Dining Room Make Over (before-after pics)

Well, we were supposed to host Thanksgiving at the cottage this year...unfortunately we were ALL struck down with what I think must be the bubonic plague?

A few days before the plague hit us, while Sir was working much overtime, I was struck by the renovation bug.  I really can't help it when the creativity strikes...really, I just have to embrace it when it does.....

So, the dining room and the whole living room is a nicotine-white? painted, grass covered, 900sq ft. of blah.  I loath this part of the house.  We really never even use it...well the heirs scatter their toys all over it for no apparent reason, but really it is not supposed to be used.

I am working on phase two of the Little Sirs' room and had in my hand a gallon of festive, evergreenish, well....green.  I LOVE GREEN.  Kermit is green.  My eyes are their own hue of swamp puke green.  My gardens are full of green.  Green is good.

Ugh. 

Another view of the yuck.

Do you see the magic paint tray???

Oh Crap!  I mean, I LOVE color, but I have NEVER done anything this dark before...yikes

But, oh my....I LOVE it!!!

Reminds me of a 100 yr old house now...the dark wood, the traditional paint...

Oh look!  Look at that cool built-in...I never noticed that before...

The picture of the little boy holding the kitty was painted by Sir's grandmother and that little boy is...Sir, himself!

A word...painting grass wallpaper cannot be done with a roller...because, that would be too easy.  Every project at the Cottage hast to be a laborious task...therefore this was all hand-painted with a BRUSH.  Applause is appropriate...

Rumor is that we are putting up some trees tonight.  I have decided not to put up the monstrous 20foot tree this year, but have been moving some things and making plans for some real changes...wait and see!

A quick fall dinner...

I was craving potpies the other day at the store...yeah, those gross frozen nightmares my mom would occasionally make when my dad was working.  Well, I thought, there must be a quick easy way to get the same satisfaction but with less pre-made guilt.


So this is what I came up with.  FAST AND EASY....

To begin, make some biscuits.  I mean, I buy the frozen types, but the can works just as well.  And if you are mad about your own special,  recipe handed down by family MeMaws for generations-type of biscuits...well, knock yourself out.  No matter how you get them, get them

While the biscuits are cooking, cook a pound of meat.  Whatever.  I usually use Bob Evans pork sausage, in a tube-thingy.  You can use whatever you have.  Brown the dead animal.  Next make your basic white sauce.  (Melt 6 TBL  butter. Add 6 Tbl flour.  Stir.  Add 3 cups milk slowly.  Stir until thickened to the right gravy type texture).  Now, add your dead animal.  Then add any veggies you have laying about.  Tonight we had corn and peas. 

Tah_Dah!  Seriously, you have no idea how easy this is.  I have topped it with shredd chedd and green onions, or parm and chives.  You could add about anything and top it with whatever your family likes.  The nice thing is, it is warm and satisfying, and you can "hide" all kinds of veggies in it!

So give it a try and let me know how it turns out!  

A quick sewing project

 On one of my many, many jaunts to JoAnn's this month I found an adorable corduroy remnant.  What to do with less than one yard of fabric????  And so, while in the middle of making the dwarfs, I whipped up a little fall jumper for Madam Lu.   

I don't like to sew buttons or zippers...well, actually I have only done buttons once, but they were hard.  And I've never even tried a zipper, but I can imagine that lining them up would be very challenging.  So, I made these little straps to knot in a bow-ish shape on her shoulders....very, very easy...

The top and ruffles are just plain cotton.  I did sew backing of the same fabric on the inside of the bodice to keep everything smooth.  She has a white turtle neck and brown tights to wear with this...

And you know how I feel about ruffles!  Muwah!  Love them!!!!  It turned out pretty cute, very soft, and relatively easy to make; considering I made it all up (no pattern = yikes)! 

And this is what I have been breaking the monotony of the dwarfs costumes with....

Love to you all...

Falling for Fall...Camping and Cake-ing

It has been a busy, busy fall my dear ones!


We went camping at Oubache State Park.

Yes, we tent camp.  We used to all sleep in Big Green.  Little Blue was used to store our clothes and stuff.  That way, we dressed and changed Madam Lu's disasters in Little Blue ensuring all of the tramping in and out all day was not done where we sleep (cleaner beds).  This year, however; we moved the Little Sir's to Little Blue.  They did splendidly in their own tent.  And, without those little rat-pigs in my tent it stayed just as clean!

The heirs are dressed in Native-wear because we spent the day at Mississinewa 1812 (really, really cool).  I can not really explain Sir M's pose.  And why is Sir E looking soy joyous? 

 Two things about Camping De Haven.

#1 We camp in campgrounds that have (1) hot showers (2) flushing toilets (3) trees   We do not (1) television...are you that pathetic???...(2) radio (3) ipod, dsi, etc.

#2 If you tell Sir not to forget the air pump for the air mattress...and you may tell him 3 or more times...it is not reasonable that he will actually pack it.  Make sure you pack it yourself...first thing...before you even pack your underwear...because the air pump is really more important than clean underwear... 



