Soap boxes and Chopsticks

Ok ok ok...
(grabbing Suds by the tail and pulling him out to the middle of the room..crawling atop his back) Remember Suds?? He's my soapbox.
It must be a soapbox Sunday..

Silverware. Yep, that's my soapbox grump for the day. It's the one thing I hate about the dishes. I can wash dishes no problem..I hate washing silverware..
I can load the dishwasher no problem..I hate unloading the silverware.
Mind you, silverware is not the only thing of 'housework' that I detest..laundry is the other. Again, I can wash and dry them all day..but the folding and the putting away..ARGGHH!! I hate it. HATE IT HATE IT..do you hear me?? HATE IT!

I think it's because both of these jobs are so.....so..repetative?..no, monotonous?..no, well, YES they are that, but they are just simply annoying! It's a repeated thing, of the same things! You fold the same underwear umpteen times a week..and you put away the same silverware umpteen times a week.
The big thing about silverware is we all have those little silverware holders that make you put things in certain areas, in certain ways right? So here you stand at the drawer with a handful of clean silverware and you turn and twist each piece so it will fit into its little compartment. WHAT A PAIN!!

So I've thought about it. Wonder if the hubby would fuss too much if I got rid of all the silverware in the house and took up an Eastern tradition?
Ya know..chopsticks!
They are all the same (well not really, but close enough), they require no compartments..you wouldn't have to twist and turn them into place..just toss them in a draw! Pick out two and your done! Wow, how hard can this be??
I think the Chinese, Japanese, and all the other eastern cultures got it right. The women HAD to be behind it!

(steps off Suds, drags him back to his corner and walks away..chanting)
NO MORE SILVERWARE..NO MORE SILVERWARE!

See ya next time......down on the farm!

Sage

Long time no see..

But it seems I just have not been HOME to do any bloggin'!

I did get to work in my craft room yesterday and get some 'way behind' crafts taken care of. Will post pics of those as soon as I get some done.
And I did update a few of the pictures above, so enjoy those. It seems to be a busy time around here, but then again, summer always is isn't it? Gee..I thought summer was 'vacation' time! (boy was I wrong!)
Anyway, maybe things will begin to settle here a bit and I can show you some more 'thrift' finds, craft goings on and even more of the Grandbabies. Oh yeah, and speaking of Grandbabies, seems that it's gonna happen again! Ashley, the daughter is expecting so Brayden is going to be a big brother come the first of the year. Time to start another quilt!!

See ya next time......down on the farm!

Sage

Fathers Day around the corner

Here's a special recipe to use for any special day! Birthdays, Holidays and just cuz you feel like it on any given Sunday! It's loaded with calories and carbs, so if this is not your cup of tea, then you better pass today!
Start this recipe EARLY or the day before. Read on!

Sage's Sinfull French Toast Casserole

Here's what you'll need:

4 Cups of French Bread, cut into small to medium cubes.
1/3 C raisins (optional)
1 package cream cheese, cut into medium cubes
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 eggs
1 1/2 Cups of milk (make this even better and replace 1/2 the milk with cream!)
1/2 Cup of syrup (maple)
1 teaspoon Vanilla
Additional syrup.

Ready? Set? GO!
Get out a large casserole dish and coat with softened butter (or a cooking spray, your choice)
Use a really big bowl and toss in the bread crumbs, 1/2 the cheese cubes, raisins, spices and sugar. Toss well.
In a separate bowl, beat the eggs with the milk/cream, vanilla and syrup. Add to the bowl of bread and toss to coat the bread cubes.
Pour into your casserole dish and top with the remaining cheese cubes.
Cover with plastic wrap and sit aside in fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 350 and bake, uncovered 40-45 minutes, till puffed and golden brown. Check with a knife to make sure it's done. Cut into squares and serve with pats of butter and the extra syrup!
WOW! GOOD STUFF..trust me!

Sorry I have not been here for a few weeks to post our favorite recipes. I have not been home much to think about posting much less to cook!
Enjoy the French Toast Casserole!

Hi again!

Well, I can say that I've been 'non computering' it for the past several weeks. It just has not been one of those things that was 'first' on my list. Hence, the reason for no posts. HOWEVER..I have a post to show you today.

A few weeks back I made a trek to the Thrift store and found this little gem.

A close up:


Guess how much I paid for it?? .........$1.99!!!! OHMYGAWD!
There are no initials of who had done the work, or a date of the completion, so I can't even give 'credit'. (sad..always sign your work)
ANYWAY:
This is the ONE area that I prefer the 'old' and prim look in stitcheries. So the process began to making it look 'old'. I used several layers of coffee stain. A light stain for the base then got darker in a few areas as I went (adding instant coffee to the coffee I already had made it darker). I painted the frame with a mix of black and a 'brick/barn red', used my handy dandy hair dryer got it all dry and then sanded lightly on the frame. Here's a short compelation of the process in pictures! ENJOY!

The Finished Project

See ya next time......down on the farm!

Sage