Candlelit Cottage

I'm back!

2011-12-25T21:38:00.000-08:00

Hello friends! It's been awhile!! We have moved into our old farmhouse and have been here for one year now. It has been more overwhelming than I could have ever imagined. I feel like we are settled enough now that I can squeeze in a little free time for blogging. I will be blogging mostly about our farmhouse renovation adventures and have started another blog called the Fanciful farmhouse http://wwwfancifulfarmhouse.blogspot.com/. I hope you will join me there as the handy hubby and I renovate our old farm one room at at time!! I look forward to catching up with old friends!

Jen

WINDOW BOXES ON A BUDGET

2010-05-30T08:16:00.000-07:00

Happy Memorial day everyone! I'm sure many of you are enjoying the beautiful sunshine and getting all of your flowers planted. I know many of us are struggling with tighter budgets these days. I wasn't even sure if I would plant flowers in my boxes this year. Then I came up with this. I bought one hanging basket of geraniums and cut it down the center. I added some vines from the yard to fill in the gaps and voila! I think it looks pretty good and it cost less than $15. We have been so busy here with boys and baseball, end of the school year activities, and that new and very naughty puppy!! Wishing you all a Happy Memorial weekend!!!!

OUR NEW BABY!

2010-04-29T19:51:00.001-07:00

Meet Dudly! The newest member of our family! It was love at first sight!!!

EASTER HAPPENINGS

2010-04-05T17:29:00.001-07:00

A day at the zoo. John Ball Park Zoo! Scratching his butt for the camera.
Always being goofy....Always!

Ice cream break

Easter egg hunting at my sisters house.

Great fun

Great memories

Have a great week everyone!

THE PERFECT TOUCH!

2010-03-28T10:54:00.000-07:00

So, If you have been here before you might remember that our house is for sale. Well, I was very excited yesterday because we actually had a showing! I cleaned the house from top to bottom...SPOTLESS! The last thing I always do before leaving the house is make sure all of the lights are on, toilet seats down etc. etc. Note to self....next time check all chalkboards because you have naughty boys lurking around the house!! I smell...the perfect touch! Totally changing the subject, I'm sure you will be very happy to know that I bought some cute, springy towels for the kitchen. Due to my love affair with the hot glue gun, I went all out and glued a tail on the bunny. Perfect! Now, you won't even be able to believe this.... Hubby actually thought he would wipe his dirty hands on these??? I screamed and scolded...he thought it was very funny.

I just want to look at them. I don't want to have to wash them. That's OK right?

Since it's Sunday today and spring is in the air, I thought I would set the breakfast table all pretty!

Things are really waking up here! The grass is greening up and the Mama birds are looking very fat!

I just love Spring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

VACATION MEMORIES

2010-03-20T10:55:00.000-07:00

Wow! It's hard to believe that it has been a good month since my last post! Due to my work schedule, my husbands new job with crazy hours, plus three kids in school and after school activities....I feel like there is just not enough time in the day! We did however take some time off for a much needed vaca to the Sunshine state!!! We had a great time and I thought I'd share a few photos. It took some persuading to get the hubby to let me post this pic of him with his shirt off.Below are my three with their little cousin Mikaia. The dolphins swam right along the shore that night. They were beautiful!

Here is the girl with her cousin Bella.

The beach and the boardwalk on the Gulf of Mexico.

It's nice to be back home and I'm looking forward to catching up with you all!! Have a great weekend!

Jen

A VALENTINE HEART JUST FOR YOU

2010-02-10T13:39:00.000-08:00

We have been buried in snow!! The kids have the day off and I couldn't make out of the driveway to go to work. Oh darn!!!

BLOOMS TO BEAT THE BLUES

2010-02-06T16:06:00.000-08:00

Well, Cabin fever and the winter blues have officially set in!What's a girl to do to brighten up these short and very dark days?
Fill the house with flowers....

of course!

Lots of em!!

Wouldn't ya know it! All these flowers actually brought the sunshine with them. In my neck of the woods, the sun actually shined today. Most of the day in fact!

Hope your weekend is bright and sunny too!!!

A NEW LIGHT IN THE DUNGEON

2010-01-30T15:55:00.000-08:00

Another Hobby Lobby clearance has added some much needed light to the dungeon(our basement)! I thought the little ruffles were so sweet and the polka dots too.

I found the black picture frame in the clearance isle too. It has a small ding that I will touch up when I feel like it (probably never).

I added the sheet of scrap book paper and a black and white of hubby and his brother. Now I just need to center that picture don't I.

That's all for now folks. It was another busy week and a Saturday of basketball games. Now I'm just snuggling down with some peppermint tea................................

Have a great weekend!

Jen

GOOD DAY AT GOODWILL!

2010-01-23T09:41:00.000-08:00

I'm still doing the happy dance!!!Happy Dance!
Happy dance!!

To my hearts delight...look what I found at Goodwill!!! Brown transfer ware! Not all pieces are in the most pristine condition, but do I care? Nooooooooooooo! I think most of us, love the things that have been really loved on in their past life. Am I right? I started my collection of red transfer ware a few years ago and from then on my love for dishes pretty much spiraled out of control. Not long after my red collection began, I started collecting blue. As of late, I have been patiently waiting for some lonely, brown trasfer ware to turn up in one of my local thrift stores and low and behold my patience paid off! My sick plan is to display the brown in the fall, the red in the winter and the blue in spring and summer.

When I'm finished doing my happy dance over these dishes, I plan on snuggling up with a cup of tea and this book I found for $1.99.

I also found this letter E for $1.

And this clock I thought would be perfect for the girls room!

Definitely a good day a Goodwill!

Have a great weekend!!

BURLAP WREATH

2010-01-19T15:38:00.000-08:00

OK, I ran across this idea on some lovely blog...just can't remember which one. Well, You know who you are and thanks so much for the idea! This was so easy! The most difficult part was finding the burlap. It seemed every store in this town was out. I ended up running across some burlap bags and our local TSC and snatched them right up. I used an old wire hanger and cut the burlap into two inch strips then fed them onto the hanger. I turned this house upside down looking for a cute Valentineish ribbon, but no luck. I ended up using a scrap piece of fabric to make the bow. Now if I could only decide on how to tie the bow, where to place the bow and where to hang the wreath. Pathetic I know. The front door
The mirror

china cabinet
China cabinet

Fireplace

What's your vote?

REDECORANGING

2010-01-16T15:58:00.000-08:00

Now that all the Christmas garb is packed away and I have cleared the cloud of dust that resides when it's gone, I have been moving things around a bit. This table used to sit clear across the room next to my sofa. Now it sits in the dining area and holds some of my transferware dishes.

This old window has lived in every room of my house. I have just never found a spot where it looks at home. I thought I'd try hanging one of my favorite photos on it and I do like it!

My sister gave me this burlappy looking pillow cover from the Pottery barn...she gives me all her castaways. Thanks sista!! A little wrinkley but nothing around here ever looks perfect.

One of my favorite rooster tassels and my favorite vintage mirror now hangs behind this table.

I found these candle sconces at walmart on clearance. I paid $5 for the pair. I added the glass candle holders and the chandelier crystals to dress them up a little more.

Valentine candies have replaced all the Christmas balls and greens.

A new parade of this and that now displayed on the mantel.

Home Sweet Home!

I found this letter M on clearance at Hobby Lobby. I was going to paint it, but I think I'll wait till spring..............I'm still in hibernation mode!

Hydrangeas saved from last summer in my blue Goodwill pitcher.....always a favorite!

I moved this picture from the boys room to the mantle and the apothecary is full of seashells from last years travels. Going for a bit of a beach theme I suppose. If your wondering why the glass looks broke it's because IT IS! All of my kids had friends over last week and while the boys played quietly, the GIRLS ran around like screaming animals ! Needless to say, my very nice picture with the barn wood frame fell from the mantle and the glass was broke. Booooooo...

Some of my favorite black and white family photos. I love to display family photos. Lots of them!

My favorite barn sale purchase ever!!! My big ole rusty barn star!!!

and last but not least a new urn to help my kitchen utensils look their cutest....and a bowl full of clementines. My kids eat these things like they are going out of style!!!!

The winter actually seems to be going by quickly this year! I'm thankfull for that!! I wish I had more time in my schedule for blogging, but it's hard to juggle it all...I'm sure you know what I mean. I miss getting around to all of your blogs weekly like I used to be able to do!!

Hope you are all having a fabulous weekend!!

Jen

SUNDAY SEWING

2010-01-10T17:43:00.001-08:00

It was a quiet day here today. I made a great big pot of venison stew and let it simmer in the crock pot all day. I used our home grown potatoes(still two tubs left stored in the root cellar), our home grown onions(best and sweetest onions I have ever had!), the last of the garden carrots and venison brought home by our oldest a couple months ago. The house smelled so wonderful! Santa brought the girl her very own mp3 player for Christmas. She wanted it to have a case for safe keeping, but there was nothing to suit her fancy at the store. I told her if she could find some scrap fabric that she liked in my fabric/JUNK closet I could whip one up for her in no time.

She chose polka dots and at my middle sons request, I added a pocket in the front for her ear buds. Out of pure laziness I hot glued the little ribbon and little pink tassel to the front. It will hold...that's why hot glue is my best friend!

Anyway, in the end she loved it and will be taking orders from all her little girl friends!

Hope you all had a peaceful and relaxing Sunday as well. Back to the ole grind tomorrow!

Jen

WELCOME TO THE LAKE HOUSE

2010-01-05T10:31:00.000-08:00

You can sleep here.We can sit here with our cold drinks, smell the water and enjoy the breeze blowing through our hair.

I'll use my super cool new mixer to make fresh muffins.

We'll sit in here and enjoy the muffins and some fresh fruit for breakfast.

This will be my room.

When it's so cold outside that your snot freezes a girl is allowed to dream! Right?!

NEW YEAR NEW PROJECTS

2010-01-01T20:34:00.000-08:00

Well, it's a brand new year!! A Brand new year always means a brand new list of projects that I would like to accomplish around the house. Projects done on the cheap of course!! Our home is for sale, but that certainly doesn't stop my mind from dreaming up things I could do to add some much needed character!! First on my list is to add some decorative trim work to the walls in our living room.

I'm picturing something like this, but with soft blue walls like the beautiful bedroom below. Isn't this bedroom beautiful!!!

I like the beaded board in this room, but I think I'm leaning more toward the board and batten look.

This is my favorite photo so far and I think this is exactly the look I want, but I want the paneling to be higher...possibly three quarters of the way up the wall.

It adds so much character and warmth to a room!!!

So many possibilities! Now if I could only make up my mind!

Second on my list is our laundry/mud room. It's a teeny tiny space and it's completely visible from our kitchen. We have new front loaders that are very attractive, but I still don't want to have to look at them all the time.

I would like to add a counter top over them and then skirt the front of them with a cute and frilly fabric.

MMMM...I'd love to have a laundry room as big as this one!!

I love this shabby green cabinet!! I wish my laundry cabinet was as organized as that. It definitely inspires me to make organization number three on my list of New Years projects!

This is my favorite inspiration photo. It almost looks like they used and old table to top the washer and dryer, or maybe they just added the legs??? I love it and I love the cute little curtains. Definitely the look I'm going for.

I had also thought about bi fold doors like the ones pictured below, but I think I'm definitely stuck on the cute little curtains!

Now if only I could muster up some motivation!! These extra pounds packed on during the holidays and this cold weather have put me in hibernation mode!!!

Hope everyones New Year is off to a great start!!!

JUST ME AND MINT MOOSE TRACKS

2009-12-31T19:39:00.001-08:00

I'm spending New Years Eve in and all alone!! Kids are at Grannies and Hubby had to work. I'm enjoying the peace and quiet all snuggled in my bed with a half gallon of mint moose tracks ice cream! Perfect!

I pray you all have a wonderful New Year filled with many blessings!!!

AN AFTERNOON IN THE CITY

2009-12-28T21:13:00.001-08:00

Well, another Christmas has come and gone way to quickly!! Ours was filled with lots of Family, friends and good Food!!! Despite the very wintery weather one big ice storm and a bout with the flu for me, we managed to venture out to the city and spend an afternoon at the museum.

Can you see the huge table and chairs sitting atop the bridge?

It was one of the entries in the cities first annual Art Prize competition. This was the first time that I saw it in person and I thought it was really cool!

As you can tell from the following photos my oldest really enjoyed all the different Santa's. Seriously, Sometimes I'm not sure I should take him out in public . LOL

After yanking on his robe,

Pulling on is beard,

and picking his nose, I was sure he would end up on Santa's naughty list!

Let's just say Santa was very patient this year!

Free carousel rides.

The mummy was not a hit with the girl as you can tell by the look on her face. She was totally creeped out! Can't blame her!

Gorgeous old furniture.

Old fashioned store fronts.

The general store

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!!

LAZY WEEKEND

2009-12-12T14:48:00.000-08:00

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."~ Norman Vincent Peale
We survived the blizzard and I'm sure the kids will be back to school on Monday. We enjoyed being held up inside all cozy and warm! Lots of hot chocolate and cookies were had by all! The kids were even able to enjoy some sledding once the winds died down.

EASY AND FREE X-MAS ARRANGEMENT

2009-12-09T19:26:00.000-08:00

What do you do when your in the midst of a wind whipping blizzard?? I decided to put together this pretty planter. It was easy and required nothing that I couldn't find around the house or out in the yard. Goodness knows I would never venture out in this weather!!

I simply tucked a piece of foam in the bottom of this urn. I gathered various pine and boxwood from the yard and started tucking them in place. I had some dried hydrangeas left from this summer and nestled them in here and there. Voila....
I love it...and it makes me smile and I like to stick my nose in it and smell all it's freshness!

The kids had a snow day today and it looks like they'll be home again tomorrow!! Hope everyone is staying warm!

Jen

NOW IT'S LOOKING LIKE CHRISTMAS!

2009-12-05T11:04:00.000-08:00

We have been having non stop snow for the past two days!! It really looks beautiful and has put me in the Christmas spirit! You must be in the Christmas spirit to dress your favorite rooster like this!!

This is a small part of my Grandmothers nativity. She made it in ceramics class over sixty years ago. There are so many large pieces that go with it...I just don't have room to display them all.

I added salt to the bottom of my candle holders this year.

Normally I do two themed trees, but this year we just piled a hodge podge of everything on one tree.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! This is the first Saturday in a long time that we have nothing to do!! Just haning out by the fire trying to stay warm!!

Jen

A LITTLE CHRISTMAS DECOR

2009-11-29T08:24:00.000-08:00

Slowly but surely we are dragging decorations up from the dungeon. My sister gave me this little wreath last year. She found it at the dollar store. I cut some fresh greens from the woods and tucked them into this artificial wreath for the front door.This is a vintage childrens shovel that I decked out with greens and polka dot ribbon. Horrible picture...I know!! I'm thinkin my camera is on its last leg.

Normally I have this old junky sled on the front porch, but I thought I would try out a new spot this year.

The kids helped me load up on fresh pine and rose hips to tuck into the window boxes. I put lights on them this year to, so they look so pretty at night.

Here's a close up of the dollar store wreath. Pretty cute I think...especially for a buck!!

This is a cookie jar I picked up on clearance a few years ago.

The mantel is work in progress.

Here is my Hobby Lobby reindeer. He has taken much abuse over the years and can barely sit up straight. I had to lean him up against the bricks to keep him steady.

That's it for now folks. Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We are recouping with a quiet Sunday at home today. It has been a crazy couple of months for us. Our house is up for sale and we have had an interested couple that just can't seem to make up their minds. It can be an emotional process, especially since we have found an old farm that we are crazy about!!

I suppose if it's meant to be it will happen.....

Have a great week everyone!

Jen

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

2009-11-25T17:51:00.000-08:00

AHHHH CLEARANCE MUMS

2009-11-06T15:28:00.001-08:00

Clearance mums were only $2.50 at our local nursery.I'm savoring what's left of fall.

Before I drag all the Christmas decorations out from the dungeon!

Have a great weekend!

CHECK IT OUT!

2009-11-04T19:23:00.000-08:00

Check out this very lovely and unique home! http://patinagreen.typepad.com/patinagreen/2009/11/modern-home-vintage-design.html

TRICK OR TREAT!

2009-10-31T19:03:00.000-07:00

PUMPKIN CARVING

2009-10-26T16:28:00.000-07:00

OK, so I know I will not be winning the Mother of the year award because YES that is a butcher knife in my 8 year olds hand! I'm thinking I'm probably the only Mother left in the world that does not have the super safe and easy pumpkin carving tools. Maybe I'll pick up a few packages of them this year when they have the after Halloween clearance sales. Of course...that's what I said last year and the year before that! Don't worry people. There was very close adult supervision here and I even made some of the more difficult cuts.
She drew the face herself.

I think he turned out pretty cute!

One down and five more to go!!

The swine flu has hit our area pretty hard!! It's spreading like wild fire and there have been many school closings. My three have avoided it until tonight when It hit the boy like a ton a bricks!! He was playing football in the yard and came in to tell me that his eyes felt funny. I felt his forehead and he was on fire. I took his temp and it was 103 degrees. So, I'm praying that we don't all start dropping like flies!!

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Jen

PLEASE DON'T HATE ME!

2009-10-20T14:33:00.000-07:00

I know! I know!You probably want to knock my teeth out for posting photos of these cuties!

But it's really true!

Christmas is just around the corner!!

PURE JOY

2009-10-19T19:56:00.000-07:00

ANNUAL FAMILY PUMPKIN FEST

2009-10-18T19:41:00.000-07:00

A snapshot with Grandpa and Grandma scarecrow

A walk to the pumpkin patch on a chilly dayWide eyed kids

The smell of straw

Football at dusk
Beautiful fall colors
A gorgeous sky

and warming our bones

By a ginormous bonfire built by Grandpa
Counting my blessings and Giving Thanks for such special family memories!

Happy fall to you all!!

Jen

A CLEAN HOUSE

2009-10-15T19:47:00.000-07:00

Enjoying a clean house!For the 8.2 seconds it lasts.

And of course lots of pumpkins and mums to pretty up the porch!!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Jen

KITE FLYING

2009-10-10T05:48:00.000-07:00

REMINDING ME OF WARMER DAYS!

PIN IT WHERE YOU PLEASE

2009-10-06T19:43:00.000-07:00

Your sweater

Little sweethearts head band

or right smack dab on the front of your purse!

This one is available in my etsy shop.

Have a great night!

FALL IS IN FULL SWING

2009-10-03T20:49:00.000-07:00

Candy cornsPumpkins
and

Mums

Oh my!!

Fall is beginning to fill all the corners of our Candlelit Cottage!! The above photo is of my new favorite scented candle. Trick or treat is the flavor and it's by Yankee. It smells yummo and I'll have it burning until the Christmas scents roll in!!

My candy jars don't stay full for long around here. Candy corn disappears just like magic!!

I found my mums at Walmart. They were only $1 piece. Rather than buy a large one to fill my urn, I just bought four of the small ones for $1. It ended up looking like one large one and it cost me much less.

Pumpkins are all home grown this year.

Fresh picked apples!! They smell so good!

And what would fall be without one of these to keep you toasty warm on these cool and crisp nights!

Happy weekend!

Jen

A GARDEN GRAND FINALE

2009-09-30T19:07:00.000-07:00

Here are the sunflowers in all their glory...a sure sign of the end of the gardening season.

Pumpkins are ripe for picking.

And we have potatoes coming out of our ears!!

This is the first year that we have grown potatoes and I'm so glad that we did!! We hope to have enough to get us through the winter. What better food to get you through those cold winter months right?? To me, potatoes are the ultimate comfort food!!

We have all these babies stored away in a cold room in the basement. We'll see how well and how long they keep.

When you grow your own food it really forces you to be creative and try some new recipes that otherwise you probably would not. We have fallen in love with mashed potatoes with kale and garlic!! MMMMMM...we have also been eating allot of potato soup!

Having this garden has cut our grocery bill nearly in half and even more important are all of the health benefits that have come along with eating so many fruits and veggies!! This has truly been a blessing!!

Oh, and I must mention that my oldest took a deer this weekend. Tomorrows menu...venison steak, potatoes and veggie casserole!

A SWEET NEW ADDITION

2009-09-29T07:41:00.000-07:00

Meet the newest addition to my shop.Cute as cute can be Soup tureen!

To keep or not to keep?? I decided to let this one go.

Happy Tuesday!

THE BOYS FALL HARVEST

2009-09-27T17:01:00.001-07:00

This is the boy just after he harvested his very own pumpkins. He has been very protective of his babies all summer long, faithfully feeding, watering and turning them...even scolding his Mother for mowing to close to their curly little vines. All his hard work has finally paid off and today he set up his very own road side stand. I got dibs on the biggest. He said I get a fifty cent Motherly discount.

FRIDAY FINDS

2009-09-18T15:26:00.000-07:00

Oh the luck I had today!! I walked into my local Goodwill store and instantly spotted this soup tureen!! I hurried my bum over to wear it sat and scooped it up like a crazy lady.

Is it normal for something that holds soup to totally make my day??? Can anyone understand my madness?? Please tell me that I'm not the only one.

Oh, and before I forget, I also found this cute little wreath. I thought it would be perfect for fall. I added a little raffia and I think it looks just lovely.

Oh happy day!!

OFF WITH THEM!!

2009-09-16T10:41:00.000-07:00

The verdict is in and the doors came off and will be staying off.

Still much more painting to be done and I'm not sure what I will line the back of the cabinet with.

I'll keep some of my thrifted cook books up here! Keeps them out of the way as I need all the counter space I can get in this little kitchen!

Happy Thursday!!

Jen

HANG A FALL BOQUET

2009-09-14T09:52:00.001-07:00

My daughter picked me some pretty fall flowers! She's very thoughtful that way.

Happy Monday!

Jen

BACK TO SCHOOL, SPORTS AND A GOOD BYE PICNIC

2009-09-13T19:16:00.000-07:00

Here are two out of my three on their first day of school. The oldest was off to middle school on the bus very early!! To early for pictures! And, yes that is the don't touch me, you stink and have cooties lean he has going on. Seriously...how could that sweet thing possibly have cooties??

The Football season has started and this is the first year that we have had all three in activities at the same time. We spend much of our time in the van running here there and everywhere.

The girl has been cheering non stop for the past few weeks. I'm practically chanting them in my sleep.

That's the middle child out there. His first year and he's really catching on.

And this picture is from our Labor day picnic. This is my nephew Jake, my sisters only child. He's now a Marine and is heading off to Afghanistan in October. I know God will be with him, but it still breaks many hearts to see him go!!

So, that's what we've been up to. I'm trying to make my rounds here in blog land to catch up with everyone a little bit of time each day. Hope everyone is doing great!!

Jen

A VINTAGE SILVERWARE FRAME

2009-09-10T19:07:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd share with you a fun project that I made today and of course....it involves my glue gun!!While thrifting the other day I picked up some mismatched vintage silverware. Not sure what I would do with it, I decided to try this. Those are my sisters just in case you were wondering and yes that is my disgusting glue gun!! The only one I have ever owned and I looooove it!!

It's pretty simple, just arrange your silver which ever way your heart desires and glue it on. Easy peasy !And this is what you get.

I played with mine a bit, trying different things.

My Great Grandfathers pocket watch looked so sweet hung from a ribbon smack dab in the center.mmmmm...and this Bunny?? Naaa. I think I'll stick with my sisters!!Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday!! Hope everybody has a great weekend!!

Jen

VINTAGE FLORAL AND IRONSTONE

2009-09-08T10:16:00.000-07:00

Kids are back to school today. This means coffee and early morning thrifting at some of my favorite shops!!

Vintage floral

$16

Ironstone gravy boat

$13
Listed in my etsy shop!

Have a great week everyone!

Jen

SCRATCH AND DENT LOVE!

2009-09-03T16:34:00.001-07:00

Yes, I said I love scratches and dents!! Do You spy the little ding in the picture below??
Look real close now. You see, I would not be the proud owner of this refrigerator if not for this ding. It's because of this cute little ding that this beautiful refrigerator now lives in my kitchen!! The discount was a whoppin $500!! When I shop for big ticket items for our home, I more times than not will seek out a scratch or a dent. Why wouldn't I when I live with three little monsters who more times than not scratch and dent everything anyway?! Sometime I'll take you on a tour of my house and Show you all the items that we have purchased with dents/scratches.

Now, I was real excited to have this baby delivered this week, as we have been living with the teeniest, tiniest fridge for about eight years now. That excitement temporarily came to a screeching halt when we realized that we had to move the cabinet up to accommodate the height of the refrigerator.

That meant that we had to chop through the crown moulding that I just worked my booty off to install all by my little ol self!! Errrrr.....

We had to chop just to the left of the lamp, right under the big EAT!! This set of cabinets was not coming down without a fight and they really got banged up in the process.

This is what it looked like with the cabinet removed. Yikes!! You can see what our cabinets used to look like before they got a bright and shiny coat of white paint. The doors were oak, but the sides were a veneer. Blahhhh! I was a bit unsure as to how I would re-work the crown having the cabinets at different heights.

I decided that if we moved them forward a couple inches in addition to raising them up a wee bit more, the cut edge(and very beat up) of the crown would butt up to the cabinet above the fridge and hide all the imperfections.

Here it is rehung. It's a little higher than I would have liked, but I figure I'll stack cookbooks up there so the gap won't be so noticeable. I'm also trying to decide if I want to leave the doors off or put them back on. I'm leaning towards leaving them off, so I gave the inside a coat of primer and then I'll paint and I may possibly line the back with a decorative paper??? This weekend I'll be working on finishing the crown and hopefully all will go smoothly...by smoothly I mean no temper tantrums or throwing of hammers!! lol. Then I can take the time to get some groceries to fill up my new refrigerator!!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Jen

A SQUEAKY CLEAN KITCHEN TIP

2009-08-31T18:22:00.000-07:00

Hello, My name is Jen and I am a clean freak!! Lets see...3 kids=6 hands=60 fingers=a mess of smears and smudges on my stainless appliances...enough to send me over the edge!! Just think, all this time I have been spending big bucks on all that expensive stainless steal cleaner that I was never satisfied with. Baby oil people!! I am in love with baby oil!! I just pour some on a soft cloth and wipe with the grain.
Works wonders!!!

BEAUTIFUL BEDROOMS

2009-08-29T17:28:00.001-07:00

It's a cold and rainy day here today. Makes me want to slip into my jammies and crawl into bed. Instead, I have been sifting through my inspiration file, sorting through some of my favorite bedroom photos . I don't know about you, but my bedroom is always the last room in the house to get any decorating attention. It usually gets the hand me down nick knacks and thing-a-ma-bobs from every other room in the house. It just never really feels cozy to me. So, I have decided to focus some attention on it as soon as the kids are back in school. Thought I'd share a few photos of my faves. Enjoy..... Love Love Love this blue room!!

Adore this room!! Love the rug!!

Hope you all are having a great weekend! Our Kids are at Grannies overnight, so Hubby and I took a drive out to Amish country today. We still dream of having an old farmhouse and back forty with lots of farm animals!! So, we love to cruise around looking for our dream spot. We stopped and got some coffee and snacks and called it a date!! lol

Have a good night.

Jen
photos~Country living

FALL TASSELING

2009-08-26T14:59:00.000-07:00

Colors so bright and juicy.... I want to eat it!

Yes, I have been whipping up some fall tassels and a few pillow slips for my sister. She is in the process of redecorating her little cottage!! She asked for my help, but our schedules are so opposite that it's hard for me to make my way to her neck of the woods. When I do make it to her place, I'll be sure and sneak my camera along!!

Football season has begun and school is just around the corner. If you don't hear from my as often that is why. It's the time of year that I become a full time taxi driver!!

Hope all is well with all my sweet friends in blog land!

Jen

FEELIN A LITTLE FALL IN THE AIR

2009-08-23T12:45:00.000-07:00

I'm not complaining, I'm just saying...It's the middle of August and 65 degrees!!! Indeed, this has been the coolest summer that I can remember!! So, rather than feel sorry for myself because we don't have a red tomato in sight!! I thought I'd post some inspirational fall photos, to take my mind of the fact that the cilantro has been ready for weeks, but due to the lack of ripe tomatoes there will be no fresh salsa any time soon!!! We do have plenty of pumpkins!

Hope you all had a nice weekend!!

Jen

photos -BHG and Country Living

SMALL TOWN FESTIVAL FUN

2009-08-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

Fun had by all and lots of candy too!!

MY NEW ADDICTION

2009-08-20T11:53:00.000-07:00

Milk colored glass I feel a new collection coming on!
I think they look so sweet

with a plant nestled inside

or just standing alone.

Have a great day!

Jen

Listed in my etsy!

2009-08-18T08:51:00.000-07:00

Pitcher with matching set of salt and pepper shakers

Sold

Isn't it just the sweetest set!!
Plate with cloche
$15

Picture/girl with her kitten
$15

Darling picture/horse with her colt
$12

SOLD

Happy Tuesday everyone!!

Jen

BASKET FULL OF SWEETNESS

2009-08-17T08:13:00.001-07:00

"Polka" Sweet corn!

Fresh from our garden!

The best sweet corn that I have ever had!

We went to bed with full tummies last night!

Have a great day!

Jen

ROOSTER REDO

2009-08-13T16:27:00.001-07:00

Well, I picked this up for my etsy store, but now I'm not sure I can part with it!

Here is the before. I took everything apart. Cleaned the glass and gave the frame a nice coat of black paint. I added a sheet of scrapbook paper cut to fit the cute rooster and his family. Last, I added the ribbon and now I want to keep it!!

Happens to me allot!! LOL

I also added this lovley, pink, vintage vase to my shop.

It has a sweet scalloped edge and looks so pretty loaded up with white hydrangeas!!

Have a great day!!

Jen

TAGGED!

2009-08-12T12:17:00.000-07:00

Yes, I have been tagged. Tagged by my friend Tracey at http://tracey-craftyscraps.blogspot.com/. She was my very first follower when I was just a lonely loner here in blog land!! I fell in love with her real quick, as she is the sweetest of sweets and she never fails to make me laugh!! So, I'm supposed to list six things about myself that I'm sure you are just dieing to know!! LOL

1. I grew up in a small, very CONSERVATIVE town...a church on every corner. Sunday was strictly a day of rest. No yard work on the Sabbath, or the neighbors might stone you!! Well, not really, but they could throw some pretty evil stares!! Needless to say, when hubby and I were married I moved away to the big city where the neighbors worried about their own business rather than the business of the folks next door! LOL

2. I'm not a morning person. I like quiet!! It takes me a good hour to wake up and feel like I can be nice to anyone!!

3. I don't like my hair. Never have, but I've come to terms with It's curly craziness. I almost always wear it up. I hate the way it feels on my face and neck when it's down.

4. I quit college to get married and raise a family. I always felt the calling to be a wife and Mother.

5. This is my dream car!! Someday I hope to own one in this exact shade of blue!! I love to take long, Sunday drives. Growing up that was our family entertainment. Dad would take the family for a drive and a quick stop for snacks.

6. I love coffee, but am extra sensitive to caffeine. It even makes my teeth chatter if I drink more than my share.

There ya have it!! Now you know a wee bit more about little ole me!!

Now lets see....I think I'll tag these ladies listed below.

http://decoratortothestars.blogspot.com/
http://nancywiebel.blogspot.com/
http://pinkdogwoodblossom.blogspot.com/
http://theycallmeganky.blogspot.com/

Hope everyone is having a great week!! I found some great new listings for my etsy that I hope to post very soon!!

Jen

HEAVENLY HYDRANGEAS AND THRIFTED WICKER

2009-08-08T16:31:00.001-07:00

Whew...busy we have been!! I'm sad that these sweet summer days are dwindling. I treasure the moments the kids are home and love to here the giggling, screaming and yes even the fighting coming from the gang of neighborhood children playing in our front yard!! This summer we have enjoyed long lazy weekends of baseball, Hot and breezy days at the beach, sand between our toes, Camping with cousins, campfires, Catching frogs and cooking the legs on the grill and yes I even choked one down (not my thing), Rocking on the front porch, running at dusk, mountain bike trails, strawberry picking, blueberry picking, scrambling for change for the ice cream truck, Birthday parties, staying up late watching the Walton's, Gardening, gardening, and more gardening!! As we all to quickly approach the upcoming school year , I dread the thought of early to bed and early to rise, packing lunches, homework, but most of all a quiet house. The older the kids get the more I cherish the little time I have left with them under my wings. I suppose all good things must come to an end...so I must say goodbye to a great summer and hello to another busy school year!! Aren't these hydrangeas just gorgeous. My Dad gave them to me. He has the most beautiful hydrangea bush that I have ever laid my eyes on and it's just covered in these beautiful blooms. The funny thing is that he keeps it in a pot in the summer. Once fall rolls around he digs a hole in the yard and puts it in the hole. When spring rolls back around he digs it up and puts it back in the pot!! Isn't that funny!! It sure looks good in that pot though!! People are always stopping by to ask him if it's a real bush.

I haven't had much extra time or cash for thrifting or tag sales this summer, but I did get lucky at Goodwill not to long ago when I found this sweet little headboard. I have wanted to find a wicker headboard for the girls room ever since she was old enough for a big girl bed. I just never found one that I really liked at a decent price.

Well, It pays to be patient and It certainly makes you appreciate it much more when you finally do find that steal of a deal!! Oh, and the cute set of green polka dot sheets are from Walmart for under $15. Only 250 thread count, but I've never been one to like a high thread count. I like the cool, crispness of cheap sheets!!

Hope your all enjoying these dog days of summer!!

Jen

AUGUST VEGIE GARDEN

2009-08-02T20:18:00.000-07:00

Hubby holding a head of broccoli and cauliflower.

This is "snow crown" Cauliflower. We didn't expect the plants to grow so large.

"Gunnison" Onions. Still to soon to pull. They are 1.5 to 2.5" in diameter. Earlier in the season we were using the tops like "Chives" but once they get really big they lose their flavor.

"Starbor" Kale and Brussell Sprouts in one row and Cauliflower on the right. You can just see the Green peppers and Onions on the left.

Cauliflower is ready for blanching. There are about 40 head in this row with another 15 in the "Overflow" area. Hubby couldn't get himself to pitch the plants when he was thinning them so he dug a new area and put them their. He did the same with the Broccoli and Brussell Sprouts.

Half this bed is "sugar snax" carrots and the other is "Bolero". The Bolero is better for storage but other than being a little bigger than the sugarsnax they taste almost the same. Hubby pulled all the Bolero carrots, blanched and froze them. He refertilized the bed and planted another batch that he plans on leaving in the ground until the snow starts to fly. We pull the sugarsnax whenever the mood strikes.

The kids posing with a batch of carrots.

You can hardly see the girl amongst all the green. You can just make out all the potatoes and the corn behind her. The corn is planted outside the fence, so let's keep our fingers crossed that the coons don't have a feast!!

We've been eating a ton of salads and fresh veggies and what we can't eat we've been freezing.

Hubby found an old Scottish recipe called Colcannon. He puts 1/4" of water in a pot, once it comes to a boil he fills it with kale and lets it blanch for 2 minutes then adds a 2" thick layer of potatoes and cooks till the potatoes are soft. We add butter, salt, pepper, oregano, parsley and sometimes we add fresh cauliflower and broccoli with the potatoes. The kids even love it!! I tell ya it feels so good to see them eating such healthy food!!

Off to bed I go!!

Night Night!

Jen

GLUE AND STACK GARDEN ART

2009-07-28T15:37:00.000-07:00

Glue and stack!! It's as easy as that!!

Gather some of your favorite vintage dishes and hit the dollar store ladies!! This is fun and easy!! I used some old vases and a candle holder purchased from the dollar store and a couple spare dishes that I had. I also added a glass cheese ball cloche with a nested bird tucked inside and I topped it off with the cover to a sugar dish! Now, because I am super lazy and very impatient, I fired up my glue gun and used my best friend "hot glue." What you are actually supposed to use is a waterproof marine glue. It will hold nicely and keep the glass from fogging up. So, let your creative juices flow and give this a try!! I would love to see what you come up with!!

Jen

COTTAGE IN THE COUNTRY

2009-07-22T14:06:00.000-07:00

Listed today in my etsy shop

SOLD

I call it the little cottage in the country. It's an original signed painting and I just love the frame!!
I also listed this vintage blue floral jewelry box.

I also finished up a few more lunch totes.

They are not listed in my etsy shop, but if anyone is interested just let me know and I will list it reserved in your name.

They are $15

Otherwise...
They are headed into town to the Cottage porch.

The big festival is coming up and the store will get lots of traffic!! It's always exciting and fun for the kids too!!

Have a great night!!

Jen

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR 12 YEAR OLD CHALLENGES YOU TO A RACE?!

2009-07-21T17:29:00.000-07:00

What happens when your twelve year old challenges you to a race??? You say...Let's go kid! I'm a real fast runner! I'm gonna kick some preteen butt!!You have Hubby grab the camera to photograph your victory.
and of course he must take unflattering photos of your dairy aire!
Show me what you got number 7!
On your mark!

Get set!

Go!!

What?!?
I can't believe it ! He kicked my butt!! Not once, but twice!!

Now I'm sitting here typing feeling like a washed up old lady with very sore thighs and a bruised ego!!! LOL

Congratulations number 7!

THE MANTLE...AGAIN

2009-07-21T17:20:00.001-07:00

Thank you all for such fabulous advice!! I moved things around just a wee bit and I loved the idea of hanging a wreath on the window!! Ooooh, that will look real pretty at Christmas time!! Now if you all could just lend me some cash to buy that wreath?!? LOL !

Thanks gals!!

A REAL PANE!!

2009-07-19T09:02:00.001-07:00

Yes, trying to figure out what to do with this mantle has turned into a big pain in my butt!!

I need a neutral eye here people!! Send some advice my way pleeeeease!! You see, this mantle is very long and the space between it and the ceiling is very short. I have a hard time finding much that will fit!! So, I came across this old window that fits perfectly, but I feel like the length of it just draws attention to the fact that the mantle is way long and the space between it and the ceiling is way short. Yes, I'm rambling I know!!

Here are a few pictures of what I have thrown up there.

Take a looksie

and give me some of your best rearranging advice!

I know I can count on you!!

Thanks!!!

A whole bunch!!!

Jen

VERDE ANTIQUE

2009-07-17T19:10:00.000-07:00

Verde Antique!!My new favorite shade!! My pretty little bench needed a real coat of paint to protect her from the elements.
She has been wearing only a worn coat of primer for way to long!! I had been putting it off because I didn't want to spend the money on paint. This week, while browsing the clearance section at Walmart, I found a can of gloss paint in a light base for only $2. Hmmm....I quickly headed over to see if I could find a color that I liked and there it was VERDE ANTIQUE!! I brought my $2 can of paint on up to the mixer man and asked if he could mix me up this here color with this here $2 light base. Sure thing he said!!

Now, she just needs to be flipped so I can slap a coat on her underside!!

Isn't it a delightful shade!?!!

Hope everyone is well!! Tracey and Amy, I especially hope you and your family feel better soon!! Summer is flying by for us!! It's been unusually cold for the month of July! We haven't even been out to the big lake as the water temps are way to cold!! Stinkin Michigan weather anyway!! Night Night everyone!!

Jen

JUST LISTED

2009-07-16T15:27:00.000-07:00

Sunshine yellow pyrex mixing bowl$8

at my etsy

JUST LISTED

2009-07-16T11:50:00.000-07:00

$7
over at my etsy

JUST LISTED

2009-07-13T18:31:00.000-07:00

FORK AND SPOON$16

Head over to my etsy if your interested.

PIE

2009-07-12T21:24:00.000-07:00

Strawberry rhubarbA summer time favorite at our placeI tell ya...the heartburn is sooo worth it!

LOADS OF FUN

2009-07-11T11:46:00.001-07:00

Well, not really but this sure makes it more fun than it used to be!! Take a peak into our itsy, bitsy, teeny, weeny laundry room!!

Our old washing machine took a dump on us, so I now have a new, energy efficient front loader and boy can I loader up!! I can't believe how much laundry I can stuff in this thing!!

And to top it all off hubby put up a clothes line for me. I added these finials to the top, but thought they looked to small or just goofy?? Something seemed off.I'm going to add some cute brackets and maybe look for some larger finials and see if that looks better to me. I also can't decide if I want to paint the posts or just leave them. What do yall think?? I know it's just a stinkin clothesline, but these are the things that drive me crazy!

Of course I had to sew up a clothespin bag too. I added the hooks to the post so I had a nice spot to hang it.
Ya know, I have never really been to crazy about the smell of line dried clothes, but to know that we're saving a wod of cash on propane... I'll certainly live with it!! And I love to see the clothes blowin in the breeze!!

Have a great day!

Jen

WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER!

2009-07-09T17:59:00.000-07:00

Like Joan says....I'm a winner winner chicken dinner!!

Look at all the goodies she sent me!

and the whole box smelled heavenly.

Thank you so much Joan!!

Be sure and check out Joan's fabulous blog http://decoratortothestars.blogspot.com/! Be sure and check out her post on the charming greenhouse that she made from old windows!

I'm recouping from a busy couple of weeks. Be back soon!

Jen

CHALKBOARD OVERFLOW!

2009-07-05T21:20:00.000-07:00

I heart chalkboards, but I feel like you can only have so many chalkboards in your house before it becomes...well....just to chalkboardy. Know what I mean?? My solution? The front porch!

Yes, they are overflowing to the front porch here at the Candlelit Cottage!!

I picked up this old picture at Goodwill.

And you know the drill. I fetched my handy dandy can of chalk board spray paint.

Taped and covered up the frame and gave it a quick spray. Voila....A welcome greeting for my guests!

Of course I couldn't stop there.

Instead of tossing those old Christmas/Birthday cards I like to recycle them.

Give them a quick coat of chalkboard paint.

Trim to size.

Add some cute ribbon.

and you have an adorable way to label and organize what ever your heart desires!! I added this one to our "catch all basket." It sits just inside the back door and accumulates exactly what the tag reads!! Not exactly organized...but cute!!!

A CAMPING WE WILL GO!

2009-07-02T20:19:00.000-07:00

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY TO YOU ALL!! Isn't this trailer cute as a stinkin button!! No, it's not mine but a gal can dream can't she?!Instead we will truly be roughing it and pitching our good ol two bedroom tent. I'll be trying to snooze in my bag on the hard ground smacking at the mosquitos that the kids let in after going in and out a gazillion times and praying that spiders don't crawl in my mouth if I actually do fall asleep!!! Oh how the kids love it and to me that makes it all worth it!!!

BE BACK SOON!

JEN

EASY PEASY RHUBARB JAM AND FRESH BAKED BREAD

2009-07-01T09:37:00.000-07:00

I make a few batches of this jam every year and it usually lasts us through the winter. It's very sweet, but I have an enormous sweet tooth!! It's wonderful on fresh baked bread and I also like to use it to sweeten up plain yogurt. Here is our rhubarb after it's haircut.

Ready for choppin...

Boiling,

Cooling in containers,

and stacked in the freezer.

It's heavenly on fresh baked bread with a little butter too!!

MMMMMMM.....

Rhubarb jam...

4 cups diced rhubarb

3 cups sugar

sprinkle of water

3 oz. package of strawberry gelatin

Combine rhubarb, sugar and a little water(to keep from sticking). Bring to a boil and boil for 10 minutes. Add gelatin and remove from heat. Stir and put in jars. I use plastic Tupperware and freeze.

DELIGHTFULL DAISIES!

2009-06-30T09:11:00.000-07:00

LOOK WHAT THE CAT DRAGGED IN

2009-06-28T17:28:00.001-07:00

Actually it was my daughter!!

She dragged this rusty old chair out from way back in the woods!! Apparently someone used to dump there junk back there. My first thought was to tell her to drag it back to where she found it or put in the dumpster for the trash man to cart away.

On second thought...she really thought I would love it and to spare her feelings I plopped it in the garden.

After all...

Who doesn't like a little rust

and chippy paint

in the garden

Oh, and does anyone know what these yellow flowers are called? One just magically appeared there a couple years back and now they are going crazy. I think they are very pretty, but they are taking over fast!!

Have a great night!

Jen

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET GIRL!

2009-06-28T15:42:00.000-07:00

My baby is eight years old today!! What better way to celebrate than a day out on the town shopping!

She is a penny pincher...let me tell ya! She had birthday money that I thought was burning a hole in her little pocket.

She proved me wrong!! She didn't spend a dime, but we sure had fun looking!

Every year I let the kids decide what cake they would like me to make. This year the girl chose something simple. There have been years that I have spent hours on more elaborate cakes...like the barbie one I nearly threw across the room, or the pirate ship I almost smashed with my fist!. This one only took me an hour or so. I suppose if I would splurge and buy the proper tools it wouldn't take me so long. I use plastic sandwich bags to pipe on the frosting. I just cut a hole at the end and hold the decorators tip on the best I can. Anyhow, the girl picked daisies and added them to the top. Creative little thing she is. I think it turned out sweet!

A sweet cake for an extra sweet little girl!! Happy Birthday Sweetie pie!! I love you!

Mom

THE LITTLE MOWER THAT COULD

2009-06-26T17:20:00.000-07:00

Mow all the little grass paths in the garden!

Grow me some masculine biceps...

and make me sweat like a pig!

Burn about 1000 calories??

Okay...

I'm exaggerating a wee bit. Especially after you figure in the Orange Popsicle!

Oh, and check out my new/old bench! Thanks to my fab friend Christen. I'll think of ya every time I lounge in it!!

Happy weekend to all of you!!

Jen

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

2009-06-20T16:33:00.001-07:00

A little girl needs Daddy

For many many things

Like holding her high off the ground

Where the sunlight sings!

Like being the deep music

That tells her all is right

When she awakens frantic with

The terrors of the night.

Like being the great mountain

That rises in her heart

And shows her how she might get home

When all else falls apart.

Like giving her the love

That is her sea and air,

So diving deep or soaring high

She'll always find him there.

It is not flesh and blood

but the heart

which makes us

fathers and sons

Happy Fathers day Honey!!

Love you!

