A Literary Walk #8

I have been meandering around the 

English countryside on my way 

from London to my next stop,

Great Missenden.

38 miles

It's been a bit on the rainy side,

but what can you expect in jolly Old England:)

At least the foot paths are not busy this time 

of year and the views have been lovely.
Next up Roald Dahl...

New Techniques

I'm on a learning curve with the

projects for Rusty G.

Since I got into Annie Sloan Paint and

waxes it has made things a lot

more interesting.

Below is a bed tray that I painted for myself

 Before

 After:

The wooden caddy is painted and waxed

and the rack is painted, waxed and sponged to 

look like galvanized metal.

 This chalkboard was a cast off frame

that is painted, waxed and embellished with

a paper banner.

Gluten Free Maple Bars

YES!

Gluten Free Maple Bars!

I was craving a maple bar, really the 

only type of donuts I like and which

I have not had in 6 years.

This recipe is interesting as it has no yeast

but the dough ends up frying up like a yeast donut

not a cake one.

It was suggested on the site to eat while warm

but I actually enjoyed them even more 

when they had sat an hour 

and even the next morning.

Disclaimer:

I have not had a donut in 6 years!! 

I may not be the best judge of 

the texture and taste but my son

who has only been GF for a month 

said they were excellent.

Donuts

1 egg beaten

1 c. buttermilk

1/8 c. butter melted

 mix together

2 1/2 c.GF flour

(I used Mamas almond blend)

1/2 c. sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

t tsp. xantham gum

mix together

Add wet ingredients to dry mix gently

then knead a few times.

Let sit for 15 minutes.

Roll out on rice flour dusted surface, 

to about 1/2 inch deep.

Cut into squares about 2x2.

Fry in very hot oil until brown on both sides.

Drain on paper towel.

Frost when mostly cool.

Maple Frosting

1/4 c. melted butter

1 tsp maple flavoring

1 T. milk

1 1/2 c. powdered sugar

Beat until smooth

Using the Fab Wax

 The Annie Sloan Wax is amazing!

For the pot rack above, I did a coat of flat black 

spray paint. Then I dipped my brush in the 

clear wax and then in a metallic acrylic and 

stroked and blotted it. 

There it is a faux galvanized metal pot rack...

This wicker ottoman was a basic red/brown color.

I spray painted it tan and then with the same

technique as above but with brown and black

paint I aged it. Now it matches my old 

ladder that I have in this room perfectly.

The wax dries very quickly too so no 

long wait to use your creation.

(by the way these are both thrifted items)

Craft Day/Girl Time

 Good food, lots of talking,

paper and fabric galore and we call it

Craft Day.

It's My Place

It's a place of peace and tranquility...

Happy V-Day

A Literary Walk #7

A walk with Dorothy Sayers

15 miles

Around London

 Bloomsbury square

Dorothy Sayers was a mystery writer

who eventually went on to write

Christian books when she came to know Christ

personally.

I have only read her mysteries.

Favorite Character:

Lord Peter Wimsey

He is the detective with a great sense

of humor and a very persistent nature

especially when pursuing Harriet Vane

his future wife.

Favorite Quote:

"Oh, by the way--I don't positively repel you

or anything like that, do I?

Because, if I do, I'll take my name off the 

waiting- list at once."

"No" said Harriet Vane, kindly and a little

sadly. "No you don't repel me."

"I don't remind you of white slugs or

make you go goose-flesh all over?"

"Certainly not."

"I'm glad of that. Any minor alteration,s

like parting the old mane, or growing

a tooth brush, or cashiering the eye-glass

you know, I should be happy to undertake,

if it suited your ideas."

..."I'm not trying to black mail you into matrimony

you know. I mean, I should investigate this for 

the fun of the thing, whatever happened

don't you see."

"It's very good of you--"

"No not at all. It's my hobby. Not proposing 

to people, I don't mean but investigating things.

Well, cheer-frightfully-ho and all that."

When Love Isn't Enough

As Valentines Day nears and all around

I see the hearts and "I love you" candy, 

I feel like it is time to address a very

personal issue that I have never 

spoken of in exact words on this blog.

Someone I love is an addict.

It is the most heart breaking thing

I have ever experienced, much harder than

 deaths of those I love.

Because when you love someone who

is in bondage to a substance,

Love isn't enough to save them

from it...

you can love someone with all you are 

and have, giving 150% to a relationship

and think that love will conquer all.

It does not.

For 10 years I thought love was enough

to change the direction of this person's life

and that if I just tried harder to love

in different ways then the battle would be won.

It is not won.

But what I have found is that the

 Love of Christ 

can give me what I need to live,

forgive, love from a distance,

care for others and even laugh 

and grow despite everything!

God's love is always enough.

And if the addict never changes,

I know it's not because I didn't love

enough, its because they

are not willing to love them self enough

to fully surrender

to the all encompassing

LOVE

that rules both earth and heaven.

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

This week I took a class with Lea

at Rusty Glamour

learning how to use the up and coming

(or should I say exploding!)

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.

These boards are a few of the many

techniques that can be done

with the products 

which are available at Rusty G.

I've been a spray paint upcycler

this past year so painting with a

brush and technique is a new approach for me!

This paint can be used on anything...even
Leather and Fabric!

A Literary Walk #6

A Walk with Paddington Bear

around London

15 miles

 Paddington Station

 Harrods

Portobello Road Market

Favorite Character:

Paddington of course! He is a very

resourceful bear who can manage to

get himself in and out of scrapes with ease

(and a penetrating stare if necessary!)

Favorite Quote:
"Well, I'm going to leave you now", (said Judy)
"so that you can have your bath and
come down nice and clean.
You'll find two taps, one marked hot
and one marked cold. There's plenty of soap and
a clean towel. Oh, and a brush so you can scrub
your back."
"It sounds very complicated," said Paddington.
"Can't I just sit in a puddle or something?"
Judy laughed...."And don't forget to wash
your ears. They look awfully black."
"They're meant to be black," Paddington
called indignantly as Judy shut the door.

Home Office

I have a little nook area

at the top of my stairs and that

is where I put my home office.

The desk is the very first painting/

upcycling  project I did.

A Literary Walk #5

East Sussex

 

A Walk With P.L. Travers

50 miles 

around the country side of East Sussex

 Castles and Gardens tour

 P.L. Travers was born in Australia
but wrote Mary Poppins in Sussex England.
I was unable to find any info on where the house
is that she lived and wrote but
it was a thatched roof cottage so I followed the
Sussex tour route instead.

Favorite Character:

Mary herself...she is so crotchedy

and so vain and is NEVER wrong

but underneath all that is magic that 

she will NEVER own up to have done

or seen even though she was there and 

made it all happen!

Favorite quote:

"Mary Poppins," she said, looking very hard at her,

"were you at the Zoo last night?"

Mary Poppin's eyes popped.

"At the Zoo? In the middle of the night? Me? 

A quiet, orderly person who knows that 

early to bed, early to rise makes

a man healthy wealthy and wise?"

"But were you?" Jane persisted

"I have all I need of Zoos in this nursery, 

thank you," said Mary Poppins uppishly

"Hyenas, orangoutangs all of you.

Sit up straight and no more nonsense."

French Baskets

I found a super easy way to 

age baskets and give them that 

french vintage look that is so 

popular right now.

I began with these....

 Spray painted them dark brown...

 Then used gray and cream craft paint and water

to brush over the wicker to age it.

I added a French address on one with white paint.

These are actually my bike baskets

so when spring finally arrives I can do my 

shopping etc in town using my bike!

I also did a couple more with french muslin 

tags that are for sale at Rusty Glamour.