kitchen table productions

Our Thanksgiving Day

2011-11-29T16:47:00.000-05:00

EC soaked our free range bird in brine made up of pure cranberry juice, rosemary, sage, thyme and some other things. I photographed her here as EC is putting a butter concoction underneath her skin BECAUSE SHE'S PURPLE! I LOVED that she turned purple because of the brine!!! (ok, just so you know, I don't really know what brine is but I can tell you that if you have the countenance for soaking a huge turkey in gallons of cranberry liquid for a day or so and then playing with it - yuk - with your hands in butter - - TOTALLY WORTH IT! - including losing her in the brine bag as she flipped into the cooler that was NOT cleaned out and was loaded with dirt and grass - "who are these people that they don't clean their coolers before putting them in storage?" OH. Well. Perfect, I am not.)

All of that being said: It was the most delicious turkey I have ever eaten. Everyone else enjoyed her too!

I only managed to take a few pictures this year. Here they are:

Another friends gathering!

The cards contained words of appreciation and love specific to the person! I LOVED this part!

Simple table decor! Patricia brought the most gorgeous wreath along with a basket of Asian pears and a pineapple! I wish I had taken a photo of her walking up the patio to the front door! She was a natural vision of beauty carrying those gifts!

Jeff and Dylan brought the ice cream, chocolate sauce and whipped cream for the many choices of gluten free "traditional" desserts!

The food: fabulous

The atmosphere: sweet and warm

The conversation: kind and lively

The best part: the love that was expressed throughout the day and evening!

with a grateful heart,

We went on a date today! Dreamy!

2011-11-12T16:47:00.002-05:00

Saturday morning, EC and I dropped the boys off at choir practice then went on a date. Girls, it was a lovely crispy morning. We grabbed a cup of coffee at TH's and set out to HD and L's. Be still my heart! I'm not complicated. I don't use fancy creams on my face or wear expensive clothing or jewelry (well, except my shoes....darn size 11's...gotta get 'em from Europe....oh and that VB laptop case I bought while shopping with Denise) but I digress.)
The point?
We went to pick out some goodies for our bathroom remodel that will begin after the holidays!

Here are some of our current choices:

When you open the door to our main bathroom you will be greeted with Allure flooring. Easy to install (we've read and seen)! The color is Alpine - which is more like a white washed grey in real life. I LOVE the name. And the color.
(these strips are applied right over our 1970's old tile - which means EC won't need to tear up the floor!) We watched a video and found them from Fearfully and Wonderfully Made!

If you need to wash your hands, we've chosen a chrome finish for our goose neck faucet (is that what it's called). We were leaning toward the nickel finish, but I'm not convinced that this stuff is scratch free. Our current faucets are chrome and they clean up so easily without chemicals. I like that.

Since we are adding a stand up shower to this current powder room, we decided to go with a pedestal sink - open bottom clears up some visual space. I like that, too. We'll hang towels on fun hooks and store bathroom items on cute shelves!

Here's the shower! This will be a nice addition. Currently, if you remember, we all share a tub/shower through a door that adjoins our master bath with this bath. Makes life interesting when we have guests and they don't know there's a bathroom on the other side of that door - especially if someone is in there at the same time. Oh the screams and yelps!!! Well, with two growing boys PRIVACY is a must!

I haven't begun the creative application yet. I figured once the bones are in, I'd let my mind wonder (you know, go visit your blogs and see what your bathrooms all look like and give you the highest form of flattery!)

Have a splendid weekend!
love you gals,

You know what I like?

2011-11-09T09:29:00.003-05:00

I like a lot of things...but something rare and wonderful happened to me yesterday.

I sat on my sofa - right in the middle of it.

Relaxation happened over me. It was a monumental occurrence (well, I really noticed it). I'm a mother 24/7, not only in heart, but in deed. Since having our two boys I have become the constant of all constants. I can NOT NOT be. When I'm out with a friend I feel like I need to be home with my boys. Oh, the guilt is not extremely weighty, but it's there. Being a mother is heavy and serious business especially raising two young boys who will become men.

I mentioned this to EC last night - the relaxation happening. He was glad of it.
I like him.

So this morning I began thinking about what I like/love....here goes....

kindness - all kinds...from strangers, older folks, children, babies even, animals, the wind, my car, the preacher. I'll take it all and wrap it up close to my heart and share it and remember it and talk about it for years to come. That's how much I like it. kindness.

being kind and thoughtful towards people, my family, my home, my clothing, my friends and those new friends that I meet in grocery store parking lots or check out lanes. I truly love this kindness. It has a ripple effect that becomes the kindness first mentioned.

love. I really like love. I love to be dreamy about love. I enjoy keeping it alive by making it a part of my day. It's poetic and lovely and flows and dashes and charms and makes me feel all beautiful inside and out. It makes me dress up and do my hair and make my bed and eat lightly. Someone once told me, "Kolein, you live in a dream world, rose colored glasses will get you no where." You know what? I believed them. Until I got my new heart and mind. It's taken a few years to build up the courage. But here it is. Nourishment like none other, food for the whole. I always remember to eat. With love, it doesn't require great preparation, or planning, and I don't have to sit down at a table. I just dream about it and there it is, there I am, in it, full of its creation...being adored by it and adoring it. love. (if you ask me how I get there...I will tell you)

water. I really like water. The shower spray dancing about massaging my skin and then without a moment's notice my nerves begin to twinkle and I melt; the softness and fierceness as it alters me, heals me, releases me from myself...makes me want to cry. water.

early morning quiet.

