2011 December

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What Is Your House’s Walk Score?

December 29, 2011 By Autumn

Author: Autumn

Continuing our ongoing theme this week of reposting some of our favorite blog entries, I wanted to revisit this entry. Since many of you are probably adding more exercise as one of your resolutions for 2012, this will show you how to calculate your walk score.

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When we decided to sell our family home in the burbs and buy a townhouse in town, one of our considerations was the walk score of our new place.

What’s that, you ask. It is a score based on the walkability of the neighborhood you live in based on how it affects the environment, your health, and your billfold. The premise is that if you are in an area that is close to stores, restaurants, parks, theaters, medical centers, etc. you will be more likely to walk to them rather than drive to them. This will affect the amount of pollution you contribute to the environment with your car, the amount of exercise you get, and the amount of money you spend for the upkeep of your car and the gas it needs.

We now live across from this historic city park.

A website, www.walkscore.com has been created, and just by typing in your address, you can determine your walk score. One hundred is the top score you can get.

If your home has a high walk score, sometimes you can hop on your bike and get to your destination even faster.

For instance, our former house had a walk score of 43 out of 100. Not so great. In fact, it flunks. Our new place, (we move in three weeks) has a walk score of 86. That is a great improvement. Lexington’s average score is 49, which is really low.

This is our home in the burbs.

Jordan’s house is located in a charming neighborhood in the city of Syracuse, NY, and her walk score is 51. That isn’t so great. Syracuse beats Lexington on its average, though, with a score of 69. I know that Jordan and Mr. Spring are constantly walking to events at the nearby university, bought snow shoes to deal with the winter storms they had this year, and just ordered cruiser bikes for going to work and for their errands. So, despite what their score says, they are living as if it is higher.

Jordan’s house is within walking distance of Syracuse University.

Let’s look at some popular locations and check out their scores:

Times Square’s walk score is 100.

The walk score for the famous “Painted Ladies” houses in San Francisco is 92.

Recognize this iconic exterior? It’s the Brady Bunch’s house. Their walk score is 83.

I am surprised on this one. Trump Tower’s walk score is only 97. I say only because I am surprised, with the prices they cost, that the score isn’t over 100. Afterall, doesn’t Donald Trump do everything over the top?

White House Tours

And last, but not least, the most popular address is the country did not score a perfect 100. Nope, the White House weighs in at 97.

I hope you enjoyed learning about walk scores. Now, it”s your turn. Go to www.walkscore.com and look up your score. Be sure to let us know what it is.

Take care.

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Images not already identified were taken from Google, Tristantom.com, Gary Wayne at Seeing-Stars, and Destination 360.

Filed Under: Out and About

Revisiting the Patio

December 28, 2011 By Spring

Author: Spring

Mom and I are reposting our favorite blog entries from 2011. Mr. Spring and I worked so hard on this patio that I had to share it with you again. I hope you enjoy revisiting it.

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Yippee!! It is finally finished. The major back yard facelift that Mr. Spring and I started in March is finally complete. You can read about the start of the facelift here and here. (And you can see what the house looks like with its new paint color here). We have plenty of blisters and aching muscles to prove it. Was it a lot of work? Yes. Did we know what we were doing at first? Thanks to lots of research, yes. Would we do it again? Yes! Are we proud of it and of ourselves? Yes, yes, yes!!!

When we bought our first home, it was important for us to live in an established neighborhood in an urban rather than suburban setting. We knew that we would have to tackle projects, but if it meant we could increase our home’s value by applying some muscle, then we were all for it. Our little charmer had all of the major updates completed, thankfully, so that we can just add our tastes through cosmetic overhauls. That’s what this project was all about.

In a nutshell, we removed all of the previous owners’ gravel, rocks, decking and patio in order to build our own new and larger patio and lay sod. He didn’t have a lawn – at all. He didn’t want any maintenance – at all. We wanted grass for Gracie, and since my husband grew up in an apartment in New York City, it was only right that he should have the opportunity in his life to do mowing and lawn maintenance.

