Half empty or Half full?

I arrived home tonight...

tired of boots,

tired of climbing over snow banks,

tired of winter roads.

My list of "poor me-s" ever so long.

Then I remembered I had taken some pictures this morning

as I was leaving for the office...

The choice is ours:  half empty or half full?

Or simply enough to take your breath away?

My sweet kitchen - home tour begins here

Smitten -- yes, when we first walked into this 150 year old farm house -- we were smitten.  Granted, we had to use a little bit of imagination to see what it could be for us --
but I never imagined anything quite so sweet. 
I still often pinch myself to think I get to start & end my day here.

So, let's take a little tour, shall we....this will be the first of many posts in the next months showing you the rooms of this wonderful house...so grab a cup of coffee.  The house is well over 3000 square feet -- written in the history of Augusta as the "large brick house built by Joseph Strader for his wife".  We should actually begin our tour with the side porch - a three season beauty -- but I will save that for a warmer day.

We enter the house from one of three exterior doors - through that large side porch into the kitchen.  The kitchen is one of two rooms that would have been the Summer Kitchen.  Most of the cooking would have actually taken place in the second room -- which is now our laundry/utility room (through a door to the left of this window) -- but that will wait for another day's tour.  There is also a second floor room above the entire Summer Kitchen which we have yet to open & restore (it is our understanding that in times past, hired hands slept in that room). 

This chair is one of many favorite spots for our inside cats,

Shawnee & McCoy. 

It has a wonderful view of the apple orchard.

When the house was reassessed recently, the appraiser was certain that we would have ripped out the original kitchen and redid it all with all the current rave.  Not so.  If this kitchen has worked for over 150 years, why can't it work for the two of us?  Sure it has minimal counter space -- but for that we added a round table right in the middle --- a free find from my good friend, Sarah.  Let me digress for a moment with that story...as we were moving, I mentioned that I was looking for a pedestal table for the kitchen, within days, Sarah & her son Kevin appeared at our old house in Sun Prairie with a table -- they had just found it along the curb in Madison.  Kismet.  We painted it yellow with a blue top!

What shall I point out in this picture...

you can see the original sink -- love it!

The sunflower above was made by my almost 23 year old when he was in 2nd grade

  love it

Little shelves for my little things - love them!

And there's that table - love it! 

With painted chairs - read about them in an earlier post,  "Have a Seat Post" - love them!

Here is my color inspiration:

a charming vintage rug that lays in front of the sink.

Now we turn toward the original cupboard...the chippy green paint on the cupboard doors was found when I removed wallpaper -- that was after we had painted the kitchen the very same green.  Kismet.

The stained glass panel at the top was a Hixton Antique Mall $20 find --

we had it framed by a craftsman from our Amish community. 

Fit perfectly -- and is back lit at night.

The mirror over the stove is from Dave's childhood home.

I have also learned that with all my "smalls" (kind name for stuff) --

I need to leave some "restful" wall space for the eye to take a break.

I removed two cupboard doors for open shelving...here is a close up.

Amazing what wallpaper and my beloved double stick tape can do!

Penguins awaiting Valentine's Day!  And this fab jar I found at a thrift sale.

Next part of the kitchen is where I write this blog from...indeed we have a study upstairs -- but alas, with dial-up internet access (yes, you read that right -- it is what it is in the country)  --- this is our phone line.  No way we could figure out a logical, clean way to get a phone line to our second floor study through a double brick wall almost a foot wide (that has left many a contractor both spell bound & confounded).

Through the door on the left is our dining room and then living room and then den/t.v. room ---

a walk through the door and then sharp left would also take you upstairs.

Several noteworthy items in the above picture:

Vintage green hamper next to stove now holds our trash & recycling.

Wicker table with computer was bought at auction -- it has a glass top --

I added yellow striped wallpaper from the dining room &

vintage postcards under the glass.

Large picture on the fridge is a "Bird's eye" photo of our farm.

Next stop -- back to the door we entered from. 

The large cupboard is noted in a prior post: "Hardworking Cupboard - Vintage with a Purpose #5 Post"

This cupboard is our pantry.

The little white dresser holds all those items you might need as you leave the house: 

lunch bag, purse, sunscreen.  On top is a place for Dave to put his coins, papers...

On the wall is a chalk board with current projects and a key holder.

The door leads to our side porch.

And there it is -- my sweet kitchen. 

