My Dream Home-An Authentic Farmhouse

 

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Now that Tim and I have our home on the market every few days one of us is surfing MLS to look for a farmhouse. Tim happened across this one. It is not in my budget but I love it!

This is a true and authentic farmhouse. My goodness it even has a wringer washer in the corner of the kitchen. Imagine that.
 I thought it may be an Amish home. The electric stove in the kitchen and the ceiling fan tell me otherwise.

 

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Look at this kitchen, will you?

My, oh my. Be still my heart......

Take in that gorgeous wood burning cook stove, the old kitchen table and chairs, the waincoating cabinets and the cabinets with the chicken wire fronts.

I am only sharing four photos with you. If  you would like to see every photo of this home please click on 'source' under any of the pictures and it will take you to the realtor's site.

 

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I once had a claw foot tub and I am very partial to them. I can attest that they are quite comfy! Notice the drainage pipe covered in wallpaper? I've had these in my home and never knew quite what to do with them.

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This is one of four bedrooms. My favourite features here are the wainscoting ceiling and the wrought iron bed. Although my taste in decor would be different, I think that the room is still lovely.

 

Something not so lovely to show you......

We had a light snow this morning.

 

I do have two sweet crocus that have bloomed and a few tulips throughout the yard that are showing promise. Spring is here (I'm tapping my red slippers together).

Now I will let you run along to check out my dream house. I'm not coveting it, just appreciating the home. Really!

Blessings-Kimberly



 

 



 

 

 

 







A Free Gift

 

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Hi! I received a free gift last week.

Pop over to my other blog here to see what I received!





A Favourite Dresser

 

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I am not a lover of the colour yellow but for some reason I really, really like the yellow that was used on this dresser.

In fact, I like it so much that I went out and bought a small container of paint that I hope matches this yellow to paint a dresser that I have in my basement sewing room.

 

This is my lovely little dresser. I think it is designed very similar to the one that I have fallen in love with.

Do you?

 

 

Do you see that paint swatch? I'm hoping that it is the colour match I need to copy my dream dresser. You never know about these things until you start painting. I figure if it's way too bright to my liking though I can tone it down with some white paint. EEK-I hope!

I plan, also, to add plaster of Paris to the mix to create a chalk paint effect.

Have you ever tried this? I have not. I have painted black premixed chalk on a couple of door and they turned out fine.

My sister mixes her own all the time and assures me it will work.

 







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I found a recipe here that I will use unless someone else out there tells me of a better one. Oh, and feel free to offer any tips you have-please!

 

I know I've promised the sewing room photos soon.....

My excuse for not posting them already is threefold.

1) I have a scratched and stained counter top that I want to cover with contact paper before I show you the room.

2) I want to finish the dresser first.

3) I have to finish this bag order for the Yukon before I can take the time to do excuse #1 or 2.

There you have it, my bag of excuses.

 

I can't believe it is Thursday already. I don't feel like I have gotten much accomplished this week at all. I did get all of the bags cut out. I had to wait on my thread order to arrive. It showed up Tuesday. But then Tim and I went gallivanting over to Marathon yesterday and blew my hopes of getting any work done on Wednesday. But that is life.

And we do need to be spontaneous once in a while!

 

Here is hoping that you have a blessed weekend. And a sunny and warm one wouldn't be bad either.

Kim 

 

 



 

Hooped Embroidery Art

 

Hi Friends!

I am posting over at my other blog today.

I'd love for you to join me here.

Have a great day!

Kim



My Latest Embroidery Projects

 

Good Morning!

 

I have been itching to get back to making a few projects on my embroidery machine for a long time, but I wouldn't allow myself the fun until I finished some more pressing projects-ugh.

Last weekend I threw everything else to the wind and whipped up a couple of wall hangings for two of my grands and one for myself, of course.

I have to say that this lemon of a camera that I bought last year doesn't do justice on how cute this wall hanging for Star turned out.

 I would love to toss it in the trash, but I will refrain-this time!

 

This is Lambert's. He likes dragon's now.

As you can see my bottom lettering is a little off. A lesson learned not to work on projects at eleven o'clock at night when you are tired!

 

 

This is for me, for my sewing room. I still need to hoop it.

 

 

And lastly, a Raven with fireweed. I am experimenting with patterns for the bags I will be selling in the Yukon. The fireweed is actually pink there. The pattern colours was wrong, but I will fix that on the next one I make up.

 

Weather wise we have been blessed with sunshine the last three days, but cooler temps. I'm not complaining considering the huge amounts of snow I see some of you are getting in Southern Ontario and out East. Yikes! I hope it will melt fast for you.

