Something New

I just finished my first canning experience, and it was fun! I had to trial it in a small batch to make sure I knew what I was doing....I have always been nervous to actually can. Growing up, Mom always used a pressure canner and I knew I was too afraid to try that! It would probably explode on me...hee hee....anyway, so I went with the boiling method and it went pretty smoothly...except for the fact that I am a last minute person and didn't really check all my ingredients first:) So I made a quick run to the grocery to get a very large bag of sugar!

So now I have a nice little stash of my very own Strawberry Rhubarb Spice Jam! Now....what to do with the rest of my strawberries and rhubarb?

Should I be worried?

Let me translate: (found on the floor)
how to sneak

• always be ready to freeze
• be quiet
• be ready to hide
• look all around for windows
• walk next to walls
• do not get on top of things stay below them
• if there's a shower or bath with a curtain, do not shut the curtain

Drew must be practicing for hide and go seek or spy work....

I need ideas

This weekend I re-did a piece of furniture that was in our basement (the green cabinet). It was a dark walnut with a "lovely" (not) pickle finish with brass hardware. I even reused the hardware...just a little black and silver spray paint. I was super excited to put it in our bedroom and use it as my new sewing cabinet. We are blessed with abundant space in our bedroom. I also had a great big mirror that went over my long dresser (part of our bedroom suite that's 20+ yrs. old). I have been wanting to paint the frame black to pull in other black elements in the room. Anyway, I was touching up with the second coat of paint and let it dry outside. Later, I heard a thump and to my horrific surprise the wind blew it over and broke all the mirror out! I was SO sad and sought out hugs to recuperate:) After I cleaned the mess up, I just couldn't bear to give up. I had looked forward to painting this mirror for over a year and just now got to it! So I put it up anyway (refusing to be defeated by the wind) and used it as sort of a bulletin board. So I thought I would ask you what you would do....Do you have any brilliant ideas for using this piece? Does it look stupid with pictures hanging? Would you go get a piece of mirror cut for it? I was trying not to spend any money....also, look at the wall....I was thinking of hanging something to the left (3 of something, just don't know what)....any ideas? Probably put an upholstered wood chair (need it to sew with anyway) as decor to the left as well....I have one I found in the trash a while back..

Would love to hear what you'd do...especially with the tragic mirror!

Thanks! Oh, I don't want to leave out the fact that my kids are great helpers! Molly (aka Cinderella) took all the bolts out of the back of my lovely mirror and all the kids took all the hardware off of our furniture and replaced it with updated hardware! Great kids!
Abby