A Visit to StoneHouse Artifacts Gallery

photo copy-write StoneHouse Artifacts

 I went to see our friend Lydia this afternoon.  She and her husband Kurt have a business called StoneHouse Artifacts   (this link takes you to their "Stone & Landscape Gallery)

They go to India and Myanmar and other points east to travel and also collect items to sell in their store.

One thing they find are these granite mortars and granite rice grinders.

photo copy-write StoneHouse Artifacts

These Grain Grinders are made of stone.  These granite mortars are traditional and have been used for centuries in India and Southeast Asian countries.

For some reason,  I really want one of these.

photo copy-write StoneHouse Artifacts

I decided that right now,  my "budget" allowed me to get one of the smaller mortars like you see in the center of this picture.  I haven't decided where I want to put it - probably in the back yard so I can see it when I leave the house. 

OK,  well, so the other reason is that those Grain Grinders are exceedingly HEAVY - and it will probably take two men or John with his hand truck and the trailer to get it home - I know it is too heavy to get in the trunk of the car that's for sure!!!  I can pick up one of the mortar bowls with one hand...



 

photo copy-write StoneHouse Artifacts

Look at this lovely garden room that Kurt put together with benches and columns - Cool beyond belief.

 
So make sure you visit their website - StoneHouseArtifacts.com and see all the other beautiful things that they have in their store!

And a BIG Thank you to Lydia for letting me use these lovely photographs off her web site, since I so stupidly left my camera at home! 

 




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Saturday's Shamless Commerce Division Plug

NOTICE!  This is a Shameless Commerce Division Plug for Tie Dyed Hippy Wear

(We'll talk about George's little digression tomorrow )

The Daddy over at The Katmip Lounge loves to wear tie dyed shirts and clothing - so much that it was eating into their budget to buy all those tie dyed shirts, so he started tie dying his own stuff.

He really loved doing that - as you can see, the colors and the infinite patterns appealed to his creative side, so much so, that their garage was starting to fill up with all the things he was making - so  - TA DA!  - an ETSY SHOP, TIE DYED HIPPY WEAR was born!

There are aprons, 

And TOTE BAGS (this one, however, is no longer for sale, as it is winging it's way to MY house - just the perfect thing to tuck a little crochet project in, don't ya think?)  But, not to worry, he's got more!    

There are GOLF TOWELS -

(I really like this pattern - I may have to talk to him about a "custom shirt" made in a "ahem" larger size - as most of the shirts he has made only come in an XL size - oops, not big enough..)

And LOTS, 

and LOTS

And LOTS

AND LOTS of shirts

So, show your Inner 70's and get over to TIE DYED HIPPY WEAR today!  You'll be the best dressed hippy in town! 


PS - no goods or products were exchanged for this shameless plug - just a whole lotta love.

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New Socks

Some gifts really come from the heart. My friend Yvonne (and the host of the Farm Sale that we were involved in last weekend) made me a pair of wool socks!

Wow - they are really cool. (or, as the case may be, really warm)

OK, I know my leg looks kind of like a tree trunk, but things are what they are.

Anyhow, I've never had a pair of handmade socks. I do know she's been working on them since my birthday (in January) What a neat present!

Thank you Yvonne!

My new favorite thing -

I'll get back to the "Places To Go" later this week, but I had to share my new favorite thing with you.

I'll be the first to admit that I have a LOT of gadgets in my kitchen. I sold Pampered Chef products for about 4 years, so I have one (or two) of everything that they sold during those years. I still love to pour over their catalog tho - and I've been wanting to get this particular tool for a year or two, but just kept forgetting to order it.




It's called the "Mix & Chop" - and I don't know what took me so long. I love this thing!

To quote the product insert: "...allows you to chop food directly in your nonstick cookware while cooking. Five curved blades easily create consistent-sized crumbles, helping to shorten the cook time and evenly distribute seasonings. ...is a must for ground beef or turkey, scrambled eggs...also a handy tool for chopping and mixing frozen fruit or fruit juice concentrate. Nylon head is heat safe to 428 degrees F and won't scratch nonstick surfaces."

I used it the night I brought it home and have used it three or four times since. It worked especially well with ground turkey, which tends to come apart in big clumps. So if you dont' have a Pampered Chef consultant, let me know and I'll put you in touch with mine.