 

Since Tim is working today I want to get right on experimenting with my bag patterns again. This time I hope I can come up with some that I really think will work. Do you find you get more done when your husbands not around? I sure do! I don't really understand why, it's just the way it is.

Well, have a good day ladies. I'd better get off to doing some work.

Take care-Kim

 

 







 

 

 





Hello, it's me.....

 

A little birdie told me that if I don't stop by to say hello every once in a while I will lose touch with bloggers and soon fade away into the sunset.

And I always sit up and take notice when a bird starts speaking to me!

 

I really have been busy. I promise I'm not sitting around eating bon bons and watching TV. We've been doing Spring touch up on our home. Oh, and I've recently converted my spare basement room into a sewing room now too. I'll have to show you photos of that soon.

 

Tim and I also just returned from a trip down to Sault Ste. Marie for shopping and appointments. It was a bright and sunny day with 20C(68F) weather. We had nearly four days of beautiful weather, but now as I sit and look out the window I see snow flakes zooming past (it's very windy today). I heard at physio today that the forecast is calling for freezing rain.

 Really? I refuse to believe this. I think I will close the curtains and pretend it's not happening.

 My crocuses have bloomed now so I'm sure we've turned the corner even if it is going to be cold for this coming week. Fingers crossed!

 

 

I've had a request for more of my mittens from the Yukon. It does seem strange sewing wool mitts at this time of year. I realize though that summer is the busiest time of year for Yukon businesses, so I'm happy to oblige!

Please pray for the earthquake victims in both Ecuador and Japan. My goodness, if watching the news  these days doesn't prompt a person to want to pray I don't know what will.

 

Blessing to you all-Kim

 

 













A Clean & Simple Kitchen

 

I'm wondering why I ever said I would show you my scaled down kitchen now. I only have two pictures taken after all. But here it is...

 

I realize that I should get a close up sometime of my tea towel curtains. I bought the package of four at Wal-Mart's for six dollars and then used my embroidery machine to add the French bee design. They are very simple, but I like them.

 

Our local grocery had a nice selection of flowers for Easter. I was so surprised to see the hydrangeas. They are my favourite. We are not able to grow anything but the White Annabelle's here. Another customer told me that she bought one in past years and planted it and it did come back for two summers, but not the third. Surprisingly the bouquets of assorted flowers were $35. each, where the hydrangea plants were only $15.00. I would've thought the opposite. If I can just keep it alive until June I'll plant it outside and hopefully keep mine alive for a few years too.

 

I hope all of you enjoyed your Easter. Truthfully, mine and Tim's was pretty miserable. We had both been sick all last week with the flu. Today was the first day that we didn't spend half the day sleeping.

So happy to be feeling better! Now if I just regain my energy I'll be cook'in with gas.

Take care-Kim

 

 







The Jewel Tea Man and My Easter Coat of Many Colours

 

The year was 1963 or 64. The Jewel Tea Man had arrived at our little home with his latest Spring catalogue. This was a moment I had long anticipated. It had already been decided by my mother that I was going to be the recipient of a new Easter dress this year. Now this didn't happen every year for me. I was the last of seven children and if your Easter dress from the preceding year still fit you there was certainly not going to be any money wasted on a new one this year.

Mom and I carefully viewed the dresses and agreed on a two piece outfit, how exciting. The jacket was a rainbow of pastel stripes matched with a white, narrow pleated skirt. This was my first grown up two piece outfit. Before I had always worn ruffled or lacy dresses. Mom also bought a pair of white patent shoes for me with a matching purse and white gloves, of course!

Now you can only imagine my excited anticipation of the day when my Easter outfit would arrive.  The Jewel Tea Man orders didn't arrive quickly, so it was weeks from the time it was purchased before my outfit did finally arrive.

And now here is the sad part...I was a wicked little girl. After school my cousins and I had taken to playing around the RR tracks beneath the 2nd street bridge.

not actual bridge, similar

Don't ask me why, it was so long ago I can't even remember. Maybe it was to collect rocks, I honestly can't say. But looming on the opposite side of the bridge was a factory-Hubinger.

 

 It wasn't long before it was noted by the workers of the factory that there were children playing around the RR tracks. A call was made to my mother. You may wonder how they knew where I lived. What I didn't tell you was that our home was only half a block from the factory. So it was very easy to watch as I walked from the bridge right to our back kitchen door.What turned out to be a very odd coincidence was that the very day that I arrived home after playing near the tracks was also the day my Easter coat of many colours had arrived from the Jewel Tea Man. I still remember so vividly to this day walking in the door, seeing my mother holding the jacket still wrapped in plastic in her hands. But she wasn't smiling. What could be wrong I had wondered?

