For Rememberance Day - The Red and White

Julian Austin - The Red and White

Julian Austin performed this song for the troops in Afghanistan.

Staircase Makeover

We just finished painting our hallway and plan to move onto our stairs. Since moving in we have lived with stairs that are pretty beat up. The rails are loose, the stair treads beat up, the runner going up the stairs was stapled on...basically screaming for some attention.


A small view of our stair rail.

So, feeling inspired by how well our hallway turned out we finally have turned our attention to the stairs. Since I last posted, we tore apart the railing, ripped out the runner, removed lots of staples, filled holes in the wood, and I have painted the first coat on the stair trim running up the stairs.

The staircase before...

I have begun to sand the rails & Andy is on board with my idea on how to make our stairs look vintage & pretty. He still isn't sold on the idea...I wish I had a photo to show him what I am thinking of...we shall see if it works out...but I hate spending money on what might be a wasted idea. Oh well, I know where I can reuse it should it look silly.

Railing Removed

Last night at Kents, I snagged a mistint paint for $10 which will look perfect for the stairs! Andy installed my new/old light at the top of our hallway stairs. I am so proud of it! I will post about it seperately because it represents my decorating style & belief that it should be inexpensive & recycled if possible! I'm already panging for yard sales!

The stairs primed & holes filled.

So, we continue to work away on this project. I need this done before Christmas because of my Christmas stockings that my sister in law knitted for us years ago. They are one of my most cherished Christmas possessions! I need my stair rail to hang the stockings! However, I am also working on my mudroom. It is being made over for Christmas too! Nothing like a deadline to get me moving! Merry Christmas Season everyone!

Stepping Up

We are finally turning our attention to our staircase. I am excited to try out one idea which I haven't seen it anywhere else & I have been searching! It would be nice to see if it has worked somewhere else...but Andy has agreed to give it a try and if we don't like it, we'll redo it with plan B.

Anyways, here are some inspiring stairs that if I had the money...well, ya know!

This amazing tree rail is a custom piece found at Iron Fencing.

Flea Market Style Wants to Know....

Over at Flea Market Style you can view a bunch of really cool links to favourite vintage finds by other bloggers. I love this because my whole home is virtually decorated with yard sale treasures! I added a link to one of my all time favourite finds here.

Grab a big cup of coffee & enjoy!

Be Happy

I bought this lovely picture at a yard sale a few summers ago. I loved it because I do a LOT of laundry! I enjoy hanging clothes out on the line, hanging it just so!

There was something so whimsical & free about the mother in the picture. When I was redecorating the bathroom I opened the back to paint the frame. Inside, I found this beautiful inscription. It spoke to me...as I'm sure it would many people. The words are beautiful in their simplicity.

Margot, this is your birthday card.

Have a happy one - look around at the good things.

See the good in the people you know.

Think nice thoughts of the people that you know care.

Be happy in the rain the wind and the snow.

Life is good

Love Ken &??

The Beauty of Wallpaper

For over a year now, I have been planning some changes to my mudroom. One of those changes that I was most excited about was to add wallpaper above my white beadboard. I wanted to do something different & special. Plus, I have secretly been excited this past year exploring all the possibilities available now in the wallpapering world.

However, as I searched for the perfect paper for my mudroom, I instead discovered the most perfect wallpaper for my diningroom! I ditched the mudroom & started imagining it on my diningroom wall! Wallpaper isn't cheap, but wow, am I ever glad I saved up for the splurge. It added the finishing touch to my diningroom. I think when I finally found my elusive diningroom light within my budget, (uhmmm $10 for an Ikea Pendent Light) the stars aligned & I found the energy & inspiration to finish my diningroom! I can finally proclaim that my diningroom is finished!

This past weekend, I papered the largest wall in my diningroom with the most beautiful light blue wallpaper with big white flowers...think dalias or mums! Everytime I walk by the room I smile & feel so happy that I can finally say that ONE room in my house is actually finished!

My diningroom is so light & airy...I have always loved the clean lines & light airy colours of Swedish style & this room allowed me to nurture this love! However, I can never lay claim to one particular look as I always add my own eclectic touch from my weekly treks thru local yard sales!

