whatever

The winner of "Love the Home you Have" is

 

The winner of "Love the Home you Have"

is Natalie- she writes-

What a cute book trailer! Well done on the graphics. We are in our first home and have been here for six years. It began as a home on a bare lot. We have done what we could, adding trees and a garden, but recently our well gave out. It has taught us a lot about how a home is not perfect and we must make do with what we have. Happily our new well is being drilled soon and we can go forward on projects! I definitely think that we have learned so much as first time home buyers about what works and what doesn't. But most importantly I think that we must learn to be content with what we have - just like your friend said.

Happy Day! Natalie, send a email to me with your address and this sweet little book will be on its way to you!

 

on another note- I have been away loving on my newest grand-baby Christian .....more on that later!

Cottage Kitchen and Chairs after-

 

 

The Cottage kitchen is pretty much finished....just a couple trim pieces and it will be complete.  I also finished the $10 chairs over the weekend, the flowers are blooming so I thought this would be a good time to show you the kitchen.

Before

 

 

After-

 

• We tried to save as much of the original kitchen as possible.
• Kept the original cabinets- painted them Swiss coffee- from Lowes
• Added a new back-splash: subway white tiles- and white marble on the counter tops; we were able to find a remnant piece of marble.  Total cost of the marble , plus installation of the marble and sink $1,800
• New floor: white & smoke gray tile, we installed the tile ourselves- cost of materials  $300
• Painted the walls- swiss coffee & Edge of night {gray}
•  Added a new sink but kept the original faucet.

 
 
 

Now here's a look at the Chairs- click here to see  the before.

 

 

 

I like how they look from the dinning room- I painted them the same color as the dinning room buffet.

 
The color of the chairs is the same color as the laundry room walls and kitchen door.

 
I also picked up a couple more chairs just like these that will be going in the dinning room......which is just about finished, I plan to share when it is.

I love this little kitchen....just perfect for our needs. 

 
 

Another fun thing happened this weekend.  My brother LB was in town for the day so we got together at Johns house for a yummy meal, valentine gifts for the kids and a great visit.  We only had just a few hours to visit but it was great-

 

 

 
 Happy Note- Mason comes home April 30th and will be speaking in Church May 8th-{happy Mothers day to me!}

We just got our flights today.....let the countdown begin.

Happy Day.

Playing House-

When I'm bored, I like to rearrange the furniture. It gives me a little lift to see a different configuration and experience the room from a different perspective. I feel happy and alive.

{useless information- share yours=}

The Smell of Happiness-

• Morning bacon
• Sunday's roast
• Christmas ginger cookies
• Baby Lotion
• lilac's
• ocean breeze
• morning air

Share your "smell of Happiness."

Line them up-

About once a year, I love to organize my sock drawers and throw out the socks that have not had a match for months.  It gives me such a sense of satisfaction.-
(just some useless information....what's your?}

Visual Perfection-

I have terrible fine motor coordination and "tiny" projects like crafts, writing, and quilting I can't seem to wrap my fingers around them... I've done them but they would not past the "visual perfection" test.
I try not to make a big deal out of it- if I was ever called on to make a quilt I could- it just wouldn't look as nice as a lot of you great quilters out there. 
With that said- I love making and keeping a lovely home.  The cleaning, tidying, arranging, beautifying routine of it all.
I believe that you can take the simplest of things and with just a little cleaning, painting and fun... magic happens.....there is magic in the mundane.
   I realized early on in my life that a great deal of my time was going to be spent "homemaking" So I thought I might as well figure out how to get the most fun and satisfaction out of it.
If I didn't know how to do something I went to the library and checked out books about the subject, and read & practiced, read and practiced.  But I have to say- it was the older ladies in our ward, and friends that I learned the most from.  I'm thankful for friends that know way more than I.   I've learned so much from them... and I'm thankful for the sweet older ladies that mentored me and lovingly took me under their wing.
I  realize that I'm now one of those older ladies in the ward.....and it made me realized that I'm not playing my part very well.  
Everyone needs a loving friend to learn from- some guidance & loving wisdom from someone who has been there done that....
I know I still do.

 

"What was paradise but a Garden." - William Coles-