Christmas in our old stone home

The strains of voices lifted in song resounded throughout our old stone house this week. Our church's Christmas Eve choir met for a thorough rehearsal on December 23.

Ana baked a berry pie for a friend. I love that she bakes pie. How very old-fashioned! She even bought the ingredients with her own hard-earned cash.

My favorite part about this pie is the holly berry cut-out decorating the crust. I also like that she dons an apron -a hand-crafted one!- to work in the kitchen. What a girl.

We celebrated our first Christmas in our old stone home with a lovely breakfast: French Toast and Fruit Salad.

It wasn't a fancy, over-the-top celebration. Mostly simple. Only a few extra faces graced our table, but they were especially dear faces.

Who needs a new kitchen to be radiantly happy? Not this housefrau.
Dark blue tiles (which need to be sanitized daily) and cabinets that swing open without notice don't keep me from sharin' the love.

The food love, that is.

Christmas Eve only gets better with a cup of fresh coffee. Caffeine is not an issue when one is staying up late to wrap presents anyway. Think of it as a gift-wrapping stimulant.

We open one gift each before turning in for the night & dreaming sweet dreams. Visions of sugar-plums are nice, too. But we like gifts we can really use -like t-shirts that say funny things.

I am not sure how this photo came about, but a certain boy better have put my reading glasses BACK where he found them.

Grandma Jean basks in the glow of the Christmas tree. We love the fact that she lives downstairs; only a few descending steps away.

It as been a treat to celebrate such a special time in our new/old home. We look forward to many happy times here.

Merry Christmas to friends near & far!

the kitchen begins to take shape

This masked man did the awful deed.

He and one of his constant cohorts (Mr. Thomas Q.) ripped down the back kitchen wall yesterday.

In order to prepare for this major demo, they installed a temporary wall between the old kitchen and the new addition. This wall is well insulated, and will serve as a mud room of sorts as the new kitchen is installed. Also, this wall eliminates the need to heat the entire unfinished back wing of the house.

Smart thinking, says the Lady of the Manor -who is eager as a beaver to have a new kitchen.
Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas for the next 22 years, says the Lord of the Manor -who is covered in dust and only wants a fresh cup of coffee and a balanced checkbook.

His needs are so simple, while mine are complex because they involve reclaimed slate, an antique general store counter which serves as an island, and recessed shaker-style cabinetry which you can't buy at Home Depot or Lowes.

Oh. And a bay window over the kitchen sink so I can watch the fishies play in the river while I scrub pots and pans.

The far window is where the main sink will be. The fridge has a new home: it will be framed in.
To the right of the fridge will be a door leading into the screened porch.

Imagine that blue tiled peninsula at the bottom of the sea. It will not be lonely, as my camera awaits it there. Also imagine -in its place- the antique step-back cupboard that I found with the help of a good friend.


Here is the wall opposite the kitchen sink and river view. Under that rectangular window will be the baking center: reclaimed slate set a few inches lower than a standard countertop, easy for rolling cookies, shaping bread, and mixing by hand. Where the white garbage pail sits will be the double ovens. To the right of them will be a large yellow cupboard which will serve as a pantry.

Between the bucket & mop and the baking center will be the island. It will not be a tropical island, but other than that it will be perfect. It will also not have sand, which gets into everything. So in that way, it is better than a tropical island.

I get goofy and giddy when things are going my way.

Now I must put away the computer and pick up where I left off with that mop.
Cheers!

little happenings

Please disregard the clutter and focus on the candlelit mantel, please.

I have never been the possessor of a real fireplace before. The last two homes sported wood-stoves. Do not try displaying a candle near a wood-stove.

It's been tried.

Anyway, Hubby was triumphant this afternoon when we tested to new insert and IT WORKED.
We have had all sorts of trouble getting an updraft from the flue, which dictated a higher chimney pipe.

We were so very blessed to have a few extra hands on deck yesterday, so now we have the tallest, skinniest stove-pipe in town. I hope Santa has been following that low-fat diet Mrs. Claus has him on.The bridge crew is not satisfied with completing the bridge (it opened last Friday when I was out-of-town!). They insist on pulling into my temporary driveway and shooting straw all over the place.

Luke mouthed "Hi Nancy" as he held this hose like a machine gun and proceeded to make it snow hay.

Yesterday was the second of December and some crazy lady decided to take her kayak out for a spin. Up the river and past the railroad bridge....one last big hoo-rah before the Long Winter.

Now her kayak is sleeping in the barn, resting up for more water adventures in the spring.