YUM, YUM...BBQ

When it comes to cooking, I am a definitely A REAL RETIRED HOUSEWIFE OF FLORIDA...I would rather make reservations than make dinner.  I was inspired to dust off my cooking skills by a recipe for Rum Ribs.  I got the recipe from a friend, Dawn.   The original recipe was from her mother, Nona.   Dawn talked about serving the ribs for a dinner party and they sounded so good!  It was also convenient that pork ribs were on sale and I had invited my Mom and sister, Denise, over for dinner on Mother’s Day

Here’s the recipe

And the ingredients

The recipe calls says to line a pan with 2 layers of aluminum foil.  I had some cheap foil, so I put down 3 layers  But let me tell you…3 layers of cheap thin foil doesn’t equal 2 layers of quality thick foil.  And I didn't learn that lesson until it is all over and I was trying to clean up the pan.  I have already bought some quality heavy duty foil for the next batch.

Brian was designated the resident “butcher” and cut up the ribs.

I covered the pans and put them in to cook for 45 minutes.  I doubled the recipe because the ribs were sale and we like leftovers.

After the first round of cooking,  off came the top foil and on went a basting of the yummy sauce.  

About every 15 to 20 minutes, Brian would turn the ribs and baste with more sauce.  By this time, my Mom, Denise and I were playing cards and we were too busy to do more than yell when the timer went off.  Hey, there was drinking and gambling going on.  Besides, it was Mother’s Day.

All the hard work was worth it.  The ribs were great.  I did break away long enough to cook  green beans and scalloped potatoes…along with rolls, great side dishes for the bold, sweet flavor of the sticky ribs.

 

For dessert I made a family favorite, Limeade Pie,

   6 oz. frozen limeade (thawed)

   1 tub of Cool Whip

  1 can sweetened condensed milk

   Graham cracker crust

Combine the limeade, Cool Whip and condensed milk.  Pour into the pie shell.  Refrigerate before serving.  You can substitute lemonade or  orange juice for the limeade.

Both the ribs and the pie were great as leftovers….but not for long.

Road Trip - Cedar Key, Florida

Brian and I make a great road trip team.  Some trips are short day trips and other are road trip vacations.  Before becoming a REAL RETIRED HOUSEWIFE OF FLORIDA, we explored all four corners of Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, West Virginia.  After becoming a REAL RETIRED HOUSEWIFE OF FLORIDA, we have taken trips exploring our new home state of Florida...New Smyrna Beach, Key West, St. Augustine, Gainesville, Everglades, Tarpon Springs.

A road trip starts with Brian picking the destination (or at least the direction).  Then I research the area, including what may pop up on the way there.

Recently, Brian and I picked Cedar Key for a road trip.  It is a fishing village/resort area on the Gulf, a couple hours northwest of home.  The feel of the town reminded me of Kelley's Island, Ohio, where we had a vacation home for a few years...memories, memories.

Our first stop was a roadside store for gas.  While Brian pumped the gas, I browsed the store.  I found a prize...a lemon tree (our second attempt at a lemon tree).

We headed downtown to checkout the pier and stroll along the main drag.  The fishing pier was busy with both fishermen and pelicans.  One fisherman caught a small blacktip shark (that he threw back).

We stopped for lunch at Seabreeze.  The food was okay, but the beer and view were great.

After lunch we drove around the island looking for geocaches.  I started geocaching in Ohio after seeing it mentioned on a Law & Order episode.  Often when researching a road trip destination, I will check out nearby caches.  Geocaching has led Brian and I to some off-the-beaten-path locations.  In Cedar Key, we found three caches.  Brian spotted all three.  I better work on my geocaching skills.

DISCOVER THE IRON WAY 

The cache was at the end of the Cedar Key Railroad Trestle Nature trail.  The trail started with a history lesson on the railroad line that ran from Cedar Key to Fernandina Beach from 1861 to 1932.  Along the trail many of the natural Florida plants and trees were identified.

BOARDWALK CACHE

 

The cache was hidden under a bench along a boardwalk that had great views of the tidal marsh

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DISCOVER THE RUDDY CRITTERS

 

The plaque says that this was a "park" with a "beach".  It was low tide, otherwise, there would not have been a "beach".  And the "park" was a parking lot and a bench.  Still it was an interesting area.

 

 

 

We ended our road trip with a visit to Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robbins for ice cream and coffee.  Whoever thought to put these two brands in one building was a genius!

 

 

 

 



 



Snowbirds and Other Winter Visitors

As a REAL RETIRED HOUSEWIFE OF FLORIDA I am a year-round resident of Florida.  The sand cranes and alligators stay year-round also.

But I have quite a few neighbors and golfing friends that are snowbirds.

       snow*bird  noun \-berd\  :one who travels to warm climes for the winter

In addition to snowbirds, there were a few other visitors to warm, sunny Florida this winter.  I heard about an eagle's nest in a local cemetery, Lone Oak Cemetery.  I saw a write-up about it at the Habitat for Humanity  Restore across the street from the cemetery.  One one of my thrifting adventures, I located the nest. 

Then on day in December, I saw a couple of cars and people with big camera lenses in the cemetery. I stopped by and got my first look at the bald eagle with a couple of eaglets. VERY EXCITING. This nest has been active for over 50 years.

Manatees are another winter visitor.  They take advantage of the warm inland water during the winter.  The first year in Florida, I tried a couple of times to catch sight of these "gently giants".  I saw one or two manatees, but those sightings were not satisfying.  One Sunday, Brian and I headed out again in search of manatees.  We went to Blue Springs State Park, and there they were.  We counted 12 in one area.

Visitors are common during the winter months.  Mallory, Mike, Michelle and Keith came down to Florida for a family wedding.  They took advantage of the great weather by golfing (Mike and I), ziplining, a day trip to Tarpon Springs, a stop at Lake Ridge Winery for a tour and wine tasting.

And lunch at the Cotillion Southern Cafe

GOLF HIGHLIGHTS

In between THE MOVE and family visits, I participated in a the second annual Plantation Cup golf challenge.  The Plantation is divided into "villages".  My village, Sable Ridge, teamed up with Chanticleer.  Our women's team and couple's team came in FIRST PLACE.

Casa de Krause

Brian and I are on the move again!  I have spent 85% of my life in two homes...the home I grew up in and the home I raised my children in.  Since becoming A REAL RETIRED HOUSEWIFE OF FLORIDA, I have moved twice in two years. 

And the moves could not be more different

• The first move was from Ohio to Florida.  The second move was next door.
• It took 9 months to sell the Ohio home.  It took less than a week to sell the Florida home.
• The first move involved packing a POD, a month of looking for a new home, buy new furniture, etc.  The second move was done by two guys and a dolly.  Brian and I took care of most of the boxes.

You get the idea.  Now that it is over, I can say it was worth it.

I loved my first Florida home.  I spent a lot of effort (and money) to make it just right.  However, it was a bit small and I was constantly working to make the most of "living in a small space".  The biggest obstacle was the 2-car garage, which housed a SUV, golf cart and a growing herd of motorcycles (sometimes 3, sometimes 4).  The new Florida home has the same layout with more space.  The garage went from 400 sq. ft to 500 sq.ft.  Let me tell you, that extra 100 sq. ft makes a big difference.

It is easier to show you the differences in the houses.  Here are some before and after pictures...

Living Room - First House

Living Room - New House

It is kinda like a "Find the Differences" quiz.   The old house...I like the floors, wall colors and the two ceiling fans.  The new house...I like the one entrance to the kitchen area and I am getting used to the carpet.  

Dining Room - Old House

Dining Room - New House

Again, the obvious differences is the flooring, wall colors and lighting. 

Kitchen - Old House

Kitchen - New House

Now you can see why I wanted to move.  The kitchen is much larger.  Lots more cabinet space.  All the bottom cabinets have pull-out shelves...oh ya. 

Kitchen Eating Area - Old House
 

Kitchen Eating Area - New House
 

Brian asked for a kitchen table in the new house (rather than a TV area).  I bought this table from the previous owner.  I love it because the chairs are very comfortable, they swivel and rock! 

Garage - Old House
 

Garage - New House

My motto is "A place for everything and everything in its place".  Motorcycles on the left, golf cart on the right and the SUV in the middle.  It may be a small thing, but I love that the passenger can get out of the car in the garage.  The old garage was so small that you couldn't open the passenger door in the garage.

Project List

Of course, the move has created a whole new list of projects.  

 

The painter can't get to my house for at least a month.  I am hoping I can cope with the white walls until then.  Can I hold off hanging stuff until the painting is done?

 

I have fabric samples for window treatments.  This is where I start to waver.  Do I paint first, then pick out the window treatments?  Do I buy the drapes?  Do I leave up the vertical blinds?  So many decisions. 

 

I spent a lot of money putting in a wall organizing system in the old garage.  It was great for organzing a small garage.  It don't think it is needed for this garage.  I do want some way to hang things in the new garage.  Do I go with reliable pegboard?   Would plastic shelving work?

 

So many choices...so many blog opportunities.

 



The Lizzie Seal of Approval

 



 

One Man's Trash, That's Another Man's Come Up

Young House Love Thrift Store Challenge

My daughter, Mallory from Our First Nest, told me about the Thrift Store Challenge at Young House Love.  I enjoy a good thrift store, so I couldn't resist a thrift store challenge.  And hey, the Macklemore and Ryan Lewis rap, Thrift Store, is pretty catchy.

