Dad's Kitchen Redo

This is an AFTER pic (Cabinet doors are still open to let dry a while longer).
Want to see more? Click below.
Dad's Kitchen

Oh, take note of the fruit curtains, old light fixtures, etc. in the first few images.
And yes, the counter top and cabinets were actually that messy lol
kitchen ceiling tiles were replaced and cross grid was painted white instead of the black they once were. The change of color really opens up the room and the first thing you look at isn't the ceiling.

My sister, Karla, found the vintage fabric to make a new valance and tiers. I love the colors in them. :)

Other sister, Kelly, ( the one with the mushroom towel over her ta-ta's) , kept us entertained throughout the day. Can you believe that the towel still had the original price tag on it???!!!
I hadn't seen one like that since the 70's.

The kitchen is a little more retro cottage now. :) There are still a few finishing touches that need done, but, oh, it looks soooo much better!!!!

Wall color and upper cabinets are BEHR antique white
Lower cabinets are Dutch Boy's color"creamed coffee" ( but paint is Kilz Casuals)
Using a lighter color ( and its the same as walls) on the top cabinets actually makes them "disappear".
Cabinet hardware was painted with Rustoleum's "hammered " texture paint.

A big cheer goes out to all: Karla, Doug, Kevin, Beth, Kaleb, Kameron, Kelly, my SO
and to dad and Martha for having the patience to be gone all day while we invaded the house. :)

I love my family!

HAppy Birthday

HAppy Birthday to me!!!

I am feeling ill.

Maybe too much overdoing it the last week.

Oh well, I will celebrate another day.

Busy, Busy Weekend

Whew, it was a work weekend thats for sure!!!
We have spent the last 5 days cleaning at my dad's. The wall border from 1986 is down and walls have been cleaned. The yard is mowed, old flower bed is gone, and garden weeded.
Wait till you see the before and afters. ;)

My yard sale finds consisted of a Pottery Barn table and chair, small vintage wooden boxes w/ slide lids.
Gosh I love'em!!

Camera is at dad's so you gotta be patient. :)

Eating Crusty Peaches

Thought I would fix some dessert for a late night treat.


We call it "Crusty Peaches". :) lol

4- 15 oz. cans sliced peaches, drained
1 dry yellow cake mix
1/2 cup melted butter or margarine.

pre heat oven to 350

drain peaches
place in pan( this one is just a little smaller than a 13x9).
sprinkle DRY yellow cake mix over the top
pour 1/2 c. melted butter over the entire pan.


bake approx. 1/2 hour OR till golden brown.

cool about 20 minutes.




serve with vanilla ice cream.
Yum!!!!


Headed to my dad's this weekend to do some clean up for Father's Day.

Be back soon.

I cheated at Lowe's

I confess, I cheated at Lowe's.
Not with a man, but in the lumber area. :)
I have been thinking that my island looks a little rough; thats not the look I wanted..

This started out as a thrift store cabinet( it is a Kraftsmaid though, cost 24.99)
You can see the whole kitchen redo HERE.

Anyways, back to my story.
We used a thin wood known as lauan (it is also used as an underlayment) on the sides since they were all open.
The stain went on darker than the stain used on the cabinets( even though the salesman at Lowe's said it was the same wood AND we had same application time).
Every time I looked at it, I knew I wanted to do something more with it.

Went to Lowe's to look at corbels.
My thinking was they would make it more the center of the room and look more finished.
Well, corbels are not cheap!!
kept looking at them and looking.....
then headed to the lumber dept. ..........
well, lumber was cheaper, alot cheaper!!!!
but SO( significant other) said we didn't have a template to make our own corbels
the light bulb came on (or off) in my head.
I told him to head back to the other dept. and grab me one of them corbels; while I grabbed up a 2x8x6 board.
Of course, I didn't have a pen in my purse. :(
I headed to the closest counter ; SO is looking horrified- he knows what I am going to do. lol
The wonderful, cute, cashier handed me a pen and I drew a template of the corbel ON TO the piece of wood that I was going to buy(he even told me it was good idea).
We took the template corbel back to its area and paid for our piece of wood.
Original corbel 15.00 EACH (I needed six). Total would be 90.00!!!
My cost for piece of wood to make my own - $6.51 !!!!
$6.51 !!!!

Brought it home. Cut out the one I drew in the store and then used it as a template to make the rest.

sanded, primed and attached to island.
All painted and distressed. I love the look!!!!!

view from the couch

I think it was worth cheating.........................

This & That

This is an aerial view of Hartville Marketplace.
Last week we went with my mom and step dad to check the place out.

It's huge!!! Anyone who loves thrifting and good 'ol stuff needs to make a trip.
I can tell you that:
1.The outdoor vendors love to bargain
2.Its all on blacktop for easy walking
3.Those two parallel 'sticks" are places for vendors AND walkouts. don't let it fool you, the WHOLE perimeter of that big parking lot is nothing but vendors.
We are definitely planning another trip.
THAT is my living room pre door removal.
Showed you this a while back.................

We decided to remove the door on the left since the wall between the room is gone anyways.
Can you tell by looking at the couch , who has the easy life??? :)
This is...........

This is.....................
Finished!!!!

