There's A Chill in the Air

Or maybe it's just germs.

I read online somewhere that cold and flu season lasts from May to October. By that tally, we should be nearing the end of it. 

But. 

We were fairly healthy from May until the first week of September (also known around here as the first week of school). Since then its been running noses, sore throats, coughing, aching bodies, respiratory infections, and - I shudder to even type the words - gastrointestinal distress.

These past few weeks have given me a lot of opportunity to ponder what I want around when my brood and I aren't feeling well. It can be hard to call to mind the goods when feeling chipper; so here's a list I've put together of "necessaries" in case you have a friend who's ill.

The Sick Call Goody Basket

Ibprophen (Adult or Children's)

Emergen-C's (or their poor cousin "Essence C," hehe. Click here for a free sample of the real stuff.)

Vicks VapoRub (apply to the chest or to the bottoms of the feet for young ones)

Epsom Salts (to soak that achy body)

Throat Lozenges (we like these, but they're not for the faint of heart)

Popsicles

Ginger Ale

Smart Water with Electrolytes (Is this a gimmick? Possibly, but some I know swear it makes a difference.)

Soup

Crackers

An Easy Paper Back (bring on the fluff)

Of course, this list is not exhaustive, and it depends on the invalid (s) involved, but it's something to get you started. What would you add?

Kids Outdoor Eating Area Reveal

Reveal is such a dramatic word... Today I want to give you a peek at the kid friendly outdoor eating area that I have been working on. Once the weather permits, the kids and I eat outside a lot. A lot. And we spend a great deal of time in the backyard in general. Warm weather is fleeting in Buffalo, so we really try to make the most of it.

Most of our outdoor furniture is of the hand me down variety:  a collection of [those ubiquitous] plastic chairs, in dingy white, two glass topped tables, one in brown metal, the other a dark green, and two metal chairs, also dark green, with tan and green cushions. Each piece is sturdy, it just not that appealing to look at.

Some of the furniture on a drop cloth in the driveway awaiting painting. I should have gotten a better "before."

I wanted to use what a had and not a lot of $$ to create a functional space for the kids. I wanted something that is attractive, durable, and easy to keep clean, with extra emphasis on easy to keep clean. Kids are messy, and I'm tired of being frustrated over dirty cushions. 

You might remember that I took a can of Krylon Fusion paint to a couple of chairs and a little metal table last year (here). I was pleased with the result, so I decided to attack the rest of the furniture this year. The Krylon wasn't on sale (like last time), so I went with what was - this Rustoleum Painter's Touch 2X Ultra Cover (Paint + Primer). And it turns out that I like it better than the Krylon Fusion. It has a nice glossy finish, and it does give really nice coverage (though I don't know if its exactly the 1 = 2 can coverage that is promised on the packaging). And another plus? The only prep needed is a quick wash with soapy water, and a bit of air drying.

I used "Seaside" and "Real Orange" on the chairs, and "White" on the table. 

The centerpiece is a mint plant potted in a plastic receptacle (intended to be a small waste can) from the dollar store. I punched holes in the bottom for drainage. The kids planted fast sprouting arugula seeds in the caps from the paint cans, which we'll soon transplant to the garden. And all four objects are gathered together on a thrifted metal tray, which allows for easy removal in the event we need more space. Everything on the table is edible and non-shatterable (a word?).

The bright colors go nicely with the kids' plastic Ikea dinnerware. Add some thrifted clothe napkins and mismatched silverware (the 18/10 stays in the house!), and it's a kid friendly place to eat!

When the meal is done, we just hose the table and chairs down.

Not only do the kids eat here, they also color, paint, use play-do, read books, and do puzzles. So again, spray paint for the win!

And a final note... I couldn't have done this project if my good sis Liz wasn't there to help with the kiddos. Thank you, Liz! Also, you may have noticed that not all of the furniture is accounted for. More to come!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Due to certain circumstances, we celebrated St. Paddy's Day as a family yesterday. So, I just wanted to take a minute and recommend to you this incredibly easy and fast soda bread recipe. 

