IT'S TIME TO DECORATE YOUR FALL MANTEL, or SHELF .

Happy Saturday to all! We are excited to view the new Teenage Mutant Ninga Turtles this Saturday morning. Last night we watched the half hour preview. My son assisted me in the kitchen making some brownies for the occasion. We even stenciled TMNT with powdered sugar on the top. Kids ya gotta love um!



Trying out the antique setting!



Sooo I've gone shopping around my house, and storage sheds. We have no basements in the deep south. (I do this often) And I found some very cool autumn treasures to deck my fireplace mantel with.

I have taken out my precious birdhouse that was given to me by late mom. It has a real bark roof and a front porch what happy bird wouldn't want to live there? My thrift store rooster I picked up at good will for a mere .99. If your a goodwill shopper you know about the color code sale, which means every week they feature a different color, if your items happen to be tagged the color for the week you get 50% off of the item. Now that's a great deal! I took some very old encyclopedias to add height. I took a scrap of burlap and wrapped some fall flowers up with some raffia for an extra autumn touch. And the greatest of all is my newest find, this wooden vintage pumpkin that I purchased at ...yep you guessed the thrift store. This is one of the most unique items that I have come across, it has a built on tin back that holds a small light so the eyes and nose ,mouth light up. Right now it does not work but by Halloween it will! I paid 1.99 for it. It has to be at least 20-30 years old. The acorns box I bought at a near country store as a Set of 3, they are cedar lined for storing. I have leaned some  carnival glass dishes up against the mirror for some added color. A little sprinkle of fall leaves and my stoneware candle sticks and there you have it. If in fact you don't have a mantel you can use a shelf or counter or what ever you want to show off some autumn decor. So go shopping, start in your house ,look for hues of reds, gold, browns and have fun decorating. If you need some decor visit your local thrift stores they have an abundance of decorating items. Just have fun!

THIS IS WHERE ALL THE MAGIC TAKES PLACE, ONE OF MY FAVORITE MARRIAGES OF FURNITURE THAT I OWN

This is where I turn out all the delicious fall treasures such as pumpkin breads, sweet doe for Cinnamon rolls and lots more. This is the vault of my kitchen and I'll tell you why.....the top of the cabinet has doors that hold all my baked goods safe if you know what I mean. Too many people in my family can't wait to sample the goods so I must keep them safe until I put them out for consumption . For those who do not know what a FURNITURE  MARRIAGE is it's when you can take many different pieces of furniture and put them together such as this:

The very bottom is a long flat topped cabinet with storage. The next piece is an old coffee table that fits right over the bottom piece. Then I added a corian counter top (that was given to me), the very top piece is an old medicine type cabinet. So when I "married" all the pieces together I got a functional place for a baking station. It holds all my baking gadgets, measuring spoon and cup etc...

I have it decorated for fall with a raffia wreath, fall leaves, apple this and that's. If you notice the bluish green apple dishes, these where my great grandmothers. I keep them held up with a vintage tool box tray placed up right. My Italian jars that hold flour, sugar etc. My Connecticut cooks book ,one of my favorites. An apple pie pie plate one of my latest thrift finds.

Take a look around at your furnishings, maybe you have something that you can pair together and be more functional, and always never throw anything away you never really know when you'll need it. Have fun!

EASY PLEASIN APPLE HAND PIES< YUMMY!

Don't be fooled my blogger friends where I live we have no apple trees we have oranges, lemons and much more delectable citrus. So I like to think we have like a swap thing going on , you send me your northern fruit and we'll send you the southern fruit. Let's face it when the southern citrus is ripe around November/December you know you can't resist buying that delectable loo.king orange or tangerine at your grocer. Just like now I'm buying those shiny northern apples to incorporate into my delicious recipes. The following  apple idea is so simple . My sweet aunt popped over on Sunday , bless her heart and I had her stay for dinner . Shes so sweet she brought me a cute dog statue ,she knows how much I love animals. Anyway for desert I whipped this up in no time at all. You will need one box of Pillsbury refrigerated pie crust. About 4 Apples , chopped tiny. Peel then chop add about 3/4 cup of sugar, about 11/2 teaspoons of Cinnamon, about 3 tbs. of corn starch, 3tbls of melted butter and as much Cinnamon as you like. Toss all this together. Open up pie shells and cut in half and in half again so you have 4 pieces on each pie shell. Take the apple mixture and place even amounts into the pie section  now pinch doe together and place on buttered baking pan. Once they are all on the pan you should have 8 mini  hand pies. Poke a couple tiny holes on top. Place in 350 degree oven for about 30 min. or until golden brown. Once cooled take about 1 cup of confectioners sugar, 1 tablespoon of soft butter mix well add a tsp. of vanilla and a smidgen of 1/2 and 1/2 mix well you should have a loose kinda glaze. It should not be as thick as cake frosting, if it is just add 1/2 and 1/2 a drop at a time.Now you brush the tops lightly with the mixture, thats why its important to wait till they are cool so the glaze stays on nicely.These little pies are a hit with kids too. They travel well and make a great desert if your on a picnic. Enjoy!

