Wow, it's been a long time since I last blogged. Things have gotten so busy...I have a new roommate and the house has definitely changed. I will take pictures and blog more, but I was just now reading Lydia's skirt blog and am so inspired by her dedication that it motivated me to at least update this blog.
More to come...
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Culinary Choo-Choo
I figured since my last post concerned my kitchen table, I might as well ride the kitchen train. It is my favorite room after all, and probably the room I spend the most time in.
This is my kitchen:
It's got fantastic counter space and fantastic counters, even. They're some kind of faux-granite that has a name I can't remember; it's supposed to be good though, I remember my realtor commenting on it in a good way. The two best things in the kitchen are both items my I inherited from my grandmother. The first is the butcher block.
I remember this butcher block for about as long as I can remember anything. It was in my grandparents' kitchen at their house in San Antonio and always had a bowl of fruit and a scale on it (I also inherited the scale. It's a really cool old postal scale - you can actually see it in this photo, sitting on the counter to the left of the stove), and because my grandmother was such an incredibly fabulous Southern cook, the butcher block brings back quite nice memories for me. It's also in great shape. I don't know what kind of wood it is but it's pretty heavy. I don't really like cutting meat directly on it because I'm worried about bugs and grease which I guess defeats the original purpose of a butcher block, but it's the perfect object to go in the middle of the kitchen. And it looks nice with flowers on it.
The second best thing in the kitchen is the marble slab on the counter. Also from my grandmother, the slab actually used to sit atop the butcher block. Once I got it, I immediately found it a home on the counter so that I can use it for baking and pastry. I made a fresh cherry pie the other day and the slab is absolutely perfect for rolling pie crust. It stays cool so that the shortening in the crust doesn't warm up and toughen the dough, but it's nice and smooth at the same time so the dough doesn't get mashed into the little cracks and crags it might otherwise find. Here it is:
I have to say one of the selling points about the house for me is the fact that it came with a gas stove, and a good one. I've always preferred gas to electric stoves, and ovens as well. Which this is. It cooks so nice and evenly and brings water to boil like a charm! Seriously though, "gas oven and stove" was truly one of my sticking points when looking for a house. I know I could've bought myself one, but the fact that this house already had one installed was a shear stroke of perfection.
Note the blue fishie towel. It's awesome.
So my plan for the kitchen is this: paint it blue. I think we've picked out what's called a "Bridal Blue"; it's a nice soft cool blue with more purple undertones than green. My only concern is that sometimes blues and greens can look institutional. I think it'll look nice though. If not, we can always paint over it! I'd also like to paint the cabinets white. I just love the look of blue and white and think it will lend a relaxing feel to the kitchen. Good to eat and cook in, especially in the dead of summer when it's so darned hot outside.
Well, that's it from Planet House tonight. See everyone on the flip-flop.
This is my kitchen:
It's got fantastic counter space and fantastic counters, even. They're some kind of faux-granite that has a name I can't remember; it's supposed to be good though, I remember my realtor commenting on it in a good way. The two best things in the kitchen are both items my I inherited from my grandmother. The first is the butcher block.
I remember this butcher block for about as long as I can remember anything. It was in my grandparents' kitchen at their house in San Antonio and always had a bowl of fruit and a scale on it (I also inherited the scale. It's a really cool old postal scale - you can actually see it in this photo, sitting on the counter to the left of the stove), and because my grandmother was such an incredibly fabulous Southern cook, the butcher block brings back quite nice memories for me. It's also in great shape. I don't know what kind of wood it is but it's pretty heavy. I don't really like cutting meat directly on it because I'm worried about bugs and grease which I guess defeats the original purpose of a butcher block, but it's the perfect object to go in the middle of the kitchen. And it looks nice with flowers on it.
