It's like...

Salt & Pepper
Lucy & Ethel
Chocolate & Peanut Butter
Laverne & Shirley
Fred & Barney
Bread & Butter
Sponge Bob & Patrick

That's what it is for my best friend & me!! We met 21 years ago, on our first day of freshman orientation, in college! We are still the best of friends. Even with the "big pond" Lake Michigan between us!!

So today Greg, the girlies & I have loaded up the sexy mini van, & are right now traveling down the road!! I am looking forward to a weekend away...some good food, some yummy drinks & lots of fun.

We often talk about taking the leap over the "big pond", making a home closer to each other.
Our husbands have many things in common, first & foremost drumming. They have become great friends too (I'm so glad, cause I'd hate to have to leave the husband home while I go to visit ).

While they are off doing man cave things, my best friend & I would be siting in rockers on the back porch sipping our Sangria's or Mojito's, watching the kids play & "catching up"!!

Ahhh, maybe someday!!

I found this on Pinterest, it pretty much sums it up...our friendship!




via Pinterest via postsecretarchive .tumblr.com

I CANNNOT WAIT TO SEE HER & HER FAMILY!!!

--Jeanette using BlogPress on iPhone

I would share what I did today...

But then you really may think this is turning into a cooking blog...oh heaven help you if it did!!

The Hubs took the work day today, as he's doing some monkeying w/ his iPhone & the ios5 upgrade. So I got to stay home w/ the little'un, as she doesn't go to Kinder on Tuesdays & Thursdays.

We started out w/ crafts, record playing, coloring & laundry. Lunch of a grilled PB & chocolate chip sammy for her. A grilled cheese & Chalula sammy for moi!!



After lunch we did nail painting, movie watching & reading!

Momma baked some apple muffins while the girlies were @ grandma's house....they were actually baked apple donuts from the "Nerdy Baker"'s blog (http://nerdybaker.wordpress.com/2011/09/13/oven-baked-apple-donuts/) they are delish.



Although, surprise surprise....neither one of the girls wanna eat them.

The girls came home for dinner, of which they are complaining loudly right now as I ignore them and type away as if what they say doesn't bother me (to be honest it does...)



What is there to complain about really!?!? Chicken, 4 cheese risotto, mixed veg & the "awful" muffins. PUH-LEASE!!! how much more child friendly can it get!?!?

I'm about ready to give up....good thing the Greg man is coming home! He always likes my cooking!!




--Jeanette using BlogPress on iPhone

Change is a good thing...

Especially life changes...well, most of the time anyway.

Two things that have happened this year that have made a great impact on me and the blog.
1. GP (Grandma Patty) moving out of our house into a nursing home, and then passing away at the end of June.
2. The girls turning 5 and 8...getting more mature and independent. Not to say they aren't instigators of the insanity, but less so.

So I have taken it upon myself to change the blog address and blog name. It may not be what is easiest...I will have to redo a lot of work getting the word out about the blog and hoping readers don't lose track of me!

The Frumpy House, is the name of my etsy shop. Don't think that this will turn into a blog promoting my shop, oh no! That will continue to be a part of it, but it will continue to be about life in the Frump's house. Our ups, downs, laughs, tears, in and outs...it will definitely still share the craziness!

Yet, I hope that it will be a fun read, a relaxing, challenging and somewhat crazy peek into  my life as a wife, mom, vintage finder...and all around cook and bottle washer!

Thank you all for the last 2 years of reading. The rants, the whining, the shining moments of our little life in the country...I hope you will continue on this journey with me!

