Using More Red

I've just realized that I've been using more 

red in my decorating than I thought.

 I use these bowls at Christmas. 

They were being stored in the family room 

armoire. Why not use them now in my red, 

white, and blue kitchen?

 I can use red not just for Christmas, but for 

Valentine's Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, 

and all thru the summer.

 So I made a 'Note To Self'...in the future I will

 store all the 'red' accessories separately 

in one container so that I can access them 

for more holidays. 

 I know there is more red in storage, mingled 

in with the Christmas stuff. I will have a new 

plan for storing it next time.

 Maybe I could just find the red gingham 

pillow covers.....mmmmmm.

What do you think Princess?

 Even my desserts have gone patriotic.

Red polka dot plates will see more use.

A new plan for later and tea for now.

Cheers!

Links:The Shabby Creek Cottage,
No Minimalist Here, Savvy Southern Style,
Between Naps on the Porch,
Common Ground, French Country Cottage,
My Romantic Home, My Repurposed Life

Adding A Little Trim

I thought that the shelves in the open kitchen

 cabinet would look much better if I added
a little trim  to the edge.

It's a subtle change, but it finishes

the look of the shelves.

 I used 1/2" already primed cove molding

and painted it white.

 The trim is attached to the edge using wood

 glue. It's held in place with masking tape 

until the glue dries.

 That's it!

 The trim will not interfere with the doors

 if (when) I decide to put them back on.

 The shelves look less kitchen-cabinety.

 Profile

 I can still easily remove the shelves
if (when) I decide to replace
 the red checked background.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheers!

see how I change the paper HERE
see how we installed the plate rail HERE
Links: Between Naps On The Porch,
Coastal Charm, Common Ground,
A Stroll Thru Life, Tip Junkie,
Domestically Speaking,
Savvy Southern Style

Taming the Tuckaseegee River

My Jumbled Journal: Random thoughts and memories.
A Day on the Tuckaseegee River

Rafting down the Tuckaseegee River was going to be a picnic...literally, I packed a picnic. We arrived at the boat house to pick up our small raft and gear. Others chose tubes, or canoes or larger rafts for groups. They asked us if we wanted a guide. We don't need no stinkin' guide. The 'Tuck' (locals call it the Tuck) has a gentle flow and just a few mild rapids. This would be a very relaxing few hours. It's a beautiful scenic river curving through tall three-lined banks, under bridges and with a view of the mountains, and as mentioned a few small rapids to make you feel adventurous. A lovely day for a river trip.


Off we went!  We waited for the guide raft ahead of us to get going as he had several rafts tethered behind him. They must be city-folk with no experience on a river.

So far so good. We began paddling and soon realized that despite great paddling and great steering we were headed to the bank on the other side with the low hanging trees. We were being pulled even though the surface wasn't that rough. Paddling faster and using both paddles as a rudder to.......
not gonna make it! duck!
Under the trees we careened and used all our strength not to hit the rocky bank.

We paddled like crazy to get back in the middle of the river. Ok, let's try this again. Very soon we were being pulled by some monster-like force to the other side. We were like balls in a cosmic pin ball machine. Get back out in the middle and try to stay there.

You could see where the rocks were hidden just below the surface by the current. I think we hit every rock. At one point we hit the rocks so hard that we got stuck on top like cartoon characters. After we dislodged ourselves we were headed back down the river....backwards! Paddling to turn the raft we bounced off several groups of rocks and went down a nice rapid without tipping over.

It was a little calmer now as this was the widest part of the river. We saw a couple in another boat way up ahead about 100 yards. We were headed in that direction. I thought we were getting a little too close and told Larry not to hit their boat. He assured me that there was no way he was going to hit their boat, now about 50 yards, then 25 yards, then 10 yards away. It was quiet on this part of the river and I wanted to get away from their boat without being noticed. We steered,  we paddled, we steered harder and managed to gently hit the side of their boat sideways, think parallel parking. Very stealth! There was only one boat in view on this large, very ride river, and we manage slam into them. They never saw it coming! They were engrossed in conversation.
"So sorry! the current is very powerful and we couldn't fight it."
 They asked how long we had been so close and did we hear any of their conversation. I assured them we did not. Apparently they were deciding on their plans when they got back to their hotel and wanted us to know that they were not sex-crazed, but were trying to conceive while on vacation. I think they should name the baby Tuck.