Have a lovely day today!

love you gals,

Color ME-o-MY World!

2011-11-04T16:31:00.001-04:00

Something happened.

I forgot about the other colors

in the box.

One day, one glorious day...

I realized that I wasn't all

taupe

cream

white

any longer.

No!

I had lost my color.

Seriously?

Like I needed to be just ONE.

I believed that I needed soothing calm

in my home.

I do.

I also NEED something to pop!

It happened a few weeks ago...

...as I pondered the winter months, upstate New York gray skies and traditional decor.

I've never been a traditional

anything.

Ever.

(ask my mother!)

My comfort zone was just interrupted.

I need color.

Now.

Fun.

Happy.

Lively.

Punch you in the eye,

make your nerve endings smile,

color!

Dazzling color!

love you gals,

*photos do not belong to kitchen table productions. all photos are from the web.

Color

2011-11-02T09:53:00.001-04:00

We are new. Everyday. And some of us are new because we've traveled long distances and gone to different shores. Some of us grow because we've allowed the out stretched hand of God to alter us by being willing to take a step from where we are in the spirit to where He would like us to follow. And some of us fly there and back; shaking the universe just a bit for all the rest of us. Yes, some of us fly there and back - while others begin the journey flying and find that soaring suits us best! kc 2nov2011

love you gals,

Color in the Front Windows

2011-11-01T12:48:00.001-04:00

From last year's twigs and gourds...

...to this year's bottles.

I couldn't resist this "bottles in the window box" idea.

It was banging on my head for two days.

So, I ran over to GW and the SA and found these bottles...grabbed my hot glue gun, squished up a moss ball, threw together some pine cones and glued everything inside the window box on a thick piece of cardboard.

The sun beaming in the front windows makes the colors flicker all over inside the rooms!!!

For the night hours I've purchased battery operated white lights to sit inside the boxes, shining up towards the colored bottles!

I'll grab my camera and take a photo of that soon!

Happy November!!

love you gals,

Sorry I didn't return your call...really I am!

2011-10-14T15:23:00.003-04:00

I have wanted to let you all know why I'm not blogging...MUCH.

Well. Much. Ok. Never.

Oh by the by,

Happy October!

Isn't it grand how odd I can look?

Today I straightened my hair.

(Denise did it once and shared...got the idea from her!)

As soon as I go outdoors

(above photo is showing you the pouring rain outside our dining room window!)

my straight hair will be no more. You care, right?

Ok.

This is how I progress into the whereabouts of me, here the blogger person.

I don't have a clear answer as to why.

I'm not blogging much.

I feel the call

to sit and do school with my children.

Or sip coffee with my husband.

Or.

*swallow hard, gasp air

Do laundry.

Life.

You know that thing we all squeeze in between blog posts and photo uploads and creative genius spurts?

I LOVED the creative energy that you all kicked out of me.

And I am a tad jealous that I cannot find the time or focus to devote to that place at present.

However, that does NOT, no, no, no, NOT mean I have left or gone or disappeared or vanished.

I am here.

Still.

I read your blogs in the afternoon or the evening after school is completed and I feel guilt-free.

Cuz, guilt is NOT PRETTY on anyone's heart.

So here's the update:

ready?

MOVING.

EC and I have decided to stay in our house for the next few years. We will be making some, much needed, indoor and outdoor updates!

FIRST OFF...

EC will be redoing our 1.5 adjoining bathrooms!

can someone shout along with me???

NEW TOILETS!!!

He's turning our crazy designed baths into

TWO.

DEUX.

bathrooms!

Oh glory to all that is right and sanitary!!!!

I've already begun the process of searching for sinks, faucets, bead board ideas, colors, toilets and toilet handles (they are very important, you know!)

Of course, I will share it with you.

It might come as a before and after.

Is that OK?

THE FLOOD.

It took me a lengthy amount of time to get over this. I felt defeated. Not only with the loss of valuable items. But having to deal with the clean up and re-organization of Studio C. I wanted to throw in the towel, but it was soaking wet on the floor. I didn't go down there for months.

EC did the clean up. I could NOT.

My little creative life down there was all wet and smelly.

Well.

It's looking healthier now. I've actually spent some time getting stuff back in there to work its magic. I had even asked my girlfriend to pack up my paints and brushes and canvases and sewing materials. But after the room is back in creative order I will unpack those boxes and get going on something.

Maybe.

OUR MUSIC.

Some of you know EC and I sing and write music. I have another blog for that (still in its infancy because we all know how long some of these creative things can take).

We have found a sound man to assist with our music studio to begin the works on our first CD.

Our beginning date is some time in December.

You will all get a copy of it once it's out. I promise. You know, if you want one that is.

It's not the usual kind of music.

No. Not at all.

But we've performed for folks and they seem to be moved by it.

I know I am.

Can't believe it really.

But I know it's real.

You'll understand more as the release date approaches.

OK.

*serious butterflies right now

There is more...always and forever....

But for now I hope you accept my long overdue apology for being remiss with posts and updates and laughter and silliness.

with my whole heart,

rare appearance?

2011-09-09T16:21:00.000-04:00

Happy September!

I think, I may be back!

Summer has been FULL!

Fall is coming soon!

School started this week here in our house...

there's lots to do!

I hope, really hope, I can fit

blogging in a bit.

It'll have to inspired

cuz otherwise...

it won't be.

love you gals,

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T16:32:00.001-04:00

Happiness is wished for all of you,
dear mothers!

