Pulling old shrubs...

Well, it's Saturday and we had some help for the day and decided to take advantage of him.  Our youngest son Chris was willing to use his 4 wheel drive truck to pull out some old shrubs for us.  I think we planted these privets about 15 years ago and they've become too much of a pruning issue for me to take care of anymore.  We pulled out 5 or 6 along the driveway under the maple trees.  Once they are gone we're going to prune the maples and it should look much better.

Mr. Bird Nest, as always, helps with any project we do.  He had the chainsaw out before Chris ever got down the driveway and cut up all the privets and tree.

Chris and Elizabeth's son Carson was set up on the driveway on a lawn chair with an M & M machine on a stool beside him.  I'm so sorry I didn't get a picture because it was priceless.

One final privet and they are gone.  One of our neighbors is going to help Mr. Bird Nest haul them away.

This Japanese maple was a victim of our drought this summer so it got pulled out too.

Carson and I watched from the safety of the front porch.

Chris' reward a ice cold Coke.  Just what his mother would choose.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

Autumn Recipes & Tablescapes

I wanted to tell you a little about my table.  The china belonged to my Gammy (my maternal grandmother).  The compote on the center of the table is part of a collection of depression glass my mother had of a pattern called Jacob's Ladder.  The silver also belonged to my mother.  The two little amber turkeys on the table belonged to my great grandparents.

Here are two of my favorite recipes for fall.

This first one is my sister Susan's.

Baked Apples

Pare and quarter 1 dozen apples.  Place 1 cup water in bottom of casserole.

Mix together well:  1 c. flour

                           1 c. butter

                           1 c. sugar

Put in half apples, half topping, 1/4 c. cinnamon candies, repeat.

Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.

This second one is a recipe from my late brother, John Harvey Haugh.  I never did find out why it is called Dr. Birds Cake, but it just seems right for the fall.  Besides, he was a great turkey hunter so it's sort of the season.

Dr. Birds Cake

3 c. flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 c. sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 c. vegetable oil

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

3 eggs

1 - 8oz. can crushed pineapple (not drained)

2 bananas (sliced thin)

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes in a 9 x 11 inch greased pan.

I like to frost it with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

A few weekend projects...

These are a few of the little projects I hope to work on this weekend.  Let this work day just be over so I can get started on the fun.  Hopefully, I'll be able to show most of these to you on Monday or Tuesday.

Don't forget to comment on my blog, if you want to be entered in my giveaway.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

100 Posts...

Well, I never thought this would happen so quickly but I've posted 100 times.  That first one was so hard to do and I wondered if anyone would actually read my blog.  You have all been so generous and so friendly and I don't know how I survived before blogging.  So....I've got a little prize pack I've put together.  There will probably be some other treats but this is basically it.  A crystal picture frame, a photo album, a journal, book mark and a coin purse. 

All you have to do to enter is comment on my blog until Wednesday, October 1.  I will enter all the names in a hat and pull one out.  I'm an old-fashioned girl and like to do things the old fashioned way.  Everyone who comments gets one (1) chance at the prize pack.  Please make sure you tell me the name of your website or e-mail address so I can notify the winner.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

Pineapple...

I found this pineapple at Marshall's last week and I thought a little paint would fix it right up.  Maybe I should have tried Joy's black paint from http://joysofhome.blogspot.com/ but I really wanted it to be gold.  I thought it was a prominent place for my son's favorite pumpkin.

Well, I'm not so sure about the gold.  I may have to layer some stain on it to really spruce it up.

This is a picture of my carpenter son with his two children fishing.  I don't know who is enjoying themselves more but these two children sure do love to fish.  And Chloe won't be three until November.

Thanks for reading,

Getchen

A little bragging...

My oldest son Rick has finally gotten his logo completed and painted on his trailer.  You can see some of his incredible carpentry talent when he works with Cedar from Colorado.  He also has a website http://www.cedarscreendoors.com

His maternal great-great grandfather was a barn builder, his maternal great-grandfather was a home builder, one of his uncles is a master carpenter and his other uncle was a brick mason.  Along with that he has Mr. Bird Nest (his stepdad) who is my master carpenter when Rick is too expensive.

I'm just so very proud of Rick and all that he has accomplished.  A lot of the skills he learned in high school, a lot he learned in the U.S.Navy but a lot of them are just a talent.  He works in SC, Georgia and North Carolina.

Love you Rick.  You make me proud every day.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

 

Desk arrangement...

 

This first picture is to show you my little bulletin board I bought at Hobby Lobby for about $6.00.  I didn't figure out until I got it home why it was so cheap.  The fabric wasn't aligned properly so you couldn't hang it so it was level.  It became part of my new project yesterday when I came up with a brainstorm.  I ripped it apart and put new quilt batting over it.  Then I covered it in black fabric and black and while checked ribbon with buttons hot-glued to the fabric.  I would be ashamed to have any of you see the back of this board.  My staples for my electric staple gun were a little long and I need to get shorter ones and redo that.  Mr. Bird Nest would be horrified if he saw my shoddy craftmanship. 

I can still see out the window but I feel much more organized and I love to shuffle paper and make new files, so this is right up my alley.  I still need to figure out what kind of calendar to use.  I wish I could do what my friend Heidi from http://foxglovesfabricandfolly.blogspot.com/ did in her past house in NY.  She put beadboard up half way on the walls of her kitchen and then painted the upper walls with chalkboard paint.  Now that would be a great place for notes and a calendar.

I also moved a different chair into this space.  It has a cushioned seat and arms.  Hello, why didn't I think of that before?  You'll also notice I moved my "Bird Nest Cottage" sign to the wall to even out my gold letters.  That seems to balance that row.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

My blogging desk...

 

OK, I've rearranged my little blogging office and I'm not sure about several things.  I love the little black two tiered tray I found at Home Goods but the black board I made looks to me like it should be black and so should my initials?  What do you think?  I also need something to post notes on and I have a bulletin board that I think will work if I paint it black too.  Or is that too much black?  It's 11:30 at night and I may be seeing black because I'm so tired.

That shelf I moved to the center of the wall needs fixed up too but no time left tonight.  Let me know tomorrow what you think.  I so appreciate all your input. 

Lorilee at http://cackleberrycottage.blogspot.com/  has give me the Smile Award.  I can't find a copy of it this late at night.  Thank you Lorilee for giving me this award. 

Characteristics for the smile award:

1.   Must display a cheerfull attitude (not necessarily at all times-we are all human.  That's good news or I might have been disqualified really fast!

2.  Must love one another.  I love all you bloggers out there (OK some more than others).

3.  Must make mistakes.  I'm a mistake makin' fool, that's no problem.

4.  Must learn from others. No problem I need their help because I forget stuff all the time.

5.  Must be a positive contributor to the blog world. I try.

6.  Must love life. I cherish every day!

7.  Must love kids.  Okay, mostly my grandchildren.

Thanks Lorilee. 

I've also been tagged by Dalene at http://www.darlenesdays-darlene.blogspot.com/

I am to list six random things about me. Here they are:

1.  I actually want to meet one of my blogging friends some time.

2.  I would wear jeans all winter long with western boots and shorts all summer if I could.

3.  I'm a country and western fan and am going to a Jason Aldean concert in October for Hud's birthday.  I think I'm going to surprise him and rent a limo and make it a special night.

4.  I want to start doing more sewing beginning in January.

5.  I hope to have my knee replacement surgery in January or February so I'll be ready for pool season.  Oops got to lose 20 pounds first.

6.  I love getting massages.  If I was rich I would get one every day.

Thanks Darlene.  I've loved getting to know you.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen