Author Archives: slfinnell

About slfinnell

Child care provider for 22+ years in my home. I feel so blessed to have cared for so many children. Spend my spare time creating items for Etsy and searching for vintage items that need a new lease on life. Blogging?, well I just enjoy it.

London House/#thursdaydoors

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Childhood hometown, Green Ridge, Missouri.

It’s a long way from Green Ridge, Missouri, (population 476) to Chicago, Illinois. The last time I was there was before cell phones. There were only car phones actually attached to your car. Nonetheless, this is a Thursday Doors post and I’m using photos donated by my one and only sister. Last weekend, she flew to Chicago on a business trip and happened to think of me. Here is how I’m going to tell her story.

The name says it all
A waterfront view

Tootsie is a big deal currently in the windy city. And on this evening, I’d venture a ride on the water would be pretty enjoyable. I’d hope for a guided tour myself along with a nice bottle of wine to warm me up in case it’s cool.

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A “Show-Me-The-Money-Green” Mercedes would do just fine for a tour of the rest of the weekend.

A bit of detail on the door handles
London House Hotel

And dropping me off at the London House Hotel would be the icing on the cake. Look this one up on Google. Wowza!

A shout out to my little sister for sharing her views of Chi-town! Evette, you’re next! (my family is pretty awesome like that)

And a thank you to our stand-in hosts the past 3 weeks for our Thursday Doors blogging. Much appreciated!!

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A Sign of Hospitality

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I searched and searched this house for a pineapple (other than the can in the pantry). An Instagram daily photo prompt is the source of this distress. I knew I wouldn’t be venturing out on the town today so it was up to me to get creative. And since the last Sunday Sampler was in March before the April AtoZ Blog Challenge, it’s definitely past time for a new one!

Grabbed the tools, the fabric and a little inspiration from Pinterest — not necessarily in that order.

Pinterest Find
Fabric groupings
Tools and a 2 1/4 inch square

Cut enough squares to make 3 of these quilt squares. I don’t think they’ll be used together but you never know?

From the Green Stash
Squares with extras, just in case.

After a few minor adjustments – like increasing the size of the squares that were to become 1/2 square triangle blocks – I think I accomplished what I set out to do.

Without the sashing
Completed Block

A little batting, backing ,basting and it’ll be quilting time! My plan? A wall hanger will be the final outcome of this symbol of hospitality. Thanks for visiting!

A Sunday Stroll/Thursday Doors

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We took a walk through the Missouri State Fairgrounds “Highway Garden”. This park inside the fairgrounds is a peaceful way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Path leading to the water garden complete with door opening. 

We weren’t sure how long we would be able to stay around. There were chairs set up for a wedding and we didn’t see a time. Guess we could have pretended to belong but I am pretty sure my casual attire wasn’t going to fit the requirements.

  • I would never photo bomb a wedding.

A peaceful place to wander.
An overhang to watch koi/or feed them if you’re so inclined.
Waterfall’s are so relaxing.

This water garden is complete with a covered promenade. During the State Fair there are benches lined all along this scenic spot.

Overloaded with begonias 
And what would a Thursday Doors post be without a real door?

Hidden away behind the rock wall is the maintenance door for the drinking fountains. They were winterized already with a little bit of duct tape (this is where you insert your redneck jokes) so no close-ups. But there are several around the front and sides of this man-made structure.

There’s even an ivy tunnel for the romantics, photo shoots (senior pics), or a reprieve from the sun.

  • GATE To NATURE
Thanks so much for joining me this week for Thursday Doors. I hope you’ll click here for many more doors entries.

Persimmon Report 2018/ThursdayDoors

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Findings have already been shown by a couple of my FaceBook friends, but I had a high school friend message me for my personal findings. We’re talking about the Annual Persimmon Report here. So for this week on my Thursday Doors post, we’re headed Outdoors.

Before we get to the results of my seeds’ hidden prediction, I’d like to take time to discuss where these trees grow and if you may be able to find one in your location.  According to https://garden.org/learn/articles/view/4136/, 

Persimmon trees are hardy in USDA zones 5 to 11. However, you’ll have to select the right type for your area. There are two types of persimmon trees. The Asian persimmon (Diospyros kaki) grows in USDA hardiness zones 7 to 11, and is known for its large fruits on smaller trees. It’s the type often sold in grocery stores.

