And.. yet another menu change!
Comments (50)
Jilly
last yearMmm, it sounds wonderful!
We had fun with these party favors for my Dad’s 80th a couple of weeks ago. Good, cheesy fun … everyone mugged for pictures with them, and the kids loved them.
Ours, but there are lots of other package sets:
We had cupcakes and I liked the little staies for them.Funkyart thanked JillyRelated Discussions
Yet Another Spaghetti Sauce Thread ...
Comments (38)Lou, Yup, that's it. On spaghetti sauce cooking day grandma's menu was: BREAKFAST=eggs poached in sauce LUNCH=when all the guys came home for lunch, DGM scooped out enough sauce to make a pot of pasta e fagioli DINNER=spaghetti with sauce and various meats baked in sauce SUNDAY=lasagna made with leftover sauce I never knew it to vary from this routine and I pretty much use the same schedule--except the eggs (I don't do eggs!). The sauce was an all day production....See MoreYet Another Water Softener Thread
Comments (20)Would have been more considerate for you to start a new thread rather than pollute someone else's thread when your post has nothing to do with the thread's content. Regarding your water problems... There are a variety of less effective ways to attempt to treat water which you seem to have discovered but it really is as easy as 1-2-3 1. Certified lab test to determine what needs to be treated. 2. Have a water treatment professional evaluate the environment and decide on the most inclusive and comprehensive treatment and hardware required. 3. Have a water treatment professional install and configure the equipment for correct and efficient operation....See MoreYet another plea for kitchen layout guidance
Comments (10)[warning: this is a stream of consciousness piece I don't have time to rework. Be patient here.] Do you anticipate entering the house from the garage most of the time? Your drawing seems to imply that the route to kitchen from front door is to go through the dining room and great room. I grew up in a house that had a route like that. The front door was only for guests; it was rare for us to use it. Dad had shortened up a houseplan that should have had 4 more feet side to side and an internal shortcut from front to back door. Entering from the back door in the kitchen, we walked the entire perimeter of the first floor in order to go upstairs. You have a "living" room, a "great" room, a "dining" area/room and a "family" room, all adjacent to one another. Do you really have a clear idea of the different activities that will take place in each of these spaces? Will the living room become a formal parlor that is essentially unused? Your kitchen has surprisingly little counterspace and as you said, only one sink, yet there is such a big first floor. Imagine your daughter as a grownup. Where will two women work and enjoy the parallel activities of two cooks? Throw DH into the kitchen also...where will you all be? Believe me, the dynamic between two women in a kitchen is different than that of a mom and a middle schooler. I'd push that island seating out toward the "family" room area--this is assuming that people looking out to the left in the diagram will have a clear view from some good seats there. But it's also important to note that people sitting at the island are there for kitchen reasons, not scenic ones--you have two more rooms which are closer to the windows--bird feeder watching? contemplation? etc. If I have misunderstood and the view is at the top of the picture or the top left, I'd turn the kitchen 90 degrees and put the backs of the island toward the great room. That gives more space back to the family room for a proper viewing area out there and the cook gets to look through both adjacent rooms at the views. Consider carts or a second small island as places for all the kitchen paraphernalia that sits on countertops. Better still, given the amount of space you have, there have been some intriguing two parallel island designs on the GW and in mags, etc. Here's a radical new idea: put the pantry and kitchen closet between the living room and the kitchen, a set of two hall-like spaces entered from the middle of the kitchen where you have the range currently and perhaps also with an access facing the door to garage. Move that kitchen wall six feet or so toward the family room, pushing the kitchen back toward the family room. The pillars there can be part of the semi-wall defining each side of kitchen. This puts people much closer to the fireplace when they are in the kitchen and makes the "family room" concept of kitchen and leisure activities more logical. Also, this puts the kitchen closer to......See MoreYet Another Layout Help Plea!