Be proud of who you are!

There is no position in life that is greater!

I hope your day has brought you a little love, a dash of hope and a sweet treat!

Here are some lovely photos courtesy of my dear friends who visited England last summer!

These photos elicited joy and comfort and peace...and reminded me of the sweetness of the day!

spring tulips by kitchen table productions

love,

A Rose is a Rose!

2011-04-27T16:43:00.004-04:00

Last week I met Rose!

Rose from the amazing

Confessions of a Curbshopaholic

How it all happened, I just can't believe my eyes!

I entered her 'Bat Wing' Giveaway.

I don't usually enter giveaways.

So I most certainly NEVER win.

This time.

I won.

How fun!

And because Rose lives only an hour from me and comes to our city for work occasionally,

we met for lunch!

Can it get any funner?

(apparently 'funner' is a word)

This is her in the parking lot telling me something about not being photogenic. Na-uh!

She's very cute!!!
And sweet!!

Wanna know just how sweet & cute she is?

I thought so.

She not only delivered the goods!

(you can take a look at what I won over at her blog! 'Bat Wing' Giveaway. oh my!)

She had everything all wrapped up and boxed for me! And she threw in a few extras!

I really ADORE extras!

Notice that blue scarf?

She knows I LOVE scarves and gave me a vintage one with a beautiful leaf print and in my favorite up-close-to-my face color:

Blue!

That wasn't EVEN the best part!

She knew that I lost nearly all of my novels, poetry and decorating books in our recent flooded basement. I wrote about it in a post and mentioned that some books were vintage.

(I still have NOT tossed any of them. They are soaked and stuck together and in the same mushy wet box as the day I found them nearly floating in my studio. Ugh.)

Louisa May Alcott's novels have taught me some of my parenting skills over the years.

Little Women. Love.

Jo's Boys. Truly a wonderful insight into my two boys, as well as my husband.

Well.

When Rose was a little girl someone had given her Jo's Boys to read.

After reading my flood post she emailed me and said that she had her own copy which was vintage when she got it. She had written her name in it when she was younger.

She wanted to give her copy to me.

~be still my heart~

I sat and cried at the computer that night.

Such a touching gesture from someone I hardly know...'cept for the blog!

And Rose being Rose, well, she also gave me Little Men, & Under The Lilacs - both written my LMA.

She also wrote to me to add that she had windows and tables and all sorts of things for the asking, if I wanted.

I wanted.

But we are trying to get our house ready to sell or something and if I brought in more than the box of goodies I won...well, we won't even mention what everyone might think!

For now,

I want to thank you Rose,

from the bottom of my heart!

I'm so looking forward to displaying these creative treasures and walking passed them in my home knowing they came from you!

Love,

Would you be so kind and wish my MOM a Happy Birthday

2011-04-19T18:38:00.002-04:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!

This kind of a post has very little to do with decorating or the kitchen table....or does it?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Where there is a mother, there is home.

Where there is a mother, there is usually a kitchen table.

My mom is one of those kind of ladies who, if she lived when Susan B. Anthony was carrying signs for the women's suffrage movement, Mom would have been right there marching down the street. I wouldn't call her a women's liber, but I would call her a

woman of movement!

Mountains. Yep, she's moved 'em.

Life has not always been easy for her. But she makes the most of it.

And still finds ways to give to others.

She perseveres. She manages to enjoy simple things.

A good movie.

A good read.

Her cup of tea.

This past Sunday she sat, sandwiched between my boys, in church. As I looked over at her I thought that God had saved a little bit of perfection for her that day. Her best friend and brother-in-law sitting with her, both whom she cares for in word and deed and her little grandsons and their sweet love for her.

MEMORIES:

A memory that always puts a smile on my face is being in the kitchen watching Mom and my grandma baking for Easter. Dough everywhere. Flour in air. They would always pull off a hunk of dough for me to knead and prepare. The aroma was heavenly! It is forever embedded in my memory. To this day, if I walk into a bakery I am instantly brought back to those moments!

Another memory that makes me roar out laughing is the time I was home from college and Mom and I were doing some grocery shopping. A very long list of items to conquer....as always....Mom stocked our refrigerator and cupboards with TONS of food...no really, ask my friends. They wanted to live in our kitchen! LOL!

I took a look at the list and told Mom I'd go and shop for a bunch of items and then meet back up with her.

I walked away and then went around the aisle and walked up to her from behind, changed my voice, and started calling out her name like I was a long lost friend who was bumping into her after all these years. I'll never forget the expressions on her face. First, a huge smile as she was turning around to see who I was and then she grunted something out at me, her brow furrowed, and then she started laughing!!!

(remember that, Mom??)

Another memory, that at the time I did NOT appreciate, but is definitely worth mentioning, was the music my parents chose for me to listen to.

OK. I was a kid in the 70's. James Taylor, Helen Reddy, Abba, Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, John Denver, Jim Croce, Ann Murray. You get the picture.

Well, my parents thought that was ROCK 'N ROLL.

"There won't be any of that in this house!"

So at Christmas time I'd make my list of desired gifts.

Under the tree I'd spy a stack of albums wrapped.

I'd wonder for weeks which ones they bought.

Christmas morning my surprise was a lot bigger than I'd imagine.

Instead of Abba,

Loretta Lynn.

Instead of Jim Croce,

Roger Whittaker.

Instead of Elton John,

Eddy Arnold.