I know it's sort of last minute, so you might not have buttermilk on hand (I didn't, and rarely do). If that's the case, all you need is regular milk and white vinegar or lemon juice to make your own. For our loaf, I used whole milk and lemon juice. I also baked ours in the Dutch oven for 35 minutes and not a minute longer, and it was perfect. Enjoy!

My Husband Cooks Better Than I Do and Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

When my husband and I got married six years ago, we both enjoyed good food, but we had very different ways of eating on a daily basis. I grew up in the home of an excellent cook and a meat and potatoes and vegetable man, but throughout college I didn't do much cooking or much meat eating. I was pretty poor (and busy) in school, and I ate very simply - beans and nuts, cheaper in-season fruits and vegetables. Any extra money I had I chose to spend on coffee, alcohol, and cigarettes (Don't judge. I also ran three at least miles day. Now it's been years since I've smoked. Or run.).

The husband, on the other hand, is a really great cook. By the time we started dating he was on his second masters degree, and was past the point of a peanut butter subsistence diet. He had a ridiculously productive garden, he cooked regularly (without using recipes, no less, gasp!), and he would often host elaborate Sunday dinners for large groups of friends, displaying his knowledge of various cuisines. No pressure, newlywed Mary, no pressure. Right.

Now, add into that equation the fact that, because of his father, many of my husband's favorite foods were things I had maybe tried once or twice or never.  His father, who is from Cairo and lived awhile in Lebanon, is also an excellent cook, and can make the simplest dish of lentils and macaroni (I kid you not) taste amazing. Amazing. Now we're talking tabouleh, kibbee, lubee, fettoush?! I was beginning to feel like my husband should have married someone else...

But my husband is a smart one, or tricky, I'm not sure... Guess what he did? At first he made all of these dishes and got me hooked. Then he taught me how to make them with him. Then, casually, he started requesting them when he wouldn't be around to help, so I would have to tackle things alone. And guess what? Now, six years later, I can make some damn good fettoush and tabouleh! Need stuffed grape leaves to feed fifty? I'm your girl!

Today I want to share with you a Lenten favorite at our house -  hummus. It's a dish that has really crossed over into mainstream cuisine, but many have never made it at home. If you like hummus, and you are buying it pre-made from the store, stop! Its so quick and easy to do at home (and much less expensive, because a bottle of tahini really lasts).

The recipe we use is slightly modified from the book Kibbe 'N' Spice and Everything Nice (this cookbook is great for all, including the completely uninitiated).

Dog-earred.

Ingredients:

15 oz can chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans)

1 clove garlic

juice of two lemons

3 Tablespoons of tahini (sesame seed paste, found at many grocery stores)

1/2 teaspoon salt 

1/4 cup roasted red peppers (in winter I use canned in oil, but they are easy to roast using the broiler)

Dump contents of chickpea can into pot. Place on stovetop and cook at medium-high heat for about 5 minutes (to soften). Drain and reserve liquid. Let beans cool. Place cool beans into blender or food processor, along with garlic (peeled and sliced), lemon juice, tahini (make sure to stir first, as the oil separates out naturally), red peppers, and salt. Add part of the reserved liquid. Blend until smooth, adding more of the liquid gradually to achieve desired consistency. Go slow with this, because its harder to fix "too runny" than to prevent it. If it does get too runny (it happens to the best of us), you can add more garbanzo beans or even some great northern beans.

Drizzle with oil and serve with cut vegetables (carrots, celery, peppers, cucumbers) or pita bread. 

Enjoy!

Feathering a Nest

I recently got an email from a representative at the online home decor retailer One Kings Lane. No, they didn't want to give me free stuff (too bad, because they have awesome stuff!), but they did want to share with me a guide they had put together called Creating a Comfortable Nursery. In addition to this information, the rep asked if I would share little Edmond's nursery in a blog post, and discuss any ways in which the guide had inspired me. Well...