Comments (17)I'm so pleased to have this feedback. Hi again, Rosie - such encouraging comments, and I really appreciate your remembering & being sensitive to our goals w/ respect to views. Actually, if I removed or narrowed that "spice pullout" to the right of the cooktop, we could shorten the island back from the traffic line - I'll definitely try that. And while the prep area no longer faces squarely through the living rm to the water, I think that it would be more-than-OK, given the glass expanse in doors to deck & your notion of the repeated happy encounters w/ the view as one moves w/in the work space. I did have a question for you from previous thread: you had mentioned a scary "close call" w/ a basement stairway - may I ask which side of the basement doorway (as one is standing in front of the door) would be best for the hinges to be on, in your experience/opinion? Thanks in advance for that and for all the times you've responded - you've been so helpful & supportive. And hello again to you, bmorepanic! Good questions about the microwave - it's been a pesky issue. Yes, I do frequently use our MW (22 yrs old & counting - guess we'll never bet on that lifespan again, from what I hear) to steam veggies, as well as to serve my coffee-reheating habit. One of the few efficient things about the layout of our existing kitchen is that the MW is on the counter right behind my chair at the table - I can reach back w/ my coffee mug, nuke, & retrieve w/out even standing up! Not that a little more excercise would be a bad thing - I will indeed consider your suggestion & would love to hear any others you have. JeannieMer, hello & again I'm SO thankful to you and others who take the time to read, consider, & then actually propose layout changes. In many homes, having the cleanup sink & DW where you've placed them would make lots of sense; our planning is self-complicated by the fact that we're trying to move the cleanup area away from that wall! Given that, I'd be grateful to see what else your obviously-logical approach to things could come up with - please post more ideas!...See MoreFunkyart
last yearJilly
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last yearlast modified: last yearBoth sister and I ended up working late yesterday-- got together and started prepping. This was the easiest prep! Cut all the meat and vegetables for kebabs, dressed the potato salad (celery, onions, oil and vinegar, pepper). wrapped the gifts... then sat outside with a glass of wine!
Today we have only to pick up the cake, assemble kebabs, make pilaf and salad! Sister is putting champagne, beer and vodka on ice this morning .. will dress tables and add hydrangeas early afternoon. Will let one of the nieces assemble the appetizers (already prepped) Easiest party ever!
Butterflies are sitting comfortably in a chilled box-- I am so very excited for the release. Mom is going to be so delighted! In addition to her very cozy lounge outfit (and the butterflies), i was thrilled to have found these two cool gifts.. I share because Christmas is coming and I was really pleased with the price/quality of each.
Sticker Anthology - didn't know what to expect of this but it is a beautiful hardcover thick book with decorated pages and lots of beautiful high quality stickers. I don't know how she will use it but it is lovely and i imagine finding these stickers on notes, cards, etc.
European wooden puzzle - mom hasn't done any of the 96 puzzles I have given her the last few years but she DID love one of these european wooden puzzles a friend gave her-- it's the type where all the pieces are in the shape of animals and other things. I think she'll love this one.
Looking forward to a beautiful day .. it's overcast now but it is supposed to be partially sunny and 82 deg.Thanks for all your suggestions and support! It is not the meal I envisioned but mom is looking forward to it and I think they whole day will be special and stick with her for years to come!
Funkyart
last yearAnd for the sweets lovers.. the cake I ordered is from a small italian bakery. Sponge cake drizzled with a champagne (or prosecco) simple syrup layered with whipped cream and custard. I asked for a design similar to the one below (from their website).. but cutting back on the kiwi to just accent the berry flower.
All of their cakes are beautiful.. and I love that they have the look of homemade but a little neater (at least neater than I would make!).
Funkyart
last yearlast modified: last yearFunkyart
last yearlast modified: last yearThank you all-- yes, it was a lovely day and thankfully both sisters are feeling much better.
I should be so lucky as to get her beautiful white hair, huh? It is gorgeous!
@party_music50 here is the sweater.. i show in the almond color so you can see the detail. I bought this color for my sister for christmas 2 yr ago so I already knew how thick and very soft it is.. mom much prefers grays
We also got these equally soft joggers.. I fell in love with them and bought a pair for each of my sisters also. They are not "ultra light" but they are ultra soft and warm. Note: They are in the Outlet so very limited sizes. Amazon had them in other sizes last week.Cozychic Ultra Light Ribbed Jogger
The other set I purchased (and previously shared here) was awful.. not all that soft and cozy so I will be returning it.Funkyart
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FunkyartOriginal Author