~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
{pretty}
For such a big house, our front hall/entry is quite small. That makes it hard to take a picture, among other things! High ceilings, but not much elbow room! And indeed, a bit tricky to decorate, especially when no one really ever enters it, contra its name — (except my dear husband, whose commute takes him here every morning — the door to his study/office is just behind me here). (The door on the right is to the living room. The one on the left is the front door, obviously.)
A couple of notes. First, if you want to know about the chandelier and how I thrifted it and spray-painted it — and why it's so high — you need to take a trip down memory lane with me!
Second, that table has been relegated here because I can't find anywhere else for it. Things need not to stick out in this house, as wherever you are, there is a door, and a protrusion isn't welcome. But I think it works here.
Third, this cachepot was in the firebox during the summer — because Habou had it in her studio and offered it to me to make the firebox decorative, because why not — but now there is firewood in the firebox. So again with the protruding! Where to put it? It's actually huge, although my high ceilings make it look like a soup bowl. Trying to get some proportion here in this space!
Fourth, I found this print of quail (?) at Salvation Army. Yes, after years of dutifully looking through all the dreary dreadful prints of terribleness that are always there no matter when you go, I found this pretty thing, already framed just like you see here!
Clearly I need about forty more prints along the same lines to make a dent in these walls, but it is a start.
This is Habou's new (old, of course) drawing table. After much fiddling — cleaning of the wood and bolts and finding of new bolts and re-assembling — it's looking very artistic there just inside her room, isn't it?
{happy}
I'm happy because this basket of ironing you see here represents me having gotten through half of it already. So yay me! I don't mind ironing, as I think we have discussed before. But it's been piling up! I ran out of spray starch (try it, it makes it even more satisfying — the starch, not the running out, not at all) and had to stop.
I do love an ironed linen napkin! (I got mine at thrift sales long ago, or from my MIL's stash.)
{funny and a bit pathetic}
To say that Roxie does not like to go out in the rain is to understate the case. And added to her essential discomfort is the absence of You Know Who, her boon companion.
{real}
I was getting ready yesterday for Habou's birthday, which is today! So efficient. I made that awesome tasty Chocolate Buttermilk Birthday Cake, but just like I told you in that post, it always comes out just a bit different for me each time.
This time, I think because I used olive oil spray on the pans (not butter, like I usually do) and floured them, but neglected to sacrifice a large animal at the altar of the Cake Pan God, this happened:
I have to park the cake on top of the toaster while it cools because otherwise the dog will get into it.
And this (because I made a small bundt too with the batter that doesn't fit into the big one):
Boo. So I think we'll be heaping whipped cream on top of those puppies. Ah well, there are worse fates!
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Joy says
LOL. Yes, neglecting the cake pan god can really get you. 😉 I’m sure it will still taste wonderful and whipped cream always makes cakes even better. Happy Birthday, Habou.
I love your cheerful Christmas decorations and your creche’s. My only creche fell apart years ago and I’ve never had the time/means to get another. Maybe I need to make that a project this year for next Christmas.
I love to iron but am working so many hours on top of homeschooling that meals and laundry are the best I can do these days. In a few years, I will have to iron my napkins again. 🙂
Annie says
Poor Roxie! The house looks lovely– all sorts of corners of beauty. Blessings!
Rain says
I love your style! Thanks for the tour.
Diane says
I refuse to make cakes that need to come out of the pan to be served, LOL. But on the rare occasion it cannot be helped, nothing works like the old fashioned butter and flour combo.
You can make your own spray starch – 1/4 c cornstarch mixed in 1/2 c cold water, then add 4 cups boiling water, mix well and cool. You’ll have to shake your bottle up before using, though. With storing starched linens, do you ever have issues with silverfish (starch is caviar to them), or are you using your linens often enough they never come around?
Virginia says
Just realized why there were so many silverfish in my bedroom growing up (right next to the linen closet). Seriously, those things are terrifying. Or, at least they were when I was 10. Nope, still definitely are.
Leila says
Diane and Virginia, no — no silverfish! Ugh. That would be terrible.
Margaret M says
I bet the chocolate cake was still good, I hope she had a happy day. The house looks just lovely…even with depressed Roxie:)
Melissa Diskin says
Yes! Inquiring minds must know about the starch/silverfish issue! And I love every corner of your house.
Speaking of thrifted art… this summer I walked into a thrift shop in my grandparents’ hometown and saw a watercolor I liked and kept thinking about over the weekend. Went back a couple of days later and handed over $20 for it. After googling the signature it turns out it’s by a semi-famous artist (the son of a more famous artist) and his watercolors usually sell for around $2k. But I just love it for itself!
