The Professional Domestic

SAL Project Peacock and New Project Update

The last 3 weeks have gone by so fast and we have been so busy I only have worked on Salvador for a couple of hours. Sad I know but it is summer here in the US and busy is the name of the game for about another 2 months.

I am slow finishing this project because all of the fun colors are done and I am left with the super light browns and creams and whites which are very unexciting.

I don’t know if you can see much of a difference but I did finish 3 more colors completely. There is back stitching to do too.

Here is where I stopped 3 weeks ago:

And here is where I am today:

I have to admit I did start a new project and that took some of my SAL time.

I am learning to design my own cross-stitch designs and charts. For those of you that design your own I admire you greatly. It’s hard work and I have already modified and ripped a bunch of stitches out and restitched. It takes patience but I am loving it so far!

Here is a glimpse of what I have started to design:

It’s going to be an autumn tree with some sort of saying whether a Biblical quote or something else. Lots of red and orange and yellow leaves. I have already modified and ripped out the trunk once.

I have got to get a better chart drawn. When I asked the woman at Joanne Fabrics if they had any graph paper she had no clue what I was talking about. Sigh…

I can’t wait to keep going with both projects! Until next time… -MM

The members of the wonderful SAL group I am part of are doing some pretty spectacular projects. Click on the links of names below to visit their blogs and see what they are working on!

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda, Catherine, Timothy

Gardening and Preserving Goals Update July 12, 2017

I can’t believe what a difference a few short weeks has made in the garden. Tons of rain and finally some heat have made my garden GROW. I can’t keep up with all the summer squash!

Check out all the greeny goodness in the pics below.

The potatoes are loving their new converted fireplace planting bed

The blackberries are abundant this year. I have never seen them so loaded with beautiful berries.

I only have 6 basil plants but it’s almost too much! (not that I am complaining)

Not only have we had spectacular wins in the garden but we have also had spectacular fails as well. I planted lemon balm and celery and I don’t know if they just didn’t like the soil or maybe each other but they both withered up and died within days of planting them. That was a real bummer I tell ya!

My garlic, my beloved and most anticipated garlic, is failing. I have never grown garlic before so any advice would be welcome but it did not make scapes this year and it’s leaves are already turning brown.

Also we lost all of our sweet cherries to the cold rainy Spring. That’s 3 years in a row we have not had a harvest from these 2 trees. Some re-evaluating will be going on after this season on what to do about it.

And finally our Bosc pear and our apple trees are in trouble due to fire blight which I will catch you up on in another post. Sigh…

On the bright side I have gotten some things preserved and stored in the pantry and freezer for the winter.

7 pints of strawberry syrup, 5- 12 oz. containers of strawberry freezer jam, 5 quarts of sour cherries (which we had abundant crops of despite the sweet cherry fail) and tons of shredded zucchini for cakes and bread all got done last week.

I will give you a more detailed update next time but until then happy gardening! -MM

SAL Update Project Peacock June25

I am so close to being done, but unfortunately I just couldn’t finish Mr. Salvador in the last 3 weeks. I ran out of the light brown and didn’t get to the craft store until a few days ago because I was so busy with work and home responsibilities.

So, here is where I was last time.

And here I am now.

Sorry for the bad photo. The rest of the piece is very light in color and a bit boring so I have struggled to make any more progress. Hopefully you can see where I have been working on the flowers and branches.

One thing I did get accomplished this week was framing my poppy project. The frame, mat, and glass were only $2.50 at the thrift store. It’s just sitting in the frame but at least it’s protected right?

Please check out the other members of the group by clicking on the names below. You won’t be disappointed!

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda, Catherine, Wendy, Timothy

Thrifting- From Fans to Frames

So far this month we have struck gold at the local flea markets and thrift stores. As a family we head out with a list of things we are looking for.

A few months ago our ceiling fan in the kitchen started to smoke. Luckily we were home and caught it before it started a fire but regardless it was pretty scary. Ever since then we have had a hole in our ceiling waiting for a new fan but I didn’t want to pay a ton for a brand new one. As Doug and I were shopping at our local Goodwill thrift store I found a brand spanking new, in-the-box ceiling fan for $7. Incredible right?! Within a few days Scott had the fan installed and it works perfectly.

I also found a frame for my poppy cross-stitch project that has been sitting in a drawer ready to be framed since I finished it in January. Again I didn’t want to spend over a $100 for custom framing so I have been patiently looking for one in our shopping travels. I found one last week again at the Goodwill for 1/2 off. It only cost me $2.50! Get out! I think it looks beautiful.

This past Sunday on Father’s Day we stopped at the flea market on our way through and although Scott and I didn’t see much, Doug rummaged through a couple of vendor’s booths and found a box loaded with computer parts for just $20. Three sticks of RAM, two monitors, 2 graphics cards and a mess of cords and wires only he knows what to do with. He left with a big smile on his face I tell ya!