Even the cats find happiness here.

Hope you enjoyed this little tour...hmmm, which room will be next?

Just a smile...

I managed to bring out my Valentine's Day decorations

-- and between starts & stops all weekend (still not feeling well),

was able to put some out. 

I do love this celebration - and the red, white & bits of black...with checkerboard.

I still own many of the Valentines I received as a child -- there is

one from Cathy, from my dad, from Jainie, from Margo...

I cherish these sweet nods to childhood.

This celebration is meant just to make you smile.

And we need that - right?

Enough

I'm home, not feeling well today.
Do a little something, then take a rest.
So, it was with disbelief & such sadness that I turned on the news this afternoon to hear of the shooting in Arizona.  A Congresswoman - a Democrat, shot.  Many dead & hurt.
I tend to not use this blog to promote my politics, my beliefs....but I have to say this because it is time for all of us to say loud & clear (no matter what our own political agenda), "enough".  

To those that believe politics is about anger.  -- Enough.
To those that believe politics is about fear -- Enough.
To those that believe that when there is a difference of opinion, we shout it down or shoot it out --- Enough.

Please take your tea pots & your anger & your selfishness & self focus and go home.

Enough.  This is enough.


We are all part of the solution.  We are all American neighbors, community members, stake holders in a fair and peaceful and just world.   So on behalf of the child that lost her life to this shooting today...enough.

Peace to you...pass it on.

And prayers to all...we need them.

On a cold day on the farm...

 

We coax the goats outside with hay.

Kittens snuggle together for warmth.

Snow piles up.

And, I dream of spring & plan for the May Barn Sale.

What are you doing on this cold day?

I like "free"...

Some of our very best finds have come at no cost. 

Yes, I really like "free". 

It is harder to find, but every now and again you do.

That item at the edge of the road waiting for the garbage truck.

Maybe even a "take me, I'm yours" sign on it.

This fabulous urn was a free find.

Dave found it along the road.

It is large & heavy & chippy & rusted.

Did I say fabulous?

This outhouse was a free find. 

Dave found it in a cemetery down the road from our house,

on it's side...waiting for some sad fate.

The cemetery board voted to let us adopt it, even

helped to load it on the trailer....

and now here it stands in our apple orchard,

proudly holding baskets & a bird nest or two.

This charming little green table was a free find.

Dave found this along a country road -- lost & lonely.

Now it has a farm to live on happily ever after.

And the story goes on & on.  Found.  Free.  Reclaimed.

Reloved.  Found.  Free.  Reclaimed.  Reloved.

I do like "free"....and I do appreciate Dave's ability to find & rescue.

Yes, Dave -- I do believe you are an American Picker --- or at the very least

a true Wisconsin Picker.

You win (but so do I).

What have you found "free"? -- do tell.

next

Today was the day...
"next" was the cause -- with a lower case "n".

Time to put away the remnants of last year, pack away Christmas --
5 full containers & 2 trees.

So on went my "Pack it up Play list" -- shuffle please:

• James Taylor -- Hour Glass
• Zac Brown Band -- You Get What You Give
• Beth Nielsen Chapman -- Sand & Water

Vacuum up the needles, leave it sparse (for a while), wonder how I ever accumulated (I mean gathered) so much stuff.  Attempt to organize a bit, wash rugs, vacuum some more, un-clog the vacuum, run out of steam.  Listen to my songs for what, the fourth time??  Could it really take so long to put away -- yes, it is indeed dark outside, animals hungry.

Here is my hint of "next":

Pulled the hearts up from the bottom of the bowl ---
still stars and a rabbit or two in the bowl...for later. 

Have you packed up your holiday stuff yet? 

What is your ritual to get it done and move on to "next"?
What's on your "pack it up play list"?

Those chances to be angels...

It is a new start, a new year...

a chance to empty the bowl and begin again.

To fill our time & our lives with what matters.

It isn't the thing you do, dear,

It's the thing you leave undone

That gives you a bit of heartache

At setting of the sun.

The tender word forgotten,

The letter you did not write,

The flowers you did not send, dear,

Are your haunting ghosts at night.

Those little acts of kindness

So easily out of mind,

Those chances to be angels

Which we poor mortals find---

Margaret E. Sangster

I wish you peace, hope & good will in this new year.

May we each find the better angel in us.

Happy New Year!

I resolve...

Tick Tock     Tick Tock     Tick Tock

The final days of 2010 are here.

