Category: Uncategorized

Flying the Coop

…oh, how I wish I were… to the British West Indies or  St. John or The Maldives… you know.. someplace where they don’t grow snow.

  But what I’m really blogging about today is chickens and flying the idea around to see what I come up with.  It looks as if the Mr. is in approval of the idea. Now I have had horses and dogs and cats and rabbits and birds and fish and a goat, hamsters, gerbils, mice and even a rat – ever so briefly.  But I have never owned poultry so I’m treading in unfamiliar waters here. 

I’ve been looking at coops…there are a zillion of them online –  and here’s what I like so far in the way of design.

  I’ve researched the hearty egg-laying chicken breeds, and these appeal to me –

Black Australorp (sp?) 

Buff Orpington (SP???)

Rhode Island Red

Brahma
  Skyline Hen  (lays blue eggs!  How cool is that! )

 I researched hearty breeds because of the cold temps here in the winter.  Have I whined enough about the three feet of snow with six foot drifts we have outside?  And did I mention the nor’easter that is threatening to arrive next Tuesday?   Am I crazy to want to shovel out to a chicken coop  on top of the dog bathroom run we already shovel in this kind of weather to chip out frozen water feeders?

White Out

 Yesterday the snow began to fly.  Most of the day looked like this…

 So we did some of this ….

 The fire burned out and we went to bed… to awake this morning to this…

 That’s the top of the adirondacks around my little fire pit, right there.

 So the rest of the day is going to look like this….

Old Family Photos… in the Loo?

 Why not? …. who’s rules am I following, anyway…

This downstairs bathroom needed something.

  We still have boxes and boxes in the basement that have not been unpacked since our move. These family photos used to hang in our old dining room and I love them dearly – so why not put them where they will get full attention.  You’re just sitting there, guest or resident…….might as well have something to look at, right?

 Some of you might be disturbed by the random assignment and slight crooked
appearance of  these photos..I don’t read instruction manuals
and I don’t measure before I hang pictures. It’s just how I roll.
 

I don’t always iron curtains when they come out of the dryer, either – although these are getting ironed
because they’re even too wrinkly for me.
That’s the dog sink – their food is underneath and they go IN
when they need a bath. 

 My grandmother Elsie – I still have that wedding dress.

 My Dad, who I resemble… except for the ears.
Mike’s father, who passed away recently.
Handsome, he was.

And this is one of my favorites.  Mike’s dad and his brothers are hanging out on the edge of their
“swimming pool”.  Their father had a fruit and vegetable store and he had lots of crates from
the produce.  This “pool” is made of crates in a circle with a tarp laid over it and filled with water.

 My aunt and uncle, who still kiss like this at 78 and 80 years of age. She made that dress for their engagement party.   They sleep in a full size bed, not even a queen. I asked them why they never got themselves a bigger bed and she said  “I can’t sleep if we’re not touching back to back, cheek to cheek.”    I don’t know if that’s down-right adorable or too much information.
Either way, it makes me smile.

Everything but the Kitchen Sink

…. because there are dirty dishes in there that I’ve been ignoring all day.

  Thank you all for the compliments on our kitchen – In our previous home the kitchen was too big and it felt  isolated from the rest of the house. This time around I wanted a more open feel, especially when we have company. This Old House lent itself perfectly to my ideal, mainly because in the old homes the kitchen, or “keeping room” was the main Hub of the house activites.  Our dining room, kitchen eating area and island work space are all one big area, the entire back of the main frame (the original box) of the house.

 These are the chickens who reside in my kitchen sink window –
I’ve been contemplating building a coop out back for the real deal…
Feel free to tell me it’s a crazy idea….any time now!

These wingbacks were given to us by the previous owner of the house. They date back 100 years – and the upholstery was probably original.  The stuffing-cushioning were in pretty good shape, so I reupholstered them in this coral/cream/brown print and they look like new again. They don’t make things like they used to.

The two prints above the fireplace were my grandmothers.  They are floral prints from the Smithsonian, one in the month of August and one in November – my grandparents birth months.  Many years ago they  were hung on the wall over their headboard.

 Our small kitchen table and breakfast nook – This area needs some decorating help. Haven’t gotten to that yet.

Dining table area –  this is a tiger maple set with black crackled chairs –
Haven’t figured out what I want to do with the windows yet…
KIM!!!!!  HELP!!!

 I don’t know why there is fog to the right in this picture. A  previous tenant, perhaps?

And then there were Two

  So I told you about the new fish, and the demise of poor Henry.  Today it was a miserable 15 degrees by the time the sun warmed everything up and I had it up to here with the hybernating we did over the weekend.  So… I got to thinking…. I had an old fish bowl that we used in the Artisan Gallery sitting under the sink…and I also had a need for something GREEN to counter all that WHITE outside (more to come….hey Al…what  happened to global warming??).

   I hopped in the car and gravity pulled me right down to the TJMAXX parking lot. Once I’m there I might as well go inside…and so I did.  I found these awesome crackled flower pots for $7.99.  Perfect size for my two Christmas cactus that were in need of more breathing room.   Then I got back in the car and  that darned gravitational pull kicked in again.  This time I found myself at Pier 1 Imports!… might as well go in.  And I found this awesome wooden tray, my most expensive buy of the day at $30.  Back in the car I go heading home, and wouldn’t ya know…gravity – right at the doorstep of JoAnns fabrics – where I found this awesome moss and moss covered rocks for $3.99.  Joann’s is right down the street from an aquarium supply store….well I couldn’t leave a fish bowl empty…and I had this plan, you see.

