Please Read: This Blog is Set Up A Bit Differently

Hello Friends!


This blog is set up different than usual. Blogger lets you leave comments on the main "Home" page (this one), but not on any of the other pages where I have the cool photos and posts. I have categorized and organized the home related topics taken my main blog, Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy. Those pages stay static, except when I add things to them.

So, in my attempt to outsmart the system, this is how it will work. On the top of the sidebar, there are pages numbered 1-10. Please look and enjoy, and then come back here and leave your comments or suggestions under the appropriate page topic.

It isn't hard to do at all, it is just different.

I am also trying two other things that I haven't seen before and still need to figure out how to set up. One is a Swap Meet. If it takes off, I may have to expand it to a separate linked page. There may be a small fee to post and sell items on there, because I am now in need of a paying job.

The other cool thing I thought of is to have a permanent linky Show and Tell party, so that you guys can post your pretties on here at any time. I still need to figure out how to set that up too.

Thank you so much for your encouragement on this blog and on my Oregon Gifts. Remember, Oregon Gifts has a Facebook Page, and I am going to set one up for Kathy's Picks also. I am very happy to add your decorating and/or home related blog link to my sidebar. Just let me know that you want to be featured if I don't get to you on my own.

You can email me at: oregongiftsofcomfortandjoy@hotmail.com


Take care and God bless!


~ Kathy Matthews

#1 - Beautiful Homes


McPherson, Kansas: Pretty Houses



As I walked down beautiful South Maple in downtown McPherson, I fell in love with this little town. Located one block off of Main Street was a tree lined peaceful neighborhood with huge older homes.  Some of them were for sale, and my jaw dropped at how low the prices are, compared to the Northwest.



This lovely historic home is called The Bixby House, and was built in 1879.  Totally updated on a huge lot, this four bedroom home is only $149,900.  I also found a 1910 two bedroom house on the same street for only $79,900.  You can easily spend that much on a manufactured home with no land for that amount where we live.





Here is some more eye-candy, if you enjoy this sort of thing:
























And, do you want to know the best part?  There are many good manufacturing jobs actually available in this town that pay $15 - $20 an hour to start, with full benefits.  I am not joking.  The schools are good, the people are so nice, and, um, they have a winning football team with one of the best high school quarterbacks in the nation.   I'm just sayin'.




Patricia, Greg and Shannon's Home:

When I walked into Patty's house, I couldn't help it...I took out my camera and took pictures of everything I saw. This house would make Mary Engelbreit proud, proud, proud. Then we went outside and saw the back gardens. Just gorgeous! They have worked so hard to make the yard beautiful, and boy, is it.

Patty's Workshop:




The Living Room:



The Kitchen:






Shannon's Room:




Anthony's Artwork in Shannon's Room: