Friday, December 04, 2009

pickin' out the tree....

Today was another beautiful warm day... what's with this wonderful weather in the winter time?? I'm just asking... not complaining!!!! Because the weather was so nice, and being a Friday (not a weekend day) Ed, Sadie, Abbie and I decided that we would go and pick out the tree.












Every Tuesday when I go to teach dog classes - Camille and I travel thru "cow country" and Christmas Tree country!!! There are a couple of tree farms and I thought last fall that this is where we would go to get the tree. This tree farm was absolutely beautiful.. the rows of trees were large, the trees have been well cared for, and there were oodles and oodles to chose from!!!










Because the camp has a cathedral ceiling, height is not the issue (except when it comes to decorating it!!!) so we looked for a nice big, full one!!! We asked Abbie what her impression was... but she really didn't have much to say.... this year!!!!






And here it is....










Cute photo of Sadie and Abbie... but I think I should make a red hat for Christmas.. better yet, ... red and white stripped.. like a candy cane... (maybe I will get the "goods" tomorrow)











So, we threw the tree in the back of the truck and headed home. We didn't get it up tonite, by the time we did other errands, barn chores and the like, the evening was too late... but it will be up before the weekend is out....



makin' wreaths...

Last night at Kassy's church, we went to a night of making wreaths. It was a great evening of fellowship and passing on some good old fashion traditions. For a number of young women, this was their first try at wreath making....




The tables were filled with "greens", which considering we live in the "pine tree state".. getting good greens is hardly "hard" to do...





Here is Sadie..making her very first "real Christmas wreath".. once you get the knack of it, there isn't much to doing it....

and this morning, two wreaths (I made one to) decorate the doors of the camp... OH.. and that pretty little ornament we hung on Sadie's wreath... was a gift from Kelli!!!
We'll get our tree in the next day or two.. and the decorating part of the holidays has officially begun. Course I need to make a few more for the barn and the farmhouse.. but that's just on my list of things "to do"....


rainy day work....

We woke at 5:30 yesterday morning to pouring rain. Ed began to get ready for work, only to have his "boss" (hi Coz!!!) call and say it was raining too hard and not to bother to come in. Guess it isn't much fun to run the 'honey wagon" in such weather. So... suddenly we had a day to work on the house!!! Course, by 10:00 am.. the sun was shinning brightly and the temps soared into the high 60's.. it felt like spring!!! But, we had a game plan and were well at work by then.

Our house pretty much has an open concept design, I have this "thing" about open spaces and lots of light, and when we designed this house, that is what I kept in mind (along with "my big center chimney!!!) However, there can be drawbacks with too much open space.. one being no "definitions" of rooms. So, we needed to get a wall up in the dinning room that would "create" more of a "room" feel. This also makes a small hallway (if you will) by the front door.




Again, thinking "light" I didn't want the hallway to become cramped and dark, so the idea of having a set of pocket doors in the wall of the dinning room came into play. The doors would allow the closed feel if we wanted, and also allow the light to be in the front hallway. This is how is all looked before the wall went up... (this shot is from the hallway looking towards the dinning room/kitchen)




The dogs were home with Sadie - including Chester - I knew I was going to be busy helping Ed and wouldn't have the chance to keep an eye on everyone. But I did bring Camille down with us, she is good about sticking around and not getting under foot. At one point, I "lost" her and looked about, to find her sitting out on the front porch simply watching the farm and enjoying the warm "spring" day. She sat there most of the day.. silly dog.. and seemed to be greatly enjoying herself.




Back to the project.I didn't have a clue as to how pocket doors are installed. In all the projects that Ed and I have done together, I have never run across these before. But Ed knew pretty much how they were done.. and even though it was a whole day's work, I think the job went along quite fast... here goes the first door in place!!!





And the second... (notice those open windows... it was too hot in the house!!!)














In trying to keep with a "colonial look" to this house, I chose a "bubbled glass" for the doors. It's a little hard to see because of the protective plastic that is covering the glass, but I just had to peel a little back so I could see the effect. It's just what I was looking for!!! Once they are painted and completely in place I can't wait to get all the plastic peeled off and "really be able to see them"





Sheetrock came next...









And just as it was getting dark (which is around 4:00 these days!!!) we were finished up... wall, doors, sheet rock made just the idea that I was looking for. And now it feels more like a "real" room when we want it, or it can be left open to allow more room... when we have big parties....





So, for a rainy day that turned out to be almost summer... this was a job well done. and another
"thing" off the list!!! Days like this give me encouragement that we will ONE day be in this house!!!!