Pages

Welcome

Thanks for stopping by My Vintage Cottage. It's filled with recipes, decorating ideas, junking, crafting and garden projects.I hope you enjoy what you find and come back often.
A special thanks to justsomethingimade for the header.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

lacy vases

 

Some times you need a small gift or want to give a friend flowers from your garden.  I try to keep a few things on hand that I can just grab in a hurry. 
Here's what you need:
.GS or TS glass vase.  You know the kind you can find for .25-$1.00
Lace or doily
Ribbon, burlap or raffia
Embellishments like flowers or buttons
Mod Podge

Wash and dry your vase.  coat the out side of the vase a small section at a time with the MP and apply your lace or doily.  Try to smooth the wrinkles so there are no lumps, but it's OK to have small gathers.  You can use straight pins to hold things in place if needed.  When the lace is applied add another coat of MP and let dry.  After every thing is dry add ribbon, flowers or embellishments as needed.  On both of these examples I cut burlap in strips and used it as my ribbon.  On the top picture I used  a piece of lace and a doily.  On the bottom I used an oval doily These look great with flowers or a candle and you can use them out side like a hurricane lamp.  This doesn't have to be done in what my sons call "girly stuff".  Think tea stained or black  muslin and Halloween decor or white cheese cloth and greenery for the holidays.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

easy chicken salad

 I always keep roasted chicken in the freezer for quick lunches or dinners.  You can buy roasted chickens at the grocery store and remove the meat or roast your own.  Just lay pieces on a greased cookie sheet, sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder and a little olive oil.  Pop in to oven set at 425 until cooked through.  I use breast pieces and they take about 25 minutes.  Now for the chicken salad.
Here's what you need:

Cooked chicken about I used 2 breast for this recipe.  It will make 6-7 decent size sandwiches.
2 hard boiled eggs
1/2 of a diced onion
2 ribs of celery(optional )
1/2C sweet relish
1T mustard
1T mayonnaise
Chop the chicken, eggs, onion and celery  I usually just dump everything into a zip top bag, mixing bowl and storage all in one.
Add the relish and mustard to taste.  Add just enough mayo to moisten.  Mayo is one of the few foods that I absolutely hate so I  put in as little as possible.  If I have sour cream or plain yogurt I substitute with that.  If you make your sandwich with whole grain bread and add sliced tomatoes you have a healthy and yummy lunch or dinner.  Just go light on the potato chips.

Monday, August 29, 2011

bathroom redo

 This is the bathroom off the guest bedroom I redid a while back.  They needed to coordinate, so this had to be done.  This is a tiny room, 5X8 and the only full bath in the house.  It was still OK just tired.  In its former life it was bright yellow.  I used the same pale aqua paint as the GBR and touched up the white trim.

Rubber ducky, this doesn't have to be a serious room, have some fun.



Painted the mirror.  Hung it and a shelf over the toilet.  An electric candle and wooden candle box and interest.


New trash can.  Who says you can't use a bucket?


Medicine cabinet over sink.  I think I'll add a solid piece off wood over the cutouts so you can't see the clutter.  Who wants to look at your bandaids and heartburn meds?


Lower part of the shelf over toilet.  Hand towel, Kleenex and extra TP.  I don't believe in TP holders since no one in the house can refill them but me.  I think if you're born with testosterone it makes you incapable of doing chores like this.

The final room, light, bright and uncluttered.
 I really splurged on this room.  The grand total was $25.00.  Why so much?  The light fixture in a post coming soon required $4 in electrical parts, 2 aqua hand towels $6 .   I went whole hog and bought a new shower curtain for $15.  This is only the second time in 40 years I've bought a decorative shower curtain.  Mostly I use liners and make a curtain, usually out of sheets.
  Now if I can just get AH to keep his grungy hands off of it when he goes to shower.  I told him to use his elbow to push it back with.  He growled at me.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

candle block redo

 I saw a picture in Somerset Home  magazine of something
similar so I decided to redo my primitive candle block to go into my bathroom I just redecorated.
Before the 4X4 block was stained dark, the tart tins were left natural and there were white berries wrapped around the cup.  I painted 2 coats of cream onto the block and the outside of the cups  I painted the inside of the cups buff.  Let everything dry overnight, then sand back the edges to give a worn look to the piece.  I brushed on and wiped off  antiquing stain.  I cut the letters on my Cricut although you could use a stencil or free hand it.  The other side has a graphic from  http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com  I applied the letters and cut out with Mod Podge and added another coat when the first was dry.  Pop in tea lights and wrap the berries around if you want.  It's sitting on the shelf above the toilet in the newly decorated bathroom.  That reveal is coming soon.
Always take a second or third look at your accessories before getting rid of them.  There are usually simple changes you can make to give them a new look.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

brown sugar coffee cake

I only make this when I have company coming or I'm taking it somewhere else.  If I left it all in my kitchen I'd make my blood sugar skyrocket.
Here is what you need:

I pkg of frozen dinner roll dough
1 lg pkg vanilla instant pudding
1 stick butter melted(no substitutes it won't taste the same)
1/2C brown sugar
2-3T milk
Spray a bundt pan or angel food cake pan with vegtable spray.
Mix the butter, pudding, sugar and milk to make a thin paste you don't want it runny but still pourable.
Put 12 of the rolls in the bottom of the pan, top with
 half the sugar mix.  Add 12 more dough balls and
the rest of the sugar mix.
Bake according to the pacakge directions on the dough. 
The one I use is 350 for 25-30 minutes.  The cake should
be golden brown and crusty.  Cool at least 30 minutes
and remove from pan.  When it cools completly you can store
leftovers(yeah right) in a zip top bag.
 The rolls I use come 36 to a pack so I grease my cup cake
pan and add the rest of the rolls.  Bake according to
directions.  Ta-da dinner rolls for supper that night.


Tuesday, August 23, 2011

garden table

I once had a bird bath that had rusted through.  The base and stand were still in good shape so it was not going in the trash.  AH had already put it there.  You would think after 40 years he'd know better.
 I bought a 14" pizza pan for under $4.00 primed and painted both pieces.  I used a rusty red primer and flat black paint letting some of the primer show through.  This gives the piece the look of age and rust.  I then cut a 6" piece of wood  narrow enough to slide into the pipe of the stand.  I screwed (use  flat screws) the wood to the pizza pan and dropped it into the stand.  New table.
Always try to look at things in a new way instead of throwing them in the trash.  It helps you and our beautiful earth.  At the very least put it on freecycle, I'll be lurking there.

Monday, August 22, 2011

some days!

This post could be subtitled, My terrible, awful,  not nice day. I feel I must make a disclaimer here.  I'm not prone to going nuts when a crisis strikes.  I'm pretty laid back and can usually take things in stride.  If you'd had the day I did there probably would have been alcohol consumed and cursing in the air.
I took off to the big, big city to take care of two of my grand kids so their parents could go on a much needed break.  A friend took me part way, Nate picked me up and we arrived safely to his house.  Parents left kids got baths, stories and bed time.  That was easy, Granny's still got it.  Off to bed only to have the cats try to break into the bedroom, waking me in the process at least 10 times through the night.  I love cats, but I don't want to sleep with them.  AM comes, kids up, breakfast, dressed, lunch packed, teeth brushed, out the door. All before 7:30(pant, pant).  My hat is off to all you parents who do this every day, go to work and repeat in the evening.
Buckled in sons car ready to go, car won't start.  Call son for suggestions, call husband, talk to neighbor, call second son Rich who has just arrived at work, he heads 45 min back to brothers house.  Very nice neighbor calls second neighbor, who comes to help.  Steering wheel had locked up.  It took all the neighbors strength to get it twisted to unlock.  YEA! car starts just as Rich arrives. Crisis averted. Off into rush hour traffic to get JJ to school and little brother to day care.  Are you exhausted yet?  I am.  I get back to the house and do a couple of hours of research for a new project I'm contemplating.  Stop to take the dogs out.  I'm watching them and sons dog disappears.  She has escaped under the fence.  I go thorough the empty ,weed filled lot next door and into the woods trying to get the dog to come to me.  Stella thinks shes having a good time on the greener side of the fence and completely ignores me.  I loose sight of her several times, and am freaking out that I have lost my kids pet. AGH!!  Finally she slips back under the fence and into the yard.  11/2 hours have past, I am sweat soaked  and contemplating drinking all the beer my son has in the frig.  It's a good thing I hate beer.  Off into the traffic to pick up JJ at school in one direction, little guy and other granddaughter KT from day care in the opposite direction.  Rich and KT are staying for dinner.  Grill won't start, oven is cooking really slow.  It takes over 90 minutes to roast a tender loin that should have been done in 35.  Finally dinner, clean up, baths, stories and bed time.  I go to let the dogs out for last time potties, no Stella.  I talk to JJ and she says she let her out when they went to get in the pool.  I had been taking her out on a leash since the escape, but hadn't told the kids.  I search high and low, inside and out, every room, closet and cabinet. I do this multiple times.  Upstairs, downstairs even opened the basement door and yell down frequently.  No Stella.  Call Nate, call Rich he comes with flashlight.  We search high and low inside and out, he drives around the neighborhood and I call until I'm hoarse.  By 10PM we give up, it's too dark to see and we would have found her in the house.  Talk to Nate make a plan for doing wanted posters the next day and try to go to sleep.  Of course I feel awful that the mutt is gone and how am I going to tell the kids.  It was a long and mostly sleepless night for not only me but sons and wives, Stella however was laughing her head off at all the idiot adults, you see she was in the basement all the time and just ignored me when I called.  4:00AM found her.  Crisis averted.  All is well and did the morning thing again.  Thank goodness I didn't have to go to a job.  I came back after dropping off the kids and took a three hour nap.  Things looked much better after that.
Lesson for the day: SOME DAYS JUST STINK!  Find the good in then and keep calm, things will be better soon.  Also always look in the basement for a missing dog.

