So much has happened in the last month since I wrote Chapter 2 of the Restoration Chronicles. To see previous posts, click here for Chapter 1 and here for Chapter 2. On this Saturday morning, I hope you will enjoy the latest installment of the renovation journey of Bella Terra.

As you may recall, the addition of a new kitchen and back terrace, started the domino effect in the rest of the house. On Chapter 2 we left off with the new fireplace chimney being constructed with two fireplaces. Since we were adding the large outdoor terrace on the first floor, we expanded the much needed new master bath and bedroom on the 2nd floor.

The pool equipment was moved to a more discreet location. Really, who thought it was a good idea to put it poolside?

As you may recall from the last chapter, nearly all the windows in the house had to be replaced with brand new, custom-made Marvin windows. However, the windows in the family room were beautiful, hand-cranked ones with the original wavy glass. I made the nostalgic decision to keep them. As you can see from the photo below, some of the windows were cut to accommodate window air conditioning units. These had to be re-made.

Hindsight is always 20/20. In keeping the original single paned family room windows, the room is hotter in the summer and quite cold in the winter. A few years ago we installed exterior Sunbrella rolling shades which are controlled with a remote. What a significant difference especially in the summer when we can keep the direct sun off the windows.

Here you can see the progress in the first and story additions. The plaster and stucco work is so messy.

This is the south view. Originally the upstairs terrace was very large. We expanded the footprint of the second story to leave a partial terrace which resulted in a better flowing master suite. As a result, we had to build a new roof.

The upstairs terrace is still a good size. This is the view of both the master bedroom and office French doors. If you can believe it, originally there was no railing at all.

The expanded second story addition also includes the master bath and closet.

I probably should have taken my clothes line down for the picture! Notice that the pool fence is no longer there. We had built a very substantial wrought iron fence around the pool.

One day I found the children shimmying up the pillars and sitting on the top. They could easily scale the 6 foot barrier. They were monkeys, not children. Instead, we taught them, at a very early age, how to swim. Many years later, we took down the fence as our whole perimeter of our property is secured, which meets city code on pool safety.

In this photo you can see the laying of the Ludowici roof tiles and the preparation on the exterior walls for the stucco finish. In the background is the new 3 car garage and workshop. We also had to remove one large palm tree due to its proximity to the house.

The round window with the eyebrow is in the master shower. The rain chain slows down the water from the roof during torrential rains.

Here is a different angle of the new addition. We tried to make the new parts look like they have always been here~~using the same architectural details as the original house.

I really do use that clothesline often!

Life at this time was hectic with 2 children and being very pregnant. Naturally, we wanted to make everything as normal as possible for them. But they didn’t know that living in the middle of this massive construction site was a bit unusual. Home is all about loving where you are, not matter what.

I almost wish I had a huge project like this as a distraction right now. But we’re trying to stay positive while keeping everyone in our thoughts and prayers.

Whether you are Irish or not, I believe we all need the luck of the Irish right now! St. Patrick’s Day is special in our home as it is the birthday of both my daughter and my mother. To learn more about the history of this holiday, please click here . Today, I have two recipes for you: Guinness Pie and Baileys Irish cream cheesecake.

Last year, I made both of these recipes and since they were so delicious, I made them again! The original recipe for Guinness Pie was published in the New York Times but if you try and get it online, they make you pay for a weekly subscription. Not sure how I scored a paper copy of it, but the printable recipe is below. I will provide a link to the cheesecake recipe.

If you need a pie crust shortcut, I strongly recommend Trader Joe’s pie crust. It’s in the freezer section and I always have a couple on hand. It is the best 2nd choice to homemade.

Before I start any recipe, I gather all my ingredients.

Since this recipe requires a bit of chopping, having sharp knives is important. The sharper the knife the safer the chop.

With all the vegetables chopped and ready to go, cooking commences.

Carrots, celery, onion, garlic, mushrooms are cooked in a oven-safe pot. I used my one and only La Creuset pot~~which I love (and wish I had a few more!). While this cooks, your kitchen will smell so good!

The recipe calls for 3 pounds of brisket. Though it does not instruct to trim the fat from the brisket, I did~~about 7 oz. of it. The fresh rosemary was clipped from the garden. If you don’t have an herb garden, I really encourage you to have fresh herbs in a pot. Simple pleasures.

The recipe also calls for 4 cups of stout beer. I had two bottles of Guinness but when I measured it, the volume was only 3 cups. However, the beer did cover the beef in the pot, so I didn’t add more.

What makes this stew so delicious, is that, after sautéing all the vegetables and beef, it is slow-baked in the oven for 2 1/2 hours. After the appropriate baking time, freshly shredded cheddar cheese is added (or trotter gear, if you have it).

