Are you still with me?? If you are, do grab a cuppa something cuz this is a long post. Has it really been 6 days since I posted? I just don't seem to have enough time in my days (or evenings) lately. The good news is I am reading more and creating more, but I have also been doing all kinds of odd projects and little repairs around the house. You know, the kind that you put off because they don't really make your home look that different but they need to be done none the less? I did a bunch of those!! And there are so many other projects and crafts I want to do. Some before a friend comes to visit on the 14th; some before we go to New Brunswick in a few weeks; some before the good weather comes and I am busy outside in my perennial gardens again(yes Colleen - spring will come again - just hold on my friend!!) ; and some before my granddaughter is born in late June. My list is ambitious, but with the longer sunnier days, I know I can do it.
In my excitement, I had my camera on the wrong setting so not many pics came out.
This is Jill. She is the most talented gal. If you go to my sidebar, you can click on A Primitive Place and see her wonderful home. She added all the molding and painted all her woodwork in wonderful colonial colors and then she made half the furniture herself! Her home is basically the same style and layout as mine but she has truly transformed it.
This little pinkeep was my single purchase from the shop. I'll show you where this little treasure went in a bit too!
After we left Carriage Town Primitives, we went to a neat cafe around the corner and had a yummy lunch. Well unbeknown to me until we were having lunch, the very next day was Jill's birthday. When I found that our, I treated her to lunch and of course we had to share some triple chocolate cake with a ganache frosting. If you aren't familiar with ganache, google Death By Chocolate and Marcel Desaulniers name will come up. He used to have a cooking show by that name. I will never forget watching him make ganache the first time. Basically it is heavy cream that is heated and then good quality chocolate is added until it melts into the creamiest, richest confection you can imagine. YUMMO! This cake was dense and rich, the two of us couldn't finish it even by sharing it.
After our decadent lunch we went across the street to what I can only call a junk/antique store. I found 3 goodies for ridiculously low prices and snatched them up!
We went back to our cars to chat (it was freezing!!) and Jill surprised me with a bag full of early birthday goodies. Aren't they wonderful?? I love the little berry bowl - I had never seen one before. Thanks again Jill!
Jill and I had done a swap of sorts. She wanted to make me something and I agreed if I could make her something as well as pay for the wood she would use. I knew one little pillow wasn't justice for her handmade treasures so I had to include a few extras in her bag as well - like this tin candle holder. When I bought mine, I knew it would look great in her home as well.
and I made her this wool pillow just like mine after she admired it,
and this wool applique bunny picture.
Jill made this just by me describing something I was looking for. I couldn't wait to get it home and paint and distress it and have DH help me hang it. It is exactly what how I had hoped it would look. I have had the ratcheted candle holder for a long time and now it has the perfect home. My goodies from Kathy are in here as well as the sweet little pinkeep I bought on the shopping trip. And where exactly did we hang this?....
Right over my nightstand where my whale shelf used to be. The whale shelf will have a new
home in DH's office when I get that project finished. Well technically I need to start it first! LOL It was a wonderful day and now Jill has plans to come to my neck of the woods so I can show her some of my favorite shopping spots. I am so looking forward to that!
Back of bathroom door before:
Hall doors painted in a warm nutmeg color but with the old brass knobs still in place
Pantry door painted with old brass doorknob still in place...
So of course when I got all the doors painted, I decided the old brass door knobs HAD to go... so here are the same doors with new black knobs 
Pantry door with new black knob
And even though you can see the snow outside on the deck, this forsythia wreath is bringing some Spring cheer inside. Soon I will cut some of the real deal and force them to bloom weeks early inside.
So that's part of what has kept me away from here this past week. It looks like the next few weeks will be just as busy. I am not complaining though - it is all good. How blessed I am! Until Next Time - Hugs, Linda
