A Few Details

We had our kitchen installed in March, but my under mount stainless steel sink was on back order til who-knows-when. Well, i now know.......mid-June!! I was told that it would be worth the wait and i can now say that it was! I LOVE this sink. ( in the meantime i had my old sink balanced across the counter with a scrap piece of Formica) It is seamless and stream line, no fuss, simple, just the way i like it. I also love the counter-top. Simply Formica with Corian seamed into the front for smooth edges.

It's dark, doesn't show the dirt. It has some texture and a slight shine, that made me nervous, but it's quite nice.
I paid $1 for this little stool at my aunt's auction. Maybe i will re-finish it. I found upholstery pins at an antique shop in Oregon, just now, but they were so inflated that i am considering keeping them for my kids to re-sale. The original price on the little pack was 15 cents, but i had to pay $1.50!!! Do the math! And i bought 2 packs. They could possibly pay for my grandkids' college?
My favorite purchase is this Quartz island top! And we scored 100% on paint choice,too. Love it!!!
This is where i live and breathe. I love baking bread, making yogurt, eating muesli, chatting on the phone, flipping eggs, flipping pancakes, pouring coffee, making strawberry jam, talking with Dave, watching the sun come up, ( that's a joke, but i am told that left window points East and i once read that's where she rises)making smoothies, getting tile to shine, fixing lunches, cooking up dinner, making pudding for Dave when he finishes another major project, ( i define major)preparing snacks for the kids, helping the girls wash dishes, ( yes, we are THERE!)and i love folding laundry on the island counter. It's so smooth and beautiful. Sometimes i windex it just for giggles. I'd love having you over. I'd serve coffee and if you're really lucky, a biscotti! I'm very thankful for my new kitchen. It's not grandeur, just simple, practical, and quite useful. It's so me and i like it.

Bon Voyage

June 7,2010. The Big Day is here! Grandpa and Grandma are going on a European Tour on Queen Mary 2 and we are going to NYC ( Brooklyn) to see them off. Verna planned the farewell trip and invited my kids and I to ride along. It was too good to pass up. The girls were ecstatic about going to the City again and Josiah was excited to go for the first time.

As we were driving to Brooklyn we made one last effort to contact our childhood 'Fresh Air Girl' Luci. We haven't been to her house or seen her since '97. The only recent contact has been Christmas cards. We called to ask if we could drop by her house or could we meet her somewhere. She spontaneously, along with her mom, decided to meet us at the ship so they could also say good-bye ( and hello) to mom and dad.

Verna and i had no idea what to expect in this great city with this great ship. We didn't know how close we could get to see someone off. But as we got closer and closer, we got more and more confident, so we kept right on with the flow of traffic heading for the gigantic ship up ahead! The parking lot was right next to the water and Luci arrived with-in minutes of us. Now where are the sailors? Mom, Dad, and the rest of their group came soon and we were able to spend about an hour together. Of course they were surprised to see Luci and Margie. So much excitement was in the air. These folks were going across the ocean in 6 days to spend 4 weeks touring Europe. And on the largest ocean liner on the water!
We had a grand time chatting, looking out over the water, craning to see the top of the ship from such a close view, and meeting others going on the trip as well.
Verna, 4 of her kids; me and my 4; Luci and her mom; and Mom and Dad.
Ready to say our final good-byes. Gramps and Grand were ready to go explore the ship. The world for that matter.
Emily and Hans. Everything in Hans' life is measured against the Titanic. Is Queen Mary 2 bigger? We sure hope that she won't hit an iceberg!!
She's a beauty!
Lower Manhattan there. ( it still makes me sad that the Trade Towers are gone from this picture.They were incredible to see!) After saying farewell to Grandpa's and bye to our city friends, We 10 went to visit Liberty Island and Ellis Island. It was a gorgeous day! We would not have made it any better ourselves, had we been able.
Here's a view of the ship from our ferry ride over to Miss Liberty.
Me, Meg, Josiah, Brit, And Brooke ( Lyn :)
Follow the leader, she's a good one! Verna did a fantastic job driving thru the city ( i sat shotgun as Navigator) and taking us from one place to the next. We learned and saw about as much as one could in one day in one city. We covered alot of ground!
While we were on Ellis Island and touring the museum we kept peering out the windows to keep a sharp eye on QM 2. We wanted to watch her sail and sure enough....a picture to prove it. Dad didn't answer his phone, but we were so excited to watch her go and wave, of course.
8 happy cousins. Troopers everyone!
After seeing countless ice-cream trucks, we finally settled for one and enjoyed a cone.

