Bingo!

The house renovation has begun!! I let the brothers loose with sledge hammers, which can be quite dangerous! Not that they don't know what they are doing, but sometimes they can get carried away! The entire bathroom is down to the studs, it was amazing how fast that went! All of the horrible carpet is gone and the kitchen is partially dismantled. Which is good, because that is where it needs to be. We are not gutting the kitchen just re-doing the floors, painting cabinets and adding new molding, counter tops and sink.

The bathroom ready for new start. Looks a little scary, doesn't it? Because the house was built in 1923, the bathroom is rather small. It will be a tight squeeze to fit everything in, but it will be cozy!

 This was the treasure we found on Saturday behind a kitchen cabinet. It makes you wonder how they got there.....and what one has left behind in houses for future generation to find..... 

Aren't they cute?! Dad says they are Bingo markers. I haven't quite decided what to do with them...... make them into magnets?.. frame them?......

All the houses we have ripped out, we have found things stuck in cracks and crannies. Coins from the when the house was built, hairpins in the floorboards, letter openers, old newspapers....



Home Sweet Home

Yes, indeed! I have joined the ranks of happy home owners! You don't know how hard to was not share the news with you friends. But, it was a HUD house and every week I was sure the whole deal was going to fall through. Thank goodness, I am done with that and it is officially mine!

We call it the "little house". It reminds me so much of a little cottage. Don't you think I should name it? Built in 1923, it is a one and a half story bungalow with three bedrooms.

This little gem hasn't really been updated since the 1950s when the kitchen and bath were done. Of course, that means there is a lot that needs to be done. The floors need to be refinished, carpet pulled up (including some in the kitchen!), walls painted, insulation put in, more walls painted, the bathroom re-done, trim painted, kitchen cabinets painted.

 Please bear with me if my posts get a bit waylaid...... Life is going to be crazy! I am not sure you will hear much about aprons.....I have paint colors, plumbing fixtures, curtains, tile flooring, hardware, sinks, light fixtures and decorating ideas filling my head!

  But I will take you all along on the journey! Are you ready for a lot of do-it-yourselfing and decorating?! I have decided to post the before and afters room by room as I get them done,instead of one massive picture post.

One of my favorite features is the front door. Yes, it is original. Even the door knob!

A pea soup kind of day....

 Today was one of those days....dark and cloudy.....cold ......with a frightful wind chill. I was so glad we had Pea Soup planned for dinner tonight. We all needed a bit of warmth and comfort!

 Flaky baking powder biscuits are always a must with soup! And if they are eaten with a pool of melted butter and honey on top, so much the better!

Mom and I are the "throw something into the pot" kind of cooks, so we really don't have a firm recipe for pea soup. But if you would like to give it a try, here is an outline.If you are a precise cook, there are lots of proper recipes out there, that I am sure are just as good.

To Make Pea Soup: Wash a half pound dried peas in cold water, checking for stones or bad peas. Add peas to a kettle half full of water and simmer until they start to soften. About 2-3 hours. Then add chopped celery, carrot, potato and ham. For flavoring add one bay leaf, one and half spoonfuls chicken stock and generous amount of pepper. Cook until carrots and potatoes are soft and peas are cooked smooth.

Well, there you have it! Enjoy a little warmth today!

Questions & Answers

I usually don't go in much for blog awards, but my friend Sarah at Edna Earl Sewing awarded me the Liebster Blog Award. Thank you Sarah, it was so nice of you to think of me!

 Please forgive me if I step on any one's toes or offend anyone, but I don't feel comfortable participating in blog awards. That being said, I thought even if I don't like blog awards, I do like the idea of sharing with friends the eleven questions Sarah asked.

1. What is your favorite color?  I am sure everyone knows the answer to this one, PINK!!

2. If you could live in any era which would it be? Oh, this is a hard question...... I love the 1940's, I am just not sure if I would have liked to live through all that happened in this decade.

 

3. Do you prefer cake or pie? Very hard choice.....Pie, I guess, because pies are usually made with fruit. But chocolate cake is a close runner up!

 

4. What is your favorite L.M. Montgomery book? It would have to be her collection of short stories Along the Shore: Tales beside the Sea. I love how her love for the sea shines through.

