The Mother Of All Yard Sales

The last couple of years, I was only able to drag out a few things to our community yard sale, then had to leave for soccer games/riding lessons etc and had to ask Neighbor Robin to watch/sell my things for me.

Last year the only thing I was able to get to the sale were the boy’s drums. He woke up and protested. Unfortunately they are still in the basement.

This year things went better. Here are some of the things that were up for sale.

Only kidding.

My grandmother’s wardrobe – please don’t think badly of me. I’ve had it in several homes and in at least three places in my current home and we just never clicked.

My really pretty but very impractical stool. One of the legs is broken, but I kept it all these years because the swan heads were so beautiful. Even though it’s been in the garage for a couple of years (therefore the really dirty fabric) I will still miss it. I bought it in Germany at a swap meet. Sigh.

My Japanese low table.

The couch was for sale, not my mother. The little baby next to her was going for cheap.

Lots of clothing – mostly the girl’s things. I’m not going to editorialize about how many clothes she has.

I opened up this tin and found these shell necklaces that I probably bought while in Hawaii in order to do some kind of shell project. Which of course, I never got around to doing.

Neighbors Eric and Liz went jogging by but never stopped.

They may have liked this table. I bought it at a Naked Furniture place in Hawaii and had them cut the legs down so I can sit on the couch and work on craft projects. I had grand visions of painting it, tiling it, decoupaging it and then just gave up…I am the queen procrastinator.

Neighbor Chris was attached to my dress form. He had all of three things to sell so he was out rummaging around in my things. I bought it on eBay with the thought that I could go to craft fairs with it to display all the wonderful things that I was going to make and sell on my table that I was going to paint/tile/decoupage.

I don’t know why I keep thinking that I am going to craft anything. I am a total crafting failure.

I have to get ready for church now. I’ll tell you how I made out tomorrow. I’ll give you a hint, after the yard sale, I went to a graduation party, then bought four big fat sirloin steaks and a bottle of wine for dinner. I’m not sure what Dave Ramsey would say about my stewardship abilities.

In Between The Rain

It’s raining again today.

I’m glad we did the yard sale yesterday.

How lucky were we to have planned it between the rain.

Otherwise this nice lady would not have gotten her pretty shell necklaces.

Boiled Eggs ~ Another Fantasmic Internet Tip

Yesterday I showed you my astounding creativity and told you how to freeze grapes. I claimed the idea as my own since I’m sure that no one has ever thought of doing that before. So here’s another tip – boil your eggs.

I boil about a dozen and keep them in the refrigerator and eat them throughout the week. I do this because 1) I can be lazy 2) they are a great source of protein and 3) they are fast in the fast fast world of suburbia where we work, get kids to their activities and have no time for dinner.

One of my favorite all time meals is boiled eggs, rice, and fish sauce. I literally ate it throughout my childhood and still do. For those of you on the South Beach Diet, you should leave out the rice. That’s a double yolk. Hmmm…twins?

Now I’m going over to Shutter Sisters to see what the grown-ups are doing and see whether or not I can play along. Oh, and I have a yard sale starting in about an hour yikes…

Ying Yang

Human nature is complex. I sometimes inadvertently show how complex by writing this post and then this one. They are diametrically opposite and I didn’t realize it. That is until the husband wanted to know if I was body snatched when I wrote last Wednesday’s post.

I don’t feel conflicted though…the two parts of me reside harmoniously…

I know this post is obtuse. It won’t be the only one.

Frozen Grapes ~ The Best Internet Tip

Okay, the lemon wedge didn’t tickle the fancy for some of you. I thought it was pretty but yes, it borders on fussy. But this…this is the best tip you will ever get on the internet. How’s that for a statement?

In the on-going battle to get healthy food into my kids, I am forced to constantly be creative. One day I watched the grapes I had bought slowly shrivel away from lack of consumption. In order to save the grapes from slow and wasteful destruction, I plucked them from the shriveling vine and threw them in the freezer. After a couple of days, I tried one and immediately thought that I was a genius. If I do say so myself. They literally taste like ice cream. The husband and the boy ate them all in about 5 minutes. It was truly a food epiphany.

I know I have very few original ideas and this is probably not one but it’s original in my house and I will from now on, keep frozen grapes in the freezer, especially in the summer months.

So to the twelve of you who read this blog, go freeze some grapes. It’s a great way to get fruit into your kids.

p.s. I’m having a yard sale tomorrow. I’ve been historically disorganized for this annual event but this year, I actually have two things labeled. And of course, I’m going to take pictures.

p.s.s And I almost forgot it’s Foodie Friday over at Designs by Gollum. I am not awake this morning. Please eat before you go over there. You may get hungry and regret binging.

Lemon Wedge

Of all the beautiful and clever ideas over at Between Naps on the Porch, I believe this is the most humble. However, I really love it. I do.

It’s a lemon wrapped in a little yellow piece of gauze so you can squeeze it on your meal. I thought it was cute…the next time I have company I may do this. Hey, it’s a thought!

Waterfall Beef ~ The Beef

Vegetarians are not going to find this appetizing. But me? I’m a protein girl. I can go for a little while on vegetables but then I have to have a good piece of meat.

I use a London Broil cut for my Waterfall Beef. If you want to splurge, you can use a tenderloin, that would be delicious. But this cut is good for your wallet.

There’s no marinating or anything fancy. Just throw it into the broiler. Broil it until it gets a nice crust on each side, about 4-5 minutes. I like it medium rare but it’s up to your taste of course.

Later on, we’re going to chop everything up…

Here is the beef at the Lemongrass Restaurant.
Here are the fresh ingredients.

Sorry about the dirty oven, but it’s well used and well loved.

Charlie's Angels On Memorial Day

Last weekend was a nice one. We didn’t plan a thing and just made it up as we went. As it turns out, it was one of the nicest stress-free Memorial Day weekends that we ever had.

The husband got home late on Saturday from his trip and we had dinner with Miss Shannon and family. She asked if we wanted to come over for dinner and I said, well, why don’t you come here instead, she said no, I insisted – anyway, we ate together, it didn’t matter where.

We had some time out on the water watching the air show down south.

Last year we had a huge cook out. This year, we made Miss Yvonne do it.

Watch out boys. These girls will be grown before we know it.

I like it much better when the guys talk baseball and not politics.

We caught and killed some fish. Lots of evil looking knives there.

Ahhh…today is Thursday, it already seems like a million years ago. Life just needs to slow down…off to yoga now.

Wordless Wednesday, Double Shot Latte

Skinny double shot hazelnut no foam latte, please. And coffee for the driver.

Posted on Wordless Wednesday and you should check out the Pet Parade at Gayle’s place.

On The Waterfront ~ The Fabric Of Life

Posted on Shutter Sisters.

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