Author: admin

Stella’s Christmas, NutriSomething and a huge thanks to you

    Needless to say we’re all pretty excited about Stella and the good times we will share there.  One of the reasons we decided on a little place not far from home is the entire family can enjoy it frequently without the hassle (and worry) of significant travel.  Because we’re in the field of work that overhaul and maintenance requires, the renovation and upkeep were doable with our own crew.  Big Plus.  When we contemplated a home on the Vineyard or Vermont, two things deterred us.  1. The cost of housing there is outrageous now and 2. we would have to hire out the work to people we don’t know and repairs of any sort would also be done by people we don’t know.  Having Stella so close by keeps all that in M’s control. 
   The kids were extremely thoughtful with their gifts to us this Christmas. With Stella in mind, the following were “under our tree”…
    My son worked with our stone guru to create this fire pit on the edge of the blue stone patio – it is a free form creation complete with quartz – the stone mostly collected here on the farm.  “S”  has a way of laying stone so that without the encumbrance of mortar these stones will stand the test of time placed on their own.  The remaining stone he didn’t use still needs to be removed and I will lay a garden around the base, but the form is clear in these pictures. Yesterday we saw the finished work and absolutely love it.  Thank you M junior for such a thoughtful gift we will all enjoy for many years to come.   Our friend S did most of the stone walls here on the farm over the past seven years and the foundation and porch here at This Old House –  This man has overcome some major struggles in his life, most recently a significant bout with Lyme Disease. His work takes a great deal of physical strength and he is quite gifted with stone…. I am so thrilled that Stella will have some of his work in her little yard an that he is regaining his health through really hard work and determination. 

     PS.. Did I mention a Priest lives in the next yard over?  I told my husband we’re gonna need to clean up our language when sitting on the deck, as he’s definitely within earshot.  Funny thing is… when M finally had a conversation with him, during the course of that conversation his response to a question was something like  “Oh, you don’t need to worry about that shit”.    LOL.  I feel so much better now.  We’ll get along just fine. 
    My daughter also gifted us with some beautiful things for Stella –  this is a wind chime she found on Etsy – made from recycled materials –  including old spoons! Love it…  I’m told the sound is a very soft soothing  tinkling… 
A beautiful shell wreath  too… 
I found a re-worked dresser at another thrift store called The Picking Pot. 

 Very sturdy and the soft ivory color falls right in line with the light neutral hues
I want to adorn the cottage with.  Stella is so small there will only be room
for a bed and dresser in each of the two bedrooms. I’m still looking for 
one more dresser and a queen bed frame. I’m taking the advice to not buy crap
I won’t be happy with down the line – so far I have managed to find thrift store
pieces I love. 
     The Mr. and I have started the Nutrisystem program as of yesterday. While I’m not thrilled with the idea of  the processed food that was delivered a few days back, so far it doesn’t taste bad and seems like it will be manageable.  Adding fresh veggies and fruits is recommended as well.   I plan to stay on it for one to two months, as I’m just looking for a weight loss jump start. My goal is to lose 15 pounds, and with the success I’ve heard about on this program, if I can just stick with it, it should get me to my goal. Then I need to stay with the portion sizes and calorie intake  this program teaches, and maintain the weight loss.    The Mr. wants to stay on it a little longer as he has bigger weight loss goals.   What I have already learned in two days is PORTION CONTROL.. and water intake.. are very important for any kind of weight loss.  We love food and we don’t drink much or smoke at all, so food has been our vice over the years. 
  That’s lunch.  See what I mean? PORTIONS. Holy cow, we’ve been going overboard by about 1000 percent. 
    I’d like to thank each of you who comes here and converses in the comments section from time to time.  Our shared experiences and advice is cherished.  Some of you have been visiting this space for over six years and you’ve become dear friends.  FB helps us keep in touch even more (one of the actual GOOD things about social media, and yes there are some redeeming qualities to it) and I’m glad to have come to know you.  
  Happy, Healthy 2017 to All – may we find peace of mind and strength in unity. 
Love, Karen 

The gift you can give yourself

  I don’t watch a lot of TV, but in the winter months when the light fades early and we’re inside more than outside, we like to unwind in front of the tube.  Two things amaze me (and piss me off)… Sometimes the commercial breaks are so long you forget what you were watching. Then there’s the fact that you pay for 600 channels and there are only about five stations that actually have quality viewing. The rest is just crap.  I love the history channel, Discovery Channel,  CNN before the Orange Scream came along, a few series have caught our attention over the years – The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Poldark to name a few….  and there’s the sports package for the Mr. 
  
