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Weekly Photo Challenge: One Shot in Two Ways

 

Smoky Mountains 2013 149

Smoky Mountains 2013 150

My recent trip to the Smokey Mountains resulted in these beautiful shots of the clouds over the peaks. The best part was driving through the misty clouds on twisty-turny roads up and down the Tennessee and North Carolina Smokeys. Clearly, this is an example of why they are called the “Smokey Mountains”.

 

Check out these other Weekly Photo Challenge interpretations:

Post Cards from Around the World…

Serendipitous Cookery

Around and About the Pacific Northwest

Javanese Wanderer

 

 

©Grandmother Musings 2012-2013.

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jamie Nowinski – Grandmother Wisdom/Grandmother Musings with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Make Your Own Curtain Rods

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Final Result

Necessity breeds invention!

Today, I came home from work and found my curtains pulled down from the wall. Thank you dogs.  The curtain rods were twisted and the brackets that held the rods up were pulled out of the wall.  So, off to the Home Depot I went to buy new curtain rods.

What I didn’t realize was just how expensive pre-made curtain rods were going to be for my space and situation.  I would have paid well over $100, not the $35 that I did spend,  if I had not thought of a better solution.  I have included my solution here so that all my reader’s can take advantage of this brain storm, too.

My materials are for double-rod system, 120 inches long, to cover my bow window in the living room. You can adjust your materials to fit your needs by simply asking a employee from the hardware store to trim your rods to size.

 

Materials

2 packages of Martha Stewart Living 1 3/8 in wood brackets for double rod

2 PCV pipes 120″ long and 3/8″ thick

2 Rubber protectors for the bottom of chairs 1″

1 can of white spray paint

sandpaper

screwdriver

drill

drill bits and screw heads

Directions

1.  Sand the PCV pipes to remove any lettering and to prep the pipes for spray paint.  Wipe them down after sanding.  Spray paint at least two coats of white paint to hide the lettering.

2.  Once the PCV pipes are dry, hang the wood brackets at the correct height and width over your window, using the instructions on the package.

3.  Slide your curtains onto the PCV pipe and then put the chair stoppers on the ends of the pipes.  This looks decorative and no one will know that you used a pipe as a rod.

4. Hang your curtains and enjoy a sturdy, beautiful look.

Final Result

If you try this method of hanging curtain rods, please share your results with a note and some pictures.  I’d love to see what others invent. Happy Creating!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

©Grandmother Musings 2012-2013.

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jamie Nowinski – Grandmother Wisdom/Grandmother Musings with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

 

Almond-Crusted Chicken

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Almond-Crusted Chicken
So good!

Almond-Crusted Chicken

This is a yummy way to make crusted chicken without the traditional bread crumbs. This is a tasty recipe for those who are wheat and gluten-free. I adapted the recipe from the Wheat Belly Cookbook, by William Davis, MD. Since we have been diagnosed with wheat/gluten allergies, dairy allergies and the list goes on…I am finding some creative ways to make good food.  Hopefully, this share will help someone else eat good!

Grapeseed Oil, Dijon Mustard, sea salt, and black pepper

Grapeseed Oil, Dijon Mustard, sea salt, and black pepper

Ingredients

2 tablespoons grapeseed oil

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 cup almonds, chopped

1/2 cup flaxseed meal

2 large boneless skinless chicken breast

Directions

1.  Preheat oven to 375. Coat a baking stone or a baking sheet with coconut oil. (I used a cooking spray coconut oil).

2.  In a shallow bowl, combine the oil, mustard, salt, and pepper.  In a large Ziploc baggy, combine the almonds and flaxseed meal.

almond chicken 3 almond chicken 4

Dip chicken in mustard mixture, then into the almond-.flaxseed meal

Dip chicken in mustard mixture, then into the almond-.flaxseed meal

3.  Place the chicken breasts in a between 2 sheets of waxed paper or in a large Ziploc baggy, and pound with a meat mallet or a pie roller to 1/2″ thickness.  Dip chicken in the mustard mixture, spreading with a spatula to coat evenly. Put chicken in the Ziploc bag with the almonds and flaxseed meal. Be sure to coat both sides. Place the chicken on the baking stone or sheet.

