Designing Your Dream Home

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday March 21, 2010

2010-03-20T22:07:00.001-05:00

A friend of mine sent me this email forward last year. Though it was written about a woman, I believe it also applies to men.

Who Am I?

What makes me weak? My fears.

What makes me whole? My God.

What keeps me standing? My faith.

What makes me compassionate? My selflessness.

What makes me honest? My integrity.

What sustains my mind? My quest for knowledge.

What teaches me lessons? My mistakes.

What lift’s my head high? My pride, not arrogance.

What it I can’t go on? Not an option.

What makes me victorious? My courage to climb.

What makes me competent? My confidence.

What makes me sensual? My insatiable essence.

What makes me beautiful? My everything.

What makes me a woman? My heart.

Who says I need love? I do.

What empowers me? My God & Me.

Who am I? I am a proud strong woman!

Unknown

As I read this I am reminded that with my faith in God and in myself I am truly a proud strong woman! Blessings. …susan

Refrigerator Door Series Part Three: Pairs of Refrigerator Doors

2010-03-16T11:05:00.001-05:00

Welcome to my refrigerator door series. This series will consist of several posts showing options for the design of the refrigerator door. My first post of this series focused on hiding refrigerators in a kitchen followed by my second post on single door refrigerators. Click here and here to see those two posts.

In this post, I will focus on pairs of refrigerator/freezer doors; some are side-by-side while others are separated; some have drawers below while others do not; some match the kitchen cabinets while others are totally different; one has a glass door while the other is a solid doors. Lots and lots of options are shown in the photos below. Enjoy!

Source: The New Smart Approach to Kitchen Design by Susan Maney

^In the photo above, is a standard side by side refrigerator freezer. The door panels match the maple cabinets. I think the stainless handles and stainless ventilation piece at the bottom of this refrigerator actually work well because this kitchen has touches of stainless throughout.

Source: Beautiful Kitchens Winter 2009

^The refrigerators or refrigerator and freezer shown above with the bank of drawers between is a great look for the right kitchen. This one could have been used in my first post of this series- disappearing refrigerators. I must note that when I see a bank of drawers that tall, I wonder what does one put in the the top few drawers that are hard to reach?

Source: Kitchen Ideas That Work by Beth Veillette

^The panels on these refrigerator doors shown above do not have drawers below but are designed to look like they are an upper and lower cabinet.

Source: Beautiful Kitchens Summer 2009

^A double refrigerator door design that blends with the style of the kitchen- which has a lot going on. The upper cabinets are a different style and finish than the lower cabinets. The refrigerator is unique unto itself. There is wood panels on the upper walls and ceiling and some sort of stone or tile design for the backsplash. Again, I am not able to see the entire kitchen but judging from this one photo, it seems busy.

Source: Beautiful Kitchens Winter 2009

^The side-by-side refrigerator shown above somewhat disappears as if it is a piece of furniture. I love the thought of having such a wide refrigerator which takes a large kitchen to pull it off.

Source: Great Kitchen Ideas a book

^The side-by-side refrigerator shown above is shorter than some others shown in this post which allows for the open shelf above. This is a good example of form over function. The design of the area above the refrigerator is quite handsome but in order to have this look one has to opt for a shorter refrigerator which means less storage room in the refrigerator. It is the preference of the homeowner who is building or remodeling. What would you choose?

Source: Beautiful Kitchens Magazine Spring 2010

^When I turned the magazine page and saw this photo, I had to do a double take. This barn door design definitely makes the refrigerator the focus of the kitchen. What do you think about this one?

Source: Beautiful Kitchens Magazine Winter 2009

^The side-by-side refrigerator shown above is narrow. They may both refrigerators with the freezer being in the four drawers below. Or they may be a refrigerator and a freezer. Another possibility is that this unit represents just refrigerators above and below and the freezer is located in laundry room or butler’s pantry.

Source: A New Smart Design Approach to Kitchen Design by Susan Marney

^In the photo above, you will notice that not only is the refrigerator door that of a painted barn scene but so are the kitchen cabinets.

Source: Kitchen Ideas That Work by Beth Veillette

^I assume the decision for this refrigerator to stick out from the wall unit instead of being flush is so that the door can fully open. Though cost is always a factor, I wish the sides of the refrigerator and the ventilation panel at the bottom that are showing were less obvious. I also think adding hardware to the refrigerator would have been an aesthetic plus.

Source: Beautiful Kitchens 2006

^Above is a handsome wall unit that holds either two refrigerators or a refrigerator and a freezer.

Source: Liebherr Advertisement, magazine unknown

^For a more contemporary look, the side-by-side refrigerator and freezer in stainless works well in this kitchen.

Source: Kitchens Book by Chris Casson Madden

^In the kitchen above, the homeowner opted for a more commercial/professional looking kitchen with their choice of refrigeration units.

Source: Kitchen Ideas That Work by Beth Veillette

^Having a glass door on a refrigerator is a cool look, especially this one that has been styled with lots of white items. I am not so sure I would want to see inside my refrigerator on a daily basis. What about you?

Blessings. …susan

PS Please come back for the 4th post of my series.

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday March 14, 2010

2010-03-13T19:19:00.001-06:00

Welcome to my inspirational & spiritual Sunday post. For over twenty-five years I have collected various spiritual and inspirational quotes and messages. My hope is that when you read these, you will pause and reflect. Perhaps you will share this post with a friend who just so happens to be in need of reading what I am sharing today.

My post today comes from a book marker I received a few years ago. Although the message on the bookmark was intended for those attending Al Anon- which by the way is the sister organization to AA (alcoholics anonymous), the message is one that can be applied by all as a healthy way to live life. In case you have not heard of Al Anon, it is for people who have been affected by another person’s drinking. The other person could be a spouse, child, sister, brother, parent, friend, or boss. Like AA, Al Anon meetings can be found in many towns and cities throughout the U.S. and around the world.

Just For Today

Just for today I will live through this day only, and not set far-reaching goals to try to overcome all of my problems at once. I know I can do something for 24 hours that would appall me if I thought I had to keep it up for a lifetime. Isn’t life about living in the moment? I know I have been guilty of not enjoying the present because I was too preoccupied with something in the future. Often that something I worried about never came to pass.

Just for today I will be happy. Abraham Lincoln said, “Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be.” He was right. I will not dwell on thoughts that depress me. I will chase them out of my mind and replace them with happy thoughts. Bottom line- we can control what we think. It may take effort, but we can do it.

Just for today I will adjust myself to what is. I will face reality. I will correct those things that I can correct and accept those things I cannot correct. This one makes me think of the Serenity Prayer: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Just for today I will improve my mind. I will not be a mental loafer. I will force myself to read something that requires effort, thought, and concentration. Just like our bodies needing a work out, so do our minds.

Just for today I will do something positive to improve my health. If I’m a smoker, I’ll make an honest effort to quit. It I’m overweight, I’ll eat nothing I know to be fattening. And I will force myself to exercise- even if it’s only walking around the block or using the stairs instead of the elevator. I would add parking further out in a parking lot. It begins with desire, then taking action towards that desire no matter how small the steps-then repeating that action over and over until it becomes a part of your daily routine. Another tip is each day to consciously say no to something that is not healthy and yes to something that is healthy.

Just for today I’ll do something I’ve been putting off for a long time. I’ll finally write that letter, make that phone call, clean that closet, or straighten out those dresser drawers. It is amazing how good it feels to do something you have put off for a long time. And the bonus- you get to scratch it off your “to do” list!

Just for today before I speak I will ask myself, “Is it true? Is it kind? and if the answer to either of those questions is negative I won’t say it. What a great way to live life!

Just for today I will make a conscious effort to be agreeable. I will look as good as I can, dress becomingly, talk softly, act courteously, and not interrupt when someone else is talking. Just for today I’ll not try to improve anybody except myself. This one is all about keeping your side of the street clean and letting others clean their side. Stay out of other people’s business unless they ask for your help.

Just for today I will have a program. I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it, thereby saving myself from two pests: hurry and indecision. You can create an exercise program, a nutrition program, a mind stimulating program or just follow the words on this bookmark. You can add, edit, or delete what is written and personalize it for you. The object is to live life in a healthier way.

Just for today I will gather the courage to do what is right and take the responsibility for my own actions. Let go of someone else’s actions. You are only responsible for your own. However, you are responsible for how you allow another person’s actions to affect you. Be responsible, have integrity, and be honest.

I would love to hear from you in a comment.

Blessings. …susan

Refrigerator Door Series Part Two: Matching Single Door Refrigerators Panels with the Kitchen Cabinets

2010-03-11T11:27:00.001-06:00

This post will focus on matching single refrigerator door panels with the cabinet style and cabinet hardware. Depending on the style of the kitchen, I usually like having a refrigerator door panel that matches the cabinets as shown below. What about you?

Scroll on down for ideas and inspiration!

Source: Unknown. If you will contact me, I will note it.

^Imagine how different this kitchen would look if the refrigerator door did not match the cabinets. A stainless refrigerator would totally change the look of this kitchen.

Source: Trend Magazine Kitchen Issue Volume 25, No. 10

^Perhaps it is the angle of the photograph but doesn’t the refrigerator above sure looks extra wide? Do you think the lower door actually swings open or does it pull out like a drawer?

Source: Kitchen Ideas That Work a book by Beth Veillette

^The black hardware on this refrigerator door as well as on the cabinets is a great accessory to this bead board look. I like the appearance of having four drawers below the single door though there are only two drawers. I do not have a photo of the entire layout of this kitchen but it seems to me that the door handle on this refrigerator should be on the right giving you a counter to place items you have taken out of the refrigerator or plan to put in. Though there is one problem with the door handle being on the right which would be the short wall to the left. It would prevent the door from opening more than 90 degrees. A refrigerator door needs to be able to swing open more than 90 degrees in order to clear the door shelves when removing the drawers and shelves.

Source: The New Smart Approach to Kitchen Design a book by Susan Maney

^Another example of the beadboard look is shown above. The island in this photo blocks the view of the entire refrigerator. I wonder if there is a drawer at the bottom of this refrigerator or if the door goes top to bottom? What do you think?

Source: Great Kitchen Ideas a book

^I like how the painted panel on this refrigerator matches the kitchen cabinets. However, I wish the cabinet hardware would have been used on the refrigerator. What do you think?

Source: Beautiful Kitchens Magazine Winter 2009

^I like how this refrigerator tucks in next to the brick wall. The panels are a great compliment to the kitchen cabinets.

Source: Kitchen Ideas That Work a book by Beth Veillette

^Above is an attractive kitchen wall unit with the refrigerator blending right in.

Source: Kitchen Ideas That Work a book by Beth Veillette

^One thing that struck me in the photo above was the use of three different hardware styles. The drawers differed from the cabinet doors and the refrigerator door was yet a third style. I feel the refrigerator door hardware is a bit small and would not be all that comfortable gripping. What do you think?

Source: House Beautiful Magazine March 2010

^Yet another beadboard style panel. I especially like the matching hardware with the refrigerator hardware being appropriately a larger size than the cabinet hardware.

Source: Beautiful Kitchens Magazine Spring 2010

^I ran across this magazine photo yesterday. It would have fit nicely in the first post of this series due to the refrigerator being hidden or disappearing. I wanted to share it with you so I added it here.

Without actually seeing the entire kitchen, what I do see in this magazine photo is a bit busy. You have upper cabinet doors lined with a print fabric. The cabinet drawers are a different color than the lower cabinet doors. There is natural wood that has been stained behind the open shelves. The island is a distressed black painted finish. The floor is natural stone pieces that vary. There is something on the other side of the island that appears to be a natural stained wood. On top of all of that, you have distressed wooden beams in the ceiling. What do you think?

Blessings. …susan

PS My next post in this series will feature double refrigerator doors. Do check back.

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday March 7, 2010

2010-03-06T20:27:00.001-06:00

Two of my friends are in the midst of a divorce. One married less than ten years and the other more than twenty-five. As I was looking for inspirational and spiritual material to pass on to them, I ran across what I am sharing today. I don’t know who gave it to me. The page has yellowed which indicates I have had it for quite some time. After I read the entire passage, I like to go back and read each paragraph one at a time and ponder it. I try to think of different scenarios in life where it might apply. I hope something speaks to you. Enjoy!

You Learn…

After awhile you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul, and you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning and company doesn’t always mean security.

You begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts and presents aren’t promises, and you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes ahead, with the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child.

And you learn to build all your roads on today because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans.

And futures have a way of falling down in midflight.

After awhile you learn that even sunshine burns if you ask for too much.

So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.

And you learn that you really can endure, that you really are strong, and you really do have worth.

You learn…with each goodbye…you learn. Unknown

Blessings. …susan

Refrigerator Door Series Part One: Disappearing Refrigerators

2010-03-01T07:49:00.001-06:00

Welcome to my refrigerator series. This series will consist of several posts showing options for the kitchen door design and the placement of refrigerators in a kitchen.

Part One- Disappearing Refrigerators

Depending on the style of your kitchen and your personal taste regarding the look of a refrigerator, you have the option of making it appear to disappear. Today’s design and the cabinet maker’s work in creating niches for kitchen refrigerators amazes me. I am a huge fan of master carpenters and what they create. As you will see in the photos below, refrigerators really can disappear. Enjoy!

Source: Kitchens a book by Chris Casson Madden

^As I look at the photo above, my first inclination is that I would expect to find a pantry or broom closet behind the doors. I certainly did not think there would be a side-by-side refrigerator behind the cabinet doors as shown below.

Source: Kitchens a book by Chris Casson Madden

Source: Beautiful Kitchens Magazine Winter 2009

^The words on the magazine page above states, “Hide and Chic” which appropriately describes this refrigerator door and drawers. I find this to be an incredible design for hiding a side-by-side refrigerator. What do you think? Isn’t the design covering the refrigerator drawers really cool ! The design also allows for ventilation at the bottom.

Source: Beautiful Kitchens Magazine Winter 2009

^At first glance, what appears to be an armoire that most likely has a TV inside is actually a side-by-side refrigerator with drawers below.

Source: Beautiful Kitchens Magazine Winter 2009

^Who would have thought behind these mirrored cabinet doors you would find a refrigerator and a freezer with refrigerator drawers below?

Source: Veranda Magazine October 2008

The refrigerators and refrigerator drawers that flank the cooking area above blend with the cabinets. I like the big beam running above the refrigerators and stove.

Source: Beautiful Kitchens Magazine Winter 2009

^To the far right of the kitchen sink is a side-by-side refrigerator designed to look like a piece of furniture. The height of the ceiling allows for a pair of cabinet doors and an open shelf above. I find the the pair of china cabinets flanking the sink counter area very attractive.

