Country Living Fair 2013

This weekend (October 25-27) is the Country Living Fair in Atlanta, Georgia.    I’ve always wanted to go and this year I’m making it happen.       My daughter, sister and myself are arriving in Stone Mountain late Friday evening and getting up early Saturday morning to join the crowd.    This is my daughter’s birthday weekend and since she needs a “break” from kids and husband, this weekend get away is my gift to her.      Sunday we’ll be going to Ikea….neither she nor my sister have ever been.    What?!?!?   How could you live a mere 2 1/2 hours away from Ikea and have never been?    

 

 

 

(All photos via Country Living)

 

Every year I read all the fabulous stories about how fantastic the fair is so I can’t wait to experience it myself.     Are you going?    I’d love to say “hey” if you are.    Please let me know either by leaving me a comment or e-mail.

Happy Anniversary To My Daughter!

October 19, 1997

 

 

You both bring us much happiness and joy….not to mention two precious grandchildren!

What’s On The Menu - Beef Tips and Egg Noodles

I wish I was one of those cooks (and I use that term loosely when it comes to me) that has a fantastic meal planned for every day of the week and shops accordingly.    Around here, I‘m kinda fly-by-the-seat-of-yours-pants when it comes to having my meals planned out in advance….I’m the one that goes to the grocery store almost daily to pick up what we need for supper.    My daughter, who is a fantastic cook by the way, does much better than me and can improvise a recipe like no one’s business!    I used to be a better cook when my kids were little but now that it’s just the two of us, we eat out a lot (not always good) and therefore, I don’t really plan ahead.    But I’m trying to do better!

Tonight we had beef tips over egg noodles.   I know typically they are served over rice but my husband doesn’t like rice so I did the noodles instead.    It was really easy and since I put the beef tips in my crock pot, not a lot of tending to for me.

Here’s what I used:

After I browned the beef tips, I put the crème of mushroom soup, beef stew seasoning, half the jar of sliced mushrooms along with a good bit of water into my crock pot, then added the beef tips.    I cooked it on high for about 3 hours until the meat was tender.   Don’t forget to add enough water to make your gravy.    Fix your egg noodles about 15-20 minutes before you are ready to eat, cook according to the directions on the package.     I made some corn on the cob (cob on the corn as my granddaughter says!) and we had a delicious supper.   

 

Mmmmm, yummy for the tummy!   How do you like my “new” Pottery Barn dishes?     They really aren’t PB, but Dollar Tree!!!   Can you believe it?   I found them last year and bought all they had at my local Dollar Tree and bought more when I visited my sister last fall.    I now have 18 but would love to have 24.    My plate rack holds 12 and the rest are stacked on my baker’s rack.     They have held up great.    I love a good bargain, don’t you?

Welcome To My Fall Kitchen

I’m recently made some changes in my kitchen that I love….one being the addition of a chalkboard wall and the other adding the yearling calf head that I FINALLY got from Décor Steals to another wall.      So without a lot of chit chat let’s get right to it because, seriously, isn’t that what you’ve come to see?  

 

Here’s a view as I’m standing in the dining room.   My kitchen is a galley type and it’s hard to get the full view standing in the room (I just noticed my husband’s favorite yellow cup !)

 

 

I had planned on putting my yearling calf head inside a chippy old frame you’ll see on another wall but it was destined to be knocked off and I just didn’t want to risk it so I put it on the big chalkboard wall

Yes, I know I have a couple of empty frames and I’m looking for something special to put in them but for the time being, I don’t mind that they are empty

 

 

 

I still love my breadboard made especially for me by my sweet friend Diana over at Our Vintage Home Love.    I believe she’s offering them in her shop again….check it out!

 

Cozy little corner by the sink

Here’s the old frame I planned on using for the yearling head but it just didn’t work out.     My husband traced out the dimensions of the INSIDE of the frame onto the wall, I taped that off and painted it with more chalkboard paint.   I haven’t “seasoned” it yet and may not.    I used one of my boxwood wreaths inside and added an old white platter above (you can hardly see it in this photo).   I love the simplicity of the wreath against the black.

 

 

On our table I used a little runner I’ve had along with a chalkboard “think-a-ma-jig” I’ve used in several other places….topped it with a chippy old urn, fall candle ring and a painted pumpkin.   Added a scented little candle and another candlestick along with a sweet little faux pumpkin I picked up and I had my fall centerpiece for practically zero dollars!

 

You can read about this pumpkin and a turquoise one I made here.    

 

 

 

My kitchen has been through several metamorphosis over the last several years but I can honestly say that I’ve finally got a look that I’m totally in love with.   

I’m still adding some other fall touches in the house and will share those soon.     Thank you for taking time to visit me today!

Linking up to these parties:

Savvy Southern Style

The Scoop @Cedar Hill Ranch

A Stroll Thru Life

Fall In The Kitchen

Here’s a little peek at what’s happenin’ in the kitchen…..come back later in the week to get the tour.    

 

The chalkboard wall has turned out soooo good and I have another little chalkboard project in there that I’ll also be sharing.   

Tomorrow I’m taking my 93 year old mom for a Esophagagastroduodenoscopy (EDG).    She’s been having some choking episodes for about a month and her GP has referred her for this procedure.   Of course, putting anyone her age to sleep is always a risk….but she’s a tough one and has pulled through a broken arm and fractured hip in the past 2 years.