One Part Inspiration...

It's hard to believe that we bought The Pokeaway five years ago. .  I no longer turn the corner to our street and feel like a visitor.  Every once in awhile, I think of where we were five years ago, and marvel at the journey.  Last week, I put these flowers out along with my sign.  Some friends who came to visit said it looked like a Pinterest cover. And even though the kitchen is not complete, I agreed.  When I think back...I envision all it has taken to get to this stage, and I know there are many more stages yet to come.....  ( If you were to pull back from the frame you would see that although we now sport cupboards in the kitchen, I have a psuedo-counter and still use a black bucket for my "kitchen sink".) A long-time friend of mine gave me this sign as a house warming gift when they came to look at The Pokeaway shortly after we began this adventure.  I have kept it front and center through each of the stages of our re-build.  It has be...

Love this look.  Clean, bright, modern with a touch of old world.   Love this look too.   Love the floors.  Love the water coming out from the stove.  Love the butcher block.   Oh and this one: Clean and bright.  Love the bead board.   Although these three looks are fabulous, they don't fit our budget at all.   We have had three or four kitchen cabinet guys in and all have given different quotes - also out of our budget.  So, for months now, I have been scouring the online sales - searching for "Kitchen cabinets", hoping to find something that will suit our purposes. Here are some of the current choices: The size may be right, but I don't like the cabinet look at all.   Or this: There are lots of these - seems solid oak isn't what it used to be and lots of people are 'upgrading'.  "Upgrading" is not something I can relate to because for three years, I have had a pseudo-kit...

Canadian Thanksgiving is just around the corner.  I have been busy at work, getting together some programs to celebrate.  And, as in every year while I'm doing this, I am reminded again of the way gratitude transforms. So I am starting on a little project of my own. I cannot promise a certain number of posts on this, but I am going to focus on expressing gratitude for the next little while, until we finish eating the turkey dinner! One of the things I have been most grateful for in the past six weeks is the unprecedented number of dry, sunny days we have had.  It's been a chance for the garden to have another 'go-round' - my hanging baskets which are not stellar by this point of the year, have started a second life.  The poppy which normally blooms in spring, has bloomed again.  Gorgeous. More than that though, it has meant not having to worry about the furniture being moved in and out while the flooring went down. Which brings me to my new favour...