On Crooked Creek: February 2013

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Architecture. . .

Architecture ~

. . .difficult to find Architecture of interest
in a 1970's Ranch Style Home.

The Art or Science of building~
a formation or construction as of
or as if as the result of conscious act. . .

The Art or practice of designing
or building structures. . .

Form of structure
architectural product or work
a method or style of building. . .

On Crooked Creek
"Mr. Ed" , as a result of a conscious act,
designed and built the wooden deck for our front porch.

This past week,
Mother Nature embellished the Architecture
On Crooked Creek!

Until next time. . .

On Crooked Creek will be joining

www.dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com

Mary @ Little Red House for

Thursday's Inspirations!

Be sure to visit for you'll come away inspired

to try something different, something new,

something fresh with your photography!

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Seasonably Softer Hues. . .

On Crooked Creek, it has begun!
Spring Cleaning, that is!!!

As the Seasons change,
On Crooked Creek, so does the decor.

Although we've recently received 20+ inches of SNOW,
the sun is streaming through the trio of windows flooding
our upper level Living Room with glorious light!

So~o~o. . .
I took advantage of this sun filled day to snap a few photos
once the deep Spring cleaning was completed!

I'm still striving to streamline!
Each time I dust a table top, I adjust the amount of accessories
keeping it as close to a minimum as possible.

This truly is easier than I had imagined. . .
especially being determined to stay true to my Traditional roots.

Our upper level Living Room, On Crooked Creek,
has two focal points. The largest is the Entertainment Center.

But the focal point you see as you enter from the hallway
is our vintage sewing machine cabinet seating area.

* * * * * * *Tutorial * * * * * * *

Herein lies the problem. . .

Beneath the cabinet is the foot feed!
While you may have to look closely to see it,
that dark metal curved piece is at eye level
when seated on the couch!!!

While I absolutely adore this cabinet,
I am continually trying to disguise
the irregularity of this magnificent heirloom!

Today, I began with a scarf.
I placed the base of the lamp atop the scarf
to give me the placement for my first pleat.

Two pleats were all that was needed
to hide the foot feed.

Next, I placed my bird statues
with a twig nest around the base.
Added some classic title books. . .
and some soft hued hydrangea to the bronze wall pockets!

Shedding a warm glow of lighting
adds such a romantic ambiance to this vignette!

While keeping a streamlined appeal,
I felt something was needed for the lamp side
to balance the vignette.

Retrieved from Studio One
is a vintage brass ink well!

The tranquillity that floods my soul
is much liken to that of the sunshine flooding the room!

All that is left to complete this area
is to switch~out the decorative pillows!!!

All Winter long,
I've used the brown velvet rosette lumbar pillows. . .

and while I adore the harmonious hues
in the ivy pillows, the scale is a bit off.

After placing the gold satin lumbar cushions
behind the ivy accent pillows,
it appears to be a perfect fit!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Our weatherman is forecasting another Snow storm
for the weekend. ( We missed this one, but my family and friends in the Kansas City Area were plundered, once again!)

So~o~o. . .
regardless of the weather outside our windows,

On Crooked Creek,

little~by~little. . .

Spring is arriving with seasonably softer hues!

Until next time. . .

On Crooked Creek will be joining

www.astrollthrulife.blogspot.com

Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life for
Table Top Tuesday!

And. . .

www.stonegable.blogspot.com

Yvonne @ StoneGable for

Tutorials Tips and Tidbits!

Be sure to visit

for you’ll come away

filled with amazing inspirations

for use in your own home décor!

Beef and Wild Mushroom Stew. . .

Mother Nature has cast her magical wand upon the Prairie
turning the landscape sparkling white!!!

Snowflakes swirl,
temperatures drop,
and cascading drifts bellow about,
which can only bring one thing On Crooked Creek,
indeed, comfort foods are on the Menu!!!

Purchased shortly after the Christmas Holiday,
I delighted in every page, every photo, every word
in the premiere issue of WINTER cottage!

But, alas, here on the Prairie
our temperatures were unseasonably warm,
the landscape was brown and dry,
I only had a slim hope of ever seeing SNOW!

However, I remember saying to "Mr. Ed". . .
"Winter isn't over, yet."

This past week, we received 14.2 inches of SN O W!!!
Another 6.8 inches of rain and SNOW
came just as predicited for Monday!

So~o~o. . .
On The Menu Monday, we're having. . .

