Happy Homemaker Monday

Today I am joining The Diary of the Stay at home Mom here

The weather in my neck of the woods:
Hot! Hot! Hot!   Bleah!

Things that make me happy:

The many many kindnesses of my sweet husband!

Menu for this week:
NO  specific plans   just know it will be  very  good!

What's on my TV today: 

Loving Poldark!

Looking around the house:
It is rather a mess... and  is likely to be until  the  kitchen project is  finished,   lots of painting to do!!!!  My patience runs   very low  at times like these!  

On my To Do List:
Bible Study
Laundry
Take  some bags of    items  for donation to the goodwill box
polans to see some  family this week

New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
no ideas on this one this week

Looking forward to this week:
hoping to see   my favorite  family this week!!!!

My favorite blog post this week:
I always enjy my emails for Houzz and I shared  Borrowed Ideas  last week form Houzz.. the topic was organization!

Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
A  wonderful place to visit and spend   some  time is  this lovely blog, Talk of the Home!  THis week she is posting about her trip to Martha's Vinyard!    Yu dont want to miss that one!

No words needed (favorite photo or picture):

Close encoounters  of the  fluffy kind!

Lesson learned the past few days:


God is so much more awesome than we sometimes think, believe, or give Him credit for.... when he  puts your name on another's mind and that one will call or send a card or whatever it is that is with exactly what I needed at that very moment... it demonstrates the Father's great love for me (us).
On my mind:
So many things, but, just like a friend told me yesterday..... stay tuned in to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to speak direction to me and then willing move forward with Him!

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
I will borrow our hostesses verse, because it is better than all I can come up with today!

No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.
– 1 John 3:9 (NIV)

Hodgepodge

Click here to return to Joyce's  page

1.July 15th is National Give Something Away Day. What can you give away? Will you?

I have been in a give away mode now for a couple of months.... Unbeknownst to my daughter, I now have a box of items I'm giving her to deal with as she chooses... a few books I used when i was her age in planning social events, a couple of cook books of my mom's and a few items from the hutch that were passed down form other family members.. Otherwise, I have packed several boxes of donations to the Discovery Shop to raise money for cancer research... It has been purge month!!!

2. Do you have a mantra? Please share with the class if you feel comfortable doing so.
I suppose my mantra is " Just give it to the Lord!"

3. Who does the grocery shopping in your house? How many times a week do you shop? Do you make a list or pray for inspiration in the produce aisle?
I used to do it all the time after I retired, but now that we are both retired we either take turns or go together..Sometimes we make several small stops while we are out ... We do better when we just buy a few items as needed instead of stocking up on a ton of stuff that gets stuffed away and forgotten! I am pretty bad about planning meals ahead unless I have company coming... I usually just buy what we enjoy eating and we eat the same thing a lot ... for example, we love fresh melons and berries and salads of all kinds in summer... a bit of deli meat, cheese and bread and we're pretty set in summer... We keep the larder stocked with granola fresh fruits, and yogurt for breakfasts and a goodly supply of Thomas's English Muffins and peanut butter.... . now as autumn approaches my cooking mode kicks in, but keeping it simple in summer is our way!!!

4. Is there a TV show you're embarrassed to say you watch? You're going to tell us what it is, right?

Well, I will go ahead and confess I read all of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander books and loved them,.... I dont have Starz network so can't watch the series, I understand it is as racy as, but at least monogamous, the books and just as violent, Im sure.... but since they were all filmed in Scotland and I so enjoyed the historical aspect of the books,  I have purchased season one on dvd...although we havent watched it yet... maybe this winter.

5. A recent article listed fifteen words we should eliminate from our (written) vocabulary in order to sound smarter-
that, went, honestly, absolutely, very, really, amazing, always, never, literally, just, maybe, stuff, things, and irregardless......Of the fifteen, which word is your most overused?

I use the word "just" all the time... and oddly when I type I forever more transpose the "s"  and the" u"  and have to go back and fix it..... that is why know that I use it all the time!!!!

6. So apparently dying your hair gray (in your youth!) is a thing right now. It's called 'The Granny Hair' trend. Your thoughts?
Not a fan..... of any unnatural hair color trend.

7. A while back Buzz Feed asked members to share the most beautiful sentence they've read in a piece of literature. A hard thing to narrow down, at least for me, but let's try. What's one of the most beautiful sentences you've ever read in a piece of literature? Maybe not the most beautiful but most sensible!
“There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well. The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of merit or sense.” ― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I am trying to learn patience in a very impatient climate!

A few More Updates with our Kitchen Redo

 Click the icon to return to   The Decorated House.  if you have been visiting me, you  probably know that   we are deep in the midst of  our kitchen  redo...  We live in  a 1930's  English Tudor... our  kitchen is a  smallish  square...  we had cabinets on 2 walls  with  room on the other side for a  dinette set, but we never used it as a dinette so  as I needed the storage I had  the hutch is tarted housekeeping with there  loaded to the max with  china,  candles, and  seasonal  items.

