Another Garage Sale Find

Amanda and Paul really were here this weekend even though the only picture we have is the "birthday pose". It was so fun to have them even though it felt like they just got here and then they were gone!

Amanda and I went garage saleing on Friday and we went again Saturday along with Heidi and Larissa. The only purchase made on Friday was a Travel System that Amanda bought. A very nice stroller/carseat combination. And then Saturday's only purchase was this wicker set by me. The guy had $20 on the love seat and $20 on the set of chairs. I was looking at the love seat thinking I could paint it and make a new cushion for it. I was thinking about it as I wandered through the garage. I went back to look at the love seat again and he had put a $10 sign on it. I said, "You marked this down to $10?" He nodded. I said, "For that price, I can't pass it up, I'll take it." He said, "You can have all of it for $10." So I guess I got each piece for $3.33!! Of course I have a project to do now.

Happy belated birthday Jeff

Meet Oscar

Molly bought this hamster with four of her friends. They each will have it every five weeks. Sunday she will pass it on to the next owner. I'm wondering if it will actually make it back here in five weeks......

Herbed Pork Roast

Jen made this one year for my birthday and it has become a favorite over here. We don't add the mushrooms to the pork loin. Instead I strain the drippings and make a gravy and add the sauted mushrooms to the gravy. It is unbelievably good! (No, I'm not making it tonight. We are have Berry Stuffed French Toast and sausages for supper.)

HERBED PORK ROAST

1 boneless pork loin roast (3 1/2-4 pds)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup ketchup
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 teaspoon ground mustard
1/4 teaspoon each dried marjoram, thyme and rosemary, crushed
2 large onions, sliced
1 bay leaf
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced and sauted

In Dutch oven coated with nonstick cooking spray, brown roast over medium heat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Combine water, broth, ketchup, garlic and seasonings; pour over roast. Add onions and bay leaf. Cover and simmer over medium heat for 1 1/2 hours or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees. Add mushrooms; heat through. Discard bay leaf. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with onions and mushrooms. Thicken pan drippings for gravy if desired.

Yield 8-10 servings

Garage Sale Find

I was happy to find these two lounges at a garage sale for $5 each. We have several chairs with this wide heavy strapping. We were just commenting last week how tough these chairs are. The chairs we have are not loungers but we have had them close to 20 years. In fact Fred had just told me that if I ever find any chairs like them to buy them. I scrubbed them up today and we will enjoy them next summer.

Did you know our dog can read?

At least Kaitlin must think so. I ran up to make sure all the doors were shut before I take off and saw this note on Kaitlin's door, at Maggie's eye level.......She got in her room a couple of times and tore her garbage up. (She shut the door when she left for school but I think a certain little sister went in there to use hair stuff and forgot to shut it.)

Talking about the dog.......I think she has been really sneaky........I thought she was "trained" not to go on the furniture. Well twice now when I came home she was sleeping ON THE FOOT REST OF MY CHAIR!