~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
Heads up for EWTN fans! Auntie Leila is flying off to Alabama to appear on At Home with Jim and Joy! Details are on the Speaking page – tune in and enjoy!
In the meantime, I'm subbing in for this week.
{pretty}
In my verrry late days of pregnancy, when I was hanging out on the LMLD homestead, waiting for my little man to come along, I capitalized on some of my remaining hours of Only One Kid In Hand to do a little pysanky.
In an effort to explore certain effects, I was limiting my palette. I often start out saying, “This time I'm really just gonna use two colors.” I begin with white and plan on a red background. But then yellow creeps in (I mean, just for the flowers!)… and then a fourth seems in order… you can't have a yellow flower without a couple green leaves, right?
Okay so there were two different shades of green. So five. Technically five colors. But a limited-palette-effect overall, I think.
Of course, that tricksy little boy arrived before I was actually done with the egg! So it wasn't until several weeks later that I was able to find a spare hour or two to complete it and get a varnish on, and then add a finding and some thread to turn it into a hanging ornament.
It was my thank you gift for my amazing midwife. My “Eamon” egg. I'm pleased with it enough to put it here in my “pretty” file.
I also did one for my mom – limited palette, similar motifs featuring the stag (a symbol of Christ) – which I also consider an “Eamon” egg. Maybe she'll show it to you at some point.
{happy}
I have a pretty decent collection of “before” photos of The Chesternest, which I'll dip into here.
Behold: our master bedroom on the night of move-in last fall:
You can see that this room has good bones. Great wood floor, right? Love my wood floors. Lots of windows. Pleasing space. But it certainly was looking just that – bony.
And then, later, it looked bony but also, frequently, cluttered:
My bedroom makes me happy these days. I've been able to soften it up with some decor and curtains (that I purchased in a curtain-hanging-frenzy after I saw a three-months-delayed heating bill). (Still need to put up curtain tie-backs.) And recently I have been dedicated to keeping it tidy and absolutely clutter-free, periodically reminding myself about my mom's advice to start in the master bedroom and keep that space a sanctuary.
{Did you catch her post earlier this week for the newlywed bride/all of us? So handy.}
I've been working on “a place for each thing and each thing in its place” all over the apartment, but so far my greatest success has been here in this room.
It's always a peaceful feeling to come in here.
Whaddya know: Ever since I scoured out all unwanted and unused objects and religiously purged this room of clutter, I've found it a much more approachable, feasible, and even pleasing task to dust the whole room on a regular basis. Weekly dusting. I'm like Marilla over here.
Just imagine a lovely posey in this vase (which was made by my uncle). I haven't yet located any sources for posies other than stealing from a neighbor's garden, which might not be Our Lady's favorite manner of devotion.
Love me a good Indian print.
{funny}
Thinking back to that time when I made that inside out German Chocolate Cake.
Obviously it was delicious, because it was all chocolatey and coconutty and toasted-almondy. But another time I would just go with a simpler, tried-and-true chocolate cake and cut it into layers rather than using the one from this recipe, which was, frankly, not tasty enough to be worth the labor intensiveness of the process.
In any case, it was fun to do the layering and make the exquisitely smooth top frosting. Easy on the eyes…
Until one day when a certain little someone got curious.
I mean, perhaps I'm being unfair — I didn't witness anything so I can't identify an offender for sure. I may be jumping to conclusions here, based on fingertip size.
{real}
We've been living here for over nine months, and this is still the best I can do as far as a system for our recycling:
Behold: this is a door (located close to my two kitchens but not actually in either of them) to the back hallway, which leads down and outside into the driveway where the recycling and trash bins are. Mind you — plastic bags are not permitted in the recycling here (I know right?? Seriously? They need to work that one out.), so the plastic bag is emptied into the recycling bin and then put into the trash bin.
But before it goes outside, it just hangs here. On this doorknob. Occasionally causing me feelings of shame and yet failing to turn itself into a better system without any effort on my part.
But really guys, there is no available floor/closet/corner/cabinet space for a recycling bin!
Except in the back hall. Don't tell me I just have to open the door and reach into the back hall. Because that's probably what I have to do but I don't need to hear it. Because in the winter that back hall is an icy chamber of drafty New England death. And at all times it's about one turn of the doorknob too far away.
Maybe I just need something more bin-y to hang there instead of the dumb plastic bag. Hm.
