Month: February 2023

Musings

I Can Do That!

JanetLeave a comment
Eventually. Maybe. Of course I Can!

Today I’m sharing two videos from different DIYrs who have approached vastly different projects and exceeded all expectations. Even their own.

Both of these people have spent years learning the skills necessary to tackle the projects and while it could be argued that the end result was a no-brainer by some, for many even the idea to consider doing these things is intimidating.

First, let’s take a look at DIY Danie’s former closet in her second bedroom. I’m putting up the last video in a 3 part series but she does show you the before and after and there are links in the description box on how to find the other videos.

The end result is amazing! And after all these years of watching her create amazing furniture, renovate rooms in her home, and take on building a greenhouse for her garden, I am still amazed and inspired that she chose to tackle a project that was just a bit (a teeny tiny bit) out of her comfort zone. Fabulous job!

Next let’s look at Katie Scott as she refinished a family heirloom. You have to admit that when you are a professional furniture flipper who has taken on hundreds of projects and teaches the process, when a member of your family comes to you and asks you to work on a beloved heirloom, not only is this an honor but not a small bit terrifying. Check it out:

The end result is beautiful. The amount of work that went into it is amazing. The trust and support from family that she could accomplish the project without damaging anything is empowering.

My point is that if you are willing to learn, there is nothing you can not do. When you look around your home and see things you would like to update or upgrade, having the skills to do the job is powerful. Having access to the tools is powerful. Having the courage to take the first step to learn is incredibly powerful.

If you are a beginner don’t be afraid to tackle flat pack furniture or small painting projects. Start to accumulate the things you will need for basic maintenance, and check out your local hardware stores and schools for classes to learn. Don’t overlook simply going to the store and asking questions.

You really can create the home you want. Don’t be afraid to get a bit dirty!

Musings

It Started As An Experiment

JanetLeave a comment

Okay, I admit it, I was curious. And the tool was there, so why not use it?

Every once in a while I get curious about something (one thing leads to another, right?) and I figure out a way to answer some questions or at least attempt to answer some questions.

In fact, as I think about it, I’m really not sure when this perhaps not-so-grand experiment began, I just know that it continues because, well, I like what I’ve discovered.

I’m not sure, but I think it started because I needed a way to keep on time for folks in different time zones. Then, because weather often affects all sorts of things, it evolved into keeping up with the weather.

I should say that I use my weather app on my phone or iPod to keep track not only of the weather but the time in several different places around the globe. The weather app not only tracks the weather, but it keeps the local time, so you don’t have to switch between that and the clock feature. I also set it for farenheit so it makes sense for my brain, but I do know how to convert should there be a need.

What I’ve discovered is that many areas around the globe have similar weather patterns. I’ve also discovered that some places are warmer than I expected them to be while others are much colder than I thought they would be.

While I understand that most folks wouldn’t bother doing this, I think that it could be an interesting curiosity for anyone who might be inclined. What is it like in [ fill in the blank ] right now as opposed to where I am?

What I found is a connection between what I ‘thought I knew or understood’ about a place and what is actually going on there.

One friend alerted me to change the location for their particular home because temperatures were more accurate when based on a local airport rather than the town she lived in. Interesting. And when I did that and compared the two, I was surprised to discover a bit of a difference. Hmm.

So, for me this adventure was more than keeping track of time zones for communication connections but also learning more about local conditions.

Oh, and it also made for interesting conversation starters. “I see you’ve got a huge rain storm in your area.”

Give it a try. It could be quite interesting.

Cooking · Dining · Food

I Don’t Often Eat Over The Sink

JanetLeave a comment

But sometimes it is the easiest, and cleanest, ways to enjoy things you might not have very often.

We recently were benefited by a rather large snowstorm that shut pretty much everything down for a few days. Not a regular occurrence around here. Because I paid attention to the warnings, I ordered groceries earlier than I normally would and, because it just seemed like the thing to do, I picked up some things I don’t normally buy.

I have to say that the change in menu has been wonderful!

The first thing off the bat was a lucky purchase of a couple of pounds of ground beef at a price that was palatable. I cooked it up and put it in the fridge so I could use it for a variety of meals.

I found a can of chili for chili dogs – something I never knew you could buy – and tucked it alongside the hot dog buns. The hot dogs were in the fridge along with the cooked hamburger and cheese. Because I really wanted something salty, I picked up a box of different snacks, which included some Fritos. So I had the makings for a Frito pie, or chili cheese dogs, or even tacos.

Yep, I picked up some taco shells, too. I don’t normally pick up the premade shells but this time it just seemed like a good idea. I tucked them into the oven to crisp up while I reheated the meat and pulled the cheese out of the fridge.

Yum!

Messy. Tasty. Silly fun that I really did need to eat over the kitchen sink. 😀

While I don’t recommend this type of spurge very often, it is quite a nice change of pace from the standard chicken, pork, or whatever that is part and parcel of the regular meal plan.

And did I forget to mention that it worked perfectly with the snow days when we really couldn’t order in or go out for anything at all?

