SIGN, SIGN EVERYWHERE A SIGN

and there's a ton more where those came from.

I've been so busy with my small business.  I paint lots of signs and all kinds too but I also paint digital illustrations that I have on sale at my STUDIO M22 ETSY Shop, check them out!

I'm not here on my blog much but I still love reading your posts!  Keep it up girls and guys!

Bev

WORX Cordless Switch Driver

Can I brag?  I really gotta brag on this product.  It's like sharing good, no, GREAT news you just can't keep inside!  I make signs, I sell signs.  I attach hanging hardware on the back of my signs. Whether it be a sawtooth hanger, or a D-Ring with either kind, I constantly have to pre-drill holes and drive in the screws.  I love how I can easily switch from a drill bit to driver in a split second.

Here's a sample of a sign I just finished painting.  My last step is to attached the hanging hardware in the back.

With this sign, I have decided to attached a D-Ring hanger.  First I need to mark the center of the board, otherwise my sign will hang lopsided.  Mark the center with an "X"

I pre drill the hole.  As you can see with my WORX cordless switchdriver, I also have a flashlight to make drilling easy to see.

I easily switched to my drill bit in a split second!  Drilled in the screw and the D-Ring.  No time wasted!

My sign is hanging up in no time!

The WORX Switchdriver is so much powerful than my previous Ryobi Cordless Drill.  Hubby can't believe how powerful and lightweight it is.  We purchased ours at Menards just before Christmas and decided to get two, a his and hers (you'll notice mine is marked "hers") tool.  He doesn't touch mine, I don't touch his.  They both came with two batteries each, how cool is that?.  There's so much more to this product that I am not familiar with so watch this video and you'll see how amazing this power tool is, you'll want to run to your local Menards and buy one...or two.

WORX Switch Driver Video

The only drawback I have and no longer a problem is that I needed to purchase "hex schank" drill bits.  Three hex schank bits came in the package but you'll need more with different sizes UNLESS you have some on hand already.  The hex shank on the end of the drill bit is important because that's what locks in to the chuck of the tool. <---- Did I just make sense there?  Don't laugh if I didn't it!! ;)


I'm saving so much time with my new WORX Switchdriver, I now look forward to this last step of drilling and driving.


Disclaimer:  This promotion post is not sponsored by WORX nor affiliated in anyway with WORX or Menards.  These are just my own thoughts on this product and my love for it, I just had to share!

Small Town Michigan Snow

 

This beautiful red barn is next to our church

 

This spruce tree is in my backyard and I hope it lives forever!

 

This is my bungalow again (see previous post) but with the 2nd snowfall

The side of our bungalow

 

I've been meaning to put a red bow on this light post but I've been so busy I keep forgetting!

It snowed a lot yesterday.  It came down gently but it was alot and times and pretty heavy.  That's the kind of snowfall I love, especially at Christmas time.  Not crazy about the ones that come in like a blizzard but they're few between.

This snow fall was a total separate one from my last post.  Seems like the snowfalls here in Michigan where we live are the type that come and go in Nov and Dec.  Come Jan and Feb. that's when they stick and stay through Mar.

I took my SLR Canon camera on purpose to take some good pictures.  I'm still a novice but oh the pictures that came out were beautiful!  Hope you're enjoying your Christmas season so far.

Until next time,

Christmas Bungalow

My stepson (K) and his wife (C) came to visit our Bungalow for the first time since we moved here over two years ago.  They live in Serbia so it's not easy for them to stop by on a whim.  We do wish they lived closer but that's life so we'll take what we can get.

The whole time K & C were up here, the threat of snow loomed.  We had to drive to Grand Rapids to pick them up so I'm glad it didn't snow only because I would not want to travel in it.

The day after they left, we had a couple of inches of snow and this is what they missed.  C thinks my house is cute and the perfect Christmas house because of it's color.  I took this picture when the snow slowed down a bit and I'm so glad I did.  All the snow has melted now and it's back to dry sidewalks and green lawns, at least for a couple of days - there's a snowstorm making it's way across the plains and it's planning to hit us tomorrow.

So, Merry Christmas from our bungalow to yours!

Kix Brooks Jambalaya

Hubby and I watched "You've Got Mail" last night on the CMT channel.  I never watch the CMT channel because I don't listen to country music, as a matter of fact, I can't stand it!  But please don't judge.  Anyways, during commercial breaks this guy, Kix Brooks is not only a country music star but he has come out with his own cookbook titled, "Cookin' It With Kix".  So during the commercials breaks, he and his hostess (can't remember who she is or her name) made this dish and I watched it intently just as I did the movie.  It looked so good!  Oh the power of suggestion, I fall for it every time!!  I went to the store today to buy the ingredients I needed.  I made half the recipe only because it's just hubby and I and I knew I would still have leftovers.  I will include the the original recipe (Kix' version) and will add my version in parenthesis.

