Monday, May 27, 2013

...a perfect day for playing on the porch...

...Trader Joe's had gorgeous roses...
...they are just so pretty...
... just asking to be photographed...

...three of the sweet little roses have had their stems cut really short...
...and are posing in a dainty white cup...
...out on the porch...

...as I sat this morning with my cup of coffee...
...more little details just kept popping up in my view...

...the light was so pretty...
...each little element began to shine...

...playing on the porch is very healing...
...makes me appreciate my beautiful life...

...all is well...
...on the porch...
...on this beautiful day...

...hope you have also had a wonderful day...

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

...a metamorphosis revisited...

...remember...
...this room was once a carport...
...a perfect size for one very small car...
...it is much more sophisticated now...
...so, I've tried to call it the 'music room'...
...or the 'library'...
...so much better than the 'den'...
...or the 'family room'...
...but, sadly...
...it is most commonly called the 'TV room'...
...perhaps you could help us out and suggest something more fitting...

...the walls are really cinder block..
...but paneling was popular in the 70's...
...and then a dear friend taught me how to plaster...
...using joint compound...
...it was quite a job, but so rewarding...
...the paint technique we found in a book...
...lots of masking tape...
...and three colors of taupe in each square...

...yes, this is the Pottery Barn sectional...
...where we do sit and watch a little television in the evening...
...our set isn't on all day...
...we prefer listening to lovely music instead...
...each item hanging on the wall has a story...
...when you live in a home for many years...
...I guess everything does...

...the architectural piece came home in the car with us...
...after visiting our California son and his family...
...it really started the whole 'white thing' in this room...
...I'm in love with it...
...the little silver pot and old book pages...
...have been photographed over and over...
...and, I guess so has Alex, the kitty...


...the table was built by a neighbor...
...the little boy in the photograph is my husband...
...it is such an adorable image...
...the wonderful window was given to me by a friend...
...she is the one who helped me paint everything white in this room...
...I glued old book pages onto foam board for the window insert...

...here are the (never pretty, but) necessary electronics...
...my sweet husband calls my old pieces 'expensive hunks of junk'...
...this one has been with us for a long time...
...when these shelves were built in many years ago...
...a piano used to fit here perfectly...
...his Broadway Show albums fill the shelves...
...along with my white pretties...

...I couldn't resist a little bit of a close up...
...can you tell I adore ironstone...
...platters, plates, pitchers,vases, creamers, sugar bowls...
...I love them all...

...oh, yes...
...another hunk of junk...
...completely filled with CDs inside...
...we do love music...

...of course, this lectern has a story...
...I've just never been able to paint that gorgeous pine wood...
...should I turn it around and give lectures...
..probably not since I'm not interested in public speaking...
...meanwhile, it is filled with quilts...
...and photos of our beloved doggies...
...Woody, Gus, Ginger, Maggie and Sarah Jane...
...that's Granddaughter Catherine holding Miss Sarah Jane...
...sweet memories...

...the drapes over the books used to cover HUGE unsightly speakers...
...but now, our sound system has little teeny, tiny speakers...
...both of us love old books...
...many have very special meaning...
...most were found on trips we have taken...
...I do hope you approve of our treatment of Alex...
...we are trying not to spoil him, however...
...and, finally...
...I'm showing you a bit of my husband's photography...
...the vintage photos were taken in 1939 when he was a little boy...
...using a baby brownie camera...
...Washington, D.C. plus New York City and the World's Fair...
...the two larger photos were taken 50 years later...
...it was the first time he had been back to Washington, D.C. ...

...well,  it's not a carport any longer...
...but truly a room filled with us...
...we love spending time here...


"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort."

Jane Austen