House Tour ... Family Room

 BEFORE

and

 AFTER

This is my FAVORITE room in our house.  =)  It is such a comfortable place to read, crochet, or visit with friends.

See the desk?  I have Big Plans for that Little Nook.  The Perfect Chair must be acquired first so that I can turn it into Blogging Central.  Perhaps a little quilt on the wall to add a bit of cheer.  =)

House Tour ... Living Room

 BEFORE

AFTER

New paint and carpet make a WORLD of difference!

That is a Man Sized Sofa and Mr. K loves it.  =)

House Tour ... Laundry

The rug from Ikea looks great with the red linoleum floor! 

I think bunting hanging from the rafters would make the space extra cheerful ... don't you?

Mr. Octopus hangs over the Utility Sink so I can drip dry my Unmentionables.  =)

House Tour ... Kitchen

BEFORE

 

 AFTER

It is Simple, Practical, and Efficient ... Just like Me.  =)

Oak Cabinets

Laminate Countertops

White Appliances

Stainless Sink

Tile Floor

Brushed Nickle Knobs

Neutral Paint

Cotton Candy Bunting

I received my Swap Package this week ... it came all the way from the UK.  =)  One of the many lovely things sent to me was this bunting.  

 

I really wanted to hang it in my Sewing Room but the colors are perfect in Love Bug's Room.  The soft colors remind me of cotton candy and the flags hang so Prettily over the pink checked valance.  

The charm on one end is Perfect ... Hand Made with Love. =) 

On the Road Again

We are going to Michigan to visit family for a week or so.

My project bag is packed for the drive.  =) 

I plan on writing a few tutorials while I am there, too.

 Rowan Glace Cotton Yarn ... love, love, love it!

I'm hoping for nice weather so that Mr. K and I can go for long walks every night after Love Bug is tucked in bed.  Grandpa & Grandma Babysitters are the Best!

See you Soon!

Erin

On my Mind ...

Love Bug is Sewing! 

Yesterday she spent All Day making little pouches, bags, and pillows.  =)

When I tucked her into bed she said, "This was the BEST day ever, Mama.  I can't wait to sew tomorrow!"

Circa 1980

While doing a bit of computer "house cleaning" I found this picture.

I think I'm 1 1/2 years old.  =)

Keep Calm ...

I am switching to a New Blogger Template ... it's quite the mess.  =)

Excuse the wonky pictures.

Pardon the strange locations of widgets and gadgets in the sidebars. 

Hoping it will all be back to normal in a couple days but I have 5+ years of posts to edit!

Love,

Erin

Feeding The Troops

My sister and I love to cook when we are together!

Double batch chocolate chip cookies.

Spiffied up hamburger patties mix.

Tasty Potato Salad ... here's the recipe:

TASTY POTATO SALAD

2 1/2 pounds potatoes (red)
3 tbl chopped celery
2 tbl chopped sweet onion
1 tbl fresh chopped parsley
3/4 to 1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup Miracle Whip
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
3 tbl apple cider vinegar
squeeze of lemon juice
2-3 hard boiled eggs

1. Boil the red potatoes with the skin on.  Cool them completely and then cut them into cubes.
2. Boil the eggs.
3. Chop celery, onions, and parsley
4. Mix together the mayo, miracle whip, salt, pepper, vinegar, and lemon juice.
5. Mix the potatoes, vegetables, and dressing.
6. Lastly, chop and add hardboiled eggs.  Taste test to adjust the seasonings.

Lovebug and I are having a lovely, lovely time ... check back soon for more NY Adventures.  =)

Love,

Erin

Trip to the Garden of Eden

 Love Bug and I are on a little vacation.

Every Garden should have a Gate. =)

We are visiting my sister and her family in New York State for the week.

Isn't it LOVELY?!?!

The best part of my visit is the time I spend in her Garden.

Home-grown Strawberries are DELICIOUS.  =)

Cucumbers, Bush Beans, Broccoli, Snap Peas, Tomatoes, and Garlic!

See you next week!

Love,

Erin

Swapety-Swap Reveal

My swap partner received her package this week and loved everything I sent her!

Four different colors of Cotton Ease yarn ... one of my personal favorites. =)

Project Pouch ... found this Bright Green Bag at Ikea for only $4.

