tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6120359216625236212024-03-27T04:26:09.722-05:00Notes from the HeartlandJen@Notes From the Heartlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05295506793251184311noreply@blogger.comBlogger435125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612035921662523621.post-8439145215507390482015-03-14T20:42:00.000-05:002015-03-14T20:42:03.853-05:00DIY Season is Here!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's officially SPRING! Okay, not "officially".....but officially at our house. We've seen three robins, we can no longer keep ice cubes frozen in our trunks and the Dairy Queen is open. Officially Spring.</div>
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We all know what Spring means in DIY world. My list is burgeoning...and this year the focus is definitely outside. I go to sleep at night thinking about curb appeal....for a giganto white white white house. We were graced by a beautiful green roof a few years ago thanks to Mother Nature's April Fool's Hail storm. That rocked....(really it was such a blessing.) That added a smidge of color...but it's WAAAAY up there in the air. My next thought was the porch....looking pretty dingy, chippy, icky. Better fix that. The floor is a pale taupey color....which I really liked a few years ago when it was shiny and new....but now I feel like we need some color out there. Shutters? Maybe shutters will make an appearance this summer?? I had an architecture professor proclaim however that shutters should never be on a house unless they actually work....and would actually cover the entire opening if closed. Look for yourselves at most houses with shutters....they're really kind of like the bikini of house parts....they sort of cover the edges but don't quite meet in the middle. Mine would have to be operable and cover the whole window if closed.....(Dad, google "pintle hinges" and "board and batten shutters"....remember all those fabulous grandstand boards....we need to chat) </div>
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Anyway, the porch railing is a good place to start. There is a small section on the north end of the porch, then the rest of the wraparound to the south porch. I started here at the north section and decided to scrape, prep and paint the whole thing before moving on.</div>
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I've always thought, as an old house owner, you never get quite as well acquainted with your house as you do when you scrape it. I've helped scrape my folks' house more than a few times and you see the little details up close and personal. I discovered, while scraping the top rail, that it had once been painted a minty green....very interesting. Perhaps a former homeowner was looking for a bit of color too.</div>
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The wood is in great shape....I hope I'm in this good of shape when I'm almost 100 years old too!! My dad bought me that Purdy carbide scraper and holy cow. Holy cow. I am pretty sure there has never been a more wonderful tool for an old house owner. Scrapes the heck out of stuff. And because Bob Yapp is my Yoda, I will declare I was never, nor will ever be paid or given product by Purdy....it's just an awesome tool and I thought you should know. </div>
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Scraped and ready for paint! </div>
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Oh she's so beautiful. I must've looked like a nut to the neighbors, standing on the porch, staring at the railing! Oh well, wasn't the first, nor will it be the last time my neighbors question my sanity. I used the Behr paint with primer...love that stuff. This is "Silver Sky", a beautiful blue white. There are so many whites. If you're not sure of the white you should use definitely take samples home first...white is not just white...and it usually looks nothing like it did on the sample.</div>
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Now on to the rest of the railing!</div>
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And while we're at it I've also decided the porch floor and ceiling are going to get a once over as well. I laid down two samples for the floor color....but I'm just not sure about either. </div>
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I think we'll go with something similar to the left, but with more gray. </div>
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This was called "Slate Gray", but is a little too bluey.</div>
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More to come!<br />
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~jen<br />
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<br />Jen@Notes From the Heartlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05295506793251184311noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612035921662523621.post-47042316073119417402014-07-23T16:33:00.000-05:002014-07-23T16:33:13.260-05:00Backyard Reno...VanOort Style<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So here's the deal. I've painted, repainted, renovated, primped, plumped, and refinished EVERY. ROOM. IN. MY. HOUSE over the last ten years. Realistically, it's time to start over. (Don't read that part Levi) I want to change paint colors, room arrangements, etc...but it's summer and in summer we should go outside.</div>
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After ten years, we thought it was time to do SOMETHING outdoors. Last year we built the Little House, which is adorable and maybe someday I'll write a post about it...maybe not. I don't like to blog anymore....but I'm doing this for my mom and dad, so they can see what we've been up to! :-) We've built raised beds in our garden and those work out fabulously. BUT NOW....NOW we are undertaking our "backyard oasis" as our ten year old calls it.</div>
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Up there I was standing in the pool. Okay, not IN the pool, but in the pool spot. That was last year in September. My advice if you're considering buying a backyard pool, do it in September or October. Now you'll have to possess super human patience, since you'll now have to wait approximately<strike> ten thousand years</strike> eight months to use the blessed thing, but the price difference is staggering....and affordable.</div>
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In September 2013 this beauty came to live in our backyard. Lovely, yes? We love it, the kids love it, the birds love it, leaves love it...everybody wins. HOWEVER, it sort of looked like it was dropped from outer space into our yard. Plunk. It's not especially easy to find a spot where a 27' circle can fit in your yard, that goes over no electrical wires, gas lines, cable lines, water lines, ant hills...you get the idea. This is where our 27' circle would fit. </div>
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As soon as the pool was installed I started to think about how we could landscape to make it shed it's "plunked from outer space" status.</div>
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And that's where Rich enters the picture. The famous Rich who remodeled our bathroom to vintage perfection, drywalled our kitchen ceiling to perfection (without sanding...I know, right? Is that a thing? It is.) Anyway, I got my ideas all pulled together, sent those off to Rich so he could digest them all winter...my ideas tend to give Rich indigestion...so the longer the better. </div>
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We decided on a set of stairs for the pool with a platform at the top...no full on deck...just a place to do cannonballs from. Priorities people, priorities. That doesn't seem so bad, right?</div>
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We won't discuss what happened when Rich dug the post holes. It will give you nightmares. It gave me nightmares....serious, no joking....like our entire Subaru with all of us in it could have disappeared and no one would ever have known where we disappeared to. Alas, Rich handled it and we moved on. The "post hole problem who shall not be named" is forever a closed case.</div>
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We moved on. And the magic started to happen.</div>
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Platform! We love this platform. See how he laid the boards around the outside first, then laid the others in...so there are no cut edges exposed from the front? Such nice work. Rich and my dad are a lot alike. Think, think, think, then build to perfection. </div>
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The bird's eye view from the upstairs window....lovely steps nearly complete AND the big load arrives from the lumberyard. That truck pulled into our yard at 7:45am...apparently they don't believe in beauty sleep.</div>
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And then. Then the big, honkin' beauty of our backyard begins. Pergola City...that's the new name of our backyard.</div>
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Up go the posts. These posts are no joke. Like, they each took a whole tree to produce those suckers. Honkin'.</div>
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Standing tall and proud! Concrete drying, drying, drying. I'm trying hard to be patient.</div>
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In the meantime let's take a look at these lovely pool steps. Aren't they lovely? Railings and risers will be white, treads and deck will be stained.</div>
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Since I don't possess SuperMan strength to lift crazy heavy beams in the air I made myself useful by beginning the landscaping around the back side(non construction zone end) of the pool. My lovely friend Todd wants to rid his entire yard of anything green besides grass...so I've been digging like a crazy woman...hostas galore!!</div>
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Last night this was the scene in the backyard. I'm so excited I can barely stand it.</div>
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Before Rich left for golf afternoon today we got to this point! Aren't the end details lovely? And the hole...that was Rich's idea. Isn't he a smart fella? For hanging baskets, windchimes, twinkle lights, you name it. Smart.</div>
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That's it for now. I'll post more later Dad!!</div>
Jen@Notes From the Heartlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05295506793251184311noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612035921662523621.post-40041767888588250412014-01-08T21:43:00.002-06:002014-01-08T21:47:03.828-06:00How Project Life Rocked My World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So....Pinterest. It gets us all in trouble...as in, I want to learn 3897 new crafts....before tomorrow....because I saw it on Pinterest. HOWEVER, this time Pinterest did not lead me astray....it led me to the scrapbooking promised land. I was scrolling Pinterest...because that's what I do when I'm sleepy. It's like warm milk for my brain. THEN, a friend had posted a pic of a <a href="http://beckyhiggins.com/">Project Life</a> layout. My brain stood up, shook off the warm milk and was hooked! I googled <a href="http://beckyhiggins.com/">Project Life</a>, I hashtag searched, I YouTubed <a href="http://beckyhiggins.com/">Project Life</a> videos during my morning treadmill time....you can see it's developed into a *smidgen* of an <strike>obsession </strike>new hobby interest.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let me begin by saying, I am not a scrapbooker. I tried once, bought three sheets of coordinating paper, and a folder thingy to hold those three sheets of paper.....and they sat there for...hmm....I think I only had one child at that time....that's been a while. I just couldn't commit. I have lots of friends who scrapbook and create amazing layouts...but I just couldn't do it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Project Life is super different...tiny little pockets, to fill with lots of beautiful paper, little snippets of our week, day to day photos....maybe that's what hooked me. I revel in our day to day. The adorable things our kids say, funny Instagram photos, all the poop jokes that seem to pop up at the dinner table (I live with three men)...it's all awesome and makes up the entirety of our life. It's basically scrapbooking for life, rather than occasional special events. I. LOVE. IT.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh, and it indulges my penchant for squirreling away every little bit of paper/ticket stub/business card.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first week of 2014 lasted for...I'm pretty sure....eleven years. I was so excited to get my first photos from the year developed and jump into my first layout!! I've decided to do a two page spread for each week (unless we have a super boring, everyone slept all week, kinda week) One layout= one week, for the entirety of the year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> That grapefruit photo = Love. One of those things I would probably forget Marshall ever said....but now I have it captured. I just keep my journal with me, laying on the table, in my purse, whatever, and just jot down quick tidbits of the day....then at the end of the week I go through my dslr, my Instagram pics and the journal and pull out the good stuff. No staging, no fancy stuff, just our real life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My folks are gonna be all over this. Can't wait to show it to you Mom and Dad!! Now if I can wrangle in "artist" Jen and let the layout come to rest rather than fiddling it to death and we'll be all set!! I'll post a pic of the finished layout when it settles in! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">love and light,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">jen</span>Jen@Notes From the Heartlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05295506793251184311noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612035921662523621.post-77982328127059811912014-01-01T17:46:00.001-06:002014-01-01T17:46:13.225-06:00Listening From Inside <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love Christmas.</div>
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I love preparing for Christmas. I love thinking about Christmas. I love Christmas music. I love decorating for Christmas. I love buying "the perfect" gifts. I love food. I love cookies. I love spending time with family. I love Christmas movies. I love snow. I love being a Capricorn.</div>
