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Showing posts from October 3, 2010

I Love this Halloween House!

Last week, my friend Tonja and I came across this house.  It was so perfectly dressed for Halloween that I made Shawn drive me by again later so I could snap some pictures of it to share with you. First, let me preface by saying that I was not meant to be a drive by shooter, photo shooter that is,...but I think the pics are good enough for you to enjoy and maybe get some great ideas for your own Halloween decorating.     The house has caution tape all the way across the yard, tied tree to tree, and as you can see here, around the door too.  Giant bats hang from the trees throughout the yard. I want the hands! "Do you think this chair makes my butt look big"? A visual definition of 'Everyone needs a hand up, not a hand out', these skeletons are in, and out of,  the window over the garage doors. I am so glad Fall is here! The Witches’ Spell Act IV, Scene 1 from Macbeth (1606) by William Shakespeare

Ghoulicious Penne Alla Vecchia Bettola Pasta

I'm a pasta lover.  My husband craves meat and I crave pasta.  Recently, Shawn made us this fantastic dish called Penne Alla Vecchia Bettola. The recipe is an old Italian recipe, tried and true, served at Nick and Toni's in The Hampton's and was featured on Barefoot Contessa.  The ingredients are all traditional Italian with the exception of Vodka (alcohol will cook out) which makes this so good it's scary!   I was hooked before I took the first bite.  Additionally, the sauce is orange and makes it perfect dish to serve this time of year.  The kids, each and every one, asked if we could have this as our Halloween dinner this year instead of chili, corn chowder or tortilla soup.    Penne Alla Vecchia Bettola About 1/4 cup olive oil 10 cloves garlic - diced (who said Vampires are allergic to garlic?) 1 medium-large onion - diced 1 T red pepper flakes (this gives a little heat, use less for a milder version) 1 T dried oregano 3-4 shots or about 1 cup of Vodka 2   28

Wall Corbel to Canopy and Shop Transformation Pictures

   It seems we've been working on getting our shop ready to open to the public for a long time...I guess that really is the case!   Walls are painted different colors to create smaller seating/room areas.  I painted this wall a dark, chocolate brown called Ancient Spice.  There is a very subtle cinnamon color in it if the light hits it just so.  I used one of the wall corbel s we carry to create a canopy effect.   Here is a picture of how all the walls looked in the store before we painted any of them.  I'd post other before pictures but they were on my computer when it crashed and I don't know if they will be salvaged or not.  This gives a good idea of how they looked though. I hung custom drapes in a  Clarence House English Chintz made by Ma Jolie Maison Fabrics and Drapes on the wall with drapery hooks at each end, allowing the top of the curtains to form a rounded front shape.  Next,  I simply hung the corbel upside down and  over the drapes so it appears that t