Five Random Things Plus a Recipe!

Time for another "random things" post (otherwise known as 5 things happening in my world that would take me five weeks to write them all out as individual posts!)


1 - I have the perfect recipe for all those luscious homegrown red tomatoes you have been or will be picking and don't know what to do with! It is called Fresh Tomato Garlic Pasta and it is from a great cookbook my sister sent  me when she moved to Florida 20 years ago.

Simple to make with simple ingredients and it is SO good and fresh tasting. You have to make it ahead, in the morning of the day you want to eat it, so that all the ingredients have time to become delicious together.

Here is the recipe:

4 large ripe tomatoes, diced

5 cloves garlic, chopped

1 large sprig fresh parsley, chopped

1/2 cup chopped fresh basil

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/3 cup red wine vinegar

salt and pepper to taste

6 ounces mozzarella cheese, cubed

1 pound pasta, like penne

Parmesan/Romano cheese as garnish

The night before or early in the day combine all ingredients EXCEPT pasta and parmesan.

 Stir well. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours but not more than one day.

Stir once or twice while in fridge.

When ready to serve, prepare pasta. Coat with sauce; serve hot or cold with parmesan.

It is delicious both ways.

The final plate with penne pasta and romano cheese....

2 - It was finally warm enough for me to go watch my granddaughter Cassidy's baseball game. She is eleven and the only girl on her team, the Marion Knights. Her Dad is a coach and her Mom is the score keeper. So proud of her and how she holds her own with the boys. She plays third base or short stop. Here she is ready to smack the ball.

3 - I have been working on my garden, getting things planted in pots and putting all my new, fun garden things out. It has been slow going because of the cold weather but we are having high 70's - 80's now so I am playing catch up.

Here is a sneak peak of two of my new additions to my gardens this year.

My weathered door and garden hose wreath I made this year

A sink garden with white Bacopa and vintage plates



Once my yard and gardens are ready and done I will do a whole post on all of my new treasures!


4 - Huge score at my local Goodwill. It was another "thrifting on a whim" kind of day and I found so many things that I was there for an hour and a half while my frozen tilapia was melting in my car. It is grocery shopping day but the thrifting bug bit me hard! Some will go to my booth and others to my Etsy shop. I might have to keep the little fish.

 I need some help here. Does anyone have any idea what this cut glass, crystal beauty is? It is on a marble base with no way to wire it as a lamp. The fancy brass top screws off. I just had to get it but I don't know what to call it to even search it. I was asking customers at the Goodwill to help me out. No one knew. Help!

Since I first posted this, I found out that this stunning piece is a Scales of Justice. It should have a hanging scale on either side. After reading Betsy's comment about using this pretty crystal stand to hang necklaces, I had to try it. What do you think? I love it!

5 - How many pictures of cute kitties sleeping together do you really need?

Just one more.....

AnnMarie xoxo


I am linking up with these great blog parties:


Talk of the Town
Share Your Cup Thursday
Simple & Sweet Fridays
Vintage Charm
Thoughts of Home on Thursday
Home Sweet Home
Random Five Friday
Five on Friday
Pink Saturday
Happiness is Homemade
Dishing It & Digging It Link Party
Cooking and Crafting with J & J
Best of the Weekend

Last Day Finds

It really stinks to not feel good and have to miss opening day at one of the best barn sales around.


Not only that but have to wait till the last day to finally get there.


Oh, but it all works out in the end.

When I arrived Saturday morning, I was pleasantly surprised that it was half off day and/or $3 bag day.

I first spied three boxes of Shiny Brites for $1 each. That is all that fit in my bag! No deal there so I opted for the half price deal and filled the bag with other things. Why worry about getting the best deal when I am holding Shiny Brites for $1 a box?? A deal is a deal!

These will be used in my porcelain sink flower planter, to be featured in an
upcoming post.

I quickly filled my bag with two pillows and a stuffed cat made of old quilts, a Christmas tablecloth, two sets of Christmas napkins, an old light fixture, a jar of old bottle caps and four sweet saucers/plates. All the items are scattered throughout the pictures with other items from the second great sale I went to.

This year the barn sale had a tent with wooden items and furniture, all half price. This is an old dispenser for foil, wax paper, saran wrap and paper towels. The cutting edge is under each dowel and they are sharp. I am now minus the tip of my nail from discovering that!

available

This wooden piece was in there too. Not sure if it is a book stand, shoe stand, or a wall hanging for linens. There is no indication on it that it was ever hung so the nice lady there and I decided it must be for shoes.



At the second sale  I found these two plant stands.

I really want to keep them both but I need to keep filling my new booth!

The metal mailbox reminds me of my 1960's childhood home. The large ironstone pitcher has an inscription on the bottom of where it was found....in an abandoned house in my area back in 1969. I might have to keep it.

mailbox available

The jewelry  box is in excellent condition and I believe the hand mirror is Bakelite.



available

Buyers on Etsy seem to love the old wall mount outdoor lights. This black one is nice and rusty. I will clean it up but the rust is included! The other light was stuffed in my $3 bag. It is a double bulb wall mount utility light with a plug on it. I love the 60's style glass shade.





black house light available

This cute little chair was going to be made over for the owner's grandchildren. WHY?? If it didn't have chippy paint I would make sure to chip it.



The jar of old bottle caps has great vintage appeal. It was being sold with an antique wooden bottle capper. I just wanted the jar so in the $3 bag it went. It may be a keeper for my industrial display in my dining room.


I felt so much better having gone to these sales and finding great stuff, even on the last day. I can't stand knowing there are sales out there that I can't get to!


Now I have to decide what goes to the booth and what goes in my Etsy shop. And then there's deciding on what I keep for myself.


Such a dilemma!


I got my pickin' fix for the week and loved every minute of the thrill of the hunt.


Ya know what I mean?!


AnnMarie xoxo


I am linking up with these great blog parties:
"Anything Goes" Pink Saturday


Thrifty and Vintage Finds Link Party
Let's Talk Vintage
BTTCG Blog Party
Vintage Charm
Share Your Cup Thursday
Talk of the Town