My parents liked country western music. I didn't. But I learned to and then I began to LOVE it.

While the adolescent couldn't appreciate these choices, the adult is EVER so grateful. I have an appreciation for nearly all types of music because of this influence!!

There is so much more to mention about Mom. Oh, the stories could fill a book. But we don't want the paparazzi to follow us, so we'll just keep our little family secrets under wraps!

I love you, Mom!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you have a free moment

would you wish my Mom a happy day today?

It would make her smile BIG!

Thanks,

What to do when the basement's flooded?

2011-04-08T14:10:00.004-04:00

Remember this space? (my apologies for the blurry photos???)

She's no more.

I was sad.

For about 3 minutes.

Then I turned around and noticed the boxes of books I had packed to get our house ready to sell, sitting in the pool of backed up sump pump water.

No! I can't look!

I screeched. Out loud.

Jane Austen novels!

Pride and Prejudice! Mr. Darcy! Eliza!!!!!!!!
Sense and Sens...........Persuas................!!!!!!!!!!! *whimper*

Louisa May Alcott.....Little Women.....Jo's Boys.......!!!!!!!!!!

The list goes on..........poetry books!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some were vintage.

Oh my stars.

Not my decorating books................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My inspiration books!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Egads!

They're gone. In a flash. Or a splash. whatever.

I don't know that they can be saved without being triple the size after drying....

I like to carry books to the park.

This won't work unless they're in EC's heavy duty mountaineering backpack; which vacates the whole sweet experience of carrying a book and reading in the park.

So.

Onward and upward.

UP.

Yep.

I crawled up from the basement AKA: Studio C and decided what any one of us would decide:

Go sew something. Deal with that situ at another juncture.

So here's what transpired after so much had expired down below.

Put the pedal to the metal.............whizzzzzzz, whirrrrrrrrrrrr, buzzzzzzzzzzz, zipppppppppp

Hop on over here to see what this became!

And this....

I'm still working on the cover for this chair, the ottoman is finished. You can read about that here....

....oh happy day at the sewing machine...me and my naked foot on the pedal and my little reading glasses so I can see....slip covers are my One weakness!

In the flood, I also lost the boys' Montessori home school books and notebooks I was saving for when they graduate. In the trash it all went.........well, some things didn't yet. I can only handle so much at one time, you see. I can barely include this in my post. Life is still good. We just lightened our load!!!!

s m i l e s

The slipcover that moves!

2011-03-30T19:52:00.000-04:00

Remember this?

chair and ottoman post here

This is her new DO!

She rocks back and forth

with a little more pizzazz now!

I'm working on her partner

after I tackle the flooded basement...........

oh.

I can't even........

Have a dry night,

Up next......

2011-03-24T09:59:00.000-04:00

I LOVE EC,

for many reasons,

but

on this occasion,

for

being

sentimental.

The chair below was the very comfy, extremely ugly chair we bought as I carried our first son in my womb. I agreed to it knowing full-well that it was the ugliest thing I'd ever laid eyes on. Then I sat in it.

Ahh.

My lower back made sounds...of relief and joy.

I was a high-end furniture rep.

How could I purchase this chair and put it in our nursery for our sweet little angel and walk by it 100 times a day and not feel like I'd committed a designer faux pas

or worse, some crime?

HORMONES.

I'm so glad it didn't go to the curb.

The day the chair was almost curbside, EC said, (I believe with tears forming in his eyes), "This is the chair you nursed our sons in, this is the chair we sat in to read to our babies, the chair that we slept in as our babies lay on our chests, you want to get rid of it?"

Well.

*sniff*

What kind of mother am I?

So. The chair stayed.

So did the moving ottoman. No. I can't even call this an ottoman. I'm sorry.

It's a hassock. Or footrest or footstool.

Imagine at 3 in the morning, holding baby, rocking in this gentle motion, both body and legs and feet back and forth in the most rhythmic movement...talk about sleep!

Oh goodness....all design statements aside...it was/is the most glorious motion your body would EVER need. And the entire seat reclines.

The chair cost over $500.

Eleven years ago.

HORMONES.

(thank goodness no little hands or legs got caught in this contraption)

So.

I'm slipcovering this set in drop cloth. Hopefully with some cording and fancy skirts.

Wish me luck.

(see you in 9 months)

*kidding*

Slipcover On and Off VIDEO

2011-03-22T12:56:00.034-04:00

First of all, thank you so much for your kind words regarding my

wing back chair slipcover!

My heart was singing!
Some friends were curious about how the slipcover went on and off
without zippers or ties.

Here's the video that I did today to show you the simplicity.

I'm all for simplicity!

VIDEO HERE
(same one as above!)
(I was having trouble getting the video uploaded)

Let me know what you think!

Have a great day!

The SlipCover that almost wasn't!

2011-03-19T18:07:00.002-04:00

Some of you may know that recently I started sewing real things.

*standing ovation please for Polly at Make Mine Beautiful*

Pillows were pretty much the ONLY thing I sewed for years. And they came out ONLY when I managed to sew a straight line OR glue the fourth side properly. I kid you NOT.

I do not follow patterns. EVER. They are scary. Truly.

But I do like to get started. Quickly. I don't do things very efficiently at first. If ever. You know, like most of you here. I'm ONLY repeating what I've read.

So without further ado...

here's the wing back slipcover

complete

BEFORE MARIAN DID HER TUTORIAL

ugh.

I could have saved so much time, energy, tears, gnashing of teeth...quits and restarts.

