Life in the Middle Age Lane

To save a few hundred dollars (was going to buy an accent chair)  I decided to make a seat cover for one of my kitchen chairs that I keep in the guest room. I love this pattern I found at Joanne's and regardless of the bright colors not matching completely with the comforter, I liked it and thought it just made the paint on the ceiling and walls pop. My mother gave me a sewing machine years ago when she worked at Wal-Mart.  Back in the day, when she was in better health.  Since then I have made small projects around the house using YouTube tutorials or the internet. One big project was Emilio's school quilt that you can read about by clicking here .  I have never had much patience.  I have half-a** wallpapered a bathroom, started projects that I could not finish and painted rooms that should have been torched with better results.    But with time I have slowed down to learn the lessons I was missing before.   I have taught mysel...

John has been traveling a lot lately and Shelby has also been away so what am i to do????  Well, everything that I have wanted to do and more! I always wanted to have some great wreaths for the front door.  The entrance to my home has an adorable courtyard with a fountain/firepit and wreaths along with plants that won't die on me would really make this area pop. So back in November I purchased two burlap wreaths and decorated them for Thanksgiving.  This is what they originally looked like. Since our summers last a lot longer than our falls.  It bothered me that these beautiful burlap wreaths were just wasting away in my closet top shelf as my front doors sat bare. So I grabbed my Hobby Lobby Coupon and headed over to buy my deco mesh ribbons, flowers, and summer accents. This is what I came up with. Front door final result: Tada!!!! Nothing was hot glued on so that when I grow tired of this arrangement I can add or subtract so...

This weekend was a birthday weekend.  And another very hectic weekend especially for my lovely husband.  After spending an entire week in Vermont he arrived at 10:30 am which meant he  had to be at the airport at 3 AM!! Add the fact that he came home to a small dinner party for Emilio.  He grilled our food and enjoyed our family without a complaint.  Thank you honey for being the best husband and father! One of our favorite cake recipes is the Scotch Cake.  The recipe comes from Tell Me More by the Junior League of Lafayette, Inc. cook book.  If you ever come across this book, buy it!!  It has really some amazing recipes.   I highly recommend this super moist, chocolate cake, with the perfect amount of sweetness that does not overpower the chocolate flavor. Sift the following ingrediants: 2 cups flour 2 cups sugar 4 tablespoons cocoa Mix by hand: 1 cup water 1 stick margarine 1 stick butter Heat until the ...

This is my troop. We have a total of 9 exceptional girls.  And let us not forget their moms.  The moms who have driven them to meetings, events, cookie booths and who have also volunteered their time and making camping and other excursions possible. We have undergone so many changes in the past 11 years.  Many girls have come and gone. From the girls in the above picture only two remained with the troop.  This year we visited the Caverns in the hill country, only 5 girls from this picture are with our troop. Our annual Christmas party, we did a blanket exchange for this party.  Most girls made their own blankets to exchange. After finishing our 5th grade year we headed to the birthplace of Juliet Gordon-Lowe, the founder of Girls Scouts of America.  It was a very memorable trip for all. This is Shelby's 2nd troop 11012.  I still remember how much our troop leader Melanie K, really made the meetings fun and hands on. ...

What a day yesterday was!  You know it's a good party when everyone is talking about next  year's Fourth of July party before even this celebration is over.  My husband out did himself again! We had a great turn out over 30 guest.  Mostly neighbors.  John's firework show started off with 4 Cremora bombs.  I was fortunate enough to have my finger on the button the minute the explosions went off. The heat from the blast took everyone's breath away and unlike the first time he did this, no one called the police.  Everyone kind of knows if they hear an explosion it's just John getting ready for the Fourth or New Years. Shelby had two friends from Dallas drive down for the week.  They were great at helping wire things up and made John's job a lot easier.  (Many hands do light work!)  Shelby loves pyrotechnics almost as much as her father.  She helped run the show as well.   Emilio was the perfect host and ...

Came back on Sunday from one of the longest rides of my life.  John and I rode to Austin, TX in 90 degree weather for the Republic of Texas Motorcycle Rally. Every time I wear this helmut I feel like that little depressed pessimistic robot from "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy".  I only got popped once by a kamikaze bug on my cheek.  Boy does that hurt!  You gotta love Texas!  Our friends took us on a windy beautiful scenic drive down Devil's Backbone near  New Braunfels on Saturday and we stopped to wet our whistle at the local tavern.  The sign above was displayed on the fireplace.  Which had a stone the shape of the devil's face.  Very creepy! Another pit stop since we were so closed to Gruene, TX was Gruene Hall.  For as long as I have lived in Texas I have never been to this historic hall.  It was more touristic than I imagined.  Oh well! I still  enjoyed my Shiner! Another stop, ...

I have started to re-do the guest bedroom.  I still need to reupholster the headboard and get a new bedskirt.  But at least you can get an idea of what I am going for here.  I found this great antique bookcase circa 1920's in Tomball for a really good deal. The minute I saw it I knew it would be perfect for this room.    I I have had these two ottomans for years and decided to reupholster them with fabric I have and just touched up the paint on them.  I love how they turned out.