New Beginnings (. . . as trite a it sounds)

So, it’s been a while—like nine months—but who’s counting? 

Me, I am counting. 

I am terrible with remembering dates.  l know the year I was born, the year I got married and the birth year for each of my three children—for any other date, my eyes roll back in my head as I either add or subtract from hear of those significant years.   But my shortcomings or perceived failures—they’re locked in.  Nope—never forget those.

Anyhoo, while there are many things I will never (did I just type that—adding the italicized emphasis, too???) go back a “do over” (a curly perm, my middle school years and being a shop owner come to mind), I am pretty sure I will keep trying to revive this blog.

To start with, it has served as a sort of journal for me over the years.  (Reference the first paragraph where I expose my short term memory challenges.)  I have come back to this blog time and time again to refresh my memory about rather remarkable events in my life; it has also served as a handy recipe receptacle, too.  Just the other day, I used the handy-dandy search option to find the recipe for our family favorite Pumpkin Cookies.

I also find that I am actually motivated to do things—to tackle projects, to try recipes and to, basically, explore and delve into other shenanigans as opportunities arise—just so I can share them here.  Basically, it’s a public journal.

So, here I am, blogging again.

A quick update . . . we have had made some serious changes in our lives since March—not the least of which was to sell our beautiful, historic home and move to the panhandle of Florida, but more on that later.

One thing that hasn’t changed is that I still write two weekly columns for Clarksville, Tennessee newspaper, The Leaf Chronicle.   One of those columns is a lot like a blog entry—I just write about things going on with my family, home improvement  and decorating projects. I find that, occasionally, I want to include more information and photos than the printed paper can allow or subscribers care to read/see.  So, I’ve decided to stat using my blog to (1) supplement my column and (2) share some of my experiences as I, once again, attempt make a house into our home.

And, since I just hit “send” for my most recent column submission; and, since in that column I direct readers to my blog for more details on my most recent project, I thought I better get to it.

And there you have it.  If you are new to my blog, I welcome you.  If you’re a tried and true friend or fan, welcome back!  I hope to hear from you often.  Thanks for joining me here.

Fondly,

PS—I’ll update my photo banner later—first, I have to remember how to do it!

PSS—if you’re here to read about my newly painted front door, stand by—it’ll magically appear here this evening!

the long awaited

If you’ve been a follower of my blog for any amount of time, you are well aware of the fact that I have been forever looking forward to the time when we could replace a few of our appliances and replace our laminate countertops.
I have been forever posting about my dream options and what I would do if/when I had the opportunity to make some changes.  If I mulled one option, I’ve mulled them all!
In case you are new to my blog or you’re grey matter is better occupied with items affecting your own life, allow me to mention a few details about our house.
Our house is slightly older than 130 years.  When we purchased it, the kitchen was a bright and cheery yellow with white cabinets and appliances.  It was lovely, but didn’t really suit my style.  Apparently, I am not “bright and cheery;” I am more dark and, (what?) depressing?  No, that’s not it (at least, I hope not).  Well, choose your own adjective, but be gentle, please.
First we painted (walls and cabinets), then we added ceiling tin for a backsplash, followed by a few other projects (details are here).  A new refrigerator happened.  A few years ago we added the new flooring. 
That was big.  We did it ourselves.  ‘nough said.
I have been struggling with the options available for our counter top choices.  The brief history:  I wanted marble (too expensive), same was true of the solid surface substitutes.  I loved the butcher block counter our friends, Glenn and Märtha had installed in their house, but they didn’t have a backsplash, which we needed due to the tin we had installed.
It took me far too long to come up with idea of using a piece of 1 x 6 and painting in black.  The idea hit me while flipping through an issue of This Old House magazine.  (I have spent two days looking for an image to show you, but I can’t find it.)  Once I had that all-to-obvious answer to my problem, the die was cast and we started planning. 
This spring, Darren let me know that he had set aside enough money so that we could purchase the remainder of our countertops and some appliances.
Okay—so, let’s cut to the chase.  The new stuff!
It started like this:
off came the counter tops and out with the dishwasher . . .

we have a large, cast iron sink—that will be back . . .

away with the white, only 3 working burners stove . . .

Then there was this:
Larry on the right and his son, Ryan, on the left—taking measurements for the sink . . .

Glenn doing his impression of supervisor.  He was actually a huge help throughout this process.

