Porch #110 🍂 9 signs of autumn's arrival (+ bonus)

PORCH
A CHRIST-CENTERED
WEEKEND NEWSLETTER
 gentle conversation  
calming snapshots
uplifting linkage
occasional surprises

🍂 

This week.

All of a sudden, it was fall.

In the blink of an eye.  Just like that.

Summer is over and done.  And I couldn't be happier.

1.  the hood 
I often throw a sweatshirt over my shoulders when heading out in the evenings.  But this week I actually put it on ... and pulled the hood up.  Brrr.

2.  the jeans
I slipped on a pair for the first time in 5 months.  They still fit.  Hello long pants again.

3.  the acorns
The oaks are lavishly dispensing the fruit of their labors.  Walk barefoot outside at your own risk.

4.  the fuzzy throw
We grabbed a one in the middle of the night and spread it on the bed.  Next step?  Flannel sheets.  A few weeks later?  The electric blanket.  

5.  the closed signs
We craved some ice cream.  I lost count how many shops we drove by before we found one open.  The party's over.

6.  the biscuits
I just had to make biscuits for supper.  No question in my mind.  It's been months since I baked.  And oh they were so delicious.

7.  the slipper socks
I quietly grabbed a pair as soon as I rolled out of bed.  I couldn't get them on quick enough.

8.  the morning candle
I lit my first of the season.  Its cozy scent and flickering flame warmed the dawn with its glow, a perfect lead-in to a quiet devotional time.

9.  the tea
For the first time since late spring, I grabbed one of my favorite mugs and filled it with steaming Earl Gray laced with a hefty drizzle of honey.

🍂

BONUS

a 2019 repeat performance
of a fun series sponsored by
The Nester

click here to start reading -
the link to the following day
is at the bottom of each post

Sights, sounds, scents ... what speaks autumn to you?
Linda

🍂

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shout-outs to faithful blog hosts
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A handful of lessons learned from our kitchen re-do

Hey Friends ~

All your encouraging words before and after this big project have been the wind beneath my wings.  If it wasn't for you, I'd still be sitting there looking helplessly at those dark brown cabinets, the appliances on their last legs, and the sad, worn out flooring.  

And speaking of the wind beneath my wings, I asked my husband what he learned now that we've completed our kitchen re-do.  Tim's a long-time Habitat for Humanity home builder and is exceptionally handy when it comes to trouble-shooting, tinkering, and fixing stuff.  I respect his experience, abilities, and his pro-active smarts.  

Here's what he told me (and I've added my two cents underneath his rather matter of fact statements.) 

1.  Don't get hung up on a few dollars.  Quality matters.
We're always looking for ways to save a buck.  But when it comes to a kitchen or bath, you want to get the best you can afford.  This will involve putting money away well ahead of time, knowing prices, looking out for deals, comparison shopping 'til you drop, and skimping on non-essentials so you can invest in what will matter most in the long run.

We splurged on professionals to paint, lay flooring, and install the backsplash.  We saved money by using leftover wainscoting from other projects, buying the cabinet hardware from Amazon (these and those), and refusing to go with outrageous quotes from hucksters.

2.  You don't have to have it all planned out when you start.
Yes, you have to know where you're going.  Enjoy tearing out pics from magazines, bookmarking online room ideas, or creating a Pinterest board.  If you spot a design detail that brings a smile or a deep sigh of satisfaction, take note, especially if you find yourself repeatedly gravitating to similar elements.  

Refuse to make decisions on every last detail before you begin.  You'll just get frustrated, discouraged, and find yourself dragging your feet.

3.  Start with the cabinets.  The other things you can change your mind on.

The cabinets set the stage for a kitchen.  We were happy to keep ours because they were in decent shape and we refused to change the floor plan.  Once you figure out what you want to do with them, focus next on appliances.  Trust me, everything else will fall into place.

PLUS ...

Educate yourself.  Talk to everyone you know who's survived a kitchen remodel.  Ask where they shopped, what worked for them, who they hired.  Look for professionals with lots of five star reviews and don't be afraid to pick their brains and ask for free estimates.  If they don't respond in a timely manner or they act like they're doing you a big favor, say good-bye. 

In the process be patient with your partner/family.  Be prepared to negotiate with big doses of kindness and give lavish grace when you disagree.  Relationships are always more important than home improvement projects.

Linda  

Want more?

The Kitchen Reveal Porch 🥣 #107

Porch #75 * The Shelves Make Their Grand Debut

#MyCozySummerHome * porch

&

How We Saved Six Figures on our Kitchen
The Nester (my all-time favorite home guru)

71 Best Backsplash Ideas for Kitchens
House Beautiful

Thanks to those of you who support my work by using the Amazon links here to do your regular shopping.  No extra cost to you, ever!

