blogging hiatus

I know it has been sometime since you've heard from me.... its not the first time its happened and it probably won't be the last.  You see when life gets complicated I have a tendency to retreat... its as though the words will just not come and the words that do come are not the words that everyone wants to hear.  So my friends I am going to have to take some time off... time to reflect, time to draw closer to my Lord who I know is cradling in His arms right now and wiping my tears away, time to make memories with my family....

I want to thank ALL of you for your support over the years and for your friendships.  Some of you I know in real life and some we've never met in person but I still call you friend!  Thank you!  You will never know how much I cherish these friendships, how they bring a ray of sunshine into my life.... so for now I bid you adieu but it will not be permanent, that I can promise you.  Yes, I will pop in from time to time to show pictures of things I've made, glimpses of changes we're making around here, and maybe even to share what is on my heart but for now my heart is too raw.

Once again thank you and know that I appreciate any and all prayers whenever you happen to think about us.

Love you All!!

Peggy

Madras plaid golf pants rehab

I don't know if I mentioned it but this is a busy time of year for our family.  Last week was spring break, then Easter, followed by Chris' birthday.  In celebration of my beloved's day of birth we took a trip down to Indianapolis, just the two of us... and who sings that song?  anyone..... no fair checking... okay I admit it, I had to check myself to find out.  But I am sure Chris knows, cause he's smart like that!  Seriously, he never ceases to amaze with the things he knows.

Oh sorry!  That would be Bill Whithers!  Man, I love the sax solo in this song!

What did we do in Indy?  Why a bit of goodwilling!  Yep you heard correctly.... we went from Goodwill shop to Goodwill shop.  Some were crossed off our list of return locations but other were true gold mines.
Chris came away with some seriously nice shirts and khakis.  But seriously I think I am the one who made out like a bandit! I mean look at these.....

Don't you wish you had a pair just like them?!

(They are men's which about did me in!! )

(& i forgot to take a picture before i hacked the legs off so i had to set them back together.)

But do you want to see what they look like now?

Seriously, aren't you the least bit curious?

Okay.... here are the new, revised madras plaid golf pants....

And do you know what?  My 18 year son came out of his room and gave me the highest compliment....

"Cool bag, Mom!"  

And I finally got to use the flowers I made over a year ago.... now if only I could remember how to make them again.

Have a blessed day,

Peggy

    

          

The details.... "Tuscan" kitchen makeover

Now that Spring break is over and all is quiet around here I thought I would share a few of the details of our kitchen makeover.  I have to be up front with you........ this "makeover" was a LONG process for us as we just weren't sure what we wanted to do.  And because I have agonized over whether or not I ought  to paint oak cabinets.... you know because of how it might affect resale value.  But well, this is OUR HOME.... and WE are living here so we NEEd to do what is best for us (or in this case best for me.... trust me, I'm the only one who spends much time in the kitchen and I LOVE spending time in there now!)

The artwork:

Virtually all the "art" in our kitchen has some sort of special meaning or purpose.... a picnic basket from a yard sale still fully functional, cake stands for entertaining, decorative plates from my childhood in Europe, a grinder like my mom & grandma used to make Grandma's cookies at Christmas, and then the LETTERs.  Yes my husband has a LOVE of typography (as do I) so I thought I would incorporate that love into our kitchen.

I just love our number 5.  It represents our family.  On the way it looks like it came from an old sign but in real life... cardboard, painters tape, and several layers of paint make up this lovely.  

The tin "I"... for our eldest.  In fact each member of our family is represented in our kitchen.  The old zinc/tin "I".... you guessed it. Cardboard again.  And not just any cardboard.... its from a pizza box.  How apropos for a teenager!!

The Hardware: 

All I can say is brass, brass, and more brass!  Ugh, I am NOT a brass person.... give me oil rubbed bronze, chrome, nickel, cast iron, even galvanized but please, please do not make me keep brass.  (and for the record we still have brass hinges but they make me cringe every time I think about it.... but they get the job done so... they will stay the same.. until I spray paint them!)   You can take a look here to see close ups of the new hardware.  The cabinet door handles, all the hinges, and the oven knobs all got a new coat of spray paint, Oil Rubbed Bronze.

Above the kitchen stove you will notice a trivet and a spoon hook.  The hook, well it is a souvenir.... it may or may not have came from the dining facility at our last base.  To this day we have no idea how we ended up with it, just that when we were unpacking after the move we found it.  So as a reminder of all the lovely times we had we made it into a hook.  Yes it was a group effort between the bending (which was no easy feat!) and the pounding to flatten it (that was a LOT of fun!!)

(sorry about the poor quality.... its in an odd space that just does not get good light... and trust me this is not an accurate representation of our red walls... its photographing too pink.)

I guess I really ought to get myself in gear... the next project awaits me.  Art for the dining room (final project) and then its off to work in the spare room or go do a little grocery shopping.  And maybe make up a loaf or two of French bread and some chocolate chip cookies to warm up the house a bit.  

Have a wonderful day!

"Tuscan" kitchen REVEAL!

The "AFTER".... and by the way I just thought I ought to warn you that this is going to be pretty photo heavy.  