Because our winter in Syracuse was sooooooo long last year, we didn’t want to wait for the snow to melt to get started. The first thing we did was to remove all of the previous owner’s DIY projects. Based on all of the rocks, bricks, gravel and wood we hauled out, he probably had some sore muscles and blisters once upon a time, too.

Thanks to Mr. Spring’s research and calculations, we knew exactly how much materials we would need for our project.

We had to give up the use of our garage and driveway for a while, but it was worth it in order to stock pile our sand, top soil, and paving bricks.

After all of the things we didn’t want were removed, we carefully laid out the patio’s dimensions and then added sand and runner crush to provide a solid foundation.

We rented a machine to help pack it down. That was so worth it.

Next came the barrier and then….

more packing down the ground.

We selected a herringbone pattern for the brick layout. It required lots of careful measuring and cutting.

It was also very important to keep the surface level.

Doesn’t it look professional? Not bad for two newlyweds learning as we go. When it was finished, we added a type of sand in the cracks that will firm and hold the bricks together when water is added.

I enjoyed cutting the bricks, while Mr. Spring was putting down the main pattern of the patio.

We worked after the sun went down many evenings, but we just couldn’t wait to get the majority of it finished.

Shortly after we finished the patio, we laid the sod, bought a new outdoor table and chairs, a fire pit, and of course, tiki torches.

We L.O.V.E. it. We use it when we sit out with the neighbors…..

And for dinners for two.

The painters are coming next week to paint our house’s exterior which means the total backyard facelift for this year will be complete. I will be sure to share the new look with you.

We are planning a movie night for our first major outdoor entertaining event. Stay tuned for the upcoming details.

Cheers!

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Filed Under: Before and After

New Look for the White House

December 27, 2011 By Spring

Author: Spring (Jordan)

Greetings! This week Mom and I are reposting some of our favorite blog entries from 2011. Today I am happy to take you on a return visit to our home’s exterior to see the change paint and shutters did to the in-your-face white look it had when we purchased it. Enjoy.

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It finally happened! The outside of our house got a makeover. Come along with me and enjoy the process.

First of all, can you actually see the house here in the Syracuse winter? During our first winter in the house we had record snow falls in Syracuse, and it was hard to actually see it sometimes. It blended right in to its surroundings.

Before we painted our house, our neighbors who have lived on our block for 50 years told us all white houses once were the trend. Every house on the block was white. Then one neighbor got up the nerve and painted his house a color. When that person decided to add color, most of the house owners on the block followed. Our house remained white, though. So, after being white for at least fifty years, we decided she deserved a change.

This is what our house looked like in the spring when we realized we had an overgrown shrub problem.

We knew we wanted to add window boxes, and that is the first thing we did. So, we were able to check it off our list. But after seeing the window boxes, I have now learned I need to plant more in the boxes to make them fuller. This winter we are going to build bigger/better boxes to hang next year.

Next up was a new paint color for the house.

When it was time to select a color for the exterior, we first thought we wanted a gray, but after walking Gracie around the neighborhood, we saw other colors we liked. We headed to Home Depot to get some paint samples, and these are the first six we selected.

We knew this job was too much of a DIY job for us. While I have jumped out of a plane and love zip-lining, I wasn’t too crazy about the thought of being on a ladder, and neither was Mr. Spring. We eneded up hiring a painter, after checking his references, and followed his suggestion for a paint brand. He said to purchase Behr with primer already in the paint, and that is what we did. We have used Behr with primer on some of the interior walls, and we really like it.

We liked being able to test the colors on the house, and we could see how they looked in the sun. After having the samples on the side of our house for a few days, we decided we were not thrilled with any of them. Back to Home Depot we went for more samples.

We decided to try four more samples of gray. Let me tell you, it is so overwhelming with all the colors of gray. If they just had four colors to choose from, it would have been easy. But after thinking and looking for a few days, we came up with the perfect color for our house.

Here is the house painted with Sparrow by Behr. Thanks, Adam, we love the color on the house! Now we can put a big check beside that item on our to-do list. The house is painted!!!

Then we decided to add some shutters to get another color and give the house a little more definition. Really, it is like adding mascara after you have done your make-up.