We also walked to ground zero, drove by Central Park and thru Times Square. What a place that is! The teenagers were leaning out the window with my camera ( around your neck, thank-you!) and here are a few shots.What a great day! We got home after midnight and were so thankful for the successful day we had together. The kids were very patient, just along for the ride! They all loved the city and now my girls can't wait to come back to shop on Times Square. I said MAYBE when Dave's elk hunting. ( and Josiah is at a friend's house) We girls have just have a knack for shopping that my 'boys' do not. We'll see....................anyone wanna join us?!

Bedroom/Bathroom

Here's a peek into the Master Bed and Bath.

I fell in love with this lamp at TJ Maxx, bought it with gift money ( thanks,Shelly!), and then had to match the rest of the room around it. Dumb idea that eventually ended in perfect harmony.
I love the bed, i love the paint, i love the bedding, love the lamp, love the little birdie.........
.....i just love the whole room. That's how it's suppose to be,right?
And in the bathroom....Dave chose the copper bowl. I will need to learn how to care for it.
He also chose the charming hardware. It's a good thing our water pressure is mild!

I saw this at the deserted Vintage Gardens and it really wanted a good home so i kindly brought it home.
Home Depot and Lowes had nothing that Dave liked, but he found this gorgeous light (and more) at a small 'Mom and Pop' store.

Dave designed the vanity made by Kauffman Enterprise and we chose a granite top to match.
Mr. Phil, the tile guy, took us to one of his suppliers where we chose this 'Suede' tile. Tile floor? Cold for a bathroom you say? Never fear, it's heated just like the kitchen. Even now in the middle of May i have it set to warm..... just because i can. Don't tell Dave! He'd probably say that's an unnecessary use of electricity. But Chad, the electrician, said "pennies a day"!!But even so, don't tell him. The less he knows the easier my life(style) is.
So here's the whole picture. It's kinda hard to take a full shot of a long skinny room, but i wanted to show you. The walk in closet is to my left, but pictures are not included.

We keep chugging along, alittle here, alittle there.

Partially Finished Kitchen/Dining

Chad, the family electrician, ( he could be yours,too) put heat down before the tile was laid. For most of Dave and I's years together we've burned wood in our basement and thus have cozy warm floors. We still will, thanks to the heat that Chad claims "will only cost you pennies". ( AFTER today, that is)
Philip, the family tile guy, ( he could be yours,too) cleans for the third time!! Thanks to the picky lady homeowner that unfornunately is at home, and watching, during the job!
Me, Lil, the family painter, ( she can NOT be yours,too) painting before the cabinets come.
Many, many evening looked like this! All three brothers within the same range of my little lens. "The family that....lives close to each other, gets a phone call"!!!! These three live within a mile of each other and they sure do make good use of the convenience. What a blessing. Their Mom in the background sure sets the example!!!
Mommie Nissley and Megan take all the tape and stickers off the new fridge and clean it for me! And that's Dave over there, hooking up my temporary sink because my new one is on back order for who knows how long!
Fresh bread from my new oven.......fun!fun!
I recently purchased these bowls at an auction. They look like they were never used, certainly never in a dishwasher! I love, love this era of Pyrex bowls. I've also added a brown one since this photo shoot.
So...my kitchen is quite functional inspite of little to no counter top.
We absolutely love our dining room in this new location! The big set of windows allows for lots of scenery during mealtime or otherwise. I will continue to take better pictures as things progress.

Gotta go, bread's rising, cookie dough waiting.

Progression in Paradise

Before we talk about the house, let's remind us of the gi-normous amount of snow we had. It was a fun winter for us. The kids spent hours outside, and i spent hours in the kitchen! For some unknown reason i get a hankering for working with dough when there is snow. I made more donuts, stromboli, soft pretzels, and i hope that's it.

