tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62971226843244516422024-03-13T09:25:40.197-05:00wouldn't you like to know?~healthybratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03289001000909350267noreply@blogger.comBlogger444125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6297122684324451642.post-61569968140823183462015-04-08T12:08:00.000-05:002015-04-09T11:11:08.260-05:00Know Christ“He who does not long to know more of Christ, knows nothing of Him yet.”<br />
<br />
~ Charles Spurgeon~healthybratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03289001000909350267noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6297122684324451642.post-57712644161752220272015-04-08T10:44:00.000-05:002015-04-09T11:14:54.039-05:00Hail! Hail! <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1HZ1vE4-jiU/VSalFKF3JZI/AAAAAAAACHE/FyAlHebRwvQ/s1600/10206428145765369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1HZ1vE4-jiU/VSalFKF3JZI/AAAAAAAACHE/FyAlHebRwvQ/s1600/10206428145765369.jpg" height="320" width="251" /></a>This fell about 3 miles from here at a friend's house.<br />
<br />~healthybratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03289001000909350267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6297122684324451642.post-2043723402623814482014-01-07T14:14:00.001-06:002014-01-07T14:14:14.070-06:00Nacho Cheese SauceIngredients:<br /><br />1 tbsp. olive oil<br />
2 tbsp. butter<br />
2 tbsp. flour<br />
1 1/2 cups milk (sub part Jalepeno juice)<br />
1 c. cheddar cheese, shredded<br />
1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce<br />
2 tbsp. minced jalapeno peppers (omit if using juice)<br />
1/4 teaspoon sea salt<br />
Pinch cayenne pepper<br />
1/4 teaspoon paprika<br />
<br />
Directions:<br />
<br />
Mix together peppers, olive oil, and butter in a saucepan.<br />
<br />
Sprinkle in flour, pour in milk and stir until mixture simmers -- do not allow to boil. When mixture begins to thicken, stir in the cheese and remaining ingredients, Simmer on low heat an additional five minutes or until cheese is fully melted.<br />
<br />
Serve with nacho chips.~healthybratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03289001000909350267noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6297122684324451642.post-44232875701534437512014-01-06T21:20:00.001-06:002014-01-07T14:14:30.585-06:00Crumb ToppingIngredients<br />
<br />
Makes 2 cups.<br />
<br />
1 1/2 cups AP flour<br />
3/4 cup light brown sugar<br />
1/3 cup granulated sugar<br />
1/4 tsp sea salt<br />
1/4 tsp cinnamon<br />
1 1/2 sticks butter, chilled and cut into pieces<br />
<br />
Directions<br />
<br />
Mix all dry ingredients together.<br />
<br />
With food processor, pastry cutter or hands, work butter into dry mixture.<br />
<br />
Sprinkle over cake, pie or other dump cake for baking.<br />
<br />~healthybratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03289001000909350267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6297122684324451642.post-91450652080609752822014-01-06T21:17:00.001-06:002014-01-07T14:14:53.968-06:00Sugar Cookies, Orange Nutmeg<b>Ingredients</b><br />
<br />
2 1/2 cups AP flour<br />
1 cup sugar<br />
1 tsp vanilla<br />
2 tsp orange extract<br />
1 tsp nutmeg<br />
1 large egg<br />
2 T milk<br />
3/4 tsp sea salt<br />
1/2 tsp baking soda<br />
1/2 cup butter<br />
1/2 cup lard (or butter)<br />
<br />
<b>Directions</b><br />
<br />
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.<br />
<br />
Sift dry ingredients together.<br />
<br />
Cream butter and lard together until fluffy.<br />
<br />
Add eggs and vanilla to fat mixture.<br />
<br />
Beat in dry ingredients until smooth.<br />
<br />
Blend in milk.<br />
<br />
Drop by tablespoons full about 3 inches apart on greased cookie sheet.<br />
<br />
Bake 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.~healthybratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03289001000909350267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6297122684324451642.post-39427922263939330942014-01-06T21:12:00.003-06:002014-01-07T14:15:30.609-06:00Egg Drop Soup<u><b>Ingredients</b></u><br />
<br />
1 T cornstarch<br />
3 cups + 1 cup chicken broth <br />
2 eggs + 1 yolk lightly beaten<br />
2 green onions, chopped<br />
salt and pepper to taste<br />
<br />
<u><b>Directions</b></u><br />
<br />
Boil 3 cups chicken broth.<br />
<br />
Mix cornstarch in 1 cup chicken broth.<br />
<br />
Pour into boiling stock.<br />
<br />
Once thickened, slowly add eggs at a drip while stirring in circular motion.<br />
<br />
Once all eggs are added, remove from heat and stir in onions, salt and pepper.<br />
<br />~healthybratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03289001000909350267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6297122684324451642.post-34308415881891696392014-01-06T21:07:00.001-06:002014-01-07T14:15:44.832-06:00Crab RangoonIngredients<br />
<br />
8 oz cream cheese<br />
8 oz fresh crab meat<br />
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce<br />
1/2 tsp soy sauce<br />
1/8-1/4 tsp white (or black) pepper<br />
1-1 1/2 green onions, diced<br />
1 clove garlic, minced<br />
1 tsp red onion, chopped<br />
1 pkg wanton wrappers<br />
1 small bowl of water to seal wantons<br />
<br />
Directions<br />
<br />
Combine the crab and cream cheese.<br />
<br />
Mix in remaining filling ingredients one at a time.<br />
<br />
Stuff wantons and seal.<br />
<br />
Deep-fry until golden (about 3 minutes).~healthybratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03289001000909350267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6297122684324451642.post-10557090713532100722014-01-06T21:03:00.005-06:002014-01-07T14:16:01.972-06:00Zucchini BreadIngredients:<br />
<br />
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour<br />
1 1/2 teaspoons salt<br />
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg<br />
2 teaspoons baking soda<br />
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon<br />
3 cups sugar (I only used 2 cups, but hope to try honey next time)<br />
1 cup vegetable oil (I used lard, unhydrogenated of course)<br />
4 eggs, beaten<br />
1/3 cup water<br />
2 cups grated zucchini (mine was peeled, shredded and frozen and thawed)<br />
1 teaspoon lemon juice (I used vinegar, didn't have any lemon juice)<br />
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (Nuts hurt my teeth, so I left them out)<br />
<br />
Directions:<br />
<br />
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. <br />
<br />
In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, nutmeg, baking soda, cinnamon and sugar. <br />
<br />
In a separate bowl, combine oil, eggs, water, zucchini and lemon juice. <br />
<br />
Mix wet ingredients into dry, add nuts and fold in. <br />
<br />
Bake in 2 standard loaf pans, sprayed with nonstick spray [I also used lard for this], for 1 hour, or until a tester comes out clean. (Alternately, bake in 5 mini loaf pans for about 45 minutes.)~healthybratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03289001000909350267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6297122684324451642.post-22269972042820096942014-01-06T20:55:00.001-06:002014-01-07T14:23:18.400-06:00Macaroni & CheeseIngredients<br />
<br />
Makes 8-10 servings.<br />
<br />
1/4 cup butter<br />
2 cups milk<br />
3 cups shredded cheese<br />
2 eggs<br />
sea salt and pepper to taste<br />
8 oz pasta <br />
<br />
Directions<br />
<br />
Precook the pasta until al dente (about 1-2 minutes less than recommended cooking time).<br />
<br />
Drain, rinse and cool pasta.<br />
<br />
Place the butter, milk and eggs into a 9 x 13 casserole dish and mix with a fork or spoon until blended.<br />
<br />
Add salt and pepper to taste.<br />
<br />
Add 2 cups of grated cheese.<br />
<br />
Fold the noodles into the sauce until well-coated.<br />
<br />
Place extra cheese as a topping over the casserole.<br />
<br />
Bake for 350 degrees for 35 minutes.<br />
<br />
Broil for last 5 minutes to brown the top.~healthybratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03289001000909350267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6297122684324451642.post-74015213606382335102014-01-06T20:49:00.001-06:002014-01-07T14:23:38.328-06:00Graham CrackersIngredients<br />
<br />
Makes 10 4 x 4.5-inch graham crackers or 48 2-inch squares<br />
<br />
2 1/2 cups plus 2 T AP flours <br />
(a swap of 1/2 cup with whole wheat flour or 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour works well here, too.)<br />
1 cup dark brown sugar, lightly packed<br />
1 tsp baking soda<br />
3/4 tsp course sea salt<br />
7 T unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes and frozen<br />
1/3 cup mild-flavored honey (such as clover)<br />
5 T milk<br />
2 T vanilla extract<br />
<br />
Topping<br />
<br />
3 T granulated sugar<br />
1 tsp ground cinnamon<br />
<br />
<b>Directions</b><br />
<br />
<b>Make the dough. </b> <br />
<br />
Combine the flour, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade or in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. <br />
<br />
Pulse or mix on low to incorporate. <br />
<br />
Add the butter and pulse on and off and on and off or mix on low until the mixture is the consistency of a course crumb.<br />
(alternately, you can cut in butter with a pastry cutter)<br />
<br />
In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, milk, and vanilla.<br />
<br />
Add to the flour mixture and pulse on and off a few times or mix on low until the dough barely comes together.<br />
<br />
It will be very soft and sticky.<br />
<br />
Lay out a large piece of plastic wrap and dust it lightly with flour.<br />
<br />
Turn dough out onto plastic and pat it into a rectangle about 1-inch thick.<br />
<br />
Wrap it, then chill it until firm, about 2 hours or overnight.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, prepare the topping, if using, by combining the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and setting aside.<br />
<br />
<b>Roll out the crackers.</b><br />
<br />
Divide the dough in half and return one half to the refrigerator.<br />
<br />
Sift an even layer of flour onto the work surface and roll the dough into a long rectangle about 1/8 inch thick. The dough will be sticky. Flour as needed.<br />
<br />
Trim the edges of the rectangle to 4 inches wide.<br />
<br />
Working with the shorter side of the rectangle parallel to the work surface, cut the strip every 4 1/2 inches to make 4 crackers. (This makes a traditional graham cracker shape.)<br />
<br />
Place the crackers on one or two parchment-lined baking sheets and sprinkle with the topping.<br />
<br />
Chill until firm, about 30-45 minutes in the fridge or 15-20 minutes in the freezer.<br />
<br />
Repeat with the second batch of dough.<br />
<br />
Gather any scraps into a ball, chill until firm and re-roll.<br />
<br />
<b>Decorate the Crackers</b><br />
<br />
Mark a vertical line down the middle of each cracker, being careful not to cut through the dough (for traditional cracker shape).<br />
<br />
Using a toothpick or skewer (or blunt end of skewer for more dramatic dots), prick the dough to form two dotted rows about 1/2 inch for each side of the dividing line.<br />
<br />
Bake for 15-25 minutes, until browned and slightly firm to the touch, rotating the sheets halfway through to ensure even baking.
~healthybratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03289001000909350267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6297122684324451642.post-28360545787014745032014-01-06T20:32:00.003-06:002014-01-07T14:23:52.818-06:00ShortcakeIngredients<br />
<br />
2 cups AP flour<br />
1/3 cup sugar<br />
1 T baking powder<br />
1/8 tsp sea salt<br />
1/4 cup cold butter, cut into pieces<br />
1 egg, beaten<br />
1 tsp vanilla extract<br />
1/2 cup half and half<br />
<br />
Directions<br />
<br />
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.<br />
<br />
Grease 2 large baking sheets.<br />
<br />
In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.<br />
<br />
Cut in the cold butter until pea-sized crumbs are formed.<br />
<br />
Stir in egg, milk and vanilla. Do NOT overmix.<br />
<br />
Use icecream scoop and place rounds on cookie sheet.<br />
<br />
Pat dough into flat rounds.<br />
<br />
Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until golden brown; cool.<br />
<br />
Split the baked shortcakes into halves.<br />
<br />
Ladle strawberries in the middle and on top of the shortcake.<br />
<br />
Top with whipped cream.~healthybratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03289001000909350267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6297122684324451642.post-83547980489352708792014-01-06T20:27:00.002-06:002014-01-07T14:24:04.401-06:00Spagettio'sIngredients<br />
<br />
2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes<br />
1 cup water<br />
2 T brown sugar<br />
2 T onion powder<br />
1 tsp black pepper<br />
1 tsp garlic powder<br />
2 T butter<br />
1/2 cup star noodles<br />
1/8 tsp cayenne<br />
1/2 cup shredded cheddar<br />
<br />
Directions<br />
<br />
Boil all ingredients except stars. <br />
<br />
Turn down heat and simmer for 20 minutes.<br />
<br />
Boil stars separately for 12-15 minutes.<br />
<br />
Drain and rinse stars.<br />
<br />
Add to soup.
~healthybratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03289001000909350267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6297122684324451642.post-16136382209422261792014-01-06T20:22:00.000-06:002014-01-07T14:24:18.376-06:00Tomato SoupIngredients<br />
<br />
3 cans tomato paste<br />
6 cups water<br />
3 T brown sugar<br />
1 T vinegar<br />
2 T onion powder<br />
1 tsp oregano<br />
1 tsp black pepper<br />
1 tsp garlic powder<br />
6 T butter<br />
1/8 tsp cayenne<br />
<br />
Directions ~healthybratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03289001000909350267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6297122684324451642.post-35728940565438318852013-03-09T11:33:00.000-06:002013-07-11T11:40:15.190-05:00squeals of delight<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zAcijqWkLPU/Ud1yfSTzkdI/AAAAAAAAB-E/eviDulESPpU/s1600/20130316_131140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zAcijqWkLPU/Ud1yfSTzkdI/AAAAAAAAB-E/eviDulESPpU/s320/20130316_131140.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<br />
around here at birthday time, it's ALWAYS ALL ABOUT the CAKE.<br />
<br />
i was cruisin' around facebook and saw this cute little mud pool piggy cake thingy and my daughter perked right up and said she'd been wanting to learn how to make fondant anyway. (we watch too much Cake Boss.) this seemed like a perfect opportunity. <br />
<br />
anyway, it turned out fantastic.<br />
<br />
i looked up some fondant and modeling clay recipes and i am never thrilled if i have to use confectioner's sugar or corn syrup. we settled on trying a recipe for modeling chocolate substituting honey for corn syrup in the traditional recipes.<br />
<br />
most of the "experts" also specified that if i wanted to color the chocolate, i should use paste colors which i didn't have access to. i used the standard liquid for the pink the color of the pigs, but it was only a few drops and it didn't seem to cause a problem.<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sIxAgQ5iAE4/Ud1yIVpNx_I/AAAAAAAAB8c/5qgpA8HTflE/s1600/20130315_155840+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sIxAgQ5iAE4/Ud1yIVpNx_I/AAAAAAAAB8c/5qgpA8HTflE/s320/20130315_155840+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CSfXuJfBJfA/Ud1yJJDd21I/AAAAAAAAB8k/W5ApiJLI58E/s1600/20130315_170120-1+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CSfXuJfBJfA/Ud1yJJDd21I/AAAAAAAAB8k/W5ApiJLI58E/s320/20130315_170120-1+-+Copy.jpg" width="317" /></a>
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--mjTAeoNePc/Ud1yJydp17I/AAAAAAAAB8s/BkN4hW0Z3oM/s1600/20130315_170132-1+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--mjTAeoNePc/Ud1yJydp17I/AAAAAAAAB8s/BkN4hW0Z3oM/s320/20130315_170132-1+-+Copy.jpg" width="309" /></a>
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S2uLSEy5jkQ/Ud1yMtG2YGI/AAAAAAAAB80/Y7YjOXgOwVk/s1600/20130315_170145-1+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S2uLSEy5jkQ/Ud1yMtG2YGI/AAAAAAAAB80/Y7YjOXgOwVk/s320/20130315_170145-1+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Gf0e01ONFo/Ud1yNkHTC6I/AAAAAAAAB88/LnMegEs2Ml0/s1600/20130315_170150-1+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Gf0e01ONFo/Ud1yNkHTC6I/AAAAAAAAB88/LnMegEs2Ml0/s320/20130315_170150-1+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6rdUjKJiha4/Ud1yOcyk0PI/AAAAAAAAB9E/ZONMEQzWLec/s1600/20130315_170159-1+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6rdUjKJiha4/Ud1yOcyk0PI/AAAAAAAAB9E/ZONMEQzWLec/s320/20130315_170159-1+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v8qz4bDaI64/Ud1yQysrYnI/AAAAAAAAB9M/VYNdShHMWo8/s1600/20130316_123217+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v8qz4bDaI64/Ud1yQysrYnI/AAAAAAAAB9M/VYNdShHMWo8/s320/20130316_123217+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5rjA49m0j8/Ud1ySi2ux_I/AAAAAAAAB9U/-KbusANw06A/s1600/20130316_123227+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5rjA49m0j8/Ud1ySi2ux_I/AAAAAAAAB9U/-KbusANw06A/s320/20130316_123227+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RuFGTSa56sM/Ud1yYeKNWlI/AAAAAAAAB9o/MUuvly4_fNc/s1600/20130316_123236+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RuFGTSa56sM/Ud1yYeKNWlI/AAAAAAAAB9o/MUuvly4_fNc/s320/20130316_123236+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YDbo2PUEygQ/Ud1yWeU9vNI/AAAAAAAAB9c/ZX1I5Fezv8Y/s1600/20130316_124307+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YDbo2PUEygQ/Ud1yWeU9vNI/AAAAAAAAB9c/ZX1I5Fezv8Y/s320/20130316_124307+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F-zxRbbf47g/Ud1yYIek_4I/AAAAAAAAB9k/uiAWWwd_tyg/s1600/20130316_125946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F-zxRbbf47g/Ud1yYIek_4I/AAAAAAAAB9k/uiAWWwd_tyg/s320/20130316_125946.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tAZuvm5LHSY/Ud1ybUalW5I/AAAAAAAAB90/LmjOgeZ2mzo/s1600/20130316_130345+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tAZuvm5LHSY/Ud1ybUalW5I/AAAAAAAAB90/LmjOgeZ2mzo/s320/20130316_130345+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2LWub8zTjvc/Ud1yeJre2DI/AAAAAAAAB98/IDusT43ahLk/s1600/20130316_130739+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2LWub8zTjvc/Ud1yeJre2DI/AAAAAAAAB98/IDusT43ahLk/s320/20130316_130739+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zAcijqWkLPU/Ud1yfSTzkdI/AAAAAAAAB-E/eviDulESPpU/s1600/20130316_131140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zAcijqWkLPU/Ud1yfSTzkdI/AAAAAAAAB-E/eviDulESPpU/s320/20130316_131140.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U7dzRmxeaCw/Ud1yhEqytOI/AAAAAAAAB-M/jZgXY3EcL2k/s1600/20130316_143343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U7dzRmxeaCw/Ud1yhEqytOI/AAAAAAAAB-M/jZgXY3EcL2k/s320/20130316_143343.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<div class="pod directions">
<span class="instructions" itemprop="recipeInstructions"><br /></span>
<br />
<h2>
<span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>modeling chocolate recipe</b></span></span></h2>
4 Tbsp raw honey<br />
1 bag (9 oz) of white chocolate chips<br />
<br />
place
the chocolate chips in a glass bowl and place on top of a sauce pot
which contains some steaming (moderately boiling) water.<br />
stir until well melted.<br />
add food coloring and continue to stir.<br />
remove from heat. <br />
add honey and stir a bit more until combined.<br />
cool a bit, so as not to heat up plastic wrap. <br />
turn "dough" out onto plastic wrap and smash flat with plastic wrap.<br />
wrap up and place into fridge for about 4 hours to overnight. <br />
<br />
TADAH!<br />
<br />
we
used this recipe and found that it was a bit hard to work with, so i
reheated and added another Tbsp of honey. it blended well and it didn't
curdle or separate. we just had to put it back in the fridge for
awhile. you might have to work with the amount of honey a bit to get it
the right pliability (is that even a word?), but if it gets a bit too
soft, put it back in the fridge for a bit and pull it out again when it
hardens. also, you might try using a cold cutting board or cookie sheet
to use as your table top so that it doesn't heat up to quickly.<br />
<br />
for
this beautiful cake, i swiped a GRAND recipe from one of the better
recipe sites and i have officially claimed it as my own. LOL (the
grandkids will never know.)<br />
<br />
here's the link to give proper credit.<br />
http://www.food.com/recipe/the-only-chocolate-cake-recipe-youll-ever-need-devils-food-26370<br />
<br />
here's the recipe...in case that link ever vanishes.<br />
<h2>
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;"><b>cake</b></span></span></b></h2>
<ul>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="value">2 </span> <span class="type">cups</span></span>
<span class="name">
<a href="http://www.food.com/library/flour-64">all-purpose flour</a>
</span>
</span>
</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="value">1 </span> <span class="type">teaspoon</span></span>
<span class="name">
<a href="http://www.food.com/library/salt-359">salt</a>
</span>
</span>
</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="value">1 </span> <span class="type">teaspoon</span></span>
<span class="name">
