Happy Saturday All!
Guess what? It is snowing again, that's what! Thank Goodness, because we really needed the snow!!
Do not disabuse me of this pursuit. 2013 is about fun. I promise to balance all internet pursuits with reading and exercise. For some odd reason, I have also decided to read all of Dickens this year. I know, I know, the Centenary celebration of his life is now over, but can I be blamed if I am fashionably late. As you know, I am about to turn 50 - who knows what other wacky ideas I will come up with before this year is done?
So I have started taking tentative steps in pinterest and it is quite addictive! It appears that the world is full of beautiful images and recipes and ideas? Well not me, I was writing briefs and reading documents!
And then Patricia got me on to Apartment Therapy's January Cure. Which I have done none of yet, but the way, but my intentions are good!
However, while at the Apartment Therapy site, noodling around, I cam across the picture below:
I must make another startling confession: Oh sure, I love my kitchen, with its own cheap reno that we did a decade ago, Remember here? I even showed a couple of dream photos there, but then I saw the picture above and it got me to dreaming...
I dream of a kitchen reno! And there would be copper! And 6 burners! and a double oven! and butcher's block! and marble! and a walk-in pantry:
Isn't that an amazing pantry???
I am going to need a big bank of windows to look out through:
Isn't it fun to dream of what you would do if you had scads of money? Since I do not currently have this money, I am going to enjoy building my dream kitchen in my castle in the sky, and yes, making a kitchen category in pinterest!!!
How about you? Any dream rooms in your head?
All of my J Crew boxes, orders which were placed 3 1/2 weeks ago, showed up in one fell swoop yesterday. Surprisingly, I think there will be no returns! I will take some pictures today and post them over the next couple of days! Think pink and violet, and not necessarily together!
******************************************
On the 11th day of Christmas, WMM gave to me
A Reminder of the Beauty of Fine Workmanship and Taking the time to SEE
The picture above is just a small snippet of some of the amazing carvings on Notre Dame in Paris.
When I visit cathedrals such as this one, I am continually amazed by the workmanship, the design, the sheer time it took to actualize the dream of this Cathedral. While I like to imagine that the people working on this church were doing so for the glory of God, I know that is not the case. These were hardworking men who needed whatever the Chuch would give them so they could feed their families. I wonder if such exquisite craftsmanship exists today? (surely it does, but on such a scale?)
I imagine that certain fellows were good at certain things and I particularly wonder who they modelled the faces of the saints and the apostles after? Each other? I enjoyed Ken Follett's "Pillars of the Earth", but I think I need to get a nonfiction book to help me out here. Anyone have a good recommendation?
What this reminds me of is that it is good to take your time and do your best. One of my greatest flaws is a lack of patience (see: another confession!). I rush through things at times, I make little errors, I miss the details. I have never needed or wanted perfection, but I would like to learn to be less careless and learn to take my time. When I visited Notre Dame it was almost overwhelming - there was so much to see, so many little details that it almost became a blur. You can't take it all in. So I focused on several sections of the church and just stared at them and did not worry about the rest; there would be other trips and other opportunities. The panel above is one of the sections that I stared long and hard at. It felt like it became My panel. I just need to remember that sometimes!
Have a very happy Saturday and stay safe out there!
Guess what? It is snowing again, that's what! Thank Goodness, because we really needed the snow!!
I think you are all pretty well aware of my, um, technical/computer challenges. I plead guilty and blame it on my job, which has required me to work 60-80 hours per week. One of my resolutions has been to A) actually understand Blogger B) become more familiar with and actually use polyvore and C) become more familiar with and actually use pinterest.
Do not disabuse me of this pursuit. 2013 is about fun. I promise to balance all internet pursuits with reading and exercise. For some odd reason, I have also decided to read all of Dickens this year. I know, I know, the Centenary celebration of his life is now over, but can I be blamed if I am fashionably late. As you know, I am about to turn 50 - who knows what other wacky ideas I will come up with before this year is done?
So I have started taking tentative steps in pinterest and it is quite addictive! It appears that the world is full of beautiful images and recipes and ideas? Well not me, I was writing briefs and reading documents!
And then Patricia got me on to Apartment Therapy's January Cure. Which I have done none of yet, but the way, but my intentions are good!
However, while at the Apartment Therapy site, noodling around, I cam across the picture below:
 |
| source |
I dream of a kitchen reno! And there would be copper! And 6 burners! and a double oven! and butcher's block! and marble! and a walk-in pantry:
Isn't that an amazing pantry???
I am going to need a big bank of windows to look out through:
 |
| source |
How about you? Any dream rooms in your head?
All of my J Crew boxes, orders which were placed 3 1/2 weeks ago, showed up in one fell swoop yesterday. Surprisingly, I think there will be no returns! I will take some pictures today and post them over the next couple of days! Think pink and violet, and not necessarily together!
