Open Cabinets

We're still painting the cabinets, so right now the doors are off. I'm thinking that I like the openess of them, but then again I'm not sure. We're almost finished painting and I can't wait!!!!!

Outdoor Wednesday - First Sign of Summer

I'm participating in Outdoor Wednesday hosted by Susan at A Southern Daydreamer. This is the first sign of summer around here when we set out our tomato plants. Mama always buys me and my sister our tomato plants every year. Last year there were 4, which was wayyyyyyy too many. So this year we scaled back to 3. We had so many tomatoes last year, we couldn't give them away fast enough. We gave them to our neighbors, friends, work, church, everywhere. You wouldn't believe how fast they grow and how big they grow! We always grow Big Boy Tomatoes. Mama says those are the best! A tomato sandwich on white bread with mayo, salt and pepper is a summer staple in the south....almost everyday for lunch and sometimes summer. I'll keep you posted on their growth.

Goodwill Find

Look at this cute pitcher I found at the Goodwill store on Saturday! It was only $2.00!!! I don't know what the number 7 means but I like it! It matches my kitchen perfect too.

Met Monday

Today is Met Monday over at Susan's at Between Naps On The Porch. You should go over and visit all of the changes that have taken place in other blog lands. While I'm waiting on Hubby to finish painting the cabinets I thought that I would repot one of my plants. It's called a Schefflera plant. It's really quite pitiful looking, and I keep thinking that it's dying, but new growth keeps sprouting out. Normally, I wouldn't even mess with a plant like that, but this one is special to me. When I lived in Gastonia, my three friends, Sheila, Donna and Lynn gave that to me when my Grandpa passed away. That was back in 1991, so it's 18 years old! They were so special to me and I always think of them when I'm watering it. I really can't believe that it is still alive, but it is...maybe Grandpa has something to do with it! Anyway, it was in an ugly pot and I was tired of looking at it. Yesterday, while I was at Jerry's (where I go every Saturday), I noticed this huge pot and thought it would match my kitchen perfect, and guess what, it did! I think it looks so much better and hopefully it will thrive in its new container.

Happy Sunday

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday. I'm going to my friend Aileen's house this afternoon to talk decorating. She wants to re-do some rooms. That's always fun, especially when it's someone else's house. It seems that Spring does that to us...makes us want to re-do things. It's been beautiful here this weekend.....finally. It's been so cool and windy all Spring, but it's been in the 80's today. The flowers and trees are finally starting to bloom. This pink dogwood tree is what I see everyday when I back out of my garage. It's actually in my sister's yard, but I enjoy it more than she does, because of where it's located.

The Dogwood Tree

When Christ was on earth, the dogwood grew

To a towering size with a lovely hue.

Its branches were strong and interwoven

And for Christ's cross its timbers were chosen

Being distressed at the use of the wood

Christ made a promise which still holds good:

"Not ever again shall the dogwood grow

To be large enough for a tree, and so

Slender and twisted it shall always be

With cross-shaped blossoms for all to see.

The petals shall have bloodstains marked brown

And in the blossom's center a thorny crown.

All who see it will think of Me,

Nailed to a cross from a dogwood tree.

Protected and cherished this tree shall be

A reflection to all of My agony."

Anonymous

Foodie Friday

I am participating in Foodie Friday by Michael at Designs By Gollum. You have got to click onto her blog and just see the cake that she has made for today. It's my favorite - chocolate!!!! I got busy and made some homemade bread. This recipe makes 3 loaves, which of course you can freeze, but we're eating on one, my brother-in-law came over after the other, and I'm taking the last one to work. Here is the recipe. It's really simple, even though there are several steps:

Starter:

3/4 cup sugar

3 T. instant potatoes

1 cup warm water

1 pkg. yeast

Mix together, put in a quart jar with a paper towel over it and a rubber band. NO LID. Let set overnight. In the morning, put the starter in refrigerator for 3-5 days.

