Kitchen Still Life!

A few weeks ago, while re~vamping the kitchen counters, I decided I needed some cooler items on the buffet and hutch. Our sweltering triple digits made it unbearable here on the Prairie. Our dining room and kitchen are on the Western most side of our 1970's Ranch Style home and I needed some  c o o l e r  hues!!!

Taking off the reds and golds, I began with this new thrifty find from a recent garage $ale! This vintage print is a perfect addition to compliment my fruit motif in the kitchen here On Crooked Creek!

Encased in the gold medallion at the bottom of the print is August 1732! Listed on either side are all the names of the fruits; Apricock, Grapes, Nectarines, Peaches,Plumbs, Pears are the main headings. Then numbers and subheadings for each fruit are listed in this vintage print. The frame is black, walnut and a fine edging of gold. I felt it was well justified with the garage $ale price of $3.00!

Removing the gold and red chili pepper dinnerware from the two~tier plate rack was the next change in my effort to  c o o l  things down in the dining room! I stacked it high with my everyday white dinnerware and one vintage dinner plate for added visual interest.

Another still life print is the inspiration for the changes atop the buffet.

You can get an idea of the intense heat with this photo of the sun streaming through the patio doors (notice the blinds are c l o s e d) long before noon On Crooked Creek!

This still life sits atop the refrigerator in On Crooked Creek's galley style kitchen. 

An heirloom watercolor from my childhood, gifted to me by my beloved MoMa, this print hung on the dining room wall in "the dream house". Since wall space is at a premium On Crooked Creek, I chose to place it atop the refrigerator!

I adore how the ornate top of this vintage coffee grinder mimics the silver bowl in the still life print.

Faux fruit resembles the subject matter of the art piece and is in keeping with our theme surrounding the kitchen On Crooked Creek.

Muted hues add to the mystical, romantic portrayal of the dragon slayer seen in the background of this print.

A gentle shower of rain, double digits for a few days combined with c o o l e r hues are making life On Crooked Creek a bit brighter as the days go by!


Until next time . . .

www.astrollthrulife.blogspot.com

On Crooked Creek will be joining our dear hostess, Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday! Inspiration abounds with each week's remarkable vignettes. Be sure to visit soon!

Christmas Pillows in August!

You read correct, ladies. . .
Christmas Pillows in August  On Crooked Creek!

Now for those of you who  l o v e  to sew this is an easy task, but I  h a t e  to sew! I will state for the record. . .that I  l o v e our new Christmas pillows!!!

For two Christmas Seasons, my hopeful Christmas pillows have been in this state of being. Vintage buttons sewn in a wreath pattern with a white string tied to hold the bow placement.

My inspiration came from a Christmas Gooseberry Patch flyer. Notice the red pillow on the porch swing??? That stole my heart! I cut the photo from the flyer and placed it in the crafting suitcase I take on vacation!

I have lots of vintage buttons and a bag of fiberfill, all I had to purchase was red fabric! Since I wanted to keep the pillows small, I chose felt rectangles. . .5 for $1.00!

Following the placement of vintage buttons from the photo, I hand stitched each button into place. When we arrived home from vacation, I packed the pillows away until closer to Christmas!

That was my last year to work retail for Christmas. Need I say more? Time was not on my side! So, until this past week, these pillow fronts have been sitting in the plastic tub marked Christmas Pillows on the lowel level storage unit shelves.

Until today, when fabric and vintage buttons came together to make two Christmas pillows On Crooked Creek!

"Mr. Ed" stuffed each pillow with the fiberfill for me. "The man" can do anything, ladies!!! Then I cut and tied the aqua satin ribbon making a double bow!

One completed Christmas pillow down, one to go!

Christmas On Crooked Creek ,
made a bit more special since the completion of our new
Christmas Pillows in August!

Until next time. . .

www.cedarhill-ranch.com

On Crooked Creek is joining in the festivities @ A Homespun Christmas Link Party!
This week our dear hostess is Anita from Cedar Hill Ranch featuring Handmade Holidays ! Be sure to visit for inspiration abounds @ Cedar Hill Ranch !

Layering On The Bronze. . .

While I do enjoy watching our American Athletes in their quest to medal, I'm not as big a fan of the Olympics as "Mr. Ed"! So~o~o, while he has been cheering them on to place for their medals. . .I've been layering on the Bronze!!!

Much like our athletes, I had some preparation to do before aspiring to take on the Bronze! My day began with placing the dining room area rug at an angle here On Crooked Creek!

The dining room of our 1970's Ranch Style Home is a narrow space that adjoins with the living room. The best visual description I can give is to think of an L ~ shape. The bottom (or shorter line in the L) is the dining room.

Triple digits on the Prairie have me feeling a bit "boxed ~ in". "Mr. Ed" and I discussed angling the buffet and hutch, but after careful measuring, found we could not gain access to the laundry closet!