I love this room! I do so many things in my diningroom & it is by far the sunniest room in our home. I hope that it a place where friends & family always feel happy & relaxed in! When I think back to how it used to look when we moved in....to its first transformation to now, well...it is like the clouds parted and let the sunshine burst thru!

Oh, & thanks to my friend Heidi for taking the top three photos as my camera does not have a wide angle lens!

Lipstick on the Bathroom / Laundry Room

As I had mentioned in some earlier posts, we are almost finished our main level bathroom/laundry room. The biggest change being the colour! It is such a pretty, happy colour compared to our old colour the sea of beige! We added shelves, a new heater, new plugs & outlets, a new light fixture and door hardware.

This is a favourite little picture I found at a yard sale that sits on my shelf. On the back is a beautifully written message from a friend that I need to take a picture of.

Another shot of the shelves.

We also added two large shelves over the washer & dryer. This frees up so much space & allows me to show off my vintage jars.

I snagged this glass cupboard at a yard sale for $5! Yep, I was pretty impressed that day as they run about $100 if your lucky!

This is the area by the sink. I love my new mirror that my mother bought for me over a year ago from the Super Store! It was the last one and I think she paid $25! Boy, do I wish I had bought one too because the wall screams out for two mirrors! I also bought a new door knob in the burnished metal & a towel & toilet tissue holder to match.

Light Off....Light On

I realize this isn't the best shot, but I love the way the light sparkles!

We still have to rip out the vanity & counter top. We also plan to lay new tile in the bathroom. I am still waiting on my husband to add in our new lights & box in the old ones. Until then, our bathroom is fresh, clean & pretty!

Diningroom

I recently snagged this beautiful Ikea Pendant lamp on Kijiji for $10!!! The beautiful vintage phone I found at a recent yard sale. I paid $5 for it & it is selling on ebay.uk for over $200! It is solid brass with a bakelite phone handle. It even has a little swinging handle on the front for carrying it around! All I need to do is get some brasso to shine it up...I love it!

Reflections

I was going through some old photos tonight and I just had to post these ones of the kids homeschooling in September of 2004. Last year was our first time ever in public school and my oldest is going into grade 12!! Where has the time gone, how I appreicate all the time I have spent with my kids...I love them & think they are pretty amazing!

Vintage Finds...

These are some of my recent finds from local yard sales. The beautiful box with the children on the front is made in Holland by Mulder Spel. However, I know nothing about it and would love to find out what year it was made, etc.

Inside the box is wooden blocks that you can use to build a house. What is funny about it, is that on the cover the children are playing a game of dice with sticks.





These are beautiuful vintage earrings and a brooch that I found. I have quite a collection of vintage jewellery. I have been collecting it all my life...really!

A beautiful vintage tin. I loved the floral top.

I also found two beautiful pottery bowls and plates. I couldn't pass them by. They are made by a local potter in Fredericton

Working...slowly

This past winter, we have been working away at little projects around the house (if there is such a thing) and we are slowly seeing the results.

We have almost finished the bathroom/laundry on the main level. We have replaced the flooring in Ella's room and I was challenged to creatively re-decorate her room.

I have also been decluttering and getting rid of lots of stuff! I gave my good friend Martha all of ella's beautiful clothing from baby size onwards, got rid of all my baby stuff, toys galore, books and more books, furniture, linens, knick knacks, etc...I just wanted it gone! I tend to hang onto things because there is memories connected to them...but I'm learning that I can let them go and still have the memory. I am learning to keep only the very best and part with the rest. I love giving things away to a good home...especially to my friends and those in need.

Now all I have to do is take some photos and post them here to prove to my sister that I have done something!

Homemade Easy Bake Oven Mixes

Ella received an Easy Bake Oven for Christmas. Every parent knows how quickly you go through those expensive little packages of cake mix. I found these recipes to make my own easy bake mixes. I will add more recipes as I find them.



Cookie Mix (For Use In Easy Bake Ovens)

1 1/2 c. quick oats
3/4 c. flour
1/4 tsp. baking soda
3/4 c. brown sugar (packed)
1/2 c. shortening

Mix ingredients in mixing bowl.
Stir until mixture looks like cornmeal.
Spoon about 1/2 cup mixture into 8
small containers or zipper bags.
Seal tightly. Label bags or containers with date.
Store in cool, dry place.
Will keep for 12 weeks.
Each package makes about 9 cookies.

