Could You Nap Here?

I could. Is this bed lovely or what? I love the pillow and the light sheet. The amazing curved wood canopy - wow! I might have to drape something over that! And I also love the distressed, plastered walls. So pretty.

So, sweet blogger friends, I know I've been absent of late. But, it's for a good reason. A while back I posted a shameless "ad" for work, to fill my work-lacking days with a freelance project or two. Well, my days are now very full! I am working with two other folks in a joint venture of sorts, to do marketing consulting for green technology companies. We have our first client, and boy do they have us busy!

But, as I was searching for an older issue of Martha Stewart Living, I came across this picture and had to post it and say "hello." So, hello all! I hope you are doing great and surviving this hot, hot summer. We are turning the corner here in San Diego. It was supposed to be 100 today, but it was nowhere near that. Our weather folks must have had their weather balloons caught in a tree somewhere. :o)

Oh, and if you want to see some amazing photographs, check out this site.

P.S. The source for this photo is this link, though I could not get to the actual site to say exactly who did it or where it is truly from. This is my attempt at a citation. :\

Basket o' Kate

Basket kitty snuggled upon, two, count 'em, two, vintage fabrics. I'm getting her hooked early. Before I know it, she'll have an email address and an Etsy shop.

Bad Bread, Good Bread

Recently, I wrote to a friend about a banana bread I baked that turned out like a brick. I made it on a Thursday afternoon, then brought some to another friend Friday morning thinking it would be a nice snack on our way to an estate sale. I kind of knew it was not right, but I hadn't tried it yet. She politely evaded the task of sampling it without even saying a word. Or maybe she said, "Oh. It didn't rise," as I uncovered the dense, greyish block. It was actually funny in a not-laughing-out-loud sort of way. There it sat in the back seat of the car, ensconced in paper toweling, behind us, heavy, getting denser every second. A little bit later that morning I wondered aloud if maybe I should cut it into planks and bake it a second time, like you do with biscotti? A day later? I think it's this economy that has me thinking wildly frugal thoughts. After I got home I looked down the list of ingredients and realized I had forgotten the baking soda -- a crucial ingredient. No baking soda doth a hard bread make. Amazing how one little half teaspoon of something can really foul up a bread. However, here we have the lovely, fully risen, wonderfully good banana bread that I made a few days after the dreadful one. Baking soda included.

Barn Sale Fun in the Sun

I've been away a while, but not idle! There's a lot going on here in very warm San Diego. Lots of estate sale foraging (with my good friend who sells her treasures at her Etsy Shop called Betty and Dot!), and barn sale exploring. This is a picture of the barn sale I sifted through a couple weeks ago in Valley Center, CA. Boy was it hot, but boy was it worth it. This barn was chock full of good stuff, and at great prices. I went with my belle mere, Mary. We had such fun...

The sweet wire hair fox terrier, who rules the roost, is named Matilda. She has her own blog here, and from this blog there are tons of great links to other vintagey-wonderful places.



And how about this awesome old truck?





























Also in junk news, I watched this video the other day by the family who does The Junk Gypsy Company. Their life is truly an inspiration. Check out this fun video of their story. I love that it's a Mom and her two girls and they just do what they love and make some money along the way, as a family. What could be more idyllic.

Goodbye to One of the Greatest Soldiers for Healthcare

Canvas Playtime

A couple of years ago I painted this very canvas using a stamping tool from India -- one of those carved wooden pieces used to stamp saris. It was okay, but all the stamping probably should have involved fabric rather than canvas. So, the canvas made it's way to the garage because it really didn't go with anything color-wise. I dragged it out the other day and repainted it, in about 30 minutes, and this is the result. James asked what my inspiration was, and I didn't have an answer. I just started squishing paint out of the tubes onto the canvas, then added some silk thread to the bottom burnt sienna part. Then I started smoothing parts of it, where the colors converged, with my hands! It was really fulfilling in a relaxing, expressive sort of way. You know, when you find something that you really enjoy doing? :o) I should point more.