Bread:

3/4 cup sugar

3 T. instant potatoes

1 cup warm water

Take starter out of refrigerator and feed with the above ingredients. Mix them together and add to starter and let stand out of refrigerator all day. That night, take out 1 cup and return the rest to refrigerator. Keep in the refrigerator for 3-5 days and feed again. If you don't make it within 3-5 days, take a cup out and either give away or throw away. This prevents it from going flat.

Now to make the bread. Mix together:

1/2 cup corn oil

1 cup starter

1/3 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups warm water

6 cups Pillsbury bread flour

1 T. salt

Put dough in an oiled bowl and let set overnight to rise. DO NOT REFRIGERATE.

In the morning, divide into 3 oiled loaf pans and cover with saran wrap. Let rise all day and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Delicious!

Administrative Assistant Day

Yesterday was Administrative Assistant Day or as I like to call it Secretary's Day. I don't know when the name changed, but it means the same to me. I got flowers and a beautiful jar of biscotti. I'm definitely bringing the jar home for my kitchen....empty of course. Food doesn't last long around them!!!!!

Wisteria Bird - Outdoor Wednesday

I know ya'll think I take a lot of pictures of birds....well, I guess I really do. I just love to watch them. I saw this one sitting on my Wisteria tree this morning. I don't know what kind it is, so if anyone out there does, please let me know. I love wisteria, and mine is just starting to bloom!!! Visit A Southern Daydreamer for more outdoor posts.

Met Monday - My Shelf (Again)

I know ya'll are getting tired of seeing this same old shelf, but I have changed it again. I know Easter is over, but I can't bear to put these cute rabbit plates away, so I put them on the shelf. Notice also that we changed the sponged painted wall to the Tobacco Road color. I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. We got the top kitchen cabinets painted this weekend and maybe next weekend we'll do the bottom and then we'll be finished. Yay!!! To see more changes, check out Susan's blog at Between Naps On The Porch..

New Cookie Jar

For those of you who live near a Cracker Barrel, they have all of their Easter items 60% off. My sister talked me into buying this cookie jar that matches my plates last night. It was only $10.00. Of course, she didn't have to talk long, because here it is on my cabinet.

New Lamp

I got the cutest lamp at Home Goods the other day. It just matches my kitchen. You can't tell by this picture because it's upclose. You'll just have to take my word for it and yes we're still painting the kitchen. Hopefully we'll be finished soon and I can show the entire results!

60 Year Old Shelf

This is a shelf that my Uncle Allen made in high school back in the 40's. He was killed in a car accident when he was just 16, so this means a lot to me. You can see that it's not cut out exactly even, but it still doesn't matter. He was just a kid. I painted it and hung it in my kitchen. Hubby thinks it needs another coat of paint, but I told him I was going for the distressed look. He thinks I've accomplished it he said! All I need now is a knob for the drawer.

Outdoor Wednesday

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch, is hosting Target Birds on Holiday and Susan at A Southern Daydreamer is hosting Outdoor Wednesday, so I just combined mine. It seems that a lot of us bloggers have purchased the cute bird salt and pepper shakers at Target. So, we are supposed to do something creative with them besides leave them sitting on the table. Look where I found mine: outside in my wisteria tree that is just beginning to bloom. So I killed two birds with one stone - well you know what I mean!!!

Barn Star

We're still working on the kitchen!!! This weekend I took my burgandy barn star that I had hanging in the garage and sprayed it white and put it in the kitchen. I'm finding out that you can spray paint just about anything and make a huge difference!

Scenic View

On our way shopping Saturday, Me, Mama, and my niece, Hannah, pulled over and took this picture of the mountains. It was such a pretty day and I happen to have my camera in the car with me. Sometimes you just don't realize what you have around you. We drive this road alot and usually don't even notice them that much, but today we did!

Happy Easter

I hope everyone has a Happy Easter!!

Easter Sports Eggs

Here are my easter eggs that I dyed several years ago. I thought the sports kit was so cute and believe it or not they turned out just like they were supposed to. Hope everyone has a Happy Easter!!!

