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I do not have a whole lot to say today.

The photos I am sharing, I took during the early evening in the old house. Besides morning,

it is my favorite time of day. The light is different at five in the evening. The old house is happy with a soft, warm glow. It inspires me to straighten up and decorate and listen to my favorite jazz stations.

We will be starting the smallish kitchen tune-up tomorrow. I am excited to share with you our progress,

so please check back in. Our part is slow-going... you know, the kitchen cabinet restoration. Sigh.

- traders joe's daffodils, vintage postcard, vintage flower frogs -

- the light from the dining room windows -

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I can't make myself crawl into bed before midnight. Morning is early and cold.

Blankets of white that give solace and warmth have been absent for much of the season.

Winter is lingering.

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scenes from our kitchen

I spent 15 minutes removing from a kitchen cabinet, one,
painted over too many times, original, made in 1908 nickel hinge. As I was standing there, cursing (in my head of course) the people that slopped the paint over these beautiful hinges, I began to question
my stamina for another big project.

There are 28 hinges, and 15 minutes is actually quick. Hubby spent 30 minutes on one a few weeks ago.
So, that's 28x15=420/60=7. Seven. Seven hours. Seven hours spent removing hinges.

After they have been removed, off they go to the crockpot spa for a 24 hour soak, and then back in our hands for another 15 minutes to pull off the paint, scrub and polish. Another seven hours.

7+7=14 hours of 106-year-old hinge restoration is feeling so much longer than 14 hours.
We started this whole process a few weeks ago, and now we have eight to go. The upper cabinets are complete. The lower cabinets are this weekend's project.

here are some before/during/after photos:

- before - five layers, including green and bright pink -

- after! - amazing, right? -

- lots to see in this photo - new plants, wine, nasty peeling paint -

- contact paper removed, bead board installed, and no more peeling paint -

- lots of sanding -

- glass installed, it's called german new antique -

* * * * *

Are you curious what the plan is for the rest of the kitchen?
It is not a complete overhaul; perhaps, if this was our forever house, we would consider something
on a larger scale. For now we're just going to freshen up the original cabinetry, and overhaul the right side
of the galley (see photo below).

The right side will get new butcher block countertop, an undermount sink, tile backsplash, open shelving,
new gas range and a few other fun, small touches.

- this is from a few months ago -

- this is from a few minutes ago -

 
You can see above that I've tested out the chosen paint color for the lower cabinets. I'm excited!
More to come as we make progress!

* * * * *

in the details:

let me know if you have any questions about anything you see!

crockpot spa for stripping old paint- idea seen on rehab addict, love this show

2/14/14

I think I've mentioned before that valentine's day is not my favorite.

I did, however, want to share a few fun things we did on this day. We remembered our teachers with homemade bouquets, and we made super chocolatey and super delicious cookies.

 

Recycled jars and fresh flowers from Trader Joe's (duh!).

Recipe from one of my new fave's, The Pioneer Woman.

 If you haven't already, check out her website and peruse one of her cookbooks.

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master bedroom: progress

Remember last year when I told you we were going to focus on the master bedroom? Ha.

Sadly, it was not "our next project". Today, though, I am happy to report that we made progress!
I had our Seattle poster framed, and I finally hung a few of my finds on the wall. These finds have been in my closet for a year now, waiting for me to hang them up. I recently found an old record cabinet,
and it looks great as hubby's nightstand.

We also purchased a dresser. Yep, hubby spent the last few months sans dresser, digging for clothes
in piles stacked up on a chair. Forgot about that chair. In fact, now that it's been uncovered, I'm not sure
I like it anymore. Alas, my ten dollar wicker seat will have to do, because on our list, new bedding,
area rug and nightstand (for me) outrank new chair.

The current bedding I do NOT like; we've had it for years. There will be no more flowers.
We are purchasing a white duvet, stripe sheets and kilim pillows (check them out on etsy). We need a bed skirt too. As for the rug, well, area rugs are tricky. There are so many choices, even if you use price/ color/style filters. We have one picked out, I just need to click the place order button.

Here is the same view of the master bedroom from last February and then from today:

- only five months after we moved into the old house -

- flowers, yuck - picture all white with fun pillows -

I feel excited about the progress, even though it is slow. Hopefully I will have we're done photos to
post for you in the next few months.

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- very old church bench, $15 garage sale -

- where hubby and i met and used to live -

- cast iron horse is one from a pair - my friend, kerry, has the other -

- new, clean, simple, white dresser -

  

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in the details:

Seattle poster purchased from Ork Posters - check them out

dresser is from IKEA

sunday antique fair

My friend, J, and I went to a local antique fair yesterday.

