Watch The Leaves Turn. . .



High Park Derby, Kansas 2010



High Park Derby, Kansas 2010

High Park Derby, Kansas 2010

Fall is one of my favorite seasons of year.
Mother Nature makes her most vibrant stand in the Fall.

Occasionally, "Mr. Ed" and I take a walk in our local park.
We are privileged to live in a community where health and fine living are a priority.



South Fountain 2010



North Fountain 2010

While on vacation "Mr. Ed" and I take walks along the Spring @ Bennett Spring State Park. This year we went earlier in the season. The trees had only just begun to turn colors. The vibrant colors hadn't made their arrival. These photos are from Bennett  Spring State Park 2009!

Bennett Spring State Park 2009

Bennett Spring State Park 2009

Outside Larry's Cedar Resort 2009

Outside Larry's Cedar Resort 2009

I subscribed to Country Living Magazine a few years back and found this saying. I use it every year in corresponding with family and friends. Dear Ones, I hope you will enjoy this prose and place it in your archives. . .

"Even if something is left undone
everyone must take time to sit still
and watch the leaves turn."
____ Elizabeth Lawrence.

Until next time. . .

Roses Are For Rememberances. . .

Today, On Crooked Creek will be joining Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday! Marty is such a lovely hostess. . . be sure to stop by and see what other inspirations await!
http://www.astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/



Roses Are For Remembrances. . .
table and rose floral arrangement
heirlooms from my Mother, Carmen.

 Roses Are For Remembrances. . .

The roses in the cherub egg vase hold special remembrances for me. This delicate floral
arrangement was first purchased in the
early 70's by my Mother, Carmen.

"Mr. Ed" and I were home visiting during his military career when Moma shared with me that she had purchased this floral arrangement in the Kansas City Area. The florist was a former classmate of mine, Mark Evans, from my junior high years.

The original faux arrangement was plastic roses. . . remember, we are speaking of the 70's!

I have a very dear, lifelong friend who is an excellent nurse! However, she has many creative talents, as well. A few years ago, she came for a visit On Crooked Creek and reproduced this arrangement with silk roses! What a blessing! Knowing how dear this piece is to me, she made the remembrance now a trilogy !



"When on helps another,

                                       both are strong.

                             . . . Be strong in the Lord. . ."

Ephesians 6:10





Through the years, another close friend gave me the paper weight as a gift. I served as a para educator in her classroom. Our bond in the Sisterhood of Christ gave us the strength we needed to face the situations that came our way daily in a middle school setting. 

Moma used this as an accent table in our French Provincial living room; I use it as a side table in our home office. It is exquisite with it's curvy legs and marble top! The fluting on the table legs and the scallop on the skirting embellish its character.

The two bronze finials were purchased locally when I updated the home office decor On Crooked Creek this Summer. I changed out the Black and White Wellington Country Toile curtains for the Sage Green lined draperies. The Waverly Home Classics paint from Lowe's (WV42002) is titled Coffee! Fitting for working in your own home office!

Roses are for remembrance. . .
what remembrances come to your mind today?

Until next time. . .

Something New On Crooked Creek. . .

Please stop by Between Naps On The Porch with our gracious hostess, Susan for Metamorphosis Monday http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ and be inspired by todays participants concerning changes in and around your home.



Dear Ones,

First of all I want to thank everyone for their kind comments on our French Country Kitchen! My heartfelt gratitude to Shelia @ Notesongs for hosting Heart of the Home Party!Many times over the past year, I've read where bloggers were moved to tears by what they had read in their comments. Oh! I, truly, was overwhelmed! You must realize that when we live day~in~day~out in our homes. . .we sometimes miss it's true beauty! Thank you for drawing to my attention to all of the blessings God has bestowed on "Mr. Ed" and I On Crooked Creek!

Now. . .
for something new On Crooked Creek. . .


My New Desk Chair! ! !



I can't believe it, "Mr. Ed" and I have been discussing it for months! Seems with every  birthday. . . my arthritis becomes more and more a constant companion. When I sit at the computer for any amount of time, I am in a great deal of pain!

