1938 tiny house

Sadly... haven't been here in awhile

2010-02-16T22:12:00.001-05:00

I haven't visited this blog nor the lovely island of Anguilla in such a long time but alas I won't be in Anguilla for awhile but I can make my way back here to this blog. I haven't done anything major on the house since putting in a new septic tank this past August. That was one of those things which no one wants to do but when the time comes...there isn't a choice. I have begun working with an architect on getting a design together for a new front porch so that will be my next big project. It is time to bring out my camera real soon and share some of the smaller things I have done since August. I will get to that real soon but I knew I should begin posting right away to get a jump start on things! Too da loo for now...I'll be back soon

Time at the creek!

2009-08-24T20:43:00.005-04:00

It truly has been a wonderful summer in very many ways. ( We won't mention the little incident of having to install a new septic tank which is entirely underground and can not be seen. Of course things like this are a major necessity) Gracie and I spent some wonderful time at my boyfriend Mark's creek swimming and relaxing for my Aug. birthday. I am really enjoying my new camera. Thank-you so much darling Mark. It is a Canon Powershot G10 and I have a lot to learn since there are so many functions on it. I love the shot I caught of Gracie shaking her fur after retrieving her tennis ball in the creek. She just loves being a creek dog. It certainly has been awhile since my last post but I am hoping to get back into the swing of things now that summer is almost over (sadly) and I'll begin teaching real soon. I still have a little time for more summer fun though. I really want to change the name of this blog since I post about many things besides my tiny house. I'm having trouble thinking of something though so this will have to do for now.

lost in translation

2009-07-10T19:03:00.002-04:00

I'm not sure if I am really lost or not but I know I haven't been posting. I really admire the many
bloggers who keep plugging away with fabulous photos. My backyard is dug up at the moment because I have a plumbing/septic problem. Railroad ties are covering the septic area and I truly believe it hasn't seen the light of day since this house was built in 1938. My plumber told me to call him when everything was dug up and he would come over and let me know what the next step would be. I have been calling him since yesterday and there has been no sign of him yet. My parents plan on visiting next week and I have to keep water usage down to a minimum so I am not sure how all of this is going to pan out. Frustration is the word of the day. Ugh! Not sure how much this is going to cost. I hope I don't need a new septic system.

More art!

2009-06-15T22:53:00.003-04:00

I have so many things to do around the house and I have been doing a bit of planting in between
all of the rain we have been having here in the North East . I ordered a new ceiling fan and I should be getting my new sleeper sofa next week just in time for my parents' visit from Atlanta. In the meantime I have been ordering art supplies for next year, packing up two art rooms, doing grades and still teaching! I am not sure how I will manage to get everything done but I always do every year to my amazement. I have a packed summer full of lots of plans. Here is another photo of one of my student's art work. I love the topsy turvy house.

Pegasus!

2009-06-03T22:18:00.003-04:00

I realized I haven't posted in a while. It is the end of the school year and I found out I will be changing buildings where I teach. I have so much packing, organizing and moving to do at school that the 1938 Tiny House is not a priority at the moment. I'm barely getting laundry done. I still have a lot of flowers to plant and pillows to sew when the new couch arrives in a couple of weeks. In the meantime here is a painting of Pegasus by one of my second graders. I just love children's art!

Rhinebeck Video!

2009-05-26T21:52:00.005-04:00

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid271529994?bctid=19255867001

I wanted to add this video about Rhinebeck directly but could not quite figure it out so I posted the link. This video was made this Spring and it shows some of the reasons I love Rhinebeck and being able to walk to the downtown area. Most of my favorite places aren't shown but I do love The Terrapin Restaurant. and Omega Institute. Hope you enjoy this little tour and understand the reason I chose the 1938 Tiny House so I could live here instead of a larger house somewhere else.

Happy Memorial Day!

2009-05-25T22:05:00.021-04:00

Our very own local bagpipers!

A float to celebrate the bicentennial of Fulton's trip of the first steamboat on The Hudson River.

Our highway department's dumptruck with Elmo!