A Bike Ride Along the Boardwalk

I'm finally back to blogland people! Thanks for not writing me off! Trust me, it's not that I haven't thought of you all and been squealing with joy when you leave a comment, because I have. I just get behind the 8-ball sometimes. But here I am! And, with a story to tell.

So, anyone who knows me knows I'm not a big exercise person, and right up there with exercise ennui is my dislike of being cold. I'm one of those folks who forgets to dress warmly enough for the activity, whether it's a night out to dinner, taking in an outdoor play (at the Old Globe), or even going for a walk or bike ride. Doiy. I know. Well, I got a few things right this past Sunday...and ended up doing something I've been talking about doing for weeks, maybe months. This was the scenery. The first two pics are of no one in particular, just the view from the boardwalk:





Of note, this Sunday made the second Sunday that hubs and I did something together. Last Sunday, we took Saylor (our Labrador; but you know that) to the beach at Coronado. A classic beach trip with blanket and snacks and magazines. James threw the toy for Saylor and I chilled on the blanket. We spent about 3 great hours, just relaxing in the pristine weather. Not that we don't do things together, but orchestrated outings are sort of rare. He's into surfing, windsurfing, and walking the dog, and I'm into estate sales and indoor suff -- you know, embroidery, napping (ha!), blog surfing, a little telly, reading...simple stuff that generally takes place indoors. I'm pretty low-key and hubs is athletic. So, our schedules rarely mesh - I'm here, he's out and about. But this weekend, it all came together. We went bike riding on the boardwalk along Mission Beach! First, we stopped by J.'s brother's house and borrowed a couple of their many bikes. I rode Fiona's old Ross 3-speed with a wire basket. James took a beach cruiser. And off we went! The weather was perfect, and hey, I even had the right jacket. This coming from a woman who turns 50 this year. Are things coming together? Have I actually grown up and didn't notice?

We also stopped by the yacht club to see Fred who was there with his girls preparing the boat for their trip to Catalina island. Fred goes across in the boat, and the girls and Fi take the ferry, then they all stay on the boat. He's looking pretty nautical, no?

Ahhh, what a great day.

My Vacation and the Photo Mishap

And I use the word mishap, heavily, oh-so-heavily. As heavy as my heart was on the last day of my southern adventure when I deleted every single last one of my pictures. And there were so many...oh, 150? Eeeek! But I will push past my bitterness (actually, it is why it has taken me so long to post - I was so mad!) and get on with the recap! I did take about 10 shots after the unspeakable event. However, among those are not the ones of the gardens at the Biltmore, or the two older men facing each other while napping on a garden bench as their wives undoubtedly explored the gardens. They were so cute.

Moving on...ha! So, about Cashiers, North Carolina. It's outside Highlands and has a main intersection, and that's about it. The population as of the 2000 Census was 196, but grows to 20k during the "season." It is quite a little gem -- full of beautiful homes, antique shops, and great places to eat. The mountains are gorgeous, and just driving down the road is breathtaking. Although the weather was predicted to be bad - stormy, rainy - it turned out to be beautiful: sunny, and with crisp, cool mountain air. Just incredible. We went to the Cashier's Farmers Market, where outside in a little pen the darlingest black and white piglet, Biscuit, was entertaining everyone. He was the cleanest, sweetest little bundle ever. I wanted to take him home. The inside of the market great, with wide plank wood floors and tons of shelves overflowing with canned goodies. There was also a cooler filled with all kinds of shelled peas and mountain berries. I bought some blueberries - they were fantastic. This picture is from the inside of the shop (from the shop's web site).










This roadside gas station - a Sinclair station! - brought back childhood memories for my sis-in-law, Sheri. I did have another huge picture of a big Sinclair sign that was nailed to the back of the farmer's market, but, um, we're not talking about that I thought. :\ Well, I at least broke the spell, and did a post! I'll be back with more soon. So good to "see" you all again. It's good to be home.