[inlinkz_linkup id=545605 mode=1]
Tacy Williams Beck says
I understand your recycling conundrum. We have a bin on our porch and a huge bin outside…. but we also have a halfway point of our kitchen counter where a morning’s worth of recycling accumulates, until I take it to the porch… until my husband takes it outside. Unfortunately I do not have a solution for you. We have the oppressive Summer heat to contend with -albeit with its requisite thunderstorms to cool us down, though.
Katherine says
We put our recycling in brown paper grocery bags before we take it outside. The paper bag gets recycled (one less step!) and the sight of it (sitting on the floor, next to the trash can) is a little easier on the eyes than a plastic bag.
That egg is beautiful!
Cristina says
I don’t have a recycling solution either since I’m currently also using the plastic bag over the doorknob method! In the winter I had a bin on our back screened-in porch but once summer hit it was so hot and muggy here that I didn’t want anything that might lure the bugs there so the bag method it was. I figure it’s so sad and unattractive that the bag will never stay there long–I usually send it out to the recycling after each meal prep. Of course I’ve got slightly older helpers to task with that job 🙂
Colleen says
I think nearly everyone has a similar recycling issue. Unless one puts every item directly in it’s “final” outside/garage space, there has to be an intermediate holding location. We use a particular spot on the kitchen counter. It isn’t pretty, but it’s convenient. All family members know to put recyclable items there, and they do! No one but me seems to mind how large the pile grows, so I am motivated to take it to the garage many times each day. I could put a larger bin of some kind in the pantry and it would be hidden, but at some point that also fills and has to be taken out. I’m just so thankful for single stream recycling that gets picked up at my house!
diane says
We share a recycling “system”, though mine hangs on the door to the furnace, which, oddly enough, is in what used to be a small utility closet in my walk through galley (true galley – seven feet long with a center aisle and counters/appliances/sink on either side) kitchen. The actual recycling bin stays in the underground parking – it is big, blue and not always especially clean.
Even when I remodel the kitchen, I may stick with the “bag on the door” system. Cabinet space is too precious here to devote even part of one to a recycling bin. Maybe I’ll make a pretty, water-resistant fabric lined bag to replace the plastic ones. For now, anyway, the system works, and that’s a plus for me.
Michele says
Your pysanky is stunning! How fine of a brush do you use?
Deirdre says
Thanks, Michele!
It’s not done with a brush – I probably couldn’t use a paintbrush to that effect, honestly!
Pysanky is a wax-and-dye method. I use what’s called a kitska, a fine tool for applying melted wax. You can see a bit more about the process in this post: http://www.likemotherlikedaughter.org/2010/02/inspiration-for-easter-craft-early-or/
Jen says
I have read this blog for years and years and don’t think I’ve ever commented before….but I just had to say the comment about “dusting like Marilla” was a PERFECT way to describe your cleaning routine. I can just picture it. I’m now inspired….and haven’t even finished read the whole post yet!
Deirdre says
Glad you enjoyed it, Jen! She remains the paragon of housekeeping in my mind after all these many years… 🙂
Lori B says
A friend of mine uses the same doorknob recycling system, but she found a cute plastic tote at the dollar store instead of using a plastic bag. Something like this: http://www.containerstore.com/shop?productId=10035320&N=&Nao=180&Ntt=tote
Deirdre says
Yeah, that’s smart. I’m going to keep my eye out for something like that! Thank you!
Kim from Philadelphia says
How about replacing the plastic recycling bag with a canvas one? It can occasionally be tossed in the wash when needed. to visually “conceal” it, I’d find or make a white/ off white one.
Lisa G. says
How about a gift bag to hang there? Many of them are coated paper, which might be suitable.
The egg is just beautiful; and I love your curtains!
Katie says
The gift bag is a good idea! Even accounting for all of the garish/kiddo/birthday bags out there, there always seem to be lovely, patterned, all-occasion ones that might even pretty up the doorknob space or match a nearby room, with the added benefit of being opaque to hide the recyclables. I wish I’d thought of that in our newlywed apartment. We just used/reused a brown grocery bag with handles.
I recently bought one of these small, blue, office-type bins, because I was hosting a big baby shower and I wanted it to be immediately visible that there was an indoor alternative to the garbage for all the plastic cups and plates: http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/896164/Office-Depot-Brand-Recycling-Bin-7/. It’s since become a handy intermediate spot before the curbside bin; but granted, it does require floor space. Maybe a neutrally-colored or wicker wastebasket could justify its square foot(age) if it were small and attractive, as it wouldn’t scream “recycling” like the bright blue one?
