More from the recent Parade of Homes

A couple of weeks ago I had the chance to visit and tour the Home Builders Association of Middle Tennessee's Parade of Homes at a new local development, Sherwood Green.  There were so many beautiful features incorporated into the architecture.  There was such craftsmanship in the design.  There were so many beautiful and innovative ideas by the decorators.  As a home-owner, aren't we always looking for ideas to make our home more interesting, pleasing, and welcoming?

I remember my mother and grandmother clipping ideas out of magazines and storing them away for when they could add such touches and adaptations to their own homes.  So, when touring the homes a couple of weeks ago, I took my camera along and snapped a few shots of ideas that I like and some that I may be able to adapt a bit.

First, the kitchen.

There were several elements in this kitchen that I liked. I tried to take pictures in this kitchen from several angles.  First of all, I love the hefty turned leg of the island snack area.  I like how it makes the island feel like a piece of furniture.  It inspired me to recall the turned columns that once were on the front porch of my parents' home years and years ago, too.

I also loved the surface area of the island.  I have been noticing counter surfaces, cabinet colors, etc. because I dream of a re-vamp in my own kitchen.  I thought I'd like to have a butcher-block counter surface, but these boards also give a nice utility, rustic, farmhouse look that might fit well in my house.  I like the different colors of the cabinetry.  The soft grey on the outer cabinets and the white on the island.  I'm not a big fan of the grey trend because I find it a bit dreary and not as cheery as coloring I prefer.  However, it worked in this particular house pretty well.  One of the things I noticed in this kitchen was the simplicity and naturalness of the decorations as well.  I like the pattern of the curtains.  I like the big basket on the island with pumpkins and Indian corn.  I like the bucket of ivy, the stack of small pumpkins, the featured pottery platter, and the lamp next to the small pantry in the corner as well.

One of the things I like and perhaps would consider adding to my own decor is the brick backsplash behind the cook top.  The archetictural elements for decor are nice, but I know my cooking and cleaning habits and those probably wouldn't look so nice after a few months of regular use.

I loved the design of this pantry.  I loved the glass door.  I'm not so certain that this would be feasable in my house because I don't keep my pantry showcase-viewing ready.  However, I do like the concept and design of the pantry.  I like the idea of walking in and perhaps, some day I can focus on nice canisters and sealable containers and organizational tubs, baskets, containers that would make any pantry look more like eye candy.  I also like the preserved boxwood wreath on the door.

I'm looking closely at pantries, I think.  Maybe that is because mine is a bit of a disaster right now.  Just organizing it would probably help loads.  However, I'd like to someday restructure so that I have a mud room and that might require a restructuring of my pantry as well.  The kitchen pantry shown above is not a very big one but it does have a cool chalk board sliding barn door.  First of all, the art work on the door makes it appealing.  While I do like the look of a sliding barn door, I think it takes up a lot of wall space and might not be the most practical thing.  I will admit, this one on the cool brick wall looks pretty, though.

The creamy, taupe color of this cabinetry seemed more cheerful to me.  Again, there was the tile with a brick-look backsplash over the cook top that I liked.  I also liked the topiaries flanking the cook top but don't know that live ones would look like this for very long since there isn't much natural light handy for them where they are sitting.  I also noticed the vent hoods in these houses since that is something I'd like to change in my own.  Both these kitchens have quite pleasing ones that add beauty and interest to the kitchen.

I think the look of this one might be most practical.  The only problem with all of these is that I once had a kitchen where the microwave was over the cook top and I loved that layout.  It was handy and efficient and utilized cabinet space well.  So, while I'm still gathering looks I like, I haven't landed on what might work best for me at this point.  One thing I've arrived at a decision on at this point is that I don't really like the look of subway tile.  It is a clean look but it looks far too institutional to me.  I like something that is warmer and more homey instead.  I did notice that this particular kitchen had cabinets that went to the ceiling.  I love those small box cabinets with lighting and glass doors above the traditional height upper cabinets.  I think it lightens the place up and makes efficient use of the space.  I have decided that is something I'd like to have.

Next up, the bathroom.

