Happy Easter!

Sorry I've been away for so long.  I was enjoying a wonderful birthday visit from my sister.  The weather has also taken a turn for the better in the past few weeks and it's been hard to stay indoors and do things like write a blog.  However, I did manage to complete a couple of crafts.

The first is an Easter tree complete with ornaments.  I made the tree by gluing a branch onto a piece of scrap wood.  The ornaments I made by hot gluing ribbon to plastic eggs I bought at Hobby Lobby.  Then I wrapped the base in some scrap fabric, embellished with some more ribbon and a few eggs, and fini!

I later added this little felted bunny.  I made him by needle felting over a styrofoam form and then adding pipe cleaner ears, arms, feet and carrot.  

The other project I made is a lost sock board.  I found the idea for this at Somewhat Simple.  She provides a supply list and instructions so I won't repeat here.  I will say that this is a very simple project that is both cute and useful!

Crafting on the cheap

Being as I'm currently unemployed I'm having to find creative ways to decorate the new house.  The guest room, which remains a work in progress, is in desperate need of some wall art.  As I mentioned earlier I'm going with a bit of a country/shabby chic look.  Here's what I was able to come up with using craft supplies I had on hand.

Supplies

Scrapbook paper (I used "Hello Beautiful" Ciao Bella Stack)

Cardboard box lids (mine are from old Christmas card boxes)

scrapbook tape

scissors

I cut the paper to cover the boxes and adhered them using scrapbook tape.  I also cut out some of the paper decorations from the scrapbook paper stack and layered them.  I then cut slits in the top of the box and threaded ribbon through, tying in a knot at the back.  

Noskedalen and pasta

This past weekend we attended the Sweet Sweet Spring event at Norskedalen.  We got to watch them tap the first Sugar Maple tree of the season and also a demonstration on how they boil the sap down and turn it into syrup.  One thing I'm started to really understand is that people up here in the north take Spring seriously.  I mean SERIOUSLY.  And being as this was one of the first outdoor events of the year it was pretty crowded.  I guess we weren't the only ones that had a hankering to cast off our heavy coats and scarves and venture out into the sunshine.  Ok, well maybe we still needed heavy coats and I did see a scarf here and there.  But it was sunny and overall a beautiful day.  Welcome Spring!  We've missed you!

In an effort to use up the pot roast from Friday's dinner I wanted to make some beef stroganoff.  Unfortunately, I discovered I was out of egg noodles.  Not to worry!  I also discovered that making egg noodles is pretty simple.  In this case I made my own version of No Yolks.  Here's the recipe:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 beaten egg whites
1/3 cup water
2 tsp olive oil

Mix the flour and salt together.  In a separate bowl mix together the remaining ingredients.  Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour the wet mixture in.  I use a stand mixer with a kneading hook but this could also be done by hand.  Knead dough for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes.  Divide into 4 equal portions and run through pasta machine until 1/16 inch thick. Let rest for another 20 minutes then cut into strips.  Dry overnight and then cook in boiling water until tender.  Mmmmmm!

Guest Bedroom

Now that things are generally put away I'm beginning to realize two things.  a) I don't have enough furniture to fill this house, and b) I really need to redecorate.  The guest bedroom has been bothering me particularly probably because of all the white walls and complete lack of character.  Who wants to stay in a room like that?  If I hope to lure anyone here for a visit I'd better spice it up a bit!  Now, as most of you know I'm not really one for country style but I have this quilt that my great grandmother made which has never been backed but which I really love and I've always wanted a place to display it (and hopefully I'll be inspired to back it one of these days).  That being said I went about trying to spruce up the guest room a bit.  Here it is so far.  It's not anywhere near to being done but since my sister will be here for a visit in just over a week (squeal!) I'm sure I can employ her to help finish it.

Before

                                                                                     after

I found a metal wall decoration thingy and screwed it to the wall for a headboard.  I also found a similar metal towel rack at the store so I bought that and screwed it to the closet door to display my quilt.

I also decided this would be the perfect room to put my great aunt Marie's steamer trunk.  I love this trunk.  My aunt sent it home with my sister after my wedding.  It was also full of dolls but not sure if those will go out (might be too creepy).  

Still need lamps and some window treatments and maybe a big squishy chair in the corner, but it's a start.

