Giving thanks!

Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful, and even though we get caught baking, cooking, running the highways, overeating, visiting until we are worn out, and taking time with loved ones, it is still a blessing to live where we are free to do this.  We enjoyed my husband's family this holiday, and were very blessed.

Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for grandsons,

budding artists,

kisses,

Innocense,



adoring pappas,



granddaughters,



daughter-in-laws,

sister-in-laws,

brother-in-laws, and husbands who do the dishes!  And more than anything, the Lord!

And now on to Christmas! 

Kitchen Updates in Our Old House

 Our old house is always in need of some updates.    It has been 10 years since we moved here, and I am just getting around to some of these jobs again.  My kitchen fireplace had gotten so dingy, and the old color looked drab and worn out.  So, I bit the bullit and pulled out the paint. I took down all the decor including numerous old iron cornbread molds, antique copper skillets, and chestnut roasting pan (turned out to be a laundry basket full!), and carted them out to my antique shed for storage.  Then, after washing and recaulking, I got out my white paint and went to town.  When I was finished and the paint was dry, I set the mantle with some of my antique crockery, and filled two pots with red twig dogwood branches from my bushes.

BEFORE, WITH THE OLD BEIGE PAINT.

ANOTHER BEFORE, SHOWING WORN OUT LIMESTONE SURROUND.

AFTER, SHOWING SURROUND, MANTLE, AND REPLACED DECOR ALL WHITE.  AFTER REARRANGING MANTLE, I REPLACED HEARTH WITH JUST TWO PIECES, AN ANTIQUE GRANITEWARE CHEESE  SLICER  AND A WHITE ENAMELWARE BUNWARMER.

I MOVED THE PHONE OFF THE WALL,  TOOK DOWN SOME OTHER WALL HUNG ITEMS, AND PAINTED ALL THE TRIM ABOVE AND BELOW THE OLD BLUE MILKPAINTED BEADBOARD WAINSCOTT.

ANOTHER PUT-OFF PROJECT IS PAINTING MY CABINETS WHITE AND ADDING NEW HARDWARE.  IN THE MEAN TIME, MY ANTIQUATED RANGE HOOD (I PLAN ON REPLACING IT WITH A CUSTOM LOOK LATER) WAS NOT IN KEEPING WITH MY OTHER APPLIANCES WHICH ARE STAINLESS AND BLACK.  RUSTED ON THE INSIDE AND SCRUBBED DOWN TO BARE METAL ON THE OUTSIDE, I GAVE IT A FACELIFT.  TWO NEW COATS OF WHITE UNDERNEATH, AND AT LEAST 10 COATS OF PROFESSIONAL GRADE PAINT ON THE OUTSIDE, GAVE IT THE UPDATE I WAS LOOKING FOR.

THE DAY BEFORE I GAVE THE BEADBOARD BACKSPLASH A FRESH COAT OF WHITE.  THEN I TAPED AND PAPERED OFF ALL THE CABINETS AND STOVE TOP BEFORE PRIMING WITH METAL PRIMER SPRAY PAINT.

AFTER 10 COATS OF BLACK PROFESSIONAL GRADE APPLIANCE PAINT, I HAD THE UPDATE I WAS LOOKING FOR.

ANOTHER KITCHEN VIEW.

WE ADDED THE ANTIQUE LAMP OVER THE SINK AND UNDERCABINET LIGHTING WITH OUR ORIGINAL UPDATE. TWO YEARS AGO MY HUSBAND GAVE ME GRANITE COUNTERTOPS FOR CHRISTMAS.  THIS HAS TO BE THE YEAR TO PAINT THE CABINETS!

LATE AFTERNOON SUNSHINE ON THE SIDE OF OUR 1847 HOUSE.