Some Thrify Finds And Vignettes

 Good Day to All, are you enjoying your summer? Use your days wisely, because before you know it, you'll be back to school, work, etc. I went to the grocer yesterday, and sneaked a peek in our downtown shops before coming home. I couldn't shop the way I wanted, because I had to get back home to Miss Fanny.   
  However, I did see this old nightstand (not the right name I'm sure) and fell in love with it. I thought about it going in with my iron bed, so I looked it over. It is in good shape. The beautiful iron bed it was displayed with was outrageously expensive.  But, never say never...
  With a lot of haggling, my whiny pleads and her cursing me out...I got it, and I only paid $25! She was asking $79! Of course, it came with conditions. If she could find a match to it, I would pay more for it. However, that's the point...how much more? LOL. I do drive a hard bargin.
  If you happen to know any background, will you let me know?

There is plenty of dirt and grim on the leg. If you look at the knobs, they are original to the piece

There is a small piece missing from the detailing, but look at the grain of the wood. It is so detailed.

                                   I love the patina, and the drawers are perfectly held together

I had this pic, shown below, in a previous post, however, I wanted to ask you if it is a photo, blown-up. My mom seems to think so. I found it in St Petersburg, Fla app. 20 years ago. It depicts a period time. The frame on it is original, and there is writing on the back but unreadable.

 I put this little vignette together on top of my refrig, I might have posted it before, but I'm always changing things.

This is the left side of it showing the little box with the chickens. There are two drawers for small things

Lovie, my Shih Tzu stand on the side of the refrig and bark at this pot holder hanging there. Just the other day, she jumped trying to get it, but only got a few inches off the floor. Now I know why she barks at the potholder!

On the right side of it, this is also a box, but has doors to open and store things. The heart shape in the middle of the handle allows it to be hung on the wall. Of course, you see the chickens pecking and standing proud. I have to get my vignettes together with them later.
  Well, I hope you enjoyed visiting with us today and it is our wish that you come back to see us soon. You are always welcome At Our House....Until next time..... We Love you!
Loretta

What's Good To Eat In All This Heat

Thinking back, I sometimes wonder if it is hotter now than when I was a young girl. (Don't go there! I am not OLD, Yet!) LOL.
  If so, honestly, I don't remember it. Even so, we must put up with it because complaining certainly will not change it. Right? However, I want to apologize for my failings, for I've come to you numberous times "bellyaching"...my weak and weary moments, about the hot weather in our area... and thank you for putting up with it. I suppose you thought each time you saw a post  from me, "Ohoooo, here we go again...the weather nut"! LOL.
  Instead of making you sick with this post, I thought I'd share what we do to beat the heat. Besides staying in the house and shade, I like to keep cool with light food and cold, cold drinks, etc. Follow along as I show-n-tell what really helps us to beat this heat.

  A good burger with all the trimmings. Chips, pickle and a tall glass of iced tea is filling and, delicious on a hot day. Nothing to do in the kitchen because this burger is grilled.

 How about a strawberry smoothie with fresh berries. They are sooo good and cold. Don't forget to chill everything, including the glass.

          Ice-cold watermelon is a good way to bring that chill to your stomach and feel cool all over!

                    Try  some ice-cold fruit. It certainly will cool you and it is, ohooo so good for you!

How about a favorite...ice-cream cone! I like them with chocolate, vanilla, strawberry; any flavor of ice cream. This is vanilla. James and Miss Fanny had Butter Pecan...Yum! As you can see, I don't scoop...I like to pile it on! (Please note: this ice cream is for diabetics. However, you can certainly use whatever you like.)

This, my friends, is not cherry Dr Pepper. I changed to...cherry cola. LOL. The one above is a cherry cola float. Vanilla ice cream added. Notice the extra foam. That's none chilled cola poured on the cold ice cream in a chilled glass! Cool huh!

             The cola glass above holds a frosty cherry cola in a chilled glass! Sooo good and cold!

  This is the frosty with an extra scoop of ice cream. It was delicious! You can have all of these, not at one time though, LOL. Or you can simply have....

               Ice cream served in a beautiful ice cream bowl. This is Butter Pecan, and it is soooo good!

                                         Or, you can simply have a tall glass of iced-water

          Or, what about ice-water with a twist of lemon. (I forgot the lemon to decorate the glass. Don't tell anyone!)

   This is how The Thomas Family keep cool in this summer heat. What are you doing to beat the heat?
Let us know.
  As always, thanks for stopping by, because we love having you coming over to see what's happening and cooking at Our House. Until the next time...Keep Smiling, and Keep Cool. We love you!
Loretta

Happy Sunday Everyone!

We wish you all a happy family gathering time! Is it hot where you are? We are really having  the heat here in South Louisiana. Temps today 103 degrees and everything is banned! Watering, car washing, etc. Burning and no fireworks! Stiff fines for violating the law. So, everyone is very upset about this, but what can you do? Better safe than sorry, huh?
  Our little grilling was done early trying to beat the heat, but it was 89 degrees at 6 am! Here's pics of what we managed to grill and cook in this heat.

I baked the cake last evening. It is a plain layer with butter pecan filling and frosting.

I didn't make the sauce this time around. It is "Sweet Baby Ray's" that was purchased at the market and very good

I didn't have everything for the eggs and didn't want to go to the store,  so I used Dijon and herbs. They were good! The cherry tomatoes are from Mom's bush she planted in a container.

