tidbits of west end living

i forget exactly which weekend this was...
but it was a pretty typical weekend morning.
dan and i moved beyond the groggy stage into "let's clean the whole house mode"
he tends to like to clean the kitchen so i started in the back of the house.
laundry.
sweeping
cleaning the bedroom and bathroom.
i'm sure we had the radio playing throughout the house
then i heard a buzzing sound that just kept buzzing...
was he vaccuuming? couldn't be.
was it outside? a neighbor's chainsaw?


i should have known.

in true, west end fashion, dan had gone out to the garage to get the car buffer.
it seems he couldn't get the granite island countertop quite shiny enough on his own.
power tools to the rescue!
gotta give him this:
that counter hasn't been this shiny since the day we moved in!

The Last of the Big January Snowstorms

Snow. We've had so much of it this year- in January in particular. Now that February is nearly over and all this snow has started melted and looking gross and muddy, I am starting to miss it. So here, for posterity. The gorgeous snow at our hideaway in the woods:

Piling up on the deck railings...
My car in under there somewhere...


This is my favorite little clearing, to the left side of the driving (when you're driving in), the spot previously occupied by Bill's old Honda.... It always seems enchanting to me, but always even moreso when its caked in snow.
Peeking at the house as you round the bend of the driveway. Seems so tucked in, doesn't it. Like the snow is literally a blanket. I love our home.
My car. Handling the snowy season very well.
As is the plow. Trusty little guy. We are so thankful for all your hard work.

A little color (one pink scarf) peeking out of my black coat as I look down at my snowy, sturdy boots...
Snowy tires. Ready for another ride.
The snow and ice on the roof!
Wood waiting to keep us warm. We haven't had to turn the heat on even once this year! Granted last year we only used it a few times to take the edge off a cold morning shower routine... but still. Not to have used it at all seems like a feat of some kind. I'm much better at building and maintaining the fire this year which is definitely an accomplishment. I hope I don't lose it all again come next winter!

the empty corner...

until last sunday this perfect little tree

adorned the far corner of my bedroom.

it was a nook i'd never realized needed something,

but this tree fit so well.

it added some glitz and some joy...

but now its gone.

i took off all the ornaments,

then the lights.

took it off the base.

and then literally stood there,

wondering how to get it out of the house

without the inevitable

trail of needles.

and then i looked to the right

and realized i had a big ole window right next to it

so in grinch-like style

i hefted that thing up

and heaved it out the window onto the porch!

on the second attempt it worked!!

no needles beyond the bedroom.

dan laughed at me for a few minutes

he went out onto the porch to see it for himself.

chuckled again, and told me i could leave it there

he'd dispose of it.

on friday night on my way in from work,

i noticed the tree wasn't lying on the porch

so i asked him about it on saturday morning

"you didn't see?!?!"

he asked me as if i was nuts.

i hadn't.

"go outside and see!"

and so our tree was re-purposed

as a winter shrub for our front yard!

it doesn't look half bad.

my cute little tree.

so for now it will stay.

and i'll look for something to fill that spot in our bedroom.

for now its housing dan's guitar and amp.

not a bad thing.

the music that comes from them

is very cozy and homey

but i think we can do better.

12 Days Until I Turn 30

I was a week off...

Just last Saturday I was saying to Dan, "I wonder if the daisies will come back this year. I thought it was this time last year that they were blanketing the backyard." And yet there was nothing...

Daisies are my favorite flower and I love that they grow wildly through our backyard. No effort. Its nothing I can screw up-- because I can kill almost any plant.

Then this week I saw one lone daisy popping through... and by today we have dozens!! I was one week off!

Here's a peek at one.

A lot of the others had buggies on them which doesn't make for a nice shot.

So instead I'll post the photos I took last year and likely didn't take the time to post.

Kathleen Kelly: I love daisies.

Joe Fox: You told me.

Kathleen Kelly: They're so friendly. Don't you think daisies are the friendliest flower?

// Quote from "You've Got Mail" // My favorite movie!

Sigh. This is one of my favorites.

These last two really show you the duality that is our yard.

First, the beautiful fawns eating from our lawn. Spotted baby deer in the canvas of our lawn spotted with daisies. So gorgeous and natural.

Then move about 30 yards towards the woods, and there was an old piece of shop equipment [what it was, I do not know] rusted and old with the pretty daisies sprouting up in front. I love the contrast.

I love our yard! All the time there is something new to look forward to and admire. Such beauty right in my own backyard- literally.

Snowy February at Home

February 17, 2010

In the spirit of trying to catch up, I'll leave these photos to speak for themselves. This was one very snowy morning on my way to work. If you ever hear me complaining about my commute please remind me to look at this post.

I heart Scituate.

