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

Steven Curtis Chapman

I was driving down our beautiful Hwy 41 that connects my small town to the next. Along that Hwy is an electronic billboard that Real Life Ministries has up to advertise functions, service times, etc. As I drove by, the sign flashed STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN and a date... What?! I asked the kids in the car if they saw what the sign said. On my way back, I drove much slower so I could read the entire post about Steven.

He was coming to Post Falls! How cool is that! Steven coming to our small town? I knew right away I wanted to go see him with my little girl and have a girly date night.

Me and Emma ~ She is my Rainbow daughter

Our friend Victoria joined us

Was a wonderful evening and so thankful that Steven honored our small town with his presense. On my wish list - a new, better camera with a better zoom capability.

A very fun junk day

I read about an estate sale on craigslist today, that just so happened, was on the way to another errand I had to run. I am ever-so-happy I went! I only wish I had gone first thing this morning. I walked up and first eyed some old Atlas and Ball canning jars with the wire on the rims. Asked how much he wanted.... .25 cents. Grabbed those all quickly. Found a small red/white enamel potty pot and he again replied .50 cents. At that point I was very happy ummmm freakin excited about the prices and the junk loaded upon the tables. He asked me if I wanted a box... Oh yes! A box would be perfect! The first table was loaded with wonderful little juice glasses... I simply adore the 50's and 60's juice glasses. On the same table were Fire King dishes, loads and loads of them. I dug through the boxes and discovered lots of little treasures.

Got 6 of these dinner plates from Fire King

All these wonderful juice glasses

I can't wait to see these cleaned up... he said they were all stored in the basement

Love these bowls... they are chipped and cracked but I love the textures and colors nonetheless

Some of the jars, bucket and an enamel platter

Enamel lids bowls and pots

Cute glass caddy

I loved this cheese grater. I love to put tea lights in them at christmas. I've never seen one with the "scalloped" graters

Found this very cool lamp, I'm guessing to be from 30's or 40's. My son wants to rewire and restore it.

Love the claw feet

 

Did I come home with chairs... why yes I did :)

My son also bought a very rare slide projector. All piled up.... guess how much I paid. $10.00.  Love those kind of sales :)  I'm going back again tomorrow morning. He's bringing a few more things out and all her clothes. Love vintage cardigans and hoping to find a few.

Thankful for a night together

My brother Len who has just returned from Iraq, came over for dinner last Saturday. My mom and sister drove over from Montana to welcome him home and spend some much needed time with him. As we sat around the table together and ate dinner, all I thought about while staring at his face was how thankful I was that he was home. That he survived the time he served and was here again with his family and we have been given the opportunity to continue to share each other's lives. I love him and am so very proud.

My son Josh turned virtual boxing on his XBOX and he and Len went a few rounds.

Josh played his guitar for us and then Len played a few songs.

Drew played the drums

And he and Len played a few songs together.

We finished the evening watching Michael Jackson's "This is It". It was a great evening with great conversation, much music and awesome memories were made.