Kitchen Help Wanted

While others may disagree... I don't mean in the cooking sense.

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I painted the walls in my kitchen recently quite a while ago and had visions of it instantly turning into something like this gorgeous retro kitchen from Meadowbrook Farm. 

It didn't happen. Some bits I liked... like the valence I made. What I didn't take into account was the lack of wall space on one side of the kitchen compared to the other.

Which means: YELLOW side.

Not-so-yellow side.

More not-so-yellow side.

I think I need to put some larger items on the shelves and reduce the small stuff.

I also have some bright frames and bits to go up on the wall to the right.

Other than that... I am stumped and stalled out.

I don't want to paint the backsplash or any of the cupboard surfaces. Hmm.

I need your help!! Any ideas out there friends?? Besides dynamite, that is.

 All suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Mitt Norge Tilkobling

Yes, you read correctly... Mitt Norge Tilkobling.  "My Norway Connection"

Another happy surprise for me. 

Aunt Belle & Grandma Anna Apold Becker
Spokane, WA  Circa 1911

Ancestry.com: It's not like the TV commercials.

I've been a member since 2006 and have spent many happy hours searching and building our tree. I didn't join and miraculously find lovely family photos of long lost loved ones. Ahhh... no.

BUT... in February I received a message from another member, Kari, in Norway who noticed that Aunt Belle, Grandma, and her family were in my tree.  :)

My grandmother passed away when I was only 10 and her father passed away in 1920. Her mother lived in Spokane, Washington and only came up to Canada to visit once in the 1940's. This side of the family had the least amount of information.

Until now.

Unbelievably to me, Kari had found us. She is my third cousin... our great grandfathers were brothers. Her grandmother and mine were first cousins. Kari's mother sent us photos from the farm in Norway where our great grandfathers were raised and a fourth cousin still lives. Something I never could have imagined...

My great grandfather and Kari's great grandfather.

Kari's grandmother (also named Kari), my grandmother and great aunt.

It was fun to see the family resemblance. Many other photos have been shared and it has been a happy time for myself, my mom and her sisters. Grandma has been gone over fourty years now and I am sure that she is tickled about this reunion.

We had a good laugh when I sent one of the photos that my aunt had to Norway. Kari's mother Marit is in the green dress. They were in the USA visiting family in Seattle. 

Our new family... Marit, Kjell, Kari and Torkell.

So, I had to make a little vignette to celebrate our happy new connection. You know, Mitt Norge Tilkobling. I haven't quilted for years, but rooted around in my fabric stash and made up my own little (4.5"x5.75") flag of Norway. The tea cup fabric honours our new friendship.

I had to include a copy of a vintage postcard from the town near the farm.

 Norway is not unlike Alberta with it's beautiful mountains and healthy moose population. My moose had to have a Norway crochet spray for the occasion. He is perched atop one of my favourite old thrift store finds: a turquoise 1950's Norwegian/English dictionary. The photo of girls in their traditional Norwegian dress was sent by Marit and features another relative. I made the funky wire photo holder after seeing these directions on Pinterest.

So, if you join Ancestry.com don't expect too much too fast. But don't be surprised either if you find some wonderful people like I did. Or rather they found me. Now my dream is to visit beautiful Norway and our new family. One day.

Sorry Mr. Moose, you cannot come along.

Thanks for visiting!

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Happiness Is...

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What makes you happy?

I am a self-proclaimed cheap date. I can get so much happiness out of something that some people may not even bat an eye at. I've been lucky to have happy hit me upside the head countless times in the last few weeks.

Exhibit B  &  Exhibit A

Exhibit A: This totally adorable vintage thread holder was a surprise gift from a very sweet friend whom I met through blogging. Turquoise, thread, vintage... what can I say. It makes me smile every time I look at it. The gift was such a fun surprise and our friendship is a constant source of happy. Thank you Vickie. :)

Exhibit B: Crocheted Barbie ballerina slippers. My beloved maternal grandmother made delicately crocheted Barbie ballerina outfits for each of her then seven granddaughters in the 1960's. The outfit is one of my most treasured possessions. My grandma passed away when I was just 10, but I have wonderful memories of her and think of her often, especially when I'm crocheting.

Grandma & Grandpa Becker and Me, circa 1962

Camping with Grandma and Grandpa on a trip in 1966 when we took Grandma back to her childhood home near Spokane, Washington.

(That's me with my trademark pose: the fork near my mouth.)

One of Macy's Barbies models the outfit in my craft room, next to the thread holder and a mug that belonged to my great grandma on my dad's side. Don't look too closely, you'll see that the crocheted panties are missing!!

(Who hasn't had that happen at least once in their life?)

