Look What I Found

I didn't know I needed this buffet until I saw it in a booth at an antique show last weekend. I already have a family heirloom oak buffet and a tall china cabinet and a 1940's vintage cupboard. I am trying to stick to a budget, too. So I thought about it for a week or so, then decided to sell the 1940's cupboard and bring this lovely home.

I think it was made ( and then painted ) for my dining room. 

 As soon as my Mike saw it, he said " I'd strip this - it's oak " 

But I love the wonky paint job. Whoever painted it just painted right over the hardware, so where the hardware is missing there's a bare spot.

  

And I love how the painted is crackled and distressed. 

Its as close to the colour of the wallpaper as a person could get if they were trying.

I bought this punch bowl at an auction years ago. It was another one of those things that I didn't know I couldn't live without until I saw it.

This punch bowl started the pink milk glass collection.

My Mike thinks it's "funny"  how I see something and have to have it. I told him he didn't know he needed me either, till he saw me. 

Tell me; what did you have to have but didn't know it till you saw it?

<3

Karen

Happy First Day of Spring!

It isn't warm enough to get outside yet, in fact we're due for what the weather man calls a "wintery mix". Could be rain, sleet, or snow ( I think he's got his bases covered )  but there are signs of spring if you're looking. Robins arrived this week, there are buds on the crab trees in the front yard and little green iris shoots peeking out from the mulch in the garden.
I get the compulsion urge to nest in the spring.

So I stripped the wallpaper in the stairwell and hallway, picked up a new array of paint samples and started to re-grout the shower.

The shower has bugged me since I tiled it last year. I used some premixed, presealed wonder grout. Big mistake. It's horrible, it wasn't easy to use, it curled up and ruffled when it dried. I did my best to clean it up but I"m not satisfied.

So I bought a Dremel and a grout bit and got started. Started being the operative word. The stuff is so tough, that I got 1/4 of the way through ( after about 6 hrs ) and just plain wore out the bit.

I'll be taking a bath this week.

I also enlisted the help of my son to fix up some of the old wiring in the basement. Look what we fond in the the studs. The tops are shakers and each is stamped with a price in blue ink. 13 cents for the poultry seasoning and 43 cents for the nutmeg.

I also kicked off the season by going out thrifting with Vintage Gal. We both found some great stuff!

This table cloth and pastel platter....

this cream planter ( I plan on filling it with a couple of african violets )...

a little pink milk glass vase to add to my collection...

and this vintage cookbook.

Oh and I plan on fixing up this magazine rack with a fresh coat of paint.

It doesn't look to great right now and it's very shiney, but I think it has potential. I'll keep you posted!

See you soon, 

 <3

Happy St Patricks Day!

The perfect excuse to have a boiled dinner! We'll be celebrating with corned beef, cabbage, potatoes and turnip.

How are you getting your Irish on?

<3

A Surprise and a Recipe

I found this little perfume bottle in a jar of buttons that I bought at an auction. I love it. It's tiny; about 2 inches, that's it. I love the string wrapped around the stopper. And the lable is wonderful. Red and turquoise lettering.  I'ts just plain and simple. It's so tiny I had trouble reading it even with my glasses on.

Perfume. Richard Hudnut. New York. Paris. 1/4 fl oz.  

I'm the girl that chooses a book by its cover. I'm a sucker for a great lable every time. I'd have bought this bottle had it not been a such a lovely bonus.   

Well, its the second week of March and it's still winter here.

I baked some rice pudding and I thought I'd share the recipe. It's my Mom's recipe and it's unlike any rice pudding I've had elswhere. It's baked and is custardy more than pudding-like. One of my brothers requested this instead of birthday cake each year.

Rice Pudding

Mix together in a 9x13 baking dish

2 cups cooked rice

a handul or two of raisins or dried currants

freshly grated nutmeg

Whisk together in a seperate bowl

4 cups of milk

4 eggs

1 cup sugar

1tsp vanilla

Pour over rice mixture

Bake at 325 for 50 minutes or until set in the center.

This is best served warm with a little cream or milk.

Yumm. 

Enjoy!

<3

It isn't Spring yet...

It poured rain here most of the day yesterday. It was a grey, damp and chilly day. The snow blanketing the backyard turned to a lake. I don't mind, I thought, it's a sure sign of spring, after all.  

Then the temperature dipped, the rain disapeared and by the time the sun came up again this morning - another 4 inches of snow. 

 Well, it's spring in the kitchen. Light, airy, fruity and fresh.

If you haven't made this cake you gotta try it. It's ridiculously easy.

 

Just stir together a box of Angel Food Cake mix and a whole can of crushed pineapple.

Pour it into a 9x13 pan and bake it at 350 for 35 minutes.  

That's it.

I made 24 cupcakes and topped them with whipped cream.

Easy Peasy!

Here's to a sunny day - in spite of the weather :-)

<3