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.