Monday, June 20, 2011

Saying Goodbye

Greetings from The (sad) Hill,

Today we say a final goodbye to a giant of a man, my Uncle Darwin.  Uncle Darwin was the most faithful man I ever met.  Not only in a religious way though he was certainly a Godly man.  The kind of faithful I'm talking about is caring for others.  Before his Mom passed away, Uncle Darwin visited her every single morning.  After she passed he made it his job to visit my Grandmother every day until she passed.  He had a friend who is disabled and then he began visiting him on a regular basis.  Every day of Uncle Darwin's life was spent checking on others to make sure their needs were met.

The other awesome thing about Uncle Darwin was how much he loved to garden.  Even when his health wasn't so good he had the usual big garden, with help from my Aunt Wanda and his children.  While he and Aunt Wanda put away pounds and pounds of vegetables every year it wasn't as if they really needed them.  Matter of fact they gave away as much as they put up.  No, Uncle Darwin just loved to plant and watch things grow.

When I was little Uncle Darwin and Aunt Wanda and my three cousins lived in Marietta, GA.  Sometimes I'd go stay with them.  One vivid memory from when I was about four years old was eating cereal at the table and Uncle Darwin sitting beside me.  I only ate the cereal out of the milk and left the milk in the bowl.  He taught me that I should always drink the milk or my breakfast wasn't done.  Isn't it funny how little things like that stay with you.

Uncle Darwin was a gruff teddy bear.  He'd greet us with a bear hug and a kiss and leave the same way.  You always knew he loved you.  And of course we all loved him. I'm glad I told him every time I saw him.  Because we never know what will happen minute to minute.

Who knew that one morning while he was burning trash he would throw gasoline on it like he's probably done a hundred times.  Who knew that this time he would catch on fire and suffer severe burns.  Who knew that after three skin graphs, a feeding tube, tracheotomy, respirator, and three months of being unconscious he would have to leave us.

Lives change in a breath.  It was no ones fault.  Uncle Darwin fought hard to stay here but his body just wasn't strong enough in the end.

When my Daddy died it took me so long to make sense of it.  I was angry, lost and felt like the person on this earth who loved me the most left me.  I know, silly emotions for an adult but you can't help grief.  It is a strange bedfellow.

After a while I realized that it was just Daddy's time to go.  The work he had to do on this earth was done.  If it wasn't he'd still be here.  I believe that with my whole heart.  This is what gives me comfort when I lose someone.  Especially someone as special as Uncle Darwin.  Whatever he was sent to to, he did, did it well and finished it.

The Hill won't be the same without him.  I'll drive by expecting to see him out in the garden.  Just like I expect to see Grandmother on her front porch or Daddy on his tractor.  Those spots are empty now.  But you know, that's ok.  They lived a long wonderful life.  And the best that can be said about them is that whoever they touched knew they were loved.

I loved Uncle Darwin and I know he loved me.  That will be my comfort today as I say my final goodbye.

Rest in wonderful peace Uncle Darwin - November 17, 1930 - June 18, 2011

Later ...

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Tuscan Wall Grouping - $5


Greetings from The (touch of Tuscany) Hill,

I must have lived a former life in Tuscany because I absolutely love anything Tuscan.  I found this shelf at a thrift store recently for $5.  It is a plate and cup holder normally used in dining rooms but I saw a different use.

Nice stained wood

Metal detail
Before
I liked that it was solid stained wood and had just a touch of detail on the ends. This is what it looked like before.












Finished grouping
The touch of metal and the chalk cherub give it a touch of Tuscany.  And because I already had these no money was involved. 


Five dollars to fabulous!!!!!

Later...

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

6 Tips for Picking Blackberries

 Greetings from The (surprisingly ripe) Hill

Nothing heralds Summer in more than walking to the berry patch and finding plump ripe blackberries.  The berries I pick grow wild (and I mean wild) along the woods line behind our house.  They normally ripen the first week in July however my berries are already black and juicy.  Blackberry picking is about 2 things - 1. Getting the biggest, sweetest berries while receiving a minimum of scratches and 2. Fighting chiggers.  That's it, real simple.   In order to accomplish these two things country girls go through a lot of trouble year after year.  It is a tough and sometimes dangerous job but well worth the reward.  These are my blackberry picking tips to make the job easier.

