The Good, The Bad and the Really Ugly!

The good, the bad and the ugly!

It’s been a while, so here’s a short (though I don’t think that’s possible) update.

I’ve been working hard on getting Leanies Loft up to a viable business. It’s a lot of work. October, November and December are ‘craft show season’, so I was at shows almost every weekend. That’s good. . .  But I didn’t have the inventory to keep the craft show tables full, so I was working till wee hours of the morning trying to create more ‘product’, the bad  . . . I was also driving a school bus from 6 am till 8:30 am, working at church from 9 am until 1 pm, then back to the school bus from 1:30 until 4:30 or so. Getting home, dinner and crafting. .  the ugly!

On the home front, we started remodeling this house. My in-laws lived here for 35+ years and hadn’t done anything to update or improve for at least the last 30 years. There’s A LOT of remodeling to do. We were planning on tearing down the wall between the kitchen and family room, eventually.  Then we went to a store closing sale at Sofa Select and found THE sectional at 60% off.  The good!

When it was delivered, the delivery people couldn’t get it into the family room – old house, small doorways, very “UN-open concept”. The bad.  Since we were planning on taking that wall down anyway, we decided getting that sofa was worth starting the project and at least removing enough of the wall to get the sofa in. . .

The ugly!

And THAT started the kitchen reno! We had hired someone to finish the half completed basement, and moved him on to the kitchen…The good (not really). He finished taking down the wall and put up an 8” square hickory beam – the wall removed was a load bearing wall. Then he started setting up for the new lighting. Should have been a ‘good’, NOT. He put up and removed the drywall on the ceiling 3 times to attempt to get the electric right . . the bad. $3000 later, and a lot of frustration, we found out that he was going blind, had diabetes, and is in stage 4 kidney failure. Yes, we feel badly for him, however, he should have been honest with us. So he was let go and we found someone new, highly recommended, to complete the job. When Steve, the new contractor, started trying to figure what was done, he had to tear down the drywall on the ceiling for a 4^th time! This is the wiring he found

The ugly! There were hot wires just sitting in the ceiling. No junction boxes, just a mess. It took Steve over a week to figure out what was done and what was done, how it was done, and how to fix it!

Then we found out that the wood beam the previous guy had put up to support that load bearing wall wasn’t even strong enough to hold up half of the length of the wall. If we had the snow we had last year, the whole house would have collapsed. So we got an 8” steel I beam. That took 5 guys to take down the old beam and get that 450 lb I beam up.

Fortunately, Steve is a wonderful contractor and does things “so he can sleep at night”! The reno is coming together nicely, but it’s been a really long haul. For any of you that watch all those shows on HGTV that complete renovations in 6 weeks and the homeowners are complaining about living in a construction zone. . . I say ppphhhh . .  this has now been going on for 5 MONTHS!!! I was skyping with one of my daughters and she commented “Mom, it looks like you’re living in a basement”! I have a picture of what the kitchen will eventually look like hanging on the fridge and keep looking at it for encouragement. This WILL be gorgeous when it’s done. . . this WILL be gorgeous when it’s done. . .  this WILL be gorgeous when it’s done.

Well, I think that’s enough for now. Tomorrow I will let you know where the reno stands now, as well as what’s going on in other areas of my little world.  For now, let your creativity flow, it’s a lifeline to a happy life. 

Beach Themed Vase - Simple and elegant

Happy Monday! Hope you had a great weekend! I have just taken on a 2^nd job, not counting this blog and the associated websites that go with it, so it’s getting a little crazy around here. I will be driving a school bus, something I did a few years ago and loved. I especially loved working with the special needs kids, so I hope I end up there this time too. Sadly, when I moved from Michigan, where I had my CDL, to Indiana, I gave it up. So now I have to go through all the training over again. It will be worth it in the end, but right now, it’s nuts! My ‘empty nester’ (read OLD) brain just doesn’t remember stuff as well as it used to. But, I did this once, so I know I can do it again.

The crafting is my sanity. To be able to sit down in my craft room and create is the ultimate stress reliever for me. Since I already had a beach themed wine glass and candlestick holder I decided to make a vase to go with it.

Fortunately, I already had all the supplies, so that makes life easier. Shannon, a friend and fledgling crafter is always ready to sit and ‘play’ crafts with me, so she made a slightly different vase of her own at the same time.

The first step is to paint the can so, just in case something shows through, no one will know how many pringles have been sacrificed in the making of this project.  And since the paint takes a while to dry, Shannon and I decided to go to the new Ross Store to make the wait less taxing. While there, in my ever continuing quest for craft supplies, I found 2 packages of 4 stamp pads for $4.99 each  – how can anyone pass that up? And the timing was perfect; everything was dry when we got back.