Dave spent some time in Haiti and then on his annual ski trip, so altho he missed some of the food , snow , and fun, we did not let that stop us from having a blast! Between me, my kids, Phil, Shelly, and their little ones, and Chad, we were together almost every meal for a few days. One night the guys made two trips each just to haul me and the kids to supper at Shelly's. Memories were made!! That was some storm!

No school, again!
I didn't even have to ask Chad to open our drive ( in Dave's absence), however, i learned that he "will work for food"!!
I made ham and cheese pretzel pockets. Yumm-mee!
Might as well have 'em all! Mom Nissley was in FL over this storm and Dave was enjoying his own snow in NM.
Brooke and Sheri opted to eat outside instead of taking off all their snow clothes.I tried the whole "hang-out-your-whites-over-snow-to-bleach-them" idea. Maybe my mom didn't mean for me to leave them out all week, but i thought if one day is good, six is better!! Actually, i then re-washed them, hung them out AGAIN, then finally put them away. Are they whiter? Not really, but they were probably ruined in OR already, by never having seen the sun. Good reason to by new this summer.
OKAY!!!......i am in trouble now! Dave has a wrecking bar.........
.....and a mask?! What to do!
There goes my bathroom. Our bedroom is wrecked,too. In the end, they will be a combo. For now we are sleeping in the basement and sharing the upstairs bathroom with the kids. My dresser is in the garage, but when i wear something and it goes thru the wash, it is then in rotation and ends up in the basement in a crib! Winter is leaving and spring is coming, so more and more items are ending up in the crib. I'm about to dig sandals out of a box,too.
One evening i helped Dave reduce drywall dirt by staying a hair ahead of his cut. It really helps. He was in Josiah's old bedroom, cutting a doorway into the new dining room.
This room will then be the library.

Livingroom will be diningrm in the future. Uncle Paul laid the hardwood for us.
Dave put on the stain and finish and i have a never ending headache. Nice floor,tho.
Dave is spraying the primer in our closet. He thinks his hair is gray enough already therefore the turban.
Gone! they took everything!! even the kitchen sink.
Thankfully the kitchen sink is temporarily relocated and is now the 'garage sink'. Even has hot water! We wash dishes about once a day. Funny story( Monday evening)................tonight after a delish supper that was delivered by a sweet friend i ordered Meg, Brooke, and Josiah to do the dishes. I informed them that Britt gets a free pass since just hours ago she washed all the dishes that were out there. She added "and there were alot". I then confessed that it was most of the weekend's worth. She laughed in spite of herself....you see, she'd been at the mountains all weekend with the youth group.
This is what's left of our living space. The plastic walls divide the good from the ugly. There's still lots of dust and dirt, but i'm very grateful for the walls. I've been doing all the painting, not usually on the table, but i'm sorting them here. I do not cook. My wonderful nearby in-laws have been taking real good care of us. And also good friends who have merciful hearts have been bringing crock-pot food or microwaveable reheats. Timely in-home invitations, too. Thank-you all!

And in the midst of all the mess was Josiah's 8th birthday. For 9 years the family tradition has been to put the gifts on the front window sill of this home, usually a day or two before the birthday, so the child can admire the packages and guess what may be in them. Well, the bay window and it's deep sill are gone, so we'll have to come up with something new, but for today i placed them in the spot where they would have been! Happy boy, even tho we couldn't have ALL his friends over and certainly no sleepovers for now.
He brought home 3 friends and we went bowling.

We are very thankful for the sunny weather. The kids have been spending more time outside than inside ( you would,too) and especially here at the new table and 6 chairs. Our old set that didn't make it back across the Rockies only had 4 chairs, so this is a real treat. They are watching a robin, but i didn't know that and promptly after deciding that a backside shot is not so good, i walked out in the yard to face them. 4 "Mom!"'s and 1 "Lil!" got my attention but now they scared the robin away.....or was it me?

Beautiful Spring!! Always on time.

In a week or so my kitchen will be in and by then our bathroom and bedroom should have it's finishing touches done, so i will try and share the joy real soon.

Have a Blessed Easter!