Pink Cabinet

Not sure quite as to where I'll be putting this new vintage find, but it was bought to store our dvds. I think it's a unique find and put with the right decor it will look lovely . . .

Hmmm. It would make a terrific nightstand next to a vintage door headboard . . . What do you think, Sweetie? . . . Sweetie?

You Look Wonderful

Yesterday morning I walked out of my room to a very chipper Isaac eating his breakfast.

"Mommy," he says without removing his eyes from my expanding waistline,"you look wonderful!"

To him the bigger I get, the closer he is to having a "pet" brother. He's so excited!

Ready for Bed

If the camera comes out, Kate starts saying "cheese" . . . So of course I have to take her picture:)

Vintage White

Delightful Dish Washing

Doing the dinner dishes has never been so enjoyable. Usually clean up time involves a lovely sunset over the mountain below (thanks to my windows over the sink). Life is good:)

Smiling Kate

New Quilt

I brought over a bunch of embroidered squares to my Mom's house and she's been whipping them up into beautiful quilts! I adore this one:) It's a cheerful little number and will keep me busy during football games this winter:) I'm off to go prepare it for quilting while the wee one sleeps!

Happy Faces

Cyber Shopper

Me: "What do you want for Christmas, Wyatt?"

Wyatt: "I want a blue truck with a bucket on top!"

Me: "Where do you find that at?"

Wyatt: "Costco. You go online and go to Costco dot com."

Jamie's French Bread: Take Two

This is what I've been craving!

The One!

Thursday Sketches

Here's a sketch of Ike's favorite dog -- pug. I think he did a good job:)

My Girl

Birthday Party

Ike went to his classmate's birthday party. He barely moved from the train table for an hour and a half.

Kitty and Grandma

Six Month Bump

Six months (according to the doc) and two days shy of six months according to the ultrasound.

Kitty

Ike

Hay Stack

Pantry Greeter

This evening while I was straightening up the kitchen, I opened the pantry door to find . . . a little chocolate smudged face looking at me. "Mommy, is that okay if I have a cookie?"

Hay Ride

Kitty isn't so sure about this . . .

Ike's a pro . . .

Let the Festivities Begin!

Here we are at our annual visit to the pumpkin patch. It's a great way to start the holiday season!

Turkey Tetrazzini

New England Salmon Chowder

From the Taste of Home Cookbook:

1-1/2 cups sliced onions
4 tbsp butter, divided
1-1/2 cups water
3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
1-1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1-1/4 cups milk
1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
1 lb salmon, cut into chunks

1) In a large saucepan, saute onions in 2 tbsp butter. Add the water, potatoes, salt and pepper. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 25 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

2) Combine the flour and milk until smooth. Stir into potato mixture along with evaporated milk. Add salmon and the remaining butter; bring to boil. Reduce heat; cook 5-10 minutes longer or until fish is opaque.

Laundry Cabinet (again)

Here's what the laundry cabinet looks like on the wall instead of the garage. Thanks, Sweetie! I love it!

Goodnight Pets

Isaac tucked his pets in for the night:)

Oven-Fried Chicken

From the Taste of Home Cookbook:
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
1 tsp dried tarragon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp pepper
3 egg whites
2 tbsp milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
6 pieces of chicken (6 oz each)
Butter flavored spray

1) In a shallow bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. In another shallow bowl, whisk egg whites and milk. Place flour in a third shallow bowl. Coat chicken with flour; dip in the egg white mixture, then roll in cornmeal mixture.

2) Place in a baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Spritz with butter-flavored spray. Bake 10-15 minutes longer or until juices run clear and meat thermometer reads 170 degrees.

Yield: 6 servings

Kitty's Corner

This room is a work in progress:) There is nothing on the walls and I would love to paint the walls a soft butter color. The plans are to wait until Baby Three comes (and grows a bit) before we tackle any big projects like painting. We'll see . . .

Jamie's French Bread

This recipe is AMAZING! Thanks, Jamie for sharing!

French Bread –

This makes 2 loaves! You can cut it in half if you want to.

In large bowl add:

1 ¾ c warm water

5 tsp yeast

2 tbls sugar

2 tsp salt

2 tbls butter

1 cup flour

Mix well.

Then add more flour (3-5 cups) a cup or two at a time until you can knead it. Knead until soft. Put it back in your bowl and let rise for 20 minutes.

Divide the dough into two sections. Take the first section and roll it out until it is a 8x12 rectangle (not specific just something about that size). Then starting at the top of the dough roll it down into a loaf. Roll it pretty tight. Then pinch the seams so it doesn’t unroll and tuck the ends of the loaf under. It should resemble a slightly smaller French bread loaf.Place on a cookie sheet or a jelly roll pan (I like the bigger jelly roll pan). Do the same thing with the 2nd section of dough. You can cook them on the same pan.Let rise until you are ready to cook (20-30 minutes is usually good)

Cook at 425 degrees for 13 minutes. Brush with butter and cook for another 2-3 minutes or until golden brown.

*I [Jamie] usually melted some butter and add in some sea salt and garlic. Mix together, slice the bread and brush some on each slice. It is SO good!!!

Diaper Bag

My sweet friend Kara MADE this bag for me to stylishly carry around diapers and other baby accessories. I love it!

Decorating

The living room.

I really love this coffee table that's made out of an old window (it's actually pretty high for standard coffee tables). No worries about the height of this table as it's perfect for Kate to pull her chair up and read books or play games.

I added some lamps and rather like them there. Now I think I might add a battery to the clock so it isn't always two o'clock around here . . .

Out of Ike's Mouth

Ike says: "Mommy, Jesus lives in my heart . . . and my tummy!"

The Loo

Ikea is a great place to buy LONG curtains! They add such a romantic effect.

Decorating for both boys and girls isn't exactly easy. We are keeping the color scheme neutral with LOTS of white and brown!

Pottery Barn hooks salvaged from when my Mom re-did her bathroom in bronze fixtures. The beauty of these is that we now have room for more towels in the bathroom!

This step stool was made by my Great Grandfather for my short-in-stature Great Grandmother. It's beat up to no end which is exactly why I love it (and probably exactly why Bill doesn't)! We'll make great use of it while our children are little:)