I’ve made a habit of writing a post at the beginning of each week for Monday morning. Often I share a recipe, sometimes a decoration, and sometimes it’s a wellness, inspirational post. This small note to you, dear readers, is to say, “That is not happening.”
Read MoreCategory: Home
Making a house your home: decor, environment, interior design, re-use, up-cycle, vintage treasures
Halloween Spider Hot Dogs
If you’ve visited me for several years, you probably remember I like food art to celebrate holidays. Today’s post is an update of a recipe from 2016. It was an early post with Dollar Tree Halloween decorations on the wall and table with several ideas for healthy treats for a Halloween gathering.
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Sad Farewell to Beloved Pets & Welcome to a New Furry Friend
My nephew, James, and his wife, Heather, are animal people. They always have at least one pet but usually more. I believe Heather had her cat, Charlotte, before their marriage. For many years, Charlotte was a beloved lap cat who brightened their days.
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Autumn Woodland Animals Printables
It’s almost fall y’all! September 22nd is just around the corner, and I’ve been playing with fall graphics. I created four cute woodland scenes.
First is a bear cub with pumpkins, sized 14″ x 14″.
Second, is a Bunny in Fall Leaves, sized 12″ x 12″.
Third is Happy Autumn Squirrel sized 14″ x 14″.
Last is Autumn Woodland Animals, sized 10″ x 8″.
I hope you enjoy these fall printables! For more fall graphics, check out:
Please see my Link Parties page for the parties where this post was shared.
Balcony Update With Paint & Tile
Today I want to share my progress in updating my balcony. I don’t know if you remember the faux grass carpet on it when I bought the condo. I really hate that stuff, but I didn’t plan to do anything about it for a few years. There were more important updates to do first.
In the spring I opened the windows on the balcony to enjoy the breezes. I had a couple of old wooden chairs out there to sit on. When summer arrived, I thought I had closed the windows. It seems I am not strong enough to get them tightly closed. A thunderstorm with driving rain against them produced a wet and soggy balcony. I dry vaccumed it, and it was still damp. With the windows closed, the green outdoor carpet became moldy. I had it removed.
I had the walls and ceiling painted to match the cream on my condo walls. When my nephew visited last week, he asked if I was putting tile out there. I had just bought a brand new a/c and told him in the future. He offered me a present of a tile floor out there from him. What a sweetheart he is. He really likes to be busy and bought tile on sale. He spent several days putting down tile. It looks great.
The two potted plants are my amaryllis. They spend most of the year on the balcony. Next February I’ll move them to my front door for full sunlight. Then they bud and bloom in the spring.
I now need to buy chairs for the balcony. When it was moldy out there, I had my handy man throw out the wooden chairs with the carpet. I don’t want mold spores in wood out there.
Fresh paint with a beautiful tile floor make me happy. It’s too hot to sit out there now anyway. My next step would be a hanging plant from the hook.
I just had my handyman go over the seams of the windows with clear silicone caulk. I’m trying to make it water tight. I won’t be opening the windows anymore.
I hope you are enjoying August wherever you are!
Please see my Link Parties page for the parties where this post was shared.
Caprese Salad With Peaches
A classic Caprese salad is made with fresh tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil leaves. It’s typically drizzled with olive oil and may also include balsamic glaze or vinegar, salt, and pepper. The key to a good Caprese salad is using high-quality, fresh ingredients.
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Take a Trip to Spook Hill, Lake Wales, Florida
Today we’re taking a small drive to the small town close to Lakeland, Lake Wales. Many years ago when I was a brand new resident of South Florida, I went to Disney World with friends. Leaving Orlando and starting to drive south the next day, my friend asked if I like to take a small detour for local fun. I was game for a small excursion, and we drove to Lake Wales to Spook Hill.
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Update & How to Use Creamy Whipped Feta Dip
I would first like to thank those of you who dropped by and left a message while I was missing in action on Monday. My nephew, James, came last Friday morning and didn’t leave until 6 PM on Monday. It was a great visit.
James is training for a triathlon in September. (A triathlon is a multi-sport endurance race consisting of swimming, cycling, and running, performed in that order. Athletes compete for the fastest overall time, with transitions between each segment included in the overall time.) For age 50, he is in fantastic shape. He burns calories so fast and is always hungry. It was hard to keep him supplied with good stuff: carrot and celery sticks, hummus, Greek yogurt, dried cranberries, and lots of other healhy food. I fixed him some of my favorite side dishes that are simple, tasty, and real food. Monday’s dinner before he left for the airport included my Sweet Potato Apple Cranberry Bake. He loved it.
Now, let’s look at some new good ideas for your family. A short while ago, I shared a Creamy Whipped Feta Dip recipe. It is a real party pleaser with its tangy flavor and can be used in lots of different ways.
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