We had a house full at Litengard last night.
It was fun. One room went to parents of a Clarkson student. They had never stayed in a Bed and Breakfast before. One room went to a mom and her daughter who was interviewing at St Lawrence. They understood old houses, they have one they go to in the summer in Vermont. The last room went to a couple from Persia, who grew up in Holland and will be working in another city and the wife will be a graduate student at Clarkson. He had a sort of Scandinavian accent which was interesting because he totally did not look like us, not that all nordic people have blond hair and blue eyes!
We had a wonderful sausage, egg, and cheese casserole, almond kringle, fresh local peaches and blueberries, orange juice, and locally roasted coffee. I will try to post the recipes that I have used sometime in the near future. I know that many of you have asked for them so I'll try to spend some time jotting them down.
After everyone left and the wash was started I walked down to our Farmers Market. The Canton Farmers Market is every Tuesday and Friday starting in the spring and running through October. It's the best. Especially if one lives in the village and can walk down on a gorgeous day like today. Not only can one get the best local corn from the Nobles, but the Cook's sell the BEST bacon I've ever had. I ordered 4 pounds over the phone the other day and she had it all packaged up for me. She was showing another customer the bacon when I got there (which was a bit later in the morning) but assured me that she had been saving it for me and was just letting the person look at the quality of the meat. The village has installed electricity so farmers can bring their freezers and sell their meats. The beef looked great too. Maybe next Tuesday! I have grown absolutely huge and wonderful heirloom tomatoes this year but I spied another variety at one of the vendors. I think she called it Scarlett something, I have to look it up. She said it made great sandwiches, which is just what Rob said he wanted for dinner tonight. So I came home with two scarlett beauties.
The other wonderful thing about Canton and the Farmers Market is that one meets all one's friends and acquaintances while wandering from booth to booth. I caught up on a lot of news from the neighborhood, the village and Colton (since I have not been to camp once this year to see everyone out there). Then off to the post office and a visit to my local teller and a lovely walk home again laden with wonderful fruit, veggies, meat and local updates.
And sitting in the back room, my office at Litengard, looking out onto the great backyard, a male cardinal just landed on the porch railing. He was beautiful, his mate must be around somewhere, I always see them together. So sweet!
Does summer have to end?
Friday, August 20, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
It's Fun Having......
It's fun having a daughter!!!!
After all the work we have done together at 44, 42 and 34 we finally got a day to relax and do fun girl stuff.
We both had gift certificates to The Spa at the Whiteface Lodge, so we booked some special pampering.
After a massage and facial we went up to the dining room and had a lovely lunch. It was a beautiful day. We thought to eat outside on the balcony but it was a bit breezy.
The decor is totally adirondack, with vaulted ceilings, huge chandeliers, stufffed moose, racoons etc, large comfy chairs and lovely rugs. The lunch was absolutely delicious.
We drove home completely satisfied through gorgeous mountains, tall pines and pristine lakes. It was a wonderful day.
After all the work we have done together at 44, 42 and 34 we finally got a day to relax and do fun girl stuff.
We both had gift certificates to The Spa at the Whiteface Lodge, so we booked some special pampering.
After a massage and facial we went up to the dining room and had a lovely lunch. It was a beautiful day. We thought to eat outside on the balcony but it was a bit breezy.
The decor is totally adirondack, with vaulted ceilings, huge chandeliers, stufffed moose, racoons etc, large comfy chairs and lovely rugs. The lunch was absolutely delicious.
We drove home completely satisfied through gorgeous mountains, tall pines and pristine lakes. It was a wonderful day.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
A Long Obedience......In The Same Direction
I went to a funeral today.
He was the grandfather of a good friend of mine. He was 90 years old. And he lived the New Testament.
He had a long obedience, in the same direction. A direction similar to those of the "greatest generation". An obedience like my father and Rob's father had, and live by.
The funeral was two hours and I could have listened and stayed longer. There was the usual family, including a brother who was 13 years younger, tributes and memories. A devoted husband of over 60 years, a great father who welcomed all his daughters friends, a wonderful grandfather who read books endlesssly to his grandchildren, played games with them and took them fishing, a brother who bought his siblings Christmas gifts during the war when the farming parents could not afford toys, a hard working teacher at Canton College who developed the HVAC program and instructed students who would come to the house for help, a loyal and active church member for decades, a committed and productive community member and finally a friendly nursing home patient. A long obedience, started early.
The pastor gave a wonderful homily on Luke 6, about building on a solid foundation. Both houses could look the same and be built out of the same material but if one was built with no foundation, the river could and would sweep it away when it raged against the houses. Rivers, (some of lifes issues that we all face) are not selective or respective.