 

Here you can see how   blahhh the old kitchen was .. several years ago we painted the cabinets  to brighten the  look...Because we are of  a certain generation we  believe salvaging  what  you can so we decided to just  replace the doors on these  good solid cabinets and    have  new  cabinets  built to fill in the   blank opposite wall.  well  they ar e installed  but  it is taking  hubby   longer than we thought to  get  the whole  lot painted... We are using rolling pebble by Behr... it is surprising  how this color  shifts   from  taupe to green depending on the time of day... I  absolutely love  the color!

 

So  let's  continue with  some other  changes..  below you see  our old top mount sink and faucet

Now   with our new granite installed I  wanted a one hole faucet  and   an under mount sink....  we are  so very pleased  with the new look!

If you spy you can see   the  bottom edge in the above window sill  which is painted the new color compared to the other sink photo and the   lighter color..  Since I  love my " grannie'  border...   I think the  new paint color     is more dramatic with the    border  which also  draws in the old wall color  a deep  burgundy  which I  will also keep.  to me the  border  is a throw back to the   English Tudor style of the home and the English country  decor throughout!One reason hubby  hasn't gotten more painted accomplished is that  we have done a bit of shopping...  we decided that our frig was just  too old to   press  our good fortune...   because of our smaller space  finding a small  french door  frig  was   not easy and  with these  going on such a  great sale we were  rather afraid they may be doing away with the design for this smaller size. so  we have a new one on order..we found this Samsung on  sale  for  800 less...  what a bargain!

and because  it sits right beside the   frig  and the old one was looking very shabby..  we  went ahead and ordered this

  This Bosch  was Lynn's  decision because he is the main dish washer here! They  won't be delivered some time next month!

These will also arrive at  about the same time!

 After they are installed we can hang our new pendants 

 

  there  to replace the recessed lights  under each window valance...  I think that will really update the look  ....   so I  still have so much to look forward to!  

Happy Homemaker Monday

Today I am joining The Diary of the Stay at home Mom here

The weather in my neck of the woods:
We had severe thunderstorms overnight and a drear start to our day but it was clear by mid morning... storms threaten again tonight! The temps are dancing around 90 this week!

Things that make me happy:


being grandma, doing face time with my little one and her mommy, and planing a visit with them coming up later in the summer!

Menu for this week:


Trying to cook light.. have doctor's appointments this week... wanting to try to make up for the naughty birthday cake and ice cream from last week! hehehehehhe

What's on my TV today:
WAH! We finished the series, Foyle's War from PBS... Enjoying Poldark, and will prob sit back and watch some youtube Catherine Cookson mysteries online.... There is nothing of any value that I can find on network tv.

Looking around the house:
We are into our 7th week of mixed up house... things are gradually getting better.. most of the items are back into the kitchen cabinets. but since Lynn is only about a quarter through painting the cabinets with all the doors and drawers left to do we're looking at least another full week of messy house....but I must say, I'M loving how the kitchen make over is coming along...it is such a relief to have the sink in good working order and granite installed and the capacity to cook once more! Below is our fabulous Blanco sink and new Moen faucet....really like it... posting for our daughter to see our choices!




On my To Do List:
Bible Study
Laundry
Correspondence ( thank you notes)
organize my office area
organize top kitchen cabinets ( purge, reorder the items...
Christmas out of the hutches into top cabinets)
reorganize hutches

New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
For my next tea party:
Roasted Red Pepper Aioli
1/3 c mayonnaise
2 T. finely chopped roasted red pepper
1 tsp. fresh lime juice
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. cracked black pepper

In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, roasted red pepper, lime juice, and seasonings, stirring until well blended.
Store in a covered container in the refrigerator...
Serve on fresh veggie tea sandwiches made on potato bread

Looking forward to this week:


This seems to be the week I have Dr. Appointments with every doctor .. the dental check went well... I was so afraid I had a tooth gone south, but it was dare I say" just" TMJ... nothing just about it!, Also my eye appointment is always good to get behind me... got those mean little cataracts growing.... not for at least another year says he! Now only 3 more this week... Hoping for good reports on those!!!

Tips and Tricks:
I was just reading my new Teatime magazine and something caught my eye! cardinal rules for tea drinkers.. #3 and for goodness sakes don't add sugar! But I do like sugar... 1-2 cubes at least.. but alas,, according to the sommelier, " tea is supposed to taste a a little bitter, so leave the sugar off for a few days and develop a taste for the bliss of a well-made cup of tea!"
Since I consider myself a huge anglophile, I guess I need to train my taste for a lovely cup of tea...alone!

My favorite blog post this week:
I have so enjoyed the Mad Tea Parties shared at Fanciful Twist.

Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
Since hubby and I recently experienced our dream trip to Ireland I rejoiced at finding this wonderful blog..Infinite Ireland.There you will find everything you ever wanted to know about travel in and to Ireland... I sure would love to go again....

No words needed (favorite photo or picture):



Lesson learned the past few days:


God is so much more awesome than we sometimes think, believe, or give Him credit for.... when he puts your name on another's mind and that one will call or send a card or whatever it is that is with exactly what I needed at that very moment... it demonstrates the Father's great love for me (us).

