Sunday Countryside

This morning, we stopped on the way back from a job, out into the country side and snapped a few photos..thought you might enjoy them....








it rained all last night and into early morning but as you can see, its nice now....blue skies with fluffy clouds..in the low 70s. Thought those of you who are in cold and snow might appreciate spring here in Southern California.....we are getting a few wild flowers and should be seeing alot more in the coming weeks...

Saturday

I forgot yesterday to include the Spanish style homes..the first one needs a little paint..I just love front courtyards ...



..back in the 1920s, the Spanish style was very popular...these are actually made from adobe and plaster...have a wonderful feel about them..very gracious. tile roofs, lots of iron work



We woke up to gray skies and rain this morning...just as the weatherman predicted...supposed to be a good storm...one of the weatherman says that all drought conditions across the country are gone...I don't know if that is true or not.....hope so......

Upland vintage homes

As I promised...here are a few photos of the nice vintage homes in Upland...we also noticed they had an historic downtown with antique shops which would be fun to visit...

















We really enjoyed our visit....the house we re keyed was a vintage one but had been heavily remodeled.....here is the front of it..We both prefer to keep with the original and just update what really needs to be...like plumbing, etc...but to each his own...the person who remodeled did a good job....it will be a lovely home when finished..

you can see all the French doors we had to re key..there were many more at the back also....nice front courtyard though....the house looks small from the front but its quite spacious inside...has one large master and a smaller room that could be a second bedroom..nice kitchen area and dining room too but as I mentioned..they must have run out of funds as it went back to the bank...not finished inside yet....a good investment.....all the main work was done, hardwood floors, granite counter tops and new cabinets....they even left blue prints for the new owner so they could finish....

I went to several estate sales yesterday...didn't find very much..a nice vintage oil lamp, and this pretty crocheted centerpiece


I have to get the hurricane top for the oil lamp..I collect them and will share one of these days...they are sure handy when the power goes out!

Mom's Recipe Box.....

Another vintage recipe..this one was originally from my paternal grandmother who sent us these bars every Christmas....along with rice krispie treats.......



Lemon O Nut Bars

Mix the following together..this is the cooky base
2 c. flour
1/2 c. shortening
1/4 c. brown sugar
Add a speck of milk (Grandma used condensed milk but I used regular and it works fine) so you can pack the mixture into a 13 by 9 inch baking pan....making a thin cooky base..
Bake this at 350 for about 10-12 minutes so its lightly brown..
Meanwhile mix the following together:
3 eggs, well beaten
2 c.brown sugar
1/2 t. salt
1 c. finely shredded coconut
1/2 c. raisins
1/2 c. chopped walnuts
2 T. lemon juice
1 t. grated lemon rind
Mix together and pour over the cooked cooky base..
Bake 25 minutes at 350....cook and cut into bars,,
These are so so good...I have to confess I ate too many of them...! They can be frozen also to have something when company comes over...great with coffee...

You can sure tell this recipes' been used!

My computer isn't working too well..I hope I didn't get a virus....I do have virus protection so don't know what the problem is....ran a diagnostic with no results to speak of...maybe its just getting old and worn out......
Tomorrow I'll try to post some of the pretty cottages we saw up in Upland.....that is if the computer is agreeable...and Old Sock is our private nicknames my friend Kay and I have for each other...one of my dearest friends..we've been friends since 6th grade...

Wednesday Dog of the Week. Reggie

This is Reggie..he is a Golden Retriever/Pit Bull mix.....his owner had to give him up due to financial problems...Reggie loves children and other dogs..and is very friendly. A well balanced dog, like Caesar Milan says....he's three and a half years old...and very healthy with all his shots, neutered, etc.....would be great for a family or a single person...he does need lots of exercise which would be great if you like to run.....you can see Reggie at the Sun City K9 Rescue


sorry this post is coming out so late..I got up early and went with Alan to re key a foreclosed house in Upland, Ca....very pretty area with lots of little cute cottages and vintage homes...lots of green trees along the streets too..I took lots of pictures so will post them another day...very tired this evening...the house we re keyed was one someone was trying to flip..they did alot of the expensive work, hardwood floors, granite countertops and new oak cabinets...so it would be a good buy for someone...it also had a guest house in the back that had alot of potential too plus it had a nice pool.....lots and lots of French doors which took time to re key....8 sets to be exact..phew!

