Real Estate Hankerings.

I'm a sucker for old houses. I want to save every last one of them. Look at this beauty: a 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath, 2,461 square foot relic built in 1890. They want $28,900 for it, and it would make an amazing house. It looks like there used to be a porch on the front, and I think there should be one on there again.

Craigslist Cravings.

image via craiglist

The picture aren't very clear but they are of a book of river maps. I think they'd make a neat batch of framed prints for the walls of this house (once we have walls of course). Here is the listing if it's still available.

Chow Down.

I've got some wheat germ in the fridge and I got to wondering if I could use it to make a healthier bread. Sure enough cooks.com has a recipe for it. Here it is.

Wheat Germ Bread:

4 c. warm water
3 pkgs. yeast
8 c. flour
1 c. wheat germ
1/4 c. honey
1/3 c. oil
4 tsp. salt

Combine yeast, water, and honey and let sit for five minutes. Add flour, salt, wheat germ and knead. Pour on oil and knead. Let rise until double; punch down. Cut into three equal parts. Roll out with a rolling pin, then roll like a jelly roll and put into three loaf pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 35 minutes. Remove and brush with butter.

Sounds easy enough, I'll let you know how it tastes when I bake some in a few days.

Real Estate Hankerings.

This cute bungalow is at 842 Bellemeade Avenue in Evansville. It has 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, and 1,269 square feet. It was built in 1919, and I think it would be an adorable first house. I love the architecture.

Artistic Moment of the Week.

Image via GoldenGreyBlue on Flickr.

I am in love with this photo. One reason is I used to sit on my old truck, Brute's, cab like this. Another reason is just the composition of the photograph. And lastly, because I really want to know the story behind it. I come up with pretty good ones in my head. I've got an awful head cold, and it is frigid outside. I'm longing of spring about now.

Craigslist Cravings.

This is a supposed plott hound mutt they had listed in Terre Haute. I want a pup so bad (I'm not too picky on the breed) for Christmas, but I'd take a piglet or bottle lamb just the same if somebody wants to give me one or all three I'd be perfectly okay with that...hint, hint.

Chow Down.

Image via Martha Stewart

Image via All Recipes.

This evening I made Shepherd Pie (with ground beef instead of lamb, and I added mushrooms and garlic), and homemade French Bread. Very tasty, and surprisingly easy. The links to the recipes are above, and as always I just use them as a rough guide. I'm not very good at keeping to the original recipe, but so far things have always worked out pretty well. My family said supper was delicious.

Proposed Projects.

Image via here.

I've got to make a few new grazing pens for my rabbits next year. I'm going to buy about five does and when they kindle I keep them in smaller pens, but as soon as they kits eyes open I move them out onto the grass to let them get most of their diet from the grass and whatnot. This past year since I just had the single doe and buck I just used my two grazing pens I used for my chicks before they were old enough to be turned out with the flock. These pens aren't very good for rabbits (the one doesn't have an indoor area, and neither of them have a bottom in them). Rabbits tend to dig, and their predators do too, so I'm thinking something similar to the set up above is what I'm going to go with. I've just got to get out to the shop and start putting something together.

Compelling Compositions

Image via IMDB.

I watched the movie WALL-E again last night. I'd forgotten how terrifyingly, potentially real the movie's plot line really is. Corpulent, lazy people who let convenience take over their lives. I know I harp on it, but it's scary what is in other peoples' shopping carts at the grocery every week. Absolute JUNK (soda, chips, cookies, tv dinners, and not a fruit of vegetable to be seen). In WALL-E everything the people ate was 'in a cup,' and any more you can get anything "pre-made" from individually packaged frozen pb&j-s to 'baby carrots' (really, we can't whittle down a regular carrot ourselves anymore). I move for people to just try making a habit of making their meals from scratch. It isn't as time consuming as you'd think, and you know exactly what your family is eating. I still feel guilty that I go to the grocery store at all. I'm hoping within five years I'll be raising all our food right here on the farm.