It didn't take long for her to tell me that she had received  a call from Hubingers that her daughter had been repeatedly seen playing near the RR tracks beneath the 2nd street bridge. They were concerned, not only because of the trains that pass through, but also because they had dispensed rat poison among the gravel rocks surrounding the tracks. Worst of all, my mother informed me that they were going to call the police if they caught us down there again. I'm not really sure if this was so or Mom's own embellishment to stress just how serious this matter was. But the real tear jerker was that if she couldn't trust me to never go down to the RR tracks the Easter outfit was going to have to go back. I happy to say that through very tearful pleas and promises I managed to convince my mother that I would never go to play under the bridge again and was able to proudly wear my coat of many colours on that Easter Sunday.

And to this day, I have never been under that bridge again!

 

 



The Jewel Tea man was a welcome site to my mother. With seven children to care for it was wonderful luxury to order the goods right from her kitchen table, then have it delivered to our home as well. I remember her ordering everything; pots and pans, food items, clothing, toys and linens.

Did you have a Jewel Tea Man in your neighborhood?



A Welcome to Grandchild #10

 

I just had to come back to blogland to introduce you to our newest grandson, Ganon. He is grandchild # 10 for me and Tim. Naturally, being a proud Grandmother, I think he is quite a handsome little fellow.

 

I have a feeling Reece and Brigam are going to be fighting over who gets to hold Ganon most! They are both pretty fond of him already I hear.

 

I just have to show all of you ladies that are relishing the arrival of Spring to take a look at my Spring.

 

This is a better photo showing the height of the snow pile in comparison to my clothes line. But we are at the melting stage. See the brown grass?

That is encouraging, at least.

 

I've been busy painting and de-cluttering-again. It seems to be never ending. The de-cluttering, not the

painting! I've noticed a pattern to my madness. I clean one room, then carry the junk from that room to hide in a closet in another room. When I get to that room, a few things are discarded, then the rest goes to another hiding place. When I get to the last room for de-cluttering I am usually ready to rid myself of those items that I've hauled from room, to room, to room. Whew, I just get tired reliving it all.

Someone tell me why I don't just chuck it the first time around.

 

Soon I will have to show you my simplified kitchen. You won't believe how stripped down it is. I'm truly proud of myself.

 I have to show you soon, before I start filling it with stuff again. I am not a sick hoarder, honest, even though I sound like one!

 

If I'm not back before Easter, friends, I pray yours is a most blessed one.

Kim

 







My Downtown Abbey Predictions

 

After watching Downtown Abbey last week my mind was full of so many what ifs. I found myself wondering if  Edith would find the love of her life and finally marry. I found myself wondering if Anna would make it to full term with her baby or not. Would Mrs. Hughes brush up on her cooking skills enough to satisfy Mr. Carson's taste? Well, I'm not really losing any sleep over this one. But I am honestly waiting in great anticipation for every episode now, just to discover what will happen next.

 Aren't you?

 

 

I've been imagining the possibilities of what will happen in the lives of the characters as Downtown Abbey comes to a close and I thought it would be fun to make a few predictions of my own and see how close I might come to being right in the end.

Would you like to join in my fun?

 

Prediction #1-I believe that Mary will discover that Marigold is Edith's true daughter and that she will soften her heart towards her sister.

Finally!

 

 

Prediction #2-I believe that Edith and Mr. Pelham will marry.

 

 

Prediction #3- I believe that Cora and Isobel Crawley will win out in their quest to consolidate the local hospital, much to  The Dowager Crawley's objection.

 

 

Prediction #4- I believe that Mr. & Mrs. Carson will live happily ever after, even if  the Mrs. never does learn to cook like his dear mother once did.

 

Now that is all of my predictions for today. I have many more, but I want to hear what you believe might happen.

Do you think I've missed the mark on any of my predictions? Don't be afraid to tell me-It is all in good fun after all!

Now it's your turn. Tell me your predictions for this final season.

It will be very interesting to see just how close we all come to being correct!

 







 

 











Touching Base

 

Hi Friends

I wanted to drop by and let you know that I haven't dropped off of the face of the earth, that I'm still here plugging away. I just haven't really done anything very blog worthy, nothing very interesting!

 

My real reason for blogging today was to ask you to pray for John, NanaDiana's husband. He has been diagnosed with cancer and is currently undergoing  very intense treatment.

