A new year's kitchen

After many, many months, the kitchen is finally up and running.

It's fun living in and getting used to this larger space.
Still lots of details to finish, but I think its come a long way from the before pictures. Have a look:
After all the work that took place in this room, the wood floor is in rough shape and needs refinishing. The pantry needs a proper floor cover, built in shelves and a door. The windows need attention and some kind of covering...a curtain or shade...still need to figure that out. In the meantime I'm using the velvet ones from the dining room. Hooks need to go up. Etc, etc.

Also, while I'm in this rare "getting organized" phase it wouldn't be a bad idea to remove the ladder, paint cans and tool bags from the corner they are still sitting in.

Goodbye 2010

Happy New Year! After a long absence, I'm trying to catch up with this nearly non-existent blog with a few pictures from last year.

January:
February: Maple tap at the Baldwins.
March:
April in Boston:
May:
Rowan at the ropes course.
June:
July:
Chatham 4th of July.
August: Cousins.
September:
October:
November: Thanksgiving with the Daglios.
December:
Christmas at home.
And a glimpse of the new kitchen...ready in time for the New Year.

School, school, school

There is something new here. All three kids in school! A bit belated as school began over a month ago, but here are some first day snapshots of all:

These changes are exciting. Ava is onto her last year at middle school. And after two years of homeschooling, Rowan began 2nd grade at the elementary school. Lilla is going three mornings to a sweet little nursery school. All this back to school has me inspired to finally go back and finish up that degree after all these years. With everyone in school this year, I might just be able to carve out enough time to do it.

Oh fall!

It's that time again. Super beautiful but bittersweet all in the same breath. I almost can't take it.

Finally, a new bathroom

Slowly but surely projects are finished around here...


Far from perfect,  I'm just happy that it's useable. Still needs some more painting. I think I'll go back and paint the wall above the bead board. With a mostly white bathroom, I'm thinking the wall color could be darker.
This little cabinet which gives us some much needed storage. By the way, this is how the bathroom looked in the earliest stages of renovation:

Garden glimpses

Last month

Here are a few belated glimpses from our trip to the Cape:

Quintin and Lilla at Nauset Beach. Their smiles were matched with squeals of delight as they dodged in and out of the coming tide.

Creative dives off the dock. I remember this from my own childhood when my siblings and I would have contests for the best can opener, cannonball...or even Nestea plunge. I loved watching the big cousins reconnecting and coming up with the same summer time games that I used to play.
The classic Chatham parade for the 4th. The whole town ( and people) get decked out in red, white and blue.
Hanging out with my sweet niece and nephew. I met Spencer for the first time! Look at these two...I just can't get enough of them.

And a group birthday celebration for all the June and July birthdays...Lilla, Sophia, Quintin, Dave and Mor Mor. Lilla received this pretty dress-up skirt and set about to twirling right away.
I hope we can sneak in another quick trip this summer.