rock paper scissors

A Trip to Remember

This is a photo of my husband, John, and son, Daniel.  We tagged along with my husband on a business trip to Israel.  This time around it was a learning experience for all three of us.  I'll never forget the experience and would go back.  We stayed near the old city of Jerusalem.  My most moving moment was touching the Western Wall.  That is all that is left of the original Temple so often read about in the old testament.  In a few days our son will graduate from high school and John and I will become empty nesters after 40 years of marriage beginning this coming September.  I miss all my children and it will take awhile this time around once again.  Daniel will be attending the University of California at Irvine.  

Waiting

Waiting for something special can be so very agonizing.  This evening I have the great joy of waiting for my son-in-law and grand-daughter to arrive from MN.  Can't wait!

What happened to me in 2008?

I wish at times I could stop time.  I've been a horrible blogger friend.  This year I'm going to try to smell the roses more often. 

So what do I do with myself each day.  I don't work outside of the home however I like to joke that I'm the executive vice-president of our home.  I keep busy with our dog, Jennie, house and family.  Jennie tore her ACL in her knee on Thanksgiving day and needed surgery.  The surgeon told us it would heal by

 Valentine's Day.  Watching Jennie suffer has been difficult for all of us.  My mom is 91 and needs lots of TLC.  She also has issues that need to be resolved in 2009.  Our son Daniel now in his senior year is about to be launched and believe me this is tougher on me than him.  I've been involved with PTA for the past 12 years at the unit level and this year at the council level.  I'm wondering where 2009 will lead me.  My New Year's resolution this year is to have more fun.  Now who would like to join me? 

Living Life in Pieces

I just love this hooked rug.  It belongs to my daughter.  So many colors and yet it all works together to create a gorgeous harmony. Just like people!  I've been very busy volunteering at my son's school this week and I have been left with so much hope for the future of our world.  Why?  It's because of the teens.  The beauty and innocence of youth.  Something for an almost 60 year old to enjoy.....

Doorway to Knottingham Castle

I haven't been blogging much for two reasons.  Summer is here and even though the days are longer, I've been enjoying all that summer has to offer, lazy warm days, fantastic summer fruits and veggies, much family time fun.  The other is this darn blogger site.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I've just made the download to my Mac that will return me to blogging bliss.  I've added this photo of a doorway that was taken on our trip to the Midland section of England.  This doorway has to be a replacement for the original however the wall left behind dates back to William the Great.  I love the shape!

A Visit to Yew Tree Cottage in Derbyshire

Come along with me on a one rock house tour.  This house made my imagination soar with wonder on what it would be like to spend one night in such a home.

English Country Vacation

This is a photo of the sweetest English  home I've ever seen.  I love the rock fence.    It was taken in the English countryside of Derbeyshire. 

  This town is called Tissington and it is owned by the FitzHerbert Family.  They own the entire town. Can you believe it?  It has been in their family for over 500 years  They live in a very fancy manor house beyond this one.  I could live here.  How about you?  

Pillows.... Jewels for Couches

Now if only our home was a museum home. These pillows would have an opportunity to gather some dust before their bling wears off.  These little soft beauties have already received many TV hugs and night time kisses.  I found them waiting for me at Pier 1 Imports a few weeks ago!  Notice how the stripes, print, and solids give each other friendly support.  What do you think of that outsider who showed up wearing lime green?

I found this other blue and white beauty at Target for $10.  The taupe and off white pillows are from Pottery Barn.  Now I'm thinking the room needs a happy color.  

I'll be looking through Country Home Magazine for more inspiration.  As I do this,  I have to constantly remind myself that the fruit, flowers, and maybe even the furniture have been added to make these photos look even more inviting than they already were in the first place.  Let's face the facts, if you put a couch on one wall, coffee table in the middle with a huge bouquet of flowers and two chairs on the opposite side.  Could you see your guest on the other side? and what about the fruit? and are the chairs made for people to sit on for longer than 5 minutes?  I often wonder. How comfortable are these very small strait chairs and couches while watching TV or a movie?

Form follows function.  This rings true even today as it did in the days when designers of long ago decided that furniture needed to fit the needs of the user over that of the designer.  Remember to forgive yourself when you make decorating mistakes or just haul it all back to Pier 1 Imports!  Hugs.... 

My Chairs have come home...

These past few weeks I've often wondered if the two chairs I had sent off to slipcover camp would ever come home. As they left in the back of Lilly's truck a long while ago, I felt like my old, no longer loved chairs were off to a very sad vacation from me.  When they returned home on Saturday, I finally could sigh with relief because they had left two very large empty spaces in our family room. I must be honest here.  Sometimes I have major trust issues and I worried that I'd never get them back because the truck they were riding in would go over some huge pot hole and off they would go into oncoming traffic.....

Here is a before pic and to follow is an after pic....

Home Sweet Home

Have your ever felt that homes have souls? I've lived in many homes since I married 38 years ago...yes...it is a long time! Our New Hampshire home was a small cape cod style built in 1948. I lived in this sweet home for 21 years.

I often wonder what vibe this house gives off to visitors. I do believe that houses only become homes if the people who live in them love each other. Have you ever walked in a house and could not breath because some creepy karma lingered? My father-in-law once joked that our dog lived in a very fancy place. Jennie does live the easy life. We bought this home 4 years ago as an investment and after moving twice before this move in a six year period, my spirit stayed outside in the garden (my favorite place) and didn't come in until this year. The goal has always been to sell once our son, Daniel, graduates from HS in 2009. We have one more year here and we will be off looking once more. It always takes me such a long time to get in a decorating grove and with one more year to go, I keep teasing my husband that I need decorating money. I've really fallen for that free and easy look of cottage style decorating. This road called Home Sweet Home is often a bumpy one filled with pot holes however the trip is always made easier with a sweet honey of a husband! Next time around, I'm thinking small town, older home, front porch with rocker for knitting, picket fence and a group of friends who enjoy the arts. Hugs.....