The hustle and bustle of preparing for Christmas is over. The presents that were so thoughtfully wrapped are tucked back under the tree and the wrapping paper, well, torn to shreds and in the trash barrel.

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. Despite living "in the "minute" rather than "in the moment" the two weeks leading up to December 25th!   Both of my parents had over a week stint in the hospital (Dad the week before Thanksgiving, Mom the 2 weeks before Christmas), so 2 weeks of preparation were lost.  Hosptial stays are exhausting if I do say so myself. I was over-tired doing nothing but sitting. I am glad to say they are both recovering wonderfully and I am not as exhausted as before. It's amazing how just sitting idle, adding in stress and worry will utterly exhaust a person.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day certainly came and went in a flurry. (no pun intended as we did have snow on Christmas) And even though the retail market is promoting "After Christmas" sales, Christmas is still alive and intact at the Schwark homestead! The trees are still twinkling, the music still rings of the season... I am letting it last through Epiphany. Well, most of the decorations will last. This weekend I will start to take down the Family Room tree as we are going to be working on the back hall off the kitchen. The rest of the house - Living Room etc will continue to sparkle for Christmas!

 Jim and I are blessed beyond measure by our family. Christmas night, as we sat in front of a crackling fire in the fireplace I got a bit emotional as I thought about how blessed we truly are... One reason I really wanted a family, when we were trying to have children, was to create a magical, picture perfect holiday for a child... one with both parents living under the same roof as husband and wife, as mom and dad. (coming from a broken home that was something I truly desired). God had His reasons for not allowing us to have children of our own, however, He did provide us with the Christmas family I so desired. Jim's family, my family... it might not be what I had envisioned, but it truly is a prayer answered!  It wasn't up to me to "create" a perfect family holiday... it was up to me to respond to Christmas and enjoy what God provided for the world on Christmas Day...

Here are a few photos from this Christmas - we had so much fun!

Niece: Stephanie Ann, Me, niece: Chrissy; Great Nephew: Chase

Nieces & Nephews
Kimberly, Isaac, Matthias & Sarah

It wouldn't be Christmas if I didn't get a kitchen gadget or two...

If you knew my sister... you would understand how true this statement is!!!!



Sister Melissa got a FoodSaver... Kimberly didn't quite understand why
someone would want to save food!  LOL

Soon I will tenderly tuck away my cherished ornaments and decorations... soaking in the memories of this Christmas as well as from Christmases past.  It's bittersweet... but until next season, I will hold Christmas in my heart everyday!

I pray you continue to enjoy what Christmas is all about.  That your celebration, no matter if things went as planned or not, was lovely!  I am looking forward to the year ahead!  I cannot believe 2011 is just around the corner!

1 CORINTHIANS 12 ~ A Christmas Version

1 CORINTHIANS 13 ~ A CHRISTMAS VERSION

Happy Christmas Eve, my friends! Darling Jennifer from over at Smelling Coffee , shared this on her blog and it was so good I wanted to share it with everyone as well! . It's a wonderful way of keeping the season in perspective as we prepare our hearts for the coming of the Christ Child.  I pray your Christmas Eve is full of all the riches the Lord has given you!

1 CORINTHIANS 13 ~ A CHRISTMAS VERSION ~
author unknown
If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling
lights and shiny balls, but do not show love,
I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies,
preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned mealtime,
but do not show love,
I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home
and give all that I have to charity,
but do not show love,
it profits me nothing.

f I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes,
attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata...
but do not focus on Christ,
I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things,

believes all things,

hopes all things,

and endures all things.

Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust,

but giving the gift of love will endure.



Much Love in Him!

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas...



A Blessed Christmas from my home to yours!


Each December it's something I hope for, yes even pray for at times. A White Christmas. Well this year I get one of my Christmas Wishes! We have had snow on the ground for several weeks. God replenishes and whitens the landscape every few days with a new coating of the lovely white precip! The other night about 4 inches fell and it looked as if we were living in a snowglobe that God had shaken! Gorgeous Christmas Snow!

Thousands of years ago God did a different kind of shaking. He shook the world when He sent his son to dwell amongst us. To save the world from our fallen nature. To be in very nature not just true God, but also true man! 

