Fish and Chips

Today I am featuring my husband's cooking and my tablescape. It's all about fish & chips and a nice bottle of wine.

I have been getting the table ready while he is outside cooking.

The rectangle dish has such vivid colors  of orange, yellow, green and blue. I sat it in a stand to show it off. I added blue glasses to bring out the blue in the dish.

I found another set of glasses at Marshall's to add to my blue Dollar Store wine glasses. The new beverage glasses are a lighter shade of blue have beautiful light green stem that is reflecting the blue from the wine glass.

I found an orange wine bottle and small fish plate to add to the bread rack. The fish plate worked well to serve extra hush puppies.

My husband has been so busy outside frying the fish, chips, and hush puppies. He has a fish breader plastic container that has a sieve type insert that allows you to turn it over and separate the fish and the excess breading.

My only contribution was mixing up the hush puppies. It wasn't too hard, add 3/4 cup of water to the mix. I did mix two batches and he added jalapenos to the second batch. The stainless steel deep fryer is by DeLongi. He used a cooking thermometer to get the oil to 400 degrees to fry the fish, chips and hush puppies.

My favorite part of the meal is the hush puppies. I did try the ones with the jalapenos and they were very tasty and the jalapenos gave them a little extra bite. He thought I would think they were too hot, but they were pretty good especially with ketchup. 

In addition to the fish, chips and hush puppies, he also grilled corn.

He is so kind to our elderly neighbors, and takes plates of food to them. He likes to cook and he cook lots of it, I think we likes to be a good neighbor to them. They are sweet people and always want to send something in return, so he came home with a few tomatoes from their vines.

I made a lettuce salad to go with his fabulous cooking and did plate his food for him. He was pretty exhausted after his afternoon of cooking outside in the heat. The fish is crappie, bluegill and bass. He caught the fish when we were visiting in Illinois and he had a chance to fish with his brother and nephew.

He did enjoy a glass of Liberty Creek Merlot with his meal.

Thanks for stopping by for Fish and Chips - Judy.


Linking to these wonder parties:

On The Menu Monday at StoneGable

Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage 

Make the Scene Monday at Alderberry Hill 

A Delightsome Life : A Return to Loveliness at  Blissful Rhythm
Meet Me Monday at You're Talking Too Much 
Marvelous Monday at This Gal Cooks

Table Top Tuesday  at A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday

You're Gonna Love It Tuesday at Kathe With an E

Let's Dish  at Cuisine Kathleen on Wednesday

Centerpiece Wednesday at the Style Sisters
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style 

DIY by Design for Sizzle Into Summer

Ivy and Elephants for What Is It Wednesday

White Wednesday at Faded Charm

Tablescape Thursday  at Between Naps on the Porch

Full Plate Thursday at Miz Helen’s Country Cottage

Tasty Thursday at The Mandatory Mooch

Favorite Things Thursday at Katherine’s Corner

Kristen’s Creations for Share Your Creations on Thursday

Home and Garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life

Transformation Thursday at Shabby Creek Cottage

Feathered Nest Friday at the French Country Cottage

Foody Friday at Rattlebridge Farm

Foody Friday at Simple Living

Inspiration Friday At The Picket Fence

Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday

Stuff and Nonsense for Friday's Unfolded

My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home

Potpourri Friday at 2805

Natasha in OZ for Say G'day Saturday 

Spotlight Saturday at Classy Clutter

Show and Tell Saturday at Be Different, Act Normal

Saturday 7 at Positively Splendid

Seasonal Sunday at The Tablescaper

Eating Peas

My post today is all about peas, I have used them in my tablescape with the salad plates featuring peas and pea pods. Take a look, then we can talk more about peas.

I must admit, I am not a huge lover of peas and plainly remember Mom serving peas as a side dish when I was growing up. Too bad we didn't have a house dog that would  sit by me and I could sneak him my peas under the table but no such luck! I remember swallowing them whole because I couldn't stand their taste.

Now you have seen my table with my pea salad plates and know my thoughts about eating peas as a young girl, so let's talk further about peas.

Could you eat them in a salad with other vegetables and maybe a little Thousand Island Dressing?

photo from: http://www.wikihow.com/Eat-Peas

Could you eat them mixed with a can of cream of chicken or mushroom soup then poured over a bowl of rice?

photo from: http://www.wikihow.com/Eat-Peas

If you are eating peas served on a plate, you have to decide what's the best way to get them to your mouth. Do you fork the peas and try to get one on each prong? A spoon would make it easier but may not be proper etiquette at a formal dinner table.

Could you eat them in a 7 Layer Salad?

For me, about the only way I can eat peas is in a salad. It could be in the first salad above or my favorite way to peas is in 7 Layer Salad which I am serving today on my pea salad plate.

This recipe has been around for years and is perfect for cookouts, potlucks, and holidays. The salad is made with 7 layers usually lettuce, sometimes tomatoes, slice boiled eggs, peas, celery, bacon and cheese. Then topped with a thick layer of a mayonnaise based dressing or maybe even Ranch Dressing. Then chilled and tossed before eating. 