4.  Bake for 25 minutes, or until a thermometer inserted in the thickest portion registers 165 F and the juices run clear.

So good!

So good!

Servings: 4

Categories: Wheat and Gluten-Free

Source: Wheat Belly Cookbook by William Davis, MD

Copyright © 4/ 14/ 2013 Grandmother Musings

©Grandmother Musings 2013.

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jamie Nowinski – Grandmother Wisdom/Grandmother Musings with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Brookfield Zoo in the Spring

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All pictures are the property of @Grandmother Musings 2013

Weekly Photo Challenge: Illumination

The Illumination of 50

2012 was a year when those who were born in 1962 marked their half-century birthday.  It is an eye-opening and illuminating event when 50 candles are lit on the birthday cake.  Not only do we see fire and smoke, but also we experience a feeling that makes us think…”Wow! I have been around for a while!”  It is quite illuminating!

Birthday cake of Illumination

Birthday cake of Illumination

©GrandmotherMusings 2013

 

The Good Stuff Jar

good stuff jar

This is a great idea!  This was shared with me on Facebook, and I liked it so much that I made my own jar.  So often we are tempted to forget all the “good stuff” that happens to us daily and remember only the bad.  This jar will help to remind us of all those wonderful things that we experience throughout the year.  Here is how to make a jar of your own.

1.  Find a jar or can with a lid.

2. Decorate it and personalize it.

3. Keep the jar in a place where you will see it.

4. You may wish to put some small pieces of paper and a pen by the jar. (I keep a post-it pad by my jar.)

5.  Write down those “Good” moments!

6. Open the jar on New Year’s Eve 2013 and experience all those “Good Stuff” times all over again.

7. Enjoy!

 

©Grandmother Musings 2013

Cheers!

Happy New Year to all!

I raise a glass in cheer to a New Year!

It will be a year filled with hope, love and prosperity.

Enjoy the journey through 2013!

 

“Blog of the Year 2012” Award

Blog of the Year 2012’ Award

Blog of the Year Award banner 600

Do you know a blog that deserves an award?

Do you have special blogs that you love to read?

Which blogs do you bookmark and follow?

Would you like to give them an award this year?

Then the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award is for you!

Blog of the Year Award 6 star jpeg

The ‘rules’ for this award are simple:

1 Select the blog(s) you think deserve the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award

2 Write a blog post and tell us about the blog(s) you have chosen – there’s no minimum or maximum number of blogs required – and ‘present’ them with their award.

3 Please include a link back to this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Awardhttp://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/our-awards/blog-of-the-year-2012-award/ and include these ‘rules’ in your post (please don’t alter the rules or the badges!)

4 Let the blog(s) you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the ‘rules’ with them

5 You can now also join our Facebook group – click ‘like’ on this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award Facebook group and then you can share your blog with an even wider audience

6 As a winner of the award – please add a link back to the blog that presented you with the award – and then proudly display the award on your blog and sidebar … and start collecting stars…

6-stars-image

Yes – that’s right – there are stars to collect!

Unlike other awards which you can only add to your blog once – this award is different!

When you begin you will receive the ‘1 star’ award – and every time you are given the award by another blog – you can add another star!

There are a total of 6 stars to collect.

Which means that you can check out your favourite blogs – and even if they have already been given the award by someone else – you can still bestow it on them again and help them to reach the maximum 6 stars!

Blog of the Year Award 6 star jpeg

Blog of the Year 2012’ Award Badges

Here are the six badges for you to collect – you can either ‘swop’ your badge for the next one each time you are given the award – or even proudly display all six badges if you are lucky enough to be presented with the award six times!

Need to know more? Check out our FAQ page

And Congratulations! on being chosen for the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award

~

‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award – thumbnails

Here are the 6 awards in thumbnail size for your sidebar – feel free to Right Click and save any of the images on this page:

Blog of the Year Award 1 star jpegBlog of the Year Award 2 star jpegBlog of the Year Award 4 star jpegBlog of the Year Award 5 star jpegBlog of the Year Award 3 star jpegBlog of the Year Award 6 star jpeg

I would like to give nutsfor treasure a huge thank you for nominating Grandmother Musings for the “Blog of the Year 2012” Award.  Eunice and I have been blogging buddies for a while, and I always enjoy her writings.  She definitely deserves this award, and I am grateful that she felt that I deserved it, too.  Please go and visit Eunice at nutsfortreasure and see for yourself what a great blog she has.