However, this is the way things turn out.

I am saving Marian's tutorial forever.

You should, too.

You know if you EVER want to know how to make a slipcover. EVER.

It's so straight forward and easy to follow that I almost started crying when I saw all the needless EFFORT that I put into this 9 month project.

(ok I did not work on this daily, but IT worked on my brain daily. Just about.)

On the upside:

I have learned so much by just diving into this project. Not only sewing and seam ripping experience, but things about MYSELF that are priceless and will remain anonymous - only EC knows what 'trouble I've seen'.

Here's the before:

I got this from CL because I wanted to try my hand at slipcovering a wingback without spending a lot of money.

Here's what the chair looks like as of today.

(the slipcover fresh out of the drier)

I will be painting the legs white at some point.

No welting this time around. I just wanted to see if I could do the cover with all the wings and arms and t-cushion and ruffles!

This is a complete slipcover without any zippers or ties, just slip on and slip off!

(If you recall my first EVER slip - this fabric is the same - just the underside.

I like both the grey and the white)

Let me know what you think!

Have a great weekend!

Sweet dreams and naps

2011-03-11T12:34:00.002-05:00

Friends.

Are they ALL so wonderful?

I think so.

Amy

from

ALL THINGS HOME

and

her sweet mom

sent these to me,

just because!

Amy had mentioned on her blog that her mom made her satin pillow covers and then I mentioned that I had heard so much about these and wondered where I could get them.

Then Amy says, "We'll send you some!!!"

Get out?

I jumped for joy!

Isn't that the sweetest thing to do?

I was so deeply touched!

So the box arrived.

I opened it up to this gorgeous gift!

I may just get back into napping.

Thank you Amy, and Mom, for treating me so special!

It means so much!

You'll never know!!!

What to do when there's no water in the house!

2011-03-02T18:27:00.003-05:00

Go on an impromptu field trip!

While EC was working hard reconfiguring water pipes in the basement and I was re-configuring my life again upstairs, I decided that since we can't take showers, brush our teeth, or flush, we might just go outdoors and hang in the sunshine for a few hours!

Nobody outside cares whether we've showered or not.

This hawk certainly did not.

She/he flew over us twice.

Swooping back and forth.

What to do when the sun in SHINING IN OUR EYES?

MOM!!!!!!!!

Simply close your eyes and smile.

(they thought this was the bomb!)

We began our hike through the crusted marsh

following deer tracks all along the way.

I find that I take pictures with my blogging friends in mind now.

This reminded me of some of you and your blogs.

There are many of these wooden bridges throughout the park.

This was a rusted old farm vehicle from back in the day, just sitting here in the ice.

Normally, I would NOT be interested in this.

See what some of you Funky rust people are doing to me!

Give the boys a tree branch and call it a field trip, is what I say!

They had the most fantastic time poking through the ice!

Onward! Young men!

Look at this Mom!

Take a picture!

This is the remains of a dead tree stump. About 10 inches of it protruding from the sheet of ice and it looks like part of the landscape from The Lord of the Rings!

When our hike was complete we wondered around the HANSEN NATURE CENTER

and gazed at the many varieties of animals indigenous to the area.

The animals are wildly displayed taxidermies!

The boys got to pet the fish and turtles, too. (kidding!)

Thank you,

TINKER NATURE PARK

for providing us with a place to enjoy

no matter the season

the reason!

Here's another photo of the path we were on, in the spring or summer.

It's a beautiful place anytime of the year!

photo from Tinker Park website

lovin' the outdoors!

oh, and the water is back on!

HORMONES in the HOUSE?

2011-02-17T16:15:00.000-05:00

I realize the title has nothing to do with a kitchen table or decorating or sewing.

Does it have to?

I think not.

My H's are raging or sagging or screaming or burning.

I don't know what to do about it.

Peri-menopause has hit.

I'm a sweaty, moody, brain fogged, heart racing mess

at times.

This isn't fair.

What to do?

Do you gals know?

I feel like I'm Wonder Woman one minute

and the next

I'm could crumble into a heap on the floor.

Fluctuations, you say?

OK.

I get that.

But does anyone have a clue what to do, who to see, how to deal with this?

My female indicator light is ON.

I am woman.

In Native American cultures of the past, the elder women who were going through their change were served and cared for by the younger woman of the tribe. They got to lay down - like all day long.

I don't have a tribe.

Where do I get one?

Do they exist any more?

Do YOU have one?

And then there's the

Black Cohosh

Wild Yam cream

Ginger

Ginkgo

Garlic

Spirulina Algae

I get agita from ALL this stuff.

Eat your greens.

Eat some protein.

I eat so healthy just standing next to me may cause a vitamin surge.

Exercise.

Burn fat.

Get the endorphins going.

Should I eat some more junk?

More fat?

I love fat and feel great when I indulge in a couple slices of bacon. My brain gets 'centered'.

Should I go to the drive-thru's a couple times a week?

I really don't want to. But I will if you say so.

I'm that desperate.

Are there any good books on the subjects or health care practitioners that you'd recommend?

I'll drive. I don't care where they are.

I HATE feeling like this.

I'm starting to experience vertigo whenever I go to a store. Only stores. Are menopausal women not supposed to shop? According to NA cultures, apparently not. They are supposed to lay down. I can't lay down. Yet, I want to lay down, just to get the spinning to stop.

I can't remember anything anymore. I remember my sons' names, sometimes, and who I am. But things like......what was I just going to type? LIKE THAT. Things like that!