This past Sunday, while in church the Lord put something on my heart... Our Pastor's sermon focused on Jesus as "Son of God" the sermon text focused mainly on John 1:14-18

There was so much "meat" to the sermon - one of the notes I wrote down as I was listening was this:
God wants to be known & wants us to know who He is. He wants to grow close to us and have a relationship with us. I focused on these words from John 1:14 "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.   God sent His son not only to save us, but to show us that He desperately wants a relationship with us. He sent Christ to dwell, as flesh and bone, among us. With that I started to think about Advent and Christmas. Thinking on this time of year from a Christian perspective not just a worldly perspective. This is a time of year we prepare for Christmas Day. We shop for gifts to present to our loved ones. We prepare our homes, we prepare menus, we go to parties, we celebrate the good things the Lord has given us. This brings me to what the Spirit put on my heart during worship yesterday morning. For a Christian we are in the season of Advent - we are preparing for Christmas. Christmas, on the Church Year Calendar, begins on December 25th and lasts 12 days. From the 25th of December to January 6th (Epiphany). For the "world" December 26th arrives and boom - the sounds of the season are gone, the sale tags go up, the trees come down,  Nativity scenes are wrapped with care, ornaments are packed and Christmas is over for another year. This has always brought a bit of sadness to my heart. I thought... how can I share Christ... how can I help those around me see that God wants us to know Christ? How can I share that Christmas isn't over on the 26th? One thing I decided to do is this... I will share a scripture verse, a line from a hymn or carol, a prayer etc. during the 12 days of Christmas on my FB status. For 12 Days in a row I will post something new to my status sharing Jesus. So... what does me sharing this idea with you mean??? I would like to encourage you to do that same. Share Christ every day from the 25th to the 6th on your FB status, your blog, or wherever you can. Something new everyday! 12 days in a row! If you are unable to change your status, or blog each day - don't beat yourself up, share when you can.  Your blog posts need not be long thought out messages. They can be brief and point straight to Christ! The one thing I know about each of you is that you do share your faith on your blog, on FB, and/or Twitter throughout the year... I am thankful and blessed to be journeying shoulder to shoulder, key pad to key pad with so many faithful, Christ loving women (and men)
As 2010 comes to a close, I pray that each of you are preparing your hearts as well as your homes for the coming of the Christ child. I pray whatever burdens, hurts, fears, praises and requests you have are presented and lifted to the Lord. That each of you and your families are wrapped in the love of Christ and you experience Heavenly peace. I pray that you let Christmas live in your hearts 365 days a year... that you are able to share Him in some way each an every day of the year with someone you come in contact with. Even if it's a kind word or a smile. Someone who I hold very dear once told me "You may just be the only Bible someone will ever read"... Each one of you is so special to me. I am thankful for Blogland, email and  Facebook - it's been a wonderful way to reconnect with old friends and meet new friends. As we journey this side of heaven I am grateful to be journeying with all of you!

Even if your Christmas doesn't have snow on the ground - may you hold tight to this promise of a white Christmas:
"though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow."  ~ Isaiah 1:18 

Glory to God in the Highest and peace to each of you as you prepare to make room for Him! Christ IS the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

I Love you all!

Settling in for a long winter's nap...

It's beginning to look a lot like.... WINTER!

 

Temps have plummeted into the single digits, wind chill has been sub-zero the past few mornings and a gorgeous blanket of snow has covered the ground. So thankful for a warm furnace (last year we battled being "furnace-less"), the roof over our heads, and oven to cook cozy, winter meals... oh and my coffee pot! Gotta have that coffee going! The halls of our home are all "decked" and I am enjoying the sparkling lights on our trees! So happy we got some beautiful Christmas snow! I'm a sucker for snow in the winter! If it's winter... it might as well snow. I was reminded of Isaiah 1:18 as I gazed out my kitchen window early this morning. "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow." Such a wonderful promise to reflect on during this Advent season. It was still dark and the frigid temps made the snow sparkly! A beautiful sight indeed. More snow is forecast for tonight! After I work out I will hunker down in front of the fireplace and enjoy a toasty fire and some of my December issues of my magazines! A cup of Sleepytime tea will be involved as well.

