It's hard to believe the season is over!  The garden has been prepped for winter:  The asparagus beds have been mulched and beds tilled.  The garlic and shallots have been planted to ensure a nice crop for next year.  There's still some lettuce and greens remaining, but their remaining days are on borrowed time.

Although the weather proved to be a challenge, the excessive rain allowed some crops thrive.  Others performed miserably.  The extra moisture did benefit the espaliered apple trees, which were added this year. 

Unfortunately, we were unable to even start on the rose garden and water feature in the middle of the space--at this point, that will have to wait until next year.  Nite, nite....

It's a Wrap!  Well, for now it is anyway.  There's still a lot of work yet to be done to the exterior but finishing up the window repair and painting is a huge first step!  Next year, power washing and some good old fashioned elbow grease will make the bricks ready for the continuation of this project.

The choice of color gives a subtle definition to the window details.  Several of you have inquired about the colors.  All paint is Sherwin-Williams "Duration" and the colors are, from lightest to darkest:

Site White #7070

Network Gray #7073

Web Gray #7075

Cyberspace #7076

See a theme here?!?

The transformation will eventually carry through to the soffits and corbels.

The east side of the house receives the most sun and had the most damage.

The west side of the house still seems to be the most dramatically improved because of the brick work that was also done to the retaining wall and new steps that lead to the front of the house.

The back of the house received a little attention too.  Maybe one day we'll actually get to sit on either one of the back porches and enjoy!

Sorry the pictures are a little gray, but it fits into the overall theme, don't you think?!?

The "Anatomy of Gray," Part Three? Four? We've lost count actually--but, progress continues!

The Master Suite has been finished for some time now, but the update remained on the "To Do" list and we're just getting around to posting it!  

The space, according to the blueprint from the 1944 remodel, was originally one large room.  During that 1944 remodel, the one large space was turned into two spaces with the addition of closets.  One room, designated as the "sewing room" on the blueprint, was so small that it was unusable for any practical purpose.  So we made the decision to remove the closets, creating one large space--reverting back to the original.

Click here to check out that process!

Along the way we gutted the space and started with a clean slate!

The wall was built and bricked...

...then, the space was plastered, sanded, caulked, and primed.

Next, it was painted...

...and then, the floors were sanded to perfection...

...and refinished!

Finally, cabinets and bedding were built.

Check out the following links to see all that was entailed in getting this space to where we are today, if you're interested!

Wiring

Drywall/Plastering

Brick Wall

Painting

Floor refinishing

Cabinet/Closets

Now, come on in and take a look around!

THE WALL anchors the room and provides a soft divide.

This is the area where the tiny sewing room was.  Opened up, now the space is inviting and has a comfortable zen quality to it.  The sitting room includes a flat screen television and surround sound.  

The cabinet has lots of storage and has a mini-fridge and microwave.

The media cabinet is made from sustainable wood and features recycled wood on the doors and drawers.

The headboard, with installed lighting, is actually closet space which provides additional hanging, shelving, and drawer space.  No storage space here!

More storage drawers are located under bed as well.

Wood blinds allow ample light to shine in.

In the end, the room has an updated, club-like feel to it and blends in with the traditional feel of the house.  It's a space that gives you pause to even think about leaving!

This room now moves to the FINISHED column!!!

Much of the summer was spent on mundane tasks of prepping the exterior for some survival fixes.  The exterior wood surfaces have been in need of this since we purchased Kraemer House 4 years ago.  A lot of paint has chipped away, showing signs of bare wood.  Bare wood equal r-o-t.  There's a fair amount of that too, and the battles have to be chosen.  

The Bake-Off contest officials at Pillsbury just called with the AWESOME news that I WON my "You Be The Judge" Challenge and I'll be competing in the 44th Pillsbury Bake-Off to be held on April 11-13, 2010 for the chance to win the Grand Prize of $1 MILLION DOLLARS!   Just wanted to send out a HUGE THANK YOU to all of you who took the time to register and cast your vote for me, and to help to spread the word--you are priceless!  THANK YOU!!!  THANK YOU!!!  THANK YOU!!!

