I went - I poppedUP - I partied!

Oh my goodness - the Soiree and popUP shop at Cedar Chest Antique Mall was SEW MUCH FUN!!!

Friday morning I loaded up, loaded up some more - made the resident teen break a sweat before 10am (after I had the red.neck in charge working with me half the night!) - and set up! Shannon, the CEO of Cedar Chest, gave up her own space right inside the front door, so when you walked in and turned to the right...

you couldn't miss me!

In the "popUP shop" section, I had just my "fashion" department ("home" and "life" stayed in my normal shop space)... let me take you on a tour!

As soon as you entered, my "wear it." pearl-snap shirts were waiting for everyone to try them on, and find the perfect name and/or design!

Right past the pearl-snaps, I had a "sitting room", because stuff like that is important, and it came in VERY handy!!!

Lendi (aka: The Threadbare Gypsy) came to celebrate with me at the Soiree Friday evening, and Holli (aka: Holli's Hoots and Hollers) brought me lunch, and hung out with me Sunday afternoon! The rest of the time, the chairs were filled with old friends, new friends - family and loved ones!

The chairs are also filled with bullet holes... *grin*

Next up:

the "sparkle it." jewelry table. Complete with my Velvet Elvis as the table cover!
hunka-hunka-burnin' love!

And then, of course, was my shelf, and various hang-it-on-it things with my "carry it." pocketbooks!

I love the look on people's faces when they find out I made them, and then when they read WHAT they are made out of!!! I don't discriminate... if I can cut it and sew it, I will make a pocketbook out of it.

Friday night was the Soiree. Did I take pictures of it? No.

The food set-up was crazy cute and fun! "the Mama" made mini birthday cupcakes with sparkles, and glitter, and sprinkles, and more sparkles, so I parked them on the license plate cupcake stand you can see in the picture above. She had also thrown in a can of nuts, so the dump truck (in the photo, hiding under the shelves!) held a cute box with the nuts in it! "the Mama" also provided a FANTASTIC vintage metal cooler for ice (she might not get that back!), and a cute little "redneck-ish" igloo for peach tea!

I attempted some cookies that looked SUPER EASY to make on Pinterest, but apparently they aren't THAT easy for the cooking challenged. Luckily, my "Ethyl" made some corn dip to go with Frito's that was so GOOD it had ME asking for the recipe.

That evening, the whole mall was full of laughter! Everyone came to visit, and shop, and visit some more - other vendors stopped in to meet-n-greet and have some fun... My face still hurts from laughing!

I'm READY to go for many more years! I can't thank each of you enough for reading along, for coming to visit, the other vendors for entertaining my insanity, "the Mama" and "Ethyl" for feeding us all - and Shannon for opening the Cedar Chest doors and welcoming a bunch of crazy red.necks!!!

Let's do it again next year!

comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide where I made a really grin-worthy observation during the Soiree and popUP shop...

bowled over.

I had blogged (here) before about how I ADORE and WANT an Arco lamp!!! However... the ol' pocketbook screams and runs when looking at the price tag on a real (aka: vintage) Arco, and though I think the sky is the limit when it comes to decorating my house...

my ceiling height tends to put a lid on my imagination.

Enter Target and their lamp department:

The frame of it is close enough for me - the height is just right - the PRICE TAG was fantastic!!!

But - the shade and base weren't right...

so I found a stainless steel bowl and a wooden rectangular box.


*big grin*


I am gonna fill the box with concrete when I get a couple of nice "concrete pourin'" days in a row (right now it's weighted with bricks), and then I will decide if I'm going to break the box away and have a concrete base - or just leave it!

comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide where sometimes my determination (and total dis-respect for cooking equipment) to have something I like just makes me laugh... but happy!!!

What do you use YOUR mixing bowls for?

 

yummm...

image and recipe found here at Around My Family Table

If you ever want to shut me up, hand me a bowl of Brocolli and Cheese soup - then just step away.

