Home Improvement Eras Tour :: STAIR LIGHTS

The hubs has had all sort of ideas and surprises for our home update project so when he suggested Stair Lights for our new DIY updated stairs I was all in!

He did all the designing, wiring and electrical work. It took a lot of planning ahead so that he could wire it all when he removed the stairs and walls. It made it much easier to get it all  installed properly. 

Once he chose the lights and the switches, then got approval from “you know who” 😉, he got right to work.

We are very happy with our new lights!

Still a lot of work to do, however, our home improvement project was put on hold due to another project in the works. He has been working on a backyard covered patio at our middle sons and his wife’s house. He finished the roof for their future patio before the good weather started to change to rain, which was the goal. Now our focus is on Thanksgiving and getting our house as ready as possible for overnight guests which means we need to ( at the least ) choose and buy interior door knobs for all the new interior doors before our kids arrive! 

Happy Wednesday!

Apple Cider Pressing Day!

Today the hubs pressed our apples to make fresh cider.

He picked all the apples yesterday and while he was at it he trimmed the trees too.

Two projects in one! But no worries, he had the yard all picked up and the apples boxed before he came in. 

The box full of water on the right is the cleansing bath he uses to clean the apples before they are pressed.

Once they are clean, they are cut into chunks and in the press they go.

Then, after some cranking, the fresh apple cider begins to fill the buckets.

Next, he transfers the cider to big clear glass jugs.

The perfect fall beverage!

Blessings!

Fall Cooking :: Jambalaya & Hush Puppies

The cold rainy days have finally arrived so more of the cooking has moved back indoors.

This is our first attempt at Hush Puppies. 

While the Jambalaya was cooking the hubs decided to try making a batch. 

He was very excited about giving it a try. 

And, he did not disappoint!!

They turned out perfect!👍 YUM!

The Jambalaya was awesome as always.

Thanks to the hubs for introducing me to my

1st Hush Puppies! May there be many more!!

Happy Saturday!

DIY Harry Potter Costume

Happy day~after HALLOWEEN! 

It was a busy night last night handing out candy. The trick-or-treaters were soaking wet, as the weather was pretty cold and stormy here, but that didn’t stop them. They were out in car loads! The costumes were incredible, across the board, from the “littles” all the way up to the parents! Everyone went all out and not many duplicates, which was also amazing. The hubs and I did not wear costumes, just Halloween themed clothes, however, I did make a costume for our next door neighbor.

Earlier this week he asked the hubs to ask me if I would make him some pants for his Hagrid costume and that he would be wearing stilts! 😳 I was a bit nervous about finding time to get it finished in just a few days with work and not knowing how involved the pattern would be, with the stilts and all, but I agreed. He already had the fabric he wanted so that saved time and the pattern was actually a short video which made it interesting. I watched it a few times and thought it appeared fairly easy so I set in.

Once it was cut out though, I started second guessing myself and was worried it was not going to work. It was the night before Halloween so not much time to fix mistakes. Halloween morning he came over to talk to the hubs. They were in the garage and I could hear them so I grabbed the pants and ran down to let him know I was concerned they were too big and maybe not long enough for the stilts. He looked at them and then showed us the “stilts”. They were nothing like what I had imagined which was something more like DIY old fashioned wood stilts. Silly me! These were fancy and made of metal! It all made sense now. We all agreed the pants were perfect but just needed to be taken in on the sides. That was a big relief. 

So, back to the house to make the adjustments and sew on the ties. They were finished and ready to deliver. I could hardly wait to see him in his Costume!

And…he did not disappoint!!

He looked great!! And…the pants worked…yay!

Happy Friday!

& 

1st Day of November!

…’tis near Halloween!

October 17th we had a spooky full moon so I could not resist taking a picture.

Last week our class colored Jack-O-Lanterns for their pumpkin decorating contest and I worked on one too. (Then, just for fun and to give the kids some ideas, I added “BOO”,  a spooky spider and cobweb to mine. 😉)

🕸Happy🎃Weekend!🕷

Going Bananas over Bananas!

The School Lunch Ladies have had extra Bananas at the end of the week lately and were giving the extras away before they spoiled. 

They were perfect for baking so I took a bunch a couple weeks ago and made some Banana Bundt Cakes. 

While I was at it I made some pear pies too as I had pears that needed to be used.

Instead of a regular size Bundt I used a small Bundt pan as well as mini Bundt pans.

That way I could easily give some away to my friends at school and also have one at home for us. In addition, I took one of the Pear Pies to share too. The treats were a hit!

Then it happened again…..more leftover bananas.

I could not resist taking another bunch of bananas however this time I made 18 Banana Split Cupcakes & 4 mini loaves of Banana Bread.

Plenty to share with my co-workers this time too!

Life is like a banana: 

the more you peel, the sweeter it gets.

Happy Monday!

   

Today’s Teardrops Are . . .

. . . TOMORROW’S RAINBOWS.

“God puts rainbows in the clouds so that each of us 

~ in the dreariest and most dreaded moments ~ 

can see a possibility of hope.”  -Maya Angelou

I have set my rainbow in the clouds, 

and it will be the sign of the covenant

between me and the earth  

Genesis 9:13

Blessings,