 

Hiking!  We love it!

Madam Lu in a full-out jog on the trail.

This medium sized Bison came right up to Sir M...he really is an animal whisperer...

A teensy, weensy baby Bison!  OhMyWORD!!!!! 

When will the Sir's stop dressing up Madam Lu?  I mean, yes, I DID dress up my little brother...but that was different...he wore beautiful dresses, not storm trooper or boba fett or whatever this monstrosity of an outfit is...

I am so glad we caught this moment of Sirs' on 'film'.  Happy 7th Birthday, Sir M!

And what is a Birthday celebration without Madam Lu's life threatening ministrations???

I don't know who this is...but someone asked and Sir E began a tale that included Storm Trooper genealogy, politics, and possibly their religion...I am still not sure who this is...

And because I am always good for some cake humiliation....WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?  you ask...

Me: Sir M, what kind of cake would you like this year.  Sir M:  I want a chocolate cake with Boba Fett.  Me: Chocolate cake sounds wonderful...how about some green polka dots???? Sir M: No, I want Boba Fett.  So, this is a Boba Fett face....

If you look closely you will see the "inspiration helmet" on the table....I know, it is horrible, but good for a laugh!!!

Side note....this was my first time making fondant.  Store-bought fondant is horrible.  Home-made fondant is horrible.  It does look pretty, though, and is super easy to make and work with.  If you try to tell me you like fondant or you have a delicious fondant recipe; I will assume that you chew your own toenails for fun and love the taste of sweat...it is just a little category that I will put you in in my mind...lovingly of course, but still, you are totally a toenail chewer hence forth....

We took the kids roller skating on "fall break" day.  Madam Lu could have a future in roller derby!

This is Miss Faithy Pant's first birthday outfit.  Her dear and trusting parents (our cousins) told me I could make anything I want....Her animal is a butterfly and her colors are purple, blue and green.  It is hard to tell in the picture, but the butterfly's body is purple with white polka dots...not black...The edges should fray up nicely!

And baby butts really should be decorated...So this little caterpillar is just the thing!  And as Faith's clever mom pointed out...it symbolizes the metamorphosis of a baby to a big 1yr old!

And the tutu!  I was so very, very excited when she gave me free reign...a tutu!!!!!  What could be better?  I also made a hat, but that is for another day and another posting.  One that will show Miss Faithy Pants in her ensemble!!!

  Love to you all!  I'm off to make some chicken and noodles!

Prepairing for Scaring

I spent a few hours working on Madam Lu's Halloween Frock.  Can any of you guess who she will be?

The front of the bodice.

The back.  I added the tabs and the lacing because as she grows, the bodice will grow with her.  So, she can use it for dress up for years to come (hopefully).

The fabric is vintage satin with a gorgeous tonal rose print.  The bodice is made from the scraps from one of my elementary school Christmas dresses.  Thanks, Mom, for saving the scraps!

I can't wait for you to see how poofy this is!

I wish I could wake Madam Lu up to try this on her...well, not really...!!!!

This was Sir E's idea and they will be coordinating...can you guess what the theme is???? 

Reusing Candle Waste, Fall Transistions, and a Little Woe

Some wee little projects.....

So, what do you do with your candles when the wicks are gone?  I always melt the extra wax out of the jars so that I can reuse the jars....but, after letting the good smelling wax simmer on the stove for a day, it just gets thrown away. 

Well, why not make more candles????  There are some pretty complex instructions for making new wicks...but I thought "what would a prairie chick do?"  I mean, they may not have boric acid laying around....so what if I just braid some twine...dip it in the wax and let it dry....

They only took about 20 seconds to dry...

And then I poured the wax back into the jars...

See all of their little wicks....

They cooled to a nice grassy green color that is perfect in the master suite...Note...I am attracted to very similar fragrances...fresh linen, cotton, etc.  So, when I mixed all of the waxes together, the smell is fresh and fine.  I would NOT mix tropical breezes with musk and pine needles....

My little helper...she was surprisingly good at cleaning out the empty jars before we refilled them...I just had to put a pile of towels on the floor under her...!

I brought the bakers rack back in...like I do every fall.  This year, I think I finally like the set-up.

And what will all of the bins and baskets be filled with???  Well, I know the topic of "family rooms and toys" is highly controversial.  I see all of the home shows where family rooms make it look like the children are neither to be seen nor heard.  Sorry.  I am all for chick, but kids DO live here.  And it is just as much their area as it is mine.  And I will have the rest of my life to have serious furniture and collections and vignettes...for this brief moment in my life toys will have attractive storage, but they will be a part of the room....notice Madam Lu's little kitchen adjacent to mine?  See how perfectly it nestles in the bay window?  The bins will be filled with toys, books, etc.  You can see in the previous picture that the bottom crate is already staged....Say "hello" to Heinrich, my handsome boy....

Sometimes it is nice to have someone older, wiser, and ready with a hug to tell your woes to.....