I love antique fairs, sales and cute stores full of all things vintage. You readers know this, of course.

It was nice yesterday to stroll through the aisles, imagining what we might do with the 595 dollar, perfectly worn farmhouse table. Or, all the cute littles (a few of which made it home with me).

We also got caught up on the everyday life of the past week. I am so thankful for Sunday antiquing.

- my vintage finds - wooden letters, valentines, wood-handle bottle opener, bottle brush tree, ornaments -

- vintage ornament (eyed first by J) - most likely from west germany, mid-century -

 * * * * * 

 

I purchased the little pictured below back in December. Also a trip with my friend, J, we took an hour

and popped over to a couple antique shops just a few blocks away. This little girl was sitting on a shelf in a

glass display cabinet. I saw her, hesitated for awhile, but finally asked to have the case opened.

Once in my hand, she had to come home with me.

- cast iron toy, only 1.5 inches tall - rare and likely early 1900's -

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one of my favorite things

Dishtowels.

Here are a few I received this holiday season. You all know me well.

I have plans for a few of these. Yes, I do use most of my dishtowels, but yes, I also have a small collection
that remains crisp and clean. My Mom and I always talk about framing one. I think it may be time to
give the idea a try.

* * * * *

in the details:

a few of my favorite places to find dishtowels-

crate&barrel, anthropologie, and be sure to pop into the local kitchen and gift shops

in your city or when traveling

new year, new windows

I started this blog one year and four days ago with a post about windows, and so, it seems

appropriate to start this year with another of the same. The old house, with its 42 windows, has provided much inspiration for my writing and sharing with you.

This Fall, we replaced seven more windows. This second round was not any easier.

You all know by now, that we are old house purists (within reason). Removing something original from the old house is emotional and goes against our daily work towards restoration. Here's the but-

But, there are certain windows, with ice-cold air pouring through them, that just need to be replaced. Rotting, frozen over bathroom windows that do not open, drafty (understatement) windows next to the boys when they sleep, north-facing windows in our room that keep it 15 degrees cooler than the rest of the house.

We also replaced the stairwell window. When it was done, it felt like a 25x55 hole in our house had been eliminated and suddenly we had a semi-temperature-controlled upstairs. Because we are doing this in rounds, we have to be strategic with our choices. If we finish out the last six windows upstairs, then we have

heating/cooling issues. I think we will move into the kitchen next. The kitchen has seven windows,

and since hubby and I got new windows in our room, the kitchen is now the coldest spot in the old house.

Winter temperatures in the kitchen are miserable, actually. And, like most families, we spend most of our time there. It is no fun to sit next to a drafty (understatement) window, shivering, and try to gulp down your dinner before it freezes. Perhaps this is a slight exaggeration, but only slight.

- we did some of the windows on our own this time -

- careful hubby! -

- we needed the help. thanks, J! -

Each bedroom in the old house has four windows, and now each bedroom has two new.

And can I just say how wonderful and amazing it is to have windows that open! The things you take for granted when you live in a new house:  garbage disposal, level floors, on-suite bathrooms, walk-in closets, laundry rooms, kitchen islands, windows that actually open. This does not conclude my list,

but I think you all should know that I have a list equally as long (maybe longer) of the joys of living in an

old house. The first is:  42 windows.

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pictures from friends

It's Sunday and it is snowing. It is a stay at home, family day. Not being a new city native, it only takes a dusting of snow (pretty sure we have four-ish inches) to keep us home. I love days like today.

There are about 14 posts I want to share with you, but more posts will have to wait until tomorrow and the next day. I needed the long break or perhaps the break was forced due to life.

I did, today, just want to share with you pictures that my family and friends text me.

- my sister-in-law's new lemon tree -

- my parents' new island, new kitchen, new house - chicken pot pie in the works -

- jessica's restored door - amazing! -

- my AZ friend's estate sale find - so lucky! -

- the handy work of our friends in AZ -

- my sister's black bean soup over cilantro-lime rice - um, delish! -

* * * * *

I will post again. Until then, here is my text pic for all of you-

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halloween

Decorating for Halloween was not something I did before we had children.
But now, I have one little boy who loves this holiday, which has made it fun to incorporate some spooky into the everyday decor around here. Hope you enjoy the photos.