Pine Trees

I hope everyone has a Good Friday. I'm off work today which I should help Hubby paint some more on the kitchen, but on my day off, I think I'll go shopping. He has to do some trim work, so by the time he finishes that, I'll probably be back.....maybe! Anyway, this is something my sister sent me that I wanted to share. I have no idea if it's true or not, but I thought it was interesting:

The Pine trees start their new growth in the weeks before Easter -- if you look at the tops of the Pine trees two weeks before, you will see the yellow shoots. As the days get closer to Easter Sunday, the tallest shoot will branch off and form a cross. By the time Easter Sunday comes around, you will see that most of the Pine trees will have small yellow crosses on all of the tallest shoots. MAY GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU WATCH FOR THE CROSS AND MAY IT SERVE AS A REMINDER THAT IT WAS UPON A CROSS THAT JESUS DIED. HE DIED FOR YOUR SINS AND MINE. HAVE YOU ACCEPTED THAT? HAVE YOU ACCEPTED HIM AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR? IF NOT, NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO ACCEPT HIM. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FREE GIFT HE GAVE YOU, THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE.

Tablescapes At Church

I have never taken the time to do a tablescape, even after I bought some cute Easter plates. So I thought I would show you some pictures from a tablescape night at my church. The table that I helped with is the one with the giant sunflowers and leopard print plates. I hope you enjoy them!! Please go on over to Between Naps On The Porch to see the others.

Outdoor Wednesday

I've started getting my zoom lens out for my camera and taking "UP CLOSE" pictures of birds. That seems to be the only way to get near them is with the zoom lens. This robin is the only bird that even sat still for 5 seconds to let me take its picture. Hopefully more birds will soon cooperate. Drop by Susan's to see other outdoor pics.....

Easter Ped Egg

I know this is an egg of a different kind, but it is called the Ped Egg. I know ya'll have seen them advertise on TV, but it is the absolute best thing that I have seen in a while. It is just like getting a pedicure at the salon. You wouldn't believe the results! You have GOT to get one. They have them at CVS and Walmart and they're only $9.99. Better yet, maybe you'll find one in your Easter basket this year.

Kenny's Birthday

Today is my brother-in-law's birthday. His name is Kenny and he married to my sister, Tina. He is the pastor of our church and he turned 51 today. He is a HUGE Carolina Tarheel fan. You can bet he is hoping for them to win the NCAA tournament tonite!

12th Met Monday

I'm participating in the 12th Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch. Of course, we are still painting the kitchen. We had rounded the bend from the hallway and finished the tiny wall and the door going down to the basement. Remember last week I had painted the door the wrong color? Well now it's the right color....not that you can tell the difference, but anyway, this wall is done. I looked everywhere for a cute door knob, but was unable to find one. I actually bought one at Lowe's and had Hubby put it on, but then I hated it after it was on. So he put the old one back on until I find something that I love. Trust me...he will be so glad when this project is finished! I don't know why there is a line across the door on the bottom picture. It looks like a dent, but it's not. It must be the sunlight shining in..

Strength

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Philippians 4:13

This is a very powerful verse and one that I have fallen back on many times....

Odd balls

I found these balls at JC Penney's the other day. They were on sale and I had a $10.00 off coupon so I got all 3 for $5.00. I had no idea what I was going to do with them, but I just knew that I wanted them. So when I got home I put them together in a basket and put them on one of my tables in the den. I love these odd balls.

New Birdcage

I found this birdcage at Etc., my favorite consignment shop in Winston Salem yesterday. It has been there a while, so it was marked down to 50% off. I had no idea where I was going to put it, but that has never stopped me before. So I put it in the newly painted hallway. We'll just see how long it will last, before one of the other two (that lives here) knocks it over. I found a couple of other items also at a steal, but my camera battery died, so hopefully I can post them tomorrow!

Outdoor Wednesday

Please stop by to see Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for other Outdoor Wednesday pics. It's always fun to see other states and how different everyone's seasons are! I thought this picture was appropriate since it's so close to Easter. Actually, I took this picture on Easter morning last year. I was in the bathroom getting ready for church and I looked out the window and there he sat. I started yelling for Hubby to hurry and get the camera while I kept an eye on him. Yep, Ole Peter Rabbit showed up just in time for Easter!!!!