French Doors, Crystal Knobs, and hopefully finished soon....

The Master Bedroom has not had its door replaced for months now. I had taken it off in a vain hope it would be so annoying it would force us to replace the door with the beautiful single French Door purchased for it. Alas, manipulation rarely works on yourself. Yesterday & today I have endeavored to paint the 3 replacement French Doors all black, going on the Master Bedroom, the Guest Bedroom, and the Main Bathroom. You may wonder, as did my husband, "French Doors on the Bedrooms & Bathroom?" Yes, I have discovered a wonderful peel and stick privacy film that will make my doors tres chic, yet...private. I love the thought of having yet another project off my (forever adding) list.

I have a plan to request from my dear husband a favor this weekend, to help finish this project once and for all, by cutting to fit, grinding out the hinge detail with his handy-dandy dremal, and installing those precious E-bay crystal knobs that have been longing to be put to use for a year now, yes--that is when I found these beauties on E-Bay and it took till July of this year to find the hardware to complete the ensemble.

Note to self: Beware of things that look great sold incomplete.....

Getting There....

Well, after what seems like months the backyard is finally starting to feel like we are making a dent in the job. The deck is almost complete, the fence and gate on the left side are almost complete, it still needs to get the Pergola Top put on the entry.

The matching right side is still to be done and the back Rose Garden bed needs to be designed and built. Sigh.... I had hoped to get started this Fall on the cottage...but it just may have to wait till Spring.

Pass The Kleenex It's Chick Flick Time......

OK, I am a typical female when it comes to chick flicks, it all starts when I allow one little tear to slip down my cheek, and the next thing its all out war with trying to hide the fact I have started to blubber.

My latest tear-jerker is a 2006 Cheryl Ladd movie called "Though none go with me" it is a wonderful faith-based movie of how life does not always go in the direction we plan, and when life does make those detours, how we choose to handle them.

It is a wonderful family show for all ages and it makes you realize that there are still movies out there that actually makes you stop and think about what is important in life, and to re-prioritize choices and decisions while you still have the ability.

OK--This is just too much fun......

I LOVE this new collection I have found! I was reading all my favorite blogs and as one blog leads to another...I found out about this wonderful Florabella Texture Collection & I can't wait to play more....

My "New" Favorite Magazine.....

When on the Coast, I got to visit a London Drugs ~ and there it was a Photoshop magazine to get anyone's creative juices flowing. The price tag almost made me put it back, but I changed my mind at the last minute and shelled out the $20.00.

All I can say is I am in love.....and looking at purchasing the years subscription which will bring the price down considerably.

I know its no big deal to the average person--but to me I can't believe a melon & a Zucchini Squash (in my garden) is actually growing! I planted a dozen melons and these are the only faithful soldiers to work their way up thru the dirt and actually produce--something!! We will see just what in a few weeks!






We are on our way to the Coast to do the final paperwork on our condo sale--and then we will be free.






I will be back on Friday, to Blog some more....

Its a Blueberry Pancake kind of day.......

It's Sunday!
It is the most wonderful day of the week, and its a lovely warm day today. I never really appreciated Sunday for most of my life--it was just another day. But, in fact it is the one day that we were commanded to "rest" because our Creator knew we needed to rest our mind, body & spirit.

My husband a while ago, decided we were not going to work on this day--a very hard thing for me, as I always seen it as a "catch-up" day--I love working, I love creating and I really struggle to "rest". But in the last little while I have really started to enjoy the "nothingness" of this day--in this day and age, it is something we are not trained to do. We have music, TV, computer and any other distraction we can stuff into our day, to keep or mind "busy". But to walk outside and hear the babble of a creek, the birds signing in the trees, the chattering of a chipmunk--is indeed a very good thing.

My husband likes blueberries and since we now have 7 Blueberry bushes, he has been able to go out and pick a handful whenever he likes.

Today he gets a favorite combined- Blueberry Pancakes!!!

Our Backyard...

Our lil' Visitor.....






We have many critters that call our 5 acres home, the cutest may be the littlest chipmunk. This lil fellow came and cheered us on, as we were putting the final touches on our deck railing.




We made the deck (16' X 16') from Western Red Cedar and made the railings from 2X4's and aluminum balusters. It took us a long time, but it was enjoyable and a learning process... Our first deck!




These photos were taken before staining and the railing top cap is installed.

Raven Rose Cottage...

I look forward to when I have my Art Cottage built. I will name it "Raven Rose Cottage" and work on my many different passions in my lil cottage. It will be painted white and I will finally have my own space to design and paint. I love Oil Painting, and Watercolor but hope in the future to get a kiln and do China Painting.

I also love working with Photoshop and designing my pictures that I will paint. I am still learning many of its benefits and I love downloading different brushes. Here are some I am learning:

The Deal Is Done......

Today at 4:00pm the subjects were removed and the deal is done--we are single home owners after one year and 10 days! I can't put into words how relieved we are!

My Stargazer Lily finally bloomed on the 7th of August, and its scent is heavenly!

She Who Loves A Garden.......

She who loves a garden likes to make the earth more lovely…


…and enjoys the beauty she’s contributing.




She who loves a garden loves the joys of simple living…





…and the peace on which no man can put a price.




She who loves a garden has a very special treasure…



for she has found her private paradise.










***********************************


from “She Who Loves a Garden”; Illustrated by Mary Engelbreit



(Images From My Garden!)

Grateful......