We buy a lot of our clothes at thrift stores. I mostly go for the stores in college towns because I can find makers like Banana Republic and LOFT at a 1/10 of the original prices sometimes. One example for Doug was a Kobe Bryant T-shirt that originally cost $80 brand new. He found it for only $5 slightly used at the thrift store. The Banana Republic shorts I found for $5 were originally $45 in the stores.

Now the sneakers we have found at the thrift stores have saved us a ton of money over the years. Just recently Doug again found originally priced $150 LeBron James sneakers for only $8. He was ecstatic!

I get that not everyone is comfortable buying clothes and shoes at Thrift Stores. I wasn’t at first either. We fully launder and disinfect the clothes and sneakers before we wear them which everyone should do when purchasing used clothes and footwear.

I have been reading a conversation on another blog by Mavis Butterfield who has written about her frustration with the rising prices at thrift stores. I do agree that on some items like fine china and glassware they have gotten wise that these items are worth a lot more than a $1 and have been uping their prices. However, in my general area it is still pretty easy to find great deals which we are thankful for.

Patience is the number one strategy when thrifting. It has taken me over a year to find exactly what I want sometimes, but if you don’t mind the wait, your patience can really pay off and the journey is exciting!

Do you like a bargain? What do you think about the rising prices at thrift stores? -MM

Re-Purposed Outdoor Brick Fireplace

It’s a fact – I need more planting space in order to meet my 2017 Gardening Goals.

With that being said I got inspired this week to do something with our unsightly old outdoor fireplace. About 15 years ago an apple tree fell on it during a storm and crushed most of the left side. I would have taken the whole thing out but the right side of it has an electrical outlet on it and I didn’t want to mess with having to remove the power line and to tell you the truth it comes in handy when I need to plug in power tools and Christmas lights.

Without a lot of funds and a need for more planting space I decided to gather all of the old bricks that were scattered around the yard and turn them into a potato planting bed.

Potatoes need a deep planting bed. As they grow they need to be continuously buried in order for them to form lots of underground potatoes.

Check out the before and after pics. I even threw in a couple of short videos.

After a couple of hours of work and lots of back filling of a combination of soil and sawdust it was ready to plant. I even planted a few flowers at the base of it. The only cost was the seed potatoes. Everything else I had.

This is a pretty good sized space. I am excited to see how the potatoes do in their new home. As the seedlings start to sprout I will add a few more layers of bricks and more soil until they reach the top of the bed.

I don’t plan on mortaring in the bricks. Right now it is a semi-permanent bed and I plan on keeping it that way.

2017 Gardening Goals: Plant Potatoes– Check!

I’ll keep you updated on this project. Let me know what you think! -MM

Gardening and Preserving Goals Update June 5th 2017

It’s been a busy few weeks without a lot of time for updating. I did get my entire garden planted but of course I have run out of room. I thought my husband Scott would just shake his head at me but he surprised me instead by saying “where should we dig new beds?”

I am not sure I can handle more space to fill but I am thinking about it

Below is my goal list for preserving and gardening. Everything in bold is what I have accomplished so far. The only thing I have preserved is 2 batches of Dandelion Jelly and I see I forgot to add that to my goal list!

HERBS

Garlic
Chives
Aloe Vera
Dill
Artemisia
Calendula
Chamomile
Cilantro
Purple Cone Flower (Echinacea)
Sweet Woodruff
Lavender
Lemon Balm
Mint
Catnip
Basil
Oregano
Parsley
Anise
Rosemary
Sage
Dandelion
Thyme
Nasturtium
Valerian

CROPS

Asparagus
Strawberries
Raspberries
Blackberries
Cherries Sweet
Cherries Sour
Pears
Peaches
Grapes
Rhubarb
Sweet Peppers
Banana Peppers
Eggplant
Onions
Shallots
Snap Bean Bush – Purple, yellow and green
Snap Bean Pole
Peas
Spinach
Lettuce
Cabbage
Swiss Chard
Beets
Radish
Carrots
Cucumbers
Pumpkins
Gourds
Winter Squash
Zucchini
Yellow Squash
Cantaloupes
Water Melon
Sunflowers
Tomatoes
Celery
Broccoli
Potatoes
Yellow Tomatoes
Paste Tomatoes

PRESERVES

Strawberry Jam
Grape Jelly
Black Raspberry Jam
Red Raspberry Jam
Peach Jam
Pear Jelly
Apple Jelly
Honeyed Yellow Tomato Butter
Canned Cherries in Syrup
Canned Cherry Pie Filling Sweet
Canned Cherry Pie Filling Sour
Basil Banana Pepper Jelly
Apple Sauce
Grape Juice
Pear Juice
Tart Cherry Juice
Pickled Beets
Canned Beets
Vegetable Stock
Vegetable Soup
Tomato Sauce
Blackberry, Red Raspberry, Peach, Cherry Cordials
Chili Sauce (Two different kinds)
Bread and Butter Pickles
Frozen Corn
Frozen Peppers
Frozen Beet Greens/Chard
Red Root Relish
Lemon Sage Wine Mustard
Dilly Deans
Pickled Hot Peppers
Sweet Crisp Pickles
Crushed Tomatoes
Whole Tomatoes Packed in Water
Canned Green Beans
Frozen Peas
Frozen Winter Squash and some stored whole
Chili
Stuffed Hot Peppers
Stuffed Sweet Peppers

I named my rooster “Cluck” he guards the garden from vicious predators.

