!!What's New @ Deb's!!

Meet the new additions to our family!


This is Big Boy! What started out as a joke has added two dear members of the family! A guy that my husband works with has a chicken farm (is that what they're call?) down in Montgomery AL. My husband told me that the co-worker was joking with a few guys at work saying that they were CITY BOYS and didn't know the difference between a rooster and a hen. LOL!!! Of course my husband had to take it further like he knows it all, and the man told him that he would bring him one. Well two weeks later and to everyones surprise, the guy shows up to work, WITH A ROOSTER!, FOR MY HUSBAND!! AND MY HUSBAND BROUGHT HIM HOME!!!

Isn't he beautiful! My husband brought him home thinking I would freak out but, to his surprise, I loved him and wanted to keep him!! LOL!!!! We first had to tie a little cord with a loop around his leg to attach a leash, so he could be free to roam the yard (we have no enclosed fence). At night for a few days we would use the dogs kennel.

Mini Poo thought she was a sheep dog and that she was his keeper. LOL!!! She would bark if he tried to go anywhere and he would come after her as if he was telling her to get out of the way and shut up! That was too funny!

Now since man can't live by bread alone, we now have Maggie

And Big Boy takes good care of her! LOL!!! If you go into the pen she'll get behind him and he actually guards her. And yes we, have eggs, they both guard them ! LOL!!! Though my husband gets them anyway and eats them. I'm not brave enough to do either one yet! But I do go in and keep the pen cleaned out so I don't have to smell anything. LOL!!! Oh! don't let me leave out that there's a whole lot of crowing going on but, I think the neighbors really like having the built in alarm clock! LOL!!! I asked them if they were bothered by it before we decided to keep him, and they said, "no". And all is well in the neighborhood. It's a Rooster lover's dream!

Sorry I haven't been around much but I work a little job, and though it's only part time, it and my regular house work keeps me pretty busy. I miss you guys and from time to time I do check on you, just to know that everyone is ok. Just a little of what I'm up to.....Deb

A New Project In The Plan

Remember this? This was my Patio floor project last summer. I was tired of the plain green carpet and painted on these faux rugs. Now I'm sick of it all! My little tropical room is just not doing it for me anymore.

This is a 2006 magazine that I have, I've always admired the look of this outdoor space.

Simple enough to pull off. I don't have this big beautiful door, but I have a chaise lounge like this and two little plants holders that will be ok.

I don't have this fantastic fireplace, but I have enough furniture and a fire pit to make this little seating area. I need an umbrella the wind destoryed my old one. Wood was not a good choice.

I don't have this wonderful courtyard but, I have a section in the backyard with beautiful flower beds that I can put yellow and red flowers in and set up a nice seating area.

I have a bench that can serve as this one, and I'm sure I can find a few lovely pictures to cozy things up.

I have a table a round table with chairs, all I need is to pick up some fabric in reds, and a nice rug and a few other accessories. I love the rug in this photo and have already price one at Lowes but hopefully I can do a little better on the price somewhere else.

Then while in Lowes I fell in love with this set, but the loveseat and coffee table alone, is 240.00. So I will be content with my old (I think) LOL!!!.

Here's the old, I've already put it out into the backyard to get started on painting it black, but we are getting a lot of rain. But I think this will be a good week.

These are a few others that I have and they will have to do as well

This is the floor underneath that green carpet in the first picture, I just plan to pressure wash and seal then add the outdoor rug. This is sort of a big project because last year I spent more time on the computer than in the yard, so I have lots of yard work, plus cushions to recover. Hopefully I can find new cushions that wont cost too much.

All in all I plan to be extra busy for the next two or three weeks. See you then! Hope all my hard work pays off! Deb

Happy Easter!

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8

Tablescape Thursday ~ A Garden Theme

Welcome to Tablescape Thursday, and BLESS ALL WHO ENTER! I hope you will all enjoy Easter Sunday having dinner with family, sitting around the most beautiful tables. Tablescape Thursday is hosted by our lovely Susan at Between Naps On The Porch. Please stop by for a visit as she will have a host of participants with wonderful ideas for a perfect tablescape.

My inspiration this week, is this lovely birdhouse. I purchased it at Big Lots long ago for 24.99. I fell in love with it's ceramic roof.