Home Make-over Photo Shoot!

Monday February 1, 2010

My cousin Jamie and her husband Chris started a photography business- Clunie Studios- and were looking to drum up some business photographing newly remodeled kitchens, so when the potential client said "great, come by on Thursday and show me your portfolio" they rented some lens and put out an APB to find newly remodeled spaces. Dan and I volunteered and poof- Jamie and Chris arrived, trekked down from NH to build that portfolio.

I got the call while I was at work, and came home and cleaned out my wreck of a kitchen-- I'd made chili the day before and then fell asleep! YIKES! But within an hour it was sparkling clean. Even Dan was shocked! "It looks like it did when we moved in!"

... sigh... if only I had enough energy to polish the granite every week!

Here are the results of their hardwork and talent!

Not too shabby

and the kitchen ain't half bad either :)

See my new grill pan from Krissy?! One of my favorite and most-used Christmas presents.

With a slightly different light

Close-up on the faucet (from the island)

Then Dan showed them the granite in the bathroom- and they decided to take some shots in there too. While the shots of the kitchen clinched them the job, Jamie reported that this bathroom nearly lost it for them since apparently he didn't like the light- but she and I still love it.

This shot validates that its NOT just me. This shower is soo cool looking in person- Dan did such a wonderful job on every little detail- and yet its nearly impossible to photograph! The angle is just tricky... you can't get far enough away (even with a wide-lens apparently) to get it just right.

Thanks for the visit, Jamie & Chris!

And thanks for the great photos!

If anyone needs portraits or other photography work done, check them out at Clunie Studios.

Snowy Winters

I love winter. Yes I realize that sounds crazy, but I grew up in New England so I guess I can claim insanity or use the lame excuse that I just don't know any better. Either way, winter here is beautiful. Or more specifically the snow is beautiful

{frigid cold temperatures without any snow to enhance the atmosphere doesn't have any place in my idyllic New England winter memory}

The fact that we have a plow that Dan alone can operate means that snow is gorgeous and yet there is no back-breaking work for me. So again, really, what's not to love? Finally, living here, in the middle of nature's playground makes it even more incredible. Usually snow means slushy sidewalks and parking lots with mile-high mounds of dirt and saltiness. But not here. Snow covered tree-limbs and our long winding driveway that doesn't even look like a driveway when its caked in glittery icing is just amazing.

When we got a big storm new year's weekend and I had an extra day off, I made a point to go outside and enjoy it. I wasn't feeling all that great, but fresh air is always good, right? I was warm and geared up in my massive, black knee-high snow boots. Camera in hand, and earbuds in my ears, I was read for some laps up and down the driveway. I went up and back once, then decided to take some pictures. Every limb was just caked with snow and the sun was just beautiful. I got a few shots and then I was mesmerized by these reeds.

I took a few photos but it was tough getting it to focus on what I wanted... I took one step closer and before I knew it, I was hip-high in snow... I had stepped off the driveway into the little stream that runs underneath. So much for my big snowy nature adventure. I think I need a little more practice.

My leg was cold (above my boot), my cell phone was ringing, and my iPod was blaring...it was time to get focused. And quick. I put my camera back in its case and slide it across the driveway. Took the earbuds out and ignored the phone. Dug a hole in the snowpile at the edge of the driveway... and then boosted myself up onto {mostly} dry land. I think I literally laughed out loud at myself. This is SO something I would do. Why was I surprised?

As gung-ho as I was, that was the end of my adventure. I was soaked and freezing....

Wet pants, sore legs... adventure over.

Better luck next time.

All in good fun!

feeling like fall

a few pieces of eye candy from 'fall' in our house
i still need to get some photos of the driveway and what's left of the leaves...
and i have a few new decorations to share as well...


but these are the pumpkins i picked with krissy and willy.

simple
organic
natural

i decided not to really decorate for fall

but small touches like this work well for me

and of course, what would the colder months be without a roaring fire!

this is our primary source of heat (coupled with the pellet stove in the basement-- which will probably be used far more in the colder winter months than it is now)

i can't believe thank thanksgiving is a week and a half away.

i'm really just not sure where the time goes.

but i'm looking forward to december

christmas shopping. browsing online. thinking of ideas. making some new decorations. handmade christmas gifts. singing along to the christmas tunes on the radio. snow. snow. and more snow please. {yes its a pain, but its beautiful}. parties. hot chocolate. reading by the fire. christmas lights.

by popular demand

new photos of the house
all of the framing is done
the roof is on
the house looks completely different
and totally great!!!

dan is still working hard to lay the trex
but he's making progress every week! {thanks to mike, steve and shawn who've helped out too!}

(the new permanent stairs are on the left, in line with the door. the old stairs are to the right)