Around the House

Reinventing The Wheel

JanetLeave a comment
Or, Been There, Done That

Not that long ago I had a conversation with a friend who is older than me that really struck a chord. She had been commenting that one of her grandchildren was spending a lot of time on the Internet to learn how to do something rather than take advantage of the knowledge base that surrounded her. As in parents, grandparents, friends, etc.

As we talked about this situation, it occurred to me that all of us at some time or other took advantage of the ‘new’ methods of information gathering rather than making use of the old tried and true.

The current crop of youngsters (?) uses Pinterest and the Internet or YouTube experts. And I use the word ‘expert’ with a grain of salt. Pick your particular expert with care. Some really haven’t a clue while others are very skilled and good teachers.

The thing is every generation has literally, okay figuratively, reinvented the wheel.

DISCLAIMER: Not everyone has people in their family or circle who have a knowledge of tools and processes. This means that while the idea of going to Great Aunt Hattie to find out how to do something might be good, the reality is that she has no clue.

My parents bought their first home after World War II and spent years renovating it. The following generation bought their first homes and, you guessed it, spent years renovating it. Rinse and repeat.

While the resources for the information on how to do certain projects have changed – as have the tools and materials – the reality is that each group has found a slightly more advanced and modern way to do the various jobs.

As much as we would like to believe that no one has come before us, the reality is that we are just following in the footsteps of those who stumbled along finding their way with the help of the latest experts that were available to them.

The trick is to take the time to learn from those old time experts and see how what they teach can be used today. Providing, of course, it isn’t already in use.

It really doesn’t matter if you are renovating or building a home, delving into gardening, learning to cook or preserve food, embarking on a life long journey in any of many crafts or just sitting back to see how things are done, chances are what you will discover is that we’ve been down that road more than once.

Enjoy the ride – and don’t forget to take notes!

Resources

In no particular order…

  • Pinterest
  • Internet
  • YouTube
  • Local Library
  • Local School
  • Local Hardware
  • Neighbors
  • Family
  • Friends
Cooking · Food

Magic Pantry Strikes Again!

JanetLeave a comment
Hot Dogs. Pork and Beans. Cornbread

This family favorite is a combination of budget friendly, kid friendly, time friendly foods.

Last week I stocked some items in my pantry that would be easy to fix if the weather turned (it did) and things got a bi dicey. Frankly, I got several bits of comfort foods that I don’t normally buy, but they have made wonderful meals while the weather outside was awful.

This recipe is not quite corndogs, not quite beans and franks, not quite … and a bit of all of them.

Print

Beans, Dogs, and Corn Bread

Not quite corn dogs and more than beans and hot dogs with a side of corn bread.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Equipment

  • 1 8 x 8 square baking pan

Ingredients

  • 15 ounce Pork and beans
  • 1 package hot dogs
  • 1 box Jiffy Corn Bread Mix
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 1 egg

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray pan with baking spray.
  • Slice the hot dogs and place them in the baking pan. Cover with the pork and beans.
  • Combine the milk, egg, and cornbread mix as per the instructions on the box. Pour the mixture over the beans and hot dogs in the baking pan.
  • Bake until the top is brown and tests done using a toothpick.
    Be sure to insert the toothpick as close to the bottom of the pan as possible.

Notes

This quick and easy pantry recipe will be a hit for anyone who loves hot dogs, pork and beans, or cornbread. 
It is easy on the budget too, because you don’t need to purchase expensive ingredients to make a wonderful meal.
The beans and hotdog mixture will keep the batter from baking quickly, so it is important to check for doneness before you serve.

You can easily double or triple this recipe just be sure to use a baking dish that is big enough and to allow enough time for the batter to cook through.

Classic TV · Cord Cutting · Media · TV

Why I Won’t Give Up My Library

JanetLeave a comment

I have a rather interesting collection of books, DVDs, LPs, CDs, and even VHS tapes. I have no plans to get rid of them, either. Why? Simple, not everything moves to another format or platform and, as we have seen with some of the streaming platforms, some material has been removed.

I’ve had a hard and fast rule in my house regarding the DVDs and VHS tapes that I purchase. They have to be shows or films I want to watch more than once or it doesn’t come home with me. I simply do not have the space. That being said, I haven’t ventured to purchase TV shows or films that remain in the cloud until I choose to watch it. You never know when access to that particular service might end.

Hey, things happen.

The simple truth is that the only way to maintain such a collection is to actually make choices. I am looking to find an adapter that will allow me to use my DVD and VHS players with my TV. In the meantime, I still have an old hybrid (analog/digital) TV that I can use with those machines.

The issue with any type of collection is storage and maintenance. If you are able and willing, you can accumulate all sorts of things. For me the most important question is what I mentioned above, how much I might want to watch.

While it might seem silly, I do have things that I have yet to find on any streaming service and are no longer available for home use. Not even on YouTube. Yeah, amazing, I know. LOL!

While there have been times when some folks would have just dumped the collection and moved on, I’ve been thankful and grateful that I still had my library. For me it has been worth the price.

Sometimes you really just need to spend some time with old favorites, right?