Part Two of this series will show different designs for single refrigerator doors. Please check back. Blessings. …susan

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday February 28, 2010

2010-02-28T00:42:00.001-06:00

Much to my delight, I recently ran across the email forward I am sharing in this post. It is one I received many years ago. Although quite comical to read it is a reminder of the differences between men and women which often results in miscommunication. As we all know, miscommunication can sometimes result in terrible consequences.

For the women reading this, I hope it will be a reminder to you to stop the “stinkin thinkin” you might do in your own mind. Just talk. For the men reading this, I hope this will give you some insight into what can happen when there is no communication. Say what you mean, mean what you say and don’t say it mean.

The Difference Between Men and Women…

Let’s say a guy named William is attracted to a woman named Julie. He asks her out to a movie; she accepts; they have a pretty good time. A few nights later he asked her out to dinner, and again they enjoy themselves. They continue to see each other regularly and after awhile neither one is seeing anybody else. And then, one evening when they’re driving home, a thought occurs to Julie and without really thinking, she says out loud: “Do you realize that as of tonight, we’ve been seeing each other exactly for six months?”

And then there is silence in the car.

To Julie, it seems like a very loud silence. She thinks to herself: “Geez, I wonder if it bothers him that I said that. Maybe he’s been feeling confined by our relationship; maybe he thinks I’m trying to push into some kind of commitment that he doesn’t want, or isn’t sure of it.

And William is thinking: Gosh, six months.

And Julie is thinking: But hey, I’m not sure I want this kind of relationship either. Sometimes I wish I had a little more space so I’d have time to think about whether I really want to us to keep going the way we are, moving steadily toward…I mean, where are we going? Are we just going to keep seeing each other at this level of intimacy? Are we heading toward marriage? Toward children? Do I really know this person?

And William is thinking: …so that means it was… let’s see… February when we started going out, which was right after I had the car at the dealer’s which means…lemme check the odometer…whoa! I am overdue for an oil change here.

And Julie is thinking: He’s upset. I can see it on his face. Maybe I ‘m reading this completely wrong. Maybe he wants more from our relationship, more intimacy, more commitment, maybe he has sensed-even before I sense it-that I was feeling some reservations. Yes, I bet that’s it. That’s why he’s so reluctant to say anything about his own feelings. He’s afraid of being rejected.

And William is thinking: And I’m gonna have them look at the transmission again. I don’t care what those morons say, it’s still not shifting right. And they better not try to blame it on the cold weather this time. What cold weather? It’s 87 degrees out, and this thing is shifting like a garbage truck, and I paid those incompetent thieves $600.

And Julie is thinking: He’s angry. And I don’t blame him. I’d be angry, too. I feel so guilty, putting him through this, but I can’t help the way I feel. I’m just not sure.

And William is thinking: They’ll probably say it’s only a 90-day warranty…scumballs.

And Julie is thinking: Maybe I’m just too idealistic, waiting for a knight to come riding up on his white horse, when I’m sitting next to a perfectly good person, a person I enjoy being with, a person I truly do care about, a person who seems truly to care about me. A person who is in pain because of my self-centered, schoolgirl romantic fantasy.

And William is thinking: Warranty? They want a warranty? I’ll give them a warranty. I’ll take their warranty and ….

“William,” Julie says out loud.

“What?” says William, startled.

“Please don’t torture yourself like this,” says Julie, her eyes beginning to brim with tears. “Maybe I should never have… Oh God, I feel so…” as she begins to sob.

“What?” says William.

“I am such a fool,” Julie sobs. “I mean, I know there’s no knight. I really know that. It’s silly. There’s no knight, and there’s no horse.”

“There’s no horse?” says William, wondering what she means.

“You think I’m a fool don’t you? Julie says.

“No!” says William, glad to finally know the correct answer.

“It’s just that… it’s that I… I need some time,” Julie says.

(There is a 15-second pause while William, thinking as fast as he can, tries to come up with a safe response. Finally, he comes up with one that he thinks might work.) “Yes,” he says.

(Julie, deeply moved, touches his hand.) “Oh William, do you really feel that way?” she says.

“What way?” says William.

“That way about time,” says Julie.

“Oh,” says William,. “Yes.”

(Julie turns to face him and gazes deeply into his eyes, causing him to become very nervous about what she might say next, especially if it involves a white horse. At last she speaks.) “Thank you, William,” she says.

Then, he takes her home and she lies on her bed, a conflicted, tortured soul and weeps until dawn whereas when William gets back to his place, he opens a bag of Doritos, turns on the TV and immediately becomes deeply involved in a rerun of a tennis match. A tiny voice in the far recesses of his mind tells him that something major was going on back there in the car but he is pretty sure there is no way he would ever understand what so he figures he is better off if he doesn’t even think about it.

The next day Julie will call her closest friend, or perhaps two of them, and they will talk about this situation for six straight hours in painstaking detail. They will analyze everything she said and everything he said, going over it time and time again, exploring every word, and possible ramification. They will continue to discuss this subject, off and on, for weeks and maybe even months never reaching any definite conclusions, but never getting bored with it either.

Meanwhile, William, while playing racquetball one day with a mutual friend of his and Julie’s, will pause just before serving, frown, and say: “Norm, did Julie ever own a horse?” Source Unknown

And, that is the difference between men and women. Blessings! …susan

Doorway Transoms-Interior and Exterior

2010-02-23T09:02:00.001-06:00

Whether they are part of an exterior doorway or used in an interior doorway, doorway transoms can be used both functionally and aesthetically. The beauty of doorway transoms is that they can be custom made giving you a plethora of choices when designing a new home or doing a remodel. You can customize the height and width to fit the scale of the room. You can have an elaborate or simple design. Wood, iron, glass, barbed-wire, and metal are just a few of the choices of material that can be used. The material can be used singularly in a doorway that is the traditional depth. However, if your doorway is deep, you can mirror the material at each end of the doorway opening. Transoms can be used with or without glass and they can also be used in a passage way without even hanging a door.

Functionally, they can be used as a light source. An exterior doorway transoms bring light in from the outside while an interior doorway transom allows light to pass between two rooms.

Aesthetically, they add height to a doorway giving the illusion that the door is taller. If you are building a home and on a tight budget this can be cheaper than paying for taller custom doors. Or, if you are remodeling and want to reuse the original doors but want more doorway height, this could be your solution. A doorway with a transom will enhance the height of a room. Additionally, you can use a doorway transom as a design element in your home.

The photos below provide different designs and uses for both interior and exterior transoms. Enjoy!

Source: Great Kitchen Ideas Book

^The photo above is a good example showing how a transom in a doorway adds height to a room especially with the large piece of artwork and the cabinet height. This doorway transom also serves as a light source between rooms bringing the deep color of the living room into the kitchen. I think the simple design element works well.

Source: November/December 2009- If you know the magazine, please contact me and I will note it.

^Although the photo above shows an interior doorway transom, it certainly cannot compete with the pair of Christmas floral design elements and the vases. I wish I could see the entire room and more detail of the pair of coffee tables. Back to the transom, I like how the height of the curtain rod relates to the transom.

Source: Veranda Magazine September 2007

^Above is a photo of an arched interior doorway transom with a Spanish wrought-iron design which I feel enhances the interior design of this home.

Source: Traditional Home Magazine July 2008

^This interior transom is used in the opening between two vanity areas in a bathroom without using a door (note reflection in mirror showing another vanity). Though seeing the toilet, maybe there is a pocket door. It makes a strong decorative statement in both design and color. I do like how the transom design is reflected in each mirror.

Source: Architectural Digest date unknown.

^Though the photo above has far too many design elements going on for my taste, I do like the iron design of the interior doorway transom. There also appears to be a door transom above the front door though it is blocked from view in this photo by the chandelier.

Source: Elegant Home magazine, date unknown.

^In the photo above is an example of a wider interior transom that has used a modified spider web design to make an elegant design statement in this foyer.

Source: Unknown. If you know the source, please contact me and I will note it.

^Using an hour glass design to create a design element, this exterior transom also allows light to filter in from what appears to be a porch. Put your finger over the transom and imagine the room without the transom. Don’t you think it is an excellent example of a transom giving height to a door in a room with a tall ceiling?

Source: Traditional Home Holiday 2009

^Above is yet another example of door transoms adding a design statement, creating door height and being a light source. Doesn’t the transom height create a perfect area for the artwork? Imagine how different and less pleasing the artwork would look if it were taller than the doors.

It is my hope with this post that somehow I have positively touched your design process. Please share your thoughts with me in a comment. Blessings. …susan

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday February 21, 2010

2010-02-21T20:36:00.001-06:00

As I was searching through my drawer full of spiritual & inspirational material, I ran across an email forward I received from a friend dated 06/05/02. Enjoy!

Life Lessons From The Dalai Lama-Lessons for Life in the New Millennium

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

3. Follow the three R’s: Respect for self, respect for others, responsibility for all your actions.

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

6. Don’ let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

8. Spend some time alone everyday.

9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.

10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

11. Live a good, honorable life. Then, when you get older and think back you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.

12. A loving atmosphere in your homes is the foundation for your life.

13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation.

14. Don’t bring up the past.

15. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.

16. Be gentle with the earth.

17. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.

18. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

19. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

20. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

Blessings. …susan

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday February 14, 2010

2010-02-15T22:27:00.001-06:00

Though a day late, I have chosen to share the contents of an email I recently received from a friend. Isn’t this a wonderful list of basic commands to follow! For me, this list is a great reminder to have faith.

BTW: I wanted to share something exciting with you- that being that my cousin is the lone female astronaut on the International Space Station. Her name is Kay Hire. She was on the Space Shuttle Endeavor which was launched into space last Monday. You can go to www.nasa.gov and click on nasa tv and depending on the time of day you can watch the astronauts working. A very basic description of their mission is to take another “room” to the ISS and attach it. All of the space shuttles will be retired by the end of the year leaving only four more flights to go. Blessings. …susan

You Shall
You shall not worry, for worry is the most unproductive of all human activities.

You shall not be fearful, for most of the things we fear never come to pass.

You shall not carry grudges, for they are the heaviest of all life's burdens.

You shall face each problem as it comes. You can only handle one at a time anyway.

You shall not take problems to bed with you, for they make very poor bedfellows.

You shall not borrow other people's problems. They can better care for them
than you.

You shall not try to relive yesterday for good or ill, it is forever gone.

Concentrate on what is happening in your life and be happy now!

You shall be a good listener, for only when you listen do you hear ideas different from your own.

You shall not become "bogged down" by frustration, for 90% of it is rooted in self-pity and will only interfere with positive action.

You shall count your blessings, never overlooking the small ones, for a lot
of small blessings add up to a big one.

-- Author Unknown
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Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday January 30, 2010

2010-01-30T19:54:00.001-06:00

One of my all time favorite Christmas gifts was a book given to me this past Christmas by my son’s family titled Interior Wisdom by Leah Richardson. Because of the shape, size, and weight of the gift it was obvious I had received a book. Oh how I love books! With great anticipation, I unwrapped my gift to find a lovely design book. On the cover was a beautiful dining room which begged me to look inside.

As I thumbed through the pages I saw many photos of interiors and interior design elements. Then, I noticed the scripture. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.” Proverb 3:4-5 As I began reading the scripture, I noticed there were also inspirational words. I flipped back to the book jacket to read the overview of the book. “…she shares the ways her spiritual walk influences her design, offers beloved verses that have inspired her work and includes a centering prayer (she has a prayer at the beginning of each chapter which is titled “Pray with me…”) to help the reader understand how important it is to include God’s wisdom in the design of our homes and our hearts.” (I love that she included the word hearts). I pause for a moment and think to myself, “gosh this book is right up my alley!”

Next I turned a few pages to read about the author. In “A Note from Leah,” she shares her journey which began when she was feeling devastated after being fired from her job in corporate America. This led her back to school to pursue a degree in Interior Design. At the time of her firing, Leah did not realize it was God’s sovereign hand at work. Though in the years to come, it became very clear which she explains in Interior Wisdom.

Reading her book jacket, I learned that besides her interior design business, Leah also lectures with Leah Richardson Ministries.

Two of my favorite scriptures in her book- Psalm 127:1 “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” Hebrews 3:4 “For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.” Don’t you think these are both so appropriate for anyone designing and building of a home!

One of my favorite quotes is “Excess encumbers our life more than enhancing it.”

Blessings. …susan

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday January 17, 2010

2010-01-17T09:01:00.001-06:00

Better health by losing weight, diet, and exercise seems to be a common new year’s resolution. Blessings. …susan

“You are what you eat.” Gillian McKeith

There are a lot of things in life I cannot control but I can control what I put in my mouth. Unknown

“If I knew I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself. “ Groucho Marx

“I am saving that rocker for the day when I feel as old as I really am. “Eisenhower

You stomach shouldn’t be a waist basket. Unknown

A moment on the lips is a lifetime on the hips. Unknown

“Our bodies are our gardens-our wills are our gardeners.” William Shakespeare

“No matter who you are, no matter what you do, you absolutely, positively do have the power to change.” Bill Phillips

God Bless the people of Haiti!

I will be back soon!

2010-01-10T11:18:00.001-06:00

Hi! Wishing you a belated Merry Christmas and a belated Happy New Year! My intentions were to continue publishing posts on my blog throughout Christmas and New Year’s. However, traveling, spending time with my grandbabies, a couple of new projects needing my attention, and dealing with this bitter cold interrupted those intentions.

This coming week is packed full of demands on my time. I am hopeful I will have a Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday post ready next Sunday and I will be back to my design posts next week.

May you be filled with blessings in 2010 and beyond! …susan

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday December 13, 2009

2009-12-13T19:18:00.001-06:00

Memo From God

…I already gave you the Ten Commandments. Keep them. But follow these guidelines, also.

1. Quit Worrying          Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sit and worry. Have you forgotten that I am here to take all your burdens and carry them for you? Or do you just enjoy fretting over every little thing that comes your way?

2. Put It On The List            Something needs to be done or taken care of, put it on the list. No, not your list. Pit it on MY to-do-list. Let me be the one to take care of the problem. I can’t help you until you turn it over to me. And although my –to-do-list is long, I am after all, God. I can take care of anything you put into my hands. In fact, if the truth were ever really known, I take care of a lot of things for you that you never even realized.

3. Trust Me          Once you’ve given your burdens to me, quit trying to take them back. Trust in me. Have the faith that I will take care of all your needs, your problems and your trials. Problems with the kids? Put them on my list. Problem with finances? Put it on my list. Problems with your emotional roller coaster? For my sake, put it on my list. I want to help you. All you have to do is ask.

4. Leave It Alone          Don’t wake up one morning and say, “Well, I’m feeling much stronger now, I think I can handle it from here.” Why do you think you are feeling stronger now? It’s simple. You gave me your burdens and I’m taking care of them. I also renew your strength and cover you in my peace. Don’t you know that if I give you these problems back, you will be right back where you started. Leave them with me and forget about them. Just let me do my job.

