Make Your Own " Metal Look House " Number Plaque

I have wanted one of these cast iron house signs for so long but they are quite pricey.  My budget is $10.00 ~ let's try to make one for less than that!

I found an oval wood plaque from Walmart ~ on clearance for .50 cents.

Paint your wooden plaque with 3 coats of black craft paint.
Paint a ring of silver accent color around the outer edge of your wooden plaque.

I didn't have a paint brush so used a Q tip - giving it a bit of a worn look that I like.If you want nice crisp lines ~ go with the brush.

The letters were purchased at Lowe's for under $10.00.

Screw those in and you are done!

(Try not to strip the screws ~ like I did on the one at the top of the seven)

Won't You Rate My Space???

On a whim ~ I uploaded these and other photo's last week on HGTV's Rate My Space.
I was absolutely beside myself the next night when my kitchen was the # 1 viewed Space.
In the grand scheme of things ~ it's not such a big deal but for me ~ it was huge!
Me and decorating have been pals since I can remember............

The very first play activity I remember doing ~ next to digging in the garden and swinging on my swing ~
was rearranging and decorating my basement at age 4 or 5.
I once bite the boy next door on the ankle as he ran up the basement stairs because he didn't want to decorate with me anymore. ( we were both age 5 ~ sorry Gary Lear wherever you are!)
I swear this is true ~ when my Mom found out ~ she gave me a well deserved spanking and gently "placed" me on her bed.
As I fell onto her bed ~ I remember thinking how much I loved the white chenille bedspread!

When I was about 10 ~ a new boy moved in across the street. He LOVED decorating !!!
We spent an entire summer in my basement ~ making rooms out of all Grama's old curtains.
We nailed them to the beams on the ceiling and tucked them into wires.
We created entire "apartments" and then redid the whole thing ~ over and over.

Almost every Fri. night until I was a pre-teen and started going out with friends ~
I shut myself in my bedroom with the radio blasting ~
so Grama wouldn't hear me moving the furniture and see the scratches I occasionally made on the new hardwood floors.
I cleaned, organized and changed my room around a million different ways.
I would then put on my best jammies, climb into bed with a book and fold the top sheet perfectly down ~
I felt like a princess!
The whole room smelled like Pledge ~ which as the years passed ~
also hide the smell of the cigg I would sneak!


My Classic Kitchen With Vintage Touches

Here is the link to my "SPACE" ~

http://www.roomzaar.com:80/rate-my-space/Kitchens/A-Classic-Kitchen-With-Vintage-Touch/detail.esi?oid=6989925

Housekeeping and A Wonderful Comfort Meal

Do you have one of these that hold the large water jugs? (This holds the large Poland Spring water jugs)
You may want to be sure to clean it OFTEN!
I had thought every change of season was good enough but I am finding every 2 months may be better.
I had just cleaned mine in August but I hate to admit upon checking this week ~ it had a layer of yellow "stuff"
at the bottom. OH YUCK!!!!
After cleaning every surface spotless with hot water ~ I filled the container with hot water and a small bottle of vinegar. After soaking for about 30 minutes ~ I opened the spigot and let the water escape that way ~ so that anything "icky" in there would be washed away!
Lastly ~ wipe the entire outside surface and spigot with vinegar and water mixture.

NOW time to make a wonderfully easy Comfort Meal :)

Matza Ball Soup

Chicken Cutlets

Boiled Red Potaotes

Spring Salud with Sauted Pears and Green Apples

In a medium saucepan ~ pour a qt of organic chicken broth.

Add a large onion, 2 carrots, the center part (with the leaves) of a head of celery, a small whole potatoes.

Salt and Pepper to taste.

Let this simmer for an hour or so.

I follow the directions on the Manischewitz Matzo Ball Mix to make the balls. (i don't buy the package that includes the broth ~ I prefer making my own as the one in the box is FAR too salty!)

I use one packet which made all the balls in the picture above ~ about 12.

Start boiling your Red Potatoes.

While that is cooking ~ dip boneless chicken in egg and Italian Bread Crumbs. Cook in pan with butter ~ turning when needed or Bake at 350 till just white in the middle. Time varys depending on how thick your cutlets are.

Saute pears and green apples in olive oil till tender.

Layer organic spring mix lettuce, crumbled goat cheese, and pear and apple mixture right from pan and breadcrumbs.

(My daughter Ashley created this salad recipe and added breadcrumbs tossed in olive oil and broiled on the top)

The pear mixture heats up the goat cheese slightly and it is HEAVENLY!

This would be nice with a raspberry - olive oil dressing ~ we just used olive oil and rice vinegar.

What a GREAT easy meal for your family to come home to!

Teddi LOVED the chicken broth!

I LOVE Cleaning Day!!!!!

"Housework ~ if it is done correctly ~
can kill you." J. Show

But ohhhh how I LOVE it!

Last Friday was an all out rip the joint apart and put it all back together clean and spotless!
With my fave cleaning products in hand ~ I got to work!


Loads of dirty dishes to wash ~ ~ ~

Dirty clothes baskets overflowing ~ ~ ~

Cushion and pillow covers are in the wash and will soon be hanging on the line ~ ~ ~

Along with the sheets and duvet.

And OHHHH the sweet reward ~ a sparkling clean home ~ Ole' blue eyes playing ~ ~ ~ candles lit ~

and FLOWERS , FLOWERS , FLOWERS EVERYWHERE!!!!
I reward myself after a good clean by putting fresh flowers from my garden in each room.

Hydrangea's in the living room .......

And bedroom .........

Black eye Susan for the bathroom.......

More hydrangea for the kitchen......

And loveliest of ALL ~ This Gorgeous vision of beauty given to me from my friend Dave.

"A place for everything and everything in it's place."

Taking care of my home and making it feel like a warm and loving place to be is my gift to my family and friends. I do it with all the love and energy that is within me. Modest as my home may be ~ I have tryed to injected it with all that is good. It is filled with books of encouragement and warm blankets and cozy spots to sit and feel loved.

I am so thankful for my home and garden. And no matter what your income ~ it hardly cost a penny to keep a clean and well organized home : )