The first firetruck in Rhinebeck, NY , The Pocahontas!

Here are a few photos from the lovely village of Rhinebeck, NY 's, Memorial Day Parade. It was beautiful day and the whole community went to The American Legion for free hotdogs and drinks after the parade. A lot of candy was thrown into the streets for the children. The firehouse had a cookout. There was music and dancing. This is just one of the reasons I enjoy living in this small village.

Window Boxes!

2009-05-20T21:39:00.012-04:00

My pansies are doing quite well and they really like the cool weather. I am so behind with my flower gardening and I took this gorgeous 80 degree day off to catch up on things. I planted quite a few impatients in my front yard because I have a lot of shade. I planted the purple allium bulbs that are in the photo this past Fall and I really think they are fun. I have quite a few lilies that will bloom shortly. The backyard is quite a mess right now and I am not sure where to begin. The late start is due to a bad fall I had trying to ski late Feb. and I was in quite a bit of pain due to back and neck injuries.( I am seeing a chiropractor) As I was feeling sorry for myself the news came out that actress, Natasha Richardson died from a head injury after skiing. That was so tragic. Her husband, Liam Neeson and Natasha had a home in nearby Millbrook NY and they oftened visited Rhinebeck. I actually saw Liam in one of the restaurants locally awhile back. I am digressing a bit (I do that a lot) but after hearing the news of Natasha I felt guilty about my self pity concerning my own injury. Being alive is a wonderful gift and how lucky we are to relish in another Spring. I am so happy that I am able to plant flowers and although my back still hurts I smile whenever I pull into my driveway and see these window boxes. Lessons are learned the hard way and the lesson I learned is to slow down and be grateful for the simpler things. A tiny house in a lovely village with pretty flowers...now that is nice!

Soon to say Goodbye!

2009-05-16T17:38:00.002-04:00

Well I am not going to say goodbye to this blog or even to this tiny house but I will be saying goodbye to my large dark blue camel back couch. I originally bought it 10 years ago when I was fresh out of my marriage and moving into a very large apartment. The dark color was perfect for hiding any damage that two young boys can do to it. It was a sleeper sofa which was terrific for overnight guests; mostly my parents visiting from Atlanta. I had the opportunity to sleep on that sleeper for over two weeks when I had my upstairs bedroom gutted and sheet-rocked.(This was a few years ago) It was soooo uncomfortable and although my parents never complained about being uncomfortable, I knew they were. I also have a dog now and she is white with liver spots. Being a Cocker Spaniel means she doesn't shed much ( as long as she is regularly groomed) but my dark couch has permanent white hairs embedded into it so I decided to order a new couch from theMichell Gold and Bob Williams collection. I just love their furniture. It is the Alex III Queen sleeper and it is so comfortable. I tried the sleeper out at my favorite Rhinebeck store,Hammertown Barn. They were having a 20% off sale on special orders. The couch has washable slip covers which means it is teenager and dog friendly and allows me to change things up in the future. I can order additional slip covers. I admit that even with the sale this couch was quite expensive but I have always bought cheap in the past and I really think that now I want to start buying better quality things for my home. The boys are older and because of my house's tiny size I don't need a lot of furniture to fill it up. I can focus on a less is more design philosophy. Now I can't wait until it comes in and I am busy trying to find fabric to make new throw pillows. This is the style.

in this color. This swatch doesn't show it exactly but it gives you an idea.

In reality I really liked some of the other styles better but they either didn't come in a sleeper or they didn't have slipcovers. I really need both so I think this was a good compromise. It has simple clean lines and will look great with any color throw pillow.

Dreaming of the HGTV Green Home

2009-05-14T21:05:00.001-04:00

I just love this screened porch in the HGTV Green home. I have been entering the sweepstakes almost daily. The home is in Port St. Lucie in Florida and I think the drawing is sometime in June. The beautiful turquoise fabric in this porch is stunning. I love the way it mixes so well with the neutrals in the room. It looks great with browns, grays, tans and black.I would love an outdoor room like this and maybe someday that will happen. In the meantime I can just daydream about lounging around on that gorgeous bed sipping a margarita. hmmmmmm That makes me want to go out and buy an outdoor chaise and cover it with sunbrella turquoise fabric. It may not be quite this fabric but it's certainly close enough. Too many projects and such little time.

