Trashy Girl's Trash Bowl

I like to keep the kitchen neat when prepping. Sometimes though I get over excited and begin to prep too many things at once and the counters get messy. Never fear -  I pull the garbage can out of its conveniently built-in drawer, push my stuff in and return it to its place. "Genius!" I say to myself.

A certain gal famous for super fast meals makes a fancy garbage bowl to put your prep scraps in to avoid messy counters. It retails for about $20. Doug says it's made out of about 3 cents worth of plastic.

Who's the genius now?

A Lunch Box Tip

In the last 10 years I've packed a lot of lunches. A LOT of lunches. I take it a bit seriously and always try to keep them interesting. They must include the basic food groups. They can't include anything orange (the it-o family-Fritos, Doritos) or soda but there can always be a sweet (but not of the fruit snack variety).

When the kids reach middle school, they take over the making of their lunches and they must follow the lunch box rules. I still cut-up veggies, bake cookies and make egg salad and the like but they have to assemble and pack. It's an easy step toward greater responsibility needed in middle school. I think it reinforces learning to feed oneself, too. Also, I am sooooo tired of packing lunches.

Occasionally, if I was feeling especially proud of the stock in the lunch kitchen I'd stick a post-it (or  recycled envelope) on the inside of the "lunch cabinet". Not being a morning person, Ella was always appreciative since it takes a lot of thought out of lunch packing.

I made the dry erase frame (from Make and Takes via Pinterest) to hang on my fridge as a menu board/grocery list and I love it. One day I thought "why not hang one inside the lunch cabinet?" Duh.

3-M velcro tabs affix it to the door. A dry erase maker hung from cook's twine might be handy to prevent its disappearance.

 Ella loves it.

And I love that because it's one more lunch I don't have to pack.

The Weight of Memories

The newest addition of furniture in the yellow house is my Grandfather's old desk. When my brother brought it in it seemed much smaller than I remembered. Perhaps because Grandpa's den was tiny, it was flanked by two tall (exceedingly well-organized) file cabinets on the right and a book case to the left. Or it may be that simple memories of childhood maintain the proportions of a child's perspective.

The delicate hardware makes a wind chime-like tinny sound when I pull on the drawers. While in search of something in the yet organized drawer a bright 'ting-ting-ting' brings a spontaneous smile to my face. It was in the center draw of this  dark, wooden desk he kept his annual small, black book full of mileage, oil changes, and other tidbits deemed worthy of documentation. Within the pages of the book circa 1995, we found the details of the obituary he had written for himself. Amongst Grandpa's things on top of the desk were papers you knew better than to touch, an antique glass ink well, and a black rotary dial phone weighing in at about 20 pounds. The phone was really cool - until you had to use it. There was also a smallish round paperweight backed with a picture of me as a toddler. In the high chair my grandfather and every generous through my own children have eaten their meals. I am wearing a blue dress made by my mother and was covered in cottage cheese. That paper weight had been there for as long as I could remember.

When a friend offered me a paper weight backed with a mass produced print sharing a pithy saying, I was immediately drawn to its potential. Glass paper weights are fascinating to me.

I've been doing some redecorating on the cheap, adding new colors, a clearance pillow and moving pictures. I also re-covered a stool with a remnant previously wrapping a bottle of wine brought to a party. With just a small scrap left I thought it might be a fun way to update the paper weight.

I traced the original insert with pencil, darkened the lines, folded the piece in half before hoping for the best cut. Almost perfect in size and shape, I painted the fabric circle and the paperweight with Mod-Podge and smoothed it in place. I glued the original fuzzy black paper backing into place and.....it became a co-coordinating paper weight.

It was a simple project more reminiscent of someone special than being super inspired.

 

It's a nice accessory to tie the dining room and living room spaces together - for free.

And just think of the potential it will have when I become a grandparent, my grandchild sits in that same chair and becomes a mess of cottage cheese. 

Here's What You've Missed...

in the Yellow House.

Henry ate turkey like a champ. Were hoping he goes to sectionals.

Jono turned the big 4-0 and his girlfriend is of age.

Ella caught the baking bug and will most likely be involved in many a bake sale to pay for the bus.

Max is loving the music, picking up choreography tips and discovering new directions.

Jake and his friends are still dorky boys but haven't gotten slushied. No Quinn/Rachel in sight.

Mr. D out did himself with 6 (yes that's a six) turkeys. He's a beast.

June continues to show Cheerio team spirit in the face of maternal torment.

I continue to wash fruit and am, as always, strongly represented by the yearbook staff.

That's how Jennifer sees it.

And that's what you've missed in the Yellow House.

Hip Girl in the Yellow House!

