A Trip Down Memory Lane....

What a great day.... lots of memories.  Spent the day at Kennekuk County Park in Danville, IL enjoying the company of family members rarely seen.  I love my life but I sure do miss the family fun we had growing up.  Every Saturday night we all crowded into my grandparents home and played cards, Euchre, as soon as us kids were old enough to learn it and understand the rules, while grandma watched Dallas..... completely engrossed, twirling her hair while we laughed and played cards into the wee hours of the morning.  Good Times!  Eating grandpa's popcorn from a paper grocery bag.  Those were the days!

Didn't take long and my uncle moved with his family and so did we.... all that fun came to a screeching halt.  Those adorable cousins of mine, who I will always remember from grandma and grandpa's house are now grown with kids of their own.  I got to see two of their families today along with my aunt and uncle..... such cuties!

The only way to coral all the littles.... while they're eating.  So cute. 

Every Reunion we have an auction.... people bring crafts and toys, sometimes just junk.... and it all gets sold to help fund the next year's reunion.  Little Ruby, named after Great Grandma, stole the show..... she told grandma she wanted to buy this weetch!  So cute!  If anyone touched it she got mad.... She's going to be a little heartbreaker.... her poor daddy!



 

We spent a lot of time at the parks growing up.... walking the trails, fishing, picnics, school activities, the beach..... so many good memories.

 

We always have the reunion at the beautiful barn...White Oak Barn.

The dogs were the second highlight of the day.... everyone, especially the kids, were enthralled with the doggies.  The Russian Wolfhound, named Merlin, was a huge dog.... very gentle and sweet.  The husky was a Nervous Nellie but once people started to disperse she chilled.  My son was in love, he wants a husky.

We played many, many games of volleyball at these reunions.  Man did we have a lot of fun.  Amazing memories of grandpa and his brother, Richard.... both gone now.... playing Volleyball with all the young'in's.....

 

We have the reunion every two years.... last time this building was not started yet... it's an education building right next door to the barn... we always came here for field trips in school.... check out this door.  Wow!  It think I'm in love.

 

Right down the street, is another park..... Kickapoo State Park......... I ran cross country here in high school.....   Today, on our way to the barn we cut through Kickapoo to get to Kennekuk and saw a huge group of kids, all decked out in school sweat-suits.... gearing up for a meet.  Great memories. 

 

I hate the drive to spend a couple hours but I wouldn't miss these memories or the short visit with long lost cousins for anything..... it's always a wonderful time!

 

Hope you had a great Saturday...

Southwestern Pulled Pork

I love this recipe... so good and so simple.

2 cans (4oz. each) chopped green chilies
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
1 cup barbecue sauce
1 large onion, chopped
1/4 cup chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 boneless pork loin roast (2-2.5 lbs.)

Put roast in crock pot.... pile on remaining ingredients.  Cook on low 8-9 hrs.  Remove pork from crock and shred.... put back in and heat through.  Hmmm, Hmmm, Good!

Ready to start cooking!

Ready to Eat!

The roast I cooked was a little over 4 lbs. so I doubled the ingredients.  Of course, I changed things up just a little too....  The best part..... leftovers!  Use it in burritos, sandwiches, eat it with chips or with rice and veggies...... so good!

Baked Tilapia

Last night's plan for dinner was Tilapia..... I'm not a big fan of fish and my husband tried to ban it from the house.... along with chicken and pork (yep, red meat is all he wants) but it's so good for you and with our "trying to eat healthy" ..... ya just gotta "suck it up" and eat it.  This recipe is pretty good and a repeat at our house.

Here's the recipe:

Tilapia Fillets
3 Tbsp. butter
3 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. salt 
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/8 tsp. paprika

Combine butter, lemon juice, garlic powder and salt.  Pour over fillets.  Sprinkle with oregano and paprika.  Bake, uncovered at 425 degrees for 10-15 minutes.

I usually bake 4-6 fillets and I always double the ingredients so I have lots of flavor..... and..... of course..... I didn't have the right ingredients last night so I changed things up....

Here's what I had to work with:

Salmon, not tilapia..... I followed the recipe, doubled, except I didn't have oregano... used parsley instead and I added chives.



Straight out of oven....

 

Along with some sliced peaches..... pretty good..... for fish!

Years in the Making..... The Flowerbed Chronicle

I mentioned previously I'd share my crazy with a flower bed I've been working on for years.   When we bought the land where we now live I always knew I wanted a "botanical garden" feel around the yard and lake.  Slowly, over time (lots of time) it's coming together.  I've had a vision for the front of the property.... granted, it's changed somewhat and continues to evolve over time, but a vision none-the-less. 