Halloween at the old house-

- my mom found this vintage store sign, $4 -

- halloween mantel - handmade garland with pine cones from the yard -

- windows 1 and 2 - a different view than a year ago -

- garage sale find, $2 - the sweet lady said her kids played with them when they were little -

- festive and free bird - the owner of a local gift shop gave him to me -

- terrarium pumpkin patch - these pumpkins sprouted up in all of my indoor plants - find them here -

- all set - we hosted a happy hour last saturday for our neighbors -

- the old house dining room, halloween table -

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in the details:

yes, that's a new rug in the dining room - but, we have since decided to switch it with

the more traditional rug that was in our family room

check out rugsusa.com

most of the halloween decor, i have collected over the years - please ask about anything you see!

paint and patience

Last week I got caught up in what should have been a small project-

strip the paint off the original, solid brass switch plate in the vestibule. Let me back up. I painted the vestibule late at night a few weeks ago. My Dad taught me how to paint, and when you paint, you take care to REMOVE switch plates and outlet covers and anything else that should NOT get painted.

The old house has a few original toggle switches (very cool, by the way), but over the years
they were all painted over. It makes me so mad! I was not sure what the end result would be, but with a little hard work, I knew that removing the many (seven to be exact) layers of paint from this original piece
could be rewarding.

I spent two hours one evening, using mainly my fingernails, to scrape paint off the pearl inlay,
push-button toggle switches. It was really fun. The middle switch was different and would not clean up,
so off I went to visit the architectural antiques guy. He saw me three times last week... with all three children in tow each time. You can imagine the store... super kid friendly, not packed floor-to-ceiling with
antique fixtures, hardware, etc. Ha.

First visit, out of frustration, was to buy a restored-by-someone-else brass switch plate. The next to return said switch plate and buy an old replacement toggle switch. The final visit (for this project anyway) to exchange the toggle switch for a smaller size. Nothing was standard size 93 years ago.

I wired the replacement switch myself. It was easy, actually, but once I had it wired I could not get it back in the wall. Needless to say, I had to call the electrician. He even had a hard time, but he got it done.

- though this is not a photo of the vestibule switches, this is what it looked like before -

- restored by ME! -
- we will eventually replace the left switch (pearl inlay is sadly missing) -

- you get an idea of the new paint color in this photo - still a bit of trim work to finish -

I may have been lacking patience with this process. I mean who PAINTS OVER something so pretty?
It's not a .97 white, plastic switch cover (though I wouldn't paint over that either), it is old and solid brass!

I want to be clear; our switch plate was not this shiny after I removed the paint.

Sensing my frustration, the architectural antiques guy asked me to bring in the plate. He took it to the basement, gave it a buff and there it was. Restored. I was in shock. I really didn't think it was possible, but I will never forget what he said to me. "When you start with something of true quality, that's what you get."

The old house must be something of true quality.


* * * * *

orchards part 2

 Our family is almost as crazy for apples as we are (I am) for pumpkins. We eat apples every day,
so when we get the chance in the fall to eat them right off the tree, we go pickin! Our first round of apples
was all honeycrisp, and they didn't last long at the old house.

On another trip, we went with friends to an out of town orchard.
We got the full experience- we ate our warm, cinnamon-sugar bathed apple donuts on the hayride out to the fields. We wore our hoodies and breathed in the crisp, cool air. We picked (and sampled) our apples,
and upon our return, realized we probably had too many. I would never admit it though. We had just enough to eat (for a few weeks) and to make a heaping apple pie.

I can almost smell the apples just by looking at the photos-

- we picked these after we picked raspberries - honeycrisp is our favorite variety -

- the first fall orchard trip was E's class field trip -

- rows and rows of trees filled with apples - aren't they beautiful! -

- these kids were tired when it was time to go - such a fun day -

- this is E, enjoying the hayride -

- best 19.99 i ever spent - old timey apple peeler! -

- dutch apple - and homemade pie crust -

- streuseled and ready for the oven -

- done, and i am happy to report that every piece was enjoyed -

* * * * *

A note about this pie- I'm not sure if I'm allowed to give out my sister's husband's family recipe, but I will say
it is easy. I think the secret to good pie anyway, is the crust. People get intimidated by pie crust,

but it is so simple. Butter, flour, salt, cold water. I use a food processor, too. Done.

in the details:

check out these two must-haves for apple pie and pie crust:

pastry cloth - i do not wash mine, after use i seal it in a ziplock and store it in the fridge

apple peeler & corer - i purchased mine at a local kitchen store for 19.99