homes tour 2011...

I promised pictures...
So, here they are, a few days late, but I've been a little tired. Sorry.
Everything went really well, and we had a great time.
The best part of the weekend for sure, hands down, was getting to pick up the girls from Gramma D... and bring them home! My heart, and this house just isn't right without them. So glad we did it, but very glad it's over too! Glad to have August to have fun, and be a family, and forget about all the projects for a while! But, I have to say it's awfully nice to have the projects done and behind us!

P.S. I totally forgot to take pics of the basement... my brain was sort of working on the same mode brains work at after having a baby, totally exhausted and spacey.! I'll try to take some pics this week to make it up to you! ;)

Homes Tour 10 years ago...

Click here to view these pictures larger

Ten years ago, when Matt and I were newly married in our little cottage up the street and around the corner from where we live now, we were on the Homes Tour.

A little strange to think we're back here again.

Only we have two kids, and a lot more space, and a way bigger yard, and the whole thing feels like it's on steroids compared to what we did 10 years ago.

It's fun to see these photos again. I haven't seen them or looked at them in a really long time... brings back a million wonderful memories. I can only imagine that when we look back on this Homes Tour experience we will feel the same! 

(Once all the hard work is over - of course!)

A week and a half to go! 

Wish us luck... ready or not, here it comes!

it's a home not a house...

Getting ready to put our house on the historical homes tour this summer (the end of July to be exact) is making me feel the pressure for my home to be a perfect house... but it's not because there are 4 people, 2 doggies, and 2 kitties who live their life fully underneath it's roof.

It would be super easy for me to get overwhelmed by making everything perfect for the big day. Instead I keep repeating this sentence over and over to myself as I have those kind of feelings creep in... 'it's a home not a house'.

It's a place where the dogs have scratched claw marks into all the doors.
It's a place where the young cat has eaten his way into all the new screening on the doors.
It's a place where there a smudgy little finger prints on walls and windows.
It's a place where cob webs often live.
It's a place where new grass is struggling to grow.
It's a place where there are weeds in the garden.
It's a place where kids play.
It's a place where food gets spilled.
It's a place where the laundry is never all done.
It's a place where there isn't possibly enough time in a day to get it all done.

But...
it's also a place where...





So, while I really do want everything to look amazing on show day...
I also never want to lose sight that our house is not just a house, it's a home!

the finished project!!!

We worked like busy bees this weekend, and it's done!
Yay.
Now we just wait for the two pictures I ordered from etsy yesterday, and hang them up and we'll be all done!





The all white that I have never done before, worked really well. I actually feel like the room is more interesting, and more fun now, and it's a lot less color!
I added color with little details and touches that make the room feel fun and playful - since it's a room designed for my kids. I want it to be a place where they can feel happy every day!





The girls both love their new bathroom, and I am hoping that it will keep them out of mine! ;) We'll see about that one, won't we!



It's definitely cleaner, more organized, and ready for them to do all the things they need to!

I love being able to check one more thing off my to-do list!



What do you think?
Do you like how it turned out?
Having this happy bathroom finished for my girls has certainly made my life more lovely!

*linking up with Life Made Lovely Mondays at Blessed Little Nest*

a happy bathroom project...

We are currently working on our upstairs bathroom. Interestingly, it was the very first room in our house we worked on before we moved in six years ago, and here we are again!



Nothing major, just a bit of sprucing up...
it was a bit tired, and many of the things we started six years ago, we never finished.

Luckily for us we had already replaced the sink and toilet a few years earlier. The tub is fabulous and original (although needing some resurfacing). The room had original chair rail but nothing underneath it, so we added bead board to the lower portion. This will also work as the back splash to the tub. I found this really great frame at an estate sale for $7.50, added a coat of cream spray paint a voila, a gorgeous new mirror for above the sink!



Before we started this project the room was painted in two tones of green. I was so tired of it! I was ready for something fresh, and clean feeling (especially since it's the girls bathroom). So, I did something I have NEVER done before, I painted a room white... two tones of white, but still.... White walls, white bead board, white painted fir floors, white fixtures. I love it, it feels like a great, clean canvas to work with.

Matt just finished up the last coats of paint today, (these pictures were taken a few weeks ago when we started the project) so tomorrow, I can get DECORATING! I'm excited... I will be sure to share the finished project with you soon!

Hope you're having a happy weekend too!

the stockings were hung by the chiminey with care...

All decorated! Check.
Now, I just need to get a bunch of things done and ready to hit the post office...
Wrapping...
Baking...
and other festive merriment's...
and we'll be all ready!

a finished basement!...

Yesterday was indeed a very happy day! I finally got my new washer and dryer to put in my newly finished basement - laundry room. It was a long wait, but so worth it! I have been washing stuff like a crazy woman, and I'm loving every minute of it! So, I thought I would show you around my basement. Now, keep in mind we haven't been moved down here for too long. There are still some things to be done, but we are totally enjoying what we have so far!

While decorating this space, I decided to shy away from my usual color palette and went with more fun vibrant shades and patterns! I actually designed the whole space around a quilt of my great grandmother's! This quilt has always been one of my favorite possessions... I love all the colors and patterns. It makes me happy the moment I look at it, and that's how I wanted to feel in our 'family space'!

Hope you enjoy the tour!

like the night before Christmas...

In a few hours the Sears delivery people will be knocking on my door. I cannot express the excitement that this brings to my heart...

