Kitchen, kitchen, where’s my kitchen?

1800's House Remodel: Kitchen update

Where’s my kitchen? Underneath all that grime! Like a diamond in the rough, we slowly chip away until the beauty is revealed. We’re getting there. Really we are!

Through sweat, a great deal of elbow grease, and a couple of asthma attacks, finally, we actually see progress.

Here are a few photos of before, during, and up-to-now. Keep in mind that the kitchen is a work in progress.

If you have any suggestions feel free to share, especially those of you who have experience in remodeling a old home like this-over 100 years old. She’s around 112 years old now.

 The beadboard walls go up.

New countertops I built.Thanks to my dear hubby for cutting all the concrete backer board and carrying it around for me. I designed the countertops, and he did the hard labor. He's a dear!

Cleaned and painted a crisp white.

Below Photo: Laying out the tile for my next big kitchen project. Tiling the countertops. 

Well, that's all the photos for now. I'll share more later in the week.

Special thanks to Josh F. and Josh M. for helping so much in the kitchen remodel and elsewhere you both helped!

 

Blessings,

Stephanie Boles

Author of the Called to His Purpose series, not to mention house remodeler! ; -)
Writing is my ministry, not my job

1800's House Remodel: Kitchen Photo Update & Lessons Learned

Before Photo: This photograph shows the farmhouse kitchen just after we began cleaning the house and preparing to remodel it. I know, yuck!

 Before Photo: The pantry, hoarded to the gills.

In Progress: The pantry in progress. Empty and almost clean and ready for beadboard walls and ceiling, and new door cut into laundry room. Afterward, we'll build shelves in pantry.

In Progress: The kitchen in progress. We've added beadboard on walls and above base cabinets. I built new countertops and we've completed the prep work for tiling which I'll do after my daughter and I finish painting the walls and cabinets.

I'd like to say a big THANKS to the two fellows who have helped so much in the kitchen. They put up beadboard and did sundry other tasks. Thanks again, Josh and Josh. You two are a blessing to this ole gal!

Click this link to see even more updated kitchen photos.

http://80acresandabook.blogspot.com/2012/05/kitchen-kitchen-wheres-my-kitchen.html

For more before photos click on this link. Be warned, it's not a pretty sight! http://s669.photobucket.com/albums/vv54/StephanieBoles/Farmhouse%20Remodel/

Lessons Learned:
Hire a cleaning crew. Allowing a crew to do the dirty work is less frustrating than trying to clean out a hoarder house as a family project.

Do any research necessary to project before the day's work. This way you won't have to stop working to dash home and check 'YouTube' how-to videos.

If you feel frustrated walk away from the project and get some fresh air. You'll come back feeling less troubled about the mess you're dealing with.

As we progress, I'll add carpentry lessons learned and the like.

Blessings,

Stephanie Boles
Author of the Called to His Purpose series

Writing is my ministry, not my job

Zahara Jasmine, our toy poodle.

 Jasmine in her first doggy outfit: 8 weeks old. These are few photos of Zahara Jasmine, our toy poodle. She's such a wonderful part of the family. We love her dearly. More photos to come.

 Jasmine gets a kiss.

 Jasmine's first snow.

 Jasmine's first grooming.

 Jasmine eats whistle!

 

See also, "Poodle Clothes"

http://80acresandabook.blogspot.com/search/label/Poodle%20Clothes



Book Review: Momaholic: Crazy Confessions of a Helicopter Parent

Momaholic: Crazy Confessions of a Helicopter Parent by Dena Higley, a book review

Dena Higley author of “Momaholic: Crazy Confessions of a Helicopter Parent" shares her soap opera life with readers in this honest and humorously written book. An award-winning writer, Mrs. Higley has been the head writer for the actual soap operas, One Life to Live and Days of Our Lives. In this book, she details her own life and how she realized that she could no longer control every aspect of her children’s lives.  

In today’s world, (at least in the American world) it seems that families are falling apart. And considering the difficulties some of Mrs. Higley’s children faced, I understand her need to hover over her children in an effort to assure their success not only as children but also as adults. With an autistic son, and two adopted children who had problems of their own, Mrs. Higley hovered. And her family suffered for it!

Slowly, after a night spent in the emergency room, Mrs. Higley begins the slow process of realizing that her pursuit of perfection was futile. With her family in crisis, she took a long, hard look at herself and released her family into the knowing hands of God.

This book is written from an honest viewpoint. She lists the signs of a helicopter mom, so that readers might recognize it in themselves and not make the same mistakes as she. Momaholic: Crazy Confessions of a Helicopter Parent takes us into the lives of an imperfect family and teaches us how to become better parents through mistakes made and behaviors changed.
A good and insightful book!