And then he said...."they don't grow them like... anymore". Yes, the people in my father's generation were generally moral, honest, full of integrity, law abiding and God fearing. But I believe that this generation, our sons and brothers can and will be great "in the Lord". We're raising men out of a generation like Jeremiah. God was constantly asking Jeremiah to tell the people to amend their ways and turn back from their sins, because He loved them and wanted them to prosper and He wanted it to be well with them. Unfortunately, they only hardened their necks and went backwards, never a good thing wth the Lord.
I'm counting on my son's generation to hearken to the voice of the Lord, raise His standard, follow after those who have faithfully gone before, and become the continuation of "the greatest generation".
He was the grandfather of a good friend of mine. He was 90 years old. And he lived the New Testament.
He had a long obedience, in the same direction. A direction similar to those of the "greatest generation". An obedience like my father and Rob's father had, and live by.
The funeral was two hours and I could have listened and stayed longer. There was the usual family, including a brother who was 13 years younger, tributes and memories. A devoted husband of over 60 years, a great father who welcomed all his daughters friends, a wonderful grandfather who read books endlesssly to his grandchildren, played games with them and took them fishing, a brother who bought his siblings Christmas gifts during the war when the farming parents could not afford toys, a hard working teacher at Canton College who developed the HVAC program and instructed students who would come to the house for help, a loyal and active church member for decades, a committed and productive community member and finally a friendly nursing home patient. A long obedience, started early.
The pastor gave a wonderful homily on Luke 6, about building on a solid foundation. Both houses could look the same and be built out of the same material but if one was built with no foundation, the river could and would sweep it away when it raged against the houses. Rivers, (some of lifes issues that we all face) are not selective or respective.
And then he said...."they don't grow them like... anymore". Yes, the people in my father's generation were generally moral, honest, full of integrity, law abiding and God fearing. But I believe that this generation, our sons and brothers can and will be great "in the Lord". We're raising men out of a generation like Jeremiah. God was constantly asking Jeremiah to tell the people to amend their ways and turn back from their sins, because He loved them and wanted them to prosper and He wanted it to be well with them. Unfortunately, they only hardened their necks and went backwards, never a good thing wth the Lord.
I'm counting on my son's generation to hearken to the voice of the Lord, raise His standard, follow after those who have faithfully gone before, and become the continuation of "the greatest generation".
Friday, July 23, 2010
And We Are Up and........Running!!!!
My head has almost stopped spinning. Almost.
I haven't posted since May so I thought perhaps I should let everyone know I'm alive and well.
We did it! We managed to "finish" the project, have the Open House and today I will have my first guests. Wow!
Looking back, I can't believe that we finished this major renovation in a little over four months. We had a great contractor, who worked, himself, on Saturdays and some Sundays and on several occasions came in to 44 well before 6:00am. In fact, one morning when I could not sleep past 4:30pm I wandered over to 44 in my pajamas and was standing on the back porch when in comes Dominic. "Oh, you couldn't sleep either", I said. He had promised me three months, which Rob and I knew was a fantasy but he was determined to get done quickly.
But I really couldn't have done it without my family and some dear friends. Elizabeth worked tirelessly on 44. She shopped with me, she and Jon dug an entire new front garden (he was only home for 5 days before leaving for Kentucky), she mowed the lawn, she moved furniture, she cleaned the upstairs when the contractors were done and the floors had been sanded and refinished, she set up the bathrooms, ironed bedskirts and sheers and she made us dinners when it looked like we would not have any food for that particular evening. She is my hero and soon she will be headed off to Pittsburgh. Hope I didn't drive her away with all her involvement at Litengard.
Ethan came home from the city several weekends to give us muscle moving furniture into Litengard, help with the back deck, powerwash everything outside, set up the croquet court, set up the beds, the daybed with trundle (it came in a box with a thousand pieces, I couldn't have figured it out), and a host of projects too numerous to name.
Christian has been my contact person. I get calls all the time now telling me that a nice man at the Best Western recommended Litengard Bed and Breakfast. He had lots of ideas about hospitality and what people are looking for. He doesn't say much but I think he is really proud of our "product".
Jon is the inspiration for the whole project. Rob and I had thought about doing a Bed and Breakfast for years and had actually looked at other houses with that in mind. 44 had been for sale for almost a year and yet it never occured to us to take on the project next door. Off and on the house had been sold but the deal feel through so it lingered on the market. One day, Jon suggested "why don't you buy 44? You've been talking about doing a B&B for years, I don't what to hear you still talking about it when you are 80." I don't know why we never thought about it. And with some vision, it did become a possibility and then a reality. He was disappointed that he could not be here for the whole process but he is up to his eyeballs in equine surgery and medicine now in a really spectacular internship. Just hope that we will be able to visit him sometime in the near future.
Rob, of course, was my second contractor. He built and built and built. He would love to do carpentry. The finishing work on the back deck is all his workmanship. He hung absolutely every picture and mirror in the place and developed the headboard concepts to all the beds. The general contractor left on Thursday, and we worked continuously until Sunday when we had our Open House. He did have to take a couple of days off and change hats from surgeon to handyman!