     Anyway… Dr. Phil.  Occasionally I tune in, when his guests aren’t the Jerry Springer type.  I often wonder why they load so much makeup on that mans head,  he looks like he’s been dipped in the stuff. You’d think in this day and age they could figure out the stage makeup and make it look a little more natural.  His show is also obviously an infomercial for his and his wife Robin’s many products, but that’s to be expected.  Speaking of which, where did half of her go?…  She’s a good example of a beautiful woman who let weight loss goals take away some of her natural beauty. Angelina Jolie.. another case in point.  
  
    So Dr. Phil… recently there was a mother/daughter situation where the  young adult daughter wanted  help for  a better relationship with her mom. The mother was a real hardass, apparently had been abused as a child herself and abused her children physically in return as she raised them. She is an adult movie performer and is raising yet another child, whom she says she’s doing a much better job with now that she has “grown up”.  The daughter is angry for all she’s been put through, and wants her mom to apologize and to be a more supportive -mom-.  While the mom comes off as a cocky b*tch during the entire interview, she also apologizes repeatedly and doesn’t deny the abuse. Because of her  tough attitude, though,  the apologizing doesn’t seem sincere. The daughter is clearly struggling and after an exhausting back and forth and many interjections by Dr. Phil,  he shuts the whole thing down and says  (this is not word for word, it’s the jist) 
     Look, it comes down to this.  What is it that you want from your mother so that you can move on.    She had no answer for him.  He asked the question repeatedly but neither the mother or the daughter had any answers to the question. It was pretty clear the relationship wasn’t going to change.  
     He then said to the daughter…. This is what I want for you.  I want you to build relationships with quality people who want to be in your life, who are worthy of your trust, who will support your positive goals in life. You’re looking for something from your mother that she doesn’t have to give.  If you came into my office and asked me if you can please have a zebra, I don’t have one to give you, it’s that simple. You are looking for something to come from your mother that she does not have to give.  You will always, always and forever struggle with this relationship if you keep looking for something that isn’t there.  You need to accept it for what it is and move on.  

     How many people can relate to that simple truth?  Boy, did it strike a chord with me.  I’ve talked a little about my relationship with my father in this space before, and to be clear,  I did not suffer the kind of abuse the woman in this story had.   Ours has been an emotional struggle… but the bottom line in his advice is so spot on.  Part of my anger toward my father has been that he was not what I wanted him to be as a Dad.  That’s not necessarily a fair request, because he can only be what he is. At times he did try in the ways he knew how, it’s that simple.  What I’ve been looking for is not coming, I’m angry at him for something he’s not even aware of.  In order to find peace of mind, I have to grant it to myself.  Accepting that simple piece of advice above is the most important part of the equation. 
   I’m not gonna lie, it’s still hard for me to visit the nursing home and do the grocery shopping and get him the things he needs because that little disappointed and resentful part of me still tugs at the edges.  As I grow older and he just grows old I’m slowly figuring out how to release the expectations of that little girl, the teenager, the young woman who wanted the Hero figure.  He did what he could with what he had, and that’s the truth. 
   He had his 80th birthday a few weeks ago. I decided a  party was in order, something I have never done for him before. I know that sounds harsh, but it was a result of the nature of our non-relationship, those resentments.  I got in touch with some of his old boating friends and some folks he worked with before retiring. They were happy to meet us at his old haunt, a local eatery and pub nearby. He didn’t know they would all be there. I picked him up at the home and we drove down the Boston Post Road instead of taking the highway  so he could view all the Christmas lights.  He was like a little kid, admiring some of the big lighted trees in the town greens we passed.  I was amazed that he noticed them at all.  Then I remembered some of the decorating he did when I was a young girl and he still lived -home-.  I also remembered the drives he took us on in our neighborhood to see the lights of Christmas.  He wasn’t always gone. He did what he could in the ways he was capable.  
  So we walked into the dining area where a large table had been set up for our party, and the look of surprise and delight on his face when he saw those old friends and some family  brought tears to MY eyes.  Tears of happiness… for him.   It was also obvious these people cared about him. He had forged some meaningful relationships, whatever they may have been. 

