Time for a Break...

I know I recently returned to my Blog but life happens and things come up that need to be taken care of.  I don't plan on being gone for long...but who knows, right?  I'm hoping to be back in a few weeks.

Take care and don't forget about me.

Enjoy October...just a few days away...my favorite time of the year.  I may even sneak in my Door County Day Trip.

Later, everyone!
...Jan...

Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

INGREDIENTS

1 cup butter, softened at room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

1 egg, room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups pure pumpkin (17 ounce can)

2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

FROSTING

4t butter, softened

4oz cream cheese, softened

2 cups powdered sugar

3-5T milk

1t vanilla

1/2-1t cinnamon, as desired

1/2-1t nutmeg, as desired

1. Pre-heat oven to 350.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper.  
2. In a large mixing bowl and beat butter and sugar for 1 minute.  Add egg and vanilla and stir until well combined.  Stir in pumpkin puree.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and ground nutmeg. 
4. Use a wooden spoon to gradually stir in the flour mixture into wet ingredients.
5. Use a cookie scoop to drop cookie dough onto prepared baking sheets.  Leave 2 inches between each cookie.  
6. Bake in 350°F oven for 12 to 14 minutes.  Cool one to two minutes on baking sheet before transferring to wire cooling rack.  Cool cookies completely before frosting.
7. Frosting:  with an electric mixer, beat the butter and cream cheese til smooth.  Add vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Slowly add powdered sugar and milk a little at a time, until the frosting consistency you want.  Add vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg and mix.  Frost the cookies.
   
   
8. Yields 36 cookies
9. 
   
   

Weekend Work on the Garden Wall

This story actually happened over 7 years ago, I was getting little to no exercise.  That's right.  Unless you count blogging, checking my email, visiting internet friends, shopping and playing games on-line exercising...like this little cartoon [by the way, click on the photo to enlarge it] I found...LOL!!  Then, I was thrust into doing everything around the house - inside and out - myself.  That was ALOT to someone not getting much physical exercise...believe you me!!  I've lost 65# and kept it off...and feel pretty darn good.  Then in February, during a particularly windy night [gusts up to 65mph] blew down my garden wall and the REAL work and exercise began.  It will continue on forquite a while longer.  There is alot more to do.  I had one woman stop by my house, when she saw me out and asked what I was doing - what happened to my hydrangeas and when I told her...she asked "Don't you have a husband to do all of that?  I just laughed and said, "NO!" and turned and walked back to the wall and got back to work!

Here are 3 photos from the work I did on Saturday - April 16th.  Since then, I've either been busy with other things [Grooming & Bathing all 3 Pups], [taking things to Goodwill] or [cooking some good meals].  Oh...trying to stay out of the sun isn't easy either - medication I take says avoid sunlight, so on warm days that are sunny, I can't work out there - cool and sunny days are GREAT - can wear a long sleeve shirt and my big hat!  Now it's time to run between raindrops...with alot of rain forecast for my area.  So, who knows when I'll post more photos of the wall.

Apple Strudel

 PICTURE COMING SOON!

Apple Strudel 

Recipe from Pilgrim Lutheran Church Cookbook 1969

3c flour

1/2t salt

1 1/8c shortening

3 egg yolks

10-11T cold water

1c sugar

 1T flour

 1/2t cinnamon 

Apple slices (4-5 granny smith apples)

Mix flour, salt and shortening.  Add egg yolks and water.  Mix as pie dough and chill in refrigerator at least 30 minutes.  Dough will be sticky.  Divide dough in half.  Roll out very thin and lay on a greased cookie sheet.  Mix the apple slices with the the sugar, flour and cinnamon.  Dump the apple slices toward the middle of the dough, leaving about 1" around the edges.  Roll out the other 1/2 of dough.   Place over dough and pinch edges together.  Bake at 375 degrees for about 45 minutes...until lightly browned.  

Frost while still warm with 1c powdered sugar, 2T milk and 1t vanilla.

Refrigerate leftovers.

 

Syroco

Before and  After Project

Syroco has been around for a long time...and I love it.  Well, maybe I don't love it in it's natural state...but...well, wait a minute, I want to tell you all about Syroco first.  The Syracuse Ornamental Company, known as Syroco, was an American manufacturing company based in Syracuse, New York. They were best known for their molded wood-pulp products that resembled hand-carving.  Founded in 
Syracuse, New York in 1890 by immigrant Adolph Holstein, the Syracuse Ornamental Company (Syroco) specialized in decorative wood carving, especially for the local residential market. Products included fireplace mantelpieces and other types of interior decoration popular in late Victorian homes.