This started out to be a table for two, but because I only have two of the larger dinner plates shown here, (and as some of you may know I enjoy a fullness to everything); I added a different setting below to accomodate myself. The salad plate you see here is from a set of four, that I purchased at Stein Mart many years ago. In this setting I placed my napkin underneath my salad plate.

In my second setting, I used the salad plates that match the two dinner plates above. I coupled them with these dinner plates that I have four of. I have six of the salad plates to match the larger ones in the first setting, so I kinda spreaded them around. I also used two as candle holders for the pretty green candles. The napkin rings are from a candle ring that I took apart.

The bowl that matches the salad plates, I used as a base for my centerpiece. I only have one. Here's also a close up of the candle and plate.

Center view

End

Overall, I think it turned out well as a mix and match! So when ever you don't have enough of one thing. Couple. Thank you all for taking the time to visit my tablescape as I will be visiting with you as well. Deb

~ Foodie Friday~ featuring ~Barbecued Pork Chops with Sauteed Apples~

Welcome to Foodie Friday hosted by our lovely Gollum @ Designs By Gollum. Please visit, as she has a host of others participants with tasty recipes for all of us to try!

My contribution for today is:

Barbecued Pork Chops with Sauteed Apples

Here I've gathered are all of my ingredients

I started with my sauce. This sauce is soooooooo good!

1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce

Then I seasoned my pork, and it's ready for the grill.

1teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon garlic salt

1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
I used crushed red peppers, I didn't have any ground

Smokeless inside grill, always put water in the bottom to keep it smokless. When ever I cook on it, the food is always so tender. Maybe it's because the water in the bottom keeps it moist.

Almost ready for sauce and it smells delightful!

Here I have brushed on that wonderful sauce, I cheated and added a 1/8 teaspoon of dried mustard to my sauce, which made it perfect!

Here's the finish! I also had steamed cabbage, sauteed apples, purple hull peas and cornbread patties. I know a little juice from the apples is on the plate but, that's for the cornbread. YUMMY! Thanks for stopping by my first Foodie Friday, hosted by Designs By Gollum. Don't forget to stop over for a taste of the many other participant's selections. My recipe is listed below.

Barbecued Pork Chops with Sauteed Apples

1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce

Remaining Ingredients:

6 (6oz) bone-in center cut pork chops

(about 1/2 inch thick)

1teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper

Cooking spray

Sauteed Apples

Parsley sprigs (optional)

1. Prepare grill or broiler.

2. To prepare the sauce, combine brown sugar and next 3 ingredients in a small bowl (makes about 1/2 cup). Place 1/4 cup of the brown sugar sauce in another small bowl, and set aside.

3. Trim fat from pork chops. Combine thyme, garlic salt, and ground red pepper, spinkle pork chops with thyme mixture. Place pork chops on a grill rack or broiler pan coated with cooking spray, and cook six minutes on each side, basting with 1/4 cup brown sugar sauce. Serve pork chops with Sauteed Apples and reserved 1/4 cup sauce. Garnish with parsley sprigs, if desired. Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 1 pork chop, 2/3 cup of Sauteed Apples, and about 1-1/2 brown sugar sauce).

Sauteed Apples:

3 tablespoons butter or stick margarine

6 cups sliced peeled Granny Smith apples

(about 2 pounds)

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. Melt butter in a larg skillet over medium-high heat. Add apples, saute' 6 minutes or until apples are just tender. Stir in brown sugar and ground cinnamon. Cook for 1 minute or until sugar melts. Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 2/3 cup).

~Sail ~ Sand~ and ~ Sea~

Welcome to Tablescape Thursday hosted by our lovely Susan, @ Between Naps On The Porch. Please stop by to see Susan's lovely tablescapes, which are always breathtaking, along with her host of other participants.

Today, I'll call my Tablescape "Sail Sand and Sea". This is a picture I ran across, that I thought I could use in my tablescape but, I couldn't make it work. So I'll just use it as an introduction.

My tablescape was inspired by this lovely platter. It's Homer Laughlin China, and his GOTHIC style. When I saw these, I thought of seafood on the large platter. Each platter was only 3.99.

The detail almost took my breath away. The gloss look, was also pretty.