And Aunt June....my 83 year old aunt from New Hampshire. She had come a previous weekend and worked on projects, but she came the Tuesday before the open house and began to work. She rewired lamps, she polished silver, and she was my constant gardner, endlessly dead heading and weeding. I really don't know how she did it. She did rest on Monday, per my demand, before going back to New Hampshire and securing a new job. I hope I'm like her when I'm 83.
Greg and Jeremy took the deck to the swimming pool down and reassembled it on the back of the house. And whenever Greg came over he was pressed into service doing "whatever" But he's really good with power tools now and can probably build a deck, hang pictures and mirrors and generally do whatever is needed around a house. And he and Elizabeth helped me log people in who had called wanting reservations before I had a website. The little notebook I was carrying around wasn't at all profession and Ethan was horrified!
My adopted neice, Carol, designed my business cards, and Open House invitations. We went on a fun shopping trip to Penns. but now she's bought a house and is going to have a baby so I hardly see her for now. But she is one of the most creative people I know and I will be selling her wares at Litengard.
And not the least or the last are my really good friends Ryan and Jamie. Ryan is helping me navigate my way through this internet business. And Jamie set up the Resovation software for me and I speak to him almost everyday now as I encounter the next situation that I don't know how to handle. He's one of the most patient people I know. I had to bring Ethan with me the last time he was home to learn how to "do it" and then help me out. Ryan has been invaluable in encouraging me with the website, connecting me to a designer (from CA no less), having loads of ideas which iI could not possibly implement now...he's a visionary. And I'm surprised he even associated with someone like me who is so not hi tech!!
Anyway, here are a few pictures of Litengard. The website is up and running and I am taking reservations on line but the pictures have not been uploaded yet and there is a fantastic virtual tour thanks to Ben. And the music on the tour, I believe, is from suggestions his Mom, the concert pianist, had.
The first couple of pictures are of the outside and the diningroom/living room.
.JPG)
The next three are of the suite in the back of the house. It has a small room with a daybed and trundle and the larger room with a fun chandelier which shines through the stain glass window to the bathroom. Really neat at night.
These two are of the Trondheim, we named the rooms after cities in Norway. The particular city is where my family is from and many still live there. This was the first room we "put together" and Elizabeth says it is her favorite. It does have a room size bath with a pedestal tub and crystal chandelier so I can understand her point of view.
.JPG)
These are pictures of the Bergen, Rob's favorite city in Norway. He wants to live there when he grows up. We had a great time there....the fish market, the ancient city on the harbor, the funicular and spectacular meal on top of a hilltop followed by a concert.
I actually prepared a new recipe for tomorrow morning but... I have one kringle that I had in the freezer and always the standard cereal, local fruit purchased today at the Canton Farmers Market, coffee from our local roaster and lots of good North Country friendship. I'll let you know how it goes.......
I haven't posted since May so I thought perhaps I should let everyone know I'm alive and well.
We did it! We managed to "finish" the project, have the Open House and today I will have my first guests. Wow!
Looking back, I can't believe that we finished this major renovation in a little over four months. We had a great contractor, who worked, himself, on Saturdays and some Sundays and on several occasions came in to 44 well before 6:00am. In fact, one morning when I could not sleep past 4:30pm I wandered over to 44 in my pajamas and was standing on the back porch when in comes Dominic. "Oh, you couldn't sleep either", I said. He had promised me three months, which Rob and I knew was a fantasy but he was determined to get done quickly.
But I really couldn't have done it without my family and some dear friends. Elizabeth worked tirelessly on 44. She shopped with me, she and Jon dug an entire new front garden (he was only home for 5 days before leaving for Kentucky), she mowed the lawn, she moved furniture, she cleaned the upstairs when the contractors were done and the floors had been sanded and refinished, she set up the bathrooms, ironed bedskirts and sheers and she made us dinners when it looked like we would not have any food for that particular evening. She is my hero and soon she will be headed off to Pittsburgh. Hope I didn't drive her away with all her involvement at Litengard.
Ethan came home from the city several weekends to give us muscle moving furniture into Litengard, help with the back deck, powerwash everything outside, set up the croquet court, set up the beds, the daybed with trundle (it came in a box with a thousand pieces, I couldn't have figured it out), and a host of projects too numerous to name.
Christian has been my contact person. I get calls all the time now telling me that a nice man at the Best Western recommended Litengard Bed and Breakfast. He had lots of ideas about hospitality and what people are looking for. He doesn't say much but I think he is really proud of our "product".
