I purchased a super cool, unique, vintage hutch at a garage sale last week. I couldn’t wait to get it home and install it in my remodeled craft room. But, when I got it home it just didn’t look right in the only place I could use it. I was heartbroken. It is such a fun piece and it had a great story. The man who sold it to me was in charge of the estate of his grandmother. He told me stories of the family dinners around the dining table in the room where the hutch spent the last 60 plus years. I fell in love with his story, his hutch and his family and I promised him that it was going to a good home that would continue to cherish it.
Since it wouldn’t work anywhere in my house, I was left with no option but to put it on craigslist. A lot of people cringe at the thought of a “craigslist encounter”, but I have had several wonderful encounters and met some delightful people through craigslist. Within ten minutes of posting it, I had received five inquiries. (I got a good deal and was passing it on to a lucky purchaser.) Email conversations began. I always try to be conscious of the first responders and give them first shot if I have anything to sell. I ended up pulling the ad down almost immediately because of the interest. Anyway, to make a long story short, the first responder decided I lived too far away, so the second responder jumped on the opportunity (who, incidentally, lived quite a bit farther.)
I wish I could have afforded just to give it to them. They turned out to be a young, beautiful family of four (two small boys) that were absolutely adorable. They even had to come in two vehicles because the truck would not accommodate them all! It was so fun to meet them, hear their story and make a little connection. They made my night.
I no longer felt blue about having to give up the special garage sale treasure because I found a new treasure in a special little family that day. And, I was able to keep my promise to the sweet man who sold it to me. It was going to a good home that would cherish it.
Menu Monday
Week of April 18 - 24
Monday
Pork Shoulder Roast
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Salad Greens
Zucchini Stir-Fry
Tuesday
Green Chili Pork Enchiladas (from Monday’s Roast)
Refried Beans
Spanish Rice
Guacamole
Wednesday
Street Tacos (from our favorite taco shop)
Thursday
Deer Roast
Rice and Gravy
Roasted Aspargus
Friday
Homemade Waffles
Sausage
Fruit
Saturday
Out of Town
Sunday
Out of Town
If you wonder why you see “Street Tacos” so much on my menu, it’s because they are so delicious and only $1 each! We have a fun little place in town and each week I get to practice my Spanish while having an awesome, inexpensive dinner! Also, because I work full-time, do a lot of crafts and visit garage sales along with trying to keep my home and laundry from getting too out of hand, we tend to eat out quite a bit. If you prefer more home-cooking than my menus provide, simply pick a meal from a previous menu or share your ideas with me!
Once I get more organized, I am planning to schedule more “Make it once – dine twice (or more) style weekly cooking. Become a follower and I’ll keep you updated!
Menu Monday!
Menu Monday
Week of Mar 20 – 27
Monday
Roasted Whole Chicken (Costco)*
Steamed Broccoli
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Note: I purchase two whole chickens. From the leftovers, I glean 3-4 cups of chopped chicken for other meals in the week. The rest of the chicken and carcasses are thrown in a pot with seasonings, water and celery and I create a soup base/stock from that. Debone and return chicken to pot. I then separate the stock/soup base into 2-3 containers for future meals. I usually freeze one of the bases to use for future last minute meals and use the other one/two for this week.
Tuesday
Biscuit-Topped Chicken Pot Pie (from one of the containers above)
Wednesday
Street Tacos
Thursday
French Dip Hoagies
Au Jus
Homemade Potato Salad
Friday
Green Chili Enchiladas (using 3-4 cups of reserved chicken from above)
Spanish Rice
Low-Fat Refried Beans
Saturday
Grilled Deer Steaks
Grilled Asparagus with Soy Sauce and Sesame Seed
Sticky Rice (Cowboy’s preferred side dish)
Sunday
Lunch – Potluck at Friends
A Spot of Tea?
I found this candlestick and tea box at the local St Vincent’s Thrift shop the other day for less than $3. The tea box is actually vintage. It was made by a company called “Ma Beck” that went out of business years ago.
I thought it was pretty cute just as it was, but thought it could be cuter with a little makeover. I’ve been looking for something cute to put my tea bags in so I could leave them on the counter. Since the Cowboy’s last surgery, he has enjoyed having hot tea at night. I know! Not very cowboy-ish, but he is a study in contrasts anyway since he bakes, cooks, builds and farms. The only thing he doesn’t do is dishes!