April, 2010 is a long time away so, in the meantime, it'll be practice, practice, practice!

"After" pictures of this bedroom were promised months ago.  Other projects, the garden, work schedules, and... well... the summer, kept pushing the shooting of the "after" photos to the bottom of the "To Do" list!  Excuses, excuses!  If you want to catch up on more of the "before..."



...and "during" work of this project, scroll back in the notebook blog a few months and you can see all the fun from start to finish!  Look back even further and you'll see the furniture being refinished, chair reholpolstered, and shutters painted.



This room is all about color and texture.  Come on in and take a look around! 



Farrow & Ball's "Drawing Room Blue" provides a bold backdrop to the space, while the beautiful refinished floors and a natural sisal rug ground it. 



A series of framed prints makes a bold statement.



The prints are vintage reproductions from a calendar...



...simply placed in custom-cut mats and then into inexpensive do-it-yourself frames. 



The sitting area features the chandelier that once hung in the dining room of our Mantua house.



The shuttered bay windows offers ample natural light...



...which is perfect for dendrobium orchids that call an old copper plant stand home.



Leftover fabric from the chair upholstering was sewn into a bolster for the bed.  On the wall over the headboard, a ceiling medallion...



...is the focal point.



It was painted the same color as the wall...



...allowing the texture to shine through while not detracting from the dominant picture wall.



Even the closet was made over with cedar lining and semi-custom storage unit.



Still on the "To Do" list:  Find art to fill two antique frames!

Like everything else when we moved in here, even the landmark placard designating Kraemer House as a historic site needed a face lift.



It was stripped and primed...



....painted...



...and restored!



It now hangs on the house, an example of the efforts we're taking to restore this beautiful property.  Scratch another item off of the "To Do" list!!

Here's a link to the video footage of the news story:

WFMZ News Story

It ran on WFMZ Channel 69 at 5:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. last night, and this morning!  The news station has even posted a link to the Pillsbury Bake-Off site to encourage people to vote for me!

Voting ends at Noon Central on Thursday, August 20th!!

The voting period for Pillsbury’s “You Be The Judge” will soon be over for me!  If you haven’t voted yet, please take a minute and go to www.BakeOff.com and vote for my “Asian-Spiced Cashew-Chicken Piadinis”--if I don’t win the online vote, I don’t get to compete at the Bake-Off, so I really need your help to get me there!! 


For months now, I’ve been in full Bake-Off mode!  For inspiration, Rich's mother, Bonnie, recently shared with me some great collector cookbooks from past Pillsbury Bake-Off contests.  The earliest one dates back to the 4th Pillsbury in 1953 and it only cost a quarter!  All are first edition and in perfect condition.  Back then, the contest was called the "Pillsbury Grand National."  Much has changed, but a lot is still the same--innovative home cooks creating intriguing, original recipes.



The inside cover of the 7th Bake-Off reads:

"...Dear Friend,
The 7th Bake-Off is over, but we'll never forget all of the excitement of the 100 contestants baking their prize-winning recipes.  It all happened in the big Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf in New York...97 women, 1 man and 2 teen-aged boys baking at 100 ranges, with just about that many reporters and photographers peeking over their shoulders.  The TV cameras and mikes were there, too, bringing the scene right into millions of homes all over America.

Now, the famous prize-winning recipes that contestants baked that day are yours to enjoy.  In this cookbook, we bring you all 100 of the recipes from Pillsbury's Grand National.  We've tested and tasted all of the food in our Home Service Center kitchen...and you'll find the recipes easy to follow, for we've written them up in our practical, simple recipe style...”

The 1st Prize Winner that year was “...a no-knead sweet roll innovation with a simple way to fill, twist, and curl the dough...”Ring-A-Lings’ by Mrs. Henry Jorgensen of Portland, Oregon.”  She said:  “In my seventh try at the Grand National, I won $25,000 with my filbert-filled sweet roll idea I worked out in my own kitchen.  This prize money will guarantee my son’s education!”

Other winners that year included “Regency Ribbon Cake” and “Apple Dimplings.”

Though a bit grainy, this time lapsed video shows the set up of 100 mini-kitchens at the last Pillsbury Bake-Off...



...and some past winners from the Pillsbury Bake-Off Contests through the years!



You have until Thursday, August 20th at Noon Central Time! Then, the polls will close on my challenge and we’ll have to wait until October for the results.  I would love to be a part of his great contest and put my mark on this little piece of Americana.  With your help, I’m on my way!


www.BakeOff.com

Well, the first week of my challenge at Pillsbury's "You Be The Judge" is over!  That leaves me with just one more week to work on getting votes so I can secure a spot at the 44th Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest.  If you've already voted, THANK YOU!  If you haven't, please take a second at www.BakeOff.com and then pass the info on to others who might cast their vote for me.  If I don't win the online vote, I don't get to cook my "Asian-Spiced Cashew-Chicken Piadinis" for the judges and have a chance at winning the $1 million Grand Prize!  With your help, I just might make it there! 


(photo:  pillsbury.com)

My original recipe was selected from the tens of thousands submitted to compete in an online challenge and is online now at www.BakeOff.com!  Please vote for my "Asian-Spiced Cashew-Chicken Piadinis"!  If my recipe receives the most votes, I will earn a spot to compete in the 44th Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest to be televised by The Food Network® for a 1 in 100 chance to win the $1 Million Dollar Grand Prize!  If I don’t win the online vote I don’t get to compete, so I really need your help!

Also, I'd appreciate your help to SPREAD THE WORD for me by forwarding this information to encourage your friends, family, co-workers, members of your church, and anybody else you can think of to vote for me!

1.     Go to www.BakeOff.com
2.     Click on the "Vote Now" button
3.     Vote for "Asian-Spiced Cashew-Chicken Piadinis" by Brett Youmans

HURRY--Voting ends at 12 Noon Central Time on August 20th!

Thanks a Million!
Brett

After an excruciating wait, the official word FINALLY came from the Pillsbury Bake-Off officials:  My recipe is now on-line for voting today, August 6th through August 20th at 12 Noon Central Time! 

Please go to www.BakeOff.com and VOTE for Brett's “Asian-Spiced Cashew-Chicken Piadinis”!!

For the first time in Bake-Off® history, America can help choose 10 of the final 100 recipes!  My original recipe was selected from tens of thousands to compete in an online challenge and is online now at BakeOff.com!  If my recipe receives the most votes, I will earn a spot to compete in the 44th Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest televised by The Food Network® for a 1 in 100 chance to win the $1 Million Dollar Grand Prize!  If I don’t win the online vote I don’t get to compete, so I really need your help to help spread the word for me--please encourage your friends, family, co-workers, members of your church, and anybody else you can think of to vote for me!  

1.     Go to www.BakeOff.com
2.     Click on the "Vote Now" button
3.     Vote for "Asian-Spiced Cashew-Chicken Piadinis" by Brett Youmans

--but hurry, voting ends on August 20th at Noon!


THANKS A MILLION!
Brett Youmans

In the master suite, the bed is assembled.



Six expansive drawers are integrated into the bed frame for extra storage.



Two closets are built and will also serve as the headboard for the bed.  The color is a black/brown/espresso and complements the honey toned floor and white woodwork.



Next, a shelf is designed to bridge the two together.  Lighting and ceiling fan switches as well as sconces are added.



The box springs are placed...



...and the Tempur-Pedic mattress fits into place.



Of course there had to be a snag!  The two leather chairs for the sitting room arrived...



...but were from two different dye lots and they were not even a close match!  



New ones are on the way!

Check out the following link to an article that appeared in our local paper!  Rich, and our neighbor Mary Grebe, was recently interviewed about the tunnels that are located near the millrace on our property.