The other factor in WALL-E is essentially they covered the Earth with trash until it wasn't conducive to supporting life. It would be ideal if the grassroots effort of 'back to the land' and just a waking up of the average person to realize that progress and convenience aren't always for the better would become popular culture. Just a re-invention of a 'do for yourself' mentality. Personally I'll clutch to the past. I read ag books from the early 1900s for my advice on livestock raising and gardening and I'm getting along just fine. People, me included, need to take a hard look at their choices and the consequences they have on ourselves and the big picture as well. I get into this sort of bad mood thinking about where the world is heading. I wish I could shout from my rooftop and get others to see things my way. I've got some world changing ideas, but they are pretty radical and it would require everybody to have to work really hard to make the changes happen. So, it's probably a slim chance that anybody would listen. I'll do my best to push them forward, and we'll see if they get off the ground around my town, and potentially on a grander scale (ha).

At any rate, WALL-E makes you think. It really makes me want to get up and do a few jumping jacks to keep me from looking like the people aboard the Axiom. The ending is nice though, and it is a very good movie, although not one I'd consider a kids' film. I think it's dark undertones are lost on many kids and adults alike. It should definitely not be taken lightly.

Blog of Note.

I recently found this blog, and it is my new favorite. The architecture and interiors featured make me swoon. Definitely worth a look, but be warned, you'll be there the rest of the day.

this is my absolute favorite image from this blog so far. Amazing building isn't it. What a beauty.

Real Estate Hankerings.

This house is located at 1114 N Third Ave. in Evansville. It has five bedrooms, 1.5 baths, and 2,322 square feet. It was supposedly built in 1899, and it has very unique architecture. I especially like the little building behind the house. It would make a neat bed and breakfast.

Artistic Moment of the Week.

Image via evencleveland.blogspot.com, but was originally from a 1906 National Geographic. It amazes me that even in 1906 an image like this was possible. I'm thinking I need to go back to shooting in Black and White for a bit.

Craigslist Cravings.

Very pretty handpainted trunk on the Bloomington Craigslist this morning. They are wanting $100 or best offer. I think it's pretty neat, but I have lots of other things at the moment I need to spend money on more. Someday...

Winter isn't much fun on the farm.

Everything is a bit more complicated when it gets below freezing. The water has to be kept broken and thawed for the livestock, and you have to provide as much shelter for them as possible. Yesterday's winter storm had all the animals confused. I went down to the barn to get a tarp to cover up the rabbit hutch and protect them from the north wind. I found three hens that decided to bed down in the aisle of the barn instead of in the safety of the coop. I fed the horses and proceeded to try and catch the wayward birds. One red hen let me nab her fairly effortlessly so I stuffed her in my coat so that I'd have two hands to hopefully catch the other two. After another five minutes I grabbed the White Brahma hen and carried her by her back legs while attempting to catch the last hen (my mare didn't like it too much when we walked into her lot to get back in the barn via her gate). I gave up after a few more minutes and decided to take the hens I did have and the tarp back up toward the coop and rabbit hutch (again the mare thought I was after her for sure when I started dragging the tarp past her to the door of the barn). She went out of the barn snorting and wide eyed and prancing like an idiot.

I met my husband halfway to the house and I can only imagine what I looked like: a bundled up wife with a white chicken hanging upside down in one hand, a giant blue tarp in my other hand whipping in the wind and a bulge in my coat quietly cooing and snuggling (she was quite content to be warmed up by my body heat). I told him there was still another hen at the barn, so he went down to see if he could find her.

I placed the girls back in the coop and set down the tarp next to the hutch because I saw Mike coming back empty handed. I went back down and chased the last hen around (trying to catch her before the barn cats did), and I finally cornered her and stuffed her in my coat too because she was squawking like I was ringing her neck. It just muffled her, but she never quieted until I put her with the others in the coop. We got the rabbits sheltered the best we could and went inside ourselves to get some feeling back in our limbs. I hadn't planned on playing a round of tag with the hens, so I wasn't dressed nearly warm enough.

