My own little rebellion...hanging clothes outdoors to dry

I just could not take one more warm, sunny day without doing this. I mean, of course it is not a necessity. But one of the things I've missed since we moved into this allotment almost 15 years ago was hanging my clothes outside. I honestly don't know if we have deed restrictions here or not regarding this, (I might soon find out!) but we've had such a hot summer and I've been outdoors with the grandkids (and the neighbor kids) so much that I just wanted to have a clothesline.

First I went to one store and bought a retractable apparatus that you attach to your house and then the line gets attached to a hook which is attached to something else. Hubby and I went outside and tried to figure out what that "something else" might be, and he decided he would build something onto our deck that would make it tall enough to stretch the clothesline over to. I thought about it some more, and the next day I went and bought one of those clothesline pole kits that is a T shape, and can accomodate several clotheslines. I had to go to our town's hardware store, because the stores like Lowe's don't carry these. The box said "4 pieces" so I thought that meant it was two T shaped poles. It was about twice as expensive as the retractable apparatus, but I decided I would just take the plunge and really commit. I picked out an area behind our attached garage. So I had hubby return the retractable clothesline to Lowe's.

When hubby was all set to work on this over the weekend, we opened up the box to find it was only one, not two pole kits. He also wasn't smiling when the instructions said to dig a 12 inch deep hole and fill it with concrete. Our soil is really hard...we've installed two picket fences when we first moved in...and neither of us were eager to go through all that trouble and expense, and risk being told we wouldn't be allowed to keep it up.

So...I had hubby return the T pole set to the hardware store, and told him to go ahead and buy the retractable clothesline I had seen there. Here's what we ended up doing:

Yep, that's it! Hidden in and attached to our maple tree, which is about 25 feet behind our house.

And here is the hook that is attached to the house, cleverly placed in the seam of the siding and barely noticeable when the clothesline is not attached.

The line is just long enough for one load of clothes at a time. I've already done three loads and it was so much fun. I'm hoping to do bedsheets today. The clothes cannot be seen from the street or front of the house at all. Only one neighbor has full view of it when the clothes are on the line (from the backyard only) and the other neighbors would have to try pretty hard to see anything. So I don't think I'm really bothering anyone by hanging clothes out a couple of times a week.

This is the view my next door neighbors have when the clothes are on the line. When I take the clothes down, I simply retract the line and nothing is visible. They happen to be on vacation so when they get back they'll get to see it for the first time!

By now you might be asking, "why don't you just check the deed restrictions so you aren't worrying about this?" Well, it's been 15 years since I've looked at the paperwork, and anyway, this is just my own "don't ask, don't tell" policy. I'll let you know if anything changes!

What about you? Do you like the smell and feel of sun dried clothes in the summer as much as I do?

Chicken Marengo

We had this for supper tonight! This recipe came from my mother-in-law years ago. I make it in the pressure cooker. I suppose you could cook it slowly on the stove, or even in a crockpot, once you brown the chicken. It's real easy, and very tasty. Let me know if you try it!

Chicken Marengo

2-3 pounds boneless skiless chicken thighs

1 tsp. coarse black pepper

1 cup flour

1-3 cloves garlic, chopped

1/2 - 1 pound sliced mushrooms

large can crushed tomatoes

1 cup dry white wine (or any cooking wine)

1-2 Tbsp. oil

Place flour and pepper in a large ziplock bag or a paper bag and shake chicken pieces in the mixture. Heat oil in bottom of pressure cooker and add garlic. Saute for about a minute. Add floured chicken pieces and brown slightly on both sides. Add mushrooms, crushed tomatoes, and the wine. Stir gently and then close pressure cooker and put steam regulator in place. Heat on medium until regulator starts to rock, then cook for 10 minutes while rocking slowly. Remove pressure cooker from heat and let pressure drop slowly. When steam valve is fully closed, carefully open the lid. Serve over boiled noodles.