   On that night…some of the baggage I have been carrying around for all these years was left on that restaurant floor.  I’m not going back for it either.  
   

Edith’s Chair

     We’ve gone over budget on Stellas exterior.. kinda like going in for a little botox in the frown lines and coming out with an entire facelift, a new hair color and style and a chemical peel for good measure.
      AND..we still have the interior.  M and the guys have begun the work but it will be minimal because of the exterior splurge.  Then we need the furnishings to make this house a home and that’s going to be even more minimal because 

DON’TBuyANYTHINGforChriseSakeWe’reWAYoverBUDGET!  @#!*      
    
      A few things will have to be bought new – mattresses (the previous tenant left his mattresses, but I just can’t….. )   a new small range, a small stackable washer/dryer.  The rest I’m going to look around for in thrift stores, etc.  There is a consignment thrift store in Branford called Consign & Design. They’ve got some great deals and a 20 % off sale this week, 50% off all vintage christmas decor too.  I could have gone crazy with the old fashioned Santas, sleighs, books and such….. (my grandmother had a few of these)

but I held back, remembering Stella’s immediate needs and the husbands sanity, hence my own. 

     I found two things that I was pretty excited about, though. A good once-over and a glance at the price and there was no question they were coming to live with Stella.   What a find – a beautiful provincial chair which appears to have been reupholstered recently because there is no wear whatsoever on the fabric…. for $117. minus 20%.    It’s super sturdy and comfortable, the fabric sturdy and capable of heavy use…..the champagne color is perfect for the earthy soft neutrals vibe I want in the cottage.  The style might be a bit fancy but the price makes that perfectly OK. This will do the trick.

     The chair reminds me of Edith Bunker from the long-ago series All In the Family.  If you’re as old as I am you probably grew up with it…Do you remember that show? Amazing what they were able to get away with, great actors covering real issues of the times in a clever way that we all could relate to and have a good laugh over.  I have fond memories of  my softspoken  grandparents chuckles and out-loud laughter every time Archie let out another obnoxious statement as Edith softened the blow.   Edith’s actual chair wasn’t as nice as this one. After all the crap she put up with from that horrible lovable man, she deserved a chair like this, don’t ya think? 

Not far from the chair were a pair of Rayo Hurricane Lamps, once oil, now reworked electric. 
$30. each, minus 20%.  I loved the table underneath with marble top, but I’m not sure I’ll have a need for it yet so I let that go because
DON’TBuyANYTHINGforChriseSakeWe’reWAYoverBUDGET!  @#!* 

 The milk glass shade on this one is tarnished (smoker? Nicotine stain it looks like) and I couldn’t get it to come clean so I will look for a replacement shade.  The other is still a beautiful milk glass white. 
  While I was collecting these treasures my son met with the stone master who built the fireplaces and stone walls here at This Old House and farmstead.  His Christmas gift to us this year was a fire pit he and Steve will incorporate into the waterfront patio.  The stones will come from our farm and there will be a little bit of custom work that involves quartz Steve has collected over the years – stay tuned.. 
     Stone isn’t the only thing we’re incorporating from the farm – Because we changed the topography some with the patio, the railings on the sea wall needed redoing.  We mulled over the options –  Each cottage seems to do their own thing along the waterfront – there isn’t a lot of continuity.  We wanted a look that wouldn’t be too intrusive to the view or too contemporary.  There are plenty of cedar trees in the woods behind our farm, so we brought some down to the cottage and M drew up a simple pattern. This is what we ended up with…
The Electrician has re-installed the outdoor lighting now that the siding is complete…..
    and the railing to the water  has been replaced. We didn’t use cedar here, pressure treated wood is necessary as the water comes up to the steps at high tide.  
 This picture taken during extreme low tide, when so many little treasures can be found at waters edge.  The difference between low and high tide amazes me still… the water comes up to the steps at high tide, in a matter of hours. 
         Thanks for stopping by – Till soon, friends…. 

