Saturday, December 25, 2010

From Our House to Yours

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care...

The "one present before bed" has been opened....


and we are all getting silly,


Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!



Monday, December 20, 2010

Details, Details

It doesn't look like anyone is moving in next door any time soon.  We hear things after dark sometimes, but that is probably NOT the new neighbours.  The house wrap makes a racket when the wind blows, but so far, we are not being too bothered by the newness/bigness next door.



Here on the home front, things have finally come together.  We reclaimed our kitchen over the weekend.  Things went from this three months ago:


to this:

to this:

to, TA DA, this!
Yes, there are still some details that have to be taken care of, like:  baseboards, kick plates, spice racks, knife racks, a soft-stop here and there.  AND, the too big and not-according-to-plans cupboard that was supposed to be a small, antique-looking shelf-thingy next to the new pass thru opening has to be removed and reworked. (How's that for a sentence full of made-up words?)

 Still, we are thrilled with the outcome.  I am beside myself with joy that it is
OVER
 in time for the arrival of family in just two more days.  Despite nightmares of it being Christmas Day at 4 pm. and me not having bought my turkey yet, I think we have made it.


Someone just couldn't stand the suspense and rushed the advent calendar just a tad.


We'll soon have "the stockings hung by the chimney with care" and the Wassail Bowl brimming with cheer.  Come on by, overlook the "details" and share the delight of the season with us.  We are 
ready. 


Thursday, December 9, 2010

Almost There

I am writing today to report significant progress in the kitchen: 
Hurrah!! 

Countertops. 
We opted for soapstone, black with white veining.  They came out even better than I had hoped. 

The pantries are in, the island and the laundry room are done, and the powder room is being papered today.  There are so many workers here right now, both Hubby and I are hiding in our respective offices to keep from being run over.
Check out the six trucks (and my dirty window) crowded into our driveway.


Tools of the trade

Jim and John working to figure out how the hood insert is supposed to be installed.


Mark is in over his head...making the over/under pullout work.

Mr. Paperhanger is set up in the kitchen, applying glue and then carefully carrying wet paper to the powder room for installation.

Two electricians and a co-op student arrive and decide it's too crowded for them to work here at the same time as everybody else.


Appliances are due on Saturday, the plumber on Monday, the painters and electricians when they feel free to do so.  We're almost there!  It's beginning to look like Christmas can happen here after all.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

December First

There's 24 days left until the Big One. 

There's only 21 days ( a mere 3 weeks ) until the REALLY BIG ONE! 
My children and grandchildren are arriving for the holidays on December 22nd.  Joy unspeakable and full of delight, and quaking with fear and trembling. 

Here is today's photo of my kitchen:



Don't get me wrong here.  I am not whining and complaining.  I am just having kittens.

And while I'm not complaining, or anything, what's with bedding these days?  When mattresses got bigger, deeper, more and more comfy, why didn't the sheets keep up?

A picture is worth a thousand words, they say, and so here is a story about a mattress that is doing a take-off on Madonna, or Lady Gaga, or some belly-button-beauty with a too small top on.

Even the duvet and cover do not cover the mattress, let alone the bed frame.

I have decided to take matters into my own hands and make my own quilted cover.

Yes, you are right, it's not finished yet, like the rest of the projects in this house. 

At least we are keeping things consistent.