Deirdre says
The problem is that anything small enough to be discreet gets to be overflowing so quickly; and anything big enough just literally is not going to fit in the space that I have!…
Teresa says
For the recycling, do you have an extra pail liner/wet bag for your diapers? Waterproof and designed to get gross and then be washed.
b says
Clean plastic bags are usually recycled at a grocery store, at least in the various places we’ve lived. We actually keep our recycling bin inside, near the kitchen garbage can, but that’s because it never goes outside – our current garbage collector wants it all in a clear garbage bag so we line the bin and then only need to deal with it once the bag is full and needs to go out (which takes a while, it’s a 30 gal bag).
Emily D. says
Oh gosh the recycling. That’s my same problem. I’ve been using Trader Joe’s bags, but then I have Trader Joe’s bags all over my kitchen/eating area, with the stuff in it….and I hate that because then I’m tripping over them. But I do want to recycle–but there has to be a better system! Or maybe I just need to clear a place for these guys and dedicate it to the recycling bags.
Lori Richmond says
Auntie Leila to the fabric stash! This girl needs a beautiful door bag!
Deirdre says
Haha thank you, Lori!
“Mommmyyyy!!!”
Jenny says
That egg is beautiful!
I love your maps on the wall. I am a sucker for a good map. I see Italy. What else do you have up there?
Deirdre says
Thanks, Jenny! We also have a map of the US and a vintage sort of map of the monuments of Paris. 🙂
Mrs. B. says
The effect of the curtains is nothing short of amazing… and yes, the floor is quite something, too.
I always love to see pictures of your eggs, they are very beautiful!
Deirdre says
Thank you!
Chere Mama says
I love your egg! I have a dream of owning a whole bowl of them someday!
As an old city house lover, I enjoyed the tour of your transformed room. The window, the Indian prints, the wooden floors……..warm and beautiful. Thanks for the peek!
Erin says
Oh, the conundrum of recycling! I recently moved into a house that accommodates a large stand alone tilt out trash container (http://ana-white.com/2011/04/wood-tilt-out-trash-or-recycling-cabinet) This frees up space under the sink for a small can that I use for recycling. It still requires daily emptying, but at least it is off the counter.
The master bedroom is beautiful. I tidied up our bedroom over the weekend and my husband was so appreciative that I am trying to keep it up.
Deirdre says
I do like that cabinet! Someday, when I have the space… 🙂
Kate says
Regarding recycling: You could get an over the door type hanger and hang a big basket on the hooks or make a pretty cloth bag/s to hang there. If it’s a solid core door, you could just screw in a few coat hooks.
Your pysanky egg is beautiful. I haven’t tried pysanky yet (being always too busy in Lent), but I’ve encouraged my kids and it’s becoming a tradition for them in the weeks before Easter to gather around the (enclosed) porch table and crank out decorated eggs. Having the extra space to leave the dyes and mess out saves my peace of mind and makes me more tolerant of their creativity. I received an email today that Pysanky Crazy (yes, a whole online business devoted just to pysanky) is having a 50% off sale through Sunday. Use code PC50JULY.
Deirdre says
Thanks, for the ideas and the links, Kate!
Glad to hear your kids are getting into it! It’s such a great tradition.
Jennifer says
Our bedroom is our overflow storage space, since we have no closets in our home to really speak of. It drives me nuts. We are trying to buy a larger home and I am going to bar anything that isn’t necessary, or pretty from my new room.
Lorelei says
Lol! I don’t have a place in my kitchen for recycling either. It’s not too far away, through the baby gate and down two short flights of steps to the garage; BUT my three small children always hear the rattle of the gate and come swarming to get down the steps, and a 60 second trip to the bin becomes a 15 minute try to herd them all back up the steps. So I toss it over the baby gate to grace the landing by the front door. I tried putting a basket there once, to catch it; but the stuff bounces out of the basket 75% of the time, so I gave up!
Deirdre says
Haha oh my that sounds overwhelming and I can totally picture it!
Sarah says
In our city, we have recycling, trash, and compost pick up, so there are 3 bins to contend with! I haven’t figured out a pretty way to deal with it yet…
The curtains worked wonders in your bedroom! I was wondering where your bedroom furniture is from- we have a selection of old hand-me-down dressers that just aren’t working any more and are in the market for something new.
Deirdre says
Sarah, I got the bedroom furniture through Craigslist, from a guy who had an antique furniture dealership out of his garage (and was a total character), so I’m afraid that I can’t direct you anywhere helpful. Our dresser is the heaviest thing we own and hopefully the heaviest thing we ever will own. I justify the fact that my husband and his various friends have moved its hundreds of pounds up and down many stairs because it is SO BEAUTIFUL!