To meet increasing market demand and sales opportunities Holstein developed a material looked and felt like wood but that which could be shaped, allowing multiple pieces to be produced through a molding process. The new product, which combined wood pulp brought from the Adirondacks with flour as a binder and other materials to give it strength, was extruded and then cut to fit compression molds, which had were made from original carvings in real wood.

The process favored shallow molds with little undercutting, and this served well for the creation of a wide variety of "carved" relief work to be applied to different sorts of flat surfaces such as walls, furniture and caskets. Production of this new molded product, known as SyrocoWood, was the mainstay of the company's production through the 1940s. The finished material could be smoothed and varnished to look like wood, or it could be painted. Sales catalogues from the early 1900s through the 1920s offer hundreds of varieties of moldings, capitals, brackets, volutes, and reliefs of vases, garlands, cartouches, scrollwork, and other details in a variety of styles.

Syroco operated from a large factory complex on 581 South Clinton Street in Syracuse acquired from Smith Corona Typewriter Company. The company remained in the hands of the Holstein family for three generations, with some of Adolph's children and grandchildren taking over management and sales positions. At its peak, about 400 workers were employed at the plant.

By the 1930s the company had also developed an extensive line of gift and novelty items made of "SyrocoWood" and also "Woodite," a combination of wood flour and polymer. In the 1960s the company began to use injection molding for some of its products, but did not entirely abandon its old processes.



Syroco added more lines of injection molded plastics when a new plant was opened in nearby Baldwinsville in 1963 which was entirely geared to plastics production, especially PVCs and polystyrene. The company began to use plastic in new "modern" designs and new forms for clocks, mirrors, tables and a range of household items. In 1968-1969 the company launched its "Lady Syroco" home products. Beginning in 1986 Syroco produced a popular line of lawn furniture.  In 1965 the company was bought by Rexall Drug and Chemical Company (which soon changed its name to Dart Industries). Dart owned Tupperware, from which Syroco gained more knowledge of injection molding. Syroco was purchased by the Syratech Corporation of Boston in 1986 which expanded its patio furniture production. In 1995 Syratech sold Syroco to Marley PLC of Sevenoaks, England, and in 2004 Syroco was purchased by Vassallo Industries of Puerto Rico which closed the plant in 2007. In April 2010 Tessy Plastics purchased the 270,000 square foot Syroco plant to be used for storage and distribution. 

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Now...on to my Before & After Project

Here is a set of Wall Decorations made of Syroco that I bought at an estate sale.

I love the urn shaped holder on the shelf...and I love the scroll work and all of the pretty flowers.  Each one measures approximately 23 1/4"" in length and about 5 1/2-6" wide...so they are nice sized.

I bought them with an idea in mind.  

These decorations were painted black...any kind of paint will do, but I had a can of black spray paint at hand.  Two coats later and some drying time...they were nearing completion.

The real change came with the addition of Rub 'n Buff, something that I've used for years.  You rub it on with your fingers (gloved) and it instantly changes how your piece looks.  What is Rub 'n Buff?

Amaco Rub 'n Buff Metallic Finishes are perfect for decorating or antiquing wood, plaster, pottery, metal, leather or gessoed surfaces.  Rub on and buff to a beautiful luster.  For hard-to-reach areas, thin with turpentine and apply with a brush.  Colors can be blended.  Each tube contains 1/2 oz (15 ml), enough to cover up to 20 square feet.  It is available in a number of different colors and I got mine at dickblick.com

I used only 3 different colors - Ruby, Emerald and Warm Gold - to create this new look!  The Wall Decorations now hang in my newly decorated Great Room.  I just love them, what do you think?

Close Up

Pink Roses - Tea Anyone?

I love having Tea Parties!  I used to do alot of them, as part of my business when I lived in Michigan.  I want to have a Christmas Tea Party...if I can get it arranged in time.  

Can you imagine this Beautiful Tea Pot Set sitting in front of you on a gorgeous table?  This set is a BEAUTY!  Beautiful PINK Roses - Green Leaves & Gold Edging!  These are just gorgeous!

Lady Diana Chintz 
15-piece Tea Set 
Large pink roses with greenery decorate the bone china set, trimmed in gold by Heirloom. The bone china tea set includes a teapot, 4 mugs, 4 dessert plates, sugar/creamer set and 4 cup/saucer sets. The tea set also includes a gold teapot warmer. Do not be use in a microwave oven.  Imported from England.

 

2 Sets Lady Diana Chintz Tea Cups & Saucers 

2 Lady Diana Chintz 8" Dessert Plates 

The Lady Diana Tea Cups & Saucers Sets & Set of 2 Dessert Plates have been added to MY Wishlist.