Jon is the inspiration for the whole project. Rob and I had thought about doing a Bed and Breakfast for years and had actually looked at other houses with that in mind. 44 had been for sale for almost a year and yet it never occured to us to take on the project next door. Off and on the house had been sold but the deal feel through so it lingered on the market. One day, Jon suggested "why don't you buy 44? You've been talking about doing a B&B for years, I don't what to hear you still talking about it when you are 80." I don't know why we never thought about it. And with some vision, it did become a possibility and then a reality. He was disappointed that he could not be here for the whole process but he is up to his eyeballs in equine surgery and medicine now in a really spectacular internship. Just hope that we will be able to visit him sometime in the near future.
Rob, of course, was my second contractor. He built and built and built. He would love to do carpentry. The finishing work on the back deck is all his workmanship. He hung absolutely every picture and mirror in the place and developed the headboard concepts to all the beds. The general contractor left on Thursday, and we worked continuously until Sunday when we had our Open House. He did have to take a couple of days off and change hats from surgeon to handyman!
And Aunt June....my 83 year old aunt from New Hampshire. She had come a previous weekend and worked on projects, but she came the Tuesday before the open house and began to work. She rewired lamps, she polished silver, and she was my constant gardner, endlessly dead heading and weeding. I really don't know how she did it. She did rest on Monday, per my demand, before going back to New Hampshire and securing a new job. I hope I'm like her when I'm 83.
Greg and Jeremy took the deck to the swimming pool down and reassembled it on the back of the house. And whenever Greg came over he was pressed into service doing "whatever" But he's really good with power tools now and can probably build a deck, hang pictures and mirrors and generally do whatever is needed around a house. And he and Elizabeth helped me log people in who had called wanting reservations before I had a website. The little notebook I was carrying around wasn't at all profession and Ethan was horrified!
My adopted neice, Carol, designed my business cards, and Open House invitations. We went on a fun shopping trip to Penns. but now she's bought a house and is going to have a baby so I hardly see her for now. But she is one of the most creative people I know and I will be selling her wares at Litengard.
And not the least or the last are my really good friends Ryan and Jamie. Ryan is helping me navigate my way through this internet business. And Jamie set up the Resovation software for me and I speak to him almost everyday now as I encounter the next situation that I don't know how to handle. He's one of the most patient people I know. I had to bring Ethan with me the last time he was home to learn how to "do it" and then help me out. Ryan has been invaluable in encouraging me with the website, connecting me to a designer (from CA no less), having loads of ideas which iI could not possibly implement now...he's a visionary. And I'm surprised he even associated with someone like me who is so not hi tech!!
Anyway, here are a few pictures of Litengard. The website is up and running and I am taking reservations on line but the pictures have not been uploaded yet and there is a fantastic virtual tour thanks to Ben. And the music on the tour, I believe, is from suggestions his Mom, the concert pianist, had.
The first couple of pictures are of the outside and the diningroom/living room.
.JPG)
The next three are of the suite in the back of the house. It has a small room with a daybed and trundle and the larger room with a fun chandelier which shines through the stain glass window to the bathroom. Really neat at night.
These two are of the Trondheim, we named the rooms after cities in Norway. The particular city is where my family is from and many still live there. This was the first room we "put together" and Elizabeth says it is her favorite. It does have a room size bath with a pedestal tub and crystal chandelier so I can understand her point of view.
.JPG)
These are pictures of the Bergen, Rob's favorite city in Norway. He wants to live there when he grows up. We had a great time there....the fish market, the ancient city on the harbor, the funicular and spectacular meal on top of a hilltop followed by a concert.
I actually prepared a new recipe for tomorrow morning but... I have one kringle that I had in the freezer and always the standard cereal, local fruit purchased today at the Canton Farmers Market, coffee from our local roaster and lots of good North Country friendship. I'll let you know how it goes.......
Monday, June 21, 2010
It Takes a Family....
It takes a family,
plus a WONDERFUL, GREAT contractor,
plus loads of encouraging friends to establish a new business.
At least it does in my case.
Litengard is almost ready to have her doors open and start doing what she was created to do. Host guests.
Ready or not, July 11th, will be here shortly, the date of our open house. And after that.... let the guests come. I'm already booked for SLU graduation and parents weekend.
But it certainly has been a fun, hectic, messy, tiring, creative, thought provoking, and exhausting project.
This is Liz and our adoptive niece Carol when we went on a shopping trip to the Philadelphia area antique malls. Carol not only introduced us to many wonderful stores and restaurants but she also is one of the most creative people I know and designed my business cards and our open house invitation. I will carry a line of her products at Litengard.
Unfortunately, not a good picture, but the Tomford boys have handled the lawn work at 42 and 44. They have mowed, weed whacked, shoveled and spread mulch, been to the Colton dump, weeded, shoveled manure, moved furniture and bricks and been an all around great help here. I have just an inkling that they may think I'm a bit off my rocker with all the gardens and lawn work. I often quiz David on my next project, chickens. He will be my off site expert on chickens, since he has been caring for his for years now.
