Home Improvement #39

Yes....I realize it's April and you are looking at a Christmas picture...BUT I have to dig in to the achieves to show my before and after pictures!!!!  While working on restaining ans refinishing our floors, we decided we might as well go ahead and give our fireplace some TLC.

Our little Acorn Cottage was built in 1942, so it's always kind of an adventure taking things apart and seeing how things were built back in the day.

This is what our living room looked naked with one color of stain on the floors.

This is the floors with the second coat of stain and 3 coats of varnish!

We decided the color "Clam Chowder" lloked like pastel yellow on our walls, and opted for Eddie bauer "Pecan".

Here is the finished product!  We selected Travertine stone and are VERY HAPPY with the results.  I think Dan-the-Man has a massage coming to him after all his hard work.

Snow Storm

This is a picture of our backyard this morning and the snow is still coming down.  Looks like an Enchanted Snow Forest outside. 

House Project #29

 Our little 1942 Acorn Cottage needed some TLC.  When we bought the home, the bedrooms and hallway had carpet on them, and it wasn't until we had lived here a couple of years we discovered there we hardwood floors underneath. TREASURE TROVE!!!  They were pretty battered, with stains and dings, but we saw the potential of what could be.

This picture really isn't out of focus.....it's the blur from all of the dust floating around from Dan-the-Man sanding them!

 We decided to do two colored stains. A dark walnut with English chestnut over the top to add a little warmth.

 Coat numero uno of varnish.....2 more to go!

The final product!  Love the rich warm colors!  Just have to put the trim back up on the bottom of the baseboard and then I can move get the art room back into place. NEXT...The Guest room.  So excited as I have projects I have been working on such as a ceiling medallion to frame the beautiful chandelier I found at an Antique Shop. STAY TUNED!

New Chapter

Hard to believe that my little peanut is 10 days away from graduating from college!  Don't mean to brag or anything.....BUT she got offer a job before she has even been handed her diploma.  Am I proud? Ridiculously!  Does she deserve it? YOU BETCHA!  Years of sacrifice, hard work, who knows how many packages of Top Ramen, all nighters studying for test....it has all paid off!  Stand tuned for more....this proud Mama is going to have many more pictures to post, and can't tell you how excited I am with the pending celebrations to take place.  I LOVE YOU NADIA WITH ALL MY HEART XOXOXOXOX MAMA :)

Here are two of the cutest kids on planet earth!   We had such a good time going to Voigts to get our pumpkins this year.  It was a nice brisk fall day.

 
 

Our drive out west on Hwy. 56 to Fieldstone Orchards.  Don't blink or you might miss the sign.  I always remember to look out for the big white barn and know my right hand turn is coming up.

 Here is one HAPPY camper.  Nadia with a fresh dipped caramel apple!

HOLY SMOKERS....a vat of hot carmel on a brisk fall day. Does life get any better I ask?  I heard the "trick" to keeping the caramel supple is to keep adding cream....that works for me.

Just love the Orchard team mascot truck!



Our Anniversary

Dan the Man and I celebrated our 12 year anniversary on October 21st and had a wonderful 3 day weekend.

We went to the movies and per my request saw..... I love animated films!

Then we to our favorite local winery www.nighthawkwines.com Nighthawk winery and enjoyed the last of the one of the most beautiful days having a picnic and sharing a bottle of vino!

We brought a picnic blanket, cheese and crackers

We read books, took a nap and just talked

and just enjoyed the last of the warm air before the cold weather

We dined at one of our favorite restaurants www.drugstorerestaurant.com Justus Pharmacy in Smithville, MO and had an outstanding dinner



and had these decadent desserts to finish off our dining experience! 

 

Couldn't have had a more wonderful time with my Prince Charming!

Hannibal Missou-RAH Road Trip!

