Family photographs and a new addition to the kitchen

I love old family photos and my home is filled with them. For me, it makes my home feel like home!!




The above photo is very special to me. It's my Dad (middle) his sister, and is older brother. His older brother was mentally challenged and was tragically killed in a tornado when he was just 16 years old.




On a lighter note, these very grumpy looking people are my fathers Grandparents, my Great Grandparents. It's a really neat old picture, but to be honest....sometimes they creep me out a little!

This would be my Mother in her high school cheer leading uniform.

Another picture of my Dad. I see so much of him in my oldest boy.



My sisters! Aren't they so sweet!

Here is the new addition to the kitchen. I've actually had this little cubbord for a while. It's previous home was in the laundry room. I very sloppily painted it a pretty green, as I am a very lazy painter. In fact, I really hate it's guts!! Anyhow, I then sprayed the center with a little chalk board paint and I think it's lookin pretty cute in the kitchen.

Now let me show you the inside. Because of my constant struggle with lack of storage space in our tiny little kitchen, I decided to do this. I relocated all of our spices, food coloring etc. to the cute little green cubbord. That leaves me with a little extra, much needed storage in our kitchen cabinets. Oh how I love repurposed junk!

New reads

Look what the mailman dropped on our doorstep today.

Hubby ordered us these new reads and I can't wait to dig in!

You see, I'm thinking spring!!

We are ready to start expanding our gardens.


We want to start preserving and storing more fruits and veggies to feed the fam.

To do that we need a bigger garden!!

What are you reading??

"Mary Antoinette" award!

Thanks so much Tracey for the "Marie Antoinette" award for "real people" with "real blogs". I would love to pass it on to Sue over at http://countrypleasures.blogspot.com.

Lovely kitchens

Here are a few more kitchens that are just my style.

Living with a small kitchen can be challenging. I love the idea of using the bare wall space for pots and pans. Does anyone really have pots and pans as shiny as that??

I am all about the open shelving. I think it's beautiful!




I wasn't sure about the blue in this kitchen at first, but I think it's very soothing, and I love the island!





Having such limited cabinet space, this would be perfect for my kitchen. I would never think to hang it over a window. I like it! It's different!

This kitchen just screams warm and cozy!!






Again, I love the open shelving!

Photos:Cottage Living Magazine

This kitchen makes me drool!!

Photo:Better Homes and Gardens

The boys first deer

The boy and his Dad.




The boy and his eight point.

Food for the table.

The kids first experience with the handy, dandy, hand grinder.

I made my first venison meatloaf and it turned out great!

This is nuts!

Laura over at "Stylish Nonsense" posted the following on her blog today. Please read and help by contacting your congressman.

"As most of you know I own a children's clothing business, and as of February 10, myself and thousands of others in the children's industry will be deeply affected financially or will be out of business. Remember the outcry last holiday season over lead in imported toys? In order to combat such safety issues, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has passed legislation called the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). The law sets stringent guidelines for children's products containing lead and phthalates (a chemical used in some vinyl products). It is supposed to go into effect February 10th, 2009, and after that date any product intended for children ages 12 and under must meet these guidelines, and have a certificate of compliance from a CPSC-accredited laboratory. This includes not just toys, but clothing, jewelry, blankets, sheets, books, bibs, strollers, carriers, and anything else that a child under 12 might come in contact with. Sounds great, right?In theory, maybe. But in actuality the law is so far reaching that it may succeed in turning the economy upside down. For starters, the CPSIA requires end unit testing on every product intended for use by children under 12. It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to do this testing, regardless of how small the business. That means that manufacturers (like myself ) will have to pay to get every different product they offer tested. These tests have to be done at a CSPC accredited lab, and cost tens of thousands of dollars. For example if you offer 3 different types of dresses. Each dress contains 2 different fabrics, as well as buttons, and thread, so that's potentially $600 to test one dress. But if you have 3 or more styles, that's $1800. And when you get a new bolt of fabric, you need to start all over again.At present, there are no exemptions for small businesses and "micro" manufacturers and most handcraft artisans. There is no exception for quantities made, where the garments/products are made or anything else. Nor is there an exception for unadorned fabric components, unfinished wood components, materials which, by their nature, are free of lead and phthalates.Also, the Act takes a "guilty until proven innocent" approach, which would treat a handmade, unfinished wooden toy that doesn't meet the certification deadline of 2/10/09 as a "banned hazardous substance" which would be illegal to distribute in this country. Each infraction carries a $100,000 felony charge. This legislation is also retroactive for any pre-existing inventory as of February 10th, 2009. This means that everything on the shelves in those big (or small) stores will also be "banned, hazardous substances" - contraband.Larger corporations that can afford testing will incur thousands, maybe millions of dollars in fees, and this expense will be handed down to the consumer, probably making the prices for children's products go through the roof.This also means that after that date, even selling your kids old things on eBay or Craigslist will be illegal. Charities will not be able to accept donations without a certificate of compliance either. February 10, 2009 is being dubbed "National Bankruptcy Day" by many people in the apparel and toy industry. If this legislation is not amended, it will affect everyone from port workers to parents looking for legal products. Billions of dollars worth of children's products will have to be destroyed because they can't be legally sold, and this will cause major environmental problems.While I am all for higher safety standards and keeping our kids safe, this law is so overreaching as to put thousands on manufacturers of children's products out of business -hurting our economy and causing even more loan defaults. Though this legislation was well-intentioned, it cannot be allowed to stand as is.Please help us defend the American dream and our entrepreneurial spirit! This law affects every stay at home mom trying to help put food on the table and every grandmother knitting blankets for the local craft fair. It makes the thousands of us who have found a niche in the burgeoning children's market have to make a tough decision - continue to produce items illegally and possible incur a $100,000 fine, pay the enormous fees and raise costs of goods sold, or close up shop!Please help us!Contact your Congressperson by clicking HERE.It only takes 30 seconds!If you have an extra minute send a hard copy of the letter as well!To sign the online petition click HERE. Read more about it here at www.nationalbankruptcyday.comPlease copy and paste this on your blogs, we need all the help we can get!THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH~"
~Laura
Stylishnonsense.blogspot.com

Old Wreath

I have had this old wreath for almost ten years now. I am not to crazy about artificial foliage and had grown very tired of it. It hung it in the office for a few years, where I wouldn't have to look at its ugliness to often. This year as I scoured the house for a Christmas wreath to hang on the front door, I decided to give this tired old wreath a makeover. She prettied up the front door at Christmas time! I added boxwoods, pine branches, a handful of artificial sprays and a single string of lights. She looked lovely!!




As I undressed the front porch of all the Christmas decorations, I decided Rather than hanging this old wreath back up in the dark dreary office, I'd give her one final makeover. The hubby was a little frightened to close his eyes last night, as this baby now hangs above our bed. Don't worry hubbs. The pretty little plate and cup are secured tightly with florists wire.

Who knows how long she'll hang above our bed, but for now I'm happy that she found a new home.

This weeks featured items!

Here's this weeks featured totes from my etsy shop. All my totes are reversible, so you get two bags for the price of one. My daughter uses her totes for just about everything. As of late she has been toting around all of her doll clothes and goodies she got from Santa.

Hope your all staying warm. We had freezing rain last night. When I stepped out the front door this morning, I lost my footing and nearly smacked my head on the front step. Whew....nice save!! That would not have been pretty.

Happy New Year!!

Look what came in the mail yesterday! Just in the nick of time.

The kids are spending time at Grandmas today. I plan on layin low, readin mags and watching movies with the hubby.

Many Blessings to you for a safe and happy new year!!

Jen

Deal on dishes

I found this set of dishes at a local estate store. I'm not sure if I really got a good deal, but I sure do feel like I did!

They are Currier and Ives and I ended up paying $50 for approximately 16 place settings. I fell in love with the "Old Farm Gate" scene on the little fruit bowl. The children look so precious, not to mention my dream house in the background.

Ten cups and saucers, but unfortunately my small cabinet can only hold nine. I'll use the lonely tenth for my morning coffee and the other nine can just sit and look pretty.

Now, when we have company for dinner I actually have enough place settings. Yippee!

Bye Bye Chinette!! Hello pretty blue dishes!!

Rooster Love

Here he is. My all time favorite!! He's wearing a tassel around his neck and I adore the apple green bow on his behind!

He's flying into town to the Cottage Porch where he will be for sale. Wait.... do roosters fly??

He does have a twin over at my etsy shop if anyone else is feelin the Rooster Love.

Kitchen before/after

Before.....

We have lived in this house for about seven years now. I feel like it's come a long way, but there are still so many things that I would love to do. Unfortunately, I need to abide by our budget and make do with what we have for the time being. It always amazes me what a can of paint can do. Throw in a bit o repurposed junk and some character begins to shine through.

The paint color on the walls is Garden shed green. We chose that seven years ago when we moved in. It's ready for an update and I am in the process of deciding what the new color will be. Any advice would be welcomed!! I painted all the cabinets white. We added glass to the doors of the cabinets above. I also added a set of cheap brackets to add a bit more character.

We attached bead board to the peninsula as well as the lower cabinet doors. New laminate wood flooring is easier on the eyes than that old linoleum. There is an outlet at the end of the peninsula that always irritated me!! I slapped a set of hooks right over it to keep towels handy. I mentioned in a previous post that hot glue is my best friend, well yep, those hooks are hot glued right on!!

These are the original counter tops. I would love concrete, or butcher block, but these will do just fine. They are gray, so I pretend that they are concrete. I ordered all of the glass knobs and pulls from Target a few years ago, and I still love them to this day!

Does this light fixture look familiar?? It happens to be the one I posted about a few days ago. Yep, we still have it. I gave her a makeover and I think she's here to stay awhile.

The goose neck faucet was given to me by a friend. Free is my favorite four letter word!!

We splurged on the Bosch dishwasher when the old one tanked on us. I'm fine with keeping the white stove and microwave, but I do plan to splurge on a stainless refrigerator in the hopefully near future. With a family of five our little white one is overflowing!!

At the top of my list of honey-do's is crown moulding for the cabinets and moulding around the windows. Can you believe that all of the windows in our house are naked! They have no moulding at all, so I hope to accomplish that soon as well.

Well, It's certainly not perfect and it's not the kitchen of my dreams, but it does finally feel like home. I'm learning to be content and bloom right where I'm planted.

Good night.

Jen

Todays junk

One dollor bought me this pretty piece of junk. Before the white paint job it was hideously oak. I added the ribbon, the little crystal and the candle. What a cheap way to spruce up our small foyer area. Smile.

undecking the halls

Grandmothers nativity is packed away. The trees are undressed and looking bare. Everything is boxed up until next year. Normally I wait until after the New Year, but I had a burst of energy today and thought I might as well get it over with. Tomorrow will be cleaning day, as everything seems so dusty when all of the celebrations are through.

Sweet silouette

I bought myself a Christmas gift this year. How self centered of me to be out shopping for loved ones and by a gift for me myself and I, but just look at her!! And at only $8 I think she was totally worth it. She hangs in my kitchen for now, until I decide exactly where she belongs.

Hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas. We are relaxing at home today after all the Christmas festivities yesterday. We bought the youngest Little House On The Prarie Season four, so we have been watching that all day today. It feels good to be lazy after the Christmas rush.

Have a great night!

Jen

Winter window box and Merry Christmas to all!!