In our minds, we create our "best of" and "worst of" lists for this year.

We resolve to have more "best ofs" in 2011.

Tick Tock     Tick Tock     Tick Tock

Tick Tock

My very first job out of college was teaching Nursery School  in Madison.

I learned many lessons from working with young children: 

patience, joy and that my right knee on my pants always wore thru (from getting down to the child's level)!

I learned many lessons from working with my co-teacher:

Nancy taught me about organization, intentional planning and that you should always set your bar high.

It was also at Tenney Nursery & Parent Center that I learned the essential rules for life;

Take care of yourself.

Take care of each other.

Take care of our world.

I can resolve to do better at this --even a little better counts.

How about you?  What lessons do you take into this new year?

What wishes are you making?

A final gift...

The quiet reflection of the day after Christmas is always a gift...and on this day, there was also another gift waiting.  Bare feet into boots, robe rather than coat -- I ventured outside to receive it.

hoar·frost (hôr frôst). n. Frozen dew that forms a white coating on a surface. Also called white frost.

Magical & Beautiful

A final Christmas Gift.

Has your cup runneth over?

fragile...please handle with care

Hold out your hands...and accept this...
It is fragile, please handle with care.

What could it be - this fragile gift?


My first thought is the little blue eggs - shell fragments I find in the yard each summer - new babies in a nest so high.  I think of those little ones  - surviving wind, rain, crows & jays.   And they make it -- and then journey so far to return each spring and begin again.

Fragile begets Strength.

I think of the ornaments - German made I unwrap each December.  They traveled to Wisconsin, some with my great grandparents.  I find these at antique shops, at thrift sales -- and gather them.  Somehow they have survived, to be honored each year.

Fragile begets Dignity.

I think of the people I have met -- those that have traveled through hard times.  Those that do not define themselves as a cup half empty --- but rather always at least half full.  Those that accept food from a line, coats - second hand but warm.  Those that would take your hand if you offered it.

Fragile begets Resilience.

I think of the animals that toil thru the cold, that dig for grass in the snow...that know warmth only when in season.  That don't complain, but accept the grace of a stranger, seed from a feeder, corn left to find, apples fallen from a tree and left for them.

Fragile begets Perseverance.

When burdens seem too heavy, when suffering seems too large -- when all feels fragile -- I reach out my hands and ask for Wisdom from the past, from the woods, from the least likely place....and tonight, in a humble barn, a stable of sorts, it found me. 

Fragile begets hope. 

May the promise of Christmas find you.  Hold out your hands, but please handle with care.

Merry Christmas!
Kari

On the fourth day of Christmas...

On the fourth day of Christmas

my true love gave to me

Four Calling Birds.

My gift...birdseed in the feeder in the apple orchard.

*The challenge - the twelve days of Christmas from items in my home

and

a Gift based upon my interpretation.

Screech...that is the sound of my brakes as I attempt to STOP.

Last night my son was in a car accident - he is fine.

I am not so much.

I have been pondering a lot in my heart lately --

and now feel the need to stop, step away for a bit.

I will be back.

I didn't realize when I started this post this morning that the four calling birds would call to me...

I need to follow.

I wish you only the best of what this holiday season can be.

We each need to find out what that is.

See you soon,

Kari

On the third day of Christmas...

The challenge -- to photograph my version of the 12 days of Christmas

from vignettes already found in my home.

My true love gave to me -

three French Hens.

The gift -- pay it forward somehow based upon my interpretation of each day.

Today I will attempt to not "ruffle any feathers" --
and be thoughtful,

remembering that this is indeed the season of good will.

I might also take my son out for chicken fajitas (sorry french hens) ---

and attempt to try out a few French words thru the day (not really a gift to anyone).

On the second day of Christmas...

The challenge: Represent the twelve days of Christmas from items already present in my home.

The gift:  Offer out a gift based upon each day.

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me

Two turtle doves.

Today, my gift will be kindness. 

On the first day of Christmas...

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me

A partridge in a pear tree.

Snow bound Kari created a final test for the year.

Could I recreate the twelve days of Christmas with just what was already out in my home?

And rather than wait until the true twelve days --

Christmas thru Epiphany...

I gift these to you each day thru Christmas Eve.

I will also add a twist -- a gift I give to my Kari-world based on this: 

Today I will take in fruit to share at my office.

What would you have in your home to represent this first day?