cathyboettner

Preserving the Kale harvest

The super cold forecast prompted me to pick the kale that I planted back in August. The Lacinato type has grown well, but I was afraid that the super cold weather would damage it, so I harvested all the viable leaves and left the rest. We’ll see if any of it survives. So I startedContinue reading “Preserving the Kale harvest”

The Ancient Basement–Shelf at the bottom of the stairs

We started this project during the weekend that we got snow and were stuck at the house. I think I jinxed us when I said I thought we could accomplish it over a long weekend. No such luck. I’ve had a few people ask how the project is going, so here is the update. IContinue reading “The Ancient Basement–Shelf at the bottom of the stairs”

Prepping for the Arctic Blast

Like most of the rest of the country, we are preparing for temperatures that are WELL below normal, and it’s also supposed to be windy. This is a combination that will kill my rosemary plant. So I decided to try to save it. Unfortunately the rosemary plant is a little floppy. So the first thingContinue reading “Prepping for the Arctic Blast”

The Ancient Basement–Snow Day Project

We are expected to get a lot of snow (for here) tomorrow, and we’ve had enough notice that we could actually think about, plan, and purchase everything for the project. We are going to build the shelves that we had planned all along at the bottom of the stairs–to fill this area. Years ago, IContinue reading “The Ancient Basement–Snow Day Project”

The Ancient Basement–finishing the Mudroom Wall

We took a break from working on the basement during the holidays, but we are back on getting the mudroom wall finished up. I bought 20 oiled bronze finish brass coat hooks from Van Dyke’s. They aren’t very tall which is good because there isn’t much room in that direction. There are 5 hooks betweenContinue reading “The Ancient Basement–finishing the Mudroom Wall”

Blue Christmas

I have been thinking about this table for weeks and finally got around to putting it together. I started with faux greenery and some glittery leaf picks and I added handblown ornaments in various shades of blue and some pinecones that I painted silver. I topped that with the Shiny Brite glass garland. The placeContinue reading “Blue Christmas”

Last minute gift from the kitchen….

I am NOT a fan of fussy recipes. It’s not that I can’t do it, I just don’t want to. I have been making this particular recipe since I was in high school, so a LONG time. It’s great because you literally just cook it until it is brown–no thermometer, no testing in a glassContinue reading “Last minute gift from the kitchen….”

Banana French Toast

I made a triple batch of banana bread to use up some bananas that I had in the freezer. It had been a few days since I made it and it was getting a little dry. So, I sliced it thin–about 1/2 inch. Laid it in on a parchment lined baking tray and toasted itContinue reading “Banana French Toast”

The Ancient Basement–More progress!

We have been working on what I have been calling “the mudroom wall”. I posted some photos a few weeks ago of the beadboard wall and all the parts and pieces that my husband made and the brackets that I purchased. Here’s where I left it: And here’s a reminder of the inspiration photo that’sContinue reading “The Ancient Basement–More progress!”

Silent Night

I have had these little cardboard houses for years and finally put them together for this table. It’s a really simple centerpiece–just the 3 houses and the church, along with some mercury glass and porcelain trees, and a couple strands of shiny brite glass garland in pale blues, golds, and white. So serene, like aContinue reading “Silent Night”