If you've wondered why I haven't been posting lately, well here's why..............

The trusty ole laptop has issues........... BIG ISSUES........... Took it to Best Buy hoping that a new power cord might do the trick only to find that the problem is the connection to the mother board and not worth the cost of repairs...........

So I'm shopping for a new laptop...........  :((((((((

Kitchen Redo Update

What started out as a simple kitchen update with granite and a tile backsplash has grown.............and grown..... Here is my former very "oak" kitchen with its worn formica countertops....

And here's an update that's still a work in progress....

Isn't that the way it always happens? One thing leads to another and another and before you know it, the room has a completely different look. You see, once the granite was installed the cabinets looked a little dated.

Thus came the need to add a little interest in the form of a painted and glazed kitchen island.... I would SO love to do the entire kitchen but that would cost $$$$$. Still pondering that one.

The counter height stool was ordered online from Ballard Designs. Debated and debated on whether to order it in rubbed cream or brown and still not sure of the choice I made. I can always chalk paint it if I decide I don't like it. Do you see those iron brackets? I ordered them online in black. When they came in, I thought they were a little too stark so I spray painted them hammered brown. Still didn't like them so I painted and glazed them to match the island. I love them now! Here's a close up pic...

Next up is the addition of crown moulding and a new kitchen table and chairs so STAY TUNED. I'm linking up with Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch. Hop on over and pay her a visit!

Looking Back

I can't let Christmas 2011 slip away without posting any photos. It was a great Christmas, a little sad because it was the first without my dear mom with us, but I know she's in a better place and that I will see her again one day. My grandgirls are so adorable and fun. Look at the note Haylee left behind, presumably for Santa....

Why is you a thief of milk and cookies????

Guess she thinks Santa should work for free, huh???

My tree was so blingy that I decided to tone down my usual mantel decorations.... Do you see my new painting hanging over the mantel? It shows a street scene in Paris around the turn of the century and the beautiful hues caught my eye at Ross. I just had to bring it home with me and am so glad I did. What a steal for $49!!!

Here is my crew. I'm taking them all to Disneyworld in May. My son had an awful scare at Thanksgiving when he developed Bell's Palsy and lost muscle control on the left side of his face. Any little health problem can be cause for concern after beating cancer but thankfully it was a mild case of palsy, totally unrelated, and it resolved itself quickly. I've been wanting to take them all to Disney ever since he went into remission and the girls were old enough to really enjoy it. When I reflect on those bleak days with him undergoing chemotherapy and my DIL on bedrest threatening to have those babies early, I wonder how we managed to maintain our sanity. We are going to have so much fun!!!

Johnny joined us on Christmas Eve, and I went to Johnny's and celebrated Christmas with his mom and kids on Christmas Day. The holidays can feel really lonely after a divorce at the empty nest stage but that just didn't happen this year. I am blessed with people in my life who really care about me.

I've been shopping for a new dining table and chairs for my updated kitchen so you'll have to wait with baited breath for the big reveal. :-))

I'm happy to report that those cabinets FINALLY have knobs back on them.... Decisions, decisions....

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL MY BLOGGY FRIENDS!!!

Counting My Blessings

I haven't posted one single time over this busy holiday season.......  What a whirlwind month it has been!  I spent Thanksgiving in Charleston, SC with my sweet daughter.  It was a great trip with lots of quality mother/daughter time.....

I have so very much to be thankful for......  A beautiful and HEALTHY family........  We had an awful scare last month when my son suddenly developed Bell's Palsy as I was in route to South Carolina.  Brought back all those memories of that bittersweet time in 2005 when we greeted beautiful grandgirls while he battled Hodgkin's Lymphoma.... The palsy is totally resolved and we are all going to celebrate his continuing health with a family trip to Disneyworld this May!!!


Merry Christmas, my friends!!!!!!

The Beginnings of a New Kitchen!!!!

I've been busy as a bee, can I tell ya? ..... I had granite and tumbled marble tiles installed in my kitchen last week.  Something I've wanted to do for a very long time..... But one thing leads to another and another..... And now I'm changing cabinet knobs out, replacing light fixtures, reworking my island, etc. etc.  :-) 

I'm linking up with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday.  I really really need some input so please take time to leave me a comment.

Here's a quick peek at the work in progress.  But you can only view if you PROMISE (scout's honor) to post a comment with your preference on cabinet hardware.

I have several design dilemmas to contend with.  First and foremost, I want updated knobs that de-emphasize the red in the stain on my cabinets.  And I'm very undecided, with the top picks being either flat black or brushed nickel.  The black knobs accent the black appliances, but the brushed nickel reflects lights in a beautiful way and matches the finish on my new faucet.  I tried oil rubbed bronze but it does nothing for the cabinet color other than blend right in.

