Cottage Style Blogs: a Cottage Blog, Etsy Blog, and Vintage Blog

There's a large field at the top of an escarpment near my old hometown that beckons me each Spring.  An overgrown hedgerow of fragrant lilac bushes wrestle with thorny scrub and weeds, ignored by all but the critters that call the field home. 



Each year I gather my courage, along with my clippers and a bucket of water, and trek across this expansive meadow for the sole purpose of bringing home a bit of lilac-loveliness.  I say my "courage" because I know the land is laden with all that naturally lives in such a space - mice, snakes, racoons, skunks, bees ... I changed from my sandals to my sneakers but still felt a little vulnerable in the high weeds and grass.



The bushes could use some pruning but there were still plenty of blossoms.  The white ones must have bloomed first because they were a little spent already.  But I happily gathered the two purple varieties, enough for a large bouquet for me and one for my daughter.  Heavenly!





My kids and I planted two lilac bushes in my yard last year but they're still babies.  No snipping blossoms from them for some time yet. 



It was a beautiful day for lilac-gathering and I really enjoyed their fragrance inside my car as I drove home. 



This old ironstone pitcher was in my mom's basement and I have to say I really like it.  The spout is cracked but re-glued so it's still very useful.  Perfect for a bouquet of lilacs!



It's been a busy couple of weeks.  I've been working hard on my yard and gardens and still have some perennials I need to get in the ground.  Spring is tough on the single woman!  I'm making progress though and soon I'll have my vintage blue bicycle planted with flowers.  I bought them at Home Depot the other day but then we got rain so they're still sitting by my back door.  So much to do!

And of course I have to share another photo of my sweet little grandson, Theo.  He's six weeks old now and becoming quite the man, already sporting a tie!  A BIG yawn for a sleepy baby. 



Thanks for your visit and for your nice comments.  I really enjoy hearing from you.  Please "like" Cottage and Creek on Facebook, if you haven't already.  That's such an easy way to stay in touch. 

Though I'm a lover of older homes, I'm not a lover of out-dated, ugly doors.  So it was a happy day last Tuesday when the Jeld-wen truck pulled into the driveway and work began to replace all my 1952 flat-panel doors.  The process began weeks earlier when I strolled into the Window and Door department of my local Home Depot.  The Department Manager told me about their partnership with Jeld-wen Windows and Doors and how easy it is to replace existing doors with Jeld-wen replacement doors.   



Home Depot arranged for a Jeld-wen representative to come to my house and measure each door opening with a $25,000 laser tool.  Wow!  It was, indeed, an impressive tool!  The door openings were measured at many points to ensure a custom fit.  Each replacement door is custom made for each existing opening.  The representative brought hardware samples and I was able to choose the style and finish of the knobs and hinges.  There are several price points to fit a variety of budgets.  The knobs are manufactured by Kwik-Set and I chose egg-shaped knobs in an oil-rubbed bronze finish. 





I didn't think I needed to label the photos "before" and "after."  I think it's pretty clear!  Nice, huh?  I love them!  I chose the 1940s-inspired Rockport style.  I also opted to have the doors painted; they come primed unless you pay the up-charge for paint.  Several nice colors are available but I stuck with white, which nicely matches Home Depot's Ultra Pure White by Behr.








I painted my bedroom when I contracted for the doors.  It really needed it and I decided to tackle the project prior to the door install so I didn't splatter paint on the new doors.  I still need to sew window treatments and get new rugs but with the new baby, my priorities have changed!  The color is Bakery Box White by Martha Stewart.  I had it mixed in Behr paint and it's very nice - soft, soft aqua with a hint of green. 





The new door really brightens up the front foyer.  I may look into a runner for the stairs though.  Seems like a lot of white now.



Another view from the living room into the small hallway.  There are three doors in this space - to the basement, pantry/closet, and half bath.  What a difference!



The Jeld-wen boys would've hauled away my doors for $10 per door but I decided to save the $140.  I'll probably take them down to the Habitat For Humanity Re-Store or list them on Craigslist for free.  If anybody wants them, give me a holler!

All in all, I was very pleased.  I upgraded five doors from hollow-core to solid-core so I could hang my pantry rack, shoe rack, and mirrors on the back.  They advise against hanging things on the hollow-core doors.  One door was split on the edge ... one might say de-laminating a little, so I'll have to call the Jeld-wen Rep and get a replacement.  Otherwise, it was a great experience and really improved the look and functionality of the house.  I'd highly recommend the process, especially for those of you who don't have a handyman handy! 

Now I'm off to do some more sewing.  I've got lots of projects to share with you.  Spring has sprung here in Buffalo and I've even got the windows open today.  Feels great!

The snowdrops are blooming under my Japanese Maple tree and they remind me how fragile and fleeting life can be.  They're delicate little flowers, you know.  Loners, too.  While most of their friends don't make an appearance until the fair winds blow, these little guys bring hope for the Spring to come by popping out of the ground while the air still has the power to take your breath away. 



Unlike last year, Spring tarries here at the cottage-by-the-creek.  The furnace still hums, the dreary all-weather mats still guard my back door, and my flannels still keep me warm at night.  But I don't doubt that Spring is coming because it's never let me down before.  I have faith it will soon arrive.

So as various challenges arose over the course of the last several months, I held onto Jesus' capable hand because He's never let me down before either.  I spent a lot of time talking to Him - asking Him to bless the soon-to-be-born baby my daughter was carrying, asking Him to care for Kelly throughout the birth process, and asking Him to endow the baby with good gifts and the discernment to know how to use them for His glory.  The challenges became more serious as the weeks ticked by but because I've seen God intimately answer prayer before, it should not have surprised me when He powerfully answered our prayers at a critical time.  And yet it did.