Jen

VIEWS OF THE VEGIE GARDEN

2009-06-18T17:26:00.000-07:00

This is the view from deck off the back of the house. That's my garage sale arch you see at the entrance. It cost me only $4. I'd like to try some wisteria there next year.
You can see hubby back there watering the peas. The peas are over five foot tall now. We'll see if any of them even make it to the kitchen. We usually pig out as we pick!

As you can see it's a family affair. Here, the kids are busy at work doing their weeding.

The potatoes are the big bushy plants that you see to the left. They should be ready for picking, eating and storing up for winter in only a few short weeks.

You can see the flowers on the potato plant below. They are really a very pretty plant!

Buddy is busy weeding the brussel sprouts. You can see the rhubarb above him. That's after we picked it and made 216 oz. of Rhubarb jam.

The girl is weeding out the spinach.

The oldest is thrilled. Can you tell??

As is the girl!!

Another view looking back towards the wooded part of our property. The three smaller beds you see belong to the kids. They are each growing a fruit or veggie of their choice. They chose Watermelon, Fairytale pumpkins and edible flowers.

Last, I just had to throw in this picture of our baby Cardinals. Hubby caught them venturing out of their nest yesterday. Aren't they so sweet.

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying summer!!

Jen

NEW SHABBY CAB

2009-06-15T16:24:00.000-07:00

This is my new shabby cabinet!! In it's previous life I think it resided in a kitchen. It has lots of large shelves and some smaller shelves that I believe would have been for glasses.

I'm oh so excited about this !! You see, we have a gazillion books around this joint and they have all been hidden away in Rubbermaid storage down in the dungeon. Who wants to keep books hidden away in storage?

when they can look oh so lovely in my charming shabby cabinet

I even like to leave the door open a smidgen just so I can smell them.

Don't you love the smell of books???

FAVORITE THINGS FRIDAY

2009-06-12T05:10:00.000-07:00

RoostersGeraniums

and wicker!

Have a great weekend!

Jen

SCHOOL IS OUT!

2009-06-10T14:52:00.000-07:00

VINTAGE PLATES IN THE GARDEN

2009-06-08T09:36:00.000-07:00

Why not?

A NEW VISITOR!

2009-06-08T08:53:00.000-07:00

THE RED HEADED WOODPECKER

PEDDLE ALONG WITH ME!

2009-06-01T16:35:00.000-07:00

Peddle along with meand take in some of my favorite sights...

here ...

in my neck of the woods.

This is a newer home that went up across from the lake.

This is an old barn on the lake. Some really neat folks bought it and are in the process of turning it into their home.

This old farmhouse is the first house to reside on all this beautiful land that my neighbors and I now enjoy. They used to have the lake all to themselves!! I can't even imagine how peaceful it must have been way back then.

The following photos are of some of my favorite old barns!

Here it is!!!

The house I drive by so often going 1.5 miles/hour so I can window peak. I'm sure she knows who I am by now and must think I'm a crazed lunatick stalker person!!

Isn't it lovely. She has three beautiful barns and lots of sheep and chickens. To charming to put into words!!

Another charming little farmhouse. The cutest little old couple live here. They keep it up so nicely too.

Here's the other house that I dream about.

It actually sits empty. !! Hubby and I went through it a couple of months ago. The work it would need just get it into living condition was overwhelming. If we didn't have kids I would consider tackling it!!

Here is another one of my faves that sits empty, just waiting for a family to love it back into tip top shape.

Yes, I stalked the owners of this one too. I actually tracked down the owners who live in another city and asked them if they would consider selling.

For some reason they are hanging on to it. So, there it sits all lonely and everything. Such a shame.

There's just something about these old farmsteads that makes me crazy!!

Now this is what we were actually peddling toward.

This swamp land.

because...

Some Bald Eagles have nested here.

Very rare in our parts.

Not great photos, I know. A new camera is on our list.

Hey, is that an ice cream truck out here in hicksville?? Yip! It ventures down our country roads to make all the little country kids happy and sticky!!!

Have a great week!

Jen

MORNING SHOTS OF THE WOODLAND GARDEN

2009-05-30T09:28:00.000-07:00

Whew...between work, the garden, sports and all the end of the year school activities I feel like I rarely get the chance to sit down at the computer. It's been rainy the past couple of days, so with the sun peeking through the trees this morning I took some shots of the garden that borders the woods. Things seem to be filling out nicely. It takes a bit longer for my plants to grow big because I have been splitting them so that there is no need to spend $ on new plants.Irises. You can see hubby is still busy choppin wood!

The hot pink azaleas are gorgeous this year!! I forget the exact name of the plant below. I believe it's Geranium Sang....something??? Anyhow, it's lookin great!

The elephant ear hostas are doing fabulous. I split this one just last week and it still looks pretty full. Although, you can see somthing has been getting at the leaves.

The Cranes bill next to this hosta will have really pretty purple flowers in no time. The purple always looks so lovely beside the darker colored hosta.

You can see the swamp land just beyond the trees . Last year we had a nest of geese back there. I have heard the geese back there this year, but no luck spotting their nest. The mosquitos have been terrible!! It's hard to get anything done without being drenched in bug spray!!

The irises have just started to open here.

You can see our path on the left hand side of this photo. Hubby cleared it a couple of years ago. I would love to expand the gardens to the back and along this path. It's really a beautiful walking trail. My daughter and I walked up on a newborn fawn last year. It was still wobbly on its feet. I wanted so badly to touch it, but I knew it was best we scoot on out of there so the Mama could do her business.

This planter and bench actually sit in the grass along the border of the woods. It's a spot that's sunny enough to grow geraniums.

Now up to the front of the house. Black eyed Susans are filling in nicely and surrounding my birdbath. Looks like the birdbath could use a scrubbin!!

Ferns and pink impatients are lookin pretty in the shabby garden house.

And that's it for today!! I'll be posting our progress on the ginormous veggie garden in a few days. Things are looking good. The potatoes have taken off and so have the peas. We have already been eating fresh spinach too. Even the kids will eat it freshly picked and plain. I also would like to post some photos of the Bald Eagles that have nested just up the road. It's the first time that I have actually seen a Bald Eagle in the wild. The nest is enormous and I wish I had a better camera in order to get some nice shots. I'll do what I can.

I hope you all are doing well and I'll be checkin in to see what your all up to here and there!!

Jen

COTTAGES TO ADORE

2009-05-23T10:25:00.000-07:00

LUVIN ME SOME LILACS!!

2009-05-19T18:49:00.000-07:00

SHABBY GARDEN HOUSE

2009-05-18T14:24:00.000-07:00

So much to post so little time!My shabby garden house is in need of some TLC!! It's in need of a good painting but it may have to wait till next year.

I'll just disguise the chipping mess with some sweet flowers and ferns.

That's much better...don't ya think??

The window boxes have been stuffed with bright and colorful blooms!!

I look forward to watching them fill out and overflow!

I have not had much luck with the Lobelia the past couple of years. It seems to be really finicky!

My fern has been hung with care on the front porch.

The Memorial day decor is making it's debut and proudly showing the red white and blue!!

Hostas are filling out and looking lovely!

Hope everyone is doing great and enjoying spring!

Jen

A FAVORITE CHAIR

2009-05-14T18:53:00.000-07:00

My favorite chair....

to do this
and drink somthing nice and hot from this!!

Now I'm off to bed.

Goodnight!

SHOTS FROM THE GARDEN

2009-05-13T14:45:00.000-07:00

We have been very busy working in the yard and the gardens. I hope everyone is doing well!!

Jen

MY BABIES AND ME

2009-05-10T09:21:00.000-07:00

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

2009-05-09T16:16:00.001-07:00

Happy Mothers Day a wee bit early!! I'll be busy making the rounds tomorrow and won't have time to post. We will be spending the day with my husbands family and then making a stop to see my Mom as well. I put these flowers together for the Moms in my life. I was happy with how they turned out. I'm always on the look out at tag sales and flea markets for cute containers/sap buckets to stuff to the brim with flowers. They always come in handy for last minute gifts. I usually add a little ribbon from my ribbon stash, but I thought these looked pretty enough as is!!