Finished TV Stand!

2009-05-12T23:05:00.000-04:00

Although this TV Stand has been finished for a while I haven't taken the time to photograph it until recently. My boyfriend, Mark did such a wonderful job!
(Thank-you love if you happen to read this). I had found a perfect TV Stand from HERE but it was much too large for the 1938 Tiny house! Mark offered to reproduce it in tiny proportions and it works beautifully in my modest living room. It is made of cherry wood and has sliding doors with a muslin covered backing so the cable box is hidden but the remote can still be used when the doors are closed.(now that was a run-on sentence) It is great to have the cable box and DVD player hidden from plain sight. It has such a retro look and I just love it!

As you can see, My old TV stand wasn't a TV stand at all but a bedside table. It was a $5.00 flea market find that I painted white. Maybe I'll move it to my bedroom! Oh this house is a constant work in progress. I don't know what I would do if I actually had a house over 1,000 square feet. I might go into pure overload with the never ending ideas popping into my head!

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T18:06:00.001-04:00

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Mother's Day with your mom, your children or having time for you! I am sharing this painting with you all. It is from one of my students who left this behind when I taught middle school for one year.(a few years ago) It is framed and now hanging proudly in my newly painted hallway. This painting was based on one of my favorite artists, Henri Rousseau.

Poor Magnolia Tree

2009-05-03T23:12:00.000-04:00

I have this incredibly beautiful Magnolia tree that sits in my front yard. It truly has seen better days since the December ice storm took it's tole on it. A huge branch broke off of it along with numerous small branches. Early Spring a woodpecker feasted upon her and I did my best to chase that bird away but the tree shows signs of bare wood and scales. It managed to flower but the flowers only lasted a few days instead of the two weeks it normally does. I left a message for an local arborist but his return message was barely audible. I need to try again. I hope she can be saved. I snapped a couple of photos when she was abloom.

The Blue Dog!

2009-05-01T23:29:00.000-04:00

I just wanted to check in and give a quick little hello to anyone
who drops by. I am busy and doing well. Teaching art seems to consume me and I've had
little time to indulge in the art of keeping a home. This is lovely painting and collage by one of my second graders. Tomorrow I'll be going to an Art Education conference and hopefully it will be a nice day on Sunday for gardening.
Have a wonderful weekend!

First Dog!

2009-04-19T22:36:00.000-04:00

The Portugese water dog named Bo that president Obama and his family have adopted is so cute. I just love his curly hair and the built in Tuxedo that Bo "wears". According to the Washington Post Malia and Sasha chose the name, because their cousins have a cat named Bo.It was all over the news this past week. Needless to say my sweet little dog, Gracie had a tooth extraction and teeth cleaning this past week. She seemed a bit "OFF" for a couple of days because of the anesthesia but she has bounced back very quickly. She has such sad eyes here.

You are Beautiful!

2009-04-13T22:36:00.000-04:00

I went to Beacon, NY this past Sat. and checked out the DIA Art Museum which was a truly interesting experience. The architecture of the building is beautiful. It was once a Nabisco Box printing factory and it has beautiful hard wood floors, high ceilings with windows that are at an angle to utilize natural light and the building is right on the Hudson river. (the pictures above aren't photos of The Dia) Combine that with contemporary art from the 60's until present and you have a feast for the senses. There are sculptures of crushed glass, yarn suspended from the ceiling to floor, rubble from Berlin, a monolithic piece of stone from Nevada, or thousands of post cards of Niagara Falls placed in such a way to resemble a tiled wall. There is nothing about this museum that is ordinary. One of the most beautiful things I saw was the courtyard with trees full of cherry blossoms. There was a sound system in the courtyard blasting bird calls from a human voice. Needless to say I
photographed the trees.

