Category Archives: home

Aug14

Roasting and Baking

Posted on Sunday, August 14, 2011 by Dianne

I have some scrumptious Roma tomatoes roasting in not only their juices, but also, olive oil, a bit of garlic plus salt and pepper. Smells really good in here! I plan to freeze some, but also use some with pasta. The Romas (plum) are about twice what we normally get! Glad we moved the garden over!

Then I wanted to use a zucchini, maybe two, but alas, this recipe only called for 1 lousy cup. I am doing good using the zucchini anyway!
Quick to mix up with a base of butter and confectioner’s sugar. Glad I had some parchment paper (forget I did) as they came off of it nicely.

They are a bit crunchy from the cornmeal…not alot of zucchini taste, but good!

We’ve had a rainy weekend down here. We all did a lot of sitting and vegetating yesterday. Today I got my clothes ready for a little trip this week coming up. It took me an hour to decide and I think I need more than a tote bag, but it will do I guess. Brian is the one who has problems packing, like remembering to locate his swim trunks. I was making him try things on which he didn’t like. I like to have one dressy outfit, though not many people dress up to eat out. Shame on them!

Aug2

Proof is in the photo

Posted on Tuesday, August 2, 2011 by Dianne

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Proof that Brian’s armoire can be tidy, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

So a few days ago, I went to put something in Brian’s armoire and the stuffed contents of it fell out and I was peeved. It all was wrinkled and I think the 55 novelty shirts need laundering, but that’s too much work. I put some of his cologne on a tissue and stuck it in there. I found two packages of 5 new white shirts-in the front. It didn’t take long to do, and we got rid of lots of shirts and underwear. The socks are not put away as they need to be sorted. I remember doing that last year! Sean and I sort through all our clothes year in and year out. I didn’t show you ‘my’ armoire, but it’s stacked high with mostly tops-folded by color and the short sleeves are on one side and the sleeveless on the other. But I have a bad habit of piling clothes on the hope chest. I try to wear things a few times before laundering-that’s if I only wore them to dinner, not working in the yard. The yard clothes usually don’t get back in the bedroom until they are washed again. I have that tick phobia from having Lyme disease.
I went down to my hometown to get my hair done-I needed some highlights too. Didn’t the lights go out from a storm that went through! Needless to say, I have very blonde highlights! C. took me out back to cut my hair in the last of the daylight. No one said they liked my car or went to look at it. It would be nice if they showed an interest in my likes. Families can be that way.

Here’s one of my newest 4″ x 4″ collages with real seashells

Jun3

Welcome

Posted on Friday, June 3, 2011 by Dianne

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frontdoor, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

Here’s a photo of my front door that I ‘photoshopped’ with a cellphone app called ‘Little Camera’.

Jun2

Gnomeland

Posted on Thursday, June 2, 2011 by Dianne

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Gnomeland 4" x 4" Collage Card, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

I’m waiting on the arrival of the little roaming gnome from Canada. If he comes in the next few days, we’ll take him on a trip somewhere. We decided we’d like to see something different, just not sure if it’s the beach or what!
This is my nod to gnomes. I had that little gnome a while and I picture this is what his world may look like. : )
Here’s a peek at who Roamy will meet:

Brian went to the dentist today and I didn’t get to go. Something told me to call to check if it was 1 or 2 and I wasn’t on the schedule. So now I have to wait until Monday.
I spent the day tidying up the living room and redecorating. I still had Easter things to put away! I kept saying to myself if I find one more Easter thing and then an egg would show up someplace!

I usually add too much and then take stuff down. The little flickering lanterns are coming down as only two work. I have changed it a bit and need a bigger photo in the shell frame.
So the scale moved down a pound! I’m happy, but I know when you are trying to lose weight it’s water weight first! The app says I’m not eating enough calories but too much sugar. I did eat a lot of fruit, so that may be it. Sean bought some MOi a liquid water enhancer or whatever they call it and it’s good. We have peach tea and sweet tea-no calories but it has Splenda.
Going to a new dr later just to see if I’m acting like a lady my age should act. ; ) I feel better and all, so thinking the second hbp med was messing with me. The new one may not be strong enough. Or maybe the weather is bringing my pressure up a little. I hate taking medicine!

