~~Bluebird & Burlap~~

Bluebird & burlap

~~My little craft project today~~

~~Recipe for a Winter day~~

Well, I think Winter has finally arrived here at the brick house. It is so cold outside this morning.  You know what would be the perfect meal for a day like today? How about Beef Stew? YES BEEF STEW...now don't turn up your noses..you HAVE to try this recipe. I cannot remember where I got this recipe but I have been making this for many years and it is always a winner here at our home. And as the name implies it is EASY! 

                       Five~Hour EASY Baked Stew

2 lb. stew beef
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped carrot (I use whole baby carrots, not chopped, because I am lazy and because this is suppose to be Easy, right?)
1 cup chopped celery
4 potatoes, chopped
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper ( I use fresh ground pepper and lots of it!)
1 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsp Minute tapioca....not the pudding....but this:

    I gave this recipe to my sister and she used a box of tapioca pudding, I kid you not! Everytime I make this recipe I smile(laugh) at her!  :) I am sure you could use some cornstarch or flour if you don't have the tapioca.
1 can tomato soup

 Layer the ingredients in a roasting pan IN THE ORDER LISTED....DO NOT MIX! Pour a soup can of water over the layers. Cover and bake for 5 hours at 250. Do not open the oven during baking time. You will not believe how wonderful this smells while it is baking. AND it is so GOOD and I must say it is even better the next day. Pure comfort food! Enjoy!

New Year~New Sofa

Happy New Year! Not only am I happy that it is a new year,  I am happy because I am finally getting a NEW SOFA! And I am happy because Tim and I BOTH like the same sofa..WHEW! This doesn't happen too often but it sure was nice and it made sofa shopping so much easier. Here is the sofa that we just ordered

Laramie Sofa from Broyhill

 Now we need to agree on a chair and a recliner...hopefully it will continue to be a Happy New Year as we shop for more furniture..so stay tuned~

Super Easy!

I thought I would share this super easy idea...all you need is an old glass insulator and some wire. This one is for me...now I need to make some more for the Shop!

A perfect Spring Day

FINALLY we had a nice Spring day here! I spent the day cleaning up the yard, working in the flower beds and dividing and transplanting some perennials. My head is spinning with so many ideas for the gardens. I think I will be spending the next couple of days creating a "wish list" of plants that I hope to get this yearIt felt so good to be outside today and digging in the dirt..I call it my "dirt therapy"! I could have the worse day but as soon as I am outside working in the yard it turns into a GREAT DAY! Today was a great day....I hope you all had a great day and I hope you have a great week!

Back to blogging

I thought I would stop by and let you all know that I am still alive. It has been a busy month here at our house. We have been busy with our Shop...working on building up our Spring inventory. I am working with a new medium and I am having fun with it! I made these concrete eggs....they have been a big hit here at the Brickhouse! Much more from this new "craft" coming soon!

And we are still doing our bath remodel. The floor is done and I love it...now we are waiting for the plumber to come in and do what he has to do, so then we can finish up...I CAN'T WAIT! I am so ready to decorate with new towels and all the other "cute" stuff! And I am also waiting for some much warmer weather to arrive here...it has been so cold lately. I am waiting to get out in the yard and do some gardening.

There is SO much to do! And on that note, I better get started with my day.... I hope you all make today a great one!

The treasures from my road trip

I wanted to find the perfect spot for all my treasures from my road trip to THE CINNAMON STICK before I shared the pictures with you.....BUT I couldn't wait! I do have other goodies to show you, but my camera is acting up today. For now here are some of the treasures that I bought. I bought the two Ironstone pieces at an Antique Shop just up the road from Judy's.

Everytime I look at all of my these treasures I will always remember what a great day it was! AND I will always remember how special my friends, Tammy, Donna and Judy are...they will always be treasures to me!