It's gray and drizzly and a lil' bit cool outside this morning and my stomach is growling...

Brocolli and Cheese Soup

4 tbls butter
½ onion, roughly chopped
2 1/2 tbls flour
2 cups whole milk
1 cup chicken/vegetable stock
1 large head broccoli, roughly chopped
1 ½ cups grated cheese
additional milk and cheese may be needed

Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook for about 4 minutes. Stir in flour and cook for a minute or two. Pour in the milk and broth. Add the broccoli. Season with a dash of salt and black pepper.

Cover and reduce the heat to low. Simmer on low until the broccoli is tender, 20 to 30 minutes.

Puree soup using a blender (in two batches), immersion blender, or even a potato masher. Stir in the cheese and allow to melt. Taste the seasonings and adjust if needed. Thin with additional milk to desired consistency.

To make it a little heartier, stir in some diced ham or leftover chicken/turkey. Serve with extra cheese and crackers.

So.... who's cooking?

comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide where I've got my google search up and running because I'm having to look up "puree" and "immersion blender"... my tater mashers are photo holders...

inspired by...

I pinned this bracelet to one of my Pinterest boards a few weeks ago:

And I've stopped to look at it mannnnnnny times since!

I ADORE the “old school” cross-stitch mixed with metal! I think it’s one of the greatest contrasts that I've seen in a long time – and I’m all about contrast! Since the bracelet was part of an art exhibit (and rightfully so) I quit looking for where to buy it and decided to use it as my PinSpiration.

Cross-stitching abilities are NOwhere on the red.neck Chic resume because I get all confused, tangled and lose count of whatever stitches I was supposed to be stitching and end up with strings everywhere but where they are supposed to be... Instead? Here’s what I did:

Supplies Needed...

Plus some E6000, clothes pins and a small piece of leather.

There are filigree findings in all of the crafty stores right now – so I am SURE that you can find some that tickle your creative bone!!!

I took the flat filigree flowers and broke them in half - then broke the third part off - to make the leaves...

and started running various colors of embroidery floss through all of the holes...

making my flowers and my leaves. I would like to say that I used some magical technique, but... there was absolutely no method to my madness (you know me - I just roll with it...) so just stitch the stitch that makes you happy!

When I was done:

I stitched all of my flowers and leaves in to place using the holes in the silver cuff bracelet I found. If you don’t have holes in your cuff bracelet:

E6000 and some fantastically red.neck clamps (aka: clothes pins) work wonders!

Because I had stitched the flowers to my cuff, I secured a strip of leather to the inside (to hold my ends) then I glued some sparkles in to my happy flower centers... and I dropped some glue in all kinds of other places to hold leaves a little flatter, (got some in my hair), etc. etc.

Super simple – super happy! Are you going to make one? I think I’m going to call mine my “wrist garden” because actual gardening is MIA off the red.neck Chic resume along with cross-stitching... and cooking...

comin’ to you LIVE from a single-wide where I needed to find some inspiration – what has been inspiring you lately?

call me Linus.

Yesterday, on a Saturday, I was a COMPLETE embarrassment to junker's 'round the world. *hangs head in shame*
I sat and watched movies... all. day. long.
Not one tag sale/garage sale/estate sale/flea market/junk store/thrift store... *re-hanging head in shame*

I assumed the "I am being ambitious by finding the remote control" position on my couch under my new-to-me afghan (we won't count how many of these afghans I have... I find them so "Granny Chic"!!!) that I got on FRIDAY while dogging Pam and Shauna w/Three Sisters Estate Sale Services footsteps. THAT was incredibly fun!!! It was my first time to "work" an Estate Sale (I got to help them by being the "holding" department... I'm not very organized... we will leave it at that...) and I'm ready to "work" with them again! It's hard to call it "work" when I enjoyed it so much!

Before my own personal movie marathon I sat down with this magazine:

I picked it up about a week ago but have been saving it for just the right quiet moment to open it and savor Debra's 300-year-old barn house that was featured in it!

I ADORE Debra at Capers of the Vintage Vixens. Always have - always will. I feel like I was visiting her by looking through her home via the magazine article!

I made a small list of things I'm going to try to sweet-talk her out of. Like... the aqua metal stools. And... lots of other things... maybe the list isn't so small...

One of my "GO THERE ASAP" goals is to raid Debra's house - ask her if she will come paint my floors red and white - and then go lurk and loiter in her new store, Maison St. Germain. All of this I will do. ASAP.  Connecticut... here I come.

Another thing I did during my movie marathon was feel the desire to cook.

Yes, I watched "Julie & Julia" for the first time... yes, I wanted to try cooking... yes, I lost that desire pretty quick. I REALLY don't think I could handle live lobsters in a pot, or a calf's leg...

or an oven for that matter. And WHAT are all of those pots and pans for?! I would be like Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman" with all of the different forks at the dinner table if faced with a wall of pots and pans! (oh yeah... I watched "Pretty Woman" too.)

comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide where today I am in awe of:

• Those of you who have mad crocheting skillz (AND patience!) and are able to create artistic greatness for me to carry around like I'm Linus.
• Debra aka: Capers of the Vintage Vixen, who has mad decorating and creative skillz and is an amazing Wife, Mother, Artist, Internet Friend and Business Woman.
• Those of you who can cook. And have pots and pans... and cookbooks... and know how to use all of those things.

YUMMMMMM!

I can eat my weight in Stuffed Peppers. Seriously. Stuffed Peppers, Chicken Fried Steak (with some Fried Okra on the side) and Pineapple Upside Down Cake.

Oh. And Little Debbie Zebra Cakes. I'm just a discerning foodie like that. *snicker* 

Anywho - I had Stuffed Peppers with lamb. It was my first time to ever eat lamb!

THEY ARE DELICIOUS!

Ingredients

1 pound ground lamb

1 cup cooked, cooled rice

1 teaspoon coarse salt

1 bag mini bell peppers

2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 cup crumbled feta cheese

Directions

Mix ground meat with rice, salt, and a few flavorful ingredients. Spoon filling into each half of the mini bell peppers; then broil on a baking sheet on the center rack until meat is cooked, about 8 minutes.

(makes 24)

found at MarthaStewart.com

You should make some. And - when you do - call me. I'll be there.

comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide where I think you should know... as I was typing this post up and pulling in my photos - my stomach growled so loud I jumped in my seat. When are you cooking 'cause I'm HUNGRY!?!?


p.s. I have also come to the conclusion that I could run around taking pictures of vegetables at Farmer's Markets for WEEKS. I might have found a new muse! Do you know how many pocketbook ideas I got from eggplants and bell peppers and sweet peppers and okra and watermelons and fresh flowers and tomatoes and corn and squash and jalapeno's? Good grief...

cherry soup

google images

My throat feels like someone stuffed a roll of barbed wire down it... *dramatic pause*... or at the very least parked a dump trunk in it. Soup is on my mind 'cause chips hurt.

google images

I read a recipe (yes, I read recipes... doesn't mean I cook!) for Chilled Cherry Soup using honey in it just a few days ago:

INGREDIENTS

1 1-pound bag frozen, pitted cherries

2 cups pinot noir

1 teaspoon lemon zest, chopped

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup honey

Cinnamon stick

1/2 cup water

Dash salt and black pepper

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 cup water

Lemon or cherry sorbet (optional)

PREPARATION:

In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine cherries, wine, zest, sugar, honey, cinnamon stick, 1/2 cup water, salt and pepper. Stir to dissolve sugar and honey. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer and reduce the liquid slightly, about 15 minutes.

In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and 1/4 cup water. Whisk cornstarch mixture into cherry mixture and return to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered 10 minutes or until slightly thickened.

Remove soup from heat. Remove cinnamon stick from soup and place in bowl. Place fine-meshed strainer over bowl.

