May 30, 2010

Memorial Day - Honor Our Heroes



Any nation that does not honor its heroes
will not long endure.

~ President Abraham Lincoln ~

May 28, 2010

The Moving Aftermath


4-year old mini-me with a birthday dollhouse

We are in our new cottage! We are so happy that we are finally here!

It took two days for the professional movers to get us into our new quarters. The move went well, except for the expected wear and tear on us, LOL. We are almost done with totally clearing out of the rental house. I’ll be doing a light cleaning before I turn in the keys next week. And we have begun the arduous task of unpacking at our new place. Boxes are strewn everywhere! But that’s OK! We are home.

Here are some of my helpful tips and perspectives for successfully surviving a move: 
  • Do all your address changes in advance, preferably online.
  • You will need more packing tape, paper, and boxes than you think.
  • Mark the boxes that need to get opened first.
  • Totes and zip-lock bags are lifesavers.
  • If possible, set up your kitchen and bath essentials before you move.
  • Your back, knees, feet, and shoulders will hurt, usually all at once.
  • Tylenol and muscle relaxers are your friends. Keep them handy.
  • Don’t assume that the hot water system is on.
  • Don’t assume that the garage doors work after the painters leave.
  • Thank your builder and subcontractors when they come to your rescue and get things fixed quickly.
  • Lots of bottles of cold water and sodas keep the movers (and you) in good spirits.
  • Placing a large trash can over an offending sprinkler head will allow your movers and furniture to stay dry.
  • Have a little milkbone treat handy when you neighbor's dog walks through your front door during the move.
  • If you had your builder include a big storage room in the architectural layout, you will thank yourself a million times.
  • The movers will become very familiar with the storage room.
  • You will have to flip every electrical switch in your new home before you discover which one controls the outside flood lights.
  • You will need to frequently use a flyswatter after leaving your doors wide open for two days.
  • Even though you made a significant dent in reducing your “stuff”, you will be tossing things as you unpack.
  • Even though you made a significant dent in donating and selling furniture, you will have to part with more of it.
  • You will be reading a lot of instruction manuals to figure out how things work.
  • It is good to remember which cords go to which computer and associated peripherals.
  • You will be grateful for the kindness of new neighbors when they bring you flowers and breakfast.
  • Unpacking is not a race.
  • Keep your sense of humor through the whole experience.
  • Keep tissues handy when you need to have a good cry.
  • Depending on the time of day, cold beer and ice cream are great treats to enjoy during work breaks.
  • And most of all, take time to enjoy your beautiful new home!

May 22, 2010

Photo Challenge: Flowers


It’s time for another Brenda Photo Challenge! The current theme is Flowers. I managed to capture a few flower images a couple of weeks ago. We were checking on progress over at our homebuilding site, and I couldn’t help but admire my next door neighbor’s beautiful flowers and gorgeous landscaping. I had been taking pictures inside our house and had my ISO setting up really high. I forgot to change it back down for these outdoor shots, but the images turned out well nonetheless.

This delicate purple iris bloom was one of the first to greet the spring weather, while the surrounding stalks provide a striking backdrop. A green textured background was added in the digital processing to provide additional contrast. The photo was taken at f/9, 1/400 second, and ISO 1000.


Clumps of pink dianthus are planted at the feet of the iris flowers. These charming blooms are always at home in a cottage garden. In the digital processing, I saturated the color and applied a watercolor filter to give the overall image a soft and painterly look. The photo was taken at f/14, 1/250 second, and ISO 1000.

May 20, 2010

Homebuilding - Almost Done


overall progress - May 19

It’s looking like a home now, huh?! The landscaping was done a couple of weeks ago. The gas line finally got installed, along with the gas meter. Sod was just put down yesterday, and the permanent mailbox post was set in concrete. You will also notice that the windows have been cleaned of the manufacturer’s labeling too. In fact, the whole place was cleaned last week. Punch list items are receiving attention this week. The last coat of polyurethane was put on the wood floors yesterday, hence the blue tape across the front door, LOL. The termite treatment posting is on a garage door. A county inspector visited earlier this week and is coming back tomorrow. It’s a happening kind of place right now with Builder Mike getting the final tasks accomplished.

wood corbel detail

One detail that you will notice is that wood corbels are now up in the eaves and also on the front porch pillars. It’s not easy putting up these big hunks of wood! A little boom extension buggy was required, with two carpenters in the boom bucket. Touches like these, along with the wood shutters, really give the exterior a craftsman’s style cottage flair.


While we were checking on progress last night, our new next door neighbors came over to chat. And they gave us this lovely pot of flowers to welcome us to our new home. Isn’t that the sweetest?! 

We have had a very busy week, getting utilities set up, making address change notifications, and packing up once again. Next week is our move! And then there will be about a month of unpacking, LOL. I will share more pictures in due time. As I noted in my previous post, blogging will not be a priority for a while. But I will post when I can or need a welcomed diversion from working! Hahaha!