* * * * * * * * * * * * 

I love making all the special Tea Party food.  And I enjoy eating it. 

 This is my Favorite Tea Cup, Saucer and Matching Spoon.  I love having Tea and a Scone with this set.

It's Fine Porcelain, made by ChaCult.  There is no name stamped on the bottom of the cup or the saucer.  I love the Large English Rose and the beautiful shades of Pink, accompanied by the pretty multi-shaded green leaves.  The cup is a little larger than most, so it holds a wee bit more tea.  And the little handle really fits the hand quite nicely.

Have you been to many Tea Parties?

Dog Art - Dean Russo

I've had 5 dogs during my adult life and I've loved them!  This post is about an artist that LOVES dogs too and love to paint them.  I thought these paintings really showed off the dogs!  

Art and animals; these two passions defines Dean Russo. A Brooklyn, New York based artist who uses vibrant Pop Art colors and bold abstract patterns to give a voice to his favorite subject - animals. Dean grew up in a home filled with art supplies, and from an early age began drawing cartoon characters, which became a great influence in his later work. After studying graphic design and fine arts at the School of Visual Arts and Pratt Institute, Dean began to paint primarily celebrity portraits, but his two Cocker Spaniels became his greatest inspiration.  “They would sit at my feet every night, so one day, I decided to paint them.”

Dean starts his paintings with the eyes, because, as every animal-lover knows, the eyes are the most expressive. Dean’s main subjects are dogs, with pit bulls representing the majority of his work. “Pit bulls are a misunderstood breed, and I’m just happy to be able to get the message about animal rescue out there.” Dean Russo Art Studio has a sincere dedication to animal rescue, and has participated in charity auctions, donations and fund-raising events to raise awareness and help out in the animal welfare community. Dean hopes to convey the care and devotion of animal-lovers of every kind, from dogs and cats to horses and beyond. He has a wildlife series in the works, as a way to support the countless animals on the verge of extinction. Through inspiring messages and bright prints, he hopes to depict the connection between us and animals. 

Dean Russo, Artist

www.deanrussoart.com 

All Artwork used with permission of Dean Russo Art

I just LOVE the Beauty in all of these Animals - their eyes...the colors Dean chose to paint them...and the mosaic of each painting is so intriguing.

I hope you enjoyed this Art - and that you're Smiling!

Toledo Ohio's DeVilbiss Mansion

On November 25 2008, my husband, Tom and I toured this beautiful OLD home, The DeVilbiss Mansion, as a possibleBed and Breakfast Inn. This was the 1st place I'd EVER toured with the idea of making it into a Bed and Breakfast Inn. This has been a dream of mine since 2000.  This is an all brick and stone home, of over 9200 square feet, built in 1902. There is a Carriage House at the rear of the property which is approximately another 2500 square feet, between it's 2 floors.  They sit on an iron fence-enclosed 1/2 acre corner lot.  It is NOW priced... at $399,000 reduced a bit.  As you walk up onto the large porch with wood-ceilings, you notice the massive pillars and ornamentation. When you arrive at the front door, you are greeted by beautiful LEADED glass doors. You enter the 1st set of doors, into a vestibule, then through another set of leaded glass doors, you are dazzled by the opulent foyer.
The DeVilbiss Mansion3015 Collingwood AvenueToledo, Ohio

The last picture in the collage above - over on the right, is the Coach House...and the following photo was taken outside the Coach House.

There are original light fixtures in almost ALL of the home, including this huge, crystal chandelier. The photo in the center of the bottom row shows the wall treatment in the vestibule, that covers about 3/4's of the height of the walls.

These are 2 of the 1st floor rooms. The first is the Parlor and the 2nd is shown as a Dining Room, however...I would use this as a 2nd Parlor, since there is a beautiful Dining Room, right around the corner.

The two mosaics above, show the Stunning Dining Room, which has a barrel-vaulted ceiling, beautiful built-ins and original lighting. It leads through the stained glass windows/door to a sunporch. You also see the walk-through Pantry (where the microwave and sink are, too) which leads to the Kitchen. The Kitchen would need to be completely re-done, as it does not provide adequate workspace on the counters and everything is badly dated. While there is enough space in the kitchen, it is not being used to it's full potential. It's as though the Kitchen in this home was an after-thought...so small and downright UGLY! LOL!!

These two mosaics show all of the Bedrooms, Den and Hallway on the 2nd floor. There are 7 Bedrooms, a dedicated Office and 6 full Baths + 2 half Baths in this home. This home also boasts a total of 7 fireplaces! The doors in the upper left corner of the 2nd mosaic, lead to a covered porch, off the Den.