Reading Eagle Newspaper article.

The evolution of this space continues!  The floors are finished...



...and looking great!



Cabinets and bed have been unpacked...



...inspected...



....and installed.



The much anticipated television arrived!  Now, we have to find a cabinet to hold all of the electronics!



Our FLOR arrived as well! 



We decided that we wanted to try a new product for this room.  FLOR is modular carpet tile measuring 19.7-inch X 19.7-inch that is totally customizable to any size.



Also, it's easy to install using FLORdots, non-toxic adhesives that connect the tiles to one another and not the floor so there's no risk of damaging the floor underneath.



FLOR comes in a zillion colors, textures, and patterns--with so many choices, it was a tough decision so we ordered several samples and decided on a color and style.  In the end, the style we chose is called Terra in the color Furrows.



This flooring is eco-friendly--34% of its content is made from PLA, a highly renewable derivative of corn.  And when you're ready for a change, box up your old FLOR and send it back for recycling!  Also, if there's a spill, no need to replace the entire rug:  Simply replace the soiled square.



The fun part is creating a design that works in the space.



For this particular style, no two tiles are the same so there's really no messing up--we just created a pleasing pattern.



We still have more odds and ends to complete...



...but should be finished by the time the chairs arrive next week.



The evolution continues--stay tuned!

This past weekend was a busy one!  Trying to meet the Monday morning deadline for Jeff, the floor guy, to start his work, we decided we had to be finished with several odds and ends.  Odds and ends are the annoying little things that seem to take the most amount of time!

Radiators were painted and the window hardware was reinstalled.  We chose white wooden blinds for the windows to highlight the beautiful woodwork.



Next, the ceiling fans were installed...



...and the Bose surround sound speakers were wired for sound.



Bright and early Monday morning, Jeff arrived and started working on the well-used floor boards.  The unvarnished area in front of the brick wall is where the closets stood that divided this space into two rooms.



After one day of work, the floors are sanded and look fresh and clean.



Over the next two days, some additional fine tuning to the boards was accomplished, stain was applied...



...and the first of three top coats of polyurethane was applied.



Looking pretty good, don't you think?

The master suite project is moving right along.  After everything was primed, the room was prepared by taping off the woodwork and color top coat was cut-in.  The color chosen is "Faux Bois" (color 8062) from the Martha Stewart Signature Collection with Sherwin-Williams.  Faux Bois actually refers to the artistic imitation of wood or wood grains.  Translated, it means, "false wood."  But, in Martha's world, it's a color!  It's a gray-moss, difficult-to-describe color...

The master suite is coming along and it looks like we'll meet the deadline for the floor guy to do his work starting on the 22nd of June.  Meanwhile the garden is screaming for us to come out and play, but we have to place all of our efforts here for now! 

After the wall was completed, it was grouted.



The room was then cleaned up of the mess created from weeks of plastering and sanding.



Cleaned up, but still a lot more to accomplish!



First, new baseboards had to go in.  The old ones were a mess and complicated by the fact of making one large space out of two. 



From the beginning of this renovation, we have used or reused original materials whenever possible, however, this was one instance where we were unable to.  Ditto for the baseboard cap.  Fortunately, we found a craftsman who could reproduce the original for us!



So, for weeks plaster was applied and sanded (and sanded, and sanded, and...!!!)...



...and baseboards and other woodwork sanded smooth...



...and now, finally, the space is caulked and primed.







Next up:  It's Color Time!

In many of our projects, it has been difficult to see the complexity of the work or it's so mundane to the point that it all looks the same.  Wiring, sanding, priming, etc.--it all looks the same after awhile.   This one is no exception!  But as mentioned in earlier posts, we wanted the dividing wall in the master suite between the media room and the bedroom to look substantial--like a bearing wall that is original to the house.  Our challenge was to create and finish off such a structure.

With that goal in mind we chose brick that's manufactured locally with the same texture, imperfections, and character as the painted exterior brick. 