So the next step was to cover the entire can with sand. I went outside and sprayed adhesive over the entire thing. Using an old box top as a catch all, I poured out the sand and rolled the can as I poured. 

Next was adhering the broken shell pieces. They are very small bits and pieces. You can get them at Michaels, or just about any decorating section of the local craft store. Again, this entailed going outside and spraying the adhesive over the sand.  But I didn’t cover the whole thing because I didn’t want to cover all the sand as well as leaving room for the shells.

Then you start gluing on the shells. I found hot glue works best for this, no waiting for the glue to dry or slipping and sliding of the shells. Starting with the biggest shells first, I started covering the can.

Slowly, cover the entire can with shells, working your way down to really small little shells.

When it looked like I couldn’t get my fingers into those tiny little spaces anymore, I dripped hot glue into those spaces and filled it in with the broken shell pieces.  Make sure you get around the top of the can as well, so no one knows it just a cardboard can in there!

Once you’re happy with the looks of the can, head back outside. Slide as much of your hand and arm into the can as you are able. Spray the acrylic sealer over the entire thing, spinning it gently around on your arm. Make sure everything is completely covered, a second coat won’t hurt anything and you don’t want shell pieces all over your shelf or floor, very uncomfortable on the feet.

Just remember, it IS a cardboard can in there, so don’t put water in it. I have done this on glass, but for the up-cycler in me, this is much better.  Silk flowers or beachy ‘weeds’ look great in it.

You can use this same technique on many different containers, glass, terra cotta pots, just about anything. So try it, and please let me know how it turns out! I love to see what others create. Please feel free, even encouraged, to share this if you have enjoyed the project or idea.  Remember to share the creativity, and let your creativity flow, it’s a lifeline to a happy life. 

Orange Ginger Chicken in less than 1 hour

OK, here’s the cooking part.  I love to cook. I love to search for new recipes. BUT I never quite make it the way the recipe calls for.  I found the original recipe on Pinterest (what a surprise, my website of addiction), here’s the original recipe - Slow Cooker Orange Chicken from freezermealsforus.com.

 It’s a slow cooker recipe which I am generally very fond of. But today I just felt like spending time in the kitchen, so I adjusted it. I also love chicken, there’s so many ways to play with it. I stock up on boneless, skinless chicken breasts every time it’s on sale, and marinades, all flavors, brands, seasoning, just check my pantry, it’s a storehouse of flavored bottles.  Anyway, back to the orange chicken… I defrosted 2 chicken breast, only feeding 2 people now so I have to keep it small.  We are living in what used to be my in-laws home, with all of their belongings. Fortunately, they liked to cook also, so every gadget you could imagine is here. The set of knives is amazing! Using one of these amazing knives, I cut the chicken breasts into bite sized chunks and covered them in flour. I use a pie pan to bread or flour things, it’s low on the sides so it’s easy to get my hands into and spread out enough to get a lot of chunks in at a time.

I also really love butter. I know they say it’s bad, but I think it’s better than the fake stuff (partially hydrogenated oil – do you KNOW what that is???? Ask me, I’ll explain in great detail)  in margarine. At least butter is reasonably natural. So I put 2-3 tablespoons in a fryer and add the floured chicken.

Once the chicken is browned, well actually more like ‘tanned’, I add my own sauce.

This is where I fake it. Orange juice, ginger, and brown sugar. That’s it! Whisk it up and when the chicken is tanned, add the sauce.

I brought it to a low boil, turned the temp down to low and let it simmer away. Meanwhile, I made the rice to go under it. Just good old Rice a Roni, this one is long grain wild rice. It’s healthier, at least I think it’s healthier and that’s really what counts, right?

Now to the amount I made. Remember, I cook for an army, or at least a large family. I only used 2 chicken breasts, so I hoped I scaled it back enough. I plated it and had my doubts! 

John, my hubby, loved it, but there was still a little bit left. Fortunately he loved it enough to ‘force himself’ to finish it so it doesn’t go to waste – but it will go to my waist, so I didn’t want any more. This is what was left for him to finish. Not too bad for my cooking for 2 effort!

Here is as close to the ‘recipe’ as I can get:

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut in chunks (about 1” square)

Flour – enough to coat the chicken

2 Tablespoons butter

1 cup orange juice

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 tspn. Ground ginger

Sauce: In a medium bowl, add orange juice, brown sugar and ginger. Whisk until well blended. Put aside.

Coat the chicken in the flour. Using a large frying pan, melt the butter then add the coated chicken. After the chicken has browned, approximately 5 minutes, add the sauce and let it simmer for about 20 minutes. Serve over rice.

