Thursday, June 30, 2011

The dinner that wasn't...

Feeling especially inspired and domestic, I set the table with love and care for my family...

The blue napkins instead of paper were laid out, and the white china chargers used under my white Everyday Ware dishes...

Since I am serving fish I went with a subtle beach theme center piece...

My favorite glass wear came out of the cupboard...

Doesn't that look delish??...Broiled fish over a bed of perfectly fluffy white rice, broiled cherry tomatoes from our own garden flavored with thyme, rosemary and basil also from my own garden...A light salad adds just a punch more color to the plate...

Alas the fish had an interesting smell and a rubbery taste so after this initial serving that was photographed, I decided not to serve the fish..Hubby did not care for the herbs on the tomatoes at all and Sara gobbled up her rice and ran off to tend to her "babies' strewn around the front room...So I was left to eat my rice and salad alone...I think later I am going to find a nice icky gooey desert and eat that alone too *Wink*

Blessings Kelsie


Update: I should have mentioned hubby did thank me for the pretty table before I served dinner...Sara well she is 3 and was only interested in blowing out the candle lol.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Today the suitcase got a little love...

Oh what a problem to have...the flowers I planted in front of my suitcase got so big and full of blooms I could not see my favorite planter anymore...Plus the mums I had in it were done flowering (for now they will be back in the fall I am sure)...So I careful moved the suitcase out from behind the Zinnia forest...

Transplanted a few plants here and there, removed the mums and replaced them with a gorgeous pink knockout rose added some rescued from the back yard Alyssums and red Snapdragons...and it looks fabulous again...Fabulous enough for a new photoshoot and to be added to the new title banner...

Talking of fabulous...My petunia baskets are still going strong and I just can't get enough of them...is there anything more perfectly country cottage porch than a basket of pink petunia??

AND look...Proof we finally got some rain...

My "Asian Pot" is looking so full and healthy...love it..

And of course what would a walk in the garden be without a few pretty visitors to delight and entertain you...

This guy was so hard to get a photo of, he just did not want to stay still...It is a male Easter Tiger Swallowtail and he measures close to 5.5inches (14cm)

A young Cardinal enjoying the blue house feeder...I love how perfectly it matches our house...Purchased off the shelves of Tractor Supply exactly as is..

Lucy and Ethel are enjoying a forage under the pink bird feeder out in the backyard...Currently poor Chicken Boy Bravo is penned up in the chicken yard and it is the girls turn to be "free range" for awhile...Luckily they can access the chicken coop from the backdoor so they are still safe at night, but not being harassed to the point of not laying by our randy rooster lol....The girls are very happy with the arrangement...Bravo not so much.

So that is the garden visit for this week...Hope you are all getting the rain, sun and free time you need to make your pretty flowers grow..

Blessings Kelsie

Sharing this post for the following parties:
Blooming Tuesday @ http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/
Outdoor Wednesday @ http://www.asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/
Cottage Flora Thursday @ http://fishtailcottage.blogspot.com/

Flaunt Your Flowers/ Fertilizer Friday @ http://www.tootsietime.com/
Farm Girl Friday @ http://www.deborahjeansdandelionhouse.com

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Sara's Room - Book Case Complete...

One more step closer to Sara's Big Girl room....

These shelves started life as a cheap ($20) melamine kit in a light pine color we brought 10yrs ago from either Lowes or Kmart, I forget which...

Added little trim ($21) and a little paint ($0 because we used left over paint) and you would never know of their humble mass-production beginning.

How good did the trim turned out once painted and destressed a little??

I love how cute and antiquey (word?) they look now...I also love the green of the shelves with the soft blue of the headboard, I wanted complementary pieces not matchy-matchy.

Actually I tried to give these shelves away last yr and they never got picked up...Turned out to be a blessing and just want I needed to give Sara's new big girl room some display space for her favorite toys.


Blessings Kelsie

Sharing today for
Metamorphosis Monday @ http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com
Wow Us Wednesday @ http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Book case so far...


These are taking much longer than I had planned...but so far so good...All that is left is painting the trim and loose shelves then I will distress them and they are done..

Blessings Kelsie

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Sara's room - Headboard complete...

I am really loving the look of the furniture painted "Heavenly Blue"...

Here is what the headboard looked like before...

Lovely soft Country Chic feel going on...
Quilt was handmade by Sara's Great Grandmother as a gift to us when we first married..

Draw Pull Note: I am leaning towards a crystal pull and received 2 comments suggesting the same...I have reattached the original hardware until I have time to shop for a crystal one.

Today we are going to tackle the bookshelves and sorting the toys and bringing them in so she can start using the room...

The to-do list for the room includes:
Creating a padded cushion for the toy box lid..
Painting mirror frame blue...
Paint small wicker chair white...
Creating her a custom Pennant Banner...
Removing the wall mounted shelves and patching the wall...
Removing the TV cable and patching the hole in the wall...
Finding my packet of Children Proof Outlet Covers...
Finding just the right fabric for the curtains and making them..
Shop for a floor rug..
Paint large frame white and make into a memory board..