The combination in this small half-bath was quite interesting.  I like the stenciled walls and paint treatments in a lot of these houses.  This bold stenciled wall makes quite a statement in the small space and I'm all about that in some cases.  Not sure it is really my style, but I do like the look.  Then, there was the mix of modern and rustic.  There was the simplicity of the builder-grade mirror.  There was the modern chrome faucet.  There was the industrial look of the wooden shelf-top for the vanity.  There was the industrial look of the plumbing that was exposed.  Then, there is the nice creamy basin that looks more like an old ironstone bowl.  Quite the look when combined.  Again, it was a look that isn't really me but I do like the look.

The different textures in this shower were interesting to look at but it almost looks like a materials sample to me.  I love the large tile on the left.  I like the look of the stone floor.  However, I also know that when there is grout, there might also be mildew conditions.  So, those penny tiles and the stone-look floor might not work for me.  (That sure is a cute little fellow pretending to shower up in there, though, isn't he?)

I think I'd love to have a walk-in shower.  Some of them have seemed too dark.  So, one way to alleviate that is to have lots of glass.  I wonder how difficult that will prove to keep clean?  This shower has a combination of tiles and a little different look with half-walls of tile and glass.  Again, I like the diamond accent wall but think I'd like it better with larger tile.  I also like the look of the pickled plank tile but think I'd rather have large tile with very little grout.

The decor in this boy's bathroom was really cute.  The cabinetry is a nautical blue color.  I love the shape and color of the brushed nickel faucet and handles.  It looks especially good with the nautical light fixtures.  The simple mirror framed by rope is really cute, too.  The open shelving is nice and lends itself to lots of different storage options.  The rolled towels look good and the basket on the opposite side makes for attractive storage of items that might not be as attractive.  If there was any doubt that this bathroom has a nautical theme, that oar above the mirror and sconces seals the deal doesn't it?

This photo doesn't show it off well, but I love the basketweave tile on this floor.  It is so attractive.  I wonder if this comes in a more sandy color?  That might be nice to camoflauge dust or grass clippings that seem to show up on the light color of my light colored tile bathroom floors.  Plus, I love this cheetah print shower curtain in a cobalt and turquoise blue on a sandy tan field.  I've been noticing the cheetah print trend and want to add some of that to my decor.

Speaking of shower curtains, one of the things I noticed in several of the bathrooms was that the shower curtain drops from a curtain rod slightly below ceiling level.  That makes for quite a bit of yardage when the ceilings are ten, eleven, or twelve feet in height, but I do like that look.  I also liked this arched doorway leading into the guest suite!

The Laundry Room.

This was another place that I noticed things like innovative paint techniques.  This wall was also stenciled and the lightness of it appealed to me more.  I think that having an attractive laundry room certainly would make laundry duty more appealing.  The light fixture in this laundry room was also an accent piece.  As you can see, the washer and dryer were front-load models and were stacked on top one another.  I see this as efficient use of the space.  I would like to have a base for my dryer when I have to pull out a load of Mike's overalls.  However, I'm not so sure I'm sold on a front-load washer.  I hope I don't have to shop for those appliances any time soon!  The laundry room also seems to be a place where folks used bold prints for simple draperies and I like that trend as well.

If I recall correctly, this was also a laundry room with a bold wallpapered wall.  I love the detail on the Roman shade with the braid stitched insed the pleat and peaking out.

I like the concept of a built-in dog crate in the laundry or mud room.  I think that would serve our needs well, too.  This one was simple cabinetry with hardware cloth on the doors.

The opposite side featured open shelving with baskets.  This would work well for a family.  The person with laundry duty could fold on the space at counter height and sort the folded items into baskets for the owners to cart to their respective rooms and put away.  Or, it would work well for sorting different loads and when the basket is full that is an indicator to do a load of laundry.

Lots of good ideas for spaces with a utilitarian purpose were seen in these homes on parade.  There were lots of things to like and some that I questioned.  As I listened to others who were touring, I noticed that the opinions varied almost as much as the different groups making their way through the different rooms.  I guess that is why it takes all kinds to make the world go round.

Shaggy no more

Toby got a haircut and he is no longer shaggy.

Mike and I always love it right after he has been groomed.  He smells fresh and clean.  His coat is shiny and soft.

