Living Room Nears Completion

Do you remember the old living room? I don't. I couldn't even find a very good old photo to share the before and after. But this is what I've got.

As you can see...the before included a lot of beige and plantation shutters.

And here's the AFTER: contemporary with some rustic and industrial elements.

As you may have noticed, we are still missing some art and another chair from the end of the room that I was standing in to take this photo. We're hoping to go for some 1930s WPA mural-style art. It's going to be difficult process to find, but I think it will be worth it.

The Hemingway leather chair...already distressed, and will only get better over time! A favorite hang-out for Josh to enjoy a cold beer or scotch.

Have you ever tried in vain to find an attractive entertainment stand? We have. And then we discovered this beauty. Industrial tool chest meets entertainment stand.

The Christensen Farm: Late Spring Follow Up

It has been a busy spring at the Christensen farm. We had done a lot of work setting up the raised beds and moving the fence -- all of which drew a significant amount of curiosity from some of the neighborhood kids (from right to left, Stephan, Jo'von, and Dequan).

Ever since we started to build the raised beds and fill them with soil, we have had visitors who have wanted to help. When they come out to visit, I put them to work. They are very eager and excited about the vegetables that are coming later this summer. I asked the boys to help me plant the green beans on their recent visit. I even gave them the rest of the seeds to plant in their yard, which really made their day.

A couple weeks later, and we've got some serious plants. Unfortunately, only one of my new rhubarb plants came up. I'll have to get another before the summer is over so that it can get established. In two years, I want to be able to harvest some rhubarb!

On the far right of the first bed, Josh has attempted to grow some tobacco plants. They are still very small, but they are currently thriving.

I've also taken some time to plant some perennials in the backyard. The only things that aren't doing so well are the poppies, which I don't think will bloom this year (hoping that they survive the year and then maybe next).

When I visited Vicky for her graduation in Raleigh, I picked up a cute little climbing rose bush - Charles Darwin. When I bought it, it had two gorgeous orange English-style roses (which have since faded). It's already started to get some new growth, and so maybe soon we will have a couple more flowers.