cottage living…part un

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As promised, here are some photos of our kitchen renovation! These are only before shots…the after shots will soon follow (I know, such a tease). The first one shows the room as the previous homeowners left it…we had literally just received the keys. We had been planning this project for a while, so the work began right away. For the record, we did not and will not undo anything original to our 1948 cottage…the kitchen had been through 2 previous homeowner demolitions and DIY projects. Our goal was to restore & rejuvenate…

 

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We wanted to do this right, and in a reasonable amount of time, so we made the decision to hire a contractor (knowing the reach of our knowledge and talents). Upon the recomendation of a local friend (her historic 19th century home is amazing) we found Colorful Remedies, and had a few meetings to plan the project in detail. The first step was to remove the upper cabinets, soffits, and flooring, and of course, there were a few surprises. Huge, unnecessary holes, poor construction, live wires tucked into walls, you get the picture. It was a hot mess.

 

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Fast forward two weeks, and this is where we were…nearing completion! The talented team was fast moving and very thorough, but we were anxious to have a kitchen and stop using our makeshift one in the basement. At this point we were already seeing the results we had hoped for with much more light and space! The holes are patched, cork plank flooring is waiting to be put down, wall surrounding the fridge done, countertop not yet installed (that’s drywall). It was the homestretch, and mr. fleurishing was dying to get back to cooking. I’m a lucky lady.

 

billy and the bunny…

 

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Ok, ok…so this is from last year, but since I wasn't blogging then, I thought I would share it with you-it's just too cute and funny not to. The local pet resort (yes, I said resort) held an Easter playdate where you could also have your dog's photo taken with the (weird, slightly frightening) bunny. The best part was watching all the other dogs just run around trying to eat treats, and then the owners trying to get them to sit still with the bunny…wasn't happening. Billy was last, and he pranced in, and after a few sniffs, went right up to the bunny and was put on his lap. He then sat perfectly still and looked right at the camera, for 6 or so shots! That's my boy…he's amazing, and has no idea he's a dog. And, well…maybe we don't either.

 (you can enlarge the image by clicking on it)


proust q & a…misadventures with andi

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Andi Fisher is the type of person you can connect with immediately, she is so fun and bubbly in her writings. I relate to her in many ways, but the largest one would be our shared francophilia, of course! Married to a French man, and living in Berkeley, CA, she writes about her travels, and anything and everything she is passionate about. She will be back in France next month, so stay tuned for more “misadventures”! Thank you so much for sharing Andi!

 

Your favourite virtue.

Kindness. There is that expression, “love makes the world go round,” and in my mind kindness is a degree of love. Simple acts of kindness and care can be applied to every situation out there and makes life so much more enjoyable.

What is your present state of mind?

Restless. I am anxious for my upcoming trip to France. There are also a lot of things I want to do for my blog: projects, updates, series, and it sometimes becomes overwhelming, as I have to juggle it with a full career and my husband. I am able to balance, but I am obsessed with my blog as it is such a creative release for me, something I never had in my life before.

Your favourite colour and flower.

Red. Red. Red. I adore red. Unfortunately it is not a color I can actually wear! Instead I have three pairs of red glasses and any accessory (phone cover, laptop case, etc.) that I can get in red I will. Funnily enough my favorite flower is a carnation but as it is the flower for funerals in France it is one my husband refuses to give me!

Your favourite food & drink.

I have spent my adult life trying to answer this question! In fact I am working on a post right now that describes what my last meal would be (look for it soon). The drink part is fairly easy-I love champagne. But the food, ah that is so hard.  I think if I answered this as one of those proverbial “stranded on a deserted island” questions I would say sushi and how handy that is when I am in the middle of the ocean!

Your chief characteristic.

Generosity. To a fault. I would probably have a lot more money in life if I wasn’t always giving it away in the form of gifts or free services. I tried to run my own business two years ago and there are many reasons why it did not work out so well, but one of them was that I would basically give away the knowledge I was selling for free. I felt guilty charging for it…not the genes of a ruthless businesswoman!

Your favourite qualities in friends.

Patience and persistence. I am an introvert (not shy, but like to spend a lot of time alone). Any true friend of mine must understand that they will not see me very often but that does not diminish how I feel about them. My best friend has been my best friend for more than twenty years because she completely gets that!

Where would you like to live?

Paris and the San Juan Islands. When I got tired of being in the city I would take some time off to be in the woods surrounded by the sea.

Your favourite motto.

“It is what it is.” I am not a fighter, I am very accepting by nature and try to make the absolute best out of any situation. I am the classic “let’s try to make lemonade out of lemons” kind of girl, which annoys the hell out of my husband!

Your favourite names.

Alexandra, Emmanuelle and Jessica. As I chose not to have children, my cat got the name Jessica.

Your idea of happiness.

Simplicity. In all it’s many forms. I can’t stand too many choices or too much information. I like simply sitting and reading a book for hours in the sun and the rain. I like food that is made of simple ingredients in which it’s natural complexity comes out in adept and simple preparation. I read a quote recently, “you don’t have to have luxury to feel luxurious.” I think simplicity is a luxury.

 

**the proust q & a is a regular feature..check out the archives here**