 | As a 1930s wife, I am
|
What kind of 1930s wife are you? Take the test!
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Getting Ready
Saturday is our housewarming party. Last weekend I said to Mike, as we were navigating Ikea in reverse, "Next time we buy a house, remind me to never have a house warming party 4 weeks after moving in." What was I thinking???? Well, after that moment of panic and rush of overwhelm, I am happy to say that I am ready for Saturday's party. Sure, there are still some things to do around the house, like filing away all the random paperwork that accumulates in life, and tidying up the room that is currently the staging room for all of our unpacking, but overall I feel ready. Dare I even say that I am glad that we decided to have the housewarming so soon after move in? Sure, I'll tempt fate by saying that. Having a tangible goal to work towards really pushed us to focus and stay on task. It also helped me to let go of my tendency to be so detail oriented and let go a little bit of the high expectations to which I hold myself. Sure, I'd like to have the garden cleaned up a little more and the weeds pulled, but really, when it comes down to it, does that really matter? Really? I am mainly looking forward to sharing some time with family and friends and getting to know some of our neighbors a little better.
One of the things that we did to get ready was have the trees in the front of the house pruned. Here are some before & after pics:
Right side - after:
One of the things that we did to get ready was have the trees in the front of the house pruned. Here are some before & after pics:
Right side - before:
Right side - after:
Left side - before:
Left side - after:
And here is a picture of the house, from the street - after:
And here is a picture of the house, from the street - after:
Our house is pretty wee from the front, and I think that having the trees cleaned up and thinned out really made it appear a bit bigger. Now, onto the filing of paperwork!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
What are you reading?
I am looking for some ideas for reading. A few months ago I rediscovered the library. I am more often than not guilty of buying books for way too much money, so trying to be budget-minded, I decided to check out the library. I was looking for some books on miscarriage in the midst of paying off my car and a bunch of other debt. I found one book on miscarriage, which wasn't very helpful as it had to do more with later pregnancy loss and infant death than 1st trimester miscarriage. So, I returned it and checked out some fiction. Maybe spending some time in another person's world would distract me from all the drama in my own, right? I picked up Jennifer Weiner's Certain Girls, which I gobbled up and really enjoyed. I also read The Friday Night Knitting Club, which I also enjoyed. After that I found some great books on color and decorating, to help us decide on paint colors for the house.
Now that the dust from the move is beginning to (somewhat) settle, I am thinking about what will be next on my reading list. I'd love to hear what you are currently reading and add it to my currently empty list.
By the way, Crazy Aunt Purl's most recent post inspired me to post this. Feel free to add your current read or favorite read in the comments section!
Now that the dust from the move is beginning to (somewhat) settle, I am thinking about what will be next on my reading list. I'd love to hear what you are currently reading and add it to my currently empty list.
By the way, Crazy Aunt Purl's most recent post inspired me to post this. Feel free to add your current read or favorite read in the comments section!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
The Process
Making a house a home. That is the business that Mike & I are involved in at the moment. What does it really take to get to that point? I wonder if it is the right furniture, or the color of the walls? Is it the landscaping around the house? Or maybe it has to do with the pictures that we hang on the walls or the curtains that frame and accentuate the windows. Surely, all of these things lend character and personality to a house. These are all factors that come together to create a sense of welcoming and foster a warm home environment. I love the idea of having a guest come to the house and just melt into its warmth, lean into its cozy embrace.
Right now, Mike and I work with a blank canvas. I guess, that with any sort of creation, there is so much that contributes to the whole. Think about a piece of artwork, painted with many layers to create a visual experience that stirs the soul. Tending to a vegetable garden requires time, dedication, and nurturing before producing a sweet summer tomato that explodes with flavor. So I guess that the work of building a home takes time, nurturing, patience, and perseverance.
Patience. That has always been hard for me to come by. I am ready for this house to be a home NOW! Can I stomp my feet, and make this happen any sooner? This is a process that will unfold and develop as we slowly, lovingly unpack each box and hang each picture. With each gesture, each project, Mike and I see the house begin to transform, to reveal itself to us a bit more; to transform from a house to a home.
One of my favorite bits of transformation that has occurred so far is the kitchen and the dining nook. Here are some before and after photos.
This will take time. I can't wait to see how this process evolves a house into a home!
Right now, Mike and I work with a blank canvas. I guess, that with any sort of creation, there is so much that contributes to the whole. Think about a piece of artwork, painted with many layers to create a visual experience that stirs the soul. Tending to a vegetable garden requires time, dedication, and nurturing before producing a sweet summer tomato that explodes with flavor. So I guess that the work of building a home takes time, nurturing, patience, and perseverance.
