New Year; New View

Bill has just finished trimming out and painting around our new bedroom skylight, just in time for a new view of the new year. This is the most popular fixed Velux FS MO4 skylight. Great size & price: $398.

Christian's loft space above the 1780 barn has 4 skylights making it liveable.

Besides A Christmas Tree

 This Christmas we have been busy with house projects and I have decorated our living room Schefflera to put packages beside instead of setting up a tree. It is "green" and allows us to finish a skylight and help Leif with his plumbing & wiring, while Bill does more clay work.

Meanwhile back in warm Brazil, a cool Christmas Kimono from Japan.

Decorating For Christmas...

This solid mahogany door deserved a bit of bling for Christmas. Leif's new doorbell allows him to see whomever is at the door on his phone. Cool... 

and Christian's simply 1780...

and my 1800 house...

Baptism In Brazil

 Alexander Miranda Baumbach  2/26/23

Baptized Dec. 9th 2023

Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Baumbach boys...

and Aunt Amy. All so lovely...

Grandpa Mario.

Bleached Butcher Block Counter

The "kitchenette" in Leif's modern house could also be used for flower potting/arranging, crafts or an artists space. Therefore the old sink cabinet will be replaced with a shaker cabinet base (FBM $150) & butcher block (Home Depot $200) counter, deep 16 gauge SS sink (ebay $200) and professional Blanco Meridian all metal faucet Leif bought for his kitchen which looked too tall there. We will whitewash the counter and install everything ourselves including shelves, a small refrigerator & track lights that match the kitchen upstairs in style. Great investment.

Image & instructions via pinterest & blog: jennasuedesign.com. Kraus sink & Koofizo handles below. 

Lovely white pinterest kitchenette & my favorite studio space; Brancusi!

Habitually Chic

Ceramic Stools, Seats & Tables

Bill has made many beautiful pieces for the studio show this Saturday. The first 23" stool is one of a pair, the next two are 17" seats or tables, and following are a pair of the same at 18".

TAKAEZU STUDIO

1177 Croton Rd
Flemington, NJ 08822

Winter Open House   Saturday   Dec. 2nd   12 - 6pm   Beautiful artwork, coffee & snacks!

Above stool is 24" X 13", below is the 23" partner to the first stool shown.

Winter Wood

Thanksgiving Day Christian came with his truck to Leif's and helped pull down an enormous dead tree stuck from falling, against a live one. Although the truck reared up a bit, the tree slid down into the driveway. It was cut and Leif hand split the logs before our turkey was stuffed.

 This year we have an additional resource for collecting wood to split; Leif's property. Recently Bill & Christian took down two large dead trees on his farm before splitting many additional logs collected at Leif's this past year. Eight hours of splitting and both places have this winter's wood.

A bumper year at the farm.

I ran two woodstoves this Thanksgiving with all the family here busy with wood chipping, ceramics and visiting.

Bedroom Vs. Guestroom

Now that my extra bedrooms have become guestrooms, I am making them better suit our family.  So, the office is now a nursery again (includes a twin bed) while the big bedroom will get a few new items for Alex & Nina visiting with their baby. Having a single dresser and large desk here and in the front bedroom as well, will provide 2 remote work/sleep places. Happy Thanksgiving!

Leif's guestroom is also ready for company with the main bathroom finished.

The bathroom doors painted white & new hinges, a new metal Speakman shower head & and pop-tub drain finished work here. We have paid to snake, clear & camera view the main exit plumbing pipes!

Grandbaby Gear

Norway's "Tripp Trapp" highchair is unbeatable; solid wood and design with a seat & footrest that swap out to serve you through life. I use mine as my desk chair and have a new white one for Alex. 

"A Chair For Life."

We also purchased a Delta Children 4-in-1 White Baby Crib & dual sided mattress from Amazon with white knit sheets. Ready for Thanksgiving!

My initial gift was a "Bjorn Bouncer" for the first 6 mos. & liberating.

Alex has the same crib at home.