reclaiming new orleans

Posted on January 27, 2017 by is there any more pie?

 

 

We went to the Austin Armadillo Christmas bazaar again this year.  In fact we went twice in one day, to hear Emily Gimble on stage in the morning and then to “Piano-rama” in the evening.

And of course I shopped.  I found a booth selling frames and wood items from salvaged New Orleans wood.  The artist and I talked for a while–he knew the street and the exact area where my grandparents and great grandparents lived–and I bought a frame for Banjo Man.

 

If you’re looking for a very cool, very different gift check out the website:

http://www.bergeronwoodworks.net

and look at the beautiful things made from salvalged wood.  It’s an inspiration!

 

From http://www.bergeronwoodworks.net:

“HISTORIC PRESERVATION. OLD-WORLD TECHNIQUE.
ECO-SUSTAINABILITY. HAND CRAFTSMANSHIP.

AboutWere there a recipe for this body of work, the list of proverbial ingredients might read something like this. Of course you’d have to let the tangible raw materials  simmer first for maybe hundreds of years inside the homes and buildings of the  New Orleans landscape—the very bones and supporting structures of the city’s eclectic and historic neighborhoods.

Reclaiming this lumber—rescuing it from the doom of landfills—and transforming it into something lasting and of high aesthetic value is an exercise in the resurrection of the city’s spirit. It’s an inspiring and humbling undertaking—and one that demands a certain respect and the finest attention to detail. That’s why the wood is de-nailed, cut, reworked and placed into each piece all by hand. The contrasting colors and design patterns reveal some of the original patinas and wear of the lumber. And no remnant is left to scrap.

Each piece—from small frames and boxes to larger tables and armoires—reflects a dedication to craft, a legacy of design and materials, resourcefulness, precision, environmental consciousness and artistic vision. Perhaps more importantly, they represent the rising-from-the-ashes rebirth of a city with a long history of refusing to go down without a fight. Stock and custom items available. Please contact us about your projects and ideas. Wholesale inquiries welcome.”

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mister clean

Posted on January 26, 2017 by is there any more pie?

While on the phone with Son #1 last November I heard lots of screaming in the background.  The Funny Grandson was pitching a major fit over having to take a bath.  You know how boys are at that age, allergic to soap and water and clean ears.

Son #1 had to hang up the phone and help get FG into the tub.  I had the feeling that my grandson was in big trouble…again.

Now for some odd reason this popped up in my Amazon ads the next time I went onto the site.

money-soap

(I’m not sure why, but I do have a tendency to look for weird gifts.  Just ask my nephew (now in his twenties, working in DC) about the Christmas of the Remote Controlled Fart Machines.)

Inside each bar of “money soap” is, well, money.  Either a 1, 5, 10, 20 or 50 dollar bill.  You have to use up the bar of soap in order to get to the plastic-encased fortune in the middle.  My FG loves having a pocket full of $1 bills and he absolutely loves to shop, so this was a no brainer.

After he and his dad and uncle picked us up at the airport before Christmas, the FG wanted to discuss Christmas presents and what Grandma could have in her suitcase with his name on it.

So I gave him a hint (I am also notorious in the family for my hints, which are totally ambiguous and crazy-making, even if you are over six years old):  “You don’t get it until it goes away.”

His father was hunched over the steeling wheel, trying to keep from laughing out loud as he negotiated Austin rush hour traffic.

My grandson sat there in his booster seat, his fingers tapping on his thighs while he thought for long, long moments.  Finally he had a guess.  “A tow truck???”

“Brilliant idea,” I said.  “But no.”

There were other guesses over the next few days until he finally decided, a bit grimly, that he had been outsmarted by his grandmother–again.  And then on Christmas morning it all made sense.  He wasn’t too thrilled with getting soap for Christmas, but once he caught on that using the soap equaled getting money, he was all in.

His father reported that the FG lathers up so much soap in each night’s shower that he looks like the Abominable Snowman and that he washes his hands every chance he gets.

Here’s the link:

It’s a bit pricey for a bar of soap, but getting a boy to want to take a bath?  Priceless!!!!

 

 

Posted in family, grandmother stuff, shopping | 2 Comments

flu season

Posted on January 24, 2017 by is there any more pie?

