Just~One~Donna

Update as of August 2015 :  After getting questions about where to purchase this paint I did some investigation.  I had purchased my original containers of paint, as pictured below, from Home Depot.  Unfortunately, this product is now discontinued.  You may be able to find it online.  I found a site on Etsy that seems to have an inventory on hand. ********************** I've been busy with projects around the house.  The warm weather in the Northeast this year brought spring fever to me early on and I've been motivated to take on some inside projects.  First, I refinished the oak stairs going to the second floor of the house,  Then I decided the master bedroom needed a redo.   Along the way, I have been touching up woodwork here and there. All this sprucing up means I've made several trips to local paint and hardware stores.  On one of my trips to my local Home Depot, I saw a display of Martha Stewart Metallic paints.  They c...

Seafood Gumbo The other day I had the urge to make a seafood soup.  My son had been asking for a seafood soup for several weeks and at last I felt like making one.  I didn't want to make a traditional New England seafood chowder because I was in the mood for a soup with some kicked up flavor.   I did some Internet surfing and settled on a seafood gumbo as my target soup. I bet you are a lot like me.  You get an idea in your head about something you want to eat and then look for recipes that you think will deliver.  In this case, I just wanted a flavorful seafood soup.  To me, that meant I wanted lots of herbs and spices.  A gumbo delivers on this combination; the amounts and mix of spices are those that I thought my family would like.  If you decide to make this soup, I encourage you to adjust the seasonings based on what you know your family likes, as well.  That means you should feel free to add a little more of this, while perha...

I've been thinking about a face lift for my bedroom for a while.  It all began, at least, a year ago, maybe more, when I saw a picture of a bed in an Ethan Allen catalog.  I ripped the picture out of the catalog and have been carrying the picture around with me ever since.  Here is that picture, folds and all. My Bedroom Inspiration Picture The things that spoke to me from this picture were the contrast of light and dark between the fabrics and the furniture and the texture variation that defines the fabric contrast.  It was just what I was looking for.  I wanted a change from the heavy fabrics that have been a part of the bedroom's decor for about 10 years, both on the bed and on the windows. Well, with the first day of spring knocking at the door I decided to begin pulling my bedroom update together.  I began my search at my local department stores and purveyors of home goods, hoping I would find an assortment of white, ivory, cream and b...

The other day was busy as all get out for me.  I found myself running late and unprepared for dinner.  Do you ever find yourself in a similar situation?  I know you do.  That question was really rhetorical.  Life often gets ahead of us and we find ourselves scrambling to catch up, right?  What does one do when facing a day like that?  Well, I turn to my pantry to see what I can pull together. Pantry Shrimp Pasta and Sugar Snap Peas A quick check of my pantry and freezer revealed the following ingredients: The Pantry Ingredients 1 pound linguine extra virgin olive oil 1 28 ounce can diced tomatoes 2 pounds jumbo shrimp, frozen fresh garlic fresh sugar snap peas fresh spinach white wine, Sauvignon Blanc shredded Romano cheese salt and pepper to taste fresh parsley, chopped, about 1/4 cup fresh baby spinach (an afterthought) I was relieved.  No need to worry.  I was confident I could turn those ingredi...

March has rolled in.  Yes, in some parts of our country March has greeted us like a ferocious lion bringing blizzards and tornadoes.  Here in the Northeast our March days have been gray, cool and gloomy, but you won't hear anyone complaining.  Are you contemplating your garden plans for 2012?  One of the online resources you might want to check out is the USDA's 2012 Hardiness Map .  This map should be your guide in choosing the plants that will thrive where you live, especially as you choose expensive ornamental trees and bushes. The map is easy to use.  Just click your state and a close up view will pop up, like the example you see above, allowing you to key in on the appropriate zone for where you live.  This will help you as you shop for your plants, choosing those that are best suited for your zone.  Remember, though, that this map is a guide.  Talk with your neighbors and your local garden center professionals as you make decisions....