MY LITTLE VINTAGE MIRROR MAKEOVER THRIFT FIND



before



After ooppps! the material is crooked

 Sorry I'm a little late with my reveal but here is the small vintage mirror /tiny oh I don't know what to call it but you can hang a small quilt or decorative piece of material on it. So I painted it with some homemade chalk paint and then sanded certain areas to vintage I-Z-E it(that's just one of my made up words) I hung it up in the dining room . I was thinking that maybe a gal would like to touch up a little lip stick after dinner. You know what I'm talking about right ladies??

Clear glass can be painted

As I bring out all my autumn decorations I just had a few that I really didn't care for like a clear glass pumpkin that has a top. I guess it is suppose to hold candy. RIGHT, not in our house they would have it eaten within an hours time. So I took a whirl at painting him with some vanilla colored craft paint and when it was dried I took some brown craft stain and accentuated the lines.When he was dry I added some strips of burlap. Now I just love this Lil guy! Don't be afraid to paint glass , only paint the outside , there is no need to paint the inside. Soooo, the painter maniac [that's me], is scanning my house to find more glass items to paint. I think you will be happy with the end results of this project! Give it a whirl.

Paper OR Plastic, Do they even ask that queation anymore at the grocery?



I made little floweretts and large crinkled leaves , little paint, ribbon and buttons.

 It was a busy week end I kinda wish that there were more than 24 hours in the day because it is not enough time especially when the holidays swiftly approach. I can only find 1 store that will allow you to have paper bags instead and that's Publix, an upscale good quality grocery. I always ask for paper there is so many things I do with it. I put together this fall banner using one lg grocery bag. I use brown bags for things such as crafts, make little popcorn bags for that special movie the kids are watching. They can be decorated nicely for gift giving as well. Speaking of gift giving my teenage daughter announced that she was going to need some homemade gifts for Sunday ,she told me on Saturday night. No problem I'm used to that. She needed gifts for 4 year old so I whipped up a cute little apron and did some designs and stenciled her name it came out cute. I will share with you all later...also made a burlap personalized glass framed picture. We have also made some great country ornaments out of bags. The brown bag paper is durable to stencil, paint and work with. When I do homemade soaps at Christmas I wrap them up fancy with brown bag paper. Children love working with bags so next time your at the grocery ask for paper bags. Have fun!

LOTS OF AUTUMN DECORATING GOING ON AT OUR HOUSE...

I just love autumn it is my very favorite season, if you were to ask my family they would say: oh that's just another reason for her to hang lights and decorate. Well they are right but they love it as much as I do.

All summer I saved corn husks from our bounty of corn. I dried them out and really was not sure what I was going do with them but now I'm just sprawling them about in my scape's. They look super festive and add that Wimsey touch and it's free. They can also be dyed if you like. A great way to dye dried corn husks is to soak them in either tea or coffee. I plan on doing that to some to make a garland with. So don't be hasty and flip out those corn husks ,you can use them for a number of crafty imaginative do's. The pumpkin  was a thrift store find and the kitty is a Dollar Tree find. The autumn leaves were also purchased from the dollar store. They have a great assortment of Halloween decorations that with a little creativity you can deck your house out for very little money. That Dollar Tree is one of my favorite places to get lost in. I have a 10$ rule or else I would be defeating the $ store shopaholic in me.