Here's a before shot taken the morning of the demo after the outdated white porcelain knobs had been removed.....

It was time for that worn, tired formica, stained tile, and drippy faucet to go.  The granite guys came in and had it all torn out in no time flat.  They might have worn earrings but they sure worked like REAL men.  LOL

Here is my kitchen now, still a work in progress............. I replaced my vent hood because it was grimy from 19 years of duty and I love that it not only has two lights, there are high and low settings.  Who would have thought a vent hood could bring such joy?  Do you see that ugly outlet cover?  After I took this photo, I found some ceramic ones at Home Depot that blend right in with the marble....

I spotted that pencil trim on the backsplash in a kitchen photo online and just fell in love with it.  I knew that a lot of pattern on my backsplash would detract from that gorgeous granite so I opted for a monochromatic look with pencil trim to add just a bit of polish. 

As much as I wanted a new cooktop, I had them drop the old one right back in.  I'll use it until it goes out and then replace it.  I know, just call me TIGHTWAD.

I knew I wanted an overhang on the end of my island to increase my usable counter space and possibly house a barstool.  I've ordered some decorative iron brackets online but am still considering having the cabinet guys mount two wooden posts under the overhang. 

I love it when an island looks like a piece of furniture, don't you?  Another thought would be to add some feet to it and stick with the iron brackets.  Talk to me, ladies....

And then there's the possibility of painting and glazing just the island in a pretty country white color.....  I was leaning that way at first and even consulted with a lady who does fabulous faux finishes, but truly CRINGE at the idea of painting over such nice wood.  But a little voice keeps saying, "Wouldn't it be absolutely beautiful????"  The cost of faux finishing all of the cabinets would be around $2,700 but to redo just the island would be quite reasonable.

Here's my new much deeper sink and faucet.  In hindsight, I would have preferred for the tile to run around the upright area behind the sink for continuity but I won't fret over it.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE my new sink!!!!

Back to the scout's honor stuff.........  Please PLEASE post your opinion on cabinet knobs and other stuff if you so desire.....  Drum roll, please.................... 

Knob #1.......

Or knob # 2............

Stay tuned for regular updates.......................

Red Toile Curtains for Sale!!!

Well, ladies, I don't usually post items for sale on my blog but I'm smack dab in the middle of a kitchen redo and have these pretty red toile curtain valances I'd like to get rid of.  I've always been a lover of all things toile and they've served me well, but now I'm ready for a change.  Here's a pic.....

All together, I have six of these valances for sale.  I bought them online and they are well made of Waverly heavy toile and fully lined.  If you are interested in purchasing some or all of them, please e-mail me at Tcolcl1027@aol.com.  I'm asking $30 per valance or $25 each if you buy all six.  That's six valances for the cost of five...... Here's another shot.....

They're just too darn pretty to donate to goodwill and need a good home.....  They will fit 35" wide windows.  Stay tuned for kitchen redo pics.......

Happy Thursday!

First Time Cruisin'

Hellooooo, my sweet blogging friends.  I've been sort of AWOL lately, in case you haven't noticed. :-/

The return to school every fall is always a terribly BUSY time for me and I've also been having lots of fun outside of work.  Johnny and I went on a four-day cruise over the fall break!  Never having been before, neither of us knew quite what to expect.  I got a great deal on the tickets so we thought we'd just give it a try and see what we thought.  Cruising is really a great value for your money.  The price was all inclusive except for cold drinks and alcoholic drinks and let me tell ya, they don't scrimp on the alcohol in those drinks of the day.  Just one was enough to give me quite a good buzz.  LOL

I was worried about getting seasick but it didn't happen, even the night that some bad weather blew in and got that boat a 'rocking like you wouldn't believe.  And we arrived back home just as a cold front was moving in.  Have you ever worn a sweater with a sun tan?  I guess there's a first time for everything.  :-)

Here's our ship docked in port in Cozumel.  It stormed all day but we put on our rain ponchos and I slapped a sun visor on to keep the rain off my face and off we went.

The biggest surprise was that the water was the most beautiful shade of blue from the minute we entered the gulf.  We spent most of our time basking in the sun on the serenity deck on the back of the ship.  It was a kid free zone with comfy loungers and two hot tubs and we could see the gorgeous blue water as the ship cut a path through it.  Doesn't this pic just make you smile and say "ahhhhh?"

Even though we ate a lot, we used the stairs and worked off some of those calories. 

Notice I said some.....

We gambled a little, too, but those slots just weren't paying off. 

Would we go again?  Absolutely.  I kept thinking of how much my kids would have enjoyed it.  Do you do that?  Always think about your kids when you're doing something really fun?

It was a great trip!!!  And on Tuesday I'm having granite put in my kitchen!!!!  So stay tuned!!!