mama Lou’s “Pickled Grapes.”  Below is the recipe!
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Crispy Fall Weather - Fall Mantel Party 2010

It is so wonderful to finally feel the cool air and the renewal of my spirit. The 100+ temperatures in North Texas made me very “dewy.” I should have bought stock in P&G for deodorant alone!

Fall Mantle Party at the Nester

As soon as the morning air was the slightest crisp, it was time to celebrate by decorating my mantel to bring this new season into my home.

The cornucopia was made several years ago. I bought “fall bushes” took the flowers and leaves apart and glued them to round stryfoam ball. Since orange is not my favorite color, I choose more of the purples and reds. The candle holders and candles I received a couple of Christmas’s ago from my boss (yes, she is a female).