 

5. What is your favorite season of the year? Spring has always been favorite, but this year autumn might be it!

 

6. Which do you prefer “Little Women” or “Pride and Prejudice”? That is a tie, I wouldn't be able to choose.

 

7. Do you collect anything? Oh goodness! I have too many collections! There is my milk bottle collection, blue glass collection, Fire King Swirl dishes I am trying to collect, glass pitcher collection, vintage sewing patterns, sewing books and pamphlets, fashion illustrations, old cookbooks, items with fruit on them, vintage sewing tools, books....... I am really not that particular, as long as it is old and interesting!

 

8. If you could visit any country which would it be? England. I have been planning a trip for a long long time, one day it will work out.

 

9. What is your favorite classic t.v. show? The top three; Burns and Allen Show, Partridge Family and Laverne and Shirley. (Are those considered classics?)

 

10. What is your favorite Christmas carol? Of the Father's Love Begotten

 

11. Who is your favorite classical composer? Bach. When my Mom decided we needed classical music appreciation she started with Bach and he opened up the wonderful world of music for me. Of course I was enamored with the idea he lived so long ago and his music is still being played today.

Well friends, I hope you enjoyed this little bit about me. I would love to hear how you would answer these questions!

Sun-Maid Recipes-1932

While on my vacation I managed to squeeze in a few trips to antique shops. It always amazes me how what different things there are, at one shop they are overflowing with glassware, at other one can hardly find a decent glass bowl, then a certain collectible will be sky high in one state and in another dirt cheep! It makes for good shopping though. Here is a little treasure I picked up. I love these little promotional cookbooks!

You can resist this cute cover? And of course- an APRON! Copyright 1932. A little art-deco looking, don't you think? Love the title, it makes me laugh!

 

"Raisins play a most important part in modern cooking. So often it is just the addition of the right kind and quantity of raisins that turn the every-day dishes into tempting flavorful delights."

Raisins are one of my favorite foods. I can't wait to try out these recipes. Now, which to make first........

 "Sun-Maid Raisins are better raisins because they are "Thermo-Jell'd". This exclusive Sun-Maid process makes eash raisin into a tiny "jar" of jelly. It jells the natural fruit sugar inside and seals in all the flavor of the fresh grape. Sun-Maids are fresh , moist, and plump right up to the time you use them. Naturally then, the dishes you make with Sun-Maid Raisins have a rich, fruit-flavor no ordinary raisins can give." Can't you just this as a radio ad?

"There are two favorite kinds of Sun-Maid Raisins that offer peculiar advantages in flavor, attractiveness and ease of handling. Sun-Maid Puffed are the only seeded raisins that pour freely from the carton. Large, full-meated, seeded Muscats that are not sticky. With Sun-Maid Puffed there is no sticky mass to pull apart. No washing ans no wasted time.

Sun-Maid Nectars are the only seedless raisins that retain to the fullest the fresh grape-like fragrance and flavor. Sun-Maid Nectors are noted for their superior plumpness and flavor as well as the glossy skins ans attractive appearance."

"Housewives have long been acquainted with the fine quality of Sun-Maid Raisins in the familiar red ans blue cartons. Now these raisins in slightly smaller size are offered in the new economy two and four pound cellophane bags."

Fall Hexagon Quilt Update

 I had planned on posting an update of my hexagon quilt a month or so ago, but unfortunately I haven't done much since the last update. Other projects have gotten in the way, so many things to finish! As you probably know  from my previous posts Saturday Adventures and Quilt Update, I was planning on finishing this quilt at summer end. That plan has been revised. I want to use those new fabrics and since I haven't done that yet, I will just keep on quilting!!

Isn't winter the perfect quilting weather? Hopefully, that will encourage me to get busy!



Needlecraft-Aug 1924

You have probaly noticed, Needlecraft is one of my favorite vintage magazines. I can't resist if I find one in an antique shop. This is one of my newest.

Not the most colorful of covers.

 This issue has lots of crochet patterns.

"Gretchen Frocks-a complete dress for four subscriptions. Stamped on linine with floss to embroider."

More gifts to readers for recruiting new readers.

 Apron Sighting! Isn't the illistration darling?

"This beautiful tea-pron is made entirely of a fine grade rose-colored rubber witha dainty crisp rubber ruffle of the same color." Don't you love it!!

 The latest fashions. What ladies magazine is complete without a page or two of fashion!

 

 

And a bright ad to end it all off.