Mr. Prof designer home

First and foremost, happy MEMORIAL DAY to all, especially our veterans...

Second, I haven't seen momma bird since the day she came back... I fear that the egg is an orphan...

Third, and this pertains to my post title, DIY is not my strong point... I am much better at designing something than trying to make it actually come to fruition...

That's where Mr. SP comes in... He got the build~it gene...

I wanted to finish the exterior of the GARDEN COTTAGE yesterday and well let's just say Mr. SP didn't... So I thought I could do it myself... I was just patting myself on the back after finishing the project and thinking "hey that wasn't so hard after all" when Mr. SP appeared and announced that...

I HAD CUT THE CABLE...

On race day no less...

Of course I said "well you should have helped me and it wouldn't have happened".

The cable company couldn't come out til Tuesday... I wasn't sweating it...

You see, Mr. SP has amnesia about this but it's not the first time this has happened... And I knew he could fix it... And with a race on tv, it was just a matter of time...

You see I'm posting right? Case closed...

On one of many gorgeous days we had in April we decided to grill some steaks. My supermarket was having a deal on fresh mozzarella so I bought a few tomatoes, some basil and the mozzarella for caprese salad:


SP cooked the steaks perfectly, nice and charred on the outside and rare in the middle:


I don't eat a ton of red meat but there is something so satisfying about cutting into a well-cooked steak and eating that first juicy bite.

One of my dearest friends from college got married earlier this month, but way back in March I went down to Baltimore for her bridal shower/bachelorette party weekend. It was a ton of fun and I'm so happy for M & S.

M's bridesmaids really outdid themselves with the food. Here's the spread looking quite inviting:


It wouldn't be a party in Baltimore without crab dip:


A party favorite, spinach dip with pumpernickel bread:


A delicious pasta salad:


Yummy sandwiches and wraps:


Fresh fruit (I couldn't get enough of the pineapple):


Bean dip that was out of this world amazing, made by the mom of one of the bridesmaids:


Cookies in the shape of some of M's favorite Balitmore things:


The only food I managed to photograph from the bachelorette party was the crab pretzel at our first stop. This was so amazing I want to go back to Baltimore just to have another one all to myself. It's a huge soft pretzel topped with luscious, creamy crab dip and cheese, then broiled:


Wow, that it good!

• repel stains
• spills
• and water.

Meatloaf muffins are one of my favorite ways to cook meatloaf. Everything is already portioned out and it only takes 30 minutes to cook.


For these I added salsa and breadcrumbs to the meatloaf mix, then topped each muffin with ketchup. Mashed potatoes and corn rounded out the meal.

AS IN ‘RED GERANIUMS’

I had a free day yesterday and so I finally had a chance to bring up all my flowers and get them out – not that I have an array of different ones, you all know by now I’m a softy when it comes to Geraniums … it’s one of my favorite flowers to decorate with next to Lavender – which I totally forgot to bring up.

Yesterday it reached 89 degrees and no air con. and the humidity was 55% – not bad but if you knew me I can’t stand heat or
temps over 70/72 and no humidity … but that said, I put on as little as I could get away with for clothes and went about
putting out the flowers.

Don’t have much as far as information to add today so hope you enjoy the pictures.

Here’s the stash before I put them around!
I had 11 pots and 6 clusters to work with
Wishing I had more white after using the two I had

Now here’s where they all ended up

I think this turned out great….it’s my Americana display – I bought an old box last Winter and love the printing on it … and it’s Blue so it worked great for this in our screen room
 
close up of box

In the kitchen by the side window

In a Salt Glaze bowl in the den
 

In a crock under a table in the family room

On the fireplace

One I do every year….in my large trencher in the dining room

And outside on the courtyard

And last - in a basket above our bed

Now just a couple pictures of some flowers I set outside
These are by the garage
 

Back door area
I use the large Redwing crock for my displays all year long.
I keep the birch twigs in there for fullness and just add my flowers
for the seasons and at Christmas we put a lit tree in it

Courtyard area – finally got my flowers planted and it stormed that night and knocked off most of the little pinks!

 

On the front porch
This actually looks better than it is showing – picture doesn’t
show how very nice it really looks for some reason
I bought this tall bucket at a shop up north, it’s about 36 inches tall
 

I’ve been trying to visit all of you as I can this week – have to be gone all of tomorrow to my aunts to help there so won’t
have access to a computer but will be back for the weekend and will check in on more blogs – I’ve got a lot of catching up to do!

