Honey's Treasures

Honey's Treasures

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Work Day








All finished!
Cathy came for a visit and together we built a fence for Mike (so he could work on another project) to hide our ugly storage shed.  I used the nail gun (with my bad shoulder) and will pay for it tonight.  It was hilarious because each time I nailed, we both had to turn our heads away from the strong poof of air that came out of the gun.

Here is the finished fence with our artwork:
The shabby white fence Michael built is pretty cool, too.  ;D

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Old Injurys

Michael and I used to buy fixer-uppers, fix them up and sell them.  The latter part of 2005 was our last purchase, just as the economy was heading downward.  The house was on the Mendocino Coast in a little ocean community called Irish Beach.  The two of us, along with our hired friend, Greg, did all the work ourselves driving three hours each way every weekend for six months.

I became good at tearing down walls, taping and texturing walls and fixing Michael and Greg's mistakes; lol, painting, tiling, you name it.  If we didn't know how to do something we'd learn.  Greg was the expert plumber and electrician, (that is not Mike's thing.) ;-D

Anyway, it was in very early 2006 that I was tiling the whole house using 18" square tiles, room by room.  On my knees in the kitchen/entry area I remember reaching out with a big, heavy tile in my hands to lay it in place and something went rip in my shoulders and I cried out in pain.  Didn't think much of it and continued my work.

From the completion of that house we went on to remodel my aunt's home.  It was then I knew something was truly wrong with my shoulders, more so in my right one.  Went to the good doctor, had X-rays taken, found out both shoulders had a minor tear, not enough to warrant surgery but enough for injections in each side.  That offered me immediate relief.  For about a year.  Then another injection in my right shoulder which did not help a bit.  Had an MRI done last year before the holidays which showed complete separation of muscle and bone in my right shoulder. 

Here I am today, getting ready for surgery next Thursday, Feb. 2nd.  Approx. 10 days or so of wearing a sling (I'm right handed and have been practicing using my left), no lifting over 5 pounds for 3 months.  Not yet sure if I can drive during that time or not, physical therapy: yes.  Questions to ask my doc next week.

I've been preparing for this operation since being put on the waiting list last November: I have my freezer full of more than a few good meals: spaghetti sauce, chili beans, beef stew.  Planning on deep cleaning the house next week, just before surgery, so I can come home to a clean house.  Not that it's dirty but I want everything spic and span so I won't have to worry about cleaning or asking Mike to do it.  He's got enough work.   

Hoping that I'll have enough time to make a few more meals...

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Camille Pissarro

Heading to Alameda to pick up some family members and on to the Legion of Honor Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco to see Pissarro's People exhibit.  I've been wanting to see this for the longest time and this is the last weekend to see it.  Going to make a day of it, museum, shopping, lunch or early dinner.  F.U.N. ;D

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Fire Orange

Our little fire.


Toby's Fruit Stand

Toby's - Pt. Reyes Station
After our morning hiking excursions we sat by the fire.  Later this afternoon we took a drive into town to walk about and check out the cute boutiques and art galleries.  Now we're back inside our cozy and warm 5th wheel while the wind rocks our trailer and howls outside.  Chili beans, macaroni and cheese and a little green salad for dinner tonight and a movie and popcorn later on.

Point Reyes National Seashore

Woodpecker Trail - Hundreds of woodpecker holes
Hygrocybe Conica Mushrooms (poison)
Hygrocybe mushrooms (aka witches hat)
Dainty woodland ferns
Morgan Horse Ranch
Morgan Horses
Meadow Grasses
Gray Fox - Taxidermy inside the visitor's station
Sweet fawn

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Popcorn

At our house, we love, love, love popcorn!  We just purchased a new popcorn popper and love it so much that I have to share it with you.  We bought ours at the Vacaville Outlets at a store called Kitchen Collection.  

Presto Stirring Popcorn Popper
You do not need to buy expensive popcorn to get good quality.  Here's a very good tip:

1.  Buy a bag of popcorn (I love the white, but it's your personal preference)
2.  Open the bag of popcorn and put it in a glass jar or container with a tight fitting lid.  (I used a glass mason jar.)
3.  Put 1 tablespoon of water per quart of popcorn in the glass jar over the popcorn, put on the lid and shake it.  Continue to periodically shake it a couple times per day for the next three days or until the water is absorbed completely.
4.  Pop your now fresh and moist popcorn.  You'll love it!

Oh, and here's a tip if you have or purchase the popcorn popper above:  Read the entire manual first.  Use very soft real butter, about 2 1/2 to 3 Tbsp. and put it in the top opening area where the butter goes.  The butter melts onto your popcorn as it pops.  Better than theater popcorn or as good as theater popcorn used to be in the good ol' days.  ;D

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Monday, January 2, 2012

My Newest Jewelry Boxes

St. Anthony di Padova
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet
A Sweet Little Treasure Box
As you can see, I've been very busy working on my jewelry boxes.  I've got two more that are almost finished and about 10 more that are ready to begin work on.  These jewelry boxes take a lot of time to do because each one is taken completely apart and revamped inside out and little special antique pictures and such things are added to make them truly one of a kind.