I Bought a 127 Year Old House

I think I looked at this house for the first time back in December 2015. As the seller led me on a story-filled tour I was struck by how comfortable I felt in this place. I'd looked at other properties but this was the only one where that I-could-totally-live-here feeling washed over me this way. Full disclosure, I looked at some absolute shit-holes so perhaps the bar was lower. Also if you talk to my good friend and real estate agent, April, she'll probably tell you I was out of my mind or that my mind was all over the place. I couldn't articulate what I was looking for so that she could narrow the choices for me. All I could say was I was looking for the perfect place. If that turned out to be a two-flat that needed gutting, or a condo,  or a single family home, the answer was Yes. As long as it felt right.

But this house! This block! The history of its owners! I was smitten from day one. It needs a lot of work. A LOT! But it checked off some boxes. It has a proper dining room that is big enough for plenty of friends and family, and dare I say it finally I can throw that Big Night Timpano party. Hell yes!  The outdoor space is perfect for me, room for a few raised beds, a shady area with a patio, a built-in gas grill and a huge garage. And guys, I've loved this block for years. I closed on May 26 but it still hasn't sank in that I own a house here.

I hear horror stories about renovations but it is something I have always wanted to do. I don't mean doing the work myself, I mean buying a place with potential, finally releasing all those pent-up ideas and transforming it into a personal sanctuary. I know living through it will be hell but I'm hoping to embrace the process and who knows, maybe I can work on transforming myself in parallel. God knows I need it.

Re-entry

I was sweating, on the verge of a panic attack when I pulled up. My car AC on full blast I wondered if I was making a big mistake. And then I saw those vibrant red geraniums in the window box.  I later learned they'd just been planted earlier that morning, such a kind gesture. I'm not saying those red geraniums rid me of the scary feelings but they sure did make that final walk-through, easier.
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Oh hey, internets! I am sorry for making those pimento cheese sandwiches and then going away for over two years. If I'm being honest, I'm here, but I'm scared because my inner quitter, she's a force to be reckoned with.  I haven't written anything since I published that pimento cheese blog post in April of 2014 and I haven't written anything of substance for years before that. Nobody said anything but I know you all noticed my lame writing, just enough to mentally check off that I-still-have-a-blog box.

Lots of things have happened over the past two years. I want to tell you about it, but you guys have to be patient with me. It's a lot of very hard and painful stuff and I'm still in the thick of it. But besides that I've got some exciting new projects on the horizon and the other day a feeling came over me and I was all what's this? Inspiration to...write?

So here I am. I make no promises about frequency of blog posts or even that I'll ever write another after this. But, gotta start somewhere!  So here's one, and I'm hoping this inspiration will stick around. Writing on this little blog was therapeutic and very rewarding to me for a good long while and I could use some of that right now.

Super Easy Potluck Finger Sandwiches With Homemade Pimento Cheese

When it comes to potlucks I have two options in my wheelhouse. If it's a snacky type potluck I dump a bottle of cocktail sauce over a block of cream cheese and throw some Club Crackers on the side. For the super fancy potlucks with proper dishes I always bring mini pimento cheese sandwiches.

My friends love these and since several people have asked me for the recipe I thought I'd finally post it here along with a super easy way to make mini finger sandwiches.

I never appreciated pimento cheese growing up in the South but I found a great recipe one day when I was feeling nostalgic for food my grandmother loved. I have adapted this one of the years, varying the sharpness of the cheddars and what not depending on the mood I'm in. I love the smoky, mildly hot flavor of this pimento cheese. The pre packaged ones we always ate were very mayonnaisey, very fake/processed cheesy.

This stuff is great on mini sandwiches, proper sized sandwiches, as grilled cheese and even for topping on a burger.

I wash the pimento jars and reuse them for salad dressing when I pack my lunch.

This idea of super easy mini sandwiches was one a good friend told me about years ago. I believe she used the same concept for ham sandwiches.