Afterwards my boyfriend Mark and I ate Thai food across the street from an old brick building with banners covering the windows. I guess it's a sign of the times. This building would be so awesome if it were restored but at least there are artists in the Beacon area who are trying to beautify it.
Anyway my sweet Cocker Spaniel, Gracie is going to have a tooth extracted Wed. I really am not good at brushing her teeth. Does anyone really brush their dog's teeth everyday? Kudos to you if you do as I am hanging my head down in shame.

Let dreams come true!

2009-04-10T03:10:00.000-04:00

It seems like so many of my blog posts are about things I want to do instead of about things I've done. I've actually managed to sew the swags for my living room.
I love the Caribbean blue color and simple design of the fabric. I find that I need for my home to be tranquil and peaceful especially after a full day of teaching art to little peeps. I'll get a photo of the swags soon but this lovely, innocent painting by one of my fourth grade students, Sarah, brings such a smile to my face that I wanted to share it. Her caption underneath the painting says, Let dreams come true. I guess that is fitting for how I feel about this tiny house. Having my own home is a dream come true even with it's modest size. There are many more dreams to be fulfilled when it comes to this tiny house. I am trying to practice patience.

This has got to go....

2009-04-06T22:46:00.000-04:00

This ceiling fan doesn't work in my home. It is hopelessly outdated with it's brass features and manual off/on pull and quite honestly it needs to go. When it is turned on it starts to shake and it makes me nervous. I'm not all that crazy about ceiling fans but they really help to save on energy bills so I've been doing a bit of research. I find that the retro fans from Minka Aire seem really cool. They are fresh and simple and I think the white fan will blend with the ceiling and make the room seem larger. I like the idea of having only three blades on the fan instead of the traditional five. It is really hard to visualize it in the room though. I've been taking a few risks lately though when it comes to decorating but I'd really like to find a local dealer and take a look first.

Yeah! It's April!

2009-04-01T23:28:00.001-04:00

These fabric lanterns from India Rose are so cool. I just love this photograph. I wish I could figure out a way to make them although they are reasonably priced. They would look great on my future front porch. I am so looking forward to spending more time outdoors. I have a back injury I am tending to and it seems to have gotten worse lately. I had a bad fall on the ice a month ago but I am still planning on getting my window boxes out of my barn next week during Spring break and planting pansies in them. I also want to sew the swags for my living room. I guess the painting I wanted to do in my son's room will have to be put on hold. C'est le vie! Patience is something I have to learn. I think the universe is teaching me that one.

Great Giveaway

2009-03-29T16:13:00.000-04:00

There is a wonderful artist and blogger, Michelle who is offering a giveaway on her blog. Her designs are fun, whimsical and right now. They are truly an inspiration for artists trying to figure out a way to market their work. Hope you win! Let me know if you do.

BTW, I met with a local architect, Warren Smith this past week and he quoted me a price of $1,500 to $2,000 for plans for my future front porch. This architect designed the Rhinebeck Performing Arts Center and many other local building and additions. I plan on calling a couple of other architects and see what their quote would be. I think this is going to be a long process. I know that mistakes may happen but if I do my homework I will be able to avoid any BIG ones. In the past I have been so anxious and excited to get a project started that I didn't do the research I should have.

Anyway the weekend is almost over so I better get a few things accomplished.

Blue Tranquility!

2009-03-26T21:56:00.000-04:00

I just can't get enough of this calming blue. I just received 10 yds of this Waverly fabric to make new swags for my living room. I am hoping to sew them during my week off from teaching which begins on April 4th. I really hope we have great weather here that week in the Hudson Valley. My yard really needs some TLC. I managed to clear a few branches from the yard but I still have a lot of leaves in the back yard.
Here is also a pic from the beautiful Caribbean island, Anguilla which is the ultimate Tranquility Wrapped in Blue. hmmmmmmm. It feels so good to close my eyes and imagine myself being there.

Purple Passion

2009-03-25T19:38:00.000-04:00

I am just so happy it is Spring and these lovely crocuses are blooming in my yard. They actually sprouted up in time for St. Patrick's Day! Whenever the crocuses push up through the ground I know that Winter is over. Spring is a sign of rebirth and it is time for Spring cleaning and freshening up the house, indoors and out. I am focusing on gratitude this spring. There is so much to be grateful for!

after the storm ( of plaster dust)!