You can see Mr. Spring installing the shutters. I think this was the easiest quick fix we have done to our house yet. But, I was not the one up there on the roof.

Shutters on the house- Check. It is looking even better.

Next up, we needed to add some lipstick paint the door. This is the original door, and I love it. Unfortunately, it is not energy efficient at all. We do have a storm door, but we have talked about replacing it with a more energy efficient door. Don’t worry. We would definitely get something that would fit the craftsman style.

Front door painted- Check.

Just to show you again what it used to look like.

We now think our house is cute. Just think! When we were house-hunting, we almost didn’t even get out of the car to go in. Its curb appeal was that dull. But the inside was already redone, and we knew that with some hard work, we could spruce up the exterior.

Now that we have the back yard and patio completed and the house painted, we are going to enjoy the little bit of summer we have left and head back out to the Adirondacks for some kayaking and camping. We are also busy training for our first marathon in October.

The project list for next summer has already started. We are going to redo the landscaping in the front along with lots of other things. I’ll be sure you to keep you posted.

Cheers!

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I was not paid by any product mentioned in this post.

Filed Under: Before and After

Revisiting the Kitchen

December 26, 2011 By Autumn

Author: Autumn (Janette)

Happy Boxing Day!!! Jordan and I decided to revisit some of our favorite posts from 2011 this week. Today I am reintroducing you to our kitchen. (Be sure to check out the link to our pantry). We moved into our townhouse in May after gutting it and undergoing a total remodel job. For those of you new to our blog, my husband and I downsized from a 4,000 square feet home in the burbs to a 3,000 square feet townhouse in an historic part of downtown Lexington. Also, these photos were taken before I had my new camera.

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Well, as of today we have been in our new place three weeks, and only a few boxes are left to unpack. There is occasionally a worker dropping in to fine-tune something, and the painters still are adding some final strokes of genius to our walls.

I promised you on Monday that the next room to be revealed would be the kitchen. Please keep in mind that, other than “Lulubelle, The Cow” (read about her here), art work has not been added, but first we need to take another visit to the kitchen BEFORE we bought it.

(before)

The first two are photos I took on the day we first looked at the place. The owner was a single gentleman who spent a lot of money on new granite and stainless appliances, but they just didn’t speak to us. We were able to salvage the cabinets and move them to our new pantry. The wall on the left is now gone.

(before)

This is his kitchen eating area. Notice the red below the chair rail and the gold above it.

(before)

I took this photo after we had removed his Pergo floors but before the painters did their magic. The purple area is the pantry. I revealed the new/improved pantry here.

Now here is the new kitchen.

This is the full view looking in from the hallway. The light isn’t too good in this shot. We went with a bluish gray pennisula that is glazed white, white cabinets everywhere else, a farmhouse kitchen sink, and carrara marble on all of the countertops.

This is from the opposite direction.

We chose white cabinets, and the pennisula’s glaze helps it blend with them. It has a lot of features I think you’ll like.

For instance, I have shelves for my cookbooks. And the cabinet door there holds our candles.

Here is a close-up of the glazed door.

This is the side of the pennisula opposite the sink. The stools are from CSN.

There is a shelf area with glass doors to display some of my Hall’s teapots.

And there is a wine shelf. The door to the left provides more storage.

This shot shows it without the stools.

This is our eating area. The cow? She’s “Lulubelle”. I ordered her from an artist named Roz Art on Etsy. She had me at moo hello. A local shop framed it for me, and she has been waiting patiently for this remodel project to finish so we could move in and she could claim her spot of honor in the kitchen.

This shot shows our built-in hutch. Let’s take a closer look.

I think the copper pots work great here.

Here is another shot. We used the same cabinet hardware in the kitchen, wet bar, laundry room, guest room built-in, and all of the bathrooms. (Sorry about the sun’s reflection).

I’ve opened the door so you can get a better look. Some of the dishes are special, like my grandmother’s flow blue, the meat platter I got when staying with some nomads in Mongolia, and our old iron stone, and other things are there because they are blue or white.