How's the weather in your neck of the woods???? How are you coming along with your Christmas shopping? Are you baking cookies? Are you planning anything new and different this year? What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions? I'd love to know! I hope you are ready to settle in for a long winter's nap... as I tell my friends who complain about winter and say I wish it were spring... "don't wish your life away." There is a season for everything under God! Embrace the seasons... He designed them!
Much Love

Today, I have the privelege to be guest posting over at Kim's blog Quit Eating Out, for the Saturday Swap!!!

Please join me there and make sure to check out all of her delicious & wonderful recipes!

I'm sharing a "One Pot Dinner" recipe from Everyday Food Magazine (November 2010)

Butternut Squash  Baked Risotto

Enjoy!

Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins

Today I'm linking up to Kim's blog Quit Eating Out and joining the fun of "Saturday Swaps"  Please click the links for this weeks swap & how you can also participate in the quest to stop dining out, bring meals back into the home and enjoy time around your kitchen or dining room table.

One of the best times of the year to cook or bake is during the fall and winter months.  The cold temps and wintry weather bring us back indoors to celebrate hearth and home.  I  see no better time of the year to "Quit Eating Out"!!!  Cozy meals and yummy treats are a staple for us in our home!  Won't you join us, gather around your table and share meals the way they were intended to be enjoyed!

One of my favorite cooking magazines is Everyday Food .   The November issue is chock full of great recipes.  Today I made Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins (from Everyday Food, November 2010)

Ingredients Gathered & I'm ready to go!

PUMPKIN DOUGHNUT MUFFINS
Makes 12 - Total Time approx 1 hour from prep to finish

Ingredients

For the Batter:

Butter & Brown Sugar
Can't go wrong!



Dry & Wet Ingredients

•10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan

•3 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for pan

•2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

•1/4 teaspoon baking soda

•1 teaspoon coarse salt


•1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

•1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

•1/3 cup buttermilk

•1 1/4 cups pure pumpkin puree (14 oz. - a can is 15 oz. - I measured by sight - the extra ounce I gave to the dogs {grin})

•3/4 cup light-brown sugar

•2 large eggs

For the Sugar Coating:

•3/4 cup granulated sugar

•2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

•1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour 12 standard muffin pan. (I used Baker's Joy)  Make batter. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and allspice. In a small bowl, whisk together buttermilk and pumpkin puree. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, scraping down bowl as needed. With mixer on low, add flour mixture in three additions, alternating with two additions pumpkin mixture and beat to combine.

Spoon 1/3 cup batter into each muffin cup and bake until a toothpick inserted in center of a muffin comes out clean, 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine granulated sugar and cinnamon. Let muffins cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack. Working with one at a time, remove muffins from pan, brush all over with butter, then toss to coat in sugar mixture. Let muffins cool completely on a wire rack.

Ready for the Oven
Preheated to 350

The doughnuts were very dense... not too sweet (even w/ the cinnamon sugar).  The will keep for 1 day in an air tight container, or you can freeze un sugared muffins for up to 3 months.  I of course had to sample the finished product!  I enjoyed mine with a tall glass of cold skim milk!  Now I need to hit the gym!!!

Cool in pan for 10 minutes

Ready to Coat

 

Cinnamon Sugar - You can't go wrong!

 

 

 





Autumn Musings...

The warm days of fall will soon be fading into winter. We finally received some much needed (still not enough) rain... and more is on the way. The winds have definitely been picked and we had quite the line of storms move through this morning.  The wind was wicked!  Gonna be a blustery day!  I always call them the "winds of change" this time of year. We have plenty of firewood, so I can enjoy one of my favorite fall and winter pastimes... sitting in the comfy living room chair in front of a crackling fire w/ a good book, magazine or a movie!

One of our many woodpiles



My Favorite Golden Maple

 The leaves are turning quite nicely despite the lack of rain... the landscape is painted golden, red, brown - earthy. Pumpkins are everywhere... apples are a frequent staple in my salads and snacks. Cider, well of course I am enjoying cider from my favorite orchard.  So many rich blessings of fall!  I have traded in the outdoor grill for my stockpot & crockpot! (although we have been known to grill a steak or chicken breast on a snowy evening!)

