The Salsa Dance!

Good summer morning to you, mi amigas!

Despite the tremendous heat and humidity Michigan's been having this summer, 

when it's time to do the Salsa Dance, 

you've gotta get those feet moving!

You pull out your glasses...

top your head with a lid....

don't forget a ring!

grab your partner, 

and let the Salsa Dance begin!

With the radio blaring "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", 

(...In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight; 

in the jungle the quiet jungle the lion sleeps tonight;

we eeeee weamammaway...!) 

(ok, so that's not exactly a salsa song, but it's one of my favs.)

we blanch. 

Tomatoes, that is.

We pause to slice...

 and then twirl around the mobile sink that Hubby built for canning.

 Salsa dancing can be rough on the feet hands, you know.

I mambo over to the bowls of veggies I sliced all afternoon while listening to the birds sing and watching the butterflies sip from the wet soil outside the garage...

(...in the jungle, the quiet jungle....!) 

and toss in the carrots, celery, onions, bell and banana peppers, jalepenos, and chilis 

with the tomatoes.

 Oops!  Pause to stir!

Then we rhumba in the hot, steamy water. 

Plucked out of the bath to cool on the counter, we count out 54 pints of homemade salsa made with veggies straight from our garden.

Time for a taste test!

Now, if you're wondering what weird room we danced our afternoon away in, 

we do most of our canning in Hubby's tool room. 

We clear and clean off the counters, set up the portable sink he built just for this purpose, and haul out the turkey fryer cookers.

This works out for me us really well since Hubby has a reputation of flinging food around while cooking.

A happy wife + a happy kitchen = a happy life for Hubby.

That much he has learned...

So, with glass of wine in one hand and a scoop of salsa in the other,

we dip the evening away...

{Hugs} and happy dancing!

(Oh!  And don't forget to check out all the other "morphing" going on over at Metamorphosis Monday at Susan's at Between Naps on the Porch right here!)

~ laurie

 

Field Trip and Frizzy Hair

Good morning, lovies!

How would you like to take a trip with me and hubby?  

I knew it!  :)

 Well, grab your coffee and climb in the back seat. We're ready to go!

Obviously, Hubby was verrrry anxious to get there.  

If you remember, I mentioned in an earlier post how much hubby loves a barn sale?  

Well, flea markets are right up there on his priority list, too.

We arrived at Charlton Park County-Wide Yard Sale bright and early, though the day wasn't bright at all.  It was warm, humid, and drizzling. 

Great hair day, if you know what I mean...

(This is about the time when my heart starts going pitter-patter with excitement...)

 Charlton Park is a place of local history and boasts many unique and beautifully restored buildings. Various events are held here during the year that bring in visitors from all over.

We found a parking place, hopped out with our umbrellas and the hunting-retrieving began.

The first thing my eyes landed on was this little piece of history.

I immediately grabbed it, paid my $12, 

(my batting eyelashes and smile didn't work this time)

and rushed back to the SUV to load it inside.

I don't know how old it was, but this was on the underside of the table stating that it was made in Grand Rapids, Michigan which is about an hour away from here.

 Because the day was not conducive to a yard sale, many of the vendors weren't there, but we made our way through the ones that were brave and determined to make a few dollars that day.  

Hubby got right to work searching for his 'must-haves', while I wandered through the muddy isles with my "treasure-radar" going at full tilt.

I thought these lamps were pretty.

We did buy that red handled potato rake to dig up our Yukon Golds and Red-Skins.

There were even a couple adorable puppies for sale that everyone wanted to hold.

Hubby gave me the infamous "don't-you-even-think-about-it" hairy-eyeball-side-glance and silently shook his head when he saw his adoring wife fawning all over the sweet little things.

As he pried me away from the little bundles of fur, he tried to divert my attention by sharing with me that he used to use one of these pails to milk the cows with when he was a kid growing up on the farm.

Now, if that had been enamel, you know I would'ave had that in my paws hands.

Hmmm....these looked like complete torture to me.

We have one of these cool pumps in our backyard that hubby insisted on mounting a birdhouse on.  (You wanna do what?!) 

Lucky for him, we've had two sets of bluebirds bring up their babies in it.

I almost bought this beautiful crystal, but stopped myself when I tried to think of when I would actually use it...

There were lots of vintage plates for a couple bucks a piece.

And even baked goods lovingly made by an Amish family.

 Farmhouse freestyle art!

It was so funny.  While I was wandering around taking photos, people kept coming up to me and talking to me.  Maybe they thought I was with the local newspaper or something....but my evil twin took over and I played it to the hilt.

Meanwhile, while I was signing autographs,

(just kidding!)

hubby discovered a large vintage glass jug to make more of our
infamous  Fat Cat*Happy Dog in.  

He nabbed it for a buck!

While he waited for the guy to haul it out from the truck....he got an idea.

He gave the poor guy our big umbrella to stay dry.

The guy was surprised and very grateful.

What a thoughtful man I married! 

(Unfortunately however, very much unaware of the evil twin who lives inside of his adoring wife...)

So, all in all, we had a fun morning despite the downpours, soggy feet, and frizzy hair.  Hubby came home with a saw, potato rake, and glass jug and I was thrilled with my sweet little table, and a wire mesh scoop I plan on using for blanching green beans. 

Thanks for riding along with us, and we hope you had a good time!

{Hugs} and happy junking to you!

Until next time...

~ laurie