TO USE:
To make raisin chocolate chip cookies:
Use 1 package Cookie Mix. Add 2 teaspoons water,
1 tablespoon raisins and 1 tablespoon
mini chocolate chips.
Mix together.
Drop by teaspoonfulls and flatten each cookie with
the bottom of a buttered drinking glass, dipped in sugar.
Follow directions for Easy Bake Oven.


Lemon,Chocolate Or White Cake Mix
(For Use In Easy Bake Ovens)

1 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. lemon flavored drink (such a kool aid)

*For chocolate cake mix, substitute
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa.
*For white cake mix, omit lemon powder/cocoa

1/3 c. shortening

Follow directions for mixing as
in the cookie recipe above.
Spoon about 1/3 cup mixture into
10 small containers or zipper bags.
Label and store in a cool, dry place.
Will keep for 12 weeks.

TO USE:
To 1 package cake mix, add four teaspoons water.
Stir with a fork or spoon until smooth.
Grease and flour a 4 inch miniature cake pan and
bake according to Easy Bake Oven Instructions.

A Poem Tree for Ella's Room....

We will soon be putting in a new floor in Ella's room and at that time I will be changing her room around and making it more reflective of my little five year old fire cracker of a daughter! I have purchased from Little Bundles Baby Boutique these beautiful wall murals which are removable and reusable. I can't wait! They are whimsical and magical! I will post photos when I'm done...

Merry Christmas!

Can You Sleep While The Wind Blows?

Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast.
He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work
on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across
the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops.
As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received A steady
stream of refusals.
Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer.
"Are you a good farm hand?" the farmer asked him.
"Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man.
Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, Hired him.
The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the
farmer felt satisfied with the man's work.
Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore.
Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed
next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and
yelled, "Get up! A storm is coming!
Tie things down before they blow away!"
The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No sir. I told you, I
can sleep when the wind blows."
Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on
the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm.
To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had
been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were
in the coops, and the doors were barred.
The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down.
Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand
meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.
Moral of this Story
When you're prepared, spiritually, mentally, and physically,
you have nothing to fear. Can you sleep when the wind blows through your
life?
The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the
farm against the storm.
We secure ourselves against the storms of life by grounding ourselves in
scripture and prayer. We don't need to understand, we just need to hold His hand
to have peace in the middle of storms.
I hope you enjoy your day and you sleep well
even if "The Wind Blows"

I'm now a crockpotter...

I finally broke down and purchased a slow cooker aka crock pot! It isn't my first one...in fact, I've had two or three over the years that collected dust until I gave them away to some eager friend who mentioned they might like to try one out.

My original dislike for crockpots was mainly due to the fact that everything tasted the same. Meat and veggies all taste identical and I know this will sound even weirder, but the meat tastes meatier...which I don't like!

However, with blogging, I have come across so many yummy sounding recipes and then I recently found a blog dedicated to crockpot cooking called A Year of Crockpotting that finally, I felt inspired to buy one.

The fact that I am working outside the home now and trying to avoid the 5pm "what are we having for dinner" dilemma also factored into it.

I purchased a Bravetti because of the timer and the extra inserts which allows you to cook two items seperately. I will let you know how I make out and what recipes I find success with.

Matthew Mead Halloween Tricks and Treats Magazine

Just wanted to mention that Mathew Mead's latest holiday magazine Matthew Mead Halloween Tricks and Treats has hit the store shelves! Why you ask...because he dedicated this special issue to my amazingly talented sister at Restyled Home. Also, because these are projects that even I can do...and I really am craft challenged! I can't wait to share some of the projects with my little girl as we need to spend some quality mummy & daughter time! This magazine is perfect for that!

My Lovely, Talented Sister

My amazingly talented sister began her blog Restyled Home over a year ago thanks to my constant nagging that she needed to start one! I knew how talented she was in home decorating and writing and the time seemed right that the two should meet.

Well, Linda never does anything mediocre...she poured herself into her blog. She discovered how much fun it is to write about something your passionate about and from writing, make friends with so many wonderful people in blog land.

