It All Started With Celery

 Want to see some magic with four bunches of celery?

 Once it was chopped up I loaded it in the dehydrator

 Now to use up the leftover tops and ends

 Part went into this pot along with chicken bones to make stock for the freezer. It's soon to be chicken and dumplin days!!

 The rest I threw in a freezer bag to use for more stock another day.

 The bottom of the stalk I put in cups of water to give growing our own celery a try. So far its working!! I will be planting it in a pot today.

Ta Da, here is the four bunches of celery after it has been dehydrated, amazing don't you think? BTW this is a pint jar.

Way back when.....leftover celery was the food item that drove me to hit the add to cart button for our dehydrator. Celery will always have a soft spot in my heart as it changed my world when it comes to preserving food and getting a home cooked meal on the table a whole heck of a lot faster.

I had been looking for alternatives in preserving veggies from the garden since I couldn't use a pressure canner and frozen veggies just don't float my boat. After some research in books and the Internet I was thinking long and hard over purchasing a dehydrator. Dehydrate2store, was and still is my favorite go to site on all things dehydrated.

I was putting together a pot of soup that morning. You know the drill, standing at the counter chopping away at all of the ingredients to put in the soup pot thinking of all the other things on my to do list once I got everything chopped up and on the stove. When I got to the bunch of celery. I only needed 3 stalks, what the heck am I going to do with the leftover celery? I knew as I returned that celery to the refrigerator more than likely it would be a wilted mess only to be thrown out in a week or so :( All of those video's from dehydrate2store came rushing into my head. Just about every single thing in that pot of soup we grow in our garden but I couldn't put up due to the pressure canner problem. I bet it could all be dehydrated, I would also never have to throw celery away again.

SOLD!!!!

I LOVE our dehydrator, having four bunches of celery already chopped up in the pantry to throw in a soup, casserole, dressing (think Thanksgiving), and whatever else is a great feeling. And just think of all the money I am saving, I would guess at least $10.00 a year, that is on celery alone! Ha Over the years I can't even begin to think of how much money it has saved us and the hours I use to spend chopping up whatever was needed to add to the pot is over. Now I do a big chopping morning, load it in the dehydrator and walk away. TOO COOL!!

I just checked the temperature outside, its 54 degrees!!! You might know after we got the  new heat pumps in the weather would turn off cool, right! I LOVE it, Fall is my favorite time of the year. The sights, sounds and smells, nothing could be better. I am in the mood for some fall kitchen playtime. I have a million and one things on my "To Do" list but I am going to take some time away from all that today to throw open the windows, slip on an apron and play house. The cabinets and pantry could use a good clean out. I am sure there is something lurking around that needs to move on to the goodwill store. The grands have rearranged the lower pantry cabinets a whole lot here lately, they could use some tidy up time. I have HIGH hopes the painter will come by this week to give me an estimate on refinishing the kitchen cabinets. I don't want to be embarrassed by what he might find as he takes a peek around! Ha.

Has anybody else been bitten by the fall bug? Are you taking stock and stocking up? Maybe decorating for fall already? I am holding off on the decorating for now as we still have more workmen in and out of the house, that is if and when they show up. This morning I don't even care, it feels like fall and I am loving it.

Full Friday

 SIL#2 was able to stop by after work yesterday to install our new 19 inch toilet. Now it's my turn to take over for more touch up paint as the new toilet while much taller than the old is slimmer.

 Our garage is overflowing in cardboard, needed to make a trip to the dump.

 But first things first. The grands needed a romp in the park. I am loving this, the little girls now like to take turns pushing each other in the swings

 Karsyn is not brave enough yet to jump from one disk to the other, Kara..she is all over it

 Mason man does a pretty darn good job of keeping up with them all.

 After our time at the park the little girls and I hit the dump to unload some of the cardboard

 How sweet is this, they like to hold hands while in my car.

 Last outing of the morning before going home for some "Girl Time" Karsyn's new favorite phrase was the grocery store to pick up some junk snacks

 The rest of the day was spent making sure they didn't get into too much trouble

Snack time. They look like I felt at the end of the day!!

Now that Karsyn is in pre school two days a week our play day has been moved to Friday. I am still adjusting to our new schedule, for now it feels like frenzy Friday. All home improvements were put on hold until these little gals left for the day.

