Marie Antoinette is My Homegirl

On the Obsession Scale of 'Zero to 5 Felony Charges of Stalking', I probably clock in at a 9.2 when it comes to Marie Antoinette. Why? 1. I am a product of the '80s and wish my hair were big enough...

Canning Peaches

On Saturday I walked into the produce department at the grocery store and could smell them. Peaches. (Thank god it was just peaches and not like, rotting cabbage or something. Or this post would...

Photo Friday: Lilacs and Apple Trees

GORGEOUSNESS. The lilacs and fruit trees are finished blooming here, and now I'm waiting for the roses and the mock orange tree in the backyard to blossom. See you after the weekend!

Mixing Prints

I always thought it was bad to mix prints. Like the Fashion Print Fairy, who strongly resembles Joan Rivers, was going to come down and smuck you upside the head if you so dared. Then I realized I...

Weekend

Another lazy weekend. The sun shined for a few hours on Saturday afternoon and it was like, MAUDE!? WHAT BE THAT THERE SHINY LIGHT FROM THE SKY? And it promptly vanished by that evening. So I made...

Photo Friday: Duck Butts

These were taken the same day as the otter pics from last week's Photo Friday. Nothin' better than a duck butt. See you after the weekend!

Hummingbird Watch

The past week and a half (or thereabouts) has been rainy, miserable, and sometimes downright chilly. (TWO frost advisories!) Because the state of the weather affects my laziness, I haven't been up...

Flourless Zucchini Brownies

Today I had an outfit post all planned out. My youngest brother-in-law graduated high school on Saturday (woop-woop!) and I wore a '50s style dress. With petticoat. And pearls. And a nice...

Photo Friday: Nessie

Okay, fine, it's not the Loch Ness Monster. But I have no idea what that is. I spied it last week when the husband and I took the dog for a ride out to the local lake. It's an...otter? Muskrat?...

How to Build a Split Rail Fence

Seriously. My husband built me a split rail fence for the backyard last weekend, and I am still over the moon about it. Remember the cedar logs that used to contain our garden? We didn't get rid of...

Still Knitting: Sleeveless Top

And how is your 3 day weekend? If you didn't get today off, your boss is a jerk and you have my permission to quit. Black Spruce Hound, giving sound job advice since 2013. Anywho. Most of you are...

Photo Friday: Spruce Hen

This gigantic bird was sitting on a tiny limb in a poplar tree last week. It was much too fat to be up there, but it was determined to eat the new buds on the tree. It's a female spruce grouse. I...

Container Garden 2013

This year I bid adieu to the square foot garden in the backyard. We had a pretty good run, but the slugs get worse every year. The little bastards ate about 80% of the beets last year, and that was...

Armpits and Duct Tape Coin Purses

I tried making homemade deodorant last week. I know. Trust me, I know. A few years ago I tried the homemade deodorant thing, and it did not go so well. First I tried plain baking soda, which was...

Photo Friday: Frogs

They've quieted down a bit now, but the last few weeks have been so loud around here. Frogs. Being raucous since...hell, I dunno, THE DAWN OF TIME. I went out and peered into the swamp and saw this...

Books That Need Reading

Lately I've been seeing list after list of books everyone is supposed to read. While part of me wonders who in the hell comes up with these lists and more importantly how can I get in on this...

I Apologize in Advance

I was checking out craigslist last night, because that's what I do, when this popped up. You have no idea how much I want to email that guy. With something like this: I DON'T CARE IF SHE'S BROKE,...

Photo Friday: Ducks in the Road

Literally. In the road. This handsome Mallard and his lady friend toddled past the house last week and I snapped a few pictures of them from between the fence rails in the yard. Photo Friday should...

War of the Roses

On Monday I did battle with the roses in the backyard. They run one length of the yard, from a mock orange tree to a crabapple. Which you can kinda sorta see from the photo below. Over the years...

Fixing Broken Springs on a Wingback Chair

A matching pair of wingback chairs was given to me by our neighbor several years ago. In very short order, a couple springs on each chair let loose. Through the bottom, thankfully, not the top....

Photo Friday: Birds, Again

First off, I feel like Luigi from 'Cars'. I MUST A-SCREAM IT TO THE WORLD! MY EXCITEMENT! FROM THE TOP OF SOMEPLACE VERY HIGH! My dentist appointment yesterday revealed that I have no wisdom teeth....

Just Another Manic Wednesday. Shut Up, Bangles.

The song might say Monday, but my Monday was pretty straightforward and simple. Not manic. Today, however, is slightly manic-y. First up, it be May 1. In case you were not aware of that. Today the...

My New Favorite Hairdo - The Twist and Bun

This one happened by accident when I was trying to do a French twist. Which, with my hair, is sorta impossible. Like the proverbial 25-pounds-of-flour-in-a-5-pound-bag. Except with hair. Anyway,...

Photo Friday: Spring?

Spring might maybe perhaps be arriving. Finally. This weekend it's supposed to be near 70, and I'm so excited I could pee like a nervous Border Collie. I haven't seen the lawn in months. Probably...

Old Lamp to New Lamp

My mother-in-law found this lamp while doing a bit of spring cleaning. What a beaut. The lamp was headed for the garbage, but I snatched it instead. I loved the shape, and figured it could be...

Painted Plywood Floors Revisited

All winter long my sinuses gave me a lot of grief. Not only did I get my very first sinus infection but there were so many days spent dealing with headaches and pressure in mah face. Which I've...

Photo Friday: I Blame Daniel Craig

OMG, you guys. I watched 'Elizabeth' last night and was so distracted by how un-foxy Daniel Craig used to be that I forgot to actually write today's blog post. It was scheduled and ready to go, but...

Photo Friday: Splitting Wood

How to Make Crystallized Ginger

Another recipe. I know. But this is a good one, mostly because it's a twofer - not only do you get candied ginger, you also get ginger syrup. I had never eaten crystallized ginger before, but...

Open Letters

Dear Salmon Canneries, It would be super awesome if you put a little note on your cans of salmon that said 'THAR BE BONES IN THIS HERE CAN.' Because you know what really sucks? Getting ready to...