For the lady who loves all things vintage this was quite a shock to me, as well! I had my sights on an vintage looking chair in the Ballard Designs catalog. Both dear hubby and my son cautioned that I needed to sit in the chair. That wasn't possible without ordering first.
So. . .
last weekend, we were in the city running errands; I asked to go to Office Max. I looked over what was available and decided there was nothing similar to the Ballard Designs chair to try on for fit. I spotted two chairs. One was a sleek little red leather design. . .but the fit across my back wasn't very comfortable. It also had arms, which throw my shoulders out~of~place, causing more pain in the neck, shoulders and back.

Then. . .
I spotted this cute little task chair. . . too cute. . . too cute. . .too cute. . .but oh, so contemporary. So totally NOT me!

Since "Mr. Ed" and I both work out of our home office (on occasion), I had him sit in it, too. He was quite smitten with all the bells and whistles of the brenton studio task chair . . .
contemporary style, low flare back, pneumatic seat height adjustment, leather upholstery! Of course, he didn't hesitate taking it for a "test drive". Our son, also, likes the change!




Time for a Tag Sale. . .



. . .On Crooked Creek!

It wasn't easy saying good~bye to the two antique black chairs we've been using, but the benefits for my tired, old, aching body have well been worth the change.




brenton studio task chair

"Mr. Ed" and I have been enjoying our newest purchase On Crooked Creek. If there's a new purchase to be made at your home, by all means, get out there and go shopping! Comfort and style . . . what are you waiting for? ? ?

Until next time . . .

Heart of the Home. . .

Today I'm expressing heartfelt thanks to our sweet hostess Shelia @ Note Songs for extending her invitation to join in the Heart of the Home Party. Instead of donning my apron, I'm donning my curator hat to give you a guided tour of my Galley Style Kitchen On Crooked Creek.

Having left the "dream home" to be close to our son and daughter~in~law in 2002, we also left the spacious County Kitchen behind. For the first three years On Crooked Creek, we spent weekend~after~weekend updating our 1970's Ranch Style Home. Deemed "good bones" and "move~in" condition in today's real estate market, "Mr. Ed" and I considered our home a fixer~upper from the start. Trust me, dear ones, there comes a point where you just wear down (or out) and you have to stop remodeling and just live for a while!

Our galley kitchen came with olive green printed wallpaper, harvest gold appliances, yellow laminate counter tops, gold ceiling mounted light fixtures and butter cream back splash tiles. The dark walnut built~on~site cabinets with heavy Spanish burnished bronze hardware and laminate flooring made this one dark and dreary kitchen.

A complete remodeling of the kitchen was NOT in the budget. We began s l o w l y . . .
new light fixtures, wallpaper, appliances, area rugs, counter tops. Better, but so very dark were those kitchen cabinets. Now, dear ones, "Mr. Ed" loves natural wood, me. . . not so much. . .
So. . .several years ago, on the prairie. . .Fall turned to one of the longest Winters on record.

"Mr. Ed" works for Kansas Department of Transportation and during our harsh Kansas winters I refer to myself as a Winter Widow. With a combination of Parent~Teacher Conferences, Teacher Inservice and one of the largest snowstorms of the season ~ life changed drastically On Crooked Creek. Armed with paint brush, Prep~Rite Bonding Primer and Paperwhite paint all from Sherwin~Williams, I began the labor intense process of revitalizing those dark walnut built~on~site cabinets into a light, yet warm, French Country Kitchen!


North side of the Galley Style Kitchen. . .



. . .South side of the Galley Style Kitchen.



Dining Area off the Kitchen.

Our tiny Galley Style Kitchen measures 8 feet wide ~ by ~10 1/2 feet long. However, the actual walking area is 4 1/2 feet wide! We have an additional 8 feet wide ~ by ~ 11 feet long eating area off to one side. For functionality ( and sanity's sake), I have divided the kitchen counter tops into designated work stations!

Beverage Station.
With two coffee drinkers this is the hardest working station.

Cook Station.
So-o-o- much better than Harvest Gold!

My favorite space!
Snack Area. . .
just right for fixing breakfast & lunch!




My Pear Vignette!

                      

                       What's on top of your refrigerator? ? ?



This vignette is one of my most surprising features in the Kitchen!

Do you remember when bread and cereal boxes were stored on the tops of household refrigerators? ? ?


