The Cleaning Continues

This morning I was jolted into replacing my microwave oven when my roommate announced it was smoking, yet again.  I saw it with my own two eyes this time.  I decided, however, that I have replaced one too many microwaves and it was time for an alternate solution.  I jumped in my car and headed to Costco.  Where else?!

I found a KitchenAid convection countertop oven:

I handed over the existing toaster to my roommate for his future residence (whenever that may come), freed up some much needed counter top space, and the new oven takes up less room than the old microwave did in my former wall oven's space.

Now this new purchase led to more tidying in the kitchen, which was not on my agenda for the day.  My fabric re-org will have to wait for tomorrow.  I took care of the cabinets above and below my new appliance:

Today I got rid of chocolate molds from 1980 (used once), a quick pasta cooker (As Seen On TV, now seen at the Salvation Army), a broken slow cooker, several vases (I don't get flowers any more -- what am I storing these for?), and a host of other treasures.  Phew!  Feels so good to be rid of these items and organized.  You can see we even moved our vitamin stash from the counter top (hello -- not enough space, remember?) to the top drawer in my wall pantry.  Think I have enough wax paper??

I even got the cabinet over the refrigerator organized.  Once I tuck a few things away in my staples cabinet I will be done, done, diddley done!

Tidy Sunday

I started the day by making a big recipe of macaroni and cheese to take out to my Mom's for lunch.  My roommate and I took Maggie with us.  My Mom always enjoys getting visits but especially loves when the various dogs come to see her.  There was enough macaroni & cheese left to last her a few meals.  I also took her a ham bone and some yellow peas so she can make a big pot of French Canadian pea soup.  Oddly though, she had a bit of a struggle remembering the ingredients.  She's made it a hundred times but not for a few years, she said.  Hmm....

Once home I got busy organizing my kitchen.  The rule is to tackle one drawer or cabinet or closet a week. I neglected to take before pictures so these ARE the after pictures!

I went gang busters and cleared out my cabinet with the storage items, bakeware, bowls, etc. :

I got rid of so much Tupperware from the '80's: Jello molds, etc., not been used in at least 10 years.  Again, why did I still have it???

Feeling pretty successful, next it was the gadget drawer.  It was so full of crap I could hardly open the drawer.  There were 'must have' tools in there that I hadn't used in YEARS.  Some went to my roommate, some to Salvation Army, and a bunch in recycling or garbage.  Anybody need a shrimp deveiner???

Then it was time to do the cutlery drawer and then the dreaded catch-all drawer.

The kitchen linens drawer was in reasonably good shape.  Don't you love all those knitted dishcloths courtesy of my friend Carol?!

I'm ready to tackle my Craft Cave next.  I really need to organize my fabrics and get them queued up for quilts, clothing, home dec items.  So little time, so many ideas!!

Hope you have a great week!  Get organized!!

Super Buy

The other day I went to Macy's to buy a Dutch Oven.  I thought I knew exactly what I wanted until I flipped it over and saw those hated words 'Made In China'.  I set it down so quickly I think the sales clerk's head was spinning.  I continued to look and look.  I found one from Calphalon but it was $320!  I had a rebate gift card from Macy's for $150 so to me it was still too much.

Then I spotted the one I HAD to have.  It wasn't really a Dutch Oven but it didn't matter.  It was toooo pretty to leave the store without it.  It was on sale too, plus I got 15% off using my Macy's card.

Tonight I made my first dinner using my beautiful Cherry Le Creuset Round French Oven, Beef Tenderloin with Roasted Shallots.  I needed a beef tenderloin for it so I headed down to Wigley's at Detroit Eastern Market.  They had none!  The clerk said they're too expensive right now and she was right!  When I did find one at Costco it was $18/pound!  I had to *settle* for a package of filet mignon instead. I know, poor me.

The dish turned out so well it is going on my repertoire list and the pot was so easy to clean up.  I sure do wonder why I didn't buy it years ago.  I've always wanted one.  Now I want more of them!

Email Overflow

A few weeks ago my roommate had to use my computer due to a virus on his.  After he was done I noticed he had nearly 3000 emails in his Gmail inbox.  Yes, nearly 3000.  I know what you're thinking -- how the heck did he let it get so bad?  Well, his answer was simply neglect.

Yesterday he whittled his inbox down to less than 30 emails.  Unfortunately he forwarded boatloads of 'important' things I needed to read (i.e. jokes, junk).  But later on in the day I learned of a great way to clear out your Gmail inbox.  It's called The Email Game and it makes it fun to clean up your overloaded inbox.  If you've been neglectful in keeping up with your email, check them out -- it looks like a lot of fun!

Kim Diehl -- the afterglow

I have been busier than a beaver this past week.  I welcomed Kim Diehl to speak at the GLHQ meeting last week and we had over 90 members and 22 guests!!  Woohoo!  We had three very successful workshops   with a total of 73 students with Kim.  It was amazing to watch all of the participants just enjoy the workshops and speak so highly of Kim.  We all learned so much and I know I'm going to finish the quilts I started in class.

Kim was so easy going-- I had plotted out in my head all the restaurants I would take her to but you know what?  She was totally satisfied just getting a sandwich at Jimmy John's -- no diva there!  She's working on her next book, with a deadline nearing, and she really just wanted to relax in her motel room at the end of the day.

 Doesn't my banner from VistaPrint look great?!

 Kim was helping someone with their mono filament thread.

 Karen looks like she's attacking something with her bottle of Best Pressed but I assure you, she's just pressing some fabric.

 Busy bees!

Kim is working with Joyce here.

Carmen from Cousin's Quilt Shop in Bellaire brought LOTS of goodies to our workshops and lecture:

It was so amazing -- Carmen worked on the honor system:  she would write down on a notepad what you were taking from her tables, and then squaring up with you at the end of the day.  Or in my case after two days -- I can honestly say she did a LOT of business.  We had a total of 73 students over 3 days -- she had a captive audience!  It was so helpful to have a quilt shop on site with all of our necessities!

I am no where near ready to show you what I worked on in the two classes I took, but will hopefully have something to show for it in the coming week.

Kim Diehl is Coming!

I've been super busy this week preparing for the visit from Kim Diehl to GLHQ.  Last minute details, more fabric cutting and sewing prep for workshops, and a whole lot of sweatin' as Kim has been battling from laryngitis!  I am hoping her voice can hold out for the three days she'll be teaching and speaking.  If you're in the Detroit area, please plan on attending her lecture tomorrow night at 7 pm -- see the guild website for details.

Doggone It!

Today I went out to Holly's with my friend Sue to watch Denver so Holly could see her doctor and get her hair done.  It was a really great day.  Denver was entertaining us, ate his lunch well, screamed bloody murder when he set off the carbon monoxide detector, and then settled down for a much needed nap.

I discovered something quite disappointing however, beneath his dressing table --

Here's what it used to look like:

Yep, apparently the 36" square Shepherd's Wool blanket I made for Holly's baby shower for Denver was WASHED and FELTED!!!!  Now it's about 15" square, if that.  UGH!!  Lesson learned about knitting with wool for babies but GEEZ, I'm not even able to knit anymore......