Sorry, Rock Star, I Found a New Love...

Vintage French Style Cutting Board

I missed a band gig last night because I was knee deep in sawdust. Rock Star forgives me because he knows my need to craft is as strong as his need to play music, so no divorce lawyers are going to get rich off of us - thank goodness!

 

Hickory Cutting Board

I spent the evening cutting, sanding and hand rubbing oil into my French vintage style cutting board. Yep, I said board, not boards. This one took me all evening. Hopefully, the next ones will be a little less time consuming, since I kind of know what I’m doing now. It was a labor of love. I loved the sweet nutty smell of the hickory as I sawed and sanded, and I adore the smooth, silky feel of the finished surface.

American Indian Bow and Arrows
uchicago.edu

Hickory hardwood is abundant in North America. It was used by Native Americans for their bows. Because it is very hard with a fine, dense grain, it makes perfect cutting boards too.  I love that I can use my scraps for barbeque smoke - nothing gets wasted!

Bleach HAZMAT Warning
globalindustrial.com

 Some people worry about germs and bacteria, but wood has been proven to be as safe, if not safer, than plastic. Although some recommend using chlorine bleach, that is something I absolutely do not think is safe. Chlorine may be a naturally occurring element, but it isn’t deadly just to germs. Frankly, I think we use far too many unsafe chemicals in our kitchens.

 

Organic White Vinegar

Instead, I recommend that you spray a wooden cutting board with white vinegar and wipe it with a damp clean cloth. Vinegar is a great disinfectant and does not leave a taste or odor on the wood. Depending on how often you use your cutting board for meats or veggies, you will need to apply a butcher block oil once every six to eight weeks. 

Block Brothers Block Oil

I like Block Brothers Block Oil. It is an all-natural oil with a mild lemon scent. Never soak the board in water or put it in the dishwasher!

Vintage French Style Bread Board

I’m adding these fabulous cutting boards to my Etsy shop - one at a time….as soon as I get the feeling back in my sanding arm.

Have you neglected your spouse lately?

It Is A Whole New Kitchen - My Pinterest Inspired Makeover

It was loads of work, but I could not be happier with my new kitchen.

Kitchen After

The kitchen has always been my favorite room in the house, but the oak cabinets were starting to show wear and the shiny brass fixtures were dated. 

Kitchen Before

Kitchen Before Transformation

Now it is impossible for me not to smile when I get up in the morning. I could spend my whole day here - if I didn't have to guard the garden from robins!

Kitchen After Transformation

Now all I need is new curtains...

Kitchen After

...maybe like these - are they not gorgeous?! I wish I could give credit, but I don't know who created this beautiful kitchen. If you do - please let me know so I can give the designer his/her props!

Via Pinterest

Thanks so much for letting me share my kitchen project!
Blessings,
Linda

Garden Update - Success!

Garden With Rabbit Protection

As you may know, last year I had rascally rabbit problems. I fenced out the big ones, but the babies squeezed in and had a feast. This year I got smart and put some fencing on the OUTSIDE of my cinder blocks. This garden is only 12' x 12', so the blocks weren't a huge expense. They were actually less expensive than redwood or cedar boards and I didn't want to use anything treated in an edible garden. There are tomatoes, peppers and parsley on the right. That's asparagus in front. It will remain there forever (if it survives) as it is a perennial  Of course, we won't be eating any asparagus this year, but these plants are a couple years old, so next year we should have at least a few sprouts. I'm finding that when it comes to gardening, patience is most certainly a virtue. It's one that I am slowly learning.

Strawberries in the Garden

On the left side, I have strawberries, peas, carrots and lettuce. Again, the strawberries will remain and come back next year. My pinwheels are back. They will keep the birds away. Do I sound very sure of that? Good, I wouldn't want anyone to know I have doubts...

Bean Poles

The center section of the garden has both pole beans and bush beans with some corn for good measure. I found out you only get 1 to 3 ears per cornstalk, so I didn't use up too much of my garden for corn. Mr. Angel at French Hollow grows FIELDS of corn and it is so sweet you'd almost give up chocolate - almost. So we will buy angelic corn if we don't have enough.

Cannas in Container

My rock patio is coming along nicely. I can't decide whether to fill in with mulch or some lovely creeping thyme. Depends on the budget I think. The cannas should do very well in this large pot. They have gorgeous red blooms that attract hummingbirds like crazy. That is my lily pond on the left. It needs another coat of terracotta paint. It is a small galvanized trough. When I first put it in the yard and painted it, one of my neighbors asked me where I got such a big flowerpot!

