Portuguese Stone Soup

This is a pretty easy recipe … There is no wrong here. A soup with mainly vegetables and just the right amount of linguica (or chourico) to give it that special flavor. Adding stale crusty bread soaks up the liquids and this soup becomes more stew-like. I love it! And when I want to be really decadent I add butter to the chunks of bread before smothering with the soup. Yikes!

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HGTV Addict

Yep, I’ve given up news. Oops! And have become a HGTV junkie. So much for Grandma Rose’s cookbook for now. Getting dirty is my newest high. Just ask my neighbors! I’m sure they’re thinking my cut offs are not my age appropriate. In this 1927 fairytale two-story staying cool while ripping up carpet, removing stapled pad and carpet strips is impossible. Who uses 1 1/2 inch nails for securing carpet strips anyway! Going to make everything around me beautiful! (Elsie De Wolfe) Problem is while the house is improving my beauty regimen is taking a sabbatical.

It all started when I pulled up the carpet in the upstairs hall. Was over it!

Surprised! Haven’t decided about this yet but for now it’s staying. Stenciled hardwood floors … someone really loved loved this storybook home. This is the original floor.

Moving from the hall to the stairway I was hoping for oak like the rest of the house. The stairs were heavily painted and I teased the idea of stripping but chose to paint (too many flaws), riser-white and tread-gray. All was done by me. Visiting is pretty much off limits for now.

Before

 

 

 

 

 

And

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So worth it! Clean and bright! BTW, who’s your favorite HGTV team? I like them all but caught up on Mina and Karen. Karen makes me smile. Big and Erin are a close second. Renovation Island? You bet! The bad thing about watching … I’m now working on the upstairs bathroom … one of those faux painted rugs.

More recipes to come!!