I will be posting a couple of pictures in the photo challenge this Saturday. Be patient for me to moderate comments, however. We’re going to be a bit preoccupied this whole weekend.

Thank you for all of your good wishes!

May 15, 2010

A Monumental Wait


One day your life will flash before your eyes.
Make sure it’s worth watching.
(Author Unknown)

Monument Valley, Utah – altered photo
with plug-in paint filter and applied texture

Fair warning! My posts may be a bit skimpy for the rest of this month. Our new Grey Havens cottage will soon be ready. It's been a long journey to get from Points A to B.

Point A started in late September 2006. Hubby retired earlier that year. I was planning to retire in late 2008. But a stressful work situation and a contentious management team helped me decide to accelerate that plan up a year. And we thought we would get a head start by putting our country cottage and acreage up for sale before my retirement. It was time to downsize and simplify. It was time to do more traveling, have fun with hobbies, and just plain enjoy life!

We spent several months getting the place ready. Then we put our rambling country cottage on the market. We started packing and putting boxes in storage. We were optimistic. We thought it would sell quickly. Wrong. Many folks loved it and wanted to buy it, but they couldn’t afford it or else had property of their own to sell.

I retired, grateful to be finally free from the daily working grind. We got very discouraged about the place not selling, but we kept our dreams alive. We took belongings out of storage and we proceeded to unpack. Garage sales and donations followed. We found a place where we wanted to build and put down a deposit on a lot. We said goodbye to our first realtor and hired a tag-team of two realtors who understood marketing. Patience finally paid off. This past November, we turned over the keys of our former Grey Havens to a young couple. Work got underway in December for our new cottage. Construction is now winding down. Hello, Point B!

There were many positive outcomes during our monumental waiting period. I got a renewed interest in photography, thanks to the digital revolution and the gift of time. I also started this blog, which further pushed me to sharpen my picture taking and photo editing skills. We’ll soon be moving and unpacking a mountain of boxes. Mentally, we’re already counting the days until our grizzly and polar bear wilderness trips later on this year.

And so the next chapter begins…

Monument Valley, Utah

May 11, 2010

Tomato Mozzarella Salad


Little cherry tomatoes have recently been on sale at the grocery stores here. So my sweet baboo took one of Ina Garten’s tomato recipes and changed it up a bit. It is delicious and refreshing! Using fresh herbs really make the difference, and hopefully you grow some in pots or your garden. The smoked version of mozzarella (if you can find it) in this recipe is a defining accent. In addition to everyday meals, the salad is also a perfect dish for summer picnics and potluck dinners!


Tomato Mozzarella Salad

2 pints cherry tomatoes
3/4 cup small-diced red onion
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
3/4 pound smoked mozzarella cheese*

Cut the tomatoes in half and place in a large bowl. Add the onion, vinegar, oil, salt, pepper, basil, and parsley. Toss well. Dice the mozzarella cheese and fold it into the salad. Serve at room temperature.

Serves 6.

*May substitute with regular mozzarella cheese or feta cheese.

Back in February, Cheryl of TidyMom had a post on how to make your blog recipes printer friendly. The trick is to use the Google Doc feature after signing into your Google account. So I am trying the feature out for this recipe. Look for the link right under the recipe name. I hope that this works okay and make it a little easier for my blogging friends! If it does, I’ll go back later (after our move and unpacking activities) and add the feature to previous recipes I have shared.

May 8, 2010

Homebuilding Progress - More Details


The wood floor finishing is taking longer than planned because of high humidity, typical for this time of year. So our construction schedule has slid some critical days. We’re still planning on moving in before the end of the month. The last-minute “to do” list is getting whittled down and details are getting accomplished. And it is all looking gorgeous. The bath hardware is now in place, along with the master bath mirror and shower door. Door hardware is 95% installed. Closets are done. With the exception of wire shelving in my studio closet, all of the closets have been outfitted with solid shelving.

Decorative wood corbels are now gracing the front porch columns and corbels will soon be added to the roof eaves. The old-fashioned shutters are now in place, including hardware for closing them and holding them open. These types of touches give the exterior a historical craftsman flair.

exterior shutter detail

To have a little rustic flavor in the kitchen, we chose simple squares of tumbled stone tiles for the kitchen backsplash. Paired with a complimentary pencil railing, the beauty of the tiles comes from natural color variations and imperfections. A matte sealer will help us keep them clean. We were really excited to see how it tied in the whole look of the kitchen. One backsplash wall is done and another one is waiting for completion next week.

stone tile sample

stone tile backsplash design and granite countertop

I don’t know if I have mentioned it before or not, but we had the standard floor plan significantly changed in the great room. Instead of a cathedral ceiling, we asked Builder Mike to put in a raised trey ceiling. A convenient walk-in storage room is located above this room now, instead of a great expanse of waste air space. Later on (after painting touchups), I will show the overall view of the trey ceiling. But here is a taste of the how the trey is decorated with bead board, beams, and a jazzy ceiling fan. The great room really has a cozy feel to it.