Mrs. Pickles says
Happy Birthday Habou!! I love the little peek at your room — it looks like such a lovely haven!
Mary says
Happy birthday to Habou! I love your home, so warm and welcoming. The niche for the nativity in your kitchen is perfect!
Denise T. says
Oh, I love the creche scene under the microwave!!! And your Advent wreath is so beautiful. Your house always reminds me of the room that Uncle Alec made for Rose in Eight Cousins or the room in the Little Princess discovered by Becky and Sarah in the attic. Magical and full of wonderfully interesting things! Thanks for sharing it. Blessed Advent!
Denise
Stephanie says
Oh, how lovely to see “Eight Cousins” mentioned! I adore it and its sequel, “Rose in Bloom,” and highly recommend them! Auntie Leila, have the Lawlers enjoyed those books?
Happy Birthday to Habou, and a blessed Advent to all!
Leila says
Stephanie, yes, the girls devoured those books!
Laura Jeanne says
I know what you mean about prints at the thrift store. They are usually dreadfully faded, and so depressing looking. One time though, I picked up an original oil painting for $10 which I just love. It is a scene of cows grazing on a farm, and it’s in a wooden frame. It matches perfectly in our downstairs bathroom and is also appropriate since our property was originally a dairy farm nearly 100 years ago.
Secondly, I absolutely love the colour of Habou’s walls. I think I would like to paint my own bedroom that colour now, since it is currently a very earthy olive-y sort of colour that doesn’t suit me at all. I don’t suppose you might actually know what exact colour Habou’s walls are?
Happy Birthday Habou! Enjoy your cake and whipped cream. 🙂
Jenny says
Curious about the room color here too.
Haou says
Laura Jeanne and Jenny,
My room was painted about 8 years ago and I know that color has been discontinued – I think I got it from Home Depot. It looks very blue in that picture but it has a very light violet tinge to it.
Kathy@9peas says
Happy Birthday to Habou! I really enjoy seeing the corners of your home, and I don’t mind ironing either. It is nice to see something smooth out and stay that way for longer than 30 seconds. The kitchen doesn’t know how to give me the same satisfaction, but I’ll keep cleaning it anyway.
Teresa says
Loved this post, Leila, and loved all the photos!
My favorite? Habou’s drawing table.
How cozy and wonderful and perfect
(I have that same Ott light on my sewing table – it’s marvelous).
Happy birthday Habou!
Kimberlee says
Happy Birthday to Habou! I hope you enjoy a lovely day, and that scrumptious looking to-be-whipped-creamed cake. Was the table your birthday gift? It’s such a perfect combination of function and beauty, with charm.
I love peeking at your home, Leila, but oh how it makes me pine for a New England farmhouse. I guess you can take the girl out of New England but you can’t take the New England out of the girl. You have everything looking so lovely!
I make my own spray starch too (it’s that New England self-sufficiency thing). (and soon, Roxie, soon!)
Sue says
I find my eye traveling my house thinking of where I can use your ideas. and how I can get my hands on that little table. Delightful.
LeeAnn Balbirona says
I love Habou’s drawing desk! What a nice piece. Is there a link to her artwork somewhere?
Grace Osterbauer says
I don’t always pop in here anymore and haven’t done PHFR in such a long time, but today I saw this in my Facebook feed so had to drop by. I laughed so hard at the following: neglected to sacrifice a large animal at the altar of the Cake Pan God. You are so funny! I can always count on you to put a smile on my face and make my sides hurt from laughing……still laughing……..sides still hurting………..
Haou says
Thanks so much for all the wonderful birthday wishes. It has been a lovely day and evening. Lovely dinner, cake and conversations with my grandchildren.
I love my drawing table and having it placed in front of the window where I can see all the wonderful colors outside – even on dreary days.
Lisa says
Happy Birthday, Habou! Your room is lovely!
Mrs. B. says
Happy Birthday, Habou, even if late! A very beI decided to make your cake for Our Lady of Guadalupe, and I was very careful to sacrifice a very large animal – luckily, it worked! The cake is wonderful, though I didn’t have the heart to use 2 cups of butter, and I only used a stick and a half… even so, it was delicious!
Woman of the House says
When I have a bundt cake that won’t come out of the pan in one piece, I tear the whole thing up, add whip cream and chocolate sauce and call it a trifle. 🙂 I’m sure Habou’s cake was delicious anyway. Happy birthday, Habou!
Leila, I love your dining room! It has the right balance of elegance and hominess that is perfect for a formal dining room. I especially adore your chairs!