Fixing stuck doors and what not

Ok, so as one of my dear friends pointed out (and you know who you are) it's amazing what you can do with a lot of spare time on your hands.  Today, my spare time has been filled finishing the cabinet lining that should have been done weeks ago and figuring out how to unstick painted wooden doors.  All this set to the recently discovered tunes of Canned Heat by Jamiroquai that's somehow in my itunes library (thanks Delinda).  Anyway, in the process I discovered this neat website from Australia that includes such fun tidbits as how to unstick your painted wooden drawers with a candle as well as fixing a scratch in wooden furniture with a walnut.  See, there's all sorts of things you can do to fill that time!
I've also had a request for more pictures of the house.  I'm working on it, I promise!  It's still a mess and there's still boxes everywhere.  Hoping to have it more under control by this weekend and will post pictures accordingly.  I'm also in the process of researching the history of the house.  I know it was owned by the town doctor at one time but not sure exactly when.  Don't even have a date for when it was built exactly.  I do however, have pictures of my first attempt at making applesauce (and if you'd like to make your own here's a link).  It was a spur of the minute decision as I wanted to make banana bread to use up bananas that were starting to get a little too ripe but realized I needed applesauce for the recipe.  Fortunately I also had apples on hand which allowed me to escape the 10 minute drive to the nearest Piggly Wiggly, and voila! Homemade applesauce!

Here's the resulting banana bread too!

The big move.... and birds

It's finally happened.  We packed it all up (well, actually Allied packed it all up but we had to stand around and watch for 2 days), put the two cats in the car and drove for 4 days across country to our new home.  Poor Jeff, with me crying the whole first night in the car having said my good-byes to my family earlier.  It was rough and I don't just mean the weather on the way.  You can say it, we sure have good timing moving from Arizona to Wisconsin in the dead of winter.  We were hoping to make the drive in two days but due to bad road conditions and my inexperience at driving on ice while trying to avoid being plowed over by semi trucks meant that it took twice as long.  But we made it!  The new house is big and old and has lots of character.  Character means there are small, odd shaped rooms in the basement and light switches that don't seem to turn anything on, and various other oddities that occur over the course of the nearly 100 years the house has been around.  But strangely, it does feel like home.  I'm surprised how easy it has been to settle in here and honestly, to accept life in the Midwest.  I've always thought I'm a West Coast girl through and through and that will never change.  Guess it can change.  Life's funny that way.  At any rate, now that we've spent the last few weeks unpacking I'm beginning to explore life as a stay-at-home wife (for the moment anyway).  Here's a few of the things I've been doing to fill the time

I set up a few bird feeders on the back deck.  Seems like the thing to do around these parts.  I can now sit back and watch the winter birds flock to my feeders.  Unfortunately, the neighbor has about ten feeders and multiple bird houses set up and I think must have some sort of magic bird seed that attracts them in numbers that makes my little set up look like a joke.  I have a plan to install a bird bath/fountain complete with heater so the water doesn't freeze up which I've been assured will attract birds for miles around.  Who said bird watching can't be a competitive sport?

The other great thing about birds is that they keep the cats occupied for hours. This means I can unpack without cats attacking the crumpled pieces of packing paper that are being pulled out of boxes.  In fact, the birds are so captivating I can sit a mere 3 feet away and crochet with balls of tempting yarn in total peace.  Why didn't I figure this out sooner?








Valentine's Day ice cream!  It's been in the low to mid 20's most of the time that we've been here.  What does that frosty weather make you think of?  Ice cream of course!  Our second week here brought Valentines Day and with it an opportunity to finally use the ice cream maker attachment for my stand mixer that we've had since the wedding but have never used.  I was surprised how easy it was to make and it really was amazingly good if I do say so myself.

And finally winter in the Midwest, with its short days, snow as far as the eye can see, and constant cold means one thing.   Longing for Spring.  It seems that most people here, if they aren't ice fishing, spend a good portion of the winter making plans for the following season.  Of course I've only been here for about a month but I feel I should dive in and immerse myself in the culture.  I have to admit, there is something about planting some starters that makes me feel, of I don't know, warmer?

DIY Vanilla Extract

Ok, I really, really, really have to try this.  Make magazine has done it again with their tutorial on making your own vanilla extract.  I use vanilla extract a lot and it seems like I'm always running out.  Not to mention that the good stuff is pretty expensive.  I love the idea of making it myself and maybe even giving some away as gifts this year.  Mmmmm....I'm already thinking of all the yummy things I can bake using this.