Around Here

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GLmvNtkgEZ3xXEJzVXyp6uypxfDG3O2LMZsDxxjADjL_P_i4CF9jV4FpAowiWFNQh0Sm2zPmNjhDMv7udPPyRaoy5a1Ixx3gc-Pl9cC2fkZDzmcWm2lUkwrNqExe3tIwBXpuurpY7Fw/s1600/IMG_0645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GLmvNtkgEZ3xXEJzVXyp6uypxfDG3O2LMZsDxxjADjL_P_i4CF9jV4FpAowiWFNQh0Sm2zPmNjhDMv7udPPyRaoy5a1Ixx3gc-Pl9cC2fkZDzmcWm2lUkwrNqExe3tIwBXpuurpY7Fw/s400/IMG_0645.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All photos from my Instagram</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's almost summertime.  When the warm and humid</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">air meets the cold ocean air, we can get really foggy mornings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And a 75 degree day can suddenly turn to 55 degrees when</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the sea breeze backs in.  It's hard to judge what to wear.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNtrkv_Iv_Kxidhvv0b5J9ECD0C99-PXbrDaHHGg1du09xyMFhKWE-FXWsn-D_lDnBZXEMuCy6WqaIItbzi8K0y57gaeNpbn6WptNGZsV_gT3F0J32cgPd1Pk-GY2WJ924HdSr2OETBs/s1600/IMG_0622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNtrkv_Iv_Kxidhvv0b5J9ECD0C99-PXbrDaHHGg1du09xyMFhKWE-FXWsn-D_lDnBZXEMuCy6WqaIItbzi8K0y57gaeNpbn6WptNGZsV_gT3F0J32cgPd1Pk-GY2WJ924HdSr2OETBs/s400/IMG_0622.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But it's planting time.  All the garden centers and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">nurseries are packed with urban gardeners looking for</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">something new to plant in their little plots of earth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXfThfemSsWv8e21VdRjFj77muBVcNmSCqM37y_xTvkw7-zYvfZw4NXm4BSEtsuuQv8_17ZDUEbM_bos-UWtXx1uF1R20e9Ah33USIHsW5xQ_LyPjIMhTaTs9qN7UL19L54yEEI1AS6A/s1600/IMG_0591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXfThfemSsWv8e21VdRjFj77muBVcNmSCqM37y_xTvkw7-zYvfZw4NXm4BSEtsuuQv8_17ZDUEbM_bos-UWtXx1uF1R20e9Ah33USIHsW5xQ_LyPjIMhTaTs9qN7UL19L54yEEI1AS6A/s400/IMG_0591.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All the lilacs, Lily of the Valley and tulips</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">have yielded to Spirea...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBTElVFk5dHTwvVjpaLdciebdv0GXnZyqCTfERLQRWpt4oiJ18LiqbXwTG5b9N4ftNtn9sLsGpJtAG-wFvdd9DTwgjYKw6HLFop1Rv5RXSAy-Vrb56Cg0bfdNmlQF9C1g4JoMvVYqHvc/s1600/IMG_0637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBTElVFk5dHTwvVjpaLdciebdv0GXnZyqCTfERLQRWpt4oiJ18LiqbXwTG5b9N4ftNtn9sLsGpJtAG-wFvdd9DTwgjYKw6HLFop1Rv5RXSAy-Vrb56Cg0bfdNmlQF9C1g4JoMvVYqHvc/s400/IMG_0637.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and allium...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgngNIlL2HmPaSL5SM-ezHitMQ1-3RHi_6ibMBzYdQCQ9PfLn1S4yUiwMFLQ0MNR9Ke-p19Cz8ouwoIrQzUhrrxkuxM9zqlejlPLq8Z5m7wMgfMHDx0q75RfDjEcFJuv_Emxn8LQt-ctuA/s1600/IMG_0642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgngNIlL2HmPaSL5SM-ezHitMQ1-3RHi_6ibMBzYdQCQ9PfLn1S4yUiwMFLQ0MNR9Ke-p19Cz8ouwoIrQzUhrrxkuxM9zqlejlPLq8Z5m7wMgfMHDx0q75RfDjEcFJuv_Emxn8LQt-ctuA/s400/IMG_0642.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...hosta...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51I35dDHJuxpJS6z__8CHRrCZmplvhyvu84Vhvt82rw7GELIQKIWe3hqssPGT8PyOeV3ZrbHB3xr4M6puLFSbQD0fqWErw_UkBylOOEBPY1yK1YAn8xKsb8-5Wuf4Dg_-7fCJl0DFHpE/s1600/IMG_0632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51I35dDHJuxpJS6z__8CHRrCZmplvhyvu84Vhvt82rw7GELIQKIWe3hqssPGT8PyOeV3ZrbHB3xr4M6puLFSbQD0fqWErw_UkBylOOEBPY1yK1YAn8xKsb8-5Wuf4Dg_-7fCJl0DFHpE/s400/IMG_0632.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and bearded iris.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRd1xspsZixkKAw4UwzbHROrJ_zfNXy4i_sFjGvcU-jI0YGyE9_p94Nkj8wsQuPbyY3qrSIi90FQuqgP8RmQxb91ByONKArKGLdWAhvje88R9QeZN-_u0dg92TGo8im7wwIhGk3ULODR0/s1600/IMG_0638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRd1xspsZixkKAw4UwzbHROrJ_zfNXy4i_sFjGvcU-jI0YGyE9_p94Nkj8wsQuPbyY3qrSIi90FQuqgP8RmQxb91ByONKArKGLdWAhvje88R9QeZN-_u0dg92TGo8im7wwIhGk3ULODR0/s400/IMG_0638.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Remember the <a href="http://anurbancottage.blogspot.com/2011/12/other-tree.html">weeping spruce Christmas tree</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had in my dining room?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm happy to see it thriving outside.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uds2WOSxyhc9wPli6pctUVNW8MNq1HYjZpI1fviC8R1afmtZghCYmWe6FtF1gKwG9eiHONR1sfPP6zwUF0I0sY1GpGBwUICRm-On0pCkf1OPE0pzg-jXzLV9220Y6ltCfMderyAPAcM/s1600/IMG_0654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uds2WOSxyhc9wPli6pctUVNW8MNq1HYjZpI1fviC8R1afmtZghCYmWe6FtF1gKwG9eiHONR1sfPP6zwUF0I0sY1GpGBwUICRm-On0pCkf1OPE0pzg-jXzLV9220Y6ltCfMderyAPAcM/s400/IMG_0654.