The dough can be placed in either a 8-inch square Pyrex dish or a pie pan. I used a 9″ deep dish glass pie dish. After I added the beef stew, I put the remaining cheddar cheese on top and then added a basketweave top crust using different widths of dough. With the leftover dough, I used shamrock cookie cutters for a decorative touch.

Using green food coloring, I painted the shamrocks with a pastry brush. This was the first time I had done this and was rather pleased with the results.

This is such a flavorful, hearty pie, which is perfect for this time of year. Though the recipe yields 6 servings, I could easily get 8 out of the pie.

The next recipe is very decadent but such a festive dessert for St. Patrick’s Day. Just a note: The recipe recommends a 5 hour refrigeration time so plan accordingly. Here is the direct link to the cheesecake recipe~~click here.

For the crust, put whole Oreo cookies in the Cuisinart to get 2 cups of crumbs~~approximately 18 to 20 cookies. Mix in melted butter.

The recipe tells you to put the crumbs in a spring form pan, yet isn’t clear on if they only go on the bottom or up the sides. Keep the crust on the bottom (per the pictures on the link). Bake for 8-10 minutes.

The directions were a little vague about wrapping the springform pan. I wrapped the bottom and the sides with double foil to make sure no water would enter during the hot bath.

Once the cheesecake is finished baking and has cooled, it needs to be refrigerated for at least 5 hours or overnight. I let mine cool overnight and made the chocolate ganache the next day.

This picture below is of the cheesecake from last year. My ganache is much shinier this year but since I haven’t cut into it yet, I wanted to show you what a slice looked like! I hope you try both recipes~~guarantee you will love them!

As always, I hope you are faring well with all the uncertainty. But we all know, that this too will pass. Please take care of your health and well-being as the roses will continue to bloom and the sun will rise. Being stressed certainly doesn’t help. It actually reduces your immune system. Kindness, laughter and hope haven’t been cancelled and I’m determined to stay focused and positive. Sending happy thoughts your way.

We have arrived safely back in the USA after our 6 day Spring break trip to Vancouver, Canada. It was a spectacular mother/daughter adventure with my youngest child and college freshman, Elisabeth.

Traveling was very enjoyable. I felt as if the planes were the cleanest I have ever seen, plus nearly all passengers were happily wiping down their individual seats with disinfectant wipes. People were sharing their wipes and everyone was cordial and polite. We made sure we were feeling healthy and robust before the trip, so I had no qualms at all about traveling or going out of the country.

Vancouver is a beautiful city. I have never been there before. We were expecting rain every day, but the weather surprised us with 5 days of sunshine and blue skies

Vancouver has limited real estate, therefore has been forced to build up and not out. There is a great deal of new high-rise construction and development. It was so nice to see another booming economy, like we have in our vibrant Phoenix.

The streets were filled with people walking and the restaurant scene was lively and fun. Clean air and tasty water were additional pleasant surprises. Residents are clearly outdoor advocates as there are many places to bike, walk, boat and ski nearby.

It was all VERY normal and refreshing, albeit chilly and windy.

Coming home 6 days later, I was so surprised to see the changes in the yard and garden. We have had a lot of rain here in Phoenix, which is just lovely. My bulb garden was bursting with hyacinths last week and this week the tulips are beginning to bloom.

There were enough fresh snap peas from the garden to make this as an appetizer last night.

The 14 baby chicks that arrived from McMurray Hatchery via mail last week have nearly doubled in size.

The Lady Banks roses that line the front of our property have bloomed and created a wall of pale yellow blossoms.

The first of the hollyhocks are bursting with flowers…..already!

We have had lots of storms and rain here….which is an absolute delight in our dry desert environment. I can almost hear the plants in the garden slurping up the additional water.

Today will be a day of baking bread and making more Meyer Lemon marmalade (see recipe here). A generous neighbor shared his lemons on Nextdoor and I took several from the bag in his driveway. As a thank you, I will deliver a jar of marmalade. Just one of the benefits of living in this wonderful neighborhood.

Which reminds me, my last post was about the impact of smiling. I hope you read it, if not click here. I put my smile experiment into action at the airport and I can honestly say, the results were miraculous. Everyone responded to a smile and several times, it started a wonderful spontaneous conversations, even with the serious Customs employees.

Now, more than ever, we need to lift each other up. I believe that we are a strong, kind and a civilized society. There is much we can personally do to minimize the feeling of helplessness. This is a perfect time to build your immune system. Don’t create your own stress~~it weakens your health and your spirit. Earlier I posted the top 10 things I do to keep healthy (see it here). Knock on wood, but it is working for me. I feel healthy and resilient.

Wishing you a relaxing Saturday. Do something wonderful for yourself and your family. Turn off negative messaging~~you can do without it for a weekend! Sending virtual hugs to all of you.

