Patriotic Bird Houses: A Project With the Kids

Dad had mentioned several times that he wanted to put some bird houses up around the yard.  In trying to think of a good Father’s Day present, I remembered that. 

I have a good supply of bird houses that I have gotten here and there, including a bunch I’ve picked up at Amish shops and yard sales.  I picked out 4 simple of simple design for my project.

Two of them were spray painted a rustic folk red.

On the first one I pulled out my start stencil and traced stars of various shapes all over the bird house.  Then I used blue and silver (which looked white on the bird house) Sharpies to add details to each star.

The other one I taped off to make a folk art looking American flag.  (Opps!  It needs a star!)

The other two I saved for something special…

… I had Little Bird and Little Hoss paint them up for their ‘Papo’! 

On these I had a white background.  I cut stars from masking tape and randomly placed them all over the two bird houses. 

 

Then it was time to paint!  We had them down to just their nappies to make cleaning up easier.  The acrylic painted washed right off their skin… not so my jeans!

First was the blue coat, then the red coat went on.  (Make sure you allow the first coat to completely dry… we rushed it a bit because our artists have very short attention spans and it was hot outside!)

~Before~

~After~

Little Bird’s bled a bit under the star because she ‘scrubbed’ at the surface as she painted.  Hoss is more of a slam-it-down sort of painter.  LOL He also got bored after the first coat and wandered off to try to convince Papo to take him for a tractor ride.

I love the way they turned out!

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ReDECKorating

It was time to redo the deck but with all the yard work that needs to be done, I didn’t want to spend much in any one area.  So I’m re-using, re-purposing, re-cycling, and re-thinking how to make all the areas look great on a budget. 

I like my deck furniture a lot.  But it was so dull!  Brown cushions on ‘bronze’ framework.  Bleh!  And the cushions haven’t held up very well either. 

I found these bright pillows in the shed that I had used with a different lawn set.  They were still in great shape and had that punch of color I was looking for.  I plan on making slipcovers from canvas drop cloths for the seat cushions – as soon as I get my sewing machine serviced.

I repurposed one of the foot stools from the furniture set into a table (the deck really is too small to use the foot stools and still be able to move around).  Marble slabs I picked up at the ReStore made a top to set things on.

I used another piece of the marble on the ‘coffee table’ to set a planter on.  I like how it ties the look together.  This planter is from a home show party.  I just hadn’t found a place that worked in my house but I love it out here.

My other name for the deck is “The Oven”.  On the west side of a house on Tennessee… it is HOT in the summer.  But I finally found plants that not only can take it… they thrive in it.  Succulents and sedums – I love them! 

I gathered up various pots and planters from all over (in my cleaning I’ve been finding so many things I thought were gone forever) and have put these drought lovers in them.  Some plants I already had and I have bought a few new ones. 

When I buy them, I look for the most crowded pots in the bunch so I can divide them to get even more plants.

This used to be a fountain… but we forgot to cover it when we went on a winter trip.  It rained… then froze, and that broke out the bottom.  Fine – it is now a planter!  I’m going to a plant auction on Saturday and will bring home some sort of new succulent to go in there.

My grilling area is still getting a bit of work.  I set my large umbrella up so I could have some shade while cooking.   I’m stalking the ReStore for some large shutters that I can put up for privacy on the side behind the grill, as this faces the road.  And when outdoor rugs go on clearance, I will be replacing the worn out ones I have. 

I’m happy with how it has turned out and of course I’ll be tweaking it as I find things in my shed decluttering. 

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Gluten Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

I had a request to post the recipe for the Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake from my gluten free cooking class.

Here you go Lili!  Hope you enjoy it.

Gluten-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup unsweetened apple sauce

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2  cup buckwheat flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/3 cup cocoa

 

Preheat oven to 300 F.

Mix top five ingredients.  Add remaining dry ingredients.  Beat for 2 minutes. 

Bake in a greased 9 X 11 pan for 40 minutes.

If desired, top with cool whip or frosting.

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Salud! at Whole Foods: Pub Favorites

My latest class at Whole Foods was “Pub Favorites”.  As soon as I saw it offered I signed up for it.  We so enjoyed the ‘pub grub’ in Scotland I absolutely wanted to learn how to cook it!