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What I'm not happy about is my bathroom floor tile.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It looked beautiful in the store.  I even took a little piece of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">floor that had been taken up from the hallway so I could match the color.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think I was just so impressed with how real it looked.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But when I have the tile juxtaposed against the real wood floor,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it looks...well, really fake.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'd say it's a faux bois faux pas.  But better to figure it out before it's installed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm hoping to pay a restocking fee and get something different.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQyv4mLHe0yhigFXaT_aWk7JkW4Yb6GEgjBRDoIV-Zx_lgAVN3hiY0jf2_5FrAAbWT5YaqX4JtpegGHJP4hm2eQI5FPt7A9I1qQEEYlsRzroidg8khw2GEkonnRi1Qkr8uFdMoFv3zHE/s1600/IMG_2724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQyv4mLHe0yhigFXaT_aWk7JkW4Yb6GEgjBRDoIV-Zx_lgAVN3hiY0jf2_5FrAAbWT5YaqX4JtpegGHJP4hm2eQI5FPt7A9I1qQEEYlsRzroidg8khw2GEkonnRi1Qkr8uFdMoFv3zHE/s400/IMG_2724.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finally, it's been a really challenging week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Angus, one of my three cats, has had a problem with his eyes that's</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">gotten progressively worse.  It's called entropion which is a turning</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">in of the eyelids.  Can you imagine what it would feel like having all of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">eyelashes growing in your eyes.  It seemed to have gotten significantly</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">worse over the past few weeks so he finally had his surgery last Thursday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When I went to pick him up on Thursday night, he got his e-collar off and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">immediately rubbed his eye against the carrier and ripped out a stitch.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I decided to readmit him and pick him up the next day after the eye</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">doctor had a chance to look at him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJWJMakyFaP2iHD6WQgbD1mvbcZQyd_HzaGW27GM7XlbdQqQmbJ6Ke5g-KZhObF3QZo_f3So_sP6NhnCoRQP3oo9MrbT-71lE3k14gvCcuuDLpMEEr08uM7e6H5ru3ATqvCXeRGVuU7M/s1600/IMG_0610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJWJMakyFaP2iHD6WQgbD1mvbcZQyd_HzaGW27GM7XlbdQqQmbJ6Ke5g-KZhObF3QZo_f3So_sP6NhnCoRQP3oo9MrbT-71lE3k14gvCcuuDLpMEEr08uM7e6H5ru3ATqvCXeRGVuU7M/s400/IMG_0610.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is what he looked like when he got home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was a tough few days with an upset, hurting little boy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">that could get his cone off in a second and didn't want to sleep.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The pain meds seemed to make him only more agitated.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's hard when they don't understand what's going on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-rjOLK_AAnyLW14t_mcipI2EX32hjbyNJuJBnlQeMBgl2DSdHXMsCmrPFj9ockrTvMw58KFiOHHstsV-rF2qpy5t9y2PZkKzubBEd1pMAytyi7GH4fKQjqU6koBNCb52sujQVEwuTjk/s1600/IMG_0418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-rjOLK_AAnyLW14t_mcipI2EX32hjbyNJuJBnlQeMBgl2DSdHXMsCmrPFj9ockrTvMw58KFiOHHstsV-rF2qpy5t9y2PZkKzubBEd1pMAytyi7GH4fKQjqU6koBNCb52sujQVEwuTjk/s640/IMG_0418.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But I'm happy to say that after five days, he's healed very quickly</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and as the swelling goes down his big almond eyes are coming back.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He still wears the cone at night and while he's unattended but</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">he's able to enjoy a few moments without it when I can watch him constantly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He seems much happier and hopefully this will be the end of the problem.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's what's going on around here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">* * * * *</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thoughts and prayers to the people of Oklahoma!</div></div>