To me, blogs are one of the best ways to discoverer talented people who might never be noticed because of our distant locations and the limited opportunities to share our passion with other people. Well, since Linda started writing, she has created a true following on her blog, become close friends with many wonderful people including Mathew Mead from Country Home magazine. He recently launched his first magazine and dedicated the first issue to my little sister! Cool!

Transition

Ben, Connor their cousin and Sam!

Wow, after over a year of anticipation we finally reached the day...my kids started public school.

Ben, Ella, Sam & Connor heading for the bus.

Last spring, 2007, I/we realized that it was time for Ben & Sam to go into highschool. It would be the perfect time because Sam would start grade nine and Ben grade eleven. They could support one another during this transition and major change in their life. I also realized that my earlier enthusiasm to have them write SAT's, CAT's, the record keeping all to prove what they had learned, so that they could attend University and or Community College, drained me at the thought. After 11 years of homeschooling my kids were curious to give public school a try and I was tired and had many other responsibilities that were pulling me in many directions.

Ella coming off the bus...she didn't want to get off!

Upon hearing that his brothers were going to public school, Jack my middle son then wanted to go to school too...can you see the snowball effect...however, sending Jack was more complicated because he would be starting middle school..a place I really don't want any of my kids attending.

Luckily, last year when I told my friend Heidi about our pending decision so that maybe she would consider it too for this fall...she did one better, and out of the blue put her kids into a private Catholic school about two weeks later! They chose the school started by my very close friends in the city, which is an amazing school with some very dedicated teachers and parents! Jack's teacher is also the principal of the school and a former homeschooler!!! So, Jack is now attending that school because he can get a drive with Heidi. Otherwise, he would have probably had to continue homeschooling. Jack doesn't start till Monday, so he has had a pretty boring week with just me or his dad. Right now he is reviewing his math from last year and moaning the whole time! I won't miss his poor me attitude when it comes to work!

Three handsome fellas!

Ella my youngest also started kindergarten. Last year at the urging of my mother, she encouraged me to let Ella attend pre-school. Well, we did and she loved it! So much so that she insisted on trying out kindergarten! So, we have attended the first day and so far she loves her teachers, the bus ride and recess! She stated the rest is boring...but I know she will settle in and it helps that a family friend is also the Teacher Assistant which helped me in my own nervousness in letting her go. I am hopeful ella will make some new little friends as our neighbourhood doesn't have little girls her age.

Ella rushing to hug grampy & nanny!

This is a huge change for me...when I knew for sure that Jack would be attending private school, I knew I had to get a part-time job to help pay for it. I truly lucked out and found a job in a local baby boutique that I love! They promote all the philosophies that I embraced...attachement parenting, cloth diapering, breastfeeding, healthy toys, family bed, homemade baby food, and truly cool items that I used to order from catalogues or online. To have all this variety here locally is wonderful and I truly admire the owner who is a really great mother, business woman and a school teacher to boot!

Ella following the principal & learning the morning routine.

So, life isn't slowing down at all...it is getting busier in a new way but I feel great, excited, and ready for change!

Window on a Window

Well, I'm not sure how others will feel about my latest little garden decorating. I have a nice big garage that also includes two huge ugly windows on the side of my flower beds. Until we actually renovate the outside, the windows are staying. However, since I moved in, I have hated them!

One of the things that came to me when I first moved here, was the idea of hanging an older paned glass window on top of the big windows...in hopes of tricking your eye into seeing something cottagey first before you notice the big ugly windows.

I had two larger old glass paned windows upstairs in the loft of the garage. I had wanted to paint onto the glass to give it some wow...but knowing how busy I get and how I procrastinate, I decided to just go ahead and hang the windows. Well, it wasn't so easy to hang them but I did finally get it done. Here is the end results and hopefully you will like it more than my husband and three sons...thankfully, my smart little girl ella loves it!

Oh, and yes, they are each a different colour which I will be fixing asap! I just wanted to tackle the whole issue of hanging them and having that problem solved. On the next sunny day, I am painting them to match each other! I am leaning towards the green because it matches the door...

before adding window

after adding the two windows





Got the double hammock up...we love our hammock!