“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” —Thich Nhat Hanh

Twice a week I take an hour long Pilates class at Maximum Pilates. Not only is Pilates physically good for me, but there is a sense of community with my classmates. During Monday’s class, I realized how often we all laugh, mostly at ourselves And between crunches we started talking about the benefits of smiling. Which of course prompted me to do some research and write this blog post.

I believe that you wear your life on your face after 40. Those with happy dispositions have happy wrinkles. And we all know people who are perpetually grumpy. It shows on their face. Granted, life can be difficult, and some people have more angst than others. But often we have choices on how we respond to those life’s challenges.

Research shows that there are physical and psychological benefits to smiling. You know the song…Smile and the whole world smiles with you. There is truth to that.

None of us want the RBF (resting bitch face), do we? I had never heard of RBF until my last Pilates class. Cracks me up that RBF is a thing.

How Smiling Affects Your Brain

According to behavior psychologist Sarah Stevenson, “Each time you smile you throw a little feel-good party in your brain.” Dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin increase when you smile. Those endorphins serve as natural pain relievers and act as the body’s own opiates. Hence, reducing blood pressure, increasing endurance and reducing pain. Sounds good to me!

According to Ron Gutman, the author of Smile: The Astonishing Powers of a Simple Act, “British researchers found that one smile can generate the same level of brain stimulation as up to 2,000 bars of chocolate.” Think of all the calories you can save by just smiling!

Even a forced smile can boost your mood. Usually we think that a positive experience is what makes us smile. While this is true, it’s also true that merely deciding to smile can provide a positive experience. 

Smiling Can Make You Look Younger

In a small study, college students perceived older people who had happy smiles on their faces as looking younger than their age. The people with frowns on their faces were categorized as looking older.

A smile provides you with a mini-facelift. Turning up the corners of your mouth raises your entire face, including cheeks, jowls, and neck. Try it now! Instead of spending $15,000 or more on a facelift, just smile.

Smiling can make you look thinner. In a recent study by a young psychology student at University of Missouri, sad faces randomized and flashed on a computer screen were judged to be heftier. A mouth turned down in a frown might give the impression that a person is weighed down by unhappiness. 

In her book, Forever Chic, the author, Tish Jett compares the differences in aging between American and French women. A famous French model recommends that the world’s most important ageless beauty secret is a smile.

Smiling could add years to your life, according to researchers. The wider you grin and the deeper your laughter lines, the more likely you are to have a long existence.

The impact of smiling on others

Smiles can predict fulfillment in marriage . In a study cited by Gutman, the Smile author, the smiles of students were measured, and these ultimately predicted how long-lasting and satisfying the person’s marriage would be. Right! Who wants to live with a grouch?

Smiling makes you seem courteous, likable, and competent. If you look sad or anxious, perhaps others wonder if you know what you are doing. So perhaps a simple smile might be a shortcut to business success.When you smile, people treat you differently. You’re viewed as attractive, reliable, relaxed, and sincere.

Smiling is contagious. If you like to help others and lift the spirits of everyone you see, just smile. 

So what can we do to smile more? Are you ready to up your smiling game for a week? Don’t you think we need less fear and more smiles in this world right now?

Remind yourself to smile throughout your day and even force a smile onto your face periodically. That set of muscles is closely connected to your happiness and joy emotions. By smiling, you are signaling the emotional centers of your brain to tell them that everything is good. So even if it’s not, it will be soon.

I am boarding a plane today so I will need lots of sanitizer and smiles. Not sure if I will be posting on the blog while traveling this next week. But I will check in with you to see if you are smiling!

Have a fabulous Saturday!

Do you like an open floor plan? According to Google, an Open plan is the generic term used in architectural and interior design for any floor plan which makes use of large, open spaces and minimizes the use of small, enclosed rooms. Are open floor plans going out of style?

I’ve never lived in a home with an open floor plan. The closest thing is our cabin in the mountains, where there is a large window-size opening between the kitchen and the main living room. It’s good for shouting through but not for much else. Sorry for the low quality photo~~it is the only one I have!

Since Bella Terra was built in 1910, it clearly has formal and private spaces. Our kitchen is definitely not an open one. The kitchen to me is my haven, my sanctuary. I prefer it to be separate from the living spaces. To see more kitchen details, click here for Part 1 and here for Part 2.

When I’m stressed, I tend to bake or cook, and want to do so by myself. There is a television in one of the cabinets, but I get to choose whether I want it on or not. The kitchen is open to the breakfast room, but it is not an active part of the house.

The kitchen island is rather large and that is where all our family and guests congregate anyway. I love my family but sometimes I just want to have my own space. Plus I am not a fan of the kitchen mess or smells infiltrating the living spaces. Rarely is my kitchen neat as a pin.