The Kitchen Reveal 🥣 Porch #107

Welcome to our kitchen, friends!  The cabinets are about four decades young and the quartz counters and sink were installed five years ago but pretty much everything else is new.  It took a long time to figure out what we wanted to change ... and then a whole lot longer to work our way through the details.  

before

after

🥣

FEBRUARY

We decided to have the cabinets painted the same color as the walls and built-in shelves throughout the house.  We added matching wainscoting to the side of the cabinets before the new appliances were installed and painters arrived.  They did at least two coats of primer and two coats of paint and a whole lot of sanding in between.  

It took us many weeks to find a refrigerator small enough to fit the space available.  This one's a beauty with three roomy drawers in the bottom freezer.  Whoever designed it must have been a genius.  

APRIL

It took months to hunt down the backsplash I was dreaming of, tiles that reflected the subtle colors of sea glass, the everchanging shades of Cape Cod ocean and sky.  It was love at first sight when I came across these small subway tiles in muted hues of blue, teal, and gray.  The color changes depending on the weather, time of day, what lights are on, what mood I'm in.  The backsplash calms the space and yet keeps the kitchen from looking too sterile.  These variable shades meld beautifully with the furniture and collectibles in our small-ish open concept living space.

JUNE & AUGUST

The floor was installed in June ... he wanted a roll-out vinyl, I wanted one that looked like gray stone.  We found exactly what we were looking for in five minutes and it was quickly installed.  And then began the hunt for the perfect cabinet hardware.  This took forever.  If I looked at one style, I looked at a thousand.  As soon as these wonderful antique silver pulls and knobs appeared on my laptop, I knew they were meant to be the icing on the cake.

I'm relieved and grateful that we're done.  You guys helped me get unstuck and I'm forever thankful for the brilliant, common sense ideas you put on the table.  If it wasn't for you, I'd probably still be sitting here, seven months later, looking at those brown cabinets.

Coming up ... a handful of things we learned while doing this project.

Linda

Appliances

Frigidaire 17.6 Cu. Ft. Brushed Steel Counter-Depth French Door Refrigerator

Frigidaire 30" Freestanding Smoothtop Electric Range with 5 Elements

Frigidaire 24" Energy Star Built in Dishwasher with 7 Wash Cycles

Countertop

Cambria Quartz (similar)

Paint
Benjamin Moore Simply White

Tile
Genrose Shadow Ceramic Tile - Aqua 

Flooring
Mannington Luxury Vinyl Sheet Platinum Hive - Swarm

Hardware
Vintage Farmhouse Style Cup Pulls - Antique Silver

Amazon Basics Straight Top Ring Cabinet Knobs - Antique Silver

🥣

Thanks to those of you who support my work by using the Amazon links here to do your regular shopping.  No extra cost to you, ever!

My Sister & I Don't See Eye to Eye on Family Gatherings

Summertime opens its doors wide for get-togethers, gatherings, reunions, and all manner of crowd pleasers.

We're no exception in this neck of the woods.

I completely avoid the word entertaining.  Yuck.  No one's trying to impress anyone around here.  We just want everyone to kick off their shoes {toss them in the big wicker basket so grandma doesn't trip}, relax, and enjoy whatever's happening.

I love it.

But this introvert learned long ago that not only do I need to have clean sheets on the beds and extra food in the fridge, but I do well to ready my soul for the joy-filled noise and ceaseless activity and all manner of good times that are to come.

I need to build in quiet spaces before, during, and after.

💌

This works for me:
I clear my calendar.
I purposely create a large margin of white space around myself a week or so before everyone starts arriving.  I say 'no thanks' to meetings, activities, and appointments that don't need my attendance or involvement.

I pull back online. 
I might do a bit of writing but you won't find me running around.  I'll see you later.

I stock the cupboards well ahead of time.  

Amazon and Walmart have become my grocery free-delivery go-to's.  The final shopping trip will pretty much be fresh produce, meat, breads, and dairy, enough to get us through the first few days.  After that, all bets are off and the kids can figure out what they want to do next.

I clear away unnecessary tchotchkes from counters and tables.
We need every spare inch of space we can find.

I save the heavy duty cleaning for after everyone has departed.
My philosophy has morphed into 'why clean twice.'  Yes, the bathroom is scrubbed and the sheets are fresh but any other cleaning comes after the last car has departed.

I let everyone around me roll up their sleeves in the kitchen.
I used to think I had to be in charge of each meal.  No more.  Everyone around here is a whole lot more capable than I am.  I let them do their thing.  And no one arrives at the door empty-handed.  I'm not that gracious.

I find pockets of solitude in the midst of it all.
I'll sneak away for a little quiet time.  Or head to my room for a bit of an afternoon breather.  No one needs to have me around every second.  I've yet to hear, 'where's Grandma, I miss her so much.'

