Who would ever dream that September 11 would be the warmest day of the summer? It was 92°F in the shade with only the slightest of breezes and terrifically humid. Weird, weird weather. I certainly was not planning any time out of doors.
Instead, I did what any normal gal would do. I cleaned my kitchen cupboards.
~my favorite cleaner~
If you read here, you know that I've been planning to paint my kitchen cupboards for approximately six years. Right. I do so hate painting; I'll do almost anything to avoid it. I scrubbed instead and then I decided that since I'd not be painting, I'd cover up a mess with Susan Branch calendar pages.
As you can tell, it really does need some paint, but for now these sweet graphics are going to work. That they are both recipes rather pleases me. And I adore that vintage mixer!
I really wanted to go with the current calendar page...
That wouldn't have been too smart, however. It is the first time I noticed Susan's message to us for September 11, which I found sweet and dear. No other calendar in my home marks the date with any sort of notation. This was Susan's:
Did you see the turkey plate? Do you think it's too soon? Probably, but as you can tell, a gal must work within her limits and with what she has.
Then I moved on to other puttery things before landing on the sofa reading another new book. I nearly finished it, too. I didn't want to like it, but I loved it. Tell you about that tomorrow perhaps.
This area gets featured a lot since it is my home's "mantel." Funny story: My sister was visiting recently when she saw that vintage photo. Sis wondered who in the family the photo might be. I explained that she was a flea market ancestor. My sister was completely exasperated by that. She now wants me to label all such "ancestors" with this notation: no relation. ☺
~cutest cousins~
Next time she comes, I hope that she recognizes our cousins here. I put them out especially for her.
Better put a bow on it and call it "the end." Thanks for reading!
I sure enjoy your puttering. using the calendar pages is pure genius. never too early for a turkey platter!
ReplyDeleteWhere did those good intentions of painting the cupboards go? :-) We all need a day to putter, read and regroup our thoughts. I've had so many of these lately myself that I just said to a friend the other day, I must be going through a lazy phase. The joy of being semi-retired.
ReplyDeleteMy mother's mixer was much like the one on Susan's calendar page, a big heavy white enamel beast with a black handle and I don't think she used it much.
The turkey platter is part of the decor for this time of year, so why not display it? Quite a nice plate and the drawing should be seen without a pile of meat on it.
Judith
Good Morning Vee, I absolutely love this post and no it's not too early for the turkey plate, strictly my opinion mind you :)
ReplyDeleteGiggling about your sister and the flea market relatives. My mom has picturs of relative all over her house who really are related but I have no certain clue who they are. In particular are some creepy portraits in an upstairs bedroom. I know mom will probably read this comment and discover this, but... I am afraid that someday they will end up as someone's flea market relatives.
ReplyDeleteOr maybe on the wall at Cracker Barrel.
(Glad you can't procrastinate painting for a while. I actually hate to paint too. I am painting some kitchen chairs right now, and want them completed. )
I think you kitchen cabinets have patina. A lot of folks are painting their cabinets and then sanding them to get the look you have naturally!
ReplyDeleteI want to putter too. Those storms are headed our way today, I may not run home at lunch depending on how bad they get.
ReplyDeleteLove the turkey plate and the "ancestors." I get it!
Oh I LOVE a putter day...haven't had one in a while either...better change that. And nope, not too early for the turkey plate. A good books sounds wonderful too, not to mention that couch, haha Enjoy your day Vee!
ReplyDeleteThat was a very descriptive description of a storm. We had one headed for us and as usual it split like the Red Sea and sprinkled our neighbors to the North and South. Am I the only one seeing a pattern here?
ReplyDeleteOk Vee, no one hates painting like I do, but I painted my natural honey oak cabinets white some years back and each morning as I enter my kitchen I praise that decision. Get it over with, you'll rest easier. Your home always looks lovely to me, and I especially love your 'mantle' piece. Your sister sounds like a hoot!
Debbie
It is drizzling rain here but not what we need. The ground crunches when you walk on it.
ReplyDeleteYou have reminded me that I need to clean the kitchen cupboard. ;-)
Puttering is the perfect thing to do on such a day! I love seeing your autumn touches...so pretty! (I am also impressed with the tidy interior of your kitchen cabinets. If you ever come to my house, promise not to peek into mine.)
ReplyDeleteI got quite a chuckle over your flea market ancestors...and your sister's reaction to them! :D On the dresser in my bedroom, I have a couple of snapshots that I found in an old book I picked up somewhere. One is of a group of people; the other is of their German shepherd, "Teddy." I love those pictures.
And I noted that it was as warm in Maine yesterday as it was here in Maryland. I will not mention how that interferes with my vision of Maine being the perfect place to live.
