two events.. one Friday

This year Earth Day has coincided with Good Friday.  

And so some squelching around in the mud was in order...

recipe from Mennonite girls can cook

...as was baking Paska.  I have not attempted this in many years, but it looks good, right?  

Winter Wonderland

Did I hear someone say it's spring?  I think it's a rumour.  Don't believe it.

lighting

I can't believe I haven't shown you the lighting yet!  

After many hours of searching I ordered almost all our lighting through Barn Light Electric in the States.  If you haven't seen their product yet, you should definitely check it out.  It is that elusive retro/industrial/modern style which suits our house perfectly.  Here are some pics of our lights...

Goodrich Gooseneck light with Black Enamel shade

We got 5.. aren't they fantastic?

Barn Light Electric manufactures a good portion of their lights in the US.  Most of the lights are CSA or UL rated for use in Canada.  Best of all, they are reasonably priced, and everything is customizable.  Cloth cord?  Sure!  Teal Green?  Why, of course!  Reeded glass?  No problem!  So. Many. Choices.

Barn light outlaw pendant - we intentionally chose a light with the bulb neck exposed.  This allows uplighting at night to light up the plywood ceiling.

 There are six barn light pendants for overhead/general lighting in the great room.  I just realized this is kind of a horrible picture.. hang on..

that's better.

atomic industrial pendant with reeded glass over the kitchen sink

two wall mount double CGU sconces in the bathroom 

galvanized aluminum finish, reeded glass

This one was on clearance and is no longer available. 

Because lights made in north america are as rare as hens teeth, we did end up with a few that are manufactured overseas.  

The ceiling fans are by Emerson, and although I believe these are made in China, there are many things I appreciate about this fan.  The information on airflow, electricity use, and airflow efficiency are readily available, and because of the hydrofoil blade, this fan can really move a lot of air.  The motor has a lifetime warranty too, so hopefully that means we won't ever have to replace them.  They run night and day, so a quality fan was important.  Oh, and they look cool.

our bedroom lights snuck by me... they are made in China by Hubberton Forge.  If you follow the link you'll see why I was fooled.  No mention of it there.

 And last but not least... the dining room light, which is our only IKEA light, but is well worth it.  It is made in China.  To find a light the right scale and the right feel made in the USA would have cost a few grand (at least for the ones I like!) and since I really want to add a whimsical touch to our home, this light seemed perfect!  The price tag didn't hurt either.. at $99.99 you really can't go wrong.  That said I would have happily paid double if it was manufactured in Europe or North America.

I have actually had my eye on this light since it was first released, but never had an appropriate place to put it.  The scale is perfect (It's 32" in diameter), and the kids love it.  It throws the prettiest shadows over the whole room at night.  So happy with this decision.

Ikea PS MASKROS

And that, my friends, wraps up the lighting in the house!  Now I am going back to sit by the fire, because it may be spring down in the valley but up here it is still decidedly winter.  I'm hoping for spring to arrive in May, but for now I go down into town for walks in the warm sun and to see the trees budding and the bulbs in bloom.  But that's why people love the Okanagan... the golf courses and ski hills are both open!

Chicken Coop

I really, really love the idea of a chicken coop.  I'm fairly certain I like the idea of it more than I will like the reality of it.. but perhaps I will surprise myself.  I am looking forward to the eggs, but I will admit that I'm really not the kind of girl that's OK with poop under my shoes.  That said, the pretty chickens themselves may win me over.

I definitely need a pair of boots.  Cute boots make everything better.. even poop.

wellies by hunter

Although chickens are well in the future for us, I can't resist checking out gorgeous backyard chicken coops.  A reliable source is the Sunset Blog.

the nogg

the modern coop

We will be having more than one or two chickens, so neither of these coops would work for us... but that doesn't stop me from drooling.  Is anybody out there considering urban chickens?

heartsy

I just stumbled upon a fantastic new coupon site!  You all know Groupon I am sure... well this is the same setup, only for handmade goodness via Etsy!  

Check out heartsy.. you won't regret it!  Yay handmade!

image from hellogoodbyeagain

image from cozyblue

nothing to complain about

Because we have downsized so significantly, sometimes I catch myself sighing with nostalgia over such things as a dedicated craft and sewing room.  Then I watched this video... no more sighing, I have so much to be thankful for.  Happy Monday!

hello?

I know that you are reading... over 500 visits last month!  But who are you?  Nobody is talking to me!  To be honest, I kind of feel like I'm talking to myself most of the time...

yes, i'm talking to you

...soooo, in the interest of getting you to comment, I would like to ask you a question.

As I wrap up talking about the finishes in the house, I am going to have a bit of a lull in major projects around here.  I will continue to blog about the work on the yard, and some posts about decorating the house.. but the chicken coop, and the garden will likely wait until next summer.

And so I am wondering.. what would you like to see more of here?

green decor sources and ideas?
features on locally handmade items?
discussion about how we as a family are learning to  "live" green?

Please, I am open to suggestion..

So brave the comments box and tell me what you want... I really want to know!