<a href="http://www.food.com/library/baking-powder-6">baking powder</a>
</span>
</span>
</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="value">2 </span> <span class="type">teaspoons</span></span>
<span class="name">
<a href="http://www.food.com/library/baking-soda-7">baking soda</a>
</span>
</span>
</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="value">3/4</span> <span class="type">cup</span></span>
<span class="name">
unsweetened cocoa powder
</span>
</span>
</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="value">2 </span> <span class="type">cups</span></span>
<span class="name">
<a href="http://www.food.com/library/sugar-139">sugar</a>
</span>
</span>
</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="value">1 </span> <span class="type">cup</span></span>
<span class="name">
vegetable oil </span>
</span>
</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="value">1 </span> <span class="type">cup</span></span>
<span class="name">
hot coffee
</span>
</span>
</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="value">1 </span> <span class="type">cup</span></span>
<span class="name">
<a href="http://www.food.com/library/milk-360">milk</a>
</span>
</span>
</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="value">2 </span> <span class="type">large</span></span>
<span class="name">
<a href="http://www.food.com/library/egg-142">eggs</a>
</span>
</span>
</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">
<span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="value">1 </span> <span class="type">teaspoon</span></span>
<span class="name">
<a href="http://www.food.com/library/vanilla-350">vanilla</a></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="pod directions">
<h2>
directions:</h2>
<span class="instructions" itemprop="recipeInstructions">
</span><br />
<ol><span class="instructions" itemprop="recipeInstructions">
<li>
<div class="txt">
Preheat oven to 325°F.</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="txt">
In a large mixing bowl,
sift together dry ingredients. Add oil, coffee and milk and mix at
medium speed for 2 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla and beat 2 more
minutes. Expect batter to be thin.</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="txt">
Pour into a 9" x 13"
greased and floured pan or 2- 9" round pans. Bake 9 x 13 pan for about
45 minutes or 9" pans for about 30 minutes. Cool in pans for about 15
minutes and then cool completely on racks.</div>
</li>
<li>
Frost as desired.</li>
</span></ol>
<span class="instructions" itemprop="recipeInstructions">
NOTE: because olive oil is so darned expensive, i tried half olive oil
(1/2 cup) and half applesauce (1/2 cup) the second or third time i made
this cake and it turned out fabulous! i even left the eggs out once by
mistake and although the cake was a bit pitted in the middle, it STILL
tasted fabulous.<br />
</span></div>
<div class="pod directions">
<span class="instructions" itemprop="recipeInstructions">for the mud, i used a simple chocolate ganache...the recipe is under my donut recipe at this link.</span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://healthybratt.blogspot.com/2010/04/doughnutsdonutsoh-wow.html"><span class="instructions" itemprop="recipeInstructions">http://healthybratt.blogspot.com/2010/04/doughnutsdonutsoh-wow.html</span></a><br />
<br />
<span class="instructions" itemprop="recipeInstructions">we decided to really spruce it up with some canned cherry pie filling crammed between the layers. this isn't a necessary step but it sure made it taste good. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="instructions" itemprop="recipeInstructions">for the barrel, we used, standard, toxic, get-em-from-walmart-for-a-dollar, wafer cookies. we "glued" these to the cake with a bit of ganache and then tied a cord around when we were finished for extra support. once the cord comes off and you start cutting, it does get a bit flimsy, but nobody complained.</span>
</div>
<br />
<br />~healthybratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03289001000909350267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6297122684324451642.post-60843271908510516752013-01-23T20:56:00.000-06:002013-07-11T11:34:58.552-05:00sourdough pancakes...no knead bread style<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cOzoGc5ACfQ/UQCmVcWPhYI/AAAAAAAAB5Q/c2CvqR7iBao/s1600/SD03.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cOzoGc5ACfQ/UQCmVcWPhYI/AAAAAAAAB5Q/c2CvqR7iBao/s400/SD03.jpg" width="391" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<br />
it all started about 100 years ago when i first decided i wanted to make bread. i ruined thousands of loaves of bread and pulled out as many hairs from my head trying to get it right. okay, maybe it wasn't thousands of loaves, but it still felt like thousands of hairs. my head really hurt, for weeks, months, as many as two years--thinking back. and i finally got it right.
<br />
<br />
not only did i get it right, but i've decided to branch out. not just bread, but sandwich, whole wheat, sourdough and even (insert menacing beat here) pancakes.
<br />
<br />
i thought i had pancakes perfected because nobody here was complaining and then i heard somebody say sourdough pancakes. well...why not? i'd tried almost everything else. but why would i want to make sourdough pancakes when the pancakes i was making were splendiferous?<br />
well, i thought of a couple of reasons. <br />
>>>they don't require any baking powder. regular pancakes take quite a bit because the flour is heavy. <br />
>>>less oil. hey, this is a big deal. olive oil is expensive as are butter and any other good fat you can buy or obtain in this economy. <br />
>>>less milk. hey, this is always a plus. <br />
>>>less preparation time...ok, this was the deal maker. i still have to make the dough ahead, but i don't have to make it ahead (immediately) 2 hours before the meal. i can make it any time during the week (or two) that i want to make these and just pull the wad of dough out of the fridge when it's time to cook; throw in a few extras and go.
<br />
<br />
so...i save money AND time...where's the catch? i couldn't find one, so i gave it a whirl.
<br />
<br />
now, to be fair to those who sweat and fuss over the real deal...sourdough made from wild yeasts in the air, i am not a point where i need to take on another "pet." i already have 3 cats and 6 scoby's that i am currently feeding. i think, for now, that's enough. so where did i get my "sour" dough?
<br />
<br />
gwen was kind enough to share this "no knead" bread recipe on her lovely blog sometime ago. you can find the recipe <a href="http://www.gwens-nest.com/family-favorite-recipes/easy-bread-recipe/" target="_blank">here</a>. i was intrigued. i tried, first her basic recipe with white flour and quick rise yeast and i was an instant success. (note: if you are a beginner, you might want to stop here, visit gwen's blog and start with her recipe. it's easy, it's cheap and it's a guaranteed success. this is always a good place to start if you're not familiar with bread making or sourdough in it's most basic [cheater] form.)
<br />
<br />
success! sourdough bread in a couple of days with maybe 5-10 minutes worth of work. how can this be a bad thing? then i used it for pizza. WOW. my family thinks i'm indispensable at this time. but that wasn't enough.
<br />
<br />
i already have a wheat grinder and it would be a shame, not to let my grinder and my beautiful wheat berries jump in on the fun. i started experimenting with different mixes of whole wheat and white and different yeasts until i came up with an acceptable mix that has both texture and taste and only requires a bit more effort than the original.
<br />
<br />
now what about the pancakes? well, we'll get to that, but first you have to know how to make the dough. my current recipe (subject to improvements as i see fit) is as follows:
<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: blue;"><u><b>hb's no-knead bread (sourdough starter) recipe</b></u></span></h3>
<br />
3.25 cups freshly milled hard white wheat flour<br />
3.25 cups unenriched, unbleached AP white flour<br />
1-2 pkgs of plain yeast (i use hodgeson mill, but any brand should do and i've found that one package works as good as two so long as you let it sit on the counter for 18 hours before putting it in the fridge.)<br />
3 cups of water<br />
3 T apple cider vinegar<br />
1-1.5 T sea salt<br />
<br />
<br />
take the water and vinegar and mix in a glass bowl. add the whole wheat flour. mix until the flour is evenly wet. cover and allow to soak for 2 hours. after two hours, add the other flour, the salt and the yeast. mix until evenly wet and put into gallon jar (glass). at this point, it will be sticky. if it's not, you may have used too much flour. adding a spoonful of water might not be a bad idea at this point. cover the jar (loosely) and set it on the counter overnight. after about 18 to 24 hours, put it in the fridge for a few days. TA DA! you now have sourdough. not in the traditional sense of the word, but believe me if you leave it in the fridge for another 3 days, you'll smell the difference.
<br />
<br />
for all the nice perks and bonuses you can get from this bread, be sure and visit gwen's blog too. all of the pizza crust and pretzle dog baking instructions are over there. i bake my bread the same way she does too.
<br />
<br />
now..for the pancakes. just what you were waiting for, right?
<br />
<br />
take your beautiful, sour pet out of the fridge. take two cups of dough and throw it in a large mixing bowl. add 2 eggs, 1/2 milk, 2 T sugar, 2 Tbsp of olive oil and any flavoring of choice (cinnamon, vanilla, etc.) and beat the tar out of it with a whisk. because the dough is so heavy, it takes a little bit of effort to thin it out. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IUzBWKUxH84/UQCmWRKegYI/AAAAAAAAB5o/QUFAtW5rBdg/s1600/SD05.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IUzBWKUxH84/UQCmWRKegYI/AAAAAAAAB5o/QUFAtW5rBdg/s400/SD05.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
and when you're finished, it will be a bit on the lumpy side.