Mar19

Saturday’s shares

Posted on Saturday, March 19, 2011 by Dianne

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Mantel with Sarah’s fan, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

I wanted to share the fan that I received from a Flickr pal as part of a group trade. I sent the one I made to another British lady. I didn’t realize that it wasn’t fully opened up, but what is showing looks pretty on my mantel.
Not far from this pretty sight is this sight:

Some of those things are the decor in the living room, like the teddies in the chair and wicker carriage. That’s my old desk which I was going to paint. I have no place to put it right now, so hoping someone may want it. Opps-I still see some silk poinsettias! I plan on getting all this finally taken care of and soon. I am having trouble with how to sub-categorize the stickers and if I should sort ‘the scraps’ more. But to me the fun part is going through all the bits and pieces!
I filled up the rest of the cupcake holder with some carrots-the plastic sleeves that you can fill with candy-I used jelly beans!

I just got the pink salad bowl ‘back’ from Bri’s dad-we had given to them years ago and I could have been using it in the last 14 years.
I love the topiary bunnies!

And the Full Worm moon is bigger (14%) and brighter (30%) than it’s been in 18 yrs! My photo doesnt’ show the detail. It’s in a position where it’s closer to the earth:

And last but not least, I hope to do something neat with this framed mirror I bought at Ikea in January:

Have a nice Sunday!

Mar7

Doing the sorting game

Posted on Monday, March 7, 2011 by Dianne

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It took Brian a ‘few’ hours to put up the desk on Sunday. The first time, he put the top flush with the window frame (where it is under) and I would have needed a bar stool to use it! He had to lower it about 4 inches and left holes in the wall (don’t faint Zoey) that I will have to fill in. It’s nice as it’s almost four feet long. I can have display things on one end and work at the other. ~~I can’t show you it yet as he finished about 1/2 before I had to start dinner last night-stuff is still all over~~.
Here is a long shot! Around the desk is still messy.

I was checking out ink pads here and then made a background for an ATC.
My mom got me this great square box, perfect for scrapbook paper and I need a few more. When she remembers where she got it, I will sort the papers by color and holiday. The two drawers hold a ton of stuff even though they aren’t wide. My old desk had one drawer and stuff got stuff in it all the time. One side is for ink the other is glue and glitter.
Sean had some electrical issues (I guess) with his car. The light that said ‘door ajar’ was staying on and he couldn’t set the alarm and had to unscrew the dome light inside. It’s nice to jump on the internet and see what others may have written about the same issue. Seemed there were a few others who had issues with their Tauruses! They said to use electrical spray on the doors (Bri used ‘something’) and to disconnect and reconnect the battery. At first it didn’t do anything, but when Sean got to work, he said he could set the alarm! We had terrible downpours yesterday, so perhaps that made the issue. My brother the mechanic knows about it in case Sean still has issues.
Then my mom was worried about her little mix terrier dog named Kelsey. He was not being his old playful self, wouldn’t come up on the sofa and was shaking and disoriented-but he was eating! So if I was her, if he had stopped eating, then I would have been more worried. So after a lot of tests and moola, the vet thinks Baxter, the Dalmation really put Kelsey in his place. Gee, wonder what Baxter did, sit on Kelsey?
I just took some photos of my One World-One Heart prizes.

Bracelet by Beth Pollock;Journal by Kim Dellow; ATC booklet by Marina

By Arya Wiese

by Lisa Patterson from Avant Gardens & Artwert
I also got a package from Carole/Pea over at Pea’s Corner. She not only sent me a lovely Artist Trading Card,

but also Lisa’s Altered art papers with her adorable children, neat scrapbook paper, old Christmas music with lovely illustrations and a various of die-cuts.

I am so happy to see Carole making these little pieces of art.
This week is kind of the calm before the storm. I do have a dental appt on Thursday, when we are suppose to get a lot of rain, but I’ll be glad to get the crown. Then I have a bridal shower on Saturday and maybe the Philly flower show on Sunday, but we’ll see. Tests on the 16th; more bloodwork the following week for my GP. It’s always something!
Have a pleasant week!