Around Here

All photos from my Instagram It's almost summertime.  When the warm and humid air meets the cold ocean air, we can get really foggy morn...

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The Great American House | New, New Addition Plans for Our House

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKeNBEE5tMrxTB5Fmx-wgD18TkzcjQJBWYb8XXioru-FEovzl6RB9IuuppkFIwoBlg2sJcmbCxE-qJSfwcWagmkT1qzIB3wvyuW7fBtUI9vWdUpKREqEo82qkGm3dzieBuwOwojk_Rog/s1600/IMG_0616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKeNBEE5tMrxTB5Fmx-wgD18TkzcjQJBWYb8XXioru-FEovzl6RB9IuuppkFIwoBlg2sJcmbCxE-qJSfwcWagmkT1qzIB3wvyuW7fBtUI9vWdUpKREqEo82qkGm3dzieBuwOwojk_Rog/s640/IMG_0616.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqsgPOa_r3K7ZFzlBUdl73k8idUEab3MPRc5nygXiWwGm15ZwCFkKj_8Eh-Y1iRhI4t6MeKr_ODRUSHgLZYwXARWGaqg4QcSJtMHsFLI-1j59hFiUAIdaNRB_e8VXXLcDwk6XfO0eSAQ/s1600/IMG_0619.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqsgPOa_r3K7ZFzlBUdl73k8idUEab3MPRc5nygXiWwGm15ZwCFkKj_8Eh-Y1iRhI4t6MeKr_ODRUSHgLZYwXARWGaqg4QcSJtMHsFLI-1j59hFiUAIdaNRB_e8VXXLcDwk6XfO0eSAQ/s400/IMG_0619.JPG" width="266" /></a> <br />One of my Mother's Day gifts was this book, The Great American House by Gil Schafer.  I've been eying it for months... but since it is not available on the ipad, I hadn't gotten around to getting it for myself.  <br /><br />There are a million reasons why I love this book and the style that Mr. Schafer presents - but mostly, I love that the book is all about embracing modern living and making it work with true <i>American</i> style.  He designs home with large mudrooms and open kitchens that feel like they were built 100 years ago.  <br /><br />As we're planning our addition, it is something I've been struggling with as we interview contractors and architects... I don't want our house too look or feel like a brand new house.  I want it to have the charm and character of an old house that has a history.  <br /><br />A couple of months ago I posted <a href="http://jennysteffens.blogspot.com/2013/03/new-addition-to-our-house-driving-me.html">my sketches of our vision</a>.  I got great feedback from all of you and have made adjustments accordingly.  The biggest addition to the addition as been that of a large mudroom and dry storage, and a studio for me.    <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8akBMQ4GvWdregUcKiy3mlB9egRQEnw7LIVTVJ-GJ8N_zh6S7QGaBsWfnVyD_Xi9l8Q2VbXcpcc3flvemRgXrwd-qJTsH9LupPCw6LzL2kX0BDhpQDamWL-DX74qjT_GSrEQc-WiUiUQ/s1600/new+house+plan+BLOG+new+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8akBMQ4GvWdregUcKiy3mlB9egRQEnw7LIVTVJ-GJ8N_zh6S7QGaBsWfnVyD_Xi9l8Q2VbXcpcc3flvemRgXrwd-qJTsH9LupPCw6LzL2kX0BDhpQDamWL-DX74qjT_GSrEQc-WiUiUQ/s640/new+house+plan+BLOG+new+4.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As you can see - attached to the garage is a studio (that envision to look like a classic potting shed) with french doors that will lead out to the garden.  Hopefully it will be a place that I can do projects, make messes and then just hose down.  I've also included a dog wash area in the garage - another recommendation from the readers!  