Company's Coming

Hey, girls!

My sister is coming this weekend!  I'm so excited for her to be here because I have lots of projects planned for us to do together {she doesn't know that, yet... she says with an evil taskmaster tone}.

I had to show you how we decorated the bed in The Little Red House for her stay.

Do I mean anything by this?  Of course, I do.  Hellooo... she's my sister! 

 Even better...my LITTLE sister.

The idea for the "Wicked" banner came from Miss Mustard Seed. 

I love her stuff and want to grow up to be just like her.

The bed was my grandmother's.  It was 1960's maple - not 1930's oak - therefore, I felt comfortable painting it FLAT black.  Think it looks cool with the wood on the walls.

The holster came from a little antique store in Franklin, IN.  Quite the cowboy look.

For the "cowhide" pillow, I tea-stained black and WHITE fabric that were curtains in the girls' room.  Then sewed them together with chunky flat-fold seems.

The witch pillow...I ADORE the witch pillow.  Mostly because I love using freezer paper stencils.  I used the CriCut to cut a stencil of the witch - ironed it on to the fabric {waxy side down} - then used soft black to paint the witch onto the fabric/drop cloth.  Then whip it into a pillow. 

Sidebar:  I get all of my "pillowforms" from Goodwill.  Usually, throw pillows are only a dollar and after a wash they are more than great under another homemade pillow cover.

The dress form is dressed in a thrift store black witch-like dress and draped in orange organza.  The orange came from the fabric bin at Goodwill.  Kinda fun, huh?

I'll share our weekend projects soon.

Sleep tight!

Becky

Cattle For Sale

Happy Sunday evening! 

Hope you've all had a relaxing and/or productive weekend.  Whichever you prefer.

I saw this photo in the September edition of Country Sampler.  I'm not usually one for stuff THIS primitive but the sign on the wall caught my attention. 

 

We don't have pigs anymore but, hey, we've got some cattle around. 

Here's how it went...

Found the perfect rough-sawn board in the barn.  Spray painted it black.  Did a reverse stencil thingy-thing.  Cut out the letters on the Cricut and used spray adhesive to stick them on the board.  The edge is masking tape.

Spray painted the whole thing with white paint.

It wasn't perfect when I took the letters and tape off...but that's the way we want it now, don't we?

I abused it with the sander and rubbed a coat of "Early American" stain over the whole thing.

The result is a vintage-been-on-a-fencepost-for-30-years look.

I'm STILL squealing with delight when I walk through the dining room

. 

My cowgirl model likes it too.

Later Taters-

Becky

Wanted: Desk

Well...I needed another desk for the office. 

{Actually, just another flat surface to pile papers on.}

So, I went to Goodwill.

For $20.00 I came home with this solid wood table.

See the fun stuff painted around the edge? 

  

The cat thought it a perfect place to take an afternoon bath.

Then...

...I kicked the cat off...

... sanded the heck out of the top...

...painted the base black...

...re stained the top...

...distressed the base...

...and waxed the whole thing with clear wax.

Unfortunately, all the fun edge painting had to go.  No time for pickiness.  The kids would be home in an hour!

AND - I actually tried to stage something.

Not bad for a rookie!

{I used the sedum because the dog laid in it and broke all the stems off!}

{No decorating/staging knowledge used for that one.}

I read somewhere (regarding children and homemaking)-

"Do ONE thing everyday that 'they' can't undo."

If you're a mom, you definitely know what this means...and how good this feels!

Becky

Sam

The new guy in the barnyard...

Sam 

Our new-to-us 12 year-old quarterhorse gelding.

He has the perfect head and a gentle eye.

He has power steering.

He likes kids.

He has no fears.

Best of all...

He's got a great big butt!

Happy Trails!

Becky

The First Born Cooks

#1 competed in the State Fair 4-H Special Foods Contest.  This is where said 4-Her has to prepare a dish in front of a judge.  Prepare a place setting in front of a judge, and answer nutrition infornmation questions in front of a judge. 

It's all very picky and very tedious.  He did a great job and received a purple ribbon.

The kid loves to cook... his mother, not so much.

To help him get rid of the nerves, I took it upon myself to irritate him.

He's in 4th grade now and a bit too "grown-up" for picture taking and silly antics.  So, I told him that if he didn't smile for the camera, I was going to sing at the top of my lungs in front of him and about 200 of his peers...

He's trying not to smile.

Setting the table.

I let him take my picture!

Bored sisters. 

 #2 {on the left}is like,

"Go ahead let her sing.  Maybe they'll kick us out and we can go to the midway."

Here's what he prepared:

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Super BLT Club Pockets

1/2 cup crispy bacon crumbles

2 cups shredded lettuce

1/4 cup chopped red onion

1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

8 oz. turkey breast, coarsely chopped

1 Roma tomato, thin sliced

1/3 cup light ranch salad dressing

6 pita pockets (use the "super soft" kind - easier for kids to eat)

Leaf lettuce for garnish, if desired

Toss together all ingredients except the pita bread.  Spoon 1/6 of the mixture into each pocket.  Add leaf lettuce and serve promptly.

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Dinner is served!

Becky