Here's the thing: Edmond doesn't have a nursery. He has a little corner in my kind of little bedroom. And this is the way it will be for at least the first six months of his life. We've used the Arms Reach Mini Co-Sleeper for each of our children, and it's nice to have the little hungry one, you know, within arm's reach.  

And, until I received that email, I hadn't done anything to change the space other  than set up the sleeper. But the email and the guide got me thinking. Why not make the space a little more special, make a temporary change or two to celebrate this new little life that we love so dearly?

So that's what I did. The One Kings Lane guide focuses on themes, accents, and comfort, specifically in the choice of chair (of which they have sundry gorgeous options available for purchase). Decisions, decisions: ought one go with a rocker, a glider, perhaps even a recliner?

Since this is the master bedroom we're dealing with, I didn't want to go too 'themey.' Rather, I chose to stay true to my love of clean lines (the first pic is the before), but with a bit more color, warmth and just a touch of joie de vivre. The accents I added were few - some items on the walls above the co-sleeper, homemade paper bunting, and a soft fleece throw on the bed, so I interspersed red and other bright colors to give them greater impact. I also chose items that would give texture without subtracting space. The mixed media wall hangings include framed embroidery, felt, and photographs, and a child's Rosary. In addition, the placement of the artwork and bunting draw the eye upward, making the room seem larger. 

Unfortunately, because space is so limited in the room, I'm unable to have traditional nursery seating.  However, I do have a bit of space. I'm on the lookout for something that has a small silhouette, and  would provide a comfortable place to sit when I need to be upright in order to stay awake for nursing. Any suggestions, One Kings Lane?

The Details:

• Homemade Brown Paper Bunting - originally made to decorate the Christmas tree
• Super Soft Red Fleece Throw - post-Christmas clearance... $2!
• "Welcome to the World" Wall Art - handmade by a friend (so gorgeous, the picture doesn't do it justice)
• "E" Monogram - printed using "Hoefler Text" font in Pages for Mac
• Black and White Images - some favorites that we had on hand
• Red Heart - cut out of a scrap of felt, then framed
• Blue Rosary - one of the many floating around the house

What do you think?

Wrappings on the Cheap

In the spirit of simplicity, and sticking to the budget, every year I find myself looking for new ways to wrap presents without spending much. In the past, I've been really disappointed with the cheap wrapping papers that are out there, because they look just what they are. If I was really on the ball, I would snag some great paper on clearance post Christmas for the next year. My mom always does this, and hope springs eternal for myself, but it usually just doesn't happen for one reason or another. 

So that's how I find myself, every year, days before Christmas, with lots of things to be wrapped and little time or inclination to go running around to find that perfect wrapping paper. And if this was true before, now that I have little kids... the thought of venturing to the busy mall (with them) makes me quake in my boots!

Well, I had my first wrapping session the other night, and I thought I would share what I came up with in case you, too, have some naked gifts. 

First, save those cuttings from the Christmas tree. You know the ones, those random branches that need to come off the bottom for it to fit into the tree stand. They make a beautiful center piece en masse, or a festive touch when spread around hither and yon. Bonus? You can snip a bit at a time to dress up a simply wrapped gift.

Buy a roll of Kraft paper at the dollar store. It's inexpensive, durable, and classic. Sometimes you can find printed Kraft paper, which is printed on one side and brown on the other. This is a great product, because it's really a two for one. You can wrap gifts in brown, the print, or use strips of the printed side to embellish the plain packages (see below).

Choose inexpensive ribbon that curls, twine, or even yard. Get creative in how you wrap it around packages. Tie it in bows, circle it around the package multiple times, or alternate it with the printed paper. 

Tuck something into that ribbon. Use whatever you have around: candy canes, pinecones, a bit of evergreen.

Have an irregularly shaped object? "Wrap" it in a brown paper bag of whatever size.

You probably won't be hearing from me anymore this week, so have a Merry Christmas!

Easiest Homemade Candy. Ever.

