Happy New Year!!!

A year in review, from this December back to last January. Our snow came late, December the first brought just a simple dusting. That started it off though and we have about a foot now.

Fall with all of it's glorious colors was a welcome sight.

June found us back on the West Coast at our daughter's lovely little house. It has sold and they moved yesterday, so I will soon have new photo's of their new home. It's larger than this one and I know it will be a beautiful place, once she has put her touch on it.

We had so much fun with our little barefooted sports fan. Nathan loves all sports and can play anything he puts his mind to. He is a natural.

In the Spring Johnathan was here to help his grandpa pull dandelions.

Earlier in the Spring, April saw the worst flooding here that they had seen since 1997. It was nearly up to the walkway at the Park.

In January we got lots of snow, but this city knows how to clear snow away. Three graters and one loader gets the job done in record time.

Lastly, if you read my post two posts back, I talked about our grandson Nathan taking a bad fall. This is the balcony that he fell from. God is SO good, we go into the New Year with very thankful hearts to a Savior who watches over us and hears our call. We have so much to be thankful for, but truly the one thing that I am most thankful for is my family. I have a wonderful, patient, kind and supportive husband. We have four loving children and four precious grands. Next to them I am thankful for my extended family and friends and you, my blogging friends are counted in there. Thank you for your support over the last few months, I have enjoyed blogging.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Hugs and love, Cindy

1920 Craftsman Kitchens

In remodeling our kitchen I have been researching kitchens from the 1920's, particularly the Craftsman kitchen. Our home was built in 1927, it was a Sears Craftsman Bungalow plan. I don't know much about our home beyond that. My kitchen curtains are like the lower lace panels in this one.
The above kitchen is much like the one I will have. Except for the sink... the original sink was like that one, though.

Don't you love the pains in the cabinet doors above?

I love that sink! When we tore out a false panel on a wall, there was evidence of a wall faucet behind the sink. What a great look.

Not very efficient, eh?

That light fixture looks like one I have seen many times.

Isn't that beautiful? I love it.

I think I am staying fairly close to the period that this house was built in.

The kitchen ceiling is now painted a lovely white and we are fourteen days away from our kitchen being installed!!! I am going to pick out the flooring today. I am still stuck on cork flooring, not because it is true to the period, but because it is long lasting and the colors are exactly the same as our oak flooring.

Have a beautiful Tuesday my friends,

Hugs, Cindy

A Christmas Miracle

This is my little grandson Nathan, he will be three in January. He is a very active little boy! He, with his mom and dad and big sister, met up with my brothers and their families, two days ago. They were there to share the Christmas holidays with them at a ski resort in Washington state. My brothers and families were all staying in a chalet that had a balcony in it above the kitchen and living area. Nathan ran up the stairs when no one was watching, stood up on the couch that was backed up to the balcony and fell 15 1/2 feet over the balcony. His parents heard the thud and ran to see what it was. They called 911 and when help arrived, Nathan was not responding at all. My brothers and their families are all Bible believers and they all gathered around and went to prayer immediately. After arrival at Hospital, Nathan began to slowly came around, move and talk. The doctors kept saying "He is one very lucky little boy." This happened the day before yesterday. Today Nathan has a small concussion and has to be kept quiet. But he continues to be very active and is talking a mile a minute, just as before. I talked to him on the phone last night, 24 hours after the accident, his was the sweetest little husky voice I have ever heard. You may or may not believe in a God who is real and answers when we call, but I do. And I am so glad that he watches over our children. My heart is full of gratitude toward our dear Lord and Savior, for our Christmas miracle. I can only say "Thank you, Jesus."

Hugs to all,

Cindy

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all of my dear visitors and blog friends. I pray that you all enjoy a joyful and safe Holiday.

Yesterday I made a new curtain for this little window in my kitchen. I will put a lace curtain in the lower part for privacy. Don't pay any attention to the ugly wall around the window, it will be fixed here shortly.

It's snowing!!! The weatherman says we can expect 2-4 centimetres of snow today. We already have 1 centimetre and it is only -4.4 Celsius. That is very warm for December. Stay safe and warm. Talk to you next week!

Love and Hugs, Cindy

Be Kinder...

...than necessary. 'Cause every one you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

You may have seen this before, it came to me via email. Supposedly it happened in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada. A catfish was seen with a basketball caught in his mouth. He was worn out from trying to dive unsuccessfully, due to the basketball keeping him buoyant.

This kind hearted fisherman had his wife puncture the basketball while he held on to it.

