November Flea Market Find

Child's Toy Wheel Barrow $6.00 found at a local flea market.

some red berries and gourds my husband found on his hike, plus a few fake pumpkins from last year to decorate my dining table. Just getting this done, too bad I'll be taking it down right after Thanksgiving!

October 2014

Happy 4th. of July

The Meaning of Flowers

White Trash Cooking

A friend of mine gave me this cookbook for Christmas in 1986 because she knew I had a southern background, Tennessee to be exact. While there are many good southern recipes in the book, the only one I use is Uncle Charlie's Cornbread. I don't make it often because of the bacon grease that I use rather generously! The basic recipe goes like this!

2 cups yellow cornmeal

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

1 egg

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

3 tablespoons Bacon Grease, melted, add to batter but leave a little in skillet.

Heat skillet on stove, pour in batter and put in oven.

Directions:

1

Preheat oven to hot (375). Heat bacon grease in 10-inch black iron skillet.

2

Mix cornmeal with buttermilk, egg, salt and baking soda. Stir in melted bacon grease. Pour in prepared skillet. Bake in preheated hot oven (400) till golden brown, about 25 minutes.

Serves 6

To kick it up a bit add any of these.....

1 C grated cheese
1 C creamed or whole kernel corn
1/4 C chopped Calif. chilies
1/2 to 1 Teaspoon red pepper flakes.

Composting

add these things to a compost pile or

just dig them into the soil for happy worms.

Happy worms turn and feed the soil.

Garden Seeds

Quote from Audrey Hepburn

.....more quotes from Audrey Hepburn

Pesto, I'm cooking today! ;)

Love this graphic!

Some nice examples of early Samplers

Antique samplers were predominantly stitched by young girls in private schools, in the 200 year period between 1650-1850.

Drought

Watering in drought conditions...just a good reminder!

http://www.countryliving.com/outdoor/expert-gardening-tips-and-advice/watering-drought-conditions

Perennials, annuals, trees, shrubs and lawn all need about an inch of water a week to stay green and healthy. But it's best to water once a week, deeply, instead of several times a week, especially in times of drought. This helps the plants to develop deep root systems, as well as lessening water loss through evaporation.

In drought conditions, the least important thing to water is the lawn; although it will brown out, the grass will simply go dormant to await wetter times. Concentrate instead on your other plants, like trees and shrubs, which are highly susceptible to drought damage. A heavy coating of mulch such as pine bark will also be very helpful in conserving water and lightening the demand on your well.

6 Reasons Why the Young Don’t Dig Antiques

http://www.worthpoint.com/blog-entry/my-children-do-not-want-it-6-reasons-young-dig-antiques

....loved this reader's reply!

I have been collecting since I was 19. I’m 50 now. I have two antique booths and a vintage clothing spot. My son who is almost 11 wasn’t really interested until I took him to a garage sale and I told him this ‘I will give you $20.00 – you go find something you think would sell in one of my booths and I will give you what we make off of it minus the costs incurred’. WOW, did that peak his interest.

His first item was a set of two bubble glass wood frames in perfect condition. He bought the set for $30.00 (ok he went over his $20 budget, but I new he couldn’t pass these up – it was such a GOOD pick for his first time). He recently sold them for $98.00 for the set. They lasted about three weeks in the shop. I went through the cost of the item and the percentage our store is entitled to (Curiosities in Beaverton, Oregon) along with a small percentage mom takes to pay for the booth. Once all the math was settled he received $54.00. He was so jazzed he decided to call himself L’il Picker.

We had a sign made and he now has a shelf at Curiosities where he displays and sells his items he finds at local garage and estate sales. I not only found a way to get him interested (and hooked), he’s also learning the business side of things. So much better than playing video games.