Thrifted and Altered

I noticed artprints/artwork were being altered  so figure why not.  I found this framed print at the thrift store and knew I was going to alter it into a Halloween theme piece.  

Loved the animals.

What do you think?  How'd I do?  This was fun and I will be setting it out during the Halloween season!  Great trick or treaters!

 

A New Dog Around Here

My dad decided he would like a dog.  He is ready for a small companion.  We headed to the local Humane Society since we knew they were full right now with animals.    A small dog and an older dog was what he thought would work for him.  My dad is elder and slower, so he didn't want a dog to overpower him.  We headed to the small dog area and we found at least five  to six possibilities, however by the time we inquired about all them they had been adopted or were no longer up for adoption.  We decided to walk through the whole building and man there were so many medium to large dogs, so many german shephard and pit mixes.  It was a very hot day and the shelter and it's volunteers worked so hard keeping the shelter cool and clean.  The place was busy and dogs were getting adopted.

We left feeling defeated.  On the drive home I checked on Craigslist and low and behold I saw a post for a dog and it needed a new home at no fee.  He was house trained, doggie door trained, leash trained and kennel trained.  He was four to five years of age and around 20 pounds.  Almost to good to be true.  I contacted the owner and no one responded yet and asked if we would like to meet his dog.  We met up the next morning and the gentleman, who was a senior and told us he lost his wife six months ago and thought a pet would help.  However, he is now dealing with some serious health issues and fearful he would not be able to care for his dog, CABO.    Cabo was friendly and easily approached my dad.  We were happy to have him and reassured him Cabo is in good hands and wish the man the best.

This is Cabo, he's so good and has warmed up to my Dad so well.  We may rename him in that he was also a shelter rescue and not much is known about him.  The gentleman had him for 2 months.  As of now he doesn't recall to Cabo very well,  a name change seems possible.

 

Pool, 113 Degree Day, That's Why...

 

Little Road Trip

Headed to Mexican Arts Imports, 340 N 24th St in Phoenix.  This place is filled and I mean filled with so much fun, colorful, beautiful, unique and fabulous things.  Pottery, wood carving, metal works, clothing, textiles, flowers, leather, home decor, garden decor, dishes, crosses, paintings, religious statues, water features, etc.

I recommend checking out the store.

 

Blue Door, Part 4

The blue door, after sanding, touching up the blues, aging it and now on it's hinges.  Still need to add a door jam stop, the handles, house number and then the bell.  Love how fresh it all looks.   The blue door is so heavy and I'm glad no fingers or toes were hurt in moving it!

Father's Day

Me and my dad, he's 89 yr old.  There's so much he has taught me.  He's visiting which I can't put into words what it means to have him around.  Love this man.

 

Blue Door, Part 3

I've been waking up so early to avoid the heat and the sun beating down on me while I work on the blue door.  We sealed one side yesterday and this morning we flipped it over to finish the other side.  One board needed to be replaced because it was beyond repair.  I also repaired the water damage areas.  

Repaired all the water damaged areas.

Bought three shades of blues to touch up the faded areas, too.

The final look.  Touched up the whole door with the 3 blues.  The replacement board matched up nicely.   Put a light coat of seal, but it's so hot out the seal is tacky.  Hopefully, it will dry in the next few days.  We will be ready to put the door on the door jams, which we also replaced and painted.  I have to clean up the bell and it'll all look so nice.

Moonlight, Midnight & Plants

 It's very hot during the day around here in AZ.  Not much going on while the sun is out.   I am, by nature a night person so it's going out in the moonlight at midnight to do outdoor things is fine by me.  The house and the night is so quiet and peaceful.  I have a few plants that needed to be repotted.  

Boy, this plant is so overgrown.

I repotted a total of seven plants and now they can thrive.

Moon is always by my side at this time of night.  He loves having his photo taken and it's so natural for him to come and sit while I'm photographing the plants.

P.S.  work on my blue door continues,  photos to follow.

Blue Door Repair, Part 2

We took the door off the hinges and it is extremely heavy!  Removed one board that was heavily water damaged.  I used a two-part bondo to repair all the cracks.  It all got a good sanding.  It refreshed the blues.  Found a piece of wood in my wood pile to that fit exactly.  It was a very early morning so we could avoid the hot sun.  Tomorrow morning I'll tackle the other side.

We removed the bell and I'm not going to touch the finish.  I like the look of it.  Love the sound the bells make.

