Butler's Pantry Before Photos

Yesterday we got started on the butler's pantry at Eric's house.  I love these built in cabinets!  This is the view through his office doors.

A view from the office with the doors open.  How about that 70's light fixture.  Our daughter, Amber, is taking that.  It really doesn't go in this period of home.  I'll have to share the history of this house sometime.  It's very interesting!

I think this home was really meant for Eric.  See his ghost in the doorway.  

There are great glass doorknobs throughout the house.  Love this color.

The swinging door you pass through to the kitchen:

Don't you just love the detail in these cabinets?

Rick and Eric removed the ceiling tile in this room.  Did you notice that light fixture is gone too?

Eric looks a little doubtful.

They've got a lot of patching to do.

Eric and I got that wallpaper removed and the walls are in need of lots of repair.  It will be a labor of love though. 

I'll try to remember to take a photo of the outside of the house today.  Back to work!

Summer Cottages

Today is a big day for us.  Our son, Eric, is buying his first home and closing on it this morning.  I can't wait to share photos of his new place.  It's the cutest little cottage and has the neatest butler's pantry.  We'll be over there today stripping wallpaper and lots of other fun things.  His home reminds me of something that I would put in one of my paintings like this one:

"Wild Rose Crossing"

Paula realized, a little too late, that she had outgrown her bike from the previous summer and keeping her feet on the pedals was no longer possible. 

This is one of my favorite paintings because I, like Paula, would love to ride a bike down a hill with the wind blowing my hair straight back.  

Have a Paula kind of day!

Memorial Day

My dad, Tom, my hero!  Miss you so much!

Thanks to all our service men and women and for their dedication to our country.  You are all heroes to me!

Mother's Day

So sorry I've been down and out, but I came down with a summer cold on Mother's Day and have just gotten back on my feet.  

I did have a fabulous Mother's Day though because my kids came out for the day.  Amber and I spent the day piecing our new "Friendship Braid Quilts" and the guys spent the day fixing a great meal on the grill.  Thanks Rick, Eric, and Amber for making it such a special day!

I'll keep you updated on the progress of our quilts.  

I promise that I'm still painting and I've been working on video taping a small segment for you to prove it!  Not sure how to edit video, so it may take a while.  Hope you had a fabulous Mother's Day too!

How Does Your Garden Grow…..

I've been busy cleaning up the flower beds around the house since we finally have some good weather. The first day I went out and pruned back 10 rose bushes and had the blisters to prove it.  After waiting a few days for those to heal, I headed back out to prune the remaining two in the front yard.  This time I ended up with a very swollen hand near the joint of my right index finger.  A couple days later it was very red, swollen, and warm to the touch and I could hardly move my index finger.  I looked up rose thorn injuries on the internet and knew I didn't want "Rose Thorn Disease".  I headed to the doctor yesterday and they put me on antibiotics for a week.  Today it looks a lot better and hopefully will heal quickly.  If you work around roses a lot be sure to wear gauntlet gardening gloves.  I will be purchasing a pair real soon.

My lilac is blooming and sending it's wonderful aroma through the air as you open my back gate and enter to the back porch.  What a lovely greeting!

This morning I learned how to take out the power lines in this image using photoshop.

I put this clematis out last year and didn't get any blooms, but this year it is covered with buds and I'm so excited over the first appearance of the lovely flowers.  As I head down the stairs in the morning, I can see these two flowers through the landing window smiling up at me to greet the day.

Wishing everyone a very Happy Mother's Day!

May Day Desktop Calendar

I love the idea of May Day even though we have overcast skies and unusually cold weather.  To cheer me up I visited one of my favorite blogs, Going Home to Roost, to get my new May calendar for my computer desktop.  You can grab it for yourself too and tell Bonnie Christine I sent you.  It makes your screen look like a piece of art instead of a big box.

"Spring Breeze"

I can't wait to open the windows like I did a week ago and let those spring breezes blow through the house!  How about you?