My vintage latern



Mirrored wooden piece

 Speaking of getting lost I have hit the thrift stores today, It's my usual at least twice a week I need that "Fix". I just can't get enough of thrifting . I'm so glad that there are other individuals out the that feel the same .I was starting to think I may me really ill, heheheh. Anyway I had been looking for a lantern after seeing them on so many decorating blogs, finally there it was 6.99 at Goodwill. I was totally excited with that. lanterns are so versatile, they look good on tables, front porches, or any imaginative place. I decided to do mine up for Halloween. I got big plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas etc., etc. for this lantern. Even with just a candle in them they look great. Mine is an antique, I'm not sure what it was used for I thought maybe the railroad but I'll just have to research. I also found this mirrored piece with wood for just 1.99 at Goodwill. I don't know how I'll re purpose it yet but I have a few idea's. Tomorrow Natalie will be crafting and painting with me, You will hear me talk allot about her that's my Lil assistant (granddaughter) she's a Martha Stewart in the making.Here's a before shot and Thursday's we will reveal the piece after we apply some chalk paint. It has a rack type thing in front that I could hang a small quilt in. What would you do with this awesome piece?. I think it may have come off an antique bureau of some sort. Join me on Thursday to see what we have done with are most recent find.

As always happy thrifting! I'd love to hear what you have found thrifting.

Iv'e painted my Cherry wood foe fireplace with home made chalk paint, yike I may be in trouble it was a birthday gift!!

Sooo , My significant other and in laws presented me with a beautiful foe fire place for my birthday a couple of years ago, they made me go down in my bedroom so they could set it up in my living room. So naturally I had my ear against my door to try to listen to what was going on......Then I heard what sounded like a dish washer, Yuk, I thought. I hate those things, you have to load ,unload that just not for me. But what I was really hearing was the vacuum. When they called me out I was so surprised it was truly beautiful, I had always wanted a fire place. It just didn't have that pop it deserved, so presto I made some home made chalk paint and painted that fireplace , now it has the vintage look and the pop it deserves. Although my in laws haven't seen it yet. ( I may be in big trouble).

HOME MADE CHALK PAINT
3 Cups of flat paint
3/4 cups of baking soda

After it totally dryed I sanded all the edges with 100 grit sandpaper to bring out the amazing details. Then I followed up with a clear furniture wax. As you can see we are getting ready for the fall festivities. What do you think? I have done several other pieces in my home with the chalk paint , it's addictive. Try it let me know what yo think.

Sky High Breakfast Pie!

A No Fuss ,No Flour Pie That Anyone Can Whip Up!

This recipe is a family favorite and company quality as well. So butter your pie pans and join me wont you?

You can use any kind of pre pan cooked meat such as ham, bacon or sausage. You will need about one and one half cups. 6-8 slices of buttered bread. For a smaller pie pan you will use about 6 eggs, larger about 7-8. One cup of half and half. 1 and 1 half cup of your favorite cheese, cheddar, Monterrey jack. If you like you can add a little pan fryed mushrooms ,shallots or what ever you like.

Now comes the magic, Line your pie plate with the bread-BUTTERED SIDE DOWN, had to stress that if it's not done that way it will mess the entire recipe up. It does not matter how you line the pan with the bread just as though all of the plate bottom is covered. Now you will take all the eggs, cheese, meats, a little salt and pepper  and whatever else you are incorporating and whisk it all up and pour it in the bread lined pie dish  and bake in center of the oven on 350 degrees for about 35 minutes or until a knife poked in comes out clean. If you have too much to fit in one pie dish then by all means get another one set up. You will want to make two they go fast. One pie can feed 3-4 people.

You can serve the with some freshly sliced garden tomatoes or some fresh fruit. Enjoy!!

My crazy neighbor threw 3 of these away,Can you believe it!

You know the quote ,"One mans trash is another man treasure". Well thank you kind neighbor, I cant believe the wonderful stuff that gets thrown away. So this is how it went down, on the way to the store we passed these three Adirondak chairs so naturally I backed up and quickly loaded them into my trunk naturally it wouldn't close. So back to my house with my new found treasures. The wood was bare and just crying for some type of paint treatment. There's my teenage daughter standing there with a grin on her face," What are you bringing home now?", she snipped at me. "Quiet", I replyed. They know better than to get in my way when I'm on a mission . The next day I created my own spray paint. I took some and some blue and put it in good quality utilitie spray bottle with some water about one quarter paint and three quarters water shook it up and started spraying . I did it in the simmering sun so the paint would bake onto the wood. I actually drenched the paint on. Then I took and painted some red for a patriotic look. They are perfect for around my fire pit. So have you found any good stuff lately? Thrift treasures, trash finds and inexpensive buys are always great!