I don't think we missed a rock for the rest of the trip. Larry had to get out a few times to dislodge us and once we  were stuck on rocks in a swirling rapid for a while until another guide (with tethered boats behind him) came over to help us and the two of them got our boat off the rocks without anyone getting swept away. That propelled us into a series of small rapids then into an open area that seemed to be calm enough for a rest. We were laughing so hard that we couldn't paddle anyway. When we got on our way again, we managed to go with the flow into a gorge under a bridge where people wave and you wave back like everything is under control. I think that's where people get lulled into a false sense of confidence about river rafting and head to the rental station.

We made it back to the lot where the car was parked and turned in our gear and looked

like the proverbial drowned rats, but we were laughing so hard we couldn't talk and I think people thought we'd gone mad.  We still can't talk about it to this day without

laughing uncontrollably.

We never got to eat our picnic because it was 'all hands on deck' the whole time.

I can't wait to do it again!

Cheers!

photos courtesy of Tuckaseegee Outdoor Center

Rosemary Jam Scones

Perfect with afternoon tea. 

Rosemary jam scones with a lemon glaze.
It's an unexpected combination.

 If you have rosemary growing in your 

garden, or in a pot,

try these.

My niece baked them and brought some over.
I got Rosemary Scones and she got
 Blueberry Muffins. Good exchange.
She used the recipe from Giada.

Easy and delicious.

Cheers!

Links: My Romantic Home,
My Repurposed Life, Designs By Gollum,
Common Ground, Finding Fabulous,
French Country Cottage,
At The Picket Fence, The Charm Of Home

The Pursuit of Happiness

life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Isn't that the most powerful statement?

with a firm reliance on the protection of 

Divine Providence, 

we mutually pledge to each other our lives, 

our fortunes and our sacred honor.

The Declaration of Independence
July 4, 1776

I hope you all pursue some happiness on this Independence Day!

Happy 4th of July!

Cheers and GOD bless America!

Links: I found this printable at Makoodle
Savvy Southern Style,
No Minimalist Here,
The Shabby Creek Cottage,
Between Naps On The Porch

June Review

July 1st is here already! You can see 

all of my June posts in one handy place.

Click on any of the highlighted blue words 

if you want to read more on each one.

At the coffee station I put out the red, white 

and blue mugs. Then we had coffee with  

chocolate chip sour cream  muffins.

I used old clothes to make an easy
  patriotic scrap fabric wreath .

I got a new roo.

I'm using my Coke crate on the table. 

The sofa table gets a red, white and blue
makeover too.

For Father's Day I made a
  wreath using old ties.

This is an easy way to clean brass hardware
without harsh chemicals.

Ah....the after of the thrift store buffet.

I use a homemade mix of chalk paint for
the transformation. 

This is the before of my $30 thrift store buffet.

The summer kitchen is full of patriotic colors.

I made candle wreaths using scrap pieces of
 ribbon to go with my new color theme.

I changed the background paper in the
kitchen cabinets to a country red check
and showed how I added a plate rail to
hold a few of my blue and white plates.

Cheers!

Links: UnderThe Table and Dreaming,
My 1929 Charmer, Common Ground,
Between Naps On The Porch,
A Stroll Thru Life

Patriotic Scrap Fabric Wreath

What am I going to make out of these items?
A white t-shirt, a red knit top, a denim blouse

You probably guessed it.

A patriotic fabric scrap wreath.

 I cut the fabric into strips. 

 Two layers at a time is easier.

 Cut off any trim and use it to give 

the project some variety of texture.

 I just cut,then fold and cut in half or thirds

until I have a pile of each color.

 I cut off the button placket and the collar 

to use for something else. Let's see...

 I think the collar would make a cute

 doggie scarf. Unfortunately my fur babies

 are too small, so I decorated a small basket.

 Fill with picnic/patio items.

Cocktail Napkins

 The button strip could trim a lampshade.

 I just pinned this in place.

 Or, it could replace the bow around a plant.

Just pinned in place.

.......but, I digress!

 Back to the wreath. Bend a wire hanger into

 a circle. Tie on the scraps alternating the 

red and white. Push tightly together.

Tie the denim in the upper left quarter.

 Once you have the fabric cut,

 this would be a good project for kids.

Give new life to a stained t-shirt, 

a faded top, and a torn shirt. 

 Cheers!

Links: Miss Mustard Seed,
At The Picket Fence,
My Romantic Home, The Charm of Home
My Repurposed Life,
French Country Cottage
Savvy Southern Style