Saturday, February 8, 2014

Mean people suck

CHALET

CLOUDS IN MY COFFEE






The One That Got Away


 Now that JC has been out of the house for three years, it's time to change his furniture. I had a four piece mid century modern (modular set in his room that just wasn't functional anymore. It consisted of  2 large dressers a desk and a corner piece for a total of 9 large drawers and 4 small drawers. Most of the drawers contained the contents of JC's youth that he no longer even cares about. One drawer was dedicated to various electronics, cords, computer innards from his experiments? Three more drawers contain miscellaneous socks, belts, shorts and t-shirtsand sweaters that he will probably never wear again. I think I've been keeping them in case when he comes home to visit if he needs extra clothes, they are there. Space is ALWAYS an issue for me as I am a certified shopaholic and I have much more stuff than I have room for so storing my stuff is always a problem. I had these low pieces in JC's room and what I need in there is some type of shelf space. My glassware collection has been cluttering up the tops of the dressers for months. It's unkempt and it's driving me crazy. Plus, when JC came home to visit over New Year's I had nowhere to put it all and JC has been known to break things just by looking at them. I considered building shelf units to place on top of the dressers but that would not have the effect I was going for. the desk and the smaller drawers were obsolete so it was time for them to go. That space can be better served by a different config of furniture. I decided two large chests of drawers would work nicely. Back on January 4th the wheels began turning when I spotted the perfect dresser at this Antique Mall that I frequent. It measured 41x20x a whopping 57 inches high! With seven drawers! It was pricey at $278 and I just knew that if I brought it home that my husband was not going to be thrilled because our garage was already  overflowing with antique shop bargains/projects waiting for me to find homes for them. The week of my birthday was almost Kismet. I had extra birfday money burning a hole in my pocket. My parents who have a ginormous garage (to store the old furniture until I can sell it on craigslist) had just left town. R had gone out of town (so I could buy it, bring it home and set it up and he couldn't say no).  I had from Tuesday until Friday to make all my dreams come true.  What happened next was the tragedy... and the comedy. I also wanted to get to the seafood store to get lobster to make my annual Birthday feast of Lobster roll. I decided to do lunch on Tuesday and to go to the antique store on Wednesday. That dresser had been there for a few months and I didn't figure it was going anywhere. One day won't make a difference. Oh, but it did. On Wednesday afternoon, I went over to the antique mall and made  a beeline for the booth only to find a big red SOLD tag on the dresser. Someone had come in that very morning to buy it. 
@!$%&@#!  It was just not meant to be. I really have to learn to trust my instincts and not let others influence me to pass up an item that I know is awesome. I can remember all the things I passed on and regretted later. Like the pair of 1920's lilac colored velvet slipper chairs for $20 a piece. The Danish Modern dining room table and 8 chairs in perfect condition for $200 at the Goodwill. The half dozen Nell Cole Graves  green-blue pottery  for under $50 at the yard sale in Lexington. The box of skeleton keys for $10. I could go on. Moreover, my husband should trust my instincts. The moral of the story is: She who hesitates is lost. I am beginning to see that that price tag of $278 was probable well worth it for a piece that was already painted the exact color that I wanted it to be. I continued my search which led me to find two other dressers that were better suited to my project as they were similar in size and shape but they would both have to be painted. And that is a tale for another day.


Sunday, October 27, 2013

WISTERIA

Stengel residence, Santa Rosa Beach, FL. Geoff Chick & Associates.


Stengel residence, Santa Rosa Beach, FL. Geoff Chick & Associates.

CHRIST OF THE ABYSS

Christ of the Abyss, San Fruttuoso, Italy

ABANDONED HOUSE

Abandoned House

ABANDONED VICTORIAN

unknown

FAIRY POOL, SCOTLAND

ABANDONED FRENCH CASTLE

CANDLE LIT CEMETERY

Awesome Cemetery I love it.

