From the German Collection . . .

German-icure . . .

Every Month is Oktoberfest . . .

Maria's Rule #25:  When your spirit needs a lift, get a pedicure.

Autumn is creeping in . . .

Autumn showed up at my house this weekend . . .

I guess it's settling in for a nice visit . . .

Lee's 60th birthday!

Here's the birthday guy with four of his six siblings . . . 

Left to right:  Laurie, Rina, Mary Ann, Robert and Lee . . .

Left to right:  Moi, my younger brother, Al, and my half-sister, Carely.  I think this is the only picture that I know of, in which the three of us are together . . .

My sister-in-law, Mary Ann, reminding Lee that humor is the best anti-aging weapon . . .

Happy birthday, darling!

John's Room Updated

The "before" pictures were taken on July 9, 2008.  We had just put in the flooring and freshened the room with paint and new bedding.  After four years, the comforter was looking a little ragged so we bought new bedding in preparation for my sister's visit this past summer, but since this was John's room, I dragged him to the store to pick it out.  It's been fascinating to watch the evolution of his taste and his flare for organization.  This room is so John.

2008 . . .  John's favorite color has always been green, but when we bought this bedding he was deep into green.  Everything had to be green, his blanket, his clothes, his backpack, his pencils . . . green, green, green . . . I was a little bored with it . . .

NOW . . .  While he still loves green, he's experimenting with other colors.  I almost fainted when he picked out this plaid quilt from Nautica.  I would have been O.K. with whatever he picked for his room, but, boy, am I glad he picked this one!  I really like it!  I have a weakness for both, quilts and plaid.

2008 . . .  This was the first room in the house to have the wider molding installed at the base of the wall.  It may seem like a little thing, but it really added a nice architectural touch to a bland, contemporary space.  Lee has slowly replaced the trim in most of the house now . . .

NOW . . . From IKEA - a two-shelf "Billy" bookcase that can also double as a nightstand.  John chose the black-brown finish.  The lamp is also from IKEA.

2008 . . .  This dresser was my husband's when he was a boy.  Besides the sentimental value, it was built so well that it will be around forever . . .

NOW . . .  The empty wall is now covered with a copper etching project that my son completed at school and a Macbeth poster from a recent production . . .

Here's a closeup of the copper etchings.  John also made the frame - an aluminum one with embossed marks that mimic the ones on his etchings.  It makes for a very finished work! 

2008 . . . The desk and study area are reflecting John's emerging interest in things oriental, with bamboo growing in a pot, green and red boxes placed together, chinese symbols for Harmony, Happiness, Serenity and Peace, framed in jade-green linen  . . .

NOW . . . I took these pictures after John left for college in August, so his printer is missing.  He's added bookcases from IKEA - the good ol' "BILLY" bookcases in black-brown . . .

He's also added a memento/vision board to the right of his desk . . .

Here's my favorite item from his board . . . It's a bumper sticker that at first glance reads "EARTH" but upon closer inspection you can pull out the word "ART" from its center. John is majoring in Fine Arts and Education. 

The green floating shelf has now been replaced with a black-brown shelf with brackets from IKEA.  The red pencil holder to the right, was one of John's first projects in clay . . .

He still has it now . . .  It reminds me of the John Hancock Building here in Chicago . . .

John even made the pulls for his ceiling fan.  He made the glass beads in his little basement workshop.

This room has been a haven and an art laboratory where John's tried out his latest interests.  While I'm happy and proud of what he's doing now, I miss him.  There's no way that such a strong, creative personality would not be missed.



I am participating in PHOTO OF THE DAY at Two Peas in a Bucket and METAMORPHOSIS MONDAY at Between Naps on the Porch.

Vacation in Texas

We visited Texas in early July and I'm just getting around to posting some pictures.  It's amazing how quickly time gets away from us!

We stayed with my in-laws, Robert and Barb, and were shown a most generous hospitality.  So many little touches that were added just to make us feel welcome.  My sister-in-law ran out and bought a new hair dryer, just so I wouldn't have to bring mine and add to the weight of our luggage.  There were delightful soaps in the bathroom, as well as an assortment of other goodies, in case we forgot to bring something . . . We had access to a ton of pillows . . . Coffee -  and this is an important one for me - was readied the night before, so when I woke up early there was a cup waiting for me.  I think this is part of their normal routine, but it still made me feel pampered . . .

Barb is like a sister to me.  She is the kindest, most thoughtful person I've ever met.  Every single wish on my bucket list was granted, including hearing her sing again . . . that was such a treat!  She has a deep alto voice that mellows any mood . . .

Oh, and the other hunk of love, is my brother-in-law, Robert.  The guy who dragged out a big clunky fan to keep the mosquitoes away from us, so we could enjoy the fireworks on the 4th along the lake . . . The guy who rode around the block one more time to find a closer parking spot . . .
Excellent listeners . . . flexible . . . fun . . .  Who'd want to "Mess with Texas" if it has made room for residents like this . . . ?

Sunflowers . . .

 . . . are not beautiful . . .

 
They are powerful.



“Light-enchanted sunflower, thou

Who gazest ever true and tender

On the sun's revolving splendour.”
                                                      —Pedro Calderón de la Barca

Cameras, Craziness, Scissors, Eiffel Tower . . .

“I can't find my camera,” I said to the room at large.  I use a small point-and-shoot camera, so it's very easy to misplace (not that I had ever lost it before, mind you, but I'm just saying, in theory, it would be very easy to misplace it).  I love this little camera.  It has seen me through two high school graduations and countless vacations.  I'm attached to my little friend.

We looked everywhere throughout the weekend and at work on Monday.  Nothing.  The camera had simply vanished . . .

Then my older son came home from Colorado, where he was attending a conference, and promptly confessed that he borrowed my camera because he didn't feel like hauling his fancy-schmancy Nikon camera all over the place!  And, by the way, he had taken it from my desk, so the camera wasn't out gallivanting some place where it didn't belong!!!  Arghhh!!!!!!!  I didn't know whether to cry for joy or to yell in frustration!

This is an outrage!  This is abuse of a middle-aged woman!  This is gaslight!  My family is conspiring to drive me crazy!!!!!

Well, my son has now been properly chastised.  Borrowing is O.K., not letting Mom know . . . BAD!

And what did I want to photograph that started the search to begin with?

This darling embroidery scissors, brought back to me from Paris as a souvenir by a dear friend!  She had seen my stork embroidery scissors shown here and thought I might like these.  Might?  I adore them!!!  They are made by Sajou, the famous French scissors manufacturers.  It's made to resemble the Eiffel Tower and even comes with a tassel and an Eiffel Tower charm.  Is this souvenir over the top, or what???  Vive la France!!!  And thank you, thank you, thank you, Sue!  I guess this is the beginning of a beautiful collection . . .