The Professional Domestic

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.

How will I keep track of all of this? My journal. And lists. LOTS of lists. Should be interesting! Wish me luck and I will keep you updated. -MM

SAL Project Peacock #3

Boy 3 weeks goes by fast! Time for another SAL (Stitch A Long) post. Mr. Peacock now has a name, Salvador (Sal for short) I think Avis suggested the name so thank you Avis!

At this point, progress on Sal’s tail is slow going and giving me a bit of an eye twitch.

Here is Sal three weeks ago.

And here is Sal now.

Not bad considering I have been busy with Easter and gardening and a sick child all week.

I did have to rip out part of the tree trunk on the right side if you notice from the last photo. I was off by one row. Most times I will work around a mistake but I just couldn’t get it to line up correctly so I ripped part of it out. What a pain!

We will see where I am in another three weeks.

Please check out the other SAL member’s blogs by clicking on the links below. They are doing some fantastic work! If you are interested in joining the group please contact Avis who is the very first link.
Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina, Susan, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda, Catherine, Wendy, Mary Margaret, Timothy

What is Evil’s Role In All of This?

This post isn’t the kind of post I would normally write for my blog but I have been thinking a lot about accountability lately.

I am a Christian, certainly not a perfect one, but I try to do the right thing by others. Lately, however I have been blaming God for my financial situation and in general whatever doesn’t go right in my world.

Why, I ask Him, don’t I have enough money to pay my bills at the end of the week? Why did the toilet clog? Why am I so angry at someone and constantly think about it every minute of the day? Why am I exhausted? yada, yada, yada…

Then a thought comes into my head. Why the hell am I blaming God for all of this? It’s the Devil that’s tempting me. He’s the one that puts that tempting new dress in my view. Buy me! “You would look fabulous in this dress my darling.” “It’s only $50 and you have a 25% off coupon…buy iiiittt.” Then the dress goes on the credit card and not to debt. Not God’s fault. Nope.

We blame God. A LOT.

Ok, so you don’t believe in God and the Devil. That’s fine. Let me put it another way for you. You believe in Good and Evil right? The guy on the white horse dressed in white and the guy on the black horse dressed in black? Optimus Prime and Megatron?

Can you imagine saying to Optimus Prime after he just saved the world from Megatron. “What the heck OP, you just broke my garage and my bank account is empty and my toilet exploded because of you!” I bet Optimus Prime would be standing there with his tractor trailer mouth wide open saying, really?? I just saved you from the big, bad Megatron and your blaming me for your bank account being empty?”

At the beginning of the movie the Incredibles, Mr. Incredible says. “I feel like the maid; I just cleaned up this mess. Can we keep it clean for ten minutes?” I bet that’s how God feels. We make a mess of our lives and God cleans it up only for us to mess it up again.

We have to start thinking what is the Devil’s role or Evil’s role in all of our problems. And don’t forget Evil is not ugly. You wouldn’t think of buying that dress from an ugly, old, hunched over troll would you? That may sound funny but it’s true. Evil is beautiful and alluring. Remember that. Even if you don’t believe in God and the Devil, Good and Evil are still undebatably real. We even pay good money to watch them in the theater.

We have a choice. It’s up to us what we want to do with our lives. How we want to live. Ultimately it’s ourselves we have to blame for the situation we are in. God gives us free will. Darth Vader tries all the time to get us to come to the Dark Side. For me the Force is stronger. -MM