SunnyBlue's Profile

And I prefer cake-y brownies. Oh well.

3.You make unwise substitutions in baking. This is true of so many things in life, isn't it? You made me laugh! Elizeh.

I've never used a meat thermometer, and I am prone to over-work bread dough (but now I have a bread machine). I am scrupulously careful with eggs, and I'm not afraid to toss out eggs either---after a week or so, they are not "fresh" anymore. As a young bride and cook, I would forget to read all the way though the recipe before starting, but a few spectacular disasters broke me of that bad habit.

I'm surprised no one mentioned potato soup. It's my go-to soup, and kids love it.

The one and only time I tried to make chile rellenos, it was such a disaster that the dogs would not eat the mess I made. I haven't had the heart to try again, NATKAHN's recipe give me hope :)

My husband is sweetly, quaintly old-fashioned in that he thinks there should be a table cloth on the dining table. But if we get three days out of the table cloth, it is a miracle. So I made over sized place mats, he is satisfied with that.

And this seems to be a good time to mention table runners. Easy to make, easy to launder, and easy to iron.

That poster-sized photo could be from the happiest day of his life, or otherwise represent a good memory for the young man. That's healthy.

What a splendid space and your style is wonderful, but the red wall does not do it justice. I would treat the wall and glass shelves as a gallery space. I'd repaint the wall in tonal variations of the paint color on the other walls. Then I'd add tiny spot lights to draw the eyes around to particular things you'd like to display. All your favorite pretty things. And only one in red :) To complement to ornate fireplace, I'd hang a huge ornately framed mirror over that fireplace top (if it can't easily be removed). Or a large painting---even a print of something you love until you can obtain an original that you love even more. But something riveting.

The real joker in the deck is the space above the joist line and into the "rafters." Because the whole wall is somewhat unbalanced, you can work with it up by adding pottery, plants, and textiles (not all at once perhaps, but you can design a master plan), or you can have it closed off with wallboard, paint, et cetera. But your style and taste will undoubtedly morph as the the years go by, and you might like that space to play with.

With all the computer software available now, you can make all kinds of "changes" before you commit with a paint brush. I envy you---because this is going to be fun. Best wishes.

Yum! Fresh water chestnuts. How delicious :)

There are those who like packing crates, shipping pallets, and plywood. I am not one of them.

Fabulous.