Chateau de Ledgeview- The Dining Room & Beyond

I "lost" some of my pictures.

Don't ask me HOW I did that

because I can't tell you HOW.

But- they are somewhere

in my computer,

I hope I'm sure.

So, sadly, today's "tour"

of the dining room will be short and sweet.

I'll post more pictures when I find them.

Here is the dining room as it sits now.

When you step in from the foyer and 

look to your right,

this is the room you see.

They used barn wood for wainscoting. 

Reclaimed barnwood seems to be 

the "hot" ticket right now.

This is what it looked like when they started.

A pretty enough room but he corner cabinets were

poorly constructed and needed to come out.

The door to the left used to go to the kitchen.

The room was completely closed off.

They stole two feet from the dining room

to give themselves a bigger kitchen.

Here it is during construction.

This is looking at the opposite side of the 

wall between the

kitchen and dining room where

they built this server.

The see-through cabinet above has

seeded glass and holds glassware.

The dining room is behind this-

you can see it to the left.

My daughter stenciled a burlap runner 

that is on the dining room table.

She used burlap 

to tone down the formality 

of  the dining room set.

It is layered over a burlap table cloth.

One corner holds two of T's favorite things.

A picture of Ria as a toddler and 

the white ironstone pitcher.

The pitcher is the FIRST THING I ever bought

after MyHero and I moved into our first house.

Family picture in the dining room?

Sure!  Why not?

And what is just outside the dining room 

in the foyer?

Here's just a peek.

I'll show you more of that next week.

And tomorrow?

Well, I just might have some birthday pictures of a

cute little two year old!

My son said there would be  

BIRTHDAY HATS 

for everyone to wear to CJK's 

BIRTHDAY PARTY.

MyHero is looking forward to wearing a

cute little hat.

Hey!  Look!

I found him a couple of girlfriends to party with....

source

His brother told me MyHero dated 

a couple of dogs in his time.

I don't want him to think he has

lost his touch!

He can still "party down" 

with these-ahem-girls.

Have a great Saturday!  

Finish It Up Friday: Randomness #2

SOOO-

This is SUCH a great way to get rid of  all those

ODDS & ENDS

of pictures and thoughts and ideas.

If I knew how to start a linky party 

I just might do it!

Or-maybe not-there are so many linky parties

we might not need one more about 

RANDOM THINGS....lol

Ready?

Here we go!

You know how yesterday I posted about the

Wedding Tables?

Well, I saved this from my friend. Michelle's blog,

Simple Pleasures.

It was for a small, informal wedding.

Isn't that the cutest idea ever?

Yes! Those ARE cupcakes!

Need a Bike Rack for all your kids' bikes?

How's this?

A bike for your bike!

I "think" I took this in Marquette, Michigan.

as we were driving past-thus the blur....

As if I don't blur them even when I am standing dead still.

Did you know that I know how to do 

MAGIC TRICKS?

I do!  I do!

See-Watch me make this ugly cord mess disappear.

You don't even have to buy a ticket for the magic show.

Presto-Chango

Thank you!  You're welcome!

Let's see-

What else do we have up the old sleeve?

Besides my wiggly upper arm..

Are you a COKE ADDICT?

Me, too!

However, MY Coke of choice is Diet Coke.

Did you know that if you cut the tops off

Coke 12 packs they make 

perfect little storage units for the PANTRY?

If I weren't  SO LAZY I would cover them with some pretty paper---

or spray paint them. 

Ahem! Just keeping it real, folks!

They sure don't look like THESE!

Speaking of the PANTRY?

Remember yesterday I told you there MIGHT be a 

GHOST IN THE PANTRY?

You didn't believe me. did you?

Here- Check it out for yourself!

That ghost might (or might not) be named Charlie.

Yes- that glass WAS clean before he got in there.

Thanks for asking.

So-there you have it.

Another  Finish It Up Friday Randomness.

Tomorrow?

Another peek at the inside of

Chateau de Ledgeview!

Have a great Saturday!

PICK YOUR FAVORITE- WEDDING TABLE- Results

WOW!

You sure let me know which table

YOU WANT to be seated at!

Not even a close call.

Hands down-Runaway 

WINNER is

Table #3 

PLANKED & PRETTY.

It had almost triple the votes of any other table.

You guys are SERIOUS about your votes!

