Holidays

Well, we knew it would happen sooner or later. The grandkids get older and marry and move away so the holiday gathering gets a little smaller. I guess for Thanksgiving it will be Mom, Dennis and I and she suggested that we do lunch at the VFW that way we don't have to cook at all. We did this last year and it was actually ok. From the sounds of it the weather is supposed to be wonderful so we may finally get a walk in on the latest spur line of the Portland walking trail.

We're not ones much for the whole black Friday shopping thing. And usually Mom and I bake cookies the day after. You know the one, Grandma's recipe that uses lard. I suggested to mom that neither one of us really needs the cookies around at the holidays. So I suggested that we have a mini quilt retreat. We can set up tables in the family room and sew all day. We would like to make a couple of tables runners for the VFW craft show on Dec. 3, and we could also make one or two on the glass whimsies for in the garden. Below is the first and only one I have made so far..

Amazing what you can to with an old vase, bud vase, wine glass and candle holder.

These are the fabrics I have been collecting to make a quilt with, not sure if all will go in but it should still be fun.

Still working on finishing up the kitchen, had planned to get a lot done on Saturday, but when I woke up my knee was locked again. Took almost 3 hours to get it so I could get around. I did manage to get to an estate sale just before the end on Saturday. Got a couple of good buys, 24 glasses, 8 each of rocks, water and tumbler for $4. for the new kitchen and two chairs to go with the new table. Styles don't exactly match, but I liked the chairs and I got both for $12! They are bentwood with a few differences. The back splats are curved on the front and flat on the back, and I now notice a stripe down the left and around the edge of the seat. I think they may have been used someplace like a fraternal lodge or maybe grange hall. Not sure but I like them.

Kitchen Remodel

Ok, so here are a few more photos.  I wanted to go with wood cabinets but didn't want anything too dark or too ornate, you know KISS.  So I went with a shaker cabinet.

This was before the crown molding was added, pretty straight forward cabinets.

The flooring as you can see above was white before.  Big mistake.  So below is the new flooring.  Something that doesn't show anything, yea.

Last photo for now is of the back splash and counters.  In my dream file I had photos of white 2" x 4" subway tile backsplashes.  I also knew my biggest splurge was going to be quartz countertops.  Once I had the counter tops picked I decided that the white back splash might be too big a difference in color.  So I started looking at alternatives.  Tumbled marble, etc.  Finally I came up with these 1"x2" porcelan tile that I thought went well with the counters.

more to come

Kitchen Update

For a while now I have wanted to redo all or parts of my kitchen.  My house was build in 1954 and this was the original Jamestown metal kitchen.  The cabinets had been painted a couple of time by the original owners, I'm only the third owner.  But my house was so small I knew it wouldn't really be a matter of making it larger or adding more cabinets.  Just updating.  All the appliances stayed in the same spots, I just decided to give up a cabinet and add a dishwasher.

I also always had a problem with painting the kitchen because one wall in the kitchen continues down the hallway.  So there is no good break off point for stopping one paint color and starting another.  I got an idea from another gals blog that showed an easy way to do a faux paneling.  I could paint one color on the bottom part of the wall and then the upper color could continue down the hall.

Now after this tease I will put some photos up now the the big reveal is still coming.

This was the old kitchen, please excuse the new fridge which was too tall to fit under the old over the fridge cabinet.  All in all it was a serviceable kitchen.

This was the small eat in area between the back door and the living room doorway or hallway.

And my lovely yellow faux leather formica counter top.  In '54 I'm sure this was a styling kitchen.

This shot is the north wall to the left is the back door or the stairway to the basement.

Little did I know when I started in May that I probably should have started in March.  Never realized so many decisions were needed.  Do I get the farmhouse sink I had wanted? or at $1,200 do I settle for an undermounted sign for half the price and get the countertops I really wanted.  Flooring, faucets, appliances, cabinets,cabinet hardware, stain colors, paint colors, lighting fixtures, wheew, what did I get myself into?

Once the new cabinets came,10 weeks because of my guy at MPC going on vacation and not placing the order and then a week of shut down at the cabinet factory, it only took about 4 hours to rip out the old cabinets.  Can you kind of tell they were smokers?  Despite problems with the cabinet vendor I was very pleased with my general contractor, Greg McKay and with the subs, electrician and plumber that he brought in.   I guess I can show the panel detail on one wall to give you an idea of what we came up with.

 Still haven't gotten my glamour shots, will have to do that this week.

Best money I've ever spent. . .

Since my knee has been giving me trouble, I haven't really gotten my fall clean up done outside.  All the leaves are finally of my neighbor's maple and mine, but I haven't even gotten started.  Fortunately there has been a break in the weather.  So last week I made the decision to hire my fall clean up done.  I went with Smith Floral which I consider to be my local florist and plant provider.  Monday when I came home to see that a phenominal job had been done.  Leaves all raked to the front yard,all the perennials (and I do mean all) cut back, planters cleaned out.  I couldn't have wished for a better job done.  Here are a few pics.

I guess this means I have more time to sew.



Block Exchange

Finished this month's block exchange block.  This month was Jo's block, Card Trick, in christmas fabrics.

Tomorrow night is Charm group and the grand opening of Daisy's new three season room.  Maybe seeing her new space will encourage to seriously get into the planning of a new kitchen in my home.  My kitchen is the original 50+ year old kitchen.  It is really past due for more than a facelift.  But so many decisions to make: flooring, cabinets, countertops, backsplash. But I think I'm up to the challenge.