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!
Welcome to another edition of the weekly Wednesday Hodgepodge. I am joining Joyce here.
Okay here we go-
1. When did you last 'swim against the tide'?
For since I am a non- swimmer, I can't even imagine swimming against the tide in a literal sense.... I would just get swept asea.... but idiomatically, this whole first part of 2015 has been like swimming ferociously just trying to keep my feet on the ground.... As only child and care giver to my 90+ year old parents who were released to heaven within this last year, my mom right after Christmas past.... I was hit with what I suppose is the orphan spirit... Instead of finding my own release from the heartache of seeing them in such heartbreaking decline ,I experienced huge grief and loss which materialized in a host of medical ailments ranging from IBS, to TMJ, .nothing like being attacked by the alphabet... being hugely involved in church committees I lost all desire to participate.... so I quit the non-essentials, and have struggled with the rest.... MY Bible Study teacher recognized that a spirit of infirmity had been transferred to me and she prayed a cutting away prayer over me and I am much back to my old self now.... and am finding my way and my life... but it has been an upstream struggle!
2. What's the last self-help or self-improvement book you read? I am reading Prayer Altars, by John Mulinde.... an awesome read about the need for Christians to establish prayer altars in their hearts and tend them daily,,, well, moment by moment, in communion with God .. for we are a royal priesthood and the altar of our heart toward God must be swept out of all uncleanliness, the fire of our spirit lit and kept burning in praise and adoration for our Creator and Father. and if we do this personally, as well, together in our home, business, schools, and of course, churches it will bring transformation to all.. including our communities and even the nation... This is such a powerful book and I wish it were required reading for Christians across our land,... if it was practiced our nation wouldnt be in this state! Unfortunately where there are no godly altars burning, unholy altars are established and darkness fills the land... as holy altars are built their light pushes back the darkness... I highly recommend getting a copy of this marvelous book!
3. "Tolerance is a tremendous virtue, but the immediate neighbors of tolerance are apathy and weakness." (Sir James Goldsmith) Agree or disagree? Discuss. With civility please, because i think we have a good thing going in our very diverse (in geography, age, religion, political persuasion, ethnicity, marital status, upbringing, and cooking abilities) neighborhood here on This Side of the Pond.
Webster defines tolerance~sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own.
I can have sympathy for someones beliefs, other than my own, but the idea of tolerance has shifted in the world today to allow other beliefs to become the norm and to circumvent others strong held beliefs... tolerance should be a two way street, but unfortunately, here in our nation it appears, that the definition has been changed along with laws to support those changes: laws that protect the rights of those outside the mainstream whereas, others rights are diminished...
4. What is one of your most vivid memories of the kitchen from your childhood?
My mother was raised on a dairy farm and she was the oldest of 6 daughters... she was also the best cook , I believe, of all of them... Mother never used a cook book. delicious food such seemed to miraculously come together ... mother was a very thrifty homemaker... she could make food fit for royalty with the cheaper cut of meat... she worked hard in our garden to raise the food she put on the table... My most vivid memories were that she was always in the kitchen, unless she was hanging out the clothes or working in the garden she had a pot of something always simmering on the stove.... we had a homemade dessert just about every evening. She made the best fried chicken ever and I wish I had paid closer attention!
5. How did/do your own children's summers compare withyoursummers as a child? If you're not a parent, answer as it relates to what you've observed about the current generation of children vs. your own childhood.
MY childhood summers were as has been mentioned by our hostess... very carefree... thankfully, life in the 50's seemed safe and neighborly. I was an only child, and when I wanted to be by myself I'd lie on the glider on our front porch and read my Trixie Belden book, but if I wanted companionship, Id be all over the neighborhood visiting friends and playing everywhere... from Vickie's house to Kathy's to the woods and on Charlotte's swings... We were everywhere, without permission and happy as larks. Just had to be home by suppertime. For vacations we went camping... either to the mountains or the seashore.
We have one daughter and she came along in our mid thirties... .. we were well established and wanted her to have a classical upbringing... times in the mid 80's onward had changed dramatically ... we were very skeptical about our neighbors because we didnt know them. Therefore, we were pretty protective of Amanda's where abouts... So we mostly planned her activities. We wanted her to learn to swim well, so we joined the pool, and she was active on the swim team. She had piano and violin lessons... she had planned play dates with special friends ... We planned theme parties for her summer birthday, and when we went on vacation we stayed in nice hotels andwere planning events to broaden her horizons.. It was just a different time... so often I wish she had had the opportunity to go to my grandmas' homes in the country.. to wake up under several quilts in a very cold house... to eat breakfast that had been cooked over a wood burning stove.. Each generation has it's own wonderful things but they are ever so different.
6. Tell us what body of water you would most like to be on or near today, and why?
Today is my 65th birthday and I recently was on the wild Atlantic Way in Ireland. Even though I will be spending the day with my 4 best friends on a shopping trip to Charlottesville, YAYAYAYAYA!.. IN my dreams I'd love to be back in Ireland , actually living there in Donegal and be able to sit in my own garden there by the river Finn and luxuriate in God's magnificent creation!
And from my vantage point I would love to see my lawn taken care of.
7. Share a favorite song about water, or a favorite song with the word water in it's title, or a favorite song to listen to as you sit beside the water. It would be this Davy Spillane piece... on his Uillean pipes! The River of Gems....
8. Insert your own random thought here.
Happy birthday to me... safe travels and glorious times with friends and family!
Today the weather is rainy and cool, even if a bit humid!
Things that make me happy:
Having our daughter and granddaughter, age almost 2, call and say, "Let's do facetime!!"
Menu for this week:
That is one organizational tool I would love to implement and not any time soon.