I hope this table is about 100 feet long so everyone can sit there!

Second place was #1

Sweetly Sophisticated

And running a close 3rd was

#6- Sit Down With Citrus

Which one got NO VOTES?

Balloons and Buckets For The Bride.

Guess they can use those buckets for barfing in

now that they know NO ONE likes that 

wedding venue!

As for me?

Well, I am still putzing around-gardening and

 I helped my daughter set her new house to rights.

SO-

IF you are very good and promise not to

eat the last of the strawberry shortcake 

and then swear there was none left- 

then tomorrow I

will be back with another little
Finish It Up Friday: Randomness
There may or may not be a picture of 
a ghostly presence in the pantry!

Plants Are SPRINGING UP on the Bay

Whew!

Just when I thought Spring had bypassed us

we got some warm weather~

and some rain.

Both work wonders for plants.

And, my friends, that is what I have been doing.

Planting!

And planting and planting and planting

and I am just about planted out.

Want to see?

Here is a general overall of the back yard.

Here a few little closeups.

Ring of hostas around the tree.

I planted these 2 years ago and each one just had

a couple of leaves.

This urn is heavily shaded and it is hard

to keep anything alive there.

Ya can't kill a hosta  (can you?;>)

Did you know I have an outside soaker tub?

When the kids are done playing outside

they can pop in here and take a bath.

It's plumbed with hot and cold running water.

The arch has been over it for a couple of years.

This year I added planter boxes and 

zip-tied two wire dividers together.

There is ivy planted beside the hostas that

should scramble up to give more coverage.

I will also clip a curtain to it with clothes pins

for more privacy.

Whooo-Hoooo-

No peeping Toms allowed 

This sits in an outside alcove off the master bath.

And this is "my girls" window box on the dining room deck.

See the miniature rose AND the heart shaped rock.

Gotta love those girls!

And LOOKY HERE!

Do you think I am one of those people 

that keep their

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS 

up year round?

Do I look crazy to you?

Don't answer that question.

Nope-but now it sits all wonky!

When I went to take it down in early Spring

I startled a Mama Bird.

She is still there and I don't dare move it 

until I know the babies are gone!

Guess we MIGHT have Christmas in July this year!

So...more to show you but 

I didn't want to bore you 

too much all in one day.

Also, we worked on my daughter's 

new house all day Sunday. 

 I will be posting some pictures of that this week.

Bear with me as I try to catch up on my visiting.

It has been a CRAZY few weeks.

Seriously - crazy.

My husband says I am driving HIM crazy

cuz I just keep going.

Him?  Crazy?

Guess what?  I have something 

special ordered

just for him.

It's a custom made straight jacket.

Lucky for him.

It should be here any day now.

Bet he gets over "crazy" fast

when he sees that little number!

Happy Memorial Day- A Poem I Wrote For You

I wrote this poem a few years ago

and thought I would post it for those of

you that did not see it before.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is here once more,

We fly the flags above our door,

We plant our flowers that mark the grave,

Of every solider that was so brave,

They fought for freedom for everyone,

Many lives snuffed out by a sniper's gun.

We proudly march in our little bands,

As daybreak filters across our lands,

But I wonder if we can truly see,

What cost it was to make us free.

Confederate soldiers fought the Yanks,

Some brothers fought brothers in those ranks,

To free the downtrodden that were lost,

To free all men at any cost.

My father was a medic in World War One,

A war not talked about by anyone,

Some men lost limbs and some were gassed,

Some were picked up by comrades, others 

bypassed.

World War II! How tragic indeed,

People standing by watching others bleed.

Souls thrown to the winds with no remorse,

Foreign government standing on their own 

course.

Vietnam was not a war they said,

Then how come so many soldiers ended up 

dead?

No heroes welcome for them in sight,

They slunk home in the dead of night.

Should I go on-with Korea & Desert Storm?

Iran? Afghanistan? Are you getting warm?

Do you feel the pain you see in their face?

Does it make you squirm in your warm, safe 

place?

I've just one more thing I'd like to say,

It's about celebrating Memorial Day,

Look around and everything you see,

Was paid out in blood so that we are free.

Put your hand on your heart,

For the blue, white and red,

Raise your eyes to the flag,

Say a prayer for the dead.