Patience. That has always been hard for me to come by. I am ready for this house to be a home NOW! Can I stomp my feet, and make this happen any sooner? This is a process that will unfold and develop as we slowly, lovingly unpack each box and hang each picture. With each gesture, each project, Mike and I see the house begin to transform, to reveal itself to us a bit more; to transform from a house to a home.
One of my favorite bits of transformation that has occurred so far is the kitchen and the dining nook. Here are some before and after photos.
The Kitchen Before:
The Kitchen After:
Dining Nook Before:
Dining Nook After:
This will take time. I can't wait to see how this process evolves a house into a home!
Friday, July 4, 2008
Peach Pie & The 4th of July!
Casa Kennedy!
I found my camera cable! Mike & I are nowhere near unpacked, but we've got the essentials up and running: the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, living room, computer, and of course, the TV. I must make the guilty confession that Mike and I broke down and decided to get cable. I haven't had cable television for over 10 years, so I am like a kid in a candy store right now. We decided to get it as part of a bundle pack. Our neighborhood is not equipped for DSL, so we went with cable modem, which then lead to cable TV. You see, this is how it all starts.
I digress, though. I decided that for the 4Th of July I would make a peach pie. The peach tree in the backyard was loaded with ripening peaches when we got our keys two weeks ago.
I've been doing an okay job at keeping up with the peaches as they've ripened, but this week things picked up a bit. I found myself picking up half-eaten peaches from the ground every day. You see, the birds are having a feast in our backyard. First they picked the cherry tree clean. Now they are working on the peaches. So, last night in a fit of inspiration, I decided to make a peach pie.
I had no idea how friggin' easy a peach pie is to make! I have all sorts of pie dishes, and my favorite is a stoneware one from Pampered Chef. If I remember correctly, it was a gift from my mom a few Christmases ago.
I used a recipe from RecipeZaar, since my cookbooks are all packed away in a box somewhere. I cheated and used prepared pie crust from Trader Joe's.
I started with a bunch of peaches, and sliced them up.
I put down the first pie crust, and then poured in the peach mixture. I followed with the top crust, and sealed it all up!
I also cut some vent holes in the top. I shaped the center vent like a star, in the spirit of the holiday!
I baked it for 20 minutes at a little higher temp than the recipe called for. I did this with the hope that it would set the bottom crust quicker, to avoid sogginess.
After the 20 minutes were up, I put some foil on the edges, since they were beautifully browned. I baked it for another 20 minutes and then let it sit in the oven for another twenty, with the oven off. This is supposed to help the peaches set and the juices continue to boil off as it cools.
The final product is cooling as I type this. The house smells so good! I am going to whip up some fresh cream and bring along some ice cream, for those that would like their pie "a la mode".
Note the cute little start on top! Am I a geek, or what?!
Happy 4Th of July!
I found my camera cable! Mike & I are nowhere near unpacked, but we've got the essentials up and running: the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, living room, computer, and of course, the TV. I must make the guilty confession that Mike and I broke down and decided to get cable. I haven't had cable television for over 10 years, so I am like a kid in a candy store right now. We decided to get it as part of a bundle pack. Our neighborhood is not equipped for DSL, so we went with cable modem, which then lead to cable TV. You see, this is how it all starts.
I digress, though. I decided that for the 4Th of July I would make a peach pie. The peach tree in the backyard was loaded with ripening peaches when we got our keys two weeks ago.
I've been doing an okay job at keeping up with the peaches as they've ripened, but this week things picked up a bit. I found myself picking up half-eaten peaches from the ground every day. You see, the birds are having a feast in our backyard. First they picked the cherry tree clean. Now they are working on the peaches. So, last night in a fit of inspiration, I decided to make a peach pie.
I had no idea how friggin' easy a peach pie is to make! I have all sorts of pie dishes, and my favorite is a stoneware one from Pampered Chef. If I remember correctly, it was a gift from my mom a few Christmases ago.
I used a recipe from RecipeZaar, since my cookbooks are all packed away in a box somewhere. I cheated and used prepared pie crust from Trader Joe's.
I started with a bunch of peaches, and sliced them up.
I put down the first pie crust, and then poured in the peach mixture. I followed with the top crust, and sealed it all up!
I also cut some vent holes in the top. I shaped the center vent like a star, in the spirit of the holiday!
I baked it for 20 minutes at a little higher temp than the recipe called for. I did this with the hope that it would set the bottom crust quicker, to avoid sogginess.
After the 20 minutes were up, I put some foil on the edges, since they were beautifully browned. I baked it for another 20 minutes and then let it sit in the oven for another twenty, with the oven off. This is supposed to help the peaches set and the juices continue to boil off as it cools.
The final product is cooling as I type this. The house smells so good! I am going to whip up some fresh cream and bring along some ice cream, for those that would like their pie "a la mode".
Note the cute little start on top! Am I a geek, or what?!
Happy 4Th of July!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)