The House | FabGrandma

Spring Is Popping In Georgia

March 12, 2012 By Fab Grandma 3 Comments

Yellow Bells

I love to see the yellow bells, also known as forsythia, start blooming in the spring. They are usually the first thing you see, along with daffodils. They just brighten up the countryside all through the south. These are by the fence of my front yard, by the road.

More yellow bells

Our property goes all the way down there to where you see the other road turning off to the left. I am eventually going to plant more yellow bells all the way across our property in the front. I have had these bushes at almost every house I have ever lived in.

yellow bells, forsythia, yellow flowers in spring

Beautiful

The oak trees haven’t shown any signs of budding yet, though:

Oaks by the lean-to.

I am sure I will find more things in the yard as spring progresses. Right now, there is a small tree or bush that is ready to leaf out. I’m not sure what it is though. I could be a fig tree, but not sure. What do you think?

What is this?

Here is another view of the same plant:

Does anyone know what this is?

Filed Under: The Yard & Garden

Thrifty Thursday

February 8, 2012 By Fab Grandma Leave a Comment

This week we stopped in a store on the main street in Tallapoosa. It said Gifts, Antiques, Junk, and Other Stuff on the outside, and they weren’t kidding! The place had mostly junk, and was one of those places where you have to pick through stuff to find things. There was only one thing that really stood out as a good deal to me–this amoire TV cabinet. It was made out of some nice wood, and seemed like a bargain on only $100. It had a couple of scratches, but those could be fixed. We passed on it though because it was a little too big for what we want

What did you find this week? Link up below to share your bargains with us!

Filed Under: General, Thrift Store Finds

I’m Moving In Slowly

February 5, 2012 By Fab Grandma 3 Comments

While we still don’t have much furniture, and no refrigerator or stove in the new house, I decided last week that I was going to move over here and use my house for an office while we are still here.

Doing this is accomplishing a couple of things for me. First, it is making me get up and get dressed earlier in the day. Second, it is making me feel more like I really do own this house. It does seem strange to be sitting here by myself in a half empty house, working away on the computer or on my sewing machine, but the more I come over here (just across the yard, really) the more I feel at home.And third, I am accomplishing so much more as far as my projects are concerned.

The hallway seems so huge

It has been nearly twelve years since we lived in an actual house. It feels strange to have so much room that is MINE. I mean, the kitchen area is bigger than our whole trailer. The freakin hallway is bigger than our trailer! While the house still echos from being so empty, I am learning the sounds it makes and starting to adjust to so much space.

The back porch now

This week, a contractor is coming to close in the back porch with real siding, putting in two new windows and a steel door so it will be more secure than this plastic paneling is. This is the last thing we are doing to the house before we leave for Arizona, and doing it will make me feel more comfortable going away and leaving my things in the house. When we get back this fall, we’ll have someone put in the sheet rock and make a laundry closet and pantry, and then the rest of the space will be my office. I can’t wait to see it all happen.

Filed Under: Fixing It Up

Out And About: Backwoods Steakhouse, Tallapoosa, Georgia

January 30, 2012 By Fab Grandma 6 Comments

Backwoods Steakhouse

We had heard a rumor that there was a great steakhouse out in the country not far from our house. Saturday afternoon, we put the address for it in our new GPS and went for a drive. Sure enough, Backwoods Steakhouse is only about two or three miles from us.

We decided to go there for dinner that night. When we arrived at 5:00 p.m, there were already lots of cars in the parking lot, but we were seated right away. Tiffany, our waitress, told us that the owners, Eddie Williams and his wife, built the building themselves 9 years ago. They cut the timber, cut in their uncle’s sawmill, planed it, and then put it together. Amazing, especially when you look at this building and see how beautiful it is.

home made yeast rolls

We placed our orders, then helped ourselves to the salad bar. Tiffany brought out some home made yeast rolls that smelled divine! Yes, I did eat part of one, because I just couldn’t resist the smell, and it was delicious!

backwoods steakhouse tallapoosa georgia

The steaks arrived very quickly–I had the 12 ounce ribeye, and Fabgrandpa had a 16 ounce ribeye. They were both cooked to perfection, and served with a baked potato. I also had some sauteed mushrooms and onions with mine. There were several appetizers available on the menu but we chose not to get one. You could also choose to have green beans instead of a baked potato.

backwoods steakhouse tallapoosa georgia

While we were eating, Eddie came over and introduced himself, and talked to us for a few minutes. He is very personable and friendly, as is the whole staff at Backwoods Steakhouse.

