TUSAL for July

This is the first TUSAL I have remembered this year- so here it is! In the background is my beautiful oilcloth that I just got in the mail. I am very excited about my projects planned for it!

And a few pics of the dogs for good measure!!

Collage Wall

Last week we finished putting up a collage wall on one of the walls in the kitchen. I had seen many of these on blogs and I have been collecting fruit paintings for a while now. I really like how it turned out. I know the pictures aren't the best- we really need to work on our lighting!

My favorite part about this wall is that most of the pieces in it have a lot of personal meaning to me and my husband. My grandfather painted the two still lifes of fruit bowls. Six of the other plates were painted by my husband's great grandmother. She was an amazing china painter and we are lucky to have so many of her beautiful pieces. The other pieces are gifts or things that I have made myself.

Looking at it now, I think the wall would probably look better if the pieces were a little closer together. Also they would stand out more if the wall was a darker color. I hope to paint in here someday, but that is a very future project! Right now I love the wall and it makes me happy everytime I look at it :)

A strawberry plate painted by my husband's great grandmother.

One of the still lifes my grandfather painted.

A cross stitched wedding gift from a good friend from high school.

Another plate painted by my husband's great grandmother.

Thanks for stopping by and everyone have a great 4th of July!!!

Mini Ruffle Curtain

One of the things I love about our new house is the door that leads from the master bedroom to the deck. It is so pleasant to be able to step out in the mornings and sit on the porch swing.

But there was a slight problem- a window in the door that is not frosted. It has been very creepy to think anyone can just see in when it is dark. So I made a mini- ruffled curtain for the window.

I found a sample panel at Menard's that was very long and skinny, but wide enough for the little window. It was only $2! What a steal. It is a chocolate suedish material and I love the way it looks.

I followed the tutorial I found here at A boy, a girl, and a pug. Then I miniaturized it to fit the dimensions I needed. Love having it and love not worrying about walking from the bathroom to my closet after a shower anymore!

Linked Up Here

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Pie and Preparing for the Holiday

Last weekend we had some pre- 4th of July fun with family, food and even fireworks!

I did make the pies that I mentioned last post- strawberry pie and lemon meringue. They were both delicious!!

It was hard to find a strawberry pie recipe that didn't call for jell-o or pre-made strawberry glaze. So I just made up my own based on a few recipes I found.

Strawberry Pie

4 cups hulled strawberries

5 Tbsp cornstarch

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. fresh lemon juice

Mash strawberries so juice is flowing. Mix cornstarch and sugar together to eliminate lumps. Heat strawberries, sugar, cornstarch , and lemon juice until boiling. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until thickened. Add to unbaked pie crust. I did a lattice over top of mine and baked at 450 degrees for 15 minutes, then at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Yummy!!

For the Lemon Meringue Pie I used a recipe from Eggland's Best Eggs.

Mile High Lemon Meringue Pie

4 eggs, separated

1 1/2 cups sugar, separated

5 Tbsp cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup water

1/2 cup milk

1 Tbsp butter

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

1/4 tsp cream of tartar

Combine 1 cup of sugar, cornstarch and cream of tartar- mix to eliminate clumps. Add to medium saucepan. Whisk in water and milk, stirring while heating over medium heat. Bring to a boil.

In a medium bowl, beat egg yolks. Whisk 1/2 cup of the milk mixture in and then add back to the saucepan. Simmer over low heat 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat add butter and lemon juice and pour into prebaked pie crust.

In medium bowl beat egg whites with cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Add remaining 1/2 cup of sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.

Spread meringue over top and let bake for 12 to 15 minutes at 350 degrees F.

For both recipes I used the "Alan's Pie Pastry" from my BHG magazine (I think it was November 2010 edition).

I didn't have sour cream so I subsituted plain yogurt and I miscalculated the time I needed to prepare the pies so I didn't let them chill the full 2 hours. But the crusts turned out wonderful, chewy and flaky. Yum Yum.

Alan's Pie Pastry

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 Tbsp sugar

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 3/4 cups cold unsalted butter

2/3 cup ice cold water

2 Tbsp sour cream

1 tsp vinegar

Mix dry ingredients together. Cut in butter with pastry blender. Add water, sour cream and vinegar to flour mixture. Stir to mix, don't overmix. Refridgerate for 2 hrs or overnight. Makes 3 single crust pastries.

This week has been just getting ready for traveling this weekend and having family over for the fireworks celebration on Sunday. Just trying to make it through work until then!! And hopefully be able to get a few sewing/stitchy projects done!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Finished Painting and PIE!!!

I just finished painting the back bedroom at our new house- It went from a lavendar to Lazy Daizy- a buttery yellow color. I like it a lot so far, even though the process took a lot longer than I wanted. I am hoping to get it swept up and some furniture moved into it tonight.

I am also going to start on the process of making pies tonight. We have a family celebration on Saturday and I am going to make two pies....

Strawberry Pie- photo from Weight Watchers

Haven't found what recipe I am going to use yet.

and Lemon Meringue Pie

photo from Woman's Day

I am going to use the recipe for Lemon Meringue Pie from Allrecipes.com

I will probably only make the crusts tonight and then make the pies tomorrow. Hopefully they turn out as pretty as the pictures!

Thanks for stopping by and everyone have a good weekend.