My foggy brain just realized we’ve lived in our house 20 yrs today! Unbelieveable indeed. I was almost 8 months pregnant and my family was helping us move in, clean and paint. We had a cozy little place by the time we laid our heads down that first night. I remember it being so quiet and dark out here! At our apartment we had a lamp post in the courtyard where we lived that illuminated our bedroom. I did actually paint in my condition-I helped out in the master bedroom. I also made curtains for Sean’s room. I was looking at his rug tonight-also 20 yrs old (like Sean will be next month), and it doesn’t look too bad for it’s age. He still likes it too.
We’ve done a lot to this house-two major renovations-the attached garage became our much lived in family room. And then this year, the kitchen got a complete overhaul. I can’t forget the yard and all the different flowerbeds we added, my favorite the little 50 gallon pond and waterfall area.
We’re not sure if we can handle the big yard in the coming years. The chestnut trees are terrible-burrs and leaves that are so messy. And the grass cutting, it’s ok if Brian gets help.
I’m glad we were able to do what we did to the place. I have other ideas-a craft area in the basement and an enclosed porch out back would be nice for exercise equipment. We can hope, can’t we?

I wanted to see how the Gemini baked cookies. I use the top little oven more than the big one, but it’s nice to have both because you can keep a casserole warm with the top and bake or cook with the bottom. So I went to the Acme (Albertsons in other parts) and cheated by buying those big hunks of cookie dough that you break off into little squares. They baked perfectly and tasted delish! Not bad for $1.99.

I asked Seam to make them last for more than a few days. (I did buy sugar cookie dough too that he doesn’t know about).

Another bonus about going to the store I saw Mr. B., the cutest guy in the parish (as far as I’m concerned and next to my two guys). I said hello and he said he liked my mums (buying some in the child section of the cart). I said I liked them a lot too. Also saw the employee who looks like that carpenter Andrew Dan Jumbo from ‘While you were out’. Wow, what a great day. : )

This photographed so well! This is about 2″ x 2″ stitched from Saturday morning until this morning. I would have been finished sooner if I left out the blending filament thread. I’ll probably make this into an ornament. Chalk a quick finish up for me! It was stitched on a scrap piece of lavender linen.

TORNADO update-It was F1 storm with 110 mile winds. We didn’t see any of that at all. The buildings effected were being rebuilt this morning already. The Mushroom Festival is next weekend and I betcha they want to keep producing for that.

Anyone look familiar?

Wow! I just realized I’ve been blogging for over 2 years! Where did that time go? I use to have the basic pink blogger background and changed it at the end of last year. Some of my older posts are difficult to read-just highlight them if you ever want to read them. ; )

The mushroom farm

Pretty Sandra Lee over at the Semi-homemade™ (yes it’s trademarked) show on Food Network is right up there with Rachael Ray in marketing herself. I feel like I have cooked like this most of my life anyway- I took shortcuts to get a homemade looking dish to serve in the end. I’m thinking mostly things like biscuits and spaghetti sauce. Sandra does take things a step further with unique ingredients from a variety of cultures.
Anyway, she has a very nice website with even a crafty page(click on her name above). I just bought this cookbook through Amazon (I am a seller there now too).
Here’s the link to a good article about Sandra. She’s been crafty for years!

I don’t know why I didn’t buy book one first. I think I happen to see this one in Wally World and liked it, so looked to purchase it. I made the Italian pork chops from the book tonight. My pork was a bit on the thin side (I think it was for a stir fry), but it came out really tasty.
Sandra has some great ideas and I do like the way they coordinate her kitchen to match her outfit or theme. At least it’s not the same boring thing every week. Guess I’m on the Sandra bandwagon now. And she looks darn good for 39!