Home for the Holidays, by Thomas Kincaid

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Thrift Store Finds and Our Entryway Command Center!

Welcome to Home Musings! Today, I am showing some items that I found in thrift stores over the years which make up my front door/entryway command center. You know, the place where all the coats, shoes, backpacks and what not are stashed everyday. It could be a real mess. Above my little snowman still stands sentinal by the front entrance. He will go away at the end of the month...
A strip of wooden pegs, which were found in a yard sale years ago, hold the coats and backpacks. A sturdy shoe rack, bought from my favorite thriftstore hold the shoes which come off at the front door (keeps the carpet cleaner!). The bulletin board is a thrift store find, too, and holds papers that need to go out the next day to school or other activities.
Above is a closer look which shows the side basket which holds hats and gloves. You will also see all of our walking sticks!
Last but not least, on the opposite wall from the door we keep this key organizer, also a thrift store find. Keys go directly in the box as soon as we enter the house. No more scrambling to find them!

Hope you enjoyed this look at our Entryway Command Center. What do you do in your house to keep that first impression functional and more attractive?

For more Show and Tell Friday posts, visit Cindy at My Romantic Home

Have a great day!
Elizabeth

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Menu Planning Monday

Hello, one and all!
I have been away from blogging for the past two weeks due to illness. I am better, but still feeling really tired. But, off I go on another busy week and planning my menus...

Monday - Sausage Scalloped Potatoes, Asparagus and Tossed Salad


Wednesday - Roast Beef with carrots and potatoes

Thursday - Orange Chicken, Brown Rice, Sesame Green Beens

Friday - Roast Beef Pasta Salad, Tossed Salad

Saturday - Burritos, salad and fruit

Please check out more menus at Organizing Junkie!

Before you leave, please check out the new blog Flowers of the River. My Sarah is a young writer and would love to hear from you!

God bless,
Elizabethm

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Menu Planning Monday

Monday - Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans

Tuesday - Asian Orange Chicken and Fruit Salad

Wednesday - Hoppin John, Salad and Cornbread

Thursday - Zesty Penne, Sausage and Peppers,

Friday - Leftovers

Saturday - Tuna Salad with Cranberries Hoagies, Slaw and Hashbrowns

Sunday - Steak, Mashed Turnip Potatoes, Salad, Steam Broccoli

Please check out Laura's Blog, I'm An Organizing Junkie, for more Menu Planning Mondays!
Ciao!
Elizabeth

Saturday, January 9, 2010

In Remembrance - Robert Eugene Braithwaite, 1916-2010


dear and beloved friend, Robert Eugene Braithwaite (Bob) passed quietly away yesterday morning at 4 a.m. He had been deteriorating rapidly and hadn't eaten in over a month. Bob's brother, Fred, said that he seemed to struggle for a little bit over the last few days, unsure whether he wanted to pass on or not, but then he seemed to except death. That's when he became more peaceful and was able to transition.

My heart hurts, but I am certain he is with his parents now, his brother and his beloved wife, Alice. I believe he will greet again the old comrades of his who passed during
WWII in the bombing raids over Germany and who Bob could barely get himself to talk about. There are so many people whom he out lived. He will see them again. I am happy for him. I am proud and happy that my son, Robert, carries his name. Bob and Alice weren't able to have any children so I honored him by naming my son after him.

A whole time of life, though long over, passes completely with his death - the sunny, fun California days of my single adulthood. I am so grateful for that period of time in my life, grateful that Bob was such a big part of it. We were neighbors for years and I loved to come home from work, eat a bit and then go to Bob's and flop on his couch to watch Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. I'm not a big game show person, so I did it to be with Bob. On Saturday mornings, we would go out to breakfast and then frequent the Burbank Farmers Market. We had a wonderful relationship.


When we visited Bob in December, austensibly to say good-bye, I controlled myself so that I wouldn't cry in front of him, instead recalling our wonderful memories together. But when we drove from the dear four-plex, Bob's home and the place of so many of my happy memories, I reached out in my heart. Don't leave me. Don't leave me.