Uncontainable

       Warning – this is indeed a political rant and I’m not even gonna edit.  In a nod of respect to my Trump supporting blog friends, this is where you should click off. While it’s not a political blog and for the most part will not have a political focus, it is my space and I firmly believe ignoring current affairs by sticking the proverbial fingers in my ears and singing lalalalalala is just irresponsible. 


   As much as I would like to put this election behind me and move on, he’s here to stay and the offenses just keep piling on as we are assaulted by it daily.  I wanted so badly to believe he would rally and drop the reality show persona, you know, take his title seriously by leaving his ego at the door. His own mother, may she rest in peace, had said he’d make a horrible president because he listens to no one.   I believe her. 

   Never mind where you stand in the political isles…truth, I’m right smack in the middle. I eyed the republican choices throughout the process, hoping for the change that might do some good. Didn’t happen.  With this President-Elect  I keep asking myself… why is this behavior OK with people?  How did we come to be willing to accept this sh*t??  To accept the hypocrisies?   Was the desire to “get something different”.. or swing back to a conservative line so important that all else we were willing to forsake?   I wonder – Are people having second thoughts now that they see  he’s just getting warmed up, not becoming more “Presidential”?  What IS Presidential if it’s not a worldly, experienced, even tempered intelligent person capable of self restraint, putting  Democracy, the nations people and Americas international and diplomatic and political health ahead of his own EGO. 

    He’s still twittering/whining about the election –  Several times a day! Complaining if he or one of his businesses gets a bad review! Calling out world leaders on twitter?!?   I don’t think any of us realizes the fine balance this world and it’s peaceable existence balances on.. words matter –  WORLD LEADER WORDS MATTER.  Words can send bombs flying in milliseconds.  Getting the facts before you twitter matter!   Taking credit for things he hasn’t done.. that’s just gross.  A Victory Tour? Who does that?? Denying CIA and FBI proof of Russian interference in our elections? Suddenly that’s ok to ignore? No one thinks it will change the election… how about letting them know IT’S NOT OK, WE WILL NOT ACCEPT IT.  Instead of denying our own intelligence. Wow, dude.. way to throw your own country under the bus.    
     Business conflicts of interest, that’s ok now?  Putting Billionaires in office  who milked the system for their own gain repeatedly, weren’t we draining that self interest swamp?  – Not a priority anymore?    You think they’re gonna give a shit about the environment?  Someone has to. Really. It’s a thing.    Hell, there are pay as you play events set up already the day after the inauguration by his sons!  For $50,000 you’ll get a meet and greet with the President and his big game hunt loving sons! All under the guise of “conservation”.  I’m just not that stupid and I’m sure you aren’t either.    Suddenly THATS ok though.  OH, they’re trying to spin it another way, but it’s still .. just.. spin.   Weren’t we tired of all that?  Didn’t we want DIFFERENT?  Why are we all just accepting this – because THIS different is hideous.    


 His is really bizarre and juvenile behavior for someone who’s about to lead the US. For the love of all that is considered sanity, if you really expect the larger half of the country to accept your status, you really oughta start behaving like an adult, isn’t this behavior we learned in 5th grade?   It’s clear no one is capable of reining him in, either – his handlers must all be cringing, they must.  No wonder Melania just stays the hell out of the way. 