The American persimmon (D. virginiana) is a faster growing, larger tree that’s hardy to USDA zone 5. It produces smaller fruits, which some consider richer in flavor than its Asian cousins.

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Un-ripe when green, but there was a 4th one that was ready to pick.

The American persimmon has always been my choice when doing my search for the winter predictions. It’s what I am most familiar with and it’s native to our part of the country. As far as being richer in flavor, I have no idea about that. I’ve never cooked with them and don’t plan on it. Very sticky, stringy and a major consumption of time and energy in my opinion. To those who make pudding, jam, bread and etc with these, my hats off to you. Just not for me. But apparently those pesky Japanese Beetles don’t like them. The tree was loaded with fruit.

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This particular fruit only had 3 seeds. Many have 5 to 6. May be a result of our very dry summer.

Fenced in
Mandatory Door/Gate

So drum roll please……………………………….

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This is just one more tedious task to find out that forecast. No cuts I’m happy to say.

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Spoons! All Spoons!

We’re headed for a snowy winter in case you don’t know what these spoons mean. Not what I wanted to find but to my dear fellow FaceBookians, you already knew this. Has anyone checked the Farmers Almanac for their opinion on this? I’d happily take a less dire forecast. Make sure you’re prepared if you live in these snow prone areas.

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Ending today’s post with this glimpse of 2 young deer about to cross the trail less than 200 yards away from my home.

Please take time to check the other Thursday Doors posts at our guest host this week, Mexi Move the Third. Much gratitude to them for keeping these doors from being snowed in.

Hint From the Kitchen

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Have you ever made too many pancakes?

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Credit for this blog post goes out to my youngest daughter who had a coworker uninformed of what I’m about to share. So here goes…….

Well with little hungry children (or big ones) around, there’s no such thing as too many.

But what to do with all those extras? If you make them from scratch, there’s all that effort and the box mixes don’t come cheap. Feeding them to the dog is a possiblility but I have a better idea.

First you’ll need some:

XBrand Freezer Paper
Scissors, Gallon Freezer bag & Cut squares of freezer paper.

  1. freezer paper, wax paper or aluminum foil. —I prefer freezer paper but I’ve used all 3 in a pinch.
  2. freezer bags (do you see where this is going?)
  3. scissors

Cut the paper into 5 or 6 inch squares but dont get too worried about them being perfect. Their use is mainly to allow you peel-ability.

And by now you know we’re about to stack the extra pancakes on top of each other with a freezerpaper square between. They’ll freeze for up to 2 months although they won’t last that long here

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You could place them on a metal cookie sheet and freeze them individually for baggin’ later like Pioneer Woman. But who has time for that? One and done is my motto.

4 slice toasters are the only way to go.
Our topping of choice. Butter and maple syrup with No High Fructose Corn Syrup added.

Pop them in the toaster to reheat and you have a snack/meal ready in just minutes.  I love this simple method that allows the little ones to help with meals too. Just don’t let them touch that toaster, please!

Thanks to everyone for your visit! Hope you’ll leave a preferred pancake topping in the comments below. I’m always interested in other ways to get these kids to eat here 🙂

 

1930’s Era/ThursdayDoors

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In early August each year, our city is invaded by flocks of campers whose aim is to attend the Missouri State Fair.

I did not attend this year.

But I was lucky to see this little gem parked along 16th Street a few days after the fair was over. I probably should say gem(s). That 1930’s truck is definitely an original. But I’m not knowledgable enough to know if the teardrop camper is Really from the 40’s or 50’s. You be the judge.

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Please take a few to stop in at Norm 2.0 where folks have been camping out with their door discoveries for quite awhile. Just follow his directions to the blue frog.

Keep Your Foot Hard on the Pedal/Thursday Doors

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I’m giving you a tour this Thursday Doors of Uncle Bob’s Car Museum.

UncleBob

Entrance to the museum

I won’t be showing the outdoor view because I’m a stickler for keeping folks valuables safe. Too many break-ins in our area of late, including your’s truly. But that’s a story for another day.

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My first ‘doormat’ feature.

Which brings me to this above photo of his theory on the subject. {please refrain from sharing the multitude of opinions on firearms. I’m only featuring the item, not the politics.} He and my aunt have staunchly supported the DARE program for many, many years and you may see signs of his extreme generosity within this post. We are very proud to have him as family!