Thrift store shopping isn't a new thing to A REAL RETIRED HOUSEWIFE OF FLORIDA.  I have been addicted to thrift stores for quite a while (in fact longer than some of your have been able to read this!).  Before moving to Florida, I lived within walking distance of my favorite thrift store, The Village Discount Outlet. 

Oh the treasures I have found at thrift stores!  I buy items for myself and to sell on eBay.  Just last week, a fellow passenger on my flight from Ohio to Florida stopped me to ask if I had knitted the sweater I was wearing and to tell me how much she like it.  It took all of my control to simply say "No, I didn't knit it and thank you".  What I really wanted to say was, "I bought it at a thrift store.  Isn't it unbelievable that someone would give this away!".



I look for items for my home.  I could give a while house tour (and maybe I will) on my thrift store decorating.  I found a Don Drumm sun burst platter to fit in with my Don Drumm bathroom accessories.

And of course my big Florida thrift store find...the vintage wood lamp that was featured in my blog, I Just Had To Have It...Now What?

I also buy craft supplies at thrift stores.  I like to repurpose/enhance/bejewel items.  I put pieces together and mosaic with broken ceramics, I silver leaf anything and everything, and I faux paint.

My current craft obsession is enhancing vintage twisted wire trees.  The left is before, the right is after.

My best scores come from items I buy to resell on eBay.  I like to keep a balance in PayPal to cover my online impulse purchases.  My niche market is vintage curlers (the ones with wax cores...ladies like them because they hold heat longer for better curls), Scrabble tiles, vintage kitchen appliances and unique household items.

Now to the challenge.  Last weekend I was in Ohio to share in the wedding planning with Mallory.  I spent Saturday morning with my other daughter Michelle.  After breakfast, Chelle made the mistake of asking me what I would like to do.  Of course, it was visit some of my favorite thrift stores and see if I was up to the Young House Love challenge.

STEP #1.  Go to a thrift shop with -- just as the chorus of the song says -- "$20 in your pocket" and take a picture.

Step #2.  Spend that $20 any way you'd like and photograph your spoils.

So many things, so little time.  I was able to spread my $20 between something for to eBay, a Medi-Rub foot massager for $10.  New it sells for $185 on Amazon.  I am hoping for $50 to $75 on eBay.

With the remaining $10, I bought these lovely cups, saucers and plates by Villeroy and Boch.  I have several matching serving pieces of this New Wave pattern.

And for $1, I picked up a Scrabble game, complete with a note pad and pencil. That totals $21, but I couldn't stop.

Step #3.  Find one item (or more) referenced in the song and snap a pic.

After my thrift store adventures, I realized I couldn't fit any of these items into my carry-on bag.  UGH!  My friend, Jan Turnbull, came to the rescue and gave me a piece of luggage.  So my $20 challenge cost me an additional $20 to add a check-in bag to my Alligent flight.  It was worth it.

Now I can't get that rap out of my mind!

So Many Beads...So Little Time

My point is, life is about balance.

The good and the bad.  The highs and the lows.

The pina and the colada

 

Ellen DeGeneres

 

I am A REAL RETIRED HOUSEWIFE OF FLORIDA with a balanced life...golf, thrift store adventures and crafting.  I try to do each in moderation...HA HA.

 

I shared a couple of my craft passions...paper beads and silver leafing.  Here is another, beads.  Not so much "beading", like in making jewelry.  Just collecting beads.  My bead collection is one of the few craft supplies that I brought everything with me from Ohio.  At first I thought that was because beads are small.  But when I looked at my collection, I realized the beads may be small, but the volume is huge.

 



 

I came up with a project that would use up a good amount of beads, a wall hanging.  I bought a capriz shell wall hanging while Brian and I were in Tarpon Springs.  It was the perfect base to "enhance" with beads.
 

 

 

The first step was to create the large beads on a wire.  I used combinations of all sorts of beads.  I even used some of my own creation, the pottery geodes.

 

 

It was fun putting together bead combinations for the larger beads.

 

 

Then I made the jump rings to connect the large beads into strings.  Here is a quick and easy lesson on making jump rings.  See all my time watching The Carol Duval show was not in vain.

 

 

 

 

 

The final step was to make a long string of small beads for an accent.  I used Beadalon's Spin-N-Bead to string the see beads...what a time saver.

 

 

I am not sure of this project is "the good and the bad" or "the highs and the lows" or "the pina and the colada".  I would like to say that I made a dent in my bead collection, but I didn't.  Still, so many beads...so little time.