I guess that’s it for now. Have to wait for Mother Nature to work her magic!

See you next time. -MM

SAL Update – Project Peacock

Salvador the peacock’s tail is finished! His whole body in fact is done. All I have to finish now is the background vines and some back-stitching on his body and this piece will be complete! Woo hoo!

Here is where I left off three weeks ago:

And here is what I have done as of yesterday:

I should have the whole thing done next update. Keep your fingers crossed!

I have to thank this wonderful group of stitchers for keeping me motivated otherwise I may not have gotten this project done as fast.

Please check the other members of the group out by clicking on the links of their names below. You won’t be disappointed!

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda, Catherine, Wendy, Timothy

SAL Update Project Peacock

Three weeks ago I was struggling with having to rip a section of my project out because if I didn’t, it would look “off”.

After ripping out the bottom of the tree branch on the right side I have successfully stitched it back into place. Unfortunately I was again tired the other night, (I know, I know) and I stitched the wrong damn color for one of the shades of yellow. Sigh…I think I am going to leave it this time though and keep stitching. Must not stitch when tired…must not stitch when tired.

Here is where I was 3 weeks ago:

20170423_085227

And here is where I am now.

I would love for you to check out what the other members of the SAL are up to. Just click on the name links below and prepare to be amazed by the quality of work that is going on with the members of this fine group.

See you in three weeks!

Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda, Catherine, Wendy, Mary Margaret, Timothy

Pretty Little Cakes

To kick off our busy season in the bakery department, I had a wedding cake and a gender reveal cake to bake this weekend. Both pretty little cakes. I predict a busy summer in our future! -MM

My Gardening and Preserving Goals 2017

Each year I try to garden with a goal in mind. My goal is always to produce and preserve as much food as we need to get us through the winter and to help me spend as little as possible at the grocery store.

Last year I had some pretty lofty goals and fell completely flat on my face. It was a horrible growing season in 2016. Heat and drought took it’s toll on the garden and a late frost killed all of the blossoms on the fruit trees. I have never seen anything like it really.

I revisited my goals from last year and chopped some of the harder to reach goals out.

Here is a list of my family’s 2017 Gardening and Preserving Goals.

Herbs:

Garlic
Chives
Aloe Vera
Dill
Artemisia
Calendula
Chamomile
Cilantro
Purple Cone Flower (Echinacea)
Sweet Woodruff
Lavender
Lemon Balm
Mint
Catnip
Basil
Oregano
Parsley
Anise
Rosemary
Sage
Dandelion
Thyme
Nasturtium
Valerian

Crops:

Asparagus
Strawberries
Raspberries
Blackberries
Cherries Sweet
Cherries Sour
Pears
Peaches
Grapes
Rhubarb
Sweet Peppers
Banana Peppers
Eggplant
Onions
Shallots
Snap Bean Bush – Purple, yellow and green
Snap Bean Pole
Peas
Spinach
Lettuce
Cabbage
Swiss Chard
Beets
Radish
Carrots
Cucumbers
Pumpkins
Gourds
Winter Squash
Zucchini
Yellow Squash
Cantaloupes
Water Melon
Sunflowers
Tomatoes
Celery
Broccoli
Potatoes
Yellow Tomatoes
Paste Tomatoes

Preserving:

Strawberry Jam
Grape Jelly
Black Raspberry Jam
Red Raspberry Jam
Peach Jam
Pear Jelly
Apple Jelly
Honeyed Yellow Tomato Butter
Canned Cherries in Syrup
Canned Cherry Pie Filling Sweet
Canned Cherry Pie Filling Sour
Basil Banana Pepper Jelly
Apple Sauce
Grape Juice
Pear Juice
Tart Cherry Juice
Pickled Beets
Canned Beets
Vegetable Stock
Vegetable Soup
Tomato Sauce
Blackberry, Red Raspberry, Peach, Cherry Cordials
Chili Sauce (Two different kinds)
Bread and Butter Pickles
Frozen Corn
Frozen Peppers
Frozen Beet Greens/Chard
Red Root Relish
Lemon Sage Wine Mustard
Dilly Deans
Pickled Hot Peppers
Sweet Crisp Pickles
Crushed Tomatoes
Whole Tomatoes Packed in Water
Canned Green Beans
Frozen Peas
Frozen Winter Squash and some stored whole
Chili
Stuffed Hot Peppers
Stuffed Sweet Peppers

So far, we are already doing mighty fine with our 2017 gardening goals and we have had plenty of rain too. Yippee!

This last weekend we added 3 more raised veggie beds which brings my planting area to about 200 sq. ft. of space to work with. Yippee! Thank you Mr. Ripley for working so hard. (He said it was my Mother’s Day present).

To date we have planted carrots, peas, radish, and lettuce but much more will be planted by the end of this week.