Beef and Wild Mushroom Stew

Ingredients:

1 (1~ounce) pkg. dried wild mushrooms,
such as porcini
2 cups boiling water

4 Tablespoons vegetable oil, divided

2 lbs. Beef Chuck Roast, cut into cubes
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Pepper

1 large Onion, chopped
2 medium Carrots, peeled and chopped
2 medium Parsnips, peeled and chopped
2 cloves Garlic, minced

2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste
2 (32~ounce) containers
low~sodium Beef Broth
1/4 cup Marsala Wine

1 (8~ounce) pkg. sliced fresh Mushrooms
1 cup chopped fresh Parsley
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce

Directions:

In a small bowl, combine dried mushroom
and 2 cups boiling water; set aside.

In a Dutch oven, heat 2 Tablespoons oil
over medium~high heat until very hot.
Sprinkle beef with salt and pepper;
add meat and cook in batches until cubes
are browned on all sides, about 4 minutes.
Remove beef to a plate.

Lower heat to medium, add 1 tablespoon oil;
cook onion, carrots, parsnips and garlic
until softened, about 7 minutes.
Add tomato paste, stirring to combine,
cook for 2 minutes.
Return beef to pot, add beef broth and Marsala;
bring to a boil.

Meanwhile,drain mushrooms, reserving liquid.
Chop Mushrooms, and add to the stew.
Strain Mushroom liquid, discarding any solids,
and add to stew.

Simmer stew for 1 hour and 30 minutes
or until beef is tender.

In a saute pan, heat remaining 1 Tablespoon oil
over high heat. Add sliced mushrooms, and cook
until softened, about 4 minutes.

Add Mushrooms, Parsley and Worcestershire Sauce
to stew just before serving.

Makes: 12 cups.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Parsley Rice

Ingredients:

2 cups Water
1 cip Long~Grain Rice
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 cup chopped fresh Parsley

Directions:

In a medium saucepan, combine 2 cups Water, Rice and Salt.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer.

Cook covered for 15 minutes
or until Rice is tender and Water is absorbed.

Stir in Parsley with a fork.

Makes: 3 cups

* * * * * Substitutions * * * * *

As you can cleary see,
during inclement weather I tend to use what I have on hand.
Potatoes were substituted for Parsnips,
Dried Onion Mushroom Soup was substitued
for Dried Wild Mushrooms and Tomato Sauce
was substituted for Tomato Paste!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

This Beef and Wild Mushroom Stew
was tuly a fulfilling comfort food
for a cold Winter's day!

"Mr. Ed" is already asking when I'll be making this recipe again
On Crooked Creek, for he ate two bowls full of the stew!!!

My reply was, "Soon, dear. . .for I hear there's another
Snow storm predicted for this coming week"!

Cascading drifts,
with swirling snowflakes
may cause our temperatures to drop. . .
as Mother Nature, once again, cast her magical wand
turning our views across the Prairie sparkling white!

But here On Crooked Creek,
"Mr. Ed" and I will be snuggled warm inside
as we enjoy all the comforts of home!

Until next time. . .

On Crooked Creek will be joining

www.stonegable.blogspot.com

Yvonne @ StoneGable for

On The Menu Monday!

Some amazing menu choices,

complete with recipes, await

your families dining experience

for any day of the week!

Monday, February 25, 2013

Traditional. . .All The Way!

It has taken many years ,

after arriving On Crooked Creek

to leave my Country decor behind

and get back to my Traditional roots.

Mind you, dear ones,

I have nothing against Country decor.

I embraced it whole heartily

when I've lived in a small town on the East side of the Prairie!

Since then, "Mr. Ed" and I have acquired

numerous family heirlooms,
displaying these Traditional pieces

in our home gives us such a great sense of comfort.

Which brings us to this vignette.

On Crooked Creek, change is constant!

This lamp was originally in our Master Bedroom.(here)

But, when we added more masculine elements,

the lamps were switched
and this lamp carried to the lower level

to make room for the Christmas decor.

A m a z i n g
how moving o n e lamp can cause such a domino effect!!!
So~o~o without a l e n g t h y explanation,
let's just say it's been musical lamps. . .
and this lamp won, or was that lost???

While vacationing this Autumn,
"Mr. Ed" and I visited Relic Antique Mall in Springfield, Missouri!
I was quite smitten with a copper planter
filled with faux English Ivy and a bird's nest.