5. Talk To Me          I want you to forget a lot of things. Forget what was making you crazy. Forget the worry and the fretting because you know I’, in control. But there’s one thing I pray you never forget. Please don’t forget to talk to me- Often! I love you. I want to hear your voice. I want you to include me in on the things going on in your life. I want to hear you talk about your friends and family. Prayer is simply you having a conversation with me. I want to be your dearest friend.

6. Have Faith           I see a lot of things from up here that you can’t see from where you are. Have faith in me that I know what I’m doing. Trust me, you wouldn’t want the view from my eyes. I will continue to care for you, watch over you, and meet your needs. You only have to trust me. Although I have a much bigger task than you, it seems as if you have so much trouble just doing your simple part. How hard can trust be?

7. Share          You were taught to share when you were only two years old. When did you forget? The rule still applies. Share with those who are less fortunate than you. Share your joy with those who need encouragement. Share your laughter with those who haven’t heard any in such a long time. Share your tears with those who have forgotten how to cry. Share your faith with those who have none.

8. Be Patient          I managed to fix it so in just one lifetime you could have so many diverse experiences. You grow from a child to an adult, have children, change jobs many times, learn many trades, travel to so many places, meet thousands of people, and experience so much. How can you be so impatient then when it takes me a little longer than you expect to handle something on my to-do-list? Trust in my timing, for my timing is perfect. Just because I created the entire universe in only six days everyone thinks I should always rush, rush, rush.

9. Be Kind           Be kind to others, for I love them just as much as I love you. They may not dress like you, or talk like you, or live the same way you do, but I still love you all. Please try to get along, for my sake. I crated each of you different in some way. It would be too boring if you were all identical. Please know I love each of your differences.

10. Love Yourself          As much as I love you, how can you not love yourself? You were created by me for one reason only—to be lvoed, and to love in return. I am a God of Love. Love me. Love your neighbors. But also love yourself. It makes my heart ache when I see you so angry with yourself when things go wrong. You are very precious to me. Don’t ever forget that! With all my heart, I love you. GOD

This was an email forward I received December 28, 2003. I don’t know who sent it to me nor who wrote this. I just like it! Blessings. …susan

Bathroom Towel Storage Options Series Part Five-Miscellaneous

2009-12-09T08:20:00.001-06:00

Continuing my series on bathroom towel storage options- in this post I will share scanned photos showing a miscellaneous assortment of options. One option my daughter-in-law used in her previous home, sorry I do not have a photo, was to hang a metal decorative wine bottle rack on her bathroom wall. This rack had three or four U-shaped hooks. Instead of wine bottles she put rolled up towels. Blessings. …susan

Source: Great Baths Collection

^Can’t you imagine sitting on the cushioned bench in your robe drinking coffee and reading a book in front of the fireplace?

^I did not run across this photo of a short chest with a drawer until after I had published the second post on storage in furniture, so, I am adding it here.

^Source Unknown-if you know the source and contact me I will note it.

Above and below are two examples of storing towels on a “ladder”. Both become a piece of “art” for the bathroom.

Source: Bathrooms by House Beautiful

In the photo above are some interesting wall mounted bins for storing towels which are in keeping with the contemporary design of this bathroom.

^Source Unknown-if you know the source and contact me I will note it.

If you are short on storage space, you can always use a basket to store your towels.

^Source Unknown-if you know the source and contact me I will note it.

Attractive wall mounted towel hooks are another way to store towels and at the same time create a nice visual as shown above.

Source Unknown-if you know the source and contact me I will note it.

There is nothing more luxurious than a warm fluffy bath towel to wrap yourself in when stepping out of the shower or bath tub. Not only does this warming drawer serve to warm the towels but it is also a great place to store towels.

^Source Unknown-if you know the source and contact me I will note it.

^I have never been a fan of a pedestal sink in any bathroom except the powder room because there is no place to put the items used on a daily basis. However, the long counter with shelves below solves that problem. I like the rod that protrudes out of the front of the counter which is a perfect place to hang hand towels or a bath towel as shown. Note the lighted wall mounted magnifying mirror.

Source Unknown-if you know the source and contact me I will note it.

^If you run into a situation where there is no place to put a towel ring or towel bar for towels, here is a possible solution.

I plan for my next post to be my Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday post and then I will do one on mistakes to avoid with towel storage.

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday December 6, 2009

2009-12-05T20:56:00.001-06:00

Welcome to my Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday post. For over twenty-five years I have collected various spiritual and inspirational quotes and messages. My hope is that when you read these, you will pause and reflect. Perhaps you will share this post with a friend who just so happens to be in need of reading what I am sharing today. With all of the publicity surrounding Tiger Woods, I thought it would be appropriate to share quotes about telling the truth. Blessings. …susan

“…if you tell the truth, your problem becomes a part of your past. If you lie, it becomes a part of your future.” Coach Rick Pitino as he responded to his own scandal.

“If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it.” Marcus Aurelius

“A half truth is a whole lie.” Yiddish proverb

“When you stretch the truth, watch out for the snapback.” Bill Copeland

“Who lies for you will lie against you.” Bosnian proverb

“If you tell the truth you don’t have to remember anything.” Mark Twain

No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar.” Abraham Lincoln

“Truth is generally the best vindication against slander.” Abraham Lincoln

“The truth will set you free. But first, it will piss you off.” Gloria Steinem

“Humility is nothing but truth; pride is nothing but lying.” Vincent de Paul

“The ability to lie is a liability.” Unknown

Bathroom Towel Storage Options Series Part Four-Cabinets

2009-12-03T17:34:00.001-06:00

Welcome back to my bathroom towel storage option series. This time the focus is on storing options for towels in cabinets/closets. Enjoy the variety of cabinet/closet designs shown in the photos below. Glass shelves with a glass door, wooden shelves with a wooden framed cabinet door with glass, pair of doors with mirrored fronts, solid wooden doors, and double closet doors with glass mirrors mounted on the door. What are your thoughts? Blessings. …susan

Source Unknown- if you know the source and contact me I will note it.

^Glass shelves behind glass doors.

Source Unknown- if you know the source and contact me I will note it.

^Wooden cabinet with glass door.

Source Unknown- if you know the source and contact me I will note it.

^Glass window panes on cabinet doors.

Source: Great Bath Collections

^Solid wood cabinet doors.

Source: Bathroom Book by House Beautiful

^Double door linen type closet with full mirrors on front.

Bathroom Towel Storage Options Series Part Three-Open Shelves

2009-11-30T19:24:00.001-06:00

Welcome back to my Bathroom Towel Storage Option Series! This time we will look at various options for storing towels on open shelves in a bathroom. Enjoy the very diverse designs shown in the photos below. Blessings. …susan

Source: Bathrooms by Chris Casson Madden

^The built-in shelves seen in the photo above serves many functions including a shelf for a television, audio controls, books, towel storage, and toiletries. I like how they used different colors of towels to enhance the shelves. I am not sure how functional and safe it is to have a lamp on the vanity counter. I do like the wall mount of the faucet instead of it being mounted on the vanity counter.

Source: Timber Homes Illustrated

^I am assuming on the opposite end of the vanity which is not seen is the same medicine cabinet with open shelf for towels as shown above. This will provide a generous amount of space for towel storage. Note on the left side of the photo is the bath tub and there is a basket with wash cloths.

Source: The Bathroom Idea Book by Andrew Wormer

^I like the thickness of the glass shelves shown above though I tend to shy away from glass shelves due to the fact the dust they collect is usually quite noticeable.

^Source Unknown-if you know the source and contact me I will note it.

I like these cubby holes created in the stone. Also not the side wall above the vanity is on an angle. I like the long hardware handles used on the cabinets.

Source: The Bathroom Idea Book by Andrew Wormer

^An interesting design using an aquarium instead of a fireplace. Note there are more towels in the chest on the shelf above the aquarium which I assume are the wash cloths and hand towels.

Source: Bathrooms by Chris Casson Madden

^The glass shelves filled with floral printed towels shown above is a bit too busy for my taste though it offers another option for bathroom towel storage.

Source: Bathrooms by House Beautiful

^An interesting and different kind of bathroom design that on first look appeared to me to be a his and her side with the towels and seated area dividing the two sides. Upon further inspection the wall behind the seated make-up area is a mirror. Note how the drawers are on an upward diagonal. Those look like some powerful lights mounted on the mirror above the make-up table.

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday November 29, 2009

2009-11-28T21:17:00.001-06:00

Welcome to my Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday post. For over twenty-five years I have collected various spiritual and inspirational quotes and messages. My hope is that when you read these, you will pause and reflect. Perhaps you will share this post with a friend who just so happens to be in need of reading what I am sharing today. Going through my keepsake drawer I ran across an email forward I printed and kept dated 1999, It was from a friend named Darby. There is no source noted- so unfortunately I cannot give credit to the person who wrote this. Lots and lots of wisdom in what this person has learned and shared with us. Blessings. …susan

I’ve Learned-

I’ve learned- that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them.

I’ve learned- that no matter how much you care, some people just don’t care back.

I’ve learned – that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.

I’ve learned- that it’s not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts.

I’ve learned- that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes. After that you’d better know something.

I’ve learned- that you shouldn’t compare yourself to the best others can do.

I’ve learned- that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I’ve learned- that it’s taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I’ve learned- that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I’ve learned that you can keep going long after you can’t.

I’ve learned- that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I’ve learned- that either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I’ve learned- that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.

I’ve learned- that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I’ve learned- that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I’ve learned- that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I’ve learned- that sometimes the people you expect to kick when you’re down will be the ones to help you get back up.

I’ve learned- that sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.

I’ve learned- that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I’ve learned that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have.

I’ve learned- that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed it.

I’ve learned- that your family won’t always be there for you. It may seem funny, but people you aren’t related to can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again. Families aren’t biological.

I’ve learned- that no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you every once in awhile and you must forgive them for that.

I’ve learned- that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you are to learn to forgive yourself.

I’ve learned- that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn’t stop for your grief.

I’ve learned- that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I’ve learned- that just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other and just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do.

I’ve learned- that we don’t have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I’ve learned- that you shouldn’t be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.

I’ve learned- that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I’ve learned- that no matter how you try to protect your children, they will eventually get hurt and you will hurt in the process.

I’ve learned- that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don’t even know you.

I’ve learned- that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

I’ve learned- that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I’ve learned- that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

I’ve learned- that it’s hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people’s feelings and standing up for what you believe.

Source unknown- if you know the source and contact me, I will note it.

Bathroom Towel Storage Options Series Part Two-Furniture

2009-11-23T21:42:00.001-06:00

Continuing my Bathroom Towel Storage Options Series, this post will focus on storing towels in a piece of furniture in your bathroom. I hope the photos shown below give you ideas for your bathroom. Blessings. …susan

^Source: Great Baths Collection

^Source: Villa Decor by Betty Lou Phillips

^Source Unknown- if you know the source and contact me I will note it.

^Source: Beautiful Baths 2009

More posts to come so please check back!

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday Post November 22, 2009

2009-11-22T10:56:00.001-06:00

Back in the 80’s, I wrote down 10 Steps to a richer, fuller life. I am not sure where I read these but do remember making them a daily part of my life. At some point I got away from doing these- so I am thrilled to begin again.

10 Steps to a Richer, Fuller Life

1. Pray the last thing at night before going to sleep. This simple act will give you a better nights sleep.

2. Pray the first thing in the morning. I like to say “Good Morning God” when I awake and then pray for my day asking God to accompany me throughout my day.

3. Pray for the world. Think about the issues facing our world and pray for a leaders to make right and just decisions. Don’t forget to pray for our soldiers.

4. Pray for others. Family, friends, co-workers- even those you hear about on the news.

5. Pray for our enemies. Separate the sin from the sinner. Hate the sin but forgive the sinner.

6. Ask yourself daily what you truly desire? I like to take this a step further and write down what I truly desire. When I speak it and write it down it helps me to bring my true desires to the surface.

7. Each and every day try at some point to be alone with self and God. Have a conversation with God and reveal to him what is in your heart and mind.

8. Each day try at least once to be consciously with people or a person and listen to their needs. It can be as simple as eye contact and a chat with the checkout person or to sit with a friend and listen intently to what they have to say.

9. Determine daily in one specific area to affect your environment. There are an infinite number of ways to positvely affect your environment. When I walk in the park, I like to pick up at least one piece of trash. When I am in a store, I like to pick up an item off the floor back on the shelf. When driving I like to let a car merge in my lane or pull out in front of me. At the grocery store, I like to grab a shopping cart from the parking lot and take it into the store. (Do you have something you do that is gratifying? If so, please comment and share it.)

10. Each day say a definite NO to some activity and a definite YES to another. When I first tried doing this it was much more difficult than I would have imagined. I find there are many opportunities to say no- but less to say yes. I can say no to a food, no to buying something, no to listening to gossip, etc. My yes’s tend to be to take care of something I might want to put off until tomorrow and to give myself permission to do something for myself. (To what might you say a definite no and a definite yes? Please share with a comment.)

Blessings and Happy Thanksgiving! …susan

Bathroom Towel Storage Option Series Part One-Vanity

2009-11-21T07:08:00.001-06:00

Welcome to my Bathroom Towel Storage Option Series. Over the next two weeks I will publish several posts showing options for bathroom towel storage. This first post will give you ideas for storing your bathroom towels in the bathroom vanity. You will find some towels are folded while others are rolled. Enjoy!

Source: Beautiful Baths 2008

^The white towels perfectly folded in the photo above add to the elegance of this vanity. I think they would also look elegant if rolled. Another option would have been a glass cabinet door.

Source Unknown-if you know the source and contact me I will note it.

^Don’t you think these open shelves add to the design of this vanity?

Source: Villa Decor by Betty Lou Phillips

^The blue towels stored in the open shelves above serve as an accent color for this blue and white bathroom.

Source Unknown-if you know the source and contact me I will note it.

^The double row of open shelves in the photo above is very spacious and provides many options for towel storage as well as other storage. There is plenty of space for folded or rolled towels. The baskets actually replace drawers. They could hold hand and wash cloths. The rest of the baskets could hold hair products, with another one holding make up, another hair dryers/curling irons/ flattening irons, etc.

Source: Bathrooms by House Beautiful

^A large open shelf as shown above gives you lots of towel storage options. They have rolled the large bath sheets, made a stack of bath towels with wash cloths on top, and then made a stack of hand towels. One could add a small basket and put rolled wash cloths in it to offset the basket of bath brushes. Another interesting detail in the photo above is the towel bar located under what appears to be a medicine cabinet. Take a moment and think about how you would store towels on this vanity shelf.

Source Unknown- if you know the source and contact me I will note it.

^When I was looking for photos for this post, I ran across this one showing four cubby holes to store folded or rolled towels. An attractive option for storing towels. As I was studying this photo for this post, what caught my attention were the interesting sconces, the three-way mounted magnifying mirror and the shutter to cover the windows. Sometimes I find interesting elements in a photo I have chosen to support my post!