1.  Clothes:  Daddy taught me how to dress for berry picking.  Even in the Southern July heat we wore long sleeve shirts, blue jeans, socks and thick boots.  Each element was for a purpose.  Long sleeves so the chiggers could only go so far.  Somethings we even put rubber bands around our wrists. Wearing blue jeans was an attempt to repel the briars.  It gave them something to hang onto besides your skin.  Wearing socks is the same principle as the shirt, cover as much skin as possible.  And thick boots in case you accidentally walk near a snake and upset it.


2.  Tools:  Daddy and I cut a hole in a gallon milk jug and looped our belt through the handle.  Instant berry holder that left both hands free.  And believe me you need both while picking berries.   We also took a hoe.  These days I take an old sickle to knock down briars and brush, pound on the ground to scare the snakes away and pull the limb with the fattest berries to me then I drop them into a plastic bowl sitting on the ground.


3.  Freeze the berries:  When you are finished picking, pour the berries either on a plate or cookie sheet depending on how many you picked and pop them in the freezer unwashed.  If you are not going to use them immediately you want to freeze them as soon as possible.  Let them sit in the freezer while you follow the next steps.


4.  Vinegar: As soon as the berries are in the fridge or freezer pour a good amount of vinegar into a bowl (about 2 cups or more depending on your size).  Hop into the shower without water running and with a wash clothe wash all over with the straight vinegar.  Remember to get all those crevices chiggers like to hide in.  Be cautious around your face.  It's OK to get around the neck, the ears and carefully on the cheeks but please do not get straight vinegar near your eyes.  Voice of wisdom speaking, vinegar stings.  It will also sting every little briar scratch so get ready.  Once you have soaked yourself really well with the vinegar wash it off with luke warm water then turn to cool for a final rinse.



5.  Calamine Lotion:  Now that you are clean get a bottle of calamine lotion, shake well and apply to any and all places chiggers might have already bitten.  For example, underarms, wrists, between the toes, all crevices etc.  I know you are getting dirty just after you got clean but trust me it will keep you from itching.  Anytime you think you feel a chigger tickle, reach for the bottle and add more.  Don't wash off until in the morning then bathe as usual.

6.  Bag the berries:  Once you are covered with the calamine sit down and rest a few minutes then get the berries out of the freezer, put them in a freezer bag and then back into the freezer.  When you get ready to use them you can easily pour out as much as you need, wash to help them thaw and put them in whatever wonderful dish you have decided to make.



I hope you can find some blackberries near you. When you do, tell me all about it.

Later...

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Dragonfly

This little guy visited our yard so I snapped a pic.


I'm a big fan of Dragonflys.

Later...

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Yard Sale Finds

Greetings from The Hill,

After a very hectic Friday I'm ready for a relaxing Saturday.  And what better way to start a "do as I want to" day than visit a few yard sales.

After stopping at one roadside sale where I didn't find anything I moved on to the charity sale at our local historic gym.  Proceeds are put right back into their remodel/upkeep fund. 

Tate Gym, Tate, GA


Inside the gym
Believe it or not I had P.E. in this very gym when I was in 7th grade.  This is where I learned to hate leg lifts.  Anyway today I found a sectioned condiment holder that will be just right for our "Do".  I also found 2 large coasters. 

Finds today
Then I stopped by another sale on the way home.  It was in the location where Sauter's store was when I was  kid.  Mrs. Sauter's granddaughter kept the building and was there today holding the sale.  It was so great to run into her.  We chatted for a long time about old times then I found a silicone cake pan and muffin pan.  I'd been wanting a new muffin pan and for $2.00 this one was a steal.

If you are yard sale shopping today let me know what you find.

Later....

Friday, June 10, 2011

My Favorite Things Friday

Greetings from The (TGIF) Hill,

I am joining my friend at Milk and Cuddles in posting My Favorite Things Friday.

I have started a new collection - Perfume bottles.  I absolutely love the colors and sometimes the stoppers are the best part.  I get them at a little antique store up the road from where I work.  I sneak over at lunchtime and browse.  Here is the beginning of my collection which is currently My Favorite Thing.



Later ...