2009-03-23T02:26:00.000-04:00

Not as tidy as it could be but these photos show that the wall from the tiny living room into the kitchen and the wall from the kitchen into the eating nook were removed. There was so much plaster dust everywhere that I thought I would lose my mind. I still would like to put a back splash up and I have a few ideas for that. As you can see the geometric sheers are in the nook and only took an hour to whip up after trying to figure out my new Brother sewing machine. Now that took at least an hour and a half alone!!! I can't even begin to tell you how many times I tried to thread the self threading needle. I can't understand why the same technology that is supposed to make our lives run more smoothly and quickly can often backfire. Gads...but now that I have conquered the mother..oops... I mean Brother I am determined to sew like the dickens. Now who coined THAT phrase anyway. Tomorrow I meet with an architect to discuss options for this tiny house. First on the list is a front porch. Work day tomorrow so off to bed I go.

The ghost of days gone past

2009-03-15T23:04:00.000-04:00

Thought I would share a couple of photos from a couple of years ago taken just before the kitchen remodel. I will have been in this house for 5 years next month in April. This house has changed so much yet it hasn't really changed much at all. Now that is an oxymoron! I will get an after shot ASAP.

The TV stand in process..

2009-03-09T22:55:00.000-04:00

Mark just sent me a photo of the TV stand he is making for me. It is still in process. It is a mini version of one of the media stands I really loved like this one from Room and Board.It is done in cherry and I think it is so cool. It looks similar to the type of TV stands I grew up with. I feel like it's a few weeks before Christmas when you know you are getting what you asked for but still have to wait a few more weeks! What fun....

Spring is almost here..thank goodness!

2009-03-07T16:56:00.000-05:00

Here is my beautiful Natasha Wescoat painting hanging in my tiny living room. I often feel like this tiny house is schizophrenic. Really..it has many personalities. I think it is because I really change my mind every other day about what I love. OK enough of that...I just bought the tulips to give my home a burst of Spring . The sheers for the curtains in my nook came in so I cut and pinned them for sewing. I'm still on the fence about them but the fabric really is something else and I WILL make it work. I bought a Brother sewing machine because my old Kenmore just doesn't cut it anymore but it hasn't arrived yet. The Kenmore is an antiquated mechanical machine that I bought in the early 80's. I haven't sewn in awhile because the thread kept jamming up and I really am excited to begin sewing again. Ahhhhhhhhhh...patience. I always get like this in the Spring. I want to spruce everything up..... yesterday!

Sheer Fabric for Nook!

2009-03-02T21:16:00.000-05:00

Well I finally ordered a few yards of a cool geometric fabric for my nook. I had ordered swatches a couple of weeks ago.I actually found fabric I wanted for my tiny living room also but I made a budget for the month of March and I am only able to buy the fabric for the nook. ( at least for now) I'll try to order the other fabric for April. I have a week off from school in April so I can do a bit of sewing then. I really have to learn to be patient since I am reading Dave Ramsey's book, A Total Money Makeover. I am paying off my credit cards and I am doing very well with that, plus I am saving a bit more. A year ago I would have bought all the fabric I wanted and I would have put it on my credit card.Although it is a bit difficult for me it's empowering. I will be able to get the things I want and need in time and I am fortunate for that at least.

Can't find a TV Stand...

2009-03-02T17:10:00.000-05:00

Another snow day and I've spent the good part of the day exploring the net trying to find the perfect TV stand for my tiny living room. It has been difficult.I would like a retro look but everything is too big or too expensive. I think I am going to start exploring junk shops this Spring to see what I can find. My boyfriend Mark is really good at making furniture and he offered to help me look around and possibly make one for me. I guess I'll just have to be patient. I like the styles of the consoles above to be adapted as a TV stand. These consoles are from West Elm. I really like some of the furniture from this company. I also love the furniture fromRoom and Board. The prices are a bit steep for me right now plus the dimensions are too large.