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The use of cabinets is widespread throughout his building.

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He has hand-built these shelves as well.

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More mini cars (hotwheels) in those curio cabinets. Not to mention all the signs, hat pins, magnets and other memorabilia.

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Repurposed store displays.

We Are Talking Cases and Cases of Cars here.

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Remember those Christmas villages for under your tree? Yep. He has ’em.

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Trophies are in the rafters here as well as whereever they can fit alongside cars. I told you he was a DARE legend. I’d venture to say one of the top contenders in our nation. I’ll check in on that and write an update sometime.

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And my personal favorite of all the peddle cars (that I regrettably neglected to get enough photos of) is his identical replica pedal car of the racing legend, the Honorable Dale Earnhardt. Astonishingly, he has 2!!

And this seems such an appropriate post to be writing as I hear actor Burt Reynolds has passed. Who can ever forget Smoky and the Bandit?? I daresay, there’ll be a car here somewhere from that movie.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my little tour of our local car collecting aficionado, my Uncle Bob. For other wonderful doors around the world, please begin at Norm 2.0 for the road map.

 

YarnBombed in Denver/#thursdaydoors

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The photo below was the first part of a text from my eldest daughter.

I informed her that it appeared ‘yarn bombing’ was underway.

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I’ve crocheted since the age of 9 and lots of my family and friends will send me photo/ideas of things they think I might want to crochet. These knob covers happen to be in a Denver brewery called “Just Like Grandma’s House”.

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While they didn’t offer any g-free brews, the atmosphere grabbed her attention enough to text me some pics. She told me they had chairs like we used to have in our kitchen, cold couches (70’s-esque) and that this particular night they were doing cross stitch. They also had hard candy, board games and a tv with Atari. Above you may notice they had nicknacks and an 8-track tape collection. Player? Not sure. But you get the general idea of how much a throwback this place was trying to be. Very unique down memory lane. If only I wasn’t 2 states away 🙂 Thank goodness she was only on vacation!

For Grandma’s Only
Notice the ivy canopy?

And the mandatory door insertion goes here.

I’m not a grandmother (someday-fingers crossed) but we all have a favorite one or someone we’ve considered our grandma. I would have loved to take mine on this walk down memory lane!

For other Thursday Door memories-in-the-making, check out Norm 2.0 here and he’ll explain where to find all the weekly entrants. Have a wonderful rest of your Thursday!

A Pen Tip

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Whether you agree or not on immunizing your child, it’s a law in most areas to have your child immunized before their first day of school.

 

August is IMAM

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For this Free Tip Friday, I’m sharing a little gift from my mother-in-law on her recent excursion to the Missouri State Fair. She knows about the yearly report I’m obligated to make each year to our state licensing agency on the number of children in my care who are up-to-date on shots. Lots of red tape when you have a license to keep up with. Anyway, just wanted to give a shout out to thank her for thinking of me and to the Dept. of Health and Senior Services for the freebie offered this year.

2018-08-24_06-47-36_823 It’s hard to take a picture of this totally unscrolled with one hand. But you get the general idea of why it’s a cool little item. It’s easy to reference something like this when a parent has questions.

First Appearance: February 3, 1981 #peanutsspecials #ps #pnts #schulz #linus #lucy #pen #mightier #sword #mouth www.peanuts.com www.peanutsspecials.com

Have a wonderful rest of your Friday!!

Leawood / #thursdaydoors

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I would have to research Leawood, Kansas (Kansas City suburb) if you really want to know much about it. For us, it’s a pass-through city on the way to dinner with our daughters. One rode with, and one met us. We were pre-celebrating a birthday for the youngest and went to an old favorite place. So you’ve seen it before and I’m not going to repeat that one.

You’re welcome.

The collage is made just to give the door interest. I personally love a screened-in porch and would dearly love to have one. And there’s that stone! But for now, I present this one with some play on filters.

LeawoodKansas Collage

You’re probably going to tell me the only ‘real’ stone is the wall. I’m sure you’re probably right considering this is not The East Coast 🙂 But a gal can try right?!

Hope you’ll take some time to drop in on Norm 2.0 for some more doors by clicking here. He’ll direct you to the blue frog.

Happy Thursday everyone!