The second best thing in the kitchen is the marble slab on the counter. Also from my grandmother, the slab actually used to sit atop the butcher block. Once I got it, I immediately found it a home on the counter so that I can use it for baking and pastry. I made a fresh cherry pie the other day and the slab is absolutely perfect for rolling pie crust. It stays cool so that the shortening in the crust doesn't warm up and toughen the dough, but it's nice and smooth at the same time so the dough doesn't get mashed into the little cracks and crags it might otherwise find. Here it is:
I have to say one of the selling points about the house for me is the fact that it came with a gas stove, and a good one. I've always preferred gas to electric stoves, and ovens as well. Which this is. It cooks so nice and evenly and brings water to boil like a charm! Seriously though, "gas oven and stove" was truly one of my sticking points when looking for a house. I know I could've bought myself one, but the fact that this house already had one installed was a shear stroke of perfection.
Note the blue fishie towel. It's awesome.
So my plan for the kitchen is this: paint it blue. I think we've picked out what's called a "Bridal Blue"; it's a nice soft cool blue with more purple undertones than green. My only concern is that sometimes blues and greens can look institutional. I think it'll look nice though. If not, we can always paint over it! I'd also like to paint the cabinets white. I just love the look of blue and white and think it will lend a relaxing feel to the kitchen. Good to eat and cook in, especially in the dead of summer when it's so darned hot outside.
Well, that's it from Planet House tonight. See everyone on the flip-flop.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Crossword Puzzles
Well, rather than taking pictures this weekend Brent and I tried our best to complete the NYT Sunday crossword puzzle instead (note the operative word "tried"); we got, maybe, 8 words? We played while we ate delicious Pork Sauce Piquant that Brent had cooked which was a great way to spend a Saturday evening. We sat at the kitchen table rather than in front of the TV and enjoyed our surroundings and each other.
I really love my kitchen table, it's been in the family for at least fifty years having been handed down and handed down again. I think it might have started out living with my great-aunt and uncle out in Midland and was then given to my grandparents who kept it in the den of their house in Blanco.
The house in Blanco was my very favorite place on earth; it was a sad day when my grandmother decided to sell it. We did so much on that table, we played cards and I played with paper dolls...we'd also just sit and look out the back doors.
The table's a wrought-iron table with a glass top and has five matching chairs.
Originally the chairs had turquoise vinyl seats and backs and as kitschy as the turquoise vinyl sounds, it was actually kind of attractive. It was starting to look old though, so when my mom inherited the set (after my brother had used it himself for a year or so) and passed it on to me, we decided maybe it was time for an update. We picked out a lovely blue and white toile with a pattern of birds.
This reupholstery project was really a nice one because it involved me working with both of my parents, so it was good quality bonding time for us. I made a template of the seat backs and seats and my dad cut out the wood we'd use to put on the chairs. I then cut out all the fabric I needed and my dad and I stapled it all together.
The chairs look great and I think the whole set looks good in the kitchen, especially because I've decided that I want blue and white as the theme for that room. What I've used for inspiration is a Swedish tea cloth with a fish print.
Blue and white's very refreshing, don't you think?
Friday, June 22, 2007
F%*@ing Fence!!
I took this beautiful, glorious trip to Sweden with Brent at the end of April and returned at the beginning of May. It was one of the best trips I've been on and we just had so much fun! I came back in a post-Sweden euphoria, ready to settle back into my daily routine and maybe fix myself a sandwich upon my return. Well, after a canceled flight from Chicago to Dallas and a night in a hotel, I got home and found that a storm had knocked out my power AND had ripped my neighbor's large oak out of the ground. The subsequent damage resulting from the tree falling was this:
This was the chainlink fence separating my yard from my neighbor's. Now I wouldn't call it a beautiful fence by any measure, but it did a fairly adequate job of keeping our property lines distinct and at least it wasn't a big hole in the ground. Did you see? Here, I'll show you another view:
You'll have to excuse the sour tone of this post but as of today, it's been nearly two months since this happened. My poor neighbor rents and she's been trying to get the landlord to take care of this problem to no avail. He claims that the fence is his which is just fine with me, but either way something's got to be done. I figure I'll try to get in touch with him myself on Monday and find out what's going on, but I don't really know the protocol; since this was an "Act of God", does that mean that he's not responsible for repairing the damage?