  His cabinet picks are bizarre, it’s almost as if he’s trying to sabotage the entire system. Some have lawsuits against the very agencies they will head – some have never had experience in the areas they will preside over.  Some have committed many offenses in the departments they will oversee. What?? How is this ok. 

 I have to believe we all know this is really poor behavior, some questionsable picks,  and a scary lack of self restraint.  I want to believe even Trump supporters privately cringe at at least SOME of this.    Try as I may, I just don’t see the silver lining in this big fat  gold gilded orange cloud.   If you believe in Trump and this post offends you and you’re still reading, from now on you’ll want to scroll past this blog when I occasionally spew, because there are no good answers to the questions I just posed.  Nothing stated above is a lie, it is what it is.  It’s the Devil we didn’t know who’s in the house now and we’re all stuck, for better or worse. 


  





Warmth

 We discovered Stella’s gas stove works just fine, and just in time for the menfolk to begin interior work. 
Trim work around the windows …. 
 Gate so little dogs and eventual toddlers don’t go wandering… 
Outdoor shower 
 We’ve got some snow on the ground this morning, but it’s soon to turn to rain –  The deep freeze lasted about 24 hours, warmer temps on the horizon.  Around these parts Christmas isn’t quite Christmas until the snow falls.  I don’t know how you Floridians and other warm climate area peeps find the spirit without the snow, but I know you have your ways just as we northerners have ours.  If you’ve got a  Christmas decorations pic you’d like to share, please leave your blog post link in the comments section.  I love to see the different forms of “Christmas” in regions not my own, north, south, east or west. 
These were taken at 6 AM this morning… notice the lights in the front left corner of the house are out.. that’s where Bens bed is, a dog must have darkness to get a good sleep, don’t ya know. 
I’m writing lists for our Holiday family dinner here at the farm – buffet style.  This app looks delish and easy to make, going to try it.  Ask me how much I love artichoke spinach dip. 

 


Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a mini muffin tin with cooking spray.Easy Spinach Artichoke Cups

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 c. sour cream
  • 1 1/2 c. shredded mozzarella
  • 1/4 c. Parmesan cheese
  • 1 c. canned artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
  • 1 (10) oz. package frozen spinach, drained and chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tube crescent dough
  1. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, 1 cup mozzarella, Parmesan, artichokes, spinach, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
  2. Flour your work surface, roll out crescent dough, and pinch seams together. Cut into 24 squares. Place squares into muffin tin slots and spoon 1 tablespoon of dip into the dough.Top with remaining mozzarella.
  3. Bake until pastry is golden and cheese is melted, about 15 minutes.

Christmas Spirit

 
   I love Christmas. 💖
   But.. something is different this year and I didn’t give it much thought until last week when I dragged all the decorations up from the basement. 
 My kids don’t live here anymore.  
   We had a family right away after marrying, and so all of our Christmases except the very first one together have been mostly about the kids.  Oh, how I have loved that experience.   The toy shopping,  the present hiding, the surprise building, the cookie and gingerbread house making, the stocking stuffing and tiptoeing at midnight to fill the tree skirt to overflowing with gifts for the next mornings surprise.  The Christmasy breakfast with monkey bread for pulling apart, the big fire in the fireplace as we opened presents usually early AM, because anticipation, you know.
   So I hoisted all the decorations to the first floor.. and  looking at all the boxes I thought.. well, maybe not so much this year. It’s just us.  A sadness blanketed my Christmas Spirit…  But the manchild stopped in shortly after and said “Where’s the ***, and are you putting out the ***?  “Where’s the star plate? I love that star plate”.  
   And the girlchild came by looking to see if maybe I had a few extra decorations because they’re tight on money  having just ventured out together on their own and could we spare a piece or two? She also made a few gifts for family this year and she said “It feels so good to MAKE something you know another person will enjoy”.  
   They’ve been paying attention, and I do believe they have the same Christmas Spirit in their hearts that their father and I do.   I’m loving Christmas all over again, the lens in the glasses just needed an adjustment.  Sorta like this aging deal. And you know, just as in aging, I’m damned lucky to have a reason for the  need for the lens adjustment.  Biggest Gift of all. 

