“Spring is the time of plans and projects.” – Leo Tolstoy, Ann Karenina
Max says, “please stop winter now!” I have promised him no matter what we are not going to put on his coat or his booties again, until next winter. I hope the weather will cooperate because there isn’t a more disappointed face than when Max has to sport his booties!
We have so many exciting spring projects ahead of us. We can’t wait until our summer guests arrive to see all of the makeovers we have done! Soon after the holidays we undertook our living room! It had been on the list for the last few winters, but it was such a daunting task that we always seemed to avoid it. The “look” was begining to feel very dated, and we finally had enough!
~ Living Room Before ~
After ~ Herb Garden Green ~ Viola!
Max loves this spot!
I almost repainted the living room the same color because of these labor intensive booksheves. We had a painter paint the living room, but we tackeled the shelves ourselves! We had a limited window of opportunity for the painter and had to juggle weekend guests without disrupting our entire house with all of these books and nicknacks! We took the opportunity to clean, sort and downsize our chachki collections! We are loving the simplicity and freshness so much. We have decided to wait before we hang any pictures.
I think upolstering this loveseat made my livingroom complete. It sometimes costs more to upholster furniture than buy new, but I would have never found a piece with this much character or personality in any funiture shop. It was worth the investment to us to re-do such a unique piece. Personality Plus ~ that’s what it says!
Now the stained glass piece stands out more which was an unexpected bonus because of the green. This piece belonged to Saint George’s Church right here on Franklin St. It was removed to make a handicap accessible ramp. One Sunday afternoon there was an auction in the park and Jeff was the highest bidder! What we were going to do with this gem was not the question – Jeff wanted it and that was that! When asked what he was going to do with it he responded, “I’m sure I’ll find something.” Within a minute of arriving home, he knew that this doorway would be the perfect place. Without a moments hesitation he was measuring, and to his surprise it fit perfectly. He only had to box it in. It is always a topic of conversation as to where it came from. We fell in love with the colors, especially the blue. It seams more artful than religious to us, and we also respect it’s historical character.
Now of course we had to include the hall with our living room plan. Here it is before ~ Gold
After! This time we used Forest Hills Green. A bit brighter incoporating the room, but keeping it seperate too. Will anyone notice? Probably not, but I happen to be obsessed/passionate about color, and it makes me happy!
Now onto The Master’s Chamber! This room has also been on that list. Dated and ready for a makeover ~ here we go! Before ~
~ During ~ Jeff has a full schedule with his own work, plus this on his time off. I think he may win employee of the year award again! I think a man with a tool belt on is one of the most impressive sights, don’t you?
Rugs are scheduled to be installed soon, so the clock is ticking! Jeff will also be re-tiling the bathroom floor. We will have a facebook reveal and blog when we finish. It is very exciting because this is the most extensive of all the makeovers. I am so excited to share this with my repeat guests. I do hesitate to share it on my blog because I hate to take away the surprise when they arrive to their room remodeled. Some of my repeats have already booked for summer so maybe they won’t see this post.
Setting goals is the first step in turning the inisible into the visible. – Tony Robbins
This work has to be done before the real spring arrives! There are garden projects waiting in the wings too! When we finish up inside, we have lots of outside plans too! Maybe by then the iceburgs will have melted and we can get down to business!
We have a deck to rip off, and a patio to create to replace it! Here it is all lovely looking in the summer. Beneth it lurks the not so lovely rotted wood. Another job for dear old Jeff! Here is the before in the summer.
A rotting fence to replace too! This photo doesn’t show the peeling rotted wood of today!
It was such a pleasure to sink one’s hands into the warm earth, to feel at one’s fingertips the possibilities of the new season.” – Kate Morton, The Forgotten Garden
Of course, we have been eating well. During March I served these scones to our guests. Instead of Irish Soda Bread, Irish Soda Bread Scones. Pop over to my facebook page and get the recipe. Simple, delicous and very Irish!
I also have a couple of other surprises up my sleeve to share with my repeat guests, or perhaps intrique a future guest who might happen upon my blog.
We are getting ready for some cozy living here at Crabtree Cottage. The gardens are ready to be put to bed, there are leaves waiting to be raked up and soup to be served in front of the fire. It has been a glorious late summer and autumn season here at Crabtree Cottage. Scroll down to see what we have been up to.
cozy fires
[call_to_action size=”middle” colour=”blue”]The old never lack for a story when they’re standing in the sun or in front of a warm fireplace. Sicilian Proverb[/call_to_action]
We just picked our last zucchini! It was a stellar crop. Here is Jeff making zucchini pasta with our sprial vegetable slicer. We made this a lot over the summer because we had sooo much zucchini! We topped it with peanut sauce and sometimes we sauteed it with garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper. Simple and low cal! Pop over to my facebook page for the recipe. Oh, and while you’re at it, you can like our page too.