Mac-n-cheese

  I'm not a big fan of smoked meats, so hubby only prepared enough for the two of them. I baked a cake, deviled eggs, made mac-n-cheese, and had baked chicken from the deli. Although I didn't cook it all in my kitchen, we do have a nice meal. Sometimes, you have to make do.
  Wishing everyone peace and happiness... please be safe in your travels! Until the next time...Keep Smiling! Hugs!

 Loretta

Random Musings from Loretta

 
    Are there times when you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders? I get these feelings and it's like out of a world of laughter suddenly I am sad...my soul becomes deeply troubled. My spirit ...and I know my spirit well...I can feel it's weakness. Like that cloud in the picture above, the darkening tries to cover what's good and beautiful within me. Do you have those days, those times when the dark moods, the anxieties, or life's problems tries to take over, pull you into a self-pity funk?
   I feel this way sometimes and if you would be brutally honest with yourself, so have you at times. It's nothing to hide or hide from, but what you do next is the key. Seemingly, my fight to pull myself up and out is just too, too hard. The conflict inside grows and tries to overwhelm me.

    But, when I stare back up at those clouds, I see gleams of sunlight boasting it's power to conquer the dark skies that tries to take it over. I wonder...can I do this too?" How can I grab hold of that energy, that power?  Do I have it within me to allow the gleam of my sunlight , myself, my soul to conquer this darkness that's trying to overtake me?
 
    I reached within the depths of my soul and tried with all my might. Then, from my lips I heard,  "Oh God I am trying; I am trying Lord, but my might is futile." As I sit there in utter silence, deep within the recesses of my mind, I hear a sound. What is it? I mused. Is it a voice? Yes. "Take my hand."
"I can't, I can't do it." I heard the words as they left my lips. "Take my hand child!" The voice now clearer and stern.
    Suddenly, my eyes opened, tears filled them and ran hotly down my cheeks. My heart, my soul quickly filled with strength and love. Words formed for me to speak, but it was as if they didn't pass my lips. "I wish to my Lord Jesus." I said. "But I can't. Please, please take my hand precious Lord!" As the words flowed from my lips, I immediately became refreshed...my spirit was lifted! The darkness; the pit, the conflict were all behind me as I felt my spirit lifting and strengthening me...and when I stood upon my feet, with a tearful voice, i said, "Thank you dear Lord. Thank you! What, Father, would I have done without you!"
    When you are down, when you have troubles and things that are overwhelming; nothing seems to bring comfort and calm your heart...then pray, pray to the Lord...and listen...listen to the whisper of His voice as He comes to your aid! Don't be too quick to reject it, because you felt He didn't give what you asked for.  Trust in Him to know what you need, even though you don't know.
   He knows our heart and we should never doubt or be afraid of Him. Hebrews 13:6 IN-tells us in part: So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid."  We should always draw comfort from the Scripture and pray...pray for help and guidence. Yes, He is the Hearer of Prayers...there is no other!

What's For Sunday Dinner

Good Sunday to Everyone! This is a very heavy Sunday dinner I prepared today. It reminds me of my late grandma, who was French, born in a small town in South Louisiana. She was a very good cook and well known for it.

Meal consist of: greens, potato salad, candid sweet potatoes, pork bones and cornbread

   What was really unique was her way of cooking meat! I could never get her to tell me her secret. She would go to the butcher and ask him to cut her soup bones, either beef or pork. Then bring them home and cook them, and you thought you were eating a choice cut of beef! I kid you not...they were absolutely delicious.
   We all said it could have been her stove. You see, she cooked on a woodburning stove until the mid-eighties. I was partly right thinking this way, because I have her old woodburning stove today!
   One day while she was cooking, I distracted her by talking a lot, constantly watching as she seasoned some pork soup bones. She'd poured her seasonings into small glass jars with corks as lids. They were not labeled so, I didn't know what they were. I continued watching  and when she rubbed vinegar into the meat after the dry rub, I thought that was the secret.
   I kept the conversation going and just watched her. When the pot was put on the stove, she added a little water just to cover the bottom of it. Food cooks fast on this stove and in just a short while, she added what is referred to here in Louisiana as the "trinity"...chopped celery, onions and bell peppers to the pot with a smashed clove of garlic. This cooked down and browned. Worcestershire sauce was added and cooked a little then a little water was added and she stirred as the pot yield all of its goodies at the bottom. Shaking the pot, allowed the juices to coat the meat and veggies in the pot.
 
  The smell was unbelieveable! But the taste was, oh my goodness, out of this world! The kids use to say, "make you want to slap your momma". I keep trying different seasonings but I have not prefected her recipe yet! Hopefully I'll find the secret ingredient missing from my pot.
  Hubby tells me I'm a close second and mine are good too. Unbelievable, because he's always asking, where's the meat? I want meat, not bones! Ugh...that man!

   Well, ya'll have a good Sunday, and I hope your Sunday dinner was a good and appreciated one too!
Let me know what was cooking in your kitchen today...I want to be nosy....
Oh my! I'm so busy being nosy, I forget my dessert. Now, this is very light. And, easy to make.

This is simply vanilla and chocolate pudding with whipped topping, cookies and strawberries.

It too is delicious! Enjoyed your visit with us. Come by and see us again soon. We love having you here!  Good Day!  Loretta