I'm going to take a break and start looking for fabric to sew new curtains for my nook.

Lovely New Chair...

2009-02-26T22:44:00.000-05:00

One of the things I have tried to do to help boost the local economy is to to shop in my lovely little village, Rhinebeck. One of my favorite shops is Hammertown Barn. This shop has wonderful housewares, furniture, rugs, lamps and so much more. They even started carrying Orla Kiely bags and they are on sale right now. I did resist the urge to splurge, at least for now. I actually was looking for a new chair. A small chair that would complement my tiny living room. I already have a wing chair but it is getting dirty and grungy due to Gracie ( my Cocker Spaniel) jumping on it as soon as she comes in from outside. (My sons never wipe down her paws like I do even though the towel is right by the back door.) ugh! The wing chair doesn't really fit the way I want to re-decorate. It is way too traditional. I found a lovely Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams chair
at Hammertown barn and it was half price! I absolutely love their furniture and this is the first piece I own of theirs. It is simple and lovely

What to do with my stairs!

2009-02-21T22:36:00.000-05:00

I have been going back and forth trying to figure out what to do with my stairs. They are part of my living room and they are boring. The risers keep getting scuffed up and I have scrubbed them and repainted them many times. I thought about getting a nice runner for the stairs but I haven't been able to find any I really like. Besides, there is a sharp turn at the top of the stairs and I wouldn't have the first idea how to maneuver around it. I really like the idea of wallpapering the risers. I first saw this idea in a magazine and rediscovered the idea on Door Sixteen's wonderful blog. I have looked at many styles of wallpaper and I am unable to commit to a pattern. I love this black and white wallpaper from Ferm Living but it doesn't go with the rest of my decor.

I like the idea of stenciling or stamping a pattern on the stairs like I have seen on Martha Stewart's site but I am not sure if that is the look I want. I was into stenciling in the 80's and early 90's and I thought it was "out"! I wonder if stenciling is coming back in. Did it ever go out? I know the whole idea of having chickens and geese stenciled on your walls is quite tacky these days(actually it always was quite tacky) but how about a great geometric design? I wonder. The great thing about stenciling is that it is cheap and easy to paint over. I'll mull that over for awhile.

I DID manage to find the Orla Kiely line at Target this weekend and I spent the afternoon removing the sticky tags from the bottoms and finding room in my cabinets for them. I can't wait until Spring when I can bring them outside for dining on the patio and on picnics. The whole line makes me smile. Orla Kiely's designs are so "Happy" looking. I also have some dishcloths, cloth napkins and a couple of storage bins. I have to admit that I really did go a little crazy. They do make me feel good though and I just love the patterns. I have been on a clothing fast which is difficult for me. I love clothes but I have enough for now so it's kind of cool to indulge in things for my home....

Gracie!

2009-02-19T22:44:00.000-05:00

Gracie!
Maybe someday I'll shamelessly promote this blog but in the meantime I'll
just coast along. Really, I haven't put that much time and effort into this. There are truly SO many wonderful blogs out there where people share their heart and souls and homes! I have a long way to go but if you happened to fall upon this blog..Welcome! It was nice to have you stop by and I'll update here and there. My life has been so overwhelming but I have promised myself that I'll do my best to keep this little spot..positive! AND my sweet little dog, Gracie is always happy.
Now THAT is positive!

Happy Chinese New Year!

2009-02-18T22:54:00.000-05:00

Gosh I have been so busy with teaching. I am going to be on TV! I will be on a local channel talking about the art that my students made in class about Chinese New Years! This is a cute Panda bear that one of my kindergarten students painted. Now how cute can you get! Sometimes I am so exhausted from working so hard but stuff like this makes it worth it. All I can say is that I try to count my blessings everyday.

I also hung up the Natasha Wescoat painting and it is so beautiful. I needed to rearrange my tiny living room so "she" would be the focal point and NOT the TV. Photos will be coming. Happy Chinese New Years!

She is Here!!!!