Puree soup in a blender, one cup at a time until smooth. Using a rubber spatula or back of a spoon to press out liquid, strain through fine-meshed strainer. Chill completely. Remove and discard the cinnamon stick. Serve soup with a scoop of lemon or cherry sorbet, if desired.

recipe from here

I have a teddy-bear bottle full of fresh honey that makes me smile. And I like cherries. And I always let my food get cold before I eat it. And PLUS: Troy with Junk Exchange said it was 101degrees here yesterday... that's crazy! It's only the first week of June! Chilled Cherry Soup sho' 'nuff sounds tasty.

google images

Have you ever made cherry soup before?

comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide where I should also tell you that frozen cherries make your nose feel better after you drop a metal shelf on to the tip of it and it turns red like a cherry and then it looks like someone beat you up side the nose with a whisk. Or a blender. I don't think this is my week... who's cooking?

cooking a moose.

It's a well known fact (almost world-wide) that I can't cook. At all. But... I have a deep admiration for those of you who CAN cook. And cookbooks... cookbooks seem to find me. Some of my favorites are the Church cookbooks.

casseroles... i like casseroles... all kinds of food in one pot.

I gravitate towards the church cookbooks because of the stories I think they tell... I like to imagine that somebody's Grandmother, or Great-Grandmother came up with the recipes (some for fun - some out of necessity) and started sharing. I like to think that they spent happy hours in their cozy kitchen with their sons and daughters - grand-sons and grand-daughters - passing on their love through time and food. Then the recipes got handed down, and handed down some more...

I'm a mustard girl but I might have to draw the line here...

just think - when a lot of these cookbooks were typed out and published - blowing things up in the microwave wasn't even a thought!

These cookbooks hold recipes for cakes and pies and salads and cookies and casseroles and fish stuff and meat stuff and sauces and dips and jams and jellies and bread and...

someone must have had a farm. With a moose on it.

*big cheesy grin*

Look:

there's even a section for the cooking impaired.

comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide where I'm thinking that these goodies are heading to my space (aka: the "Taj Mahal") inside of the Hillsboro Antique Mall this week-end so someone that knows how to work their stove can enjoy them. Oh, and if you make some Beets with Mustard Butter will you let me know? I'll taste-test it for you.

mirror mirror on the wall...

Have I ever told you that I come by the whole "red.neck" thing naturally? I do...

My Grandfather. Whew - Grampy was the ORIGINAL red.neck. Heck, I'm fairly certain that McGyver was based off of Grampy's life. He could fix anything...

even if all he had was a stick of gum and a shoe lace.

And... he always had shoelaces because his fishin' hat didn't have what he thought were decent ties, so he ran some shoe laces through the hat to hold it on his head. But, that's not all... he had one of THE VERY FIRST computers hiding out in his wood-working barn... "the Mama" tells THAT story best (since she helped him build it... of course. Mirror mirror on the wall...):

Computer:

First, gather up all the 1 lb. coffee cans that anyone has…even if you have to empty out what they already had in it….

Then steal a sharpie from your daughter…

Number each can until you have enough to fill the shelves of the cupboard that you made from a side of the road TV cabinet…..

Then, as you fill each can with doo-dads and thing-a-ma-bobs, you write down what is in the can in your horrendous handwriting…with a woodworkers marking pencil….on the back of an old piece of sanding machine belt….

THEN you conVINCE your beleaguered daughter to type each list on a 3X5 card that you have just purloined from her desk…..

Then you hang allllll of the cards from a shower hook (that you probably swiped from said daughter) on the front of your cabinet full of cans, and call it...

a computer!

My Grandmother – she had her red.neck moments, but they were carried out in a very delicate, lady-like way... she was definitely the Chic to his red.neck.

This leads me to my Uncle (the wheelie popper at the top of this post... need I say more?). There is WAY tooooo much reading material for one blog post so I will just sum it up with this:

oh. and note the barn in the background...