Two headed Cat?

We came home yesterday to this....Tommy and Tuppence.....

Monday

Nancy just listed this runner she finished....great for the 4th and beyond..I really like it and only wish I had a little more in my Paypal account...you'll find this under Everything Else on her selling blog..Huggins Haven...she has two nice handmade quilts there too. All funds go towards Callie's heartworm treatment...which is expensive.....

I spent yesterday afternoon, weeding the side yard where our berry bushes and fig tree are...a bit of a job but it was nice getting out into the sunshine..our weather has been really nice, in the 70s most days and sunny..with rain here and there....it rained last night..My legs feel it today though...but I really want to get out and exercise more.....today I cleaned off our patio somewhat...got rid of a few things, cleaned and swept...

We got some bids last week on concrete repair...about 4 years ago, a construction company across the main street behind our house did blasting...which was a disaster.. blasting going on at all hours.....they closed off the street during the big blasting, rocks flew everywhere and the ground shook like an earthquake..our concrete cracked badly in areas..both in the backyard, side and the front yard. Some of the neighbors who had pools had the bottom of their pools crack..and one lady who was outside got hit by rocks...of course, there were alot of phone calls made to the main branch who ignored our complaints....so we've gotten together with others and are in a class action law suit...
Our lawyer goes to court this next month..fortunately, before the worst blast..Alan walked down to the field by our house and took a video....you can actually see rocks fly and the ground raise up....the concrete people say we need our big patio entirely redone..and its almost 60 ft. long and 20 ft wide...we had concrete poured out front for a RV parking area and that is cracked in two...so will have to be redone also.....
The blasting company is ignoring the lawyers letters but I think with all the evidence (alot more than just the video) we will win easily.....

Saturday..ducks!

I found this duck pattern in an old Workbasket magazine and thought they'd be fun as a candle mat..what do you think? had fun making it anyway....just in time for spring and Easter..I'm working on a second one with Easter eggs all around, each one different, my own design...

I padded this well so am thinking it would make a good hot pad for the table too....

We got up early this morning and drove up to Fontana which is about an hour trip to re key a rental house.....for a property management company...I am hoping to get more business this way.....quicker payment than the foreclosure realtors....it was a lovely ride...the hills and fields are so very green after all the rain we've had..it rained all last night....on the way home, we stopped at Costco and got a few things....had to be very strict and just get what was on the list...didn't stray too far off...but we did find some nice Agave syrup I've been wanting to try as a sweetener....I am going to experiment and see if I can use it making homemade granola for Alan.
This evening I made the Hamburger soup recipe and when Matt (our son) came in, he said how great the house smelled.....he ate a big bowl too along with a slab of cornbread.....

Friday

Nancy...who has a selling blog...found out that one of her dogs, Callie has heartworm..Callie is the brown dog on the left....she is putting all of her proceeds towards Callies vet bill....Nancy makes very nice handmade soaps, pincushions, market bags..my favorite (and I have ordered several from her) are her raggedy runners and candle mats....just let her know what colors you'd like when you order.....you can read more about Callie here

Mom's Recipe Box, Hamburger Soup

Its Thursday again and time to pull the box out...sadly I didn't get to make this wonderful hamburger soup this week as I intended...Mom found this recipe back in the 60s and I remember making it for potlucks at church..everyone asked for it especially.....in fact, I am sure some of my long time dear friends remember it fondly.....

Hamburger Soup

2 lbs. ground beef
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1/4 t. oregano and basil
1/8 t. savory salt
1 package dry onion soup mix
6 cups hot water
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
1 T. soy sauce
1 c. celery, sliced crosswise thinly
1/4 c. celery leaves, chopped
1 c. sliced carrots
1/2 cup split peas (dried)
1 cup elbow macaroni
Parmesan cheese

Cook and brown hamburger in the oil.... add celery, carrots..tomato sauce... pour water over all...
when carrots and celery are somewhat tender, add spices, dry onion soup mix, split peas and macaroni ...cook until all are done..about 20 minutes or so... Shake Parmesan cheese over at the table....if you don't have all the spices, just put in what your family likes...I think I'd put in some garlic as we really like it... this is really good served with some garlic bread and is a full meal......I think what makes it so good is the split peas but you could do alot of combinations with this basic recipe...I was just thinking another type of beans along with the split peas would be good, a can of kidney beans perhaps. Also browning some type of sausage along with the hamburger? Just depends on what you might have in the cupboard...