They even had the smaller plate that I thought could be used for salad or breakfast! They were 2.99 each. They are restaurant plates in surplus, that's why I was able to get them for so little.

I used this napkin ring and a candle ring that I already had. I took the candle ring apart to couple with the napkin ring for the effect below.

Soooooo pretty! This is my everyday flatware. The table mats are from Big Lots for 1.00 each, in the softest shade of blue.

I found these two, joined at the cheek at Ross for 3.99. I thought they were cute and the two fish are my sign. It's also a candle holder and I have a candle glowing inside.

Then I found the lighthouse to match, same price. They both fit perfectly into the scheme.

The large seashells I've had for a while, I got them at Marshall's for 4.99

The centerpiece, is a hurricane, on a wood base, I found it at Ross for 6.99 added a little lift and faux greenery. The cute little gobblets are by Libby, four to a box for 5.99 and I was lucky enough to find two boxes.

Thank you for visiting my calm little table by the sea, as I look forward to visiting you and your beautiful Tablescapes. Deb

~MY WORLD TODAY~

MY WEAKNESS! A bag of Circus Peanuts! What do they taste like? NOTHING! No flavor that I can determine, just plain sugar! But for some reason I can't pass them up. I think it's something in the way that they chew. This bag, was opened this morning. I have to go out in a little bit and didn't want to burden myself fixing breakfast so, this light went on in my head, and the caption read, "What about that bag of Circus Peanuts, all you need is a little sugar and you'll be alright till you get back". Well the results are what you see above. Now, mind you that it's only about five left, I pushed them in the little window to get a picture, however, they don't fill up the window because it's a large bag.


It doesn't help any to stand here in the kitchen (EATING THEM) and look into the dining room and see this! I had another light go on in my head that the caption read, "If you bring the Ab Lounger upstairs, it will be so much easier to use it because you won't have to go down stairs alone". So, I had my husband go down and get it. That's been two weeks ago and the only time I used it was the day he brought it up!

Well now I want it OUT OF THERE! It's totally messing with my decor. LOL!!! But I hate to hear I told you so, because my husband knew that he would be taking back downstairs again. SO NOW IT'S TIME! Well this is my world today, what's yours. Deb

To Be Or Not To Be

This is a new posting for Metamorphosis Monday, what I originally submitted didn't go over well but, it was pertaining to things changing.

If I offended anyone, mainly Susan, I apologize as it was not my intent. So I went back into my archives and found this. It is when I first started blogging and I think my third post. So I have an anniversary coming up. I began blogging last year March, 26. I wish I had a before picture of the chair, but believe me, it was a mess.

Metamorphosis Monday, is hosted by our lovely Susan at Between Naps On The Porch. Please visit, as there are a host of participants with lovely before and after projects and here is mine.

After losing his mother, my husband and a family member had been doing some repairs at her home which is now his family’s home house. One night he brought home this chair. He said, we were getting rid of some things and this looked like something you would like. I love flea markets and yard sales. I looked at it, it was covered in dust and grime, and had a very unflattering fabric. I said to myself, "cute chair, I can work with this ".

The next day I took out the "Mean Green", for those of you not familiar with this product, it’s an all purpose cleaner and I know for a fact, if used on furniture it will strip away old dirt and "varnish" and for this reason it is advised not to use on wood furniture. But that’s what I wanted it to do. I got the chair cleaned up and after it was dry I painted on a satin polyurethane. I found a piece of gingham fabric that I had left over after making a cushion for the bench at my dinning room table, and recovered the seat.

I stood there admiring how well it had turn out, but then for the first time noticed that it was much smaller than your normal sized chair. I thought to myself, maybe it will work out as an extra chair in an overflow situation. After finding a place for it, I sat in it. It was not the scale of the furniture already in the room, so it looked out of place. It was also not comfortable to sit in because it was so small. I couldn't’t think of any other room that it would compliment.

Then I thought of my husband, he was so sure that I could find a place for it and even though he didn’t say it, it possibly had some sentimental value to him. This is what I came up with, it is now a plant stand and it sits by the window and it’s plants drink up the Alabama sunshine and they’ve never looked healthier. So with a little imagination, something you think you can’t use, can very well turn out to be "quite" useful. Deb
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