Sharing for Show and Tell Friday @ http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Before and After Bedside Table....

From 70's classic to country chic...

Total cost $0 ...the Heavenly Blue paint was left over from painting the nursery wall mural a couple of years back...

Now to decide on hardware..To paint original white or look for a cute crystal draw pull...hmmmm..suggestions??

Blessings Kelsie

Baby decorating steps...

Sneak Peek at the side table for Lil Sara's big girl room...2 coats of paint...one more to go then sand and Glaze?...hmmmmm...Chalk?....maybe...Wax...possibly...and this is why we started with the side table and not the bed head.

As soon as I drop her at daycare we are heading to the local hardware store to buy trim for the bookshelves and check out what they have in the way of glaze, chalk and wax....then home to see how much I can get done before it is time to pick her up again.

Blessings Kelsie

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Summer is here....

According to the calendar Summer has arrived...Between you, me and the fence post, Summer arrived in FL over a month ago...

This morning I braved the heat (already in the 90's by 10am) to go fill the paddle pool with water for our ever thirsty bee invaders...and as I turned around I got a glimpse of how pretty the front flower bed is looking in the morning sun despite the drought...Obviously the hours in the evening spent walking around with the garden hose are paying off...

So I ducked inside and grabbed the camera and braved the heat again to snap just a couple of quick pix to share with yall...after all it has been a week or two since you have seen the garden as well...

Click to enlarge images to get a good look-see

The old dog Nadia sitting by the front door was not co-operating and refused to move for me to take the photo, so what can you do...smile for the camera Nadia...

Still no garden path or grass but the flowers along the front of the porch are filling in nicely...Still can't believe how great the gate turned out...I can hardly believe it is mine :)..You might also notice I have re-arranged the porch furniture since I last shared photos of the front of the house.

Bachelor Buttons are blooming here and there...So proud as I started these from seeds this year.

A lovely pink Zinnia that I also started from seed...It seem to take them forever but now they are putting on a wonderful show and seem to be thriving in the heat...

Can't remember the name of the succulent, but love the pretty orange blooms..but you have to look in the morning, by lunch time they are tucked away into buds again...


Closer look at the porch and garden bed...the Vinca are volenteers from last yr and are just lovely with a random mix of the different colors...Ginger the cat is hiding under the plant shelf...I am looking forward to having time one day to enjoy a little afternoon tea at the bistro set...maybe this fall when the weather cools down?

Blessings Kelsie

Sharing this post for the following parties:
Blooming Tuesday @ http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/
Outdoor Wednesday @ http://www.asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/
Cottage Flora Thursday @ http://fishtailcottage.blogspot.com/

Flaunt Your Flowers/ Fertilizer Friday @ http://www.tootsietime.com/
Farm Girl Friday @ http://www.deborahjeansdandelionhouse.com
Porch Party @ http://rhondisrosecoloredglasses.blogspot.com/

Monday, June 20, 2011

Sleep Study Results...

Results of Sara's sleep study just came back...She is confirmed to have mild to moderate Sleep Apnea...this on a night when she had a "good" nights sleep compared to some she has at home...Next step is to see a Ear, Nose and Throat specialist about having her tonsils and adenoids removed...As moderate is a red flag for kids with this condition.

The results are no great surprise since this is why she was sent to have the study to begin with.

The benefits of the surgery will mean no more bouts of strep throat...less ear infections...BETTER NIGHTS SLEEP for Sara and me...general improved health since her body will be able to actually rest, so little colds like this past one will have less chance of turning into pneumonia again..

Right now I am simply exhausted, after this last 10 days of her being sick...She had another relapse on the weekend and spent Saturday morning at the walk-in clinic and all the time doing round the clock 4hrly breathing treatments from the 9th right up last night the 19th...This morning her lungs were finally deemed CLEAR...so tomorrow morning at 4am no more alarm clock telling me to get up to administer another breathing treatment...

So with that in mind, the idea of spending a week with her recovering from above mentioned surgery is not very welcome, but I am sure I will be less exhausted by the time we book her in...and the long term health benefits will out way the inconvenience of the recovery period.

Please say a little prayer for us and please excuse my tardiness in visiting yall and responding to your comments...

Blessings Kelsie

Sunday, June 19, 2011

For Daddy...

Look what Lil Sara made for Daddy at Daycare on Friday...

And this, with her little hand prints...(click to enlarge to read poem)

OMGosh!!! AND this...He is one spoilt Daddy!!!

And all from his Lil Diva Princess....

Friday, June 17, 2011

Pink McQueen....

Could a girl ask for anything more?

Pink as done by Alexander McQueen..

A total fantasy of fashion...

OMGosh...

Pumps...

To Die 4...

which with those heals they just might break your neck...

Classic, graceful, exotic
And every girl needs a pink union jack purse...*swoon*

Sharing my pink fantasy fashion collection for PINK SATURDAY
@ http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Blessings Kelsie



Thursday, June 16, 2011

Homemade Taco Salad, Heat and Health Update...