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Instead of losing the charming porch off of the side of our house, we're now considering a detached garage instead of an attached.  I think the little jog over to the mudroom/studio and garage will add some charm to the exterior.  We're also hoping to add a covered porch off of the kitchen (accessed through double french doors) that will step down to the patio.  <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another new idea is instead of turning the old garage into a guest bedroom, we'll be using it as a library/dining room.  I think I would miss having a formal dining room for the holidays, so I think this will be a nice addition... and it can be more of a library/study the rest of the time.  Because the rest of the house will be pretty open, it will be nice to have place that can be a cozy quiet zone for working and studying.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRWzDPhGWXliX-WT4mrOSz8bXYplqcgeMBxJJUb4kVX_0hyphenhyphenZIH2USbmFlzcR1QMwC9YrLe5ksbsiImbdgM7o4HBY3r9xMxhLJe90sOnYJQoqFOKINqusfCyGsuX8jISGV4MhwTRKx69A/s1600/IMG_0623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRWzDPhGWXliX-WT4mrOSz8bXYplqcgeMBxJJUb4kVX_0hyphenhyphenZIH2USbmFlzcR1QMwC9YrLe5ksbsiImbdgM7o4HBY3r9xMxhLJe90sOnYJQoqFOKINqusfCyGsuX8jISGV4MhwTRKx69A/s640/IMG_0623.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkzGrNRfAFOTOdASdlaxTy4y_D4yCGEBaB2Fzfqlkfl57-rgAdGyvgp_Mpd8GRAb_ekon4ImZ0FHK4UFB4CcGZqkZqUJUqHHHn4M2PBPlNreH2Iw754OUApkOmPx5LRntL1-w0ZBjoqM/s1600/IMG_0629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkzGrNRfAFOTOdASdlaxTy4y_D4yCGEBaB2Fzfqlkfl57-rgAdGyvgp_Mpd8GRAb_ekon4ImZ0FHK4UFB4CcGZqkZqUJUqHHHn4M2PBPlNreH2Iw754OUApkOmPx5LRntL1-w0ZBjoqM/s640/IMG_0629.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />THIS is <i>exactly</i> how I want our kitchen table and hearth area to be... french doors and all.  In fact, I love everything - the beamed ceiling, and the paneled fireplace with a stone inset.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2kXE2rLzdWgjF3E6g39sua58pFE-KkHRv54ap5jpCeU46S2S_tGNPJeQupUc0_-DzfIODBN9ASXzZRCW2R9wdwXc3s5CMtmegZGM-eVvt-lDn87sl_dM7TK6K5caRgnkJBjSus75vBk/s1600/IMG_0631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2kXE2rLzdWgjF3E6g39sua58pFE-KkHRv54ap5jpCeU46S2S_tGNPJeQupUc0_-DzfIODBN9ASXzZRCW2R9wdwXc3s5CMtmegZGM-eVvt-lDn87sl_dM7TK6K5caRgnkJBjSus75vBk/s640/IMG_0631.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I love the stone floor and the dutch door of this mud room.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWOXVkY3uJm7ml88tzga225A0yads5L1uBPp_13ljN04c_SCqS0w58yWa4Eu1P_qehPWsnNrbzwSJpeiW6KxPzaV9SjKGd0Fnc66cdFjqfCaBIMiRM1wEDOupcUrdglMN6Qgsn4n9icE/s1600/IMG_0626.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWOXVkY3uJm7ml88tzga225A0yads5L1uBPp_13ljN04c_SCqS0w58yWa4Eu1P_qehPWsnNrbzwSJpeiW6KxPzaV9SjKGd0Fnc66cdFjqfCaBIMiRM1wEDOupcUrdglMN6Qgsn4n9icE/s640/IMG_0626.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br /> I wish we had room for a barn : )<br /><br />Again, these are just my own preliminary sketches and ideas... I'd love your input!<br /><br />

