cathyboettner

The Ancient Basement–Snow Day Project

We are expected to get a lot of snow (for here) tomorrow, and we’ve had enough notice that we could actually think about, plan, and purchase everything for the project. We are going to build the shelves that we had planned all along at the bottom of the stairs–to fill this area. Years ago, IContinue reading “The Ancient Basement–Snow Day Project”

The Ancient Basement–finishing the Mudroom Wall

We took a break from working on the basement during the holidays, but we are back on getting the mudroom wall finished up. I bought 20 oiled bronze finish brass coat hooks from Van Dyke’s. They aren’t very tall which is good because there isn’t much room in that direction. There are 5 hooks betweenContinue reading “The Ancient Basement–finishing the Mudroom Wall”

Blue Christmas

I have been thinking about this table for weeks and finally got around to putting it together. I started with faux greenery and some glittery leaf picks and I added handblown ornaments in various shades of blue and some pinecones that I painted silver. I topped that with the Shiny Brite glass garland. The placeContinue reading “Blue Christmas”

Last minute gift from the kitchen….

I am NOT a fan of fussy recipes. It’s not that I can’t do it, I just don’t want to. I have been making this particular recipe since I was in high school, so a LONG time. It’s great because you literally just cook it until it is brown–no thermometer, no testing in a glassContinue reading “Last minute gift from the kitchen….”

Banana French Toast

I made a triple batch of banana bread to use up some bananas that I had in the freezer. It had been a few days since I made it and it was getting a little dry. So, I sliced it thin–about 1/2 inch. Laid it in on a parchment lined baking tray and toasted itContinue reading “Banana French Toast”

The Ancient Basement–More progress!

We have been working on what I have been calling “the mudroom wall”. I posted some photos a few weeks ago of the beadboard wall and all the parts and pieces that my husband made and the brackets that I purchased. Here’s where I left it: And here’s a reminder of the inspiration photo that’sContinue reading “The Ancient Basement–More progress!”

Silent Night

I have had these little cardboard houses for years and finally put them together for this table. It’s a really simple centerpiece–just the 3 houses and the church, along with some mercury glass and porcelain trees, and a couple strands of shiny brite glass garland in pale blues, golds, and white. So serene, like aContinue reading “Silent Night”

A Non-Traditional Table

I was looking at my Dansk Lemon Zest dinner plates the other day, and I thought that I could make a holiday table with them–they have red (ish) and greens in them. So I went to Target and found some cute bottle brush trees in the perfect pink to go with the plates. I setContinue reading “A Non-Traditional Table”

Just Like Grandma Used to Make

This table is so homey that it feels like a hug from Grandma. I started with the same plaid throw and then used faux greenery and pinecones and a big candle in a rustic metal dish. The place settings are Churchill Blue Willow and Hazel Atlas Big Top Peanut Butter Iced Tea glasses that IContinue reading “Just Like Grandma Used to Make”

Candy Cane Lane

I bought this fantastic plaid throw after Christmas last year and I knew when I bought it that I would use it for a holiday table. I may do more with this as the base, but here’s what I did today. I started with 2 fantastic candy striped candles that I found at an estateContinue reading “Candy Cane Lane”