I’m sorry for not posting in so long!

We’ve been sick, which I posted before.  Banjo Man suffered a major allergy attack and sinus infection that began in Texas.  I came down with the sinus infection/airplane bug on January 1st.

It seemed to last forever.  I rarely get colds or sinus things. We have a mercury filled glass thermometer, for heaven’s sake!  And it took me until two days ago to find it.

Last Thursday I felt like a normal person (who desperately needed to wear makeup!) and took my mother for an afternoon of errands and lunch.  Lovely and fun and so nice to get out of the house!

Until Saturday morning, when THE FLU descended upon me, ruining all of my weekend sewing plans.

Yep.  The flu, for which I got a shot last month.

Three days later I am still in bed, but at least I can type here on the Kindle this afternoon.

Three days later Banjo Man has been stricken with the same flu, so we will be rationing the ginger ale until my wobbly self can get dressed and drive to the mini Mart.

This might be the perfect time to try Amazon’s Prime Pantry!  And splurge on a fancy digital thermometer. I have a feeling we’re going to need it.

 

 

 

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christmas morning casserole number two

Posted on January 16, 2017 by is there any more pie?

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It looked really good before we ate it all!!!

I used this recipe, from this previous blog post:

cousins brunch: potato bacon casserole

What is better than hash browns, bacon and cheese???

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christmas morning casserole number one

Posted on January 15, 2017 by is there any more pie?

When they were  young, my children thought my Christmas breakfast casseroles were instruments of torture.  Designed to be eaten between Santa presents and the gifts from family and friends, the casseroles were considered to be an unnecessary obstacle to the chaotic opening of presents.

But I always felt that Banjo Man and I, along with my parents (who often spent the holidays in our tiny Idaho home) needed a break.  We needed juice and coffee and tea and biscuits and protein.

My daughter-in-law seems to think they are a great idea!  My requirements are simple:  (1) No fancy ingredients that no one will eat, and (2) must be able to be done ahead of time.  So here is one of the casseroles I picked for Christmas morning, 2016.

Rachel Hurtz’ Blueberry French Toast:  http://rachelschultz.com/2014/05/27/blueberry-pancake-french-toast/

I made the pancakes the week before Christmas and froze them (in stacks, separated by wax paper).  On Christmas Eve I cut approximately 18 pancakes in half, put them flat-side-down in a buttered 9 X 13 dish, sprinkled them with blueberries and then poured over the milk mixture:

6 eggs
1 and 1/2 cups milk
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla

I made the crumb topping ahead of time and stored it in the fridge until Christmas morning when it was time to sprinkle it on before baking.

1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter, sliced at room temperature

I let the casserole come to room temperature and then baked it for about an hour at 350.  It served 8 hungry people.  You can see what’s left!

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Thank you, Rachel, for a great blog and a fantastic recipe.

P.S.  I served this with powdered sugar and a pitcher of maple syrup.

 

Posted in family, food, texas | Leave a comment

making a mystery

Posted on January 10, 2017 by is there any more pie?

My third attempt at stitching a Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt might be the charm!  I worked it up with my own selection of colors and here’s a sample of the block so far:

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http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2017/01/mystery-monday-link-up-part-6-7.html

For info and lovely quilting ideas, check out Bonnie’s website:

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/

reveal1_thumb

Posted in quilting | 3 Comments

birthday socks

Posted on January 10, 2017 by is there any more pie?

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I love these.

In the midst of 8 degree temps and a foot of snow outside, I can look at these socks and dream of summer.

My childhood summers were spent at my  grandparent’s summer cabin, on a pond deep in the woods.  Huge snapping turtles, slow little sun turtles, my grandfather’s row boat, wild blueberries…it was heaven.

Thank you, Will.

Posted in family | 2 Comments

winter reading

Posted on January 9, 2017 by is there any more pie?

I’m starting to feel better, so I thought I’d sit here at the desk for a few minutes and at least send a short post about books.  I’m always reading (my biggest lifelong addiction), and here are two books that I had to share with you.

