You're so crafty! Part One

Is it just me or does being crafty make you think of glue and popcycle sticks!

(Oh...Can you believe it?  2 posts in 2 days!  I'm on a roll, people!)

I know you're all saying..."Get on with it!"

Okay, I was at the local craft store  the other day and I had a project in mind.  One of the things I needed was an initial of our last name.  The metal ones with cut-outs were $24.99 (of course I had downloaded the 40% off coupon, but really...)  So, this is what I came up with (and only a mere fraction of the cost!)

What you need:

                                     

           Wood letter, paint, wood appliqués, rub-n-buff, and hot glue

                                             (I had the glue, rub-n-buff and paint.)

                                            

                                                           Glue on the appliqués.

                                        

                                                  Paint black or any color you wish.

                                          

                                    Highlight appliqués with rub-in-buff.  I used silver.

Disclaimer:

                       Do as I say, not as I do!  Use gloves if you paint the sides!

                                            

Ya'll be crafty, 'k?

Later,

Debbie

Closing

We're trying to close on our old house.  The buyers had an inspector to come in and he was a JERK!  (I've called him some other not-so-nice words).  So, I've been running around putting out fires.  He wrote a 50 page inspection report which scared the young couple because they're first-time home buyers.  There's really nothing majorly wrong with the house, but he made it sound as if there were.  For instance, he wanted us to drill a hole in a $5000 piece of seamless granite which had been treated to never need polishing all for....wait for it...a $5.oo device that plumbers say is obsolete.  So...I had to call the company and have them e-mail a letter stating that drilling or cutting into the granite would compromise the integrity of the material and void the warranty.  And I'm having to do this with several of his recommendations.  Debbie. is. not. happy.

I also have been driving to Decatur at least once a day...40 minutes there...40 minutes back!

Okay...I'll quit having my pity party and show you what I see everyday on my way home!

                                

                                              Wait for it.....

 

              Wait for it.....

 

                                             

                                                      Ta Dahhhhhhhh                                    

Click on the picture, the colors are gorgeous!  It's what makes the drive worth it!

Later,

Debbie

View from the porch...

                                

                         

            

Life is pretty good. 

1.  We sold our house in Decatur. 

2.  I'm getting all my furniture and "stuff" moved to the farm...finally!

3.  My family is healthy and happy (as far as I know).

4.  Alabama is #1!

What more could I want?

Now I'm off to pack up the attic and garage so that William and one of his friends can bring the "stuff" here.  I've hired some professionals to move the furniture Saturday.  David will be home  Oct. 30th and our closing is Nov. 2nd.  So...I'll be busy for the next week or so.  Be back soon!

Later,

Debbie

S is for SOUP

Occasionally, my son has called and asked for a recipe or wants to know how to cook something.  'Bama Girl has also asked me to write down some of my recipes because she's thinking of moving into an apartment next year. 

So.  I decided to use my blog to put a few recipes up for the "cooking-challenged" .  This is "sorta-semi-homemade".  Anyone who is not so challenged should know that  my children do not know their way around a kitchen.  I'm not even sure they own a  measuring cup, know the difference between T. and t. (For their benefit:  T = tablespoon...t = teaspoon) and I'm pretty sure neither have ever opened a cookbook!  That being said...my first recipe.

                                                 Vegetable Beef Soup

Ingredients: 

Stew meat (fat removed)                          1 cup flour

2 pkg. frozen soup vegetables                 1 can Rotel tomatoes

1 can Petite cut tomatoes                          1 can Tomato soup

2 cans beef broth (use soup can)            1 onion

Seasoning salt, garlic powder, pepper (1 t. each)

1/4 cup oil

                                 

Put oil into pot and heat on medium high.

Mix flour and seasonings on plate or in bowl; dredge meat in this mixture:

                                     

     (I'll not use a white plate for taking pictures again.  Live and learn!)

Put meat into pot and stir frequently so all the meat will brown.

                                         

                                              The flour will help thicken the soup.

While the meat is browning, rough chop the onion.

                                                  

Add the onion to the meat and cook about 5 minutes or until onions are almost done.

                                        

*I don't like tomato pieces in my soup...that's just me!  So...I put the Rotel and Petite tomatoes in my handy dandy Magic Bullet!  This is optional.

                                                                  

Add the tomatoes, soup, and beef broth to the meat mixure.

                                            

Add frozen veggies.

                                         

Cook on stovetop for 3-4 hours or in the crockpot 8 hours.  (Guess what my kids are getting for Christmas?)

Taste before serving...may need more salt (mine did!).

Serve with cornbread muffins (get a box and read the directions...duh!).

                                        

This really is a good recipe, quick and easy when you're in a hurry.  If you're not in a hurry you can chop your own veggies, use homemade broth, make your muffins from scratch...whatever...I'm not sure I  like you anyway...you... you... Stepford Mom!   ; )   

Later,

Debbie

PS:    Roll Tide  #1

I ain't got nuthin'!

Really.  I'm not even sure why I'm writing tonight.  Just something to do until Survivor comes on I guess.  Are any of you watching it?  Oh you should!  Evil Russell is really, really evil!

I'm still working on the house and trying to make it mine.  I guess the reason it's so hard to make it into "home" is because I don't have all my furniture...all my stuff!  Not only is my furniture still in the other house (staging!), but all my kid's baby things, toys, and all my Christmas decorations and tree are still there.  I realize I don't need my "stuff" , especially the Christmas "stuff", but  just knowing it's not here bothers me.  And not having the furniture is really killing me.  Right now all I have is a couch, a bedroom suit, TV's (plural...'cause you know we couldn't leave them!) and two barstools.  It's kinda like camping!

I also miss David...he's in West Palm Beach, FL.  On the beach.  In a condo.  (But, he's working...not playing!)

I've been working, too.  Wanna see?

                                             

You can see it better if you click on the picture.  See it?  See what?  The cornice!  I made it today.   Pretty, huh?  And I'm not finished.  I've got to make panels, another cornice for another window, shades, and....yadda, yadda, yadda!  The list goes on! 

I'm going to Birmingham tomorrow to see 'Bama Girl and her Rugby Boy.  (Oh...btw she's playing rugby this year...those braces were expensive,  just sayin'!)  Anyway, we're going shopping at the Galleria and out to eat.   Rugby Boy has to go back to UA because he has a rugby game (go figure!) and she and I will be staying overnight.

I'm really hoping the storms that are being forecast will not be as bad as they're saying.  I'm not so much worried about us as I am Chance and Cheddar.  I hate leaving them home alone, but really hate  when it's storming.

Well...I had more than I thought I did...who knew?

Btw...Alabama plays Ole Miss!  Roll Tide, ya'll!

Later,

Debbie