table centerpiece

I got a new table for my birthday in October  I wanted to do a new holiday centerpiece for the table.  I decided to go with non-traditional colors after i saw this beautiful pink poinsettia!

The stem had five flowers on it.  I simply bent the end up so that it would fit into the paint can that I use for my flower arrangements.  The paint can came from Lowe's (never used) they are less than $5 and in the paint supply section.  They do make a smaller size also. 

The pink poinsettia came from Jo-ann.  I found the green one at Michael's, a single stem but large, so I decided to incorporate them together.  I had left over pink tulle trim that I simply circled around the bottom.  I had a small gap on one side that I filled in with a pink cloth napkin and a white lace hanky.
one of my favorite hankerchieves has a red and green poinsettia that I hung over the handle of the paint can. 

It makes me happy to look at it, as should everything in our homes!!


A couple of years ago I made this bulb ornament wreath.  My husband proclaims that this is the prettiest thing I have ever made!

 

It is work, but not as hard as one might think!

 

Buy the ornaments ON SALE, because you do need a lot!

 

Now on to other holiday decorating!

 

Marietta

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hurrah for a long weekend! I took today off from work, since my husband had all this week off.
My daughter has been a vegetarian for the past 2 years, so deciding on a Thanksgiving menu can be interesting!  She said she wanted lots of veggies( of course, right?)

Today I made the pumpkin pie, with a from scratch crust made from spelt flour*.( we shall see about the taste), coconut bars and a broccoli salad.  I decided I would make myself rolls from the spelt flour, making bread is not a quick undertaking.  I do not make bread often.  I apparently got the liquid too hot.  They did not raise well.  They taste fine, but no light, fluffy texture. We are also having green bean casserole, sweet corn, stuffing, butternut squash, brussel sprouts and of course my favorite mashed potatoes. A lot of food for 3 people!

On Friday I will work on putting up the Christmas decorations.  On Saturday we will be visiting friends in Bradenton.  It always goes by so fast!!

I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday!

Marietta

*spelt is an anciet grain, mentioned in the bible.  It is the closest thing to wheat.  It does contain gluten. 

Saturday and No Energy

Why is is when you have a to-do list  a mile long that you don't feel good and have no energy to do it?  And it is Saturday when you actually have time to do it! 

I have been feeling under the weather for the past week.  Not really sick, but not feeling normal either.  I have also has a cold sore on my lip.  Last night I had a bad coughing fit, then wheezing and today feeling "crummier."  I believe I have posted before about having food allergies-wheat specifically.  I was diagnosed in 1991.  2 years ago I was retested and was no longer allergic to wheat.  I let wheat creep back into my diet.  I let wheat then take over my diet.  And now I am noticing the same symptoms of chest congestion and wheezing come back.  I never thought I would get so attached again.  My husband says it is the convenience I am attached too.  And yes that is a BIG part of it. 

I didn't have to think about what to make for dinner, he and I could have the same thing.  We could eat out anywhere.  I could have pizza and sandwiches!  But, the wheat (gluten) free world has come a long way since 1991 when bread tasted like a piece of cardboard.  I learned to bake without wheat.  Most regular grocery stores carry several wheat free items.  When I was allergic before a cracker would make me wheeze within 5 minutes.  I also had over whelming tiredness from it.  So far I have not had the tiredness, which is probably why I continue to eat it!

I will start taking it one day at a time and eliminating wheat again.  I must have wheat free choice on hand!  And of course there is the cost of eating wheat free- the items are expensive compared to wheat laden items.

Well, push on today and try to get at least a couple of things done on the list! And go to the health food store and get my wheat free bread!

Happy Saturday!

Marietta

Latest items in my etsy shop:

 

 

Sausage & Cabbage Skillet

This is one of my Mom's recipes.  I really enjoy it when the weather gets cooler here in Florida.

 

Sausage & Cabbage Skillet

 

2 Tbsp margarine

1 medium potato, peeled and chopped

2 c. chopped cabbage

3/4 c. milk

1 Tbsp flour

1/2 lb smoked sausage, sliced

1 c. shredded muenster cheese

1 tsp. prepared mustard

 

Melt the margarine in a 10 in skillet

Add potato

cover and cook over low heat until tender, stir occasionally

Add cabbage, cook over medium heat until cabbage is crisp-tender

Blend in flour

 

Gradually add milk, cook sirring constantly

until thickened

Add sausage, cheeese & mustard

continue cooking until sausage is heated through

stirring occasionally.

 

Yields: 2 servings

 

 

 

I always double the recipe so there are left overs!

Be sure to let the potatoes cook long enough.

I used an entire head of  cabbage

 

chopped, does not have to be fine

I used my dutch oven since I used an entire head of cabbage

 

It cooks down

 

I  added in the cheese.  The mustard dijon, I was out of regular mustard.

Add more or less to your taste

 

cheese melting

 

Sausage of your choice.  Smoky links taste great.

I used chorizo, which is popular here in Tampa and that is what I had on hand.

 

 

 

Looks Yummy!

Ready to eat!

 

Marietta

 

 

 

 

 

 



Birthday Table

Last Wednesday was my birthday.  I am a Halloween baby.  I decided that I wanted  a  new  dining table as my birthday gift.  I wanted shabby chic, round, drop leaf, and smaller than my current table.
We very seldom sit at the table anymore, and I was using it as a "catch-all". I did some searching on craigslist, but did not really see anything that spoke to me.  Then I found it on the Target website!
It was on SALE!  Free shipping! It came the next day!

The piece of furniture in the background is called a dry sink.  It was made by my father and husband for our daughter's changing table.  I wanted a piece of furniture that could be used for something else after she outgrew it.  It had been out in the garage for about 18 years.  I brought it into the house and painted it cashmere white. 

  

 

Our old table owed us nothing!  I bought it used.  A friend refinished it for me.  This was at least 20 years ago and I paid $40 for it.  It is oak with a pull out leaf inside.  I am having trouble parting with it though, so it has moved outdoors, wrapped in plastic.  It will make a good spot for those projects that are better done outdoors! (like glitter)

Next thing to do was paint the chairs. I got white spray paint from Lowe's at 99 cents a can.  After they dried I used some left over cashmere white paint and brushed it on!  Just the look I wanted!
(And isn't it lucky that I never throw anything out- I still had the cashmere white paint!)  

I discovered a few months ago they make a simple plastic piece to fit on the spray can, it is SO much easier on the fingers and hand! 

I made the chair cushions 2 or 3 years ago.  Abby is enjoying them while I paint the chairs!

 

 

So fresh and lovely now!

AND my husband likes it too!

If you look at the cushions, there is an extra piece of fabric on them.

These are my "kitty cloths".

Since the cats like to sit on the cushions, the cat hair is on the cloth.

We simply pull them off when we want to sit down!