I've never had the chickens not go back to the coop at night, and this morning there was four more chickens huddled outside the coop gate, so they must've hunkered down someplace last night in the storm and tried to get back in the coop this morning. It was easy enough to get the three hens in, but one of my roosters ran for the barn instead. I was going to just keep the chickens locked up today because it was so drifty out, so eventually he got herded back into the coop as well.

Chow Down.

Gourmet Traveller is an Australian magazine that has lots of yummy potential meals. This one is for Whole-wheat pasta with almonds, parsley, and ricotta. I like the recipe mostly because it has you making everything from scratch from the ricotta to the pasta. It looks so tasty I can't wait to try it out. Image via Gourmet Traveller.

Real Estate Hankerings.

This property has really nice big windows that let in lots of light, and with some work I think would make a lovely house. I could think of lots of things I'd like to do with it. It could be a real beauty. It has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and 1,390 square feet for $17,000.

Real Estate Hankerings.

This week finds a big diamond in the rough. It's at 215 Adams Ave. in Evansville. It's listed as a 2 bed, 1 bath home with 1,284 square feet of living space. I like it for the concrete block outbuilding (I'm thinking it would make a good studio), and the beautiful windows in the second story. It could be a real looker with a bit of love and work.

Artistic Moment of the Week.

This is a photograph by John Drysdale. If you've never heard of him be sure to look him up. My mom gave me a book of his photographs entitled, "Our Peaceable Kingdom," and I was so jealous of his children getting to grow up with all of the wild animals (elephants, hippos, kangaroos, etc.). This picture, though, could've came from my house. I trained my first calf to ride when I was only 5, so riding a sheep would've been a piece of cake for me. It looks like they are having a blast, and I hope Joe gets to have that kind of childhood. I'm trying my best to ensure it. She gets to go out and feed the livestock every morning. So far her favorites are the goats, the rabbits, and one particular barn cat, but I'm sure the list will grow as she gets older.

Craigslist Cravings.

They wanted $30 bucks for this hammock. I've never seen one like this, but it looks nifty. Of course this isn't quite hammock weather (it was snowing this morning), but a girl can dream of warmer days.

Chow Down.

This is a few days late of course, but I made this as a side dish last night and my anti-anything-green husband said it was very good and I should make it again. I started with this Spinach and Rice Casserole Recipe from Taste of Home, but tweaked it as always.

Spinach, Mushroom, and Rice Casserole
Makes Enough for 6

1/2 a Yellow Onion Chopped
6-8 Button Mushrooms Sliced
2 Tbsp. Butter
1/2 Cup Jasmine Rice
Two handfuls of Orzo Pasta (I added them on a whim)
2 Cups Chicken Broth
1/2 Packet Frozen Chopped Spinach
Salt and Pepper to Taste
1/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese

Preheat oven to 375. I sauteed the onion in the butter while I sliced the mushrooms. Then I added the mushrooms and let them cook with the onions while I squeezed the water from the spinach and measured out the rice. I added the rice to the skillet and stirred until they were lightly toasted then added the spinach, orzo, and broth. I let it come to a boil and simmered it for at least ten minutes. I added the salt and pepper right before putting it in a 2qt. casserole dish. Top with Parmesan Cheese and put it in the oven for 20 minutes. Extremely tasty, and very easy.

Proposed Projects.

This image was on Apartment Therapy from a Craigslist ad in some big city out east. I saved it because when I see things like this I always think to myself, "I could make that." I'd want mine to be a bit differently shaped (this is labeled as an equestrian trunk), but I think I'd make mine a bit shorter and longer with pull out trays and put it at the end of a bed like a cedar chest. It's be kind of neat to make them to sell at various markets too. I have my old showbox from my 4-H cattle showing days in our livingroom to hold blankets and it's very similar to this as well. I think it would be an easy seller.

Compelling Compositions

I found this quote yesterday by Orison Swett Marden:

"We lift ourselves by our thought, we climb upon our vision of ourselves. If you want to enlarge your life, you must first enlarge your thought of it and of yourself. Hold the ideal of yourself as you long to be, always, everywhere--your ideal of what you long to attain--the ideal of health, efficiency, success."