Nothing like a random spur of the moment drive!  There had been talk in the household about checking out Hannibal, Missouri and the next morning I woke up to someone down at the base of my bedroom stairs doing a bird whistle.  This was the "quiet, gentle" way of waking me up?  Dan-the-man got me out of bed on Saturday with the temptation of a random day trip at o'dark thirty.  Lured by coffee and the promise of a good hearty breakfast we hit the pavement rain or shine.  It was rain, a long awaited rain here in the Midwest.

For those of you not familiar with Hannibal, Missouri it is the boyhood home of Mark Twain AND Molly Brown (Titanic).  The women who the quote "Well behaved women rarely make history" came from :)

It was a charming town, built along the M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I river.  The rain had cleared up but still pleasantly overcast by the time we arrived in town.  Enjoy the pictures!

The Dubach Inn Bed & Breakfast

 A charming House that has twinkle lights in their trees (not pictured) Always a sign of a good person living there :)

The historical Rockcliffe Mansion. 13,500 square feet currently under renovation by the new owner's BUT available for tours!

Charming homes were everywhere!

Downtown...did I mention there was a European Chocolate store called STAM?

 For those who have only seen Tom Sawyer's island at Disneyland...this here is the REAL DEAL!

So we got caught in a little rain on the Mark Twain Riverboat...the cruise was wonderful.  Very peaceful & calm out on the waters.

"Go Pitt State!"

 Lighthouse nestled in the trees

 Mark Twain's Boyhood home....if you look closely, you can see him in the center top window :)



I love roses!

I just purchased and planted this lovely Old English rose from www.davidaustinroses.com and can't wait to see it grow.  It's a highly fragrant rose that has a nice rich pink color.  I am on a mission to make my cottage more cottagey!

 

I planted it on the south side of our cottage where I know it will get plenty of sun.  I purchased a 6 foot trellis to support it, and also bought a cute little Victorian bird house to keep it company. 

Ready for Springtime

I don't know about all of you, but I am ready to to get my hands into the dirt and start planting some flowers.  I usually wait until after St. Patrick's Day when I am sure we are past our last frost of the season, but it has been so mild lately, I've got the bug!

Just being able to see some colors other than the drab grey of winter lifts my spirits up.  There have been several red robin sightings, which is a sure sign of spring!

I love Foxgloves, to me they are a true cottage flower!

I just love Bird Houses too another Cottage must!

What's Going On......

Seems like in a blink of an eye, someone hit the fast forward button and Christmas is nearly upon us!  Here is a quick-at-a-glance what's been going on at Acorn Cottage in a NUTSHELL!!!!!

We went to Powell Pumpkin Patch....in the bug-dee-do. My daughter Nadia and boyfriend Josh found couple doozies!

My son Faris finding the PERFECT pumpkin!

Flew out to California for my nephew Brent & Sarah's Wedding.....LOVEY DOVEY!!!

Hopefully this handsome couple is NEXT (hint, hint) my newphew Bruce and his lovely girlfriend Tanya :)

My nephew Aaron, his beautiful wife Ghea and my grand niece Ava....speaking of Ava.....

Found out my grand niece Ava, is going to be an "older' sister.........and is going to have a sister!!!! .......

and Ava and her soon to be born sister will be busy playing with their cousins,

Catherine & Bryson

along with cousin Caitlyn!

I also

                        celebrated my Birthday November 27th......               

It was a Hercule Poirot Party.....and my son Faris stole the show, we were all in hysterics!

My daughter Nadia came home from college to celebrate Thanksgiving....

and we are working on making dough ornaments....mine are enchanted mushrooms and owls :)

The painting process is still "in progress"

My daughter Nadia has this down to a science!

Dan the Man and I also celebrated our 11 year anniversary!  I love you sweetie! XOXOXOX

The elves around here have been hard at work since then....decorating and Christmas shopping, wrapping gifts, getting cozy beds together, anxiously awaiting the celebrations around the corner.

There have been many visit to Starbucks to help keep up the momentum, and many nights spent by the fireside, enjoying looking at the twinkle lights and listening to Christmas music.....taking a deep sigh and being so very thankful for all that we have!