Monday, May 30, 2011

What's Up Doc?

Oh me, oh my, lots of things are up here. We have been busy, busy, busy. My work has been crazy, but has now settled down a bit. Honey finished his trucking school, but then had a bit of a health issue, so now should be starting back this next week. Thought I would show you all a bit of what we have been up to! Sorry, sorry, sorry for the quality of the pictures, but a photographer I am not.

Kitchen cabinets have been painted - still green, just a darker shade. We do still need to enclose the dishwasher, just waiting until we can put in the countertops.




Roses have been blooming, blooming, blooming. I made a batch of rose petal jelly! So yummy!




Basement has been carpeted. Honey has been out of work while trying to get his health back on track, so he has been busy with some Honey do's! I thought I had another picture of this, sorry!



Stairs have been completed, carpeted and carved toe boards put in. II Peter 1:5-7. [5] And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
[6] And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
[7] And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

Honey carved in the boards, stained them and then back lit them with LED multicolored Christmas lights, which he then backed with thin metallic-covered insulation so that it looks like a prism. Then he backed the whole thing with plywood. Looks fantastic! My pictures definitely do not do it justice!





Kitchen floor has been replaced with glazed hickory laminate. What was there before was those stick tiles, the ones that are like linoleum, but they are tiles. Many of the edges were coming up and so we got this laminate and put down. It looks a little redder in these pictures than in real life.




Now we just need to save up and get our new kitchen counters, faucet-sprayer and sink. And put up our new border - just have to get busy and do that.

Bookshelves - built in - downstairs in the "den". Our basement stays nice and cool in the summer. When we bought the house almost 3 years ago, Honey built in a bedroom. I think it measures like 11x13 or so, nice sized. Closet and everything. Back behind it is a storage area, probably 10x6 or so. Where the bookcase area is, we are going to put in a sleeper sofa. There is a twin bed downstairs in the bedroom and we are going to put in a queen or full in the spare bedroom upstairs. We like to have plenty of room for folks to come visit!





Downstairs bathroom. This is really a showpiece, I think. 48" shower, ceramic tile floor. Not very big, but quite functional. Still needs some trim work and touchups here and there.







I am happy to report that Honey's health is back on track, he has even been able to stop one medication.

We did make a flying trip down to Oklahoma when Honey's former pastor passed away. Despite the circumstances, we had a good time visiting with friends and family. Here are the grandkids.



Farmer's market has started again, fresh strawberries, rhubarb, spring onions - oh my! I planted tomatoes the other day, Mr. Stripey!

Our weather here has been rainy and quite cool, interspersed with thunderstorms, more rain and tornados!!! None have hit here, thank the good Lord! We are about 160 miles or so from Joplin, but we have had several on the ground near here and in Sedalia, about 60 miles away, they had one the other day that hit the south end of town and did quite a bit of damage.

They actually call the area right where we live the Golden Valley - because supposedly there is an Indian legend or something of the sort that a tornado will never hit here. We do have a lot of times storms will split and go around north and south of us. However, I know the Maker of the Rain and I know the Master of the Wind and he can who whatever he pleases, so we go to the basement whenever it storms.

I will leave you all with a recipe, quick and easy, a crowd-pleaser!

Pampered Chef Crab and Artichoke Dip
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup mayo
1 clove garlic, pressed
1 can (14 oz) artichoke hearts in water, drained and chopped
8 oz crabmeat
3/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
1/3 cup green onions, chopped
zest of 1 lemon
1/8 teaspoon black pepper, ground
1/3 cup red bell pepper, minced
Extra green onions, chopped for topping.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all in bowl except for red bell pepper and extra green onions. Put in casserole dish - I used a 9x 9 pan and bake 25-30 minutes. Sprinkle with red bell pepper and additional green onions. Serve with crackers.

Will be "seeing" you all again soon, as Honey is headed out on the road and I will have more time on my hands. Much love to everyone!

13 comments:

Savories of life said...

I love your long post. We also sell plants at our farmers market. Right now we have planted eggplant, tomatoes and carrots in our garden along with garlic, chives, mint and lettuce. Your kitchen looks very nice as does the rest of your house. We are going out so I msut close now. I just sent you an e-mail. You are so kind.

Jennifer R said...

Awesome decorating!! Love the steps!!

Unknown said...

House is really looking great and your photography is very good. Thanks for the yummy recipe.
Odie

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for posting! I LOVE your photos. It is good to hear that health has improved. Hope you have a blessed week. Much love, Ruth xo

Sandie said...

Hi Racquel...what a great post...your house is really coming on a treat. Glad to hear Honey is on the mend, and those stairs are waaaayy cool!

Anonymous said...

I love the green in your kitchen and I love, love, love the message on the stairs.

Glad your hubby is feeling better.

Simply Heart And Home said...

Raquel,

I just love those deep green cupboards! Beautiful!

Gina
back at Simply Heart and Home

Kimberly said...

Wow! so many great things!

Unknown said...

I absolutely LOVE the staircase!!! What a clever idea!

I found you through Becky K. Are you in Pampered Chef, too? I recently relocated from CA to ID. I live in an old mining town northeast of Boise. The demographics are very different up here on the mountain and I'm looking for ways to spread the Pampered Chef joy to Treasure Valley.

It is wonderful to visit your blog!

Smiles, Karen

Pattie @ Olla-Podrida said...

Crab and artichoke sounds like an excellent combination. This dip sounds delicious. Thanks for posting.

Pattie @ Olla-Podrida said...

Rose petal jelly! It sounds beautiful and fragrant. I have made rose hip jam, but never rose petal jelly. Now I want some! What kind of rosé petals do you use? You certainly have me intrigued.

Pattie @ Olla-Podrida said...

This dip looks sensational. Thanks for the recipe. Thanks also for visiting my blog. You asked about the Sherlock Holmes ornaments. I have been collecting them for years, so really can't provide a source. You can frame Sherlock postcards though (like I did the Briitish Dickens postcards) and place them on your tree. In the past I have done an entire Sherlock Holmes tree. I'll have to do that again. I do sell some Sherlock ornaments in one of my Etsy shops called Mysterious Jottings. I expect to have more throughout the year.

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