Here are a few other blogs that I feel deserve this great award…

http://positivewordsmagazine.wordpress.com/  – Yellowlancer is blog out of Australia that I have followed since I began my own blog.  There are always interesting prompts to start the creative juices flowing at this site.

http://francineinretirement.wordpress.com/ – Francine takes the most wonderful photographs.  I look forward to seeing her photos and her adventures.

http://strawberryindigo.wordpress.com/- My Life in Color is a blog with a unique perspective written by a feisty lady with a great view of life.

http://nmnphx.wordpress.com/- Nicole has a great feature called “Spam Comments” where she shares the weird and crazy Spam comments we are all exposed to in the blogging world.

http://valentinadesigns.wordpress.com/- Valentina is a interior designs master and her great ideas make her blog so very interesting.  Check out her Christmas in Colors and From Fashion to Christmas Table.

http://campfireshadows.com/- Awesome stories of the Old West! I can’t wait to read the newest edition.

http://bringingeuropehome.com/- Read her new article and learn how to make the perfect turkey. J

http://greendoorhospitality.wordpress.com/ – Adventures in Everyday Entertaining.

http://russtowne.com/- Reflections of a grateful man about the adventures and mis-adventures of living, loving, and learning

http://sharechair.wordpress.com/-  Want to know what the newest apps are and what to do with them?  Visit sharechair for all the newest technology finds.

http://russelrayphotos2.com/- Russell’s photographs of the San Diego Zoo are amazing.

http://diannegray.wordpress.com/- Published author and all around interesting blog.

 

 

©Grandmother Musings 2012-2013.
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jamie Nowinski – Grandmother Wisdom/Grandmother Musings with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
 
 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Thankful

Even though Thanksgiving is now a memory, I am still thankful for the turkeys that gave of themselves so that my family and I could have a superb meal.  It wouldn’t be a holiday without them!  

©Grandmother Musings 2012-2013.

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jamie Nowinski – Grandmother Wisdom/Grandmother Musings with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Green

I just love the Weekly Photo Challenge from The Daily Post @ WordPress.com.  I look forward to the new challenge when it is posted on Friday.  This week the challenge is GREEN!  My interpretation comes from a trip I shared with my husband to Niagara Falls.  The breathtaking views of the falls from Niagara Falls State Park where we enjoyed the American and Bride Veil Falls on the Cave of the Winds were exhilarating.  In a place where one would think to see only blue, I found a rainbow of color, especially green.  The park offers lush green pathways and a green trolley to take you from one end of the 400 acres to the other.  It is a place everyone should visit at least once.

“New to The Daily Post? Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, you’re invited to get involved in our Weekly Photo Challenge to help you meet your blogging goals and give you another way to take part in Post a Day / Post a Week. Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

1. Each week, we’ll provide a theme for creative inspiration. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog (a new post!) anytime before the following Friday when the next photo theme will be announced.

2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “Weekly Photo Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use the “postaday″ tag.

3. Subscribe to The Daily Post so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements. Sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar or RSS.”

CHECK OUT THESE ENTRIES!

http://frouk.net/?p=279

http://tacts21.wordpress.com/2012/11/17/weekly-photo-challenge-green/

http://milnersblog.wordpress.com/2012/11/17/weekly-photo-challenge-green/

http://jessemckay.wordpress.com/2012/11/16/weekly-photo-challenge-green/

http://patbean.wordpress.com/2012/11/17/weekly-photo-challenge-green/

http://picturesinlivingcolor.wordpress.com/2012/11/17/weekly-photo-challenge-green-3/

http://retireediary.wordpress.com/2012/11/17/weekly-photo-challenge-green-all-over-the-world/

http://rarasaur.wordpress.com/2012/11/17/weekly-photo-challenge-geekin-it-green/

 

©Grandmother Musings 2012-2013.
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jamie Nowinski – Grandmother Wisdom/Grandmother Musings with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

 

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