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I love you man.</div>
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Basically when the kids threw off their Halloween costumes, the holiday season began at our house. For real. I bought gifts early, wrapped gifts early, felt super prepared. The "festive" level at our house was at Def-Con 5. </div>
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Then the real world happened.</div>
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I worried, I fretted, I obsessed about something (that will remain nameless to protect folks' privacy).</div>
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As I read the other day, I "borrowed trouble". Why do we do that? Worry about the unknown? It's that...it's unknown! Isn't that stupid? Worrying is like rocking in a rocking chair. It's something to do to pass the time, but it's not going to get you anywhere.</div>
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The festive went on, I stayed pretty festive. But the worry would creep back over me, like a fog.</div>
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And then.</div>
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I had a dream. Do you believe in the power of dreams? I mean...not like I wished for a unicorn before I went to sleep and then woke up riding one....not that kind.</div>
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Do you believe you can receive messages when you're not so darn busy worrying about stupid things?</div>
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I do.</div>
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At least I do, until I let the worry creep on me again. I'm naughty like that...human I guess.</div>
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This dream, which was very warm and full of yellow and orange, if that makes any sense, told me everything is all right. Everything is going to be all right.</div>
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I've received messages in dreams before...but I shant go into those right now, for fear you already think I'm fit to be shipped off to the looney bin.</div>
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Believe your inner voice, friends. It won't lead you astray.</div>
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The holiday season went on......AND THEN....my message came true, I was filled with joy and laughter and giggles and remembered why we shouldn't borrow trouble. It takes away from today.</div>
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Oh, and I let my kids play video games until they fell over in exhaustion. Don't worry, this one reads more in his free time than you, me and the rest of the free world put together. It's okay to break rules sometimes.</div>
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And listen to the messages that lead us to lives of happiness.</div>
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love and light, </div>
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jen</div>
<br />Jen@Notes From the Heartlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05295506793251184311noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612035921662523621.post-36751932706930417652013-10-28T10:25:00.002-05:002013-10-28T10:25:39.144-05:00Pumpkin Patch Weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fall has arrived in Iowa....okay it arrived a long time ago, who am I kidding. While I have my eye set on the holiday season, my kids are firmly planted in the idea that Halloween is the biggest deal since sliced bread. I remember....the candy, the costumes, the parties at school...it's a big deal in kid land. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our traditional trip to the pumpkin patch was wonderful. We are lucky to have several REALLY great pumpkin patches nearby, but our newest favorite is at<a href="http://bassfamilyfarms.com/"> <span style="color: #990000;">Bass Farms</span></a> across the road from Palisades Kepler State Park. <a href="http://bassfamilyfarms.com/"> <span style="color: #990000;">Bass Farms</span></a> is a CSA during the summer months, and roadside vegetable vendor...they rock. They don't use any chemical spray, grow organically and well, they basically just rock. We're always happy to hand over our pumpkin dinero. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The kids searched high, the kids searched low, Daddy filmed the whole thing. You HAVE to check out the <a href="http://www.lvanoort.blogspot.com/2013/10/pumpkin-trip-2013.html"><span style="color: #990000;">video</span></a>...the VanOort rendition of "What the Fox Says" at the end = Classic. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And as if the day could get any better, the delightful owner of Bass Farms offered my kids each a sack to cram as many tiny gourds into as they could, on the house. Two little kids, with two sacks, and a GIANT box of tiny gourds....they were thrilled.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keeping the tiny gourds in the sack long enough to get to the car...that was a challenge all on its own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pumpkin carving tonight!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">love and light, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Jen</span>Jen@Notes From the Heartlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05295506793251184311noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612035921662523621.post-29479441805253689102013-10-22T09:21:00.002-05:002013-10-22T09:23:38.671-05:00So Whatcha Been Up To?<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ten months, shmem months. What's a year between friends, right? I will admit, I have fallen into the netherregions of bloggerdom. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BUT! While I've been non-blogging, we've been having a marvelous time! Onion Grove Mercantile, the business end of this fun parade has gone wild...thanks to so many of you!!! </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.oniongrovemercantile.com/"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">www.OnionGroveMercantile.com</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Making a living doing something you love is AH-MAY-ZING. It's truly a blessing. This business has taken me in so many unexpected directions! Onion Grove Mercantile now has an <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/OnionGroveMercantile?ref=search_shop_redirect"><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000;"><b>Etsy shop</b></span></a> and <a href="http://www.oniongrovemercantile.com/"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">website</span></b></a>, which is now in transition to a new server....so hang with me there while it's updating! You can take a peak if you would like to! The first time someone called me a "signpainter" I thought, wow, that's cool! A business that sprang from a side project for a dear friend and into something that I can be so proud of! </span><br />
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ANYWAY, I'll try to be more bloggy....I've sworn off Facebook (sorry Facebook friends), so this shall once again be my outlet for family/home/lifey type tidbits....mostly because my Dad asked me to. Love you Dad! ;-)</span><br />
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Love and light friends!</span>Jen@Notes From the Heartlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05295506793251184311noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612035921662523621.post-39525023468661818162013-01-30T20:52:00.000-06:002013-01-30T20:52:30.691-06:00Snow Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Snow Day friends! We woke up to a snowy wonderland this morning, and how better to celebrate a day off school than blueberry muffins and The Devil Makes Three on Sonos. Don't even get me started on Sonos. I love that thing. Life changing, for reals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second best thing about days off school? KIDDOS!!!! When I was a young mama, many moons ago, I thought, oh won't life be easier when the kids are in school. Well, it's different, but I miss those little turkeys! We played and played and played outside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The birds need to shovel their front stoop! Oh, and yes, my kids sled down the porch steps! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You gotta do what you gotta do folks.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoa494UwGOdqOhgOWrvNYG5nEeykqqo5dlcjf5oOeWQVM1RNsoO4dLdUj_Tdow_JA0Hr1OYnnWLMZtTaTMWBC-NmfJq3_bNcuVnK8awo9urAWm_hSETtIN6bCQK1BqvnkTlDKXyHX0xC0p/s1600/Brothers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoa494UwGOdqOhgOWrvNYG5nEeykqqo5dlcjf5oOeWQVM1RNsoO4dLdUj_Tdow_JA0Hr1OYnnWLMZtTaTMWBC-NmfJq3_bNcuVnK8awo9urAWm_hSETtIN6bCQK1BqvnkTlDKXyHX0xC0p/s640/Brothers.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Such characters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most delicious way to top off a snowy, fun filled day....homemade bread and vegetable soup. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Precious day with precious kiddos.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">love and light,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">jen</span></div>
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Jen@Notes From the Heartlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05295506793251184311noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612035921662523621.post-119882313192081942013-01-22T08:04:00.001-06:002013-01-22T08:04:36.700-06:00All Time Faves <div style="text-align: center;">
Do you guys ever check that "stats" thingy on your blog page? I just discovered that thingy with my <a href="http://www.oniongrovemercantile.com/"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Onion Grove Mercantile</span></a> blog. It's kinda cool to see which posts folks think are better than sliced bread. I'm not going to go crazy and say any of my posts are equivalent to segmented bakery goods, but there are a few that have more than three visits. Three is my high water mark. I decided to check out the stat thingy over here at Notes From the Heartland too...just for kicks. I mean it's cold, it's dark at 2pm and I have some time on my hands in between NetFlix episodes of Sons of Anarchy. Okay, don't even pretend you can't get behind a long haired tattooed biker with a big heart. Okay, okay, I'm NOT a fan of the gratuitous violence (I cover my eyes) but the bikers, yeah I kinda like the bikers. There should really be a girly version of that show. Long haired cute bikers minus the yucky blood and guts. Like, maybe they run a pet shelter and fight for the rights of pets everywhere.<br />
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I actually married a tattooed biker....wanna see?<br />
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Hehehe.<br />
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So I digress, back to the stat thingy. </div>
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I thought it would be fun to review my top 5 stat thingy posts. </div>
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AND.....here they are. On to to the statistical fun.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><a href="http://jvanoort.blogspot.com/2010/05/garden-markers.html"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Number 5!</span></a> </span></div>
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The garden markers made from.....can you guess? Of course you can. Can...can....get it? Can? Orange juice can lids! These are a fave. </div>
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<img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirlTl1e3PFZkAC4wgBl26VMlRx4cIxCH2LIidzK2qEat-_Qg9XJgrn405z5o7_CBvWMSNmM18s_kwrYF46SWjWj1IF50tzenG-YNCyBwS_R6dxpWigCXcsM2tcly-KYHFeslss6j-MetnO/s640/DryEraseBLOG.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><a href="http://jvanoort.blogspot.com/2009/12/dry-erase-can-be-beautiful.html"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Number four!</span></a> </span></div>
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The dry erase project made for one of my besties. She has five kids...and runs a <a href="http://www.millcreekcafe.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #cc0000;">cafe</span></a>....and basically volunteers for everything she's ever been asked to do. Please don't ask her to join your group, I like to go dancing with her once in a while. ;-)</div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><a href="http://jvanoort.blogspot.com/2010/03/family-rules.html"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Number 3!</span> </a> </span></div>
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This one surprised me a tad...I like these signs...love the message they deliver, but still a little surprised. I think these puppies rode the subway sign wave that went crazy a year or two ago.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><a href="http://jvanoort.blogspot.com/2010/05/wallpaper-removal-made-easy.html"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Number 2!</span></a> </span></div>
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The Wallpaper potion. This will change your life. Swear. Well, I guess it can only change your life if you have wallpaper. Okay, I guess maybe not everyone has wallpaper anymore. If you live in a 100 year old house like us, you'll want to send me chocolates. For reals.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbPQeL-llA4GRwrNIWftJDbleNFumrDcJe24ZgWw9M66FuHGFdgUoLXq42IPUYE25hKJ7LkzVjtRPz9ZVm9qE2nMy_WY5NqslPIROIW45lagLymU3qgzFA5zl-aZPd6xdprT1ux8t_SpR/s1600/Crockpot+Mongolian+BeefBLOG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbPQeL-llA4GRwrNIWftJDbleNFumrDcJe24ZgWw9M66FuHGFdgUoLXq42IPUYE25hKJ7LkzVjtRPz9ZVm9qE2nMy_WY5NqslPIROIW45lagLymU3qgzFA5zl-aZPd6xdprT1ux8t_SpR/s640/Crockpot+Mongolian+BeefBLOG.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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AND......I know you've been holding your breath through all that other junk.....I PRESENT<a href="http://jvanoort.blogspot.com/2012/01/crock-pot-mongolian-beef.html"> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">NUMBER ONE!!!!</span> </span> </span></a>Crockpot Mongolian Beef. There. Done. Now I have to say, while this stuff is pretty good, I don't know that it warranted 107,679 visits. Really, people? Thus is the magic known as Magic Mike...heheheh...that really just made me laugh out loud. My internet bestie (someday real life....I'm going to photobomb his upcoming trip to the Caribbean....you just watch Michael...I'm gonna be there;-) <a href="http://www.inspiredbycharm.com/"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Michael of Inspired by Charm</span></a> is magical. Michael has the Midas touch when it comes to Pinterest.<br />
