the ship came in

my favorite french antique importer in san francisco welcomed her largest container from france EVER.  all i can say is i was overwhelmed when i walked into the warehouse.  i have never seen so much STUFF..and most of it was still wrapped up in boxes.

she actually lets me dig away..box by box.  i found a box full of enamelware and my heart started jumping out of my chest.  why you may ask, well...because she has the best prices ever and i can actually walk out with a box full of goodies for under 100.00.  they are covered in dirt and grime and in need of a little bit of tlc, warm wather and soap and a splash of hope.

here are a few goodies from my recent box of smalls. 

wintery weekend

we went to seattle last weekend and were embraced by blue skies in november, which go hand in hand with, some cold temperatures.  i know...it is a sign of getting old...talking weather, but boy oh boy....it really was an awakening to how spoiled we are in northern california.

even though my bones were on the verge of splintering with the cold weather, our host was able to share their warmth and cozy abode, which made the chill all the more enjoyable.  and i have to say, they really know how to make the simple things elegant. 

there is nothing like a working fireplace in the pacific northwest.....brings back many memories of my 15 years living there.

deets

who would of thunk i would have spent so many months searching for the perfect faucet....i did and not proud of it.  it is much easier when shopping for others and finding that perfect fit, but for me there was not as much ease.

and..i found it on line..so there was a bit of blind faith with this one and thank goodness it worked out.  another one down.....

things are a cookin

we never did end up cooking any meals in the original kitchen at hillside.  as a mater of fact, ripping out this kitchen was one of the very first projects at hillside.  it was super easy taking everything down and getting it recycled or to the dump and really opened up the space.  long gone are the above the counter cabinets at hillside...never to return.

now, putting it back together again did take a bit longer than we had hoped, but that is all par for the course.  and honestly, our makeshift kitchen grew on me and its charming dysfunction had its way with me and i kinda miss it.  

BUT..after a few years of saving pennies for the kitchen fund...we got started and now we are so close to the finish line...at least for the one side of the kitchen.  about one more day with our contractor/friend gus and the drawers will be installed and the baseboards assembled and BAM. so close....

grateful.

more before and after

so, here is another look at the side path next to the cabin.  i wish i had before before shots, but could not find them...but, as you can see,  it is coming together...slow and steady.

the painting is very therapeutic for me (as it is for many of us)  and i have been painting since i was a wee kid and find it to be one of the most rewarding tasks....as long as i am not on a schedule..then it becomes a bit tedious.  i should be on a schedule as we have company from now until the first of the year...so, i am not sure how much more i am going to be able to get done before winter comes, but happy to have a bit more completed.  

here are a few tidbits of truth:

Saved $$ on stepping stones:  had our guy make a basic form (with my specific measurements) and then create basic cement pavers/slabs vs. spending $$$$ on buying premade ones.

Saved $$$ by painting the house myself vs. paying thousands to have someone else do it (i am almost halfway finished).  paint color is BM Encino Willow for the walls and Mascarpone for the trim.  i might change the trim to black..but will not sold quiet yet..an easy one to fix.

Saved $ by using a medium gravel instead of the fine gravel i was dreaming of.  we had some major sticker shock when we went to stone supply and found the gravel we loved was about 3 X's more than what we ended up with.  lets just say we love it even more now.

some kitchen shots are coming....

now i don't feel so old

ok, i know these images should give away the destination.  all i have to say is i have never seen so much beautiful architecture and history.  it was stimulatingly exhausting...did i already say that?  these structures were OLD...like so old i don't think i am capable of wrapping my mind around it.

i was inspired by the simple details...the same things that alway catch my breath.  i know these images are not necessarily simple details, but the little villages we visited were packed with them...i left my heart there....well, a piece of it anyway. 

have a great weekend.  heading out to hillside and i should have a few new updates to show you...fingers crossed.

holiday

well, i was out of country for 2 weeks and this time it was a personal trip and not a work one...YAY.   lets just say it was  visual stimulus overload and i finally gave in and accepted that the best images and memories will always be captured in my heart and thoughts..... as a camera just cant seem to capture the essence and color that my mind holds closely to, or maybe i just need to take some photography classes.  :)

can you guess where i was from these images?  one thing i can say is the doors, the doors, the doors reminded me of my friend donna at perfect gray.  i was able to capture one image of a gray door that i can share now,  but i have many more to share soon.

images by me..instagram filters included

grams

part of my absence from brock steet was because i was swept into the instagram vortex and couldnt get out...it was quite easy to share images and i quick fix.

well, as everything seems to do in life, it ran it cycle, much like pinterest has and now i am back to brock.

here are some of the images i shot this summer.  those filters really make one feel a bit accomplished....LOL.

i'm off on vacation for 2 weeks and hopefully will find some time in my remote location to post a few moments.

until then...

more on my "slow and steady" campaign

as some of you know, most of this cosmetic renovation is being done by b-mo (kidding...by us'ns).  as many of you also know and feel,  life tends to creep up on you and before you know it your projects are piling up and being trumped by unexpected "other projects" and for us, guests.  i guess i need to throw in some travel and then it is 2013 already.

no more excuses...the show must go on.  so, right now i am tackling painting the exterior... one wall at a time.  i started with the front of the house (which is small) and am slowly moving around.  my second round was really the smallest wall on the house, but i needed a bit more prep and i was working alone (more excuses). 

here is my before (7 different colors on that patched up wall before i cleaned er up) and after. 

slow he goes....

Squeeze in one more walk

Always hard to say goodbye to the dirt roads, rolling country hills and quiet walks after a great weekend at hillside.  short and sweet.

b-mo and i.

getting close....

....to having one side of hillside kitchen complete.  having problems downloading images of the progress, but for now i thought i would post an inspirational space.  i love this kitchen...it looks old world, sturdy, practical, non-shiny and slick, and like a room that has had several great conversations and meals.

Morning Stretch

First weekend at Hillside in a while (3 weeks....seems like forever) and someone is taking in the morning sun and all the Sonoma mountain scents.

Hope this finds u deep into a long weekend relaxation.