What's on my TV today:
We have recently discovered Foyle's War from BBC Masterpiece.. Lynn's cousin loaned us the 8 season series.... we try to watch an episode every night.... love love, love!
Looking around the house:
The cabinets in the kitchen are in, Lynn has painted the windows and is prepping the cabinets around windows for painting today.. hopefully those cabinets will be painted, as well!
You can see the paint for the cabinets will be a few shades darker than original.. a greenish taupe.. I really love the new color! On my To Do List:
I need to clean this room... I will soon be moving my office to the new kitchen desk area... so this room will be given over entirely to my granddaughters! yayayaya....I certainly dont want a rat's nest for an office in the kitchen so, I really need to organize my files and re order my life... Time to really get rid of old files that dont apply to me anymore!!!
New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
Blueberry Walnut Salad
"An easy, yummy salad, perfect for any season, with berries, nuts, and greens. For an entree add chicken, diced apples, and diced green onions!"
INGREDIENTS:
1 (10 ounce) package mixed salad
greens
1 pint fresh blueberries
1/4 cup walnuts
1/2 cup raspberry vinaigrette salad
dressing
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large bowl, toss the salad greens with the blueberries, walnuts, and raspberry vinaigrette. Top with feta cheese to serve
In the craft basket:
The crafting idea I spoke to a few weeks ago was the remodel for our kitchen... I am hoping to see the fruits of our labor all come together within the next couple of weeks...
Looking forward to this week:
The granite will be installed Friday
The week ahead: Tuesday: water aerobics class marketing Wednesday: It's my birthday..... my gal pals and I are going on a shopping trip to Charlottesville, Va.. Thursday: prepare the kitchen for one of the final installations.... encourage Lynn to finish the painting of the cabinets Church Committee meeting Friday: granite installation and perhaps set up my new work station in the kitchen yayayaya
My favorite blog post this week:
My Anything Blue Friday Post form last week.. I wrote about the delicious blueberry pie I made.... blueberries are so fabulous this year!
Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
If you're like me and things have gotten a bit out of hand, you will find great inspiration to organize there!
No words needed (favorite photo or picture):
There aren't words!
Lesson learned the past few days:
God is completely in control, even when the world seems to be spinning out of orbit, that is when He loves to draw us ever closer in prayerful community with Him... time to read His Word and find peace!
Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses: A Book review~ I cannot recommend this book enough.. find here
What if the Scriptures had a secret that revealed how territory can be taken for the kingdom of God? What if that secret was impacting nations on the earth today? Whether it is through Abraham, Moses, or the early church, God uses prayer altars to occupy territory, advance His kingdom, break the powers of darkness, and draw His presence. This strategy from the Word of God has helped bring revival to entire nations. And the best part is.. God is still using them today! Come explore how you can be a part of this strategy and build prayer altars today in your home, church, city, workplace, and even your nation.
Another reader gave it 5 stars, too!
PREREQUSITE FOR KINGDOM ADVANCEMENTBy V. Marshall on June 12, 2014 God in all His Holiness is the great provisionary for His people. We have no excuse; God has given us every spiritual blessing needed to navigate in victory while we visit here on earth. We have His protection and covering. Our responsibility is to put what we learn into action! This book is a must for every Christian leader to incorporate into their ministry and “New Believers” class. The principles in this book should be taught immediately upon a person’s salvation experience.
My Jim Shore Angel of the Home presides over the sunroom today... it feels great to have this room put back together
A bit of holiday spirit
Amanda told me today I have to purge about another shelf full of cook books... This is what happens when you had plenty and then you added in your mother's... how to decide!?!?!!?!
Still a lot of stuff.. you wouldnt believe how much I have donated already.... trying to trim down... truly!
Well, I love rainy days.... because I get inspired to take advantage of my time to get things spruced up inside.... and believe me, with all the kitchen redo... the rest of my house has been topsy turvy... but, at least now, the sun room is in some semblance of order and showing a bit of blue cheer!
First of all, as I was straightening out a storage area downstiars I ran across this beautiful lamp I brought home from mama's... I think we may have gotten it back in the 60's with Green Stamps. All I really know is mom and I always loved it.. so glad it has found a home in the sunroom now....along side the sweet hobnail vase I also found in mom's things... just right for the weekend!
My hail to Ireland in the sunroom is my small flock of sheep....
So wonderful to get the table cleared off and a bit of blue summer time ready for an afternoon meal....
And while I was still thinking on our Ireland trip, and was passing through the living room,,, even though it doesnt look very festive for the holiday, I did add a bit of blue there that salutes our red white and blue theme with a shout out to my homeland!
Last, but not least, another project I got into today was cleaning out some magazines... they collect so quickly around here.... and this next photo was from the Southern Living from June of 1996, for goodness sakes, but it is a keeper... especially with blueberries coming in so fast and furiously!
I have a peck of berries that need processing, so
Spicy Blueberry Pie
Ingredients
5 c Fresh blueberries 1/4 ts Ground allspice 1/2 c All-purpose flour 1 tb Lemon juice 1/4 c Brown Sugar; firmly packed 1/2 ts Ground cinnamon 1 tb Butter or Margarine; Melted 1 pk Refrigerated pie crusts 1 ts Sugar 1 tb milk 3/4 c Sugar Preparation Combine first 8 ingredients, tossing gently. Fit 1 piecrust into a 9-inch pieplate according to package directions. Spoon blueberry mixture into pastry shell. Roll remaining piecrust to 1/8-inch thickness; cut into 6 (2 1/2-inch-wide) strips. arrange strips in a lattice design over filling; fold edges under and crimp. Brush pastry with milk; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar. Bake at 400F for 40-45 minutes or until golden, shielding edges with strips of aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning during last 20 minutes of baking.
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. 
