Surprise... a wood stove.

One of the things I miss most about my old Kansas farmhouse is the 1) free natural gas on our property, hence free heating bill and 2) the big brick fireplace, aka warm heat.

When we moved to Idaho and purchased this newer home, it did not have a fireplace and had an electric heater. Since we've lived here the last (8 years) I've looooonged for the warmth, view of the fire and that cracklin sound. Every year we tried to put enough money away to purchase a wood burning stove but never managed, until now.

I was out shopping with our friends and upon entering my home... this beautiful Vermont Castings wood burning stove was sitting in the corner of my living room with a big red Christmas bow gracing the front :)

Hubby ran a lightbulb into the top of it so it was glowing in the darkness.  What a surprise to come home to! It was our early Christmas present. I am a very happy girl and anxious for all the benefits of a fire, not to mention the lower electric bill.

Last night, our friend came over to help with the tile. Here are some pics of that process.

We decided to add one more row of tile... it's curing for 24 hours and tonight they will start the grout. Hubby says the stove should be burning by the end of the week :)  Will post more pics as the progress continues.

Black Saturday.... cupboards that is.....

I've lived with my kitchen cupboards primed and doorless for quite a while as I tried to figure out a color for them.  I went white several months ago, that was a huge mistake. Between my kids and all the ones that visit - I realized that white was a mistake the evening it was painted. I did try red and it didn't feel right.

I have always LOVED black cupboards. We looked at a victorian on the market once that had black cupboards and I've always wanted to try them. Saturday morning, on a whim I decided to just go for it. I started at 10:30am and didn't finish until almost midnight. They got a solid 2 coats and 3 coats in most touched areas. I do plan on putting a protective coat on them to help with the wear and tear.

Here are the before and during pics. The white made the kitchen feel very cold and not cozy at all.

I had my husband remove the stove fan/light fixture. Putting a shelf there instead.

The bar/counter wrapping to the dining room still needs another coat.

I love how they turned out. The feeling in the kitchen is clean and cozy. I put garland with lights and berries about the cupboards. The walls need to be painted and our wood floor will go in soon. It was a LONG Saturday, but sooooo worth it.

This kitchen cupboard is my next project.... red.

First Snow

Happy November

with love from Idaho

Halloween 2011

Was such a fun evening. Spent with great friends and family. After all was said and done my house looked like a tornado had zipped through and left behind make up (all over the counter) in 7 different zombie colors, fake wound glue, now a permanent fixture on my kitchen counter, costume pieces, fake hair, teeth and fake fingernails all over the floor. But it was worth it.

Miss Emma

Bride of Frankenstein

LOVED the wig!

My Nazi Zombie

My Edward spoofer

My kids and their friends... awesome group of kids.

My brother and his family