My Cornerstone Guys!!! Yea for a new furnace and tank less hot water heater. Now I have confidence that my guests will continue to have heat no matter how far below 0 degrees it gets this winter. And, a long shower? No problem, we have a commercial grade water heater for all three showers, however long they take. You can't imagine the amount of duct work that went into upstairs. There were many rooms that didn't have any source of heat. Problem fixed!
And painters! Where would I be without Dave and Nate. Big tall ceilings, loads of heavy wood trim. A natural wood banister and wainscoting that I wanted white. They questioned the decision at first but came around to my way of thinking and now they are glorying in their handiwork. The banister with it's fret work was a real labor of love and I thank Nate for his patience and precision. Everything looks great. Love all the colors! Every single one. Dave cheerfully painted each day, told me how much he liked the colors and then took many items home with him each night that he could use in his rentals, and we could not. I think it's called recycling.
There is no one else like sis! Where would I be without Elizabeth. Always willing to help with any project. Like the one she is doing in the picture. For those of you who can not tell, that is a manure pile she is standing in. Yes, we loaded many truck loads of manure for the gardens this year. The vegetables are growing great. Already had a zucchini. And the flowers and plants are prospering. We went on many shopping trips for bedding, furniture, lighting, rugs,etc. She created files, lists, garden plans. She cooked when I couldn't. She shopped when I couldn't and she told me when to stop shopping. "We need to see what we have in the house first before we get any thing else!" She's washed and pulled nails and mowed and encouraged. We established a new flower garden on the side of the driveway at 44. We weeded and divided plants and replanted. I can't believe that she's leaving me in less than 2 months. She will also manage Litengard the week after we are opened. Rob and I have to go to a 50th wedding anniversary party down in Westchester. She's the best!!!
The most important person in this project is Dad. He can do anything. Not only is he financing this undertaking but is also involved in hands on projects. Here he is developing the deck project. He's a perfectionist and I really need that at times. Between Rob and Dominic the house is like Mary Poppins...practically perfect in every way!
Jon was home for 5 days this summer. And Ethan for a weekend and 2 days after Jon's graduation. They managed to trim trees, move huge rocks, rip out existing landscape in front of 44 and make an entirely new garden, trim bushes, edge gardens, power washed porches and screens, make suggestions, all in the few days they were home. They are my muscle, my encouragement, my vision and business advisers for this project.
Jeremy and Greg disassembled the old deck that surrounded the former above ground swimming pool, (which has gone to a new home in Norwood). They carefully unscrewed and unbolted what seemed like thousands of screws and bolts and stacked hundreds of pieces of wood. And then developed a deck with the reclaimed wood outside the back door. They did a great job figuring out supports, braces, edging and what ever else goes into making a deck. I power washed the finished project and it looks great. There was some technical advice from deck expert, Dad, but between the three of them I have a gorgeous deck for guests in the summer and fall months. Greg has graciously volunteered for a variety of projects these last few weeks, power washing included. Our latest adventure was trying to keep rust off metal door hinges. His suggestion to me to call the man who stripped them was key. "They must have lacquer applied immediately" was the answer. He could have told me that when I picked up the box of hinges.
We even imported my 83 year old aunt from New Hampshire to work on the project. I know from this picture many will wonder if she really is 83 but take my word for it, she is. She volunteered for the tedious project of cleaning the chandeliers. Soaking and cleaning the metal and then polishing the crystals! What patience and focus. Thanks Aunt June. She also brought the German mine that washed up on the Norwegian shore in 1918 which members of her family found. They actually made it into a work of art and it will be featured somewhere in Litengard. Look for it at the open house. Aunt June will be back and you can get the full store in person.
So many people, family, neighbors and friends, have had such an interest in this project. I'm thankful for so many suggestions, encouragements, insights, and people with expertise in fields that I know so little about. Ryan, whose picture was not downloaded at this writing was and is so instrumental in the development of our website and all the Internet stuff that I know so little about. When we get our website up and running I'll post a pic of Ryan in his "office". Thanks Danica for sharing Ryan with us! Rob and I were there last week and Rob's comment was that he looked a bit like Mike and the Mad Dog. Did I get that right, all you sports fans?
Only two more weeks to work. I'd better stop writing and get back to paying my bills now. Hopefully, I'll have more current pictures to post shortly. The 1885 wide plank pine floors were sanded and refinished last on Friday so we may begin moving stuff upstairs and already are in the process of cleaning downstairs- washing floors, walls and windows. Dad's piano was transported from a friend's in Potsdam to it's new home at 44 yesterday. It looks regal sitting in the corner of the large parlor. Elizabeth wanted to move furniture today but alas, it was raining, so I painted ADK chairs in the garage.