Every year we make some type of candy to have on hand for little gifts. The usual recipients are my husband's coworkers, but it also comes in handy as a contribution for that last minute holiday party. The first couple of years of marriage, I made truffles of various sorts. They were always a big hit, but at this stage in my life, they are just too time and labor intensive to make in large quantities. The substitute? Candy bark.

I usually buy good quality chocolate chips of the dark, semi-sweet, or white variety, and one or two kinds of goodness to mix into said chocolate. If you are wondering whether the chocolate chips are of a good quality, ask yourself, "Are these good enough to eat solo, by the handful?" If yes, then you're good to go. For the mix in, you can use crushed candy canes, Heath toffee bits, nuts, really just about anything that sounds good. This year we visited a local shop that sells bulk food (most grocery stores have a bulk section as well), and picked up some peppermint crunch candy (see pic below) and toffee bits.

So, I'm sure that there are lots of tutorials on how to do this, but I'll share my method with you because its so very easy and quick, and I've honed it down to a mom friendly science. And just FYI, because of the kids I don't have large blocks of time (and maybe you don't, either?), so I do this in batches while I'm doing something else, like waiting for dinner to come out of the oven. It really is that fast.

Empty 2 bags (24 ounces) of chocolate chips into a heavy bottom pan (I use the dutch oven), and place on low heat. Stir occasionally. 

When melted and smooth, remove from heat and stir in 1 cup of whatever you choose. 

Spred evenly across a sheet of parchment or wax paper. I usually place the paper on a large (14x17) cutting board, which is the exact amount of space needed for this size batch.

If you don't have grabby hands around and/or overly warm indoor temperatures, you can let it cool and harden on the counter. Personally I slide the whole cutting board into the freezer until I have another spare minute or five for the next step (which may be 20 minutes or 6 hours later. See the beauty of this recipe?).

When hardened, break into pieces. Store in a gallon size ziplock bag in the freezer until ready to use.

To make individual portions, I divide the candy into clear bags similar to these.

Obviously these photos are from various batches and combinations...

Easiest Kitchen DIY. Ever.

As you may have garnered from previous posts, I usually only attempt the easiest of DIY projects. This fact is part personality, part current situation - so many little helping hands. I might skip the DIY altogether, except I love that high that comes from using my creativity, and turning "nothing" into something. So here's a cheap high for you...

The unique dish soap dispenser! All you need is a wine, liquor, or large beer bottle, and a liquor pour spout. Drink up, or if this isn't your style, visit the local beverage store and choose a bottle from the empties that have been returned for recycling. Our local stores will usually charge the deposit fee (5 cents/bottle) and give you as many as you like (Don't worry, I'm not a teetotaler - far from it! We get empties in bulk when we are bottling our own beer).  If you like the label on the bottle, keep it, if not, soak the bottle in a baking soda / water solution and it should come right off.

Pour spouts are available in chrome and a multitude of colors online here for a buck or two apiece. They can also be had in sets of 6-12 on Amazon, Bed Bath and Beyond, or party stores. I think it's worth it to buy the set. Spouts can always be used for their intended purpose if you are serving liquor at a party, or if you want to make another dispenser as a gift (a great item to tuck into a housewarming gift basket). 

Now, fill with dish soap, place beside the sink, and tuck away that ugly plastic Palmolive bottle!

Christmas Already and Pinecone Projects

Normally, I don't even start thinking about Christmas until Thanksgiving is over. This just won't  work, though, now that I'm a fatigued pregnant lady with three little children. And well, honestly, it didn't work when I wasn't pregnant, or even when I only had two children...

Also, there has been some major traffic to this post from last year (A 12 Days of Christmas Gift Gift Guide) starting weeks ago, which indicates to me that some of you ladies are hardcore Christmas Pinteresting already! And as much as my last minute self hates to admit it, you're on to something. So I've decided to change tactics this year, and work on projects gradually to avoid all that last minute stress that is the enemy of peace and joy.