Source: Bathrooms by House Beautiful

Above is another option- this time it is storing towels on a rounded corner shelf. The monogram adds a design element.

Source: Dream Baths

^Storing towels on an opens shelf under the sink in this photo is a great way to hide the plumbing. Additionally, I am wild about the drawer under the towels!

Of course you can always store towels behind a vanity cabinet door or in a vanity drawer. Check back for Part Two of this series. Blessings. …susan

A One Day Offer-

2009-11-20T07:31:00.001-06:00

My friend, Paula Owens, is the author of a book titled The Power of 4. Paula’s book is full of information that will motivate and educate you in your quest for optimal or better health.

Don’t we all talk to ourselves or our friends about doing better with our diet and exercise. Almost always on the first day of each month I will make a commitment in my mind that I am going to treat my body as a temple and only allow nutritionally sound foods to enter. Some months I make it the entire month other months I don’t do so well. With the holidays upon us, we will all be tempted to reach for unhealthy foods. Some of us will just give in and think I will start a diet the first of the year; others will be mindful of our choices. Either way, Paula’s book will help you now or in the new year.

Paula is offering through Amazon.com a one day event today (November 20, 2009) where you can buy her book for $11.33. Click here to link to that offer. You can check out her website as well. http://www.paulaowens.com/

Blessings and good health! …susan

PS My next post will begin tomorrow- a series on storing towels in your bathroom.

Storing Wine In Your Kitchen: Mistakes to Avoid

2009-11-16T19:37:00.001-06:00

As a follow up to my Storing Wine In Your Kitchen Series, I want to share with you some mistakes to avoid.

1. Make sure the openings for storing wine is deep enough so that the wine bottle doesn’t stick out too far.

2. Don’t make the opening so tight it only fits the standard size wine bottle (750 ml). The 1.5 liter size wine bottle (magnum) is also very popular and I recommend that your openings be able to fit both sizes.

3. Pay attention to the location of the kitchen windows and make sure sunshine will not shine directly on your bottles of wine.

4. If you store wine behind a cabinet door and want to be able to lock that cabinet, inform your builder/cabinet maker before the cabinets are made.

5. Consider any physical restrictions you might have that would prevent you from stooping over to retrieve wine stored below the kitchen counter or reaching high to retrieve wine stored above the kitchen counter.

6. If you have young children, make sure wine stored below the counter is located behind a door which can be locked with a key or childproof locks can be applied.

7. Though in the series I showed some photos of wine stored above the refrigerator, it is important to make sure the heat generated from the refrigerator motor does not reach that area as it can dry out the cork and spoil the wine.

Source of photo unknown

8. Avoid storing wine above an oven due to the heat that escapes when the oven door is open.

9. Ice makers generate a lot of heat so make sure if you are storing wine near an ice maker it will not be affected by the heat.

10. Spend time calculating how many bottles of wine you will be storing so you do not end up not having enough storage or you end up wasting space with too much storage. In the photo below over 100 bottles of wine can be stored under the island. If you do not have that much wine, a better use for some of the space would be to add cabinets, drawers, or shelves for cookbooks.

Source: The New Smart Approach to Kitchen Design by Susan Maney

11. Make sure if you use decide to have individual storage using the criss-crossed design that the wood is substantial enough so it will not split or break.

Source: Kitchen Ideas That Work by Beth Veillette

My hope is that you enjoyed this series- giving you ideas and preventing mistakes! Blessings. …susan

PS I forgot my laptop at home when I left town this past weekend so I skipped my Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday Post.

Storing Wine In Your Kitchen Series Part Five-

2009-11-12T21:23:00.001-06:00

Welcome to the final post of my Storing Wine In Your Kitchen Series. To view the previous posts, click here for post one, here for post two, here for post three, and here for post four.

During the time that I have been working on my Storing Wine In Your Kitchen Series, I happened to have dinner at Giovanni’s- which happens to be my favorite restaurant in Nashville. With wine storage options on my mind, I was drawn to the enormous wine bottles on display in the bar (see photo below-note in front are regular size bottles of wine to give you a visual comparison). I asked Giovanni if I could take a photo as he rattled off the names of the bottles and told me there are some that are even larger. I had seen a Jerobaum which is 4.5 liters and assumed that was the largest size. Little did I know. What about you, did you know there is a size called a Sovereign which is 25 liters and it pours 125 glasses of wine? I could barely lift the largest one in the photo below and in comparison it is half the size of the Sovereign. I cannot imagine anyone trying to lift and pour the Sovereign. I will ask Giovanni if it is used purely for display and if not, how is it poured and report back with the answer.

From the back row right-to-left is Nebuchadnezzar, Balthazar, Salmanazar, and the last two on the left are both Methuselah. It appears the second to last is larger due to the height but both are 6 liters. The diameter of the bottle on the left is extends higher to counter for the height. I placed standard bottles of wine in front of these monsters to give you an idea of the size of these bottles of wine.

Giovanni’s is located close to Vanderbilt University and Music Row.

Giovanni came to the United States from Northern Italy in the mid-seventies making New York City his new home. He learned to speak English and in 1982, he opened his first restaurant in New York City. In 1994, he moved to 55th between 5th and 6th in 1994 and remained at that location until closing the doors this year. He opened Giovanni’s in Nashville in November 2008. Many Nashvillians were customers in his New York restaurant and became friends of Giovanni and his lovely wife, Nieda. In fact, he and Nieda, have had an apartment in Nashville for sixteen years. They now call Nashville their home.

Below is a list of 19 bottle sizes which gives you the name of the bottle, size, and number of glasses it will pour.

Bottle
Size
Number of Glasses
Comments

Mignonette
5cl to 25cl
-
Is used as a sample

Piccolo
20cl
1
1/4 of a standard bottle

Chopine
25cl
1.25
1/3 of a standard bottle

Half bottle (or demi)
37.5cl
1.875
Also known as Split or Tenth

Fillette
37.5cl
1.875
Same as Half
In Loire Valley only

Bottle
75cl
3.75
Standard bottle

Magnum
1.5l
7.5
2 standard bottles

Marie-Jeanne or Dame-Jeanne
2.25l
11.25
In some areas it can contain 3l

Double Magnum
3l
15
4 standard bottles

Jeroboam
4.5l
22.5
In Bordeaux
In Burgundy and Champagne, Jeroboam is 3l
First king of Israel

Rehoboam
4.5l
22.5
In Burgundy and Champagne
Son of Solomon and King of Judah

Imperial
6l
30
In Bordeaux
8 standard bottles

Methuselah or Mathusalem
6l
30
In Burgundy and Champagne
Patriarch in the Bible

Salmanazar
9l
45
12 standard bottles
King of Assyria

Balthazar
12l
60
16 standard bottles
Regent of Babylon

Nebuchadnezzar or Nabuchodonosor
15l
75
In Burgundy and Champagne
20 standard bottles
King of Babylon

Melchior
18l
90
In Burgundy and Champagne
24 standard bottles

Solomon
20l
100
Very rare

Sovereign
25l
125
In Champagne, rare

A glass is 20cl of wine (0.21 US quart / 0.42 pint / 6.75 oz)

Liquid measurements
1 liter = 0.26 US gallon / 1.05 US quart / 2.11 pint / 33.8 oz
1 standard bottle (75cl) = 0.2 US gallon / 0.8 US quart / 1.58 pint / 25.35 oz

Source:: Terrior-France website

Thank you for visiting my blog. I would love to hear from you in a comment! Blessings. …susan

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday Post November 8, 2009

2009-11-07T21:31:00.001-06:00

Last week, I ran across of piece of paper in the drawer where I keep quotes or words of wisdom that resonate with me and thought I would use it in my Sunday post. I do not know when I read this or where it came from- just that I had jotted down the following on a piece of paper:

Being happy does not mean everything needs to be perfect. It just means you’ve decided to see beyond the imperfection. So don’t say you are happy because everything’s alright. Be happy because everything sucks and your are still doing just fine.

Earlier this week I received two Abraham & Hicks daily email quotes from a friend. They seemed to relate to the above quote so I decided to include them.

Everything exists for joy. There is not one other reason for life than joy. We've got nothing to prove to anyone, because nobody other than All-That-Is is watching. In other words, we're not trying to get brownie points from some other galaxy. We're not trying to get someplace else; we're not trying to get it done, because there is no ending--we cannot get it done. Everything exists for the purpose of joy in the moment. November 3, 2009

A happy life is just a string of happy moments. But most people don't allow the happy moment, because they're so busy trying to get a happy life. November 4, 2009

These serve as a reminder to me to stay in the moment- to chose to be happy- and to choose to be joyful. I don’t need to feel like I have to wait to have fun until everything is in order- the laundry is done, the dishwasher is unloaded, the house is clean, my next post is ready, etc. I am learning to embrace life today- to enjoy the moment and not put off having a joyful experience. Hopefully you will choose to be happy and joyful in the moment! Blessings. …susan

Storing Wine In Your Kitchen Series Part Four

2009-11-05T22:14:00.001-06:00

Welcome to Part Four of my Storing Wine In Your Kitchen Series. To see Parts One, Two, and Three, click here, here, and here.

In Part Four, I am featuring walls of cabinets that serve as bars/coffee bars that are part of the kitchen area.

Source: Kitchen Ideas That Work by Beth Veillette

^The generous amount of counter space in the wall of cabinets shown above creates many uses. I could see the counter below the stained glass window being the beverage center for a buffet dinner or other gathering. Another option would be to use it for serving coffee and desserts. If having a smaller gathering, a buffet dinner could be set up there. Of course, the entire unit could function as a bar. When entertaining you could place a tray of wine and cocktail glasses on the counter. Did you notice the wine glasses hanging under the left upper cabinet?

Source unknown. If you know the source of this photo please contact me so I can note it.

^I find the wall of cabinets in the photo above to be very functional and very attractive. It is a combination of a butler’s pantry, a bar, and a coffee bar. I love the symmetry in the upper cabinets. I am a fan of the appliance garage holding the coffee maker with the coffee cups stored conveniently in the cabinet above. It appears to have dishwasher drawers or perhaps they are refrigerator drawer (bottom right side of photo). To the left of those it appears to be an ice maker. I am thinking the vertical pull out cabinet in the bottom center of the photo is for trash or it could hold whiskey bottles.

Source unknown- if you know the source of this photo please contact me so I can note it.

^I found this wall unit to be quite interesting. Instead of storing wine, this homeowner chose to store bottled water.

My hope is that the photos in this post have given you ideas for your dream home. Blessings. …susan

Storing Wine In Your Kitchen Series Part Three

2009-11-03T10:14:00.001-06:00

Welcome to Part Three of my Storing Wine In Your Kitchen Series. This post will focus on storing wine below the kitchen counter. To see Part One, click here. For Part Two, click here.

Source of photo unknown.

Above and below are two ideas for under cabinet wine storage. As noted in the first post of this series, when storing wine beneath the counter you need to take into account the stooping that is required as well as not being able to childproof when there is no cabinet door.

Source of photo: Kitchens by Chris Casson Madden

^In the photo above, creating the wine storage was a nice use of narrow space that would have otherwise been wasted.

Source of photo: The New Smart Approach to Kitchen Design by Susan Maney

^I like the wine storage idea shown in the photo above. It appears to hold five bottles of wine deep and six bottles of wine vertically which totals 30 bottles. Though in this particular photo the pullout cabinet is not below a kitchen counter, I included it because it could easily be made to fit below the counter. One concern I have which I cannot tell if it is addressed in this photo is if the bottles move when the cabinet is pulled out. That could be an easy remedy working with your cabinet maker.

The next three photos were in Part One of this series. I included them again because they can be used below an island or below a kitchen counter.

Source of photo unknown.

Source of photo: Kitchens by Chris Casson Madden

Source of photo unknown.

I hope you have enjoyed the series so far. There is still more to come! Check back for Part Four which will focus on storing wine in the kitchen bar counter or coffee bar counter. Blessings. …susan

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday November 1, 2009

2009-11-01T10:25:00.001-06:00

Beginning in 1983 when I heard or read something that was meaningful to me- inspired me- made me smile- touched my heart- I would jot it down in my book- a book of blank pages that is covered in a thin layer of a beige fabric with tiny pink roses and tiny white daisies. Over the years “my book of meaningful words” has gotten some wear and tear. There are stains on it. The corners are bent. The fabric is fraying. Even so, that which I wrote in the book still speaks to me and will continue to speak to me for years to come. It is from this little book that I write today’s post- To Let Go. Unfortunately, I did not write down the source. Although when I wrote this down I had never heard of Al anon, it does sounds similar to some al anon material I have read here and there in recent years. In case you are not familiar with Al anon, it is the sister organization to AA or Alcoholics Anonymous. Al anon is for those whose lives has been affected by someone’s drinking. It can be the drinking of a spouse, child, mother, father, sister, brother, friend, boss, etc. Blessings. …susan

PS If you happen to know the source, please contact me so I can note it.

To Let Go…

to let go does not mean to stop caring, it means I can’t do it for someone else.

to let go is not to cut myself off, it’s the realization I can’t control another.

to let go is not to enable but to allow learning from natural consequences.

to let go is to admit powerlessness which means the outcome is not in my hands.

to let go is not to try to change or blame another, it’s to make the most of myself.

to let go is not to care for, but to care about.

to let go is not to fix, but to be supportive.

to let go is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being.

to let go is not to be in the middle arranging outcomes, but to allow others to affect their destiny.

to let go is not to be protective, it’s to permit another to face reality.

to let go is not to deny, but to accept.

to let go is not to nag, scold, or argue, but instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.

to let go is not to adjust everything to my desires, but to take each day as it comes and cherish myself in it.

to let go is not to criticize and regulate anybody, but to try to become what I dream I can be.

to let go is not to regret the past, but to glow and live for the future.

to let go is to fear less and love more.

There are so many scenarios in which “to let go” can be applied. I especially found it helpful when my children married. I certainly did not want to be a meddling mother-in-law. The bottom line for me is the fact that I cannot control anyone’s behavior, choices, attitude, etc. I need to let go and let God. I need to keep my side of the street clean and not worry about someone else’s side of the street.

Check back as I continue my series on Storing Wine In Your Kitchen.

Storing Wine In Your Kitchen Series: Part Two

2009-10-30T08:37:00.001-05:00

Welcome to Part Two of my series Storing Wine In Your Kitchen. To see Part One, click here. This post will feature ideas for storing wine in your kitchen’s upper cabinet area. Enjoy!

Source of photo unknown.

^Though there is no custom cabinet work for wine storage, this homeowner found an area on top of their upper cabinet that works well for wine bottle storage. If you like this idea, you need to make sure there is an appropriate amount of space between your upper cabinet and the ceiling to place wine bottles. You could work with your cabinet maker to come up with an inexpensive design to tilt the bottles in order to keep the cork wet and to prevent them from rolling around when a bottle is removed. Note that in this particular photo the ceiling is vaulted.