His tractor/junk COOL stuff barn is bigger than his house. Like, you can see it from the road bigger. Like... three times bigger than his house bigger. AND! That’s just ONE BARN!

My Aunt? She has had her red.neck moments, but they are always carried out in a very delicate, lady-like way... she is definitely the Chic to his red.neck. Their kids? Let’s just say... mirror mirror on the wall...

Now... let’s discuss MY parents. Starting with my Dad:

My Dad is a veritable GENIUS with all things mechanical/electrical... and pretty much all things in between. VERY resourceful. He decided a few years ago to make his own gasoline using cooking oil – or corn – something like that. His gas station? An awe-inspiring conglomeration of hot water heaters with hoses and hook-ups and... things. When he wasn’t getting the gas mileage he wanted, he made a filtration system of some kind:

Needless to say, he’s not allowed to drive down-town or anywhere near the airport 'cause of the whole pipebombresemblance thing.. When I took this picture we had run out of gas...

There are other things I remember growing up... things like:
the cats and dogs + metal trash cans they wouldn't stay out of + low voltage car batteries = flying animals.
Banjo pickin’ in the top of very large trees.
I had an electric car before electric cars were cool and I used to drive that around his TV shop like I was an Indi driver... I’m not sure what it was made out of, but you can bet your favorite pair of overalls it was as interesting as his gas station.
Last time I visited him he had a yacht parked by his house. It was taller than his house... longer than his house... you could see it on Goggle Earth. yeppppp. Oh - and in case I didn't mention it... the yacht and house is in one of the biggest cities in the United States. RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF one of the biggest cities in the United States. So far I only have a 3-legged chair and a hot pink horse parked by my house... a yacht could be next. mirror mirror on the wall...

Then we have “the Mama”.

Again – a genius. VERY resourceful. One time "the Mama" made a beautiful dress and she needed a pink pearl necklace to wear with it...

(she was raising three red.necks on her own at that point (this is important information for the next couple of sentences) and money didn't come out of the cracker jack box). So... she goes to the local dollar store – picks up some cheap plastic pearls and some Ritt dye. Voila! Pink pearls. I’m certain she was the belle of the ball.
When the Keds were so popular in the late 80s/early 90s I wanted a pair SO BAD! “the Mama” goes to the local dollar store – buys a pair of their version of Keds, grabs up her label maker...

And I had some “Keds”. Not kidding! I was the only one that knew the difference! I always sported pretty dresses with lace and fun buttons and more lace that I’m sure had curtains that matched it somewhere in the red.neck household.

Speaking of the red.neck household... have I ever told you our back door (which was really our front door because we’re red.necks) was a big – HUGE – HEAVY door out of an insane asylum?

I think it even had wire stuff sandwiched in the glass. Very fitting, yes? Now for the rest of the story: "the Mama" had to find us a new door because I was mad at the oldest red.neck brother and slammed out of the house... all of us (plus some neighbor kids) were all sitting verrrrrrrry quietly in our fear and terror when she came home that night... I honestly thought she wouldn’t notice the missing glass. *shrug*

Anyway – to take away from the fact that she owned an insane asylum (complete with huge, heavy – it would have taken a bodybuildertoslamit - door), “the Mama” painted our door lipstick red.

The door on the single-wide? Lipstick red. Mirror mirror on the wall...

My Step-Dad? Not only is he the Chic to “the Mama’s” red.neck... I think he’s the Chic to ALL of us. Do you think he knew what he was getting in to when he married us?

Comin’ to you LIVE from a single-wide where when the resident teen's car bumper got smashed up in a parking lot I handed him some duct tape. He took it... and walked outside with it... mirror mirror on the wall. WE ARE OUR PARENTS AFTER ALL!!! hee-hee

p.s. if you don't hear from me for a while it's 'cause i'm still running from "the Mama" when she discovers her mug shot in this post... i might be older but i'm still skeert of her... i figure i have at least a half hour head-start... but I have to finish the pocketbook I'm making out of Hefty bags first.