******************************************
On the 11th day of Christmas, WMM gave to me
A Reminder of the Beauty of Fine Workmanship and Taking the time to SEE
The picture above is just a small snippet of some of the amazing carvings on Notre Dame in Paris.
When I visit cathedrals such as this one, I am continually amazed by the workmanship, the design, the sheer time it took to actualize the dream of this Cathedral. While I like to imagine that the people working on this church were doing so for the glory of God, I know that is not the case. These were hardworking men who needed whatever the Chuch would give them so they could feed their families. I wonder if such exquisite craftsmanship exists today? (surely it does, but on such a scale?)
I imagine that certain fellows were good at certain things and I particularly wonder who they modelled the faces of the saints and the apostles after? Each other? I enjoyed Ken Follett's "Pillars of the Earth", but I think I need to get a nonfiction book to help me out here. Anyone have a good recommendation?
What this reminds me of is that it is good to take your time and do your best. One of my greatest flaws is a lack of patience (see: another confession!). I rush through things at times, I make little errors, I miss the details. I have never needed or wanted perfection, but I would like to learn to be less careless and learn to take my time. When I visited Notre Dame it was almost overwhelming - there was so much to see, so many little details that it almost became a blur. You can't take it all in. So I focused on several sections of the church and just stared at them and did not worry about the rest; there would be other trips and other opportunities. The panel above is one of the sections that I stared long and hard at. It felt like it became My panel. I just need to remember that sometimes!
Have a very happy Saturday and stay safe out there!
When I finish writing my comment I'll be pinning those kitchen images on to my Kitchen file, pinterest! I'm also dreaming of a kitchen reno though it is a couple of years away. I can't wait to tear out the cupboards and have a really unfitted style with open shelves and a new range. I'd also like an island or a small wooden table, I find pinterest really terrific for gathering ideas, you are going to love it!
ReplyDeleteAhh, Notre Dame. So beautiful. And I am curious to see your J Crew winners, I have some items to try on today and a return box leaving on Monday, we'll see if I like anything enough for it to manage to stay out of that box!
I am like you Dani - prefer the unfitted look. We already sort of have that in our kitchen, as much as we can right now, with the two extra cupboards, but I would love to extend my kitchen out into the little alcove living room and then punch out through there are havea lovely sunroom overlooking pool and gardens. someday!
DeleteTook some pictures this morning, so will have a good long post in the a.m.! I do not think i am taking anything back this time, whcih is funny, as it was all so cheap! Go figure!!
Oh number three is my dream kitchen too, I would love a new kitchen, mine is a wreck. No returns - amazing!
DeleteTabs - we can put #3 in Bags End!
DeleteIt's funny you mentioned looking for a book a out Cathedrals because I just had one handed down to me. It is called "Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction", by David Macaulay. It is probably meant for children, but I like the way it is illustrated and it simply walks you through the major steps of building a cathedral.
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely kitchen. My goal would be to take more of an interest in making the house look put together. We re-did the nuts and bolts of the kitchen last year and I am very satisfied with the result, but the walls are atrocious and so are the counters (decided not to spend the money on those or the sink yet). My question about the kitchen you posted in the top picture is this: Where does one put the light when you hang pots and pans over the island? Our island is our stovetop and the light is above it, but husband would dearly love to hang the pots and pans. I should stay focused on bathrooms, though... still it would be nice to put the finishing touches on the kitchen some day.
Can't wait to hear what was in your J. Crew packages!
HI Cate - I am thinking they use pot or other little lights up at the ceiling and then have some over the sink. We have a chandelier and pot rack side by side and it looks wretched! There are some that are combined, but they are expensive and I have avoided them until I actually do the real reno!
DeleteI can't get into pinterest. I also hated polyvore at first. I've found that the key to getting into it, is to clip items to polyvore as you get them. It is hard to try to find older items and requires alot of time googling, because if you search on the polyvore site for, say, "J.crew pants" it only shows current items. Hmpf.
ReplyDeleteThat kitchen with the windows is divine!
I too cannot wait to wear what you got from J.Crew! I haven't ordered in weeks (an eternity for me) so I must live vicariously through you! I hope you don't mind :)
HA, I mean hear, not wear!
DeleteWell it isn;t too much, but it is a little something! I cannot believe how long it took for things to come! weeks! Oddest thing ever!
DeleteOkay - you are making me feel better - I didn't understand that about polyvore, so now don;t feel like such a dope!
I joined Polyvore two months ago! Still learning, but it has been so helpful. When I joined, I only spent $21 on one cardigan for the month of November. Reason being is that Polyvore gave me inspiration on how to put together clothing I already have! Essentially, Polyvore helped me shop my closet! It was really fun and exciting! My goal for this year is to spend less on clothing and using Polyvore as a guide helps.