This is the 3rd Floor Ballroom and Kitchenette. The ballroom is 55 feet long and 28 feet wide, with a bench-seat sitting area at one end. It has 2 lovely fireplaces, 1 at each end. See Tom leaning against the 1 fireplace? The lights pictured are just one of many original fixtures in the ballroom. The wall-treatment shown, covers the lower two-thirds of the walls. The cathedral ceiling is about 18 feet tall. The curved door leads to a small 3rd floor porch. The dumb waiter comes all the way up to the Ballroom Kitchenette from the Basement...Kitchen and 2nd floor.

These pictures show you some of the Stained Glass Windows.

Here you see the 2 Maids Bedrooms on the 3rd floor, with their Bathroom. The beautiful treatment on the wall enhances the Service Stairs down the far side of the home.

This is a glimpse of the Gentelman's Smoking Room, with wooden benches and fireplace...located in the Basement!! You also see the Dumb Waiter on each floor, along with some beautiful woodwork and trim around a door.

These are just some of the Bathrooms on the 1st and 2nd floor of the home (1st 6 photos), with the shower room, bathroom and laundry room found in the Basement. This is the end of our tour - no photos of the Carriage House, because we didn't get to see it. We have been dreaming of how we could make this into our Bed and Breakfast Inn. It is just a lovely home...with alot of potential...but also a TON of work would need to be done in order to make it into a lovely B&B. Tom and I are still thinking about it...and looking around for other potential properties, too! We haven't made a decision yet. I hope you enjoyed the photo tour of this gorgeous home.

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...2023 UPDATE...

This house is now an Air B&B
Check it out here...It's BEAUTIFUL!

About the Air B&B

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/40342142?source_impression_id=p3_1695309351_lOB6OqXvO1yzPm7I

Pictures of the Air B&B

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/40342142?source_impression_id=p3_1695308675_voOto8KgbFQF6Aa9&modal=PHOTO_TOUR_SCROLLABLE

Looking Back and Wondering...

Do You Remember When...It was so "in" to have a Dress Form grace your home?   I had three of them.  I dressed them all, named them and did posts about them, too.  The forms themselves were relatively easy to find...just by googling.  Before I purchased my first on-line Mannequin [I purchased 2 from an on-line company], I called the company and asked questions about it.  They were very helpful.  After receiving "her", I selected a name, fabric, lace, flowers and whatever else I was going to use to "dress her".  Then I got to work, using pins for one and liquid starch on the other 2, to clothe them.  I found Ms. Pauline in a corner of a booth at an Antique Mall.  She was...the soft squishy foam kind of mannequin...old and rather discolored.  She really reminded me of my Grandmother, Pauline Hermann...hence her name.  This is Pauline.

  

My grandmother was the squishy sort, wore lacey clothing, always had an apron on when she was at home and smelled so pretty.  I got Pauline in 2008.  She greeted guests as they arrived for Tea or Dinner for a number of years.  She usually stood near the TeaCart you see in her photo.

I posted several times about Pauline and her wedding on my old blog HERE

  These two Mannequins were added in 2009.  On the left is Isabella and on the right is Lily.  They have beautiful "shapes" don't they?   Unlike Pauline, who I pinned clothing on to dress...I used Liquid Starch to put fabric on Isabella's and Lily's hard foam bodies.  Then I added lace and ribbon flowers, trims, jewelry and doilies to them.  The stood in my Dining Room, center stage behind the dining table.

Here's a close-up of them.

I had them up until early 2015, when Isabella and Lily left my employ and headed off to Paris.  They found work very quickly there and continue to work in the same home together again.

Did you have Mannequins in your home?  Did you join the many parties that filled Blogland back then?  Did they make you smile as I'm smiling now, remembering the fun they were?

Thanks for stopping in today...I hope you enjoyed your visit.

originally posted March 3, 2016

A Very Special Rosary...Hand Made by Jan

This was Originally posted on Feb 3, 2013

by Me...Jan Hermann

Jan from Jan Tanis Designs

Tanis was my married name at the time

Turquoise and Silver Rosary

Let me tell you a bit about this Rosary.  The Silver-Plate Crucifix is approximately 4.5" in length and has a crystal over the head of Jesus.  It is a stunning crucifix.  The Center and Pater Beads (12mm) are silver-plate as well and slightly aged.  The Turquoise Magnesite Beads (10mm) appear crackled and aged and yet smooth.  The Rosary wire is wrapped around the ends of the beads, for extra strength.  The entire Rosary measures 34.5" in length.

Originally posted on Feb 3, 2013

by Me...

Jan from Jan Tanis Designs
Tanis was my married name at the time.