Thursday, July 31, 2008

Cafe Curtains and Beans

Well, after the theft of my computer, I decided to put up some curtains that will give us a little more privacy. I splurged on these Irish lace curtains years ago...and I still love them. I prefer them down so you can see the beautiful pattern across the bottom. However, these days I feel I want something no one can see through. So I found these Martha Stewart cafe curtains at Kmart and put them up in the dining room. I bought some vintage tie backs that I'd like to use here, but I can't find them at the moment.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm thinking about painting the dining room a lighter color. I loved the red, but I've had it several years and I'm kind of craving light.

Now I'm thinking of adding muslin cafe curtains in place of the lace curtains in the living room. What do you think?


If you know me, you will know how odd this is...I put up beans today! I love a lot of things about homemaking, but cooking is not one of them. I can cook pretty good meals (because I like to eat them), and I actually don't mind baking, but I'm ashamed to say you won't usually find me freezing or canning. I know it's fresher, better for us, cheaper...but you know...it's messing with food. Just not at the top of my list. I'd rather weed the flowers, sew something, or (I know this is hard to believe) clean. And really, cleaning is not high on my list of favorite things to do.

But I have a wonderful brother in law who grows veges, freezes, cans, makes jam....I'm telling you ladies, he is one in a million. He grew these beans and picked a bunch of them for me. So today I blanched and froze them. And you know, it really wasn't that bad!

9 comments:

Jan~Feather Your Nest Antiques said...

I know what you mean about needing some light, but please, if you paint, don't touch that woodwork! I just love it!Is it original to the house?

I'm just like you in the way of cooking. I don't like to cook (YUCK) but I like to bake.Cora loves to cook and is very good at it, so she brings leftovers to me and her Dad all the time. We love it!

Julie said...

I hated to hear about your theft. It is so heartbreaking to know that someone would do something like that.

I do have a suggestion though. You could put up roll up shades in all of your rooms. We have them in our bedroom. When I want them open so the pretty curtains can be seen the way I want them to be seen - the roll ups ..well they roll up and disappear. At night - or anytime I want to block out the light or in your case someones view inside, you just roll them down. That way you would not have to sacrifice the beautiful lace curtains you love. Just a thought.

Peggy said...

I'm with Julie on the roll up shades. I think that would be a great compromise so that you don't have to change the look of your beautifully done windows. That is actually what I am planning to do.

I understand wanting to paint a lighter color. I LOVE red, and I've had a friend try to talk me into painting my kitchen red. I just can't bring myself to do it because I don't think my kitchen gets enough light to get away with that. I think your red dining room is lovely, but I understand wanting change.

I don't mind cooking, but it isn't my favorite thing to do. I've always wanted to have a large garden and can, but two things stop me....the weeds and the mess. We do have a small garden, but I doubt we'll be freezing anything from it because it is not producing very fast.

Anonymous said...

Hi, I just love your blog and have been following it for sometime now. In fact, I have listed your blog on my list of favorites in my blog.

Sorry to hear about your computer getting stolen.

I think that my style is alot like yours. Also, what drew me to your blog was reading about your antique store. That is a dream I've had for some time now--to open an antique mall in my historical town. I live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The Copper Country near Lake Superior. Come visit me at www.blueberriesforever.blogspot.com

A Lovely Thing said...

You're the winner of my Christmas giveaway. Give me a buzz at alovelything (at) gmail :)

I know what you mean about the red. We painted vibrant colors in a former home -- and got tired of it pretty quickly. I had a powder room painted red (ceiling and all) with lot's of antique mirrors. It was gorgeous.

Anonymous said...

Ditto on the shades.
We have huge windows in my kitchen and I want to change my curtains. I like your Irish lace ones. Very nice.
I love to cook and bake but HATE the clean up.
:0

pedalpower said...

Maybe I should try the shades again....I've had cheap roller shades before and the edges curled in so much. I'm thinking that maybe if I went with a higher quality, thicker (and probably more expensive) roller shade they would stay flatter and not roll in on the sides?

Ms.Daisy said...

I also vote for the rollup shades as they provide the most privacy when you need it. Although, I do love muslin curtains! :-) I have just had my kitchen painted burgandy (red) and I just love it! I fear, though, that it won't "wear" well and I'll tire of it sooner than later!

~Jean

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