Tidy Brown Wren, bringing order to your nest

Just because your house is a mess doesn't mean that you have to feel like a mess yourself.   While this kitchen remodeling project continues (we're on week 7 now) I've worked very hard to keep a bit of civility and calmness in several areas of our home.  I need quiet places to rest my eyes and my spirit amidst the chaos. I'm so glad our Camellias are in full bloom right now.  I'm able to keep fresh blooms in our foyer to cheer everyone up.  (you might notice the dust below the vases, but I'm pretending it's not there) One of my sweet little preschool students gave me an Amaryllis bulb as a Christmas gift.  I planted it right after Christmas and was so pleased to see that it was beginning to bloom just when I needed it the most.  It holds a blooming place of honor on the dining room table for everyone to enjoy.  It's been blooming for over a month now.    I made it a priority to keep our bedroom as calm and clean as poss...

  Well, the yellow pine floors finally made their appearance and they are perfect.    They won't have a finish until everything else is done.   You can see the difference between the old floor in the utility room and new floor in the kitchen.  The following day, the cabinet boxes went in.  We had a local guy build the custom cabinets.  It cost considerably less to have him build the cabinets than to buy them from a big box store.  Plus, they are custom! The stove will go to the far right.  The fridge will go to the right of the window.  A farmhouse sink will go under the window with the dishwasher to the left.  We have a nice glass-front upper cabinet ready to be installed to the left of the new window.  With additional trim, it will look like a small china cupboard.  Because of the extra trim it will be installed after the granite goes in.  Rough cut wood is being picked up right n...

  Whew!  I finally have a chance to post an update on our kitchen remodeling project.    There is lots of wood and dust, nails and screws, bricks and sand.    Here is a view into the kitchen from the "keeping room" area in front of the fireplace.  We have an open concept house, so it's hard to describe.  To the right, through the doorway, is our utility room.  The large plaid object to the right is our stove covered with a blanket.    The ceiling is bead board and the walls are being prepped for board and batten.   Here is the same view after the painters came and after Hubs and I removed the brick flooring.  This view was taken from the doorway to the utility room.  Notice the new beams and the board and batten siding.  The old walls and ceiling had been sprayed with popcorn ceiling texture - I'm not kidding - yes, in a kitchen.  Every morning I came down to ...

What's one to do when your kitchen is torn up and it's time to feed hungry grandfellas their lunch?    Just heat it up in the microwave - as it sits outside on the porch floor.      Yum, yum. . . I'm just glad there is an outlet on the porch!  And the weather was warm and sunny.   *Many of you who know me know that I don't really like using a microwave oven.  It's true.  I don't.  I'm making an exception in these coming weeks while things get put back together in our kitchen.  Here's why I think microwave ovens are not good for regular use.   Last night I actually took a premade lasagna that I froze a month ago to my daughter's house to cook it in her oven while I babysat the grandlittles.  I have several more freezer meals ready to heat up in my crock pot or electric saucepan .

  Ah, nothing like a little dust and debris to make a dull winter interesting.  We've begun the kitchen remodel and my kitchen no longer looks like this. . .   Wondering how I got that cool shot?  Well I have a handy-dandy window that looks down into my kitchen from my bedroom.  How cool is that?  Not!  We're taking it out and boarding up the wall on both sides.     We had a sliding patio door that entered right into the kitchen.  In fact, I could not open my oven door all the way because the door trim was in the way.   We're putting a window in it's place so that we can have more cabinets and counter space.  The oven will move to where the fridge is now (or where it was last week).  Our contractor had to widen the opening and frame up the bottom part to make room for the new window.   The old window above the kitchen sink was not too bad, but Hubs (the master dishwasher and pa...

  Thank you to so many of you who emailed me about plans for the DIY Exercise Bike Stand .  I apologize that it has taken me so long to get the measurements to you, but they are finally here!   The wood was purchased at Home Depot and the bike pegs were purchased at Walmart in the bike section.    The bike we used for this project is a 24" 12 speed bike (I'm a shorty).  I used the hardest gear while riding, but this set-up does not allow you to really get much resistance (for building muscle).  It was great for getting my legs moving after some nerve damage.  I also wanted to burn calories and get my heart rate up and this did the trick.    If you have any questions, just shoot me an email.

This past summer, Hubs and I went on a wonderful hike .  I promised you I would write about the MedicAlert bracelet I wore while hiking.          It is important that I have medical information available at all times in case of an emergency.  I researched different types of medical alert companies and felt that Medic Alert was the best organization for me and my family. I like that they are a nonprofit organization and  I can update my information at any time.   If something were to happen to me while I was running errands, emergency personnel could look on my bracelet and find out the 3 most important medical issues I have (I'm allergic to sulfa drugs, I've had a kidney transplant, and I am immune suppressed).  There is also a toll free number for them to call to find out what medications I am taking, who my doctors are, and who to contact in case of an emergency.    I am always wearing one of m...