Spray Painting a Goodwill Basket

a few months ago

martha stewart did a project

painting baskets

and I thought why not?

I found this old mexican basket

at a goodwill store for around

two dollars

the mexicans would walk the beaches all day

selling their wares for almost free

that was their favorite line to get you to buy whatever it was that they were selling

we always came home with a basket or two and jewelry

after a few cervesas

everything looked so pretty

especially on the beach

I used some old spray paint I had in our shed

to keep the cost on a cheap basket at a minimum

Don't you just love my designated spray painting area?

my hubby gave me strict orders that I could only spray paint in that area

I call my hubby

the spray paint whisperer

he can always tell when I have been spray painting

how does he do it?

I also call him

the dent whisperer

I put a little dent in his truck the other day

and can you believe he found it?

Petie

Life Lately

Lots and lots of yard work

finished planting my succulents that I bought on a whim

My husband drives me crazy when he starts

trimming my plants

He only butchered one rose plant

before I stopped him

The birds found my red tomatoes

so happy to provide fresh tomatoes

for them to enjoy

not

Made rice and milk three times this past weekend

My family loves rice and milk

dinner consisted of a beef roast from my dad

and a delicious mac and cheese

that I pinned on pinterest

that you can find here at pieranch

under food and drinks

Petie

Pilgrim Fun for the kids

martha stewart

I know I am really OLD, but I can still remember making these in grade school.

Leave it to Martha to recreate some FUN

for the kids.

THANK YOU

Martha

for all the fun CRAFT ideas that you still come up with.

Petie

Just in time for Thanksgiving

Martha Stewart Place Cards

I have a thing for place cards.

I think these are just fabulous!

Petie

Why Oh Why...

On this Monday,

November 14, am I thinking of Christmas?

I have no idea.

But I do like the little wrapped pastry bags filled with a 

card and a package of hot cocoa mix.

Found on 

kathrine marie photography

Christmas tree place cards.

Can you guess where this idea came from?

Martha Stewart

 Who else would have you chopping wood during the holidays for a project.

I think I will just buy the cheap little plastic trees

 at Walmart and call it good.

Really, who has time to chop wood and drill holes?

found on pinterest

Newspaper wrapped gifts with tags.

I love this idea.

The only problem with newspaper, 

is what do you do when you have BIG presents to wrap?

See my dilemma.

And if I want to use those tags,

I better get started making them right NOW.

I am such a procrastinator when it comes to wrapping.

I loathe wrapping presents.

What about you?

Do you enjoy wrapping? Do you like being coordinated with your wrapping?

Petie

Baking with Buttermilk

pie ranch photo

I found this recipe on 

www.alexandracooks.com

I love baking with buttermilk.

pie ranch photo 

and as you can see,

I love eating things that are made with buttermilk.

Buttermilk-Blueberry Breakfast Cake

 Serves 6-8

 ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature

2 tsp. lemon zest or more — zest from 1 large lemon

7/8 cup + 1 T. sugar

1 egg, room temperature

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. kosher salt

2 cups fresh blueberries

½ cup buttermilk

1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Cream butter with lemon zest and 7/8 cup of the sugar until light and fluffy.

2. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until combined. Meanwhile, toss the blueberries with ¼ cup of flour, then whisk together the remaining flour, baking powder and salt.

3. Add the flour mixture to the batter a little at a time, alternating with the buttermilk. Fold in the blueberries.

Just a side note,

When I was making the cake and saw the 7/8 cup of sugar,

I thought she had made a typing error.

I googled 7/8 of a cup and found this:

measure out 3/4 of cup, put it in something.
measure out 1/4 cup, halve that amount and add it to the 3/4
you will then have approx 7/8 cup

Weird? I have been baking for along time and have never come across 7/8 of a cup.

Tomorrow or whenever I get to it, I will post the recipe for a Buttermilk pie. One from my SIL and one that I have had for years, both from Martha Stewart.

Petie