DeleteThanks Wendy! I am definitely trying that!
DeleteIf you have not been in St. Peter's Cathedral in NY, you must visit it in March. It rivals the grandest structures I visited in Spain.
ReplyDeleteWe remodeled our kitchen and family room a few years ago. It was life changing. I love our 6 burner gas range, but didn't have room for a pantry-which I blame our designer for. We have lots of great lighting and amazing granite counters...I'll have to do a post about them-the stone is completely unique. I hope you get to build your dream kitchen soon. Ours was 5 years in the making and it was worth the wait.
I am looking forward to seeing your Crew haul. I wore my camel popover pea coat all day yesterday and loved it-especially since it got it for about $40 on super sale with discount - yippee!!!
Oh Julie! I so wish I lived near a retail spot, that is the ticket for those amazing deals I think!
DeleteI have never stepped into the cathedral in NYC, though walked past it many times. The Cathedral that has my heart is in Cologne, Germany. It was breathtaking! I have to go find that book that Cate decsribed above. I am a visual person so that would be great!!
Your kitchen sounds wonderful! I really want marble though everyone tells me no!
Sorry - my mistake. St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC across from Rockefeller Center...you must stop in.
DeleteIf you really want marble, could you put it on an island for rolling out doughs...but use a less fragile surface for your primary work space? I have seen a few kitchens with that combination and it seems to work out nicely.
I was typing before coffee earlier....always a mistake ;-)
DeleteJulie! Too funny! I didn't even notice to begin with! Good idea on the marble!
DeleteI'm a St Thomas gal when in NYC-- just near St Patrick's.
ReplyDeleteWe designed our kitchen in the late 90's and I would change very little. It is not huge but opens to the dining area which opens to the living room; stainless steel ( SubZ fridge, 6 burner DCS stove, Asko dishwaher), black slate counters, red birch cabinets ( but no overhead ones), pine floors, slate vintage sink looking out to the ocean. I LOVE it and work in it every day. You should have the kitchen you want. It does every thing I need it to while looking good. Come for a tour.
We are about to do our bath over; so far we will have charcoal grey floors, marble big shower and keep our big pedestal sink; I have a great easy chair in the bath currently in chintze that I need to cover over; paralyzed about that so far. Fun though. Happy new year, dear WMM.
Lane, your house sounds divine! You are right - good idea to wait till I am ready for the dream! I wish my bathroom was big enough for a chintz chair!
DeleteI had to laugh, knowing that you've been snowed under with the big storm recently and the last thing you likely need is more snow. Hope everyone is safe and warm.
ReplyDeleteI love looking at dream kitchen photos likes these, very inspiring. The kitchen will be the last room renovated in our 1950's bungalow and sometimes it is really crazy trying to cook in such an inconvenient space. To make matters worse there are three doors in the kitchen, not counting the dining room and the pantry is accessed via a hallway. At least in the country it's well-designed and so functional, I can experience the joy of cooking. I hope you will share if you're renovating.
Xoxo - we have a split entry built in '78 - every room has about 18 doors, or so it seems! It makes it so hard, doesn't it? Our kitchen will be last too - so expensive!
ReplyDeleteWMM, I love your kitchen inspiration. Myself, I'd like a butler's pantry, where as well as food I could also stash all those small kitchen appliances.
ReplyDeleteSo far for the January Cure I have my list and my outbox. I haven't yet peeked at Friday's and Saturday's tasks, hope I can get back on track!
My favourite cathedral so far is La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona - just stunning!
Hi Patricia! I will add that one to my travel list! I actually put away three boxes of Christmas yesterday and will keep going today. I like the weekend's cure - my Christmas flowers are basically done and I do need some!
DeleteWonderful post and I also like the use of copper. I saved an article from Martha Stewart's kitchen in Maine. She had open shelves which she said would be easier for quests. She stacked it with white china . Loved that it didn't looked done.
ReplyDeleteJanuary 's all about organization and dreaming. Thanks for the post on this rainy day.
Hey Marsha! I think I want lots of copper as an excuse to go back to E Dehellerin!
DeleteMartha does it right!
You are savvier than you think about technical challenges because your advice about flipping to HTML solved my problem with uploading photos to posts!!!
ReplyDeleteThat is a dream kitchen for some serious cooking, wouldn't we all have that in our houses in the village with the toy trains? I'd also like a dream closet in my house please, and a room with a view done in tile, plumbed and with drainage in the center so I can hose down all the messiness from making art.
I'll take a pass on pinterest since I don't need something else to be addicted to but I do think polyvore helps me to organize, especially when packing for a trip.
My mother taught me to be perfect (I'm not) and I had to learn imperfection is totally OK. There's beauty in just about everything. ;)