The Backbone of the Kitchen. . .
the Prep Area!
Dear Ones, this is where all the action takes place !



Warming Station and. . . 



Clean up Station!



Caldrea
Plant derived ingredients,
safe for the environment,
safe for your home and for you!
(http://www.caldrea.com/)



I use Fragrance NO. 14
Basil Blue Sage
All ~ Purpose Cleanser,
Countertop Cleanser, Dish Soap Liquid,
Hand Soap Liquid and Powdered Scrub.

These are a few of the interesting design elements that not only make our kitchen On Crooked Creek functional, but inviting, as well!



Menu Board



Message Center

"Mr. Ed's" Childhood Stool.

Function over form!

The plate rack still houses the dark walnut stain. . .
blending all the woodwork between kitchen and dining!

When I saw the bi-fold doors off the dining area, I had visions of a huge kitchen pantry On Crooked Creek. Instead, I got a laundry room in a closet. With each additional birthday I am more and more grateful for a main floor laundry!

"Mr. Ed" removed the dark walnut cabinets and bought in stock box cabinets @Lowe's, added a closet rod between for hanging laundry fresh from the dryer and had Sherwin ~ Williams match the paint to our wallpaper background.

Newly installed cabinetry in our laundry room.

Above the cabinets rest an era of laundry past. An appropriate heritage display On Crooked Creek is an assemblage of inherited washboards from my mother~in~law, Mary. Galvanized pitchers, vintage enameled white pail rimmed in red, antique cast iron irons and sprinkle bottle complete with wooden clothespins for washing and drying clothes the old fashioned way.

During our down time On Crooked Creek, we attend our area home builders annual Spring and Fall Parade of Homes Tour in hopes of finding the "perfect home". But. . .

as we turn into our cul~de~sac we are met with our warm, welcoming neighborhood. . .

children playing, smiling familiar faces and waves of friendship. Homes are being built nearly everday in our growing community ~ but a neighborhood~ that's something money just can't buy!

Until next time. . .

Welcoming Us Home . . .



Arriving home from our Annual Trout Fishing Trip On Crooked Creek, we were met with some welcoming sights. . .the mums were in full bloom!



This is only the second year for these
Mums and French Lavendar!

My favorite color combination for mums are bronze and burgundy ! Their vibrant hues are splendid during all types of Fall weather. They are also compatible with the day lillies, dusty miller, french lavender and the gingersnap roses in the front flower bed!




Right side of the flower bed On Crooked Creek. . .



. . .left side of flower bed On Crooked Creek.

Last year On Crooked Creek, we removed all the annuals and replaced them with perennials. We could tell you it's more economical, more environmentally friendly or less time consuming. . . but truthfully. . .it has to do with age! Our age. The age of our backs, knees and muscles every time we work in the flower beds!




Combined with the barberry and emerald 'n gold euonymus shrubbery, I planted lemon thyme across the back of the front flower bed. It's delicate white blossoms on the blue / green foliage were a delightful ground cover; however, after eight years. . .it was time for the thyme to go!

The Lemon Thyme has been replaced with Yellow Mums.

Labor Day weekend is always yard work weekend On Crooked Creek. With Freshening Up For Fall ~ we were a week behind schedule which afforded us to purchase Mums on sale @ Lowe's. "Mr. Ed" graciously planted the Mums to welcome our guests for our Neighborhood Care Unit Gathering On Crooked Creek. I couldn't contain my excitement when we toured the yard after unpacking to find them in full bloom!

The new bronze Mums . . .
I can hardly wait until they spread!



Bronze and Yellow Mums.
(Right)  Emerald 'n Gold Euonymus and Barberry (Left).



Notice the Emerald 'n Gold Euonymus beginning to turn
its leaves with our cooler night temperatures?


I'm looking forward to watching them grow and spread to fill in the area vacated by the thyme!




A tidbit I aquired from a friend in South East Kansas. . .
place items of interest in your flower beds.



A final glance On Crooked Creek.

Thank you for helping to welcome us back home On Crooked Creek. I'm sure you have much to do where you live. . .but for me
. . . I think I'll take my cup~of~tea outdoors this afternoon and enjoy the view!
Of course, you're welcome to join me, dear!

Until next time. . .