My contribution . . . painting the boards for the backsplash.

We had a bit of a scare when all of the counter tops were unwrapped and one piece was much lighter than the others.

They were purchased on three separate occasions—two pieces were purchased within a few weeks of each other, but the third piece was purchased by Glenn and Märtha several years ago.

As it turned out, two of the pieces had been pre-treated with the mineral oil recommended for the care of butcher block counters.  Once we added the mineral oil to the lighter piece it became quickly obvious it would take on the same patina as the others.
And, here they are!

I had started to put all of my stuff back in its place, then thought I better get a picture of them naked.

At risk of breaking my arm, patting myself on the back, I have to say they look as though they have always been here; exactly what I wanted.  I am happier than I thought I would be!

Then I returned everything to its place.  (I will be replacing that microwave soon.)

The new range and hood.  I am in love!

You can see the new, extremely quiet and large dishwasher in the left corner.

Here you see our wonderful sink back in place.  (I missed that dishcloth hanging in the cabinet—oh well, it is the most used room in the house and there is the evidence!)


Not able to leave “well-enough alone,” I have already considered a possible mini-project.  The cabinet doors under the sink are not hanging square anymore.  I am thinking of removing them and hanging some curtains instead.  What’s your opinion?  I think it will look period appropriate.  Would you remove the faux drawers and start the curtain there or would you just remove the doors?  I suppose if I just remove the doors, they could be replaced later, if desired.  I’d use something resembling vintage flax—the real thing is acceptable, too, but I need easy care as dirty hands will be accessing them.  I am interested in your thoughts.
Okay—this has been an extremely long and self-indulgent post.  I hope it helps someone with their remodeling project.  I just want you to know that it was a very inexpensive (as kitchen renovations go) update—less than 6K which included my appliances, counter tops, and the construction costs.  I had a very reliable, conscientious and competent team doing the work (Elite Renovations).  If you have any questions about my choices or how things are working-out, let me know . . . I’ve been there and now . . . I’ve done that!
More than ever, I thank you for your indulgence.

changes are afoot

there are few things that get me as jazzed about being a shopkeeper as doing a BIG switch-a-roo at the shop.  we have new things rolling into the shop, so my creative juices have been flowing.   it takes  a while to build-up to making such a big change, but once i decide the major pivot points—so to speak—we start the shuffling.  we move the small pieces off of the display furniture, reposition the furniture and start putting it all together again. 

we work the new merchandise into the displays and show new ways to use and display the items we have had for a while.  what better way to show folks that we offer home décor that they will use year ‘round?  i mean, when you decorate for the various seasons you choose to celebrate, you don’t move all of your existing furniture and accessories out of the house—you make additions (along with a few subtractions).

I hope, if you live nearby, you will come in for a “look-see” yourself, but here are a few pictures to show you a few of our changes.

 

I will be posting some detail shots of the inventory and displays later this week, but as I said—I hope you plan to come for a visit soon.

thanks for your indulgence,

army family

Recently, my husband and I were able to make a brief visit to see our dear friends of more than 20 years.  

We met Ruta and George at Ft Hood TX, where we briefly lived prior to our first duty assignment in Germany.  As it happened, George was the company commander for A Co., 2/1 AVN  without a doubt our best loved and remembered unit.

Ruta and I became fast friends. 

Over the years, our friendship has grown as we have both endured  the often trying, but always rewarding life of military spouses.  Our circle has grown to include many other friends, but truly, it is this couple we all have in common. 

Our weekend together was wonderfully punctuated with a surprise visit of one of these friends, Brooke, and further enlarged by another, Tim.

Nothing says “good friends” like matching hats and a frosty bottle of Jägermeister (for medicinal purposes only).

In recent years, we have not been stationed with or even near most of these friends, but I am pleased to say we have always made efforts to get-together.  Usually, it’s just a small gathering—and those unable to be part of our gatherings, can almost always count on a late-night phone call from the revelers.  (No apologies—its just how we roll.)

Now we are getting older and, among other things, with age comes a little freedom.  The kids are moving out, at college or at least old enough to be left with friends or older siblings while we are out cavorting.

I feel so fortunate for all of the  blessings in my life—I’ve been given much more than I deserve—but today, I am especially grateful for my Army family.  You know who you are and I love you!

Thanks for your indulgence,

New Year . . . changes.