If he pins you, you'd better be prepared. FYI.<br />
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This Mongolian Beef post is probably ready for a Caribbean vacation.</div>
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I hope you enjoyed this little tour through my stat thingy! </div>
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love and light,</div>
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jen</div>
Jen@Notes From the Heartlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05295506793251184311noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612035921662523621.post-3489923075716318962013-01-21T16:27:00.000-06:002013-01-21T16:31:43.115-06:00I'm Back...Maybe...Well I'll Try <div style="text-align: center;">
So...here we are....four months later. I have to say that I wax and wane with my interest level toward my personal blog. Uh, we just have to look at the ole blog header up there to determine that...lol!! It's perpetual summer here in Iowa, hadn't you heard? I did change my profile pic...that's pretty good, right? I should really post a "real life" photo of myself next to that one. I have look liked that one day in my life. The other jillion days of my life I have a pony tail, no makeup and paint splattered from stem to stern. So, in defense of all women who are intimidated by foofoo photos of other women....this is what I REALLY look like (pre-pro makeup & hair). Normal, normal, normalty normal. Yay for normal. ;-)</div>
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I had an art teacher in high school who refused to take videos of family events, or even use a camera for the most part, because he said you were missing out on LIVING life, while you were trying to CAPTURE life. I think about that a lot.</div>
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I enjoy reading other folks' blogs about recipes, but really don't want to take the time to take photos of every step myself. I love seeing "before & after" shots of home projects...keep up the great work friends! However, I tend to dive in and not take photos til my projects are finished, if even then. SO, I'll try to do better, friends...try to plop out a blog entry once in a while, but my husband does a great job blogging about our family, mostly for the benefit of my folks and I have stayed super busy with my third baby (not really a real baby, don't go crazy). </div>
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<a href="http://www.oniongrovemercantile.com/"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Onion Grove Mercantile</span></a> has taken on a life of its own. I went legit this year and even filed TAXES. </div>
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CA-RA-ZY, right? I feel so blessed to pursue my art and make a contribution to our family finances! Life stays busy, our kids keep growing and we are loving every minute of it! </div>
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I included a couple shots of some of my faves from the last few months!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our oldest celebrated his NINTH birthday last week. Whoa. I understand every bit of what my art teacher meant now....while you're not looking your kids will grow into little adults...like "oh look at this little baby" to BOOM! young man in a blink.</span></div>
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That shaggy hair makes me grin everyday. </div>
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This kid knows who he is, is proud of it and is a beautiful ray of light in the world.</div>
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love and light,</div>
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jen</div>
Jen@Notes From the Heartlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05295506793251184311noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612035921662523621.post-48034578901871118152012-09-20T11:24:00.001-05:002012-09-20T11:27:01.748-05:00Sock Drying, Fun for All Ages<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3KMBABo6o_uwsMIsq5tLDy_V9mCyFsNBwo_wp02u8MQDy5qDvJ6YBJgtPu-WFn4UzA56JInDdcoartGpq64QoQDLzqAgYHwtslN_7gzr0DOP6NbSkqohnJYNIgbkasNn03AeFhPhSXai/s1600/June2012+388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3KMBABo6o_uwsMIsq5tLDy_V9mCyFsNBwo_wp02u8MQDy5qDvJ6YBJgtPu-WFn4UzA56JInDdcoartGpq64QoQDLzqAgYHwtslN_7gzr0DOP6NbSkqohnJYNIgbkasNn03AeFhPhSXai/s640/June2012+388.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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I know. Right now you're asking yourself, what kind of magic has been performed on these children. LINING UP to help with chores. Hanging socks, nonetheless. Quite possibly the worst job in the "hanging-of-clothes" line of profession.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzIOb-MYNzV-bgd9vmecqLQ6ytD_kHpL7-yX3s0sPrMu4dtzRpB_I3QbgN-9qn_JEtQjbQ2Wpod30RYXWDFaFrv8DDlXZ_P8UUT8clcFDxzwzTEqZW_xY8m4l57CowQvluqXorem9YMMX/s1600/June2012+382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzIOb-MYNzV-bgd9vmecqLQ6ytD_kHpL7-yX3s0sPrMu4dtzRpB_I3QbgN-9qn_JEtQjbQ2Wpod30RYXWDFaFrv8DDlXZ_P8UUT8clcFDxzwzTEqZW_xY8m4l57CowQvluqXorem9YMMX/s640/June2012+382.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Enter Papa. AKA, The Genius. Yes folks, my dad is a genius. After spotting one of these babies hanging from an Amish clothesline (we love our Amish around these parts) he took a snapshot in his brain and recreated it for my clothesline. And my sister-in-law's clothesline. And another for my sister-in-law's clothesline (those folks have A LOT of socks...possibly more than two feet per person, I don't know what's going on over there.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBa8yeNMiY4Wpi6e2X33rZbky8uf2JOUP3FB1J5UJ3f62XniEcQXCwYtuuf1Bhwpk4E3wwUd71qr8AEwVx86Qw4ul7We9MttgKsCcUVq678hLRE_9Blh8RhTxiRnYvqP4O6mvF-RxwX8u9/s1600/June2012+401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBa8yeNMiY4Wpi6e2X33rZbky8uf2JOUP3FB1J5UJ3f62XniEcQXCwYtuuf1Bhwpk4E3wwUd71qr8AEwVx86Qw4ul7We9MttgKsCcUVq678hLRE_9Blh8RhTxiRnYvqP4O6mvF-RxwX8u9/s640/June2012+401.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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And let me tell you, we kinda fight about who gets to hang the socks now because it's SO DARN FUN. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZDvhRbwN5v5qPAQc_PfjhRDPf__4Kk2bjB2N9aYVfh2nIWy_LiV2YQT4eltla4ohxpHoAhDNhK6WTTMykSoVtS3pAehWf0Yowb7Zq4HMvFpp4Q-_v3CT807DLsR3-WRTKXYHU2vNpHTbw/s1600/June2012+403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZDvhRbwN5v5qPAQc_PfjhRDPf__4Kk2bjB2N9aYVfh2nIWy_LiV2YQT4eltla4ohxpHoAhDNhK6WTTMykSoVtS3pAehWf0Yowb7Zq4HMvFpp4Q-_v3CT807DLsR3-WRTKXYHU2vNpHTbw/s640/June2012+403.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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The socks don't get folded over the clothesline, so they dry so nice and evenly and they flap around in the wind so they don't resemble cardboard when removed from the sock dryer. It's revolutionized our feet. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyFW1UxKi2DNmi3T97PeomwuR1Nmgzifk7HwJckErt792q07wj1A-K-laxWewI2FxOt-CJJVrfkz7VwIeIaenNIGsQARyKpdEu1y5hekqzq3pcvkY48C9tFREYAxBRWb_7IWz52AmYTc9/s1600/June2012+407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyFW1UxKi2DNmi3T97PeomwuR1Nmgzifk7HwJckErt792q07wj1A-K-laxWewI2FxOt-CJJVrfkz7VwIeIaenNIGsQARyKpdEu1y5hekqzq3pcvkY48C9tFREYAxBRWb_7IWz52AmYTc9/s640/June2012+407.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Kids, lining up to do chores. Does life get better?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCETaju2zi9M_8fK96t6WgbS46j2E3zSwdxLKzD4-WAIAg3zsGoPfC_DYGM6ylOsuQdm2Yrbmz4Ay_hGL8YAEA0WCgTB_5p8s8pTrbxOyG_WL0AHMRPYusqNsWARYkfCOnGI5G6sWI2e_p/s1600/June2012+433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCETaju2zi9M_8fK96t6WgbS46j2E3zSwdxLKzD4-WAIAg3zsGoPfC_DYGM6ylOsuQdm2Yrbmz4Ay_hGL8YAEA0WCgTB_5p8s8pTrbxOyG_WL0AHMRPYusqNsWARYkfCOnGI5G6sWI2e_p/s640/June2012+433.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Then of course we need to take a break from the fun for some more fun. Running through drying sheets has to be one of the all time best things about kid-dom. If you never had the opportunity I strongly encourage giving it the college try now. I grew up running through my grandmother's drying sheets and towels and there's nothing better.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClcI5meclpqxU0E-FyLrw_5cdvzgOTPSKoi8nAzlQcvfJmiEyrmr9UkOcyCYO2DeEkMfAMvfvkJlMuoD4QXls9QZtbYtb1BpxwfqchepxeBpNTbjZpfBpHJVcpxjbJzB08443RJqklLYN/s1600/June2012+446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClcI5meclpqxU0E-FyLrw_5cdvzgOTPSKoi8nAzlQcvfJmiEyrmr9UkOcyCYO2DeEkMfAMvfvkJlMuoD4QXls9QZtbYtb1BpxwfqchepxeBpNTbjZpfBpHJVcpxjbJzB08443RJqklLYN/s640/June2012+446.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Happy socks. Happy Mama.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS33mgTmUqWT0wlv_CcxuS2WT0xj4KYYjiVVW2OArohcMLR2yAMr6NpVr7ZbbWC14n6RdvzZ_wn4hwq9SEYJGHUrQhKHrQlVSzZ4bRg4G_pPL_bJIaCeYgBjDnUgEH1jXeX3ADtIgSWRTX/s1600/June2012+383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS33mgTmUqWT0wlv_CcxuS2WT0xj4KYYjiVVW2OArohcMLR2yAMr6NpVr7ZbbWC14n6RdvzZ_wn4hwq9SEYJGHUrQhKHrQlVSzZ4bRg4G_pPL_bJIaCeYgBjDnUgEH1jXeX3ADtIgSWRTX/s640/June2012+383.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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One last, kinda crummy photo, for those of you "recreators" who would like to see the top view for making your very own sock dryer. Everyone needs more fun in their life...sock drying should be part of that. :-)</div>
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Be kind to each other,<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">jen</span>Jen@Notes From the Heartlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05295506793251184311noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612035921662523621.post-84385868088834863232012-09-19T10:20:00.000-05:002012-09-19T10:20:15.792-05:00Lemon Blueberry Bread<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS20BheSZ8NqNbjgk3C9KuOwOIjyU-E5HZXht5BUfPsuZ_8D7U2tmsbLR7mi_eQUbjF7QwjhMZBpheXCEylvShW14jMvvfFQj1vMx_apDdMIo2ZaoOsSe8xRsS-U320qJuSOKZNILg8j1d/s1600/LemonBlueberryBreadLEAD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS20BheSZ8NqNbjgk3C9KuOwOIjyU-E5HZXht5BUfPsuZ_8D7U2tmsbLR7mi_eQUbjF7QwjhMZBpheXCEylvShW14jMvvfFQj1vMx_apDdMIo2ZaoOsSe8xRsS-U320qJuSOKZNILg8j1d/s640/LemonBlueberryBreadLEAD.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTpYlyaG9B0U2FF1HW7krmZ6zM1yLcnJi5L9i37JL1pbd46q8MHMrxVWAgloT7RmhUF3Ob8hQOVYuCGYFZDTkSpzxNnqWDEjVKRD8vdP03rRD7_u5b5LOQray0xKtoEbpGgGmOql9OAe7/s1600/LemonBBBreadBLOG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTpYlyaG9B0U2FF1HW7krmZ6zM1yLcnJi5L9i37JL1pbd46q8MHMrxVWAgloT7RmhUF3Ob8hQOVYuCGYFZDTkSpzxNnqWDEjVKRD8vdP03rRD7_u5b5LOQray0xKtoEbpGgGmOql9OAe7/s640/LemonBBBreadBLOG.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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It's officially Fall in Iowa. It's official because I say it's official. In a hundred year old house, when the weather turns cool, you freeze. I'm frozen. The glitch here is that I have a rule for myself (and all the innocent victims who live with me.) No furnace until November (if humanely possibly). So, like a little cave woman I'm huddled over the only heat source in the house (besides the lap dog)....the oven. It's time to bake, get warm and put on my winter "layer". tehehehe. </div>
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This bread is insanely delicious. Bring over a crowd while baking because A) your house will smell divine. B) your winter layer will become extra thick unless you share.</div>
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Enjoy friends!</div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><u><b>Lemon Blueberry Bread</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">1 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">2 teaspoons baking powder</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">1/2 teaspoon salt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">1 cup plain yogurt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">1/2 cup sugar</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">2 large eggs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">2 teaspoons grated lemon zest</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">1/2 teaspoon vanilla</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> 1/2 cup vegetable oil</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">1 1/2 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><u>Lemon Syrup</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">1/3 cup fresh lemon juice</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">1/3 cup sugar</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">dissolve over medium heat, cook 3 minutes, stirring</span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><u>Lemon Glaze</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">1/2 - 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted (or not, I forget sometimes when the <strike>wild beasts</strike> sweet children are begging for Lemon Bread NOW!!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">2-3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">mix together</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">(if you start with the juice then gradually add the sugar you'll get to JUST the right consistency)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x5 loaf pan (or whatever size you have....I just wing it)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Sift the dry ingredients together, mix the wet ingredients together, combine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Mix the blueberries with the tablespoon of flour. Fold them into the batter. (GENTLY! Don't beat the poor things to death or you'll have blue bread. Or on second thought...do whatever you want, blue bread is fun too.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Bake 50 minutes (or 70...whatever it takes to get the toothpick to come out clean when you poke it), cool ten minutes then remove from pan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Place bread on plate. Poke with fork or toothpick about 13.5 times. Brush with Lemon Syrup. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Once, let dry a tad. Twice, let dry a tad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Pour Lemon Glaze over the bread. As much or as little as you like. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">YUM!!!!</span></div>