For the most part we have put the garden to bed for the winter. There are still a few turnips to be pulled (I peel them, cut them in chunks, toss in olive oil, sprinkle w/ kosher salt and cracked pepper and roast at 350 degrees until golden brown. They have been a wonderful addition to our fall meals.



Brussels Sprout Plant

 The Brussels sprouts plants still stand tall waiting for the Thanksgiving harvest. Each year the day before Thanksgiving Jim cuts down the plants (this year we have 4 plant), we remove the sprouts, soak them in salt water overnight to get rid of any critters (grin) and we enjoy a nice dish of steamed, fresh Brussels sprouts tossed in butter and salt on the Thanksgiving table.  I am so thankful that my Grandmother inspired me to garden, that Jim's mom inspired him to garden.  We truly are blessed to have fresh veggies all summer long and into the winter months.  When I open a can of tomatoes I put up from the garden bounty, it's like a taste of summer in the middle of winter. 

One of my favs this year!

We still have quite a bit to do around the house in order to batten down the hatches for a long winter's nap!  The windows have been washed, the storm windows washed and put into place to keep out the cold and wind.  We have pulled the faded summer flowers from their pots, thrown them into the compost and stored the pots in the barn until spring.  This weekend we will store the patio furniture away *sigh* I love to relax on the patio... thank the Lord for my comfy chair in the living room!  The flower beds and landscaped areas are cleaned out, the peonies cut down and we have been raking, raking, raking leaves.  Did I mention we have quite a few trees?  AND our neighbors have quite a few trees.  I do believe all of our neighbor's leaves end up in our yard!  We purchased some gorgeous mums this year - they are in pots right now, however I would like to get them in the ground and  hopefully they will come back next year! 

The bird feeders are overflowing w/ seed so our feathered friends (and the furry ones - squirrels) have been quite happy.  I love watching the birds flit around enjoying the seeds.  Nuthatch, Titmouse, Chickadee, Cardinals, Junkos (Snowbirds), Wrens... oh and our woodpeckers!  We have quite a variety of woodpeckers each year!  The bird book and the binoculars are ready for use at all times! 

The inside of my house is ready for fall as well.  Fall decorations are up, throws are placed back on the sofa and chairs to cuddle up when it gets chilly.  Pumpkin scented candles are burning.... the color scheme of my house definitely shines this time of year!  I waxed and polished the hardwoods this past weekend. (our floors aren't sealed - so I still use old fashioned Bruce's floor wax).  The windows are also washed inside and the blinds are clean!  I have cleaned out the closets, donated items and organized!  My pantry is cleaned out, organized and ready for the winter stock up! 

OK, so I have rambled on too long about our fall/winter preparations! I hope you are enjoying this season!  Pumpkins, apples, leaves, sweatshirts, bulky sweaters, football, cider and hot cocoa!  What's not to love!!!  What have you been doing around your house this autumn? 

Feathering my Nest...

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf's a flower" ~ Albert Camus

I love this time of year... as the year matures into the beauty of autumn. We have already enjoyed our first fire in our fireplace... I was snuggled into my favorite fall/winter spot - my comfy chair next to a crackling fire. There is something about the change into fall that seems to say slow down, savor and enjoy this season.  I prefer this time of year much more so than the heat, humidity and the lack of rain we endured in Indy this summer.

I love to feather my nest, especially in the fall, and prepare for crisp evenings and the cold of winter. I embrace it... I can't change the fact that winter follows as I am not the one in charge of the seasons, the temps etc.  I leave that to God! ;)  I have found I am in much better spirits and more fun to be around if I don't grumble about what I cannot control! 

 I found these tips on the Better Homes and Gardens website and thought I would share them with you all!  I hope they offer you an opportunity to cozy up your home so you can enjoy when the change of seasons keeps you indoors.

Add a Throw Blanket

Nubby knits are an ideal companion for chilly nights at home with a movie. Plus, they temporarily add seasonal pattern and color to your home.
Get Cozy: Place throw blankets over your sofa and chairs, and even keep a few folded for the floor.

Pile Up Pillows

Paired with a warm blanket, pillows become snuggle buddies during on-the-sofa homework help or bill paying.
Get Cozy: Look for pillows with a lot of texture so they'll stand up to all the touching, snuggling, and (maybe!) throwing. Then pile them on the sofa and think about investing in or making larger ones for the floor.