I was curious if books.google.com had anything he'd written because he lived from 1850-1924, and sure enough there were quite a few. It looks like he wrote mostly 'getting what you want out of life' and 'living your best life' type books which I sometimes enjoy reading. They make you feel like you can accomplish anything when you finish them, and I think everybody needs a dose of that now and again.

I am so very busy at the moment that I get overwhelmed some days. I have hopes of becoming even more busy in the coming months (I'm trying to get enough inventory and such to sell at a few festivals next year), so encouragement (even if it's just a quote on the wall) helps a ton.

Blog of Note.

I found this blog recently and fell in love with so many of the images posted there. It's written by a freelance architect in Crete, Greece. Lots of inspiration to be had for sure.

Real Estate Hankerings.

This property is located at 302 Waggoner Avenue in Evansville, IN. It's a 3 bedroom 1 bath 1,258 square foot home. The curb appeal potential is very high. I think it is really cute.

Craigslist Cravings.

Another piece from the Bloomington Craigslist. An old iron bedframe. I want a metal bed like this for Joe's room someday. Simple and pretty. Only $40 bucks too.

Chow Down.

Today's recipe is for White House Honey-Oat Muffins. They seem to be fast, and healthy, and I can't wait to try it out. It's via Food & Wine's website. The photo credit goes to Pernille Pederson on the website.

Blog of Note.

I love food blogs. I can get lost in them very easily and often times end up with about ten different pages opened up on my computer going from one to the other (as another page loads I read the next available). I usually have to finally just say, "Close everything down and get to bed, good grief..." but I do end up with some tasty recipes to try out in the end. Orangette has some pretty yummy dishes along with readable posts which I enjoy as well. So that's your blog to check out for the week. I was out of town yesterday, so it's coming to you a day late.

Real Estate Hankerings.

This week's real estate is in Evansville, Indiana. I'm sure it's in very rough condition. They have it listed at $2,500 for a 2 bed, 1 bath, 911 square foot home. I like the exterior, and I would like to have the money to bring it back from the condition it's in. Maybe someday I can do that as a hobby.

Artistic Moment of the Week

Image via the Met Online

This is the Artistic Moment of the Week that should've went out last week. It is a photo by Walker Evans. The description read: "Auto Junkyard, Old Lyme, Connecticut: Two Trucks, Weeds" 1973 November 4. I think the reason I like his work is that his eye is similar to mine. He photographed a lot of simple scenes, abandoned things, and rural life (which is exactly what I am drawn to). Pretty neat.

Craigslist Cravings.

This piece was being offered to help the poor guy get a new bed. I guess his girlfriend left him and took the bed with her. It would be neat refinished and put in a guest room.

Chow Down.

Photo credit goes to Quentin Bacon on the Food & Wine website.

This picture caught my eye. It is Not Your Usual Lemon Meringue Pie, and I found it on the Food & Wine website. It'd be neat to serve at a dinner party. Sigh, I hope when the house is done I can have people over like that. My husband has been working his hindend off putting siding on the past few weeks. His birthday is this week, and I hope he has a wonderful one. I'll have to find some kind of chocolate dessert because that's what he loves the most.

Craigslist Cravings.

Another desk I wish I could've nabbed. What a beauty. It was in Indy and I saw it a bit too late. I imagine it would've been incredible refinished and prettied up.

Chow Down.

Chicken Stroganoff Image and Recipe via Norecipes.com

I'm a huge fan of Beef Stroganoff. It is absolutely yummy in every way. I have no clue why, but I've never thought about substituting in chicken for the beef. It would feel a little healthier when I wanted something lighter, but still be comforting. I do believe I'll be trying this out soon. My poor husband considers chicken all but vegetarian. I use a lot of beef (because I raised a calf for the freezer, so we've got lots of beef to use), and pork and fish (because we both like them a lot), but often times my darling hubby balks at eating chicken more than once a week. Maybe this might change his mind.

