A Whole Wack of Stuff, Decorating, Pets and Recipes

This post is going to be crammed. Instead of posting seperately I`m cheating and posting all at once :)
Thanks for all the great ideas from everyone! I wanted to keep that wall not too busy because of the window so I took one of my favorite pictures from the bathroom and moved it in here. The window table has a potted herb on it with a candle at the moment but my camera is out of batteries today...


It`s from a book I recieved years ago of Pears Soap adverts. I`ve looked for this same picture and can`t find it anywhere. I love it.

Here`s some before and after pictures finally of the livingroom.
Angus poses and matches well......

I just had to add this one because this is what happened next, LOL.....

The couch before I recovered it. There`s that 20 year old green rug...

This one shows before we put the middle window in to add more light. It was so dark in there....

Here it is now with only sheers for the summer.....

And curtain panels for the winter. A bit colourful, but cozy once I add a few throws to curl up under. It evolved differently than I at first had in mind. But maybe next spring I can get a few big plants and still get that garden room feel I was looking for more...

Yesterday was another nice sunny warm day and the cats enjoyed it too...

Izzy washing in the enjoyment of it all....

While Teddy chose best to sit on my knee. He really craves attention now and I can`t go outside to sit without him trying to climb into my lap...


We`re still getting a few tomoatoes yet and I made some fresh tomatoe sauce for our pasta supper with the herbs in the garden for flavour.

1/3 cup of olive oil
4 or 5 small ripe tomatoes
1 small onion
2 cloves chopped garlic
1/2 chopped yellow pepper
small bunch of fresh Italian Parsley and Oregano

Saute the onion in olive oil until partially carmelized. Then add pepper and garlic. Saute a bit more adding chopped tomatoes and fresh herbs.
Gently simmer watching that liquid doesn`t soak up too much.

Pour over your favorite pasta.

I also had this stuffed bread recipe saved that I wanted to try. Yesterday seemed a good day to give it a go and it was good!

Stuffed with more fresh tomatoes, garlic and ham....

Ham-Stuffed Bread

1 tablespoon active dry yeast
1 cup warm milk (110 to 115 degrees F)
1 egg
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
FILLING:
1 small onion, chopped
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 pound chopped cooked ham
1 teaspoon vinegar
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
DIRECTIONS
In a mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk. Add the egg, oil and salt; beat until smooth. Stir in enough flour to form a stiff dough. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
Meanwhile, in a skillet, saute onion in oil until tender. Add tomatoes, garlic, salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat until liquid is absorbed, about 30 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add ham, vinegar and oregano; mix well. Cool. Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; roll into a 14-in. X 12-in. Rectangle. Spread filling over dough to within 1/2 in. Of edges. Roll up, jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seam to seal and tuck ends under. Place, seam side down, on a greased baking sheet. Do not let rise. Bake at 375 degrees F for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan to a wire rack. Serve warm. Refrigerate leftovers.
* Note: I probably next time will leave it in a few more minutes than I did. And also glaze it. I did it in the last few minutes with butter. It looked dull to me and I like to see a more golden look.

Then I went to bed eventually to read, but someone got there before me....

Now I`m off to add these recipes to hubby`s http://ratebistros.com/ site. Hope everyone is having a nice weekend. Stay away cold weather!!