If anyone has any suggestions, I'm listening!!!
This was the chainlink fence separating my yard from my neighbor's. Now I wouldn't call it a beautiful fence by any measure, but it did a fairly adequate job of keeping our property lines distinct and at least it wasn't a big hole in the ground. Did you see? Here, I'll show you another view:
You'll have to excuse the sour tone of this post but as of today, it's been nearly two months since this happened. My poor neighbor rents and she's been trying to get the landlord to take care of this problem to no avail. He claims that the fence is his which is just fine with me, but either way something's got to be done. I figure I'll try to get in touch with him myself on Monday and find out what's going on, but I don't really know the protocol; since this was an "Act of God", does that mean that he's not responsible for repairing the damage?
If anyone has any suggestions, I'm listening!!!
Monday, June 18, 2007
How 'bout some art?
After a long, relaxing weekend it's time to get back to the grind. I thought I'd share some of the artwork I've hung in my house, with a little story or explanation behind each one. Each one of course has some kind of sentimental attachment to it and I'm sure I'll get just a little emotional just blogging about them...
Regardless, here we go. I thought I'd start with one of my favorites. It's a painting my dad painted in 1976, titled "Project 'J' - #1". My theory (which has not been confirmed) is that my dad painted this for my mom who was pregnant at the time with me. It's such a lovely, balanced painting and was painted when my dad was still a professional artist.
He liked to work in acrylics, so this painting is acrylic on canvas with a wooden frame he constructed. It's in my living room at the moment, and is the first piece of art you see when you come through the door. It's a great welcome.
Moving on, the following is the first artwork I ever purchased. I was in college in my freshman year. The final project we were assigned for our drawing class involved creating a series of "drawings" using whatever medium we felt like using. Ketchup, coffee, graphite, whatever. I bought this series from my classmate Alcuin Gersch for...maybe $100? I can't remember now. There were originally five pieces but the professor liked them so much that he kept one. The neat thing about these pieces is that they're constructed with glue and sheet metal sandwiched by plexi. Over time and as the humidity and temperature change, the metal rusts a little more. It's like the pieces are alive:
They're currently hanging in my hallway which is not ideally where I'd like them but because they're rather small (about 9"x9"), it's hard to find a place for them.
The next two pieces are from the gallery in Lahaina, Hawaii in which I worked. The first piece was a reward for selling the most of this particular artist's work in one month. The artist, Vjekoslav Nemesh, was a very very nice man with a very, very nice wife. I forget the title of this painting but he was all about inner peace and spirituality. I'm not usually one for that kind of stuff but he was just so nice and sincere that I had to embrace it. He signed the back of the canvas and personalized it. Many more people than I would have expected have commented on this painting, and my brother has asked me several times if he can have it (the answer's no).
The other painting from the same gallery was a going-away gift. I'd admired the artist's work quite a bit and was pleased when the gift was presented to me. Beyond liking the painting, it's a reminder of how I will never again work in an art gallery. I was a terrible salesperson and enjoyed meeting and talking to the patrons much much more than selling the art. Blech. But I do like the painting. And the frame is constructed of Koa wood, a wood native to Hawaii.
The following is a silk embroidery. My great-grandfather on my father's side was a silk-stitch embroiderer by trade, and was one of the last to practice his particular technique. My parents have several of his embroideries and I've always expressed such interest in them so as a Christmas gift two years ago, my dad had this piece mounted and framed for me. It was the last piece he was working on before he passed away and is unfinished. I think it's just beautiful and is a craft I would love to learn; I'm sorry I never got the chance to know him and have him teach me.
I'll finish up with two pieces of my own meaning I made them. I was a textile design major in college which allowed me to weave incredibly complex fabrics. These two shawls were pieces from my Senior Project; the focus of my project was the idea of light and reflection, particularly in reference to the body. This was the first piece I completed in the series:
It's woven with rayon and merino wool. The nice shrinking, rippling effect happened after I washed and dried the fabric, essentially felting the wool but leaving the rayon in its original state.