Plus, he looks so much more distinguished.  Mike always calls him Sebastian on the day that he comes home from the groomer because he looks so much more distinguished.

You can tell it really makes a difference to Toby, too.

I mean, he changes his routine so much.

I wish I was freshly-shorn and looked more distinguished and polished like him!

Independence Day Celebration and Zucchinis

Well, the nation's birthday celebration sloshed by me.  Mike had to work.  Yuck!

He said, "Maybe if we work on July 4 we can have off Saturday AND Sunday."

I paused only briefly to think about that.  Don't you think something is wrong if he has to work on a national holiday in order to have two days off that he is supposed to have off anyway?

My gripe session about that is over but I would like to have caused a few fireworks with the powers that be over there at the warehouse!

Anyway, yesterday was a sloshy, mushy, rainy day here at the ole homestead.  So, Toby and I spent the day in the kitchen.

Yesterday we had put all of that bushel of yellow squash in the freezer.  Lots of slicing, blanching, chilling, and bagging going on over here.

This was only the first batch...

Then, today, we (meaning I) began work on the bushel of zucchini.  I sliced up some zucchini and dipped it into buttermilk and tossed it into a cornmeal mixture and laid the slices out on a wax paper/cookie sheet.  You can see a tutorial HERE.

I also made Lemon Zucchini Bread using a recipe by NancyCreative.  It is absolutely divine!

Lemon Zucchini Bread with Lemon Glaze

I tried another zucchini bread recipe that my friend Joann G gave me.  It is delicious and she says it freezes well.  You can see that recipe HERE.

I pinned a couple more recipes on my Recipes to Try Pinterest Board that I'm going to give a try.

On another note, Bridgette and family have gone on V-cation and Lillie and Lydia sported their 'zucchinis' (really it was a tankini but guess what was a more familiar term...)  today and went to the hotel pool!

Finally, when Mike got home from work at about eight-thirty, he told me to look out front to see what was going on and this is what I saw:

Yep, there was a roadblock set up right in front of our house!

Stephen and Bonnie fired off a couple of fireworks up on the hill - a warm-up for Saturday, I guess.

Here is what Toby did all day:

Then, when folks started shooting fireworks all around us, he had to look out the window of the back doors and give a few woofs!

Hope your day was exciting and festive.

Lost!

The other afternoon, I had a stressful, hectic, busy day at work. After leaving my last school for the day, I swung by Publix to pick up a few necessities.  When I got home and toted in a handful of bags, I let Toby out to take care of business.  I toted in another handful of bags.  Then, I went back to get my school bag and purse.  With hands full, I walked round and shut the truck door with my hip, and immediately started calling and looking for Toby.  No show for my black pooch.  So, I started walking and calling - went up to the Mother-in-Law's, to both our barns, and started up the hill to Stephen's.  Mike had gotten in on the search and drove all over the front half of the farm looking and had circled up by Stephen and Bonnie's house, out to the highway, and back down to Jim's barn.  Thinking I would check the back pastures and drive out to the highway to check again, I opened the door of my truck and there he lay in the driver's seat!  I think I have lost my ever-loving mind!

Transformed!

Toby got a haircut this week.  He went from being a shaggy mutt to...

...a Schnauzer!

Grace, the groomer, said she could tell that he had experienced that sort of haircut before because he was cooperative with her and didn't even flinch when she was trimming his eyebrows.  (I was so thankful to hear that he was cooperative and well-behaved because...well, let's face it, he isn't always!)

Mike thinks the new 'do makes him look quite sophisticated and was calling him Pierre and Jaques and names like that.  I just think it makes him look cute.  Don't you?

Overnight Guest

Mike and I recently had an overnight guest.  Well, really, Toby recently had an overnight guest because he is the one who spent the most time with her.  He is the one who seemed to be joined at the hip to her.  He is the one who treated her with the most honor.

Making a nest...

Sorry for the small photos but Mike took these with his cell phone from across the room so as not to disturb all the important bonding and nesting that was going on over there.  From the time Lydia walked in the door till the moment we walked out the back door to meet her mother, Toby was her faithful companion.