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Jen@Notes From the Heartlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05295506793251184311noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612035921662523621.post-19714353250705644082012-05-17T22:45:00.001-05:002012-05-17T22:45:12.223-05:00Oatey Crunchy Coconut Cookies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YHPG_TD_hOVXC2vvLWUXX76vXl3wOKgxzx7P4DMCldWggs59dfPmJL9hF3WeLM2Xnkeqda3bY3uKy8EezYC_biL2rNsO2HLYEfcUNHy8pReMKEzuesrXKs65C33TQWsZrzyWBV5IAZo_/s1600/OateyCrunchyCoconutCookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YHPG_TD_hOVXC2vvLWUXX76vXl3wOKgxzx7P4DMCldWggs59dfPmJL9hF3WeLM2Xnkeqda3bY3uKy8EezYC_biL2rNsO2HLYEfcUNHy8pReMKEzuesrXKs65C33TQWsZrzyWBV5IAZo_/s640/OateyCrunchyCoconutCookies.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I have a four year old who, everyday after preschool, asks what I did while he was gone. He's not interested in how many signs I designed/painted/shipped, if I vacuumed or the seventy loads of laundry I did. He wants to know if I did anything "SPECIAL". SPECIAL = sweet treats. And he wants to be surprised. I trotted out a recipe I hadn't made in a while today....and half of them are gone as I type. They are soft, crunchy, oatey, coconutey, delish!! Enjoy!</div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><u>Oatey Crunchy Coconut Cookies</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">1/c cup white sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">1/2 cup brown sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">1 cup shortening</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">2 eggs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">1 teaspoon vanilla extract</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">2 cups all purpose flour</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">1 teaspoon baking soda</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">1/2 teaspoon baking powder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">1/2 teaspoon salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">2 cups quick oats</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">2 cups rice cereal</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">1 cup flaked coconut</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">In a large mixing bowl cream shortening and sugars. Beat in eggs and vanilla. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in oats, cereal and coconut.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Form 1" balls in hands, plop onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 7-9 minutes or til golden brown. Cool on wire rack.</span>Jen@Notes From the Heartlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05295506793251184311noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612035921662523621.post-90660931250490724592012-04-23T13:30:00.000-05:002012-04-23T13:35:34.337-05:00Sweet Sticky Spicy Chicken<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5ZXE5O0ZFkMUPF9y7Z6OrpeqJ3uXf2YmCA7Ymsn9XBHrOylbpDqYsrkM-iINgvAiqP6IumpJ2e6RcCeqSZBlJV-wjAkNMshd4B7qAK9MWMglt3oVxi9svSn-WksOfC8J39vNftks1lXT/s1600/SweetStickySpicyChicken3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5ZXE5O0ZFkMUPF9y7Z6OrpeqJ3uXf2YmCA7Ymsn9XBHrOylbpDqYsrkM-iINgvAiqP6IumpJ2e6RcCeqSZBlJV-wjAkNMshd4B7qAK9MWMglt3oVxi9svSn-WksOfC8J39vNftks1lXT/s640/SweetStickySpicyChicken3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I think I've developed a pattern. I eat....wait four months....then post the recipe. Nothing else. I stink as a blogger lately. ;-) My sincerest apologies. In my absence please enjoy the forty billion other blogs who actually make an effort. Life has changed around here in the last year....I would never have guessed 365 days ago that I would own a business...and a business that is CRA-ZEEEEE busy. Feel free to check that out if you like....it's fun. </div>
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<a href="http://www.oniongrovemercantile.com/"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>www.oniongrovemercantile.com</b></span></a></div>
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You will be happy you stopped by today, however, because this recipe is the shanizzle. Oh...and it's stupidly easy...and you moms know what I'm throwin' down...week night...kids in four million places at once...you need easy. You'll dig this.</div>
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I'm a fan of chicken. Not much else in the meat world....but chicken, I can get behind. Now throw the words, sweet, sticky, and spicy in front of it and I am a very happy chicken eater. The level of spicy can be adjusted for your family's needs....we breathe fire around here...FYI.</div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Sweet Sticky Spicy Chicken</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">Ingredients</span></h3>
<ul style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">1 tablespoon brown sugar</span></li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">2 tablespoons honey</span></li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">1/4 cup soy sauce</span></li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">2 teaspoons chopped fresh ginger root</span></li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">2 teaspoons chopped garlic</span></li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">1 tablespoon red pepper flakes </span></li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">***(please back off on this if you don't like "heat"...I don't want you to injure yourself)</span></li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">salt and pepper to taste</span></li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1/2 inch strips (I use only meat from <a href="http://www.wallacefarms.com/"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Wallace Farms</span></a>...check them out...Nick rocks!)</span></li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">1 tablespoon vegetable oil</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">Directions</span></h3>
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<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="plaincharacterwrap break" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Mix together brown sugar, honey, soy sauce, ginger, garlic and pepper flakes in a small bowl.</span></span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="plaincharacterwrap break" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Lightly salt and pepper the chicken strips.</span></span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="plaincharacterwrap break" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken strips and brown on both sides, about 1 minute per side. Pour the sauce over the chicken. Simmer uncovered until the sauce thickens, 8 to 10 minutes.</span></span></li>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div>Jen@Notes From the Heartlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05295506793251184311noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612035921662523621.post-25644834588939659602012-03-19T11:10:00.001-05:002012-03-19T11:11:17.206-05:00Garage to Studio Remodel....The Beginning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBbkhD7JNGph_Cb5G7j7m7aiE2diddRP-Yww1fks3nhyphenhyphenkGTyFH1FswqXaNW7E41hyhz8boR2js6LIa6gjbUi3Ff3g970OH7E-a4gF5WBbWzZ08fVFIkC4fzGn2_IvtQkKssZGlFUCVjJg/s1600/Picture+961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBbkhD7JNGph_Cb5G7j7m7aiE2diddRP-Yww1fks3nhyphenhyphenkGTyFH1FswqXaNW7E41hyhz8boR2js6LIa6gjbUi3Ff3g970OH7E-a4gF5WBbWzZ08fVFIkC4fzGn2_IvtQkKssZGlFUCVjJg/s640/Picture+961.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Hello friends! After a year of home improvement projects (<a href="http://jvanoort.blogspot.com/search/label/Kitchen%20Remodel"><span style="color: #cc0000;">kitchen </span></a>and <a href="http://jvanoort.blogspot.com/search/label/Bath%20Remodel"><span style="color: #cc0000;">bath </span></a>and an assortment of various other things) I didn't think my husband would breathe a word of projects for...well....into infinity. WRONG-O. It's so unlike him. ;-) Or maybe he's tired of paint cans on the kitchen table. That's probably it. hehehe</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Out of the blue this weekend he said "I think next year's big project should be converting the garage into your studio." Um....WHAT???? I'd been dreaming/planning/hoping for this project....but wasn't sure he'd ever be on board. I think he wants a new garage....that might be part of the motivation. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This last year I have been blessed with finding a path that I never really intended, but just happened to find me. My sign painting business, <a href="http://www.oniongrovemercantile.com/"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Onion Grove Mercantile</span></a>, has kept me busier than I ever imagined....and I love every minute of it!! Well most minutes of it. When I had one or two signs to paint it wasn't a big deal to work on them at the kitchen table....but when I have 40 signs to work on it becomes *a bit* of an issue. A space of my own would be amazing....a space that can stay messy and I can dribble paint without panic.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykvPm_HhWOQ5apmVKFZcPCqNH0duWtTbr1lFWS8bLT-Y-62WjCh4L-aoAGU_tYWDuu-9xbgKlcO1YJGi8gcv8oqi7ENBJfviiuv7MSpRCiPdc-2h30vATd0ZaLL-RFzJrrdlkFLZvVwIo/s1600/Picture+963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykvPm_HhWOQ5apmVKFZcPCqNH0duWtTbr1lFWS8bLT-Y-62WjCh4L-aoAGU_tYWDuu-9xbgKlcO1YJGi8gcv8oqi7ENBJfviiuv7MSpRCiPdc-2h30vATd0ZaLL-RFzJrrdlkFLZvVwIo/s640/Picture+963.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
So here she is friends. Oh, and there are actually DOORS on this little barn....they're just all open right at this particular moment. I'm thinking we'll enclose one side, install a window, then have a swinging barn door on the right side. The little door up top there needs some work too....that would be neato with a window in the big space, and the window reinstalled above that. (Stained glass?? I really am getting crazy now!)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDC7jhdglD05AomlIbhaRRX0jX8GO51QyO97lrPFwJyS3Bn2eNXtoEPameIjI9Dqqfn9Jgs2GTadWdgkiZm_yV-Az0xTITf0e2gdGKBrdqsWfkPauRcB53Wr67cb6FBfeFT4LaNnfc8Y/s640/BHGsghed5.jpg" width="480" /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">(source...BHG)</div><div style="text-align: center;">I sorta totally love this....I'm not insane though....there shall be no tiled floor in my studio, or curtains...but I'm really digging the barn light and details.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMaX_HP-BulHoLMyqZTx3zfk8HFLtcQgTgRNEQvDNl5KWvPWKg-LHoineVQTjaGlkQo_sDJq8IDrPmom_4dzCy-8yjoqM-bQBYcqMb3TU9T4uPH3yauxERVwBbQvWepV1eoHM6B1_B4P2j/s1600/Picture+966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMaX_HP-BulHoLMyqZTx3zfk8HFLtcQgTgRNEQvDNl5KWvPWKg-LHoineVQTjaGlkQo_sDJq8IDrPmom_4dzCy-8yjoqM-bQBYcqMb3TU9T4uPH3yauxERVwBbQvWepV1eoHM6B1_B4P2j/s640/Picture+966.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is all the interior beauty. Can you see it? Windows installed on the left wall there to let in some light, work tables, a big sign easel, paint storage......maybe a new floor? This one is pretty bad. You would think we've had a crazy earthquake or something...heaves like you wouldn't believe. The space is really big though....would work perfectly for working on some of those giganto signs you folks come up with! :-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaXIsL49K85O_JTwBVw_BhHsLYAknhbYtBObT8wfGO_QCadZvBI5Ckn2N4-a59outHh90-xKMHdhF-0LCA8Y21CLKb35-vaxpYqmIyFSNpaZpqjzrBs_lp3EpkGLGiloRhvfWnsvTun4y/s1600/Picture+954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaXIsL49K85O_JTwBVw_BhHsLYAknhbYtBObT8wfGO_QCadZvBI5Ckn2N4-a59outHh90-xKMHdhF-0LCA8Y21CLKb35-vaxpYqmIyFSNpaZpqjzrBs_lp3EpkGLGiloRhvfWnsvTun4y/s640/Picture+954.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Then there's this dilemma. My husband <i>seems </i>to think...*rolling eyes and being sarcastic*....that this piece of junk needs to be INSIDE the garage. Just kidding, just kidding. I luvs this car....super fun to drive and I just look cool doing it....so the baby needs a home. A new-garage-type-home me thinks. Sitting in the middle of my studio is just not going to work for either of us.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jX9RQyilwvGX3cJJKwTyNbB8qsjZallONnMjecKalzuR93RQYU7TQ8VoHqCfg1A_ccGIn5h1M9wE0fZsGsOh5Fk6cXdLuDmt9Uy2K36JZR_36Z6Dqr0rx4UUnUf_v0sO_jOLBS1ENWeO/s1600/Picture+968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jX9RQyilwvGX3cJJKwTyNbB8qsjZallONnMjecKalzuR93RQYU7TQ8VoHqCfg1A_ccGIn5h1M9wE0fZsGsOh5Fk6cXdLuDmt9Uy2K36JZR_36Z6Dqr0rx4UUnUf_v0sO_jOLBS1ENWeO/s640/Picture+968.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Currently this is the access to the attic....as long as I stay thin and sprightly this works...otherwise, uh...not so much. I'm thinking something more like this would be nice.....along the back wall.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div> <img src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/282178732871921760_URTabg0F.jpg" /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">(source?...who knows...broken link on Pinterest...shocker, right? I'm becoming a total Pinterest snob...I know, shame on me)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pT3dcvxL6u6n4h7EhdVpDHduc7WDAEL3xcNk6XxBE_jdCHuD3YWOLqyk48RmGQB0-F8-iBeoRfwd0x6eoiLcd0rZAu0p_CQpY0_gieGqxNbBVwzpe0DRp-cSK3tI_Q8Ep-KTDqNCcpwB/s1600/Picture+974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pT3dcvxL6u6n4h7EhdVpDHduc7WDAEL3xcNk6XxBE_jdCHuD3YWOLqyk48RmGQB0-F8-iBeoRfwd0x6eoiLcd0rZAu0p_CQpY0_gieGqxNbBVwzpe0DRp-cSK3tI_Q8Ep-KTDqNCcpwB/s640/Picture+974.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">This is the attic space....nice and tall. Swimming anyone? The whole thing needs to be shored up, and the floor relayed...right now it's a bit like walking on marshmallows....and not in a good way. A big hearty prayer before each step comes in handy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5GxFgELb1Iq0FUn4sWj9_IRCOOMjxezs3DV-pjmY6c0KtztVTG6WzmafT9djIj_3u3kYkRjWJxwkb2ifVNLhWR0JJjcE2Zpn7q9xLH8EOyv0UZWbRk3jIDTaIxUlO-R1y4zM5Z_U13h6/s1600/Picture+980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5GxFgELb1Iq0FUn4sWj9_IRCOOMjxezs3DV-pjmY6c0KtztVTG6WzmafT9djIj_3u3kYkRjWJxwkb2ifVNLhWR0JJjcE2Zpn7q9xLH8EOyv0UZWbRk3jIDTaIxUlO-R1y4zM5Z_U13h6/s640/Picture+980.