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Monday, February 28, 2011

Mad Hatter Monday

Isn't it weird how memories or ideas or random things just pop into your head?? 

 

For some reason I have been thinking SO much about this poem by Robert Frost "Mending Wall"(it reminds me of my awesome English teacher at Hubbard's), so here it is in all its beauty for you to enjoy on this delightful Monday morning:
 


Mending Wall
by Robert Frost


Something there is that doesn't love a wall,
That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it,
And spills the upper boulders in the sun,
And makes gaps even two can pass abreast.
The work of hunters is another thing:
I have come after them and made repair
Where they have left not one stone on a stone,
But they would have the rabbit out of hiding,
To please the yelping dogs. The gaps I mean,
No one has seen them made or heard them made,
But at spring mending-time we find them there.
I let my neighbor know beyond the hill;
And on a day we meet to walk the line
And set the wall between us once again.
We keep the wall between us as we go.
To each the boulders that have fallen to each.
And some are loaves and some so nearly balls
We have to use a spell to make them balance:
'Stay where you are until our backs are turned!'
We wear our fingers rough with handling them.
Oh, just another kind of out-door game,
One on a side. It comes to little more:
There where it is we do not need the wall:
He is all pine and I am apple orchard.
My apple trees will never get across
And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him.
He only says, 'Good fences make good neighbors'.
Spring is the mischief in me, and I wonder
If I could put a notion in his head:
'Why do they make good neighbors? Isn't it
Where there are cows?
But here there are no cows.
Before I built a wall I'd ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offence.
Something there is that doesn't love a wall,
That wants it down.' I could say 'Elves' to him,
But it's not elves exactly, and I'd rather
He said it for himself. I see him there
Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the top
In each hand, like an old-stone savage armed.
He moves in darkness as it seems to me~
Not of woods only and the shade of trees.
He will not go behind his father's saying,
And he likes having thought of it so well
He says again, "Good fences make good neighbors." 


Friday, February 25, 2011

My Lucky Finds

It was one of those mornings - I was on a mission. I wasn't really sure what kind of mission, but I was on it, nevertheless! I dropped the girls to school, did some quick errands then headed to Goodwill, and a couple of local consignment and thrift stores to see what I might see.
As soon as I walked into one store I saw HER! Oh, man, this was fate. How beautiful is she, and the price was AWESOME! The store had a sweet little vignette set up with her as the star. I also purchased the gold frame. I should have also purchased the old books as well, but I think I was at my limit for the day.
 
DOUGH BOWL!! Found it too - the same morning. I think I paid about $30 for it - SCORE!! I can't remember where - it is all a blur now. I think I was shopping drunk! Oh, and the cobbler's shoe - oh, the perfect morning - I never wanted it to end.


The two vases were from Goodwill - both perfect for my kitchen.

 

 

Oh, be still my beating heart...


And in the room... I still need to find a little pile of old books, but the feel is perfect. Finally the bedroom is coming together :)






Lots more tweeking to do, some new artwork, maybe covers for the ottomans, etc, etc, etc, etc - where does it end!!! (love it though)

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Busts, Bowls and Old Books

Busts

 They seem to be popping up everywhere I look at the moment. I guess as soon as they make an appearance in a Pottery Barn catalog that happens. Beautiful, interesting, historic, unusual - take you pick!  (click on photos to take you to the link)

From Lonny Magazine  - so delicate - just gorgeous.

  
Pottery Barn - what a perfect jewelry holder.



From Pottery Barn - mini dress form - so cute.



 






 

 From Santos Cage Doll - here is something unique, a little eccentric, but beautiful too. I am so in love with everything on their site - must.save.up.some.moolah! It will be difficult to decide what to save up for - the beautiful ethereal primitive dolls, the gorgeous regal crowns, or the precious angel wings.



Bowls
Never knew what a dough bowl was until I read The Nester's post about them - Decorating with Dough Bowls. So I'm blaming her for my latest obsession!

 From Pottery Barn - so beautiful, a great versatile storage or display item. But a little expensive from PB for me.

They would look great on a huge farmhouse kitchen table filled with seasonal items - pine cones for winter, shells and blue glass for summer, small pumpkins for fall, succulents or pretty flowers for spring, or feathers, antlers and pebbles, fruit, candles, old locks and keys - the possibilities are endless!

From Pottery Barn.





Old Books

Old books offer such a wonderful spectrum of beautiful tones to match any decor.


 




And can provide the perfect balance of form and color in a vignette.













Lonny Magazine

Just discovered this on-line - beautiful magazine - lots of inspiration - check it out.

Jan/Feb 2011 | Lonnymag.com

Friday, February 18, 2011

First Impressions

The front door of our house definitely needs some improvement. Currently it is a nice blue color, but desperately needs to be repainted and the blue doesn't match anything else on the house. So I have been doing some research, and some thinking as to what color to repaint it, to give it a spruce up!

Here it is as the blue door:




So now I need some inspiration:

Here is a very pretty blue door. Maybe  I don't even need to be changing colors?? It is so simple, elegant and fresh.


But then I am so drawn to a dark door - black, deep green or dark brown. But they got vetoed by the husband :(




Then I spotted this one - oh, so, pretty! And the color compliments our existing trim. I can freshen it all up with some white trimming, a new porch light, refinish the concrete, new mat, new house numbers, pretty welcoming plants/flowers in black pots (like the second "dark" door image) and hey, presto - a wonderful, welcoming first impression!


OK - I'm off to the store :)

Oh, and don't you think Punxsutawney Phil was right - doesn't this feel just like spring this week - gorgeous 70 - 80F degree weather - just perfect :)

Monday, February 14, 2011

Sweet Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day to you!



"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways..."
by
Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.


Some cute Etsy finds (click on the photo to take you to their respective Etsy stores)






We finished our Valentines for the kids at school (inspired by Jones Design Company). They turned out so cute! They had the cutest party at school on Friday - the kids loved it. We did the little cards and a chocolate for the kids, and I made the notebooks for the teachers. On top of the notebooks is the Bible verse 1 Corinthians 13:13 - "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."






Happy Heart Day - show someone some love today!