The other day we were re keying a foreclosed house and there was a nice lemon tree in the back yard..the fruit was going to waste so we brought back as many lemons as we could...next week, I will post some lemon bar recipes..and yes, I did (finally) find my grandmothers Lemon O Nut bar recipe I mentioned at Christmas time....so please be sure to check for the next Mom's Recipe Box post every Thursday...


We brought Tommy home and he's fine....now it will Tuppence's turn..the fees were quite reasonable and only cost us $67.00 which included his shots...I think more would adopt if the prices were lower..Tuppence will only be a few dollars more....well worth the longer drive....

Wednesday Dog of the Week- Sunny Girl

This is Sunny Girl...she is a Chihuahua mix...I think she looks like a little fox myself. She is so cute and very friendly, just like her name.....she's about a year old and ready for her forever home.....the vet says she's healthy, had all her shots and has been spayed...
Not recommended for homes with small children as she is very small....if you are interested in Sunny or would like more information about the Sun City K9 Rescue...just click here
The vet where the rescue takes their dogs has gone up in price.....still less than other places but if
you feel you'd like to help them out..they do take donations and its all tax deductible.

We took one of our new cats up to the vet to get him neutered......we've been calling around our area for a low cost vet or clinic...they are all full up until April....finally found one that would take him but is a longer 30 mile drive one way...I am glad to see how many are helping to stop the over population problem and only wish more vets would extend this service in the area..make the cost affordable for the average person....most wanted over $300 for females and $200 for males. We're getting the deed done for much less.



We've been working on the big move...Matt moved most of his things into Don's old room and we're getting the old room ready for our new boarder...he called and wants to move in a little early as where he's living is very far away from his school and work...we agreed so have to get things pushed up a little. Amazing how much dust and debris are under beds! Josh will be moving in this weekend, I think.....so only 3 days to get the room ready for him.....

Our weather has been absolutely fabulous...warm and sunny, in the low 80s....we started some tomato seeds in peat pots yesterday...and have the garden ready for roto tilling.....I did hear that we may be more rain soon....here is another photo I took yesterday....San Bearnadino Mountains..I feel blest to live in such lovely country..sometimes I get a little bogged down in our problems when I look out and see the mountains, sheep, blue skies and wildflowers...makes me feel so much better and know our problems are only temporary.....

We were called yesterday back to the big house that I posted about here....because someone had broken a key off in the front door lock. It takes alot of force to do this and was done intentionally so the house couldn't be shown.....it happens frequently..anyway...while we were there..I took a photo of the lake. It would be nice to live in such a place in some ways....I have heard they do stock it with fish....
We then traveled up to West Covina and took the longer route.....snapped a few photos of Lake Perris



All the hills here are covered in green after the rains we've had and they're predicting more next week...this will make for lots of wildflowers in a few weeks!



I know I promised more about the Arba Thayer house....I've been reading the family history and from what I've read..he was a ambitious man.....he fell in love with a neighbors daughter who was only 16 and he was 19.....his father tried to discourage him as she was from a poor family..but Arba was in love.....they married when she was 17 and he was 20....they didn't have much but worked hard...he realized that in the cities, birch brooms were used heavily and popular..the farm (her fathers) had acres of birch trees so putting two and two together, he went into the broom business....and made a small fortune. He bought land and before he was 35 had more than his father....happily, he and his father reconciled....

Gift Card Winner!

We got up early this morning and had 3 jobs to do....two were close by but one was about a 70 mile trip one way..got back late this evening so I am pooped! have a headache too but wanted to be sure to have the drawing for the gift card......
I used the random number generator here and drew the number 8 which is Nancy from Huggins Haven! Congratulations Nancy...! hope you will enjoy the card...you posted you wanted to send it to your daughter so it will make a nice and welcomed gift...

I am sure to have more Blog Spark giveaways in the future so please be sure to check back often... I hope more will like to enter..I realize not everyone has these grocery stores close by and with the weather as it is..who wants to drive very far?
I also occasionally have little guessing games and giveaways myself....with small prizes....

