French Stamp End Table

Before:  Nondescript, blah table:

After:  Wow!

I like to paint with Annie Sloan chalk paint (old white).  The Graphics Fairy has fantastic images.  I really like this french stamp image.  It was tiny, but The Graphics Fairy has a tutorials on how to enlarge images and various methods to apply the images.  The stamp printed out on 6 pages (reversed image)!  After cutting it out, I applied Mod Podge on the top of the painted table; carefully placed each piece (face down) on top of the Mod Podged table and smoothed out all the bubbles.  After a night of drying, I used a wet sponge and with  a lot of patience, gently wet/pealed away the paper until I got to the image.  Some of the image pulled away, but I liked the look.  After the image dried again, I applied 2 coats of Mod Podge (drying between coats) to the top of the image.  Then hand sanding.  A dry brush with a bit of Annie Sloan Emperor's Red chalk paint. More sanding.  Finished with Annie Sloan clear wax; dark wax, clear wax. <whew>

Dead End

Uh....ummm...okay...

 

Tunnel Vision

On our way to Virginia Beach, I became mesmerized by the lights of the Hampton Roads tunnel. 

Not a bad photo with an iPhone and traveling at 55+mph!

Just Beachy!

Nothing like a day at the beach to get that Summer feeling...

Boys will be Boys!

Last day of crew was fun; with races amongst classes...Freshman, Sophmores, Juniors, Seniors, Alumni, and Coaches.  Afterwards, the Senior boys wanted some photos together before they graduate in a few weeks.  They're all off to college this fall.  They look like grown young men, but add sun and water...they're little boys all over again.

This is my favorite shot.

Robinson Crew Girls 4th 8 - 1' Off Start

Maddie's coach (Lauren) posted 2 great videos of the girls practicing last week.  I am so impressed with the dedication all the girls on the team have to crew.  It is an intense sport; requiring hours of practicing and by the end of the season they will have rowed about 300 miles!

Maddie is seat 3 from the bow...

Snickerdoodle Blondies

These blondies are just too yummy! And so easy to make.

1 cup butter

2 cups dark brown sugar (packed down)

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 ¼ cups flour

(1/2 teaspoon if using unsalted butter)

cinnamon/sugar

Pre-heat oven to 350˚.  Grease 13x9 pan.

Combine butter and dark sugar; mix thoroughly.  Add eggs and vanilla extract.  Beat until fluffy.  Add baking powder and flour. Mix thoroughly.

Dough will be sticky; place in baking pan.  Mix cinnamon/sugar; as much as you want.  I usually make a lot.  Sprinkle cinnamon sugar over the dough.  Bake for 20-25 minutes.  No oven bakes the same; I find that I bake the blondies on the middle rack for 20 minutes; turn the pan 180˚; put on the top rack; turn off oven and bake for another 3 minutes.

Enjoy!