I walked out the door along with the grands today to meet our window installer. Today was the day to see the two samples of replacement windows to pick from, sign the contract, and pay the deposit. One quick look at the "windows" was all I needed to say no way, no how are those things going in my home. The cost of these wonderful IMO junk windows was $11, 800.00 installed. I do believe the fella was shocked at my response.

 I was not in the best of moods when I arrived (Friday traffic is crazy here) and was treated like a bother to the staff/clerks.When I ask a very simple question of one of the sales reps while waiting for my guy he was down right rude. I had gone a little early to look around before meeting up and signing the contract. When I realized the quality of windows he had quoted us I tried to call him at his home office and cell phone number to keep him from wasting a trip. After hanging around for an hour I gave up, just as he called me back. Lots of fast talking on his end to please turn around and look at the higher grade replacement windows he was almost there. OK, I was willing to give him a chance, as I walked in the door a very RUDE man informed me they were closed. What?? Yes we close early on Friday. But your sign says your open for another 1/2 hour, nope they were closing you can come back Monday with your contractor.

Put a fork in me I was done!!!! I will be contacting different companies come Monday morning to start all over again but this time for repairs/refurbishing of the solid wood windows we already have. I have to admit I am not a fan of vinyl windows, even the very highest end are not as sturdy feeling as what we have. The connivance of low maintenance and tilt in for cleaning had me going for awhile but when the rubber meet to road I got cold feet. Add too that rude people who don't seem to care anything for the paying customers that keep them sitting in those fancy chairs I was outta there in a skinny minute.

When I shared the news with hubby I was surprised that he too agreed he didn't have a good feeling on giving up wood for vinyl. He had also been in the store the last time he was home to check prices and quality and was put off as much as I was with the customer service.

I am SO THANKFUL that we decided this is the time to make major repair's/updates to our home. I am not sure I would have the mental energy to deal with experiences like these 10 or 15 years from now. When I drove away from that deal I felt like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Now its back to the notebook, list of suggested contractors from friends, comparing quotes and checking references, oh ya and grouting the tile! Ha

Hope everyone has a great weekend, fall is almost here.

Central Heat and Air!!!!!

 At 7:30 sharp this morning the 2 new heat pumps installation began.

 

The new units remind me of the "ET" movie, can we say R2D2. Ha  They are twice the size of our old ones. It was LOVE at first sight, or should I say love at first puff of COLD air

 Our bad luck just won't stop. One of the workers installing the heat pumps fell through the attic ceiling into our master bedroom. When they came downstairs to share the news I thought I would never be able to stop laughing once I made sure the poor man was not injured. They were kind enough to nail cardboard over the opening so AJ the beagle and I won't have to look at that massive hole when we hit the sack tonight. Of course the company will pay for the repairs and have the work done ASAP (well see about that) So we have marked one home improvement off our list only to add one more. HA

 On top of everything else going on around here the company we like to use for carpet cleaning were running a special this week. Can't let a good sale pass me by, saving money is not always convenient. This is just one example of the mess in three rooms I woke up to this morning that HAD to be dealt with before the AC men arrived.

 The carpets came out beautiful and the price was right but......

 See that big old black spot on the staircase wall? When the carpet cleaners pulled their hose upstairs they left marks like this all over the staircase walls. Nice. One step forward one step back, they too will be making the repairs needed ASAP. Really and truly this summer has been just CRAZY!!!

 The new family room sofa while arriving two hours late...grr at least there was no damage to our poor home when they delivered it . Do you like the whitewashed side table better than the brown wood one?

One thing leads to another. I spent last night moving end tables and what not tables around the house as the old brown stained tables just didn't work with the new sofa IMO. There is also a mark along the wall where the old sofa was that will need some TLC. Add one more thing on the To Do list.

I have decided I am no longer overwhelmed by all this craziness over the summer. I am now just in shock to the point of laughing out loud over each new hick - up that comes our way. Not sure if the change of heart is because I have lost my marbles or if sitting on the new couch in the comfort of 72 degrees central air makes things seem not so bad after all.

There is a cost to all of this comfort....

$16,000.00  OUCH!!!

By waiting for 2 months and 2 days in the sweltering NC heat we will receive $2,600.00 in rebates as well as a $350.00 federal and state tax credit. That rebate will be used towards the MANY other "Must Do's" around the house. I sooo wish it would be enough to cover all that has to be done but unfortunately it won't come close :( Was it worth the wait? You betcha, $2,600.00 ain't chump change.