great room trey ceiling detail and ceiling fan

And if Brenda, my blog buddy, ever comes to visit us, the screened-in back porch is where we will be headed to visit and enjoy some liquid refreshments. (She has been totally loving this porch, LOL.) Except for a little cleanup of the walls, decking, and door, it’s all ready for many lounging days ahead. With the porch located right off of the kitchen, sweet hubby is anxious to put a gas grill out there right after we move in. And sometime this summer, we hope to also add some relaxation chairs and a little dining set.

screened-in back porch

Foundation plantings are now in and the flowerbeds are defined with shredded mulch. After the gas line to the house is installed this next week, then the yard will get a final grading and sod will be laid. We’re crossing our fingers that a LOT the remaining detail work and touch-up painting will get accomplished by next weekend!

May 5, 2010

Giveaway Thank You - Cottage Days Tote



I want to give a big shout-out and thank you to Vee from A Haven for Vee! She recently had a giveaway on her blog for a gorgeous summertime tote bag. It is HUGE (23” x 14” x 7”) and even has a zippered top! The prize included personalization, so I couldn’t resist having the monogram say “Cottage Days”, LOL. It will be immediately put to good use, helping me move personal items over to the new cottage later on this month.

The giveaway prize was donated by the owners of Keepsakes Etc. and Simply Bags. I greatly appreciate their generosity! These online shops provide a wide selection of quality, personalized gifts. And I can tell you that their service is fast. I got the tote within a few days after I provided my shipping and monogram information. I hope that you check out their web sites and consider them for future purchases. Small businesses are the hardworking engines of our country's economy, so let’s support them whenever we have a chance!

May 2, 2010

May - A Look Ahead



This is “the month”. The one we have been waiting for! It took a lifetime to get to this point in time, and we are finally here. In a few short weeks, we’ll be once again changing our address and moving. Except this time it will be to our retirement cottage. We will be living within the convenience of a villa community, but the development is in a country setting of rolling hills, woods, and even a meandering creek. It is cottage living with a twist, LOL. We will fondly remember the lovely acreage that we sold last year, but we most assuredly will not miss the work!

Last month kept us on our toes. We had our old freezer give out on us. We were able to quickly get a new one and save our stockpile of meats and vegetables. But we were challenged again just five short days later when the new freezer went kaput. A supply of dry ice tided us over until a replacement was delivered, and we once again averted disaster.

I also had a follow-up visit with my orthopedic doctor for this bionic knee of mine. I still have aches, pains, and nerve damage with it, and I am learning to live with the end result. The doctor gave me a cortisone shot in a tendon to relieve some of the chronic tenderness. That seems to have helped a bit. Since last June, I have learned that bionic parts are not miracle cures. But I am thankful that I can walk and get around better than I used to.


Our focus this month will be all about our new cottage! We will be working with Builder Mike to ensure that all the last minute issues are successfully resolved. The wood floors are getting finished this week. Half of the kitchen backsplash is completed. Little bits of plumbing, electrical, and carpentry work need to be done. Sheetrock and painting imperfections will get attention. Closets and the kitchen pantry will be outfitted with racks and shelves. Flowerbeds were mulched and landscape bushes were put in this past week. The front and back yards still need topsoil and then grass sod. There are a million little details that must be taken care of in the days ahead. We’re getting there!


The movers will soon be scheduled. We’ll start the chore of submitting address changes whenever a mailbox appears, LOL. Getting ready for the move won’t be nearly as onerous as it was last fall. We only have a few belongings to pack because we have been literally “camping” at the rental home since November. The big job will be unpacking the long-term storage boxes and trying to figure out where to put furniture and accessories in an entirely different configuration!


This month will be chaos. It will be confusing. It will be tiring. At times, it will be frustrating. But we will get through it all with smiles because we will be HOME. And we will be thanking God for the beautiful roof over our heads and the start of a new chapter in our lives.

May 1, 2010

Photo Challenge: Circles


Surprise! We have a fast turn-around for another Brenda Photo Challenge! The theme is Circles. There were not any spare minutes to do a photo shoot for this one, so I plucked a great candidate from my digital library.

One of my blog’s all-time popular posts was about bird bottles. That May 27, 2009, story introduced many folks to these delightful old-fashioned houses for small nesting birds. A wren pair raised a little family in our bird bottle last year, and I was lucky enough to capture a few pictures of momma perched at the opening.

After zooming in and carefully cropping one of my original images, one can immediately see a series of circles: the pottery ridges created by the hand-throwing process; the house opening; the highlighted body of the delicate creature; and lastly, momma bird’s watchful eye. I applied a painting filter, with a light touch, to soften the texture and gently colorize the wren. And finally, I added a green textured background to finish off the composition. The image was taken at f/5.6, 1/50 second, and ISO 200.



bird bottle momma wren