We had a very hot and humid day yesterday, no rain, continuing today. Love that you have your turkey plate out, I think turkeys work so well anytime;-). I am washing my kitchen cabinets today or tomorrow, with good ole Murphy's Oil Soap,too. Love the smell. Stay cool. xo
ReplyDeleteVee
ReplyDeleteLove that turkey plate. Thanksgiving is just a little over a month away here!
I've always enjoyed your "mantle' decorating. It's perfect for your displays.
Have a good weekend-Kimberly
Well Vee, Vickie's storm description could have been us last evening. That storm was really wicked. There were reports (and photo) of a funnel cloud over Fredericton and possibly Woodstock where a lot of damage was incurred. The thunder and lightening was incredible all evening until midnight. Power was out all around us too. And it was hot and humid here before it all started. I guess we might get a repeat today. I love your kitchen cupboards with lots of character. Cute idea with the calendar pages. I am getting my turkey plate out later today and it's never too early for them. I had a great chuckle over your flea market relatives too. They are very popular these days. I always love how you decorate your 'mantle'. You have such a way with displaying your vintage things. Have a great day. I hope it's a calmer one there.
ReplyDeleteMurphy's Oil is my favorite cleaner too :) Love your cozy home and I don't think it's too early for the Turkey Plate :)
ReplyDeleteYour sister's response to the Flea Market photo is too funny!! I can just imagine you marking all the photos 'we know these people' and 'not relatives'.
ReplyDeleteOur weather was warm too yesterday, but you wouldn't have caught me cleaning. Too humid for me and no air conditioning in our home. I think it's lovely using the calendar pages inside your cupboard doors. And the turkey platter is beautiful, I'm starting a collection of sorts. Hope you have a much cooler day today!
ReplyDeleteDear Vee....by the way...How to I get rid of that blasted dash next to my name. Nothing I've tried has worked to changed my favicon! The simple way or so it seems does. not. work. for me anyway! I've deleted old favicons and near old favicons and nothing has helped. So I come to you Dear Wise One (you've helped me before).... ;0)
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa~
DeleteHave your icon ready in an easily accessible folder...hope that you will use your own photo and not a pine cone. Accckkkk! (Are you aware that you are a noreply-comment blogger? Why? This is going to be tougher because I don't know if my iPad will cooperate.)
Okay. Follow this path.
1. Click on Design
2. Click on minus sign by your name in top right corner
3. When menu opens, Click on Blogger Profile
4. When page opens, Click on Edit Profile in top right corner
5. Scroll down a bit and you will see Profile Photo where you can add your image. If you don't add an image, you will remain a minus sign.
Hope that this helps!
Needless to say, my iPad did not cooperate. Thunderstorms!
DeleteI think we got the storm Vickie was expecting, the normal summer storm, and not a moment too soon since everything had been getting really dry. I made it happen by watering the plants on my deck in the afternoon.
ReplyDeleteAnd NOT too soon for your turkey plate. I'm about to remove the Hungarian folk art plates from my hutch and put up my grandmother's turkey plates that will be there until after Thanksgiving when my mother's Christmas plates replace them...Though I don't enjoy the lessening amount of daylight we get now, I do love this season of the year!
Oh Vee, first I had to laugh because I didn't think anyone else "puttered!" My daughters always teased me when I use that saying. I'm also curious about the Pumpkin Pie Soda; I've never heard of such a thing and it looks interesting delicious! Today, I hope to get back to my routine and it probably includes a lot of puttering. Thanks for the smile, XOXO
ReplyDeleteIt soared to 93 degrees here yesterday...ugh! That is too fun about your sister's labeling instructions. We are dumbfounded over here over so many photos from Dear's parents that have no labeling on them.
ReplyDeleteI'm flying away today so you won't see me for a while. Have fun while I'm gone...
Well I hope you know that we're going to miss you and be so happy when you're home again to share all that you've seen. For that reason only, I'm content to allow you to wing off.
DeleteWe're still hot & humid here in NE Oklahoma. I love your mantel vignette. That pumpkin pie soda looks interesting.
ReplyDeleteSmiles,
Carol
Your puttering day is much more ambitious than my puttering day, which usually involves no house cleaning, just magazines, or a book and REAL puttering, not working! Now you've made me feel guilty. :) Where IS that Murphy's oil anyway??
ReplyDeleteFlea Market relatives! Ha! I can just see our children, in the years to come, trying to figure out who on earth these people are in our photos. Marking them as your sister suggested might be a good idea.
ReplyDeleteIt was hot, hot, here yesterday, too - at least 83. No humidity. But for us, that's hot. It was also the day I chose to make jam.
About the turkey platter - I just published my post for today before coming here, so don't take it personally! Isn't it great that our homes are ours to do what we like with? Oh dear, I ended with an awkward preposition. Sigh. I'm not going to change it.
Puttery days like yours are wonderful. Hope today is equally fine.