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bKMmc_oos0o/UQCnaB5qyNI/AAAAAAAAB6o/961YW8wAZn4/s1600/SD10.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bKMmc_oos0o/UQCnaB5qyNI/AAAAAAAAB6o/961YW8wAZn4/s400/SD10.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<br />
<br />
when you're sure it's mixed as mixed is gonna get, throw in the baking soda (1 tsp). mix well.
<br />
<br />
keep in mind, your griddle should have been preheating at this point and should now be hot and ready to go. spoon 1/4 cup of batter <br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LkJmwNHcLrA/UQCmU9fq-eI/AAAAAAAAB5E/g06gZA2eFBg/s1600/SD02.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LkJmwNHcLrA/UQCmU9fq-eI/AAAAAAAAB5E/g06gZA2eFBg/s400/SD02.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />
<br />
onto the griddle and cook until the top side begins to dry and most of the bubbles have popped. flip and allow to finish cooking on the other side. serve as you would any other pancakes and be careful. you're bound to eat too many. i did.
<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;"><u><b>hb's sourdough (no-knead bread) pancakes recipe</b></u></span></span></h3>
<br />
2 cups sourdough starter<br />
1/2 cup milk<br />
2 eggs<br />
2 Tbsp olive oil<br />
2 Tbsp sugar (or honey or whatever sweetener you prefer)<br />
1 tsp baking soda<br />
<br />
<br />
Mix all ingredients except baking soda in a large mixing bowl until mostly smooth.
Add baking soda and mix well.
Spoon by 1/4 cup-fulls onto hot griddle and cook.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DamxwSU6Ta4/UQCnYKuQKbI/AAAAAAAAB54/sOzl4LrOaAI/s1600/SD06.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DamxwSU6Ta4/UQCnYKuQKbI/AAAAAAAAB54/sOzl4LrOaAI/s400/SD06.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3c5fYjLcrNY/UQCnYjqNZoI/AAAAAAAAB6E/GS-EvJm2r3s/s1600/SD07.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="173" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3c5fYjLcrNY/UQCnYjqNZoI/AAAAAAAAB6E/GS-EvJm2r3s/s400/SD07.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bYxOHfd1xPM/UQCnZAd93lI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/VPro_29-qY8/s1600/SD08.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="279" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bYxOHfd1xPM/UQCnZAd93lI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/VPro_29-qY8/s400/SD08.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fmniBqxZjeo/UQCnZrjciYI/AAAAAAAAB6c/Vcdhik7qCqE/s1600/SD09.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="166" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fmniBqxZjeo/UQCnZrjciYI/AAAAAAAAB6c/Vcdhik7qCqE/s400/SD09.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3yKsBITwpbM/UQCmUWISknI/AAAAAAAAB44/DU8ysHul9FI/s1600/SD01.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3yKsBITwpbM/UQCmUWISknI/AAAAAAAAB44/DU8ysHul9FI/s400/SD01.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<br />
see what they did to hubby? LOL
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h_Nahi1LlQs/UQCmV8oGqAI/AAAAAAAAB5c/SKZf3ewLJuY/s1600/SD04.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="372" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h_Nahi1LlQs/UQCmV8oGqAI/AAAAAAAAB5c/SKZf3ewLJuY/s400/SD04.jpg" width="400" /></a>
~healthybratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03289001000909350267noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6297122684324451642.post-29477411922031725682012-12-21T15:02:00.001-06:002013-09-16T18:39:30.434-05:00star baby afghanfound a very cool pattern on ravelry.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/beths-little-star-afghan" target="_blank">http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/beths-little-star-afghan</a><br />
<br />
used some scrap yarn. and because i used 3 different weights of yarn, it's a little "lumpy" in spots, but it really turned out better than i expected. here's the pics!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cXr1E7c8wA4/UNTMAV-0zlI/AAAAAAAAB3E/ZEDJwH65isQ/s1600/star01.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="356" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cXr1E7c8wA4/UNTMAV-0zlI/AAAAAAAAB3E/ZEDJwH65isQ/s400/star01.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tqSnIaONn8s/UNTL_rofwII/AAAAAAAAB24/ZecRlV4A68I/s1600/star02.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="367" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tqSnIaONn8s/UNTL_rofwII/AAAAAAAAB24/ZecRlV4A68I/s400/star02.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_PFv633ufSg/UNTL_Or6q6I/AAAAAAAAB2s/BVzwI6z_2jY/s1600/star03.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="399" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_PFv633ufSg/UNTL_Or6q6I/AAAAAAAAB2s/BVzwI6z_2jY/s400/star03.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GElL3AHd0ts/UNTL-oa6kiI/AAAAAAAAB2g/Ujldxu1oU-k/s1600/star04.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="335" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GElL3AHd0ts/UNTL-oa6kiI/AAAAAAAAB2g/Ujldxu1oU-k/s400/star04.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KNA3lh637YA/UNTNT3jAHCI/AAAAAAAAB4E/mHz3zyROdOY/s1600/star05.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KNA3lh637YA/UNTNT3jAHCI/AAAAAAAAB4E/mHz3zyROdOY/s400/star05.jpg" width="398" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jCmGz4dnZp4/UNTLWdq653I/AAAAAAAAB1w/NbsSnz1JZNQ/s1600/star06.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="353" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jCmGz4dnZp4/UNTLWdq653I/AAAAAAAAB1w/NbsSnz1JZNQ/s400/star06.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xqhjjemT7Gc/UNTLVySSHrI/AAAAAAAAB1k/vebaROZwVOo/s1600/star07.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xqhjjemT7Gc/UNTLVySSHrI/AAAAAAAAB1k/vebaROZwVOo/s400/star07.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6w8Y8DTzMoQ/UNTLVu410hI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/lzqCwFmDFOg/s1600/star08.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="364" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6w8Y8DTzMoQ/UNTLVu410hI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/lzqCwFmDFOg/s400/star08.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U_OyCxuaDSo/UNTLVKRRgrI/AAAAAAAAB1M/avyjUfnxfn0/s1600/star09.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U_OyCxuaDSo/UNTLVKRRgrI/AAAAAAAAB1M/avyjUfnxfn0/s400/star09.jpg" width="399" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1yywzo_VTHM/UNTKfvm-chI/AAAAAAAAB08/y3gHRhQMHd8/s1600/star10.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="382" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1yywzo_VTHM/UNTKfvm-chI/AAAAAAAAB08/y3gHRhQMHd8/s400/star10.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h08FZHYJ9FU/UNTKfAbRoDI/AAAAAAAAB0w/wBzeAmtbdJ8/s1600/star11.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="395" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h08FZHYJ9FU/UNTKfAbRoDI/AAAAAAAAB0w/wBzeAmtbdJ8/s400/star11.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rm5EJjDeGyY/UNTKeoo2KZI/AAAAAAAAB0k/besvthqAm8s/s1600/star12.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rm5EJjDeGyY/UNTKeoo2KZI/AAAAAAAAB0k/besvthqAm8s/s400/star12.jpg" width="386" /></a>
<br />
<br />
these two are the underside.
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EcswuU-OOQw/UNTNTJRT9JI/AAAAAAAAB3s/Z4lB6kVXF58/s1600/star13.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="383" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EcswuU-OOQw/UNTNTJRT9JI/AAAAAAAAB3s/Z4lB6kVXF58/s400/star13.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E1Q69b1tuUs/UNTNTY86oPI/AAAAAAAAB34/Muop7TEPsQM/s1600/star14.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E1Q69b1tuUs/UNTNTY86oPI/AAAAAAAAB34/Muop7TEPsQM/s400/star14.jpg" width="400" /></a>
~healthybratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03289001000909350267noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6297122684324451642.post-42875227601332574042012-11-17T13:16:00.002-06:002012-11-17T13:16:50.060-06:00more bathroom stuffI'M FINISHED!!!!!!
<br />
<br />
well...almost. still have to finish some very minute things like a bit of trim work behind the toilet, but my big project is DONE! i wanted so badly for the last 6 years to do something nice with this shelf. i keep finding myself wandering into the bathroom admiring how wonderful it all turned out. what a blessing to have something that looks so beautiful and didn't break the bank.
<br />
<br />
i took an old painted shelf crafted out an old bay window in long past history and tiled it with the same vinyl squares that we put on the floor. i then picked some darker-than-white paint to trim around it and the rest of the bathroom. the pictures should pretty much speak for themselves, so have a gander below.