2009-02-08T23:33:00.000-05:00

My Natasha Wescoat painting has arrived and I can't wait until it is hanging in my tiny living room. My boyfriend, Mark gave me the money for Christmas to commission a painting from her. I just love her "Tree of Life" series. She is a very talented young artist and I wish her all the best. I plan on enjoying her painting everyday! This photo doesn't do it justice but I really wanted to share it. The colors are much more vivid. I'll photograph it again once it finds a proper spot on one of my walls!

Orla Kiely housewares

2009-02-06T20:27:00.000-05:00

I have been reading all over the blogs that Orla Kiely
introduced a houseware line at Target on Feb 1st. I just love her
vintage designs so I rushed to Target today after school and came home empty handed. Well that is not entirely true. I did pick up my favorite protein bars (Zone) on sale at $4.50 for a pack of 6. (not a bad price). My favorite flavor
is the chocolate peanut butter but they were all recalled due to the latest salmonella scare. I am digressing here.

Now I should get back to the topic of this post. It seems that most of Orla Kiely's line will be out on Feb 15 so I'll have to check back then. I just love her patterns. I believe they are made out of melamine and will be perfect for dining outside this Spring and Summer. Oh! I hope I can get my hands on them. I think they will sell out fast.

I first read about Orla Kiely's line on
Apartment Therapy What a great website! It seems you can get her line right now on ebay but I recently got ripped off on ebay so I am very wary. I'll just be diligent about returning to Target frequently.

Here is the Target link. There is a sweet video of Orla Kiely talking about her designs.

Winter in the 1938 tiny house

2009-02-03T20:17:00.000-05:00

I finally have a current photo of my house. I can't wait until Spring when I put the window boxes up and start gardening. The magnolia tree in the front yard is usually in full bloom by the middle of April. It doesn't stay in bloom for long but it is just divine while it does.

I really need to get the Christmas wreaths down but I still enjoy them. Many of my neighbors still have their holiday lights so I don't feel so bad. I'm trying to figure out my finances to see what my next major project will be. I really want a front porch along with an addition but I figure I'll do everything in steps. My neighbor had an addition put on her house last summer and it looks great. She had a Rhinebeck architect draw up the plans so I am going to get his name from her.

It seems like everyone is in hibernation right now. Usually my street is full of people out for a stroll into the village or to the park down the street. I occasionally see a die-hard runner pass by and kids walking to school in the morning but most of all it is quiet.

I am waiting patiently to receive an original painting by Natasha Wescoat that I had commissioned a couple of weeks ago. She said that it was finished and I should be getting it ASAP. I just can't wait. IT is an original based on her "Tree of Life" series. It will definitely be a welcome sight!

Wish I Was Here!

2009-01-28T14:59:00.000-05:00

This has got to be one of my favorite places in the world and it is named after me!
I am sure Gwen wouldn't mind me saying that. She is a lovely Caribbean lady who runs Gwen's Reggae beach bar on Shoal Bay Beach in Anguilla. Now this is paradise!

Snow Day!!!

2009-01-28T10:03:00.000-05:00

This is my first day of blogging and I plan on sharing my life as a
single mom, elementary art teacher, artist, friend, girlfriend, fashion lover, design enthusiast, sometimes chef, fitness fanatic, world traveler who happens to be living in upstate NY in the quaint village of Rhinebeck.

I bought my 975 sq. foot house 4 1/2 years ago. It was built in 1938 during the depression era. It needed a LOT of work and I have already put a lot of time, energy and money into making this tiny house a home and I still have a long way to go. I plan on adding square footage somewhere down the line. Right now I am in the dreaming and planning phase.

I have two sons, ages 16 and 18. My oldest son is going to college at SUNY Geneseo and my youngest son is in 10th grade. We also live with an adorable 3 yr. old cocker spaniel named Gracie.

I was really motivated to start a blog after discovering so many great house blogs
online. I would list a few but I can't seem to get it right at the moment but I will share later.

There isn't any school today because it is snowing, snowing, snowing!

I left my digital camera at school so I'll take a photo of my house soon.