Even though I prefer a private kitchen, I know the open plan is popular. In one of my previous remodels for resale, I did open up the kitchen to the living room/dining room. To see more of the Glenn remodel, click here.

We recently visited friends who just moved. Their kitchen, dining room and living room are one big room. It was lovely but it got me thinking of whether I would enjoy the open concept or not.

When I was designing the addition to the Willetta remodel (see post here), the floor plan was original to 1922…..separate living room, dining room and kitchen. But the kitchen was oddly shaped and it made sense to expand this space.

In addition to enlarging the kitchen, a family room was added on the first level and an updated master suite on the second story.

A House Beautiful article by Hadley Keller, entitled Please Stop with the Open Floor Plans asks, “when did the walls become the enemy?” Somewhere in the early 1990s, builders began touting the attributes of “open plan”. Hadley suggests instead of open floor plans, to try and start using your rooms. Use the dining room more frequently, not just for Christmas dinner.

There is a great deal of discussion of getting rid of the open floor plan, especially when it comes to kitchens. Some are suggesting that you add another “messy” kitchen that is hidden from the open floor plan kitchen. Oh my! The thought of keeping two kitchens clean??!!???

According to HGTV here are some pros of open plan living . 1) Makes a small space feel larger; 2) Being part of the family (not isolated); 3) Entertaining is more social and convenient; 4) Gorgeous open site lines; 5) Eliminating underused space.

And the cons (by HGTV): 1) Makes a large space feel too big; 2) a messy kitchen is always on display; 3) No perfect way to contain the mess; 4) Load bearing walls; 5) Lack of privacy.

So what are your thoughts on this? Do you have an open plan kitchen/living and dining room? Or a separate and private kitchen? If so, please tell me what you love/dislike about it.

Happy Wednesday!

I went out of town and came home to a kitten. This happened to me twice. Seriously. My mother did not like cats. It is one of those questions I wished I had asked her before she died. Why didn’t she like cats? Growing up we only had dogs, no cats. By osmosis I suppose, I haven’t been very fond of cats. Indifferent at best.

While at the Brimfield Antique Show in 2010, my phone pinged and there was a cute kitten picture from my husband, with the text, “look what the girls found”. I immediately called him and was told the girls were playing in the yard and they captured this kitten. I promptly asked what we were doing with it? The response was, ” We will find it a home.”

I returned a few days later and the kitten had a home…..ours. There was a new litter box and the kitten had a collar and a name. Sigh. But she was a cute little thing and the girls were SO excited. I agreed, as long as I didn’t have to clean out the litter box.

About a year later, I was out of town again. This time I received an angry phone call from my husband. He thought the girls were playing nicely and happily running around the yard. But unknown to him, they were trying to capture another kitten. Whaaat? This time he was NOT happy about it and we definitely agreed that this kitten had to go to the rescue shelter. When I got home, the kitten had a name, a collar and a new home…..ours.

At that time, we had 4 dogs, chickens, ducks, rabbits and now CATS!?!? God made kittens cute for a reason. I must admit that these furry creatures did worm their way into my heart. Donovan, a Maine Coon male, is so people friendly and not afraid of anything. Tippy is our prissy, aloof female.

The cats and dogs get along rather well. Donovan loves to play with Cooper’s tail. When the house is cool, they all snuggle together.

Last year, Donovan suddenly became very ill. He was fine in the morning but by dinner time we couldn’t find him. After a lengthy search, we discovered him huddled behind the washer/dryer. I didn’t realize cats could get gravely ill so quickly. Being indoor cats with restricted access to the entire house, I couldn’t imagine what he had gotten into. This is what prompted me going down the rabbit hole with my Google search into cat food and illnesses.

I was surprised to learn that cat food is commonly recalled. And there are numerous articles about the deficiencies of dry cat food. It was rather terrifying to read all the problems with cat nutrition. I was already making our dog food (see blog post here), so how difficult was it to make healthy food for the cats?

Many of you have asked for my recipe for fresh cat food. I have sourced this recipe from The Whole Pet Diet by Andi Brown. I make it monthly and freeze it. We add a big spoonful of this to their kibble twice a day. We also add a few drops of the Beautiful coat oil (see previous blog post here), which helps prevent intestinal blockages.

The cats LOVE it! They lap it up and there is never any left over in their bowls. And we haven’t had any further emergency visits to the vet.

I have to thank the girls for being such good trappers. The cats are wonderful additions to our menagerie. As much as my husband was adamant about not keeping the second cat, Donovan loves him the most.

When I finally get off my feet at the end of a long day, this is a typical scenario. The cat(s) and dog sit on me/my legs and settle in for the night.

The cats have enriched the childrens’ lives as well.

Do you like cats? Out of all our animals, they are the least labor-intensive. But they have added such value to our lives. It’s been a good lesson for me to understand old prejudices, make my own choices and to give cats a chance.