Retro Drinkware

My collection of retro drink items. All thrifted and perfect for my red and yellow shelf. Working on it this week.

Linking to:
Time Warp Wife
Coastal Charm
Wow Us Wed.

Frugal Challenge - Free Hen House and Chick Update

The chicks are now five weeks old. Getting bigger and harder to catch. They spend the day out here in their coop but go into the garage at night.

They are having their most favorite snack ever. They go crazy when I put it down. It is Kefir which is full of good things for them and is full of probiotics. It is of course good for humans too. I put it in the girls smoothies.

Okay, there is the little house. It is an old cupboard turned on its side. The laying boxes will be in the top section and hubby will put the ramp on when they are ready to start going up there, but for now it is closed off to them. The bottom has a roosting pole for them to sleep on. The door can close but we have it propped open for now. I will move the bundle of shavings behind the lil house when the ramp goes on. We spent $0 on the house portion. It is all scrap from the coop and from our garage. Not attractive but free.

I have been playing with chickens indoors as well. I think in honor of my new girls I will have chicken centerpiece on the dining table. Just brought together things I had around the house.

Those are the only eggs I have for right now.

Linking to:
BNOTP
Lowercase Letters
Just Something I Whipped Up
Craft O Maniac
Barn Hop
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Cozy Home Scenes
Home and Garden Thursday
SNS130

Garden Stroll

Yes, I have created a future gardener. She has it folks. I am talking about a green thumb. My little one planted the seeds, watered more than they needed but yesterday she harvested a basket of radishes. Now don't mention that radishes are one of the easiest things to grow but hey she's only three.

Here are the potatoes I am growing in the pot out back. They are taking off. About five inches of growth. I need to get some more potting soil in there and mulch up around them.

This gerber daisy is so old. I think about six years old. It just keeps coming back in this pot every year. First bloom of the year.

My husband is working this morning and just called. He asked would I be spending time with my chickens today. Of course. Their little place is around that corner. Do you think we have enough chicken signs? No missing where they live.

Ah petunias. Happy Sunday. Prayers to all my blogging friends in the midwest. I hope you all are safe after all those terrible storms.

Linking to:
Seasonal Sundays
Show off Your Cottage Monday
A Delightsome Life

What to do on a Rainy Day

We had a very rainy stormy day here in SoCal. In fact I was caught without an umbrella just as I was checking out of the grocery store. Was totally soaked by the time I got home.

Well of course the pooches have to be indoors. This dog is almost ten but acts like she is two. One downside to rainy days is her restlessness after a while.

You keep peeking out the kitchen window to see what the weather is doing. Especially when loved ones are on the road driving.

When the weather breaks for a minute you run the legs off of all three year olds.

You are thankful for a warm and cozy home.

And you make your oldest daughter's day by making chicken and dumplings for dinner. I sent her a text and she was home within the hour. Her favorite.

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SNS 129

Cherry and Summer Dreaming

I love this pillow bought at my favorite store. Screams summer. I am getting my summier goodies out to set the house for the warm weather on it's way.

Linking:
SNS 129
BNOTP

Are We Really Having this Discussion Again?

I could not believe my ears this week when I heard the tift going on in the news about the comment made about Anne Romney staying home with her boys and not "having a real job." How could we be hear again and how could this have been started by a woman? Really after all this time we are still arguing as women over whether staying home or working makes you more of a woman?
I have been on both sides of this argument. I worked for the first 18 years of my kids lives and have been home the last almost four years. If you think working is always hardest, you are wrong. Some days at home can drive a mother out of her mind and lest you think staying home is hardest, then who would want to come home to a pile of laundry after a nine hour day and an hour's drive home?
Please for the love of God and all that is holy, can we women support, unconditionally one another where ever we are. If you are at home then be happy there and know your job is worthy and noble and very important. If you are working than know you are valued and important and showing your kids a strong work ethic. It works both ways and I have lived both lives. Let's stop judging one another and together be a combined voice for all women. This tearing down of one another serves no purpose but to continue to belittle a woman's role where ever she may be working.

Linking to:
Friday Blog Hop
Show and Tell Friday
5 Minutes for Mom
SNS 129

Little Momma

This is our big hunter Sneakers. In from a night out on the town and really looking for a cozy place to nap.