So, I painted and glazed the candlestick and tea box and then Gorilla-glued them together. I switched out the old, ugly knob with a cute key thingy I got from Elliotts recently. I decided that since I wanted it to hold tea and in keeping with the vintage theme, I would keep the tea plaque. To dress it up a little I added a couple doodads. How is that for technical jargon?
My Cowboy and Valedictorian (aka smart, cute, and usually sweet daughter) weren’t all that impressed with it. To quote them, “it looks like you painted it white, smeared on some brown stuff and are pretending it’s antique.” Nothing like fanciful praise to validate me!
I'm linking to:
A Diamond in the Stuff
A Little Knick Knack
Shabby Art Boutique
The Girl Creative - Just Something I Whipped Up
ThinkTank Thursday@Joyful Homemaking
A Diamond in the Stuff
A Little Knick Knack
Shabby Art Boutique
The Girl Creative - Just Something I Whipped Up
ThinkTank Thursday@Joyful Homemaking


Labels: crafts, repurpose, trash to treasure
repurpose,
Trash to Treasure
Menu Monday
Welcome to another edition of Menu Monday! So far, I've managed to actually plan meals to weeks in a row. I must be on a roll!
Menu Monday
Week of February 21 - 27
Monday
Monday
Spiral baked ham
Scalloped potatoes
Green beans
Tuesday
Ham and Beans
Cornbread
Wednesday
Street Tacos
Refried beans
Thursday
Split pea soup
Friday
Teriyaki chicken
Rice
Stir-Fry zucchini
Saturday
Dining out
Sunday
Dining out
Labels: crafts, repurpose, trash to treasure
menu monday,
recipes
Does the fact that I’m posting Fun Friday Finds on Sunday reveal that I’m either a procrastinator or really busy? I’m going for the really busy, but the truth is, I procrastinated! I got too busy researching my finds to actually post about them!
These were all found at Estate Sales. Usually, I find Estate Sales too expensive, but I felt like a got a couple really good deals. I guess my ebay sales and makeover items will tell whether it’s Trash to Treasure later!
I got all this for $30! Pictured are a Vintage porcelain lamp, brass lamp, floral etched plate (hard to see), two plant/plate stands, two cool blue bottles, a hurricane candle holder with silver-leaved feet, a Vintage Brighton Jacket in perfect condition, two Anne
Klein leather clutches and a set of pub placemats.
For an additional $75, I got this really cool Vintage Antique Wrought Iron and Brass double bed. I love this bed! I’m debating about keeping it or not because I have been looking for one, but if I can sell it at a really good price……
I couldn't honestly tell you whether it's more fun to Makeover something from Trash to Treasure or sell it at a profit! I'll let you know when I get a little more experience (smile)!
Labels: crafts, repurpose, trash to treasure
fun finds friday,
Vintage
Menu Monday!
It's Monday! I'm trying to organize and compartmentalize my life, starting with weekly menus. Weekly menus are such a time, stress and money-saver, yet it's such a hard thing for me to do!
One of my New Year's goals was to plan my weekly menus for the above mentioned reasons and for my overall physical health. I follow the Weight Watchers Points Plus Plan and knowing what I'm having for dinner helps me plan my days better and keeps me on track.
I haven't included recipes because I'm pretty sure I don't have enough followers that read, much less want them (smile), but if you happen upon my blog and would like the recipes, become a follower and leave me a comment!
One of my New Year's goals was to plan my weekly menus for the above mentioned reasons and for my overall physical health. I follow the Weight Watchers Points Plus Plan and knowing what I'm having for dinner helps me plan my days better and keeps me on track.
I haven't included recipes because I'm pretty sure I don't have enough followers that read, much less want them (smile), but if you happen upon my blog and would like the recipes, become a follower and leave me a comment!
Menu Monday
Week of Feb 14 – 20
Monday
Cowboy Meatloaf
Mashed Potatoes
Spaghetti Squash
Tuesday
Pork Chops in Mushroom Gravy
Mashed Potatoes
Grilled Zucchini and Vegetables
Wednesday
Street Tacos
Thursday
Meatloaf Sandwiches
Green Beans
Chips
Friday
Pork Chop Stroganoff
Saturday
Chinese Chicken Salad
Sunday
Lunch – Dining out
Dinner – Nachos Supreme
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