The second piece I wove for my mom. She loves blue, and I chose to use raw silk and merino wool again. I think my inspiration at the time was reflections on water but I'd have to check my notes.
Thus ends part one of the artwork in my house. Maybe if I feel like it I'll do another entry at some point with the rest...
**Cheers and props to the very handsome and very talented Brent Mitchell for taking the photos for this post.
Regardless, here we go. I thought I'd start with one of my favorites. It's a painting my dad painted in 1976, titled "Project 'J' - #1". My theory (which has not been confirmed) is that my dad painted this for my mom who was pregnant at the time with me. It's such a lovely, balanced painting and was painted when my dad was still a professional artist.
He liked to work in acrylics, so this painting is acrylic on canvas with a wooden frame he constructed. It's in my living room at the moment, and is the first piece of art you see when you come through the door. It's a great welcome.
Moving on, the following is the first artwork I ever purchased. I was in college in my freshman year. The final project we were assigned for our drawing class involved creating a series of "drawings" using whatever medium we felt like using. Ketchup, coffee, graphite, whatever. I bought this series from my classmate Alcuin Gersch for...maybe $100? I can't remember now. There were originally five pieces but the professor liked them so much that he kept one. The neat thing about these pieces is that they're constructed with glue and sheet metal sandwiched by plexi. Over time and as the humidity and temperature change, the metal rusts a little more. It's like the pieces are alive:
They're currently hanging in my hallway which is not ideally where I'd like them but because they're rather small (about 9"x9"), it's hard to find a place for them.The next two pieces are from the gallery in Lahaina, Hawaii in which I worked. The first piece was a reward for selling the most of this particular artist's work in one month. The artist, Vjekoslav Nemesh, was a very very nice man with a very, very nice wife. I forget the title of this painting but he was all about inner peace and spirituality. I'm not usually one for that kind of stuff but he was just so nice and sincere that I had to embrace it. He signed the back of the canvas and personalized it. Many more people than I would have expected have commented on this painting, and my brother has asked me several times if he can have it (the answer's no).
The other painting from the same gallery was a going-away gift. I'd admired the artist's work quite a bit and was pleased when the gift was presented to me. Beyond liking the painting, it's a reminder of how I will never again work in an art gallery. I was a terrible salesperson and enjoyed meeting and talking to the patrons much much more than selling the art. Blech. But I do like the painting. And the frame is constructed of Koa wood, a wood native to Hawaii.
The following is a silk embroidery. My great-grandfather on my father's side was a silk-stitch embroiderer by trade, and was one of the last to practice his particular technique. My parents have several of his embroideries and I've always expressed such interest in them so as a Christmas gift two years ago, my dad had this piece mounted and framed for me. It was the last piece he was working on before he passed away and is unfinished. I think it's just beautiful and is a craft I would love to learn; I'm sorry I never got the chance to know him and have him teach me.
I'll finish up with two pieces of my own meaning I made them. I was a textile design major in college which allowed me to weave incredibly complex fabrics. These two shawls were pieces from my Senior Project; the focus of my project was the idea of light and reflection, particularly in reference to the body. This was the first piece I completed in the series:
It's woven with rayon and merino wool. The nice shrinking, rippling effect happened after I washed and dried the fabric, essentially felting the wool but leaving the rayon in its original state.
The second piece I wove for my mom. She loves blue, and I chose to use raw silk and merino wool again. I think my inspiration at the time was reflections on water but I'd have to check my notes.
Thus ends part one of the artwork in my house. Maybe if I feel like it I'll do another entry at some point with the rest...
**Cheers and props to the very handsome and very talented Brent Mitchell for taking the photos for this post.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Skirts
She's got more subscribers than I, but it was just so cool of Lydreg to plug my blog so I must do the same. Beyond returning the favor, it's a super-cool, totally awesome site:
skirtproject.blogspot.com
You must check it out.
More about the house on Monday...
skirtproject.blogspot.com
You must check it out.
More about the house on Monday...
Friday, June 15, 2007
Peaches and Herbs
Gosh it's been a crazy week! I wish I'd had more time to update but work's been a little nuts. Anyhoo.
