My Barn Door

There is an animal face in my barn door!

Pareidolia is what it's called when you see faces in inanimate objects, like this

 so cute!  And Drew Barrymore see's hearts everywhere and make a book of her photo's 

 I see animals

this guy is in my backyard fence

and it doesn't happen everyday.  A friend of mine see faces, often children faces.

but I found something in my new barn door

A flying bat!  I love my new woodland creature!  

I found it before the door was completed so it helped me decide which side would be the front and which side was up

see it?

Now I love my hall closet barn door even more!  Great job, husband!

Sunday

Sunday

My New Barn Door - and Pottery Barn copied it!

I love my new

barn door

My front hall closet door was falling a part and just not working any more.  It's the first thing you see when you enter my little cottage, so it had to go!

Pocket doors from the late 1950's.  Since the house design is pretty much my job, and I wouldn't have it any other way, my husband asked me what I had in mind for a new door.

A barn door I said!

  

What a great guy - he was really intrigued by this.  

Living right outside of Washington, DC - we don't have barn doors lying around.

and buying one proved to be expensive.  Why is it when people want to reclaim wood for remodeling their kitchen, it costs more than buying new?  Crazy.  So my crafty husband order hardware, but built the barn door himself!

He bought the wood and put together my barn door

I added a couple coats of a warm brown stain I picked out, he attached the hardware - and voila!  The coolest front hall closet ever!  I am so happy with it!

I realized I have copied colors from a photograph I have hanging right next to the foyer

I bought this at the Art Barn in Salvo, North Carolina in the Outer Banks.  

If you are ever vacationing in the Outer Banks in the Hatteras Island area - make a visit to this wonderful art and crafts artisan store.  I don't remember the name of the artist but here is his signature!

and the other thing in my foyer?  My "B" key hook, of course!  (see earlier post if this doesn't make sense)

News flash!  Pottery Barn has copied my barn door idea!

I know it's becoming a popular decorating idea

so you run with it Pottery Barn!  Mine went up first, and my doors work - just saying.

  I love the warmth,function and design element of it of my new closet door.

Thank you husband for not thinking me crazy when I answered with 

"I would like a barn door!"

Pam

A Quick Gift

A GREAT GIFT FOR A TEACHER

I made these 8 x 10 'posters' for my daughter, a title one middle school teacher. Middle school, people! I am very proud and she is a super hero - as is her boyfriend, also a teacher.

Comic book from the library, a good quality color copier and a color printer at home.  Frame with an inexpensive craft store frame - it's going to hang in their classrooms so you want something cheap and sturdy!

Now a student I am fond of who is studying special education in college wants one.  And one she shall have!  I asked her what super hero she'd like, she answered Miss America.

Miss America wears a sash and wants a crown, I told her.  I was confused!  She has since educated me!

Pam

Sunday

Sunday

Too Hot to Cook!

Dessert doesn't always have to be baked

and one more recipe from my massive collection

tried and tasted!

FROZEN PEANUT BUTTER PIE

       

Peanut butter and graham crackers are the most important ingredients!  A chocolate drizzle on top doesn't hurt either!

Super easy, kind of a dump and run recipe.  It was a bit sweet for me, but the kids loved it!  I loved that the kitchen stayed cool, I even cheated and bought a pre-made graham cracker crust!  Hey, I am a teacher on summer break - time is precious!!

Here's the recipe from my "I'll make that someday" collection!

Pam

I have a "B" Wall

I have a B wall!

a what?

My daughter, the artist, created a new bee for my B wall - it's adorable!  And a great and different addition to my B wall

I started with one simple accent letter B

OK, maybe not so simple - but still humble beginnings!

Then it started to grow!  I'd find a B out shopping, a child would give me one for Christmas or as a souvenir from a trip, fabric B's, metal B's, decoupage B's, all so lovely.

This one is from a family trip to Williamsburg, Virginia

and this one is from a family reunion on the Chesapeake Bay - I found it in a little shop and it's suppose to look an over sized typewriter key

and this one is embroidered - back in the day when I thought I'd enjoy doing embroidery.  I don't.  Not really.  But it is pretty...

So that's my B wall  

and  I think my daughters gift bee is a good final touch

It's complete, and I think I can walk away from any more B purchases.  My B wall is full!  I can move on to being eclectic about something else.

Unless I find a wooden script B or maybe a nice vintage B....

Pam B.

Summer Sunday

Summer Sunday

Asparagus Tip to Preserve the Tips!

Did you know

It's best to break off the woody stems of asparagus 

and let remaining stalk soak in water

before cooking and eating.

I think it looks pretty too! 

Maybe not dining room table decorative, 

but definitely 

kitchen window pretty!

Pam

Gift for the Gardener

A LITTLE GIFT FOR 

THE GARDENER

(my husband!)

Counted cross stitch sign for the door that leads out to the back yard - it's in this room where he keeps all his gardening stuff.  I thought counted cross stitch was going to drive me bonkers - but I am glad I tried it.  It's relaxing and (hopefully) keeps your mind sharper than printed needlepoint!

Pam

A Treat for the College Student and a Cool Storage Idea

A Treat for My College Boy 

in a Hot Part of the Country

My son loves to get cookies in the mail, it isn't something he is going to make on his own, although his summer school apartment has an oven - it will not be used.  And, he likes homemade better,

I had this recipe from ages ago - I think one of Joanne Flukemystery books - she always includes several recipes.  This one is called Chocoholic Cookies - and it is death by chocolate!

So good!  Here is the recipe:

If it's too hard to read from the photograph I will type it out later.  I am currently at my mother in laws and to make matters worse, I don't have the recipe with me and it's raining!

I mailing them to my college boy - who is in the deep south right now with a school internship.  How gross will it be to come home to melted chocolate cookies?  Totally gross!  

I took an empty coffee pod can (I love my espresso machine! especially with cookies!)  and packed the cookies in there

I added a note that Matthew should put the can in the freezer for a while - then enjoy the cookies!  He can buy some cookies or treats in the future and use the can for storage or a cold cookie jar in the south!

I also use the cans for storage

but I really like the look of glass jars

most of the time!

p.s.  skip the shortening!  It's used only for the white chocolate topping - which is not needed.  The cookies are super chocolately already and white chocolate, unless the expensive kind, is so fake tasting.  I bought the regular white baking chips and lard, and I am sorry!

Pam