Yard Sale

I love Saturdays in the spring and summer; sunshine, lemonade, and yard sales! There are two major yard sales that I am hitting up this weekend and this is what is on my treasure list. I hope that I can find some great treasures!

Honesty is the best policy

1. A paintable rug
2. Large wicker laundry basket
3. Plates, Platters and Pedistals (as always)
4. Rope (for a future project)
5. Mirror
6. Outdoor decor for the new patio
7. Art for indoors and out

A new habit that I have developed is checking out my wishlists and pins to remind myself of things that attract me and ideas of to re-purpose thrifted finds. Now if you haven't been using pinterest you really should. It helps free up some space on my computer from saving images from the internet and has great organization options. But most important you get to see other stylish people's collections to help inspire you.

Uneployment

I feel a little selfish to say that I quit my job a while ago, ok a long while ago but leave me alone! Selfish because there are always so many people looking for work and I had a job, but left it. For good reason though I was so morbidly unhappy that I decided that it would be better for my health to simply cut the ties and move onto newer and better opportunities.

 Freesias! And some leftover roses that are a little dead, but I liked the colour combination. I love the citrus scent they give off and that I had a chance to use my new frog.

A few weeks later, ok more than a few, and I haven't had much progress, sure I have applied to lots of jobs and have had a couple of wonderful interviews but nothing has come out of them. I have always wanted to have my own business and this might seem like the perfect time but for some reason I am caught up on the name. Nothing works, nothing is memorable, nothing is good enough. Now this might sound like a whole lotta excuses but trust me I am very good a procrastinating. Really I am, ask anyone. So anyone reading this blog who may know something about naming things, or knows someone who went through the same thing or maybe you have suggestions for how I may find my path let me know!

Rhubarb Mania

I can't believe that after all of my excitement on rhubarb I stall. So although there has been a crazy long wait here it is, all of the lovely things I made with my rhubarb!

    Roasted Rhubarb Tart with Gingered Cream 

I used this recipe for the pastry cream and added some ginger to the milk while it steeped and then left it in until straining. The crust is the same dough as the pie pictured below and it was brushed with egg wash and sprinkled with lots of sanding sugar. The sugary crunch is one of my favourite things about pies.

    Rhubarb Pie 

Made with my Grandma's recipe, similar one here. The filling is made with chopped rhubarb and tossed with vanilla extract, lemon and orange zest sugar and flour. Combine them all to make a slightly sandy texture and check for sweetness. Next time I make a rhubarb pie I will measure!

    Preserved Rhubarb with Vanilla. 

I made a medium syrup 1part sugar to 2 parts water and added some lemon zest and a vanilla bean scraped and sliced into strips. I packed the jars full of cut rhubarb and added the syrup and then processed for 12 minutes. I plan on letting these sit for a month or two (depending on how long I can wait) and then make a tart with them or serve them over really good ice cream.

 

 Rhubarb Nectar with Vanilla

 

Wow, rhubarb nectar is so great! And look at that colour! I was luck enough to find really red rhubarb that has made the most beautiful colour nectar. I used this recipe and added a little bit of vanilla and the leftover syrup I had from the preserves. Already I have made some soda by adding soda water to a few tablespoons of the nectar. It was so refreshing and light that I am making plans for punch.