Wednesday, June 08, 2011

July 4th Party Planning

Greetings from The (planning) Hill,

We are having a "Do" at our house for the July 4th weekend.  New to a Do?  At our house it begins by getting the word out.  Save the date's are gone and I'm beginning to hear back.  Then I plan like crazy.  The day before I spend cooking, cleaning, decorating,etc.  The day of begins early with a calming cup of coffee, last minute cooking then the guests begin to arrive around 11:00am.  From that moment on the house is open all day into the evening.  Because it is Independence Day we will have fireworks (legal in our county) to end the evening.


So what do you do at a Lindsey Do?  Spend time with folks you haven't seen in a while, eat, sit outside under the canopy and eat, get the gang together and go do something somewhere else then come back and eat, play with the kids and eat.  See the pattern here?

Most of the time I do a pot luck but this Do will be different.  I will make pulled pork for sandwiches instead of burgers.  Then we will grill brats and dogs and have a Hot Dog and Salad Bar.  I'll get different kinds of buns and a huge bowl of mixed greens and let guests select from the following toppings:

Dill pickles
Dill pickle relish
Chopped Onions
Onion rings
Corn & potatoes cooked in Old Bay
Shredded cheddar
Salsa
Diced tomatoes
Cold slaw
Sauerkraut
Scallions
Cilantro
Bacon
Cucumbers
Onion cooked in vege oil, ketchup & wine
Cherry tomatoes
Dried cranberries
Diced apples
Crumbled Gorgonzola

In addition to the above there will be appetizers, sides, dessert and massive quantities of stuff to drink.

While planning the menu I've also been scouring the Dollar Stores and thrift stores for items I can use to decorate with.  I already have a red, white and blue bunting for the porch.  Here are the additional items I've found so far:

Believe it or not I found these plates and napkins discount priced at my local grocery store. 

Watermelon S&P Shakers
I have a pretty good collection of salt & pepper shakers.  This is one of my summertime sets. I bought this little Aloe plant because it's great for cuts, bug bites and burns.  


Thrift store flower vases
I found these containers at the thrift store for 25 cents each.  I'll take the tops off the cookie containers and plant white petunias.  I will put red ones in the clay pots.  I am still looking for a blue container or two.

Thrift store bowls
In addition to red, white and blue flower vases I am also looking for small red, white and blue containers to put all the many toppings in.  Above are the ones I found today.

Dollar Store finds
I bought 2 holiday tablecloths and 2 of these really great rag rug mats.  The mat is twice the size you see in the picture.  We have a church pew on our front porch that will get one of the mats and a wicker love seat that will get the other one to cover up the pad it has now.


I'm getting really excited about our Do.  If I can pause in my hostess duties I'm take a few pictures to post.


Hope you are having fun planning whatever you plan to do over the holiday weekend.


Later...

Sunday, June 05, 2011

5 Dollar Store Decorating Ideas for Summer

Greetings from The (spruced up) Hill,

When the seasons change I love to add a few things around the house to welcome the warm of Spring/Summer. Because these are seasonal items I don’t want to spend a lot of money so I visit the Dollar Stores.  They put seasonal items out early so I can get a jump start. Dollar store items are inexpensive so I can make several changes for not a lot of money and it is just plain fun to poke around and find items that fit in with my house décor.  Below are my favorite ways to spruce up a kitchen or screened porch.


1.  Front Door Mat:  Because dollar store rugs and mats are so inexpensive you can treat them like disposable items.  I recently paid $5.00 for a mat that will get me through the whole year if I want.  That is less than 50 cents a month.



2.  Kitchen Rugs: Buy 2 slice kitchen rugs, one for in front of the sink and one for in front of the dishwasher.  Ever notice how much water gets on the floor in front of the dishwasher?  If you are tired of constantly cleaning it up, let the rug absorb it for you.  Pick a rug you like and use the colors in the rug to set a new spring color theme for your kitchen.  When the season is over these rugs can get packed away and brought out another time.




3.  Cafe Curtains: There is always a wide selection in the curtain aisle of a dollar store.  You can separate the set and use the valance over the sink and the bottom set on a door using small inexpensive tension rods. 