That bottle on the right is an old Lestoil bottle from the 1950′s. My mother saved them because she thought they were pretty, and she gave me the blue ones. They also came in gold and green. The plate to the left was my grandmother’s and the plate on top is the one I got from the nomads. We had to use an interpreter to help us bargain, but when she served our meal on it, I knew it would be a great treasure.

I found that meat platter to match my grandmother’s flow blue on ebay. It is Princeton by Johnson Brothers. There is the second Lestoil bottle.

Here is another angle.

A lamp maker here in Lexington made this lamp for me out of an extra silver tea pot. I think it is so sweet.

I almost gave this tea/coffee service to Jordan (my blogging partner Spring), but decided the silver would look nice against the marble. I like a bit of silver in each room. It is like jewelry.

My brother bought this hydrant at an auction years ago for $2.50. That was before I had it refurbished. Every time he sees it, he regrets that he gave it up. I think the kitchen is the perfect place for a fire hydrant. Don’t you??!!??

This bench is very versatile. I like to move it around, but it works here for now. I bought the two silk floral pillows in Bangkok. They are by Jim Thompson, who revived the silk industry in Thailand and then mysteriously disappeared. The other two pillows were made by moi.

The rug is from Pottery Barn.

This is a view from the eating area out to our sun room, (here) which was sunny that day.

When we decided to sell our last house, my friends gasped because they knew how much I obsessed over enjoyed the six-burner Thermadore stove I had. Well, luckily, I was able to get another, except this one has only four burners with a griddle. It has gas burners with an electric oven and griddle. L.O.V.E. it!

The Alessi tea kettle looks nice against the marble back splash. I have boiled water in it for years, and it still looks new.

These are one of my favorite possessions. They are Dutch cannisters I bought on our first bicycling trip in Holland (here). The antique shop only sold old enamel ware. Unfortunately, I was on a bike.

Remember that wall I showed you in the beginning? It is now gone, and we open to the great room. This view looks into the kitchen from that room. This opening made a huge difference with the amount of light the kitchen gets and with the flow. The architect and I were in total agreement on this. By the way, the kitchen color is Stucco by Sherwin Williams. I really like it. (You can see the dining area in the great room here and see how I gave myself some kitchen privacy when entertaining here.

This is another of my Jane Keltner rugs. You’ve seen three (pantry, sun room, and this one) now. I think this one has been to the rug cleaners at least 10 times. It was in front of the kitchen sink in our other house, too.

This is another cabinet area, but it hasn’t grown up yet. It’s still waiting to be accessorized.

About 30 years ago, my mother tole painted a bread box for us out of a mail box. Isn’t that clever? I just love it.

I am not really a fan of painted ceilings, (here) but I saw a kitchen in a magazine with white cabinets, carrara marble counter tops, creamy walls, and a light blue ceiling. I knew then our kitchen ceiling would be a soft blue. We selected Iceberg by Sherwin Williams. We really, really like it.

Here is a close-up of the sink. It is by Kohler. The blue wine bottle holds the dish detergent. That was one of Martha Stewart’s first “good things” years ago.

Here is one more view of our new kitchen. Stop in anytime, and I’ll make us a pot of tea.

Take care.

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Filed Under: Before and After, Decorating

It’s All In The Packaging

December 22, 2011 By Autumn

Author: Autumn (Janette)

Normally we share a favorite recipe on Fridays, but we figure you are all too busy to try something new. So, today I am showing you the treats I delivered this week to our new neighbors and people who have done special things for us throughout the year.

First, I made five kinds of cookies, including Jordan’s macaroons (recipe here) and also Grandma’s peanut butter fudge (recipe here). While everything was cooling, I assembled the bakery boxes I ordered this fall from here.

I lined them with waxed tissue paper.

Then I started filling them with goodies.

Next, came a tag and ribbon.

Only five more to go.

If you don’t want to go the box route when packaging treats for friends and family, another easy approach is to buy cute plates at the one of the dollar stores. It’s nice to have these things on hand so that you will always be prepared to deliver a food gift or take something to a pot luck.

So, there you have it.