A Southern Adventure

Hola, mi amours... I am posting remotely from the lovely
Inman Park, locale of the sweetest cluster of beautiful
Victorian homes of all sizes and colors -- big, beautiful,
multi-roomed, multi-colored Victorians. I'm visiting
my friend, Moni, and then on Thursday, I go with my
sis-in-law and niece to No. Carolina to stay for a few
days ... to relax, and spend time together. Can't wait.
This photo is actually from Flickr, but I took the exact
one just tonight on our way back from dinner, at a
wonderful restaurant called Parish Market. I have
so many pictures to post when I return. I've been
a regular shutterbug. :o) See you soon!

Note: I am using all the goofy carriage returns because
posting on a MacBook, well, it ain't so intuitive as
you would think. I am such a PC girl...

Buffet Happiness

It arrived! The buffet is here. It's actually been here a while. This picture is just not capturing its beauty though. :o) On top, at left, is a papier mache oyster from Bell'Occhio. On the right, also from Bell'Occhio, is a basket that I keep silver flatware in - on the web site they call it a hamper! Why a basket, when there is a silver box? I kinda hate silver boxes. To me, they can be really somber and dark. So, with this easy open basket, in goes the flatware where it remains accessible and ready to use for any old reason. Why save that stuff? Use it! Although, have you ever noticed that silver forks get tiny teeth indentions on them? I guess it is a soft-ish metal. Hm? Maybe dinners should start with some reminder that we don't bite our forks. Ha! Bon Apetite! Don't bite your fork!

And, a close up of these beautiful hot pink roses!!! They smelled great, too...

Happy 4th Everyone!

Hoo-ray! It's time to get your feet sandy at the beach or the lake, go visit a local monument (we're going here to walk around and enjoy the sun and sea), or wave a flag or light a sparkler! Or all of the above! I am going to get some sparklers - just because.

Hugs to everyone out there in blog land.

Happy 4th of July!,
Robin

Photo credit: here

Chicken & Pig Bonanza...and I Don't Mean BBQ

Smith & Hawken has some adorable tin roosters and pigs (with wings!) right now. Made from 100% reclaimed scrap metal. Pretty cute! They look a wee bit tipsy, like maybe they just went to a Mad Tea Party. :o) This picture is from the S&H catalog. Just so you know, this bevy o' chicks is not living at my house. But, if you want them at yours, you'll need to pay $259 for a big one, and $129 for the small one. Sqwaauuuk!

A Not-So-Mad Tea Party Afterall

Kate! Quick! Run to the window! What is that I hear? Are people coming? Is the Mad Tea Party going to happen after all?? I hear they are happening all over the world today!! I know we're late, but we can probably whip something up quick. It's only our neighbor friends. They know we pretty much have one looooooooong, continuous Mad Tea Party over here every day!















Do you hear that sound? The sound of a rabbit thumping on his drum? Oh, it's Barnaby Thrumpington from Thrumpton Hall. And he's all decked out and looking quite dandy with his drum! It's so very LOUD!!














And that looks like Mr. Bradford from around the corner! Oh, I love Ted Bradford. He always wears such cheerful colors. And that smile is constant!














Yay! Kitty and Scotty are here! Oh, it's getting nuttier by the minute! Scotty looks hungry! And a wee bit dusty!





Oh, amazing! Never in a million years did I think the monk from the Shinto Temple would join us! What a distance he had to travel! I bet he's famished! Hmm? They all must have met at the front gate!










Oh, that Mad Hattress is donning her pink Mary Jane's and stripey socks. I'm thinking she should get in the kitchen and see what's cooking!














Are these actual goodies, here in our dimension, or are they from another time entirely? If I bend the universe just a little, I think we can get them to our party for us! All of us!










Sometimes at Mad Tea Parties we actually just serve coffee and coconut macaroons from the French Gourmet!!!












Oh, and now it's time to visit the other tea parties! Just start at A Fanciful Twist where they are all listed. I hope to see you again soon!