The product is real 1/2" clay thin brick--it's not brick tile or faux brick:  It's the real thing, just thinner than a traditional brick.



And we started one brick at a time.  Cut after cut, around electrical outlet after electrical outlet...



Still a work in progress, we thought about keeping the brick unpainted for awhile but decided it does look dated; Brady Bunch dated!  So primed and painted it will be!  Media room side...



Bedroom side...

Depression gardens.  Recession gardens.  Victory gardens. 



--American WWII-era posters promoting victory gardens.

What ever the name, all these gardens have one thing in common, promoting growing food in your backyard to help with the budget and to supply healthier food for your family.  There always seems to be a spike in the number of backyard gardens when times get tough:  Burpee Seed Company, the largest seed and gardening supply company in the country and located right here in Pennsylvania, says it has seen a 25 to 30 percent spike in vegetable seed and plant sales this spring compared with last.  Rising food and fuel costs are the main culprit, but during tough economic times, people seem to become more aware of the need to be more involved with where their food comes from.  To save money?  To feel connected to something?  Guess it's just getting back to basics.  And who can argue that homegrown food tastes better?



First lady Michelle Obama helped break ground recently on a new White House organic "kitchen garden."  It will be the first working garden at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue since Eleanor Roosevelt planted a so-called "victory garden" at the height of World War II.

Our own little victory garden is growing so fast it's hard to catch up!



Just days ago the strawberries were covered in blossoms and we were only anticipating a big crop.



Today, a few are ripe and ready to enjoy!  Tomorrow, strawberry preserves!



The lettuce is picture perfect!



Radishes too!



The onion bed is filled with several varieties.



As the snow peas climb, they are flanked by the garlic that was planted last fall.



A bunch of broccoli raab is ready for the sauté pan--add a little olive oil and garlic and dinner is served!



An update on the espalier apple tree project:  After they were pruned down to about 24-inches, they immediately began to show signs of life.



Now comes the rewarding part of training the branches.



An under planting of peonies completes espaliered apple tree area.

---

Garden Plot



Legend:

1.  pea, garlic (16’ bed)
2.  onion (16’ bed)
3.  tomato--with companion plantings of beets and carrots (16’ bed) 
4.  tomato--with companion plantings of beets and carrots (16’ bed)
5.  cucumber (8’ bed)
6.  strawberry (12’ bed)
7.  shallots, herbs (8’ bed)
8.  peppers, herbs (8’ bed)
9.  strawberry (12’ bed)
10. broccoli (8’ bed)
11. asparagus (4’ bed)
12. squash (8’ bed)
13. eggplant (4’ bed)
14. spinach, (4’ bed)
15. lettuce, broccoli raab, greens (8’ bed)
16. asparagus (4’ bed)
17. potato, espaliered apple trees. peonies (12’ X 24’)
18. bean (6’ X 24’)
19. bean (6’ X 24’)
20. blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, rhubarb, horseradish, espaliered apple trees. peonies (20’ X 24’)

to be added:
21. rose garden (22’ X 20’)
22. water garden (to be determined)
23. potting shed area (22’ X 12’/potting shed 12’ X 10’)

Pillsbury Bake-Off®...  Pillsbury Doughboy™...  Remember the “French Silk Chocolate Pie” from 1951 or the “Tunnel of Fudge Cake” from 1966?  How about the “Poppin' Fresh® Barbecups” from 1968 and the “Dilly Casserole Bread” from 1960?  All a little slice of Americana.  The first Bake-Off® was back in 1949 and the upcoming one marks the 60th anniversary of this exciting contest.

Back in January, Brett started creating some recipes for the anticipated 44th Pillsbury Bake-Off®.  The recipes had to be original, meet certain category considerations, and use appropriate products from Pillsbury® and participating sponsors.  A lot of effort and creativity went into the process and like most everything he does, it’s 100% or not at all!