1 4-6 lb. chicken or duck (I used two boneless chicken breasts)
2 tbsps. KB's Shreveport Shake seasoning or other Cajun/Creole seasoning.  (I used Old Bay seasoning)
2 tbsps. vegetable oil (I used canola)
1 lb. andouille sausage cut into 1/4 inch slices
2 cups chopped yellow or white onions (I used half of one yellow)
1 cup chopped green or red bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped celery (completely forgot to buy this so I used a tsp. of celery seed)
1 tsp. salt ( I ended up not using salt at all)
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 cups peeled, seeded, and chopped tomatoes - optional (I used one)
1 tbsp. chopped garlic
3 bay leaves (I used two)
2 cups long-grain rice, white or brown
2 tsps. minced fresh thyme
2 quarts chicken broth (I used one)
1 lb. medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 cup chopped green onions
1/2 cup minced flat-leaf parsley

 Season the chicken with two tablespoons of the seasoning.  Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat.

Add the chicken (skin side down) and sear for 5 minutes.  Turn and sear the other side for 3 minutes.  Remove chicken from the pot and drain on paper towels.

Add the sausage to the pot and cooking, stirring until browned.

Add the "Holy Trinity" of onions, bell pepper and celery (remember I used celery seed) and salt, cayenne pepper and black pepper. 

 Cook, stirring often until the veggies are softened, about 5 minutes.

 Add the tomatoes, garlic and bay leaves and cook, stirring until the tomatoes release some juice, about 2 minutes.

Add the rice

Cook, stirring for 2 minutes.

Add the broth and thyme, stir

Add the chicken and bring it to a boil.  Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and simmer.

Stir occasionally until rice is done about 30 minutes.

Season the shrimp with remaining seasoning and add the shrimp to the pot.  Cook until the shrimp turn pink, about 5 minutes.  Remove pot from heat and let set for 15 minutes.

Serve immediately and garnish with green onions and parsley

Today is National Gumbo Day but I made Jambalaya instead!  This bowl was full of goodness, it had 3 of my favorite meats, chicken-shrimp and andouille sausage.  One bowl was plenty though and I'm so glad there are leftovers to have for lunch tomorrow.  I made this dish all because I watched "You've Got Mail" and I recorded it so I can watch it again.  I say this is a win-win!!

Until next time,

Sweet and Sour Trout

 FISH RECIPE
1 lb. trout fillets boned and skinned
1/4 cup cornstarch
4 tablespoons sesame oil
2 tbsps. sherry cooking wine
1 green pepper, cut into 1" pieces
1 red pepper cut into 1" pieces
1 medium onion cut into 1/4 wedges and separated
8 oz. can of pineapple chucks, drained, RESERVING all juice
2 cups cooked rice (white or brown)

SWEET AND SOUR SAUCE
1/2 cup pineapple juice
2 tbsps. brown sugar
2 tbsps. cornstarch
2 tbsps. cooking sherry wine
2 tbsps. vinegar
2 tbsps. catsup
2 tbsps. soy sauce

 Before you start on anything, if the rice isn't cooked yet, do it now. 

 I like to cook rice in our handy dandy rice cooker.  Just throw it in the pot, cover and leave it until it's ready.

Next, make the Sweet and Sour sauce.  In a small bowl, combine all sauce ingredients.

Mix well,  set aside.

Heat sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Pat the trout fillets dry with paper towels and dredge in cornstarch.

Cook the fillets for 5-7 minutes on each side.  Upon turning add 2 tbsps. of the sherry cooking wine.

Remove trout from pan and place on a platter, cover with foil to keep warm.

Heat 2 tbsps. of Sesame oil to the same skillet.  Add peppers and onions.  Stir fry for 3 minutes.  I stir fried mine a little longer just because I like my vegies a little chard and more tender.

Add the sauce mixture to the skillet with the vegetables.

Stir sauce until it thickens.

 Add the pineapple chunks and cooked till heated.

Serve with rice and enjoy!

Back during the Independence Day weekend, my hubby, our son and grandson, brother-in-law chartered a boat to go out on Lake Michigan to go fishing.

Here is our son holding the actual Lake Trout we just had for dinner tonight :)

Here are the men returning from their fishing trip.

I have never cooked trout before in my life but I figured it was similar to cooking Tilapia or perhaps even Salmon.  I googled the lake trout recipe and as soon as I saw the link to this recipe and knew I had to look no more.  This recipe is copied from www.lakemichiganangler.com.  I knew I couldn't go wrong with that selection. 

Hubby loved this dish much more than I expected.  It was so good he even asked for seconds!!  Shhh! Don't tell his doctor! ;)  I loved it as well, when I read "Sweet and Sour" you didn't have to ask me twice.  I now know how to cook trout! :)

Until next time,