<br />
<br />
<h2>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">before</span></h2>
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BDtyzJZZwmQ/UKfeNmJuUWI/AAAAAAAABww/BAc7_Ci5rQs/s1600/Before%2B05.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BDtyzJZZwmQ/UKfeNmJuUWI/AAAAAAAABww/BAc7_Ci5rQs/s400/Before%2B05.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-egMFoP9qr7k/UKfeKIn3_4I/AAAAAAAABwE/S1ufsBAcoeM/s1600/Before%2B01.jpg"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-egMFoP9qr7k/UKfeKIn3_4I/AAAAAAAABwE/S1ufsBAcoeM/s400/Before%2B01.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bKpvj_COwCA/UKfeLDssaLI/AAAAAAAABwM/pZAzpoL_nUw/s1600/Before%2B02.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bKpvj_COwCA/UKfeLDssaLI/AAAAAAAABwM/pZAzpoL_nUw/s400/Before%2B02.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LtBntntuoPE/UKfeL3IKPhI/AAAAAAAABwY/8iv3XngrlXg/s1600/Before%2B03.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LtBntntuoPE/UKfeL3IKPhI/AAAAAAAABwY/8iv3XngrlXg/s400/Before%2B03.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5BOLDn_lEcM/UKfeMg_hxOI/AAAAAAAABwk/oin-BTjttVc/s1600/Before%2B04.jpg"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5BOLDn_lEcM/UKfeMg_hxOI/AAAAAAAABwk/oin-BTjttVc/s400/Before%2B04.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">after</span></h2>
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UMO_nVrQwbs/UKfgzuQmwMI/AAAAAAAABxs/GdDtlZiBqnc/s1600/After%2B01.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UMO_nVrQwbs/UKfgzuQmwMI/AAAAAAAABxs/GdDtlZiBqnc/s400/After%2B01.jpg" width="332" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AP13CxjHbj0/UKfgxKGm67I/AAAAAAAABw8/v8tEEVJNzIg/s1600/After%2B05.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="339" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AP13CxjHbj0/UKfgxKGm67I/AAAAAAAABw8/v8tEEVJNzIg/s400/After%2B05.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RNJKBQzeDoI/UKfgxlFD8oI/AAAAAAAABxI/0JdDOijIPEs/s1600/After%2B04.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RNJKBQzeDoI/UKfgxlFD8oI/AAAAAAAABxI/0JdDOijIPEs/s400/After%2B04.jpg" width="302" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HrjSBuSTROk/UKfgys9G0bI/AAAAAAAABxU/wlRgMqh0XE0/s1600/After%2B03.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HrjSBuSTROk/UKfgys9G0bI/AAAAAAAABxU/wlRgMqh0XE0/s400/After%2B03.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yR5TSsngzDw/UKfgzMD0ORI/AAAAAAAABxg/-yfyZPxWKAw/s1600/After%2B02.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yR5TSsngzDw/UKfgzMD0ORI/AAAAAAAABxg/-yfyZPxWKAw/s400/After%2B02.jpg" width="258" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1xWMJyN3ARs/UKfh6c6iguI/AAAAAAAAByc/ypsw71q6Q-c/s1600/After%2B06.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1xWMJyN3ARs/UKfh6c6iguI/AAAAAAAAByc/ypsw71q6Q-c/s400/After%2B06.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6o9sDoKe9Q/UKfh464WHYI/AAAAAAAABx4/t7B3yjRADn0/s1600/After08.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6o9sDoKe9Q/UKfh464WHYI/AAAAAAAABx4/t7B3yjRADn0/s400/After08.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yuo7IuCja7A/UKfh5b0XznI/AAAAAAAAByE/dvpDUCjdiUc/s1600/AFter%2B07.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yuo7IuCja7A/UKfh5b0XznI/AAAAAAAAByE/dvpDUCjdiUc/s400/AFter%2B07.jpg" width="251" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EQTYaRNvroA/UKfh5zp4NxI/AAAAAAAAByQ/nI59OLFqRIo/s1600/After%2B11.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EQTYaRNvroA/UKfh5zp4NxI/AAAAAAAAByQ/nI59OLFqRIo/s400/After%2B11.jpg" width="327" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yZBBg5HUFpc/UKfiTVAb4AI/AAAAAAAABy0/jY7YQiO4TPI/s1600/After%2B10.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yZBBg5HUFpc/UKfiTVAb4AI/AAAAAAAABy0/jY7YQiO4TPI/s400/After%2B10.jpg" width="282" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HNQO0ppWwe8/UKfiSa6cKvI/AAAAAAAAByo/LUIB5duo_PY/s1600/After%2B12.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="334" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HNQO0ppWwe8/UKfiSa6cKvI/AAAAAAAAByo/LUIB5duo_PY/s400/After%2B12.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<br />
<br />~healthybratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03289001000909350267noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6297122684324451642.post-77122899669136026202012-10-30T17:30:00.001-05:002013-09-16T18:38:43.161-05:00cozy zebrafinished my latest afghan. i was so excited about the colors for this one. it's gonna make some zebra lover very happy!
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gwPhVCFvYJE/UJBUZ1A0AoI/AAAAAAAABvQ/M0geZqBlkpY/s1600/afghan05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gwPhVCFvYJE/UJBUZ1A0AoI/AAAAAAAABvQ/M0geZqBlkpY/s400/afghan05.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MvX_BwJCkGk/UJBUV9kDrNI/AAAAAAAABug/GE_EDkdyiZA/s1600/afghan01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="391" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MvX_BwJCkGk/UJBUV9kDrNI/AAAAAAAABug/GE_EDkdyiZA/s400/afghan01.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rKpW4Ys3EXY/UJBUW2xLtsI/AAAAAAAABus/w7r2tk8vbfY/s1600/afghan02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rKpW4Ys3EXY/UJBUW2xLtsI/AAAAAAAABus/w7r2tk8vbfY/s400/afghan02.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HZK-C5bO9A4/UJBUXikZf2I/AAAAAAAABu4/iWkzNEJtWt0/s1600/afghan03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HZK-C5bO9A4/UJBUXikZf2I/AAAAAAAABu4/iWkzNEJtWt0/s400/afghan03.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bv9Lt8whKRA/UJBUZNE_rPI/AAAAAAAABvE/lt3LqnBavyg/s1600/afghan04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bv9Lt8whKRA/UJBUZNE_rPI/AAAAAAAABvE/lt3LqnBavyg/s400/afghan04.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NPEhSMJR7cQ/UJBU4NVi8lI/AAAAAAAABvc/IQJGCEtt3EA/s1600/afghan06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="395" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NPEhSMJR7cQ/UJBU4NVi8lI/AAAAAAAABvc/IQJGCEtt3EA/s400/afghan06.jpg" width="400" /></a>
~healthybratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03289001000909350267noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6297122684324451642.post-88419434442304204272012-10-30T11:33:00.002-05:002012-10-30T11:48:45.946-05:00argh! i'm a parrot.my lovely daughter has decided to dress up as a pirate for halloween this year. her stuffed penguin decided to dress up as a parrot (with a little help from mom) and become her side kick.<br />
<br />
BEFORE
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IHmXOEq2zlY/UJACgoJZ_5I/AAAAAAAABtk/wX0WsOYamyw/s1600/fyVMtP8A.jpg" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IHmXOEq2zlY/UJACgoJZ_5I/AAAAAAAABtk/wX0WsOYamyw/s1600/fyVMtP8A.jpg" /></a>
<br />
<br />
AFTER
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/---GdJr0NK28/UJACuKls3mI/AAAAAAAABts/rF89IcCYcj8/s1600/parrot02.jpg" ><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/---GdJr0NK28/UJACuKls3mI/AAAAAAAABts/rF89IcCYcj8/s320/parrot02.jpg" width="295" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m5DD_RoadG4/UJAC14H0t2I/AAAAAAAABt0/IqJq2XZJohs/s1600/parrot01.jpg" ><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m5DD_RoadG4/UJAC14H0t2I/AAAAAAAABt0/IqJq2XZJohs/s320/parrot01.jpg" width="273" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HHGvrlBZZ1M/UJAC9fVoKuI/AAAAAAAABt8/CwOqLLG2Ue8/s1600/parrot03.jpg" ><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HHGvrlBZZ1M/UJAC9fVoKuI/AAAAAAAABt8/CwOqLLG2Ue8/s320/parrot03.jpg" width="245" /></a>
<br />
<br />
after halloween...VEGAS!
~healthybratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03289001000909350267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6297122684324451642.post-4976798596875485932012-10-29T09:05:00.000-05:002012-10-29T09:53:45.515-05:00bathroom blissi feel so truly blessed, because hubs got me a new toilet and a new floor in the bathroom.<br />
<br />
we've managed to bust 4 toilet seats, because they never really fit the toilet right. the bolt came loose from the floor and while we were saving to fix it, you'd have to be careful not to tip the toilet over when you sat down. the loose bolt was also contributing to a slow leak out into the lower layers of the floor that later became apparent when a dip and a stain began to appear in the linoleum.
anyway, as we tore out the old floor we found layers and layers of yuck and old flooring. i was so worried that this leak would have eaten through the main flooring but because of all the layers on top, there was only a very small place where the moisture might have eaten it's way through.<br />
<br />
YAY! ripping off seven layers of ugly linoleum and bad patchwork flooring was back breaking but it was so worth it. There were 5 layers of lineolum and in between some of them we found some cheap plywood and several shims to level it out here and there. under all of this mess, just above the floor, we found 1/4 inch thick cardboard flooring tiles. we replaced this mess with 3/4 inch flooring plywood and there was still room to build it back up in some places.<br />
<br />
in spite of all the hard work, the hardest part was doing without water and a toilet for about 9 hours or so. we turned the water off at around 2pm after we got the floor out around the toilet. then we got the floor built up under the new flange, the toilet installed and the water turned back on around 11. hubs was so hungry (hadn't eaten all day) and tired, he sat down for supper and i had to take a shower with no bathroom door - hahaha. we found we had to remove the door to put in the new floor board.<br />
<br />
it was funny, because during a run to the store and a public restroom, my daughter asked me, how much longer. i told her, "well, the hardest part is finished, except for the part where you are putting everything back together and you cuss because something doesn't fit." not having taken on any such project, she looked at me funny and asked, "what, something doesn't fit?" <br />
<br />
then later, when we had to shave the floor board several times, then remove the door, then finally conceded to cut the floor in half to make it fit around trim and door frames and the existing sink vanity, it became more clear.<br />
<br />
hubs was so beat after all of this, i suggested we play hookie from church so he could rest up for work. he conceeded. we finished the floor sunday afternoon after moaning and groaning on the couch for several hours (man, are we getting old or what?).<br />
<br />
but it's all finished. i keep walking into the bathroom and just walking around and admiring our work. i'm just thrilled beyond words! i used to dread cleaning the bathroom because of the rusty bolts underneath the toilet, the cruddy caulk around the back of the floor and other such problems that come with old stuff. the floor looks so clean, you could eat off it. i'm just giddy at knowing that cleaning the bottom of and behind the toilet will now be a breeze.