The Great American House | New, New Addition Plans for Our House

One of my Mother's Day gifts was this book, The Great American House by Gil Schafer.  I've been eying it for months... but since it...

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BHG Flash Sale!

Happy Friday!<br /><br />I wanted to pop in for a quick surprise announcement... I've teamed up with Better Homes and Gardens for an exclusive 3-day flash sale!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i43.tinypic.com/30kdd7k.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i43.tinypic.com/30kdd7k.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />I always offer my blog readers a 10% discount, but this weekend you can score <b>30% off</b> everything my <a href="http://jennasuedesign.etsy.com/" target="_blank">Etsy shops</a>! This is the biggest storewide sale I've ever had so I thought I'd give you guys a heads up if you've been waiting for the right time to order that new print. Well, now is the time!<br /><br />All you have to do is...<br /><br />1. Visit <a href="http://jennasuedesign.etsy.com/">jennasuedesign.etsy.com</a> or <a href="http://jennasuemaps.etsy.com/">jennasuemaps.etsy.com</a><br />2. Find your favorite print(s)<br />3. Add everything to your cart and enter the code BHG66 at checkout<br />4. Wait for your awesome custom prints to arrive in the mail.<br /><br />I'll be working tirelessly over the next few days to fulfill your orders ASAP before the big studio reveal!<br /><br />Have a wonderful weekend everyone!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hIQnbXAwDyaGAMqMsgUDN7opcFzgxEs23rJKRrAp2n0UTqu-auFdP81cjlg2vm0lfzLZ5dfCjU5RR9jzgJs0S_FFXpvNCYxS4y6dFIAqR0DsGSCnvghW0hiSZsTWa0CXbIj4J86OAh8O/s1600/Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hIQnbXAwDyaGAMqMsgUDN7opcFzgxEs23rJKRrAp2n0UTqu-auFdP81cjlg2vm0lfzLZ5dfCjU5RR9jzgJs0S_FFXpvNCYxS4y6dFIAqR0DsGSCnvghW0hiSZsTWa0CXbIj4J86OAh8O/s1600/Signature.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />

BHG Flash Sale!

Happy Friday! I wanted to pop in for a quick surprise announcement... I've teamed up with Better Homes and Gardens for an exclusive 3-da...

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