Bob's siblings have very good attitudes about Bob's life (a good one) and his passing (93 years ain't bad!). They will miss him, the older brother who raised them, but they are happy for his transition. They are also private people and don't grieve in front of others. I understand this and don't expect them to show me the depth of their grief.

We won't be attending the funeral. Robert's chronic illness has caused him to miss too much school and we just can't leave. Everyone understands. In my heart I will be there. In my heart I will always be where ever Bob is. My friend. My grandfather. My buddy. My Bob.

Go on up ahead on the road, Bob. Rejoice in the beautiful reunion. Please wait for me, my beautiful friend, and don't forget me. Give Alice my love. And please come to get me when I finally pass over to the Other Side.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

One of My Favorite Things

One of the things that I had in common with my dear mother was her passion for wildlife, especially birds. When my mother passed away, my sister sent me her lovely bird plates. There are five. The one above is a winter scene of sweet little chickadees perched upon snow-frosted berries. Aren't they precious? I have real chickadees that come to my feeders outside everyday. They are some of my very favorite birds.

The best part, though is that the leaf-decorated plate holder I found one day stashed upon a shelf at my favorite thrift store. It cost me $1 and is just the perfect thing to hold my bird plates. When I found it, it was as if Someone "up there" was watching over me and had given me a gift! Now, I always have one of Mama's bird plates hanging over my kitchen sink, something lovely to look at since we have no kitchen window.

For more Show and Tell Friday posts, please visit Cindy at My Romantic Home.
God bless!
Elizabeth

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Kitchen Tip and Best Breakfast Quiche Ever!

Kitchen Tip

So, you ask your frugal self, what do you do with the funny netting stuff that came on the holiday hams and turkey?Don't throw it out! Instead cut off the price tag...
..ball it up and use it as a scouring pad for your dishes. It works!
Now, for the great find of the holidays was a wonderful recipe for a Breakfast Casserole. It is easy and so yummy that it disappears in no time.

Best Breakfast Quiche Ever

2 (12 ounce) packages frozen hash brown potatoes
  • 1/3 cup butter, melted
  • 1 cup cooked diced ham
  • 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Squeeze any excess moisture from the potatoes and combine them with the melted butter or margarine in a small bowl. Press this mixture into the bottom and sides of an ungreased 10 inch pie pan. Bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 25 minutes. Remove pan from oven and arrange the ham and cheese evenly over the potatoes. In a separate small bowl, beat together the eggs and the cream. Pour this over the ham and cheese. Return pan to oven and bake for 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 30 minutes, or until the custard has completely set.

And here is what it looks like...
Uh oh! Didn't take the picture soon enough. It is almost all gone!

Enjoy! :)
Elizabeth

Monday, January 4, 2010

Menu Planning Monday

Happy Monday! Welcome and hope you enjoy the recipes. I am using up a lot of holiday foods, so hopefully you are too, then this will all be helpful!

Monday - Split Pea and Ham Soup, Salad and Sour Dough Bread

Tuesday - Hearty Turkey Soup with Parsley Dumplings, Fruit Salad and Whole Wheat Rolls.

Wednesday - Chicken Cacciatori, and Steamed Broccoli

Thursday - Hoppin John*, Steamed Greens and Whole Wheat Cornbread
*This is close to the recipe that I use, but I utilize dried beans, as I cook from scratch

Friday - Turkey Bow Tie Skillet, Crudities

Saturday - Hoagie Sandwiches and Salad

Sunday - Rib Roast with potatoes and Onions, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Enjoy!
Elizabeth

Friday, January 1, 2010

New Years

We toasted the New Year in style, enjoying a buffet of many foods cooked by yours truly. The children had their friends over and they filled our home with laughter and warmth. We haven't made any resolutions yet, but I'm sure those will be forthcoming. We are expecting fine things out of 2010.

Blessings,
Elizabeth