Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Peek in your Valentine Box





Find free vintage Valentines online at Seven Deadly SinnersScrapbooking Computer or Curly-Wurly .
Or--just take a trip back to second grade.






XXXOOO
Susie

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Art, in the back of your closet

Do you have an instrument stuck in a case and tucked under a bed or in the back of your closet?  Drag it out, it's a work of art. Your home is an extension of you, what  better way to add personality to your decor.

Guitar hangers are very easy to install and can be found at Guitar Center.


An antique accordion, 


thumb harp,

steel drum and djembe,
and for inspiration, Linda Ronstadt's piano!


Friday, February 4, 2011

29 blackstreet-Posters/Cards

These graphic cards and posters are lovely, affordable and just in time for Valentine's Day. Find them on Etsy at:


Cards go for $4.00 and would look nifty framed with a large mat (see before and after, Pennydish January 17). Posters are $16 and originals $50.








Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Simple Pleasure-Bird Watching


White Breasted Nuthatch
The ice storm gave me plenty of time to watch the birds at my feeders. Bird watching is a hobby that has been shown to lower blood pressure and ease depression. It is a simple way to bring nature closer.
Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
An inexpensive feeder and a bird identification book are all you need to get started. Stan Tekiela has developed a bird field guide for each state. It is a great size, organized by color and very easy to use.

Find the bird field guide for your state on: Amazon


This suet feeder is under $5 at Lowes, suet cakes  are about  $1 and can be found in the pet food section of your grocery or your local  hardware. Suet attracts insect eating birds like woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees and wrens.

Cardinal


easy/healthy/appetizer-snappy green beans




Snappy Green Beans are easy to make... the recipe uses these five ingredients: fresh green beans,vinegar, sugar, garlic and crushed red pepper flakes. I often make this dish when I need to bring an appetizer to an event, they are a bit different than the usual party fare, and I am always asked for the recipe. Although the  recipe is simple, there are a few "secrets"--first, make the marinade and let the flavors mingle for at least 4 hours or better yet overnight.





The marinade:                                                                        

!/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
4 cloves garlic minced





Wash the beans and snap off the ends, as you boil a large pot of water, blanch the greens beans, set a timer and let them cook for just 3 minutes.

Secret #2-  Immediately dunk the beans in ice water to stop the cooking.

Mix the beans with the marinade and allow them to absorb the flavors for at least 1/2 hour.

Although, a tasty appetizer, Snappy Green Beans also work as a side dish, and kids will eat them as a finger food. This recipe is from Great Good Food by Julee Rosso of Silver Palate fame.