For the love of elbow grease

This past spring, my husband and I highjacked our family's traditional Easter celebrations at the family farm to announce that we were pregnant.  It was a blast as we handed my parents a 2 foot nesting egg style Easter egg that had a sonogram in the final piece.  After a moment of surprise and confusion, everyone was in on it and it was wonderful to celebrate together.  I knew immediately that I wanted to ask my aunt if we could use her old crib, and all the girls were gracious enough to approve.

Luckily, my aunt also knew exactly where the old crib was and it wasn't buried too badly in one of the old storage sheds.  We hauled it back to Austin and there it has sat, in the corner of our bedroom, for the past 4 months...waiting to be lovingly brought back to life.  It's a beautiful Bassett crib made from Walnut and it has survived her 6 growing girls...but not without some scars.  It was looking a little rough, so she told me I was welcome to paint it but there's absolutely no way I could bring myself to completely destroy the years of character it had worked so hard for.

 Looks like some babies had a taste for walnut.

Since we finally decided to put the baby in her own nursery, got the room painted last weekend, it was time to start getting the crib ready.  I started researching my options for restoring it.  Sanding it down seemed just as destructive as painting and honestly too work intensive with all those little rails.  I wanted to keep some of those old scars, but just polish her up a bit.  I was walking around the hardware store looking for options when I stumbled upon a miracle pair!

This stuff worked wonders!!! First, I had to wash the crib down really well, get all the dust and cobwebs off (this took several wipe downs).  Then I started working in the Restor-a-finish and watched the dings, gouges, and scuff marks dissapear.  It wasn't quite as simple as just wiping the stuff on - I used the recommended Grade 0000 steel wool and had to really work the finish in  to the roughest spots and really scrub scrub scrub some old paint scuffs.  Just look at the before and after.

Before.

After.
After I worked the finish restorer all over the crib, in between every rung and my arms were jello...I had to clean it all again.  There was some excess oil in places and some steel wool grime, so I wiped the whole thing down several more times with damp cloths.  I wanted this sucker to be grime-free since grime and baby drool do not mix well.  For the final step I added the wax all over, wiped off the excess and we're back in action!  I am thrilled with the way the whole thing turned out - shiny, polished, but still well-loved.

Now we can start nesting into the room a little bit more.  I reclaimed the bookshelf for baby and we're re-finishing some shelves, a freebie glider, among other projects.  I really like using thrift store and hand-me-down finds because a) it's cost effective, b) it's eco-friendly, and c) it creates a room that is so much more interesting than a catalog.  I will keep you up to date as these other projects begin to fill the room with life!

How does your garden grow?

As summer draws to a close and school returns, baby gets closer and other deadlines approach, I find my spare time for blogging is harder to come by.  I knew it would get like this, which is why my husband and I took a vacation two weeks ago.  It was our first vacation together in a couple years and I guess you could call it a babymoon or a desperate escape from Texas summer heat after both our summers were packed with camp after camp with our youth groups.  We went to beautiful, cool Estes Park, CO just outside Rocky Mountain National Park and were able to just be lazy, enjoy the mountains, rest up and enjoy some "dolce far niente" while we still can.  I think the weather alone made us feel miles away from home.  It's been the hottest, dryest summer in central Texas and our record-breaking amount of 100+ days still continue.  But there, the high's were in the low 80's and it reminded me that one day....seemingly forever away...fall would come.  It made me all kinds of excited when I realized that even despite our Texas heat, it's time to start planning a fall vegetable garden!  It seems insane to plant seeds right now, when there's no water to be found and even established plants are burning up, but it's time!

I started researching some of our options and tried to think about what fruits and vegetables we'd actually use.  I tried to remember what has worked well and what I've learned from miserable failures in years past.  In the end, we came up with a list for a full and delicious garden that will include: radishes, cucumbers (for slicing and pickling), carrots, broccoli, strawberries, spinach, garlic, onions, and potatoes!  Some of these still can't be planted for a while yet, so I'll have to find the strength to be patient.  We're also going to try some new herbs - stevia and parsley.  I'm looking forward to using the stevia in some hot teas this winter.  I did the research to find which varieties of seeds were recommended for our area and we went down to the Natural Gardener to find it all.  We got most of what we were looking for, including compost to get our garden beds ready for our little seedlings.  Now we were ready to get our hands dirty!