below you can see a bit of the work we went through and some of the finished product. we have not trimmed or painted the trim but the major part of the job is finished.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bakDZUFpYB4/UI6H6MWQcMI/AAAAAAAABo4/beHjSAhlMsw/s1600/floor01.jpg"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bakDZUFpYB4/UI6H6MWQcMI/AAAAAAAABo4/beHjSAhlMsw/s320/floor01.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1-WRJwtTcxY/UI6H9kcCo4I/AAAAAAAABpA/ftCbHlnz4m4/s1600/floor02.jpg"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1-WRJwtTcxY/UI6H9kcCo4I/AAAAAAAABpA/ftCbHlnz4m4/s1600/floor02.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
GROSS!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PQvdnJSR2zM/UI6IBSiLpLI/AAAAAAAABpI/XXVCfCIirnU/s1600/floor03.jpg"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PQvdnJSR2zM/UI6IBSiLpLI/AAAAAAAABpI/XXVCfCIirnU/s1600/floor03.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RLjm6wzLTvU/UI6IFP66nNI/AAAAAAAABpQ/mmce2pF8jQs/s1600/floor04.jpg"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RLjm6wzLTvU/UI6IFP66nNI/AAAAAAAABpQ/mmce2pF8jQs/s1600/floor04.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sot9HVdsLt0/UI6IJKjlfJI/AAAAAAAABpY/lk65tVfT458/s1600/floor05.jpg"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sot9HVdsLt0/UI6IJKjlfJI/AAAAAAAABpY/lk65tVfT458/s1600/floor05.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E4CQlSGOmpA/UI6ILTK0DuI/AAAAAAAABpg/cpWJDh6jTzQ/s1600/floor06.jpg"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E4CQlSGOmpA/UI6ILTK0DuI/AAAAAAAABpg/cpWJDh6jTzQ/s1600/floor06.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yTEbu5pBTPo/UI6IPdD8wBI/AAAAAAAABpo/MEt3A4jzsGA/s320/floor07.jpg"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yTEbu5pBTPo/UI6IPdD8wBI/AAAAAAAABpo/MEt3A4jzsGA/s320/floor07.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BHti8KUwR2g/UI6ITLwfk3I/AAAAAAAABpw/t0hVY2rPTtE/s1600/floor08.jpg"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BHti8KUwR2g/UI6ITLwfk3I/AAAAAAAABpw/t0hVY2rPTtE/s1600/floor08.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
layers, and layers, and more layers.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DDnzaaAY9jE/UI6IWEqkKwI/AAAAAAAABp4/X0k39L1legM/s1600/floor09.jpg"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DDnzaaAY9jE/UI6IWEqkKwI/AAAAAAAABp4/X0k39L1legM/s1600/floor09.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4C6xCSlFJLE/UI6IZc3SHRI/AAAAAAAABqA/CtsKrjFKkqU/s1600/floor10.jpg"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4C6xCSlFJLE/UI6IZc3SHRI/AAAAAAAABqA/CtsKrjFKkqU/s1600/floor10.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
the white part is the kick board so you can see how high the floor was.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K7oU1ZxGHgQ/UI6Ia2dNEpI/AAAAAAAABqI/YjbZ9NMjnUE/s1600/floor11.jpg"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K7oU1ZxGHgQ/UI6Ia2dNEpI/AAAAAAAABqI/YjbZ9NMjnUE/s1600/floor11.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-racODu4dgUQ/UI6IiTdHpXI/AAAAAAAABqY/1RlkUwOv5-k/s1600/floor13.jpg"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-racODu4dgUQ/UI6IiTdHpXI/AAAAAAAABqY/1RlkUwOv5-k/s1600/floor13.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uE87ivDTqgE/UI6IovVMZkI/AAAAAAAABqo/By8HNeaj7W4/s1600/floor15.jpg"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uE87ivDTqgE/UI6IovVMZkI/AAAAAAAABqo/By8HNeaj7W4/s1600/floor15.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
lookie lookie, there's the very bottom.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V132dyAF9k4/UI6IeiKk3KI/AAAAAAAABqQ/byJvr5hKx7Q/s1600/floor12.jpg"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V132dyAF9k4/UI6IeiKk3KI/AAAAAAAABqQ/byJvr5hKx7Q/s1600/floor12.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-spGaU2BzXa0/UI6ItCNn8XI/AAAAAAAABq4/g_Ny_hskpE0/s1600/floor17.jpg"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-spGaU2BzXa0/UI6ItCNn8XI/AAAAAAAABq4/g_Ny_hskpE0/s1600/floor17.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdJZzZ5rgdY/UI6IwQJmaTI/AAAAAAAABrA/ncsR3dmzzvE/s1600/floor18.jpg"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdJZzZ5rgdY/UI6IwQJmaTI/AAAAAAAABrA/ncsR3dmzzvE/s1600/floor18.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jw0Mwv1dlow/UI6Izvzq3lI/AAAAAAAABrI/vwKaWE0L4GU/s1600/floor19.jpg"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jw0Mwv1dlow/UI6Izvzq3lI/AAAAAAAABrI/vwKaWE0L4GU/s1600/floor19.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
all our good helpers.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4aZ6i911H3k/UI6I2uV9pxI/AAAAAAAABrQ/mFKOwpiWwaQ/s1600/floor20.jpg"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4aZ6i911H3k/UI6I2uV9pxI/AAAAAAAABrQ/mFKOwpiWwaQ/s1600/floor20.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
what a mess.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WP87XLJnwQs/UI6I54lk0TI/AAAAAAAABrY/V-ptaTAdibA/s1600/floor21.jpg"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WP87XLJnwQs/UI6I54lk0TI/AAAAAAAABrY/V-ptaTAdibA/s1600/floor21.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pqWiaZZ3aUA/UI6I9LIdFBI/AAAAAAAABrg/4RWhbESYc_g/s1600/floor22.jpg"><br /></a>
new flooring. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xHARZBbgysQ/UI6I_9ZY6WI/AAAAAAAABro/XKY8a2Pg4wc/s1600/floor23.jpg"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xHARZBbgysQ/UI6I_9ZY6WI/AAAAAAAABro/XKY8a2Pg4wc/s1600/floor23.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EGZe68iGTMk/UI6JNFL7jbI/AAAAAAAABsI/aXo9rLXC4Po/s1600/floor27.jpg"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EGZe68iGTMk/UI6JNFL7jbI/AAAAAAAABsI/aXo9rLXC4Po/s1600/floor27.jpg" width="320" /></a> <br />
<br />
look how strong how hubs is. the bolt holding the tank was so rusty, he had to muscle it off. he broke it. my superhero.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pr8UK41tsik/UI6IqE8awKI/AAAAAAAABqw/Md7QpF0F8Js/s1600/floor16.jpg"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pr8UK41tsik/UI6IqE8awKI/AAAAAAAABqw/Md7QpF0F8Js/s1600/floor16.jpg" width="320" /></a> <br />
<br />
and my new throne. fit for a queen.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pJIcBPltngM/UI6JDAZPUuI/AAAAAAAABrw/ijf_hruA-PY/s1600/floor24.jpg"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pJIcBPltngM/UI6JDAZPUuI/AAAAAAAABrw/ijf_hruA-PY/s1600/floor24.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5C-4yfIUJdc/UI6JGMpIGzI/AAAAAAAABr4/tb2Z7Zm7dWk/s1600/floor25.jpg"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5C-4yfIUJdc/UI6JGMpIGzI/AAAAAAAABr4/tb2Z7Zm7dWk/s1600/floor25.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
my new, clean corner. yippee!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4IflMkqFngk/UI6JJWZsGdI/AAAAAAAABsA/_9C55ryerQk/s1600/floor26.jpg"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4IflMkqFngk/UI6JJWZsGdI/AAAAAAAABsA/_9C55ryerQk/s1600/floor26.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EGZe68iGTMk/UI6JNFL7jbI/AAAAAAAABsI/aXo9rLXC4Po/s1600/floor27.jpg"><br /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-402EGl-uGSE/UI6JTqDbM8I/AAAAAAAABsY/Bi5jEPcGcJc/s1600/floor29.jpg"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-402EGl-uGSE/UI6JTqDbM8I/AAAAAAAABsY/Bi5jEPcGcJc/s1600/floor29.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4jG0s6HSzD8/UI6JXBWTLMI/AAAAAAAABsg/SeF8i6Sbn1o/s1600/floor30.jpg"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4jG0s6HSzD8/UI6JXBWTLMI/AAAAAAAABsg/SeF8i6Sbn1o/s1600/floor30.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pr8UK41tsik/UI6IqE8awKI/AAAAAAAABqw/Md7QpF0F8Js/s1600/floor16.jpg"><br /></a>
no slam lid. how cool is THAT?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6bBtMa1ikUA/UI6JQyJHeeI/AAAAAAAABsQ/f4iI0PRHQO4/s1600/floor28.jpg"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6bBtMa1ikUA/UI6JQyJHeeI/AAAAAAAABsQ/f4iI0PRHQO4/s1600/floor28.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-402EGl-uGSE/UI6JTqDbM8I/AAAAAAAABsY/Bi5jEPcGcJc/s1600/floor29.jpg"><br /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-402EGl-uGSE/UI6JTqDbM8I/AAAAAAAABsY/Bi5jEPcGcJc/s1600/floor29.jpg"><br /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4jG0s6HSzD8/UI6JXBWTLMI/AAAAAAAABsg/SeF8i6Sbn1o/s1600/floor30.jpg"><br /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4IflMkqFngk/UI6JJWZsGdI/AAAAAAAABsA/_9C55ryerQk/s1600/floor26.jpg"><br /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pJIcBPltngM/UI6JDAZPUuI/AAAAAAAABrw/ijf_hruA-PY/s320/floor24.jpg"><br /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5C-4yfIUJdc/UI6JGMpIGzI/AAAAAAAABr4/tb2Z7Zm7dWk/s1600/floor25.jpg"><br /></a>
<br />
<br />~healthybratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03289001000909350267noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6297122684324451642.post-20442910962768685642012-09-17T15:13:00.005-05:002012-09-17T15:48:51.504-05:00blondie/brownie swirls<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qbWsUO4LAck/UFeKWfWgt5I/AAAAAAAABoY/NeXMs-t-si0/s1600/0004500001017_300X300.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qbWsUO4LAck/UFeKWfWgt5I/AAAAAAAABoY/NeXMs-t-si0/s400/0004500001017_300X300.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5789247964985735058" border="0" height="206" width="206" /></a><br />i love to cook from scratch because then i know what's in the final product and it generally tastes better. BUT i am also lazy and i don't always have things like nuts and chocolate chips or blueberries lying about the kitchen. this means the recipes that i cling to are usually the simplest, using mostly ingredients that are found in most kitchens in the country on any given (other than grocery) day.<br /><br />today, i wanted to make something for my kids for breakfast tomorrow that didn't include...<br /><br />ingredients list from bag of hostess powdered mini donettes:<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><i><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Enriched Wheat Flour [Flour, Barley Malt, Ferrous Sulfate (Iron), "B" Vitamins (Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Folic Acid)], Dextrose, Vegetable Shortening (Soybean, Palm And Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil), Water, Sugar. Contains 2% Or Less of: Nonfat Milk Soy Flour, Leavenings (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Baking Soda, Aluminum Sulfate, Sodium Aluminum Phosphate), Egg Yolks, Salt, Soy Lecithin, Modified Wheat Starch, Mono And Diglycerides, Tapioca Dextrin, Corn Dextrin, Guar Gum, Karaya Gum, Cornstarch, Cellulose Gum, Enzymes, Modified Corn Starch, Citric Acid, Wheat Starch, Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Shortening (Soybean And Cottonseed Oil), Titanium Dioxide (Color), Extracts of Annatto And Turmeric (Color), Natural And Artificial Flavors, Sorbic Acid And Sodium Propionate And Potassium Sorbate And Calcium Propionate (to Retain Freshness). Contains Wheat, Milk, Soy And Egg.