The next BIG TICKET item on our must do list is windows. We have finally received the estimate for the job. sigh..If Kara will cooperate tomorrow I will go by the showroom to see what the windows look like that he is suggesting. The owner of the company has already forewarned me that the new windows can't hold a candle to the double pane solid wood windows we have now :(.  However we won't have to worry about wood rot or constant painting every few years.

Time to call it a day. AJ the beagle and I are going to enjoy a cup of tea, maybe a cookie or two, who am I kidding, I will eat all I want!!  AJ can FINALLY curl up under her quilt now that the house is nice and cool.

Day 6 Powder Room

 This had BETTER be the last of the spending in the powder room!!!!! I way underestimated the cost of a new toilet :( Hubby and I both agreed it was best to purchase a 19 incher for our older years, he wanted a full old fashion round bowl, I just wanted a good price. Even on sale the cost was $233.00 UGH. SIL #2 is saving us an additional $125.00 by doing the installation, he works for food and beer.

 I have bought THREE sets of door hinges for the cabinets, not a one would fit. Enough of this running around and returns. I took the doors into the store today to get professional help.  It seems to always be something...end result... they no longer make hinges for solid wood doors as thick as ours. Solution, they will have to be special ordered. My solution, polished chrome spray paint.

I did make a bit of progress today in that I got the tile and border up. Directions say I can grout in 24 hours but in this heat downstairs I am thinking 48 hours would be best.

My dreams of a three day $600.00 powder room remodel are long gone. Doing all this work with the central air on the brink was just plan DUMB!!!! Not only has the heat slowed down the drying process each step of the way, sucked the energy out of my body it has also left me grouchy each night. I hate being grouchy!! But I am oh so close to calling it complete.

I have had a very spendy day. At 8:00AM the first check was written for the new heat pumps $8,000.00 gulp. New toilet $233.00.sigh Then took DD#1 and Mason man out for her birthday breakfast, that was at least cheap. DD then ask if I would go take a look at a new kitchen table they are considering, sure, after all it's her BD. Little did I know it was the kiss of death.

After kicking around the color and finish on the table and chairs she will be purchasing we made the mistake of wandering around the showroom. Long story short I bought a new couch for the family room. What the heck, since the couch was on sale and I need a new chair for ME in the family room I figured I would just go for broke and get them both. Holy cow. The chair and ottoman cost more than the couch. What the heck? The sales lady then told me the couch was the only thing on sale. OK then the couch alone will be all I need thank you very much. Yep it has been a very expensive day.

SIL#2 came by after work to install the new toilet but with the temperature INSIDE the house at 85 degrees I sent him on his way but not before we loaded our old couch into his truck for their home. Do you have any idea what a 119 inch couch weights? TOO DARN MUCH!!! How exciting you must be thinking right? NOOOOO After removing the old sofa I realized it had left a mark along the wall where it has been for years. Holy cow we are (me) will have to be painting the family room.  That will  be put off for who knows how long as I can't and won't start anything else until the powder room is complete and the central air is on!!!

My house is a mess, so many unfinished projects setting around making me nuts. Tomorrow the carpet cleaners will arrive in the AM, in the afternoon the new sofa should be delivered. Lets see if anybody is on time or will even show up.

Powder Room day 5

 I took the time today to finish what I hoped would be a cute project with the leftover ticking fabric. We must have a rug in the powder room, the grands get water all over the place when washing their sweet little hands. Sew I made a rug. First off was to cut the fabric to fit at the sink. Next up iron a double hem.

 Added a double ruffle to each end

 Then added two layers of the stuff you put under throw rugs to keep them from slipping onto the back of the soon to be rug. I have no idea what the stuff is called. I put two layers to add a bit more padding.

 Now to stitch it in. I did a double stitch to make sure it was secured in the hem.

 WOW, the ticking is looking very odd in this photo. My photography skills stink.

The rug matches the hand towels I made last week just fine. I think I like it. The floor looks goofy in this photo, its really a light cream color.

I had very little time to get back to work on the powder room today as I had a TON of running around to do then meet up with the family for DD#1's BD dinner tonight. I was determined to at least get the rug I had in mind completed. I have no idea how this DIY rug will wash up but I am thinking it should be fine as I had prewashed the ticking fabric. Everything I had found around town was just to contemporary, fancy, and unpractical for my taste. Once the room is complete I think the ticking items will give the room a homey feel that works with the rest of our home.

