Oh, to Nap Here

I am always attracted to pictures of beds with pretty linens. Not unusual, I know. I think it's because, lately, my napping habit has been cut to a bare minimum. I've had lots of work; good problem, I know. Still, I'm trying to get in more blog posts.

This pic really appeals because it contains one of my most favorite pattens: gingham! There's something so fresh about it. More images like this one can be found in the Toast catalog. They have such great photography.

Next goal: get out and comment at all the great blogs I have listed on my blog list! I do stop by, but sometimes I'm just too rushed to comment. Sending out warm wishes to everyone on this crisp March day.

xoxo,
Robin

My Colleagues

Yes, well, here at Essential Marketing Group, while we are hard at work with our crackerjack team of designers and developers via phone and email, we also have a few teammates right here at headquarters, a.k.a. spare bedroom. Well, hello there Mr. Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman! You're here early today! And I see Sadie the Scottie, looking ready to take on the world...of Westminster! Squirrely and Catkin are regulars, and I (laughing right now) can't remember what I called them the last time I posted about them.

Seems my collection of little figurines has grown. It's funny, when I go to estate sales and walk into a house with shelves full of teeny-weeny figurines, I always think, oh boy, look at all those tiny dust collectors! Yeah. That was then, this is now. Now I see some of these cute little goobers and say, um, how much for this one?

Tea at Mary's

I went to my mother-in-law's house for tea a few weeks back. She set a beautiful table with all the perfect things you would want for a nice tea party...paper doilies, linen napkins, floral china cups, pink roses on the table and tea, tea, tea. The house was warm and cozy, with a fire burning in the fireplace, and us five ladies were ready to sit and gab! And gab we did!

We even had the cup of Knowledge in tow. It sat overlooking the treats, poised on it's display dish, knowingly. ;)





















We had pastries from the French Gourmet, which is around the corner.





And, there were French macaroons and tiny cucumber and egg salad finger sandwiches...yummy shortbread, and hot-from-the-oven scones baked by Mary. They were so good, specked with currants. We ate and laughed, and laughed and ate. Great fun.

Missing Manka's

Okay, so it's been a while since we were there, but what a great place. It simmers on in my memory. Want to get away to a cabin in the woods in fabulous, and quiet NorCal? Go here.

This is how breakfast arrived each morning, with the NYT on top. Inside there was warm, home made granola with cream to pour over, and cinnamon buns fresh from the oven. A vintage thermos with hot, strong coffee was the crowning glory. What a haven of relaxation.

And, today I send out birthday wishes to the great beyond to my Mom. I had a candle lit this afternoon by a beautiful picture of her on the beach.

I Heart Lisa Mitchell

Helping Haiti

It's been so very sad watching the events happening in Haiti. On Larry King Live last night, Ben Stiller mentioned an easy way to donate. You just text the word HAITI to this number: 90999, and your phone bill will get $10 added to it. A small contribution for a worthy cause. The funds go to the Red Cross. You get a confirmation back on your phone which you reply YES to, then it is approved. You can also stop the "updates" by texting back the word STOP. They've already raised close to $2 million, which hopefully can be put to good use, and quickly.

This beautiful, colorful painting is by a Haitian artist:
La Sirene
Gerard Valcin (Haiti, 1923-1988)
Oil on canvas (20 x 24), c. 1985

Kate and Saylor - Early Evening Nap

Could they be cuter? Kate would so snuggle in, and does get quite close, but Saylor keeps a respectable distance 'lest her canine friends should see her canoodling with a kitty. Kate and Saylor - such loving sisters.

Merry Vintage Wishes to All

Wishing everyone a beautiful holiday...and a spectacular 2010!

t-Insanity

I think someone we know might have a wee bit of a prob with thrifting tins at estate sales. I just took them all out and squirreled the smaller ones into bigger ones (let the hubs think some of them found new homes. Not!) All I can say is I hope the vintage Remington Letter-Riter typewriter I just bought is not the start of some other, much heavier, problem.

So, I know I've been away for over a month but all I can say is: ugh, work. While early in the year I had no work to speak of (I'm a marketing writer by trade), now I am swimming in it. It's great to have the income, but I would prefer to dig through some spirit lady's dresser full of vintage linens. What would I do if money were no object? I think traveling, cooking, and baking sound like good ways to spend time. And maybe going out to dig for tins?

This tin, with the courtly couple, I bought off Etsy a while back. It was (is!) full of vintage sewing items. A fun purchase.