 K made this in Kindgergarten….

M made this in kindgergarten too…

My mother had this made when I was born.. it has my name and birthyear on it….

We use the Christmas Spode all during the season as our daily plates.. why ever not.

Christmas cactus in full bloom… 

   We all have our trials, the spectrum is wide and varied. Wherever you find yourself and your loved ones on that spectrum this year, may the spirit of the season surround you in the ways you find joy and peace of mind.  May the threads of kindness in our Humanity prevail – 
 
    Bless Us Everyone 







  

Stella, dear.. you look maavelous

  We pulled up this morning to check out the progress and the smile was plastered on my face for the entirety of our visit.  Ear to ear, I’m telling ya.  The boyz have been busy all week wrapping up the outside work before the great chill descends.. (it’s actually landed, the water buckets here at the farm are freezing).   Just a few trim details left and then on to the interior. 
     I walked around her perimeter like a little girl clinging to her mothers skirts, admiring mom all dressed up for a night out.  

Long Island Sound and the Atlantic are at the mouth of the cove, which you can see off in the distance in the pic below… 
 My blog friend Sara sent this lovely image, she’s been collecting seaweed letters for a project for her family and she put this together for me… thank you, Sara!   http://sharleystudio.blogspot.com/

Windows to the Soul and The Twittering Twit.

 Stellas old leaky chipping cranky windows have been replaced….  and soon the siding will be complete. 

Next up.. we tackle the interior.

  Right here is where all my blog friends who are Trump fans get off the bus so as not to offend you, because that’s not my intent.  You have your reasons, I know. 
                                                          ****************************
   While I keep trying to GET OVER IT ALREADY,  LET GO OR BE DRAGGED, blahblahblahblahblah…. that’s nearly impossible when DJT keeps dishing out the ridiculous and many just keep consuming it with reckless abandonment of what we ALL really consider to be normal, rational, respectful, SAFE behavior. 

     I’d sure like to see the person about to take the highest office arguably in the World put down his twitter account and start behaving with the class and dignity and personal restraint his position requires. Because of his inflaming personality and refusal to follow protocol, it’s going to be a looong four years – he’s going to be the subject of more than a few parodies too. Grow a skin, Donald, you’re gonna need it.   
    
      Seriously….   I’m referring to one of the biggest ball breakers in the history of ever!  The hypocrisy and the whining are laughable, if it weren’t so pathetic given the position he’s about to take.  He can’t handle a SNL Skit!  He’s slamming other countries on TWITTER  for Cripes sake.  Please, may the powers that be – help him get over himself and get on with “making America great again”. Although we already live in a Great Country, just to be clear. I wish he would stop taking credit for things he didn’t really do.  Yeah. THAT.

– Just Sayin




Where she’s at…

     Sally, you’ve won the book give away – I’m shipping off The Girl On The Train and a surprise book as well.   
      
     Todays progress at the cove…  Stellas streetside porch is not really one you can sit on comfortably, it’s more for show.  There was a little bench there and I might paint it and put it back in place, but if you sit on it, you’re pretty much inches from the railing, knees maybe hitting.  I *love* the door color next to the stained cedar shingle.  It’s easy on the eyes, no? 

 Walkway around the side of the house… there will be a small outdoor shower behind the wheelbarrow.. bricks have been laid as the flooring.

     Waterside, on the deck, new fortified doors that tell the mice to kiss off.  You know, truth.. I used to have pet mice, when I was a teenager. Satins!  I hid them from my mother pretty well for a while, until they got loose.  That was a terrible day.  We’ll end the story right there.

Stella is tucked into this scene, about half way up the coastline here….  The rock jetty borders the cove and marshland preserve behind it.   
There are two islands in our cove,  both inhabited.  One came available several years ago at a bargain basement price.  We thought about a purchase for two seconds, and realized every.single.trip to get anything at all would mean getting in a little boat to get to the car to get to the…..  I’m glad we waited for Stella.  
 Remember these?  Found hanging in Stella’s garage…. 
     