I leave myself plenty of quiet space after.
My husband and I join forces for a huge cleaning marathon when all is done.  The kitchen, laundry, floors, and bathrooms get attacked with all our might.  Before the last car is 'round the corner.

And then we nap.  Sit and quietly process all the joy and madness.  And then nap some more.

💌

But {of course} my sister completely disagrees:

I get ready for family gatherings totally opposite than my sister. 

My calendar is not cleared, it is packed with activity until the last minute, otherwise I will find I have those "forgotten" things to do while people are here or I am at their house. 

I spend days and nights cleaning before a group arrives, so everything is clean.  Once they leave, I wash sheets and towels, but I don't rush to clean anything else - it can wait. 

I agree that everyone can bring food and help set up and clean up.  They have more energy than me anyway! 

I don't take alone time when everyone is here.  I don't want to miss one minute.  It is noisy, at times chaotic, but I will catch Linda's eye across the room and we smile, happy to have everyone together, remembering past reunions and realizing that we are now the older generation.  I look around the room, thank God for everyone there - with all our differences and all our struggles - then I walk into the bathroom, close the door and cry for those family members missing or who are in heaven. 

When I return to the room, I catch Linda's eye and we hug - though so different from each other, we don't need words to understand the meaning of family.

💌

If you're planning any kind of event, enjoy the whole shebang, no matter how you make it happen.  No one will notice the dust bunnies in the corner or cobwebs draped here and there.  And if they do, well that's another story.  Relax, be a kid again, and create fresh memories.  For these are the good old days.

Linda

Porch #75 * The Shelves Make Their Grand Debut

 PORCH
a soft place to land
a calm weekend haven
a gentle pause from life's busyness
so we may experience
the tender lovingkindness of Jesus
as we do life together
in community

after

during

before

For years, our dining room featured a big, blank, forlorn looking wall.  She looked sad and awkward, like a wallflower shrinking into the background at the middle school dance.  She wanted to step out of the shadows but we weren't doing anything to help her.

She should have known that I had big plans.

The resident woodsmith craftsman and I put our heads together and she's finally made her big January debut.  The belle of the ball.  I couldn't be happier to have shelves to play with, open spaces to enjoy the things I love instead of having them buried in boxes in the basement.  And wonder of wonders, she looks just like her big sister upstairs in the loft, who made her grand entrance about a year ago.  

after

during

before

With each project we complete, this little house feels more like who we are.  I'm grateful.  Now ... for the 1980s kitchen.  😬

HELP!!!!

Linda

Porch #72 * The December Kitchen

PORCH

a soft place to land

a calm weekend haven

a gentle pause from life's busyness

so we may experience

the tender lovingkindness of Jesus
as we do life together

in community

“What people are craving isn’t perfection.  People aren’t longing to be impressed; they’re longing to feel like they’re home.  If you create a space full of love and character and creativity and soul, they’ll take off their shoes and curl up with gratitude and rest, no matter how small, no matter how undone, no matter how odd.”
Shauna Niequist

☕ ☕ ☕

Hey All ~

My original intent for this edition of PORCH was to share a bunch of lovely Christmas snapshots from past years since this is often a stressful time and I thought it would be a nice respite for us all.  

But as I was pulling everything together it hit me that these days my kitchen doesn't usually look like those pics and I'm guessing yours doesn't either.  After spending an hour and a half cleaning up the kitchen last night, I shifted this weekend's theme upside down to reflect what's pretty much true.  

1.  Our December kitchens have morphed into command central, bustling hives of all kinds of frenzied activity and unorganized chaos.

2.  Yet, is it still possible for our homes to be known as welcoming havens in the midst of mixing, baking, arranging, hunting for the elusive recipe, creating, whisking, wrapping, taking out the garbage, washing, crafting, eating, checking homework, pulling food together for the food pantry and the potluck.  Coffee sloshing from our mugs, reading, stacking, folding, drying, emptying the dishwasher, and checking our phones every other minute.  Wielding rolling pins, keeping an eye on the kids and the clock, organizing, chopping, praying, re-filling the fridge, writing, cleaning, paying bills.  Broiling, scrubbing, charcuterie-ing, packing and unpacking, checking our calendars, piecing puzzles, making lists, shifting our ever-growing piles as we traipse across sticky floors.

 

What do you think?  

Can we cultivate hospitality right about now or do we have to wait til next year?  (Notice I didn't use the word entertaining which I absolutely despise.)  In the midst of relentless activity, how can we offer a warm and welcoming haven, a nurturing refuge, a hub of kindness to others?  Let's talk about what's happening in our pre-Christmas kitchens ... and our overloaded souls.

Linda

November 2023 Update

Please come visit me at Grace & Space, my new online home sweet home on Substack.  I'd love for you to join our little community there.  This week I'm playing Personal Shopper as we talk about winsome stocking stuffers, 10 exceptional books, and a bunch of out-of-the-box gift-giving suggestions!