We still have lots of kale to last during the cool weather of late fall.
kale box
gorgeous & healthy kalekale wrap/scoops with eggless egg salad
A zucchini pancake for two!
large zucchini pancakelarge zucchini pancake
peach & raspberry clafouti
peach & blueberry crisp # barefoot contessa
Our sugar puffs are one of our signature offerings. Our guests just love these. Buttery, cinnamon sugar ~ ahhhh!
sugar puffs
This baked pancake is an old favorite.
baked pancake
Here is the recipe for the Baked Pancake: Mix 2 large eggs ,1/2 C. flour, 1/2 C. milk. In a 9″ black iron skillet melt 4 TBS. of butter in a 400 degree oven. Then pour in the batter. Bake about 15 minutes. It will be puffed up and then collapse after you take it out of the oven. Squeeze fresh lemon over the top and sprinke confectionary sugar.
aspargus, mushroom, and cheese bachamel sauce crepe
crepe samplerfarm fresh eggs from my guests very own chickens!
frittatacheese & herb omlets
quiche muffins
We have lots of guests with special dietary needs. We strive to make all of our guests feel like they are getting special treatment regardless of their dietary needs.
chocolate bannana gluten free muffins
There is rarely a bite left with this comforting apple crisp.
apple crisp # barefoot contessa
Now this Chocolate Ciabatta is really a hit. We buy it at the Berkshire Mountain Bakery in Housatonic Ma. I toast in delicious butter until it is crispy! This is too tempting to have around, so I do have to limit my purchases!
Berkshire Mountain Bakery Chocolate Ciabatta
Chocolate Ciabatta toased in butter! Yum!!!
As you can see we have all been eating well! I have some new recipes coming up! Here is a sneak peak!
latke waffles # Smitten Kitchen
[call_to_action size=”middle” colour=”blue”]Stay Close to anything that makes you glad you are alive. Hafez [/call_to_action]
As you know all things home make me feel alive! Here a few of my favorite creative and simple pleasures.
Bringing the outdoors in is such a gift from the garden!
a simple ball jar & dailas from the garden
This window box is hanging on after the frost and I hate to let it go! I have too many outdoor plants inside now that we had a frost and I am looking for indoor spots that they can call home until summer.
window box
autumn floral arrangement
[call_to_action size=”middle” colour=”blue”]
“Eating, and hospitality in general, is a communion, and any meal worth attending by yourself is improved by the multiples of those with whom it is shared.” Jesse Browner
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This next photo is one of our special repeat guests. Frank was singing and strumming his own folk music for us and other guests one morning after breakfast. His talent was remarkable and very enjoyable! This season has been filled with repeat guests, but we have also welcomed new guests. We have had guests from England, Switzerland, Brazil, Canada, and Ireland. We always marvel at the diverisity of our guests at the breakfast table each morning. Last weekend we had two couples from England who lived a couple of towns away from eachother!
[call_to_action size=”middle” colour=”blue”]“The earth has music for those who listen.” George Santavana[/call_to_action]
My sister and I walk together through this quiet wooded area where someone decorates the woods with pumpkins!
pumpkins in the woods ( photo Judith Monachina)photo by Judith Monachina
Last week on our walk we noticed the road had fossilized leaves imprinted in it. We had never seen anything like that before!
photo by Judith MonachinaHiking the tyringham Cobble (photo by Judith Monachina)Our neighbor Michael enjoying the last bit of porch season!
[call_to_action size=”middle” colour=”blue”]When you enjoy what you do, work becomes play. Martin Yan[/call_to_action]
Jeff and I live by this motto! With another busy season behind us at Crabtree, and another big project with Jeff at the helm at Keenan Construction, we feel that we have found our perfect professions. Doing what we love everyday makes it all worth it, and the freedom of doing it our way is a creative and invigorating challange.
[call_to_action size=”middle” colour=”blue”]The only way to do great work is to love what you do. Steve Jobs[/call_to_action]
We are hopeful that our daughter Julia will be able to follow her passions and build a beautiful life in the art world. As a recent college graduate Julia is learning how to market her pottery, manage her website and promote her business. She is currently in a show at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston, and has had two local gallery openings and a couple of special sales at Karen Keenan Gifts. Julia is learning valuable, lifelong skills, without having a final destination clearly defined. We are confident that this process will prepare her in ways that are invaluable to whatever path she chooses and what might open up for her. She inspires us with her steadfast work ethic and her creative ambition.
[call_to_action size=”middle” colour=”blue”]“its not a way of making a living, its a way of making a life” – Paulus Berensohn. [/call_to_action]
A sample of our Artist In Residence Julia Keenan’s work
[call_to_action size=”middle” colour=”blue”]The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction not a destination.[/call_to_action]
Another special young woman, our neice, Kirsten Keenan, is making her own way by pursuing her dream and following her passions. She graduated from college and took the road less traveled. She is living in Colorado and working as a farmer at a CSA. Learning all aspects of organic farming is opening up a whole new world for her. She is learning the complicated aspects of soil structure, chemical issues, seeds, harvesting and preserving foods. She knows how to can and how to ferment foods. She learns by doing hands on work every day at the farm. This ambitious and sweet soul is living a healthy and vigorous lifestyle without knowing where it will lead, but she is confident in the process. I admire her so much! After talking with Kirsten about her work, I realize how brilliant she is. She recommends books and tecniques like a pro, and I am in awe of her knowledge. If she were to become a writer after this it wouldn’t surprise me. Her options are limitless!
Two beautiful cousins Julia & Kirsten enjoying the foliage!
