Tales from the Coop Keeper: October 2013

Thursday, October 17, 2013

The Tang of Happiness

Today I woke up to yet another dreary NW Indiana morning.

I double dosed my vitamin D3.

I said out loud 'this is going to be a great day!' about three times.

I needed a project, and I needed one quick.

I decided that I'd deep clean the kitchen and eliminate every little thing that I haven't used in the last year, or that just seemed like excess.

I have TWO four-cup measuring cups. One's gotta go.

Then I think 'what if I break one?'

What if I don't?

I'm just so done with stuff y'all.

So, anyhoo - with my ADHD in rare form - while cleaning and minimizing, I decided I needed some curtain panels to feather the kitchen nest a little bit. It's a bit contrary to the whole minimalist thing isn't it?

: -)

I went to JoAnn Fabrics in my little yellow Bug with The Mamas and the Papas blaring.

It broke my heart to think of Mama Cass dying.

What a talent, what a voice.

I'm still trying to get used to being alone so much - but when it comes to fabric shopping, sometimes you just should be. A side note. Something I've started doing when I see what I consider a striking woman about my age - I go up to them and tell them that they are very pretty. We all need to hear it - especially at this age. I saw the most attractive African American woman today - she was so cool looking and eccentric. I told her how beautiful she was. She told me to have a blessed day.

It's the Tang of happiness, that is - giving a total stranger a sincere compliment.

Instantly - you feel better.

I bought some fabric, but I don't think it's right for the kitchen. I surely thought it would be since I'm totally in love with it - and I'm starting to believe that to decorate you just need to use whatever you love and it will all work.

Well...does it?

I don't want to cut it until I know I'll keep it...so I just hung it like this...

I think the pattern seems busy with the wallpaper border than Glenco won't let me take down.

Surely, it's gonna come back in style soon!

OK..the real reason for today's post?

I wanted you to read this:

Becoming Minimalist

I wish I wrote that.

It was always in my heart - but to read it in printed words - I just love it so, and wanted to share.

Carry on.

(5:37pm update - the fabric is going back. I adore it, but the house is rejecting it...: -) )

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread & Carpet Decisions

First...let's discuss the floor.

The original hardwood floors are in the living room.

Did your jaw just fall?

Did you just think 'why in the Sam Hill did that girl cover those up?'

Did your opinion of me just go down a tad?

Be honest.

Hear me out.

I lived here with the hardwood floor and an area rug for the first 15 years here. The rest of the house is the original hardwood floors - no carpet. I never had wall to wall carpet in all my born days.

When I redecorated the living room I just wanted to know what it would be like to have wall to wall. It seemed decadent, it seemed luxurious.

It seemed like the adult thing to do.

It was.

For about a year.

Then I was over it - and started vacuuming obsessively, freaking out at what might be

lurking in the twisted fibers.

Now? It seems positively disgusting to me, and it takes great restraint not to pull it right up and off the floor.

I don't presently have the cash for a divorce lawyer, so it remains.

The odd thing is this.

The hardwood floor in the kitchen runs north and south. The hardwood floor in the bedroom runs east and west. The hardwood floor in the living room runs on a diagonal. All of these floors converge in the center near the basement door, and well...it's a bit wonky. Also - there is a large square of plywood right at the entrance of the living room where there was a floor furnace. When I had the hardwood, I left the metal grate there, now, it's gone. That will need repair.

When this will happen?

After the holidays for sure - and when I can butter up Glen and convince him that we are dying a slow death by dust mites and need shed of the carpet at once.

OK...onward.

It's fall, glorious fall! It's time for hoodies, hot cider, the sound of the oven preheating, and general hunkering in the house.

If you've been a reader for any length of time, y'all know how much I love to bake.

The scent of a pumpkin bread baking in the house, to me - just completes the ambiance of home.

I've been making this bread for a bit - since it's gluten free.

This morning, I doubled the recipe with success.

Now...this recipe is different.

It's made with almond flour, and actually very healthy ingredients. It's sweetened with a banana, and just 1 T of honey per loaf!

It doesn't look, nor does it have the texture of something baked traditionally.

The clincher is just not to eat the whole loaf.

For me, it's just nice to enjoy something that's not going to give me joint pain, a muddled mind or diabetes.

Also...you really need to let the danged thing cool all the way before you cut it and attempt to eat it, otherwise it will just be like mush.

Not that I have first hand experience with this - I read it on the Internet.

: -)

Here's the recipe -

http://makewithyourhands.blogspot.com/2013/09/paleo-pumpkin-bread.html

I'm not sure what planet they live on to think this makes 14 servings. I'd say 6 tops.

Also, it does have a banana in it, and for those of you that don't like bananas, you really can't taste it at all.

For those of you that don't like pumpkin, I'd like you to quietly gather your belongings, and leave.

: -)

ENJOY your day!

Friday, October 11, 2013

I Think - Therefore I Talk

It's come to my attention that I would sound a lot less crazy and all over the board if perhaps I didn't verbalize my entire thought process on every.little.thing.

Let's take carpet.

I need a new one.

I will verbalize this:

I need new carpet.

I think I should get wall to wall again.

I don't know - I like the whole wood floor/area rug vibe.

Maybe I'll rip it out tomorrow.

I could paint the floor.

I could refinish the floor.

We could install the wall to wall ourselves I bet.

I think I'm going with the area rug.

Hmm..new carpet will make the couch look really worn.

I could recover the couch.

See what I mean?

I could just keep my flappy yap shut and come to a decision and just do it.

Is that how normal people do it?

If I quit verbalizing my thought process on every.little.thing - there would be no blog.

That makes me laugh.

Like I could really keep my yap flap closed.

Truly I do sit here and write at times, just so I know what I think about something.

Maybe other people do the same - but maybe most of them just don't click that orange 'Publish' button in the upper right hand corner.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Ten for Tuesday - Happiness in the Little Things

You know those days you have where you are just happy for no specific reason?

Yep.

It's one of those.

Seems like everywhere I look - there's something to smile at.

I snapped a few photos this morning of things that made me happy as my day unfolded:

My tea station. This delights me. I have no idea why - I just got the little pottery piece for .75 at Goodwill. Perhaps that's why. Or maybe it's the neat new succulent in the back. Or possibly it's the vintage spoons.

Or maybe, I just love tea.

When I sat on the porch to have my tea, I saw this.

Again - happiness in a jar.

I'm awfully easy to please aren't I?

Autumn deliciousness right there - $5 - Target.

Something else on the porch that made me happy. The beginnings of my succulent garden. There's a great little garden center in Beecher, IL that has been selling succulents for $2 each.

Remember - "I'm cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs!"?

We'll, I'm a sucker for succulents!