I think my girls liked their winnings from my giveaway! Hope so!

Karen

Man...where did the time go? My last post was April 2? I'm sorry about that. What can I say except work has been crazy, things with Baby Girl have been crazy and life just keeps getting in the way. I even (gasp) stopped taking photos of meals because I didn't know when I'd get around to blogging about them.

The good news is I have a ton of pictures and Blogger has this nifty feature where I can write all my posts at once and have one publish each day. So stay tuned...

So another phase of the garden cottage was completed today thanks in large part to Mr. Sweet Pea. He's one handy guy...

I had taken a lunch break while he went to meet his boss to get the plans for a job he's off to do later today, and had gone back out to the cottage to wait for him to return. I am thrilled beyond words to report that sitting on the egg in the nest that I rescued yesterday was a beautiful dove!

She came back! The baby has a chance! The power of motherly love at work.

She flew away but I'm hoping now that the activity has ceased she will come back. I'll be keeping a watchful eye out for her.

Thanks for all your warm thoughts on the previous post about the egg and the nest. So many kind people in bloglandia...

And because some of you are wondering when you can see the finished cottage, here's a teeny peek...

This is the reflection from an old accordian mirror that I hung inside the cottage...





Soon, I promise...

Well let me tell ya!

The past couple weeks have been very busy
and hectic and I haven’t been around much…..let alone on the computer catching up on everything
you all are doing and I miss you guys – sorry
I haven’t posted or commented.

My last surviving aunt is ill and I’ve been helping my brother and sister in-law with her….I won’t go into detail but I haven’t been home.

My last day there this week was Sunday and it was soooo hot – and when I had left to go down there (it’s an hour away) I had all the windows open and didn’t get home till around 7 pm and it was like an oven in here – so I closed up the house, turned on the air and it ran and ran but not much change…it was 87 in here when I got home and after it ran all that night it still was only 78 by morning.
Needless to say the Freon is gone and needs a charge…pray I don’t need a new air conditioner. We’ve been babying this one for so long now
I think our luck has run out….but still hoping
that’s all it needs.

So yesterday I ran the air but no change in the inside temp…registered 77 all day then I realized the air con wasn’t running, just the fan…yikes! What now. So I turned it off and let it rest and then before I went to bed I turned it back on….sounded like it was running but this morning it was still 77-78!
So now it’s off and just the fan is running…I’ll just wear less clothes….ya right!

Here’s the temp yesterday at noon….still reading 77 indoors! It’s not unbearable by any means, but with the house closed up and the fans on to keep the air moving and the humidity out…it’s darned stuffy.

So today I’m sitting in the screen room with
the fans on and it’s kind of okay…but the temp
right now outside is 84 so I guess it’s going to
be one hot day here.
AND I KNOW YOU ALL WANTED TO HEAR ALL THAT DIDN’T YOU….lol

I just took these pictures of what I’m seeing while sitting here doing nothing for a change!

They’re through the screens so won’t be clear

Not a breeze at all….my new flag is sadly hanging
I love hearing a flag flap in the breeze don’t you?


My Pineapple water fountain in the side garden…one of my favorite spots to look at.

The view whenever I’m in the screen room.
Still no flowers on my plants but soon I hope!

And look who’s totally enjoying all this heat! 
Lola sleeps here from the time we let her
out there till bedtime

Guess I don’t have a lot to say today but wanted
you all to know why I haven’t been around.
I’m going to be checking in on your blogs today
and tomorrow when I get the chance…..so be watching for me to pop in on ya!

Oh, Darren sent me a picture he took with his phone yesterday of Aidan….the green pool is giving a green reflection so it doesn’t look too clear
He has wet head from dunking!

…..ON SALE RIGHT NOW…..

I’m having a sale on my Americana items
from now through June 15
Just for my Blog Friends!
This is the only place I will advertise it.

Old Glory Flag
Was $18.00
NOW $12.00

Red Ticking Towel
Was $12.00
NOW $9.00

Hanging Tab Towel 
Was $12.00
NOW $7.00

If anyone wants one….just e-mail me
kmprimitives@yahoo.com

See you later everyone – stay cool!

Karen