I buy Hawaiian rolls but this would work well with any pull apart packaged rolls. King's Hawaiian has a buttery version of these that's really good with the pimento cheese. One of the really great things about the mini sandwich idea is that it's totally scalable.

When I'm potlucking with my group of friends I always buy the largest package so that everyone can take a good amount of these home for the next day. But I've made the smaller pack for road trips and parties where folks aren't hoping for leftovers.

Remove the entire thing of rolls from the package in one piece and place it on a cutting board.

Using a serrated knife, cut the entire package of rolls down the middle. Basically pretend like the entire package is one giant roll you're cutting in half to butter. Take the top off and put it to the side.

Evenly spread the pimento cheese on the bottom half. Make sure to go all the way to each edge so that no sandwich is skimpy on the cheese.

If you prefer a different type of mini sandwich just pretend you're making one giant whatever type of sandwich you want. I think this would be great with thinly sliced turkey and mayo. Or something involving barbecue!

Carefully place the top back on the sandwich, put the entire thing back in the original container then cut along the lines making the gigantic sandwich into amazing individual ones.

I usually place the bottom back into the container before I spread the pimento cheese on it because it's a little heavy and awkward to do afterwards. I got so caught up in taking the pictures that I forgot to do it this time.

Then these guys go right back in the bag they came in.

They are so easy to transport! I used to feel lame leaving them in the package like this but at Southern Brunch yesterday a friend told me that it's part of the charm. I'll take that!

This recipe is adapted from one that was uploaded to Food Buzz but they've changed that site now and I can no longer see the old recipes. I hate that I can't give credit to the original recipe because it's so awesome!

Gina's Pimento Cheese: 

16 oz cheddar cheese (freshly grated cheddar is better but I use already grated to save time)
4 oz jar of pimentos including liquid
6 tbsp mayo (I never use the full 6. I add mayo until it is just smooth enough to spread without stealing the cheddar's thunder. Nobody wants a mayonnaise sandwich!)
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp red pepper (do not be scared to use this amount of red pepper. I guess it's magic but in this dish it is somehow not spicy hot)
1/8 tsp ground cumin
1/8 tsp black pepper

In a mixing bowl, combine shredded cheddar cheese, pimentos including liquid, mayo and spices. Stir until everything is smooth and mixed. Let stand for 30 minutes. Enjoy!

I also usually throw in a pinch of cumin seed and sometimes a dash of smoked paprika. I encourage you to experiment with spices. It's hard to go wrong here.

It's really important to let this mixture sit at room temp for 30 minutes so the flavors marry. Also, please do not serve cheese cold! This can be refrigerated and used later but make sure to remove it from the fridge long enough knock the cold off. Cheese tastes so much better this way.

If anybody decides to try this please come back and let us know how you liked it!

Happy Potlucking!

Brass and Smoked Glass Console Table

I've been eyeing this console table at one of my favorite thrift stores for weeks. I can't decide if it just keeps being there because it's waiting for me to buy it or if it's just crazy ugly. Every week this table is like "I'm still here, Gina. You know you want me!"

As you may have noticed from my refreshed logo, Me and gold stuff are in love.

I'm thrilled that gaudy 70's and 80's stuff is back in decorating. I am mesmerized by this particular gold or brass or whatever it is. Shiny! And the shape of the table with its crisp, hard lines and sharp corners that are so much more awesome than rounded ones.

But wait! It gets better!

It doubles in size!

I've learned to really appreciate pieces like this that can be so normal sized on a daily basis yet spring into action providing tons of space for food or presents or somebodies drink. Our house is only around 1100 square feet, so yeah, more expandable tables!

My problem with this table is the smoked glass. I can't get beyond it! It takes this gaudy in an amazing way table to a retro in a bad way one. I don't even get smoked glass! To me it should be reserved for going to extreme measures to block out light, never on furniture. Ever.

Lately I've been doing a lot of self monitoring about what I bring into my house.  I fall in love with so many pieces of furniture! But in our small space things just have to be well curated. I'm trying to come to terms with that.

