More painted furniture.....

Here are a few of the pieces I've painted for family members over the past month or two.... a yellow and white table & 4 chairs, plus the vintage lamp, I re-wired and re-covered the shade; a light yellow magazine rack; and a light green wardrobe and chest /buffet set. Click on the pictures for larger images.

Furniture Renewal

In early December something nudged me back into an old groove..... painting old furniture. Years ago I was one of those "strip and refinish the natural wood" people but somewhere along the line I found paint. Some people are appalled by the very idea., "Paint wood furniture???" but not me; I love paint. I have painted every room in all 5 homes we have owned (at least once!) and have painted plenty of furniture over the years as well..but...I had not done so in quite some time.

In December, burnt out and bleary eyed from grading 100's of college students' papers... I began acquiring old pieces to "renew." I ended up doing several pieces for family members for Christmas and a few for my own house as well. Truth be told, there are currently several pieces around in various stages of renewal but, that it part of the fun.

I'll round up some more pictures and post them, but this is one piece I "found" on Craig's List. I drove to the seller's house at the start of a snow storm at dusk. We trekked through the snow to an old chicken coop out back. This lovely piece had been stored there and was looking quite forlorn. Here is is, almost complete, in the corner of my bedroom. I repaired damaged sections, sanded, clamped, primed, and painted. Some reproduction vintage paper was added to the back. Now it needs 2 new shelves added and a few other details to be complete.

Momma went shopping......

Yes.. it is true! In a little over 3 weeks we will have a new puppy at Sweetside. We are not sure of what mix she is but her mom was a Boston terrier mix. Obviously... her dad was something else! She is 3 months old, about 5 lbs, very playful, affectionate and fluffy. She is also "sassy" and incredibly smart according to Bernie and Jeff from A Place to Barks. They are the ones who rescued this puppy's mom, Gidget, who back in September had a litter of 10! We have not chosen a name for her yet... but she now has a lady bug t-shirt, a maroon jacket with embroidered flowers and covered buttons and a warm red parka -- two toys, a collar & leash and a bowl.

Merry Christmas All!

Yes... it is still Christmas.

For all of you who think it ends at mid night on Dec 25th, today is the Second Day of Christmas, with tonight being the Third Night of Christmas and the Twelve Days culminating on Epiphany, January 6.

Our Twelve Days began splendidly on Christmas Day with our family here at Sweetside (our home in Amherst) with many gifts exchanged and a feast that included lobster tails and scallops. Mmmmmm Mmmmm Mmmmmm.

Then we had a great Second Night (last night) welcoming about 25 family and friends. We made Christmas Chili, cooked over a bonfire outside and had a toasty fire and an array for food inside as well.


We also welcomed our new grand-dog, Basil (bah zil) from A Place to Bark, of course!! He is an incredible sweetheart and very smart. He loves to play/wrestle with his big sister Lexi, another A Place to Bark pup who joined us last Christmas, and snuggles up for long naps with humans or our cats and elderly beagle, Chloe.


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Third Night (tonight) is the annual Brew Party over at Chapin Street and Monday it is over to the Berkshires to see Nana and my siblings.

All great fun!!

Hope you are yours are having a wonderful holiday season!

Pictures include: Firepit scenes; Jess and Lauren in a snow storm getting Basil (formerly Fred) from the transport folks; Baird with Lexi, Basil and Chloe; Aaron handing Basil to Ben (who was a bit in shock for a few minutes, that Jess actually DID get him the puppy for Christmas!); Aaron with Chloe, David with Lexi and Ben with his new baby Basil (nicknamed "Bud"); Lauren napping with Basil.

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS ADORABLE PUPPY WAS HOMELESS, STARVING AND IN-LINE TO BE "PUT DOWN" ONLY 4 WEEKS AGO ??? WHAT A CHRISTMAS FOR HIM. PLEASE...IF YOU ARE GETTING A PET... ADOPT A STRAY!

Off to cut the Christmas tree today.....

I see my blog still has one of the last flowers of the Fall gracing my most recent post. Oh dear!! Well, last night we had our first snow (only about and inch) but that garden does look different. Today we go to get the Christmas tree so....pictures later, if all goes as planned!! Meanwhile, here is a pic of recent work done at daughter Jet's as well as a picture of some recent leaf raking fun at our house with some of the UMass students from Engineers Without Boarders.

Whoa! Where has the month gone??

I am back to teaching at UMass - Commonwealth College - with five courses again this Fall...and..... I have no idea where the past month went!! I do know that this week is mid-term week and my pile of papers "to be graded" grows each day - even tho I grade what can each day the pile doesn't get smaller until late December.

The groggy bees are gathering the last of their pollen. The leaves are turning, the flowers are fading and I unplugged and put away my stream pump today before it gets really cold. I miss the babbling brook already. I'll have to take some pictures of the silenced stream tomorrow! I forgot today.

I know that some time this past month my attic got insulated with icenyne (expanding foam) and that my new gas furnace got installed this past week.









I also seem to recall a trip to NYC for Open House New York! Was that just last week? It was a blast seeing little known places and private homes & studios that you would normally never have the opportunity to view. I just downloaded my 300+ pictures tonight! Here are a few - enjoy!


Pumpkins at a market in the fabulously renovated old Nabisco Bldg in Chelsea. Right near the new Apple store!







"Trailer Park" was one of the many Flux Tour stops we made on Saturday as part of OHNY. It is literally a park in an old trailer, parked in an asphalt "park" in lower Manhattan.










The famous Graffiti Bldg in Queens, just over the river from Brooklyn - an old factory filled with artist studios and covered in spray paint art - "graffiti" which is constantly being worked on.





And a 3 story courtyard garden in a private home/office architectural marvel located in Tribecca.

It is Verbena Time!

John over at Wiseacre Gardens recently posted about his visit to my garden. He pictured one flower that he could not recall the name of ---- Verbena bonariensis! Right now Sweetside abounds in its glory! Both the new ones added this Spring and the ones that re-seeded from last year stand above the 99% spent day lilies at 3' - 4' tall, bobbing in the wind and attracting butterflies like crazy! Wonderful September color and movement!












Also adding color to the Fall garden at Sweetside are the Anemones and the bright orange Canna both located at the head of the stream.