My wonderful JJ a great help and the best big sister.



AH came to pick me up.  He's always tired, he works nights and can sleep through a tornado


Stella, sorry I can't think of anything nice to say, so as my Mama taught me, I won't say anything.


Diva, very laid back she can sleep through a tornado right along with AH

It wasn't a tornado but winds strong enough to throw the gazebo into the pool.  That was Saturday morning.


Hide and seek is his favorite game and cracks him up every time.


Such a sweet, crazy boy
 There is always good in every day.  Some days you just have to look harder for it.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

magnets

I found these decorative metal pieces at a RS this summer and have been trying to think of what to do with them.  This is what I came up with; magnets for your frig.


You can buy these business card sized magnets at any office supply store.  Just peel off the backing paper and stick what ever you want on it.  Here I used scrapbook paper.

Smooth the paper on and then trim if necessary.  I used E6000 to add the metal pieces and hot glued the buttons and embellishments.  My friends loved them.  You can also put your contact info on them and use them as business cards that won't  get lost in a purse or wallet.   

When I use to sell custom window treatments I would put drapery fabrics and my business card info on these.  More than 10 years later I still run into people who say they have the magnet on their refrigerator.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

herb garden

 I enjoy my herb garden all year long.  It is not even 3 feet wide but it runs the entire length of my patio on the west side of our house, about 35'  It is just steps from the back door and mostly takes care of it's self.  I use the herbs mostly in cooking but also in bouquets and for drying.  When fall arrives I pot up the tender herbs and bring them inside.
Along with the two arborvitae that are almost tall enough to wear Christmas lights this year I grow an abundance of herbs.  These include, borage, basil, chive and garlic chives, lavender, comfrey,rosemary, sage, thyme, pineapple sage, parsley, cilantro, lemon verbena, fennel and oregano.  I plant the really invasive herbs like mint and lemon balm in another part of the garden.


Right borage, bush basil and thyme.


view from the back door along patio


fennel I'll dry the seed heads in the fall


basil with  thyme in the background


flat leaf parsley


wood flower for added color


guard bunny


view from the south end of the patio from my favorite swing

We added our patio and pergola three years ago.  We have a sun shade over the pergola so it's  shady until early afternoon.  It's a great place to take a break, visit with friends and enjoy a beautiful day.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

smoked sausage hash

This is one of those comfort food recipes, the kind grandma said sticks to your ribs.
Here's what you need:
4-5 medium potatoes
1 onion
1 green pepper
1 pkg smoked sausage
Vegetable oil

Peel and cut the vegetables into 1" chunks fry on medium in a skillet with a small amount of oil until they are just starting to become soft.  Add the sausage cut into 1/4" coins.  Cover and fry until vegies are soft and everything is starting to brown about 20-25 minutes.  Check frequently, but don't stir it too much you want some brown crusty bits and your potatoes to stay whole.  There is a fine line between brown/crusty and burnt, watch carefully.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Photo or reminder cube

Remember the friend's birthday gift I was making in a previous post?  I decided to add a photo cube.
Here's what you need:

Photo cube I buy mine from Oriental Trading
Coordinating papers
Glue 
Spray sealer
Embellishments 
Paint

Paint the cube a base color if you want.  I used my spray mist.
Cut papers slightly smaller than cube.  My cube's sides were 3" so I cut the papers 21/2".  Glue to cube.
Add embellishments as you like.  I cut my friends initials to add to the sides, then added clusters of buttons to the top.  You don't need much decoration since these are so small.  Let dry and spray with sealer.

Wrap everything in tissue and pop it into a bag.
If you keep a few things like this already made up you don't have to run out and but last minute gifts.  They also make a great hostess gift especially if you know her colors, otherwise stick to neutrals.  No I didn't make the bag, but I do keep several of them
 around for just such occasions.




Friday, August 12, 2011

home made pizza

 When you want pizza thee is just nothing that will take it's place.  When you live in a town this size your choices are drive a half hour, frozen or YUCK.  Or you can make your own.
Here's what you need:

Refrigerated pizza dough or hot roll mix
Pizza sauce canned is OK I make my own, see recipe below.
Fresh mozzarella
Your choice of toppings.  I use Italian sausage, onions, green peppers and mushrooms.
Parmesan I use freshly shaved you really can taste the difference.

If you are using sausage or any other fresh meat
cook and cool beforehand.  I also saute the peppers and onions a few minutes.
Prepare the crust according to directions on the package. 
Slice dice and do any other prep work before you start assembling your pizza.
Top the crust with about 1/2-3/4C of sauce add toppings ending with cheeses.
Bake according to directions.
Top with additional Parmesan after baking.

Home made pizza sauce

To 1 8oz can of tomato sauce add 1tsp each garlic
and onion powder, oregano, basil and fennel seed, salt
and pepper to taste.  Stir and use,  this also makes a great
dip for bread sticks.