I know it may sound funny. But I HATE this. And I hate it that I HATE it. God made me a woman. Obviously it's part of HIS plan that I go through this.

But NOW. TODAY. I NEED SOME HELP!

My doc thinks I'm depressed and should go on some meds. NOT. I got depressed when she suggested that, yes? But I wasn't feeling depressed before.

Then I tried a Kinesiologist. NOT. AGAIN.

Drank flower essences until I started to bloom and NOTHING.

NADA.

I'm reaching out to YOU. You may have an answer. A suggestion. Or know the name of a good medicine man. Leave me his number.

Please!

love you gals,

Birds of a Feather GIVEAWAY

2011-02-10T21:17:00.000-05:00

sometimes a giveaway is one of the best things on the planet

take a look at this sweety

she's being given away

a cheerful heart

fly on over and put your name in the nest for a chance to win!

Have a wonderful night,

Finding A Place to Live

2011-02-08T16:33:00.001-05:00

sometimes we just need to sit

not in our living room

or front porch

but

somewhere new

somewhere

where

our perspective can be altered

refreshed

and

charged

a place

with no expectations

no deadlines

no agenda

a spot on the planet

that we've never seen before

with our soul

a destination

where

the grind of life

is allowed to fall to the ground

in a big heap

and be swept out of the way

to make

for

a new life

without grinding, halting perfection

but

a perfect place

in heart

mind

body

soul

to regain

a new normal,

to make decisions

about who we are

what we choose to endeavor,

what we choose to endure,

who we choose to be surrounded by

the energy

the synergy

the glow

the joy

the life

need

order
to

LIVE

can you tell I'm on vacation?

love you gals,

Gitter Done on the Gulf Side!

2011-02-04T19:51:00.004-05:00

This is a unique GITTER DONE

But then again, isn't everything unique here in blog land?

Well, my Gitter Done, this time around involves our long overdue vacation! It was an impromptu vacation. That never happens. EC suggested, "Let's go to the Gulf!" I thought about it for a minute.....

I DID NOT...I JUMPED UP AND STARTED PACKING!!!!

With no real commitment or intention to blogging while we were gone, I couldn't pass this up. Marianne's depending on us, right?

So gals, my GITTER DONE this Friday is...

packed lightly for 4 people for a two week stint over 1000 miles away from home
plan travel and accommodations for our 2.5 day drive down to the Gulf of Mexico
visit with some blogging buddies on the way down and back

Then this crazy thing happened on our way down here.

Driving through Alabama, right? The crazy-of-all-crazy things happened.

It was the last bit of the trip.

We were just minutes from the Gulf.

And well....

The video will tell the rest of the story.
(the voice does not match the video..my apologies...I tried several different ways to upload and the voice was still off...poo!
and at the end of the video I wave and say, "Hi, Marianne!")

I'll be checking in now and then...and you can always find me on Facebook!

Have a great weekend!

love you gals,

GITTER DONE

2011-01-28T21:04:00.004-05:00

What I vowed to do for Gitter Done this week

was bury these babies into some banana bread.

Do you know how many loaves of bread I'd have to make?

A lot.

I did manage one loaf. I just took it out of the oven.

My sock drawer is still a colorful mess.

I promise, Marianne, that when I get back from vacation I will organize that drawer and make you proud.

Gals, have you seen Marianne's pantry cupboard?

Wow!

Those door hanger things made me smile so big. I even broke a sweat. That's what happens when I get really happy!

What did I do for GITTER DONE?

Well.

I started another blog.

What?

I know.

It's absolutely certifiably insane to do such a thing.

I'm a 65 followed gal blog. No biggey. But I LOVE this so much!

My brain swirls around all the time with creations that really blow me away and quite frankly tire me out. There is only so much one person can do when she has a young family, church, friends, two dogs, a husband and a home to take care of. Somewhere in there I gotta find time to take a shower and brush my teeth. And there are days. Let me tell you.

So, who do I think I am...creating another blog?

Crazy?

Yep.

It's not with the hope and dream of being anything BIG. I've already got my big life. A lot to deal with and be accountable for...but then there's this little bit of me that's starting to

I told you I was a late bloomer!

You know. Not all the flowers in the field bloom at the same time!

****

Here's the new blog.

CREATIVE COUTURE by KOLEIN

It's raw.

It's new.

But it is something I have been dreaming about and thinking about since the first time I sat at the sewing machine and then ran back and forth to the computer to follow Polly from MAKE MINE BEAUTIFUL's guest post on SEWING on Donna's blog.

(there was a little blog glitch somewhere and the post was lost. Donna retrieved it for ME. That's how I got to finish my first EVER slip cover and pillow with a zipper)

I owe so much to these ladies. And to you all.

This is Polly's Shop

Cuz, while I'm just a little ole ME who does some simple stuff and has a blast, the support I receive from you CREATIVE COSMIC WOMEN pushes all the right buttons on my artist barometer...

Finally.

So.

Refashioning Clothes. Taking what I've got and makin' it more suitable to my style!

You can read about it here.

CREATIVE COUTURE by KOLEIN

I'm waiting on getting a button from one of my mentors.

She shines and rocks!

And so do you all!

GOTTER DONE!

love you gals,

ps - I will be posting a picture tonight of the fresh baked banana bread! It smells

OH SO good!

I have another blog!

2011-01-26T19:12:00.000-05:00

I'm too excited to wait.

It's not perfect.

