Unidentified Flower in Las Vegas

Unidentified Flower in Las VegasMay 9, 2011
One thing we have not done in Las Vegas is wander through a nursery.  This beautiful flower that I think is a member of the orchid family was a common planting at several Las Vegas casinos.  It was quite pretty so next time we visit Las Vegas I am going to make a point to go through a couple of plant nurseries.  Surprisingly when trying to identify

Time to get outside......

I know I'm ready !!!!

A Few Thoughts on the Weather

We left for our spring vacation on May 8 returning home late May 25.  Actually we made a pit stop at home for about 18 hours between flights.  I have pictures to share and got a lot of novel growing ideas during the trips so will share those as well but to start off I have a few thoughts on the weather.  It was a long, drawn-out winter with ample snow fall.  There wasn't a spell of bitter cold

Smallish Kitchens

I know some of us would love to have kitchens this "small", but the point of my blog is to inspire, and I believe that you can be inspired by any size home. Maybe a shelf idea, or color help. Good ideas can come from ANY size home !

Have you decorated your garage lately?

Have a street facing garage? That is an asset in the "fairy tale" town of Carmel-by-the-Sea,  in California. Let's examine together.....you might have another decorating project!

LOVE the above patina, it never occurred to me to put such effort into these often neglected doors.  

notice how the drive pulls everything together?

A perpendicular wooden trellis is perfect for supporting Rapunzel like vines. 

Noticing the hardware on these doors? It gets even better.......

This is my favorite! Oh the weathered patina, the hand hewn beams turned supports.......that hardware, the whole look is very French Normandy

Notice the subtle upturn of the roofline? How about those integrated columns, the exterior sill under the tiny window?

Reminiscent of over scaled French shutters. the size and scale of the light fixtures are perfect

Let's examine this closely;  notice the stone columns? As in most of these examples the garage is an additional focal point......how many of us can proclaim that? Take a close look at another aspect I love; all of the garage doors are made to 'look' like they open from the center, see the horizontal lines? Nearly all US garage doors are roll up's. When Steve built our barn we wanted the same look for our overhead door. He accomplished that by building it himself, purchasing the overhead fixtures, assembling horizontal boards, and adding  handles like the photo above. The hunt will resume for killer hardware. 

 Carrying forth the architectural elements

These architectural  elements have made all the doors special, yes the inherent architecture helps....a lot, but here are some ideas you can do now

- add "center opening" hardware

-add side hardware 'straps' taking it a step further

-they all are exceptional extensions of the homes architecture (repeating elements)

-be certain your lighting is up to date and to scale 

How about no garage, just a portico....perhaps if life was in a California climate, i can only dream

Utter perfection in a one car garage.

Utter perfection in a vintage car; my dream; a British (of course British);   

  Morris Minor

Fifi O'Neill

The charming Fifi at our shop.

 I was not aware that she is French; "Fifi"-yes, of course! And I fell in love with her instantly, charming, funny, self-depricating, lovely................

I would recommend this book highly. My personal style is not feminine, prairie, shabby chic, etc. but there are many elements in this book I enjoyed and will attempt to replicate. Did you also know it is not really a decorating book? It weaves the tales of the women who not only created their style but indeed live the lifestyle. Shhhh.......she is working on a second book, hint; it will be 'yummy'

Happy week

debra

Please Don't Forget.....

Once again, my state Missouri has been hit by a tornado. Please give to the red cross if you can, and continue to pray for all our brothers and sisters all over the world in these weather disasters...

Nice.....

No theme, just pretty rooms :)

Vacation Observations

While many in our area are seeing visions of their gardens dance in the seed magazines we spent a good portion of May in Las Vegas for the first leg of our spring vacation.  Our house is still for sale so I really don't want to get too attached to starting up the garden beds although I will be focusing on movable containers this year.  At any rate May for us is always spring vacation month that

Late for my own party....can you come?

 I am late again.......landscape season does that, my head is barely attached. And, this is a very important post, which should have gone out last week. So if in the 'hood, come by, you can't miss this one.......a book signing with Fifi O'Neill

The Editor

THE book

This is not Fifi's first book and with another in the making, this popular author is in demand. Wait until you lay eyes on her BOHO outfit found for the occasion

And shockingly the first run is out-of-stock, and it was just released. An unheard of phenomena  in publishing today. Don't worry, we have stock.

Fifi lives the life she writes about in her Florida cottage

                                                                           next two images via 52 flea blog

What additionally makes this exciting locally is that a deer (private silly joke) friend Joy Wiltmire and her lovely daughter Angela Reed are prominently featured.

Joy is the author of the popular blog  Savvy City Farmer, ahead of the curve Joy began her blog over five years ago.

That smile is always there

her and husband Don refinished the kitchen to this beauty

The original intent was to complete this post on Mother's Day. I am so intrigued with Mother daughter relationships, particularly a creative and sometimes collaborate one. I asked both Joy and Angela to respond to my multiple questions last minute, they kindly complied, I promptly failed to assemble, but this interesting story will be repeated at a later date.

When I was headed to Joy's for the first time the addresses were hard to see, then this home appeared. I said to Steve "knowing her, this is Joy's home" and it was. I did not "close my dropped jaw until we left. See for yourself in the book

With a talent for display, these ladies have their 'Shop the Shed' events in Joy's gardens.

 As in the books title 'Romantic Prairie Style' does your home possess a magical, comfortable, romantic soul? Inspiration is in abundance here.

 The lovely Angela. 

In her blog, her home and lifestyle brings forth COVET in me, oh to live a sweet, old fashioned, "Frenchified' and fashionable lifestyle, all lovingly crafted for her and her family. 

Take a visit to the Parisienne Farmgirl blog. If you like to cook, the recipes are mouthwatering, and her children......oh those children, are cute beyond measure, truly. 

Where Mom loves neutrals, Angela is attracted to COLOR and in interesting mixes.

French macaroons are a speciality and available for custom orders.

Tomorrow, thursday from 2pm to 5pm we will celebrate the accomplishments of three very talented women, you will love meeting them. Refreshments and a parting gift to all that come.

It would not be the same without you

Debra-

Side notes; Our England tour has one more room available, perfect for girlfriends, maybe sisters!

 Our long time manager recently left unexpectedly.....

 Here's a phrase not often heard

HELP WANTED!  NOW HIRING!

really.......