This entire area was overgrown and full of junk trees and vines.... ugh!  My hubby took the bobcat and ripped most of it out.... I spent two days running a burn pile to get rid of it.  We had a few large rocks left over from another project so I had him place them around out here and that was the extent of this years work..... (I told you "years in the making").

The following year we added berms..... One large closest to the driveway and two smaller opposite of it.  This area measures roughly 90' x 50' and I plan to cover it in it's entirety with flower bed...... someday!  Here's the end result of another year's work:

 

Year three..... structure.  Well, in the berms anyhow.  I added some trees and shrubs.  I love natural, perennials mixed with structure and I tend to let them take over (within reason anyhow) so I always have babies that need removed.... they have a new home out here.  I got it mulched too..... lots of mulch! 

 

Year four..... My husband decided he couldn't take another year of hoses from the house out to the flower beds.... so.... I got a watering system this year.  The boys and my husband dug trenches all over the yard and hooked it up to a pump system taking water from the lake.... works great!  I also added a few bushes to connect the two smaller berms.

 

Now, it's amazing what a couple years can do.... it's overgrown.  I have a path through the center planned that'll lead from two "activity" circles..... I have started them both but completion will have to wait.  I've also added some rock to the bushes above to make mowing a little easier.  Another year gone. 

This is one of the "activity circles"..... It will be a willow structure once the willows decide to grow in and I can start weaving them together.... not sure how it's going to turn out but whatever happens I will "make it work". 

This is the second "activity circle"..... all I've got so far are the arborvitae that will be on either side of the entrances..... I plan to form the rest of the circle with lavender..... in the spring... I am planning a mosaic walkway to connect this area to the willow structure on the other end.... hopefully that can get started in the spring.


 

 

I have a wall I'd love to do out here with bottles that I've been collecting for a couple years (they've taken over the shed and a portion of the garage) and of course the walkway, who knows what direction it'll take in the years to come but it certainly is fun figuring it all out!

 

 

Weekly Treasures...

Went garagin' this morning with a friend, so much fun!  Here's a look at some of the great things I picked up.............

 

Some great stuff..... between the two of us we filled my car again.  Three chairs... can't wait to start messing with them.  One was FREE!  Unbelievable.  The other two were a total of three dollars.... All adorable in their own way and gonna be gorgeous when I get done with them.... Fun, Fun, Fun!

Window Treatments..... Panels

Some things to consider when picking a window treatment are style, function and architectural interests. Window treatments can set the mood for the room, hide or enhance the homes architectural details, lend a sense of balance or simply block out light.

Many people would like custom window treatments without the price tag. My solution......buy store bought and jazz them up. Here's some examples:

These were store bought panels with fringe running vertically along the leading edge. I removed the fringe, added a valance and repositioned the fringe horizontally. Gorgeous, custom-made draperies using store bought panels.

To lend some visual height to the room window treatments need to be hung as high as possible.... not directly above the window.... store bought panels simply aren't long enough.  A simple solution, add a contrasting fabric at the top or bottom to bring them to the length you want.

Other quick fixes: add trim, a fabric border, stamp a design onto the panel, add beading, or hang them using unconventional means.....such as sticks from the tree outside, a canoe paddle, door knobs, cabinet hardware, etc. Take a walk through your local hardware store and think outside the box.

These were hung using cording and the pipes are black piping (gas?) from the hardware store

Window treatment style choices can complement your room's decor and add that sense of pizzazz that every room is looking for. 

Pinkie....

I worked over the last couple days at The Pink Elephant Antique Mall in Livingston, IL.  Took a couple photos to wet your appetite.... if you're ever in the area you should stop bye.  Plan to spend some time... there's over 50 dealers and lots of stuff to see!  Take a peek:

I love salt and pepper shakers........

 I collect fruit and vegetable stuff.... mainly Shawnee Corn Pottery but I also love the tomato sugar and creamer (I have one and a teapot.... amongst other things)....... check out the beautiful orange pottery below.... In love with orange dishes right now. 

 I also love vintage artwork..... these little kid pics are really, really cute!  If you like vintage artwork.... book prints.... etc.  My, oh my will you be in heaven......we have lots to choose from.

 Love all these machines....  this booth has a great selection.

 Into old guns, knives, war memorabilia..... check these out.  Lots of eye candy.....!

 Toys, toys and more toys........