But I had to let you all know!!!!!

eeeeeeeeeeeeeexcited!

eee!!

I don't even have a blog button yet.

I can't figure out how to fix the html stuff.

But you know how it is when you want to scream, cuz you've got some news and since I don't have all your telephone numbers I had to tell you somehow!

Hope you have a chance to go take a look!!!

It's all about design.

Re-design.

This time.

Clothing.

Couture, to be exact!

love ya,

Birds of a feather....

2011-01-24T13:43:00.001-05:00

Denise

just got her wings
and is

flying over at ETSY

I promise if you buy a hundred or so of these birdies

they will not drop from the sky onto your lawn for no known reason. Nor will they leave any purple markings on your car.

Instead they will put a smile on your face

and

a song in your heart!

love you gals,

Gitter Done

2011-01-21T18:56:00.002-05:00

I have a little confession to make...

I didn't exactly do something for

I wanted to. I had some ideas.

Since Marianne mentioned that I did so many rooms for last week's party...and some of you commented that you were going to take a nap after you read all I had done, I decided that I would take this week off.

Oh, I did stuff.

I just don't have any photos to show.

AND

My freezer remains frozen in this state.

My sock drawer is still in disarray.

But I do have some ideas.

Just wait...hang on...

because "there has got to be an element of..."

Don't ya just LOVE how she gets it done?

so my Gitter Done is to go and have some fun!

I'll be here

and here

and

FACEBOOK

Have a great night,

Physical Space

2011-01-18T16:52:00.001-05:00

Recently, while I was resetting my house for Gitter Done, I had one of those design epiphanies. Now, you ALL probably already know this. I didn't. It has to do with physical space.

Currently I live in a fairly small home. Since the birth and growth of our two sons and the addition of two dogs and the add-on retired husband, our home has gotten smaller. It's a lovely little pad, though. I mean, I dream of bigger, but in all honesty, this home is manageable. Yes, I wish there was more storage. Our two-car garage was converted to a family room 8 years ago. Our basement is a partial with a crawl space. We lack in storage areas. However I have managed well with what we have. We are now bursting at the seams. Busting a gut, one might say. So, instead of complaining about it. I thought I'd do something about it. Time to say goodbye to the stuff and repurpose furniture, shelves, closets, etc.

While doing this mini-makeover I noticed something.

See that chair and ottoman on the lower left? Yep. That's the one. Look underneath the legs of the chair?

What do you see?

Space.

I've learned that mirrors and light colors add visual space to a room.

However, actually seeing space adds physical space to a room. In this small house, where all four of us and the furry ones are amid the structure all day long, having actual physical space to see with my eyes has opened my perspective to making our home quite literally bigger.

I am a visual person. And a feeling person. I cannot sit too long in a room with painted red walls, dark mahogany furniture and not start to feel the coziness, the warmth, the darkness around me. So living in a lighter home has been on my agenda for a long time. This transformation, in real time, will take me years to accomplish. That's OK. I have started, and continuing on this journey is actually fairly easy. Make it white. Brighten things up. Paint. Move stuff over or out. Not that hard a transformation when the color palette is simple.

Then I was awakened to space.

Take a look here:

how different this bedroom would FEEL if we couldn't see underneath the bed

and look what happens here,

seeing the floor opens up the room

how about here,

space

and even here in this darker palette,

space

the exposed floor underneath the table

allows the room to breathe

and here too, with the darker woods

without a rug to choke the room,

space

Just seeing space,

not only the illusion of it,

creates an openness in a room.

This is my new reality!

sources of photos:
1.homeedit.com
2.elle decor
3.country living
4.elle decor
5.coastal living
6.coastal living

GITTER DONE!

2011-01-14T18:30:00.001-05:00

Because I love

Marianne's blog

and

I love Donna's blog

and

I love getting stuff done

I did this

Thank you Marianne

for taking the reigns of

Gitter Done!

On with the show!!

Here's what I made myself do for this January 14th deadline

Note: nothing was purchased for these endeavors

in fact, I shopped the house!

1. Rearrange both boys' rooms - here's what transpired

moved out furniture - extra book shelves and chairs
removed large area rugs
filled totes with toys/stuff
cleaned
organized
moved in one large storage cabinet in each room

Boy #1

Room Before

Room After

After

shelving unit moved in

roar from the crowd

"thank you, thank you!"

Boy #2

Room Before

Room After

Shelving Unit moved in

Closet Reorganized

Everything in its place

"can I hear a shout out for the mom?"

2. Rearrange our classroom which is in our large family room (converted two-car garage) - here's what transpired

removed many years worth of school supplies, books, etc to storage
moved two very large and heavy cabinets out (those are the two that are now in each boys room)
condensed school room supplies to one neat and tidy, accessible area (I have been mentally planning this for years)
did I mention that I moved these large 4 foot hard wood cabinets up a landing and a set of three stairs and through the entire house, down the hallway and into each room?
I meant to
cleaned and vacuumed spider webs - horrible for me to do!

Classroom

Before

(actually this is more in-transition....I had the two cabinets back to back so I could decorate for the holidays and I had already started moving furniture and rugs out the boys rooms)

After

Each area labeled

the boys love working in here now...."Mom, now we can find our stuff!"

nice.