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">ANNNDDD....the electrical. Houston we have a problem. Not so much problem in terms of *do the lights turn on or not*...more like *I'm afraid the whole joint might burn down if I plug in a radio*.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4SUJWkTiXgMrabEa0vBIEXQDYZ8aNt16cHzoR0NyEl1zKMWpaWuLTqUAAJkh2e44dK858zn8-b9uiUemGB1NkzCraai2zJxk70zCCIYRrTTkBpHpyqet1xZYb-G99dhrj3Fy0ryTzg8o/s1600/Picture+982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4SUJWkTiXgMrabEa0vBIEXQDYZ8aNt16cHzoR0NyEl1zKMWpaWuLTqUAAJkh2e44dK858zn8-b9uiUemGB1NkzCraai2zJxk70zCCIYRrTTkBpHpyqet1xZYb-G99dhrj3Fy0ryTzg8o/s640/Picture+982.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Call me crazy....but I'm thinking duct tape might not be an approved electrical component.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So friends....you'll have to listen to me blabber on about this project for the next year....til next summer when we hope to get to work....and recruit the greatest contractor ever. After the <a href="http://jvanoort.blogspot.com/2011/09/bathroom-update-monday.html"><span style="color: #cc0000;">door incident</span></a> though, I'm not sure he'll ever talk to me again. ;-) hehehe </div><div style="text-align: center;">I've got a year to work on him though.</div>Jen@Notes From the Heartlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05295506793251184311noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612035921662523621.post-89682441761918947082012-02-20T21:50:00.000-06:002012-02-20T21:50:30.450-06:00The Lonely Orphaned Sign<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Mjr3hqM640TsjyQmA4BiA4QeaqphvCq_385HcrLgW0ZBBxhXhymGVo2TmEydiu9Ae9CO8qXThUwQCGoXdsps8dygegS7N6P8hJx0srDH2yJ65KNuFQTVj1fIBe5mNjF-CkswO1ObtC50/s1600/Picture+176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Mjr3hqM640TsjyQmA4BiA4QeaqphvCq_385HcrLgW0ZBBxhXhymGVo2TmEydiu9Ae9CO8qXThUwQCGoXdsps8dygegS7N6P8hJx0srDH2yJ65KNuFQTVj1fIBe5mNjF-CkswO1ObtC50/s640/Picture+176.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Hey folks! Look, I'm still here! Not much, but once in a while. ;-) <a href="http://www.oniongrovemercantile.com/"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Onion Grove Mercantile</span></a> is going a little crazy now....crazytown crazy. A few pins by my magical friend named <span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.inspiredbycharm.com/">Michael</a> </span>and I've been catapulted into the sign stratosphere....and let me tell you, it's a darn fun place to orbit! Busy place, thus the lack of attention to poor ole Notes From the Heartland. I've been learning lots about business....how to stay organized...how to keep books (sorta)...how to NOT dip my hair in the paint EVERY.TIME.I.PAINT...I mean, not like that happens EVERY time....okay, it happens EVERY time.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This past week brought a new lesson. Custom work is risky....unless you demand funds up front. This poor girl pictured above is an orphan. Painted, ready to go, never paid for. Lesson learned...the hard way. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDW-AB4vQrCtyb-ck5Ohm3YIo8UFZMAUxD7rIEtEFlj9xkRmznYBNY8lEOzl_hN1GDf3_NE5QhzKBgRIgiyoEO9jDQEmBmu5pjgplVW1LkwrTU_KUkKuj6LfDbcB6Uw9g71klk1FQHnjk/s1600/Picture+184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDW-AB4vQrCtyb-ck5Ohm3YIo8UFZMAUxD7rIEtEFlj9xkRmznYBNY8lEOzl_hN1GDf3_NE5QhzKBgRIgiyoEO9jDQEmBmu5pjgplVW1LkwrTU_KUkKuj6LfDbcB6Uw9g71klk1FQHnjk/s640/Picture+184.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">But she's so lovely, I just keep moving her around my own house. If you're interested in seeing the rest of the non-orphaned signs I've been up to you can check them out on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Onion-Grove-Mercantile/109515762464557"><span style="color: #cc0000;">FACEBOOK </span></a>and the O-FFIC-IAL <a href="http://www.oniongrovemercantile.com/"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Onion Grove Mercantile website</span></a>. Talk to you soon friends!</div>Jen@Notes From the Heartlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05295506793251184311noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612035921662523621.post-11304049644821214752012-01-27T13:12:00.001-06:002013-01-13T17:31:29.202-06:00Crock Pot Mongolian Beef<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrTIWUusMJoQ3GMb-cXB32boTUHqCV4XYhJC7CDF8MZ4zS7NQ0-y75CcoBh-uIBWHalY99ZdvNvNKm8nEsl39PLgzjhMs4fmda3W3QTjILdm2Ad_ctGDQKfcPQGbjwi7Mc7-nfP-a-Ocp/s1600/Picture+094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrTIWUusMJoQ3GMb-cXB32boTUHqCV4XYhJC7CDF8MZ4zS7NQ0-y75CcoBh-uIBWHalY99ZdvNvNKm8nEsl39PLgzjhMs4fmda3W3QTjILdm2Ad_ctGDQKfcPQGbjwi7Mc7-nfP-a-Ocp/s640/Picture+094.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I don't ordinarily blog about food this often...but it's winter....and I live in Iowa...and I'm cold....and hungry. So there. Today is your lucky day though friends because I have discovered what may be one of my FAVE crockpot concoctions ever. Crockpot Mongolian Beef....who woulda thunk it? Not I. </div>
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Go forth...make Crockpot Mongolian Beef. You can thank me later...oh and I like tulips and chocolates. </div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Crockpot Mongolian Beef</span><br />
1 1/2 lb. ball tip steak or flank steak (from <a href="http://www.wallacefarms.com/"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Wallace Farms</b></span></a> if you're nearby...Nick rocks)<br />
3 cloves garlic, minced<br />
4 sliced green onions<br />
1 tsp. dried onion<br />
1/2 c. soy sauce<br />
1/4 c. white wine<br />
1/4 c. cooking sherry<br />
1/2 tablespoon white wine vinegar<br />
1 tsp. sesame oil<br />
1 tsp. molasses<br />
1 tsp. ginger<br />
1/4 tsp. black pepper<br />
1 tsp. red chili flakes<br />
1/2 tablespoon peanut butter<br />
3 tablespoons brown sugar<br />
1/4 c. cornstarch<br />
<br />
1) Slice meat thin, put in baggie with cornstarch.<br />
2) Put all liquid and dry spices into crockpot, add PB, mix well.<br />
3) Add garlic and 3 green onions. Put meat on top, toss gingerly.<br />
4) Cover and cook on low 4-6 hours (mine took around 4).Jen@Notes From the Heartlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05295506793251184311noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612035921662523621.post-46385255275892283032012-01-24T23:27:00.000-06:002012-01-24T23:27:01.971-06:00Holiday Tour 2011...just a teensy late<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53z9YZj3FHg57Cj-A4nYp7nlHckE8WOuMFipIxtdeI7idpAbX_RuioyH1ErUrgiNPAJ81zKp4KF8rGsfS2ac6__cQzFjmHIWRm341G7Z7TEZXPImicZdw7NAyYE_n-m9OD5m8eQZ533bE/s1600/Picture+1916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53z9YZj3FHg57Cj-A4nYp7nlHckE8WOuMFipIxtdeI7idpAbX_RuioyH1ErUrgiNPAJ81zKp4KF8rGsfS2ac6__cQzFjmHIWRm341G7Z7TEZXPImicZdw7NAyYE_n-m9OD5m8eQZ533bE/s640/Picture+1916.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Did you hear? Our home was included in the Clarence Friends of the Library 2011 Holiday Home Tour. The preparation is nothing short of a type of torture that I'm SURE has been outlawed by the Geneva Convention. HOWEVER, the benefit is that all those nagging little (and big) projects that had been hanging out there in la la land got DONE. Go grab a snack, a drink, and some toothpicks to keep your eyes open as you peruse the next 30 something photos of the house....in all its CLEANESS. Did I mention I have an eight year old boy, a four year old boy and a 35 year old boy? They all live here...at the same time....at the same time I had to keep the ENTIRE house clean. I deserve a trophy for that. Or a tiara.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcRpgmVYBqwegECtN57kpgFA0gDpCUMcXRwQDYl0ayDIau3wjgZe2BYqK1retXIr0fYWbt7d0Cq4vmZycsn9N7lJdCO-75vVQQSvb6qN6UVnmIKS0rVbrtOl9sUFZFH6vNcZ9bSlXwhfY/s1600/Picture+1939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcRpgmVYBqwegECtN57kpgFA0gDpCUMcXRwQDYl0ayDIau3wjgZe2BYqK1retXIr0fYWbt7d0Cq4vmZycsn9N7lJdCO-75vVQQSvb6qN6UVnmIKS0rVbrtOl9sUFZFH6vNcZ9bSlXwhfY/s640/Picture+1939.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Have I mentioned how much I love my kitchen now? I'm going to share that love AGAIN soon in a Before and After post. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPU-d5-I8NU35Um1ZAGI_H2CQ6c8W-cyuPNk1N1-ULvrbVbnnemSkXd_DqVk_7z5MOZ_mVJHnaSlZYxDP3BHB9KHrhyphenhyphenIfs42qTc9evdjZdRfcXD23HvzdPH51R6izGN6wHNGqakG9UfTO/s1600/Picture+1941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPU-d5-I8NU35Um1ZAGI_H2CQ6c8W-cyuPNk1N1-ULvrbVbnnemSkXd_DqVk_7z5MOZ_mVJHnaSlZYxDP3BHB9KHrhyphenhyphenIfs42qTc9evdjZdRfcXD23HvzdPH51R6izGN6wHNGqakG9UfTO/s640/Picture+1941.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKFEgthVrOOxGM_Z851V8J0gfAdOR1okAI6IlXXuLz_PmgLJDDYlTNWXYUY5qUU3o6_-AIEJK3UB_T1M-KuQ4l82Iiq1TqzmrZoli4VIrmTQZqBEjd_5F2SYn1OFn8wfmtskm-NNQoGEE/s1600/Picture+1944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKFEgthVrOOxGM_Z851V8J0gfAdOR1okAI6IlXXuLz_PmgLJDDYlTNWXYUY5qUU3o6_-AIEJK3UB_T1M-KuQ4l82Iiq1TqzmrZoli4VIrmTQZqBEjd_5F2SYn1OFn8wfmtskm-NNQoGEE/s640/Picture+1944.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgNtjyBFMDFt80ABJZ9brWHD_wkrz-Z8yGnw_UbxQjCO5vYJOnU7tS0kHP6FxYb6A1_ODYh1eI6JlBno8nxTcJ6gFCHADfQwppyOC4-olp0tXXiRWPcf-F5hFPEXOBbO5jzCvnWvdGxvw/s1600/Picture+1949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgNtjyBFMDFt80ABJZ9brWHD_wkrz-Z8yGnw_UbxQjCO5vYJOnU7tS0kHP6FxYb6A1_ODYh1eI6JlBno8nxTcJ6gFCHADfQwppyOC4-olp0tXXiRWPcf-F5hFPEXOBbO5jzCvnWvdGxvw/s640/Picture+1949.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The dining room. I managed to hide my oakey oak dining room table...the hubster put the kabosh on painting or staining it. Little does he know the plans afoot when he leaves on his next business travel overseas. BWAHAHAHA.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwt8fKyqwlY5hT3WXMAnnfVpMQhvHoWbbO68M_rTiCQ8bedRQER6tnN0ROER9EHyT8r4-BpjUcQB3k0feHz51rvRSPTPmWXYKB6anzbzTidOfFrk-wh0h6pdb04SBGkLH2i5hW8XOel1z/s1600/Picture+1950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwt8fKyqwlY5hT3WXMAnnfVpMQhvHoWbbO68M_rTiCQ8bedRQER6tnN0ROER9EHyT8r4-BpjUcQB3k0feHz51rvRSPTPmWXYKB6anzbzTidOfFrk-wh0h6pdb04SBGkLH2i5hW8XOel1z/s640/Picture+1950.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0bSERR5uV3kmuG6IyQnhb1B72Q-n7O5J9Lagw2eBz97y4y4Md5TIg6rdc3LyUyHqVyfg1a-m66tRK18MhA5sPflK9TJ17KgVqBJPgnhg6UaOEbVZMKXIo_cGqi7rbG_hh3DKKoGuOOUx/s1600/Picture+1959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0bSERR5uV3kmuG6IyQnhb1B72Q-n7O5J9Lagw2eBz97y4y4Md5TIg6rdc3LyUyHqVyfg1a-m66tRK18MhA5sPflK9TJ17KgVqBJPgnhg6UaOEbVZMKXIo_cGqi7rbG_hh3DKKoGuOOUx/s640/Picture+1959.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Hedge apples....just because they're cool. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizben3Q0vEDSn0N7YtVyCsgqxQnUBUwy2hfOroPAG1ALl7A0zCtkhXX8xElK_mivTsu6PvjIVtDmJFIsjONdwtwxuQ-RBeG1qP4aNv8Pc5FWhMAf2N4tKMPlHph6m6wFXX_VrpjE7IMuN6/s1600/Picture+1965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizben3Q0vEDSn0N7YtVyCsgqxQnUBUwy2hfOroPAG1ALl7A0zCtkhXX8xElK_mivTsu6PvjIVtDmJFIsjONdwtwxuQ-RBeG1qP4aNv8Pc5FWhMAf2N4tKMPlHph6m6wFXX_VrpjE7IMuN6/s640/Picture+1965.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">God bless my husband and friend for lugging the cabinet out of the basement. I love this thing. Love. The weight...well....just shy of elephant.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQzLtY6W7PcDt6GcTnsQLMqlExUtPhrL-JzUFi_p82M7SJ8Ic_yAXtVcpP1e0yLcSauFDc8kl5AM5x8DorpAySvrxp1C44w-pYGQnDIdWv1jVSvCL9H7CbKhCpIRh92yltmeC4o8Tl2I0/s1600/Picture+1981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQzLtY6W7PcDt6GcTnsQLMqlExUtPhrL-JzUFi_p82M7SJ8Ic_yAXtVcpP1e0yLcSauFDc8kl5AM5x8DorpAySvrxp1C44w-pYGQnDIdWv1jVSvCL9H7CbKhCpIRh92yltmeC4o8Tl2I0/s640/Picture+1981.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The $1 chair. More on that to come too....I'm such a tease. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCKUs0KzXOBGRzfbhYA9IyEHtTQtB23O6_s84Kc4I4ZmjcpPEmiegtLOJWGCGt6yg9Kt_q-tiPr_5-XGgFzaOysQmQT2vVEH-5DLS1YOSnLQVjPp5Hq-1BREl6PWDPvcohmqElwnT117Z/s1600/Picture+1987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCKUs0KzXOBGRzfbhYA9IyEHtTQtB23O6_s84Kc4I4ZmjcpPEmiegtLOJWGCGt6yg9Kt_q-tiPr_5-XGgFzaOysQmQT2vVEH-5DLS1YOSnLQVjPp5Hq-1BREl6PWDPvcohmqElwnT117Z/s640/Picture+1987.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">So here's the deal. When a person hides their oakey oak dining table...well...you have to do something about those oakey oak dining CHAIRS. Solution? Hide them in the basement and scrounge the house. I kinda love the bench there. That might stay...at least until I find permanent "new" chairs. Actually what I would sorta totally love is to have mismatched...just all in the same wood tone....or painted....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMYxYcxU8AVsmIFi84Cmh3bjV6HbYoSfMNoTk2HDz5vekWSqmVtgPFvDb2cIDB3a0NwvEKv7vJbNv7gIVdyZQc_zRzRD2J77GYbj6RpshVUX_3WTdRJ6vT60o7x0QAycrAfc0yZMLVIOO/s1600/Picture+1990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMYxYcxU8AVsmIFi84Cmh3bjV6HbYoSfMNoTk2HDz5vekWSqmVtgPFvDb2cIDB3a0NwvEKv7vJbNv7gIVdyZQc_zRzRD2J77GYbj6RpshVUX_3WTdRJ6vT60o7x0QAycrAfc0yZMLVIOO/s640/Picture+1990.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKk8XTvMMckWNdfTardXSY1WRN0W4gbSszLX4RBFK2vveLUQ3NqGZrPw2lTBy2ojWOS3vdqjnjhke7u3YoacyVnSrGLnJ3yLr5-2FbadcWc-jnTU_ruV2Bi21mY5nA-EiPpLjQMBXhJJT/s1600/Picture+2002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKk8XTvMMckWNdfTardXSY1WRN0W4gbSszLX4RBFK2vveLUQ3NqGZrPw2lTBy2ojWOS3vdqjnjhke7u3YoacyVnSrGLnJ3yLr5-2FbadcWc-jnTU_ruV2Bi21mY5nA-EiPpLjQMBXhJJT/s640/Picture+2002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The den....because my dad is a genius bookcase builder. Love that guy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4JZY0ydNeVsv6WIbktYwArz3z7rOOieN9dvoLRqFMlw0iICryTtJl1wFuoQ6VIaGJ1Pb1BnyoHnWwx-BjZmRGF3WsByqr9CLR2FOGBifs58T48re2BEFtl-9KiGPJ1FJ-aAY9DMBoXOR/s1600/Picture+2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4JZY0ydNeVsv6WIbktYwArz3z7rOOieN9dvoLRqFMlw0iICryTtJl1wFuoQ6VIaGJ1Pb1BnyoHnWwx-BjZmRGF3WsByqr9CLR2FOGBifs58T48re2BEFtl-9KiGPJ1FJ-aAY9DMBoXOR/s640/Picture+2008.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA08mnt3C8LXTom1ysBxbTjkoTXqwL-BEkjwtVndhgpKuMAnmOGN8j7frviURFDm5h7IoDXWLlAIok8iwJ2QsGeQEYaBRSGPeTkvUNxLHbTIXXuZvy0YNyQPsO3N9VMdWjKl7VWfKyJeFD/s1600/Picture+2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA08mnt3C8LXTom1ysBxbTjkoTXqwL-BEkjwtVndhgpKuMAnmOGN8j7frviURFDm5h7IoDXWLlAIok8iwJ2QsGeQEYaBRSGPeTkvUNxLHbTIXXuZvy0YNyQPsO3N9VMdWjKl7VWfKyJeFD/s640/Picture+2018.