      Those little shells are found all over the shore and I haven’t yet learned what they’re called, but they look like pearls that exploded.  I should google it… 
       
    Our work on the outside of the cottage will be completed soon. The winds have picked up and the temps have dropped, especially down on the shoreline, hence the rush to get it done and spare the work crew the bitter chill. Because we went over budget on the outside, it’s looking like the interior will get a good scrubbing and a new coat of paint and that’s just about it for this year.  We’ll also need furnishings, as what remained went into the dumpster.   I’ll be looking for bargains and vintage finds in neutrals with blue hues. 
   Funny thing about this cove.  On one side, you have Stella and her friends -lovely, little, uncomplicated, charming, old, rustic, cottagey cottages, some of which are crumbling just a wee bit.  On the opposite side, behind me here…are the “HAVES”.  The homes are quite stately, most starting in the millions range. We get to look at their lovely facades, they pay the huge taxes and look over at Stella and Company.   It was rumored (and some still believe it) that Derek Jeter bought his parents a home there.   For years we stared at a house that even had yankee colored umbrellas on the patio OMG!!…  across the cove for hours on end hoping to catch a glimpse of him. Binoculars may have been used.   I may or may not have kayaked over there .. casual-like…just to get a closer look.  This year because we are OWNERS now, a local who would know said… My friends live there, it’s not Derek Jeters house.  Really.  My kids even babysat. It’s.not.Jeters.house. 
Oh… kay.  🙁    Just a little wind was let out of the sails of a certain Ever-Yankee-Loving husband.     
    
   I just started Woman in Cabin 10 – already, GOOD READ!  Thanks for the suggestion.

Until soon-

   

The Icing…

    …on the cake.. is the cedar shake siding Stella is being adorned with as I type.  One of the many many charms of the  homes I  covet admire on the Vineyard are the cedar shake siding you can find almost everywhere. These are white cedar with a bleaching oil application.   We’re bringing a little Vineyard Vibe to Stella, including the porch ceiling, painted pale blue. 
According to Sherwin Williams  – Once just an old Southern tradition, the blue porch ceiling has made its way north and is being introduced to new generations. There are numerous theories as to why – from fooling spiders and wasps into thinking the ceiling is the sky, to blue being a harbinger of good luck, to the color extending daylight, to scaring away evil spirits. 
Sounds good to me! 
     The waterfront doors have been replaced as well. Although I loved the old doors, there was a 1 inch gap between the door frame and the walls and there was some rot. It was very clear the mice had loved their tenure in  Stella, probably for years on end due to the wide open welcome the door frames and eaves provided.   We booted them out and took away their welcome mat because there’s nothing quite like pulling down curtains and experiencing mouse crap rain on your head, with the discovery of a layer of mouse crap in the toaster  a close second.  Yeah. That. 
   Thank you for all the great book recommendations!  I just finished Girl On The Train – Won’t give away the ending if you haven’t read it.. but it was a surprise.  Some of you already agreed with me about something – Two books that are very popular (Gone Girl, Girl On the Train)  were just – meh- to me. Had to make myself finish, and here’s why –  The characters were just not very likeable.  I actually STRONGLY disliked Gone Girl characters, how very self centered and selfish….  and with GOTT,  I just wanted her to get ON with herself already.   The mystery pulls you in, though, so I finished it.
     My perimenopausal / fibro state has me sleep deprived and reading material is a must before bed.  Next up on the reading list – Woman in Cabin 10 and Outlander, because I’ve heard many good things about the series in recent years.  When I read the summary I said.. really?… but I’ve been told you just have to get past the initial fantasy aspect and the history lessons and relationships will pull you in.  OK then.   I’ve also written down your other suggestions, thank you friends.
   If anyone wants my copy of The Girl on the Train and one other surprise book, leave a comment below and I’ll use random selector (if there’s more than one of you) to pick the recipient. 
  As always, thanks for stopping by –  Karen