A New Room for a New Roommate!

Sometimes, here at the Ugly Green House, I will rent out one of my bedrooms.  The house is way too big for just me, and especially now, since I am working from home, it is nice to have someone else using the space.  It seems like most of the renters I get are only here for temporary stays and one fell in love.   I don't mind the temporary boarders, but I would love to have them more often, I have made some good friends this way. I have been so lucky with my roommates.  I have had people I worked with at the GCCDS, and a guy from the Research Lab, and now a woman coming to do community law work for the  summer.

She needed a furnished room, and I didn't want to give up my guest room capabilities, and have a room sitting empty, so I rounded up a bed and dresser.  I pulled some furniture and art from other parts of the house.  I bought new sheets and a new blanket.  I did it all over a few days too.  What do you think? 

I think I need a stripe intervention.  I can't help buying things striped.

a big sunny window, and the low maintenance mother in law's tongue.

That was my grandfathers drafting desk, an extra chair,
and a shelf set that was waiting around for a need. 

Amos Kennedy Prints, now in most rooms of my house.  They are just too good!

Paper Doll Show

I consider my self so lucky to have been invited to participate in the Paper Dolls Uncut Art Show  at the Duckett Gallery at the Mary C. O'Keefe Cultural Center of Arts & Education in Ocean Springs Mississippi.

What a great idea! Paper dolls, they are art to be played with. They are for play! 

My work, set up in the gallery!

I did two series for this show.  The first I did the tiny houses, with interchangeable flags. (I hope to get those documented and on my website soon.  I will post the link when I do.) 
The second series, which can be seen in more detail on my website, were a series of little boxes with a vintage photo in the rear. Then I made little scenes that could be changed out in front of the images.

My Paper doll Boxes! The available boxes are for sale at my Etsy Shop. 

This was such a fun project.  I loved having a theme, or an idea to work off of that came from outside of me.  It was refreshing. 

It was also so nice to see how all of the other artists interpreted the idea.  

by Joey Rice

by Bill Myers

Sue Weidie Findeisen

By Chris Stebly

By Mary Anderson Pickard

By Mary Anderson Pickard

by Kerr Grabowski

by Leif Anderson, Matt Stebly, Carol Hutcherson

by Jason Stebly, Ellen Ellis Lee, Kat Fitzpatrick

Bill Myers, Stacy Johnson, Mary Hardy

Carmen Lugo, Michael Walker, Marcella Upton, Regan Carney

Camille Boggs, Mary Hardy, Jessie Zenor, Carol Hutcherson

Steve Shepard, Joreje Lavato, Shane and Sheri Sekul

It is good to be home!

Oh! What an adventure I have had!  And as sad as I am that it is over, I am also so happy to be home!  The loveliest things that greeted me, aside from Delores and Eloise, was my garden, and my morning ritual of playing in it while I have my coffee!  I was so excited to see how everything had grown in the 10 days I was gone.  Here are some pictures!!!!!

Verbena and Petunias

Tomatoes are getting bigger!!!!

Salvia, Basil and Mums

Bedside Table Boquet

Dining Table Bouquet

I will do a proper posting (more like multiple postings) on my adventure soon, I promise!  But for now, it is time to get to work!  So many exciting things coming up!!!!

My Planter is growin!

Some pictures of my front planter!  I love how wild it is!  Oh, summer is coming!!!

22 Cups of Blackberries!

This morning, my Momma, Mary and I drove out to a wonderful little spot on the beach in Ocean Springs to pick blackberries.  They were everywhere, and the scenery was beautiful!  

The shear number of ripe berries, brought out the OCD in me and I found my self unable to stop.  

When I got home, I had to figure out what to do with all of them.  I had some ideas when I headed out to the patch. 

The first thing I wanted to make was a Shrub.  I am growing a fascination with old fashioned drinks, and shrubs are definitely one of the staples.  Shrubs are a drinking vinegar/syrup, usually flavored with fruit and aromatics.  You mix them with soda or still water and booze if you so desire.  They sounded right up my alley. I will post this recipe after it is completed, that will be in about 2 weeks.  Until then, here is a picture of 8 cups of blackberries smashed with 4 cups of sugar!  This mixture will be sitting in my pantry for the next 2 weeks.  I will add some more stuff tomorrow... but... for now.... just sugar and berries. 

One of my favorite things to eat is home made black berry preserves.  My usual recipe for preserves is 3 cups of berries, 1.5 cups of sugar, and zest and juice from one lemon.  Boil for a while, pour into sterilized jars, and process for 10 min.   Some times I add things to my mixture, to spice it up..

I made 2 batches:
To the first batch,  I added a teaspoon of cinnamon, half teaspoon of nutmeg, and half teaspoon of black pepper
To the second, I added 4 bay leaves while it was boiling.  

I cannot wait to put these on toast!  

One Fence. Two Fence. Wood Fence. Wire Fence.

I am not sure if you know this or not, but I have a pup named Eloise.  She is amazingly sweet, and has the best personality, in the WORLD!! (Second only to Delores of course)  Well part of what makes her amazing is that she is so adventurous, and loves to explore the neighborhood.  She is also very thoughtful and brings me surprises from her adventures.  She has brought me stuffed animals, road kill jerky, shoes, roller skates, camellias,  and my favorite, the Sunday paper!
I have recently found out that she has several boyfriends (hussy!)  and has been eating breakfast with many of them on a regular basis.

Sweet Eloise, With a bone she found on one of her adventures!

How does she get to go on all of these adventures?  Well, She jumps the fence.... and goes.  This is obviously not ideal, as much as I love her spirit (and "my" Sunday papers).  She runs the risk of getting hit by a car or abducted (most likely, because she is so darn cute!)

So here is what I did!  I added two fences.... The wood fence first, and nicely, because it is what people see from the side.  Then I installed the wire fence, dividing the back yard into two, killing two  birds with one stone:  shorter distance to fence, and making an area of my yard for a garden... where the dogs cannot reach (and dig up).

The Wood Fence!

What it looked like before.... Notice all of the holes the dogs had been digging. cute, huh!

a tight spot to dig!

I used beer cans to protect the tops of the posts!!!

done! 

Of Course, I had to use the metal dog from the old fence!

The Wire Fence!

A salvaged door, found on the side of the road, to be used for the gate. 

the beginning of the garden plot

Fruit Salad with Mint, Avocado, and Ginger

A few days ago, I attended a boat christening (that post is coming soon) and I made a fruit salad from Eugene Walter's cookbook Hints and Pinches.   It was delicious.  It was made with basil, yogurt, honey, lemon, cinnamon and allspice. 

I didn't use all of the fruit I gathered for that dish because I filled up the bowl, but the basil was gone.  So, I went through my kitchen, inspired by Gene's recipe and developed a new one.  It was delicious! 

P.S. If you do not know who Eugene Walter is, please, I am begging you, look him up.  I would recomend any of his cookbooks, and his life story, Milking the Moon, is enchanting. 

Fruit Salad with Mint, Avocado, and Ginger
A heap of fruit, I used cantelope, strawberries and blackberries.
A handful of mint, finely shredded
1 ripe avocado, chopped
1/2 C  yogurt, I used Greek
 1/2 t ginger
1t agave syrup

Mix everything together and enjoy!!!!!!