Eddie, the owner of Backwoods Steakhouse

We spent a lot of time just looking around at the building. It is definitely an interesting place.

backwoods steakhouse tallapoosa georgia

This turkey was perched up there above the cashier stand.

backwoods steakhouse tallapoosa georgia

If you decide to go, it would be best to use a GPS to find this place. It is way out in the woods, off the beaten track.

The orange marker shows where it is located

Backwoods Steakhouse is located at 2386 Steadman Road, Tallapoosa, Georgia. They are only open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m to 11 p.m. Call them at 770) 574-7050 if you need directions. Oh, and they don’t take debit or credit cards–checks or cash only.

Filed Under: Out And About

Thrifty Thursday

January 26, 2012 By Fab Grandma 1 Comment

This week we went to two thrift stores. On Tuesday, we had to go to Carrollton, Georgia. On the way home, we were passing by the 7 Day Flea Market and Discount Groceries on Hwy 27. I have been wanting to go in there since the first time I saw it, so we stopped there for a minute. It turned out to be mostly junk, and lots of cases of damaged grocery items. There wasn’t much that I would buy, and we won’t be going there again. It wasn’t a complete loss, though, because I got a jar of McCormick Gourmet Collection Parsley Flakes and a jar of McCormick Gourmet Collection Saigon Cinnamon for $1 each, and a can of icing for $1. (That stuff is good on ice cream.)

discount groceries hwy 27 carrollton georgia

Not bad for $3 total

Then on Wednesday, we had to go to Gadsden, Alabama to the VA Clinic for Fabgrandpa’s semi-annul checkup for his thyroid meds. We forgot about the time difference between Georgia and Alabama, so we were more than an hour early for the appointment. The American Thrift Store was across the parking lot from the clinic in Rainbow City, so we decided to stop in to see what they had to offer.

American Thrift Store

This store was huge. It was mostly clothing–what seemed like acres of it. But, if you take your time, you can find a bargain or two in there. It just takes looking around.

Too green for me

This sofa and chair could have been a bargain at $124, but you had to see it in person to appreciate how very yellow green it was. Sort of the color of snot. Yuck!

This store did have some other furniture that looked pretty good, but the prices they had on it was too much for used stuff. One coffee table had a price tag of $274 on it! Really?

Here are my purchases for the day: 2 small goblets (or wine glasses?), an embroidery pattern, 2 and part of another cones of thread, and some bra band extenders. Total spent: $2.74. Those cones of thread are very expensive in a fabric store. Joann has them on sale this week for $11.99 each.

Total spent, $2.74

What did you find this week? Link up for Thrifty Thursday:

Filed Under: Thrift Store Finds

Out And About: Los Cowboys Mexican Restaurant Buchanan, Georgia

January 25, 2012 By Fab Grandma 1 Comment

los cowboys restaurant buchanan georgia

Sunday afternoon we were suffering from cabin fever–it had been raining for several days and we just hibernated in the house. We were ready to get out and do a little bit of exploring, and wound up in downtown Buchanan, Georgia. Buchanan is not a very big place–the water tower proclaims “Population 1034″

population 1034

WE wound up at Los Cowboys Mexican Restaurant around lunch time. It’s right on the square, across the street from Piggly Wiggly on one side, and the library on the other side. The place was packed with people!

Carnitas plate

Los Cowboys has your typical Mexican menu, with appetizers, salads, seafood, combination plates, and Los Cowboys Especialdades. I ordered one of my favorites: Carnitas. Carnitas for those who don’t know, is boston butt pork roast, cooked either by roasting, or by deep frying, depending on the restaurant and the cook. It came with refried beans, rice, guacamole salad and tortillas. There was so much food served that I wasn’t able to eat it all, but I sure wished that I could because it was delicious. They know how to prepare carnitas at this place.

Burrito Mexicano

Fabgrandpa had the Burrito Mexicano–a flour tortilla stuffed with pork, cooked tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers, and topped with cheese , lettuce and tomatoes. He thoroughly enjoyed his meal, too.

Los Cowboys is located at 115 Van Wert Street, Buchanan, Georgia. Their phone number is 770-646-6853, and they do have a take out menu. Oh, and say hi to Alex if you go, and tell him I sent ya!