Well, the effort has paid off:  Last week he received a call informing him that one of his recipes from the tens of thousands they receive, has been selected to move forward to a voting round where consumers select 10 of the final 100 recipes that will get to compete at the 44th Bake-Off® to be held in Orlando, Florida April 10-13, 2010!!  Confirmation from the Pillsbury Bake-Off® team arrived today and he’s one step closer to winning the grand prize of $1,000,000!!  That's ONE MILLION DOLLARS!  The competition is steep and the odds of having the chance of being 1 of the 100 for the chance at a million dollars is mind boggling to say the least!

Brett’s recipe will be paired with another recipe and placed on BakeOff.com for a period of two weeks.  Consumers can vote for their favorite of the two recipes and the recipe with the most votes earns the right to compete at the 44th Pillsbury Bake-Off®.  A total of 10 recipe pairs will post every two weeks.  Voting rounds started on May 14 and will continue through September 17, 2009 officially ending on October 1, 2009.  So, 2 recipes per round going head to head for on-line votes with the winner moving on to secure a spot and compete at the Pillsbury Bake-Off®.  Brett will definitely need your help!

We’ll let you know when his recipe is up for on-line voting but in the meantime, go to BakeOff.com to check out the first two recipes.  Register and vote for Brett’s friend Linda’s Dutch Apple Breakfast Bake, then come back every 2 weeks to check out the competition.  Registration is easy and Pillsbury doesn’t spam.  Also, there’s a lot of great stuff there too--you can even make the Doughboy™ dance (check out Doughboy™ fun at Pillsbury.com)!

Stay tuned...

If you have a moment, we'd sure appreciate your vote!  Rejuvenation Hardware is having a contest for $1000.00 gift card in their "Make Your Home Your Own" contest.  Rejuvenation.com offers beautiful vintage reproduction hardware and lighting and we've used their products all over the house:  Door knobs, door stops, etc.  For this contest, we entered the laundry/pantry.  Remember the door stops used for coat hooks?

Click here for direct link to VOTE!

Entrants in this contest had to upload a few pictures of their projects along with a brief description.  Just follow the link below and vote for us!   (In case the link doesn't work, the entry is listed as Brett Y., Reading, PA, Laundry/Pantry).  You can only vote once. 

Thanks in advance for taking the time! 

---

One of the reasons we love this company is because of their corporate philosophy.  Read about Rejuvenation and their commitment to the environment and reducing their carbon footprint:

Rejuvenation's culture is defined by core values that include treating the environment fairly and with respect. Founded in 1977 as an architectural salvage retailer, we have long demonstrated a commitment to recycling and reuse.

"It's part of who we are," says Alysa Rose, Rejuvenation President. "We feel strongly that we have both an opportunity and an obligation to try to make things better through our actions."

It starts with Rejuvenation employees. A cross-departmental, employee-run Sustainability Committee ensures that we incorporate sustainability principles throughout our operations. That includes everything from our big-picture manufacturing practices - like the clear coating system shown above which significantly lowered our VOC output - all the way down to the little details such as replacing paper-wasting salt-and-pepper packets with large containers in the lunchroom. We're pleased that the company's efforts have inspired some of our employees to take a Voluntary Simplicity class in their free time.

One of Rejuvenation's unique conservation efforts is our "alternative commuting" benefit that pays employees to walk, carpool or ride our bikes to work, and subsidizes those who take public transit. In fact, our decision to stay in the city of Portland rather than move to the much-less-costly suburbs is largely to limit the commute for the majority of its employees. We also inaugurated a fleet of company bikes that employees can use during the workday to run errands, attend meetings, or just get outside for a breath of fresh air.

Recycling is widespread, far beyond the usual bins for cans, containers, and newsprint. Every office and workstation separates paper to be shredded and utilized in packaging. Nearly all of our packaging materials are 100% recyclable. We ship our products using the innovative packaging system, which turns flat rolls of Kraft paper into three-dimensional honeycombed cushioning. Not only can our customers recycle it at the curb but also we hear their cats love it!

(from Rejuvenation.com)