The movement and flow appear much easier. This angle gives more open area near the laundry as well as to the garage! 

After a few trial and error attempts, I layered on the heirloom white linen tablecloth and the ecru embroidered topper. Both are placed on an angle, allowing the farmhouse chairs to glide easily around the table.

An heirloom, hand crocheted lace doily placed on an angle, keeps the layering for the Bronze with visual appeal. I adore this antique, cream vase! The bottom, with its intricate swirls, reminds me of a Victorian Ladies skirt.

Deep sage green hydrangeas  with a hint of Bronze fill this delicate vase. The Bronze mercury glass votive adds to the romantic flavor with its floral design and ambiance.

Burgundy, green and Bronze leaves with burgundy berries fill out the hydrangeas in the centerpiece! Blush and rust hydrangeas have replaced the Sunflowers in the half wicker basket for the Season.

All the elements of layering on the Bronze are well underway to bring on a winning tablescape.

Linen napkin, everyday beaded flatware combined with everyday white dinner ware keep this table setting streamlined.

Clear bubble glass stemware gives our dining experience a festive flair as we celebrate the accomplishments of each American Athlete!

On Crooked Creek, layering on the Bronze, truly an amazing feat!!!

In true competitive nature, come back soon for an unveiling of On Crooked Creek's next Olympic hue!

Until next time. . .

www.betweennapsontheporch.net

On Crooked Creek will be joining our sweet hostess, Susan @ Between Naps On The Porch for Tablescape Thursday! Be sure to visit and see some of the most amazing table decor for your own family dining!

Kitchen (En)Counters. . .

While cleaning the kitchen here On Crooked Creek ~
I decided it was time to re ~ vamp the counter tops.
Sort of a kitchen (en)counter!

The first work space as you enter the kitchen!

On Crooked Creek's galley style kitchen sits right inside the front door, off the entry hall, in our 1970's Ranch Style home. When we arrived, the kitchen was Harvest Gold with Avocado Green wallpaper! Ladies, there have been multiple changes in the last 10 years!

Years ago, during the largest snowstorm since we've been here. . . I painted all the dark mahogany cabinets Paperwhite! Bringing a  French Country Style to this side of the Prairie, I chose to leave the cabinet door off the lower cabinet and added wicker baskets instead!

This (en)counter top houses our micro ~wave and cleaning essentials !

My two on ~ going love affairs in the kitchen. . .pears and Sunflowers!!! I nearly chose a Sunflower patterned wall paper in the same hues for On Crooked Creek's kitchen, but following my heirloom Grandmother's fruit motif plates, Waverly's pears was the perfect choice!

Each Season, I change the vignette atop the microwave. . .
this vintage heirloom ironstone bowl is one of my favorites! I adore the soft sage green hue! Faux eggplant brings in a touch of Old World charm keeping the Traditional elements that I desire.

Directly across the  (4'7") room is the h a r d e s t working area On Crooked Creek! The coffee station!!!

All my favorites are located here on this (en)counter top!!!
Programmable Cuisinart Coffee Maker, Sunbeam Tea Drop. . .

and my over ~ sized glass canisters with silver lidded tops to store ample amounts of coffee beans and loose leaf tea (or tea bags)!

Directly above the range, is another French Country element. This Spring, "Mr. Ed" added the chicken wire inserts to the cabinet doors giving me a display place for my restaurant collection!

Opposite the range, is the most elegant (en)counter vignette in On Crooked Creek's kitchen! Yet, a very functional area as well!

 Wedged between our new French Door refrigerator and the range is the perfect place for buttering hot toast or assembling a sandwich!

Our Cuisinart toaster was a Christmas gift to "Mr. Ed" from me a few years ago! The man would eat toast every meal if he could! The retro design mimics our very first toaster received as a wedding gift. . . 43 years ago!!!

The entire length of this galley style kitchen measures at 9' 5" and ends with our French Door Refrigerator.

Our side ~ by ~ side refrigerator expired, literary, on a Thursday before Mother's Day this year. "Mr. Ed" and I had previously toured the Parade of Homes in our town and I had mentioned that when our refrigerator went out, I wanted this French Door Style.

This is the area at the end of the kitchen. . .
we enter this way from our garage!

Finally, we have come full circle with our kitchen (en)counter On Crooked Creek! This is the workhorse of the kitchen. . .where all the food preparation takes place.


I purchased these fruit motif canisters from J. C. Penney while we were still residing in South East Kansas! I adore their wooden hinged lids! Flour, sugar and tea bags. . .all the key ingredients. The spice rack was a gift from our son and daughter ~ in ~law!

On Crooked Creek's freshly cleaned kitchen (en)counter is completed with a simple, rectangular tray filled with faux wooden pears and grapes!

Until next time. . .