3. Brighten up the living room by way of what's underfoot - here's what transpired

rolled up 11X14 berber from son's room - moved furniture up and over the rug as I went. Can someone say? Oh my aching neck and back and I think my arms are longer??
rolled up 10X13 slate rug from LR
berber was unrolled into the living room
slate rug was put into son#1's room
throw to the curb EC's 30 yo lounge chair - see it right there in the lower left corner? It has a cover on it. It's true color - faded LL Bean rustic burgundy - NOTE: 7yo was concerned that I was getting rid of "Daddy's chair" - "Where will he sit and relax, Mommy? I mean, that's where Daddy likes to nap. Are you still going to throw it out?"
Move EC's lounge chair to the family room
Remove lounge chair cover
Yes, I did

Before

Transition

After

how do I love thee? let me count the ways!

*there's my first EVER slip cover chair and ottowoman on the left and the other grey number in the back to the right is almost done...the drop cloth chair is waiting to be a slip, too.

Marianne, if it weren't for YOU (and Donna) these plans would have remained in my head for another...day or so! Bwahahaaha! ...a long time!

OK, when is the next GITTER DONE?

This is what I've got on the agenda so far:

1. Clean out the freezer

2. Make some banana bread

3. Organize my sock drawer

love you gals,

fourth painting EVER

2011-01-11T20:31:00.001-05:00

it all started with a key

a key to a real castle

a castle in Scotland

a friend gave it to my 10yo son

he LOVES castles

inspiration hit one day and I started painting the key

over and over

on a large canvas

it sat on the table for a long time

before anything else happened

then this happened

and this

then this

my 10 yo would like this painting to hang in his
new rearranged castle bedroom

thanks for stopping by!

Insecurities

2011-01-08T09:34:00.002-05:00

At times, I feel insecure,

until,

needed.

Then, on a dime, my whole philosophical, genetic make up shifts.

And I become who I really am.

Courageous

Capable

Worthy

Suitable

Happy

Giving

Purposeful

Focused

What I feel is NOT who I am.

Is it when we are needed, a space is then created for us to step in to
who we are
and
will become?

love you gals so much!

Happy Mother's Day - a little early

2011-01-04T13:56:00.000-05:00

Love you gals,

Our Hanukkah, Advent, Christmas Story

2011-01-02T14:06:00.005-05:00

Some of you were scratching your heads.

Hanukkah

Advent

Christmas

I know.

I understand completely.

I can't figure myself out,

would I expect any of you to be able to?

Here's the story:

Christmas

When EC and I had our boys, we decided to begin some family traditions. They didn't start out based on anyone else's traditions. You know, handed down traditions? Those are phenomenal and I am always in awe of families who take the time to do these special things for those they love. So we really longed for something special for our boys. And ourselves.

Christmas, of course, we celebrate. Altho, no one knows when Jesus was actually born. And the holiday is based on pagan beliefs & commercialism. We are not cynical. We just value the truth about stuff. However, the warmth of the giving season allows us to express what we feel towards others. I wish there were several times during the year that that warmth was a common, all over the world expression, like at Christmas time.

So, we don't celebrate it because of Jesus...so much as an expression of love and value towards those around us.

We try to live our lives as that Christ expression

every day

because we know Him.

Hope that didn't sound confusing.

Hanukkah

The Festival of Lights.

Have you ever read the story?

It is one of hope in God, the provider of all things.

EC and I are not religiously Jewish. We are, however, Jews. Because Jesus is one of many brethren and we are

His brother and sister.

We are Jews.

I know.

I may have lost some of you here.

Did the numbers just go down?

ah, well.

But that's not why we celebrate Hanukkah.

Before EC and I met and fell in love we both had grown up lives. We shared much of our time with Jewish folks. With great fondness and love we participated in the Jewish traditions and high holidays of our Jewish friends/family.

When thinking of creating family traditions for our sons, we thought of celebrating Hanukkah.

It is a beautiful tradition for our boys.

We light the menorah each night, share in the Jewish delicacies of latkes, lox and bagels, matzo ball soup. It's an absolute blast searching out recipes. We play dreidel and read the story of how God provided enough oil to keep the lamps burning.

EC reads the book and we all cry.

God's goodness is so beautiful.

Advent

This one is the most Kolein-esque.

I was shopping at Target a few years back and saw this box with the little doors.

fell completely in love

It was $20. I put some other stuff back on the shelves so that I could rationalize buying the

"cutest earthy red box with little doors I'd ever seen!"

I don't even know what Advent is.

I didn't grow up in any religion, so no clue here.

I just had to Google it to find out what it means.

I know that it leads up to Christmas. And small gifts are given. That was good for me and the boys.

So.

We created our own version.

Each night before the boys go off to bed they open a door. There's a clue inside that leads them to guess what their gift is.

Small treasures laying inside and around the Christmas tree adds to the sweetness of the season.

Every small token has special meaning to each of the boys. On Christmas Eve, we sit next to the tree and read the little book,

Twas the Night Before Christmas

It's magical.

Because of our traditions, the season has a warm glow for the entire month of December here in our home.

I am blessed beyond measure to be able to create traditions for our little family.

And I am so enjoying reading all about your Christmas season and your expressions of giving with your families and friends.

It has been a lovely Christmastime here in blog land.

~~~~~~~~~~

I will leave you with this photo taken

December 1st in our backyard.

Snow covered every branch.

I had taken several of the yard blanketed in white

and then I decided to look up.

Look up

In your spirit

in your soul

with your heart

with your mind

look up

and see what you will find

Happy New Year to all of you absolutely phenomenal creative special loving women from all over the world.

You have blessed me beyond measure!

If you've got a Christmas Story to share, join us over here!

Funky Junk Interiors