Water Lilies Beginning to Grow

 My water lilies have already begun to come up. I will add a few more water plants later in the season.

Fish Pond Spitter

This little guy is attached to my filter. He was black iron when I bought him (black...really?). I wish I had a before photo but my fish was BB (before blog). I gave him a nice bronze patina like the statues in the park.

And there you have it!  I have to tell you, this garden has been a blessing. I got laid off from my job last week and without the garden to sooth my soul, well, I don't want to think about it. The good news is I found another job right away and this one has gardener's hours! I go in late enough that I have time to garden before the day gets too hot and I go home early enough to have time to read my favorite blogs or shop at the garden center! Thanks for stopping by. How does your garden grow...do tell!

Ahhhhh...Spring!

Wisteria

These beautiful spring blooms are absolutely my favorite part of the  season. This wisteria covers a large part of the garage wall of my house. It's much nicer to see when I drive up than miles of vinyl siding.

Garden Path in Progress

And there is, of course, the work portion of our programming.  I'm putting rocks around my patio because they're so much more interesting than more cement would be and my patio is postage stamp size. The vegetable garden is in progress too - more photos soon. This year I think I have a good method for keeping the robins and turtledoves from munching my veggie sprouts. I'll keep you posted.

Blessings, Linda

Blogging - A World Wide Coffee Klatch

Kirby at Kirb Appeal, who I recently discovered and highly recommend reading, has a post that inspired me to think about what it is that gives me the urge to blog.

Jack LaLanne

In the past, when most women were stay at home moms (and dads said things like “no wife of mine will ever have to get a job”), my mama and other ladies in the neighborhood would take turns hosting coffee klatches. They’d drink gallons of coffee out of melamine cups, share recipes and knitting patterns and discuss whether to feed a cold or starve a fever. Sometimes, they even exercised with Jack LaLanne on TV.  I think someone who had tried to sell Amway or Avon every day, or never added anything to the conversation but constant complaining and whining would eventually stop getting invited. 

Originally, I started blogging because of an article I read at Etsy about using the social media to build your online presence and get attention for your shop. That has not happened for me. Though Facebook, Twitter and blogs may work as advertising tools for some, for me it isn't any fun, it takes too much time, and I don't like reading blogs that are nothing more than billboards for a shop or company anyway, so I sure don't want to write one like that. 

What did happen was that I discovered a world of ladies with whom I have things in common. Ladies who like to make things, cook things, decorate things, photograph things and even sell things. More importantly, I found ladies who want to share all the joys of life with which they are blessed. I thank them all for coming to my little coffee klatch - and for inviting me to theirs.

Blessings,

Linda

Inappropriate for the Office

S'murtle - Jilly's Cupcake Bar, St. Louis

My co-worker has a gorgeous calendar hanging above her desk. I pass by several times a day just to admire the calendar girls…cupcakes…beautifully decorated, fabulously photographed, yummy cupcakes. Damn them, they are totally inappropriate for the office (like that tart they hired for reception).  So I decided to start a calendar of my own. One much more office appropriate - not so decadent and distracting. I have my quarterly calender girls picked out already:

Spring Salad - pickycook.com

This is the young temptress, Miss Spring, dainty and sweet - sporting delicate baby greens and juicy ripe red strawberries. She’s lightly dressed, yes, but oh so innocent.

Summer Salad - annpurnacaterers.com

Miss Summer follows. Stunning, round, voluptuous melon balls, dark sweet grapes, slices of succulent peaches and a sprinkling of late season strawberries. She is sporting a sprig of mint and looks wonderfully cool sitting in her cantaloupe cup.

Autumn Salad - AskGeorgie.com

Following the fabulously hot Miss Summer, I’ve chosen a bold and sophisticated Miss Autumn. Simple and elegant, shredded purple cabbage decorated with the season’s crispy red apples, she’s dressed in a tangy mustard vinaigrette. It’s just the right amount of coverage for her tantalizing sweet crunchiness.

Winter Salad - wisefitnesstips.com

Finally, the well-seasoned Miss Winter. Preserved beets and sun dried tomatoes snuggle with lettuce, green onion, cucumber and lovely farmer’s cheese. She is sporting a sprinkling of dried herbs from the garden and a smidge of olive oil and red wine vinegar.

See, it IS possible to be tantalizing without being sinful. I may just have something here…

Happy Easter

May you each have a wonderful day filled with family, friends and the blessings of the season!