Jan11

I wanted to do a 1-11-11 post

Posted on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 by Dianne

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We are waiting on some snow later this afternoon. The weathermen just can’t seem to get it right with amounts, etc., but it’s cold enough and dreary.
We are a bit down in the mouth around here. Sean didn’t get the job he went on an interview for last Tuesday. There were 39 other people for a rather specialized job and it was entry level to boot. He has a new connection for another place, but the lady said they aren’t hiring. This is hard to hear for Sean after 1.5 years of looking.
We’ve had issues with our bathroom sinks-we have one on the first floor and one in the basement. After the terrible rains we had back in the early fall, the sinks drain like they are draining super thick molasses. Drain*o does nothing. I think there is a clog in the ‘elbow’ area upstairs that Brian doesn’t seem to want to tackle. After a few cups of water it backs up. He decided to use the plunger and made it worse. Everything gross sitting on top of the clog came up in the sink-ugha ugha!
One good thing, we got the funds to start looking for a replacement vehicle. I think we’ll have to finance some of it, but I want Bri to use the newer vehicle at least 3 days a week since his car has over 124k miles on it. He had trouble with his car stalling yesterday and he needed antifreeze. I hope that’s all. It’s not good not having a ‘second’ car (though Sean has a car, but he needs his for work too).
Trying to think positively and hoping for the best. Only time will tell.
Guess I’ll get the rest of my Christmas stuff put away.

Dec19

A peek of Christmas

Posted on Sunday, December 19, 2010 by Dianne

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Outside the living room with tree showing, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

Brian did some outdoor shots last night-some with a tripod, some not. I like this one of the front bay window and the tree showing.

These are the new ‘moving’ (inside) stars along the sidewalk.

This is a wreath I got at Big*Lots that was about $7, but originally close to $30 if I remember. The gold bow was added on. I never pay full retail if I can help it. : )

These snowflakes are pretty!

Extreme long shot of the house.

Brian thought this was interesting as the snow is mainly on this dead tree out back.
And last but not least-chocolate chip cookies!

These were the last batch, so not as many chocolate chips.
Crinkle Sugar Cookies were made tonight and Sour Cream Drops with the burnt butter icing tomorrow!

Dec5

Collage card #100!

Posted on Sunday, December 5, 2010 by Dianne

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Peppermint Sticks 4″ x 4″ Collage Card, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

Well this is actually yesterday’s card, but I did it tonight (Sunday). I’ve been busy! And this is the second try. I had a Santa sticker that I traced around with black-off that came and I covered it with the same paper. The middle is from a box of yummy peppermint sticks. The bottom is a row of snowflakes with little clear beads.
Then for today, I did this one:

I got a sheet of these beautiful porches and doors and my mom gave me a little book of lovely papers. I like how it all came together. I hope you are noticing that I use little bits here and there. Like on the back of the butterfly-that’s a piece of the tag I saved from a week or so ago (the owl one).
The tree is up! It’s only lit and beaded. I better be careful what I add because there’s a lot going on with the lights as I am using LED candle lights with clear lights. Sean gave me the new star.

Mr. Cosmo is enjoying the space in front of the tree as the curio table is in front of the fireplace.

Since I moved the tree next to the bay window, the window will not be over dressed-maybe a few snowbabies as the tree is quite brilliant. This is a good excuse for me to tidy more. I am learning my lesson. ; ) Please ignore the cords and a few things under there. Cos looked so cute, I had to take his photo.

Nov25

Happy Thanksgiving 2010!

Posted on Thursday, November 25, 2010 by Dianne

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Dianne eating her Thanksgiving dinner, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

We ate dinner at a ‘normal’ time around 5 and Bri and had it all cleaned up by 6:30. Actually I have the second round of dishes going. I was pretty happy with the dinner.

I think I need a new meat thermometer as it took a bit longer than I thought. And my cranberries were so tart they would make your mouth pucker-that’s even after adding more sugar. The highlight of the dinner was pretty easy to make-Rachael Ray’s ‘Not Your Mama’s Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream and Chives’. The secret was adding a few turnips, some Boursin cheese, sour cream and chives. Very tasty.

The cheesecake turned out well, though the crust stuck to the bottom a bit.

We cut the turkey like Bobby Flay did on RR yesterday. You cut off the breast in two big chucks and then slice it so it’s the perfect size for sandwiches. The guys took dinner over to Brian’s dad while I finished cleaning up and made some of my little collages.
I do have a photo I took of the guys too.
I hope all my American pals had a delightful day!
Wish Sean well as he has to be at Wally World at 4:30 am. He was Mr Grumps at the dinner table. That’s retail for you-even in this day and age. I plan to look through some catalogs and shop on Cyber Monday.