Our first project is pinecones. It's great to start the season off with a stockpile of ready to use pinecones. They are perfect for decorating wreaths, making centerpieces, garlands, place settings, and adding that extra touch to a simply wrapped gift. They're classic au naturel or glitzy when spray painted. We also use them to make fire starters to give as gifts to family members who have wood burning stoves or fireplaces.

Since we had a day near 60 degrees earlier in the week I took the kids to the park, gave them each a bag, and told them that the one who gathered the most pinecones would win a prize. I'm brilliant, I know. Within minutes, we had quite a load.

The next day we layered them on cookie sheets covered with foil, and dried them in the oven for about 90 minutes at 250 degrees. This drying step is imperative, because the pinecones have a messy sap that can get everywhere, and they may have tiny bugs living in them. The low heat solves these problems and causes them to open up beautifully.

Once the pinecones have cooled completely, they can be stored in ziplock bags (for years, even) until they are called into holiday action. We went ahead and made a batch of fire starters, since our ball was already rolling. There are "recipes" all over the web, but basically we melt leftover candle remnants (I save them throughout the year) in a double boiler, dip the pinecones into the liquid wax/paraffin, and then dry on wax paper. And voila, an easy, free, practical and stylish gift. The best of all worlds, if you ask me!

DIY: Chrome Cord Bracelet

Yesterday, I was looking for some batteries and I came across this chrome beaded chain (I think my husband bought it awhile back to replace a light pull in the basement). And I love it. It's so shiny. So chic. 

So I decided to make a bracelet out of it. And it was the easiest DIY. Ever. All you have to do is connect the end of the chain with the connector, and then wrap it around your wrist over and over. You can let it be a bit loose, or do as I did and kind of loop the excess around on the underside of the wrist to give it a snug fit.

Wear it alone. Or layer it. And guess what? It makes a great necklace too, again, alone or layered with a strand of pearls and whatever else you have on hand. You can see how I layered mine on Instagram (find me, I'm mboctor).

Project Supplies: 

Beaded Chain w/ Connector. The piece I used was about 9ft long. Home Depot sells it in 3ft and 12ft lengths for $2.97 and $5.98, respectively. Our local hardware store also carries it, and it is even cheaper. It is available in Chrome and a gold toned Brass finish. 

Directions: 

Connect the ends. Wrap around your wrist. 

Saving Space and Saving Face*

Restrained Mirth

by Tony Ertel

I promised Mary that I would send her a few pictures and a brief post on my “peg-board project.” I was determined however, to make it fit within my humor column’s ill-defined parameters. So below, you will find my attempt to inspire you toward creative peg-board use and to get you laughing. Mission: Doable.

Settling into the married life has been great, but it is still quite a transition. I’d say that my wife and I have been pretty blessed with the way this transition “phase” has worked out. I’ll try to summarize for you so I can get to the really good stuff (the arts and crafts section of this post!).

Transition Phase:

1. Man and Woman go away to where no one can find them and no one dare look for them (honeymoon.)
   
   
2. Man and Woman drive out of the sunset into a world of work, and study, and cleaning, and organizing, and work and...**
   
   
3. Woman goes back to work.
   
   
4. Man does schoolwork and settles into new home (Woman’s old apartment).
   
   
5. Man sits with textbook on lap and thinks about building stuff and how to save space in new
   home.
   
   
6. Man buys power tools with gift money from wedding.
   
   
7. Man conceives many projects.
   
   
8. Woman judiciously accepts 20% of the proposed projects.***
   
   
9. Man does his thing... 
   

That is more or less what has happened between the wedding and now. Of course, it’s just a simplified summary, but it sets the stage for the peg-board project. With my wife having already lived in the apartment for just over a year, I wasn’t sure what to expect as I moved in and doubled the amount of belongings previously occupying the space. I’m sure that somewhere along the line in our marriage prep (though I can’t remember exactly when) the priest asked us what we planned to do with all of our coffee mugs now that they would be sharing space. We must have “shelved” that question for the time and never worked our way back around to it. It’s hard to believe we still married with that issue unresolved. But we did, and then came face to face with the problem in the transition phase.