Rebekka says
You could put a rack on the door and hang a bin or bags on that if you don’t have floor space. If you can’t screw something into the door you can get hooks that hang over the top of the door.
Paula says
Here is my idea (skipped many of the comments, so this may be a repeat). What if you took a good piece of pretty vinyl (or a clearance vinyl table cloth and sewed a large rectangle (think pillowcase!). However, you could insert or sew the top around a large embroidery hoop and instead of a sealed up bottom seam, do a velcro bottom. It could hang from a simple hook and would always be open to receive the items, then you could carry it out and release the bottom to dump them into the bin.
Rosie says
The egg is gorgeous, and your bedroom is inspiring me to try again to tackle mine. Heating bill or no heating bill, I’m trying not to covet your windows…
Deirdre says
Rosie – Tahari Home at Marshalls! And I’m still seeing them around occasionally!
Rosie says
I do love the curtains, too… But I really want the windows themselves. 🙂
Deirdre says
Ah yes, the windows themselves. Unfortunately not available at Marshalls. :-/
NY Mom says
Love your pysanky eggs! Do you blow them out or leave them whole? Do they keep well for you if kept whole?
(Last year I got lazy and reckless and kept mine whole. Around July I found that they’d burst, and the smell was awful. Time spent cleaning them out, I now know, is time well spent…)
Becky says
I am also wondering about this, but I am wondering more whether you recommend blowing them out before or after dyeing. I have friends who do both. From what I understand, blowing out before ensures that you won’t burst your finished egg with a failed attempt at cleaning out, but you have to come up with a method of submerging the hollow egg in dye pots. Thanks for your advice! This was our first year trying pysanky, and it is such fun!
Deirdre says
NY Mom and Becky – I have always blown out eggs (using a pump like this: http://www.allthingsukrainian.com/Supplies/EBB.html) and then cleaned them out thoroughly. I’ve heard about leaving them whole, but that makes me nervous. On top of the issue of rot, I think I’d be more likely to drop a full egg than an empty one.
I keep mine submerged in my dyeing jars by pushing them down with a spoon and then holding the spoon in place with a rubber band around the jar and over the spoon handle (hope that makes sense?).
Annie says
What if you hung your recycling on the outside doorknob, instead of the inside one?
Deirdre says
Hmm see that would let in a deathly draft in the winter. But I think you might be on to something – a temporary solution to my aesthetic problem, at least for the warm months!
Shannon says
“Making Gay Okay” and “John Adams” are both great reads-hope you are enjoying!
Ingrid says
What about a wicker basket with a lid and cloth lining next to the door to match or replace the basket already there? A convenient recycling basket should probably be bigger then the one there. My grandfather has two large white wicker baskets in his living room under a side table – one for recycling and one for bags. With the lids on, no one can guess what`s in there.
Margo, Thrift at Home says
Just realized that my recycling “solution” is my kids: I ask them to carry out every item of recycling as they pass through the kitchen and one happens to be sitting there. We are so accustomed to this that I didn’t even realize we bypassed the intermediate holding tank until I read the comments here!
Your bedroom is lovely. And inspiring because my bedroom is a little cluttered (more from my husband’s things because I save the nagging for other areas).
Nicole says
Ohhh, where did you get your curtains?? We’re in the market for a whole bunch…
Deirdre says
Nicole, I got them from Marshalls. It was several months ago, but I’ve continued to see them (in slightly different prints, also pretty) ever since…
Amy says
I love your dresser with all those perfectly sized small drawers! Could you share where you found it or any ideas about how to find a similar one?
Deirdre says
Hi Amy! I responded to Sarah, above, about the furniture. 🙂 I cam say that it has helped to have a husband who is willing, at the outset of our marriage (and since), to drive hither and yon, at random hours of day and night, in a borrowed van, for Craigslist furniture…
Anitra says
We have a recycling solution! A few years back, we received a credit for “SimpleHuman” products. They are pricey, but their indoor trash cans are great! We bought one that looks like a large step trash can, but when you open the lid, there’s actually two cans inside – a regular kitchen-size bin and a bin about 1/2 that size that we use for recycling.
http://www.simplehuman.com/46-litre-rectangular-recycler-fingerprint-proof-stainless-steel
So yeah, pricey, but it’s been worth it, for us, at least.
Deirdre says
SimpleHuman is awesome.
I can see going for it if it was in the price range, or in the floorspace range… 🙂