Source of photo unknown.

^In the photo above, a small area above the refrigerator could have easily been wasted space with decorative wood panels applied. Don’t you think taking that space and creating storage for 24 bottles of wine was an excellent idea?

Source of photo unknown.

^In the same vein as the previous photo, a homeowner took what could have been an easily wasted space and created vertical storage for wine.

Source of photo: The Smart Approach to Kitchen Design by Susan Maney

^Instead of using the space for an open shelf, in the photo above, this homeowner created a wine storage area which holds 15 bottles of wine.

Source of photo: Kitchen Ideas That Work by Beth Veillette

^Can you believe 40 bottles of wine fit in the space shown above?

Source of photo: The Smart Approach to Kitchen Design by Susan Maney

^The picture above does not tell the whole story because we cannot see how high the wine storage goes nor how far across. What we can see is storage for at least 24 bottles of wine with at least six vertical cubby holes for mail and other correspondence.

Source of photo unknown.

^After seeing the first photo of this post, another option for this homeowner would have been to create a single row for wine storage above the refrigerator in the narrow wasted space. This could have been in addition to the storage shown above or in place of the storage shown. However, I do like the aesthetic look of the wine storage in the photo above.

Source of photo unknown.

^In the photo above one has the option of adding cabinet doors, either glass or solid. Cabinet doors would give them the ability to lock the cabinets, see illustration below. I like the fact that the cabinet designated for wine is at the end of the counter and near the living area which keeps the person retrieving wine out of the kitchen work area. Isn’t this an interesting home with a tree trunk in the kitchen?

^In a friend of mine’s kitchen shown above, a wine rack was built into an area above the mircowave and oven. Though a nice look, the heat that escapes when the oven door is opened might not be the best thing for the wine.

Wine storage illustrations from my

book,

Designing

Your Dream Home

Check back to view Part Three of my series. It will focus on options for storing wine underneath the kitchen counter. Blessings. …susan

Storing Wine In Your Kitchen Series Part One

2009-10-26T19:21:00.001-05:00

Welcome to my “Storing Wine In Your Kitchen Series”. In this first post, I am focusing on storing wine in your kitchen island. Subsequent posts will look at other options for storing wine in your kitchen.

How many times have you found yourself standing in your kitchen in the middle of cooking dinner- maybe you are frying chicken, stirring gravy, keeping an eye on the rolls in the oven- (makes me hungry typing this!) and you need a bottle of wine. You need a bottle to serve with dinner or to drink with a friend who stopped by or you just want to sip some wine while you cook. It is a crucial time in the cooking process and you cannot possibly leave the stove to go to the wine cellar located in the basement or to your bar which is located on the other end of your home to get a bottle of wine. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a place to store a few bottles of wine in your kitchen?

How many times have you had a party and everyone ends up gathering in the kitchen? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a few bottles of wine stored in your kitchen to serve your guests?

As you design your dream home or remodel your kitchen, it makes sense to plan for a place to store wine even if you have a wine cellar or a bar (unless the bar in your home is located next to the kitchen).

There are many decisions to be made about storing wine that are not right or wrong but are a personal preference. How many bottles of wine do you want to be able to store? What is the range in the size of the bottles of wine you plan to store? What type of storage do you prefer? Hopefully the photos in this series will help you to identify the storage solution that is right for you.

^In the island above, the homeowner is able to store twelve bottles of wine; one bottle per square hole. The holes are large enough to accommodate the circumference of larger sized bottles of wine, though I cannot tell by this photo if the holes are deep enough to handle the height of the larger bottles of wine. Personally, I feel that this design takes up quite a bit of space to only hold twelve bottles of wine. However, I understand the symmetry of three drawers across and three cubby holes for wine as well but I think there are better designs, like the one shown in the photo below, that would look appropriate and provide more storage.

Source of photo above unknown. Please contact me if you know the source and I will note it.

Source: The New Smart Approach to Kitchen Design by Susan Maney

^Before you read any further, take a guess at how many bottles of wine you think can be stored in the photo above? Obviously, wine is very important to the homeowner who lives in this home. Each of the diamonds holds nine standard size bottles of wine plus the six half diamonds hold three bottles of wine and the four quarter diamonds hold one bottle for a total of 103 bottles of wine.

Source: The New Smart Approach to Kitchen Design by Susan Maney

^The wine storage shown in the photo above is simple yet functional.

Source of photo above unknown. Please contact me if you know the source and I will note it.

In the contemporary kitchen shown above, the wire wine racks work well in the center of this island. They are far enough recessed so that the person sitting on the bar stool will not bump their knees. It appears that there are a pair of wine captains on each end of the island. It is important when retrieving wine stored on an island it does not interfere with the cook.

Source of photo above unknown. Please contact me if you know the source and I will note it.

^The criss/crossed wine storage used in the photo above is not a favorite of mine for several reasons. First, it is expensive to build because there are two rows of the criss/crossed pieces of wood – one to hold the neck of the bottle and one to hold the base. Second, the wooden criss/crosses are usually thin pieces of wood and they can break. It is an expensive repair and an eyesore. Third, you have less bottle storage because of all of the wood.

Source of photo above unknown. Please contact me if you know the source and I will note it.

^This vertical storage of wine- bottle on top of bottle works because the bottles are only three deep. Imagine if you have more than three bottles and you were trying to pull out the one on the bottom? I think the large diamond design shown in the third photo would have been more functional. I do like the custom door used on the wine captain.

Source of photo above unknown. Please contact me if you know the source and I will note it.

^For the amount of space dedicated for wine storage in the island shown above, this design works. If you are a senior citizen, you may not want to bend over to retrieve wine from a lower shelf. If you have children, this design will not be safe for the young children or for the wine.

Source of photo above unknown. Please contact me if you know the source and I will note it.

I cannot tell from the photo above and below if these drawers are located in a kitchen island, a lower cabinet in the kitchen, in a bar, or perhaps in the butler’s pantry. However, this storage method would work in all four areas. The drawer above is more custom fitted to the standard size wine bottle. It appears that the bottles fit rather snug so when opening the drawer they will not roll around.

Source of photo above unknown. Please contact me if you know the source and I will note it.

^Unlike the wine in the drawers in the previous photo, the bottles in the photo above do not appear to be tilted downward in order to keep the cork wet. A slight tilt to keep the cork wet is a good idea. Personally, I do like this wine storage method because you can pull out a drawer and easily see the bottle labels. There are four drawers above with each drawer holding nine bottles of wine. That is a pretty good inventory in a small amount of space. An added feature is the labeling system on each drawer. Because there is a cabinet door in front of these drawers, a lock could be added if that is the preference of the homeowner.

Be sure to check back for Part Two of this series. Blessings. …susan

Source: Kitchens by Chris Casson Madden

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday October 25, 2009

2009-10-24T19:38:00.001-05:00

The following are random quotes about prayer I jotted down here and there.. Many were heard when listening to a friend named John DeFoore. When I read these when I pray, they help me remember to get honest, surrender my thoughts, and focus. I hope they will do the same for you.

Prayer Quotes

“Don’t pray for an easy life, pray to be a strong person.”

“Make prayer positive and receptive.”

“Make prayer an act of surrender and honesty.”

“Wait on the Lord, he will strengthen your heart.”

“Pray positively and regularly at the thought of a coming event.”

“You are what you pray.”

“Pray honestly to bring to light all the fear, guilt, hate, and inferiority in my mind and address those issues in prayer.”

“Pray the first thing in the morning and the last thing at night.”

Blessings. …susan

My Other Blessings

2009-10-23T20:05:00.001-05:00

The month of October proved to be a good month for me because I was able to spend time with all four grandchildren, though not together. Because they live in different states it is not very often that all are under the same roof. But when I am able to be with all four at once, it is a wonderful type of chaos. The four of them were born in a three year period almost to the day.

I recently did a post on Pass Christian, MS rebuilding after Katrina. It was on that trip that I spent time with my son Hastings’s two boys, Peyton and Parker shown in the first few photos below.

^I introduced Peyton and Parker to water balloons. For two days I filled the balloons with water and tied them off. Peyton and Parker had so much fun throwing them at each other and just busting them on the driveway. Here is a photo of Peyton, who turned four years old in July with his balloons.

^Above are my grandsons who are brothers. Parker will be three in February and Peyton turned four in July. Although my daughter-in-law does not sew, she does find great fabric from which to have matching shorts and pants made for the boys and then has embroidered designs complimenting the fabric sewn on their shirts. As you can see in the photo below, their shorts have tractors on them so this tractor embroidery compliments the fabric.

^Parker on his riding toy at his home in Ridgeland, MS which is in the Jackson, MS area.

^About two weeks ago, Parker came to visit me in Nashville. Peyton was going hunting with his dad, so he did not join him. We went to the park to feed the ducks and geese. He had so much fun throwing the bread into the water and watching them eat it. To be honest, I had fun as well.

^Parker saw this fish at the park and decided to climb aboard!

^In an old-fashion park swing.

Two days in a row we went to the gym so he could play basketball. He is obsessed with playing basketball. He shoots hoops all the time at home- both inside and outside! Although the goal is quite a bit taller than him, I was amazed at how often he made the shot (35% of the time). He is so determined and so focused. After an hour of constant shooting, I had to bribe him to leave.

^Looks like two points to me!

I plan to be getting back to my posts on designing your dream home and spiritual and inspiration quotes real soon. Please keep checking back. I hope you have enjoyed seeing all of my grandchildren “blessing”. …susan

Counting My Blessings!

2009-10-22T18:33:00.001-05:00

Well, I am back in Nashville after spending several days with two of my grandchildren- my daughter Suzy’s children. While working out this morning a friend asked me what was making me so happy- noting that I appeared to be glowing. I quickly replied- “I just spent a few days with my grandbabies and that always fills me up with love and happiness!”

Below are my two youngest grandchildren, Blake and Allie. They are modeling their new tote bags before heading to school. Their fraternal grandmother made these for them. Lucky they have Robyn, as sewing is not a talent of mine. Robyn has taught my daughter to sew. Suzy made Allie’s dress as well as Blake’s matching pants. In the pumpkin farm photos further down, check out the monogramming/embroidering on their t-shirts. Suzy bought a monogram machine and is having a great time personalizing their clothes. She said Allie’s monogramming took 23 different thread color changes!

Blake is 15 months old and Allie is 27 months old. That equates to one year and two days apart in age. Allie insisted on wearing her red rain boots even though it was not raining. She looks so cute in them!

Blake is so proud of his bag with all kinds of balls on it. He has not yet had his first haircut.

With big sister Allie is leading the way, they headed for all of the action going on at the pumpkin farm.

I am actually hiding behind Blake holding him up so he can peer through the Cool Bus window.

There were lots of homemade creative activities for the children to do. Allie loved jumping on the tire tube.

Blake made some new friends at the pumpkin farm.

He loved sitting on the pumpkins moving from one to another.

You can pick apples from apple orchard. Allie sure enjoyed hers.

My daughter, Suzy, and her daughter, Allie.

Grandmommy and Blake!

Grandmommy and Allie!

Yes, I count my blessings- Allie and Blake being two of them! …susan

Traveling

2009-10-18T20:53:00.001-05:00

Hey there! This past week has been a whirlwind. Besides having the most precious visitor in my home, my grandson, Parker, (I will be posting photos), I was able to present a television show idea to the Scripps Network in Knoxville, TN which produces HGTV, GAC (Great American Country), DIY, and other television programs. The presentation does not involve me, but a friend who is an incredible talent. Though the TV show is a long shot, the presentation yielded some “homework” to do and a follow up meeting. After leaving Knoxville, I headed to Charlotte, NC for the weekend and ended up in Greenville, SC earlier today to spend a few days with my daughter and her family. I am hoping to get a post on my blog but with a fifteen month old grandson and and 27 month old granddaughter, it will be a challenge. Blessings. …susan

I am blessed!

2009-10-11T23:07:00.001-05:00

Hi! I was blessed with an unexpected opportunity on Saturday…that being my 2 1/2 year old grandson, Parker, has come to visit me for several days. In fact, as I am trying to type this post, he is curled up next to me pushing on the keyboard and pulling on my fingers. He wants me to pull up photos of his younger cousins on my computer.

I will get back to publishing a post either Tuesday night or Wednesday. Please check back. Blessings. …susan

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday October 4, 2009

2009-10-04T12:12:00.001-05:00

Quotations of Former Presidents

George Washington- “to err is natural, to rectify error is glorious”

George Washington- “Be courteous to all, but intimate with few; and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence”

Abraham Lincoln- “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed, is more important than any other one thing”

Theodore Roosevelt- “The only man who makes no mistake is the man who does nothing”

Woodrow Wilson- “I not only use the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow”

Calvin Coolidge- ‘I have never been hurt by anything I didn’t say”

Stephen Grover Cleveland- “Above all, tell the truth”

Thomas Jefferson- “One man with courage is a majority”

James Madison- “The happiness of society is the end of government”

Millard Fillmore- “An honorable defeat is better than a dishonorable victory”

John F. Kennedy- “Once you say you are going to settle for second, that’s what happens to you in life”

Dwight D. Eisenhower- “Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it”

Richard Nixon- “A man who has never lost himself in a cause bigger than himself has missed one of life’s mountaintop experience. Only in losing himself does he find himself”

Blessings. …susan

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday September 27, 2009

2009-09-26T21:29:00.001-05:00

Throughout my life, I assume yours too, I have seen on the news on television, seen and read on the internet, read in a newspaper, heard on the radio, and in a few instances seen with my very own eyes, fellow human beings faced with catastrophic losses, overwhelming despair, extreme adversity, and horrific heartache. Yet, they persevere, are resilient, and show courage. What is it that keeps them going? It is HOPE.

In my last post, you can see photos showing the devastation in Pass Christian, Mississippi caused by Hurricane Katrina. (Scroll down to see these photos) Imagine returning to your home and in some cases your home and place of employment and only finding the steps to what was once your home or only finding the slab on which your home or business was built. This was the norm for most residents of Pass Christian, Mississippi.

^You can see the sidewalk that led to this residence which was destroyed by the powerful surge of water in Katrina.

And for some, not only did they lose their home and everything in it, but they may have lost family members and family pets. This is one of those few instances of fellow human beings faced with catastrophic losses, overwhelming despair, extreme adversity, and horrific heartache that I saw with my very own eyes and felt with my heart. Not only when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005 but also in 1969 when Hurricane Camille hit. (At a later date, I will do a post about being in my family’s home during Hurricane Camille with 200 mph winds!)

Initially, people are so overwhelmed by a catastrophic event that they are in shock and numb. Gradually, they begin to face reality. They begin to dig deep and they find HOPE. I remember in both Katrina and Camille seeing signs made out of battered boards leaned up against a tree or pile of debris that showed signs of HOPE. Words such as:

We Shall Overcome!

