My New Fave

Today, The Dead Weather released their new album. So, you know where I was -- at Third Man Records, of course. Along with other new goodies, they were selling this gorgeous 6-fingered hand necklace (from the album cover in which Little Jack has six fingers). The artist is Vera Meat; and I'm "needing" a lot of her stuff! ha

The details are amazing.

Of course, there were mini cupcakes.

And champagne. But, I swear they pump oxygen into this tiny store. Every time I visit, I get absolutely giddy. I suppose it could just be over stimulation. Right? No people, it wasn't the champs. Whatever it is, love love love.

One of Jack's Grammys on display. 

Another fun day, dragging the hub to places he'd never visit if it weren't for me. This is what empty nesters do. Am I right?

PS Hey Kell!

Labels: Hub, Music, Nashville, New Stuff

Say What?

This is my Christmas present from the hub. Ya think he's trying to tell me something? ha.

It's a beautiful four-volume set with stunning sketches, each lined with printed tissue. I cannot wait to delve in!

Two Infatuations

First, this little clutch I found online is driving me crazy, I am so in love with it. I haven't used a clutch in years. But this one, or at least that turquoise color, caught my eye. But it is so much more. I am loving it!  

And, then there's my copper pot. I normally pull these "nice ones" out during the Holidays, and they sit in a cabinet the rest of the year. Well, I love my non-stick cookware as much as the next guy, but I've begun to wonder about the coating. If it's dangerous to birds . . . ? Well, hello? So, anyhoo, some of my nonstick pieces are beginning to show wear (and that's supposed to be a no-no in regards to emitting whatever into the air). Sorry, my favorite Berndes pot, you're out. You're fired! (What the heck was all that Donald stuff about? Lawds.) . . . And, hello beautiful! (above) 

Turning chilly tonight. My Tennessee friends call it locust winter--which is when a cold snap comes in for a day or two after all the trees (including locust) have already bloomed from spring. Frost. Really? Ugh for my plants. Yay for me. I'm loving it. (Portland keeps calling, right. lol)

The hub is out of town. Here and there in bouts to the North. Therefore, I am getting things done. Finished finding, sorting, scanning and printing old photos and recipes for some of my cousins. I hope to get so friggin' organized before I move again, I won't know what to do. Little by little. Piece by piece, I'm gettin' it done. Of course, at the rate I'm getting all this "organizing" done, I won't be finished for another five years. Ha ha ha. 

Back Home in Nashville

It's nice to be home.  I found the New Year Maiden in Fairhope.  Yup, decorating.  We still have Little Christmas this weekend, so it's ok.

My SIL, Ellen, picked my name this year for Christmas.  She had this "Nana Claus" made for me by Angie's Unique Creations.  El gave the artist one of mom's old wool jackets which took me a moment to notice.  When Ellen said he was "Nana Claus," I noticed the coat material, and I just cried.  How precious.

Hope you're still ho, ho, hoing and being loved this Season.

Riverside Dishes

Darlene had found this gorgeous set at thrift store in Fairhope.  She phoned me to tell me about them.  They were perfect for the place.  Even have a little frog on the back side.

I didn't know if they would still be there when I arrived.   They were, obviously.

Fifty bucks for the set, again thanks to Darlene.  Are they not perfect?  (Yes, I put them in the dishwasher causing the crackle.)

Love them even more.

Dishes in the Sink

Hub is away, so there are dishes in the sink.

But, these dishes are so pretty sitting there,  in their own pretty way. 

Color My World--Pinky

Here I am redoing the teenager's room, once more. The kid never really did like it, said the paint had a schmere of pink in it. Mmmmk. I thought it was quite the taupe, myself. At any rate, he has moved back into his old room--all we have to do is replace the carpet with wood at some point, and boom, done.

And, so, as I've said before, this is now going to be the "girls' room." Since I have eight nieces, and two that visit several times a year, I'm doing it up dainty and sweet. I've always loved the white-on-white but with some color thrown in.

So, I'm getting this and that together to finish it off. Well, I do have to get mattresses for the beds, in order to really finish it off.

Beth and Janet gave me these gorgeous pieces, and I'm going to frame them for the walls. Love them!

I found these two linen-covered side chairs and this great white pillow to match. Love the wool felt.

And speaking of felted wool, looky at what I found at Liberty of London when I was there! I am SO loving these colors!

Today, these two pillows showed up from Thrifty Miss Priss' Etsy shop! How perfect are they with the linen chairs?

Or even the old rocking chair from a dear friend. It is from her Lake Charlevoix, MI cottage. Sigh.