Small Lucy Bag and Polka Dot Journal ... I love the Rainbow Colors!

I am still waiting on my Swap Package.  When it arrives I'll show you what I got!

Happy Weekend,

Erin

PS - Sorry for the small pictures.  I'll go back to my normal Big Ones next week.  =)

Summer of Simplicity - Part 2

Why can't PARENTS have a Summer Reading Club???

I purchased these books from Amazon a few weeks ago in preparation for the 

"Mr K and Dutch Girl Summer Reading Program."

It was fun and challenging picking out the titles as we both have very "unique" interests.

Genres range from Baking, Economics, Marriage, and Religion.  =)

If you've read a Good Book lately, share it with me in a comment and I just might add it to our Stack.

TTFN!

Erin

PS ... I'll let you know if September if we make it through the pile.  =)

School Papers

My dining room table looked like this Wednesday night: 

Binders, notebooks, papers, workbooks -- all sent home in a Big Bag for Mommy to sort through and organize.  I refused to go to bed until it was done otherwise it just might get Piled until next September.  =)

Yellow - Preschool, Purple - Kindergarten, Light Blue - First Grade

My simple method of keeping the School Paper Monster under control is an accordion file.  I prefer the poly variety as they come in bright, cheerful colors ... Imagine that.  =)

As worksheets, art work, teacher notes, and the like come home from school, I file away a few in the accordion file and recycle the rest.  I also include Sunday School papers and Art Work done at home.

The file is very Bulgy by the end of the year, so I have to thin it out a bit to handle that End of School Paper Barrage.  That is what I did Wednesday night.  =)

When Love Bug finishes 12th Grade, she will have a neatly organized chronology of her Educational Journey. 

Love,

Erin

On my Mind ...

U-Pick season is here.  =) 

However, the prices are high due to a cold and wet spring.  =(  

So I invented my own U-Pick.

Drive to Aldi. 

Pick through the cartons of strawberries and bring them home.  

Wash, hull and slice them.  

One pound per bag ... pop in freezer.

Happy U-picking however you decide to do it.  =)

Erin

Last Day of 1st Grade

Summer of Simplicity - Part 1

I mentioned yesterday that I swapped out bedding and household linens.  

 The flannel sheets are washed and put away in the hall closet along with the down comforters.  

My cotton sheets were showing some wear so I bought a new set from Ikea.  Crisp and Clean white that I can pair with homemade quilts and vintage pillowcases.  

The pillowcases on the top were hand embroidered AND edged with hand tatting ... absolutely LOVELY!

Sorted through Love Bug's clothes and toys.  I rearranged her room with the hopes that she would not notice the "Things" mommy threw away.  =)  Do not worry ... nothing truly meaningful and valuable left the house!  

Just Plastic Crap from Fast Food Restaurants.  

A little repair work was needed on the doll house roof so that it wouldn't fall apart.  Then I moved the residents and furniture back in, hoping they would feel at home very soon.  =)

Red ottoman from Ikea's AS-IS section makes the perfect Reading Chaise for Love Bug!  


Here is Quilt #2 that I finished this Spring.  

I started it two summers ago on a Michigan Trip.  Old Red Barn Co. has an excellent Quilt Along that I followed. My Momma hand quilted it this Winter for me in Bubble Gum Pink quilting thread.  =)  

Love Bug adores it and calls it the "Prettiest Quilt Ever!"

The sheet on the bed is vintage, but I bet you guessed that already.  =)

These projects, although not very exciting were oh-so necessary.  Getting my home de-cluttered a bit and set up for the next season,  helped me get ready for my ...

Summer of Simplicity.   =)

Love,

Erin

3-2-1 ... SUMMER VACATION!!!

I put away my hook and yarn for a few weeks to get myself and the house ready for summer vacation.  Love Bug has ONE day left of being a First Grader.  =)

Lake Michigan ... we will be there in July!

 

Sorted and boxed up winter clothes ... check.

Summer clothing purchased ... check.

Swapped out down comforters for cotton quilts ... check.

Travel plans made ... check.

Chest freezer ready for U-Pick season ... check.

You'll find us at the Pool every afternoon!

Every June, I make Summer Goals and I'll share those with you the rest of this week.
  

Do you have any Great Plans for this Summer?  

Do share ... I'd love to hear.  =)

Love,

Erin