Do you have any favorite pressure cooker recipes?

How do you like my pineapples?

A couple posts back on my other blog I happened to mention that I love the hospitality symbolism of the pineapple, and I have a small collection of them throughout my house...nothing that is overly valuable, but just little things we've picked up here and there, or things that have been given to me as gifts.

Pineapples were a coveted commodity in Colonial America, and guests who were treated to them felt especially pampered. You can read some interesting facts here. I was amazed to discover that fresh pineapples were "rented" out to folks who wanted to use them as a table display to impress guests, but couldn't actually afford to buy them and eat them!

Here are some of my pineapples. I'm sure there are more, because every time I turn around I find one I didn't take a picture of.

A print we bought in Charleston, SC when we visited there a couple of years ago. We had it framed at Hobby Lobby and it hangs in our dining room.

One of my favorite pineapples, also purchased in Charleston...(the pineapple capitol of the world??)

This large tray stands on top of my china cabinet...I enjoy using it at Christmastime, as it was a Christmas gift from my hubby one year...

One for my foyer...

a gift from my friend, Jennifer, this welcome sign is in the kitchen...

I've enjoyed these handcrafted metal coasters for years. We bought them in Ohio's Amish country at Wendell-August Forge.

This tiny stained glass pineapple was a souvenir we brought home from Williamsburg, Va. It hangs on a dining room window:

As does this suncatcher...

...which we also got in Williamsburg.

A couple of "welcome" plates sit on a double shelf in our family room...

This Willow Tree "Welcoming Angel", a gift from my friend, Brenda, is part of a mantle display...

I painted this plate at a ceramic shop...

(notice I made the leaves blue to go with my decor...let's hear it for artistic license!)

This beautiful pitcher was a Mother's Day gift this year from my kids in SC.

A variety of little pineapple things I found in my kitchen...

Brenda started me on this collection of etched glasses with a silver rim...she gave me the first two, then I gradually added 6 more. I just love them...

My sister-in-law, Marcie, gave me this beautiful cut glass pitcher, which I love to fill with water and lemon slices...The etched wine glasses were another gift from Brenda.

A smaller pineapple tray and a silver dish, (whoops, where's the silver polish?) both from Charleston, SC...the glass candle globe with pineapple etchings came from my friend, Marilyn...who also gave me the beautiful salad spoon and fork serving set...

I found the little butter knife in Charleston...

Here is a Christmas ornament that I keep out all year 'round. The pineapple opens up and you can hide a tiny gift inside!

And last but not least...something for the backyard...

For some reason, the bees like this better than the birds!

Hope you enjoyed the pineapple tour. What do you collect around your house?

My latest addiction...spinach-feta egg omelets

I just have to share this with you friends. I found an easy way to make omelets by watching a You-Tube video, and I tried it with my favorite omelet ingredients. It is so easy and so good that I've been keeping the ingredients on hand and I've been making these several times a week. I'm trying to watch the carbs, so I don't make any toast to go with it, and I'm finding these to be very satisfying.

First, start by sauteing the ingredients in a little butter, except for the egg and cheese. I use chopped fresh spinach, chopped roasted red pepper, onion, and pitted calamata olives.

While that is sauteing for just a minute or so, I beat up two eggs in a bowl. If you want them to be fluffier, you can add a little milk, but I leave that out.

Next, pour the egg into the skillet on top of the ingredients. The amazing thing I learned from the video is you want to keep the eggs "moving" ... I always thought you wanted it to sit there and cook to retain the shape. Instead, gently move the eggs around with a spatula, lifting here and there to allow the uncooked part to flow onto the skillet. Do this carefully, and gently "scrape" any uncooked part to the edges. The top will still look a little "shiny" but cooked when it is done.

At this point, sprinkle on about a tablespoon of crumbled feta cheese and salt & pepper if desired.