We Will Be Back!

The Coast Will Rise Again!

We Will Prevail!

God Bless America!

We will rebuild!

Not only were these signs important to the person who made them but also for the community as well. As others drove by and read the sign, it gave them HOPE and HOPE became contagious. It was this feeling of HOPE that united the community and made them believe they would overcome.

I want to share some quotes on HOPE. No matter what situation you may face, choose HOPE! Blessings. …susan

HOPE

“Once you choose hope, anything’s possible” Christopher Reeves

“A leader is a dealer in hope” Napoleon Bonaparte

“There are no hopeless situation; there are only men who have grown hopeless about them” Clare Boothe Luce

“When you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless. But when you get involved you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from knowing you are working to make things better” Pauline R. Kezer

“When you say a situation or person is hopeless, you are slamming the door in the face of God” Charles L. Allen

“Hope is passion for what is possible” Soren Kierkegaard

“Hope is a waking dream” Aristotle

“If it were not for hopes the heart would break” Thomas Fuller

“But in the mud and scum of things there alway, alway something sings” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Common Hopeful Sayings

Hang in there, it will get better!

One step at a time!

One day at a time!

Take lemons and make lemonade!

Keep on keeping on!

Keep your head up!

Have a “Can Do” attitude!

Don’t give up!

You can do it!

Four Years After Katrina-Some Beautiful Beach Front Homes

2009-09-25T18:54:00.001-05:00

Welcome to my post featuring Pass Christian, Mississippi, my hometown, which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina four years ago (August 29, 2005). I had moved to Nashville exactly two week prior to Hurricane Katrina hitting Pass Christian. My dad and three siblings were not evacuating. My dad and sister were staying in Pass Christian and my two brothers in their respective homes in Biloxi, MS. In this post I will share my story regarding Hurricane Katrina as well as photos of beautiful beach front homes in The Pass, as Pass Christian is affectionately called. I am a joining Julia’s Hooked on Friday blog party since I am Hooked on Beautiful Beach Front Homes. Click here to check out her party.

Hours before Katrina made landfall, I was on the phone with my dad. As my dad was telling me the power was out and explaining the weather conditions, the phone line went dead. This was approximately 7:30 am. I watched the Weather Channel and news channels all day. As details of the mass devastation emerged, I wondered if my dad and siblings had survived. I tried and tried to reach my brothers on their cell phones but was unable. By the grace of God, that evening both brothers got a call through to me. Each only lasted 15 seconds before the call was dropped, but at least I knew they were ok. I spoke with my son who lives in Jackson, Mississippi, which was hit pretty hard by Katrina as well. He was leaving early in the morning to make the three hour drive down to check on his employees and branch offices in Gulfport and Biloxi and planned to drive to Pass Christian to check on some of his fraternal relative’s homes. He was pulling a trailer with supplies and chain saws as he expected the roads to be inpassable. Once on the Mississippi Coast, he ended up having to frequently stop and cut up trees along the way to clear the roads. He was able to find my dad. He could not get a cell signal to let me know until he returned to Jackson late that night. He said my dad’s home had some wind damage but no water. Even though he was just shy of his 81st birthday and there was no power, water, gas, or phone service, my dad elected to stay put at his home. He wanted to protect his property and that of his neighbors and friends. Two of my son’s fraternal relative’s homes were washed away and the third one had been flooded. All of them had evacuated and were safe. My sister was unaccounted for. My dad thought she had stayed with our great aunt. Our great aunt thought she had stayed with a friend. No one knew where she was or if she was ok. I feared the worst. I had two different dreams in which she had died and was floating in the water. Finally, a week later my brother was riding around in one of the army trucks helping people in Pass Christian when he spotted her walking on the road. He was able to let me know which was a great relief.

I spent approximately 20 hours a day for the next two weeks reading and posting comments on the Sun Herald Newspaper website. Because my son was driving back and forth from Jackson, Mississippi to Pass Christian each day, he was able to answer questions regarding which roads were open, the gasoline situation, if any of the towns were under lockdown, etc. My daughter ended up going there to help her relatives look for their belongings. A neighbor of my dad’s was in Memphis and worrying whether or not his home had made it. I answered his post and told him I would find out about his house. I asked my daughter to take photos of his home so I could email them to him. The house next door was heavily damaged and flooded but his appeared to be ok. At the most, he may have had an inch or two of water inside but that could not be determined from the outside. Ends up he had no water inside. To this day he still emails me and expresses his gratitude. Additionally, I was in touch with other residents via email and could relay information or gather information sought by others on the website. I heard from soldiers stationed in Iraq concerned if where they stored their belonging before being deployed had made it through the hurricane. I heard from people trying to find out if their loved ones were alive. In several cases I was able to let them know their loved one was alive because someone I was in touch with had seen them.

My family was looking for my dad’s brother and his wife. I asked in several posts I made if anyone had seen them. A neighbor of theirs replied that the last time he talked to them they were planning to stay home and ride out the storm. Their home was completely gone-washed away. Soon it became apparent that they did not make it.

The post card at the beginning of this post was taken pre-Katrina. The blue building just above the letter S in Pass was the Pass Christian Yacht Club. The harbor had many piers for the shrimp and oyster boats as well as for sailboats. Half of Pass Christian is a peninsula with the Gulf of Mexico out front (the body of water is actually called the Mississippi Sound), the Bay of St. Louis on the western tip, and bayous and the Wolf River to the north. During Katrina, the water from the North, South, and West met, flooding over half of the town. After Katrina, there were only 43 homes that were habitable in Pass Christian. The rest were either washed away, heavily damaged, or flooded.

^Above is a home that was heavily damaged by Katrina but has been restored to the original look. I have always loved the architectural designs of the screened in porches with this particular one being one of my favorite. (Photo September 2009)

^As a child I rode my bicycle past these homes many many times. This particular home was always one of my favorites. It was heavily damaged by Katrina. I am so pleased to see that it has been restored to the original condition including the white fence out front. (Photo September 2009)

Ten weeks after Katrina hit, I visited Pass Christian for the first time since the storm to attend the funeral for my aunt and uncle. They elected to stay in their home due to their failing health; believing it was safe since it withstood Hurricane Camille (1969). Their logic was if their home survived Camille’s winds of 200 mph, then it would withstand those of Katrina’s at 120 mph. Unfortunately, Katrina’s storm surge was greater than Camille’s due to it’s size and slow movement. It was that surge that washed their home away with them in it.

For several weeks after Katrina, we held out hope that they had decided to evacuate their home before Katrina hit. After weeks with no word from them, it became evident that they had perished. Then, our thoughts turned to whether or not their bodies would ever be found. Ten weeks after Katrina struck their bodies were identified within days of each other which allowed for a joint funeral. I thought it was fitting that they would end up having a joint funeral since they died together.

Sadly, I returned to Pass Christian this week to attend my other uncle’s funeral. He was a great man who lived a long and productive life. While there, I was pleased to see progress being made in Pass Christian-though there is still a long way to go. Many of the beautiful homes on Scenic Drive that were heavily damaged by Katrina have been rebuilt to their original condition. Some were torn down with a new home built on the lot such as the ones in the two photos below. Quite a few empty lots remain where a beach front home once stood. Perhaps after scrolling through the photos I am sharing you will understand why The Pass occupies a special place in my heart. Blessings. …susan

BTW: Lee Bailey’s book Long Weekends has one section that is photographed in Pass Christian. Also, Martha Stewart used some of the front porches in Pass Christian as settings for photos in one of her books. I cannot put my hands on the book but will note the name in a future post.

^Front porches with French doors and working shutters are often seen in the design of beach front homes in Pass Christian. Above and below are two new homes being built to replace homes that were washed away. (Photos-September 2009)

^The home above was damaged during Katrina and fortunately it has been restored to the original condition. I especially love the front porch on this one. (Photo September 2009)

^Most of the beach front homes in Pass Christian are painted white. This home has been a golden yellow for many years. Though heavily damaged by the storm, it has been restored to the original look including the golden yellow color. (Photo September 2009)

^Another one that has been restored to the original condition. Photo September 2009

^Many beach front homes have porches on both levels such as the one shown above. (Photo September 2009)

^A sidewalk runs along Scenic Drive and many of the homes have short white picket fences. I was happy to see that a good number of homes rebuilt these fences. (Photo September 2009)

^This home was heavily damaged but has been restored to the original look. It has always had awning across the front. (Photo September 2009)

^A friend of mine use to live in this home. I remember a bed on the upstairs front porch that hung from the ceiling on chains and would swing with the wind.

^Yet another home with a glorious front porch and the white fence. (Photo September 2009)

^This is the only restored home that I noticed with a for sale sign. I am not a fan of the stone wall across the front as that is not in keeping with the architectural style of Scenic Drive. (Photo September 2009)

^Photo taken September 2009.

^Photo taken September 2009

^Though nice looking, this home is a different style for the beach front in Pass Christian. Brick is not usually used nor are three stories.

^Photo taken September 2009

The group of photos below show progress being made. Some photos taken were 10 weeks after Katrina hit and then today. Others were taken in October 2008 and then almost a year later.

^Trinity Episcopal Church (photo taken 10 weeks after Katrina, November 2005).

^Trinity Episcopal Church (photo taken October 2008)

^Four years plus a few weeks later, Trinity Episcopal Church is under construction. This church was completely destroyed by Hurricane Camille in 1969 and then again by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Notice how high off the ground it is being built this time. (Photo September 2009)

^This is a photo taken from Highway 90 which runs along the beach looking up Market Street which was one of the main streets that runs North/South. Photo taken 10 weeks after Katrina.

^Believe it or not, this is the same street as seen above except I took the photo at the intersection where the suburban is shown above. Not much has changed in the four years since Katrina hit-with the exception of power lines and telephone poles having been installed. Most the debris seen in the first photo has been removed and what was left of a building has been razed. (Photo September 2009)

^The Pass Christian Harbor (photo taken 10 weeks after Katrina). The yacht club was destroyed as were the piers.

^While visiting Pass Christian this week, there was much rain and scattered thunderstorms which made for less than ideal photographs. In the photo above you can see there has been progress made in the harbor. The piers have been rebuilt and are filled with shrimp and oyster boats as well as sailboats. The building straight ahead is the Pass Christian Yacht Club, which is the 2nd oldest yacht club in the United States. My great-grandfathers (maternal and paternal) served as commodores. As a teen, I was a junior sailor and sailed in many races and regattas. To the left is a gas station that has been rebuilt. (Photo September 2009)

^The photo above and below is a what a typical residential street in Pass Christian looked like ten weeks after Katrina hit. Homes had been washed away, trees had been battered by the winds and there is debris everywhere. All of the streets looked alike. It was a bit confusing since there were no street signs nor landmarks to identify on which street I was driving.

^Live Oak Cemetery (photo taken 10 weeks after Katrina) This cemetery was known for the beautiful live oak trees throughout. My mother is buried there. The trees were heavily damaged and tombstones were turned over. Many of the beautiful crosses on top of the bases were washed off and broken.

^The photo above and below show great improvement to the cemetery. I took these as I drove away after burying my uncle. In the bottom half of the photo is the main street in town that runs East and West. Some parts of it is still not paved. (Photo September 2009)

^Above is an empty lot where a home once stood. Just to the right of the center of the photo you can see the handrails to the swimming pool steps. Can you imagine you entire home being washed away with everything in it? (Photo sent to me by a friend in September 2005)

^Above is Scenic Drive which sits up on about a 15 foot ridge that runs parallel to Highway 90. Highway 90 runs east and west along the white sand beach. Many parts of the road were washed out. The beach front homes were either washed away or heavily damaged. (Photo October 2008)

^Above is the same Scenic Drive which is in the process of being paved four years after Katrina hit and many homes are being rebuilt. (Photo September 2009)

Above photo taken October 2008 and then below this past week.

Above photo October 2008 and then below this week.

Above October 2008 and then below this week.

Above photo October 2008 and then below this week.

Above photo October 2008 and below this week. This home had water in the lower floor and wind damage but has been restored to its original look.

^Still under repair in October 2008, I love the floor to ceiling windows. The photo below was taken this week. The shutters and porch furniture make this home so inviting.

^All of the photos of the homes in this post were taken east of the harbor. The one home in the photo above is west of the harbor. It was one of the very few and possibly the only one that survived Katrina, partly because it is built up high. As you can see there are hardly any structures standing in the vicinity of this home.

The photo above and below are of the same house. Above is from the side street with the main part of the house to the left. There is a screened in porch between the two with a set of stairs leading to that porch. The smaller wing in the right side of the photo with handicap access is occupied by the mother. I understand her daughter and her family occupy the main house.

^This is the front view of this home which faces the beach. The wing to the left is the master bedroom. The original home was washed away in the hurricane.

Katrina Facts:

Landfall on August 29, 2005 at noon

Circulating wind speed at landfall 120 mph

Category 3 Hurricane

Eye was 25-30 miles wide, storm was 415 miles wide

Slow movement over water and land at 5-10 mph.

Storm surge 35-40 feet, highest in Pass Christian

Costliest in the U.S. at over $90 billion

Fifth deadliest with 1836 dead and 705 missing

Traveled through the entire state of Mississippi with all 82 counties declared disaster areas.

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday September 20, 2009

2009-09-19T21:02:00.001-05:00

In honor of Michael Jordan recently being inducted into the NBA Basketball Hall of Fame, I thought I would share some of his quotes. Both my son and daughter were basketball players in elementary, middle, and high school. This coincided with the Michael Jordan era. He was their hero. My daughter bordered on being obsessed with him. She watched his video “Come Fly With Me” so many times she had the words memorized. She attended his basketball camp held in Chicago two years in a row. He actually showed up a couple of times during each camp and spoke to the kids as well as took individual photos with each of them. Talk about a kid being on cloud nine! I still have boxes of MJ t-shirts and other memorabilia that she collected. On my recent trip to California, I saw a magazine devoted to Michael Jordan’s career at the news store. I bought it to give to my daughter even though she is now thirty years old! I have to admit that I read the magazine from cover-to-cover myself.

In case you are not familiar with Michael Jordan’s story, he failed to make the ninth grade basketball team. He took that rejection and used it to fuel his desire to prove the coach wrong. The rest is history.

Besides his God-given physical ability, it is his determination and mental toughness that made him the greatest basketball player to ever play the game. I believe with anyone who has earned the title of being the greatest at what they do, there is much to be learned from their mental approach to their sport or craft. Perhaps you will gain some inspiration from Michael Jordan. Blessings. …susan

Quotes by Michael Jordan

I'm not out there sweating for three hours every day just to find out what it feels like to sweat.

Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.

I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying.

I've always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come.

I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.

I've never been afraid to fail.

Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.

My attitude is that if you push me towards something that you think is a weakness, then I will turn that perceived weakness into a strength.

