Green Tomatoes

Freshly picked tomatoes smell soooo good...

Oh, and that is a chili pepper in there, too.  An Anaheim chili, to be precise.

I'm planning on try some fun recipes with these puppies!

TipNut.com and Allrecipes.com have a lot of great recipes for green tomatoes.

I think I'm going to try pickling some of them, use a few for a cake or a pie, just for fun, and definitely fry some! 

This is gonna be fun=)

Wallpaper Wednesday

Well, it's Wednesday again, which means it's time to reveal my latest silver screen wallpaper!

I hope y'all are having a lovely week so far.  Aside from the fact that it's been raining cats and dogs for about a week now, which keeps me from riding my horse, this week has been very, very nice.  I spent Monday sewing a new dress, while watching Wives and Daughters - the perfect combination, really.

Okay, on to the wallpaper...

.....

I finally finished one of the special requests made by my cousin Abbie.

Everyone, please welcome...Gene Kelly!

{Full size image located on the Graphic Design page}

This one took me a while for various reasons, but the end result was worth it, don't you think? :)

Gene Kelly is one of my favorite dancers/actors.  I LOVE watching him and Donald O'Connor tap dancing together in Singin' in the Rain.  It looks like so much fun!

(I'll probably come up with a wallpaper for Singin' in the Rain at some point.)

Well, once again I have no idea who will be appearing next Wallpaper Wednesday - I think I'll just make it a surprise from now on;)

So long folks! 

{Belated} Wallpaper Wednesday

Happy belated Wallpaper Wednesday!

No, I didn't think that yesterday was Tuesday, or that today was Wednesday... (it isn't, right?;)

I was in the middle of a HUGE cleaning project (you'll probably be hearing more about that later), and was just too busy and tired to post it yesterday.

So, I trust you won't mind if I post it today:)

.....

Without further ado, I give you...Randolph Scott!

{Full size image on the Graphic Design page}

Randolph Scott is simply one of my favorite actors.  He's perfect for the rugged, manly cowboy/mountain man/pirate roles, but cleans up good for movies like Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm with Shirley Temple. Very versatile and funny.

Note: all of the photographs found using Google Images - Dr. Macro really doesn't have a good selection for Randolph Scott, to my sorrow.

And I'm still working on Gene Kelly and Gregory Peck!  I will have one of them done for next week:)

So long folks!

Potato Soup

I love potatoes.  I guess it's good that I live in Idaho, right?  After all, it says right there on the license plate "famous potatoes".

 

My family likes potatoes, too, which is why this is one of our absolutely favorite soups.

 

It's also super easy to make, especially if you have a crock-pot. 

Incidentally, I tried out the crock-pot for the first time today. 

 

I think I'm in love.

 

Right after lunch, I chopped up all of the ingredients, dumped them in the crock-pot, added the chicken broth (actually, I used vegetable bullion), seasoned it, and set it on high. 

By this evening, viola!  Beautiful soup.  Delicious soup.  And a happy family.  And a happy cook who sat around reading instead of having to make dinner;)

 

But don't take my word for it, try this soup out for yourself!

 

.....

 

~Potato Soup~

 

{serves 4}

 

Ingredients as follows...

8 slices of bacon

2 medium onions, diced

2 celery stalks, diced

3 large carrots, peeled and diced

4 large potatos, peeled and diced (I never peel them)

1/2 tsp. majoram (we never have any on hand, so I've never used it - turns out just fine:)

1/2 tsp. thyme

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 bay leaf (never have this either, so instead I add a sprinkle of sage)

49 ounces of chicken broth, vegetable bullion broth, or whatever kind of broth you want to use.

 

Instructions as follows...

In a large soup pan, fry bacon until crisp.  Remove and crumble.  Add onions, celery, and carrots to bacon fat.  Cook over medium heat until onions are translucent.  Pour off any remaining fat and discard.  Add potatoes, spices, broth and bacon.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 1 hour or until potatoes are very tender.

 

Note: For a thicker soup, remove 1-2 cups of the soup and place in blender.  Process until smooth and return mixture to soup pan.

 

If using a crock-pot...

Cook the carrots, onions and celery, then put it in the pot.  Add the potatoes, broth and spices.  Cook until the potatoes are tender.  I prefer to cook bacon in the microwave, instead of a frying pan, and I added it to the soup after the soup was done cooking.  Turned out great!

 

- Recipe from Mom's Updated Recipe Box: 250 Family Favorites Made Quick and Easy by Donna L. Weihofen, R.D.-

 

 

Happy cooking, y'all!

 

Wallpaper Wednesday

This weeks Wallpaper Wednesday is...Audrey Hepburn!

{Grab the full sized image on the Graphic Design page}

I had never seen an Audrey Hepburn movie until this last March when I was visiting my cousins on the east coast.  My cousin Abbie and I watched Sabrina, and I was hooked.  Audrey is so cute! 

Coming up next week...I'm not sure, but I think either Gregory Peck or Gene Kelly will be making their appearances, as requested by Abbie and Kellie.

So long folks!

Tagged!

I've been tagged by my cousin Abbie! 

Since I've only been tagged twice in my entire blogging career, I'm definitely going to have fun with this=)

 

So, I'm supposed to tell you what's in my purse, accompanied by photographic evidence.

I'm not really sure what's in my purse, so this will be interesting...

.....

 

The purse

I love this purse, which I "stole" from my mom.  It's not big enough to be considered a sack, but it's quite spacious, with lots of little pockets inside.

 

Upon upending my purse, this is what greeted me...

Let's bring some order out of disorder, shall we?

