Making old stuff new and buying old stuff, just because I like it



This is my husband, hard at work sharpening our knife assortment. 



He borrowed this electric sharpener from our son and reworked every kitchen knife in the drawer.  When I cut up the carrots and potatoes for our lunch and the onions, bell peppers and jalapenos for our supper,  I could really tell a difference.  Sharp knives make kitchen work much easier. 

a close up of the handy little machine

We went to some thrift stores and the antique mall this afternoon and found a few treasures.
the orange thing is a very nice car shaped toddler swing - we have one hanging on the pergola but with 2 grandbabies,  2 swings will be nice - I think it was $3 or $3.50, a real deal with the ropes and hooks attached and in good condition.
a front end loader for Gavin
and a Fisher Price Happy Apple for $1 - my children had one when they were babies and they liked it so much,  I have been looking for one  and was very happy to find such a nice one.  I just looked on Ebay and they sell for a lot more than $1 there. 
I also got a black purse and a denim skirt for me. 

another piece of Pyrex - this casserole has a wheat design
some sort of vintage icicles for a Christmas tree
a juice jug
and a Texas plate. 

My town has some very nice thrift stores and they are great to shop at, especially when it is way too cold for yard sales.

There's been a lot of living in our living room lately

or why I have not blogged in the last week or so....... 

My mom with her 2 great grands



Jeff and I with Gavin and Elizabeth


My parents came to visit for a week.  Gavin's parents took a little vacation and he stayed with us for 4 days. 
And while they were here,  our other children and my brother came to visit everyone and join the fun.





That is John in the center, he was playing with my mom's IPad,  he thinks they are pretty nice. 



Daughter in law Bridgette and dog in law Fletch.

Bobby and my dad, his Pa. 

No, Bobby is not pinching Elizabeth's foot, she just has her eyes closed.  She is mostly wary of people she does not see daily but she went right to her Uncle Bobby even though she had not seen him since Christmas. 
Gavin usually likes everybody, even strangers,  but he would not have a thing to do with Bobby.  It was kind of funny.

Son Jimmy would of liked to be here, he graduated from law school in December and is now in prep class for the bar test.  We missed him but we all know he should be studying. 

knockoff recipe for Star$$$s Cinnamon Scones

This recipe has been posted on 2 coupon boards I read.  So Monday morning,  when I wanted something "good" for breakfast,  I decided to try it out.  Jeff and Nina were both here for breakfast, these scones are so good, there were no leftovers!

knockoff recipe for Star$$$s Cinnamon Scones
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 egg, separated
3 tablespoons honey
1/3 cup buttermilk - my dough was really dry, I will try 1/2 cup next time, and I did not have buttermilk, I just added a little vinegar to the milk
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Cut in butter until the mixture is the consistency of coarse crumbs.
In a small bowl, beat egg yolk (reserving the white) with honey and buttermilk until blended. Add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture, stirring lightly only until dough clings together.
Using floured hands, lightly shape dough into a flattened ball. Roll or pat out on a floured board or pastry cloth to a circle about 1/2-inch thick and 8 1/2 inches in diameter.
Using a floured knife, cut 8 or 12 equal wedges. Place themslightly apart on a greased or non-stick baking sheet. In a small bowl, beat egg white slightly to a froth.
In another bowl, blend 1 tablespoon sugar and cinnamon. Brush scones lightly with egg white, then sprinkle them with the cinnamon and sugar mixture.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve warm.
I added a glaze as one of the coupon boards recommended,  just mix about 2/3 cup of powdered sugar with a teaspoon or 2 of milk, just enough to make a drizzley glaze. 
Makes 8 to 12 scones.  I cut ours into 8,  cutting them into 12 would be very dainty. 



Gavin had so much fun with bubbles.  He had fun watching me blow bubbles and he  was really delighted when he could blow his own. 



Little Elizabeth looks like a princess here
but she climbs and crawls on everything
a little more like a monkey than a princess!