The Same but Different

This is one of my first pieces and one of my favorites.  It lives with a good friend, along with many other of my pieces.  Ms. Cheryl is one of my biggest supporters.  The house stands about 3 inches high and was constructed from single hand ripped book pages individually glued together...whew!  The windows were hand carved and accented with spent train light bulbs.  I started to create another but have not been consistent with it.  Always a new project whispering in my ear.

Everything is the same ...but different.  With our only moving out recently our normal schedule is still normal but hints of him being gone are there.  I do not have to listen to make sure he has not stayed up too late and overslept his alarm.  I do not have to listen for his car around supper time to start divvying up the meal.  I do not have to do these things but I find myself doing them just the same.  I have held up much better that Husband or I expected.  We hope he remembers all that we tried to teach him and is able to enjoy his time away from home...but as far as I am concerned, he can fulfill his lease, move home, find and marry a wonderful girl (who loves us like her own), move into a house in our neighborhood and make beautiful babies.  I don't think that is too much to ask.

I was able to spend time with my bff this weekend.  We always try to find an interesting place to go and spend the day or weekend but this day trip was a bust.  We ended up in the middle of nowhere with no phone signal to help us with directions.  We stopped in at a gun store...in the middle of nowhere!...and got pointed in the right direction.  Our problem is that we have lived in the same area almost all our lives and we have done all the fun activities we can think of.  I guess we will just have to think outside of the box for our next adventure.

I am being told by my wonderful husband that supper is ready and to come and get it while it is hot.

Peace to all,
Hilari

Abandonment and Empty Nesting

Today is the day that I become an empty-nester. My only is moving into his (sharing with friends) own abode.  He tried this once before, and about the time I came to terms with his abandoning his mother, the free room came to an end, only lasting 3 weeks.  This time he has signed a 12 month lease so I will have to adjust to a more permanent state, plus this time he is taking all of his furniture.  He is only moving a few miles away and I told him I was allowed to text him whenever I want...which is what my father told me when he learned to text.  At first, I felt that I really did not need to know that Wheel of Fortune was on or that my parents ran out of milk, but I came to really enjoy sharing the small things.  I only hope my son gets to that point quickly.

I have been the lucky recipient of bottle caps from friends, now that they have seen my work with them.  I receive little baggies containing a few or many depending on how busy their weekend was.  I thought these would be a nice little thank you gift for the ladies who have contributed.  Maybe a bottle cap bow tie for the gents?!  I have had many ideas flowing through my head the last couple of weeks and this weekend is one of little plans, unlike the last few, so I plan to spend some time in the workshop playing.  I want to figure out how to make a piece spin like the Swings ride at the fair.  The little people will be sitting on ...yep, you guesses it,  bottle cap seats, and whorl around so they are flying through the air.  I do not have a mechanical mind.  I am a tinker so I usually end up coming up with a solution from the back side, never the simple way others would do it. I will be pleased if they only swing around gently but whorling would be so much better.

Today our schedule started little later that usual but time is catching up with me so I had better get ready for the day.  Hopefully, we will get the boy moved in quickly and I won't be too traumatized.  I have one of my favorites, Creature From the Black Lagoon, 1954, ready to sooth me when all is done.

Good day to all,
Hilari

All Lit Up With Peach Cobbler

                         

My version of a carbide light

Here is my version of the carbide light I was asked to make.  When the original was presented for me (pictured 5/7 post), I had to think about how I would go about creating one that was stable and not top heavy.  Lucky for me, I had a piece of metal that I could cut for the reflector.  I am sure it was purchased for another project, but what it was I have no idea (that is why I have multiple notebooks handy so I can keep track of fleeting ideas...apparently not all of them though).  I took the flat disk and beat it with a hammer over a rounded rock to give it some dimension.  I used 2 screws to represent the roller and flint.  I was told that the hanger on the back was important, so I dug through my rusty bits and found the perfect piece.  While digging, I found a well worn bottle top for the fluid lid which I was able to hinge into place.  I am very pleased with the way it turned out...really, I am just pleased that it does not fall over all the time.

We have had wonderful weather this week topped off with some very yummy peach cobbler.  On our way home from our reunion, we were lured off the interstate with signs stating that a vendor had Georgia peaches.  In Knoxville we are only offered South Carolina peaches but I think Georgia peaches are the best!  Now, don't get me wrong...South Carolina peaches are good and there may be great peaches in other parts, but I don't think you can beat a juicy, tart Georgia peach.  So it was a real treat to enjoy them in a warm cobbler topped with sugar and cinnamon.  It makes my mouth water just thinking about it.  Yummy!

Easy Peach Cobbler

3 cups peaches, peeled and cut into chunks

1/2 cup butter

1 cup bisquick

1 cup milk

1 cup sugar, plus some to sprinkle on top before cooking

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1tablespoon cinnamon, plus some to sprinkle on top before cooking

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a 9x13 pan, place stick of butter and put in oven to melt.  While butter is melting, mix bisquick, milk, sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon.  Once butter has melted, pour liquid mixture over the butter and place the chunks of peaches on top of the batter.  Sprinkle sugar and cinnamon on top and bake for 45 minutes

Let cool a little before trying because, if you are like me, you will want to dig into it right away. With fork ready, I always seem to forget how hot 350 degrees is. 

I'm off to watch the comedy The Invisible Woman from 1941, staring John Barrymore.  It should be a good before bed movie.

Sleep tight,
Hilari

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