</span></i></span><br /><br />OR<br /><br />ingredients listed on a bag of hostess chocolate covered mini donettes:<br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;"><i><br />Enriched Wheat Flour(Flour, Barley Malt, Ferrous Sulfate (Iron), "B" Vitamins (Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Folic Acid), Water, Vegetable Shortening(Soybean, Palm, And Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oils), Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils(Palm Kernel, Coconut, Palm), Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Soybean Oil, Contains 2% Less Than Of: Nonfat Milk, Soy Flour, Leavenings(Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Baking Soda, Aluminum Sulfate, Sodium Aluminum Phosphate), Egg Yolks, Salt, Soy Lecithin, Modified Wheat Starch, Mono And Diglycerides, Tapioca Dextrin, Corn Dextrin, Guar Gum, Karaya Gum, Cornstarch, Cellulose Gum, Enzymes, Modified Corn Starch, Citric Acid, Wheat Starch, Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Shortening(Soybean And Cottonseed Oil), Titanium Dioxide (Color), Extracts Of Annatto And Turmeric (Color), Natural And Artificial Flavors, Sorbic Acid And Sodium Propionate And Potassium Sorbate And Calcium Propionate (To Retain Freshness), Contains Wheat, Milk, Soybeans And Egg.</i></span><br /><br />EGADS! how do you pronounce "Pyrophosphate," or "Propionate?" and do i really want to? and cottonseed oil? do we know where this comes from? aaack! i do, and i don't want to feed it to my kids. so what does my ingredients list look like? it's pretty amazing. you'll never believe it. you might even be able to pronounce, understand and find everything in my list. are you ready? ok, here goes.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000066;">flour (unbleached, unenriched, white), cocoa, sugar, brown sugar, [REAL] butter, eggs, baking powder (aluminum free), baking soda, sea salt and vanilla. </span><br /><br />AMAZING? i know, right?!?<br /><br />anyway, are you impressed? i know i am, especially after eating one of these myself with a nice steaming hot cup of coffee on a cold rainy day....mmmm<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CT1MUYZUyss/UFeFS57L_lI/AAAAAAAABn4/DTJKZveuVZM/s1600/blondebrown02.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 241px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CT1MUYZUyss/UFeFS57L_lI/AAAAAAAABn4/DTJKZveuVZM/s400/blondebrown02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5789242405841272402" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">BLONDIE/BROWNIE swirls</span><br /><br />1. preheat oven 350 degrees.<br /><br />2. generously butter sides and bottom of a 9 X 13 baking dish.<br /><br />3. in a mixing bowl whisk together 1/2 cup powdered cocoa, 3/4 cup flour, and 1/4 tsp sea salt. set aside.<br /><br />4. melt and stir in small saucepan 1 stick (1/2 cup) of butter with 1 cup of white sugar until smooth and creamy.<br /><br />5. pour butter/sugar mixture into flour/cocoa mixture and whisk until well mixed.<br /><br />6. add 2 eggs and 1 tsp vanilla and mix well. set aside.<br /><br /><div align="center">********************************************************************<br /><br /></div>7. in another [empty] mixing bowl, whisk together 1 cup of flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp baking soda, and 1/4 tsp sea salt.<br /><br />8. in clean saucepan, melt and stir together, 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter and 1 cup (packed) of brown sugar until smooth and creamy.<br /><br />9. pour butter/brown sugar mixture into flour mixture and whisk until well mixed.<br /><br />10. add 1 egg and 1 tsp vanilla and mix well.<br /><br />11. drop the second mixture (blondie batter) into the greased pan by large spoonfuls. space out the spoonfuls to allow spots for the other batter.<br /><br />12. drop the first mixture (brownie batter) into the spaces between the blondie batter.<br /><br />13. gently run the two batters together, careful not to mix into a homogenous mixture or you'll lose your "swirl."<br /><br />14. take a fork or a butter knife and lift and swirl the two batters together until desired pattern and all spaces are filled in the pan.<br /><br />15. bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AkAUHtgffXg/UFeFSGbJzdI/AAAAAAAABns/o-eNK6iyyVo/s1600/blondebrown01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 253px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AkAUHtgffXg/UFeFSGbJzdI/AAAAAAAABns/o-eNK6iyyVo/s400/blondebrown01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5789242392016702930" border="0" /></a><br /><br />bon appétit!<br /><br /><b><span style="color:#ff0000;">NOTE: these two recipes can be separated into brownies and/or blondies. use the individual batters and put into 8 X 8 or 9 X 9 pans and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. delicious either way!</span></b><br /><br />~healthybratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03289001000909350267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6297122684324451642.post-65042162263028763352012-07-26T11:37:00.001-05:002012-07-26T11:39:26.166-05:00wise lyrics i heard today<i>Be careful little eyes what you see<br />It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings<br />Be careful little feet where you go<br />For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow<br /><br />It's a slow fade when you give yourself away</i> <i><br />It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray<br />Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid<br />When you give yourself away<br />People never crumble in a day<br />It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade<br /><br />Be careful little ears what you hear</i> <i><br />When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near<br />Be careful little lips what you say<br />For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray<br /><br />It's a slow fade when you give yourself away</i> <i><br />It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray<br />Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid<br />When you give yourself away<br />People never crumble in a day<br /><br />The journey from your mind to your hands</i> <i><br />Is shorter than you're thinking<br />Be careful if you think you stand<br />You just might be sinking<br /><br />It's a slow fade when you give yourself away</i> <i><br />It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray<br />Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid<br />When you give yourself away<br />People never crumble in a day<br />Daddies never crumble in a day<br />Families never crumble in a day<br /><br />Oh be careful little eyes what see</i> <i><br />Oh be careful little eyes what you see<br />For the Father up above is looking down in love<br />Oh be careful little eyes what you see<br /><br />SLOW FADE ~Casting Crowns<br /></i>~healthybratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03289001000909350267noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6297122684324451642.post-7823880993346645792012-06-16T08:28:00.007-05:002012-06-16T09:12:33.096-05:00new curtains (and i made them)trying to get hubby motivated to let me spruce up the house a bit. i'm not quite a "pro" decorator, so i thought i'd practice on the ugly little laundry/utility room. i intend to get this sanded and painted soon, but i had to wait to get paint. i also intend to put up some utility shelves to help me to organize better.<br /><br />meanwhile, i already had fabric that had been given to me some years ago stashed in the closet, just waiting to become some useful creation.<br /><br />my laundry room is functional but ugly. i don't mind, but when i have company, i like to close it off. after getting a new back door, we needed to remove the laundry room door because there wasn't room to keep the two doors open at the same time. we just decided to take it off the hinges. so, first, i decided to make a curtain for the doorway. after digging through, my material, i found i had enough to do this and make a matching curtain for the ugly window.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">the ugly room...</span></span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">notice the lack of floor space (basement door on the floor)</span><br /></div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GyVG5I3rz54/T9ySAkfhLHI/AAAAAAAABnQ/9Pcju5mBTe8/s1600/curtain17.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 362px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GyVG5I3rz54/T9ySAkfhLHI/AAAAAAAABnQ/9Pcju5mBTe8/s400/curtain17.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5754634962366180466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">above and behind the washer and dryer</span><br /></div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UoUItEYVDFY/T9yRMYs3hII/AAAAAAAABm4/Is-QAx2v_GE/s1600/curtain15.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UoUItEYVDFY/T9yRMYs3hII/AAAAAAAABm4/Is-QAx2v_GE/s400/curtain15.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5754634065847747714" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zqk7mhOKVpo/T9yRMDXV9qI/AAAAAAAABms/saFZMJKNWlY/s1600/curtain14.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 348px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zqk7mhOKVpo/T9yRMDXV9qI/AAAAAAAABms/saFZMJKNWlY/s400/curtain14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5754634060120323746" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">wall opposite the washer and dryer and there's a fridge to the right of the bench</span><br /></div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aRpkyxn3PqY/T9yRMj1BC-I/AAAAAAAABnE/6aSIK_eu8Yg/s1600/curtain16.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 340px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aRpkyxn3PqY/T9yRMj1BC-I/AAAAAAAABnE/6aSIK_eu8Yg/s400/curtain16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5754634068834716642" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">new door curtain--the hall in front is too small to get a good wide angle shot</span><br /></div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LuxD8f0Znhw/T9yKvOEJLKI/AAAAAAAABkk/tLeVp3DR2SQ/s1600/curtain04.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 328px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LuxD8f0Znhw/T9yKvOEJLKI/AAAAAAAABkk/tLeVp3DR2SQ/s400/curtain04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5754626967706610850" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">top in detail</span><br /></div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z0L-Qp_mmfY/T9yPYhbindI/AAAAAAAABlM/bQR6ChJI5R0/s1600/curtain01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 247px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z0L-Qp_mmfY/T9yPYhbindI/AAAAAAAABlM/bQR6ChJI5R0/s400/curtain01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5754632075326168530" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">this is significant because this room is unlevel. it's off by 1.6 inches from one side of the door to the other. i measured the curtain to make this unnoticeable.</span><br /></div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hYGAbsws66Y/T9yKv6GRk0I/AAAAAAAABk8/WYUqKl0SGcE/s1600/curtain02.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hYGAbsws66Y/T9yKv6GRk0I/AAAAAAAABk8/WYUqKl0SGcE/s400/curtain02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5754626979526710082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E_Znqd7Sc60/T9yKvogBVMI/AAAAAAAABkw/JMYzIvO_r-k/s1600/curtain03.