My new kitchen :)

A while back I promised I'd post some pictures of my kitchen after all the work we had done there. 

We had an infiltration to the appartment downstairs (nasty stuff :( ) and when we began fixing things up I thought it was time to redo it--it was my least favorite area in this entire house! 

And now you'll see why...

This was my old kitchen. As is traditional over here, tile flooring and walls, but I absolutely hated them--how ugly could they be?! 

But then there was no real reason to change, it was still functional and it was expensive to redo it... but the insurance company chipped in too :) The stove was in desperate need to go as well as the water heater...

A lot of work, replacing all of it...

But it was worth it!

I kept the top cabinets to reduce costs (they were still in reasonable shape) as well as the table and chairs and liked the idea of a slightly separate laundry area, so we created that glass wall that keeps the clutter of folded-clothes-waiting-to-be-put-away-in-the-closets out of sight while letting all the light come through. 

I chose a neutral shade of tiles for the floor and walls (yeahhhh!!! got rid of those ugly ones!) and put a granite counter top--is that what it's called?--that matches both the cabinets and the walls and is VERY sturdy... That way I can create different looks by varying the dish towels and curtains without having to redecorate the entire thing again!

Most people were a bit sceptical with my decisions, especially keeping the top cabinets, but when they saw the final result everyone had to admit it looks good :) (don't you just love the splash of color that beautiful potholder gives it?) Nothing hanging on the walls so far, I dread making holes on the new tile lol...

Now I just have to find time to get the fabric for the curtains to add a bit more color...

What do you think, do you like it? 

xxx

A surprise in the mailbox :)

When I started this blog about 3 months ago I didn't know how important it would become for me. In fact, I created this almost 3 years ago, started writing a couple of posts and couldn't bring myself to let them out in the open and ended up deleting them. It just wasn't the right moment. But I liked the name and kept the blog (closed to all but to myself).

Then one day, it seemed right. I can't tell how or when I decided to reopen this and start blogging about my little things--my creations, my life, my illness and getting back to being healthy. Yes, because even if it's only been a week since radiation ended I know my health is coming back.

And I'm so glad that I did!

Have you ever heard of Synchronicity? I first read about it in Jean Shinoda Bolen's book "The Tao of Psychology - Syncronicity and Self". It's a fantastic book, like all her other books, definitely worth reading. To make a long story short, I think this is what happened here. 

I started blogging at the right time.  When I needed something to hold on to, that would make me feel good.

Remember this post?

Yes, you're right. Today I got mail again!


I thought I recognized the handwriting on the envelope and the Royal Air Mail stamp rang a bell and when I opened it there it was, MemeRose's beautiful potholder!





My mouth dropped open when I saw it, this totally inexpected gift... of course I recognized it at once!

There it was, perfectly wrapped in lavender tissue paper and with a sweet card with a cat  on it (made me think of my Smartie...) and some lovely words on finishing my battle again. 

And doesn't it look perfect in my new kitchen, next to the "Lenço dos Namorados" dish towel I just got?


Do I need to say anything? My heart is completely full, right now.


With this blog I have met the most wonderful people, people I would be so happy to meet in person one day--people I hope to meet in person, some day! 


From all over the World, from close and from far, I've had so much support and encouragement throughout these past few months. Thank you all, my dear friends! I like to think I've been able to support someone too (my dear friend Marjo). If this isn't synchronicity working, I don't know what it is...


I have learned and seen gorgeous things you all make and share with all of us. And hopefully will be able to make a few of my own, too.


So... thank you, MeMe Rose, this is a most treasured gift and I will think of you every time I see it (nooooooo I don't dare use it!!! lol) and than all of my e-friends who have been here with me for the past 3 months.  You're precious and I'm such a lucky girl! 


And I promise tomorrow I will be sharing some more pictures of my new kitchen :)


xxx

New kitchen...

This is where we're staying these days--Alcochete, on the other side of the River Tagus, accross from Lisbon.

Land of kings and queens, as my husband says--where our King Manuel I, the Fortunate, was born in 1469. My grandmother was born here too :) so it certainly is an important town for me!

Couldn't wait... this is one of my favourite meals in the summer! Charcoaled sardines with tons of tossed salad with grilled peppers :))) The sardines are still tiny but they tasted oh so good!

So... why are we here? Well... a while back we had some icky news. There was a water infiltration from our appartment to our downstairs neighboor, in Oeiras. The insurance company came to see the problem and discovered the plumbing was in bad shape. So... instead of only fixing that part of the kitchen (I confess... I truly HATED the tiles in that kitchen!) we decided to replace the wall and floor tiles (yessssssss!!!) 

And this is what it looked like last week.. (help!!! there's no turning back now!)

...this is what it looked like today, when I stopped by to see the work progress... (begining to take shape!)

...and this is what I'd like it to look like by the end! My kitchen is a long, rectangular one so it won't look quite like this... but I know it will look so much better than it did before!

Right now there are kitchen cabinets in the living room, a fridge and a freezer in the hallway, the drawers with their contents in the boys' room and the washers and dryer in the bathroom aside from everything else...and it's completely impossible to live there while they're working, with all the dust and everything!

These have been busy days, between my treatments, running around to buy the stuff we need in the kitchen, chosing the new cabinets, deciding on so many things in the new kitchen and not having my own place to stay during the day (I stay at Mom's and then meet hubby to come back here) it seems time is so much shorter!

I'm so anxious to see everything go back to normal--but a so much prettier normal! :)

xx