The Teal Faux-Crocodile Footstool

A lovely Saturday it's been, folks, and here are the details:

Part ONE

We had a few friends over for brunch. It is wonderful to be able to entertain again. I really missed it during the depths of the reno. I started by cutting some hydrangeas from our front yard.  (I wish I could say "garden" but that would be over-stating it this year.)

I made two awesome recipes-- one old, one new. The old one is Maple Pepper Salmon Bites, from Epicurious. If you love salmon you MUST try this recipe. The marinade is just maple syrup and soy sauce, but you leave it in there for 24 hours. The salmon turns this amazing glossy jewel tone, like amber. Then you put them on a baking sheet and broil at 500 degrees for 3 minutes-- and three minutes only! Set the timer, take it out. It will be perfectly cooked on the outside, and perfect medium/medium rare on the inside. Don't cut the bites too small either-- think two bites.

The other recipe is Feta Dip with Scallions, from Martha Stewart. I had some feta I wanted to use up, and came across this last night. Delish, fast, and perfect for dipping Triscuits. This recipe is just feta and sour cream mixed together with a little lemon juice, pepper and chopped scallions. I suppose you could use low fat sour cream, if you swing that way.

Part TWO

Mid-brunch there was a knock at the door. Somehow Millie had gotten out, and we hadn't even noticed. (BAD dog parents!) I don't even know how long she was gone. Half an hour? An hour? More? Apparently she sauntered up the block a ways, went into someone's backyard and walked right into their kitchen through the back door. Luckily, the vet's name is on her collar. They brought her back, and Quillan answered door. "Hey, I know you!"  They said she was very well-behaved. She probably appreciated the attenion.

Did I mention we never even knew she was gone? Poor Millie. She used to have our undivided attention as a pup, and now at 8 years old she can go on an adventure through the neighbourhood and we don't even notice. I choose not to think about cars that could have hit her, etc. She's home, she's fine... she just stole my spot on the couch when I got up for a drink.

Part THREE

After brunch I remembered that there was a sale at Flik and Co., a favourite design store in Toronto that is closing-- but re-opening in a new incarnation a few doors down. They were clearing out their stock this weekend, and I MEANT to go Friday at 10am -- because I know how crazy their sales are-- but I didn't remember until 2:30 pm today. The owner said they sold half their stock in the first hour on Friday. Ah, well. Much to my delight, I did discover this little beauty:

What is it, you ask? Why, it's a teal faux-crocodile footstool...or side table... or extra seating in a pinch...

Is it a little out there? Oui, oui!! As my Mom told me (because she's a great shopping enabler), "One must always have one whimsical thing in each room". Well, Mama, I think I found my whimsy!

Behold the cute stitching:

and adorable pattern:

If you read my blog regularly, you probably know that I am a little obsessed with this colour. I think I may build my entire scraproom around it!

What did my husband think of this purchase? It went something like this:

Q: Oh my. (Head shake, sigh.)

Me: Isn't it fabulous?

Audrey: Oh, Mummy, I LOVE it!

Q: What is it?

Me: It's a teal faux-crocodile footstool!

Q: Of course it is. What are you going to do with it?

Me: ...I'm not EXACTLY sure yet... maybe put it in my scraproom...or the living room..

Q: No. It can't live any place where I can see it. What are you going to use it for?

Me: It could be a footstool, or a little table...a place to pile artbooks!

Audrey: Or a place for taking PICTURES!!!

(Is that my kid, or what?)

Ah, well, what does Q know about design anyway? If it weren't for me, he'd still be living in a spartan studio apartment in Cincinnati with his futon and his backless rocking chair. (That's right, a backless rocking chair. I think he thought it was somehow ironic.)

Footstool photos ensued:

 

Part Four:

As the girls played with our new toy, I made dinner. We were still pretty full from brunch, so it was light dinner: Salad, corn on the cob, cucumbers, baguette and brie:

 

Then I did some scrapping, and discovered that my new purchase makes a striking backdrop for my layouts!

(Click to enlarge.)  (Supplies are BG "Kioshi", and everything else American Crafts.)

This layout was inspired by a photo I saved to my Tumblr a while ago:

from tokketok. 

When I turned the image on its side, it reminded me of books leaning against each other on a shelf, and I already had the photos of my mom and Lily. The journaling reads: "A sunny day, a shady corner, a comfy chair, a good book, and Nana's lap. Lily was perfectly content."

I just love those photos.  Especially this one:

 

Comments

[Cecile]

I love it, love it, love it. All of it. Brie for dinner; the teal stool; Audrey still wearing her ballet outfit; Millie's adventure, the strips of paper at the bottom of "Nana Stories" (did you notice they also kind of could be Ns and As? spelling "NANA?" ... Love that you forgot about the sale til Sunday!

MISS YOU GUYS!!!

[Jen]

1: Maple + soy + salmon = Yum

2: Poor Millie...at least she didn't eat a peach pit. ;_

3: Teal + faux croc+ footstool = total awesomenes and you should build your scrap room around it. Teal goes with everything scrappy!

4:awesome layout...that leaning book idea is AMAZING!

[Michele in Texas]

found you through 2Peas. love that stool! I love the "books" on that layout. how cool

[Linda Beeson]

Your new purchase is wonderful and it indeed is a great background for your adorable layout.

[Lorrie/Dnksmommy]

Love that footstool, your photography and your scrapping style!!!

[mary pat]

Wow I love your layout. It is beautiful!

[Keshet Shenkar]

I fully support the purchase:)

[heather]

That does look amazing wish it could work in my house I could just tell from those few pics thats a house I'd like to live in!! will be following hope to see a follow back :)

[Jayne]

Love your blog! Audrey definitely had the right idea -- using the teal stool for photography! Love the stool! Glad Millie's okay!

[barbara graves]

i really love that nana story page thanks for sharing..

[Janet]

I really love reading these. My husband just asked me why I was reading about what someone had for dinner and I said 'it is normal life written down'. Oddly addictive.