I thought I'd share with you the best part of my house: the plants! And I'm not talking pecan and pine trees, but the peach tree that's bearing fruit right now as well as my tomato plants, cucumber vine, herbs, pepper plants and the bunches of flowering plants that I was completely unaware of when I bought the house. I'll start by showing off my produce that I've planted:
Look at these cucumbers!
One of my tomato plants...
...followed by the tomatoes they've produced!
And the apple of my eye, my peach tree with pics of the peaches:
Oh yeah, my pepper plants too:
Not to sound like a total cheeseball but these plants have brought me more joy and satisfaction than I would ever have thought. It's so great planting something and watching it grow and then getting to eat the fruits of your labor...literally!
You also have to see these beautiful flowers that the previous owner of my house planted. I had no idea that they were there, or that they could produce such gorgeous flowers! My favorite at the moment is probably the orange tropical flower which evidentally is called a "Giant Canna 'Pretoria'":
But I'm especially partial to the Oleander.
When I was 15, I was invited to vacation on the Turkish coast with a friend and it was maybe the best trip I've taken. If not the best, definitely in the top 3...but one thing I remember so vividly about that trip were the Oleander plants and the Bougainvillea plants. The Oleander blossoms smell vaguely of marshmallows and the petals are incredibly soft. It's a beautiful plant.
I thought I'd share with you the best part of my house: the plants! And I'm not talking pecan and pine trees, but the peach tree that's bearing fruit right now as well as my tomato plants, cucumber vine, herbs, pepper plants and the bunches of flowering plants that I was completely unaware of when I bought the house. I'll start by showing off my produce that I've planted:
Look at these cucumbers!
One of my tomato plants...
...followed by the tomatoes they've produced!
And the apple of my eye, my peach tree with pics of the peaches:
Oh yeah, my pepper plants too:
Not to sound like a total cheeseball but these plants have brought me more joy and satisfaction than I would ever have thought. It's so great planting something and watching it grow and then getting to eat the fruits of your labor...literally!
You also have to see these beautiful flowers that the previous owner of my house planted. I had no idea that they were there, or that they could produce such gorgeous flowers! My favorite at the moment is probably the orange tropical flower which evidentally is called a "Giant Canna 'Pretoria'":
But I'm especially partial to the Oleander.
When I was 15, I was invited to vacation on the Turkish coast with a friend and it was maybe the best trip I've taken. If not the best, definitely in the top 3...but one thing I remember so vividly about that trip were the Oleander plants and the Bougainvillea plants. The Oleander blossoms smell vaguely of marshmallows and the petals are incredibly soft. It's a beautiful plant.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Let's talk landscaping.
So I've done my work for the day and am awaiting a meeting, why not post another little bit about my house?
I had a tree removed from my front yard. Take a look at the picture of the house in the title photo. That's a picture of the house before the tree was removed; it was the tall pine on the left side (if you're looking at the front of the house, which you are) and it was deadern' a doornail. With each passing storm this spring, I held my breath in the hopes that it wouldn't come crashing down onto my roof or worse, my neighbor's roof.
Here's a picture of the yard sans pine:
I'll need to plant something to replace it, but in the meantime I'm revelling in the sense of grown-uppedness and responsibility I've gleaned from this experience. I was going to go the cheap route and hire Rufo who offered to cut down my tree, trim my oak of its overloaded branches, trim my pecan of ITS overloaded branches as well, and cut the saplings off my crepe myrtles and redbud trees, all for $900. It was a good deal; a really good deal. But, he wasn't bonded or insured and wasn't interested in grinding the stump which I desperately needed, and after talking to my boyfriend Brent about the whole endeavor decided to get another estimate. He really helped me understand the difference between taking a risk on the cheap stuff and ensuring quality with the real deal and I'm so very pleased with the results. Plus, I've now got some great pine mulch:
Just in case anyone's interested, I wound up using Jeff Castro, of Castro's Tree Service. He was fantastic and his crew did a great job. I highly recommend him. Just an FYI.