I like it so much better. Maybe I need to look for a huge mirror or something else to put back there??
That is our male cat. Who says men don't make good babysitters!!???

Those are not even his kids.
I am a responsible pet owner( he is neutered and has been for over a year). The neighbor moved away and left 3 cats. Two of whom are females, one of them was pregnant. The momma had 5 babies. I need to find them homes, in case you are looking for a kitten.
Check back later . I got to tell you about cheating AT Lowe's. :)

Peonys, Pineys or Pennies

Peonys, Pineys or Pennies......
What do you call them?
My grandma called them "Pineys". I didn't know any different until I was older.

The real name is Peony.
They are the state flower of Indiana.

Originally they came from Asia.

My personal opinion is that these Peonies are particularly big and beautiful this year, probably because we’ve had plenty of rain and a cool spring.

But they could be even bigger if I had removed the side buds a few weeks ago. My grandma always removed the side buds on her peonies so just the main flower bud on a stem bloomed. She showed us how to do it so we could help. As a result, she’d have peony blooms as big as our heads.

The peony is among the longest-used flowers in ornamental culture and is one of the smallest living creature national emblems in China. It is also known as "flower of riches and honour," and is used symbolically in Chinese art.

Mischievous nymphs were said to hide in the petals of the Peony thus causing this magnificent flower to be given the meaning of Shame or Bashfulness in the Language of Flowers. It was named after Paeon, a physician to the gods, who obtained the plant on Mount Olympus from the mother of Apollo. Once planted the Peony likes to be left alone and punishes those who try to move it by not flowering again for several years. Once established, however, it produces splendid blooms each year for decades (Taken from The Language of Flowers, edited by Sheila Pickles, 1990).



Peonies tend to attract ants to the flower buds. This is due to the nectar that forms on the outside of the flower buds, and it not required for the plants' own pollination or other growth. (My grandma would say thats wrong; she always told us that ants are needed to eat away at the sugary wax on the outside of the buds.)
We "cage" them with a large tomato cage each Spring when they come up from the ground. This keeps them from falling over when the bloom heads become huge.

According to Fifty Flowers, which sells wholesale flowers, roses are about $2-3 each and peonies are $4-6 each... so peonies cost about twice as much.

I love having such a beautiful "gold mine" in my yard. :)

Thrifty finds

Did more thrift store shopping than yard sales. Yes, it was a hot, humid( and sometimes rainy) weekend. I should be used to it by now . :)




Found this at a military thrift store in Zanesville.



price- 50 cents



I am thinking of a vintage display??

maybe find a couple hats to add to a wall with it.





Another find at the same store

white tags were half off.

so.....

less than 35 cents. lol

the fern leaves are real; frame is off white and distressed.



from another thrift store run by Pound Partners in Cambridge.

paint edgers 50 cents for both( plus refill pads)

cute button shower curtain hooks 50 cents /pk.

glass cylinder vase 50 cents

rattan basket 25 cents

Did I mention that the store has 50% off EVERY Thursday???

See other great finds at

And..............

more rain today..........................

the deck still looks ugly.

Is this ever going to get done?

This is my small deck.

See how it is bare, ugly, undecorated?

I intended to have some cleaning done, pillows made, a few candles and maybe a pitcher of iced tea on the little table.

no such luck.........................

Why?????

cause we had more RAIN.

American Signature Free 20oz candle

Printable coupon for American Signature Free 20oz candle
http://tinyurl.com/26o32la
or copy and paste:
http://www.asfurniture.com/EmailCampaign/JuneWk2/index.html
you can use the store locator on the site to find out if you have a place near you.
I think everyone loves candles. :)

Morning Motivation

Morning Motivation.......
When I woke up this morning
lying in bed, I was asking myself;
What are some of the secrets of success in life?
I found the answer right there, in my very room.

the fan said................................ be cool
the roof said............................... aim high
the window said......................... see the world
the clock said.............................. every minute is precious
the mirror said........................... reflect before you act
the calendar said........................ be up-to-date
the door said.......................... push hard for your goals


AND NOT TO FORGET,

THE CARPET SAID...
KNEEL DOWN AND PRAY.


off to do some outside work while the sun is shining.
be back soon,
kim

Thrifty Weekend Treasures

Found this weather vane at the Goodwill today. price- 99 cents :)
Yard sales were few and far between this weekend due to all the heavy rain. :(

braided rug $2.00. its about 5 ft.long .
I washed, dried and have it on the floor in the hallway.



Queen size chenille bedspread $2.00 and it is in great shape!!! yea!!!


Stop by SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY and see everyone else's thrifty treasures.

Hanging around the House

The last 16 hours we have had lots of rain.
My plans for doing much outdoors is now on hold.
Am hoping for clear weather tomorrow, as there is a graduation party to attend. :)

This is a table centerpiece I put together. The yellow stuff( Goldenrod?) was some of the artificial plants from the yard sales last weekend.
The old watering can was a yard sale goodie($2.00) from last year.


I took this pic after filling the bike pots last week. Hopefully, will get another when they are much fuller.



Got Mr. Snowman at a yard sale on Thursday. He was $1.00.
Right now, he is sitting outside the storage building.

I don't think he minds the sun.
After all, he IS smiling.