Jordan in Syracuse and I here in Kentucky wish all of you, dear friends, a wonderful holiday season. Come back next week. We have so many new visitors that we are going to repost some of our favorite blog entries from this, our first year in blog land.

Take care and peace be with you.

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Linking to http://www.atthepicketfence.com/

Filed Under: Food

Lunch with an Artist

December 21, 2011 By Autumn

Author: Autumn (Janette)

This year I am fulfilling a dream by taking art classes in oils. Lucky for me, my new neighbor is an accomplished artist and gives classes to 12 people. We are known as “The Twelve”. I, of course, am in her beginning class, and she holds two other classes for her advanced students.

She served lunch to each of her classes last week, and it was very classy – as only an art teacher can do. Her place is lovely with fine art, beautiful antiques, and a soft color scheme.

She set her antique French table in her great room for the meal, and I love her combination of tabletop finery.

For instance, she combined her fine Waterford crystal water goblets with a rustic artisan pottery goblet.

The table was bare (I took the photos before she put out the linen napkins in silver holders) and showed its imperfections adding to its charm. Again ,she combined the rustic look of a pewter charger with her good china and vintage flatware with Bakelite handles.

I thought the flatware is beautiful.

She used a traditional Williamsburg centerpiece with greenery from her courtyard and fruit from the market.

Here is an aerial view of the centerpiece, kind of like looking at it from the Goodyear blimp.

Isn’t this a beautiful view?

Now come along and take a quick look at two special areas.

The mantle was dressed in muted colors to blend with her other Christmas decorations.

Its centerpiece was this “Glass Slipper” in a see-through glass box. She displays it year-round, not just for Christmas.

The lights make it difficult to see its beauty. When she’s not looking, that little piece of art might end up on my mantle. Shhhhh. Don’t tell.

The shoe is always on the mantle, and she just surrounded it with Christmas touches. I love the candlestick lamp base.

She tucked in a few huge hand-blown art glass ornaments.

Here is another one. Just beautiful.

And this is the show stopper. It’s a piece of art glass designed and blown by nationally prominent glass artist, Stephen Powell. He teaches at a college near here. Knowing the value of this piece, I literally gasped when I saw it sitting in her room. A photo could never do it justice. It is drop-dead beautiful.

After a beautiful lunch and a couple of wine spritzers, we had a great class. Does that surprise you??????

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Take care.

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Filed Under: Decorating, Out and About

The Old Governor’s Mansion, Part Deux

December 20, 2011 By Autumn

Author: Autumn (Janette)

Greetings all! Last week I showed you the dining room, breakfast room and kitchen area of the Old Governor’s Mansion (here) that I visited with a friend.

We’ll step into the parlor and sun porch today and maybe get a peak at the foyer.

Like the rest of the house, the parlor was perfect in every way.

It was decorated for the period of the house.

It had the largest and most beautiful live tree I have ever seen in a house.

The ornaments were mostly natural with huge pine cones, dried orange slices, and adorable glass hazelnuts.

It was exactly Jon Carloftis’ style.

There were Kentucky touches everywhere.

Adjacent to the formal parlor was the informal sun room.

It was somewhat whimsical, compared to the rest of the house.

Once upon a time, it was an open back porch but was enclosed.

Did any of you decorate your garden wheel barrows?

Isn’t it cute? It’s another example of Jon’s “More is more” philosophy.

This marble-top bench is loaded. (That purse in the background belonged to one of the docents).

This door concealed a powder room located in the corner.

That room had its own equestrian touch. I didn’t take a photo of the powder room floor that was covered in old wooden flooring that had once been in a Kentucky Derby winner’s stall.

As we left, I took one more peak at the foyer. The entire room was engulfed in a colorful mural that showed the state’s history. I loved the small vases of white flowers going up the steps.

Instead of a garland, Jon gathered bunches of greenery and tied them to the bannister. Of course, he added embellishments.

I couldn’t finish up without showing you this adorable arrangement made of old cheese graters. Oddly, it was in one of the bedrooms. I suppose they ran out of room in the kitchen.

It would be so easy to make and look great (get it? grate – great) with battery operated votives tucked inside of the graters.