I believe it’s somewhere between tying your shoes and learning to read that you learn not to stack coffee cups. If you hadn’t already learned the word “precarious” from Dr. Seuss, you were bound to have a clear understanding with the new coffee cup lesson. Different shapes + different handles + high shelves + swinging doors = precarious = busted coffee mugs. Regardless of this truth, no less real than gravity, my wife and I decided to stack mugs for the sake of saving space. The weeks of gently closing cabinet doors and tiptoeing around the kitchen were long, and our attempt to defy reality ended with
a ceramic casualty. “He was a good mug, had barely lost the sheen of his youth. Only a slight browning
of his interior. He still had so many early morning and rainy day coffees to hold, not to mention evening tea...”**** After the burial I decided to redouble my efforts and focus (number 5 on the above list) on how to get my mugs to safety. After some brainstorming, some googling, and a chance run in with a piece of peg-board at the local hardware store, I decided on my next space-saving project.

What I used:

• Peg-board – one 2’ x 4’ piece
  
• 1” flat oak trim (enough for edges – 2’ x 4’ x 2’ x 4)
  
• Hardware (can’t remember exact sizes/gauges)
  4 sheet metal screw
  4 small flat washers
  4 black rubber stoppers
  24” of picture hanging wire
  2 heavy duty wall anchors (these could support about 70lbs of coffee mugs – didn’t want to take any chances :)*****
  
  4 small wood screws and 4 metal washers for attaching trim

• Valspar “Pale Butter” paint (free sample from Lowe’s – Thanks for the tip Mary!)
  
• Curved hooks for peg-board (with safety latches – it’s like a seat belt, why risk it?) 

What I did:

1. Paint the peg-board.
   
   
2. Cut and attach trim using 4 small wood screws and 4 small flat washers (attach from posterior
   for clean-looking trim)‡this is an unnecessary add-on.
   
   
3. Attach rubber stoppers and hanging wire to back (stoppers in 4 corners).
   
   1. Put metal screws through flat washers and front of board.
      
   2. Wrap hanging wire around the two top screws and then thread into rubber stoppers
      (the stoppers will serve to keep the back of pegs/hooks from scratching up your wall).
      
      
4. Put in wall anchors based on your desired positioning for the board.
   
   
5. Hang the board, insert hooks with safety clips, hang mugs, relax. 

I thought the trim might make for a nicer presentation in the kitchen. I think it improved the look. But more important than a chic wall decoration, we now have increased storage space and easier access to all of the coffee mugs. No more neglecting that little “weird owl” guy in the back of the cabinet.

And I think this is just the beginning. Soon there will be peg-boards in every room of my apartment. In keeping with the 20% spouse approval rate, I figure that I’ll just have to propose four worse ideas in order to get my next peg-board project authorized.

1. Sweetie, what would you say about me painting some flames on the side of the oven? That would be kinda cool, huh?
   
   
2. Audrey, this corner is a little bare. How neat would that be if I got my action figure collection out of storage and we cased them in a china cabinet here? I could make them do some sweet action poses. We could make the bad guys face the good guys like they’re about to clash. And...
   
   
3. I’ve been thinking about the back hallway. How awesome would that be to put some vines and a couple potted trees back there? We could download some jungle sounds and have them playing all the time.
   
   
4. You know that mirror in our dining room? I think we should keep window markers by it all of the time so when we have guests we can draw moustaches and beards and stuff like that.
   
