ST. PATRICK'S DAY FOYER 2015


When I got to thinking about creating a St. Pat's foyer this year, I knew that I wanted to incorporate two items from our old homestead.

I believe the first item was very vintage.  I am not sure how they wound up at the house, but there was a set of forest green rubber shamrock coasters.  Look at this box.

The second item that I wanted to use was this hand cross-stitched tablecloth sewn with vibrant kelly green thread.

Looking at a close up shows the beautiful cross stitched linen.  I am not sure of the origin of this tablecloth either.

Once these two items were laid out, I knew what I wanted to do.  I would have to gather my other items to create this vignette.

They included heavy twine,

and one of my shabby window frames.

As in past St. Patrick's Day displays, I have used my beautiful collection of Irish Beleek
 bells that were originally started as a gift from Mom on an Ireland excursion.

So, with a few tools, I began my work.  First, I screwed in 4 eye hole screws to the back of the frame.  Once tightened, I measured a piece of twine connecting the pairs of eye holes.  Once cut, I set out various bells to string on the twine.

After attaching the bells to the two lines, I secured the twine to the back of the frame with the staple gun.

Meanwhile, I pulled up my up-cycled Victorian chair with polka dotted periwinkle fabric to the foyer. 

Taking the burlap ruffle table runner off the dining room table, I slipped it onto the chair covering the two fabric areas showing both of the ruffles.

Taking a wire basket out, I placed it on top of the chair.

Last week, I found this sweet small bowl at Habitat Restore for a quarter.  The ivory color complimented the cream color in the bells.  The decorative roses attached gave the setting a romantic touch.  Once cleaned up using a toothbrush and soap, it was perfect.

I also used a Lenox vase with the same ivory color to place inside the wire basket.

Some white delphiniums were placed inside the vase.  I think fresh Lilly of the Valley blooms would look perfect, but the season does not make them available.

The backdrop began as I moved the headboard/bench into the foyer.

The shamrock coasters were laid out on one corner of the bench.

The tablecloth was draped over the back of the headboard bench.

The rustic window frame with the attached Beleek bells was placed in front of the headboard.  The delicate green shamrocks on the bells compliment  the emerald green flowers on the tablecloth.

A total of twelve bells were hung from the frame.

 

With the addition of the burlap covered chair the setting is complete.

A very dainty view indeed.

 This fresh display will welcome the long awaited spring into the house this season.

 

 

FORSYTHIA AMONGST THE WINTER

The following post was written yesterday.  As I woke to the sound of raining sleet this morning, I was relieved that I had the forethought to save the forsythia.

 

As I walked outside this morning to take the recycled veggies to the bin, I noticed how warm and blustery the day had become. 

 

 Glancing to the left of the bin, I noticed that the forsythia bush had already started blooming.  This was such a surprise because of the winter we had been having here in the south. 

 

 

 

 When I came back inside, I checked the temperature and  was surprised to see that it was 64 degrees outside.  Knowing that the school would probably be dismissed early because of an anticipated winter storm again....I knew that I needed to take some action.

 

 

 

As much as I had convinced myself that spring was on its way, I took a look at the 'spring mantle'.

 

 

Before the next blast of artic air came, I took my garden shears outside and cut multiple branches of forsythia and brought them inside.  Hoping to force the cuttings, I gathered the branches and secured a rubber band  around them.

 

 

While outside, I took a measuring tape to cut the branches about the same size.  That way, the secured branches had the same length when placed in the vase.

 

 

Once the branches were placed in the water filled vase, the opening allowed them to flop around.  I grabbed some scotch tape and taped 4 pieces to the top of the vase to keep the branches stationary.  Once the vase is placed on top of the mantle, the tape will be hidden.

 

 I can't wait to see more of the buttercup yellow blossoms.

The yellow will compliment the blue and white oriental pottery on the mantle.

From the distance, the branches appear rather boring.

 

I think in a matter of days, the blooms will start appearing, and I can ignore the wintry weather outside.

 

 



WINTRY MIX-SCHOOL IS OUT- MAKE SOME SUSHI

This posting was written last week. 

 



This has been the winter of frequent delayed school mornings.  Today, however, the girls had the entire day off.

 

My oldest daughter had made sushi rolls at a friend's house and wanted to make them at home.  Today was the perfect time and since the wintry mix had not yet started, it was time to go to the Oriental store and buy the ingredients and supplies.

 

 

Ingredients:

 

mayonnaise

rice wine vinegar

hoisin sauce

roasted seaweed sheets

cream cheese

sushi rice

avocado slices

sliced carrots

fake crab strips

2 scrambled eggs

 

bamboo rolling sheet

 





 

Make the sushi rice and set aside.  Sorry, but I forgot the picture of the cooked rice.

 

 



Mix 2 tablespoons of each:  hoisin sauce and mayonnaise.  Set aside.

 



Make the scrambled eggs into an omelet of sorts.  Thinly slice the scrambled eggs.  Set aside.

 

 Slice the avocados. Set aside.

 

 

Slice the carrots.  Set aside.

 

 

Slice the cream cheese.  Set aside.

 

 

Take your crab sticks and tear them into  strips. 

Again, sorry no picture.

 

 

Take a bowl and combine equals amounts of water and rice wine vinegar.

This will become the dipping bowl.  Your fingers will get very sticky getting the rice for the roll.  Always dip your fingers into the rice vinegar mixture before grabbing some rice.  This extra moisture from the rice vinegar and water will flavor your rice a bit.

 

 

Set up your assembling area.

 

 

 Bring over your assembled crab, cheese, veggies, egg, crab and hoisin sauce mixture.

 

 

We are ready to get started.

 

Place your seaweed sheet SHINY SIDE DOWN onto the bamboo mat.

 

 

Spoon the hoisin sauce all around the seaweed sheet.

 

 

My oldest daughter is demonstrating at this point.

 

Spread the hoisin sauce evenly over the seaweed sheet.

 

 

 Dip your fingers into the rice vinegar mixture and then get some rice.

 

 

Spread the rice on top of the sauce. 

 

 

 It can be spotty, but not too lumpy.

 

 

Place on the end closest to yourself the strips of crab, carrot, egg, avocado and cream cheese.

 

 

Using the bamboo mat, roll it up.

 

 

 Squeeze the roll after it is rolled.  This can be done with the bamboo mat.

 

 

Now this is the first time we have made these.  I think with added practice, we could make the rolls thinner and more uniform.             

 

 

The hardest thing in making these rolls is actually cutting them without smushing(Is that a word?)them.  You need the sharpest knife you have in your kitchen.  We had trouble cutting them and keeping them in a round shape.  Once the hoisin mixture is spread onto the seaweed, it begins to soften up and tearing the seaweed is very easy to do.  Just remember if they don't look perfect, they still taste wonderful.

 

 

Serve them on a plate.  Notice the not so circular shape.

 

 

After the first taste sampling, my daughter thought that they were a bit bland.  It was decided to add some of the hoisin sauce to the plate for extra dipping.

 

Now, it was time to try my hand at making the rolls.

 

 

My attempt was not much more successful.  Practice makes perfect.  I will tell you that no matter the shape, they tasted great.

 

 

My final note is to rinse the bamboo mat after use and set it aside to dry.

 

Don't wait for a wintry mix to try these delectable delights.