New Year...New Project

Since the kitchen is now finished, I found a new project. One that I have been meaning to work on for about a year, maybe a little more. Here is what our nightstands looked like this morning.



There isn't anything wrong with them. However, when I started working on it this morning I pulled the sticker off of the back that said it was from 1986. That is the only thing that I had against them. That is that they look like 1986. And that we have a grey bedroom set. It just doesn't go with the dark brown and yellow flowers.

After a little work this is now what the nightstand (yes only one...not enough hours in the day to do more than one) looks like.



So much better in my opinion. A much more modern look, and it will go well with the grey, or any color for that matter...nothing wrong with a nice classy black.

Now...let's see, I have another nightstand, a headboard, a chest of draws with a matching mirror on top and a dresser. I am going to need many more Saturdays to accomplish the whole set. But one down and 5 more to go.

The finishing touches

I posted a few months ago about the finished kitchen (Oct 1 to be exact). Here are the last finishing touches.

The right side of the old sink...where do the drain stoppers go anyway when they are not in use?



The left side of the old sink...I am guessing almost everyone has soap somewhere near, we like the liquid soap and the bar soap but that means a tad bit cluttered...



...by the way the sink is clean. Just old, worn and well used.

The whole sink. Who out there is just like me and throws the dish rag over the faucet? I don't know where else to put it. If I throw it over the middle of the two sinks I don't feel like it gets enough air to dry properly and it smells of mildew too quickly.



Right side of the new sink...I left the drain stopper here for the photo's sake, but will now be storing it under the sink when not in use - looks better to me. Oh, and check out the new soap dispenser on the corner. ~Lovin it~ PS I also love the new disposal, it is so quiet!



Left side of the new sink...this has to be one of my new favorite features. This is the towel bar. Yes, the sole purpose of this nifty little bar is to hold the dish rag. And I must say that it stays dry longer since it is farther from the water source.



The whole sink. The new faucet is fantastic, it is a pull out and can also be changed to spray. The nice feature on it is that it as a magnet it in so that when you are done using it, the magnet will keep the faucet in place. I am so happy with it, it really finishes off the kitchen perfectly.

Apple-cranberry Crisp

This is delicious!



1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/3 cup plus 1 T whole-wheat flour
4 cups cubed Granny Smith apples (cored but not peeled)
2 cups fresh cranberries
1 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 T soft margarine (I like to use butter) melted
2 T honey

Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a 9-inch square baking dish with low-fat nonstick cooking spray. In a asmall bowl, combine the cinnamon, sugar and nutmeg with 1 T of whole-wheat flour. Combine apples and cranberries in a large bowl. Add the cinnamon mixture to the fruit and toss to coat. Place the fruit in the prepared baking dish.

Combine the remaining 1/3 cup of flour with the oats and brown sugar. In antoher bowl, mix the margarin with the honey. Slwoly pour the margarine mixure ober the dru ingredients and stir with a fork until crumbly. Sprinkle evenlyover the fruit. Bake for 40 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Serve warm. Store leftovers in the refrigerator. Serves 9.

Nutrition analysis per serving: Calories 220, Fat 3g, Sarurated fat 0g, Trans fat 0g, Carbohydrate 47g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 30mg, Fiber 4g

Growing season continues...

For anyone who was wondering if I have been successful in growing in the back yard here is an update on where they plants are. Nothing edible...yet, but hopefully soon.

We currently have 18 tomatoes, and over a dozen blossoms. One of the tomatoes is finally starting so show color other than green. I have contemplated trying fried green tomatoes, but I have been holding out hoping that they will turn red.





We have had a rough time with the cucumbers. There was a freeze around Thanksgiving, and I am not sure this plant every fully jumped back. We have one plant left and as of today it has 3 cucumbers on it. There have been other cucumbers before these...but they didn't make it. Hopefully these 3 will.



I went out to water today and for the first time I found a flower on the strawberry plants. Make it 3 flowers I found today, YEAH! The plants still look very healthy we just haven't had any flowers until today. Super happy about that!

Lady Moment...12th week/tip

A lady when dancing.

A lady cannot refuse to dance with any gentleman who invites her unless she has a previous engagement. Young ladies must be careful how they refuse to dance. She should give a good reason, lest the gentleman takes it as a personal dislike. Once a lady refuses, she should not accept another invitation for the same dance.

Lady Moment...11th week/tip

A lady never shouts or raises her voice.

There really isn't too much to add to this one. Just remember to keep your voice controlled.