Now the part that was very different for me, but works fantastically: gently lift the edge of the omelet from the far side of the skillet, and carefully "roll" it with the spatula over and over and onto your plate! I always had trouble trying to "flip" an omelet over in "half"...this method eliminates that problem.

What are your favorite omelet ingredients?

Getting rid of pesky fruit flies...

I don't know what it is, but everytime I have brought fresh fruit into the house this summer I am dealing with those annoying fruit flies. I love having fruit out on the counter and within reach for a quick and healthy snack. But I just can't STAND those flies that are so hard to get rid of.

So here's what I tried, and so far, it is working. I have one of these decorative "bee catchers" that you are supposed to hang outside. It has sort of an inverted hole on the bottom and an opening at the top as well. But I just placed it on my kitchen counter near where the flies are hanging out, and put about an inch of sweet red wine inside. That lures the fruit flies into the jar and they drown in the sweet wine. Not a bad way to end their life cycle I would say. I can see about a dozen of them in there so far, and a few hovering around the opening deciding if they want to take the fateful plunge!

I'm sure this would work with any kind of a jar. Does anyone else have a working solution for this summertime problem?

Try this delicious sandwich wheel...

Here's an easy summer lunch or supper that makes a beautiful presentation too.

2 tube cans Pillsbury French Bread

deli meat

deli cheese

Italian dressing

lettuce, onion, tomato, salt & pepper, olive oil & dried Italian seasonings

Remove French Bread dough from cans and place on a greased, round pizza pan, forming a ring with the two loaves by pinching together to close the wheel. Brush olive oil liberally over top of bread dough. Sprinkle Italian seasonings on top so they stick to the dough. Bake according to instrutions on the tube can. When bread ring is finished baking, partially cool on a rack and then carefully slice the wheel in half, leaving a top and a bottom. Flip over the top to leave the inside of the bread exposed. Spread dressing on both sides. Layer deli cheese and meat on both sides, then on bottom side only, layer remaining sandwich fillings. Flip the top back onto the bottom and cut wheel into two inch sections and serve.

Vacation Bible Camp: Roadtrip

Our church had what we used to call VBS last week. On the first day, 1400 children between age 3 and 5th grade were present. They were expecting 1500 by the end of the week. I am amazed every year at the commitment and hard work of so many people that it takes to pull off an event like this. It seems like they think of everything!

Here is one of our pastors overseeing things, so to speak...

I was so excited for my granddaughter, age 4, to have a great experience this year. Last year she was a little too young and all the noise and commotion frightened her. The first day's events were actually held on Monday evening from 5:30-7:30 pm. The rest of the week, it was held from 9 am till noon. There was every bit as much noise this year, but she did really well and loved going every single day!

Snack time...notice the orange ID tag that was worn every day. Also, each family had to create a password in order to safely retrieve your child when it was time to leave.

The atrium of our church was transformed into a city park. This water fountain was a big hit!

Every hallway and every classroom was decorated for the Roadtrip theme. Some hallways were destinations, such as a beach. Other hallways took you through farmland. It was amazing!

There were all kinds of cute little shops near the city park...

My mom and my grandson stop by the pasta shop...

The popcorn machine was a favorite too!

I have no idea who the creative people are that thought of this, but every day the marquee changed to reflect the lessons of the day.

This is a favorite stop for the young moms. Each morning, refreshments such as cheese cubes, scones, grapes, coffee, tea and juice were offered along with some chairs to give the moms a chance to visit and just pamper themselves a little. A daily gift was given too, such as travel mugs, shopping bags, and flower seeds.

The most important part of the roadtrip of course were the lessons learned along the way. Each day the kids were given a printed card to take home which reviewed the day's Bible story. I'm looking forward to using these in the days ahead to review and reinforce the memory of them with my granddaughter. She had a great week, and loves singing the songs she learned and retelling the stories.

Thank you Hudson Community Chapel and each and every person who contributed in any way to an awesome Roadtrip! God bless you for investing so heavily in the eternal destinations of so many precious children!