The Remodel Complete Part 1

This is our new dining room.  This room used to be our living room, but when we did the renovation, we decided to switch rooms.  In old houses, often the rooms can be multi-purpose, so we took advantage of the opportunity to make the swap.  Doing so, placed our living room on the front of the house by the front door and next to the foyer, and allowed our dining room to be immediately off the hall by our kitchen. It now backs  up to our sun porch where we spend most of our time.  We also have to walk through the dining room to get to the hall that goes to the bedrooms.  We like this arrangement, and find it is working quite well, even though I had to convince my husband that he would like it better.  He does.

The books shelves from the former living room now display a collection of ironstone and yellowware.  Even though I had some of this on the shelves previously, I now use the shelves entirely for this collection.  In order to keep it from being "too" busy, I tried to put just one or two pieces per shelf.  With my cupboards having display as well, I knew it could all quickly become overwhelming and lose effect and impact.  This little sideboard is one of my favorite pieces we brought with us from Kentucky.  It is a period walnut piece, and works so well to serve or display from. 

This view is the doorway to the hall leading from the sunroom to the kitchen.  This room was painted a new deeper gold tone, one of the new Nashville series paints by Sherwin Williams.  All of the rooms got new hardwood, "Saddle" 3/4" oak by Shaw Flooring.  My husband and I put down every last piece .  Some days I worked by myself while he was at work, just to keep making headway toward completion. 

This little vignette sits on top a cherry dresser which houses my table linens.  An antique spice box with individual metal boxes each marked with names of spices, was an estate find when we first moved here in 2000.  A miniature lamp sits in front, but it is really a vaporizer.  A little pan would sit above the chimney, where medicine, like Vics, was incerted and heated up by the oil lamp.   A little miniature oil painting was done by me many years ago depicting a primitive scene of my family playing together in the front yard of my childhood home in Wisconsin.




I really love my cherry stepback cupboard.  It too, is a period piece with nice chamford doors, and has excellent storage for glasswear and dishes.  It now houses my grandmother's red and white Crown Ducal.  I remember my aunt serving Christmas breakfast on it when I was a little girl.  Her home was also decorated with primitives, which I always admired, and believe that is where I developed my love for them. 

I often use my oval ironstone platters on the bottom shelf.  I have several very large ones, but they all have great uses from grilling out to plates of cookies for sandwiches.  The red and white transferware makes a nice contrast with the gold walls, while the white ironstone stays crisp and clean looking.  I have collected ironstone for many years before the popularity of recent years. 

The little dented up silver cup was mine when I was a baby.  According to my mother, I used to beat it on my high chair tray.  I must have beat it alot, because it is dented big time!

My husband built my dining room table when we first moved into the house.  It is 8 1/2' long and made with 2  very wide plank poplar boards with biscuit board ends.  It easily sits eight people, but we can pull up more chairs and pack them in!  

This was the light fixture that was in the house when we bought it.  We took it down to move it into the new dining room, and while it was down I painted it satin black.  I had wanted to do that for a long time, but finally got the go-ahead from my hubby.  We both like it so much better. 

We bought this pewter cupboard in northern Indiana while visiting my son and daughter-in-law.  I don't have much pewter, but it still has nice rimmed shelving and bottom.

The two dining room windows look out onto the back sunporch.

One windsor high chair holds a rack of milk bottles.  This still works great for the grandchildren too.
More pictures are on their way of the new livingroom, master bedroom, kitchen and master bath.  Thanks for cominb by!

Spring flowers from my garden.

I couldn't resist cutting some color to bring inside even though they may drive my husband outside! I'll try them for a day anyway. I started everything from seed over the years except the lilies and oakleaf hydryangea. This is the first bloom for the shasta daisies, but I've had echanaecia and feverfew for years. The feverfew came from my grandmother's garden, to my mother's, and to mine. I have carried it with me for 40 years, and will dig some to take with me if we ever move again. I am certain there is feverfew in heaven too.
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What's left of my Dogwood

This is what is left of our dogwood tree which was in the path of the maple tree. It WAS full of blooming branches. It now has a trunk with a top and one branch. Maybe it will pull through.
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After the storm

Our current storms are reaping havoc on our old maple trees. This is the last of three that stood in our front yard. Hate to see them go, but even more, the damage and loss of lives across the Midwest and Eastern states. My prayers go out to those families.
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Easy Grilled Potatoes

Since tonight was our first grilling of the spring-like season we experienced this weekend, I thought I would take a few pictures of my husband's favorite potatoes.  This is my own version of grilled potatoes that my mother used to make. 