I am so thankful to God we have a solid offer in place on our condo--we want to close that chapter of our life and move forward into the next chapter. It is a joy to think someone else can now enjoy the fruit of our labor and how much went into making that condo a problem-free home. We enjoyed many laughs in those 4 walls, but the stress of having a "leaky" condo and the cost that comes with such an issue is monumental. Financially, it was a $60,000 cost out of our pocket, because someone did not do their job properly. But the wear on the emotions and mental stress far out way even the huge financial cost.

Under the strain of it all, we saw marriages dissolve and seniors whom we called friends, die from the overwhelming situation. It was announced in 1998 that we had a "leaky" condo, and it was not until 2006 that it was repaired. The years saw the amount climb from $16,000 per person to finally resting at 2.2 million dollars divided amoung 42 units. It was something I would not wish on my worst enemy to go thru, but it also made us realize the old adage--"What doesn't kill you..." God never left us, even in the times he seemed distance and silent, He was working it all out for our good.

We are not the same "kids" who snuck onto the property at night in 1997, to gaze from below the turret balcony and dream of how soon we were going to own our own "home" soon. Many things have happened to make us weary, but also wiser in this world. So as this chapter of our life closes, I happily remember the good times, the people we met in BBLII, and the lessons that have made us who were are today.

Finally.....

After one long year of trying to sell our condo, we sent papers off tonight and God-willing in 6 days we will be single-home owners! It has been a huge test of our faith and a trial of highs and lows ~ at times ending in tears.

The couple sounds like a very nice senior couple, who seen 7 places that day & fell in love with ours. We had 2 people visit on the same day and both put offers in--go figure, listed a year and finally on the same day a double offer comes in!!!--a day after my mom's birthday and a day before Michael's! What a wonderful birthday gift (for us all!) Anyway, the younger couple's offer came in first, and nothing from the older couple, we waited all day and finally we signed the paperwork to send over to the Realtor to accept their offer. My heart was sad, I should be rejoicing--but it didn't feel "right", (if that makes any sense-after a year, I shouldn't care but I did) I wanted the person to LOVE the condo and feel at home--the seniors did, and I wanted them to buy our place, and feel like it was their little castle. We finally made it into town at 4:00 to do the faxing of the paperwork, and the lady commented how long it was taking to fax the 11 pages over--20 min! We got home and had an urgent call from the Realtor, I groaned thinking the fax didn't go thru--but the offer from the seniors was coming in, while that long fax was going thru--delaying him from calling the other Realtor to accept! We ended up accepting the seniors offer, which they paid the full listing price --and wanting the house within a week!

Thank you Lord!......Why do I ever doubt?

BC Day Long Weekend...

Ah, what a nice thing Long Weekends are, a "Free Day"....It is my mom's birthday this week, so I took her to Coeur D'Alene, Idaho and Spokane, Washington for the day. It was a beautiful warm day and with the A/C on, it made driving a pleasure. The drive from Creston is open and scenic--and the traffic was light. We had lunch at Spokane Valley and went to a few of her shopping haunts she likes. I sometimes have to remind myself it is an honor to have parents to spend time with, and not to be impatient or board when a story I have heard several times before is recited again. They are now in their early 80's and they are doing very well, for that I am grateful. They will soon be moving back down to the Coast and selling their house there, and permanently moving back to Creston. They have had much tragedy in their lives, but their faith remains strong and are a great example of strength. I will write more of them in future, but in short ~ they have lost their first-born to a brain tumor at the age of 8 1/2, the next son they lost 6 years ago at age 36, who was shot 5 times in his home, their home was burnt down on Dec 27, 2008 and they lost most everything they own--and that is just the major things! It has never been a boring year for them thus far, but they never stop smiling or believing.

My dads favorite saying is "You've got to shake hands with disappointment", I just never realized it was going to move in!

Come With Me And Escape......

I love the old 70's "Pina Colada" song...I always have loved a song that has a story wrapped in it. Yesterday we worked in the heat till 5pm, and Michael asked me to escape with him to our favorite place--we call Narnia. Its a place that we can get to by going out our back property and crossing a small creek, then entering a hole in the bush, and after 15 minutes of walking, it opens up into a paradise of rippling creeks, green forest trees & mountain ridges filled with grouse, deer and the occasional majestic elk peering out from the hollow.

Last night instead of walking we took the Rokon, our wonderful off-road bike, which is our magic carpet ride into Narnia. We went farther and higher than we could ever go on foot, in the same time period. We, as usual lost track of time and when the light started to fade up the mountain peaks, we reluctantly turned around and started back. The trail was dangerous in twilight, but we managed to make it back with only two minor wipe outs.

When we made it back to our neighborhood, we failed to notice it was in complete darkness--until we tried to turn our lights on in the house, it finally hit us the power was out. It had been out for 5-6 hours, unbeknown to us. Also, unrelated the gas pumps in town were completely out of gas, and had been for 2 days due to a refinery issue in Alberta. There are also over 100 fires that have sparked in the Kootenays.

I realize how fragile we all are and also how unprepared I am for any emergency situation. I am going to resolve to keep my cell phone charged, have water available in case of shortage and can as much food as I able ~ verses freezing. We are living in unsettling times, and nothing is for sure any longer.

It's Birthday time....

My mom turns 83 this August 5th and Michael turns 41 on August the 7th-- so I thought I would make a carrot cake with cream cheese icing to see if it tastes any good--yum! It does!!....