Makeshift Tablescape.....in a Makeshift Kitchen

When you are so fortunate as to be undertaking a kitchen remodel, you rig up a makeshift kitchen somewhere else. But I still wanted a cosy, welcoming dinner to greet Mister with when he got home.



We're using the little table from the sunporch for meals. Well, it IS in front of a fireplace. Which isn't turned on yet....but the mantel is pretty...




And candles always add a soft glow.




A pretty simple set up, but red is nice and warm to come home to. And it had been a bit of a dreary day.




I hold a firm belief that there really can't be too many candles lit.




I've learned a lot about using an electric skillet. You can make a whole dinner in it and it doesn't have to be a "one dish" meal.




Here's how the kitchen is coming along. The cabinets are installed and the crown molding is going up. Hardware is on.




Close up of the latches. Vintage! .




The appliances arrived today. They are lined up in the center of the room where the island usually is. They are keeping us from bumping our heads on the pendant lights, which is a good thing! Apparently, Some are of the mind that they make a good place for resting....but I digress.




Under the cover.....a new stove! Dual fuel, 2 ovens. I can't wait to try out this baby!


Please join Susan atBetween Naps on the Porch's beautiful blog for Tablescape Thursday today!

And have a most wonderful day!
Carol

A White, and Grateful! Wednesday

I'd never heard of Hobby Lobby before I started blogging. Never. So imagine my surprise when we drove past one about 30 minutes from home! It was a Sunday, so it was closed, but I vowed to myself that I would return.



And return we did, this weekend. Mister and I had a blast! We picked up a couple of things for the new kitchen. Like the sign. Right now it's displayed in our temporary kitchen.




I wanted to get a magnetic board, since the front of the fridge isn't magnetic. Found this memo board. We've picked out the perfect place to hang it when the kitchen is finished.




On Tuesday I had a day off and visited my parents. I left, feeling very much loved, as usual. My mom made lunch, and sent me home with my very own pineapple upside down cake since we have a makeshift kitchen right now.
I managed to wait about 15 minutes after getting home to have a piece. Then I upgraded to a slab, because I told myself it was like having half a piece of a 2 layer cake......





My dad? Well, he ASKED me if it was ok if he touched up my front bumper. Each front corner was pretty scraped up. One side scraped by yours truly, and one side compliments of Chickie. If you ever saw my dad's cars.....well, let's just say they always look like they've just been detailed. I maintain my car well, but don't really care about cosmetics with it. In fact, I identify it in the parking lot by the symmetrical scrapings on the front bumper. Here's Dad's work. Now it's back to it's original generic look, no longer white and chippy!

Anyway, one of my greatest blessings is my parents' love for me. We always enjoy each other's company, but they truly have the gift of sharing their love. I am truly blessed, and grateful!

Another thing for which I am truly thankful is the fun of White Wednesday. Make sure to check out Faded Charm for this delightful party.

Also, Heidi at Heart and Home
hosts Wednesday Gratitude weekly on her delightful blog!

Have a most wonderful Wednesday!

Carol

Done!

I am so excited! I finished the deck project this week! Here is what it looked like. Nice enough, needs staining and sealing, doesn't really go with the character of the house.




After prepping and staining/sealing the floors, I kept thinking about the rest of the house. The railings could be stained.....maybe white?




Yes. I'm thinking white railings definitely would be better on this 101 year old house.




After 2 coats of white stain, and hanging upside down and backwards to get all the surfaces covered I finished. Now instead of decks, as Cass said, we have porches!




(Upstairs) It's a clean slate.

Have a wonderful Monday!

Please visit Cielo for Show off Your Cottage Monday!
Don't forget to visit BNOTP for Metamorphosis Monday!

Carol

Volunteer Begonia

When I was in high school, my dad built cork bulletin boards for my sister and me. My mom found a magazine clipping and stuck it on my board. It was a picture of a flower blooming from the crevice of a rock. When I saw my volunteer begonia growing in the silt that washes down our driveway to the front of the garage doors this year, I was reminded of the quote below the picture my mom gave me.




"The pursuit of excellence




in the face of adversity




is invariably matched




by the glory of the result!"




I took that clipping with me to college, to grad school and then past that. Thanks, Mom, for that wise inspiration!

And then we have these promises:




Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, Whom He has given us.
Rom. 5:3-5

and,

Fear not, for I have redeemed you,
I have summoned you by name;
you are Mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass throught the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Is 42:1-3

Thank You, Lord, for keeping us.
Have a blessed Spiritual Sunday!
Carol

Please join me today, as I visit Charlotte and Ginger for Spiritual Sundays!

Saturday Morning

I woke up early this morning. Six o'clock. On a day off. That's ok. Somehow when you know you can get a nap later if need be, and you're off, it's just fine. Fed the animals, made the coffee, went out to the back porch for a sit.




After a while, the sky turned blue. The clouds drifted by lazily.




I made Isaac come out and sit with me. He didn't want to, but he is a patient soul. Actually, he didn't sit. He mostly stood without complaint and looked at me out of the corners of his eyes.




From the steps where I sat, I could see the cellar door that Mister had just repaired and painted to match the house.




I walked down into the yard to admire my railing-in-progress project and thought about trying to finish it today.




The sky got brighter and brighter, promising a beautiful new day.




I felt very grateful, and decided that I WOULD post on my blog today. After all, Mister was still sleeping, the dog went back to bed, and I was thankful for my blessings.
I checked my blog and saw that prayer requests of other bloggers were being answered.
I grew ever more grateful. Joyful, even. So I posted.

Have a wonderful weekend, all of you! I am grateful for every one of you. Thank you for enjoying and sharing the simple pleasures and joys of life with me. Thank you for sharing yourselves!

Carol

Kitchen remodel update follows:



All the cabinets are in, as is under cabinet lighting. See the farmhouse sink?




The fridge is now built in. We kept the fridge, and Mister had the most brilliant idea to put in a bookcase and cabinets around it.




Let's hear it for Mister!!




Please joing Laurie today for A Few of My Favorite Things Saturday!!! Thanks for hosting, Laurie!

At Mom and Dad's House

I love this bird wallpaper at my parents' house. When they first moved in, Dad was thinking of removing it. I thought it was beautiful...and was so glad to see it stay!




I always notice the cardinals on the wallpaper.




But really, there is so much more!




There are red carpet runners on the stairs and the floor in the entry way. It really picks up on the red of many of the birds.




I'm no bird expert, but Mom could tell you the names of them all.




And I'm sure a lot of you could tell me too....




But what I like most about it is the vintage-ness and the red and the white!

Make sure to stop by Cindy's for Show and Tell Friday, and wish her a Happy Birthday!

And stop by Debra's for Vintage Inspiration Friday!

A special thanks to Jane for inadvertently inspiring me to figure out how to insert links!

Carol

Animal Lover

Thank you, Mom and Dad! For passing on to me the love of animals. It's defined my life's work.




Dad possesses a great love for animals of all kinds. Got it.




Mom's opened my eyes to my passion for cats. She's a cat person. So am I. I am completely besotted. There's no help for it.




Our pets were an important part of our lives growing up. And they remain beloved family members to this day.




Thanks, Beau, for posing on the "World Wide Web"! (Mom and Dad's cat, gifted to them by none other than yours truly!)

Have a wonderful day! Hopefully it'll have a cat or two in it!

Carol

Please join Dayle for Simple Pleasures Thursday!
(http://alittleofthisandthat2.blogspot.com/)