It seems I have been away from my blog for quite a long time. We've been busy in the yellow house getting ready for school, spending every possible moment with friends, settling into the coolness of high school and swimming at the quarry. For my part, I've been unloading and re-loading the dish washer, picking the family room pillows up off the floor and returning the favorite green throw to it's rightful place. *Sigh*

I always say my favorite day of the year is the last day of school. The nice weather, lack of schedule, relaxing on the porch instead of running and schlepping and checking homework. That said, every year I anticipate the first day of school. The weather is getting cooler, I crave a schedule and start to think about nesting and cuddling up indoors when the leaves begin to fall.

Imagine how excited I was to hear the hippest girl in homemaking is coming to the yellow house just in time for what I consider the peak of homemaking season. Kate Payne, the clever girl behind, The Hip Girl's Guide to Homemaking: Decorating, Dining and the Gratifying Pleasure of Self-Sufficiency: on a Budget is going to share a DIY kitchen project and sign her beautiful book at a house party.

It's so wonderful to see homemaking become something cool. Canning, sewing, gardening, sustainability and crafting.

If you haven't yet, get this book. It's full of wonderfully simple things that will warm the cockles of your heart - and those of the ones you love.

Fermenting with Rebecca

In case you haven't realized, the internet is an amazing thing. Earlier this summer, I met Rebecca via a meet-up group connection and a shared interested in cheese making. Through conversation and email, Rebecca assisted a cheese making class I taught for Slow Food and then graciously agreed to teach a fermentation class for Nourish. Neat, huh?

I have always wanted to learn this art but was a bit intimidated to work with live foods. To have an expert teach me was just what I needed to encourage me.
 

It was fun to be on the other side of the counter for this class. I just had to collect the ingredients and equipment.

And prepare many mason jars.

Rebecca is a delight and just as passionate about all things food as I am. We could talk all day!

Many ferments start with whey and for our class, she made raw milk yogurt and drained the whey - away. (ha!)

 

Above, Mary is hiding behind her straight pin turned cabbage pounder.

We added caraway to our sauerkaut before pressing it into jars. The trick to a no-mold fermentation? Weighting the product with a ziploc bag of water during the week long process. I love tips from a pro.

After tasting we made ginger-carrots, beet kvass and sauerkraut. They were all delicious foods that make you feel like you're doing something really wonderful for your health. Bonus-they are delicious!

It was so wonderful of Rebecca to share her knowledge with me. In addition to being a fermented foodie, she is a compulsive food preserver, cheese maker, farm girl, beekeeper and soap maker. A woman after my own heart. You really must check out Rebecca's website to purchase her products. Follow the blog and read all about forays in her many, many other passions.

Thank you world wide web for bringing me Rebecca!

Bored

Bored is a word I don't allow to be uttered in our house. There is no reason to ever be bored and I'm not even taking into consideration the many chores one could be assigned to avoid said boredom. I don't get boredom.

The other night I came home to this....

Apparently, this is what happens when Doug is bored. A kitchen draped in chili pepper lights.

Taking the Double D's Sauces business acumen to a whole new level.

Finally - A Back Splash!

Years back when our kitchen rehab came to a close one of the last decisions was the back splash tile. The need for this decision also coincided with the fear of running over budget so it was put on hold. We painted the back splash with the same raspberry truffle red as the rest of the kitchen. Time went on and the tile project was continually moved to the bottom of the list as often happens with home improvement.  And the longer it wasn't done, the more I grew very attached to the red. I couldn't imagine not having all that color. I love color.

Two weeks back, it finally happened! My original and very simple choice, biscuit subway tile, made it to the wall. The twist I added was taking it only 3/4 of the way up the back splash. The tile stops 12" up the back and a bull nose tile runs around the top to finish it.

 Years ago, Doug had a stainless steel back splash (?) cut for above the stove. It works well with the stainless appliances.

We are thrilled with the away it has turned out. It's clean and simple and still full of color.

The only question remaining, as with many decorating projects, is why the hell did it take so long for us to do this?

Cooking A Family Dinner

A while back I decided it would be a good night for everyone to participate in the making of dinner. A simple pretzel chicken from Fine Cooking was on the menu.

It was the perfect recipe since it required much dipping and dredging. Everyone was getting their hands dirty - except Jake. He has a clean hands phobe. My fault - first born.


Ella got the super slimy job of egg dipping. Can we talk about that beautiful egg color? Jake is so supportive and his hands are so...clean.


There were multiple jobs for everyone. Here Jake is giving Henry a hand with his stirring technique. What a comedian.


