doing stuff...

I'm doing a little of this...finally





And taking pictures of him.

He's Wolverine. "Now I can go around and call people Bub."

curtains...

Remember my curtain fail?

Well I finally made it to the fabric store to see if there was any fabric I liked enough to make new ones. I HATE making curtains for some reason. I think because it's boring sewing rectangles.

As I was wondering the aisles I found the perfect fabric.


However, there was a problem. It was $45 a yard. Yikes! But it was 50% off. Still not good but no other fabric would do. I calculated that I would need 6 yards. Um, no. Way too much money. So I decided to get 2.5 yards and just make shorter panels. I don't like the look of the shorter panels but I also didn't want to spend a ton of money. Plus these curtains are in the dining room and full length panels always got dirty and trapped food behind them. A bonus is you can see the board and batten wall better. Does it sound like I'm trying to hard to justify them? Well I am.

I decided to stretch the fabric further (I actually needed 3 yards), so I went to the quilting section and bought a cheap fabric that would match to make the top part of the curtain.

Want to see them? Wow! My dining room is actually clean. It doesn't normally look like this.



I used every inch of both fabrics to make them. I love the how the fabric on top matches but doesn't. Well of course I do, I planned it that way.


The new fabric pulls the colors of my Ikea rug in my living room. The rooms are open to one another.

I ordered a stencil for the dining room walls so I will show more pictures when that project is done. Most likely in a few months. Ha-ha.

my boy...

My sweet love Graedon will turn 6 this Sunday. I have mixed feelings about this. I don't want him to grow up but then again I'm enjoying watching him grow up.

All he wanted for his birthday was a leather bomber jacket like the one he saw at the Air Museum. The one that was $60. I almost caved and bought it when he looked at me with those wonderful Graedon eyes but sanity returned to me and I told him we would look on eBay when we got home.

So we did. We found a size 5 bomber jacket for $10. We got it and this is what it looked like.



Um, it was a size 3T. Grae loved it of course but I told him we had to send it back. So we did.

Then we found a size 6/8 bomber jacket for more money but nicer quality. We got it and this is what it looks like. (excuse the bad picture and the Molly blur in the background. Oh and the mess).


Perfect fit. Of course it's too hot to wear it today but it's big enough for winter. And Grae is happy which doesn't look like it in this picture. He had on his "serious" face. His serious "I'm going to bomb people" face. Or at least that's what he told me. Now he wants bombs for his birthday.

fly to the beach...

I'm finally posting pictures of the June trip I took flying to the beach. It was soooo much fun and so beautiful. This is my 3rd time in a small plane. The first time was for my birthday!

We flew in the new Skycatcher. It seems like a fun plane to fly but I really don't know since I didn't do any actual flying. :) It was nice to ride in though.

I won't include all the pictures I took but only my very favorite ones.

On the way out flying over the Tillamook forest. Love the patchwork.


A look back. You can see the tail of the plane as well as 3 mountains.


Tillamook Air Museum. We landed there for a touch and go. So fun! I actually visited the museum a few days before this.


First look at the beach. I thought it was the horizon and not water.


Tillamook Bay I think.


The color of the water was amazing and look at the little tire. So cute.




Behind the Twin Rocks in Rockaway.


Flying over the clouds. Look at the waves near the beach.


Perfect circle rainbow!


The pilot who I think was telling me not to take his picture. I didn't listen obviously. Whatever.


So beautiful. I didn't want to leave. I hope to go back someday...sigh...

fail....

I decided to repaint the frames in my dining room to another green. Turns out I loved it. Then I decided my black and white curtains could use some color. So I picked up a bottle of Apple Green dye from Joann's and dyed them.

Fail...they turned out dark and drab. So I decided to bleach them to see if I could fade the color. Double fail. They turned out light and drab.



So I can either remove the color and try to dye them again or buy new fabric. I'm thinking of new fabric. ;) I do like this one.



It would be fun and colorful. We'll see. I wish things turned out how they look in my head!

donuts...

Woke up and decided to make donuts. I have never made donuts before. How hard could it be? Turns out not hard at all except transferring the round donuts into the hot oil and trying to keep them in the round shape. Despite this, they still tasted good.







In case you want to make your own, here is the recipe I followed.

Krispy Kreme knock-off

Ingredients
Raised doughnuts:
2 pkgs. regular or rapid rise yeast
1/4 cup warm water (105−115 degrees)
1 1/2 cups lukewarm milk (scalded then cooled)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1/3 cup shortening
5 cups all−purpose flour
Vegetable oil
Creamy glaze or chocolate glaze
Cooking Directions
Dissolve yeast in warm water in 2 1/2−quart bowl. Add milk, salt, eggs, shortening and 2 cups flour. Beat on low speed scraping bowl constantly, 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed scraping bowl occasionally, 2 minutes. Stir in remaining flour until smooth. Cover and let rise in warm place, until double, 50−60 minutes. (Dough is ready when indentation remains when touched.) Turn dough onto floured surface; roll around lightly to coat with flour. Gently roll dough 1/2−inch thick with floured rolling
pin. Cut with floured doughnut cutter. Cover and let rise until double, 30−40 minutes. Heat vegetable oil in deep fryer to 350 degrees. Slide doughnuts into hot oil with wide spatula. Turn doughnuts as they rise to the surface. Fry until golden brown, about 1 minute on each side. Remove carefully from oil (do not prick surface); drain. Dip the doughnuts into creamy glaze, set on rack, then when slightly cooled spread chocolate
glaze on top. Can dip in sprinkles or other toppings after chocolate if desired.
Creamy glaze:
1/3 cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
4−6 tbsp. hot water
Heat butter until melted. Remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Stir in water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency.
Chocolate glaze:
1/3 cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
4−6 tbsp. hot water
4−oz milk chocolate or semi−sweet chips
Heat butter and chocolate over low heat until chocolate is melted; remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Stir in water 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency.
Makes: 2−3 dozen doughnuts

couldn't take the beige...

I couldn't take the beige color in my dining room so I repainted (with free paint thanks to a gift certificate!) to Benjamin Moore's Pale Oak 0C-20. It is a gray with brown undertones and is a warmer color than the gray that was there.

I painted the living room the same color but need to finish the stripes so I'll snap a picture later.

I do like the Rice Grain color in my hallway so that is staying.

Before (not bad but not me):






I also found two brand new black and white pillows for my couch at Goodwill for $1.99 each. Score!