Let me start with an update on lil Sara...After spending Saturday evening at the ER and not really getting any answers...Her fever was still holding on Monday so back to her own Dr...Still really nothing much to tell me...Tuesday, still feverish and the Hospital calls to tell me her urine results came back with "abnormal results" and to go and see our Dr again...So Wed we are back at the Dr's office at 8.45am...The good news was the lab results were not anything major to be worried about...BUT her lungs are not sounding good so they do an chest X-ray and she has walking pneumonia...only took 6 days to get an answer *sigh*...So we are now doing a round of anti-biotics and the dreaded Orapred (steriod) that turns her in to a demon child...of course all this time I have been doing 4 hourly breathing treatments, tylonel and luke warm baths to bring down her fever and all that fun mum nursey stuff... and to be honest with you, I am EXHAUSTED from it all...Which is why I have not posted since Sunday, just no energy to think straight...Today though she is doing much better and tomorrow *happy mummy dance* will be going to daycare...meaning I can maybe find my house under a weeks worth of clutter and if I am really lucky get some doll work done (not holding my breath on that one lol)

Now on to more garden related things...

Dinner tonight was taco salad with homemade/home grown salsa...
The shell I made by simply draping a flour tortilla over a small (oven proof) cereal bowl and popping into a hot oven (400 degrees) for 15minutes...removed and allow to cool...I threw a good handful of iceburg lettuce in the bottom...warm shredded chicken was next then a good heaping of the lovely salsa (recipe at end of post) made from veggies from our own garden, sprinkled with shredded cheese and topped with sour cream...It was soooooo good.

Between Sara being so ill and the awful heat I have not been able to get out to the garden, we have had some heavy winds that took some branches off of the trees...Including this one from the pear tree in the back yard...the blue jays are not minding one bit...You can also see the melons in the field behind are now turning yellow...they are too far gone to pick and sell...I am just hoping they will come plow them under before it begins to smell bad...I know that today they came and removed all the pipelines for the irrigation system.

That's about it from here...Maybe tomorrow I can get out to do some clean up in the yard if it not too hot and gather some seeds from spent flowers...Hope yall are having a great week thus far.

Blessings Kelsie

Sharing this week:
Cottage Flora Thursday @ http://fishtailcottage.blogspot.com/
Flaunt Your Flowers/ Fertilizer Friday @ http://www.tootsietime.com/

Farm Girl Friday @ http://www.deborahjeansdandelionhouse.com


Garden Fresh Salsa:

5 ripe tomatoes - Diced and cored
1 small red onion - Finely chopped
2 cloves garlic - minced
1 bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 jalapeno chile - Carefully seeded and finely chopped
1 good handful of fresh chopped cilantro leaves
Dash of Cayenne pepper to add spice
little salt
Juice of one freshly cut lime.

Mix in bowl, cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or over night...Resist the urge to sit and eat it with a spoon because it is THAT GOOD.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Buckle Up...More doll art...

This weekend got a little crazy around here...On top of my tooth being pulled Wednesday afternoon, hubby got sick Thursday, then lil Sara got sick too...Sick enough for us to cancel her birthday party and spend 5hrs in the ER Saturday night trying to get her fever down...it has been a challenge all day to keep it somewhat under control still...

So needless to say nothing to very little has happened around the house...So instead I am sharing with you the doll fashion I completed at the beginning of the week...It is called

Buckle-up



If you enjoyed seeing this creation, you can view more of my doll fashions at www.mutantgoldfishdesigns.com

Blessings Kelsie

Sharing for Mosaic Monday @ http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com

Friday, June 10, 2011

Melon Bus

Hubby snapped these from the back door last week of the melon pickers in the field behind our house...

When we first arrived here we wondered why every other farm you drove past had these cut up buses parked in their fields...After the first melon season we wondered no more...Now we anticipate their arrival on the roads each season..

Blessings Kelsie

Sharing today for:
Show and Tell Friday @ http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Egg, corn and bees...

Yay...My hens have started laying again...I think the rooster was bothering them a wee bit much, plus he injured a couple with his spurs...We took off the spurs this week and during the day I lock him outside the pen away from the girls...Well seems to have worked...

The corn in the front veggie garden is HUGE...last measured 2 weeks ago and reached 9 ft...it is taller now...Hubby is 5.11...I am excited to see what the ears look like as it is Bloody Butcher Heirloom...The basil has gone nutz too...it is almost as tall as lil Sara lol

With the heat the bee's are swarming the water again...If you enlarge this photo and look closely you can see the bees in the air around the birdbath too...this birdbath and all 3 water containers in the chicken house get filled twice a day and the bees continue to empty it...I can't wait till the hives are gone...The melon fields are done and they are no longer running the well...Might have to call the neighbor about the bees again *sigh*

That's it from me this week for the garden, been busy and it is just to hot to spend much time out there.

Blessings Kelsie

Sharing this post for
Cottage Flora Thursday @ http://fishtailcottage.blogspot.com/
Flaunt Your Flowers/ Fertilizer Friday @ http://www.tootsietime.com/
Farm Friendly Friday @ http://www.verdefarm.com/
Farm Girl Friday @ http://www.deborahjeansdandelionhouse.com