End of day two

The workers were here today and finished the demolition by clearing the stove wall and the other cabinets. Here is a short video of the room now.

 

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Miss Sara

 

Sara plays outside this week. I love that she is taking her doll that I got her for Christmas for a ride.

 

 

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End of day one

Live in each season as it passes, breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit and resign yourself to the influences of each.

~ Henry David Thoreau

 

 

Loved this quote. It reminds me to love each season. Even today with the wind swirling the snow around. It is eleven degrees out right now and this week will be a cold one. We are used to this kind of weather here in bradford.

 

Here is the kitchen at the end of day one. They only worked for four and a half hours but got a lot accomplished.

 

 

 

 

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And so it begins

The kitchen remodel started today. We spent the entire weeken unloading cabinets and shelves. How does one person have so much? I didn't take the time to sort things out but when I put them back I will cull. I don't have the need for ten little ice cram dishes or milkshake glasses. And I'm sure there are a lot of things that I can part with now. I used to entertain a lot and had a lot of people at the house. Now it's usually just the two of us most of the time. And I'm simplifying my life. Here are some before pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And this is a rendering of the after.

 

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Downton Abbey

 

Who doesn't love the Dowager Countess? And wasn't she just evil tonight having a tea party? If you don't watch you are missing one of the best programs on television. She always comes out with such great quips. Here are just a few from the past seasons.

 

 

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Sad beyond belief

I don't even know where to begin this post. Today I lost a lifelong friend. Yrsa and I went to the same elementary school, grew up in the same neighborhood, were friends in high school and adult friends. We talked every day on the phone, shopped together and shared our most intimate secrets. She was my best cheerleader. With no warning she died in her sleep last night.

To say I am devastated is not enough. My life will never be the same. We shared so much over the years and we are tied together with love. I am a firm believer that we live on after death and I know she will be with me in spirit. But how I will miss her. Other than my parents I've never lost anyone close to me. My heart feels cut in half.

 

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Bucket list

 

This is a repeat of my bucket lost post but I needed to see it again.

Do you have a bucket list? I have read that written goals have a better chance of coming true and that is what a bucket list is. It’s a list of all the things you’d like to do you kick the bucket. Quite a while ago when I was taking a graduate course our professor asked us to list five things we’d like to do in the future. As a lark I put down "Go to Paris". It was a far fetched goal..one I thought I’d never in a million years get to do. But within five year I went to Germany with my sister and we took a train to Paris. I still pinch myself to make sure it was true.
So after that I made a bucket list and crossed them off one by one. I didn’t make a deliberate plan to accomplish all the things on the list, but one by one they were crossed off. There are still some things left to do and I need to add more. But here is the list:

Go to Paris again.

Experience Tuscany.
Take a cooking class.
Study painting and become an artist.
Go to a spa and have a facial.
Read along the beach.
Remodel/redecorate the house.
Take a vacation to Alaska with Don.
Drive a Porsche.
Get false nails.
Go to a workshop of all women.
take a watercolor class.
Make a cutting garden.
Make money on a craft.
Stay at a luxurious hotel.
Go to Disneyworld.
Go antiquing in Brimfield Mass.
go to the Poconos in the fall.
Ride a bike around State Park.
Get a Vespa.
Go on a picnic to the Welland Canal.
See a broadway play.
Take a class at Chautauqua Institute.
get a digital camera.
Decoupage photos onto fabric pillows.
Have a women’s support group.
Go to the beach.
Go on a cruise.
Get on a walking program.
Ride horseback.
Go on a surprise weekend with my husband.
Sell something on Ebay.
Get the house organized.
Have a yard sale.
Spend a lazy day on the boat
Go for a picnic to State Park.
Become a runner.
Spend the night on a boat.
Go to New England.
Enjoy a Bemus point Concert.
Put an addition on the house.
Ride in a limo.
Light a paper lantern on the shore of a lake and let it sail into the sky.
Go to the Florida Keys and watch a sunset.
Have a family vacation at a destination.
Go to Carmel, California and stay at a Bed and Breakfast.
Stay up and watch the falling stars.

How about you? What is on your bucket list?

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Curl up and read

Can you see the freezing rain out the window? It will be one of those days when you just don't want to go outside. That's because we will be spending the day putting everything that's in the kitchen into bins and boxes to prepare for the contractors on Monday.  It seems so funny going through all the cabinets. As I do I am deciding what things will actually need to go back into the cupboards. Already I have weeded out all those extra mismatched coffee cups. Some things like the silver cranberry sauce dish I only use at thanksgiving and I think could be in storage in the basement. And my sister gave me a beautiful spice rack full of spices. I need to throw away all those old ones. 

And what should I do with that Eiffel Tower Olive oil container?  I love it but haven't really used it lately.  Oh, therewill be a lot of decisions like that.  I can't wit to have an all new kitchen. We have lived in this house for forty one years and haven't made a lot of changes..until the last eight years when we added the sunroom. This is a new adventure...updating. 

When I get a moment I will sit down with a library book...

Or read on my kindle app on the ipad.  I'm still one of those who likes to hold the pages in my hands though. 

I hope wherever you are that you are safe and warm and make the most of this day. 

State of the blog address. 2015

 

 

 

What a cute title. I stole it from Tessa at Here there be Musings who borrowed it from another blog.

 

 

 

 

 

My blog started simple and I have tried to keep it that way. I did it as a journal for myself. I didn't need a lot of readers...though I am grateful for each and every one. It was intended to be a record of my life for my family and friends. ...and I find myself going back in posts now to remember some things.

 

 

As I continued to write daily I found a voice. My intention was to have a blog that was visually pleasing and content that was worth reading about. At first I was afraid to write anything of a personal opinion nature. Did I dare tell my innermost feelings? Then as I kept blogging...I've been at it since 2006 I just let it all out...well, most of it anyway.

 

 

 

 

I became a better photographer with practice and better and better cameras and found great enjoyment in the art of telling a story with pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

Then I got readers...then commenters. What joy! To know someone likes your blog enough to read it once in a while...or even daily...is a great validation. I so look forward to seeing how others feel about the blog.

 

 

 

 

 

I still feel this blog chronicles my life and leaves a record of me on these pages. And it's made me realize that I am important. What I have to say is important. ...even if only to me.

 

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A little French Tablescape

 

Today I'm joining Susan's Thursday Tablescape party at Between Naps on the Porch. Please visit her blogfound on my sidebar to see more great tables.

Before Christmas I found a burlap runner with ruffles that I had been looking for in Hobby Lobby. Burlap was huge last year but I didn't feel it suited my style. But when I saw this runner I knew it would work on my table.

I also got these metal chargers that had an antique feel.

And that called for digging around in my silverware storage to use these pieces with an older look to them. They hadn't seen the light of day for many years.

 

I kept the same centerpiece from Jan Williams that I had used at Christmas.

 

These adorable bird in nest salt and pepper shakers were a gift from my sister Linda.

She also gave me some french wired ribbon with the Eiffel Tower and french scenes on it. I tied it to my candle-ier.

She had given me the bird a few years ago. Since we visited Paris we both have had an affinity to all things French.

 

Thus the Paris plates.

 

Now if I could only cook like a French chef.

 

 

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