In these pictures, Lydia was reading a selection of poetry to Mike and me when we weren't engrossed in television.  She had positioned her pillows...just so.  She had situated her coverlet...just so.  Toby had also draped himself at her feet...just so.

Every now and then she would have to pet on him and talk to him in a sugary voice.  Saying, "Your a good boy aren't you Toby, buddy?"

Then, she could sit back engrossed in her reading and the television program being broadcast.  She was very business-like. 

We loved having her stay with us for a couple of days and nights...almost as much as her buddy, Toby!

My Mis-Adventures in Feast Preparing

How is it that I got to be "The Grandmother" whose house everybody comes over the river and through the woods to see on the holiday?  Wasn't it just the day before yesterday I was the young girl flipping around and grumping because we had to get all our work done so we could go to MY grandmother's house over the river and through the woods.  Because I'm sure it was JUST yesterday that I was forcing my own children to get all their chores done so we could go to my mother's house over the river and through the woods.  How did this happen?  How come I didn't get that "grandmother" training where all the food comes out tasting like Martha or Ina prepared it and looking like Norman Rockwell painted it?  How on earth did those ancestors get everything prepared and done at the same time?  When did they sweep the dust bunnies up off the floor?  When did they swish the layer of dust off the furniture?  When did they scrub the toilets and wipe the water spots and toothpaste off the bathroom sinks?  How is it that they were still standing upright and smiling when we arrived and not bent over, aching, and frowning and cursing as they realized they hadn't prepared something?  Why didn't somebody give me THAT training?

Our children are coming to celebrate Christmas and exchange gifts and eat the feast I'm preparing tomorrow.  We're having two types of ham, sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese, corn, green beans, rolls, desserts and cranberry salad.  (Well, at least that is what I've got planned!  Right now we might just have hams, a loaf of sour dough bread from the grocery, and cranberry salad while we sit on the unswept floor and try not to disturb the protective layer of dust on the furniture.)

When the holidays roll around, some foods are just...expected.  Cranberries at Christmas and Thanksgiving are expected.  I'm glad because I like cranberries at any time of the year - and especially at these holiday feasts!  One of my favorite dishes from childhood is a congealed salad my mother made with cranberry sauce.  Here is my mis-adventure at trying to recapture that delicacy:

• Gather your ingredients.

 

• Mumble a few curses under your breath because nobody on earth will know or care except you and Toby because you are the only two around and Toby won't tell anybody.  The curses are mumbled when you realize that you accidentally picked up jellied cranberry sauce instead of whole cranberry sauce and because you got cherry gelatin instead of black cherry gelatin.  You are determined to make this work.  So, you don't go back to the store but just persevere!
• Following the directions on the gelatin, boil two cups of water in a microwavable mixing bowl.
• While this is zapping, open the crushed pineapple and whole cranberry sauce jellied sauce and mumble a few more curses.
• Mix the pineapple and sauce together smushing the lumpy sauce against the side and bottom of a beautiful glass bowl to get rid of those lumps.

• Carefully remove the boiling water from the microwave because if you slosh it and it spills on your toes, you will have to loudly mumble curse words and Toby will run over to make sure you are alright and look at you like you are crazy.
• Mix the gelatin into the boiling water completely.
• Sprinkle the chopped pecans atop the pineapple/lumpy cranberry sauce mix and mash your lips together because you keep thinking that it would be so much better with the whole cranberries in it.
• Suddenly feel all warm and genius-like because you have a brilliant idea - dried cranberries!

• Drop a handful, or two, or three...Oh, what the heck!  Drop a good four handfuls into the hot gelatin liquid and let them sit for a minute while you wipe up the splatters of stickiness that you caused.

• Go ahead and wet a paper towel and wipe it up off the floor, too, because if you don't you will be cursing later at the sticky spot.  While you are wiping the counter and before you get to the floor you will notice that SOMEBODY has already spilled something else and there is a trail of drippiness going down the side of the cabinet and at the base there on the floor.  (Not you, of course.  SOMEBODY else did this because you would never leave a mess like that and forget about it till it dried and looked all yucky to be discovered later and cause somebody else to mumble curses!)  Then, get you another wad of paper towels and scrub the counter and the floor good.

