Moving on now with days becoming more cheery and loads of Spring shoots appearing in the garden which always brighten your spirits. It goes without saying that of course I am still missing my special man very much, but there has been much excitement in the “Hemingway home†to keep me distracted. I have so much to be grateful for. Jo and his new lady arrived for a really nice weekend together with Ellie (my niece ) and Stu, with all of us having a jolly time at the village pub over a good meal. The house seemed brighter and it was lovely to have their company.
Firstly something to cheer and finishing last week, a new vamped kitchen! Bringing everything more up-to-date with wonderful work achieved by dear brother-in-law Ian. Keeping the cost down by using the little bit out-of date but still good condition, existing cabinets. I added two extra high level cookers and two new hobs. All the cabinets and power had to be redone with new under-shelf lighting and a microwave was added into a concealed cabinet to make it more streamline and modern. It was no easy task as rearranging an older kitchen is always so much harder than starting from scratch. It was long overdue but not being able to have the disruption while Hamada was poorly I am now thrilled with the result. Thank you Ian, for putting up with all my requests and for the perfect work achieved.
Also, as shown in top photo, I wanted you to see the wonderful work my sister Jenny did re-upholstering a chair that I’ve had since 1967 ! This chair with the most unusual shape being very wide at the back, was brought for me by a dear Aunt who is no longer with us and so the chair was much treasured. It was very shabby having been used all these years for everything from a nursing chair to an extra dining chair, and many more uses besides. I can see my babies sitting in this chair at various stages of their lives and so pleased that it could be saved with Jenny’s skill.
Jenny took this old chair stripping it right down to the solid oak frame, re-varnishing the woodwork, replacing stuffing, webbing and even piping and covering silk buttons, completing with this very beautiful but rather impracticable silk material. This was chosen by yours truly, a pattern I just fell in love with. I am so very thrilled with the result and the beautiful work that Jenny has done, it fits my eclectic/mishmash taste so well. Thank you Jenny for your skill and for saving this much loved chair. I wonder what dear Auntie Dot would have thought of it now? At 44 years old I think it looks splendid, what do you think readers ?
The chair is gorgeous,I love that style, Jenny did a fantastic job on it,she is gifted,well done Jenny. Im so glad your moving on,little steps and as you say it brightens you when you see the little green shoots peeping up from the soil.It wont be too long before we will have to be tending the garden again,which keeps you very busy. Im very jealous of your lovely kitchen,Im sure it will be kept very busy. I hope you take loads of photos when you are at the Ritz,I would love to see it,and have a great time with those cocktails…xxxx
Love the chair and the kitchen, Susie !
Spring is creeping in slowly here, too – yesterday I was walking back from school with DD4 (age 9) and we were looking at the trees when we spotted some catkins growing !
@ Karen. Yes Jenny did a fantastic job and saved this very old , much loved chair. She is very good at sewing and also patchwork it is a real delight for her and she makes some beautiful things including all her drapes and blinds- amazing work.
Not so sure I’m am looking forward to all the work in the garden it is huge and takes a lot of energy, still I have plenty of time now.
Stay well x
@Sian. It does appear like Spring is on the way. I think it will be a relief for all of us here in the UK, it seems like such a long Winter with all that early snow. The days are certainly brighter x
Just visiting your blog once again….I do this periodically!!!
I love your gorgeous new kitchen and that chair is wonderful!!! What a great piece of furniture to have with all it’s memories!!!
Take care my dear friend…. think of you often!!! xoxo
Judy
Hi there, just visiting your blog once again!!!
Love reading all your poems and writings….
I adore your gorgeous new kitchen and what a wonderful chair!!! A beautiful piece of furniture to have with all it’s memories!
Take care my dear friend….
Judy xoxo
Hi Susie
Your kitchen looks wonderful and the chair is lovely!
So happy to know you are doing well!
Margie x
Chairs!
sorry, couldn’t resist
I love the new kitchen… My wife Jenni would love to re-do our kitchen but she always puts it off because she wants everything done at once and the budget doesn’t allow it. Maybe your pictures can get her to finally get going on it! Glad your feeling a little more chipper these days. Spring does that to me also.
Dear Susie,
I am so sorry to realize the news of Hamada’s passing. 2010 was a very difficult year for both of us on opposite sides of the pond. Blessings and love. xoxo I read your poems and prayed for him, mostly to remain strong and not to suffer.
After sorting through months of government paperwork, I too am attempting to renovate places in my home that came to be neglected. The furnace man was in the other day, cleaning the chimney and furnance. He replaced the filters too and showed me how to do it. I’ve had the front steps done and the front door, but I so want to get the kitchen done too. I wish I had a brother-in-law just like your Ian! Your kitchen looks fantastic!! And what about Jenny? I love how the chair looks now! Stay strong Susie. I will still keep you in my prayers. xoxo
Wonderfully impractical and lovely chair covering with memories tucked in and around it! And the newly dressed up kitchen will provide a central gathering place for old friends in your new life as well all the grands and other family… all these little steps forward will bring you through all the anniversaries of missing your Hamada, who is still close to you, like a man standing with his hand on other side of a thick glass window waiting for you to put your hand up to match his… love cannot be dispersed.
Fell out of bed feeling down. This has birhgetend my day!