PRETTY SPRING THINGS

It feels so good to write this post...my tests came back normal and for that I am grateful.  I am so thankful as well, for your thoughts and prayers and especially, your positivity.  That very much helped me not get down in the dumps while I waited for the results.  So hurray!  Onward and upward!

I've been working little by little on my living room while I wait for the furniture pieces.  I'm going for a sort of Rustic/Pretty Country.  It's kind of funny how we are combining style names for all of the lovely collections and pieces we are merging together in our decorating.  Maybe we will just start naming our style after ourselves, since making a room yours is all about having the things you love.  So my style is Ever Changing Jane.  And this is the print on canvas that I chose for over my mantel.  I searched high and low on every website for the right floral, right color and right size.  Ta Da...Bed Bath & Beyond!  This picture from their website is a little fuzzy but I love it because of the combo of bright and soft colors mixed together, how they are sort of blowsy as if they are moving, and the soft shade of blue that I want to pick up in accessories.  I know you can feel my excitement in getting this room completed.  Soon, my friends, soon.

With the confidence that I'm not going to keel over if I get my heart rate up, I am ready to start working out with my two new DVD's (are they a thing of the past?).  I used to work out to Denise Austin 20 years ago and she's still putting out DVD's.  This one is neat.  12 different exercises that are 12 minutes long.  You can do one or three in a row.  And each one targets a specific body part so you can pick and choose which segment(s) you want to do,  I'm not sure what the Crunch Yoga is about but it says it's for beginners and since I've only taken one yoga class in my life, this looks like the one for me!  I'm psyched. 

Can you believe I have been stuck in this house since Monday?  I estimate another month until The Husband can go back to driving his little sports car and I can have my car back.  I'm tired of doing everything on Saturday when I normally have all week to go to appointments, out shopping or doing lunch with a friend.  

Well, you know the one good thing about feeling cooped up is tackling some little projects, and for me it always revolves around organization.  I seem to be the only one in this house that returns something to the exact place it belongs.  I'm guessing most of you have one of these drawers in Kitchen Stadium.  Mine looked a lot like this before, only as if a bomb went off in it.  I see all sorts of drawer organizers out there, but they just don't have the right size slots I like.  So I have my old organizer in there and then just the bottom and top of a small gift box.  It looks pretty good now but I can guarantee, it won't even resemble this in a month.  And so it goes with many drawers, cabinets and closets here.  As if I need more to do.  Wait a sec...I do need more to do, I'm beyond bored without a vehicle!

 

I was reading a  post by Yvonne at Stone Gable about how she likes to stack dishes in various pretty ways as in something for a tablescape.  She had some very pretty stacks using different dishes in each.  So I sort of had a brain storm.  I keep my dishes in the den up on shelves amongst the books.  Yeah, pretty strange but it works.  We never use the den much with a living room and family room.  We probably should call it The Library (I'm saying this in a very haughty voice).  Furniture that's too formal and a very busy floral wallpaper against a deep green background.  So I am going to be dish stacking this weekend,  I'll let you know how it works out.  I did a little stacking on my island the other day, just two different patterns and just perfect for grabbing when I am setting the table.

I love Easter.  I really feel like spring has positively arrived then.  I like putting out my bunny/hare collection and planning a pretty table for Easter dinner.  And every year I look at my favorite catalogs to see what new and pretty pieces they have for spring.  This year West Elm had zip.  Williams Sonoma...not so great, but Pottery Barn had me at these napkins.  This is strange for me, the bright colors.  Maybe because they are muted a bit.  This image is from the website.  There is another shot where you can see the pretty pattern better but it was fuzzy for some reason when I downloaded it.  And you know I rarely use pictures from the web.  But you can go to the website to check it out.  or perhaps you get the catalog.  Don't they have a nice worn look?  LOVE!

And then I spied the plates.  Oh gosh, I love them but I so don't need another set of plates.  And much of the time I look at these stores and I know I can score a better deal at Homegoods, Marshall's or Pier 1.  But you have to admit, when PB comes out with something this wonderful, and only for a limited time, you have to grab it.  I haven't yet.  It's been 24 hours that I've been sitting on it and so far I haven't actually thought. "You can live without them."  I'm going to push it to 48 hours.

Oh no (que scary music). She's been cooking again, and look, it's another soup!  I actually gave this one a name;  Springtime Soup.  Original, eh?  So quickly, in a nutshell (or a dutch oven):

Saute 1 coarsely chopped onion and 3 carrots in 3 T. of butter.  When onions are soft, add 1 1/2 pound of trimmed chicken thighs**, cut into bite size pieces.  Stir every thing up nicely and then sprinkle  4 T of flour over, stir it up until everything is coated and then add 1 32 oz. box of chicken broth and 2 cups of water.  Bring to a boil.  While you're waiting for the soup to come to a boil, trim 1 bunch of asparagus, using tips only, and about 6-8 sliced button mushrooms.  Now add your spices; 1 T each of dried tarragon, allspice and nutmeg.  Let all of this simmer for 1/2 hour.  Add 1 cup of whipping cream, cook an additional 5 minutes, season with S & P, and then serve!!

**I have come to the conclusion that white chicken meat (the breast meat) is too dry tasting when used in soups.  I'm not a big fan of dark meat but I tried using thighs this time and the soup was much, much better,  The meat was juicy and tender.  You have to trim the thighs as they have a little fat and you might lose a moderate portion of the meat, but it makes all the difference in the world.

I hate to bombard you with more food but this is not a recipe. In keeping with my low carb eating plan, I eat what I call scrambled omelets a few times a week.  I've read all of the news and views and pro's and con's of consuming whole eggs, but this is fine with me.  You can have your egg whites, too, I won't object.  I just want to tell you that they can be made in so many ways.  Mine here, which I had for breakfast yesterday, is a combo of sliced deli ham cooked up with some jalapenos and a few spoonfuls of fresh salsa and cheddar cheese.  A great protein infused breakfast.  Try different meats or go simple fresh veggies. It's a great way to clean out your veggie bins.  Remember to cut everything in uniform size so they cook evenly.  I keep it low fat by adding a few tablespoons of water to the egg mixture instead of milk or cream.

I can't believe I'm telling you how to make an omelet, I think I'm trying to say how you can never get bored with them.  Play around, have fun.  And clean out the fridge while you're at it!

Here's Layla in her favorite spot.  I think she's telling me to wrap up this post.  But one final thing...

...after getting over my crying jags from reading The Fault In Our Stars, and then my 2 week mindless indulgence into all the magazines that come in the mail mid~month, I decided to read this book.  I have heard a few people discuss Tasha Tudor; her unique lifestyle, her love of animals and her precious gardens.  So I found the book and I tell you, I am loving it.  It's just a simple escape that leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy inside.  This morning, as with most morning, I laid in bed talking to The Husband while he got ready for work.  When he leaves I walk him to the door, give him a kiss and then lock it after him. Usually I make a mad dash back to bed and sleep for another hour.  But this morning I grabbed this book off my night stand and dove right back in.  Now that is very odd for me!  lol!  What an amazing and interesting lady she was.

So, I am closing now.  Again, thank you all for your well wishes.  We have snow coming this weekend and we are at 10 degrees right now.  Time to stock up on the firewood again.  Have a great weekend and love to all of you!

XO,

Jane