A thriller:

i-let-you-go

From Publishers Weekly

At the start of British author Mackintosh’s accomplished debut, five-year-old Jacob Jordan lets go of his mother’s hand for an instant on a rainy evening in Bristol, England, and darts into the road, only to be struck and killed by a hit-and-run. The investigation lands on the desk of Det. Insp. Ray Stevens and his eager new detective constable, Kate Evans. Mackintosh alternates between the slow, but fruitless, police work and the movements of artist Jenna Gray, who’s haunted by Jacob’s death and relocates to an isolated Welsh village, where she keeps to herself, warming slightly to the local vet after finding an abandoned puppy, and even then keeping the details of her previous life a secret. Back in Bristol, Ray and Kate work the case to the ground, despite a lack of leads; predictable sparks fly, even though Ray is happily married with two children. Mackintosh easily shifts points of view and keeps readers on their toes, slowly upping the suspense, so that when she does reveal her twists they—mostly—work.

And a laugh-out-loud romance, from another first time author:

the-hating-game

Congratulations, ladies!  I look forward to reading your future books!!!

 

Posted in books & music | 2 Comments

too sick to sew

Posted on January 3, 2017 by is there any more pie?

Pathetic.  That’s me.  I caught Banjo Man’s cold and now I can’t get out of bed.  It’s been years since I have had a cold, so of course I am outraged.  Ha!  Those Texas germs must be pretty strong.

I have had emails from three of my best Rhode Island buddies who say they are also sick.

I feel sorry for all of us.

Here is what’s waiting for me.  I like looking at the pictures.  Maybe you will, too.

 

Posted in personal female whining, quilting, rhode island | 4 Comments

worst football party ever

Posted on January 2, 2017 by is there any more pie?

It wasn’t the worst party because of the game, though it was dismal.  Nebraska, with injured players and obviously out of its depth, couldn’t beat Tennessee.

It wasn’t the food.  I’d made a vat of chili in my new 14 quart pan.  My daughter-in-law arrived with cream cheese and three kinds of toppings, plus crackers and pretzels.

hot_pepper_bacon_large

Banjo Man made another batch of Chex mix and didn’t burn it.

There was gourmet root beer, lemonade for the Funny  Grandson, Cheerio Bars (a mixture of marshmallows, peanut butter, butter and Cheerios), tequila, peach vodka and some tasty clementine-flavored soda.

We were so excited!  It was our last day in Austin and we were ready to watch the game.  No one expected Nebraska to win, but we were happy to finally get to watch a game together.  And eat.

Ten minutes into the game, we heard a couple of “pops” and the power went out.   Then we saw a young woman running past our front window.  She was holding a fire extinguisher.

The neighbors at the condo next door had drilled into a wall and hit our main wire.  It’s a miracle no one was electrocuted.  But it would be another seven hours until our power was back on.  An electrician had to be called.  He made two trips to Home Depot.  He hired an assistant.  He worked in the dark.  The neighbors apologized over and over again.

Meanwhile…this is how we watched the first half of the game.

 

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See Son #2’s cell phone underneath the tv?

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The guys went to a bbq place to watch the 4th quarter and grab some hot food.  Banjo Man was coming down with something (allergies?  a cold?) and stayed home, wrapped in a blanket, watching the last miserable minutes of the game on my cell phone (the other phone had run out of data, so I finally downloaded the ESPN app on my phone and got it to work).

Son #2 had lots of candles–and went to the store to buy more–and we had flashlights, too.  There would be leftover chili for the rest of the weekend.

By 9 PM we had electricity again.  Heat.  Lights.  Microwave.  Internet. Television!  But the party was long over.

Next year we’ll try again.

I now have Banjo Man’s “cold” and instead of sewing today, I’m going back to bed to sniffle and be miserable.  I rarely ever get colds, so my plan is to sleep my way through this one while something British plays on Netflix here on my bedroom tv.

I’m looking forward to the new season of The Bachelor tonight.  Nick is not a very likable bachelor, having been on other shows and having his “heart broken” (yeah, right), but he can be funny.  I’m hoping he has stopped mumbling so I can actually understand what he says.  It’s a stupid show and I don’t mind admitting that I’m a fan, no matter what.

 

Enjoy the football today, folks.  I hope your power stays on and your chili stays hot.

 

Posted in austin, family, television | Leave a comment