15 Minute Office/Studio Makeover (Days 27 - 34)

I know you've probably thought I'd fallen off the Flylady wagon, didn't you???

Noooooo.....life got in the way once we got to a point where we had to have a chunk

of time to work on the office.

It started when the fall fairs started and all the livestock showing we do in the fall.

The original intention was to be done with it BEFORE we got to that busy

time of the year.

Guess what? It didn't happen.....

Then, I got sick, sick, sick.....and my NeilMed Sinus Rinse

or Vicks Vapo Rub wouldn't touch it.....

This lasted a MONTH....I kid you not....an entire 4 weeks!

But the day finally came when my two "builder" guys....aka dear husband and

dear friend, Bobby, could coordinate their schedules.

At first, I wanted to paint the upper cabinets before they were attached to the

wall....but, the more I thought about it the more I decided against it.

Then, you know what happens when one starts thinking.....

I actually started thinking I might even want to paint them

A DIFFERENT COLOR.....GASP!!!

At this point, I think I will stick with the same color....although I think a

nice buttery yellow might be a pretty accent.....

WHAT WOULD YOU DO???

This is a close up of my counter top pattern...it is a retro formica pattern.

I figured it wouldn't show all the hot glue strings on it....hee hee.

I really wanted the boomerang pattern, but couldn't get it in yellow anymore

without paying an arm and a leg for it.

Oh, by the way, if you go to Lowe's, and you don't like the pre-made

counter tops they have....you can get ANY of the formica patterns for

a little extra for a special order.

This only cost me an extra $100...then I got $50 back back because it had a teeny tiny

scratch on the end...that won't even be seen.

(Always triple check when you buy special order)

We got the counter top put on....it is just resting at this point until
I get the liquid glue.

My next step is to make a Lowe's run to get the last minute stuff to finish out

the cabinets...and then find another evening that the 2 guys can

get back together.

The good news, is I can paint without them......

Should I paint the upper ones yellow or the "gentle wave" like the bottom.