• Pour the liquid gelatin and softened, dried cranberries into the pineapple/sauce/pecan mixture and give it a good stir.
• Get more paper towels and clean up the mess you made trying to pour, stir, and take a picture at the same time because you don't have that much coordination and Lord knows you don't want somebody else to come along and find the sticky mess YOU made!
• Give the whole concoction a good stir and carefully shift the beautiful bowl and mixture over to the fridge so it can begin to 'set up' and get all jelly-like.

• Leave it in the fridge for about an hour and give it another gentle stir to mix in the pecans that have all floated to the top.  Be careful not to trip over the dog when you get to this step or you might almost tip the entire concoction out onto the floor and mumble more curse words. 
• Cover with that clear plastic wrap that gets all clingy to itself and you have to stretch and pull and tear the first piece and then mumble curse words as you wad it up and throw it away before you get a nice flat piece stretched across the top of the bowl and tear it off the roll. 
• Smile to yourself and say, "Now!" to Toby because you feel a sense of accomplishment at having one dish ready for all the family.

*Note:  I stressed that you should put this in a pretty glass bowl.  That is something that my mother and grandmothers taught me in the training to be THE GRANDMOTHER.  Presentation is important.  You eat with your eyes before you do with your mouth.  A colorful food like this adds to the appearance of the table or buffet and everything looks and tastes better in a beautiful bowl!  No southern woman worth her salt would even consider not having something for the holidays served in a beautiful bowl!

*Another Note:  It is easy to forget this dish because it is one of the first you prepared and it gets pushed to the back of the fridge and everything else will be coming off the stove or out of the oven.  So, make yourself a note and post it somewhere that somebody in the family will see and remember to take it out of the fridge before you eat because it is a dish that you and THE GRANDFATHER would get absolutely sick of if you had to eat it - just the two of you.  Yes, this is the voice of experience speaking because I remember my mother and grandmother making just this mistake!  Let's hope I don't tomorrow!

I would advise you to prepare this dish near the beginning of your preparation stages so that you can feel that sense of accomplishment because there are loads of other dishes, lots of cleaning, and gifts to finish wrapping and beribboning and you will feel overwhelmed at all you have to do.  You are going to need that little triumph!  Trust me.  I know.  I am THE GRANDMOTHER now!

Happy Feast Preparation to all you other GRANDMOTHERS! 

(If you would like this recipe in a more concise form, you could just go HERE.)

Bad Boy!

No words are necessary!

Ah...Nice Weather!

Why is it that when it is summer we wish for cooler weather and when it is winter we wish for warmer days? 

Today dawned with nice breezy sunshine and cooler temperatures.  I've been so glad.  I puttered around outside for a bit and then when I had to come in to do some work I opened the kitchen windows and kept the door like this

Toby's enjoyong the cooler weather on the deck, too!

I'm sure that later I'll be mumbling curses and swatting with this friend...

For now, though, I'm enjoying the outdoors while I'm indoors and getting a professional development session mapped out for one of my middle schools.

Using an Alias

There are lots of reasons somebody would use an alias.  Most of them probably relate to illegal activities.  Before we even made it home with our new dog, I learned that he was using an alias!  If you read yesterday's post, you learned that we got a new pet dog family member on Tuesday.  I had been looking at the Adopt-A-Pet, Petfinder, and local animal shelter listings for several weeks.  I had certain criterion that were important to me and began making inquiries only recently.  Most of the time those inquiries led to my opting out of adopting.

Then, I noticed a posting which led me to another posting and there he was!  I was immediately captivated by the photos that were included.  So, late one afternoon I called to inquire.  The fellow who answered my call let me know that the animal shelter was already closed but the dog was still available.  He answered my questions and then began to talk favorably about the dog listed as Marshall going so far as to say he would take him home if he could.  Marshall was described as being two years old, friendly, smart, good with other dogs, outgoing with people but not too rambunctious.  The shelter employee could not believe Marshall had not already been adopted.  The fellow also mentioned that his 'real' name might be Toby.  I learned that the dog was already neutered, was healthy, and already had a micro-chip for identification.  It seems that the original owner had to move and gave the dog away.  The information relating to the micro-chip was never changed and the second owner could not be located.

