Blueberry Buckle

What do you do when, in a complete fruit frenzy, you buy a ginormous package of blueberries that you'll never win the race of eating fast enough before they go bad?
Make a blueberry buckle of course! Recipe courtesy of Alton Brown.
I didn't have cake flour so I used the substitutition found on the web using regular old flour. It worked okay but I think cake flour would probably make it a lot better. It was a little too dense in my opinion.


Its also possible that the denseness wasn't the flours fault at all and I'm just a terrible baker. Have I mentioned I can't seem to make chocolate chip cookies to save my life? No matter what I do, they come out dry and hard - like semi edible scones.


It uses 3 whole cups of blueberries so its completely packed with fruit. I think it could have done with a little more cake but it was still yummy.



In case this post is making you hungry for a proper food blog that is written by an amazing cook (i've tasted her food!) and all around fabulous blogger - do yourself a favor and run over to Savour Fare. Then bookmark her site and visit it often. She is my go to woman when I have a cooking question.

Deck ready to be Decked Out!

I'm happy to report that the deck is done!

Last I left off, I had posted a montage of the progress made in one week. The photos were all taken from my office window. Then the monsoon that was June descended and the operation got covered in a tarp at least 2 out of 3 days.



Once the platform was finished, the stairs got added:


Then it was time to take it up a notch with a corner pergola.


As I may have mentioned, we have a view of a NOT lovely parking lot just behind us. Adding a pergola gives us a structure to grow some pretty vines and obstruct the view. It will also create some lovely shade in this full southern exposure area. Its going to take a few years but the vines + the trees we planted at the back should do a nice job in blocking out the bad.

Then the rails...


Finishing touches on the pergola


Put it all together.


If you're wondering what those white circles are on the deck, its these recessed puck lighting things. Our contractor recommended them and they look very cool at night. Its a little thing but glams it up a bit.



We also added these sconces for the general lighting back there. I was a bit disappointed with the finish (the picture made me think they would be more brass and these are bronze) but I didn't see them until it was too late to replace. Not terrible, I just don't love them.



I'll mention now that I absolutely HATE the color the back of the house is painted. This got done while we were renovating the rest of the house and it was not a battle I wanted to pick. But its peachiness still irritates me. I'd love to add some kind of simple mural around the door here but I'm not sure what would work since there isn't that much blank wall space to work with AND I'm not that great of a painter.


So its all finished - at least in terms of construction. It still needs a bit of TLC when it comes to furnishing and accessorizing. I added a coat of rustoleum to my craig's list marble table yesterday and put it in place but I can't find chairs to work with it to save my life.



Any suggestions for chairs or anything else to make it a bit more homey out here? Of course I need some life (plants!) and I'd like to hang something chandelier like from the pergola to add some drama. But I'm on a major budget so cheapskate suggestions only please :)

Cocktail or Coffee - its just a table afterall.

Its almost funny that I have been talking about coffee tables for more than a year. Almost.

Slightly old photo but just to give you an idea of what Im referring.

Its not urgent but no less frustrating. I already have a coffee table but from my last house but its a little bit "heavy" for the space. I wanted something that added a little sparkle and took up less space visually. We need a coffee table downstairs in the man room and this one is perfect for that so no wasting.


I ordered this table from Drexel heritage last spring. Waited patiently. They lost my tables and put me on a wild goose chase for weeks. Then I lost my marbles, got frustrated and just cancelled the whole thing. I guess Drexel Heritage isn't worrying itself with this whole global slowdown thing - they don't need my money and let me know it. I really like their pieces but this experience TOTALLY turned me off to them. Shortly thereafter, they nearly doubled the price for this thing. I guess this company really is doing well but they won't be getting any recommendations from me.

A bit later on, I was alerted to a nice option at Restoration Hardware. It was backordered but I put my order in. No problem, I'm a patient woman. A few weeks go by and Im sent a form email from Restoration Hardware that they won't be getting any more of these afterall. I called and politely asked if I could get the manufacterer's name to hunt for it on my own. No dice, no apology, no nothing. Its as if these furniture companies were doing me a favor by taking my money! Arghhh.

All the while I was stalking various old furniture stores, ebay and craigslist for the right thing but it never even got close. It was as if I was searching for a flying elephant at the zoo.

Are you still awake? For those not sleeping on the keyboard, I tentatively report I have purchased another coffee table. This one to be exact.


It fits the bill on the double shelf, the metallic finish, the pretty style. And on clearance!!