A Documentary You Need to Watch: Born Into Brothels

Image via Documentary Channel

Yesterday I watched a piece on the Documentary Channel that really made me think. It was a glimpse into a life I didn't know existed, and it was sad, but very well done. A photographer went into the brothels and taught the children how to use cameras and gave them a bit of an escape from their reality for a bit. She tried very hard to get a better life for the group of kids that was featured, but she found it wasn't going to be easy to get them out of the life they'd been born into. I highly suggest watching it to open your eyes.

Proposed Projects.

Image via Apartment Therapy

I think these beds would be really neat to make for a kid's room, but I'd love to make one to hang from a tree or on the porch outdoors someday.

Compelling Compositions

I was glancing through The Writer's Almanac's archives and I found a poem that absolutely made me stop in my tracks. It's entitled Clara: In the Post Office by Linda Hasselstrom. She talks about how she is independent and capable not because she's a feminist but because life demanded it of her. I can relate.

Blog of Note.

Creature Comforts is a blog that I can page through and find myself clicking and clicking on various finds. Lots of visual inspiration to be sure.

Real Estate Hankerings.

It's places like these that make me wish I had unlimited resources. What a beauty and it will no doubt be bulldozed. It is located at 4347 E Broadway Rd in Salem, Indiana. The house has 3 beds and 1 bath on almost an acre of land for $25,000. It definitely needs work, but what an incredible old house. It was built in 1908 and I'm in love.

Artistic Moment of the Week.

"After Walker Evans" by Sherrie Levine, 1981. via SFMOMA.org

I'm a huge fan of Walker Evans, and obviously Sherrie Levine is too. I think I'll find a Walker Evans piece for next week's Artistic Moment of the Week.

Craigslist Cravings.

Supposedly you can get these at Walmart. It is a couch that lays out into a bed, but I love the style. It looks very vintage-y, and I'd love to have one in our livingroom (when it goes back to being a livingroom. At the moment it is under construction). They have them cheaper on Craigslist quite a bit. I find them kind of neat. I think this one was about $150, but they retail for almost $200 at Walmart.

Chow Down.

image via sogoodandtasty.blogspot.com

Today's recipe is Rice and Feta Stuffed Mushrooms from the blog So Good and Tasty. I'm really looking forward to making this tonight. I love mushrooms, and I've recently fallen in love with Feta cheese, so I imagine this will be a huge hit with me. I'm thinking I'm broil some fish and maybe steam some broccoli to go with it. Find the recipe here. Enjoy.

Proposed Projects.

USDA

joeseppi.etsy.com

joeseppi.etsy.com

joeseppi.etsy.com

USDA

USDA

USDA

I'd like to do some design work. Something creative. Thanks to a very dear professor I had in college (Prof. Pravin Sevak), I enjoyed design class a lot, but I haven't had a chance to do much since I graduated. I'd like to do a group of posters advocating my beliefs of growing your own food and such, but make them look like propaganda posters. I googled "Victory Garden Posters" and found a lot of great examples. There was even an artist who created his own art project posing as revitalized victory garden campaign posters (which are available on etsy). Otherwise the images above are all from World War II's campaign. I'd like to just play with some designs and perhaps make them into full size posters for my daughter's room or even the kitchen. Aren't they neat?

Compelling Compositions

It's no secret that I'm a HUGE fan of National Public Radio's "A Prairie Home Companion" with Garrison Keillor. He is such an amazing writer, and I love his humor. I end up laughing so hard during every show. Anyway, I signed up for a daily email called "The Writer's Almanac with Garrison Keillor" and have been really enjoying the little blips about various authors who were born that day and there is a daily poem too. Best of all, I can click on the little icon at the top and Garrison himself will read it to me. I suggest you sign up for the email too. It will bring some intellect to your inbox.

More Apartment Therapy Love.

I'm going to have the hubby make me some of these bookshelves in our library someday. Via Apartment Therapy~Jeremy's Endless Energy and Resourcefulness. I like the industrial modern look of them.