This bed is one of the most beautiful beds I've ever seen. Can you imagine curling up on this beauty? You would most definitely have to have a large bedroom to put it in. If this found its way to my front door I certainly would be squealing like a little girl and FIND A WAY to make it fit. Blow the roof off the master bedroom .....

Then of course I'd have to replace the railing on the stairs with this beauty.

And while I'm at it - the firescreen in the family room.


Best of all I'd have to bulldoze the neighbor's houses to create a garden to showcase this baby. Don't get me wrong - I love my neighbors. This is for art's sake after all!!!!

All of these incredible pieces of art were created by Shawn Lovell from Oakland, CA. Check out her gallery - this girl knows her metal!

LOVE IT !!!

Monet's Garden

Today the girls and I spent the day at the Denver Botanical Gardens. They are taking Summer classes with the Seedlings Group - how cute of a name is that?

Today's class was all about Monet, Giverney, and the style in which he painted. We met at the gazebo and listened to a story about a little girl that visited with Monet and asked him all about his garden.

Of course this is my small one standing.

Than we walked about the Monet Garden and found settings that were created to replicate some of the Masters' paintings.

And last, but certainly not least, we did watercolors of what we thought Monet had seen in his time ....

What they saw.

What was painted.

Oh what fun we had ... Mom didn't want to leave. But the girls had others plans for the 95 degree heat. They couldn't wait to get home and get in the nice cold pool.

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

To Sleep Under The Stars

I miss sleeping under the stars in the summertime.

When I was a little girl my cousin and I would sleep outside in the tree house that my uncle built for her. We would drag every pillow and blanket that my aunt would let us get our mitts on. We would listen to the crickets and foxes as they did their thing. Back then the stars were so incredibly bright and seemed to twinkle all night.

Well I have no trees in my yard that would hold a tree house so I'll need to come up with some alternatives. Something to hold myself and hubby with the occasional small fry.

walla2chicks Flickr

Wouldn't it be awesome to have one of these swings on your porch? I'd have to put a TON of pillows on this baby. LOVE the bolsters.

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Curl up with a good book and a nice cold glass of wine on this beauty. Would definitely need to add a nice cuddly throw.

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Penobscot Bay

This lovely one is a cross between a hammock and a swing made out of canvas. As pretty as it is I'm not sure the back of it will stand up to a 3 and 4 year old. I can see the back flips and somersaults over it now.

Cottage Living

Bedtime stories for all could be told on this colorful little thing. The bebes would have a blast on it. Not sure much sleeping would happen on this without rolling off one side or another.

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Found this little ditty on the Lowes website. Hmmmm, this may be possible yet. A little tweak here. A little twist there. We'll see........

Craigslist Contemplation

I will be taking a look at these tomorrow........

Craigslist post states: "Hi, we are selling these 3 beautiful Vintage Italian Nesting tables.. the smallest is a music box they are all immaculate and beautiful inlaid with flowers..must see to believe!! "

Man, I hope that I hate them.

UPDATE: Hated them so much I couldn't live with out them. I will never tell what I paid for them.

Happy Fathers Day

Happy Fathers Day to all of the wonderful men in my life. Those that are near me and far away. I am so lucky to have you all. You are such a blessing to me.
Fathers, grandfathers, and husbands. Our families would be nothing with out you all.
I married into a family of boys - firefighter boys to be exact. My husband is a lieutenant, my bother-in-law a captain, and my father-in-law a chief. It's a family thing. I have learned a lot about boys from them. They are strong, loyal, family oriented, and just like us girls - they gossip. They sound like a bunch of old hens. I kid you not. But they are incredible fathers to their children and assets to our communities. These guys amaze me.

Pish Posh

Family Rose

I think that this rose in my backyard is the most beautiful rose in the world .
You see, it came from a little house on this street in Fort Worth, Texas. This address has belonged to the same man for over 50 years.
Four little boys were brought up in this house. They grew up and left home for college, jobs, and experiences that life had to offer.
As the boys scattered their lives across the U.S. grandbabies were had. But many, many Summers found this little house full of love and laughter when they all returned to visit. The man that built this house and tended the double lot loved spending his time "puttering". His yard was the envy of the neighborhood. I spent many hours in this yard by his side.
This is the house today - sitting empty for over a year. It will be sold with in the next 45 days. My Grandfather would have a fit if he had the eyesight to see it today. His yard was his pride and joy. It is now a barren shell of it's former glory.
This is the man today - a little like his house. The same man to me that he has always been. Probably a little too high on that pedestal that I placed him on. None the less, he means the world to me and my heart hurts to see him like this.
This is the rosebush on it's way to it's new home in Colorado. It had the entire back of the Jeep to itself. A Thule cargo coffin for the roof had to be bought to bring home the luggage. So when it bloomed this week - it's first Summer in it's new home - I cried. Not just a little, but a lot.
Pardon me while I go grab a tissue to wipe off the laptop.

On the Hunt For Chairs

Well now that we know that the new (to me) couch for the Living Room is much different than what was originally there, we need to focus on finding chairs that reflect the new feel.

Donald Kirby

I say "feel" because I really want to move away from theme rooms. Those rooms that look like you just stepped in to a model home in suburbia. But alas, I do digress because I am wanting something along the lines of County French - but extreme laid back Country French. Lots of linen, worn silk, beige, tan, green, a little red.

I am on the Craiglist - thrift store look out for a pair of over sized bergeres to redo. No luck so far. I really do not want wing backs as they are too large - but if I somehow came across something like this that I could afford .... I certainly wouldn't rule it out.
Remember this is all an experiment to see what I can do with next to no money, time to hunt, and a little taste. Of course taste is subjective.

Craigslist and Manners

Craigslist is the next best thing to sliced bread in my opinion. Good way to buy decent used furniture without having to drive all over the place - even tho I do love the thrill of the hunt. Pictures are posted, contact is made, and a sell is done.

Best way to look at furniture on Craigslist is using the Bye Bye List. You get to browse quickly by looking at a table of pictures. That's how I bought my fabulous French reproduction settee . . .

Which by the way is BEAUTIFUL - getting reupholstered in a beige silk velvet.

Since I am changing my decor I need to get rid of a few pieces of furniture myself. I have a beautiful couch and love seat listed . . .

And some GORGEOUS metal and glass tables . . .

I have gotten quite a few emails and phone calls on said pieces. Even had appointments for individuals to come and look at them. Set times - rearranged lives. All to help each other out.

My Mother taught me that if you tell someone - especially in doing business - that you will do something or meet them at a certain time you do so. If for some reason you have a change of plans you call and let them know so that they are not sitting around waiting for you to show.

Is it just me or do manners even exist anymore???????????

PS. Anyone interested?