Yes! That is a LEG LAMP.....and it fit!!!

~~~~SIGH~~~~

SQUEAL!! Senior Pics at the State Fair!!!!

I have had this dream for at least a year now.

I've wanted to do a photo shoot at the state fair.

I am a color freak!

I love the colors, sights and sounds of the state fair.

So, when a friend contacted me about her daughter's senior pictures....I JUMPED on it!

She liked my other pictures I've done with my own daughter.
She was hesitant at first and didn't think her
daughter would go through with it.
I remained hopeful!


After a few days of waiting to see if she was a willing victim, er, uh....subject,
they agreed to give it a try.

We went early on the LAST day of the fair.

I am so glad the pictures turned out, because we would

have to wait another year to try again....

WHEW!

I wanted to show you the finished products, then

I will share the "bloopers".

I was really surprised how helpful and friendly the workers

were to us.

They went out of their way to help us make the pictures turnout awesome.

In Oklahoma, cotton candy had to be sold in BAGS and not on cones.

I made my own cone and found a lovely lady who

helped me CRAM the cotton candy on the cone.

Sage's hand is holding the cotton candy on the cone....otherwise it slides

since it wasn't MADE ON THE CONE.

We shot pictures all day....not only at the fair, but also in other places.

Sage was such a willing gal.

She was ready to try just about anything I suggested!

Even to pose in an "I ate wait too much" pose!!!

I had a friend suggest I take out the porta potties in the picture....

I like them there...it goes with the upset tummy.

Thanks Sage for making MY dreams come true!!

I am quite happy that what I had pictured in my head

came out through the portraits!!!

My Attempt at Making Homemade Noodles w/ Goat Milk

On Wednesdays at our church, we offer a variety of classes.

The classes are usually 8 weeks long.

This season, they offered a canning and cooking class.

Canning has always scared me for some reason....don't ask me why...I guess

all the horror stories of the pressure cooker injuries did it.

The first week, we made jalapeno jelly....which sounded quite disgusting to me

until I tried it.

The 2nd week, we made homemade noodles.

Our teacher, Missy, has a small homestead farm.

I kid you not, they butcher their own chickens!

They also raise goats for milk.

After you mix to a crumbly consistency:

3 c. flour

2 beaten eggs

1 tsp. baking powder

You add 3/4 - 1 c. of milk...we used goat milk.

Then you GET YOUR HANDS REALLY MESSY!

You mix and mix and squish and squish

until it is a good dough that bounces back when

you poke it.

You divide the dough into 3 equal balls.

and begin rolling it out on a floured surface.

ROLL IT TO PAPER THIN CONSISTENCY.

At this point, we transferred it to our cookie sheets to take

home and finish the process.

If you are already at home, you just leave it there to dry overnight.

You can cut the noodles while wet or wait until dry.

Once dried, break to appropriate size and either use in meal or freeze.

There are MANY MANY videos on youtube.com that show you

how to make noodles.

One thing we noticed....we all went home with "flour bellies".
Flour belly #2

Flour belly #3

Flour belly #4

Flour belly #5

Here is my dough at home.....waiting to dry......

TAH DAH!!! This is a one gallon bag...I made thin and thick noodles.

So, it made about a 1/2 gallon bag of noodles.

It was quite simple and I am sure after practice, I will get it down and they will

be much prettier....

Next week, we are making homemade spaghetti sauce....WHEEEE!!!

Cute Dessert Flags (FREE Download)

To download these adorable dessert pennants, just CLICK HERE.

I am going to put these in my lemon bars that I am making for

a church dessert auction....SU-WEET!

Thanks to awesome people who put this stuff on the Internet and help

us with the blahs of everyday life!

When Does a Drawing of a Person Become a BREED?

Um, when it is at the county fair.

My daughter entered her drawing of some weird guy...Gan-something...at the

county fair.

When we returned, she had not only a blue ribbon, but also a RESERVE BREED CHAMPION ribbon.....eh, oh well, we'll take it along with

the $2.00 prize!

Good job Regan!!!

I guess I could also mention that she got GRAND CHAMPION GOAT too!

That prize was a snifty $100.00!

Wheeee...Have You Seen the Original Beverly Hillbillies Car?

My daughter's college has a 3-story museum...and in this museum is

this sweet find!

Here is Sydni with a friend.
For some reason, she doesn't seem as excited as ME....

Just think....GRANNY sat in this car!!

I could have sat in the car too...they wanted $10.00 to do it and to take a picture...THEY take a picture and you BUY it....

Look! There is even a picture of the whole family....now I

feel 'special!!

What are the chances that a little ole college in the Ozarks would end up with this gem?

If you ever get to College of the Ozarks, stop by their museum and

look at this 3-story marvel.

This place has more stuffed animals than I think I've ever even seen live.

Update on the office/studio makeover.....still working on it....counter top should be in this week or next!!

What Do You Do with Pumpkin Ale?

You make PUMPKIN beer bread!!

I just thought the beer sounded interesting....and decided to make some beer bread with it to see what it does.....I've always liked beer bread....which is why I would bum beer off friends when they stopped by...didn't want to have to buy a whole box of it. I did buy the 6 pack of this because it is only made for a limited time.

Even if it had turned out terrible....it sure made the house smell delicious!

When you take your first bite, you have to quickly get passed the thinking it should taste like pumpkin bread...very sweet.

It does NOT taste sweet, but it sure is delicious!!!

I would recommend you try it if you can find the Pumpkin Ale.

My Pumpkin Beer Bread Recipe:

1 bottle of Pumpkin Ale

3 cups of self rising flour

3 tablespoons of sugar

Mix ingredients w/ wooden spoon in glass bowl.

Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown.

Add butter to the top when done.

Eat while warm!

Is God YOUR BFF?

I know I've talked about a small group...VERY small group in more ways than one...these girls are TINY!

We are starting a new school year and want to have new ideas to keep us inspired to keep God #1 in our lives.

We meet once a week all year long.

Last year, we studied the book, "Do Hard Things", by Brent and Alex Harris.

I would encourage all teens to read this book...as well as their parents.

XS Group wants to get out of the low expectations of teens.

They want to BE the change!

I will take a picture each week of the girls holding a new verse...they will make that verse their focus for the week and see how God works with that verse each week.

They will also work the local outreach once a month...because it is held once a month.

They are also sacrificing their "wants" to put back money to possibly buy a heifer for a 3rd world family....they haven't quite decided what to do with it yet...they are seeking God's will. They started saving money in January and hope to have over $500 by the end of December.

I am very excited with their enthusiasm.

They each also took $10 to use their "talents" to make the $10 grow and give back.

One is making luggage tags that are just ADORABLE!

One is making spiritual necklaces that will look amazing on anybody!

I am selling fairy doors....

If you are interested in seeing any of the items, just leave a comment and I can post pics.

Our group Bible verse is Psalm 25:21, May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in You.

These girls are LIVING it!!

Dollar Tree Halloween Props....WHEEEEEE!

Yay! It is September 1st! That means I can start decorating for Halloween and not be considered WEIRD....well...OK...I already know I'm weird, it just makes

me seem LESS weird!

I ran to the Dollar Tree before others discovered the goodies....

I found gruesome body organs for $1!

They looked just fine on the meat trays they come in....but, I had BIGGER

plans for my little heart and brain....

This would also make a great April Fool's Day gag too, don't you think?

Dollar Tree also has the family picture holograms that change to evil looking skeletons....just $1.

I wasn't thrilled with the cheap frames, but I can fix that.....sheesh, am I complaining about a cheap $1 frame??? NOOOooooOOOOOooo way!

15 MINUTES (Day 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) Office/Studio Makeover

I am still making progress....slowly.

1 hour and 15 min. to paint the bottom cabinets.

Now that these are done, I get to go get the upper cabinets and

start all over again.....can I get a YEE HAW???

Painting has definitely been the most time consuming part....but it also has

the most BANG effect.

I plan to have the cabinets done BEFORE the countertop comes in....

yes, I can do it!! 15 minutes at a time!

Do you have any idea on neat drawer/cabinet pulls?