Designing Your Dream Home to Include Your Dog

2009-09-18T11:37:00.001-05:00

Welcome! This post is for those of you with a dog. I apologize to those of you with a cat or other pet but my only pet experience is with a dog. Maybe some of the dog ideas in this post will translate to ideas that can be used for other pets.

I am joining Julia’s Hooked on Friday Blog Party because I am Hooked on Dogs! Click here to attend the party.

Though the photo below does not allow me to see the entire room, if I had a room designated for my dog I would plan for specific storage for all things dog related: leashes, collars, food, treats, supplements, medicines, bath products, grooming products, towels for drying off after a bath, toys, travel totes or cages, clothes if living in a cold climate, bed, and an outlet if you play music for your dog, blow dry their hair, use an electric dog feeder or an electric heater.

^I like the idea of having a Dutch door which allows you to look in on your dog without your dog trying to get out. Note the height of the shower head plus there is a hand held shower for giving your dog a bath. The paw print wallpaper plus the paw print tiles in the shower give this room an identity.

^Source: The French Connection by Betty Lou Phillips

I like this chain link fence option for containing a dog. I am not sure if this is located in a garage, in the laundry room, in a mud room, or in a special room for the dog. I like the tile wall which is more durable than sheetrock. There is a faucet on the wall and I assume a drain in the floor which makes cleaning the area easier. I would have preferred a hot and cold water faucet if living in a colder climate so the water temperature can be adjusted when washing your dog. The cabinets above are convenient for storing dog related items. I don’t see an outlet but hope there is one in the area.

^Source unknown-if you know the source and email me, it will be noted.

^How many times have you tripped over a dog bed in your own home or when visiting someone with a dog. The above photo shows a dog house with it’s own window built into the kitchen island. Obviously, the dog that lives in this home is a big part of the family. I like the idea of a built in dog bed area but I think I would have preferred it in a mud room or laundry room instead of in the kitchen. All of you with a dog, what do you think?

^Source unknown- if you know the source and email me, it will be noted.

Doggy doors for two different size dogs are shown in the photos above and below. As I look at the photo above, what comes to mind is safety, as that opening is large enough for a human being to fit through. There are two pieces of hardware on each side of the opening that I assume lock the door.

It appears the doggy door below has a chain to hold it open. I would prefer one that swings open when the dog pushes on it but can be locked. I like how the doggy door opening is part of the door panel.

^Source unknown- if you know the source and email me, it will be noted.

^How clever is this photo showing dried dog food stored in a drawer and below the drawer is an open area for the dog’s food and water bowl. How many times have you tripped over a dog food or water bowl? I would prefer having the drawer lined in some type of metal or having a metal container that is removable. I would want to make sure the drawer is big enough for an entire bag of dog food to fit. The size of your dog will determine the size of the opening needed to hold the dog’s food and water bowl. Perhaps the area holding the food and water bowl could pull out when feeding your dog.

^Don’t you like the niche created under the oven and warming drawer for the dog’s food and water bowls?

^Source: Beautiful Kitchens Magazine 2006

I hope this post has stirred your thought process when you design your dream home to include your dog! Blessings. …susan

Having technical problems

2009-09-18T11:17:00.001-05:00

Hey Everyone- I have been trying since Tuesday to publish the post I wrote about Designing Your Dream Home to include your dog- but an error message appears. This has never happened before- and I am not doing anything different. I am following suggestions with customer help troubleshooting, but so far nothing has worked. I decided to try a post without photos and see if that works. Please keep checking back. Hopefully, this will be resolved soon. …susan

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday September 13, 2009

2009-09-13T23:41:00.001-05:00

Hi! My intentions were to write this post from Laguna Beach, CA where I am spending a week with my friends. However, we left home early this morning before I could get my post written. We had a long glorious day! I am too exhausted to concentrate so I will attempt to write this post tomorrow. Please forgive me. I do have a post titled “Designing Your Dream Home to Include Your Dog” ready to publish this week. Blessings. …susan

Kitchen: Vertical Storage Option Series Part Five – Flatware, Dinner Plates, & Glasses

2009-09-11T05:26:00.001-05:00

Welcome to Part Five and my final post in my Kitchen: Vertical Storage Option Series. To view parts 1-4, click here, here, here, and here respectively.

As you scroll down, you will see photos of flatware, dinner plates, and beverage glasses using vertical storage options. Some of these photos have been seen in my previous post on flatware storage and dinner plate storage. Enjoy! …susan

The main point to consider when storing flatware in a vertical drawer is the height of the various pieces of flatware that you own. In the photo above it appears there is a horizontal slot for serving pieces. You drawer front can be a single deep one like the one shown above or it can look like the photo below which is designed to look like two drawers but in actuality is only one.

^Source unknown- if you know the source and email me, it will be noted.

^Source: Southern Accents Magazine Sept./Oct. 2008

Vertical storage for dinner and salad plates can be within a cabinet door as shown below or on an open shelf shown above. This storage option offers an interesting look in a kitchen or butler’s pantry. It does take up more space and if you do not use the dishes often, they will collect dust. Cleaning between the slots can be challenging though I am sure an expert cabinet maker can find a solution to that problem.

^Source unknown-if you know the source and email me, it will be noted.

Instead of standing stemware and other beverage glasses on a shelf, the photo above uses the stem on the glasses to hang them. Another option shown below is storing stemware and beverage glasses in a drawer. The drawer is a great solution when a kitchen or bar does not have upper cabinets. It would also work well for a handicapped person.

^Source unknown-if you know the source and email me, it will be noted.

Kitchen: Vertical Storage Option Series Part Four – Tablecloths and Table Runners

2009-09-07T18:18:00.001-05:00

Welcome to Part Four of my Kitchen: Vertical Storage Option Series. If you missed parts 1-3, click here, here, and here to view. This post will focus on vertical storage for tablecloths and table runners. Traditionally, these have been stored in a drawer or on a shelf in a linen closet. Doesn’t it seem that the one you want to use is always located on the bottom of the stack?

In the photos below you can see why storing these vertically is a much better option. First, you can see what you are looking for. Second, when retrieving the one you want to use, you can do so without disturbing the others. And third, by hanging the tablecloths or runners over the bar, you will have less wrinkles.

Though I have not seen placemats stored vertically, it seems like this say type storage option would work well for the cloth placemats and those made of flexible material. I am sure a talented cabinet maker could come up with a design with clips for hanging those that need to hang straight. Blessings. …susan

In the photo above, the tablecloths and runners are hung perpendicular to the pull out. Below, the tablecloths and runners are hung parallel to the pull out. Which do you prefer and why?

Source of these two photos is unknown at this time. If you know the source, please contact me and I will note it.

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday September 6, 2009

2009-09-06T07:24:00.001-05:00

Welcome to my spiritual & inspirational Sunday post. Having collected quotes and scripture for over 25 years, my hope is that by sharing these quotes it will cause you to pause and reflect. Perhaps you will share a quote with someone who is in need of reading that very quote or inspirational message. I am on the Cumberland Plateau in middle Tennessee. I volunteered to dog sit my friend’s three dogs. I spent many many hours yesterday scanning magazine and book pictures to use in my posts. I think each picture takes approximately two minutes to scan, crop, and transfer to a file on my computer which eventually will be uploaded to my post. It is a bit tedious but I will be grateful to have these when I write my next post.

As I create this post, it is 6:00 am- a cool overcast morning with a sprinkle of rain falling. As I drink some green tea, my view off the back porch is a glorious one for a Sunday morning. My friend’s home sits on ridge where their grass lawn ends about 10 yards from the house and the woods begin. I can see a farm off in the distance below. Along the horizon I see rolling hills blanketed with the morning mist. The wonderful sound of birds chirping is the only noise I hear. Last night it was the sound of crickets!

Below is a photo of my friend’s home which was designed by Bobby McAlpine. At some point I will feature their home on my blog.

I plan to use their long winding rock driveway to do my interval runs this morning paying close attention to where I step as copperheads live in the area. Fortunately, I have avoided any encounters with sssnnnnaakkkees-it is hard for me to even pronounce that word without emotional repercussions! Later today I will head to the vegetable garden and pick tomatoes so I can make homemade pasta sauce. Trust me, I will be on heighten alert!

Today’s spiritual & inspirational post comes from an email forward I received from my friend Nigel. It is the empowering quote of the week from Dr. Ola Madsen. I believe that the most important conversation we have is between our two ears. Are your conversations with yourself optimistic or pessimistic?

Optimism

"The optimist proclaims we live in the best of all possible worlds; and the pessimist fears this is true." - James Cabell, American novelist and journalist (1879-1958)

What is optimism?
It is a belief that things in our past were good for us and taught us lessons even if they were hard. It is also the belief that things will be better in the future.

Contrasts between optimism and pessimism:
Optimism breathes life into you each day.

Pessimism drains you.
Optimism helps you to take needed risks.

Pessimism plays it safe and never accomplishes much.
Optimism empowers those around you.

Pessimism drags them down.
Optimism inspires people to greater heights.

Pessimism deflates people to new lows.
The only way that optimism and pessimism are the same is that they are both self-fulfilled.
We choose to look at the world the way we want.

Have you ever met a successful pessimist?
Become an optimist and see your world change before your eyes. Blessings! …susan

Kitchen: Vertical Storage Option Series Part Three- Storing Dish Towels

2009-09-01T09:07:00.001-05:00

Welcome to Part Three of my Vertical Storage Option Series. To see Part One, click here and for Part Two here. In this post, I want to share some photos I have collected showing dish towel storage options for you to consider when designing your dream kitchen.

^In the photo above, attached to the inside of the pull out cabinet front, is a metal dish for holding a sponge or other type of soap pad. Next to it are some metal rods for hanging dish towels. There appears to be a shelf at the bottom which would be a great place for dish detergent and dishwasher detergent. It looks like a fixed panel above which leads me to believe this very functional pull out cabinet front is located directly under the kitchen sink.

Source: Beautiful Kitchens Summer 2009

^The pull out cabinet front shown above has the capacity to store numerous folded dish towels. It also includes several wooden bars which give you the option to fold dish towels over these bars.

Source: Great Kitchen Ideas

^Similar to the previous cabinet front pull out, this one has three shelves to place folded dish towels.

Source: Kitchen Ideas That Work by Beth Veillette

^My first inclination after looking at this photo is to say the opening to this cabinet front pull out should be facing the other direction; towards the kitchen sink. Upon further review, I realize there is a sink to the right of the drawer. Still, I am thinking one would need a towel at the kitchen sink more than one at the second sink. Perhaps a master craftsman could figure out a design which would eliminate the side wall which would make this pull out functional from both directions.

Source: The Smart Approach to Kitchen Design

^ Above is a convenient option for a towel bar, however, make sure your towel bar does not protrude too far out from the cabinet. If it protrudes too far out you might find it is uncomfortable in your belly or hip region.

Source unknown: if you know the source of this photo, please contact me and I will note it.

^For some reason, I am having trouble wrapping my mind around the above photo. There appears to be high end beautiful cabinetry, yet this opening and plastic coated rods look cheap. I am not seeing any kind of door to cover the opening when the rods are pushed back into the cabinet. What do you think?

Source: Kitchen Ideas That Work by Beth Veillette

^An interesting built in towel hook. As I study this photo, it appears to me that these hooks are on the low side. What do you think?

Source: Taunton’s Home Storage Idea Book by Joanne Kellar Bouknight

^The dish towels hanging on the island in the photo above are both functional and decorative.

Source unknown: If you know the source of this photo, please contact me and I will note it.

^This island design gives you a decorative area to hang your dish towel.

Source: Tauton’s Home Storage Idea Book by Joanne Kellar Bouknight

Please check back for more posts in my Kitchen: Vertical Storage Option Series. Blessings. …susan

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday August 30, 2009

2009-08-30T11:12:00.001-05:00

Below is something I picked up somewhere along the way. I don’t know if it was in a magazine, newspaper, or in an email forward. I found it in the drawer where I put quotes, articles, poems, emails, etc. that I run across and save. Fortunately, this one had the author’s name.

When I turned 40 years old, I did not dread it or think twice about it. But out of nowhere, a voice began to appear in my head. A voice that would say to me-“You’re 40 now and you don’t have to put up with THAT” You’re 40 now and you no longer have to do THAT.” You’re 40 now and you don’t have to worry about THAT.” “That” being something that annoyed me, I thought was required of me, or caused me pressure. For me, turning 40 was freeing. It was a right of passage into acceptance of who I am.

So, as I approached 50, another voice came into my head. All of a sudden I was questioning my life. I kept thinking to myself, “Ok, you’re going to be 50, what kind of imprint have you left on this world? What is your legacy?” I knew I had given birth and raised two outstanding children which gave me great pride and joy. But I still questioned myself about what else have I done to give back? What have I done to make the world a better place? What can I still do at this point in my life? It was during this period of personal self exploration that I decided I could make this world a better place by sharing the knowledge and experience I had gained and the lessons I had learned through remodeling and consulting on homes. I could make a difference in lives of people who are going through the process of building or remodeling; save a marriage, save time and money, empower the homeowner, and reduce stress. I could make a difference by preventing a mistake that would long haunt someone living in their dream home; a mistake that would be present for the life of that home and for all who happen to live there. Yes, writing a book, (Designing Your Dream Home) would be one of my contributions in making this world a better place. So I embarked on the journey of becoming a published author. That was realized in April of 2008. As a result of writing this book, I am now blogging and hopefully my posts will continue in the same spirit in which I wrote my book. Have you thought about the legacy or imprint you will leave behind?

What Will Matter

By Michael Josephson

Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end.

There will be no more sunrises, no days, no hours, or minutes.

All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten will pass to someone else.

Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevant.

It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.

Your grudges, resentments, frustrations, and jealousies will finally disappear.

So, too, your hopes, ambitions, plans, and to-do lists will all expire.

The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.

It won’t matter where you come from, or on what side of the tracks you lived.

It won’t matter whether you are beautiful or brilliant.

Your gender, skin color, ethnicity will be irrelevant.

So, what will matter?

How will the value of your days be measured?

What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave.

What will matter is not your success, but your significance.

What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught.

What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage and sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.

What will matter is not your competence, but your character.

What will matter is not how many people knew you, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you’re gone.

What will matter is not your memories, but the memories of those who loved you.

What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.

Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident. It’s not a matter of circumstance but of choice. Choose to live a life that matters.

Blessings. …susan

Kitchen: Vertical Storage Option Series Part Two – Cabinet Vertical Storage

2009-08-25T09:43:00.001-05:00

Welcome to Part Two of my Vertical Storage Option Series. To see part one, click here. Part two will focus on vertical storage shelves located in cabinets. As shown in the photos below, these can be found in upper and lower cabinets. I am joining Julia’s Hooked on Friday blog party. Click here to join her party. Enjoy!

^Above is an example of vertical storage behind a lower cabinet door. I like the width of the compartments as well as the fact a narrower piece of wood is used as the divider.