Of course, Bella has to inspect the "new."

I haven't yet decided how I'm going to arrange the room. With the two beds against the windows (which will have to have different curtains now), we get this wonderful openness when you walk in to the room with my brothers' chest of drawers in the corner.

The two wool throws are from Dublin (Avoca) and Edinburgh (Ness). Love them! The little doggy sachet is from London from years ago. I knew he would end up somewhere pretty.

We went and celebrated the teenager's 21st birthday this weekend in Knoxville. Awwwww. Someone hand me a tissue, please. Ok, ok, I'd settle for a piece of that cake. (BACK on diet here!) Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooof.

Puttering and Prepping

I'm running around a little kookie getting ready for the big trip. I simply cannot wait! Not sure if I mentioned it or not, but my niece Jacq (the cuz) is coming also. Europe AND my niece? It doesn't get much better. Kelly, my gf, will be so proud of me. Just look at the ATLAS Kell! tehe. Have some old books and some new ones strewn about.

Got some new glasses, finally. I'm likin' 'em.

New hair cut today. I'm lovin' it.

Toes? Check. Perty in purple.

Will keep ya posted as we travel about the UK. Let's hope I'm better than I've been recently. Not too good, huh? I'll try and do better.

Now if I could only get BOOGER to upload my photos. Geeeeeesh. Two days in the making here. (I found out I needed to purchase more storage space. I don't like that much.)

Stuff

There was a lone duck heading up river yesterday morning. Wonder where everyone else was? Aww.

This is the table cloth I found in Sonoma. It is perfect! I puttered around the house yesterday. I should have gone out and enjoyed the almost 70˚ weather.

But I cleaned instead. Spring cleaning, I suppose. Dusting, washing, airing, did it all. Well, not really all of it. Can you ever get it all done? I doubt it!

Dust bunnies run rampant down here. I don't know why. Perhaps because it's all hard wood and you can just see them jumping about. Well, I chased them down. But they're back again today. Hmmmm.

Bella and I have been gettin'er done. We even had a painter come out and look at the exterior of the house. Yep. About time to get that done. Ka-ching. Dread that estimate.

Bella is in her element. She so enjoys being the center of attention. If I wonder off doing something else, she comes right up and reminds me to give her some lovin'.

Big news! I finally broke down and got a new cell phone. I had an old flip type and it drives me crazy. (Not that I use the thing all that much, but it did drive me crazy!) I had a free upgrade so I went for it. Only thing is, I can't get my old ring tone back, Crazy Train! That's not right! Lou Reed's Sweet Jane has stepped in for the moment. But, I can't hear that! Crazy Train was up in your face when it rang! Daig.

xo
ro

Playtime

You wonder where I've been?

I've been setting aside a little time each day to play. Won't you join me?

There are sweets scattered about.

And lots of characters to choose from.

Or you can just swim on by.

Or even spin a top while a penguin watches.

And when we're finished playing, we can put it all away for the next day to start anew.

I found this great collection of Japanese erasers in Sausilito, CA at Games People Play and Sausalito Ferry Co.. I think I would enjoy living there on the hills overlooking the San Francisco Bay. What do you think? I think very much so.

xo
ro

Ringing in the New

While in Sonoma, I found some wonderful textiles at The Corner Store. It was a delightful place to do a little shopping. Even the hub found some wonderful wines from Highway 12 Winery and had some shipped back. These table cloths are made by Lisa Corti. I have been having a hard time finding any of my April Cornell cloths around so I was quite pleased when I saw these wonderful Indian block prints as soon as I walked in the store. Little did I know, Lisa's textiles are also very hard to find in the United States. Leave it to me. I am so enamored with the colors, I redid my blog! I didn't even know, but I'm sure this was my inspiration yesterday.

Of course, I had to have these sweet pillow cases for the zen bedroom at Riverside.

I sat and sorted my papers that have been stacking up and watched the snow flurries yesterday. It has been so pretty. The birds have been gorging themselves. And I have been keeping them fed.

Poor little things. I don't think they're accustomed to this cold either. They have been using all of my bird houses I have on the porches. I don't know how they survive. But they do.

I have more Northern Cali to post on. I think I finally put my finger on why I put off doing so for so long. Perhaps once I post, I feel that's it. The time spent doing whatever is over. Poof. Gone. Just a memory. As long as I don't post, it's still fresh. I was so happy to meet up with Vallen in San Francisco, and I want to share it all with you but once I do, it's over. I have yet to post about Thanksgiving--again, not ready to let that go either.

Anyhow, I will get to these posts. Promise.

xo
ro