Did you know that both pine and cedar are natural insect repellants? I learned that this weekend.
I had a tree removed from my front yard. Take a look at the picture of the house in the title photo. That's a picture of the house before the tree was removed; it was the tall pine on the left side (if you're looking at the front of the house, which you are) and it was deadern' a doornail. With each passing storm this spring, I held my breath in the hopes that it wouldn't come crashing down onto my roof or worse, my neighbor's roof.
Here's a picture of the yard sans pine:
I'll need to plant something to replace it, but in the meantime I'm revelling in the sense of grown-uppedness and responsibility I've gleaned from this experience. I was going to go the cheap route and hire Rufo who offered to cut down my tree, trim my oak of its overloaded branches, trim my pecan of ITS overloaded branches as well, and cut the saplings off my crepe myrtles and redbud trees, all for $900. It was a good deal; a really good deal. But, he wasn't bonded or insured and wasn't interested in grinding the stump which I desperately needed, and after talking to my boyfriend Brent about the whole endeavor decided to get another estimate. He really helped me understand the difference between taking a risk on the cheap stuff and ensuring quality with the real deal and I'm so very pleased with the results. Plus, I've now got some great pine mulch:
Just in case anyone's interested, I wound up using Jeff Castro, of Castro's Tree Service. He was fantastic and his crew did a great job. I highly recommend him. Just an FYI.
Did you know that both pine and cedar are natural insect repellants? I learned that this weekend.
I love my house.
I do. On June 2nd, I celebrated the one-year anniversary of the purchase of my house and thought, what better way to proclaim the love I have for my house than via the internet? Therefore, I respectfully dedicate this blog to my house and everything I do to it, in it, and with it.
I know this might just make me sound like the crazy cat lady (which I'm not...yet), but I have to say that two of the most important parts of the house are my current roommates: Gloria and Ollie.
Without them, the house would lack that certain je-ne-sais-quois that makes it so darned interesting; I had to mention them right off the bat.
Now. With that out of the way, let me tell you a little bit about the place.
Picture of the front of the house:
Built in 1954. Ranch-style. Three bed, two bath. I've got a mudroom and a workspace in the garage that I'd love to fill with power tools and looms but that's for another time...I'm lucky because the house was renovated before I moved in and the guy I bought it from replaced the floors with hardwoods and Berber carpet. It also has new blinds and tray ceilings which give each room lots of character and the feeling of being in a bigger room. If I had to pick my favorite room in the house, well, I don't know that I could; but if I had to, I guess I'd say the kitchen. I've got a gas stove and oven and a refrigerator that has an ice and cold water dispenser in the door. I've done tons of cooking and baking, and I automatically feel better about life when I'm in that room. I'd like to paint it a robin's egg blue and maybe replace the tiles on the floor with Spanish tiles. It would be pretty.
I'd say that's about all I have to write about right now. More to come.
I know this might just make me sound like the crazy cat lady (which I'm not...yet), but I have to say that two of the most important parts of the house are my current roommates: Gloria and Ollie.
Without them, the house would lack that certain je-ne-sais-quois that makes it so darned interesting; I had to mention them right off the bat.
Now. With that out of the way, let me tell you a little bit about the place.
Picture of the front of the house:
Built in 1954. Ranch-style. Three bed, two bath. I've got a mudroom and a workspace in the garage that I'd love to fill with power tools and looms but that's for another time...I'm lucky because the house was renovated before I moved in and the guy I bought it from replaced the floors with hardwoods and Berber carpet. It also has new blinds and tray ceilings which give each room lots of character and the feeling of being in a bigger room. If I had to pick my favorite room in the house, well, I don't know that I could; but if I had to, I guess I'd say the kitchen. I've got a gas stove and oven and a refrigerator that has an ice and cold water dispenser in the door. I've done tons of cooking and baking, and I automatically feel better about life when I'm in that room. I'd like to paint it a robin's egg blue and maybe replace the tiles on the floor with Spanish tiles. It would be pretty.
I'd say that's about all I have to write about right now. More to come.
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