I am in the den and I hear continuous giggling in the kitchen. This little momma wants to put him to bed just right.

Okay, just lay down so I can cover you already.

Mom please why is this kid bothering me? Make her leave please....

Okay, you can cover me I guess.

Now for your sip of water.

 Now just take a drink and I might leave you alone. He did and she did.

Love a little cat hair on my towel when I hop out of the shower. NOT!! Back into the dryer.

Wake Up!

Today our wonderful sunshine is gone and it is dreary and rainy. This guy has decided it is nap time.

We have a hideous plug on the wall here so I try to hide it with pots. Why do they put plugs right where everyone can see them?

As for the gnome, he was sort of lost in the garden when he showed up here in the pots one day. A certain big guy likes to arrange things in the garden as well and I love to stumble upon the surprises.

Linking to:

Savvy So. Style

Time Travel Thursday

Transformation Thursday

Thrifty Thursday

Thursday Blog Hop

Saved by Love Thrifty Thurs.

Share Your Cup Thursday

Delightfully Inspiring

The 36th Avenue

Creative Friday

Easter Beauties

Last week my friend Patty from Lemon Lane Cottage came to visit and bring her grandson to see our chickens and to play. She is such a sweetheart and gave Q this dress as an early birthday gift. I just had to have her wear it for Easter. It was so sweet and perfect for the day. Patty makes these dresses and I think will have an Etsy shop soon. Oh such talent. To sit down and out of some fabric she creates something so darling.

Thanks so much Patty. Q loved it and couldn't wait to wear it.

My mother in law gave me this glorious bouquet of stock on Easter as well. How can such a wonderful flower have such a plain old name. The fragrance is wonderful and I can smell it every time I walk into the dining room.

Do you like the match box card in the photo? See I told you I am not very good at staging photos. I want to thank all of you who commented on that post. You are such a blessing and it gave me such joy to read your comments. 

Blogging the Sunny Simple Way

Some people have asked over the years how I find time to blog while doing all the other things I share on my blog. Kids, animals, family, gardening, are some of the things I spend time doing and somehow manage to get a post up daily. So here is the answer. I blog on the fly. I rarely plan blog posts, I just look at photos I have snapped during daily life and pic a topic. I may work on some posts longer than others but usually it is a straight session of loading pictures and writing the post.

As for photos. I rarely ever edit them. I just don't have time for this step. On occasion I will edit a photo but mostly I just load straight onto the blog. What you see is real life so the pile of laundry in the back ground just stays in the photo. I love the gorgeous photos I see on other blogs and maybe my lack of good quality photos holds my blog back. I have no idea but it doesn't really matter to me. I just want to connect with others and blog the way I live in what I call organized chaos. Sharing tips that have helped me and things that I just plain enjoy. If it ever is not fun any longer, I will end this journey.

Some of my favorite blogs that I make sure to never miss a post are just basic life filled blogs. That is what I am drawn to. Simple ways. I have often wondered where I fit in the blog world as I most certainly am not a craft blogger, not really home decor and not a particularly good cook just a basic one. So I think I am a "life" blogger. One who shares her life. My ways of doing this and figuring out how to do that. If it is something that has helped me or makes my life easier I love to share it.

If you are a new blogger than definitely follow the rule many have shared that imitation may be a form of flattery but it does not work in the blog world for longevity. Blog your life. Blog things that are beautiful to you. Share things that have moved you and bring joy to you. If you love it chances are others will to. Let your life be your blogging guide. I never over think or plan much. I am glad to have this hobby that brings me far more than I have ever imagined, a connection to women that brings me great joy every day I log onto Sunny Simple Life.

Linking to:

Met Monday

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Bedazzle Me Monday

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Happy Easter

A very Happy Easter to you all. We are having a late brunch of ham, potato salad, baked goodies, pickled eggs and beets, fruit, rolls, chili egg casserole. You get the idea. The three pounds I lost the last couple weeks are coming back rather quickly. We ate a whole bag of malted eggs in this house yesterday. Why did I open that bag? Oh well back at it Monday. Enjoy your day with family and friends or whatever you are doing. Easter blessings!!

Here's the recipe for the Chili Egg Casserole. It is so good.