I started with 6 medium spuds (I always make extra so Mr. C has some left-overs for the next night). I wash them, then microwave on my vegetable setting just until done.  Next I spray a large sheet of heavy duty foil with Pam.  After slicing the hot potatoes on a cutting board (no more than 1/4" thick, the thinner the better), I place them on the foil and season with my favorites.  I ususally use sea salt, onion salt, fresh ground pepper, and drizzle with olive oil.  When the garden spring onions come in, I often slice a handfull on the pototoes before grilling...delicious.

Opptional use of butter or margarine dotted on top creates added flavor.

After seasoning, bring the two longest sides of the foil up and fold it over twice to make a sealed pack.  Then fold or roll up the two ends. 

Now your packet is grill ready.  Often I put the pack on the grill when I light it, and let it warm up with the grill.  I will leave it on one side for 10 to 20 mins. depending on how hot I have the grill.  Then when I put the meat on, I flip the package with my grilling spatula, being careful not to tear the foil. 

I bring the potatoes in at the same time I bring the meat, and simply open and serve.  A dallop of sour cream is also good with these, but it doesn't take any special side sauces to make Mr. C happy. 

For those who like to use a George Foreman grill, I make these same potatoes making all slices 1/4" thick, and place a single layer on the grill.  I prepare them before the meat, and keep them in foil until the meat is done.  Try them and let me know how you like them!

Barn Storming

Traveling home last weekend, in the storms and pouring down rain, I took these photos out the passenger window, while my husband did the driving.  I decided to pick out old barns.  I missed numerous, as I watched for the next opportunity to catch a click.  All of these barns can be seen on I65 S from Louisville to Lewisburg, TN.  See if you recognize any.

I said it was pouring rain!  View out the windshield!

"See Ruby Falls" almost did not make it into my pix.  I love the barn advertising in the south. 

Lastly, a glimpse of our barn as we pull into the driveway.   The rain had stopped, the sun was trying to peek, and our barn gave me warm greetings of home.  Our barn is over a 100 years old, and has housed cattle, mules, and currently horses.  We have raised many colts, baby ducks, chicks, kittens, and puppies here, and with a loft the size of a basketball court, we have raised and stored hundreds of bales of hay.  Nothing like a good ol' country barn.

Nashville Flea Market

Sunday, on our way home from our nephew's wedding in Louisville, we decided to stop at the Nashville Flea Market.  We had been looking for some ornate hinges to match the antique hinges on our interior doors.  We are still in our renovation, so we are paying attention to details we have earlier let slide.  Mr. Charisma hit the jackpot and found several really great pairs that matched.  We also found some other neat things while browsing.  The white adirondacks stole my heart immediately, but only to my dissappointment, they were sold.  We came away with some new ideas, and had a great time.

I loved this old door!  It was a pale yellow, and the shape of the top was splendid.

Really liked this stand on the table top. 

One booth was full of architectual pieces.  I wonder what Sassy Trash would make with these. (sorry the picture is sideways)

The man who had the hinges, also had this great collection of glass doorknobs. 

I love the way in which he displayed the glass knobs, hung from a rail all tied together so the light could hit them.  What size do you need?  I think I just want them hanging up in the sunlight!

Twice I went back to see the antiqued red island bar.  It is just the size I was looking for my kitchen, however, the craftsmanship did not match the price.  We decided we could make our own, or have the Amish make us one we can paint our own custom color.  Great idea though.

I also loved this red leather wingback loveseat sofa.  I was thinking it would work in my new living room setting, but not for sure.  Thought I would wait to see how things work out.  All of our furniture is piled up in two rooms, so I have to do inventory when we begin to refill our rooms.

These post lamps were unusual, and could be a real conversation piece in the right room.  I can see  nice burlap shades on them.

This double vanity was not at the flea market, but was handmade by a local Amish man for my new bathroom.  I picked it up this week, but we are not ready to install it yet.  Later I will show it installed with the granite top and mirrors he is making to go with it.  I took him a few pictures of what I wanted, and he came up with this.  Love the little shaker leg.