It’s made simply of a basket, greenery, and graters.

Well, that’s it. I hope you enjoyed the tour. This mansion had T.H.E. B.E.S.T. B.A.T.H.R.O.O.M. I have ever seen. It had a touch or two of Christmas, but I am going to tease you and tell you that I’ll do a post about it after the new year, sans Christmas decor.

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Take care.

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Filed Under: Decorating, Out and About

The Holidays in Syracuse

December 19, 2011 By Spring

Author: Spring (Jordan)

Greetings all. I know this is a busy week for everyone, but I just thought I would share a couple of things I have done to get into in the holiday spirit.

Our house is decked out and ready for the holidays. This was the first year we hung the wreaths and decorated the window boxes, and I love them both. You can read about making your own holiday window boxes here. Last year at this time we were still in moving boxes and were lucky just to put up a tree.

In November I received the Pottery Barn catalog, and in one of the living rooms they had black and white winter photos with a red mat in silver frames. I loved the look. I didn’t have the black and white winter photos, so instead, I used some of the old Christmas postcards I have collected. I bought white mats and painted them red. I love how they turned out.

Sorry the quality of the photo is not that great because of the glare, but you get the idea.

Here is another old postcard.

We are slowly growing our Christmas decoration collection, and I am trying to use what I already have on hand. With that in mind, I took the chalk board platter I made (you can read about it here.) I have been writing different holiday sayings on the platter and changing them regularly. This is so easy to do and fun for everyone.

You can get creative or even flirtatious with the sayings. Here are a couple the possibilities:

“Let it Snow”

“Baby, it’s cold outside”

“There’s no place like home for the holidays”

“Joy to the world”

“I’m dreaming of a White Christmas”

“Twas the night before Christmas”

“Every time a bell rings, an

angel gets its wings”

Last year at this time, we had five feet of snow on the ground. We are ready, our house is ready, but evidently Mother Nature is easing into it this year. We have had just a “dusting”. I might regret saying this, but ……”Let it snow, let in snow, let it snow”!!!!

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Cheers!

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Filed Under: Decorating

A Granny Smith Wreath

December 18, 2011 By Autumn

Author: Autumn (Janette)

Since this is our first year in our new townhouse, I knew I wanted to do something different with our front door for the holidays. We have what is known in Kentucky as a Keeneland green front door that was pre-determined by our townhouse association. It’s nothing I can change. Any green Christmas wreath would not show up against it.

I had the locally-owned neighborhood florist make a beautiful boxwood wreath for me. To enhance it, I bought some faux Granny Smith apples to it and attached them with a glue gun. I knew that real apples would be too much of a temptation for the local squirrel population.

I wanted a very simple bow and just added a wired lime-green ribbon in the simplest bow I could make.

The apples and ribbon give it enough color to let passersby know there is a wreath there.

Overall, we are really pleased with the way it looks, and it definitely says Christmas is near.

Take care.

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Linking to www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com

Filed Under: Decorating

Coconut Macaroons

December 15, 2011 By Spring

Author: Spring (Jordan)

I have been busy making a variety of cookies and treats for the holidays. I was flipping through a cookie book I have and found this easy recipe I thought I would try. I love anything to do with coconut, and this recipe sounded amazing. The book is called “Best-Loved Cookies,” Publications International, Ltd.

ONE BOWL COCONUT MACAROONS

Preheat oven to 325 F

14 ounces coconut

2/3 cup sugar

6 tablespoons flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

4 egg whites

1 teaspoon almond extract

- Mix coconut, sugar, flour and salt in a large bowl. Stir in egg whites and almond extract until well blended.

- Drop by teaspoons onto greased and floured cookie sheets.

- Bake 20 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheets. – - Cool on wire racks.

If you would like, you can add chocolate. Make sure macaroons are completely cooled. Melt chocolate and dip the tops in.

Enjoy!

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Cheers!

NOTE: Last week we printed a recipe for Peanut Butter Fudge. Do not make any type of fudge on a rainy or humid day. It will affect the outcome of the recipe.

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Filed Under: Food