Deb at The Frugal Little Bungalow  has called for a fast today for John. Those who would like to participate can go to either Deb's blog or Nana Diana's to get more info. We all know what it is like to have a loved one ill and in need of prayer. How wonderful it is that we can turn to our friends in the blogging community for support.

 

Tim and I have been busy repainting the kitchen walls and cabinets. That's what happens ladies if you decide you want white cabinets, you end up re-painting them nearly every year or two!

Above is one of the two picture frames I found at the resale shop for fifty cents. I've replaced the picture with one more to my liking. Lambs, of course!

I am taking my time in deciding were everything is to hang this time around. I ended up having to fill over two dozen holes I had made in the wall before we were even able to paint this last time. Not good! I was happily amazed that my spackling job worked out and you can't see where I had massacred the walls previously. So I'm going to be good this time and not just hang stuff willy nilly.

I also purchased these four white measuring cups cheaply and would like to hang them somewhere.

 

Lastly, I'm spending my evening working on this latest cross stitch pattern that I bought for a quarter.

Can you believe it? I've only gotten as far as the wheat, but little by little it will get done even if it takes me years. Which it probably will......

I find myself getting all mixed up in my stitches though when I'm watching my programs too intensely. Take Downtown Abby for instance. I was sure that Robert was going to die in last night's episode-so glad he didn't. I had to ask myself though if an ulcer could possibly cause such a horrendous reaction. I found that amount of blood shocking.  And then I was really irritated with Daisy's way of expressing herself concerning Mr. Mason. She has yet learned how to reign in her feelings. I guess this is all just the sign of Julian Fellow's splendid writing technique, we are drawn in it .

 

I do want you to tell you that even though I haven't been blogging lately I'm doing my best to keep up with everyone's blog post. I rarely leave a comment, but I do visit. I don't want to lose touch completely. I've got  several projects going, but I need balance in life too. Visiting your blogs is my R&R! Anyway, I'm thinking of you and pray that this finds you all well. Back to the grind.....

Blessing-Kimberly











Prepare

 

 



The Big Six-0

 

Hi Friends!

 

Would you believe me if I told you that I celebrated my 60th birthday on Christmas day and forgot to tell you?

It's true. I was kind of busy at the time with our oldest son visiting with his three little children for the holidays. And I have to confess to feeling a tad awkward  mentioning my own birthday when someone who is far more important than myself

**JESUS**

  birthday is celebrated on this day too.

 

I did take the time on this MONUMENTAL occasion to put together a small pictorial of my life, mainly for my children. I thought I would share a few photos with you also.

 

 

Have I changed much?

Don't answer that please!

In all honesty, the road to to sixty has presented a few bumps and heartaches along the way.

Hopefully it has helped to strengthen me and caused me to grow.

 I believe that's Gods plan for our lives!

 I do feel I was blessed to have had the two most wonderful parents (in my book) a girl could have, lucky enough to have found a husband who I plan to grow old with, and pretty smashing in-laws to boot! Oh, and I don't dare forget to mention the four children and nearly ten grandchildren that have brought me so much joy, and just a few headaches too.

I pray this New Year has been a good one for each one of you thus far. I know that there are some who are battling with sickness and disease, and I'm praying for you. I know that there are some who are dealing with unemployment. I'm praying for you too. I also know that I'm not the only person praying......This is what is so wonderful about our blogging friends, they care.

I think I've done enough rattling for today. I'm going to try to be more faithful in posting. This is not a resolution, just something I would like to get back on track with again.

 

Good bye & blessing-Kimberly

 



 



Christmas With the Grands

 

I truly feel rotten that I haven't been around much lately, but as you can see I have a very good excuse!

The grandchildren arrived over a week ago and our little house has been turned topsy turvy, upside down. My counters are cluttered with snacks, there is artwork in every window seal, on my bedroom dresser, in the office, on the frig, under the coffee table, practically every nock and cranny...What can I say, except we're having fun!

 

One day this last week the children decided they wanted Papa to show them how to make bread.

 

I thought when it came down to kneading the dough that the grands would leave that part of the bread making process to Papa, but they really got into it and worked it right through to the end.

 

 

The grandchildren love creating everyday. I have to tell you I'm pretty impressed with the little sculpties they've designed.

Conner's sculpty.

 

Every day Camden, Lexy, and Conner go to my MIL's apartment to visit where she spends time filling their tummies with cookies and helping them create even more artwork!

Yes, they are getting spoiled,  but not in a bad way.

 

In closing I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Having my grandchildren this Christmas has been such a gift and a great reminder to me of the most precious gift of the baby Jesus. He is truly the greatest gift I have ever excepted!

Blessings-Kimberly

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For more photos of the grand's visit please view here!