Since it's death valley outside, we're obviously going to be starting the seeds indoors.  I used Jiffy organic seed starting soil, filled up my trays and put together some make-shift plant markers.  Also, I should note that these were old, previously used seed trays that resulted in tragedy (apparently you have to water plants to keep them alive) - so I had to be sure to wash them really well and get rid of all the old dirt and gunk.

I used toothpicks to make tiny holes in the soil for my tiny seeds, dropped two sometimes three seeds in each hole and they lightly covered them up.  I gave them a good watering with the mist setting on my garden sprayer and covered them with the plastic lid that comes with the tray.

Isn't it amazing how tiny seeds are?  and how quickly they transform?  My cucumbers are already 6 inches tall in just the week since I planted these and took these pictures.  This morning I planted a second round of seeds so we have a staggered harvest.  Fingers crossed for a succesful growing season!

The beginning of the end

Life has been busy the last couple weeks, but school work is finally done which means I have a little more time to do what I love (at least without so much guilt).  One of the things I'm spending most my time with is a sewing project.  I am only beginning to learn to sew, so I can't sew clothes, but I can cut and sew straight lines.  That happens to work pretty well with the art of quilting.  Personally, I think it's a great intro to sewing.  I've learned from the lovely ladies in the quilting group at church and I think I can say that any experienced quilter is happy to share their knowledge with us young'ns.  Last Winter/Spring I sewed my first easy star quilt for a friend and her baby.

The quilting ladies give me a hard time about being a perfectionist because I probably spent more time with the seam ripper than the sewing machine on this one, but I was happy with the way it turned out.  Now, I'm speedily working on my next project.  It's a sampler quilt with a few special applique blocks.  What makes it special is that I'm making it for the Lutherhill Gala which is coming up right around the corner so I really need to get movin.  I've gotten several blocks done so far.

It's exciting to see that I've actually learned things, my points are matching up and the blocks are laying flat.  It's a quilting break through!  Now I've got 4 weeks to take them from blocks to an actual finished quilt.  Wish me luck!

The other thing I've been spending some time on......

loading up the trailer with antiques, treasures, and various finds.  These came from an antique store going out of business and I just couldn't resist.  Obviously, I do not need 3 French church pews or a drying rack, but I knew others would find them as beautiful as I do.

They're curvaceous, and worn, and have an irresistible patina.  So....I called up my aunt - a mutual lover of crazy ideas, my co-pilot in junky crime....and the plans are in the works for us to have a booth at the infamous Warrenton Antique Fair!  I have been treasure hunting at this mother-of-all-shows twice a year since I can remember.  Our family farm is just 5 minutes down the road, so I guess I have a whole barn to fill up with everything I can find, repurpose, and create between now and then.  This has started me down a downward spiral of thrifting, estate sale-ing, and picking a la American Pickers, Picker Sisters, Dirty Money, etc.  I love the idea of discovering a jewel of junk, giving it new life, and showing it off/selling it to someone else who finds beauty in the unique and unusual.  Stay tuned to see what else I find and save the date to come see the end results!

Apple Pecan Bread

So I had a few apples laying around that were past their prime, but I hated the idea of tossing so much good food in the compost.  I don't like applesauce, so that wasn't an option.  Then I came across this recipe for Apple Pecan bread.  It sounded perfect since I also have some pecans in the pantry being under-appreciated.   So today, instead of getting my homework done, I baked.

Preheat the oven to 325 and then start by peeling the apples and dicing them up.  The recipe calls for two cups diced apples, which actually only took two apples.

I used my old school pint-size food processor to cut em up, but eventually I got to two cups.

While I was in chopping mode, I went ahead and chopped 1 cup of pecans.  I don't like huge chunks in my bread, so I grounded it pretty fine.  The rest of the ingredients are pretty common  - I had them all on hand.

I think what really makes this bread are the spices.  I used cinnamon, a pinch of cardamom (the secret to every great Chai), and a pinch of ginger since I didn't have nutmeg.  Oh, and as always in baking, I let the eggs sit on the counter an hour or so to get to room temperature.  So then I combined most the dry ingredients - flour, baking soda, salt, and spices and mixed them together.