 

Blue Door Repair

I took a trip to Mexico many years ago.  We stayed in Patzcuaro, Michoacan for a week and it was one of those weeks where I ended each day thinking this day was even better than yesterday when I thought yesterday was the best day.  The sights, the people, their craftsmanship, the food and which made my soul overflow.  Across the street from the motel was a wood shop full of carpenters and carvers and they let me spend the day watching and learning.  I drew lots sketches and when I came home we put up a courtyard wall and it needed a door.  I built this door from my sketches.  I painted all shades of blues and aged it.  I love my blue door, everyone knows my house because of my blue door.  The bell inside the window was from another stop in Mexico.  This door was built around 2007 and boy it needs some TLC.  Plus, the side boards need some repair so the door had to come off today.  I will be replacing some wood and repairing some boards.  I'll get busy finding matching blue paint colors to refresh the color.    

Side story, when we had our house painted and all the trim was painted black.  As they removed the paper and tape from the windows, I saw my blue door painted black!  Omg, I rushed out and said take that black off!  The painters simply said oh, we'll paint back to blue for you, I'm like no, it's layers of this blue and that blue.  Luckily the wax finish on the door protected blues underneath.  They spent an hour peeling black latex paint off.

 

Thrift Find

Went thrifting today just for the heck of it.  Nothing in mind just needed a morning out with my dad.  I came across this workbench.  It was sturdy and not too big.  It would hold my vice and grinding wheel.  It was solid and would work well with my stamping and cutting metal tools.  The issue will be where to store it while I'll keep working on clear out my garage.  For now it's all about unboxing the house.  I will  find the perfect spot.

 

Baby Boy Shower Gift for the New Daddy!

Got invited to a baby shower.  I'm not one for baby showers but when I do go I always make some kind of gift.   I've known the baby boy's dad to be over 20 years which I decided to make him a daddy tool belt.  I've been making them for some time.  It's always fun.

The new baby's theme was rockets.  I found some rocket clipart to transfer on the tool belt and luckily found a few rocket items, like star whatever that is, and a rocket chewie.  Blue is the color of as many items I could find, bottle, duckie, gloves, diaper pins,  pacifiers, it was fun to put together.  Finished it off by wrapping in clear wrap.  I think he'll have fun opening it up.  Found out, the favorite name so far for baby is Javi, love it.  Momma looked sweet and the shower was so nice, I won a gift!  A scented candle.

 

Trip to Florida

We flew to Orlando for a wedding.  Never been anywhere in Florida.  Orlando is amusement park heaven.  Disney, every Disney, Seaworld, Epcot, and a million others I'm sure.  We weren't there for the parks but boy were there tons of amusement park tourist all over Orlando!  The weather was rainly most of the week.  However, we had a nice day and took a drive to Canaveral National Seashore Park.  It was so windy which kept away people I guess.  There was no one there but us.  It was pretty, can't ever get tired of seeing the ocean and that beautiful blue water.

 On our way back to drove through New Smyrna Beach looking for a place to sit and eat.  We googled pizza and that lead us to Prima Pizza @ 112 Sams Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168.  It was a small place and it was full and an hour wait.  We ordered to go, then went for a walk in the area.  I'll tell you the wait was well worth it.  Met a few locals and they raved about it.  The pizza was fresh & delicious .  Garlic rolls, amazing!   So much butter and garlic.  If you ever find yourself exploring outside of Orlando,  go there and eat.

Sweet Salsa

On a visit with one of my sister-in-laws, she offered up some salsa and chips.  I, of course asked for the recipe and she mentioned it was a family recipe and I told her I understand and finished up the bowl of salsa.  I searched the internet for a similar type recipe and found a few.  A few weeks later she sent me the recipe, happy salsa dance day!    

 Chopped up ingredients

Tomatoes!

Everything all chopped up.

All in a pot and finish up with the spices.

Set to boil and then simmer.

It came out so good.  
Thanks so much to Carla for generously sharing the recipe!
I need a bag of chips

Do you make salsa? 

 

Bacon

Everyone loves bacon, right?  Okay I am a crispy but not burnt bacon eater.  Others are more of the I would say "under cooked"  types.  I saw a clip of someone saying for the perfect crisp bacon you need to "boil" it in water first!  

I decided to try it, because I LOVE me some crisp bacon and eggs.  I put water in the frying pan and added 1 lb bacon.  Set the burner temp med-high and waited for the boiling to begin.  I let it boil til all the water was gone.  What was left was bacon grease.  The bacon was not rolled up but more even and straight.  I lowered the temp and the magic happened!  The bacon cooked and became so crisp!

It cooked to so evenly and flat.  This is the finished boiled and fried bacon.  It was perfect!

This bacon was a hit!

 

On another note, I also baked a pound of bacon in a 350 degree oven to compare.  The oven bacon was cooked unevenly and was limp.  I didn't leave in oven to crisp because it would of over cooked in some areas and undercooked in other areas.

I say "boiling" your bacon is the way to go, try it!