Read more about Momaholic: Crazy Confessions of a Helicopter Parent at the Thomas Nelson product page.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Book Review: Prize of my Heart by Lisa Norato

Bethany House Book Review: Prize of My Heart by Lisa Norato Massachusetts, 1815. Will His Love Endure Once He Learns Her Secret? Three years ago, Captain Brogan Talvis's late wife abandoned their son, leaving no clue as to the boy's whereabouts. After searching relentlessly, Brogan discovers his son was adopted by a New England shipbuilder. And the man's daughter, Lorena Huntley, acts as loving guardian to the child. Lorena, who hides a dark truth, finds herself falling for the handsome captain and ex-privateer who's come to secure ownership of one of her father's ships. She's unaware of Brogan's own secret when another's deceit has her sailing toward Europe against her will. Haunted by thoughts of Lorena in peril, Brogan is compelled to choose between the boy he longs for and the woman who has captured his heart. My Review 4 out of 5 Doesen't the above book blurb simply reach out and grab you? I had to learn what happens to the characters of this book after reading the discription. I love a good historical novel.  Prize of My Heart, written by Lisa Norato, is just that, a good Historical. It has all the elements I look for in a historical novel; a pirate, well an ex-privateer who is also the hero, kidnapping, secrets, and adventure. I appreciate Ms. Norato’s attention to historic detail in this book. All too often you read Historicals that fall short when it comes to historic detail. This one does not. And with romance, adventure, and characters that reach out and tug at your heart, this book is an enjoyable weekend read. I truly liked the heroine, Lorena as her personality is that of a proper lady spiced with pluck. Drew, Lorena’s charge, keeps her busy. For me, Brogan, the hero of the story, is the perfect hero with his rough exterior, no doubt hewn from the difficulties he’s faced, and gentle heart. What impressed me most in this book is the way in which Ms. Norato wrote her characters' faith in God to shine through their everyday lives. Unexpected twists keep Prize of My Heart from sagging where other stories might. I cannot say more about the unexpected twists as I do not want to spoil the story for readers. A good beginning, middle, and great end will grip readers until the end of this book. I recommend Prize of My Heart as a great weekend read for those who like a love story that is gentle, with just enough action to excite interest and draw readers to the end of the book. Read an excerpt at BethanyHouse.com on the Prize of My Heart product page.

I received this book free from the Bethany House. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Sing a New Song to the Lord

This fellow's music reminds me so much of the music we used to sing at my favorite childhood church when I lived in the Piney backwoods of Northwest Florida. I had to share him with you all. His name is Nathan Scott, a singer and songwriter from Ohio. He's been through a lot. He's had 39 surgeries, 3 congestive heart failures, and thus far, he's lost over 500 pounds.

God is good in the ways he keeps us!

It may take just a moment for the video to fully load onto my blog, since my blog is a bit busy.

View more of Nathan's music at his YouTube channel,

http://www.youtube.com/user/stringbendernate

Enjoy

 

Six Word Saturday

Finally we progress on the farmhouse!

Since I cannot seem to make time for the farmhouse remodel, my husband asked one of the fellows at church to help out. Well actually, a teen has been helping us, but we need more help as the farmhouse remodel is quite a job.

Thank you, kind sirs, for all the hard work you’re doing on the house. God will bless you, for He heard my prayer for helpers and sent you.

Add Six Word Saturday to your site by clicking on the Six Word Saturday button on the left side of this post, or by following this link. Six Word Saturday.

May's CWBC List

May’s theme at the Christian Writers.com Blog Chain (CWBC) is ‘Nurture.’ Click on a link for each new day in May and read a post about nurture.

5/1: Mike Johnson, The College Field Manual

5/2: Chris Henderson, TheWriteChris

5/4: Bill Jones, I Was Thinking the Other Day About

5/5: Stephen Olar, Snickerdoodles

5/6: Nona King, Spirit Driven Fiction

5/8: Keith Wallis, wordsculptures

5/9: Victor Travison, Lightwalker's View

5/10: Pegg Thomas, The Sheepish Scribe

5/11: Carol Peterson, From Carol's Quill

5/12: Deborah K. Anderson, Faith, Fiction, and Unvarnished Truth

5/13: Lynn Mosher, Heading Home

5/14: Marina Rojas Run for the Prize

5/15: Terrie Thorpe, Light for the Journey

5/16: Kristena Tunstall, Mommy’s Angel In Heaven

5/17: Tracy Krauss, Expression Express

5/18: Edward Lewis, Sowing the Seeds

5/19: Traci Bonney, Tracings

5/20: Brian Jones, Andeluvia

5/21: SandiGrace, Heart Gazer

5/22: Stephanie Boles, 80 Acres and a Book

5/23: Carol Peterson, From Carol's Quill

5/24: Israel Ikhinmwin, Education Made Simple

5/25: Pauline Creeden, Hosanna's Christian Reader

5/26: Samuel R. Choy, Samuel R. Choy

5/27: Nona King, Word Obsession

5/28: Joseph Lalonde, Joseph Lalonde

5/29: Chris Vonada, I'm Just Thinkin'

5/30: Marilyn, Life 101: Understanding It All

5/31: Jacky Brown JayBees Blog