Because of a solider I can have my say,

So ~God Bless you this Memorial Day~

And To All Our Soldiers-

© Diana Kosmoski 5/31/10

I will see you AFTER

the Memorial Day weekend.

God bless each and every one 

of my fellow bloggers and friends!

Rehabbing A European Colonial Revival- Part Two

When I ran my little survey
several of you said you liked the 
pictures of the rehabbing we did 
on the homes we lived in.

This is another area of the house we rehabbed

in the Hysterical Historical District.

You can see the front porch and foyer here

If you remember the front looked like this after we painted.

I am not sure what happened to two of my

photo albums so I am reduced to using the few

free-floating pictures that I did not put in an album.

So- these pictures are sketchy, at best.

After you step through the vestibule

there is a center entry hall.

As you can see it was in pretty sad shape.

You will notice if you look into the back entry

that we moved the door to the far right side.

That is because the porch was hanging away from the house

and open on both sides.

I used the radiators as opportunities to decorate

for the Season.

Formal living room is to the right.

Dining room is to the left.

Notice the GREY drop leaf desk?

Was I ahead of my time, or what?

This was 15 years ago! lol

I am not sure WHAT is in the back hall

propped up on slats.

Some project I was working on....

More pictures coming as I get them scanned in.

Meanwhile,

Happy Friday!

I am spending the day alone-Whoo Hoooo~

Finish It Up Friday

You know how you always have those bits

and pieces that you meant to post about

but never did?

Well....Guess what, folks?

Today is YOUR lucky day!

I am going to 

FINISH UP POSTING

a bunch of random crap stuff.

I think I might do this on Fridays.

Nothing too long and boring-

just bits and pieces of everyday life.

Ready?

Remember my fairy garden

that is planted in an old wheelbarrow?

Yeah?  Well, today it looks like THIS!

The fairies have moved out and the trolls have taken over.

THAT will be remedied this weekend!

AND

Remember how I said we lost a lot of plants this winter?

Well, aren't I lucky?

Look at what survived!

Ummmm-for you NON-GARDENERS~

That, my dear friends, is a THISTLE!

Moving along:

You know how when you fry hamburger it gets all clumped together?

Did you know an wire potato masher separates the meat

into nice crumbly little bits?

Let's see-what else we got in the old "unposted" file?

Oh- How about THIS HOUSE?

Yes- Someone actually lives here!

If you look close there are dolls staring out  the upstairs windows....

C-R-E-E-P-Y

 What else do I have?

Mother's Day gifts.

The flowers that have daffodils in there now

originally had white roses and irises and lavender tulips,

I enjoyed it for a week or so before replacing

the droopy flowers with daffodils.

Flameless candle that LOOKS like a real flame-

A hydrangea plant-that I planted today-

A set of copper-colored/turquoise urns for 

our front stoop.

It was a VERY GOOD Mother's Day!

So---there you have it!

I feel so much better.

I have been purging rooms and closets

and now I am purging pictures.

Oh- One more thing!

You know how you look at your own kid(s) 

and think they are the smartest kid(s) God ever put on Earth?

They are just SO smart!!!!

Well, the "smartest boy in the world" here

Tried to EAT a PLASTIC PEAR!

And THAT is all I'm gonna say about THAT!

Happy Friday to kick off Memorial Day Weekend!

Do You Want To Ride Or Walk?

I had a plan to get a lot done 

late yesterday afternoon

but I quickly abandoned all plans.

We had to pick Ria up from school

and then

Mama's Boy stopped by with

little CJK.

As soon as they ate he could not

wait to get 

OUHTSYDE.

What's out there?

Why all the RIDERS, of course.

PAPA! RIDE!

BEACH-PAPA-BEACH

Why mow grass when you can drive in the water?

When Ria FINALLY gets a turn to ride

CJK takes a little walk-with Daddy not to far behind.

He leaves the beach to check the playhouse and

discovers another 

OLD RIDE 

in there.

(my goal is to reline this now that I have removed the old liner)

He only rides long enough to get to the 

FRONT YARD 

so he can get back on the tractor with Papa.

I think he is a little nervous when 

Papa starts backing up!

Soon, it is time to go home.

He does NOT like to leave Nana's house.

He might get a little reprieve because

he will ride home with Daddy.

AND

WHERE IS Daddy?

THERE HE IS!

Enjoying a LITTLE ride of his own!

Oh- I am so gonna get it when he sees this.