Homemade art and childhood memories

And now a quick look of what it looked like when we first looked at the house.

just pictures for now as we are off for the next day or two....

Have a very Blessed EAster!!

(see you monday)

Feel free to take a look here for the details...

Linking up here:

      

Paint, paint, and more paint!

The kitchen is coming along quite nicely and yes with any project there seem to be delays.  Which in our case is a good thing!  And I mean super, duper, incredibly awesome thing!!  You see when we started this "project" we were seriously considering getting a new oven, new countertops, and a new exhaust fan but the issue was we didn't really NEED these items.  Okay the exhaust fan might be the exception as our current exhaust fan is a recirculating fan and let me tell you it does a FINE job of recirculating odors and smoke (from cornmeal when we have pizza) throughout the WHOLE house... yeah NOT exactly the job I would like it to do!!  Let's just say the boys like to make comments like "oh we knew the pizza was done because the smoke detector just went off..."  Ha ha ha!  Funny guys!  And no it isn't because the pizza is burnt but rather the cornmeal which inevitably ends up on the floor of the oven... yeah not a pretty sight! :)

Oh my I digress!  Sorry... we were talking about the good things caused by the delay.  You see last week I was painting furiously away when I took a step which resulted in pulled ligaments in my foot.... How did that happen?  Uh, I have NO earthly idea!  I mean seriously, NOT a clue!  One minute I'm painting, the next minute I can't put my foot flat on the floor without wanting to cry.  But I could tiptoe, which by the way is a GREAT calf workout!!  So much of the weekend was spent with my foot up.... looking over OLD magazines and notes.  I mean, seriously OLD!  Okay not that old but according to the guys they were practically ancient.... (Martha Stewart Living from the early 90's)  It was when it hit me that I've been enamored with white cottage style kitchens for over 20 years.  All the clippings of my "dream" kitchens had white beadboard cabinets, wrought iron hinges, wood bowls, white serving pieces, bits of aqua & red "accents", and butcher block tables.  So we took the old hinges and gussied them up.  The stove works fine but well it looks ugly... SO.... we are painting it!  Yep high heat spray paint or appliance paint (I have to check the specs again because I can't remember it the appliance paint will work.)  I've used them before and they worked like a charm.  So now the exhaust fan and stove will be black.

Here's a sneak peek of how things have progressed.....

As I write the bottom door and drawer fronts have had their final coat of paint and are awaiting installation.  Next to come..... "updated" stove and exhaust fan.  Final two projects countertop conversion and island makeover.

Materials purchased to date:
ORB spray paint:  hinges and handles
Zinzer primer
Valspar Kitchen and Bath Enamel
3 cupped drawer pulls
5 drawer handles
3 under-the-counter stemmed ware glass holders

HOpe you are having a wonderful week and having gorgeous weather!  The boys are out of school this week for spring break so they have been great about helping out where needed in addition to just goofing around!

Toodles!

I just couldn't stand the suspense.... (kitchen progress)

so I have to share a picture!  I'll be the first to admit I've always been terrible when it comes to suspense or surprises.  I mean I can keep something quiet if need be (case in point... my husband still does not know exactly what I did while in the USAF because I couldn't tell him) but I'll be the first to admit I do NOT mind knowing the end of a book or even a movie.  So not showing pictures of the kitchen just wasn't an option for me.

The base cabinets and drawers are drying before they get primed. And the cabinets on the right?  Well I took down the paper to see which look I prefer.  Any thoughts? And what about a black stove?  (It would be the same stove just painted black with the high heat spray paint we already have.)

And do you know what I found tucked far back in the corner of the "pantry" cabinets (uppers on right side)?

Pasta!  Cute organic "elk" pasta!!  (Yes in these here parts we call those "elks" MOOSE!)  Aren't they adorable?!  Two of my children thought they were "cool" but the third wasn't available for comment.  I can hardly wait to mail one packet off to friends of ours in Alaska... that way they can have moose pasta with their moose meat!

And these little lovelies... well I had a few pennies left from my birthday money and stumbled across them on etsy.  I just love mushrooms!  Especially cute little retro salt and pepper shakers!

Have a wonderful weekend!!

I'm painting.... yippee!!

and am so excited about it!  Yesterday started out a little rocky with me have a pity party and complaining about, well, life but after a nice chat, a little inspiration & some quick cleaning the day was looking much brighter.  So.... I am now painting!  We have had the paint for quite some time but being a bit trepadicious about the whole project I didn't proceed until I was absolutely sure.  The kitchen is a wreck, for sure!  But do you know what?  It doesn't matter! :)  Meals were prepared in advance, the cabinets are emptied and sorted,  gifts have been packaged (treasures tucked away in forgotten corners) and paint is drying as I type.

And the most exciting news!!  My folks will be out for Ian's graduation at the end of May!  I am not sure how long they will be staying but I do miss my Mom!  Yes that is one of the reasons for the flurry of activity..... aside from it being spring.  My Mom's visit and Ian's graduation!  Besides we have now lived here long enough to really have a feel for the house and to figure out what works best both inside and out.  :)

Have a wonderful week!