Fippery and Finery

A quick blog today as Madam Lu is outside 'helping' Sir bathe his carriage...

Sir, the heirs, and I went to the always splendid West Central Homes Tour and Art Festival this weekend.  (Madam Lu spent the day chasing "meow-meows", swinging on the "wheeeee", and trouncing around the meadows at Great GrandmaandGrandpa 'Beck's.) 

Ok, Ok, back to the homes....West Central (for those of you who are not 'in the know') is the creme-DE-la-creme of revitalized homes in a friendly, social, artsy neighborhood.  We toured simple homes from @ the Civil War era...homes with Greek Revival and Italianate flair...of course the Craftsman style homes are abundant and warm-wooded-feeling...and one maybe two that I would say are slightly Victorian-esque in their finery.  There are so many things I love about this neighborhood...the people are so very "West Central" in a way that is neither snobby nor snitty.  We have already covered the variety of home eras and styles, but the variety in exterior textures, colors, and decor is a feast for the eyes.  Most of all, however, I love the GARDENS!!!!!  These people just get it.  The art of mismatched rocks.  The delight of discovery and half hidden treasures covered in moss.  The untamed and mostly un-manicured jungles of colorful delights.

The Cottage has a VERY, VERY looooong way to go!

I will say that West Central has gotten quite pricey...as more and more people find that the suburban dream is not as dreamy as they imagined, they seem to flock to the quaintness of neighborhoods with tree lined streets and long, spindled front porches.  This is the time in the story where I send a shout-out to all my friends who are inexplicably drawn to these splendors but may find themselves intertwined with a person who is happy with their suburban dream...or "not moving again-ever, woman-so don't even look at me like that"...women outlive men...soooo, I am pretty sure our dreams are not in vain!

A generally less-pricey but no less splendid neighborhood is the Williams Woodland area.  Just blocks away from West Central, these homes are even more decked out in Fippery and Finery and are still quite affordable.  I would highly recommend the Christmas tour of this budding beauty of a neighborhood.  I have my scheming heart set on it!

And what is happening at the Cottage De Haven????  Um, er...well....we had our neighborhood association picnic last weekend and Sir and I made 3 sets of corn hole.  I have plants to move in my flower beds (today)?  And I am still NOT DONE with the Heirs' Suite.  Barf!  Sir and I have entered serious negotiations for our dream lay-out of the basement...but first will be the arduous task of gutting the ENTIRE thing...including 2 layers of paneling, about 1200 sqft of ceiling tiles,  and scraping and cleaning all of the glue off the floor...   Fun?  Oooodles!

I'm off to feed Madam lunch and then to do some digging...     

Like a heart transplant but cuter!

So...mostly pics today....

I am obsessed with vintage sewing patterns.  No, really.  Obsessed.  Once you start collecting them, you just keep finding more and more that you 'need'.  Well, I am working on a 50's dress....

To begin...I do not know how to sew.  I have never taken a class.  I have a sewing machine that does not do anything automatically...well, except sew.  Why not start with a dress!  The first bodice was a nightmare, but the second was much better.  It is really hard to understand the directions if you don't know the lingo...

The dress is not done, but it also does not really look like this any more.  I didn't like the round neckline of the bodice...so I figured out a way to give it a v-neck down the back and a wrapping v-neck on the front...much better. 

An apron pattern from the 40's or 50's...original, uncut pattern...This apron was for our cousin who just got married...She had an apron on her registry and I said..."Shucks, I am now a seamstress...I will make her an apron that is cuter than the one she registered for..."

A close-up of the fabrics used...

And an apron for my very bestest friend's birthday...this is from the same pattern...

Fabrics

RUFFLES!!!!!!  I love the fullness of the skirts on vintage patterns.  They make you feel so girly...

And I have done some experimenting with my flowers....Hydrangea: I read somewhere that you can transplant the little branches with new stringy vines and grow whole new plants...well....

So where did I get these new offshoots???  If any of the bottom branches are laying on the ground...actually touching it...or even better, if part of the branch gets buried by some dirt...it will start to grow its own little roots.

So, I dug a hole in a wet, cool, shaded part of my flower gardens.  The most important thing with these tiny little transplants is that they need water...tons of water.  Like every day.  And direct sunlight and heat are a certain death sentence.

I found two decent little starts.  I trimmed the flower off of the one on the right...I thought "the less the plant has to feed, the better"  And after a month I can report that the one on the right (which really just barely had any little root fingers) has died.  Totally dead.  The plant on the left looked dead...the leaves have nearly all fallen off and it is kind of weepy...but upon closer inspection today...I saw little purple spots at intervals up and down the branch...they are tiny little leaf buds...REALLY!!!!  I have no idea if it will survive the winter (perhaps I should give it to the The Bon Savant for his indoor winter garden?) but I am so excited to know that it is possible!!!!

Other than that...the sirs started school on Monday.  I not been very productive these three days...but I am starting to hear the whisperings of the Project Fairy...You will definitely hear more from me now that it is just Madam Lu and I for most of the day...