I feel like a kid the night before Christmas.
Only, maybe a little more excited! :)

Five and a half years ago we moved into our house. Our basement was the dungeon from HELL. My dad and Matt told me I would have a laundry room in a month or so. (I should have known better) I think that is what they told me so I would sell my house that had just finally gotten a wonderful, perfect, clean laundry room, for my dream house with the laundry room in the dungeon from HELL! Well, I am happy to say, good things come to those who wait! And while yes, I have done laundry (lots and lots of laundry) in less than stellar conditions for many a year now. My day has finally come my friends. Shhhh, can you hear that? Yes, that's angels singing!

This last March, we finally moved into our basement after 4+ years of working on it's completion... I am elated to say it is truly a wonderful thing! We now have a family room, a spacious bathroom, and a wonderful, large, roomy laundry room/crafting and art space! We are about 92% done with the project, so do you know what I was finally able to do? Yes, that's right, I was able to buy the washer and dryer of my dreams. This is possibly the cleaning freaks dream washer and dryer. (and those of you that know me, know that I am a cleaning freak!) Oh, my.... tomorrow is certain to be a happy, happy day! (Maybe tomorrow I will post some pictures of my fabulous transformed space!) I hope I can sleep tonight! I am so excited... what will I wash first???

what's growing...

The girls and I have really enjoyed

planting, tending, and growing our

garden this year.

Normally I don't get my garden in until

Memorial weekend, but this year I

was determined to get it in much earlier,

so we could actually have our own fruits

and veggies to eat in the summer,

instead of early fall.

Everything is taking off...

now we just get to eat! (grin)

Here's what we've planted:

lettuce

cabbage

green peppers

7 different tomato plants

rosemary

carrots

beets

3 different types of onion

lemon cucumber

burp-less cucumber

squash

and

strawberries

Some of my fondest childhood memories

are in the garden with my grandma & mama.

We always had a huge garden growing up,

and it taught me a lot!

I hope that I can pass the same kind of

sweet memories, and education on

to my girls.

Food never tastes as good as

when it's grown at home!

Shared at a table with love.

in my garden...

In my garden there is a large place for sentiment.

My garden of flowers is also my

garden of thoughts and dreams.

The thoughts grow as freely as the flowers,

and the dreams are as beautiful.

~Abram L. Urban

The kiss of the sun for pardon,

The song of the birds for mirth,

One is nearer God's heart in a garden

Than anywhere else on earth.

~Dorothy Frances Gurney, "Garden Thoughts"

Come on in...

Welcome to our house...

Since I started my blog I have intended on

inviting you in for a look see,

but for some reason just haven't gotten to it...

So, today's the day!

I'll warn you now, it's not all that exciting.

So, run now if you like...

or continue on if you dare & you're like me...

someone who kind of likes to snoop...

I mean see other peoples houses.

I'll give you a little back story on our house...

Our house is named the "Woodworth House"

after the family who first owned the home.

It was built in 1933 by a father as a wedding gift

to his daughter, who married Dr. Woodworth.

I have often said you can feel the love

that this house was built with...

and here we are many years later

trying to re-store this home with equal love.

We will be in our house 5 years the end of December.

It was definitely love at first sight,

when we looked at the house!

We were lucky to have a friend who told us about

her friend who was interested in selling,

so we were able to buy the house

before it ever went up for sale!

We really feel this is our

"forever house"...

the place we will raise our kids,

and hopefully live to see our grand kids,

and their kids too!

First, I'll take you through the living room...

Now, I'll take you upstairs

to see the girls domain!

The girls share a room for sleeping,

and have another room for playing!

our family wall....

the stairway...

Next, I'll take you downstairs to

the master bath & bedroom.

We re-did this bathroom a little over

a year ago... it is now one of my favorite

places in my house!

This is why...

my bath,

my heaven!

Ahhhhhhh.

the place we lay our heads down to sleep...

this is most definitely my sanctuary!

this is the last thing I see before I sleep,

and the first thing I see when I wake...

it says,

to hear the laughter of a child,

to wake up next to the love of your life,

to know that God has placed

these angels on earth for you...

YOU ARE BLESSED

It reminds me when I forget,

and refreshes me when I am tired,

it keeps me grounded every day.

Now, to the dining room.

This is where we eat 95% of our meals.

It is very important to me to sit at a

table as a family and share food!

I am a dish-a-holic!

That and old linens...

I have officially run out of room for any more,

it doesn't slow me down too much!

I am lucky enough to have

my great grandmother's dining room set!

I don't love my chandeliers.

They are original to the house so I have

left them up... but it is inconsideration

to take them down (save them safely)

and put something up that doesn't look

quite so... well.... scary!

Here's my little kitchen.

It's small, but does it's job.

Someday it will get a face lift too!

We did a few things before we moved in to

make it more us... but someday it will

be exactly what we want!

This is our mud porch...

off the side of the house

This is where we come and go from,

most of the time!

Down the hall way & down to the

basement last, but not least...

Here is our most current project,

it has been in project mode for a long

time. I wish I had before pictures, you would

see why! It was a dungeon.

A dirty, dark, yucky place.
It had a huge old furnace that ate up

98% of the basement, a dark room from

the 60's and every project that had

been started and not completed since 1933.

It took 8 truck loads to the dump,

and a garage sell to clean all the junk out!

We will have a full bath,

family room, and large

utility/crafting space

when it's all complete.

We are incredibly lucky to have my dad

that is an incredible craftsmen

and furniture builder/restorer!!!

He built this in the bathroom for storage,

and to hide all of the main plumbing for the house!

This is what has taken the longest,

a brand new stair way, closet, and built in

bookcase. Almost all from recycled lumber

either from this house or other historic tear downs.

This will be our family room, it's set

up for sleepover guests right now...

We've come a long way in 4 and a half years.

Got a ways farther to go, but,

it's most definatly Home!



Hope you had fun snooping,

I mean looking at our home! (grin)

Another day I'll take you to the garden!