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fL1W5Ia19Byw-52Iy94ZJUR4q8WTuKMfPBiqhOJ-iAcybrGWn1LDMsKZTWxx6vrhVri5N-9LX_ZlGQh5XkYFFsw3ms6TxiSICZS-He8NRre-XImas_qW8Wk4-E9iORvoxZ4_OMre5FPP/s1600/Picture+2032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fL1W5Ia19Byw-52Iy94ZJUR4q8WTuKMfPBiqhOJ-iAcybrGWn1LDMsKZTWxx6vrhVri5N-9LX_ZlGQh5XkYFFsw3ms6TxiSICZS-He8NRre-XImas_qW8Wk4-E9iORvoxZ4_OMre5FPP/s640/Picture+2032.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Master bedroom. Makes me want a nap.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHrl-qGRulp24_-mNwoc61nTnrv3MH2IXBzo-1Urgs4nAoQbd_ZMqxN-F36uIK9nMrFgk4ctJbKnKkQ0zuzgrabhFJ94mY2YXABbudfIPeeaA3zIuwBjq3dUsqMYqDLZsZH2tSZ4dl_i8/s1600/Picture+2036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHrl-qGRulp24_-mNwoc61nTnrv3MH2IXBzo-1Urgs4nAoQbd_ZMqxN-F36uIK9nMrFgk4ctJbKnKkQ0zuzgrabhFJ94mY2YXABbudfIPeeaA3zIuwBjq3dUsqMYqDLZsZH2tSZ4dl_i8/s640/Picture+2036.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Guest room. Uh yes, I'm a ding dong and this is the only shot I took.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTkqpO6eGkxj32gyEL54zZ9OKbcmnEsk_1tQ6EpypEzoVv0nVzvjxbr8TakcqI9V_a-1lZcKlaSCvbuo2XWKsPq3qUMTEmWNA35GkVvt5lvHu8OK4mtGuYaXXOmZV33639pVCgOjSUqFG/s1600/Picture+2042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTkqpO6eGkxj32gyEL54zZ9OKbcmnEsk_1tQ6EpypEzoVv0nVzvjxbr8TakcqI9V_a-1lZcKlaSCvbuo2XWKsPq3qUMTEmWNA35GkVvt5lvHu8OK4mtGuYaXXOmZV33639pVCgOjSUqFG/s640/Picture+2042.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Back to being a tease. This is the new downstairs bath....that deserves its own post. Its own blog really. Its own country to run to be honest.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWjqyJtRqURXvr_WdRlhNQ-Zv4B0em4KON7x7u-qc5G35QoRLRiwyHLtd2QCbJ4Cci_9RVTPorOiA8PhJcTK3RO_hoZX9Poc5lyKTz6sWhBMXwOY6O7JGFkXwnlj0oB1uz4tZ3z-PI857/s1600/Picture+2055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWjqyJtRqURXvr_WdRlhNQ-Zv4B0em4KON7x7u-qc5G35QoRLRiwyHLtd2QCbJ4Cci_9RVTPorOiA8PhJcTK3RO_hoZX9Poc5lyKTz6sWhBMXwOY6O7JGFkXwnlj0oB1uz4tZ3z-PI857/s640/Picture+2055.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Back stairs. Do I have a photo of the beautiful front stair case and foyer tree you ask? Uh no. Woops.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7F9wur-RVVxN-hYcCHf77UHpk2buhGXK-3toPrAIZdYqkLSBxJIE9T_B_JJdMbA-K6a6nOjH11OTrIECtFfKY6SG0IT6u91pwCygeQvcY8fmaAAtYGLrrDDx-lOOHcPGhkixNrCtOHJ2P/s1600/Picture+2061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7F9wur-RVVxN-hYcCHf77UHpk2buhGXK-3toPrAIZdYqkLSBxJIE9T_B_JJdMbA-K6a6nOjH11OTrIECtFfKY6SG0IT6u91pwCygeQvcY8fmaAAtYGLrrDDx-lOOHcPGhkixNrCtOHJ2P/s640/Picture+2061.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Upstairs bath. Artwork by a very famous artiste named Marshall V. He was two. Genius. Pure genius.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexGOiYh9HbinAux2lErQxXwHqJYjWHGxBVZx8Y-1rp2YwaHRA2K5Ub1OZgpdcNqnZlNqOgY4_aDlxcz0s_ZQgV1Z2Zy9YQ8A0pZiy1OdNaDDFmYs3OfgIyBkRCmGFk1Tcbxh2yakZ_VPf/s1600/Picture+2029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexGOiYh9HbinAux2lErQxXwHqJYjWHGxBVZx8Y-1rp2YwaHRA2K5Ub1OZgpdcNqnZlNqOgY4_aDlxcz0s_ZQgV1Z2Zy9YQ8A0pZiy1OdNaDDFmYs3OfgIyBkRCmGFk1Tcbxh2yakZ_VPf/s640/Picture+2029.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Boys' room</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmXubuW0n3oSq-R-L-nStSunsYAcsnjvpW3vEQyptbHdQvDcLcFrd18eSi1NORnJINSbAacm9Iw0ghZ1I5JqKv0HBlyaESZ9uWF5TyAyuLPqoc5z6CIlUL0FO6uJK-VwOS8sqG5OiHjaL/s1600/Picture+2091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmXubuW0n3oSq-R-L-nStSunsYAcsnjvpW3vEQyptbHdQvDcLcFrd18eSi1NORnJINSbAacm9Iw0ghZ1I5JqKv0HBlyaESZ9uWF5TyAyuLPqoc5z6CIlUL0FO6uJK-VwOS8sqG5OiHjaL/s640/Picture+2091.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphenYhEDFHcqeGiH9MuYAIGuvUGx9GhmT4q7l22ru5ZfCd2DLLObrGc_VuFnoWriDvGKJsULnliWSEEU_C16X8RWtzvmF4Ag8Mr663KgfX7dHUYDXIr9239zVjD5TAl4-pzTcsjw2NMDiW0/s1600/Picture+2399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphenYhEDFHcqeGiH9MuYAIGuvUGx9GhmT4q7l22ru5ZfCd2DLLObrGc_VuFnoWriDvGKJsULnliWSEEU_C16X8RWtzvmF4Ag8Mr663KgfX7dHUYDXIr9239zVjD5TAl4-pzTcsjw2NMDiW0/s640/Picture+2399.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you're still awake I thank you for taking the time to go through my virtual Holiday Home Tour. Oh, it's January you say? Just pretend it's Dec. 25 and you're delighted to look at Christmas photos. ;-)</div>Jen@Notes From the Heartlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05295506793251184311noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612035921662523621.post-24185861524693611042012-01-04T20:02:00.001-06:002012-01-04T20:02:59.105-06:00Cranberry Pork Roast (Tenderloin)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFwvMsAt8N_aJ3Qekl20PfN1P6LEbu4I52NIj4yFhHXlu6CuwWAJmvz6djW4wya-OzvqhS_uSccrJglw6Ul1J2d-YuSvBpbyJErtBgU72DgTxKHnDSKDgs8D09of6qvuAtyamlkiBp0D_/s1600/Picture+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFwvMsAt8N_aJ3Qekl20PfN1P6LEbu4I52NIj4yFhHXlu6CuwWAJmvz6djW4wya-OzvqhS_uSccrJglw6Ul1J2d-YuSvBpbyJErtBgU72DgTxKHnDSKDgs8D09of6qvuAtyamlkiBp0D_/s640/Picture+019.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Yum. Yum. Yum. Yum. I have a new "thing" for my crockpot. Who knew? This could possibly be the best invention for busy moms since the electric sweeper. I actually have TWO crockpots now. A little one and a big one....because recipes call for different sizes, did you know? I mean, who wants to make a gallon of cheese dip? Not I. But a gallon of yummy soup, yes please.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">ANYWAY, tonight I tried a new recipe and it was the bomb. Cranberry Pork Roast. Well actually mine was Cranberry Pork Tenderloin because that's what I had in the freezer....and I only get meat from Nick from <a href="http://www.wallacefarms.com/"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Wallace Farms</span></a>....and my next meat delivery isn't for a couple weeks. Don't get me started...but you should get a meat guy...it will change your life for the better.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's the deets peeps....you'd better try it...you'll thank me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Cranberry Pork Roast (Tenderloin)</span></u></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pork Roast (2.5-3lbs) or Tenderloin</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 tsp. dry mustard</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 tsp. salt</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 tsp. pepper</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 T. cornstarch</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 c. fresh cranberries </div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 c. white sugar</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 c. brown sugar</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/3 c. golden raisins</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 clove garlic, chopped</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/3 c. cranberry juice</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 small lemon, sliced</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In a zipper bag combine dry spices, cornstarch and meat. Shake. Plop into crockpot. Dump other ingredients on top. Top the whole show with sliced lemons.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cover, cook on low 8 hours. Enjoy!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, and on a side note. <span style="font-size: large;">RUN</span>, do not walk, to your grocery store <span style="font-size: large;">RIGHT NOW</span> and grab every bag of fresh cranberries you see. Bring them home and throw them all in your freezer. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Just try finding fresh cranberries in July....dare ya.</div>Jen@Notes From the Heartlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05295506793251184311noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612035921662523621.post-2323584522858204752012-01-04T14:19:00.000-06:002012-01-04T14:19:58.912-06:00Well Hello There Loveys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9F85lYdkgyX3mz2ojzQhG_agkppXelZ5aDACGk-tKjvomDM-I38Na2BHJj58YjoorOq-1yJ-rDrAYizmZOFt5TXFOBqXarJ9EvjpUwm_dv4K4zubQbCJfQm3cuoaEyE3la087xJri-sRo/s1600/Picture+1876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9F85lYdkgyX3mz2ojzQhG_agkppXelZ5aDACGk-tKjvomDM-I38Na2BHJj58YjoorOq-1yJ-rDrAYizmZOFt5TXFOBqXarJ9EvjpUwm_dv4K4zubQbCJfQm3cuoaEyE3la087xJri-sRo/s640/Picture+1876.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">What the.....what? I know, right? I'm POSTING. Seriously...it's a small piece of miracle. Okay, maybe a large piece of miracle. How ya'll been? We only have oh.....400,000 months to catch up on...yes? I think everyone goes through this, right? You go along fine for a while, thinking of lots of things to talk about, yammering endlessly. Then, whammo. You hit the wall. Or in my case, I got busy as H-E-double hockey sticks!! I haven't been brave enough to count how many signs I painted before Christmas. Seriously folks, it was crazy. Then I landed my lil ole self in the hospital...I'm fine....but don't overdo it ladies (and gentlemen)...stress catches up with your body. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Our elf, Elfy, kept us company all through December. I kinda wish our bathroom sink was bigger...who wouldn't want to take a marshmallow bath with a guy from the North Pole? Okay that sounded weird. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Think of it in a "non weird" way.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkDAGdZYnFCmYdewlwQja_EIrRP2r0RN4vI6zXSGnKgAWsYZosbP5EMURT_OhasU5epvc62GSBHVREEC53iXoaVTaBWVliC5TZ056NJIWf1LCAl0zoVE_I1fsospN8QpQurXuq0a65jTtc/s1600/Picture+2281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkDAGdZYnFCmYdewlwQja_EIrRP2r0RN4vI6zXSGnKgAWsYZosbP5EMURT_OhasU5epvc62GSBHVREEC53iXoaVTaBWVliC5TZ056NJIWf1LCAl0zoVE_I1fsospN8QpQurXuq0a65jTtc/s640/Picture+2281.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Anywho, the sign painting has been going along swimmingly. I have lots of favorites from this year that I'll share soon....there are a bajillion. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEe0C4KjNpKorlOKfBPzXx2VKNfdZY0uMsruyxplXdlQNQt1ciHQiJ9AWUzEzdkTkidnJIlgue1l2Ma_D8TOYWgE1C6hGOJw9d-gFAH8MEpsYw8MiL-LtFhEVYskHJ37lk085FK2XXi9lA/s1600/Michael.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEe0C4KjNpKorlOKfBPzXx2VKNfdZY0uMsruyxplXdlQNQt1ciHQiJ9AWUzEzdkTkidnJIlgue1l2Ma_D8TOYWgE1C6hGOJw9d-gFAH8MEpsYw8MiL-LtFhEVYskHJ37lk085FK2XXi9lA/s640/Michael.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And my friends....seriously??!! My friends are having knockout years....while I've been not blogging, they've been lighting up the night sky! Did you hear that my dear Loo Who (<a href="http://www.inspiredbycharm.com/">Michael from Inspired by Charm)</a> was <a href="http://www.inspiredbycharm.com/2011/11/its-here-and-giveaway.html"><span style="color: #cc0000;">published in a REAL LIFE magazine</span></a>!! Shut up, you say? No, really! Awesome, right?? If you haven't seen <i>Folk </i>you must run out into the street THIS MINUTE and find a copy. I'm going to stalk my favorite flower farmer until her shipment comes in...then I'm on it like white on rice. I mean, he's so famous now that I feel like a groupie. Okay, who am I kidding....I'm a Loo Who groupie. You rock Michael!! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Remember the little people. ;-)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmkzEmVjpBHh4LXiGL108ZaH6kG7sm5nZ8pMr238-uLPhzYFxULvMxMasfiEu9ryMRfs6Hck2pNemimpK_DO-2uO9822SSdLLD6RMi3ABuUlbX-fyE5UcL3gHZrt2Rne8kQvT0clf_hQJ/s1600/Kim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmkzEmVjpBHh4LXiGL108ZaH6kG7sm5nZ8pMr238-uLPhzYFxULvMxMasfiEu9ryMRfs6Hck2pNemimpK_DO-2uO9822SSdLLD6RMi3ABuUlbX-fyE5UcL3gHZrt2Rne8kQvT0clf_hQJ/s640/Kim.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Then there's my friend Kim...yeah you know her....<a href="http://www.newlywoodwards.com/">Kim at The NewlyWoodwards</a>. She's awesome all on her own...I mean really? Anyone who can set monthly goals and actually accomplish them...crazy. But then she goes and gets herself <a href="http://www.newlywoodwards.com/2012/01/its-2012-baby.html"><span style="color: #cc0000;">in the FAMILY WAY</span></a>!! Shut up, you say? No, really!! Kim is going to have a BEEBEE!! And that beebee will undoubtedly reside in the snazziest room, with the snazziest jammies, with snazzy stuff to do. All made by my Kim.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4U21kon7ECB0qB85AgWvsexwQZNGfQFIAmUbL1u9ln7Azs-CwX9wJ1lVje0R16m2-4_OCITkrzS9muQZJXoSYRULtSIrPmmdoCU8kQFaFMC6cnnExgfFnphyphenhyphenHB4HWDupzRBv9mYAt32Ba/s1600/Picture+1172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4U21kon7ECB0qB85AgWvsexwQZNGfQFIAmUbL1u9ln7Azs-CwX9wJ1lVje0R16m2-4_OCITkrzS9muQZJXoSYRULtSIrPmmdoCU8kQFaFMC6cnnExgfFnphyphenhyphenHB4HWDupzRBv9mYAt32Ba/s640/Picture+1172.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And if I don't feel sluggy and boring enough....my friend <a href="http://misseffiesdiary.blogspot.com/">CATHY </a>goes and gets <a href="http://www.misseffiesflowers.com/"><span style="color: #cc0000;">her flower farm listed with Silos and Smokestacks</span></a>!!!! That's a big deal folks. BIG. STINKIN'. DEAL.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>And , well, everyone else has been up to all kinds of cool stuff too.....==================><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">I can't promise I'll be all bloggy everyday...but I promise to try harder! See ya soon!</div>Jen@Notes From the Heartlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05295506793251184311noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612035921662523621.post-67751183153813233882011-10-24T21:45:00.000-05:002011-10-24T21:45:10.140-05:00It's POTTY Time!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mfo0ffUyZBs1vrn_ot2AuNBqKAVkEIzw9jpoXAxrg86SO0x_sb0IhoBfhwWf-f-_EUwxVPSvguY0vwWGPYYepBiA7hgoNOfRjmbiF20t01nS2G7JZSr_BEHHho_MGjT48vVC8cSae9BC/s1600/Picture+1031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mfo0ffUyZBs1vrn_ot2AuNBqKAVkEIzw9jpoXAxrg86SO0x_sb0IhoBfhwWf-f-_EUwxVPSvguY0vwWGPYYepBiA7hgoNOfRjmbiF20t01nS2G7JZSr_BEHHho_MGjT48vVC8cSae9BC/s640/Picture+1031.