Up Close And Personal

Had a few questions about my last post.

Mostly to see closer things I had mentioned.

I bought the mannequin new ($20.00) without legs (they were damaged)

I coffee and tea stained and added laces from Grandmother Brooks.

Framed card from DD on Mothers day

 and dried flowers from DS on that same day. 

This was so funny.

DD had asked about a lullaby I used to sing to them.

The funny was - it was not a lullaby but my college sorority Tri-Sig song. 

She found the words and framed it for me last year

with the moon - I always call my sister moon.

"Born with the Moon in Cancer, you are likely to have a 

highly developed intuitive and emotional side. 

You are likely to have a strong empathy for others, 

and will feel impelled to take action in order to nurture, 

support and protect them."

My jewelry hanging on an old rack behind the door.

SO many friends saw this and searched till they found 

a similar rack. 

Fringe on burlap curtains

Thumb back chair from grandparents to dad to me

It's very short and small.

I pile the pillows from bed on it each evening.

My brother Scott and I with photos of our folks as children 

This is the hall right outside the master.

My dad sang that song to me ALL the time.

I used another stanza in my bedroom painting-

double meaning for me with the "grey" 

( see previous post )

On my nightstand

My best friend in my entire life

left this note for me over 40 years ago, 

before she left traveling the world,

(or parts of it anyway)

She introduced me to Leonard, 

cared for me, and loved me when I needed it most.

I've always kept it near.

I've always encouraged clients and friends 

 to surround themselves with meaningful items. 

I don't so much decorate - I dress my spaces with things that I love,

have hidden meanings or jokes and if it's something that often 

makes me tear up or outright weep, well it goes front and center.

I want to connect with my home, give it life,

make it breathe along with me.

Like this- get it?

I see so much on IG and decor shows and no offense, but 

most of those homes are all interchangeable. Right?

Even the lovely filtered gals are nearly interchangeable. 

The few I do follow teach me new things or are blog friends for years.

The only defining thing that distinguishes the difference 

 in all the IG houses, is a gallery wall 

but even then most are purchased, not made, not created with love. 

Yes I know they are just pushing product but

this is their HOME, for themselves and family.

I couldn't do it.

I love walking by the kid's height chart on the wall. 

Originally it was painted on, but when I repainted I marked on a 

strip of paper and then P- touched the measurements

 back on in the same spots.

This is opposite the "you are my sunshine" wall.

It's a jumble of mostly vintage silver things from family and kids baby cups,

with a few of my mom's crystal paperweights thrown in.

Also a printed booklet of photos my DD made for me,

and a letter my father got back from a family in Europe

who received a sweater 

my dad and his mom sent during the war. 

That's it for tonight

Cleaned out all the bathroom cabinets and drawers 

tonight. Amazing how much expired stuff was in there.

I have really cut back on cosmetics, lotions and potions

during the pandemic. Never needed most of it anyway,

and it sure rarely worked.

Z

 

Fan's Blowing - Not Wearing Pants

Desiring a different view than the three rooms 

I hang in during Covid - kitchen, family room

 and bedroom -

I tried to sit out on my enclosed porch 

with the french doors open and a fan

blowing directly into the room 

from the air conditioned adjacent family room.

Not wearing any pants, but it made no difference.

Just too damn hot.

View From A Couch

Watched the news

There are no words

There are not enough words

Dream of better days

Z

Did you spy the recorder on the table 

in the first photo? It was Ben or Hannah's

from school - I use it to call Walter back inside.

Once There Were Two Studios

For several years I had a second studio in my garage.

I have hardly used it in the past three years, 

so yesterday I decided to drag, push, and pull

 the vintage piece through a tiny garage doorway

into the family room.

Here is what I started with, and throughout a lazy afternoon

I painted some mustard on the shelf backs, and

covered the blue stars with ash grey paint.

I may go back and re- do in soft black

 as they are still "reading" blue.

I was bingeing Collateral on Netflix,

while grabbing a little this and that.

I ended up here for now.

I'm sure I'll change it up a little

as I live with it a few days.

For sure I will be making a fuller curtain 

for bottom shelving.

I have purged so much I don't really need the storage,

but it seemed to me she belonged inside

after paying her dues.

Yep, she belongs right there.

Z

More Sanctuary

and Walter weirdo who sleeps in the darnedest positions

Around The House

It's a good thing I like my home.

I've been hanging inside here for

 131 days.

My Shadow's Shadow

I was so sick of sitting only on the couch,

that I rearranged a few things 

in the family room Sunday night. 

Too lazy to search for a photo of before,

but bench and bread boards used to be

 on the left wall with chair coming

 out into the room from the corner and no plant.

Now I can watch tv from chair and put my feet up.

Cozier for now.

Z

Christmas On The Porch

Twelve days of Christmas

My tables always have "quick removal" displays for dining

Reds appealed to me this year

Picks and House of Hatten collectibles

There is a light inside of the log cabin,

and red berries now on the greens.

I kept coming back after I snapped photos.

That stucco you see is the original rear of house.

View from the family room couch

That empty basket beneath the table

is now filled with greens and berries also.

As always, my decor is just loads of picks plunked

into existing decor. I remove nothing unless

 I need a little space.

This time I removed a pitcher of flowers 

from the table so I could lay down greens.

Merry Merry 

Z