Happy Anniversary!

I can't even believe it.  We've been here a year!  This time last year, we were still sleeping on mattresses on the floor and unpacking boxes.  What a difference a year makes!  

I don't know that one ever gets to the point that everything is "done", but we're a lot closer now than we were then.  I still have a long to-do list!  

If you are building a version of the Nantahala or Tranquility house plan and you happen upon this blog, know that this is one of the most unique homes I have ever been in.  We took parts of several versions and still made changes to suit our needs, but it is beautiful!  

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It seems I don't do a very good job of blogging these days.  Time just gets away from me!  Follow me on Instagram- basketsandbuttercups

Kitchen

Someone asked in an earlier post about the brick backsplash.  We've been in our home nearly 8 months and the brick in the kitchen and powder room is still one of my favorite features.  I do wonder if I should have taken the brick all the way to the ceiling.  We debated this as the brick was going up and decided it made more sense to stop where we did.

When you look at the wall from this angle, you'll see what the issues was.  If we took the brick to the ceiling on the main wall with the stove, there isn't a good stopping point on the short wall and the wall with the doorway.

The kitchen itself it probably my favorite room.  We spend all of our time in the kitchen or in the adjoining tv room.  If we're not outside eating on the back porch, we're eating at the kitchen island.  The kids do their homework at the island while I'm cooking.  There's tons of storage and tons of counter space.  It has a great view of the backyard and is open to the tv room, so I can easily keep my eyes on the kids.  

Just a couple of pics.  I can't tell you how much I love all of the windows.  We finally broke down and got blinds for the kid's bedrooms and the tv room off of the kitchen.  I love having the sun stream in and seeing all of the green outside!

Spring has sprung

The snow is finally gone, and I can't help but enjoy a pretty day by taking a walk around the yard.  We still have a long way to go in the yard and with the landscaping, but we will get there!


And on this particular day, I was blessed with my son picking a beautiful bouquet of buttercups- my favorite.

My field of buttercups.




This is my daughter's playroom.  She has never (and I really do mean never) been one to play with dolls or Barbies.  It certainly wasn't for lack of me trying.  She just really had no interest.  Instead, she's always wanted to play school.  I assume that's because she's grown up with me "playing" school.  She when she described her ideal playroom, it included a desk, printer, maps, dry erase board, and a place for her "kids" to sit.

This picture is a little blurry (I'm still trying to figure out my new phone), but it shows one of my most favorite possessions- this little round table.  This was my grandmother's table that she had cut down and used in her first grade classroom.  It makes my heart smile to see my daughter use it to play school.

Snow!

I have always enjoyed a good snow day, but I especially love one when the snow is so deep I can't get to work at all!  12.5 inches between January 21-23.  

I can see this tree from my kitchen and great room window.  I has ice all over it and when the sun hits it, it sparkles like a million diamonds.  Beautiful!  I think it's the perfect spot for a swing come spring time.  

The kids loved playing in the snow.  

This was on Friday night.  Snow was still falling!  

Can you tell how deep it was?  You can't even see the steps!

All the little trees have turned to ice.