I have my fingers crossed that I can get started on the back splash tomorrow but one never knows! I am meeting with the AC contractor in the morning to FINALLY sign the contract and lay down 1/2 the cash for the new heat pump units. They promise the start date will be this Thursday, time will tell. Of course Thursday is the start day with the grands each week. Maybe the workers will be motivated to "get r done" so they don't have to deal with the little ones running around.

Still waiting on final numbers for our windows. Why is it that these people who want SO MUCH money to do work can't even move forward with estimates?  Hubby is getting very frustrated with all this dragging of feet. Until we know how much these BIG ticket items cost we won't know if we can afford to do some "sure would like to do" things around the house. I am over it all, just looking forward to having AC back!!! Yepeee

Time for AJ the beagle and I to hit the sack, we have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow.

Road Trip

 This shower cake tasted as good as it looks.

 Piles and piles of perfect gifts. Everyone knew the bride so well. The majority of the gifts were for the kitchen! Ha She was thrilled, wonder if her Mom will fight her for some of the shinny new kitchen must haves! HA

 Pretty tables for everyone to sit and visit after a tasty southern lunch.

 Mother of the bride made a set of 4 tile coasters for each guest along with a home made cookie tucked in a beautiful hand made envelope

 Mom also made the Cupcake center pieces for each table.

A delicious true Low Country lunch. I tried shrimp and grits for the first time ever after hearing the other ladies rave that they were the best ever to have passed their lips. I am just not a shrimp and grits girl, everything else, out of this world!!

AJ and I are lounging in the motel room for one last morning, I am not ready to go home!! It's been a long time since I have traveled with my furry little friend, she has been sweet as pie but... Running in and out to potty is a pain. Most of the time she didn't really need to potty but the urge to be a typical hound dog and smell ever square inch of the property took over her good manners.

Spending time with a friend for life and her family, celebrating a young woman's upcoming wedding, and meeting so many ladies I have heard about over the years has been just what I needed to lift my spirits after this VERY stressful summer. How cool is it that in a room full of ladies (40-50?) you have never meet before you feel like you are with friends. Women are really amazing. Sharing the beginning of a couples journey unto "Until death to we part" with like minded people was so heart warming.

Back to the real world now with more must do's than there are hours in the day, nothing new with that right! Ha

$20.00 Shower Gift

 How sweet is this invitation? The Mother of the Bride is an incredible scrapbook/card creator and all things cute. My "Go To" Bridal shower gift for many years has been a recipe scrapbook loaded with recipes pages from the bride and grooms family and friends. Always a big hit! While taking with my friend (the mother of the bride) she shared that she was working on a scrapbook cookbook for her DD. Well now, what to do? Our girls and their friends have really enjoyed the table runners I have been making all from my scrap stash hummm. Why not make table runner's for the Bride to be for each season. After running the idea by our DD's I got busy pulling scraps together for the past few months to complete my gift with a budget in mind.

 Valentine's Day

 St Patrick's Day

 Easter Carrot

 Splash of sunshine for summer

 4th of July

 Halloween, spent $9.95 for this pattern. First of the spending

 Fall

 Last but not least Christmas

 DD#1 found this idea on Pintrest. Everything was tucked into this box with a poem about each season attached to the lid

No need to wrap as the box was cute enough on it's own. This box was the last of the spending. I found it for $9.95 at a local store.

Sew what do you think? The Bride To Be was thrilled to have something special for her table for each season of the year. YAAAA!!


I wasn't trying to save money on this gift it just worked out that way. I started with a plan, and of course a list. I love me a list. I knew I wanted to make her something for each of the major holiday's but before I went shopping I shopped from home. One by one they began coming together during the year. That is until Halloween, I was stumped. I had lots of Halloween scraps but no idea's for a pattern. Don't you know I ran into the perfect pattern one day while at the fabric store, BINGO!!! Tucking it all in the box idea DD shared with me was the perfect finishing touch for this gift.

I think I might just have my new "Go To" gift for extra special Brides. Sew fun to make, such a frugal gift, and truly made from the heart.

If you are like me in that I like to make our gifts partly to save some cash but mainly to give something of yourself but have people on your gift list that might not appreciate all the love and hard work you put into it give this a try. When making your list of hand made gifts try sticking to a holiday theme for people who might not want something hand made around their home. Giving a holiday themed gift it gets your gift receiver off the hook of having something they don't really enjoy on a day to day basis. By sticking to holiday themed things the receiver can pack up your creation with her/his holiday decorations to enjoy only once a year a win/win for you both.