I already ordered it but if my history is any indication, that doesn't mean a whole lot. It may or may not arrive depending upon the whim of the furniture gods.

So here I patiently wait AGAIN for what I call a coffee table and you may call a cocktail table. By any other name, just as sweet. I don't really put coffee or cocktails on here...should I be calling it my takeout-eating-craft-space-footrest table?

My latest sinful indulgence: Cake Boss

As you may already have guessed, I'm a bit of a reality tv addict. Meet my new favorite reality tv star, Buddy Valastro.

He is the "star" of TLC's Cake Boss which is a show about a family that runs a bakery out of Hoboken, NJ. They make cool cakes but the show isn't entirely about that - its about the family and how they operate the bakery and deal with making these creations. I like it for a lot of reasons. One, I have a fascination with people who can do things I can't do but would like to. Two, it’s hilarious to me to watch this family interact with each other in a way that feels both real and vaguely familiar to me despite never having a big familgia. Three, its full of suspense as they have to transport these towering stacks of soft cake and cream to their final destinations. Four, none of the people on the show are hipsters or think they are cool which is what, in fact, makes them cool. What more could I ask for?

I'm not a celebrity stalker or super fan. I've seen many a celebrity walk past me without much more than a second glance. Actors are just people. But Buddy isn't an actor and I would like to make a petition to him to adopt me. What do you say Valastros? If this helps at all, I'm a quarter Italian. I don't know anything about making cakes but I'm a fast leaner. I'm also really clumsy so please don't put me in charge of delivery. Thanks! I'll be patiently waiting by the phone now for my call.

No room in the family for a clutzy partial Italian who can't bake? So it's going to be like that? Ok, I get it. What about you make me a birthday cake as a consolation prize? A limestone cake would be a pretty cool addition to your portfolio, don't you think? What'da ya say? Deal?

If I don't hear back from Buddy soon, I think I'm just going to have to get over to Hoboken and stake out the bakery. Or at the very least stop by and buy a cookie in the hopes I just happen to non-chalently and coolly run into Buddy and pretend I've never seen the show while I have Mr Limestone furiously snapping photographs of us interacting. But really, I'm not a stalker.

Anyone else watching this show?

Junktiques gold!

When Camila of High Heeled Foot in the Door posted about a fairly close thrift store, I bounced in my chair with excitement and let the Mr. know that we HAD to drop in.

So a few weeks later, off we went to ETG Used Furniture & Antiques in search of treasure.

If you recall my whole rant about junktiques, you'll know I was happy to find this place was right up my alley. Old pieces in need of a little love and at reasonable prices. I also have to note that this place is EXTREMELY organized. By far, the most organized place of its kind so thats very refreshing. On the other hand, their prices aren't quite as good as my absolute favorite place, Englishtown Used Furniture. All in all, a great place so thanks to Camila.

I know you want to know whats inside so I'll keep you in suspence no longer. My favorite piece was this set

that would be absolutely amazing in a child's bedroom with the right makeover. Alas, I have no children nor do I have an extra room for my make believe child so I moved on.



This painting stopped me dead in my tracks. I can't really say I like it, just that I thought was interesting.

And finally Mr. Limestone pointed this chair out.



Love the shape but I could do without the 30 years of dirt and stains. I hemmed, I hawed but walked out empty handed. But my dear better half knew I wanted it so he went back to the store and surprised me with it later that week! Isn't that sweet?

Up until now, I've had a strict hard good only policy about thrifting. The idea of carting home something that has bedbugs or other nasties living in the cushions never really filled me with joy. And then there is the absurdity of the costs of reupholstering - and you all know how cheap I am! So I'm on the hunt for a reasonably priced reuphoster. Not having much luck so I guess I'm just going to have to suck it up and shell out.


I think this chair will replace the wee one in the bedroom (I have other plans for it which I will be blogging about soon.). Not sure what fabric it should be recovered in. What do you think? Gray velvet? Beige linen? Part of me thinks I should pull some yellow or gold in the chair to pick up on the fireplace tiles and the artwork but I'm not sure if Im ready for a yellow chair. A yellow pillow might do the trick. Any suggestions?

Edited to add:

Thanks for your comments. I know the photograph makes the chair look like a true yellow but its more of a rusty yellow with a heavy dose of baby puke green in there. Not sure how much of that is dirt and how much of that is the original fabric but ultimately, I'd want something more gold than yellow (if I went that route). But Im sort of leaning toward neutral b/c upholstering is too damn expensive to get crazy with.