And yes, I kept my promise to dust off those pyrex bowls and actually use them.  This is one of my Butterprint ones.  Then I put the sugar and oil into the mixer, beat well.  Add the eggs and beat again, then add the vanilla and mix together.  Now turn the mixer on low and slowly add the bowl of dry ingredients just until combined.  Then fold in the apples and pecans.  The batter will be thick, sticky, and FILLED with spicy apple-pecan goodness.

Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan (the bread doesn't really rise, so it's ok if it's a little full).  Stick it in the oven and back for 60-75 minutes or until your test toothpick comes out clean.  Let the bread cool as long as you can stand it, then enjoy!

I dusted mine with powdered sugar.  Be warned, this stuff is addictive.  It's a bit like banana bread, just ever so sweet and spicy and when it's warm......
Our loaf is almost half gone already!
Here's the recipe, minus my ginger substitution:

Apple Pecan Bread
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 pinch fresh ground nutmeg
1 pinch cardamom (optional)
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups apples peeled, cored, and diced
1 cup pecans, roughly chopped

Enjoy!

Pretty Pretty Pyrex

I had a few free minutes this morning after our doctor's appointment - so I took the liberty of indulging myself in one of my favorite pastimes....thrifting.  It is sincerely addictive.  I love thrifting because a) there are things coming and going into the store all the time, so you never know what treasures you'll find and b) it's cheap!  Today, I feel like I hit the pyrex jackpot.  I've been collecting pieces here and there as I find them and today I literally struck gold.

I found this entire set of Americana pattern mixing bowls and dishes!  Isn't the design just so rich, warm, and delicious?

 My interest in vintage pyrex got kicked off about a year or so ago when my family and I were digging through old storage buildings at our farm and found entire sets of Spring Blossom and Butterfly Gold mixing bowls still in the box.  I took them home and have shamefully kept them in those boxes in the pantry.  Since then I've picked up pieces from Frost Garland and my favorite is Butterprint.  I have just a couple of the turquoise beauties.

They're all sitting on shelves lovingly being displayed, but that really needs to change.  This stuff was meant to be used!  And who wouldn't love to use such beautiful things when cooking?  It brings a whole new meaning to the joy of cooking!  Without going too far down the rabbit hole, I also use these pretty measuring spoons with hummingbirds I found in Fredericksburg a few years back.  

It's a bit fancy for measuring spoons, but every time I bake with them I think of my Granny who loved the unexpected joy of a hummingbird in her garden.  But back to pyrex.  Why shouldn't something so utilitarian be pretty?  I've always had a warm spot in my heart for those pyrex coffee mugs that adorn every old church I can think of.  You know....these guys...

If your church ever ever gets rid of them....I want them!  Please please please give me a call.  You can learn everything you ever wanted to know about Pyrex and then some, find what will surely become your favorite pattern, and begin our mutual addiction with the help of the lovely folks at Pyrex Love and Pyrex Collective.  Happy hunting!

Mmmm.....Smells Like Leather

My birthday was a couple weeks ago now, but I'm still opening presents!  My mom came to celebrate with me last weekend and took me boot shopping on behalf of the whole family.  I'm not sure she knew what she had signed up for.  I love most every boot.  I love the simple Justins to the ornate Old Gringo's, tall vintage boots, those with fringe...picking out my new pair was going to be a difficult choice.  I love it all, but am crazy picky.  After much deliberation, walking back and forth, meditation, and helpless puppy dog glances at my mom...
I choose....

these beautiful bluebird Dan Post boots.  We ordered a special pair because those in the store were stained just so (I told you I was picky) and they arrived in the mail today!  My face lit up and I was like a toddler opening the illustrious tickle-me-Elmo at Christmas...much to my co-workers amusement.  They smell delicious!  That new boot smell is better than anything else.  Breathe it in.....mmm....sweet sweet leather.  Now I need a plethora of excuses to show them off and break them in.  This will probably include, but is not limited to - boot scootin' at the Broken Spoke, Gruene Hall, antique weekend in Warrenton isn't far away, maybe we'll just have to have another barn dance at the family farm.

These boots are ready to see the world - where would you take them?