And tomorrow is a new day.......
plus a WONDERFUL, GREAT contractor,
plus loads of encouraging friends to establish a new business.
At least it does in my case.
Litengard is almost ready to have her doors open and start doing what she was created to do. Host guests.
Ready or not, July 11th, will be here shortly, the date of our open house. And after that.... let the guests come. I'm already booked for SLU graduation and parents weekend.
But it certainly has been a fun, hectic, messy, tiring, creative, thought provoking, and exhausting project.
This is Liz and our adoptive niece Carol when we went on a shopping trip to the Philadelphia area antique malls. Carol not only introduced us to many wonderful stores and restaurants but she also is one of the most creative people I know and designed my business cards and our open house invitation. I will carry a line of her products at Litengard.
Unfortunately, not a good picture, but the Tomford boys have handled the lawn work at 42 and 44. They have mowed, weed whacked, shoveled and spread mulch, been to the Colton dump, weeded, shoveled manure, moved furniture and bricks and been an all around great help here. I have just an inkling that they may think I'm a bit off my rocker with all the gardens and lawn work. I often quiz David on my next project, chickens. He will be my off site expert on chickens, since he has been caring for his for years now.
My Cornerstone Guys!!! Yea for a new furnace and tank less hot water heater. Now I have confidence that my guests will continue to have heat no matter how far below 0 degrees it gets this winter. And, a long shower? No problem, we have a commercial grade water heater for all three showers, however long they take. You can't imagine the amount of duct work that went into upstairs. There were many rooms that didn't have any source of heat. Problem fixed!
And painters! Where would I be without Dave and Nate. Big tall ceilings, loads of heavy wood trim. A natural wood banister and wainscoting that I wanted white. They questioned the decision at first but came around to my way of thinking and now they are glorying in their handiwork. The banister with it's fret work was a real labor of love and I thank Nate for his patience and precision. Everything looks great. Love all the colors! Every single one. Dave cheerfully painted each day, told me how much he liked the colors and then took many items home with him each night that he could use in his rentals, and we could not. I think it's called recycling.
There is no one else like sis! Where would I be without Elizabeth. Always willing to help with any project. Like the one she is doing in the picture. For those of you who can not tell, that is a manure pile she is standing in. Yes, we loaded many truck loads of manure for the gardens this year. The vegetables are growing great. Already had a zucchini. And the flowers and plants are prospering. We went on many shopping trips for bedding, furniture, lighting, rugs,etc. She created files, lists, garden plans. She cooked when I couldn't. She shopped when I couldn't and she told me when to stop shopping. "We need to see what we have in the house first before we get any thing else!" She's washed and pulled nails and mowed and encouraged. We established a new flower garden on the side of the driveway at 44. We weeded and divided plants and replanted. I can't believe that she's leaving me in less than 2 months. She will also manage Litengard the week after we are opened. Rob and I have to go to a 50th wedding anniversary party down in Westchester. She's the best!!!
The most important person in this project is Dad. He can do anything. Not only is he financing this undertaking but is also involved in hands on projects. Here he is developing the deck project. He's a perfectionist and I really need that at times. Between Rob and Dominic the house is like Mary Poppins...practically perfect in every way!
Jon was home for 5 days this summer. And Ethan for a weekend and 2 days after Jon's graduation. They managed to trim trees, move huge rocks, rip out existing landscape in front of 44 and make an entirely new garden, trim bushes, edge gardens, power washed porches and screens, make suggestions, all in the few days they were home. They are my muscle, my encouragement, my vision and business advisers for this project.
Jeremy and Greg disassembled the old deck that surrounded the former above ground swimming pool, (which has gone to a new home in Norwood). They carefully unscrewed and unbolted what seemed like thousands of screws and bolts and stacked hundreds of pieces of wood. And then developed a deck with the reclaimed wood outside the back door. They did a great job figuring out supports, braces, edging and what ever else goes into making a deck. I power washed the finished project and it looks great. There was some technical advice from deck expert, Dad, but between the three of them I have a gorgeous deck for guests in the summer and fall months. Greg has graciously volunteered for a variety of projects these last few weeks, power washing included. Our latest adventure was trying to keep rust off metal door hinges. His suggestion to me to call the man who stripped them was key. "They must have lacquer applied immediately" was the answer. He could have told me that when I picked up the box of hinges.
We even imported my 83 year old aunt from New Hampshire to work on the project. I know from this picture many will wonder if she really is 83 but take my word for it, she is. She volunteered for the tedious project of cleaning the chandeliers. Soaking and cleaning the metal and then polishing the crystals! What patience and focus. Thanks Aunt June. She also brought the German mine that washed up on the Norwegian shore in 1918 which members of her family found. They actually made it into a work of art and it will be featured somewhere in Litengard. Look for it at the open house. Aunt June will be back and you can get the full store in person.