   
5. Hey Sweetie, come and see my newest peg-board idea. I call it the PBTPFD (Peg-Board Toilet
   Paper Fun Dispenser). 
   

*Not sure how many people would get this, but I thought the title was catchy and actually made sense with a little stretch of the imagination. “Face” = “Mug” = “Coffee Cup.” Get it? Saving Face. Visage joke.
**Repetition of “work” and the ellipses are here for dramatic effect. I actually ran out of “depressing,” pity-inducing things to say. It’s amazing what effect that format can have though. And if you really want someone to feel sorry for you, try drawing out certain words on your list. “Wooork, stuuuuudeeeee, cleeeaaaaniiiiinnng, organiziiiiiiinnnnnggg, uuuummmmm, woooooorrrrrk.” This can make even the simplest list seem as daunting and formidable as the 12 labors of Hercules. Actually, with the hypnotic auricular effect of the list you might even slip this in at the end “slaying the Nemean Liiiiioooooon, you know, stuff like that, nothing major.” If that doesn’t get you a pat on the back and a, “it’ll be ok buddy,” then there is no compassion in this world.
***This 20% is generous. It should probably be cut in half. Really though, my wife is very supportive of my ideas – creative, ridiculous, or flat out dumb, she will at least hear me out and help me to categorize.
****Coffee cup eulogy. Weird, but surprisingly sad.
*****I think it would be appropriate to say, “Go Big or Go Home.” I was already home, so I decided to “Go Big.”

Tony is currently finishing his MBA. He resides with his lovely wife in Cincinnati, Ohio and is kind enough to contribute his humorous perspective in this regular column, Restrained Mirth.

Quick Takes: Centerpiece Inspiration

It's Friday! I don't like to wish my life away, but if I'm being honest I will admit that I look forward to the weekends... 

And on a completely unrelated and slightly nerdier note - I love making centerpieces from stuff around the house and yard. I started snapping pics awhile back, just for my own future inspiration. I saw that I had seven, and since it's quick takes day I thought I would share it with you. Then I realized that I actually had nine pics. Jen is a dear, so she'll probably let it slide. This time.

From top left: Bare branches in pint glass within a larger bowl; blossoms and flowering mint from the yard in drinking glass; hostas in drinking glass; sage in a small ball jar layered on a votive holder and a serving platter; apples in cake stand turned punch bowl; daffodils and lilac branch in vase; yard weeds in shot glass with glass bird; branches cut from hedge in water carafe in larger bowl; sage in small ball jars.

Have a great weekend!

The Other Project

I mentioned the other day that I had another little project I've been working on. The sitting area on our porch has been getting me down. It may be difficult to see in the first photo, but the white chairs were very stained and scuffed, as were the seat cushions (from little feet ). The metal table top had some rust and was not what you would call bright white. The fern on the ledge was out of control and inhibited arm movements if one attempted to eat or work at the table. And the whole look? Not bad, but bland.

I wanted something that felt fresh and clean. Something that could be easily cleaned and minimally stained by my children. I wanted a place to drink my coffee and read in peace and serenity. So I started thinking...

On a whim I picked up two cans of Krylon Fusion for Plastic in Red Pepper ($3.97/can on sale at the local hardware store), and set to work. The process could not have been easier. First, I lightly sanded the rust spots on the table top. Then I washed all three pieces with some warm soapy water and a loofah (loofahs are perfect for this sort of job because they create a little bit of friction, dry quickly, and can easily be reused). Then I rinsed with the hose and let them dry in the sun. Now for the real business!

I found an old plastic drop clothe in the basement and spread that out in the driveway, so I wouldn't have to worry about staining the concrete. With this particular paint, there is no priming required, so I jumped right in. As it only takes 15 minutes of drying before a second coat can be applied, I was able to do two coats on each piece by cycling through the three pieces. The paint dries to the touch in one hour, and complete chip resistance takes seven days to fully develop. Two coats on each piece provided really good coverage. When I pull them out in the spring I will probably give each one more coat, just to get that really finished look and cover any chips that occur during storage.

To complete things, I found a hanging basket in the shed for the fern, and hung it to the right of the sitting area. I replaced it with a tidier, yet still substantial potted sage plant that gives off a nice smell. I took these pics at several different times, so the red looks slightly different because of the lighting. It really is true to the color on the can cap, probably most accurately represented in the first and last photos. What do you think? I think, for under ten bucks, this project is definitely a winner! And now I'm addicted to spray painting things...