Stop by, read a bit, chat with me...we love company @ The Frumpy House. I hope you'll come often!

~~~Love, the Frumpy Mum
Jeanette

Fancy...

Tuna casserole!

Of course I don't want you readers to think that this is going to become one of those wonderful, drool inducing baking or cooking blogs. It's not...I'm a 1/2 fresh, 1/2 canned kinda cook!

Well, since I was fighting a migraine yesterday I couldn't even wrap my head around what to fix for dinner. Quick fix, text Greg & ask him what he wants...he comes back with Tuna Noodle casserole! Easy enough...

I though cannot leave a simple dish alone...I have to "fancy" it up! This is how I made our dinner last night. Open fridge & some cans...ad them to noodles, tuna & cream of mushroom soup!!

Wanna see list of ingredients?? Here goes...

No egg noodles, had tri color rotini...check! Get that boiling on the stove.

1 can of white tuna in water...check! Dumped that into my Pyrex casserole dish.

1 can cream of mushroom soup...fat free natch, cause I'm soooo about healthy eating! *dripping sarcasm here*

Opened fridge, grabbed: opened package of shredded Romano cheese, opened package of gorgonzola cheese, jar of roasted garlic. Dumped the cheese in & put about a tablespoon of the garlic in.

Opened spice cabinet, grabbed: black pepper, seasoned salt & onion flakes (I would usually use fresh onion, but I didn't want to dirty a pan sautéing them).

Then I grabbed a can of mushrooms from the pantry & sour cream & chive Pringles, cause I didn't have chips...

I mixed in all together in the casserole dish when the pasta was cooked & drained. Topped it w/ the crushed Pringles & drizzled a couple tablespoons of butter on top.

Popped that beauty in the oven until it was browned & bubbly @ the edges!

The girls said it smelled delicious, but they wouldn't eat it. Greg gave it two thumbs up! Ah, the science of a well made casserole!! Can't wait to see what I have in the fridge next time!!




--Jeanette using BlogPress on iPhone

We like to eat...

Home made or out on the town. We like to eat! There is nothing like going on a road trip and finding a new place to eat, or being out on the town running errands and going to a family favorite.

I especially like places that are reminiscent of bygone years...the diners, the drive ins...or just the small town restaurant that has vintage memorabilia.  Here are three places we've been to in the last 3 months....hope you enjoy, even if you can't taste the food!

Rosie's Diner....yummy! I had the Mediterranean omelet that day. Usually, I have their Cobblestone French Toast. This diner car and 2 others were placed here, one serves as the main diner, then there is the ice cream shop, and the other the bar.  Mini golf out back! Very retro, as most of the insides are original!

This is a new place we tried one night while out running errands. They were originally a drive in in the 1940's, the neon sign is the original Pixie Drive In sign. The speakers in the bottom picture were the original speakers they hung on the cars....now they are hooked up to the juke box and hang in every booth. Liyah thought it was pretty cool to sit with Elvis and Marilyn (altho' I'm pretty sure she doesn't have a clue who they are).

Greg and I had a day away last week and went north to a small lakeside town called Manistee. We enjoyed the view, the ship coming in with coal from across the pond, and some beautiful skies and water. We, of course, hit up a couple thrift stores and met some people while we were out and about. A couple people recommended a local place called The Bungalow. Famous for their steaks and burgers. Greg had the fish sandwich & I always go for the Reuben sandwiches (I have yet to find one as good as Jason's Deli has in Murfreesboro, TN). The tables were all inlaid with pictures and news clippings about local history...I love that kind of stuff!

What kind of places do you like to eat at? What catches your interest when you're looking for a new place to eat? Retro, kitsch, diners, themed restaurants?!

Cheers! to all who eat good food and enjoy!

I am a One Pot Wonder!!

Don't mean to brag or nothin', but when it comes time to cook some dinner or any meal for family/friends I am a One Pot Wonder!!

You know, we have no electric dishwasher in the Frumpy House...so keeping dishes to a minimum on most days is high on my priority list! As my parents used to say, our dishwasher has a kick starter...we are working hard at getting the girlies to do more chores around here.

So today I knew that my dad and Greg would be replacing the roof on our back porch (the one that blew off in the furious storm). Mom gave me some turkey sausage, and I was gonna make a pot of soup for everyone's lunch.

A little this, a little that...that's how I cook, and I do it all in one pot! See here...