Don’t worry—it’s good stuff.

After much deliberation and angst, I have made the very difficult decision to stop selling Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™.  This is purely a business decision.  I love this paint and will continue to use it for my personal and business needs and hope you will as well.

That being said, I want to let you know where you can find the worlds best paint after Jan 31st.

Please shop:

in dickson—Home Again Antiques & Gifts 

in hendersonville—Then & Again Home Marketplace

in brentwood—C’est Moi

(shopkeeping isn’t for wimps . . .)

Now moving forward . . .

We are going to shift our focus—more vintage and more workshops.

Keep an eye on facebook and your email for information about sales as we prepare to make room for the changes.  We will continue to stock many of our favorite—Archipelago Botanicals soy wax candles and milk lotions, Caldrea Home Care products, and our mini journals, just to name a few.

With regard to the workshops—just follow us on this facebook page or on this blog. 

I hope you will enjoy and appreciate the changes we have in store.  I, for one, am downright giddy!

Thanks for your indulgence,

Time for thanks

was it just last week?  it seems like at least a month ago.
we gathered together—family and friends—to celebrate the national day of gratitude.
the menu was much the same as it always:   turkey, dressing and the rest, but this year we tried a few new recipes.  my favorite among the new dishes was the the cranberry relish.  it was a last minute recommendation from my mom—she had enjoyed it when our friend, sherry, prepared it last year.  a quick search on the epicurious website yielded the recipe we sought.  a few improvisations made it my new favorite.  I’ll share it below, but first a few shots of our dining room on the big day.







Okay, the recipe . . .
Cranberries in Bourbon

• 
  1 pound (about 4 cups) cranberries
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup bourbon

Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine first 3 ingredients in 9x13-inch baking dish. Cover tightly with foil and bake until cranberries are tender and sugar is dissolved, stirring once, about 1 hour. Remove from oven and stir in bourbon. Refrigerate cranberry sauce until well chilled. (Can be prepared 1 week ahead.) Transfer to bowl and serve.
Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Bourbon-Cranberry-Sauce-2715#ixzz2DuEYh53B
my changes:
I used two packages of cranberries (didn’t measure); 1 cup sugar and one cup of light brown sugar; the cinnamon and I added about 2 tablespoons of finely chopped, fresh ginger root to the roasting process. 
it was delicious!
the other change this year was that I prepared the turkey using a brining method.  I am sold!  we always smoke our turkey—as we did this year—and I love it prepared this way.  the additional step of brining made the turkey even more moist and tender—if that is possible.  the brining ingredients are simple, but there are a lot of them—so I made it simple by using a prepared jar of brining spice I purchased at our local culinary shop, Ingredients.
Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Bourbon-Cranberry-Sauce-2715#ixzz2DuEQc0Ue
Thanks for your indulgence,

it takes a Friendly Village

This is my second attempt, in as many days, to write a blog post.  I actually wrote one, but it turned so long and pathetic, I decided to  trash it and start over.

I have, instead, decided to share the best part.

On Saturday, in between all of the “have to” stuff, I decided to make a run to one of my favorite antique shops.  It was actually a “have to,” too, because I was looking for the some props for my window display.  I plan to hang the plate rack I painted at The Hayloft and I was trying to decide what would look best displayed on it.  Then I thought of my favorite dishes.  Sure, I could have used something I already had in inventory, but where’s the fun in that?!?

I’ve decided to transition my window from fall to Christmas the week of Thanksgiving.  I mean, it’s bad enough that I already have five fully decorated Christmas trees!  Anyhoo, the plans for the windows are coming together and they will involve:

Anyone who knows me, knows of my affinity for Johnson Brothers Friendly Village.  It is the pattern I use to set my tables for any event from November through February.

 

I bought 8 more dinner plates, cereal bowls and bread & butter plates.

Those square salad plates . . . my first!  Love them.

A box full of a variety of loot.  The Pilgrim’s Progress book is for my personal collection—it’ll be part of my Thanksgiving display at the house.

 

Love this turkey platter with gold trim.  The beauty of Friendly Village is the variety of color mixed with the fact that it doesn’t have a Christmas specific theme, but the snowy scenes imply the holidays.  The blue  trim on this platter will blend quite well.

 

The mugs are a first, too.  I’ve never had them before. 

Well, there you have it.  The beginnings of a winter window . . .

Thanks for your indulgence.