Gather Around the Hearth

A crackling fire naturally draws people to it, so accommodate that with extra seating around your hearth.
Get Cozy: Rearrange your furniture to shift your conversation area to the fireplace. Add a stack of books to encourage much-needed relaxation time

Line Tables with Fabric

Bare tables, while perfect for breezy summers, are too stark for fall. Cover them up with seasonally appropriate runners.
Get Cozy: Tablecloths are expected, but a runner is an even easier way to dress up a table. Get creative and use a long scarf, a fabric remnant, or a thin blanket as a runner.


Carve Out a Reading Nook

Forget summer reading lists. Fall is the time to pull out your favorite tomes and lose yourself for hours in a good book.
Get Cozy: Pick a well-lit corner of your home, either by natural light or a lamp, and shove a comfy armchair in it. Place a table nearby, stacked with your favorite books and reading lists.

Try an Area Rug

Nothing heralds the pending arrival of winter quite like a cold floor on bare feet.
Get Cozy: Fend off icy toes by placing area rugs in well-traveled spots in the home. And put on a pair of house slippers!


Hang Heavier Drapes

Heavy drapes keep out drafts and lend an opulence to the room, especially if you let them pool an inch or so on the ground.
Get Cozy: Switch out summer sheers for pattern drapes, layering fabrics for extra warmth if you want it.


So what types of changes/ additions do you make to your home in the fall/winter to make it cozy and comfy!  What do you look forward to the most as the seasons turn!  (no negatives about how you hate winter please... remember, we don't want grumbling !  [ grin] )

Savor this season friends... the landscape shines in the rich colors God has provided!  Soak in His majesty and the ordinary miracles many overlook as they go about their day.  Take a walk, sip some cider, visit an apple orchard and pick your own apples, bake a pie or an apple crisp!  Snuggle up with a good book, your bible or a movie! 


"Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn."
- Elizabeth Lawrence

"The house seems a little emptier now..."

"Took Amanda back to school today. The house seems a little emptier now. I guess I'll just have to harass Alex and Liz more!"


This was a friend of ours status on Facebook through last night... he posted it last Wednesday (I think).  I remember smiling when I read this post. Poor Alex & Liz! 

Last night, it wasn't the words "I guess I'll just have to harass Alex and Liz" that resonated in my heart, but the words "the house seems a little emptier now."  I cried...  my heart ached.  Amanda, our friend's oldest daughter, passed away yesterday.  Sunday evening, Amanda was riding her bike and was struck from behind in a hit and run accident.  She was taken to Methodist Hospital in critical condition.  Yesterday afternoon... the Lord took her home.  There are no words at a time such as this... only prayers... only the grace, mercy and comfort of our Father in Heaven.  This morning when I checked my Facebook account these words were part of our friend's status and they  hung heavy in my heart... "As for Amanda, I never thought I could feel this much pain before" I am not a mother.  I have never been able to have children.... I cannot fathom the depth of pain one feels at the loss of a child.  My heart aches for the family.  Their house will seem a little emptier now... one of them is gone.  This family is a family of deep faith... I am thankful for that as I know the strength of the Lord will be the balm that soothes their emptiness, their sadness... their loss.  Please pray for Roger, Angie, Alex, Liz and their entire extended family.   I am thankful that in Christ, death is not the end... and this family will be reunited again... in a house that if full of many rooms. A house where there will be no emptiness, no pain, no tears. 

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."  ~ Revelation 21:4

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
~Psalm 23:6

Well the kitchen renovation is 99.99999% complete. Just a few more things like one switch plate cover and ummm... well a few decorative items like a rug for under the table (winter is coming and I have to keep my toes toasty!) I am taking my time as I want to make sure I really, really like what I purchase. I need a lamp or lamps for my buffet table... all in good time. Nothing has really jumped out at me yet! Of course I haven't really looked, but that's ok. Of course no that the kitchen tasks have been done for a few weeks I am ready to paint the trim in the back hall (off the kitchen). Fall cleaning is also in full swing!

So... here are a few more pictures. They are the best, but I wanted to share what we have done!