Step 1: the right sized pot...my biggest was called for today as we were gonna have 2 of my cousins down for the day also!

Step 2: chop onion, garlic & put them in the pot w/ your sausage (or chicken or burger or whatever your meat would be). Cook it up until the meat is done.



Step 3: while that is cooking, chop your raw veggies. Like I said, I don't measure...just decide the amount of each that you will want.


Step 4: open your cannage...today I used Italian seasoned diced tomatoes, diced tomatoes, canned pinto beans & a small can of tomato sauce. Along with about 4 of those carrots & the potatoes.

Step 5: put any other canned or frozen veg in after those have been added. I had peas & corn in the freezer.


Step 6: put enough liquid in your pan to cover the fresh & frozen veggies while they cook. I poured in 1/2 a box of chicken broth & 1 tomato can full of water....see how nifty I am about not dirtying dishes, who needs a measuring cup!!


Step 7: stir it all together bring to low boil. Cook until the fresh veggies (carrots & potatoes in my pot) are cooked to your preference. Personally, I DON NOT like mushy potatoes in my soup.


Final step in this One Pot Wonder meal....set the table and eat already!!!!

If you have leftovers like I did today...put some in a jar and send it home with your company, or stick it in your fridge! Quick & easy lunch during your work week!!


Lunch was sooooo good, and Lauryn did the dishes....she really shouldn't have been whining about doing them either, there could've been a LOT more for her to do!! She doesn't know how nice her momma really is!!!!!

--Jeanette using BlogPress on iPhone

I was thinking....

That I would do a little repurposing on a fun thrift find today. Now, I can't make up my mind...that's not at all unusual for me,heh!

Quick backstory, Wednesdays are the one day of the week that Greg & I have totally to ourselves (well, between the hours of 8 am & 3 pm). So, today we thought we'd take a road trip...which for us is code name for thrifting!

We went to Manistee, about 2 hours north, on Lake Michigan. Found a GW on the main drag & stopped...natch!

Found some fun records...

Asked if there were any other thrifts in town...directed to a Salvation Army just up the road. Good shopping day there...records .10 & books .25. Yep, you read that right...

I couldn't resist....digging, digging, digging!! Makes me HAPPY!

Saw this box full of hard covered, beautiful colored books; "The Family Creative Workshop" Published in 1975.



Can you compute!? Instead of $24, I paid only $6!!! SCORE X infinity!!

Here was my thought...I'll use these beautiful book covers & make journal/art sketch pads. There are 24 books, all wonderful designs.


Here's a sample of 6 covers.



A closer shot of another! Gorgeous huh!!

Now, here's the conundrum...I like what is in these...awesome info on crafts, design, homemade goods, etc.



Stitching techniques....hibachi cooking...wine making...building a kayak (not kidding!). It's in there!

SO...
Do I keep them as a set? Add them to my library? Pull them apart & keep what I like for reference (in a notebook or file)?
Help me people...

--Jeanette using BlogPress on iPhone

Oh what a weekend!!

I'm tired, cranky & not feeling too good...enough of that tho'!

This week I had the extreme privilege of removing the window a/c's...didn't figure we needed 'em since the mornings have found the house in the mid 50's (brrr).

As a few readers know, we are country living folk. We often see, and catch wildlife. I snap pics of wildlife (inside & outside the house, depending on who's home). I tweet about wildlife. I blog about wildlife...yes, even the big stinky kind!

Well, for most of our summer we have been crazed with trying to figure out what a noise outside the back door is.

My parents, being the original country living folk, heard it one night when they were here. "It's a tree frog" "Oh, that's just a tree frog" they would say.

But people, I mean this was LOUD! it was a funny chirpy, type noise...we (the suave, worldly, Internet educated grown ups that we are) were not convinced...we were not!!

Then I found this big guy! Yep, hiding under the A/C in the back window...
Who'da thunk it (well, besides the parents)!



Please, excuse the windowsill, it's on the list along with the carpets & the windows!




Pretty sure I've never seen a frog with cammo before...but it must work, we couldn't find him!!



See those froggy fingers!? Yep, just like little suction cups...

We kept him until the girls got home from school...then they lovingly placed this "cutie" out in the front woods on another tree!

All in all...it's been just a tiny bit quieter around here...not noticeably so...truthfully, it's never quiet around here....


--Jeanette using BlogPress on iPhone