To make this…

 The two kings in their side by side kingdoms  have already exchanged sentiments…..

If I could only find a mini three inch version of one of these….

A Fish Tale

 I have a confession to make.  I killed Henry, it’s that simple.


 
 Every few days I gave Henry fresh distilled water that I keep under the sink.  I carefully tip the bowl just enough so that water flows over the edge into the sink (you see where this is going already, don’t you) getting rid of  the  food, plant and fish waste that sinks to the bottom.  Someone distracted me for a second the other day, I turned to answer a question and Henry… flopped…out.  I quickly scooped him up and placed him back in his bowl….only to find that my pinky finger had jammed into his gill in doing so and it was perpetually OPEN.  I stroked it, trying to get it to lay flat again, but it was clear he was drowning.  Wasn’t a darn thing I could do.   You’re welcome for the visual. 

I felt sick, heartbroken, really…. to know I had done this to a living thing.  Now you may be thinking he’s just a fish….but Henry had a personality, you know.  He got to knowing when it was feeding time and would swim in a frenzy when he saw that I bent over to the place where I keep his food.  His happiness in acquiring a larger living environment was evident in the way he displayed his fineage.
RIP, Henry.

 Fast forward an hour a day or so, and I can’t stand looking at that empty bowl on the kitchen island next to the christmas cactus.   It  screams ‘MURDERER’.   So off to Petco I go to rescue another Betta from one of those tiny little tupperware-like containers they keep them in.

 He is known as a Half-Moon Betta – his fuschia and deep red colors are so vivid.  I have not come up with a name yet and I’m asking for your help in finding something suitable.    My guilt runs so deep I bought THIS guy a castle. 

He has sort of an angry expression on his little face – I think he knows what I’ve done.  

 See what I mean?

K’s Potato Leek Soup

Hilary of Crazy As A Loom  posted this recipe on her blog and it looked so good I made it last night and  was delighted with  it’s hearty texure,  awesome taste and ease in making.

 Perfect for taking the chill out of winter –

 

K’s Potato Leek Soup

3 tablespoons butter
3 leeks, thinly sliced*
1 medium or large onion, chopped
6 – 8 russet potatoes, thinly sliced**
3 1/2 cups chicken broth (or enough to barely cover potatoes)
1 cup heavy cream
salt to taste
fresh ground black pepper to taste

1) Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat then add onions and leeks. Cook, stirring, until onions are limp and just slightly brown.
2) Add sliced potatoes to saucepan then pour in enough chicken broth to just barely cover the potatoes. Continue cooking over medium heat until potatoes are tender. Using a potato masher, mash and stir potatoes until desired consistency is reached. As you mash the potatoes and the soup thickens, turn down heat and stir frequently with a large spoon to prevent scorching on the bottom.

3) Add one cup of heavy cream (or more if you desire) and salt and black pepper to taste. Cook 15 minutes more over low heat, stirring frequently, then remove from heat and serve.

Notes: *Make sure to clean leeks thoroughly and slice only the white and light green part of the leeks. **You don’t need to peel the potatoes as the peels add to the rustic texture of the soup. But make sure to scrub them thoroughly and remove any obvious blemishes before slicing. Although we always make it with chicken broth, this can easily become a vegetarian soup by simply using vegetable broth instead.

More Snow on the way….me and my big mouth.  *sigh*   I’ll just live in denial like my geranium here on the kitchen window sill.

Seven Sisters

 Atop the most southerly hill in a chain known as the Seven Sisters, William Hooker Gillette, noted actor, director, and playwright, built this one hundred and eighty-four acre estate, the Seventh Sister. The focal point of his effort was a twenty four room mansion reminiscent of a medieval castle.
 Purchased by the State of Connecticut in 1943 from the executors of Mr. Gillette’s will, Gillette Castle and the adjoining property with its fine woodlands, trails, and vistas are now administered for the enjoyment of present and future generations.

  This apparently would have pleased Gillette, since his will gave specific directions to see that the Connecticut River property did not fall into the hands  “of some blithering saphead who has no conception of where he is or with what surrounded.”

Excerpt from  http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?A=2716&Q=325204

Winners of Roba Dolce Flavor Contest!

 First I should tell you that MANY of your flavor ideas were winners. We received 78 in total.  The guys at Roba Dolce had a hard time narrowing it down to just ONE – so they picked THREE!!   Some of the recommended flavors are already in the works, and they are keeping the list of all flavors for future reference. Roba Dolce thanks every one of you for participating.  The boxes go out on Friday to those of you who entered your blog for blog button and review of product.  

 Now for the winners – (if you’ve entered your blog and your flavor won too, you’re getting a double dose)  If you’ve given me your shipping address already, terrific. I’ll send you a shout out this morning.

http://www.deannario.com/  and Lynn R. of my home town – for STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE GELATO
Patricia of http://butteryum.blogspot.com/ – for COFFEE TOFFEE MOCHA CRUNCH GELATO
http://frombeyondmykitchenwindow.blogspot.com/   – for KEY LIME PIE GELATO

 We look forward to your reviews!