We tore out the counter tops ourselves - the old cast iron sink weighed a ton!

Oh Happy  Day!  Counter tops going in!!!

Installing the beadboard backsplash

Jim putting up cabinet doors (whew what a job)

Cabinet knobs & drawer pulls are oil rubber bronze

Love my new clock - it hangs above the buffet table

Ahhhh... pretty much done!

I LOVE my new sink!  Because we only painted cabinets & didn't replace
we could only get a single bowl (really what I wanted) cabinet wasn't large enough
The sink is really deep!!!

The inspiration for the re-do is up!!!

I have to say I am so glad it's done!  There were some bumps along the way... but for the most part we didn't have too many problems.  Jim has decided he is not a plumber!  LOL!  I have decided I can do some electrical work!  Ha!  It was wonderful to finally have running water and a clean kitchen!  I was able to make a nice birthday dinner for Jim. (even if it was a day late). 

I am now looking forward to the change of seasons.  My kitchen is complete - just in time for soups, baking... comfort foods!  I wish I could have all of you over for a cup of coffee... and make some wonderful memories around my kitchen table!  For now we will have to meet "Over the Backyard Fence" here in blogland! 

September already?

When I turned my kitchen calendar this morning I still couldn't quite believe it is September 1st! Labor Day is looming and before long we will trade flip flops in for fuzzy slippers.

This summer has been oppressive to say the least. Indy has experienced extremely hot and humid weather with 30 plus days over the 90 degree mark. Heat index readings of 105 degrees + have been common. With all the heat - no rain. Yes, the driest August on record. They say .37 inches of rain - but that's downtown. There's no way we have had that much rain at our home! The yard is crunchy and like a hay field. The ground is cracked in areas that have never been cracked. While I hate to see summer leave us. I have to admit I am really looking forward to fall! (more so than I normally do). So much so that I already changed my blog header!

Our trusty (ahem) weather forecasters are telling us we are going to get some rain tonight through Friday. I sure hope this time - they are correct! I don't know the last time I looked forward to a rainy day like I do right now! With the rain... cooler, fall-like temps moving in! Hooray! My kind of weather! I plan on enjoying some miles on the bike this weekend... time with friends... and cooking in my newly renovated kitchen! I will post pictures soon! I have one more touch to add and then I will finish up taking pictures!

As I close... please continue to keep Elaine in your prayers!  She had a double mastectomy this afternoon!  I am blessed to have gotten to know Elaine (Peace for the Journey) via blogland.  She is an incredible author and if you have not visited her blog... I highly recommend you do!  You will come away blessed!  Elaine my friend... I love you and will continue to pray for you in this season.  The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you... Deuteronomy 31:8


I love you all!

The Renovation Continues....

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel... and I have to say it will be wonderful to get my kitchen back! I am growing a bit weary of carry-out. I am not one who enjoys that much "bad" food. Jim just said last night "I really want some vegetables!" Me too! I miss my veggies... I guess McDonald's fries are not considered vegetables.

This past Saturday was painting day! Well, the first of several painting days. The cabinet painting commenced. .  Our good friends Gus & Shellie Sturm were gracious enough to help!  What a help they were... plus it made it more fun!  We played Sirius Radio 70's music all day... worked, painted, sang and danced.  Well I believe I was the only one who danced!  I definitely entertained everyone!  Ha Ha! 

This has given me a chance to use power tools

The most important kitchen appliance - the coffee pot

First Coat of Primer ~ Looks good already!

Looks like an episode of A&E's Hoarders

Shelllie Goofing Around

Sanding Central

Jim just had to step in

My pal Shellie

Dinner - I slaved all day on this dish & pulled out the fine china

Gus hard at work - Jimmy supervising
I hated the color at first - love it now that it's done!

Since these photos we have ripped out the count tops, the very heavy cast iron sink and the cabinet doors are painted and sealed.  Tonight we will hang the doors and tomorrow the counter tops are installed!  I can't wait to cook!  Have I said I am tired of takeout?  I think I have... about a billion times to anyone who will listen!  More pics to come... and they should basically be the finished product!  Can't wait!  Tired of takeout - have I said that?  Oh yeah - a couple of times!