Heart of the Home, Kitchen Party- I'm Late

Sweet Sheila said those of us who didnt get a chance to participate could still post our kitchens.. Is she the bestest Sweetie of all time or what:)   Bless your kind heart Sheila..
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 I wanted to show my kitchen not because its one of the biggest and its certainly not the fanciest but OH BABY, I love my kitchen sooooooooooooooooo much...

click Sheila's link to see all the great kitchens there...
http://notesongs.blogspot.com/

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  I thought I better start with a picture of todays barscape- otherwise you might not come look at all..

We remodeled our kitchen-- umm wait- we actually took out the wall between the dining and kitchen and part of the wall between the original kitchen and the family room.. Then new oak cabinets:: which Mr. Dreams wanted: new sink, fauset, stove, fridge and dishwasher.    I knew when they set the first oak cabinet in place that it just wasnt going to work for me but at that point there was nothing I could do, so for 3 years I tried to live with it..
  Here's the oak kitchen..  Dont get me wrong- oaks fine- just not for me...

See what I mean?? It was fine.. I think anytime I showed it on the decor forum folks were always nice and said- Warm and Cozy..   so ok it was Warm and Cozy.. But folks- I wanted a white kitchen.. soft white, but white.. Every morning for 3 years I would start to round the corner from the living room to come through the dining into the kitchen and I would visualize seeing-- WHITE CABINETS, but once I rounded that corner, I'd see OAK.. Apparently this transformation was going to require more than Visualizing:)  dreaming or wishing. It was going to take cleaning sanding priming and painting....  About this same time Mr. Dreams wanted a Mancave built onto the back building.. We made a deal. I got a white kitchen, he got his Mancave...For me this was a WIN WIN cause I'd have what I wanted and He and his Pals wouldnt be in the house either lol..   I love it when a plan comes together- dont you...?
Doors off and cab surrounds painted... all ready lookin better:) wooohoooo
Dont be jealous of the lovely painters plastic decor.. You too can find this at your local Home Depot..

Doors back on ~ I was going through my Apple Green phase.. I do still love these colors- black/white and apple green and I often use them in different configurations depending on the season..Did you spy my black sink and fauset over in the corner... Love them~!
Just to show the remarkable different it makes-- white side only had primer on it but I knew it was gonna be great...

Its been 2 years and I have played with a few mock ups like- Glass in a few of the cab doors and a built in plate rack?  I still havent decided if I want to add these yet..

  What do ya'll vote for-- glass in the cabs or leave them solid??

 This is looking from the pantry door, through the breakfast nook and into the kitchen..

  Oh my, the breakfast area has certainly changed too :)  these were pics from last year...
  I just bought a new chandelier for the dining area from Pottery Barn. A 6 arm upswing candelabra style.
   Hopefully I can get that up before Christmas and make the shades for it..
Heres are a few more photos of this mornings barscape.

Thank ya'll so much for stopping in to see my kitchen, even though the party was yesterday...
Sheila, thank you for being so kind and allowing those of us who couldnt make it in time a chance to still be able to share our kitchens...
Happy Fall to ALL~!!!
Much love from Dream Lane, come visit us Anytime...

A Little Fall for Ya'll

  I sure have missed you folks.. We still have another load to go to goodwill.  I knew when he mentioned cleaning the storage building we were in for a HUGE mess.. It still isn't a place of beauty but I can walk in there and see what I need to grab off a shelf, which is a vast improvement I assure you..
  The painters came and removed the many layers of wallpaper and patched all the holes and spots where the sheet rock tore away.. I love seeing pretty wallpaper in others homes but I don't think I'll ever have any put up again.. Its just too hard to get rid of..
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  I'm participating in Meta Monday with Susan at Betweens Naps on the Porch.
 Please take a few minutes and go see all the beautiful transformations folks have posted for your viewing enjoyment..
http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2010/10/rats-infestation-across-blogland.html
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 It took them 8 days to get back to me to sand and paint and then 4 more before they could come and caulk..
 sheesh-- it was 2 regular size rooms lol... but its done and if I hurry and decorate I might be able to participate in the kitchen party posted on the sidebar of my blog..
  During this same span of time we also got the trees and shrubs trimmed- new mulch and the house power washed... I like the idea we are going into winter with all the major things done.

Last year the rockers were black and could'nt be seen till you were actually on the porch..The garage door and porch ceiling were done in taupe.. I'd had enough of that and called the vinyl man to come and make a change.. We put in a stone walkway and were happy- at that time anyway..
Before- middle of the update..

   I did manage to finally make and get my fall wreath up.. I thought I better do it in traditional fall colors as it will stay up until its replaced for the Holidays.

 I found a birdcage made of twigs and just had to use it..  Right now everything is still fairly green here but in a few weeks that will change..   I used the pears , pumpkins and apples I see at all our local fruit markets.
 You can smell the sweet goodness of those places as you ride by.. Have I mentioned this is my very favorite time of year..  I got 2 large pumpkins and cooked them up this weekend for pies, cakes and breads this winter..   When I bake my pies and post them I'll add my great grandmothers recipe for ya'll..

 If you're going to add a birdhouse you must add a bird, right? :)  I hope the real ones dont peck at him.. Its small and fragile , cant fly away or handle much abuse...

Thank you for taking time out of your life to come and visit me.. I know we are all busy and especially so this time of year.. Its a joy for me to have you here..
  I hope to be able to do some visiting myself this week.. 

Happy Fall to ALL..
Sonny

Thank You and What's New

  I wanted to say Thank You all so very much for visiting me and your sweet comments on my last 3 posts..
  I was able to come and personally thank some of you and then time ran out to get to everyones blog..
 Please know YOU are appreciated..
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This is what I'll be making while I listen to all the ruckus going on in the kitchen and dining area.. They'll mask those rooms off with plastic sheeted walls and I'll just stay busy elsewhere...
  I've been wanting to work on this sculpt for awhile so now is as good a time as
any.. The photo is of the Completed Baby .... right now its just blobs of vinyl in a box lol.. 

  A few weeks ago I cleaned  the top of my kitchen cabinets and added Decor.. I should have known that was a sign , hahahahaha..
  My painter called last friday to say he had a break in his work schedule and could get to me for the work I had wanted done for several months..  The dining room and kitchen were the last 2 rooms in this home that had ::play scary music here::  W A L L P A P E R ~!!  4  layers of wallpaper to be exact..   Now I am a brave DIYer but I know that meant many hours of intense labor as well as the top sheet rocl paper peeling off and needing to be spackled- sanded- primed and painted... I wimped out on doing it myself and told him OK, come on tuesday and he did..  
  As many of you know this project is more intense than it sounds. Everything had to come off the walls- off the cabinet tops- all decorations wrapped and stored and and and...  lol...   Like I didnt have enough mess with just this,, Mr. Dreams decides that while Carlos is already here and has a few days for us, have him go ahead and clean out the ENTIRE ATTIC - so new insulation can go in up there....   My entire garage floor is now full of STUFF-- 90% of which is going to charity.. I havent been up in the attic in years - so apparently I dont use or need it...   I checked quickly= no important papers or photos , so its outta here...

  Now, he wants the main storage building cleared out too...  IF I open my eyes too wide, will my eyeballs fall out????  

 Can you just envision all this MESS going on right when I was ready to do my fall decorating in earnest?? Please try cause no way am I taking photos :)

 In about a week, all this will be but a memory and things will be back to normal but till then-- oh my..
I'll have some time to come and visit ya'll but I wont be doing any posts and I didnt want ya'll to worry..
So take good care of yourselves and Happy Fall .. I'll be back with ya as soon as I can..

Sonny