Three years

It took me over three years to decide on a paint color for my bedroom.

 I have no idea why.

I've never had that problem before this house. In fact, I can usually walk into a room and know exactly what I want, but for whatever reason this room, more than any other, stumped me.

Maybe because it was yet another room painted brown?

Ugh.... what was with those people?

I thought about painting it white for awhile and then I vacillated between different shades of green and yellow. In fact, I painted one wall yellow, but I hated it, because it was just too bright and oddly enough made the room seem darker. 

That yellow wall stayed that way for a long time.

You can see it in this picture from when I started painting the room about a week ago:

Then I bought two cans of green, but I just couldn't commit to it.

I wanted my bedroom to be bright and cheerful, since it's a downstairs room (think basement) without a lot of light and I realized I just needed to find the 'right' yellow.

Did you know that yellow is one of the hardest colors to get right?

Trust me, it is.

One day, while shopping for something else at the hardware store, I found it.

THE yellow.

Finally, after all that time, I was able to commit to a color and I started painting it as soon as I could.

Here it is at the halfway point:

Now, it's finally finished and painted Whisper Yellow by Behr :)

Now for the tour......

This is one of my grandpa's childhood dressers:

My mom needlepointed this pillow for me, when I was a kid.

My great grandparent's cedar trunk:

The view I wake up to in the morning:

The other one of my grandpa's dressers:

An antique bed that my mom picked up years ago:

This is the matching side table to the dressers, a 1930s alarm clock, and my favorite flowers:

This side table is actually a chamber pot holder:

No, I don't use it!

I'm not THAT crazy.

Original 1930s lighting:

Looking towards the 'vanity room', you can see the pink and yellow go pretty well together :)

Gloria, here's that screen you asked about ;)

And that's it!

I have to admit, it was worth the wait, but I'm thrilled it's finally done :)

xo

rue

P.S.

Please join me over at Brenda's Cozy Little House for Tweak it Tuesday.

My favorite day

"All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast."

John Gunther

Sunday morning.

While everyone is still snoozing, including the dogs, I climb out of my cozy, warm bed, pull on my robe, put on my slippers and meander up the stairs. 

It's completely peaceful, with only the birds chirping outside.

I take a minute to enjoy the quiet and the view....

while I start up the percolator.

As the sun moves across the sky, Bubba and Mini, with bellies full from their breakfast, take advantage of the rays of sunshine making patterns across the floor.....

and I begin to make breakfast.

As the smell of sizzling bacon floats through the air, I can hear the house waking up.

I get the eggs out of the refrigerator.....

and start up the toaster.

Eventually, everyone is out of bed, wiping sleep from their eyes and smiling, because they realize what day it is.

Sunday.

It's always been a tradition in my family to eat a nice breakfast on Sundays. I guess, because it's usually the only day that no one is in a rush. 

Last weekend, it was a simple breakfast of bacon, eggs, and toast.

Other days it could be Eggs Benedict or french toast.

No matter what though, it's always a breakfast to eat leisurely in our jammies, while we reminisce about the past week and take time to enjoy each others company.

Yes, Sunday is most definitely, my favorite day of the week.

xo

rue 

"Everyday" silver

My great grandmother had two sets of sterling silverware.

One was for fancy occasions and the other was for everyday life.

Sadly, the everyday silverware sat in a cabinet unused, because I was only using the special silver during the holidays.

It does look sad, doesn't it?

Poor things.

One day, when I was looking at my stainless steel flatware, I thought it might be time for a change.

After all, my daughter would be moving out soon and would need something to eat with, right? 

I'd be giving it to her eventually, so why not shine up that old "everyday" set and use it like my great grandmother did.

So, I went to work....

and shine it did!

Doesn't it look happier?

The pattern is Lotus by Wallace and was made in 1933.

Now it sits in its new home, ready to use.

I don't know if it's my imagination or not, but I think the food tastes better now.

My philosophy has always been....

use things the way they were meant to be used. 

This was just another step in the right direction ;)

xo

rue

Dog Barf Burritos

Yes, I know what you're thinking..... 

Dog Barf? What kind of name is that?! 

Well, at least those of you that were brave enough to click on this post. 

This recipe happens to come from an old family friend named Doug. 

Legend has it that one day, when he was a kid, his mother was cooking dinner and he looked into the pan and said, "That looks like dog barf!"

Eventually, he gave the recipe to my mom and she kept the name.

My family and their friends have an odd sense of humor.

His last name is blanked out, because some years later he became the mayor of a small town in California.

Yes kids, you're looking at a celebrity's recipe.

Well, kind of ;)

Some of you may remember this recipe from my old blog. My apologies if you tried to make it and the rice never seemed to cook as fast as the recipe said it would.

Mom "forgot" to tell me and my brother that "rice" meant Minute Rice and not regular long grain rice.

Of course, we didn't figure this out until about 2 years ago when she was making it and we noticed the box of rice she was using.

I think she likes to do things like that, even though she says it's an innocent mistake. 

Sure mom. 

Whatever you say.

Anyway, it really is as easy as it looks and I swear it tastes better than it sounds. Even picky kids will eat it.

Well, except my daughter Annie, that doesn't like ground beef. 

Weird kid.

Just brown the meat and throw in the rest of the ingredients. I add a little salt and pepper to mine.

Stir it up.

Let it simmer for 30 minutes.

And the finished product should look like this:

I guess you can see why a little kid would come up with the name.

Or not.

Lastly, wrap a scoop of it up in a warm tortilla and serve.

You can add all kinds of things to it, like cheese, sour cream, hot sauce, etc., but I like mine plain most of the time.

Sorry about the bite taken out, but we were already eating when I remembered to take a picture.

I promise I'll get better at this.

Hey, at least this time I took an after picture.

Don't judge me!

;)

xo

rue