LACE DOORWAY CURTAIN

Kinkychicks Kitchen Corner's photo.
PINTEREST

DEATH BY SILENCE piano tree

ZOMBIE COCKTAIL:

I haven't made this yet but it looks so cool I'm gonna have to try it.

 Fill a shot glass halfway with peach schnapps. Gently pour Bailey's Irish Cream on top. After the shot is almost full, carefully add a small amount of blue curacao. After it settles, add a few drops of grenadine syrup....

ZOMBIE COCKTAIL: Fill a shot glass halfway with peach schnapps. Gently pour Bailey's Irish Cream on top. After the shot is almost full, carefully add a small amount of blue curacao. After it settles, add a few drops of grenadine syrup....When The Walking Dead comes back on, some of our friends shall be making these ;-)

Julie Benz's Chicken Posole as seen on Rachael Ray





Aired 
INGREDIENTS

5 cups chicken stock
  • 1 to 2 15-ounce cans white hominy, drained
  • 1 can white corn (optional)
  • 2 14 1/2-ounce cans stewed tomatoes (use fire-roasted or Mexican-style for an added kick)
  • 4 teaspoons oregano
  • 1 jalapeo chili, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons New Mexican chili powder
  • 1 rotisserie chicken, meat shredded
  • Toppings: Sliced radishes, diced avocado, chopped fresh cilantro, shredded lettuce, sour cream, sliced limes
PREPARATION
Bring chicken stock to a boil in a large pot.
Add hominy, corn, tomatoes, oregano, jalapeo and chili powder bring back up to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring often for 1 hour.
Stir in shredded chicken. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with toppings on the side.

LATERAL FILE: A STUDY IN BLACK AND WHITE

Spooktacular cabinet, a little corny I know.....but still a killer cabinet....  Via Pinterest

source: pinterest

Hot Spiced Wine

SOURCE: http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/hot-spiced-wine 
Hot Spiced WineCONTRIBUTED BY JOHN BESH
  • TOTAL TIME: 15 MIN
  • SERVINGS: 12
  • MAKE-AHEAD
Red wine and kirsch (a brandy made from cherries) are the base for this delicious seasonal drink, which is laced with citrus and warming spices like cinnamon, cardamom and black pepper.
  1. 2 bottles light-bodied red wine
  2. 1 1/4 cups sugar
  3. Zest of 1 orange
  4. Zest of 1 lemon
  5. 3 black peppercorns, crushed
  6. 2 cardamom pods, crushed
  7. One 3-inch cinnamon stick, crushed
  8. 1 clove, crushed
  9. 1/2 cup kirsch
  1. In a large saucepan, combine the red wine with the sugar and the orange and lemon zests. Put the spices in a tea ball and add to the saucepan. Bring the wine to a very slow simmer over moderate heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat, discard the tea ball and stir in the kirsch. Ladle the spiced wine into heatproof glasses and serve at once.
MAKE AHEAD The spiced wine can be kept overnight at room temperature. Reheat before serving.

Devil's Island Daiquiri

Devil's Island Daiquiri
© Tina Rupp

Devil's Island Daiquiri

  • SERVINGS: MAKES 1 DRINK
    "This is basically a cold buttered rum," says mixologist Jeff Berry. "You could serve it during the holidays in lieu of eggnog."
      1. 1 tablespoon sugar
      2. Dash of Fee Brothers Old Fashion bitters or Angostura bitters
      3. 1 lime wedge
      4. 2 ounces spiced rum
      5. 1 1/2 tablespoons honey mixed with 1 1/2 tablespoons softened unsalted butter
      6. 3/4 ounce fresh lime juice
      7. 1/2 cup crushed ice
      1. On a plate, mix the sugar with the bitters. Moisten the outer rimof a large chilled coupe with the lime wedge, then coat the rim with the sugar mixture. In a blender, combine the rum, honey mixture, lime juice and crushed ice and blend at high speed until smooth. Strain through a fine sieve into the prepared coupe.

    MINDFUL BREATHING