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I will say, this post seems a little like cruel and unusual punishment for you fine readers. I get all lazy-pants on posting lately...and the first thing I come up with is a potty post. That's how I roll folks. Three men = need for two potties. This is a big deal-e-o around these parts. First, have a look-see at my plumber up there. It's always great to see him....it means progress will happen. Thankyoulord. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And no plumber butt is ever involved....double bonus.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvwP3k-FZ0hTiaXb1z6Xv5T5vTn-6ikeBlnIlKqo8A4iFZZvGU-gN_AuQOJDG7nycnX1qDXOhxGmrDE7tcfY_sOv-FX8tkkIeT1UoIkNSAuROn6Ospe2MzYH2Y4UHkShMn9dOmuMU1jmm/s1600/Picture+1032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvwP3k-FZ0hTiaXb1z6Xv5T5vTn-6ikeBlnIlKqo8A4iFZZvGU-gN_AuQOJDG7nycnX1qDXOhxGmrDE7tcfY_sOv-FX8tkkIeT1UoIkNSAuROn6Ospe2MzYH2Y4UHkShMn9dOmuMU1jmm/s640/Picture+1032.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">It's alllllmmmmmoooooossssttttt time.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFF0wf7aezsQRPNRw_C7mTsX17DEM6Nw94kgkRdOd486deHIy85o0eYRsVOv-pd73u7epSATeBbWbvdxaEW0qUigsO4Oh9CwA0lwUDrjVjJUPH7cDb6_txusCzWTgRFKb00e4RF-Z7ZoY/s1600/Picture+1043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFF0wf7aezsQRPNRw_C7mTsX17DEM6Nw94kgkRdOd486deHIy85o0eYRsVOv-pd73u7epSATeBbWbvdxaEW0qUigsO4Oh9CwA0lwUDrjVjJUPH7cDb6_txusCzWTgRFKb00e4RF-Z7ZoY/s640/Picture+1043.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">She's in! Water flowing. Flushable. She's a beaut. Look at those beautiful square lines. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Now this is a potty. </div><div style="text-align: center;">A pretty potty.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBakLQBpKmBO9efGSrYWXQTalqvVcmb_7dV6XzSqKsgqIlrBSdCJWtoaPOCC6njvh1PhaJXYxgdgg2qnNK2GyJ72_Lhc2uusvmWcc1lIRPSH68JE__R2mQm5mUShrem09TfNMc6OcqmrN/s1600/Picture+1045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBakLQBpKmBO9efGSrYWXQTalqvVcmb_7dV6XzSqKsgqIlrBSdCJWtoaPOCC6njvh1PhaJXYxgdgg2qnNK2GyJ72_Lhc2uusvmWcc1lIRPSH68JE__R2mQm5mUShrem09TfNMc6OcqmrN/s640/Picture+1045.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Here's the deets if you're interested....because I know this post was riveting. ;-)</div>Jen@Notes From the Heartlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05295506793251184311noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612035921662523621.post-69604017084444160682011-10-05T12:15:00.000-05:002011-10-05T12:15:29.367-05:00Pots for Sale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAt8lUjHMzwATjlVfTDJ5JEe865U0yRgKg4wZDZRhQ55hewBVy06HST2bVeGCe9JQVjP3Vxn6vcjKImjJJUZneED6-6109IDvD76v9ChCF1kt-MfBC83VfwsocVcwkf67MlqQLwI7qrSV/s1600/Picture+582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAt8lUjHMzwATjlVfTDJ5JEe865U0yRgKg4wZDZRhQ55hewBVy06HST2bVeGCe9JQVjP3Vxn6vcjKImjJJUZneED6-6109IDvD76v9ChCF1kt-MfBC83VfwsocVcwkf67MlqQLwI7qrSV/s640/Picture+582.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I have A.LOT. of catching up to do. I blogged a total of 1.5 times over the summer....and SO MUCH happened! To kick off catch up week we'll take a look at a recent sign! My friend <a href="http://willowavenuepottery.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #990000;">Becky</span></a> ,of <a href="http://www.willowavenuepottery.com/"><span style="color: #990000;">Willow Avenue Pottery</span></a> ,asked me to paint another sign for her. Do you remember <a href="http://jvanoort.blogspot.com/2011/03/willow-avenue-pottery-signreveal.html"><span style="color: #990000;">the first</span></a>? One of my favorites.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> This time she asked for a sign to help folks realize the pots in her studio are FOR SALE...not just shelf decoration. ;-) We played around with some ideas....and landed here. Becky was so sweet to share the sign photo on Facebook....to which her first response was, "<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">I feel like I can get a hot shave next door! And a nickle root beer!" </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">That was a HUGE compliment....that's exactly what we were going for!!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYNBLv7lCEhUNwFsc6N2K4gtU2Lvivy55osNc10jbDEhkkw4AG-r23uPvZVhCjr9M0G9D8yiJvur99wYNE7ArV_zIUnD9TU_m7UF938nxLeQrnP7vtrtOmqP5VRwX_hEJgs7j9_sn7wza/s1600/Picture+907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYNBLv7lCEhUNwFsc6N2K4gtU2Lvivy55osNc10jbDEhkkw4AG-r23uPvZVhCjr9M0G9D8yiJvur99wYNE7ArV_zIUnD9TU_m7UF938nxLeQrnP7vtrtOmqP5VRwX_hEJgs7j9_sn7wza/s640/Picture+907.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Becky and I don't deal in dollars. We deal in pottery. The first sign netted me a <a href="http://jvanoort.blogspot.com/2011/05/trading-with-willow-avenue-pottery.html"><span style="color: #990000;">GORGEOUS. CUSTOM. GIGANTO fruit bowl</span></a>. I love it. I fill it with fruit and take lots of photos of it. I protect it from crazy boys. I proudly tell the story of the fruit bowl everytime someone asks...and sometimes when they don't. ;-) NOW, my fruit bowl has friends!! Matching friends to be exact. Two pretty tumblers and a beautiful deep little bowl. Becky is a master with the glaze....she creates the most amazing finishes.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1ENjejmJlGH5bWcRnnUtp_KQ_7-Qc7UY_peZhn2ovB4-9hnEGiVTAINQw9u60xPiS7PKJzH6azE0LNrBZUNWBJ1SLVekARI893HXNWpeCK8QZoD52afqlqctJE7o-OXj62Owlz9epddF/s1600/Picture+887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1ENjejmJlGH5bWcRnnUtp_KQ_7-Qc7UY_peZhn2ovB4-9hnEGiVTAINQw9u60xPiS7PKJzH6azE0LNrBZUNWBJ1SLVekARI893HXNWpeCK8QZoD52afqlqctJE7o-OXj62Owlz9epddF/s640/Picture+887.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMreJBYjLTTg0oJyVmoiYNE06j2CzN-HOwXvrje6bzBmRIlckU_F50gdPQy8LjlfpExa09Uf0gVYViihtXNzA66V0FH5_V93pJmdErUmegrw1crYkkq38pNh9ZrJTtTrhyphenhyphen63AiEogm6Qxz/s1600/Picture+890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMreJBYjLTTg0oJyVmoiYNE06j2CzN-HOwXvrje6bzBmRIlckU_F50gdPQy8LjlfpExa09Uf0gVYViihtXNzA66V0FH5_V93pJmdErUmegrw1crYkkq38pNh9ZrJTtTrhyphenhyphen63AiEogm6Qxz/s640/Picture+890.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Right now Becky is busy with the fall harvest here in Iowa....but the snow will fly soon and she'll be back in the studio. EVERYONE needs a piece of Willow Avenue pottery for Christmas. Just sayin'.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">You can check out Becky on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Willow-Avenue-Pottery/288484177664"><span style="color: #990000;">Facebook</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">her <a href="http://willowavenuepottery.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #990000;">blog</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">or her <a href="http://www.willowavenuepottery.com/index.html"><span style="color: #990000;">website</span></a>!</div>Jen@Notes From the Heartlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05295506793251184311noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612035921662523621.post-939104704490773322011-09-26T21:17:00.001-05:002011-09-27T13:22:50.085-05:00Smiling Spoons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqLmVt0FyfDU9oWCRB8pnrQHfmqJCAC0X8bApXwSiDMtMBdHlf45VaDVl-LZf-8pSLMzUb7jHWDb8lJvrQfez8dvLSWEUHtOuEb_fabZA7LaCBwCCIj00EgM-XFtfdK_60zmtBYTCEt1D/s1600/Picture+1000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqLmVt0FyfDU9oWCRB8pnrQHfmqJCAC0X8bApXwSiDMtMBdHlf45VaDVl-LZf-8pSLMzUb7jHWDb8lJvrQfez8dvLSWEUHtOuEb_fabZA7LaCBwCCIj00EgM-XFtfdK_60zmtBYTCEt1D/s640/Picture+1000.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Shortly after our kitchen remodel wrapped up my boys discovered something really neat. Every morning their cereal spoons smile at them. Every morning. Awesome. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.re-nest.com/re-nest/kitchen/before-38-after-diy-white-kitchen-makeover-notes-from-the-heartland-149427"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Two pendant lights</span></a> + <a href="http://jvanoort.blogspot.com/2011/06/bulkheads-just-wanna-have-fun.html"><span style="color: #cc0000;">chalkboard bulkhead</span></a> = smiling spoons. :-)</div>Jen@Notes From the Heartlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05295506793251184311noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612035921662523621.post-80311130423948623662011-09-20T20:54:00.001-05:002011-09-20T20:56:08.365-05:00Sink Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQrGZPHp3zNLdLc1rEvsERfsCEfBxuZIdGEkKALZnL_2Igb-H5EPcXeDyeNOGB72wGmK3o7wRdbTIBGY5y_ezdorZ9fOX4BjlDLIZz5tWV-HEaYxnZ8i2fe0T3hDNv8uCEudrt98tazuT/s1600/Picture+699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQrGZPHp3zNLdLc1rEvsERfsCEfBxuZIdGEkKALZnL_2Igb-H5EPcXeDyeNOGB72wGmK3o7wRdbTIBGY5y_ezdorZ9fOX4BjlDLIZz5tWV-HEaYxnZ8i2fe0T3hDNv8uCEudrt98tazuT/s640/Picture+699.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Normal people, who don't drive their general contractors insane, buy sink vanities. I'm pretty sure I've clearly established "normal" isn't really a big part of me. ;-) From the time the bath remodel was a gleam in my eye I knew I wanted two sinks. Four people live in this house....and we all have teeth that need brushed. SO.....the search began for a "something" for two sinks to fit in. Being of the abnormal variety I was thinking buffet....long table...sideboard...somethin'! </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Four times I walked past this table at the <a href="http://www.thejunkasylum.com/"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Junk Asylum</span></a>. It was gray. It was covered in oily objects. The vision just wasn't hitting me. THEN. It did. I bought it and threw it in the car. My dad will be proud...it only took three college degrees for me to figure out ONE table could be divided into TWO HALVES.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKI9QGQXSKl5NPzLRaZSYiCZDqCgpmr3ricdT8KQRiWo1MEQQQuQP9dhKyJCsibTLQeWIT1xrib_GkE0sGFTzI6B_x4lM8ao2C9rREdmyb7Gf5JWkvpxncBdXkvd1MjCUJXIE6n2Yda3Ih/s1600/Picture+736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKI9QGQXSKl5NPzLRaZSYiCZDqCgpmr3ricdT8KQRiWo1MEQQQuQP9dhKyJCsibTLQeWIT1xrib_GkE0sGFTzI6B_x4lM8ao2C9rREdmyb7Gf5JWkvpxncBdXkvd1MjCUJXIE6n2Yda3Ih/s640/Picture+736.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Luckily enough these shiny babies came into my life about the same time. $320 Kohler sinks....for $40 each....at the ReStore. The cosmos was smiling on me that day. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Two MATCHING, BRAND SPANKIN' NEW, KOHLER sinks....with cutting templates.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKwWHWqD8WrQHdHuk1Y90FIlLFnStk3qkvcaOGA4FKywSeNwCSw82u3uPZ7dJ2dl03R1lREFSo2DkMKIAsIEhDlH_Eg8miwgoBTHT3VPE263qTxpLQHxl1OOOEFqzccwHn8OCuj3fSELx/s1600/Picture+1216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKwWHWqD8WrQHdHuk1Y90FIlLFnStk3qkvcaOGA4FKywSeNwCSw82u3uPZ7dJ2dl03R1lREFSo2DkMKIAsIEhDlH_Eg8miwgoBTHT3VPE263qTxpLQHxl1OOOEFqzccwHn8OCuj3fSELx/s640/Picture+1216.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">So anyway, back to the table. It sat on the porch for <strike>two months</strike> a while. Then Rich decided to go into supersonic contractor speed and the need for me to finish my wackadoo project became more urgent. I stripped the icky gray paint with the super good orange citrus stripper.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNtRZ8zzHFgDxqv05FOYd20BxHukyWHIaRE84zNoJVL_81lJCj0K_0vR5aHerRfmqdh4TDS4gN6U0ZZ5xvuV3qwfy_y_fpHUOFRswLoKkCFA-8z6KXIbqjcI9BTJtdubHjyZDJN-I2MkB/s1600/Picture+1218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNtRZ8zzHFgDxqv05FOYd20BxHukyWHIaRE84zNoJVL_81lJCj0K_0vR5aHerRfmqdh4TDS4gN6U0ZZ5xvuV3qwfy_y_fpHUOFRswLoKkCFA-8z6KXIbqjcI9BTJtdubHjyZDJN-I2MkB/s640/Picture+1218.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Stripped the pretty details. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTlRRlfPX7HQtaA5ex86EZX0HxRx8lCng0Cmto7xK4DWEqPykZv0EnuIPxhy5txJg_9hSXcooDZWpCE0mnxdGNwstP42LNhlIf_gNZz6dg45tbMSNBBsCAhmc3ZHkKel-SQbDsar-4MWH/s1600/Picture+1220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTlRRlfPX7HQtaA5ex86EZX0HxRx8lCng0Cmto7xK4DWEqPykZv0EnuIPxhy5txJg_9hSXcooDZWpCE0mnxdGNwstP42LNhlIf_gNZz6dg45tbMSNBBsCAhmc3ZHkKel-SQbDsar-4MWH/s640/Picture+1220.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Then......what is that? Is that a pretty little spot of turquoise under that ugly gray? Why, it is. My plan had been to strip the tops clear down to the wood....the table is oak. BUT.... </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UBAVi_mvXKRbk5l8l3LygOVrNHn7tjhVWWS5pM-Qngt9oKfvuicBL690SvEgGOKH2SVl4KesrabEWH9eJOnUb-8bYAFSDO-PRU25QOQEPgHJ0suiwo7UacZGwE2dOjLIP4L8u5L7C6HE/s1600/Picture+1223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UBAVi_mvXKRbk5l8l3LygOVrNHn7tjhVWWS5pM-Qngt9oKfvuicBL690SvEgGOKH2SVl4KesrabEWH9eJOnUb-8bYAFSDO-PRU25QOQEPgHJ0suiwo7UacZGwE2dOjLIP4L8u5L7C6HE/s640/Picture+1223.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">How could I with that beautiful color staring at me? </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwTLWBap5RoB25xcmQBwRx0CE9RDMA9ek91dFnnSx2zbhfd4xsqba06qYSVvxlYBaEcO-zSbKwhx54vKhyxnwRF18eZbqlNNmTr2xsfkDpLu4UgRw_7BpxgiECtwWGVRTc5S7c8PJQH-_/s1600/Picture+1331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwTLWBap5RoB25xcmQBwRx0CE9RDMA9ek91dFnnSx2zbhfd4xsqba06qYSVvxlYBaEcO-zSbKwhx54vKhyxnwRF18eZbqlNNmTr2xsfkDpLu4UgRw_7BpxgiECtwWGVRTc5S7c8PJQH-_/s640/Picture+1331.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The other tiny tidbit of a detail that needed a solution was the fact that this was a kitchen table....and unless you are 4'-9", that height isn't very conducive to teeth brushing. I would be of the 5'-9" variety and I wanted tall vanities darnit. If you come to my house I'll get you a stool to stand on. We bought two different bun feet, screwed them together and screwed that whole show into the table legs. Dad to the rescue again...I should have taken photos of that whole process....threaded inserts....the whole deal. </div><div style="text-align: center;">He does things the "right" way....thank goodness. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1n3ifKWtOKI7EPx2iTonAhU07EKchgppJP9fF_4JJq_faVZqJ8bawYO_7hTLg7AOySACGnMqlQFc2HANBl-3izpWuN8wIrUDRJwKl1NvVGSzYEXhwY3Yr6OSKZa6jjtYN8GbZp-P6vtz/s1600/Picture+543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1n3ifKWtOKI7EPx2iTonAhU07EKchgppJP9fF_4JJq_faVZqJ8bawYO_7hTLg7AOySACGnMqlQFc2HANBl-3izpWuN8wIrUDRJwKl1NvVGSzYEXhwY3Yr6OSKZa6jjtYN8GbZp-P6vtz/s640/Picture+543.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I painted the legs to within an inch of their life with oil enamel paint. Smooth as butter. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Spar urethaned the tops....which smells like poo poo....but does the job.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9nbUGJ8_Gt2yl83DUYTywPFk5gt5njnDxIBqjdDvJAYmpDbpRYonVk48IYQRSsgzdFUVoIdQ9jXFjUFXJt7kAxwhj9mGnnw13srD6jLLHg5Fg93KsfL4NEIWtb384tYTGegNVWjxO-KJP/s1600/Picture+550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9nbUGJ8_Gt2yl83DUYTywPFk5gt5njnDxIBqjdDvJAYmpDbpRYonVk48IYQRSsgzdFUVoIdQ9jXFjUFXJt7kAxwhj9mGnnw13srD6jLLHg5Fg93KsfL4NEIWtb384tYTGegNVWjxO-KJP/s640/Picture+550.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Today Rich installed the whole show....and put the sinks in the holes just to make me happy. </div><div style="text-align: center;">(Plumbing coming soon!) </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3HbTvRFGR6BDqh06gCMAIkghbhZ6jPuF67QvzSxwpEl3gycfZK5Pk9Z_w7Jv_9LSZ7_cWig71YsODceILXAK2v0I96glX3esWl_oNpT8IWRRTOAfjv3QAIeK-NKpN9UWuE_Q4SGuwxOA/s1600/Picture+557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3HbTvRFGR6BDqh06gCMAIkghbhZ6jPuF67QvzSxwpEl3gycfZK5Pk9Z_w7Jv_9LSZ7_cWig71YsODceILXAK2v0I96glX3esWl_oNpT8IWRRTOAfjv3QAIeK-NKpN9UWuE_Q4SGuwxOA/s640/Picture+557.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Oh hello beautiful babies. I've stood in the bathroom (in socks of course) about 23 times today staring at the sink tables. I love them that much. My husband has had the nerve to question their functionality. He can put the proverbial sock in it. If I needed to stand on my head to brush my teeth I would do that at this point. These girls aren't goin' anywhere! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FMbYYFAYIKHA8lk9zxnCtqAomYOvNC2c-oO0ozA4RFOSKKzt5sK6Zvo3I7bTiOg9zUeq0yHZWyA7-O9kHaLgl5P4BzpR2SiWS5mkrq7lsl0T-S0FOTtzVwwbqeml4cUdn1DGSaiV-Hjj/s1600/Picture+592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FMbYYFAYIKHA8lk9zxnCtqAomYOvNC2c-oO0ozA4RFOSKKzt5sK6Zvo3I7bTiOg9zUeq0yHZWyA7-O9kHaLgl5P4BzpR2SiWS5mkrq7lsl0T-S0FOTtzVwwbqeml4cUdn1DGSaiV-Hjj/s640/Picture+592.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And this is what they look like in the evening.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8_hzPDMhdmmCqJV_9C0LSuoJ1F5OyGUn3eXZ-nUV9xrthdqFI0VKr4xXzqxsyhUQcJqUv6gGMfb4iBriW_0nv4MMTVkx6Ij0C4H1HygjQno-_jCs3wv2fLgfl2OB0UWdV3iTgRbudJY7/s1600/Picture+594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8_hzPDMhdmmCqJV_9C0LSuoJ1F5OyGUn3eXZ-nUV9xrthdqFI0VKr4xXzqxsyhUQcJqUv6gGMfb4iBriW_0nv4MMTVkx6Ij0C4H1HygjQno-_jCs3wv2fLgfl2OB0UWdV3iTgRbudJY7/s640/Picture+594.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And from above. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-K_5-htzFWLv5jaahgXZepU2r8ull0MSodf0h8E4Lr5ip4ZsToTijxu3gKv4ZjZPxb-_GgFyKP1QS6lT1bL2__QnlrQjACD7InclNs6xWnxB6Rk9-kCOk-8wPaUFbbW-ry14xxgpMmKV/s1600/Picture+598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-K_5-htzFWLv5jaahgXZepU2r8ull0MSodf0h8E4Lr5ip4ZsToTijxu3gKv4ZjZPxb-_GgFyKP1QS6lT1bL2__QnlrQjACD7InclNs6xWnxB6Rk9-kCOk-8wPaUFbbW-ry14xxgpMmKV/s640/Picture+598.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And close up with those beautiful chippy, turquoise tops. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dCYCWO7ZZxgaiMC15RspSJhWFQSiRPH2Z1YvpANkA7S3GzIX_Bi2Yo37X6kjfObC8WG0z7TKkCXdXPF_r2i5Z7sbxOaJ8UUB_51n10fPD6fciIPLmG6x-H2jJN3pasnMWJsV-L7Ckt_0/s1600/Picture+602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dCYCWO7ZZxgaiMC15RspSJhWFQSiRPH2Z1YvpANkA7S3GzIX_Bi2Yo37X6kjfObC8WG0z7TKkCXdXPF_r2i5Z7sbxOaJ8UUB_51n10fPD6fciIPLmG6x-H2jJN3pasnMWJsV-L7Ckt_0/s640/Picture+602.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And the dynamic kazaa shot. </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyl__ysmh5qSdv6KUMyOrOSK5UNM1b0bvi3X6Bwwc595DcH39QkVoP_sWob00BaNC9AbELXZv62KNYKxEto2hteuUNDcsL7hMfB7r2t-OCBXr0OYgi1XvI3QzwRGtAyB5_joBpqOzltT3h/s1600/Picture+603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyl__ysmh5qSdv6KUMyOrOSK5UNM1b0bvi3X6Bwwc595DcH39QkVoP_sWob00BaNC9AbELXZv62KNYKxEto2hteuUNDcsL7hMfB7r2t-OCBXr0OYgi1XvI3QzwRGtAyB5_joBpqOzltT3h/s640/Picture+603.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And again with the sinks. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMF0lgWE6dxh2DmSrQU2fF31We66-I-pw3afA6FodeE2vI1jNo48EZDOVPdMqkq10xipaTVi8Z-h0G83SfFBqHsBYBwDGsYpIz9ZbQCw1huhP0rx0I_G8ZjE_MPVF5l4t7HQ6HtIvqZE2/s1600/Picture+618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMF0lgWE6dxh2DmSrQU2fF31We66-I-pw3afA6FodeE2vI1jNo48EZDOVPdMqkq10xipaTVi8Z-h0G83SfFBqHsBYBwDGsYpIz9ZbQCw1huhP0rx0I_G8ZjE_MPVF5l4t7HQ6HtIvqZE2/s640/Picture+618.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And again. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuled_tpsirLZphHIXHCuhZvnJYGabjT4cN8X5I67UMw4dDZNmAiBJko3YRKHbpZmu7CjRyvuMObW55DAvMpGwoYSFVFpePwr2JM3fnmgnyv8YxCAu406JvN3NDoHDEAybiVYHWuxFaSf/s1600/Picture+625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuled_tpsirLZphHIXHCuhZvnJYGabjT4cN8X5I67UMw4dDZNmAiBJko3YRKHbpZmu7CjRyvuMObW55DAvMpGwoYSFVFpePwr2JM3fnmgnyv8YxCAu406JvN3NDoHDEAybiVYHWuxFaSf/s640/Picture+625.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The $40 price tag I enjoy looking at....but promise to remove before the <a href="http://jvanoort.blogspot.com/2011/09/so-much-fun-it-should-be-illegal.html"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Holiday Home Tour</span></a>.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7Rrnk7JqCkFrr394KO-5r6RyySY3JN2r6NzIC5KK48fhfldpWB964x3TKjWeyOMP6jUVspGq1Ywk7nQ43CHR84QfdhQhshiatNmAuBy-GgcUHjOPU8sX2xoncDiQAJhtJfRBx_tQs8_Z/s1600/Picture+634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7Rrnk7JqCkFrr394KO-5r6RyySY3JN2r6NzIC5KK48fhfldpWB964x3TKjWeyOMP6jUVspGq1Ywk7nQ43CHR84QfdhQhshiatNmAuBy-GgcUHjOPU8sX2xoncDiQAJhtJfRBx_tQs8_Z/s640/Picture+634.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The sinks say good night. ;-)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This won't be the last time you see them. hehehe</div>Jen@Notes From the Heartlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05295506793251184311noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612035921662523621.post-72483166686825672552011-09-19T21:36:00.004-05:002011-09-19T21:44:00.137-05:00Bathroom Update Monday!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFL26cdKJ4fqq6T0D_PpeNhvzik4IHFI3TcdPiCpTYnBK7ZphhWbNX4kEoo0Tu7OEu8LY0WX0IPVQzie9QoPF3xog3HgUJ36_OPaaefrXp9nrLmxIG_QIeueatgeqLZkr8g7wcUQNS_hW/s1600/Picture+461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFL26cdKJ4fqq6T0D_PpeNhvzik4IHFI3TcdPiCpTYnBK7ZphhWbNX4kEoo0Tu7OEu8LY0WX0IPVQzie9QoPF3xog3HgUJ36_OPaaefrXp9nrLmxIG_QIeueatgeqLZkr8g7wcUQNS_hW/s640/Picture+461.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I'm feeling like a kid in a candy store right now. A really lucky kid. It would be wrong to ask everyone to just LOOK at this bathroom and not actually use it, wouldn't it? I've never been a huge fan of bathroom cleaning....but I have a feeling I'm going to be a little neurotic about cleaning in here....it's just so darn pretty.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Tile is completely finished. Grout is dry. The shower is just waiting for Plumber Wes to come back. When that water gets turned on he'd better jump out of the room because I'm going to slam the door shut and jump in....it's been TWO MONTHS of bathing in the upstairs tub....and I'm not a fan. A shower sounds like heaven.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4YB7MpKRRgB6EBwLWvZh7Sq3xfISm4jYg7nlv2XZGy8WQFfw7ror2y-5gcKdGAqFLX8DZ95M9zTqMGv6-S0OLnJTLOcTfmpOW2qUjxLBXFu5NpU8OU9LbEocGvU7eH3Xf5IWL6LD7oky/s1600/Picture+482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4YB7MpKRRgB6EBwLWvZh7Sq3xfISm4jYg7nlv2XZGy8WQFfw7ror2y-5gcKdGAqFLX8DZ95M9zTqMGv6-S0OLnJTLOcTfmpOW2qUjxLBXFu5NpU8OU9LbEocGvU7eH3Xf5IWL6LD7oky/s640/Picture+482.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">With the harvest imminently approaching here in Iowa I'm going to lose Rich for a good month. He wanted to get the sinks mounted before he is in the field.....so Sunday was spent finishing the sink wall. GOD BLESS my dad for helping me...I was on the edge of Breakdownville just thinking about everything I had to get done....baseboard, beadboard, setting nailheads, wood filler, caulk, primer, paint, spar urethane on sink table tops, paint on table legs....oh dear lord. Somehow it all got finished...plus a sign! As usual, my mom kept the rest of the house running smoothly in my absence. I'm a lucky lucky girl. Wish they lived closer. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKo6k2kIU56BUkqUz-ZMtz5pWs1VE19e5zWOF6Tz6IMoInySzjTSaD3qkah5QUG4NmJmVbODjuaQ6m1T1s0gd8z4R-djs4GNSa8hRM5bHfSVFU71jSduW0GanwsuRRTzjso7An2DiLl9e/s1600/Picture+486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKo6k2kIU56BUkqUz-ZMtz5pWs1VE19e5zWOF6Tz6IMoInySzjTSaD3qkah5QUG4NmJmVbODjuaQ6m1T1s0gd8z4R-djs4GNSa8hRM5bHfSVFU71jSduW0GanwsuRRTzjso7An2DiLl9e/s640/Picture+486.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">By 5ish on Sunday I was to this point....just starting primer. I required a chocolate shake to contine. I would have ran an IV drip of chocolatey goodness if I could've gotten my hands on one. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMXqXMkjMQ1GcRk03MUR3AO7jXZOn5Da25-c-YiF-PRijUMxasFwUXc0WFp447wGXGbkdquQN5K8BiZSX0GovJ36gSoNeH4JeyY9baYuWid-WGYCW4YD8sAtOjtg5hD4Oijt7BPQ-L39V/s1600/Picture+492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMXqXMkjMQ1GcRk03MUR3AO7jXZOn5Da25-c-YiF-PRijUMxasFwUXc0WFp447wGXGbkdquQN5K8BiZSX0GovJ36gSoNeH4JeyY9baYuWid-WGYCW4YD8sAtOjtg5hD4Oijt7BPQ-L39V/s640/Picture+492.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Oh....and started painting the window. We have weird replacement windows in our house that came unfinished. I noticed it right away when we looked at the house for the first time....seven years ago. Then we moved in...and I said "those windows are hideous....they will be painted." Um...yeah. That was seven years ago. ANYHOO....it's happening now. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJckZl_ISUOOaERxGTScsI9moB2doTz_8NtCpeBL7_A-iS7q1AjfW5SoZupG9stWeWC0ntH81J0DpAZ0Qu5YexULUXy3qRRX4Ebo8IinyXDMuqHlP7Rqc1Y99HBTR4FUSAYhd2vVNeq-d1/s1600/Picture+527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJckZl_ISUOOaERxGTScsI9moB2doTz_8NtCpeBL7_A-iS7q1AjfW5SoZupG9stWeWC0ntH81J0DpAZ0Qu5YexULUXy3qRRX4Ebo8IinyXDMuqHlP7Rqc1Y99HBTR4FUSAYhd2vVNeq-d1/s640/Picture+527.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Bright and early Monday morning we had a beautiful beadboard wall finished....with approximately 283 coats of paint slathered on. I haven't put the top cap on yet....but that will happen eventually. I got to the point Rich needed...and that made me (and he) happy. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQ45XwdPYzpi1z1IPngO156UttAi5R6icfaYDDZERjQxmFNh0m5F9D67KPbSeenle1v8zY3UZQGGrAsvrAsotdc0KN2NAClUqfWRdTAM73ON0WjXba9R4c35S9TKOJKRxZgXeURxojCKv/s1600/Picture+526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQ45XwdPYzpi1z1IPngO156UttAi5R6icfaYDDZERjQxmFNh0m5F9D67KPbSeenle1v8zY3UZQGGrAsvrAsotdc0KN2NAClUqfWRdTAM73ON0WjXba9R4c35S9TKOJKRxZgXeURxojCKv/s640/Picture+526.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">His happiness lasted a few hours while he trimmed out the window and started on the closet door. Um....by the time of this photo he was plotting ways to murder me and make it look like an accident. Apparently the closet door that I insisted on using (which I LOVE and bought for $1 at a school auction) wasn't EXACTLY square. Well to begin with it was a hundred years old. I doubt if I will be square at a hundred either. The door jamb Rich had built WAS exactly square. You're picking up what I'm putting down, yes? Some naughty words were uttered...I made myself scarce...I didn't even tell anymore jokes about Rich's Hawkeyes losing to my almighty Cyclones last weekend. <br />
<br />
He got cranky. <br />
<br />
I offered lots of muffins. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumqFC8BUq8wwVrS0svdmu_MEEhKIY2ZFnjRHyHPDDpFbDhHbK6NA2FlWjKiRng7D2eguosWyji3q_6BwRXQpRmvdsEuKNF8OWTBcrgKCvsJXqrd3kZ9Oh0P2lJd9mRzM7DblxebZTg8bW/s1600/Picture+530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumqFC8BUq8wwVrS0svdmu_MEEhKIY2ZFnjRHyHPDDpFbDhHbK6NA2FlWjKiRng7D2eguosWyji3q_6BwRXQpRmvdsEuKNF8OWTBcrgKCvsJXqrd3kZ9Oh0P2lJd9mRzM7DblxebZTg8bW/s640/Picture+530.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Now really....wasn't it worth it? Look at that beautiful old girl. I love it. I knew I would. Rich digresses. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWt6O_H4iyk_eRR-ZrZh4cDR0j7GVoAWd1NgWtSNe-OOQ70uODlPfUd6HnFeO19UVTwNCBu2kqfFgliMKatxpa6vYB2GFaAZ1QUvrLrVSUwmIrRbtelIJsioae_ieALgknvrZ5FRHxJdwI/s1600/Picture+537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWt6O_H4iyk_eRR-ZrZh4cDR0j7GVoAWd1NgWtSNe-OOQ70uODlPfUd6HnFeO19UVTwNCBu2kqfFgliMKatxpa6vYB2GFaAZ1QUvrLrVSUwmIrRbtelIJsioae_ieALgknvrZ5FRHxJdwI/s640/Picture+537.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I still have to strip the inside of the door and paint it white...but the outside will keep its beautiful aged stained wood. Oh, and Rich put up all the shelves in the closet too. I can't wait to put my junk in there. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yay Dad!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yay Mom!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yay Rich!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yay Levi for getting pizza!</div>Jen@Notes From the Heartlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05295506793251184311noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612035921662523621.post-58641089564702507442011-09-16T21:45:00.000-05:002011-09-16T21:45:13.390-05:00Tile as Far as the Eye Can See<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipvRHl_rN8qKZO0SnR8u7iwSlCNeYY8pDbxS1k3gQZBvC9BHqBcJTo02J3qionPcWzslGwId8ZmqVGBtd-xDEZGEwVmd4_BSz7DGngAGrQ-94Ru5gSfVwmxtpCsEEZRKWMR3ajVMgPyS2/s1600/Picture+437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipvRHl_rN8qKZO0SnR8u7iwSlCNeYY8pDbxS1k3gQZBvC9BHqBcJTo02J3qionPcWzslGwId8ZmqVGBtd-xDEZGEwVmd4_BSz7DGngAGrQ-94Ru5gSfVwmxtpCsEEZRKWMR3ajVMgPyS2/s640/Picture+437.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Guess what? The tiling is FINISHED!!!! FINISHED!!! FINISHED!!! Wes did an amazing job....and I have "finished" photos to share....but I'm tired....and a teeny bit cranky....from being tired....so here's another shot of the back of Wes' head doing amazing work.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">More soon. :-)</div>Jen@Notes From the Heartlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05295506793251184311noreply@blogger.com2