20 chicks

Decided to act like a farm girl and get some chicks. Just plunged right in, like marry in haste and repent in leisure or something like that.  So now I'm crash coursing on chicken raising. Hopefully its normal that two just up and died for no apparent reason. All the others seem like they're doing just fine! Hubby wasn't that impressed either, about being thrust into coop building without notice. But hey, they were so adorable and we've been talking about it for five years. We could've been eating our own fresh eggs ages ago...

paint mixing

I needed some gray paint. It was late, which of course for me is par. As in, stores are closed. So, armed with some leftover light blue, some sage green and some goldish color paint, with a dash of red and a hint of black thrown in for good measure, like a mad scientist I concocted what turned out to be a lovely shade of gray.  Actually ended up with two gallons total. Ha. Take that, Home Depot. I just saved myself fifty bucks. Said paint is for my current project, the (W)rec(K)room.  Will be posting pics when I finish the walls, intended to look like weathered concrete.

Of dreams and things...

I cannot claim an award for regular posting.  Like many other things I have going on, its intense interest for awhile, until I am consumed by some other distraction.  I happen to be sitting here again at some insane hour, so hey why not post when everyones asleep.  Like all two of my followers. :P I'm adding some occasional sale pics.  Its what I've been up to, anyway.

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Delightful landscape painting.  Done by resident artist Whitney.  Just love it.

Following up on a birthday cake and gardening...

This is my copycat version of tuxedo cake. It has six layers, alternating chocolate and white, filled with vanilla mousse, then frosted with buttercream frosting and topped with chocolate ganache.  I shaved white chocolate on top and dark chocolate around the bottom.  Hubby said he wanted something decadent, so voila. OR wa-la.? You KWIM!  I neglected to take a pic of the lovely layers. Next time.  Standing next to the cake, is the first bouquet of the season.  Very slim pickings so far.
But, I'm really doing a fine job growing slugs and snails.  Those despicable creatures are causing me to go broke.  My kids earned $24 picking slugs in less than half an hour.  Almost 500 of those bad boys.  OR girls.  They are non-gender.  And I've awarded them the title of the most disgusting creatures on earth.  No arguments there.

*pop* goes my sanity....

Real therapy.This was last week in the garden, when it was warm and sunny.

I probably could be a candidate for a new reality show. Called 'On the brink. Daily brushes with insanity.' Even tho we don't watch TV.  Wait a minute, this isn't a show.  It IS reality. CA-rap!!!  Here it is, almost June.  I haven't even started my new years resolution to get organized.  All this clutter and junk and school papers and Barbies and half finished projects! ARgh!  ~bre-e-eath~  'Kay.  Time to quit sitting and get busy.  Put a load of laundry to go, start hubby's birthday cake, and start on the mountain of mail piled in the basket.  Oh, and if the sun decides to grace us today, all bets are off.  I'll be out in the garden.  Ah, WHO needs a psychiatrist....?

Here's the verdict...

Lemon Poppyseed Scones

De-lish! Perfect texture and oh-so-lemony! The dough is not super sweet, so, in my (ever so humble) opinion, the glaze is a definite must.  Just lay it on thick. I actually doubled the amount of glaze the recipe called for.  As far as a rating, almost a perfect 5.  I still prefer the blueberry scones recipe I found one Sunday in the newspaper.







In other baking adventures,  there is the Barbie cake.  If I had taken the time to do some research, I might have found out that two round layers are required as well as the batter bowl top.  I had to build up the skirt top with frosting because Barbie was too tall.  And, true to form, we lacked birthday candles so I had to construct some from tea-lights.  But, Willa was thrilled.-;) Thank goodness three year olds are easily delighted. (And, the terrifying twos are behind us) Fingers crossed.