Sunday, April 29, 2012

No need to look any further...

Hello and happy Sunday to everyone! 

Today has been such a beautiful day here in the Pacific Northwest that I just wanted to share a little of where I live. A very dear friend sent these two films to me yesterday and I was just in awe watching them! The photography is breath taking and the scenery is some of the most beautiful on the planet!

The movies you are about to watch is why I love living in one of the most amazing places on earth...turn up the speakers and enjoy the shows...

"Finding Oregon"



This second brief film 
"Finding Portland" 
is the city in which I work and live just south of

the "City of Roses", 
Portland Oregon...


Hope you enjoyed the show and I'd welcome visitors in person anytime as the porch light is always on at my house!

Sunday, April 22, 2012

No man is an island...

But I know a man that can build one!

As you all know, Mr.La Bella Vie and I have been in the midst of a major
kitchen remodel which feels like its been going on F-O-R-E-V-E-R !!! 
We actually started the process in January so it hasn't been that long, it just feels like it when you don't have the use of a full functioning kitchen.
We've made a lot of progress and Mr.La Bella Vie has worked like a dog to get it done (and out of his hair!) and we're almost there so I thought I'd post a little of the progress thus far...
The island has been one of the most challenging as far as custom "furniture" work. We took the old existing island that was open on one end with a glass shelf for display, which you can't see in this picture because we had already ripped that baby out and the empty hole was being used to hold supplies.


Closed it in all the way around...

took off the old doors and installed the new ones...

removed the old marble and tile top.

And closed in the opposite side where the old bar stools used to sit...right in front of the refrigerator which was a huge problem. 
Whenever anyone was sitting on one of the bar stools, I couldn't open the fridge door because it would crash into whom ever happened to be sitting there!


 So to make better use of what would have been wasted space, we added a built-in book shelf for my cookbook collection and relocated the sitting area on the end of the island facing into the kitchen.

 Then we added bead-board to the back of the book case and custom corbels that the hubs made 

wrapped bead-board all the way around the outside...





 then added a granite topper and installed an outlet for under cabinet lighting and a shelf across the middle. I didn't get pictures of that yet but will when this bad boy is done and painted...which by the way will be 
"Oil Rubbed Bronze"

to perfectly blend and tie in with this little sweetheart...
stay tuned for more of the pretty stuff in the coming weeks...


Joining Susan's party today at Between Naps On The Porch
for another Metamorphosis Monday 



Sunday, April 8, 2012

I Had Planned to Entertain for Easter

I even started to set the table.  I put out dishes to match the chair covers and found a green tablecloth that resembled grass:

I added an Easter egg centerpiece and planned to put colored eggs down the center of the table with a number of blue/green/yellow candles.




I even brought out the cabbage salt and pepper shakers:
Then we were invited an Easter potluck, so I jumped at the chance to make one dish and not have to spend all day cooking.  I never finished the table.    I had good intentions, though.  Maybe next year.

Easter Blessings...



Though we're apart
You're in my heart
This Easter,
and always...