On my mind:
So many things, but, just like a friend told me yesterday..... stay tuned in to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to speak direction to me and then willing move forward with Him!

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
I will borrow our hostesses verse, because it is better than all I can come up with today!

No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.
– 1 John 3:9 (NIV)

HUbby is so Sweet

For my birthday he  ordered this for me....  and our new kitchen!

Very  exciting!!!!

My Very First Mad Tea Party

There is a place, like no  place on earth.

A land full of wonder, mystery, and danger!

Some say, to survive it,  you need to be as mad as a hatter.  

Which luckily, I am!

~Alice in Wonderland

Whoooooo's excited about  the Mad  Tea Party  over at Fanciful Twist!!!!

  Well, the party has already started so you're going to be late!!!!!

Follow me...  we can still make it to Schotzy's  woodland cottage... 

You know it is all about celebrating the 150th Anniversary  of  Lewis Carroll's marvelous book!

  But  at Schotzy's party it is all about fun, music, and   tea. Listen, I can hear the music now!!!

The fairies  have assembled..

 Miranda 's   all tuned up!!

Ahh,  we are  so fortunate today, King Frederick Frog  will   take charge and keep  everyone in line!! 

The Twitterings  welcome  one and all!

Ahem!   If you will  all pass right through here please...  we shall  find our  way to the  glen of merriment!
Step carefully here, please...

Right along through here, I  think,.. um...   I hope...
 

No need to pause for a rest... plenty of time for that  soon enough!

Oh, dear,   excuse me, madame,    Oh, please,  I  do  beg your pardon,,,    ahem,,,  now I  do believe,   ...  umm,   yes,   I think......  ah,   at last,  yes,     but if you please, just  one more  left turn through here and we're there!

And  I do believe  we  can see   our way clear  now...

The alarming clock  announces....

  

And so  ....( Drum roll, please) I present  darjeeling...  for my  darlings!

And the tea is ready!!!

The fairies sing an ode to  the cup!

  (Fanfare)

White rabbit makes  a huge announcement!

YOU  have been chosen  the Queen of the  Party!  The Fairy Queen will  crown you!

 Never  fear, Darling,   the Queen of Hearts is vacationing in Boca!

So be a dear,  would you mind  pouring the  tea for us?

  What!!!!!!!!!!!

What mischief is this!

Someone has quite  forgotten his manners: he must have left them in his nasty little  burrow  along the garden path....

AwK!  If I may divert your attention.uh,...uh, uh, uh     my dears,,   we shall now   move right through the glass  .. to our tea!

The fairies and the 

 woodland creatures   serenade  the   partiers...  
The Twitterings    declare, "It's  a huge success!"  

 and wish everyone who  visits   a  very  Mad Day!

Hope you  enjoyed  our first  Mad  Tea.. now I'm off to visit  some other parties!  Come on,,, let's go together!

Today is also, Pink Saturday!

  BTW.... As I ran across this wonderful post  I am adding it here to share with mothers do  not   think  they should  teach children about fairies...   I love this   prinicple of  teaching!

I   still believe in the possibility of them.... and my mind loves to imagine them  among the flowers  and  making friends with the woodland creatures.  If C.S. Lewis and Tolkien can have fairies,,,  then    so can we!

Also joining  

A Return to Loveliness

Martha’s Favorites 

Tea Time Tuesday 

 Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Friends Sharing Tea 

Share Your Cup Thursday

Blue Water

This  coastal view will soon be    my  daily  experience..  as   we, along with our  kids and  granddaughter ,   will  be vacationing    along the New England  coast.. this photo  was  from the   rental site...

 I'm looking  so forward to a beach  week  with 70's  temperatures...  and  with this western  exposure I  know we will   love  the magnificent sunsets, but I'll  have to wait  on those....

 as well,   to wait  to be with our girls!

  Linking with  Anything Blue Friday.

Before and After Stage 3

Well, Lynn has been painting on the   old cabinet  frames  on the old side of the kitchen this week..  he finished the second coat and they look   fabulous....  just in time for the granite folks from Johnson Granite in Mount Airy, NC...

 here you can see   the  new paint on the base cabinet..  He will paint the doors and  drawers  this afternoon!!   Our new under mount sink is  lying there in the   cabinet....    my excitement  is rising!

More later!!!   I'm just  upstairs  awaiting the epoxy smell to   dissipate a bit!  Ok, so I took a couple more photos this afternoon with  better light...

 Well,  we had  so much to  make up for  this afternoon,,, no painting got done.. tomorrow is another day!  But it is hard to wait to see it all come together! We did  pick out our  replacement  ceiling fan today...   that  brassy white one we have now  looks so shabby... yayayayay  I will  be   extremely happy to  have the  cabinet doors painted and   we wont have to look  into and see how  jumbled they   are....  I still have much to  purge  in those cabinets

I am going to enjoy my new computer station...  our wonderful installer  is  creating a  back board    that will cover   the      burgundy    with   a foam board    in a  matching tone....  just for fun we did look at new appliances today... not  sure about that yet or not....  we've never  done every thing all at once in  our married life of 43 years....    we always  have something to look forward to. 
 Linking here   with Grace at Home!