one more peek at the kitchen...almost done!

The painters are working on the cabinets and the crown moulding...Dove White by Benjamin Moore. The walls are primed and ready to go for Rodeo by Benjamin Moore. You can see a little of it behind the hood. Thinking of getting Ikea's stainless steel kitchen cart to use as an 'island' and keep the industrial feel going. At suggestions from my 2 daughters and my dad, will not put up the half moon shutter on the arched window... Let it go, let it go...

Not sure about the hardware yet. Suggestions? oil rubbed bronze? brushed nickel? 

I would love to get a 4x6 rug (or 5x7) to put in the middle of the room under that stainless steel cart. I'm thinking something that has gray in it, a little fun pattern also. The floor always photographs a little funky, but it is definitely a sandy color and I want to bring some gray from the walls and granite down to that floor.

Yes, I am keeping my black appliances. I'm just not that crazy about stainless steel all over the place. I like the mix of both.

Also, in that back corner William said he will install another little task light. That's most likely where my baking supplies and cookbooks will be used. A few shelves attached to side of the oven cabinet will hold my spices and oils and vinegars. On the side to the right of the sink, I will have one shelf for storing a few plates and glasses. However, I've got my eye out for a nice large poster size print that would have fun bright colors and IF I find the right one, I may forgo the shelf and just have my huge piece of art instead! 

saying goodbye to some good books

When I was a little girl, starting about age 9 or 10, I visited my grandmothers in Dallas in the summer. Both were fun in their own special way. To this day, when I smell cigarettes outside, I think of them. They were both 'smokers'. It's a good smell to me. Only outside, though. Not sure why that is so.

One grandmother had 3 teenagers for me to hang out with. I thought that was AMAZING fun. And it was. I still would love to hang out with Susan, Johnny and George for weeks on end in the summer. We went to the pool at a nearby hotel, they rolled me down the street in an aluminum garbage can, I learned how to play several fast playing card games, ate onion dip and fritos and drank as many, many 'cokes' as I wished. It was through Susan and George taking me to a Young Life Group back in about 1967 that I realized...wow, these super cool teenagers love Jesus and they love me, too. It was my first taste of authentic young people with a devotion to Jesus Christ. Their mom, "Be", was there to make us spaghetti by the potful, brownies and was just lots of fun herself. 

My other grandmother lived about 30 minutes away in Carrollton. I would spend half my time (3 or 4 days) with each.  "MamaNita" had no children left at home, so we would sit in her little living room and spend hours talking. She had a special chair next to a little table with a light so she could work on her needlepoint or crochet. To this day, I appreciate the relaxation I get from just crocheting a scarf or blanket. She also gave me lots of books...paperback books and hardcover classics. I kept as many classics as she gave me. Some had my Dad's name card in it. It read, " This book belongs to Richard Vandergriff". Most of the others said, "To our baby" or "To Peggy" from Mother and Daddy...Merry Christmas. At night we would go get in her bed and read and read until early morning hours.

These books belonged to my Aunt Peggy who had gone on to college and marriage by this time. She had not taken the books with her for some reason, so my grandmother gave them to me. I was visiting with Peggy a few weeks ago and mentioned that I had her books. I asked if she would like them back and of course...she did! She is a big 'book lover'. She wanted to read some of those same books out loud to her 9 and 10 year old granddaughters when they come over to spend the night. I apologized that I had written my name in every single cover of those books as a little girl. She just laughed.

So, this weekend, I pulled them off the shelf, placed them in a sturdy bag and sent them back to Aunt Peggy.

And last week, I enjoyed reading The Moffats  to one of my granddaughters. I still have that one on my shelf. Aunt Peggy gave that to me when I was 8.

Update #2 Subway tile

It's coming along! I'm really glad we have a week b/w each project now. It really gives me time to consider the 'layering' of the colors and hardware I want to use.
Most pleased about the antique white grout. It really helped soften and define the tile. Here are a few 'sneak peeks'! Hopefully, this week, the cabinet doors show up and the painting of the cabinets begins. I've chosen Benjamin Moore's "Dove White" for the cabinets and trim. After about 8 sample purchases of wall colors, I've chosen "Rodeo" for the walls. The walls are primed and ready to paint once the painter leaves. Hope to be DONE by Easter.
Marching on!!! This morning I took time to seal the granite again with Miracle Sealant 511 Porous Plus.