I whined begged wheedled persuaded rationally discussed our getting a dog with Mike who was against it.  It seems that years ago he had a strong attachment with a dog.  Then, when she died, he was heart-broken and lonesome without her for quite some time.  Last year when my dog, Ginger, died, I was devastated and cried and mourned and moped for a long time.  Mike just didn't want to risk that possibility again.  Later that night he told me that we are in this together and if I wanted the dog, just get it.  The only thing is, he might have to change the name of the dog - he wasn't too fond of Marshall.  The next morning, he kissed me as he headed off to work and told me was still skeptical but to be careful as I trekked off to get the dog.  (He even confessed that he would do his best to give me anything and everything I ever wanted.  So, I'm wondering...a house on the beach...a convertible car...)

Bridgette had offered to go with me to get the dog.  So, I told her to be here at 8:30 in the morning if she wanted to go.  This meant she would have to rouse and ready her daughters and drive for an hour to get to my house.  So, I really didn't expect to see them.  Yet, sure enough, there they were just as I was getting ready to walk out the door.

Lillie, the animal lover, asked me several questions about Martian.  So, I sort of agreed with Mike that maybe the name would have to be changed.

We trooped off north, nearly to the Kentucky border to meet Marshall.  I met the fellow I had conversed on the phone with the day before as well as some other new friends.  We went through the meet-and-greet and I signed my life away at the Montgomery County Animal Shelter.  I gave them a check for $37 and we went out the door in less than an hour.  When we got to the parking lot, Bridgette opened the back hatch/door of her SUV and the dog immediately began to jump up into the crate we had back there, telling me that he was crate trained and would be easier to acclimate into hour household.

Part of the paperwork which was given me listed a phone number for updating the micro-chip.  When I called, I learned that the dog's listed name was Toby.  So, I left it listed as that and we began to call him Toby.  I don't know whether he got the alias Marshall because of where he was picked up or exactly why the animal shelter listed his name as such.  Maybe he was a criminal who chased chickens in his previous life.  Maybe he had stolen a shoe and needed to lay low for a while.  Maybe he was a peacekeeper in a town called Dodge City at one time.  Who knows why he was using an alias.  However, this guy will not be masquerading under some other name again.  Toby he is!

Meet Up

Tuesday brought a new adventure.  I was up and at 'em with Mike in the early morning so I could trek off to the northern end of our fair state and meet a new friend.  You see, I had been doing a little online exploring at those "making connections" or "match-me-up" sites.  I had found a possible match or two and decided I was ready for a face-to-face meeting. 

They always tell you to be safe when meeting one of those online match-ups - you know, to meet during the daytime, to take somebody along with you, and such.  So, Bridgette, my daughter, offered to come along.  Since she was coming, she brought along granddaughters, Lillie and Lydia.  I felt truly safe and well-supported.  I had set the mid-morning meet-up at a very public place.  By 8:40 A.M. the four of us were on the road and headed north.  (Of course, the other three girls had already been on the road for about an hour by then.) 

We eagerly trooped into the place of business I had designated for the meet-up and were immediately greeted by the distinctive fragrance known to this type of place.  I timidly approached the counter and identified myself.  Then, an employee escorted us down the hall and introduced us to a fellow they called Marshall.  He seemed excited to see us, greeted us warmly, and we were invited to join him for a stroll in the fresh air.

I think we quickly made a connection.  So, I had no hesitation introducing him to Lillie, who was the most eager to make an acquaintance (of all the supporting cast).  We discussed extending our relationship and talked about a few possibilities.  I got more background information.  We were introduced to a couple of his friends (which certainly gave us insight to what sort of fellow with which we were dealing).  You probably know how this sort of thing goes - hesitant and awkward a bit at first, followed by non-commital conversation, and finally sharing personal information. 

I offered up a bit of financial compensation.  Read and signed a life-altering, binding agreement.  Then, we all went on our merry way knowing that none of us would ever be the same again!

Here are some photographs that Bridgette captured to canonize the event.

First-meet

Introductions

Getting to Know You

Starting Toward Home

A Happy Face