There was also a quinoa salad that I'll share at a later date. That recipe offered my larger children an opportunity to work on their knife skills. They are old enough to handle a knife and I'd rather they know the right way.

Max measures and Ella stirs.


Even Jake (eventually) got his hands dirty chopping chives.


Everyone even got a chance to cook the chicken. I've always believed that teaching them the right way and not encouraging them to be afraid is the safest way in the kitchen. I also know someday they won't starve or shrivel up due to Ramen Noodle sodium counts.



The point of this whole thing? How great it is to cook as a family. We had lots of laughs and though it wasn't our favorite pretzel chicken it was really great to be together in the kitchen. We seem to spend a lot of time there even as everyone grows older. It's a comfy place to be and there is no hook better than food.

I recently wrote an essay inspired by our kitchen time. I'd like for you to read it - if you're interested.

What I'd really like is for you to make something in the kitchen with your family.

XOXO

Happy Easter From the Yellow House

May your baskets be over flowing...


Your eggs be brilliant....


Your buns be crossed....


...and your Peeps be most awesome when microwaved!


Happy Easter!

Waste Not...

I am taking a different path today with this post. Though my "degree" is in interior design, I don't fiddle with it too much. I like simple decorating projects in my home, but as with clothing shopping, the older I get the less it appeals to me.

Many years ago, when we refinished the living room (no pictures - it would be too scary) I purchased some lovely, really too expensive sheers. They were stylishly too long and pooled lightly on the pale celery green carpeting. They were perfect. If I didn't have a dog jumping at the windows daily and 4 children using them regularly as hiding places, they would have been even more perfect.

One day I had an epiphany when contemplating how to freshen up the windows. I was feeling quite ill at the prospect of throwing the costly curtains with the tattered bottoms away. The window seat in the dining room has long been in need of some sheer covering for a bit of privacy and warmth. The old sheers were cut down (by a very talented woman-not me) and slim pockets added top and bottom.


A few bucks in tension rods later and my window seat is perfect.

It would be even more perfect if I didn't have an insane puppy and two very long boys that find it perfect for reclining...

Happy Cha-Cha Slide Friday!

It's no surprise that I love a house full of kids. It may also not be a surprise that I am somewhat of a dork and relish nothing more than doing dorky things with kids. Okay, maybe acting like a dork and making them do dorky things. All in the name of fun.

Awhile back after school on a Friday, Jake and I were listening to music in the kitchen and decided to do the Cha-Cha Slide. Familiar with it? The Cha-Cha Slide by Mr. C is the line dance sweeping roller rinks and weddings across the nation. (ha!)

It of course followed that the Cha-Cha Slide became obligatory on Friday after school - no matter who you are.


To date we've had just over a dozen partake of this Friday ritual. If you are here, you must dance. Oh yeah, we all dance in the kitchen.

Get funky with it!


They get better every time as does the level of enthusiasm.

Two new cross country kids did their inaugural dance last week. Good sports and a great group of kids!

The best part is the "regulars" know to expect it and actually look forward to it. I love that almost as much as I love that they are here.

Happy Cha-Cha Slide Friday!

The Quirkier the Better

I love old, quirky stuff. Last month at the flea market I picked up quite a few old and quirky things but amongst my favorites was a galvanized chicken feeder. I thought it would be a perfect addition to the yellow house. And no, I don't mean the yellow hen house.


For Christmas it sat on the dining room table (get it?) filled with greens. For the doldrums of January it's yellow split peas and vanilla candles from the dollar store.

To think the kids thought it was actually for the chickens.

Weird.

2....1....and Now It's The Year!

Two, then one day before Christmas.....

We had an especially lovely dinner with dear friends. Thank you for a really fun evening!


In her spare time, my dearest friend Holly baked all of these wonderful cookies. SHE can make spritz and those tasty Norwegian twists. Her chicken coop kicks butt, too.


Are you a fan of Holmes of Homes on HGTV? Not me, I am a fan of Henry on Homes. If you need any handy work done, call. Don't Grandmas think of the best gifts?


Oh my! A trifle! Don't you wish you had this recipe?


Through the screen door, a Christmas Eve delivery to Margaret.


A houseful of family and lots of good food.


The annual scratching of the lottery cards. Thank you Uncle Jono! We actually won some this year.


A very tired Christmas puppy.


It was a Glee-ful Christmas in the yellow house. They are GLEEKS. Notice the backward "L's"? Irony?


I know they are mine but could they BE any cuter?


I busted out the favorite cookies, cocoa crinkles. Perfect with a cup of Jake's fancy cocoa. I always hide some of these lest there be none for Christmas.


And now the new year is upon us. All good things are ahead. We are healthy and happy and together.

We are so blessed.