“A public house, informally known as a pub, pours many a pint but also serve their patrons some delicious dishes. Serving as a gathering place for the community, pubs are a welcome spot to meet, have a pint and something to eat. We'll try our hand in the kitchen to recreate these traditional dishes that are hearty, comforting, and perfect for serving up this winter. Black & Tans will be served.   MENU: Cornish Pasties; Toad in the Hole; Fish & Chips; Shepherd's Pie; Lemon-Raspberry Syllabub; and Sticky Toffee Pudding.”

We started with the fish…

… and then learned how to make perfect ‘chips’ (fries).  The secret is to double fry them – a quick first ‘fry blanch’ and then when you are ready to serve, finish them off.  Very crispy outside and tender inside.

Then there was the shepherd’s pie… basically a pot pie with a mashed potato ‘crust’.  Traditionally this is a ‘leftovers’ meal.

The sticky toffee pudding was made in a spring form pan and Merijoy demonstrated how to use it. 

After everything was cooked… then we had our class dinner! 

Fish and…

…chips!

Golden browned shepherd’s pie.

Cornish pasties (called bridies in Scotland).

Toad in the Hole.

I didn’t get a photo of the sticky toffee pudding when it was served.  Here it is right before plating.

And the caramel sauce to top the pudding.  There was also fresh whipped cream. 

 The class ate very well that night!

Toad in the Hole

2 eggs

1/2 cup plus 1 T all-purpose flour

1 1/3 cup whole milk

1 level T grain mustard, plus more for serving

Salt (kosher or sea)

Fresh ground black pepper

6 pork or chicken sausages

3.5 oz thinly sliced prosciutto

2 T unsalted butter 

Whisk together the eggs, flour, milk, mustard and seasonings; beating out any little lumps of flour.  The consistency should be about that of ordinary cream… but no thinner.  Let rest for 15 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 425 F.

Carefully remove the skins for each of the sausages (or if using bulk, form into rolls about the size of half a hot dog).  Wrap each piece of sausage in a piece of prosciutto.

Put the butter in a roasting pan and leave it in the oven until it is milted and very hot.

Pour the batter into the roasting pan – it will sizzle softly in the hot butter – then arrange the sausages in the batter.

Transfer the pan back into the oven and bake for 25 – 30 minutes until puffed and golden. 

Serve with grain mustard.

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 An artist in the store did these cute chalk art boards of Merijoy and Cindy.  Love them!

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Nashville Lawn & Garden Show: Funky Fabulous

While I walked around the garden show, I started to wonder if I should be looking for Donna (http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/   ) hiding somewhere in the background.  I hadn’t heard that she made a sneak trip to Nashville…

But it was looking “funky junk” all over the show halls!

Doesn’t this little porch make you want to sit down and kick your shoes off?

Look at that chippy red chair! 

Love the rusty bike and the daffodils.

Old and new in perfect contrast.

There was even a pallet wheelbarrow garage. 

OK Donna… I know you’re around here somewhere!

This little ‘general store’ playhouse is just too cute.

A washtub of flowers.

More pallets!  This one had herbs in it. 

An upcycled rain barrel for the garden.

An old mesh yard table is now a succulent garden. 

OK, this is one idea I thought was rather ill-conceived.  Too easy to get broken.  I can just see the stitches now…

Some sort of cool old chain repurposed into a rain chain.

And copper tubing and a flower pot becomes a fountain.

Even more formal patios had a touch of funky junk.

How cute is that?

This outdoor fireplace was decorated with old gears and cogs.

A tiny chapel like this will be going up in my little woods.

Even the floral arranging had some junky touches, like this barnwood framed succulents.

And this arrangement featuring a piece of hardware wire and a gutter piece. 

The show dealers had some fun things too.  Like these ‘peace’ful yard tools…

Posts, embellishments, and other odds and ends have been turned into darling garden folk.

Look at all this stuff.  Love that leaky bird bath turned into a fairy garden.

Metal, shutters, and burlap.

I know what I’m going to do with some of my old windows stashed in the attic!

The paper chain was made from old sheet music. 

But one booth may have out funkied Donna…

Maybe…

I don’t know, what do you think?

Is this the ultimate funky?

An Easter Island garden totem!!!

LOVE it!