The next one, below, with the house scene, is German - from Nuremberg. Dis is a goot one!, as granny used to say. Oh I miss my grandmother, Wilhelmine Hubertina Slavic. She knew so much about keeping house, cooking, managing money, and generally enjoying life. I hope she is looking over my shoulder this minute, reading as I type.

Okay, until the next post...I hope everyone is happy and healthy and enjoying the c-c-c-old weather snuggled inside with a warm cup of tea.

And wishing safe travels to my friend Moni, on her way to Kolkata.

Hiking through the Green, Green Forest

Today we went to the Bear Valley visitor's center and took one of the trails up, up, up. We hiked up the mountain 1.8 miles and at the summit we saw this. It was breathtaking. As we were hiking up, we were secluded in forest: moss covered trees, ferns everywhere, lichen, mushrooms, birds, and slugs were along the path. It was a fairly vigorous climb. Then we got to the top and it opened up. We walked out of the forest area, into a meadow, and then through some trees where we beheld this amazing vista out over tree tops all the way to the ocean. The sound of the wind and the crisp, cool air was indescribable. A few times along the path I was like, boy am I struggling, maybe we should turn back. But it was worth seeing. I've never seen anything like it. We saw this dude with his horses as we were hiking back into the forest. There were a lot of folks with horses there today. Lucky horses, huh?

And then as we were leaving, we saw some, um, visitors, outside the visitor's center. So cute! They were all nom, nom, nom on the grass.

Good Morning from Manka's

Oh, oh, oh. We're here!!! I don't know where to begin. Is it the perfect vintage logde-y interior, or the tiny library stocked with old leather-bound books? Or is it American Prayer playing on my Nano? We just had this amazing breakfast that got dropped off in this carrying case thingy that is as cool as you'd expect. Sweet french linen tablecloth to dress the breakfast nook. Homemade yogurt and granola, fresh squeezed Inverness apple juice, buns that just jumped out of the oven. And, a little surprise -- the New York Times was on top. James is outside in the Japanese soaking tub, reading the NYT (snicker). I have so many pictures to post, but couldn't find the cable in J's bag. He will find it later, and maybe tomorrow I'll post pics. What a gorgeous place this is. More to tell soon...

Antiques and Grey Hair

I have a new story that I've been telling lately. It goes something like this: When I turn 60, I'm stopping coloring my hair and I'm opening an antique store. I say it somewhat defiantly waiting for some sort of push back. Then I say, I'm going to make as much money as I can in the next 10 years, and then that's it, I'm opening the antique warehouse. No one really reacts. They just sort of look at me. I crack myself up. I wonder if I'll do it? I'm pretty sure I'll at the minimum stop the dying of the hair. I mean, no offense, but is there anything harder looking than an older woman with really dark hair? Let's not even talk about dark red lipstick. I'm not sure when I turned the corner on the dark lipstick, but boy there was a day that I could rock Mac's Matte Rubine or Santiago. I remember when I was around 19 wearing Christian Dior's no. 492. It was a light almost bluish pink. It looked great. I was 19, how could it not? But as I get closer to my 50th birthday and my hormones start to settle down, I realize that I have aged into having a good head on my shoulders, and this simple fact is so comforting. Of course my friend Sherri will say, oh yeah? then why do you never remember what day it is? Anyway, just wanted to say that I feel it is just so wonderful to be alive, to have a good life, and to be surrounded by people I love and who love me. It's worth so much. It's all there is, really. I feel very grateful today.

This picture is of a little Victorian era sewing basket full of tatting thread. Not sure if I've ever posted it, but I just love this little basket full of colored string.

Beautiful Sky, Kate, and a Bunny

Last week, in the middle of the day, it rained for about 5 minutes. A Florida girl at heart, I miss the rain living here in dry California. I ran outside, threw open my arms and absorbed the few droplets. I then noticed that my neighbors across the street who are sort of above us hill-wise were looking down at me! We all laughed and yelled, "It's raining!" I saw another neighbor outside, too. We get pretty excited here for rain! I snapped this pic of the sky. It was spectacular.







In other news, Miss Kate has been loving her new perch, which is right next to my desk. She inherited it from her cousin, Bogie, who bequeathed it to her in his kitty will.

She's my office assistant. And as you can see, I am always having to get her back on track with those overdue reports. She'd rather make that k-k-k-k-k-i-k-k-k-kik sound at birds and take naps. So cute.








And, then, this bunny! Just in this person's front yard, happily hanging out. I can only hope and imagine that it is their bun. I thought about going up to the door, but we were riding bikes and just kept going. This portly bun looks very well fed, don't you think? So I just got the feeling all was well. How cute is she/he? I think, very...