When I saw this I thought of my shopping experience yesterday. I went shopping with my two oldest grands, seven and eight years of age. We had a blast, laughing and talking as we raced from store to store after having lunch together. Everyone around us was so stressed, screaming at their children, upset with store clerks, I felt bad that I was having such a great time.

But this little saying helps us to understand those around us. Being kind does not cost us a thing, but it may change somebodies whole day.

Be kind and have fun! This is a season of JOY, so be sure to en JOY it!

Merry Christmas, Cindy S.

Treasure the Moments

It's really the small things that we notice and remember. A song sung in sweet harmony, a baby's smile, the smell of fresh laundry, a child's hug or the velvety feel of grandma's face against yours. Those are the moments that stay with us, so lets make the most of each one as we gather to exchange gifts and share a meal together this Christmas.
Your children and grandchildren will never be this age again and we never know what the new year will bring!

Perhaps new joys, new homes, new babies, or new friends, life is full of possibilities!

My kitchen ceiling is up and I am still readying everything else that goes into the kitchen. My old chairs got new covers and the larger arm chair received a new skirt as well. I love the contrast of the old dark wood with the pretty white skirt. You can see the rest of the pine that needs to be discarded down on the floor there.

Merry Christmas to one and all!!! Let's make some beautiful memories that will last a long, long time!

Hugs, Cindy

Four Week 'til Kitchen is Installed

Are you all ready for Christmas? I am, but my house is not. It won't take long before everything is ship-shape again, though. Right now it is in total disarray!

Do you see the ugliness that we are covering up with the lovely pine boards? We will paint them white and they will cause the kitchen to look more like it should, at 82 years old. My little house was built in 1927. If my neighbor is correct, he has researched these Craftsman style homes apparently, then the cupboards that we are having built and installed, will fit right in.

This is where we are for the time being, my dear hubby is at a business meeting, then we will nearly finish it tonight, just before running out of the boards. Too bad we couldn't finish tonight. We won't get back to it until Boxing Day, most likely. We will paint the ceiling and we will then install bead boards on the wall that you see there with the single window in it. It will go on the walls for a back splash, as well. It is a lot of work, but I won't be able to believe it is the same room when we are finished. Thanks to everyone who has reassured me along the way that it will be worth it and we will be so glad that we have done it.

If anyone has received a funny looking email from me telling you about an iPhone, you need to know that it wasn't from me. Our email contact list has been hijacked and an unknown someone has been trying to make some extra money before Christmas, using ours as well as many other people's contacts. Too bad there are those kind of people out there.

Hugs to all,

Cindy S.

There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays...

I haven't shown much of my Christmas decor, it is pretty basic and simple. I love to see what others have done and I even love what they have done... but it isn't me. I am a pretty simple kind of girl, with simple, plain, hopefully sweet ideas.

If you look closely at the too dark photo below, you will see the creche in amongst the greenery in the star. I love my vintage suitcases.

I have a love affair going with old silver. I pick it up for a song at GoodWill all of the time.

My chippy old chair. I am still trying to decide what to do with my table and chairs, to paint or not to paint, that is the question.

My little Christmas village that the grand loves love so much. The first things Naomi does when she comes in the door is turn on the lights of the village. Then she stands back and takes it all in.

A simple side table.

My mantle all ready for Christmas.

Looking into the sun room/music room.

Seen above is my only Christmas tree this year. I really don't have room for my table top tree or a full size tree. I have kept things pretty simple this year because we are in the middle of renovating our kitchen and the dust has been unbelievably bad. Cutting through old plaster creates a cloud every time. So please forgive any plaster dust that you see, it has been cleaned off several times and will be again.

I have not joined any of the blog parties, I have been so tired lately and busy that I haven't taken the time to do so.

Have a wonderful week,

Hugs, Cindy

Christmas at Carolyns

My daughter, Carolyn, lives in the state of Washington and they have sold their sweet little house and have bought another in the same area. The new to them house, has a huge back yard and is much larger than their current home. She sent me these photos a couple of days ago. I will post photos of her new home once they are moved and settled and photo ready.


She is a minimalist decorator ordinarily, but not quite this bad. Her books are already packed, they are moving December the 30Th.

She just recently purchased the foot stool, I LOVE it!

The timeless red and green.

A pretty little candy cane tree. Carolyn's sweet hubby usually goes out and gets them a real tree, but it would be in the way this year. So they will do without it this time.

Of course, these are by far the sweetest ornaments she could have decorating her house!!

I hope you are enjoying a relaxing weekend. I am going to go out for a bit, but nothing stressful. Everything is bought and my big package is sent to the grand loves in Washington. So only the fun remains.

Hugs to all, Cindy