Kitchen Window

My kitchen window  looking out towards our side yard. 

I spend many, many hours each day at the kitchen sink and looking out this window. Why not fill it with things that make me happy and fill my heart with love?

Starting at the top, you'll notice the hanging bats. These were made following these directions from Martha Stewart's website.  I loved them too much to hang them on the porch so I hung them here in the window where they slowly sway and rotate.

Further down on the window I've hung two Halloween necklace crafts that our oldest daughter had made a few years ago. I love their imperfections.

Lined up along the window sill are 8 Fiesta Ware cups and saucers. This was a gift from my mother-in-law a few months back and I just couldn't stand keeping them tucked away in a cabinet. I love their cheerful colors.  At the start of fall, I didn't want to put them away for the season so I draped some leaf garland around them and placed my Halloween candle things, and my old dollar store crow, on top.

I love this window. As I said earlier, I spend a lot of time here. I think the reason I love it the most is because I get to watch my oldest daughter get on and off the bus from this window. When she's waiting for the bus, she will swing in the over-sized swing hanging from our huge black walnut tree.

"Secret Recipe" Chili

I've always found it fun to see the many ways people make chili. So here's my "secret recipe chili". My oldest daughter has always referred to it as "Mom's' Secret Recipe Chili" but it's really no secret.

2 or 3lbs of ground beef (depending on how meaty you like it)
2 cans of light red kidney beans
2 cans of dark red kidney beans
1 can of black beans
3 cans of stewed tomatoes
1 medium can of "Brooks Chili Mix"
1/2 C of Penzey's Chili 9000 seasoning
1T of garlic salt
1/4 C dried minced onion (or 1/2 C fresh minced onion)
yesterdays left over corn (Optional)

1. Brown ground beef with 1/2 C of Penzey's Chili 9000 seasoning, garlic salt and onions. (Or chili seasoning mix of your choice - but I warn you... it won't be as good!)
2. Drain & rinse the light red kidney beans, dark red kidney beans and black beans. Add to crock pot.
3. Add 3 cans of stewed tomatoes to crock pot.
   
4. Add 1 medium can of Brooks Chili Mix to crock pot.
5. Add cooked ground beef mixture to crock pot. Mix ingredients.
6. (Optional) Add yesterday's left over corn. Mix and set crock pot to low for 6-8 hours.
   

Tomorrow, I'll make a chili 5-way with the leftovers. Adding spaghetti, fresh chopped onion, shredded cheese and ketchup!

Mr. Spooky Ooky

Prior to the twins, I had these things called time and energy. I had made these tombstones out of large sheets of Styrofoam insulation, a Dremel, and various paints.
It was a long, messy project that took weeks to make three.


This was our first Halloween in our first home. You can see the 3 gravestones I made and the monument (far right) that Super-Hub made.



We also made our first Mr. Spooky Ooky. He's a Styrofoam manequin head purchased from Hobby Lobby, some chicken wire, a broom stick, some zip-ties and old sheets. First Mr. Spooky Ooky was stolen directly from our side yard. We had him lit up with a blue spotlight that made him appear to glow in that creepy "night vision" green color.

Last year we didn't make a new one - too sleep deprived from the twins - but this year we made Second Mr. Spooky Ooky and attached him securely to the front porch. :) We live on a busy street and enjoy watching people drive by look at him since he looks very real.

I am easily amused.