Halloween Wreath

It looks better in person.  There are black and purple roses with glitter on them to the left. 

I have just pulled out all my Halloween stuff.  I threw all my outside stuff away.  It was so old and worn and to cutesy because when I first bought it all my daughter was very young and was afraid of scary decorations.  I want my front porch to look like a witches kitchen or whatever you would call were she makes her potions.  So far all I have done is put up this wreath that I made last year.  I think it turned out pretty good.  I bought a premade bow because of  many reasons.  The main one being that Micheal's has so many to choose from.  I really like that store.  The Halloween decorations this year are so pretty.  They look Victorian but more sparkly and shining.  People who read my blog know how shiny will get my attention every time.  My mother is the queen of holiday decorating with wreaths.  As her health deteriorate, it still allows her to make her house festive.  They are so lightweight.  My mom showed me this trick.  I tied fishing line around the top of the wreath.  I opened the door and put a thumbtack at the top in the middle.  Even though the door is steel, in the middle is something softer maybe wood or fiberglass.  Then I just played with the length of the fishing line until it hung perfectly in the middle of the front storm door window.  When it comes to packing away the wreath, just hang it on a hook in the back of a closet or whatever. 

Catelyn Stark Doll

I have taught myself to sew.  I am not really very good at it but it does not stop me.  This winter I want to make a castle and dolls of the Stark family.  I have not started the castle yet but here is my first Stark doll.  They will not work in the castle but I think I might still make the whole family in this size doll anyways. 

Fried Green Tomatoes and French 75

Only in my world do these two co-exist.  Someone at my work left some huge, perfect green tomatoes.  Since I almost always get to work early (not because I am dedicated I car pool) I called dibs (Chicago term) and brought them home.  We started out with six, but procrastination left us with two because they turned red and they ended up in my husbands tasty Pico De Gallo.  While I cooked the tomatoes,  I started to think about the history of both of these wonderful culinary treats.  My Italian Grandfather use to make fried green tomatoes, which made me wonder why he knew how to make a southern dish.  I did some research and it turns out that Jewish/Italians not sure if that means Jewish and Italians brought the dish here to America.

 Now I have been only drinking French 75's for only a few years.  I like gin so I was looking in my drink recipe book for gin drinks and this one jumped out at me.  I have always loved champagne and this drink has both.  As soon as I read the recipe I was like the guy who invented this is a frigging genius and why didn't I think of this?  My only complaint of champagne is that you start to get sick before you get buzzed.  This is the perfect solution.  I guess the French and English both like to take credit for inventing the French 75.  Both can agree that it was during World War I.  The French like cognac and the English like gin.  Both agree with me champagne needs to be fortified.

Fried Green Tomatoes
2 big green tomatoes I sliced thin but I think I will cut thick next time
1 1/2 cup flour
3 eggs beaten
2 or 3 cups Panko bread crumbs
Italian seasoning eyeball it
Parmesan cheese eyeball it (hubby's idea and a good one)
Salt and Pepper
Cooking oil heated to between 350 and 375
Mix the bread crumbs, Italian seasoning, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper
take a slice of tomato and coat it in flour then dip in egg and then coat in Panko mix.  Then do the rest.
Then fry a couple of minutes on each side.  You will want to eat right away but they taste better if they sit for a minute or two.

French 75 (my lazy version)
1 1/2 oz Gin
1/2 or 1 oz Margarita mix
Crushed ice
Shake and put in tall glass with some more crushed ice
Pour champagne over
I like cherries so I put some in along with some of the juice with mine

Needful Things!

I was at my mothers house for four days straight.  One thing about seniors is they have all these different catalogs.  I love them.  Who knew that there is a gadget to jack up your mattress or pull your toes backwards (which is in more then one catalog).  I looked up the ones I liked to see if they had web sites.  Here is my list for you early Christmas shoppers.  They are in order by my personal favorite's (not my affordability).  Happy shopping or just  browsing.

 


http://www.magnoliahall.comThese are all I can afford from this one

http://www.victoriantradingco.com (cute)

http://www.gaelsong.com 

http://www.designtoscano.com

http://www.artandartifact.com (I have no place for these but I like them)

http://www.sourcecollection.com

http://www.vermontcountrystore.com (I want to buy lots and lots of candy from here but my weight and husband stop me)

https://www.olddurhamroad.com (for the white garden)

http://www.seventhavenue.com (there use to be an outlet near my house where I could snag a great deal)

http://www.whatonearthcatalog.com


http://www.solutions.com (in the catalog there was something I wanted but I could not find it on line)

http://www.touchofclass.com (I am the first to admit that some of their things are a bit over the top and maybe even tacky but I love a romantic bedroom)