4.  Tablecloth:  Dollar stores often sell tablecloths that match or coordinate with other kitchen items.  I used this vinyl, felt backed tablecloth on the porch.  Because this area gets a lot of use in warm weather the tablecloth will be a disposable item when fall comes.



5.  Sheers:  You can create the feel of an outside room on a screened porch .  Buy sheer panels in a complementing color and hang them in a corner using tension rods.  At end of season they can be packed away for later use.


Do you have any low cost dollar store decorating experiences to share?

Later….

Friday, June 03, 2011

Friday Night Thoughts

 Have you ever sat down to write and just jotted down everything that came to mind, letting one thought lead into another.  I have.  So tonight that will be my blog post.  Here goes.

Like "Coffee Talk" from Saturday Night Live we must begin with a topic to get the ball rolling.  Let's begin with my daughter.  She very rarely sings in front of people.  Tonight she is up in her room just singing away.  I'm eavesdropping I know but I love to hear her.  And of course when I start writing about her she stops.  Leo the cat is having a wild night.  Running to and fro in front of me chasing some imagined pray.  Then he stops quickly and jumps up into the air, spinning around to run the other way.  Silly cat.  DH started watching this show called Whale Wars.  While I believe in stopping folks from killing whales these guys take it a step further and do stuff like shoot red paint at the illegal poacher's ship.  Last night they rammed into a ship causing damage to their hull.  Crazy people.  I gotta watch something else.  Oh yeah, reruns of The Next Food Network Star.  Do you remember Hans Rueffert from Season 1?   The reason he didn't win is that they could not nail down his point of view and that is critical for this show.  His restaurant is up the road from where I work.  He's a great guy who is one of the strongest people I know.  It is because of his talent in the kitchen that I fell in love with Bavarian Red Cabbage.  This rerun is of last season.  Remember Aarti of Aarti Party?  While she won the competition it was Tom Pizzica who made a big splash on Food Network.  DD is going to the grocery store.  Wonder who she will see?  Can't go without running into someone.  I had a really uncomfortable experience recently.  Ran into an old acquaintance who has been diagnosed with a fatal disease.  How do you respond when someone you barely know stands in front of you and says the Dr. told him he was dying?  He had such a hard time this winter that his brother had to buy his groceries and help with other things.  I heard that song I love today on the radio on the way to work, Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Are Dying".  So all day I've been thinking about that.  How would my life be different if I knew my time was limited?  I think little things wouldn't worry me so.  I'd be happy for every minute of every day.  I'd be sure to tell the special people in my life how much they have meant to me.  And I would quickly do the things I could from my Bucket List.  Enough of that.  Truth is every day could be my last so I just need to live like I was dying each day. 

I switched over to a taped episode of Extreme Makeover.  This show makes me cry almost every time.   I've changed my focus in trying to find a footstool.  Because they are so hard to find I'm beginning to think outside the box.  My Twitter friends have given me a couple of really good ideas.  One idea is to find a small table the right wood, scale and shape.  Cut down the legs, pad the top and there ya go, footstool.  Another idea is to find a chair that would do, cut the back off and mount the back two legs like the front two.    The other idea I'm brewing is to ask one of the guys at work to build one using found wood.  I can probably go to the local upholstery store and get scraps of foam and fabric.   I sure could use a footstool right about now.  Just went to take my PM meds and remembered it is Friday night.  Saturday is going to be busy.  Our family reunion is Sunday so there is lots of prep.  Roll Mom's hair, help her make a chicken casserole to take, do the banking and pay bills.  Clean house (especially the bedroom), get ingredients for my dish and make it because it gets better the longer it sits in the fridge.  I'm making a broccoli salad with raisins, sunflower seeds and a delicious dressing made with sugar, mayo and apple cider vinegar.  It's almost summer, time for cookouts and company.  I love when the house is full of folks but stress over what to fix.  Last night I pulled out the recipes of some of my favorite things, appetizers, main dishes, sides and desserts.  Then I grouped them together into meals.  That way when we expect company all I have to do is pull out the prepared menu, buy the ingredients and put it all together.  You don't have to cook a lot of items, just cook a lot of what you plan.

I have lots more to say but think I'm gonna call it quits.  Be bedtime soon.  Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Later...

P.S. I'm looking for a simplified version of this footstool.  I'll be sure to post a picture of what I wind up with.