Happy Mothers day ladies!!

Jen

BOY STUFF!!

2009-05-09T08:25:00.000-07:00

Been super busy with this!!And...
The boys thought they would play an EVIL trick on Mom. When I say boys that includes Dad!! I came home from a day at work and grocery shopping to find this awful thing in my kitchen sink!! The oldest found it dead on the side of the road when he got off the bus and apparently thought it would be real funny to give Mom nightmares for the REST OF HER LIFE!!

I'll get em back when they least expect it!!

Hope all are having a great weekend!

Jen

A POT RACK AND A BUSY WEEK!!

2009-05-05T09:38:00.001-07:00

Whew!! It's has been a busy week for us!! It's been nice to be able to sit down and check in on everyone!! Our van finally decided to die on us, so we had to pick out a new one real quick as I work three days a week as well as shuttle the kids back and forth to school. We have also been busy with baseball. Our oldest plays on two teams and that keeps us quite busy too!!

I thought I'd share a picture of the pot rack I added to the kitchen. This was given to me by our wonderful neighbor!! At first I wasn't sure if I would like it. I didn't want it to overwhelm the small space. Well, I do like it and I love the fact that it frees up cabinet space! We could really use some new pots and pans. I think I'll slowly add to our collection over time. I noticed that TJ MAX had a great selection last time I was there.

We have also been busy in the garden. Hubby planted the seed potatoes today and I have been busy with this....

I decided to landscape along our walkway. I didn't want to spend any money, so I just split plants from the back yard. Once everything fills out I think it will look really nice. I think I'll tuck some annuals in there too.

Hope everyone is fine and dandy!! I'll be checking in on you soon!! SMILE!

Jen

THANK YOU LADIES!

2009-05-05T09:31:00.001-07:00

I received two Lemonade awards from two very sweet ladies!!! Be sure and check out their wonderful blogs for some great ideas and inspiration!! Just a Gal at http://justagalsmusings.blogspot.com/ and Nancy over at http://nancywiebel.blogspot.com/.
Thank you very much!!

AS PROMISED...THE BEFORE PICS

2009-04-29T06:31:00.000-07:00

Here ya have it!! The before pics of my kitchen.

Did you just throw up in your mouth a little bit?!?!?

Be sure and scroll down to the previous post for the after photos!

YIPEE...MY KITCHEN IS DONE!

2009-04-28T20:51:00.000-07:00

This was going to be a before and after post until I realized that all of my before photos are stored in my other computer. So, I'm going to do this backwards. I'll start with all the after photos and tomorrow I'll post the ghastly before photo!! I feel like I finally have a kitchen that I love!! Yes, it's small, but it's very functional and works well for our family. I tend to like cozy better than gargantuan anyhow!! I moved the window treatment way up!! In fact, it's only covering about an inch of the window. I love it that way because it gives the illusion that my window is much larger than the dinky size it really is and I'm not blocking any of the natural light that brightens up the room!!

I had to put the rooster in this post just for Tracey!! Oh, and my gorgeous Johnson Brothers platter...my most recent junk store find!! MMMMM...and that candle you see is from TJ Max. It's a Yankee Candle normally around $15 for a jar that size. I paid $7.99. I burn candles every day...hence the title of my blog!!!

There's those tablecloths turned curtains again!! I love the way they look against my new picture frame moulding/paneling.

Plates, plates and more plates!! If you haven't noticed by now I love plates!! Hubby still thinks it's goofy that I hang them on the wall.

I found this rug at TJ too. I love the brown and blue combination. It also has a wee bit of red/burgundy in there which ties into the colors of the family room.
I love my three storage jars!! I keep flour, sugar and cereal in them. With such limited cabinet space it works out great and I love how they look!!
I still haven't decided if I'm going to leave the doors off or on this cabinet.

Well, that's it!! My kitchen is finally done!! MMMM...besides the window trim that is. I'm thinkin I'm gonna tackle that later this summer. I'm planning on doing a nice wide sill for my plants to sit and look pretty!!

Stay tuned for those before pics of my kitchen.

Goodnight!!

Jen

PEACEFUL SUNDAY AFTERNOON

2009-04-26T14:39:00.000-07:00

My first tulip of the season has opened on this beautiful Sunday afternoon!! Have a peaceful and relaxing Sunday everyone!!

LISTED TODAY

2009-04-25T09:18:00.000-07:00

TEA ANYONE?

LOVELY LUNCHEON/DESSERT SET

$16

CUTE AS A BUTTON SADLER TEAPOT

$10

SOLD
LISTED OVER AT MY ETSY

WRAPPING UP THIS PROJECT NOW ON TO THE NEXT

2009-04-24T15:58:00.000-07:00

I finally attached the crown moulding to the cabinets on the other side of the kitchen. See the corner below....It gave me Heck!!! I finally called it quits on trying to make it perfect and just caulked the heck out of it!!

See the bubble on the side of the cabinet below. Well, it's not really a bubble but a large misguided nail!! My bad!! That was another rip my own hair out moment!!!

I think that it has finally dawned on me why hubby gets so crabby when he's working on house projects.

So anyway...I'll give it a coat of paint tomorrow and I will officially be done. With this project anyway.......

Then I'm on to what you see below. This was my painted counter top. The paint was a quick fix until we actually got around to replacing it. I tore up the counter top today and picked up the tile you see from Lowes. I wanted the look of a solid surface stone on a next to nothing budget. Well this is what I came up with. Tile in Rialto white. It all cost me around $25. I didn't need any other supplies as we already have a tile saw, grout and adhesive. Somewhere down the road I think I will add a more decorative edge to the top of the tiles that make up the back splash and of course replace that faucet. I tried to talk Hubby into it today, but he was having none of it!! LOL.

Tomorrow Hubby gives me my first lesson with the tile saw!! If it's anything like the miter saw it should be a piece of cake!!

Oh, and I wanted to show you my bargain find of the week! I have wanted buffet lamps for forever, but didn't want to spend the money on them. Well, I was picking up some groceries at Walmart and I always have to do a quick up and down through the housewares department. Glad I did this time because they had these Better Homes and Gardens buffet lamps clearanced out for five dollars a piece!! I think that they look pretty darn nice for five bucks!!

I have also been rearranging as usual. I moved the kids silhouettes from above the couch to this smaller wall.
And hung my barn star above the couch. I'm not sure If I like it there. It seems a bit boring.

I used to have a mirror hanging where you see the picture below. When I moved the mirror I had to put something in its place because there is a big hole in the wall there where a sconce used to hang. Well, I could use a little advice on how to arrange things around this hole because it's driving me CRAZY!

I feel like I just rambled on like a crazy lady, but this is what has been happening around here over the past few days. I'm so glad the weekend is here and I can make my rounds and visit all of you lovely ladies and your blogs!!

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Jen

HUBBYS GOTTA BRAND NEW HAT!

2009-04-22T19:50:00.001-07:00

What's going on in the garden

Hubby is sportin this new hat....

stringing off the beds in VERY straight rows.....

kids are doing their chores.....

Now, Let me introduce you to the beast. This is our 1986 Ford F-150. Let's just call it our garden truck!! I drove this beauty up to the Landscape supply and filled her up with three yards of mulch!!
A view from my front window. Ahhhh....fresh mulch!! Oh, and look at my baby magnolia. She has lots of blooms this year. If you look close, You can see our baby fruit trees off in the distance. I gave them a blanket of fresh mulch too!
Thank you Lord!! Spring has sprung!!!

What's going on in your garden???

LISTED TODAY

2009-04-21T14:30:00.001-07:00

A few goodies listed today over at my Etsy!!

SOLD

$12

SOLD