Sneak Peek



The door to nowhere.  I think every old house has a couple of these.  My 1925 Bungalow is no exception!  Actually this is a second door to my son's room from the back hall.   Seems a litle silly to us.  Easy way to escape when you are a teenager!  We disabled the door and had plans to close it off permantely but soon discovered it housed our desk just perfectly.  The recess the door creates is just enough to allow the desk to sit next to the panty.  It really was unsightly.  The wall paint was not enhancing the back hall either.  It had to go! 



This is the view from the kitchen now.  Tennis Court White Paint by Ralph Lauren in a Semi-Gloss finish are washed all over the walls.  Gasp all you Flat Paint lovers!  The semi-gloss finish accomplishes two things, it reflects light in this windowless space and is easy to clean!  The Ceilings are Crystal Blue by Benjamin Moore also in Semi Gloss.  For the finishing touches, white drapes with white tassles hanging over a black and white picture that fits behind the antique green writing desk.  It is now this cozy office space while the space is actually enlarged.  The rest of the space isn't completed yet.  The floor at the landing needs attention.  I just couldn't resist sharing.  It is currently my favorite spot in the house!

Paris and Silent Photographs



"I love Paris in the Spring Time"
I can hear it in the background when I look at these pictures. 
They are sweet and came from a wonderful site that lets you use
and download pictures for free. 
Yale Digital Commons



 

 



So why the poor quality?  
It is not from the site! 
When I was exploring all of the pictures I started
printing them on my HP Laser Jet 1022 printer.
Just photocopied pictures.
Then I took pictures of them with my cell phone while
severely cropping them.  They started to tell a story
as I was taking pictures of them. 
To make matters worse (?) I then emailed them to myself
before saving them to my computer and then posting them. 



There is a sweetness to these pictures in all their
poor quality!  They remind me of old silent pictures with
they fuzzy frames and grainy texture. 
There is just something about those films, maybe the mystery, maybe the
half told stories while the sets and expressions were meant to make
the imagination soar.  Clara Bow, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford,

Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., and the Barrymore's are in these pictures.

And I think that is what these pictures are meant to evoke.

Memories.

All in a Day's Play



Spent my Sunday in my favorite Discount Store and Junk Store.  Yielded this Fluer De Lis, tassles, and some odds and ends.  Earmarked for my latest project. 





I am redoing my back entry to the house.  Will share pictures later!  Spent the weekend prepping, painting, and more painting.  Then decided that I needed some stuff to go in it!  Have alot of ideas swimming in my head right now.  Suffered 2 days of migraines but managed to get the painting of the ceiling and walls completed.  Next the landing. . .

Will share, I promise! 



Gussied Up and Ready for the Ball

The Range, in place, ready to go!

Lots of decorative touches on the shelf.  I do use almost all of them but couldn't resist some babbles.  This range is really neat and definately superior in quality to ordinary stoves.  We are lucky to have this!  I have made black current jam, baked a cherry crisp, and Swiss Chard Strata all with local ingredients as well as making our favorite Mole Pulled Pork Tacos and BLT's, Corn on the Cob, and the list is growing.  Spoiled Girl.  Happy Girl. 

What's Old is New Again

I really wanted an old, reconditioned range to add to my kitchen but after many "Blow Up the House" arguments I had with my husband we settled on a 48" Monogram Range as shown in a earlier post.  To satisfy my desire for the old one, I spotted this at one of my favorite haunts.  The door wasn't staying closed and I think, besides all the rust, that is why it has been there at a basement bargain price for quite a long time.  I fell in love and it now graces my kitchen with a strong magnet to keep the door closed.  No interest was paid to this until I drug out the camera and poof, presto, magic the curiosity came pouring out of my son.  He was so curious that he didn't care that I was taking pictures and, after all, this range is built for the curious, tiny hands of children.  Couldn't make me happier that he has played with this for most of the evening!  Forget modern, what is old is new again in my house if even for a moment and yes, I know a reconditioned stove wouldn't blow my house up but the Monogram is "bloody" awesome and really fun! 

MY NEW TOY

Installed this morning and waiting for me to come home and make Black Currant Jam with the beautiful black Currants I picked at The Berry Patch Farm on Monday.  I am a lucky girl!  
Berry Patch Farm

Saturday Still Life

Still Life

Half way mark at the kitchen remodel left me with an exposed lath back splash.  Admittedly, I find charm in the plaster stained wood that makes me think of Rachael Ashworth's Shabby Chic.  All that wood made me think of my black and white photographs and a great way to temporarily enhance the space while waiting on my tile guy.  (since it is in house--a.k.a husband) it might take a while!  This will get me through the waiting period.  The old glass bottles have a certain charm and visual appeal in front of the photographs making it a fun little still life! Enjoy your weekend and create!