While the eggs were cooking, I put most of my layers together. I used Hearts of Romaine Lettuce, crumbled the extra bacon that my husband cooked for breakfast, added the cheese and peas.

We like dill in the salad so I added dill under the mayo layer and also mixed a little dill in with the mayonnaise. A couple packets of Splenda were added to the mayo for a little added sweetness. I love the taste of dill when I'm eating the salad, maybe it drowns out the taste of the peas, I'm not sure.

My 7 Layer Salad is now ready to chill.

My salad has been tossed and served.

Thanks for stopping by and listening to my thoughts about peas - Judy. 

How about sharing your favorite way to eat peas.

Linking to:

On The Menu Monday at StoneGable

Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage 

Make the Scene Monday at Alderberry Hill 

A Delightsome Life : A Return to Loveliness at  Blissful Rhythm
Meet Me Monday at You're Talking Too Much 

Table Top Tuesday  at A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday

You're Gonna Love It Tuesday at Kathe With an E

Let's Dish  at Cuisine Kathleen on Wednesday

Centerpiece Wednesday at the Style Sisters
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style 

DIY by Design for Swing Into Spring

Ivy and Elephants for What Is It Wednesday

White Wednesday at Faded Charm

Tablescape Thursday  at Between Naps on the Porch

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here on Thursday

Favorite Things Thursday at Katherine’s Corner

Kristen’s Creations for Share Your Creations on Thursday

Home and Garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life

Transformation Thursday at Shabby Creek Cottage

Feathered Nest Friday at the French Country Cottage

Foody Friday at Designs by Gollum

Inspiration Friday At The Picket Fence

French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday

Stuff and Nonsense for Friday's Unfolded

My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home

Potpourri Friday at 2805

Natasha in OZ for Say G'day Saturday 

Spotlight Saturday at Classy Clutter

Show and Tell Saturday at Be Different, Act Normal

Saturday 7 at Positively Splendid

Seasonal Sunday at The Tablescaper

Victorian Italianate House Tour - Part 2

I am going to continue the house tour of a beautiful Victorian Italianate house I started recently. The tour originally began early this summer when I gave you  a garden tour of Ira Shuemaker's garden in Cairo, Illinois, then continued with a tour of part of the inside of the house (Part 1) and now I am going to complete the tour with a showing of the library and dining room (Part 2). So sit back and enjoy.

We'll walk along the sidewalk and up the front steps and enter the foyer. Get ready to be wowed!

Now that we are inside, this time we will turn to the left and enter the front parlor now the  library. This room is a vibrant color of blue. Sitting on the mantel is another piece of Old Paris china that you saw in Part 1 of the tour.

The print over the fireplace is an Audubon elephant folio print of warblers and possibly an original.

Look up a little and see the chandelier in this room. All the chandeliers in the house were redesigned by Ira and Chris Morgan by adding crystal prisms and crystal beads. All the ceilings and cornices in the house had fallen when Ira purchased the home so you can image the renovation put into the house.

To the right of the fireplace, I bet you noticed the table and mirror with more pieces of Old Paris china.

On the opposite side of the library stands the china hutch with most of the Old Paris collection of china. Note the scone with candles and sparkling crystals also redesigned by Ira and Chris.

Let's turn to the left and look to the back parlor which is now their dining room. The walls are painted yellow. You can't help but notice the gorgeous chandelier also redesigned by Ira and Chris.

To the right of the dining room table is another gorgeous fireplace with additional pieces of Old Paris and a grand crystal candelabras with crystal droplets.

To the left of the dining room table sits a table with matching crystal candelabras with crystal droplets adding by Ira and Chris, a tea set and beautiful oil painting.

I love the reflection of the chandelier in the mirror in this image.

Before Ira retired and returned to his hometown of Cairo, he was a professor at North Texas State in the Interior and Design Department, so now you understand his love for the design and renovation of his home.

I hoped you have enjoyed Part 2 of this house tour. Do you have a favorite room, detail or item in the house, if so, leave a message and let me know? Thanks for joining me on the tour - Judy

If you missed the prior tours, here are the links: Part 1 and the Garden Tour.

Note - Ira's niece, Loarna is my good friend that I have know since we were young girls on a swim team together. So it's through Loarna that I have gotten to know Ira and able to tour his fabulous home. Thanks Loarna and Ira!!

Linking to:

Susan at BetweenNaps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage 

Make the Scene Monday at Alderberry Hill 

Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House
Meet Me Monday at You're Talking Too Much 
Marvelous Mondays at Jam's Corner
Debbiedoo's
A Delightsome Life: A Return to Loveliness

Table Top Tuesday  at A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday

You're Gonna Love It Tuesday at Kathe With an E

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style 

DIY by Design for Sizzle Into Summer

Ivy and Elephants for What’s It Wednesday

White Wednesday at Faded Charm

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here on Thursday
Transformation Thursday at Shabby Creek Cottage

Favorite Things Thursday at Katherine’s Corner

Kristen’s Creations for Share Your Creations on Thursday

Home and Garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life

Feathered Nest Friday at the French Country Cottage

Inspiration Friday At The Picket Fence

Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday

Stuff and Nonsense for Friday's Unfolded

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home

Potpourri Friday at 2805

Natasha in OZ for Say G'day Saturday

Spotlight Saturday at Classy Clutter

Show and Tell Saturday at Be Different, Act Normal

Saturday 7 at Positively Splendid

Simply Klassic Home for Simply Klassic Sunday

Overflowing With Creativity at It's Overflowing 

Seasonal Sunday at The Tablescaper

Victorian Italianate House Tour - Part 1

Early this summer I gave you a garden tour of Ira Shuemaker's garden in Cairo, Illinois, and left you with the statement that I would return to Cairo later in the summer and hoped to take pictures of the inside of the house. I did return in late July and took pictures to share with you.

This Victorian Italianate home was built in 1867 and Edwin Halliday moved his belongings in 1872.

Let's go up the steps and enter the foyer. Do remember that the house was in ruins when Ira purchased it so a complete renovation was needed. Ira was a professor at North Texas State in the Interior and Design Department when he retired and returned to his home town of Cairo.

Look up at the lighting in the foyer.

The floor is made from most of the original board then painted by Ira and Chris Morgan. That's one of their boxers standing in the foyer.

There are room on both sides of the foyer, we will start on the left.

Do you like chandeliers? I'll show you several today. All were redesigned by Ira and Chris by adding crystal prisms and crystal beads.

I want you to see a little more of the mirror and especially the top piece on it. The head of the Department of Art Education at North Texas State painted the oval watercolor. I'll show you a close up of it. Also that Ira you are seeing in the mirror.

Ira made the mirrors himself. You realize when you look at this closeup that the mirror and top piece are mounted then molding added to the piece. Pretty impressive work.

Now, look a little higher at the ceiling. All the ceilings in the house had fallen when Ira bought it so all have been restored by them.

The gold and white china on the mantel are pieces from their Old Paris collection.

To the right of the fireplace sits this grand crystal candelabras with crystal droplets.

I'll turn around so can see the opposite wall of the fireplace. Note the scone with candles and sparkling crystals.

Now I'll back up so you can see the doorway on the left  we came through and a bigger shot of the room.

I'll turn the camera to the left so you can begin to see the other other this one opens into. Here's a shot to the left of these two chairs. Lots of candles on the table and a tea set of their Old Paris china collection. Look closely and on the left side of the table is a small painting of the outside of their home and on the right side is a small replica of the house.

The painting on the left was painted by local artist, Alice Johnston, also a native of Cairo. The ornament on the right was made in Texas by a friend of a friend of Ira's. His friend, Judy Youngblood, gave a picture of the house to a friend of hers to design the ornament. The base of it was made from file folders.

Ok, let's go back through the doorway and through the foyer and into the library and dining room.

Oh friends in case you are getting a little tired or need to stop for lunch,  I am going to stop here and divide this tour into two parts, so come back soon and I'll give you the rest of the tour (Part 2 - the library and dining room).

Thanks for stopping in for the glorious Victorian Italianate House Tour Part 1 - Judy.

Thanks to my good friend, Loarna (Ira's niece) and Ira for letting me capture the elegance and beauty of this home.





 Italianate House Tour Part 2

  Garden Tour of the Italianate House

Linking to:

Susan at BetweenNaps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage 

Make the Scene Monday at Alderberry Hill 

The Delectable Home
Meet Me Monday at You're Talking Too Much 
Marvelous Mondays at Jam's Corner

Table Top Tuesday  at A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday

You're Gonna Love It Tuesday at Kathe With an E
The Bunny Hop Party at Bunny Jeans on Tuesday

Let's Dish  at Cuisine Kathleen on Wednesday

Centerpiece Wednesday at the Style Sisters

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style 

DIY by Design for Sizzle Into Summer

Ivy and Elephants for What’s It Wednesday

White Wednesday at Faded Charm

Tablescape Thursday  at Between Naps on the Porch

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here on Thursday
Transformation Thursday at Shabby Creek Cottage

Favorite Things Thursday at Katherine’s Corner

Kristen’s Creations for Share Your Creations on Thursday

Home and Garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life

Feathered Nest Friday at the French Country Cottage

Inspiration Friday At The Picket Fence

French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday

Stuff and Nonsense for Friday's Unfolded

My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home

Potpourri Friday at 2805

Pink Saturday at How Sweet The Sound

Natasha in OZ for Say G'day Saturday

Spotlight Saturday at Classy Clutter

Show and Tell Saturday at Be Different, Act Normal

Saturday 7 at Positively Splendid

Simply Klassic Home for Simply Klassic Sunday

Overflowing With Creativity at It's Overflowing 

Seasonal Sunday at The Tablescaper