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 228px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E_Znqd7Sc60/T9yKvogBVMI/AAAAAAAABkw/JMYzIvO_r-k/s400/curtain03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5754626974802859202" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">inside top hem</span><br /></div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ofWfodxSehQ/T9yKu_eTj2I/AAAAAAAABkY/f6kTQND8_SI/s1600/curtain05.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 147px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ofWfodxSehQ/T9yKu_eTj2I/AAAAAAAABkY/f6kTQND8_SI/s400/curtain05.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5754626963789811554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">inside bottom hem</span><br /></div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I3QjUhGlxsE/T9yPZPDrR7I/AAAAAAAABlY/ewcwYWICML8/s1600/curtain07.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 261px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I3QjUhGlxsE/T9yPZPDrR7I/AAAAAAAABlY/ewcwYWICML8/s400/curtain07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5754632087574103986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">camera hog</span><br /></div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5wHhLrUkZP4/T9yKun_gc8I/AAAAAAAABkM/Rx05o77eTqs/s1600/curtain06.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 344px; height: 293px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5wHhLrUkZP4/T9yKun_gc8I/AAAAAAAABkM/Rx05o77eTqs/s400/curtain06.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5754626957486617538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">view with new door curtain (notice the fridge? the bench is right behind it.)</span><br /></div><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MBzJT0hiNsM/T9yPZbGcH8I/AAAAAAAABlk/68mEaAtfJvk/s1600/curtain08.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 330px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MBzJT0hiNsM/T9yPZbGcH8I/AAAAAAAABlk/68mEaAtfJvk/s400/curtain08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5754632090806919106" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">ugly window</span><br /></div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_L99x0pliRk/T9yPZzHGYhI/AAAAAAAABlw/HeApyCJIvDg/s1600/curtain09.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 312px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_L99x0pliRk/T9yPZzHGYhI/AAAAAAAABlw/HeApyCJIvDg/s400/curtain09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5754632097252139538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">new window curtain</span><br /></div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eHigl2GoKlI/T9yPaHTcSvI/AAAAAAAABl8/z-CW5kuSykU/s1600/curtain10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eHigl2GoKlI/T9yPaHTcSvI/AAAAAAAABl8/z-CW5kuSykU/s400/curtain10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5754632102672616178" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">new curtain tied back</span><br /></div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LaCF7oZsGsk/T9yP82XVHhI/AAAAAAAABmU/aF2nqCzcIss/s1600/curtain12.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 303px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LaCF7oZsGsk/T9yP82XVHhI/AAAAAAAABmU/aF2nqCzcIss/s400/curtain12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5754632699420941842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">view from outside of both curtains</span><br /></div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cEvPAiVxGx4/T9yP8g361RI/AAAAAAAABmI/2AcpVn6dzo8/s1600/curtain11.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 329px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cEvPAiVxGx4/T9yP8g361RI/AAAAAAAABmI/2AcpVn6dzo8/s400/curtain11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5754632693652051218" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DAUtPNHrrqw/T9yP9LL0XWI/AAAAAAAABmg/9_kNiqrPbsk/s1600/curtain13.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 332px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DAUtPNHrrqw/T9yP9LL0XWI/AAAAAAAABmg/9_kNiqrPbsk/s400/curtain13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5754632705009802594" border="0" /></a><br /><br />tune in next time to see...a valance for the dining room...~healthybratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03289001000909350267noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6297122684324451642.post-78999038536439286102012-06-13T09:27:00.003-05:002012-06-13T14:23:02.590-05:00watermelon toes<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zTMgX7zhUrk/T9jnkyDNSlI/AAAAAAAABgI/ZQ0TmVsL-e4/s1600/watertoes03.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 138px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zTMgX7zhUrk/T9jnkyDNSlI/AAAAAAAABgI/ZQ0TmVsL-e4/s400/watertoes03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5753603143062342226" border="0" /></a>remember the mother's day polish bonaza? well, it was time to try the crackle polish that hubs got me. i like it so much, i've been walking around with my head down bumping into things. i even bumped heads with hubs in the store. we both laughed. he's amused and happy that i'm taking so much joy in a present that he picked out. always having too much fun with my toes.<br /><br /><br /><br />this is a two step process. this is a picture of the undercoat.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h2mp0lZZ3vQ/T9iidPNNLmI/AAAAAAAABd8/zHvnm5X6bDM/s1600/watertoes01.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 228px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h2mp0lZZ3vQ/T9iidPNNLmI/AAAAAAAABd8/zHvnm5X6bDM/s400/watertoes01.jpg" border="0" height="150" width="400" /></a><br /><br />this is a picture of the finished product. the 2nd step is merely a second coat of paint, using a special dark green polish that shrinks and cracks as it dries.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i1vIc8IldFw/T9iifcDOOQI/AAAAAAAABeE/k_7REaPxmNk/s1600/watertoes02.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 228px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i1vIc8IldFw/T9iifcDOOQI/AAAAAAAABeE/k_7REaPxmNk/s400/watertoes02.jpg" border="0" height="228" width="400" /></a>>~healthybratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03289001000909350267noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6297122684324451642.post-62011063013826177752012-06-06T09:34:00.001-05:002012-06-14T09:47:49.945-05:00cabinet catastrophehaving some problems with my cabinets. they are old and as you can see from some of the pics, the drawer is beyond help. i am also a bit lazy sometimes trying to stack, unstack and restack things to make the best of the available space. just thought i would share "fixing" my pots and pans cabinet with you.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">BEFORE</span><br /></span></div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-49beZ823qwM/T9n4_bljurI/AAAAAAAABjw/Zvdih7KbO1M/s1600/cab01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-49beZ823qwM/T9n4_bljurI/AAAAAAAABjw/Zvdih7KbO1M/s400/cab01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5753903767563254450" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F0l6E-zMQlk/T9n4-TMzCFI/AAAAAAAABjY/t5xsg3HMRks/s1600/cab03.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 332px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F0l6E-zMQlk/T9n4-TMzCFI/AAAAAAAABjY/t5xsg3HMRks/s400/cab03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5753903748132046930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kcZskmntOdU/T9n2bwisISI/AAAAAAAABiE/PHTIJ8acVfc/s1600/cab02.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kcZskmntOdU/T9n2bwisISI/AAAAAAAABiE/PHTIJ8acVfc/s400/cab02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5753900955689820450" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IMWTQsq8oFo/T9n2bQqAddI/AAAAAAAABh4/MoRzPzmiX9s/s1600/cab06.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 329px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IMWTQsq8oFo/T9n2bQqAddI/AAAAAAAABh4/MoRzPzmiX9s/s400/cab06.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5753900947130578386" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lkPPKeOy6G0/T9n2aixoZvI/AAAAAAAABhs/vs9rXLl84-A/s1600/cab07.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 329px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lkPPKeOy6G0/T9n2aixoZvI/AAAAAAAABhs/vs9rXLl84-A/s400/cab07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5753900934814525170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KF-VMoMDSAs/T9n2aShT7tI/AAAAAAAABhg/feISZG_WEyE/s1600/cab05.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 330px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KF-VMoMDSAs/T9n2aShT7tI/AAAAAAAABhg/feISZG_WEyE/s400/cab05.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5753900930451107538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QwBrj-lAjDg/T9n2ZkvsRNI/AAAAAAAABhY/QNHU0rELJ7g/s1600/cab04.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 253px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QwBrj-lAjDg/T9n2ZkvsRNI/AAAAAAAABhY/QNHU0rELJ7g/s400/cab04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5753900918163391698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">ALL THE STUFF THAT BELONGS IN THERE</span></span><br /></div><p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FQASJk2Y3XU/T9n4SiCHlSI/AAAAAAAABjM/05DxxYm1NBk/s1600/cab12.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FQASJk2Y3XU/T9n4SiCHlSI/AAAAAAAABjM/05DxxYm1NBk/s400/cab12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5753902996199544098" border="0" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lYhFSt-EhN0/T9n3X72TkiI/AAAAAAAABi0/-NyjwCiKW50/s1600/cab10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 345px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lYhFSt-EhN0/T9n3X72TkiI/AAAAAAAABi0/-NyjwCiKW50/s400/cab10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5753901989517038114" border="0" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_VM8TGbJwbQ/T9n3WsBSJmI/AAAAAAAABio/8bDo6qSAAeI/s1600/cab09.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 290px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_VM8TGbJwbQ/T9n3WsBSJmI/AAAAAAAABio/8bDo6qSAAeI/s400/cab09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5753901968088245858" border="0" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZGdhoZzcxjE/T9n3WEB8CmI/AAAAAAAABic/i4BHhLZHU4c/s1600/cab08.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 330px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZGdhoZzcxjE/T9n3WEB8CmI/AAAAAAAABic/i4BHhLZHU4c/s400/cab08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5753901957353572962" border="0" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">AFTER</span></span><br /></p><p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eorbGUaGQXA/T9n5AB3ODBI/AAAAAAAABj8/ePNplHhL9ck/s1600/cab11.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 357px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eorbGUaGQXA/T9n5AB3ODBI/AAAAAAAABj8/ePNplHhL9ck/s400/cab11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5753903777837878290" border="0" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div>~healthybratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03289001000909350267noreply@blogger.com2