So many people, family, neighbors and friends, have had such an interest in this project. I'm thankful for so many suggestions, encouragements, insights, and people with expertise in fields that I know so little about. Ryan, whose picture was not downloaded at this writing was and is so instrumental in the development of our website and all the Internet stuff that I know so little about. When we get our website up and running I'll post a pic of Ryan in his "office". Thanks Danica for sharing Ryan with us! Rob and I were there last week and Rob's comment was that he looked a bit like Mike and the Mad Dog. Did I get that right, all you sports fans?
Only two more weeks to work. I'd better stop writing and get back to paying my bills now. Hopefully, I'll have more current pictures to post shortly. The 1885 wide plank pine floors were sanded and refinished last on Friday so we may begin moving stuff upstairs and already are in the process of cleaning downstairs- washing floors, walls and windows. Dad's piano was transported from a friend's in Potsdam to it's new home at 44 yesterday. It looks regal sitting in the corner of the large parlor. Elizabeth wanted to move furniture today but alas, it was raining, so I painted ADK chairs in the garage.
And tomorrow is a new day.......
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Spring and Lilacs
I love spring in the north country. We're so happy we survived another winter. And the color green seems to revitalize us up here and make us happy and full of energy.
Liz and I went to a friends farm last week. Their sheep had just three sets of twins. You can see one sheep nursing both twins at once.
The youngest caught one of the older twins in the barn so we could pet it.
Are these in my future at 44?
The flowering crabapples are gorgeous in the spring. All the trees are bursting with the most lovely shades of pinks, reds and whites.
We moved here from Pennsylvania 23 years ago. We had bought 42 and with it came a whole row of mature lilac bushes. Lilacs have always been one of my favorite bushes. Their scent is intoxicating. Rob moved to 42 in May and the children and I joined him at the end of June. He flew home to Pa one weekend with one whole suitcase full of lilacs. So sweet and it gave me something to really look forward to, especially in the spring. I think the north country is the perfect place to grow lilacs.
Liz and I went to a friends farm last week. Their sheep had just three sets of twins. You can see one sheep nursing both twins at once.
The youngest caught one of the older twins in the barn so we could pet it.
Are these in my future at 44?
The flowering crabapples are gorgeous in the spring. All the trees are bursting with the most lovely shades of pinks, reds and whites.
We moved here from Pennsylvania 23 years ago. We had bought 42 and with it came a whole row of mature lilac bushes. Lilacs have always been one of my favorite bushes. Their scent is intoxicating. Rob moved to 42 in May and the children and I joined him at the end of June. He flew home to Pa one weekend with one whole suitcase full of lilacs. So sweet and it gave me something to really look forward to, especially in the spring. I think the north country is the perfect place to grow lilacs.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Kitchens
The kitchen in 44 is almost done. The dropped ceiling, raised, sheet rocked and painted with additional lights installed; the walls repaired and painted and the appliances returned to their proper place.
And it's waiting to have life brought to it. People, aprons, tables, coffee makers, dishes, crystal, pots and pans and love.
Kitchens are the greatest!
They're not just a room, or just a room to prepare food in.
They're life, they're memories, they're teaching, they're comfort.
We were in two kitchens in Wisconsin this past weekend. We all, that means five of us in one kitchen, prepared the Saturday night dinner. I was given the great responsibility of "coddling the rissoto into existence", as Maja describes the process. And did I ever "coddle"! Add liquid and stir for 10 minutes, no guessing, a timer was set, times three! Matt had expertly pounded the chicken and Liz applied the pesto, all under the expert guidance of chef Kay. And we enjoyed another delicious dinner around the "kitchen" table.
Sunday, after a lunch with twelve including our adoptive brother from Colton, we again stood around a warm, inviting, "Bon Apetit" kitchen in Kenosha. I learned about browned butter and chives, a new grilled chicken marinade, theater productions, church involments and thrift store purchases and the fact that I had made the recipe book from this precious family. My classic beef stew will grace the pages of the Brown family recipe book, now being formulated. I wonder if they have Ruth's sour cream pound cake or her Vanilla Christmas cookie recipe?
Kitchens are not just prep stations. They're family, they're instruction, they're life, they're love.
They're where we learn to eat with our mouths closed and how to sit up straight. They are where we learn manners. They're where we learn to be polite. They are orange carpet on the kitchen floor in the 70's and my mom making the best apple pies. I can see my grandmother of 90 peeling potatoes while looking at the movie camera. I guess she was a "ham". It's a vision of my dad carving the meat, ham, turkey, roast beef or tongue. Yuk!. It's the room that we polish silver in and the room we organize parties and menus.
The kitchen is where a young blond pigtailed girl of eight learned to bake and every Saturday after that was baking treats for her family, much to her brothers delight. Then she learned to prepare the whole meal. Kitchens are places where we can be adventurous and try new culinary experiments, or where we conduct chemistry experiments.
It's where Math books are brought to, waiting for Dad to come home and explain complicated equations that Mom couldn't get. It's where friends gather to study the Bible or neighbors come to have a cup of tea. It's where a library of cookbooks find their home and weekly menus are developed and family reunions are planned.
Kitchen's are where we learn new tastes, new foods, new friendships. We learn to set a table. We learn to listen to what has happened in someone else's day. We learn tolerance and patience. Families discuss politics in the kitchen and all about the latest episode of Lost.
We experience the smells associated with home. Onion and garlic sauteing in glistening olive oil. A dinner. The smell of vanilla, the anticipation of a wonderful dessert. The distinctive smell of homemade bread rising and baking.
Kitchen tables are places that friends sit around and develop ideas and plans for Desert Night. Kitchen tables are places for the "kids", when the dining room table has more than 14. They serve as buffet stations, as prep stations for large outdoor fund raising luncheons, as game tables for canasta or Mexican train game. Kitchen tables have chairs, benches, high chairs, leafs, table clothes, placemats, vases and so many varieties of china.
Kitchens are fun and happy, disappointing when the recipe fails, smokey when the meat burns, inviting when the hungry family returns at the end of the day. It's the place where six big college guys gather to decorate Christmas cookies and the place where a pastor and his wife sit receiving calls from Italy.
Kitchens are memories, love, family, food and life.
I wonder what the kitchen in 44 has in store for us?
And it's waiting to have life brought to it. People, aprons, tables, coffee makers, dishes, crystal, pots and pans and love.
Kitchens are the greatest!
They're not just a room, or just a room to prepare food in.
They're life, they're memories, they're teaching, they're comfort.
We were in two kitchens in Wisconsin this past weekend. We all, that means five of us in one kitchen, prepared the Saturday night dinner. I was given the great responsibility of "coddling the rissoto into existence", as Maja describes the process. And did I ever "coddle"! Add liquid and stir for 10 minutes, no guessing, a timer was set, times three! Matt had expertly pounded the chicken and Liz applied the pesto, all under the expert guidance of chef Kay. And we enjoyed another delicious dinner around the "kitchen" table.
Sunday, after a lunch with twelve including our adoptive brother from Colton, we again stood around a warm, inviting, "Bon Apetit" kitchen in Kenosha. I learned about browned butter and chives, a new grilled chicken marinade, theater productions, church involments and thrift store purchases and the fact that I had made the recipe book from this precious family. My classic beef stew will grace the pages of the Brown family recipe book, now being formulated. I wonder if they have Ruth's sour cream pound cake or her Vanilla Christmas cookie recipe?
Kitchens are not just prep stations. They're family, they're instruction, they're life, they're love.
They're where we learn to eat with our mouths closed and how to sit up straight. They are where we learn manners. They're where we learn to be polite. They are orange carpet on the kitchen floor in the 70's and my mom making the best apple pies. I can see my grandmother of 90 peeling potatoes while looking at the movie camera. I guess she was a "ham". It's a vision of my dad carving the meat, ham, turkey, roast beef or tongue. Yuk!. It's the room that we polish silver in and the room we organize parties and menus.
The kitchen is where a young blond pigtailed girl of eight learned to bake and every Saturday after that was baking treats for her family, much to her brothers delight. Then she learned to prepare the whole meal. Kitchens are places where we can be adventurous and try new culinary experiments, or where we conduct chemistry experiments.
It's where Math books are brought to, waiting for Dad to come home and explain complicated equations that Mom couldn't get. It's where friends gather to study the Bible or neighbors come to have a cup of tea. It's where a library of cookbooks find their home and weekly menus are developed and family reunions are planned.
Kitchen's are where we learn new tastes, new foods, new friendships. We learn to set a table. We learn to listen to what has happened in someone else's day. We learn tolerance and patience. Families discuss politics in the kitchen and all about the latest episode of Lost.
We experience the smells associated with home. Onion and garlic sauteing in glistening olive oil. A dinner. The smell of vanilla, the anticipation of a wonderful dessert. The distinctive smell of homemade bread rising and baking.
Kitchen tables are places that friends sit around and develop ideas and plans for Desert Night. Kitchen tables are places for the "kids", when the dining room table has more than 14. They serve as buffet stations, as prep stations for large outdoor fund raising luncheons, as game tables for canasta or Mexican train game. Kitchen tables have chairs, benches, high chairs, leafs, table clothes, placemats, vases and so many varieties of china.
Kitchens are fun and happy, disappointing when the recipe fails, smokey when the meat burns, inviting when the hungry family returns at the end of the day. It's the place where six big college guys gather to decorate Christmas cookies and the place where a pastor and his wife sit receiving calls from Italy.
Kitchens are memories, love, family, food and life.
I wonder what the kitchen in 44 has in store for us?
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