Dwayne, Helen, Me, my Sister and Mom

Grandma's ballerina outfit has always had a special place in my heart. So does my mom's friend Helen, above, circa 1969, on one of our many snowmobiling outings. She is the sweetest, kindest, funniest person. Last fall she gifted me with TWO big bags of crochet and knitting stuff. You know, the kind of stuff you keep forever and wonder if you'll ever use again and finally end up giving it to someone you hope will use it? That stuff.

When I spotted the variegated green crochet thread that I must have for St. Patrick's Day I was prompted to rummage through the rest of the bag. First on my list to peruse was the vintage craft magazines at the bottom. So many good ones and then...

I could not believe my eyes...

Do you see it?

 It was literally a dream come true. The Barbie ballerina pattern!! In my hands. In pristine condition. I giggled out loud I was so happy. I have always wished I could find this pattern. Now I can make replacement panties and the wee little flower that goes in Barbie's hair. I emailed Helen immediately to tell her how happy I was... and just for fun, threatened to make her those fancy blue sling-back slippers.

These are just two of the many happy blessings I can count in the past few weeks.  I'd share more right now but I really must get busy. I am certain that Vickie needs that lovely hair spray cozy lady with the green hat. Off to my crochet perch I must go!

Thanks for visiting!

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Where I Blog...

I have a few essential items in my blogging space... most are thrifted, of course.

We live in a 1965 split level, and this is my nook. It's small, but there is room for all of my stuff and Max, so I'm good. I didn't even try to hide all the cords from the router, external HD, printer, scanner, TV, etc. Real life dust magnets.

My craft room is right next door and both have an east facing window so there is lots of light. Yes, my craft room always has that much stuff on the table. More real life.

One of the things I liked about this desk was the large hutch and trailer display area. My cars and trailers are the one decor item that has been constant since I bought this desk about six years ago. A photo of my oldest nieces and I on our annual Canada Day holiday, Miss Macy at three, and my first wall pocket find from ages ago.

The Crows of Pearblossom is an old Ebay purchase and the vintage deer was scooped up in January. It has a Quebec town's name written on it. Fitting, as Mr. C.F.'s ancestors came here in the 1600's from France and lived in Quebec for many generations. I love vintage souvenir plates (look closely at the far wall in my craft room) and had to smile when I found this one last week. It's a happy reminder of my fun blog friend Vickie at Ranger 911. So Vickie, I'll think of you (and Miss Finley) when I'm glancing up at Paul and Babe. :)

I just changed up the pictures that hang below one of my favourite finds ever -- sun bleached and lichen spotted antlers that I found about 20 years ago in an old, old barn. The vintage toy phone was a gift from Mr. C.F and the half moon table is one that my mom refinished in the 70's. I think she nearly fainted when she saw that I'd painted it green.

The bun' picture is a 2012 thrift store find and the crocheted heart pattern can be found here at Lucy's. I found this large primitively cross-stitched rose on linen last week in my favourite thrift store for only $3. I love the bright colours. The mat is actually more turquoisey, but I cannot seem to get it to look right. You know how that goes. I just painted the wood frame an antique white and now it's another new old thing that makes me smile.

So, this is where I blog. My cozy nook where the light is good, the craft room close, and the Diet Coke plentiful. All this plus some favourite thrifted treasures. Oh, and new flooring and repainted walls are coming soon. I'll show you the wall behind me when we get those things done. Max is looking forward to showing you his comfy corner then too.

Thanks for visiting!

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Mockingbird Hill Cottage

St. Patty's in the House

 I recently discovered that I don't have very much in the way of green. Lucky for me Will and his new pals were more than happy to dress for the occasion!

My holiday cubby seems very large when you are light on the green. The beer bottle is actually from Dutch beer, but it was the perfect shade and I was desperate.

Will sports a crocheted vest (made a little shorter) from this free pattern. His hat and beard came from my brain and the wee bow tie is from the free pattern here. Doughboy's hat was made with this free pattern. He refused to wear a vest.

See my giant watercolour beside Will? It is my ode to Downton Abbey. I used a pic from the web and applied some filters and then shrunk it down. It's 1.25" by 1.5". It's not Irish, but it was the right colour and I was desperate, remember?

Madame Bunny sports a spring shawl. Just a granny stitch with an edging and ties.

Remy is not one to be left out. He's happy in his Irish flag apron and shamrock collar.

Macy called me one morning to alert me to the fact that Remy was into my supplies. Since Vickie sent eyeglasses for Will and Wilhelmina, Remy is really one we have to keep an eye on. He looks just like me sitting at my crochet perch -- he's just missing the chocolate and Diet Coke. :)

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to wear some green on the 17th!

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