Under a Blue Moon

7.6.11

I went to the Alameda Point Antique Faire this weekend. It was hot – and several of us have the sunburn to prove it – but so worth it. This is the first time we have been and I would venture to say that a holiday weekend is a good time to go. The crowds were really reasonable.

I didn't bring my camera and once I got in and starting seeing the fabulous linen vendors I even forgot to snap any with my cellphone.

I had one goal – to find a mantel mirror. I've been looking for a mirror to hang in the space above my living room mantel. The walls are shorter in the living room because the ceiling slopes down in that room. Plus the fireplace sits up higher than usual. The result is I don't have a lot of wall space above the mantel to hang a picture.

A wide, short mirror is the way to go. I have been looking for a couple of years now and my criteria was rather specific. I wanted the mirror to be divided into three sections and I wanted the frame to have nice detail. I didn't care so much what the finish of the frame had, figuring I could just paint it but a shabby white paint job would be a bonus.

Rather macabre – a tray full of heads and body parts.

Once we got going I kept getting beguiled by the linen booths. There were a number of them with a fabulous inventory of European linens. I started dipping into my mantel fund. I bought two pillowcases with crocheted trim, a lace tablecloth and a cut-work tray cloth. I figured I wasn't going to find my mantel mirror anyway.

Well of course after I spent half of my money I found it. It was priced above my budget but the buyer was willing to come down in price and I got it for the high end of my budget. My budget that I already spent on snowy white linens. So there were a frantic few minutes where I was calling the other people in my party to track down my sister. She was about five rows ahead of me but she trudged back with her wallet and I bought my mirror.

I'll take a proper photograph once I get it hung but here it is in all its perfectness. The center piece doesn't have the original mirror but the two side mirrors have just the right amount of patina.

Friday’s Favorites

Flickr Favorites

I guess I'm behind on my reading – here is a list of 50 books every child should read. I've only read about a dozen of them. How many have you read?
I love the delicate monogrammed disc that Katie Holmes is sporting – I found an affordable version here (I would just ask the chain be shortened to bracelet length)
Clever use of a disposible shower cap
I am loving the work of Pascal Campion. These are my favorites – Big Love, Friends and Beating the Heat
I leave you with this beautiful YouTube video of lit paper lanterns being released into the night sky in Poland (I was a bit uncomfortable with idea of thousands of bits flaming paper being set out but after reading I see the paper is made out of sugar and hay and is released over a river).

26 years ago today we welcomed our son Eric into our life. Happy Birthday sweetie – we are so proud of the man you have become. We miss you! (He has been traveling for work for the last six weeks)

6.29.11

This will be a quick post – I've been meaning to show this pin I bought. I saw it on Etsy months ago and saved it as a favorite – I was sure someone would buy it but after a few months I checked back and it was still available and on sale so I figured it was a sign.

I love pins but never wear them. I don't wear the right kind of clothes to pin them to. I should figure out a way to display them.

My mother always had a pin on her jacket. When we went through her clothes after she passed away each lapel had a different pin on it. Maybe I should start wearing jackets.

6.28.2011

Here is a quick deck/landscaping update. There is lots of activity and noise around here today. The chickens have taken to the deck guy and think they are helping…"Hey Doug – this beam isn't level!"

When the old deck was completely removed we found the original patio and walkway to the house underneath. Along with a skunk skeleton.

The under structure should be finished by tomorrow and the decking material delivered on Thursday.

The driveway circle is almost complete. Here are a couple of progress pictures (last one is from my cellphone so the quality is sketchy).

This is taken as you are coming down the driveway towards the house (which is just out of view on the left).

The progress on the circle is actually further along than the last picture depicts. I didn't want to run out there with my camera right now to take a progress picture. I'm pretty sure they are tired of me peeking my head over the window sill from the guest room to check on their progress.

Friday’s Favorites

Flickr Favorites

I bet Rick would have liked to have know about this beadboard wallpaper before I had him redo our bathroom at our last house.
I thought this was an extremely clever idea for keeping track of your paint/decorating colors. I would just add the manufacturer and name of the color of the paint to the back.
Clever and pretty use of old water bottles.
Ever since I looked at my first Susan Branch cookbook I've wanted to watercolor. Here's a site that clearly outlines all the basics of water color. The author even lists out her favorites supplies by name.
I love the boho chic of the Chan Luu wrap bracelets but could never ever justify the price. Now I can make my own!

This has been an odd, disruptive week. First of all we lost another chicken. Ina died during the night. One day she was her funny, goofy self; wandering around the yard scolding us and having a good old dirt bath and the next morning she was curled up in the corner of coop, dead. We'll probably never know what happened. We are so attached to those silly girls – it's heart breaking when one of them dies.

Secondly deck construction is majorly under way. It very noisy but exciting to see the progress. Landscape work starts today. We're waiting for two tons of rock to be delivered this morning.

I hope everyone has a lovely, restful weekend!

6.20.11

Grainy iPhone picture of teeny Ikea studio apartment. I don't know why the Ikea vignettes appeal to me so much. Just the smallness and effeciency I suppose.

I went to Ikea to buy my youngest son a dresser as an apartment warming present and saw this totally adorable 280sf space. I would love to have a little guest house on our property like this.

It's kind of hard to make out from the photo but behind the bed sheer panels are hung to separate the sleeping space from the living room space. There is a couch on the other side of the headboard. You can see the television in the mirrored wardrobe.

I found this room design software website called The Make Room and I'll warn you it is a huge time sink but so much fun. You can pick the dimensions of the room and add elements like walls, windows, furniture, landscaping, whatever your little designing heart desires.

I tried to recreate the Ikea studio. I think I'm pretty close. I didn't quite get the bathroom and kitchen right because I couldn't remember the exact layout of the fixtures. Doesn't matter – it was still loads of fun.

I wonder if I can get Rick to build this for me….

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