diy chair

living overseas, always uncertain of what the next year would hold, i was very careful how many possessions i owned. when i left norway this past summer, i had narrowed my life down to 3 suitcases. when i moved to colorado, that just didn’t cut it. and i am quickly learning that furnishing a house (rather than an apartment) is very time and money-consuming. it’s a good thing i’ve learned to be thrifty and shop second-hand!

thanks to goodwill, i bought this chair for $4. add 2 bottles of celery colored spray paint ($8) and a doily (.50) and you have an inexpensive place to rest your bum.

(before)

(after)

i simply cleaned off the chair with soap and water, used a glue stick to glue a paper doily to the center, gave it a couple coats of paint, took the doily off and here’s the finished product!

the welcome wagon

it’s not monday, but music is worth sharing any day, isn’t it? the welcome wagon is one of my favorite bands and they have a new album coming out in june. until then though, this will have to tide me (and you) over. the song is beautiful, wistful and i didn’t really want it to end.

life has been busy these days checking craigslist (perhaps my new occupation could include secret craigslist shopper?), finding inspiration on pinterest and continuing to settle into this new home. i’ve gone through gallons of gas, several bottles of spray paint and am getting to know the area quite well through these endeavors. family is coming into town next week and i hope to have a place that is homey and welcoming by then. it may not be new york city, but my doors are open.

music monday: sucre

i love the styling in this video (by elsie larson). what a pretty video.

happy monday!

death has a face.

last night (good friday) i attended a tenebrae service, held by several churches in the denver area. life has been so crazy with moving and transitioning that easter kind of snuck up on me. and in norway towns shut down for the major part of the week leading to easter, but here in america, no day is more sacred than the other.

as i sat through the tenebrae service, i kept thinking, “death has a face.” i’ve never thought of Jesus’ death in that way. but through the Scripture reading, the hymns and call and response, i realized that this year something is different. i have experienced death and separation and that makes the death of Jesus much more real and tangible.

“death in his grave” by john mark mcmillan has been heard several times over the past few weeks and it brings such hope.

(chorus)
On Friday a thief
On Sunday a King
Laid down in grief
But awoke with keys
Of Hell on that day
The first-born of the slain
The Man Jesus Christ
Laid death in his grave

i’m so thankful for the death of Jesus, that in His resurrection He brings redemption and that when He comes again, He will have laid death in His grave for the final time.

happy easter.

oh, the places you’ll go

i now have internet at my house and i don’t know if i’m more happy because of that or the fact that i set it up without any help

this now means that i have ample time to waste catch up on blogs and videos. i ran across this beauty of a video of oslo in the spring. i miss oslo (norway in general) and have a bit of wanderlust. or maybe it’s just the longing for home and familiarity? either way, this video reminds me of friends and places i love.

(check out eirik’s website for more videos and photos)

warm hands, warm heart.

sorry for the lack of pictures. in the madness of moving, i left my camera at my parent’s and am eagerly anticipating its arrival.

sunday i went running and ended up with a sunburn as a result of the bright sun and 84 degree weather. today i woke up to go running and what should my eyes behold, but snow falling on the ground. no running outside today! the duplex i am renting is old and charming with lots of space, but that also means it is quite drafty and cold in this weather. besides a nice fire, nothing warms up the house like homemade bread.

HONEY-OAT BREAD

• 1 3/4 cups warm water (105°F to 110°F)
• 1 tablespoon dry yeast
• 3/4 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1/3 cup honey
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 5 cups (about) all-purpose flour (i substituted 1 cup for wheat)

• 1 large egg, beaten to blend
• Additional quick-cooking oats

Stir 1/4 cup warm water and yeast in large bowl. Let stand 10 minutes to dissolve yeast. Stir in remaining 1 1/2 cups water, 3/4 cup oats, honey, oil, and salt. Stir in enough flour to form soft dough. Coat another large bowl with oil. Transfer dough to oiled bowl and turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap, then kitchen towel and let rise at room temperature until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.

Oil two 8 1/2×4 1/2×2 1/2-inch loaf pans. Punch down dough; shape into 2 loaves. (i made one loaf and formed buns from the other loaf) Place 1 loaf in each pan. Cover and let rise in warm draft-free area until almost doubled in volume, about 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Brush tops of loaves with egg; sprinkle with additional oats. Bake until brown on top and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool completely.

(source)