^Above, it appears this cabinet is located above the refrigerator. Being tall, that would not be a problem for me but a shorter person may need a step ladder. I like the generous amount of compartments and the width of these compartments. I also like having a couple of horizontal shelves above.

^In the photo above, I do like the pull out method for storing these platters and trays, however, I think that this design could be improved by having the cabinet door attached to the front of the pull out. In the use shown above, you would have to fully open the cabinet door in order to pull out the the wooden apparatus holding the platters. That makes it a two step process. I am wondering if you have to bend down and grab onto the lower front piece of the apparatus to pull it out? Comments anyone?

^ Looking at the photo above and seeing the open drawers next to the vertical tray storage, it appears this homeowner likes open drawers and shelves. My personal preference is to have a cabinet door hiding the trays. I think the thickness of the solid wood dividers is over kill.

^The illustration above shows several options for vertical storage which include wire dividers, short wood dividers, wooden dowel dividers, and solid wood panels.

Source of these illustrations is the book Kitchen Storage Ideas. The sources for the photos in this post is unknown at this time. If you know the source, please contact me and I will note it. If I run across the source, I will add it.

After publishing the first post in this series, I ran across this photo below which fits that post. I decided to add it here. This pull out drawer holding vertically stacking platters and trays is very functional. Unlike the photo shown in the first post, this one has solid wood dividers instead of wooden dowel rods. I would recommend heavy duty drawer runners for this particular drawer due to the weight of the drawer itself and the items stored in it.

Your observations and comments are welcome! Blessings. …susan

Kitchen: Vertical Storage Option Series Part one -pullout drawer storage

2009-08-25T09:02:00.001-05:00

Welcome to my vertical storage option series! Instead of the traditional way of storing kitchen items stacked on a shelf or stacked in a drawer, let’s think outside the box and look at vertical storage options.

When I ran across this photo a few years back, I was instantly drawn to the unique and functional idea for storing kitchen items vertically in a pullout drawer instead of horizontally on a shelf. What I like about it is you can see what you are looking for and the ease in which you can remove an item. Traditionally, these types of items are stacked on top of each other on a shelf or in a pantry. Many times there is a small cabinet under the double ovens which requires you to get on your hands and knees to find what you are looking for and to remove it. The photo below is a great idea for vertical storage.

As I study this photo, it looks like on the right side there is one solid divider creating two compartments equal in size. The rest of the drawer has wooden dowel rods used as dividers within the drawer. In the front right compartment it appears something is hanging over the dowel, perhaps pastry bags. I see a muffin tin, roasting pan, rectangular pyrex baking dish, cooling racks, cookie sheets, and a broiling pan.

A note of caution, depending on the size of the drawer and the weight of the items you might need heavy duty drawer runners.

If I were designing my dream kitchen, I would want to have several vertical storage drawers. One would be designated for baking items such as cookie sheets, muffin tins, cooling racks, cake pans, pastry bags, and maybe even have an area to be able vertically stand a rolling pin. Another drawer would be designated for cutting boards and platters. Another could be for glass bakeware such as pyrex dishes which would not have to be as tall as those for cookie sheets and cutting boards. I really do like the idea of vertical storage in a drawer vs horizontal storage on a shelf! Leave me a comment and tell me what do you think of vertical storage in a drawer? What would you want to store vertically in a drawer? Blessings. …susan

Source of the photo is unknown. If you know the source please contact me and I will note it.

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday August 23, 2009

2009-08-23T20:04:00.001-05:00

Welcome to my Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday post. Having collected quotes and scripture for over 25 years, my hope is that by sharing these quotes it will cause you to pause and reflect. Perhaps you will share a quote with someone who is in need of reading that very quote.

A friend was telling me recently that she had said something she regretted saying. It was said in anger therefore it was full of venom. She was really upset with herself and remorseful. I think all of us have from time to time said something we wish we had not said. With that in mind, I want to share some quotes I have collected regarding speaking/communicating.

Your words are a window to your heart -unknown

Ignorance is always swift to speak -unknown

Never pass up a chance to keep your mouth shut -unknown

A shut mouth gathers no foot (paraphrase Proverbs 13:3)

A soft tongue breaks hard bones (Proverbs 15:1)

Swallowing angry words is much better than having to eat them -unknown

Have a blessed week! …susan

Kitchen Utensil Storage: Mistakes to Avoid

2009-08-20T10:41:00.001-05:00

As a follow up to my post on Kitchen Utensil Storage Options (which you can scroll down to read), here is a list of Mistakes to Avoid when designing your dream kitchen. By providing this list, it is my hope that I have stimulated your thought process and helped prevent avoidable mistakes. My goal is for you to end up with a functioning and aesthetically beautiful home, avoiding mistakes that might become a daily irritant.

Mistakes to Avoid

Before you begin designing your kitchen, identify all of your kitchen utensils. The best way is to lay all of them on your counter. Decide how they need to be grouped together, i.e. all wooden utensils, all baking utensils, etc. Then decide the type storage option you want to use and the location of the storage option. Will you store them in a drawer or drawers, in a container on the counter, hanging on the wall, hanging vertically behind a pull out cabinet door, in a basket under the counter, etc. Next, decide the area of the kitchen where the storage option will be located. Keep in mind their use and then determine the location of the drawer(s), container(s), wall hanger(s), baskets, etc. so that the utensils are handy. For those items used when cooking on the stovetop, you would want the drawer or container near the stovetop. For those items used when baking, you will want them stored near the counter where you will prepare the food for baking. I am sure you get the idea.

Storage in Drawers-Mistakes to Avoid

1. Make sure the drawer is tall enough so that the utensils will not jam when opening and closing the drawer. Don’t you just hate it when a ladle, large whisk, or rolling pin get jammed in your drawer and you cannot open it! I usually add at least a half inch to the standard measurement for drawer height.. However, it is best to take the actual measurement of the tallest utensil you plan to store in the drawer. I like how deep the drawer is in the photo under number four below.

I am a huge fan of having drawers in a kitchen instead of lower cabinet doors. You might want an extra tall drawer to hold items such as a sifter, four-sided grater, and other items requiring extra drawer height. Perhaps you have a drawer for mixing bowls and a divider in the back of the drawer for some taller items such as the sifter. I recommend putting the actual items you plan to store in each drawer on your counter and take measurements for your cabinet maker. Then take a photograph of each group. Print the photograph on regular paper and fill in the measurements.

2. Don’t waste valuable storage space with thick drawer dividers. Looking at both the photo below and the photo after item four, doesn’t it make you wonder why the dividers are so thick?

Source unknown: If you know the source of the photo above, please contact me and I will note it.

3. Discuss with your cabinet maker if the drawer can be built so that the dividers can be moved around or removed to accommodate new items you might pick up. I can see grooves being cut in the drawer bottom and being able to lift the dividers and move them into another groove to change the configuration.

4. Think about the use of the utensils and the drawer being close to that area. If the utensils are for cooking on the stove, when designing your kitchen cabinet layout, put the drawer either under the stovetop or next to the stove so that they are an easy reach when cooking. If the utensils are used when baking, put the drawer near the counter where you will prepare the food for baking. If you own quite a few utensils, you might need more than one drawer stacked on top of each other that are designated for utensils.

Source: Tauton’s Home Storage Idea Book by Joanne Kellar Bouknight

5. Make sure the drawer runners you select are adequate for the weight of the drawer and the items you will be storing. Decide if you want self-closing drawer runners.

Storage in a Container-Mistakes to Avoid

1. Make sure the container when filled with utensils will still fit under the upper cabinets. I love using an urn in the photo below. The height works because it is located under the vent hood.

Source: Great Kitchen Ideas

Storage on a Wall-Mistakes to Avoid

1. Hanging utensils from a wall rack creates the look of a professional kitchen and can be handy for the gourmet chef. However, if you do not cook often, the utensils will gather dust.

Source: Great Kitchen Ideas

Vertical Storage in a Pull Out Cabinet-Mistakes to Avoid

When looking at the photo below I can see several advantages of this type of storage. First, the metal peg board gives you the great flexibility in the configuration of the utensils. It also allows you to easily see the utensils.

For some reason, this option does not appeal to me. Maybe it is because I have not personally used this type of storage option? I keep imagining the utensils swinging around and clanging when I open and close the cabinet. I am not even sure that would actually happen. The photo makes me think I would do a lot of stooping over or squatting to remove or replace the utensils. I would like to hear your thoughts in a comment if you have used or are using this type of storage option.

I do like the design of the cabinet front on the pull out in the photo below because when closed, it blends into the cabinet design. Because the design goes to the floor, it gives extra support when it is open. I like the idea of leaving it pulled out while cooking. Make sure if it is left pulled out there is room to walk around it.

Source unknown: if you know the source of this photo, please contact me and I will note it.

Blessings. …susan

Kitchen: Utensil Storage Options

2009-08-17T18:30:00.001-05:00

Welcome! Since my last post (excluding Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday) addressed options for storing flatware, I thought I would stay in the kitchen and follow that up with options for storing kitchen utensils.

^I like a wide drawer with dividers. It not only makes the items visible but keeps the utensils organized.

Source unknown. If you know the source, please contact me so I can note it.

^If your kitchen cabinet space does not allow for a wide drawer, consider using several narrower drawers. I love the neatness of the drawer in the photo above.

Source unknown. If you know the source, please contact me so I can note it.

^This is a super wide drawer conveniently located at the stove.

Source: Taunton’s Home Storage Idea Book by Joanne Kellar Bouknight

^Storing utensils vertically is an interesting option. I have never used one of these. Do the utensils fall off or get jammed when you pull out or push in the cabinet?

Source unknown. If you know the source, please contact me so I can note it.

^Another example of a drawer with generous width and dividers.

Source unknown. If you know the source, please contact me so I can note it.

^Realizing custom made drawers are expensive and some kitchens are tight on space, you an always store utensils in simple can such as the stainless steel one shown above.

Source: Personal photo file

^Or you might opt to use a decorative urn as shown above. I really like this!

Source: Great Kitchen Ideas

^Yet another option is to hang utensils from utensils holders mounted on the wall.

Source: Great Kitchen Ideas

Please tell me which option you prefer! I will be following up with a Mistakes to Avoid post in a few days. Please check back! Blessings. …Susan

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday, August 16, 2009

2009-08-16T16:48:00.001-05:00

Welcome to my Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday post and part three, the final post of my Tidbits of Wisdom series. These tidbits, which I have named Tidbits of Wisdom, came to me in an email forward which noted the source to have been a 90 year old woman named Regina Brett. I learned in a comment that Regina Brett is a 53 year old columnist for The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, OH. She was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 2008 and 2009. She has a book coming out in April 2010 based on her 50 Life Lessons. To read past columns, you can go to www.cleveland.com/brett. To read the first part of my post, click here. To read the second part, click here. Blessings. …susan

Tidbits of Wisdom

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.

35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative—dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield

45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

Kitchen: Flatware Storage Options

2009-08-13T20:59:00.001-05:00

Welcome! Although most of us have stored our flatware (knives, spoons, forks) the traditional way, I want to share with you other options for flatware storage. These could be used in the kitchen cabinets or in the butler’s pantry.

I am joining Julia’s Hooked on Friday blog party, so click here to check it out.

In the photo above, I like having three drawers in one because it allows for more pieces of flatware and it is easier to see. Here in the South it is not unusual to have place settings for twenty-four.

Below is the same concept except these pull out drawers/shelves are behind cabinet doors. I do not like having pull-out drawers or shelves behind cabinet doors because the cabinet door has to be fully open in order to pull out the drawer or shelf. I much prefer the option in the photo above.

^The above photo and below shows storing flatware vertically instead of horizontally in a drawer. You could customize the size of each storage compartment.

^Source: Southern Accents Sept.-Oct, 2008

In the photo below, is yet another option. I like having the dividers lined in silver cloth or other soft material.

^Above, I like the width of each compartment for the flatware but here is another pull-out located behind a cabinet door. I wish these compartments were silver cloth lined.

^Source: Dream Kitchens magazine

^I like the shallow depth and the extra wide width of this drawer as well as the layout of the compartments. It also appears to be a single drawer. I just wish it was lined with silver cloth.

^Sorry about the poor quality of the photo above, it did not scan clearly but I am hopeful you can see enough to understand the storage idea. I am assuming there are three shallow drawers with cabinets located below which is similar to the photo below. Each drawer operates independently of the other. The top one and the third one appear to hold flatware and the middle one holds napkins. I am a big fan of shallow drawers for such uses. Additional shallow drawers could hold napkin rings, place cards, flatware serving pieces, and other related items.

^A very functional built in used in a bulter’s pantry. Four shallow drawers that operate independently and cabinets below which can hold various entertaining pieces. I could see one cabinet having vertical dividers for tray storage. Or adjustable shelves to hold serving pieces.

Let me know in a comment what you think of these storage options. Blessings. …susan

Most of the photos used in this post were torn out of magazines over the years and I do not know the source. If you know the source, please contact me and I will gladly give credit.

Mountain Homes-Patios & Porches

2009-08-10T18:06:00.001-05:00

Welcome to part six and the last of my Carolina Mountain Homes post. These are presold homes built in The Cliffs Communities in the mountains of North and South Carolina in the Asheville and Greenville area. My son-in-law, Ray Foral, was the builder. His company is Ridgeline Construction Group, Inc. out of Greenville, SC.

To see the first post of the series click here, second here, third here, fourth here, and fifth here or just scroll through my blog. Enjoy!

^In the photo above, Phantom screens were used so the homeowner could make this area a screened in porch or raise the screen and enjoy an open air porch. The home sits up on a ridge overlooking the golf course. Isn’t this a great place to gather by the outdoor fireplace with family and friends while using the built in grill.

^The photo above and below are of the same home in the first photo but taken at a different angle. The photo below has the Phantom screens raised.

In the photo above, the windows to the far left are the master bedroom. In the middle are the Nano doors that open into the living room. The glass doors to the far right leading into the home from the porch take you into the dining room and just beyond it is the kitchen.

^What a beautiful view of the golf course and mountains. This photo makes this porch area appear a bit squatty but the ceilings are tall and gorgeous and the porch area is expansive. To the left of the fireplace is a screen door that leads to a small patio area. If you look at the far left of this photo you can see vertical tracks for the phantom screen which gives you the ability to screen in the porch if the bugs are out.

^The location of this fire pit provides great views of the golf course as well as sunsets. Unless the wind is blowing towards the home, this fire pit is located far enough away to avoid the smoke becoming an issue in the home.

^Wouldn’t you like to be sitting in this infinity pool/hot tub watching the sun set? That a lake with an island below.

^Because of the beautiful views that can be seen from this home, there are plenty of exterior gathering places so those views can be enjoyed.

Notice the Nano pocket door peaking out just to the right of the fireplace which when each Nano door is open, allows this patio area to flow into the home

Below are photos of my son-in-law, the home builder, with my daughter and their two children!