Enjoy! Please let me know if you try this and how it turns out for you. Do you have any great, or even good, chicken recipes you would be willing to share?

Finally, let your creativity flow, it’s a lifeline to a happy life.

Crafts, Cooking and Gardening, Oh My

So with all my new found ‘freedom’, I’m not sure which direction to go to first. The weather says “Garden”, but the mosquitoes say “oh yea, come here” and I HATE mosquitoes. Blogging is new to me, so I’m not sure what I’m doing here either. Reinventing myself is a lot harder than it would appear.

Having had a craft store, I have tons of supplies.

And I frequent the local craft store clearance sections regularly. I was at a yard sale a couple of months ago and there were a couple of bags of acrylic paints being sold. When I asked how much, the woman must have liked the look on my face and told me to just take them!!! FREE craft supplies – can’t beat that. Here are some samples of the things I have made recently. Tutorials for any of these can be made available if anyone is interested. And most of the supplies are upcycled or easily accessible (read that as inexpensive). I also love doing home décor pieces. Decorating our home with handmade goodies is right up my alley. Since we will shortly, hopefully, be re-doing the home my in-laws lived in for 35 years, lots of decorating projects will be upcoming.

I also have been doing children’s craft/birthday parties for a while. This is a blast. I love to inspire young minds. So I guess crafts come first in my new time management life course. Is there a craft you have been wanting to learn how to do? Please let me know, leave a comment, and I’ll make sure it gets on the ‘agenda’.

Cooking, well this is kind of a necessity. But I do love to try new recipes. Any kind, baking, brunches, side dishes, main course. . . if it involves food – I’m there. I recently tried making almond butter, but I haven’t gotten it down yet, so when I do, you can expect to see that here, too. If you have a recipe you want to share, or have someone else try first, I’m always up for being the guinea pig, leave me a comment! I’ll give it a shot and if it doesn’t work out, there’s always a pizza place right down the street. I will let you know how good, or bad, it was though.

If you are an ‘empty nester’ I would love to hear how you made the adjustment. Have you taken up hobbies? Volunteer? Started a new career? I find myself playing with Finnegan, my 4 legged baby, a lot more. He minds this greatly – NOT! Even John, my hubby, plays with him more nowadays.

Well, please let me know what YOU would like to see here. And feel free to share the blog, if you feel so inspired. Finally, let your creativity flow, it’s a lifeline to a happy life.

Welcome! I have recently become an ‘empty nester’ and am taking the opportunity to embrace some things I have not been able to do much of in the last few years. It’s a toss-up of whether crafting or cooking is more of my passion, so you will most likely see a lot of both here. But, not your average craft/cooking blog. I am gearing what I do to the time of life I (and possibly you) am in. Three years ago I was cooking dinners for 8 – 10 people, now that’s down to 2! Learning to scale back on food production is a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. Having had a teenage boy in the house, there were never left overs, snacks lasted 2 days at the most, and Gatorade was a staple!

Now a bag of chips lasts almost 2 weeks – unheard of! Last night I made baked ziti for dinner and only used ¼ of the box of pasta. . .and not only was it enough, it was lunch today too! I love trying new recipes so please share any you particularly like.

Then we have to get to the crafting. I have been crafting for over 40 years (Yes, I started in the crib ;) ). Now I can craft things not to save money, though that’s always a good thing, but to make my house the way we want it. My home doesn’t have to be baby proofed, at least not until the grandchildren arrive, so I can create to my heart’s content. Actually, I do have 1 adorable granddaughter, but, sadly, I don’t see her very much.

But I digress, back to crafts. One of my biggest joys in life is inspiring creativity in others, so I hope to inspire you. I have done so many crafts I could open my own craft store – oh wait, I had a craft business. I worked at Michael’s for a while, running the classroom, when corporate closed ALL the classrooms. So, I opened my own craft class business. But that is in the past, the supplies, however, are all still here! We’re talking scrapbooking, home décor, mosaics, jewelry making, clay designing and lots more.

You will see all kinds of things to do here that will, hopefully, inspire you. If you want to see something specific, I’ll try my best to accommodate.

Finally, the other topic that will most likely appear frequently is dogs. I am a dogaholic. I’ve had 5 dogs at one time, 2 beagles and 3 labs.  Currently, I only have one very special four legged baby, Finnegan.

He’s a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, known as the ‘love dog’. And that’s all this special little guy wants to do, love you and give ‘facials’. I get several a day, which does wonders for my glasses. At 19 lbs., mostly fur, he is the perfect lap dog.

Well, I look forward to getting to know many of you. Please share this and spread the link and the word.