 

Cell phone

 

Misc. pens and pencils

 

Several lists and my ticket from my last visit to the DMV

 

1 package of gum, 2 throat drops, 1 rather scuzzy looking q-tip, 2 things of dental floss, 1 comb, 1 hair bandy, and 1 bottle of hand sanitizer

 

Several tracts and my pocket New Testament

 

My car key and clicker with my library card and a little LED light from the local pet store.  That little light as come in handy.  Come to think of it, a house key would come in handy.

 

Wallet and makeup bag - I don't wear makeup, except for lipstick occasionally, so this bag contains lipstick, Burt's Bees lip gloss, antibacterial ointment, a small tube of toothpaste, a small mirror, a spare set of contact lenses, and a few hair bandies.

 

Un-used kleenex, used kleenex, and trash.

 

And that, my friends, is what is in my purse, minus the trash now.  Not nearly as interesting as my cousin's, but there you have it:) 

This is actually a useful tag, since it gives you the opportunity to clean out your purse:)

 

.....

 

Okay, I tag...

 

Sarah Jo - (private blog)

Kellie

Michelle

Sereina

Melinda

 

I know not everyone is into doing tags, so don't feel like you have to do it:)

 

Happy Trails, y'all!

Wallpaper Wednesday

I almost forgot to post a new wallpaper today:)

 

Just finished my annual cardio fitness test, better known as bucking hay bales;)  I'm very tired, but it was worth it - we now have 9 tons of grass hay up in the loft, enough to last the whole year for the horses!  And that means we don't have to buck bales again until next year=)  That makes me happy:)  

.....

 

I didn't get around to finishing either Gene Kelly or Gregory Peck this week, so today you'll have to be content with...Dodge City, starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland!

 

{Full size image on the Graphic Design page}

 

This is definitely one of my favorite movies!  I love Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland, especially together:)

 

- For those who are considering watching the movie, I will give you a word of warning - this is a western, and as such includes pretty much everything you'd expect to see in a western, including gun play, several saloon scenes (including some dancers - that's what the fast forward button is there for), etc.  So, if you don't like those kind of things, don't watch this movie, or keep your remote control handy.  However, if you love a fast paced, hard riding, complex plot with a brave, heroic sheriff fighting for law and order, and wee bit of romance thrown in, then you will love it:) -  

 

Note: Some of the pictures used were found on Google Images, all others, including the center pic, are from Dr. Macro's High Quality Movie Scans.

 

.....

 

I hope y'all enjoyed this weeks Wallpaper Wednesday!

 

Happy trails, y'all!

Historical Costume Inspiration Festival: Mandie's Sailor Blouse

My second entry for the Historical Costume Inspiration Festival.

 

The Inspiration...

 

The sailor blouse worn by Mandie in the cover illustrations of both Mandie and the Foreign Spies and Mandie and the Singing Chalet.

 

The Costume...

 

I used this vintage sailor blouse pattern that my mom used when she was a girl, sometime in the 70s I believe.

 

The blouse is made of white cotton material with red bias tape for the trim, and the skirt is my favorite half circle denim skirt.

 

"Mandie" and "Snowball", aka Tasha and Mitts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

{Another big thank you to my brother Alex for his splendid photography job!}

Historical Costume Inspiration Festival: Marguerite Blakeney

Ta-da!  My third entry for the Historical Costume Inspiration Festival:)

.....

The Inspiration...

This past spring my friend Kellie held a literary tea for her birthday.  Everyone was invited to come dressed as their favorite character from literature or history.  However, their character was to be kept a secret, not to be revealed until the party.  What fun!!

Since I had just finished reading The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy, I decided to go as Marguerite Blakeney.   Imagine my surprise when I found that Kellie had also decided to come as Lady Blakeney!  Great minds think alike;)

The screenshots below are from the 1934 adaptation of The Scarlet Pimpernel starring Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon as Sir Percy Blakeney and Marguerite Blakeney.  You can watch the full film here, if you wish.  However, my dress was not based on any of the dresses from the movie

"Sink me!"

My hat was also partially inspired by the hats worn by Arabella Bishop in the 1935 adaptation of Captain Blood starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland.

The Costume...

The Scarlet Pimpernel books begin in 1792 during the French Revolution.  Panniers had disappeared, as had the bustle, although skirts were still quite full.  Large elaborate hats replaced the big hairstyles of the 1770s.  In short, fashions were being simplified.

I used Simplicity pattern 4092 - the 18th c. costume.  For obvious reasons, I altered the neckline slightly to make it higher.

.....

What could be more appropriate than a photo shoot with both of the Lady Blakeneys?!

A beautiful sunny day after days of rain and cloudy skies - perfect!

The fabric I used was cotton, and I found it after rummaging through our sewing room.  Since the pimpernel is a small red wayside flower, the fabric was absolutely perfect!

Braid and lace	Close-up of the pleating on the skirt front	Close-up of the sleeve flounce

I had to alter the skirt a bit, because a very large "rat" had chewed a hole through one corner of the folded fabric, thereby creating about 4 holes - approx. 3"x3" - spaced evenly along the length of the fabric!  I had to fit the pattern pieces in between the holes, and had to reduce the fullness of the skirt in order to do so. 

Oh, and the rat's name is Bonnie, and is what is commonly known as a boxer dog;)

The hat is an 18th c. low crown made of straw.  I purchased it at Just Two Tailors - they have a lovely selection of hats!
 

Top	Side	Bottom

I covered the hat with a white, gauze material.  I'm envisioning a creamy ostrich plume, and flowers at some point - wouldn't that be a dream? 

You definitely need a hat pin or two to hold this hat on!

"I can't smile anymore!!"

Shadow people

The end of a beautiful afternoon.

Behind the scenes...

"Don't laugh..." *snicker*;)

Good ol' Leroy

{Thank you very much Alex and Aubrey for your time and patience - the photos are excellent!}