Red and Yellow

Last year this time I was finding myself very into red and that vintage green.

Here is the post.

This year though I find myself really drawn to yellow and of course red.

My yellow Dutch iris are just gorgeous right now. I hope I have some for an Easter bouquet.

But my heart has and always will have a place for red.

But oh those iris.

Red is a mainstay and will always be in my home but I think for this year I may do some decorating in:

Red and yellow. So cheery. I think it screams farmhouse. Hmm I see a theme for my shelf in the near future when the Easter stuff comes down.

Linking to:
Sat. Night Special
The House in the Roses
Seasonal Sundays
Tabletop Tuesday
Return to Loveliness

Moving In

I gathered up some of my chicken stuff from around the yard to dress up my girls new home.

They have been enjoying some time in the run each sunny day. It is 40 inches wide and almost twenty feet long. We will move in their little hen house this weekend. They still can't sleep out here without some heat so they are sleeping in my garage right now.

Scratching and pecking, pecking and scratching.

My girl with Henrietta. She is a very squirmy chick and prefers not to be held but she managed to be held for this photo.

We all have poop shoes now. Those you wear when you walk in the coop and never come in the house with.

I felt like a farmer at the feed store buying a bale of hay and shavings for the coop. I really must get out of the city. I am in Heaven in the feed store. Love the smell and the people in there and all the cool things. I need more space and more animals and a REALLY big veggie garden. I just don't care much about the other things in life anymore. I am at a place where I just know what I want to do. This has been a lot of work but it has been such a labor of love. I have really enjoyed every minute of these chicks. My dad was born on a farm. Maybe I get it from him. I just want to spend days in grubby jeans and clothes making things around me pretty and fruitful and lovely. I hate dressing up and loathe when we have to. I want to live where dressing up is a new pair of jeans and a t-shirt without holes. No kidding. I will however continue to color my hair. I have that ugly color of grey that is more yellow. My mom had silver hair. It was stunning and she was beautiful with it. I have my dad's hair. So I have rambled on.

Lola seems to like the chicks but I think it is the Kefir I give them. She wants to lick the plate when they are done. I hope she will be friends with them. She has been gentle so far. Happy chicks!!

Linking to:
Masterpiece Monday
Sat. Night Special

Hawaiian Fried Rice

We love fried rice in this house. Often I will use leftover pork roast for pork fried rice but recently I tried to shake it up a bit and create something a little different. Now this is a funny recipe with no exact measurements but add as you like per your taste.

Hawaiian Fried Rice
Take leftover steamed rice or rice you make early in the day. Fried rice is best if you use cold white rice. Refrigerate the rice before you make this dish.

Ingredients:
Cold white rice
shrimp
pineapple chunks
unsalted cashews
green onions
finely chopped carrots (or bell peppers would be nice)
soy sauce
stir fry sauce
red pepper flakes

Take a large non stick pan or saute pan and add a little oil and get the pan hot. I always saute the carrots a little first to soften. Add the rice and some soy sauce to taste. Get good and hot and add all the other ingredients and let cook on high heat turning only occasionally. If you want a lot of shrimp add loads like we did or just a taste of red pepper flakes. I just use up what I have and throw in amounts to taste. Fried rice is a great dish that can be changed in so many ways.
We served with some grilled teriyaki chicken.

Linking to:
Show and Tell Friday
Fun Stuff Fridays
What's It Wednesday

Into the House

I have been spending so much time outside that I forced myself to stay in and get things straightened in the house. Not easy, but I managed to stay indoors for a few hours. I really simplified Easter with the Easter Shelf in my kitchen and the dining room table getting the only holiday decor. This little guy sits in the wood tray for our table.
Oh, and this guy hiding in the dry sink. All the older pastel Easter stuff went to the Goodwill.

Picked up this wire basket on the clearance shelf at Country General Store. Not sure what to put in it.

I just put these things in but not a fan so do you have any suggestions?

Real plants would not work. The corner is too dark. This seems to be the black and yellow corner.

The door went on the coop last night. The girls can spend some time in there today. I am off to the feed store to get supplies. Must not look at the new chicks. I am waiting out the two suspect ones in hopes at least one will turn out the be a hen.

Linking to:
Savvy So. Style
BNOTP
Live Laugh