Is this the classic blue Ikea shopping tote but in beige with a striped handle? Chic!
So it seems that I’m on Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji every day. You, too? Please tell me I’m not the only one who browses these sites so frequently. One of the items that I’m the lookout for is a mirror…or more than one, in fact. I have some idea of where one (or several) may end up, but I’ll know more as soon as I see one that I love. Over the last few months, I have bought three mirrors at a fraction of what they might cost at a store and, more interesting for me, they’re all antique (and unique!).
Here are some mirrors that I’ve come across lately (in Ontario) on Facebook Marketplace.
I’m starting to gather lighting inspiration. There are so many lights in our new house, and while everything if functioning well, not every fixture suits our style or this home. That said, I am finding that choosing light fixtures is an overwhelming design task. On top of this, I’m impatient, so I have to remind myself that it’ll take some time to get all the fixtures set.
For now, here are some fixtures that are getting my attention.
Like many, I enjoy a good walnut. Toasted walnuts are great. Plain walnuts are lovely. On a salad. For a snack. What’s not to like?
So when I heard stories of my neighbours’ walnut tree (and the previous owner who used to gather the walnuts for baking), I thought I could channel my inner Martha Stewart and experiment with them. I watched a couple of YouTube videos, and I thought I was adequately prepared for the task. Read on.
My lovely neighbours had a bucket ready for me, so I gathered the fallen walnuts and got to work. First, while wearing gloves, I removed the outer shell by squishing it and pulling out the walnut. The smell was amazing. The task was easy.
Next, I put all the walnuts on a dish rack/strainer and sprayed them down with the jet setting on my hose. This removed dirt and fibres that were left on from the outer shell. I discarded the “walnut juice” on my lawn, and the worms had a field day! (Note: Do not wear Crocs for this task or a worm might just find its way in through a hole. Ew!)
This two-step process was neither difficult nor time consuming. I felt proud of myself for getting this far.
Then I removed my gloves.
Uh oh. Walnut stain all over my hands! Oops. I proceeded to Google how to remove the stain, and unfortunately, nothing has worked (lemon juice, baking soda, salt, toothpaste). I think my hands will now remain stained for likely a month or so.
I left the walnuts out to dry in the sun while I continued to do yard work. By the time I remembered to gather them to bring them inside, half of them were gone! The squirrels hit the walnut jackpot!
So now I’m left with just a few walnuts that will dry over the next month or so. The final step will be to eat them, of course!
I can’t see myself trying this again in the near – or distant – future. My neighbours have already told me they’re ready to say no when I ask them about gathering up their walnuts next year.
I am generally not very into Halloween, but I now live with candy addicts who love just about everything about Halloween – pumpkins, carving, dressing up, spooky movies, and, yes, candy! I think I’m the only one though who cares about tasteful Halloween decorations, and nobody should be too surprised to see a few black and white decorations – instead of orange – pop up at my house this month.