I have a very strong preference for used or thrifted furniture. It is typically more affordable, greener, has more character and quite frankly I just don't see new stuff I like that much. But it sure does narrow the pool of options. And for me that lends itself to impulse buying furniture that I don't really love. Or sometimes really hate in the case of these hideous chairs that are now living at my mother-in-law's house, thank God. And the only thing I've noticed so far is that things I really love, I just love them and have to buy them immediately. Period. And things that I don't love end up being posted on twitter and instagram where I beg for people whose taste I appreciate to tell me what to do, then become frustrated because there is never, ever a consensus on stuff like this.

So, that I have blogged about this and bugged all my friends about it must mean this table is a no, right? Hilari Younger, a finalist on Design Star once said that she only has stuff in her house that she walks by and says "I love you, you're amazing". I have a feeling I would walk by this table and be like "I want to love you but I hate that gross smoked glass!"

Thoughts on the table? Am I making the right decision?

On Whether Or Not To Change My Blog Name

Does anybody even read this anymore?

You guys, I want really badly to change the name of my blog and I'm having a mini freak out about it. I asked Google what to do and was directed to a bunch of other blogs that said I should basically ask you. At first I was all PA LEEZEEE...NOBODY EVEN READS THAT ABANDONED BLOG ANYMORE! But then I realized there's one way to find out.

As evident by my lack of posting over the last couple of years I'm kind of over gardening. I can't decide if it's my lack of stickwithitness or if I've truly been defeated by the bindweed but it's just not that fun anymore. I still dabble but I no longer look forward to seed catalog season or winter sowing and my indoor seed starting equipment is covered in cob webs, literally.

But! If you follow me on twitter you know that I'm completely obsessed with furniture and decorating and food. I'm buying books like crazy, walls are literally being torn down in my house today! I want to write about THAT! But alas this is a garden blog.

I know I know..."but it's YOUR blog! Write about whatever you want!" But I kind of hate the name of my blog. And sure, I'm at liberty to write whatever I damn well please here but having the word Garden in my face compels me to at least TRY to find a garden connection. And I'm just tired of it.

If I do change the name I would likely try to migrate the content from here to the new digs but I would expand the content to include other hobbies I'm loving these days.

Does anybody have any advice?

Forest Park 2nd Annual Apple Pie Bake-Off Nov 3, 2013

www.fpcommunitygarden.org

Get your tickets here

On Buying Ugly Chairs Then Wanting To Run Away From Home

Please have a seat in the lobby and I'll be right with you. Oh wait, that's my living room!

Here's a design tip I learned today. If you are thinking of purchasing any piece of furniture and you find yourself sending urgent emails to decorators, posting pictures on social networks asking all your friends and family to please help you decide if you should buy it, you shouldn't buy it!

In these chairs' defense, they are in impeccable condition. The ad said they were high end chairs with high end fabric and I believe it. They seem brand new. But my God! Please send me back to earlier this morning when I saw them online and thought, hmmm...they remind me of a hotel room but then again I have no sense of style so I'm probably wrong. Or even send me back to the conversation we were having with the very lovely owners who said they used to be in the husband's office but nobody ever sat in them. I want a do-over!

This is the chair I was supposed to buy for my living room makeover. It's amazing, right? Like the designers said, it's got fantastic masculine lines, awesome nubby grey fabric and it swivels (required). But it's $900! And it would take weeks for it to arrive and I am impulsive and my family is coming over next weekend for Mother's Day and where would they sit! And on and on...

The craziest thing about it all is the way it's making me feel. I'm embarrassed that I don't have enough self control to think about a purchase for a little while, first. I feel bad that I had my husband go with me to sit in and subsequently buy these chairs then lug them home where they will sit, looking out of place, until I figure out what to do. I believe in thrifting and was so hoping to be able to decorate my living room without breaking the bank but this feels like shit. I am in an ugly chair vortex of self loathing!