When things go according to plan...

A person hates to be all positive because just when things seem really good; the rug can be pulled out from beneath your feet. However, one of the last elements of our kitchen remodel is complete ~ the built in hutch is in (no hardware yet, but that is so minor) what's more the hutch is everything I was hoping for and more. It is totally period, 1920's and completes our kitchen perfectly. I loved carefully placing my yellow ware bowls, vintage table clothes and of course my cookbooks into the hutch I love love love it.

The weather has inspired me to bake so I made orange fennel muffins and chocolate zucchini cake both turned out perfectly ~ see what I mean things are going to0 smoothly. I plan on making a fresh peach pie, wish me luck.
On Friday night Kent and I painted for more than two hours but it was the final coat of paint for all the trip in the den and three doors~ it was good to get that out of the way and not have it hanging over my head all weekend. While we painted we listened to a couple of sermons by Gregory Boyd http://www.gregboyd.org/ which reconfirmed to me what a gifted spiritual leader he is. It is nice to feel like you are on the same page as someone else.
The last of of crown molding and baseboards were installed today so I have minimal painting to do, it seems like there is an end in sight (at least until we start the next project). I have to mention that our kitchen cabinets were made by Jim Kreft of Arlington and our trim work was installed by his brother John Kreft~ if you are in the market to hire someone for this type of work I promise you there is no one better.
Earlier in the week my mom and I went to see Britt at college and we had a very adventurous time. I made a point to connect with a few people who I hadn't seen in years (one in about 25 years) and I have to tell you it was the best descision I have ever made. We talk about people being more important than things but often we put off the act of actually contacting people, that is such a shame. I had a fantastic time visiting with old friends and am really looking forward to the next time we can get together.
Britt took us to a great spot called Wisconsin Point, http://www.ci.superior.wi.us/index.aspx?NID=226 this is like the best kept secret in the world; it was so beautiful.
We spent some time Superior and we found some of the best antique, thrift and consignment stores, it is worth your drive over the bridge to do a little shopping.
Time to start the pie~ I will post photos if I get the batteries charged.

It is all so very Wicked

Before I get crazy and tell you all about my fun weekend I have to put it out there that I am still painting trim.
All of the wide baseboards, moldings, and crown moldings look fantastic and it wonderful to see our 1920's home return to its original, authentic charm. It just seems that projects like this are always more time consuming than you think. Each piece of molding has numerous nail holes to fill and then sand, all of the trim needs to be taped off on the walls and floor (I am a rather messy painter) and then of course we need to prime and give two coats of paint. I'm not complaining so much, it's just I'd like to read a book or something.
My dear sweet husband took me to "Wicked" http://www.wickedthemusical.com/at the Orpheum http://hennepintheatretrust.org/ this weekend and it indeed was very wicked, cleaver, funny, touching and in my eyes had many many important messages, which I will blog about on the library's blog. I loved "Wicked" I feel a little connection to the Wicked Witch of the West having played the part in a Children's Theatre Production of "The Wizard of Oz"a very long time ago. I could call that experience "How theatre saved my life" but I'm not going to get into that now.
My husband also totally indulged me by booking a room at the Sofitel http://www.sofitel.com/ (being French is there really any place to stay)? The Sofitel was totally fabulous from the minute I walked in the door I thought," Hey, these people are glad we are here." You see they are very good at what they do. The room was large, comfortable and the heat and cooling is centralized, meaning you don't have to listen to some annoying fan kick on and off all night, YES! The feature bed was amazingly comfortable and everyone must think so because right in your room is information on how to purchase the bed and bedding.
Let's talk about the food because isn't that really what it's all about. I normally don't indulge in drink but couldn't resist ordering a white chocolate raspberry martini, yum. When the server brought the martini shaker and poured it at my table I looked at Kent and said "I want to live here." I also ordered chocolate cake that was so tasty it had warm chocolate oozing out of it with raspberries, believe it or not I couldn't even finish it, not so much because I was full but because it was so rich~ and this is me talking, I never say that.
Breakfast was also at the Sofitel. Breakfast is my favorite meal so this could have been a deal breaker but no indeed it only got better. My fruit, yogurt and chocolate croissant were perfect, the presentation was lovely, the coffee was strong the orange juice was freshly squeezed. In good form I also tasted all of Kent's food which included has browns and an omelet yum, yum, yum.
What a wonderful weekend and now, I am back to painting trim.

I almost forgot to make some reccomendations:

Eating: & Sleeping: www.sofitel.com

Reading: "Mmnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

Shopping: http://www.ohbabystyle.com/page.cfm/quesera.html

Listening: The music from "Wicked" (really were you expecting anything else)?

Tip of the day

The latest CD added to my small collection "Gypsy In My Soul" by Connie Evingson with the Clearwater Hot Club and others including the totally fabulous Sam Mitlitch.

On my ipod of note "Drag" by K.D. Lang

Book I'm currently devouring "Out of the Dust" by Karen Hesse (juvie fiction) sad
"Griff Carver, Hallway Patrol" by Jim Krieg (Juvie Fiction) funny

On the tele "Mad Men"

Recent Movie "Gilda" staring Rita Haywroth

What I'm eating ~ Ploughshare veggies and fennel orange muffins http://www.ploughsharefarm.com/

Where to eat out ~ "Hans House" Elbow Lake makes great French Toast

Looking forward to Flekkefest on August 6, 7 & 8 especially the Scandinavian food trust me when I say there is nothing better than Rommegrot. Also totally excited about the arts and crafts show.

Artist to look for where ever you go "Jenny Field."

What I'm enjoying most this summer? Having my kids home.

What's on my mind, ipod & night stand

In the interest of time I'll start with my night stand.
My night stand is always a base for leaning tower of books; currently that tower consists of "If This is Happiness: a Biography of Rita Hayworth" by Barbara Leaming, "Bang:Getting your Message Heard in a Noisy World" by Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval, "The Small Public LIbrary Survival Guide: Thriving on Less" by Herbert B. Landau and "The Godfather" by Mario Puzo and how could I forget Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice" by Phillip Hoose and for book group Romeo & Juliet.