That's a great use of the SB calendar pages. Love the 9/11 notation. We need to paint our front door and we keep coming up with excuses!!! Glad you enjoyed your book and look forward to your review.
ReplyDeletePuttery days are great. I was thinking about why I liked my rock walls yesterday as I tweaked them and came up with this....the rocks are free, and there are infinite tweaking possibilities.
ReplyDeleteI like your cabinets. Painting isn't as big a deal with the new and better paints, but if you despise painting, it's icky. Our new cabinets are white painted maple, but the finish just doesn't hold up like the old fashioned painted ones.
A very cozy post. I enjoyed it immensely. I must get my kitchen scrubbed very soon. It is in great need.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea with the calendar pages!!
ReplyDeleteI just stack my dishes inside the cabinets. I like how you have them in dish racks and that's what I'm going to do. : ) Easier to pick out the ones I want to use since I have lots of different patterns.
Must have been a HUGE storm last night because the lightening and thunder woke us up too...out here in Utah!
ReplyDeleteThe British Columbia/ Pacific NW folks were all being fried at 95. Now for the NE and the NW to have matching weather is just weird. Happy SLC is finally not in the 90s for the first time since June. I will be thrilled to have some low 80 days that will allow summer's end to make up for A/C indoors days.
I love puttering and I like puttering along with a friend!
ReplyDeleteI like what you've done, I agree that we must work with what we have!
Funny story about your 'ancestor' and your sister. Your cousins are terribly cute!
I like what you do with your mantel and I don't think it's too early for your Turkey plate - it's a reminder of the holiday to come!
love
Deanna
I LOVE puttery days, especially the ones that I can just stay in my PJs!Your Susan Branch calendar pin-ups are brilliant - so pretty. I have too many old pictures lying around that aren't labelled and no one remembers who they are - ugh! Thanks for letting us putter a bit with you today!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed this! Love your yellow cupboards. seems they express more stories when they are aged a bit.
ReplyDeleteYou gave me a great idea for storing dishes. I just have to find the rack.
ReplyDeletePainting cabinets can be a real chore. Just tell folks you've opted for the rustic look!☺
Yes, love the Susan Branch pages to cover what you don't want to see. Equally love the non familial photos on the mantle. You always bring a smile to my face Vee. By the way, the thunder and lightning last night had me sleeping on the couch with my frightened dog in a fetal position beside me. ~ Abby
ReplyDeleteI always save calendars like this, too....what a great way to enjoy this beautiful art! It's hard to believe you were hotter than we were here in Florida. We've been in the 80s the last few days! It will change soon enough though! Sweet hugs!
ReplyDeleteYour day sounded lovely :) What you did with the calendar pages is such a great idea! My mom always writes Scripture verses and puts them in her cupboard - it's always nice to open the door an see something sweet. And speaking of cupboards, I need to clean mine :)
ReplyDeleteHugs to you!
I love that - a Flea Market Ancestor! Those calendar pages in your kitchen add a cute touch as well. Have a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteWell, girlfriend, you just BLEW MY SKIRT UP with the idea of putting our SB calendar pages on our cabinet doors. I am sooo totally impressed with the idea, I can hardly wait until I get back over to my Summer House with my olden SB calenders. Did you attach with double sided tape...? Such a precious idea and it pleases me no end to have something this fun to do with my calender pages.
ReplyDeleteYAY.....
I stapled them, but double stick tape would be a better idea!
DeleteSounds like a really lovely day to me! Love that you added those calendar pages to the inside of that cabinet. I saw a kitchen today where she used Cath Kidston floral paper on the insides of all her cabinet doors - very cottagey. LOVE that turkey plate - it has such wonderful colors on the border. Where did you get that plate holder in your cabinet?
ReplyDeleteIt came from an organization store/kitchen gadget store (that I have long forgotten the name of) that were popular in malls 25 years ago or more. Aha! Lechter's! How I remembered enough to find that out is a miracle.
DeleteLoved the visit! ~ Pumpkin Pie Soda?! Is it good?
ReplyDeleteYou have a cozy home and kitchen, Vee. I wish my cabinets looks so well organized inside. Cool idea to use the SB calendar pages.
ReplyDeleteI never noticed that your cupboards needed painting. Everything looked most charming when I came for a tour.
ReplyDeleteAnd you feel like cleaning when it is over 90°F? Cleaning never enters my mind when it's hot outside.
I can't think of turkeys just yet...have to wait till it cools off a bit! But I'm OK with you jumping the gun on fall. :)
Cleaning my cupboards is on my to do list, I only hope i get it done before Christmas. I am about to put my turkey plates out and will use them for a few months. ~smile~
ReplyDeleteSusan's words fro Sept 11 were perfect and very succinct! I love her homey and imaginative artwork and quotes. She's a gem!
ReplyDelete