I took some photos of the countryside today..Perris Lake and the mountains so will post them tomorrow....too tired tonight....think I'll fix a cup of tea, read a little and then go to bed....

nite nite!

I wanted to wish you all a very happy Valentines day with your loved ones..Nancy from Huggins Haven sent me these two prim ornies...I thought they look good on this little wicker chair....
I am of a split mind over decorating style..I like both prim and also the shabby look....our family of young men and cats doesn't do well with white items like the shabby French country look, although I really like it.....its just not practical for us...I've got some new links under Decorating and Frugal living.....really nice eye candy....I will add more as I find them.
I was going through a shelf and found this nice set of Matyoska dolls which are now listed in my Inspiration shop...I bought these back in the late 70s at a country fair...there was a booth there of Russian items......we couldn't afford one of the larger sets but this one is very nice with 4 dolls...time of them to move on....

Tomorrow I will have the drawing for my $50.00 card giveaway and also a little more history of the Woodlands house....
I was also informed..I won a giveaway! from Southern Blessings.some nice hand lotion that we can really use..poor Alan..working with locks and such gets his hands very dry and cracked..hope this helps..he hasn't found anything that works really well yet. The Skin MD lotion has no scents or perfumes which will please him too. Thank you!

More about the house and a Giveaway

I was sent some old photos of the inside of the house..taken in 1922....there was a well in the kitchen area which is in the older area of the house...the quality of the photos are not good but you do get an idea of how people used to live...getting your water this way was an improvement from having to go outside, I guess.....they used an old quilt as a splash guard...it must have brought some color into the kitchen and was practical...


every bedroom had its own fireplace..no central heating in those days.....note the wallpaper and the latches on the door...thought this was interesting....there is a braided rug in front of the fireplace too...

To me it seems to have been a comfortable home, but maybe rather cold and drafty in the winter....we can sure appreciate our modern appliances, can't we? give me central heating and running water anytime!

I wanted to mention a nice giveaway that is going on.....it ends on Feb. 19th and here is the link
at Where the Rooster Crows...Holli is giving away some very generous goodies..including 7 round herb boxes. a pin keep, and more....

This is my gggrandfathers house in Upton, Mass...Arba Thayer Wood....my aunt and her husband are going to go there this fall and have been writing to the lady who owns the house....they are 10th cousins.....the house was built in 1855....I envy them for making the trip..and hope they take alot of photos......as this one is from 1922...my aunt is the last remaining member of my dad's generation..she was born to my grandmother late in life.....and is in her 70s.
The house is called "Woodside". As I love old houses...it will sure be interesting to see what they find out....they also plan on doing more genealogy visits to other areas including Niagara Falls where our ggggrandparents grew up before the Revolution.....should be loads of fun.....my aunt emailed me an entire section of a old genealogy book on the family too.......which I will print out...
I've been encouraging them to join Facebook but she says they are too old....I've found quite a few family members there....

Mom's Recipe Box

This is the first vintage recipe out of the box...about 20 years ago....Alan was diagnosed with diabetes...and Mom started collecting sugar free recipes.....This is one of the first she ever made and as I made it again...its quite tasty......he finished the pan in a day or so..I think I got one slice...... She got this out of Parade magazine that comes out in the Sunday paper...it was best served warm...but its good cold too..it has no sweetener except for the bananas and dates.....I think when I make it again, (and I will)...I'll add a little date sugar to it....date sugar is a natural sweetener and very very sweet...you can get it at the health food store.....

I beat the ripe bananas with softened butter...then added the eggs, vanilla and water..beat well...mix the dry ingredients, flour, baking soda and baking powder together, then add the dry to the wet...Stir in the chopped dates...then put all in a baking pan (13 by 9) it will be thick and needs to be spread...then you make a topping of more chopped dates, chopped walnuts and some flaked coconut on top..bake all in a 350 oven for 20 -25 minutes....



I was trying to think of what to call these vintage Thursday recipes....any ideas? If you'd like to join me..please feel free on Thursdays to post some favorite family recipe....maybe we can get something going? Anyway..I know you will enjoy this one and I plan on making it again very soon.