this house.

i guess it's my week to vent about our new house.

d has worked so hard to get the ceilings, floors, and walls in shape to live in (without the original outdated issues, oddities, and smells).

he has done a fabulous job.

we're both proud of all his work.

yet, we are so overwhelmed by the remaining projects that spring to mind as we attempt to live in this space.

what overwhelms him today: the light switches and outlets have countless paint marks and grime from years of use...just throwing new switch plates over them won't change it enough, they need to be replaced to look more presentable.

what overwhelms me today: maybe 1000 square feet is just more space than we need...this house feels too big.

home.

(sunrise from my in-law's driveway yesterday)

we made it home tonight, after a great time away visiting family.

home is now the new house, full of half emptied boxes, piles, disorganization, and semi-working systems.

we did start our first load of laundry in the new washer and dryer.

we did get the internet set up.

the work ahead to get this house to a point we are truly comfortable in is a bit daunting.

hello monday.

hello extended thanksgiving trip.

hello hometown visit.

hello day out with my husband, just enjoying each other's company and hitting our favorite spots.

hello toes in the sand at lunch.

hello sand...water...salt air.

happy thanksgiving.

we're headed to tahoe to celebrate with d's family.

hope this day finds you happy, well, and full of thanks.

living room inspiration.

our new living room has walls that curve into the ceiling and one arched doorway into the kitchen.

being unsure of how to paint this rounded point, we decide to keep the room white.

here is my inspiration for the space.

(image)

(image)

(image)

500th post.

wow, my 500th post.

i was about to sit down last night and post a less than stellar idea, when i realized it was going to be my 500th post.

so i skipped yesterday's post in order to think things through for this 500th.

i've decided to list the 5 best things about my blogging experience on this day.

1. reflection:

my blog is basically a journal of my little life. i enjoy the reflection blogging provides me around these everyday things that go on here in my world.

2. photos:

when i have the time and energy (seems like very little lately) to get out with our camera and snap pictures of the life all around, i love that the blog provides a place for me to keep them.

3.

connection:

i've enjoyed connecting with friends, family and strangers through this online world.

4. going back:

i love that i have a place to travel back in time across the few years that i've blogged and visit the experiences and emotions i've been through.

5. the unknown:

blogging is a business for some, which always makes me wonder what simply blythe could perhaps become in the future as it evolves....or doesn't.

(image from here.)

the kitchen has gone...

grey.

after carefully choosing colors that we thought wouldn't scream at us or be too deep or overpowering, our light blue-ish kitchen ended up rather grey instead.

so, we're running with it.

we both shared the idea to take the cabinets even darker grey.

this morning i hopped online for a little grey kitchen inspiration.

here white subway tile keeps things bright as does the white countertop.

and wine storage in a kitchen always makes us feel right.

(hey, our decade-plus in wine country made an impact.)

the addition of a light colored wooden table adds work surface while perhaps warming the room a bit.

i also like their use of glass cabinet doors.

the darkest in the bunch...and maybe a bit too dark.

added lighting under the cabinets to bring in brightness.

and i like the open cabinet shelving.

(images from here, here and here.)

over at the new house.

the painting continues.

the ceilings are all white and now color is hitting the walls.

here it comes.

i have a confession to make.

friday night as we locked up the little shop, a co-worker squealed as she realized the city had started lighting the trees in old town.

a holiday season tradition.

she excitedly told us that 94.3 had become santa radio, playing only christmas music, all the time.

i quietly smirked and thought, 'it's way too early'.

but saturday morning, home alone, and heating the oven to make scones...what did i do...i dialed the radio for a little santa.

yes, it's early....yes, we still have thanksgiving plans to attend...but, what is it about christmas music?

how appropriate that the first song i heard was, "we need a little christmas".

'put up the tree before my spirit falls again'...ok, i'll wait until we're at least settled into our new home (just one week and counting).

happy weekend.

dinner: peanut-coconut-curry noodles.

last night's dinner was very last minute, but totally delish.

riding my bike home from work, wondering what d was making for dinner, i received a text from him saying he had been working at the new house and was just heading home from home depot.

oh, i realized, no dinner, yet.

hmmm, my mind wandered into an easy take-out option....but already after 8...we'd fall asleep before the meal was picked up.

my mind landed on asian.

here's what i managed with what we had on hand (i measured nothing, so these are estimates):

peanut coconut curry noodles with tofu and edamame

1 package whole wheat capellini

1/2 package edamame shelled

1 package silken tofu cubed

1/2 c peanut butter

1 can coconut milk

1T curry powder

2 t cayenne pepper

salt to taste

boil edamame (5 min cook time) with pasta (4 min cook time)

meanwhile in sauce pan over medium-low heat mix the coconut milk, peanut butter, curry and cayenne.

heat tofu in sauce.

when pasta and edamame are cooked to preference drain and mix in saucepan with other ingredients.

serve in bowls.

so so creamy, vegan, and good.

over at the new house.

d has been busy finishing the floors.

so far everyone who has ventured in has been very pleased with the new look.

now it's time to cover those beauties with paper and paint the ceilings.

remember it started like this?

hello monday.

hello monday.

hello stained hardwood.

hello polyurethane.

thanks d.

hello time to get serious about paint colors for each room.

hello closing in on moving plans.

hello boxes, tape and labels.

it's getting busy around here.

color inspiration.

soon we need to paint over at the new house.

can these rugs offer inspiration for the rooms?

i'm tending towards more neutral paints...d wants color.

i'll default to him...he's spent much more time over there than i have.

any rugs here you like?

(images from overstock via pinterest)

hours in the kitchen.

yesterday on a much needed day off, my sis and i made some treats.

one was almond nougat (replacing the apricots in the recipe with the almonds) and peppermint patties.

we'd like to try the nougat again with a more trusty candy thermometer and perhaps another take on a peppermint patty recipe, though d thinks they're just great.

(photos from blue-eyed bakers via pinterest)

over at the new house.

there's been a lot of sanding going on over there.

the floors are looking better and better all the time.

d has been busy as can be...me, out of town, then working like a maniac....not much help.

thanks to our friend shannon and d's long hours, we'll have presentable hardwood throughout.