The Parenting Spectrum

They're off to school...I'm in full meltdown.  After years of watching parents cry while dropping their children off at school, I've spent the last few years observing where I fit in on the Hovering-Absent Parenting Spectrum. (Don't take me too seriously, I'm pretty sure I just made up that whole spectrum thingy.)

Am I the kind to stand crying in the back of the classroom?
Do I  make small talk, hoping my child will say, "I changed my mind!  I don't hate you, Mommy!  Take me home!"
As evidenced yesterday, I'm the: "Drop-and-Run-Have-a-Meltdown-as-the-Bus/Car-Pulls-Away" type.

Danielle loves the whole idea of school, friends, teachers, even hot lunch.  She gets excited-happy when there is something to look forward to and Will has picked up on all the excitement.

"There you go, get on the bus, Be Awesome!" 

At Will's  "Meet the Teacher" day, he had played for a bit and seemed very comfortable.  When I told him it was time to go, he asked,  "But are we going to come back and learn stuff?" ("Good," I'm thinking, "hanging out with his sister has paid off!  This will be a breeze!")

When I dropped him off yesterday, for the first day of PK, I could feel his apprehension.  Here it comes, I thought... The meltdown that he or I didn't want to happen (from either him nor I!)

I did what any tear-fearing parent does - I bolted!  Gave a quick hug, a "Have a great day!" and did my best speed-walking technique out the door.  I didn't even get a picture.   Boo. Shucks. I need a good cry.

Dark Wall Obsession

Loving dark walls lately.  Is it a sign of the times (depressing recession!) or does my 2008 decorating taste show?    

Country Living


Maybe dark walls are classic, here forever, not a passing trend?

House & Garden

In an effort to Pin less (not going well) and do more (going a bit better than usual), I may have done something about my dark wall obsession.

                             The Design Files

Meet the straw that broke the into the black paint can, 

the image that sealed the deal:   Kristin Jackson's kitchen on the Hunted Interior:

                     

the Hunted Interior

 Trend or not, I love a dark wall! 

 Love to you!

Friday Field Trip

 Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.                                                                                         -Mahatma Ghandi

Taliesin

You know that list you've been socially pressured into making  make before a supposedly life-altering birthday?  I'm speeding down the path to a milestone birthday and I could care less except that I made one of those lists.  For reasons too boring to go into, going to Taliesin is on the list.  Today it gets checked off (as long as I don't get lost).  Wish me luck :)  

123 ABC Summer Review

Sometime progress is hard to see, unless you look back to see where you've been.  The beginning of the school year has me looking back at our summer...

1  

Little Blue Egg in a Little Brown Nest  (We spent as much time as possible outside - until it got too hot and too dry!  This nest was found early in the summer on a trailer hitch (!), photo by Miss D.)

2
Little Fish:  Olympic fever took over in the pool this summer!  Those googles make me giggle :)

3 
"On the Pontoon..."  (Don't you love that song!?)  Usually the yard is our summer project - This year we needed a trailer to get our vintage :) pontoon boat to "the lake."  So, Kev made one himself, which meant lots of welding, sandblasting and painting in the heat.  It was so worth it!

A  

All Done!  (Waiting for a loving home!)

B   

Little Boy Blue  (This thrifted cabinet was $1 and I walked away! Haunted by those pulls & I went back to get it;  and now it's the perfect spot for this little dude's trucks.)

C 

Cement, Concrete, Oh My!   

        

We began this concrete pouring odyssey last summer - we had our septic system replaced and wanted to add some new sidewalks and a bike path before reseeding.  Last year, most weekends that we poured, the kids went to their Grandma & Grandpa's (It was too hot to be out with us for the 3-4 hours of steady work.) This time the weather was milder & they're old enough to help with some small chores. 

Miss D helped her dad with the finish work (we sprinkled pea gravel over the top to create some texture), she also found out she can move the (empty) wheelbarrow & got to clean up tools with the hose - always the best job on a warm day!  

Still to do:  lots of dirt-moving, a concrete curb to go around one viburnum bush, fill in the inside of the bike path with landscape fabric and pea gravel, and seed. 

We celebrated completing this last section together because we can ride our bikes around the circle now! Feels like (a bit of) progress...Do you feel like you've made some progress this summer? 

Benjamin Dhong & HB

While we were pouring cement (my glamorous life) I received a wonderful surprise in my inbox . 

Last April, I did a teeny little post that featured Benjamin Dhong's work (and my fascination with faux boix - I forgot about the post, but not Benjamin or that awesome faux boix wallpaper!).  

I was stunned when I received an email from Ben with the photos of his latest work featured in House Beautiful's September Color Issue.  Ben tells me that the young British man who owns this San Francisco home drives an Aston Marten, and wears Bespoke suits.

Listen, most of the time I'm pretty sure I'm fully dressed, drive an "M" - that'd be a GMC with a couple letters missing, and my accent hails from 'da nort'.

That being said, I love Ben's designs!  He gets to know his clients (The client thought he wanted "uber-uber modern").  He uses lots of neutrals (Have you ever tried to "mix" tan, beige, and taupe - It's impossible, unless you happen to have Ben's mad talent!).  He throws in a dash of fun (Did you notice the plate above?).

Ben also isn't afraid to make something:  the rug in the dining room (above) was  pieced together to form the large diagonal pattern.

Ben uses items that "the rest of us" can source:  "I love contrasts - nothing brings me more joy than mixing old, new, high and low pieces."

 

The rug in the family room above is from West Elm .  West Elm, people! 

The Saarinen table is classic (You can find Saarinen style tables on Ebay!) and the mix of seating is perfection (You could do that!).  The art above the sofa is a William Curtis Wolf photo has me itching to try this photo enlarging DIY.  (Anyone else want that little brass table and basket?!)

This Cole & Son wallpaper sings when paired with shiny accessories:  like the awesome mirror and the "helmut head" lamp...  This is a case when "Helmut Head" is a really good thing!   And be still my faux bois heart, get me a Bayer, that Oly table!

Hello?  Are you still there?  I've taken the Bayer and dashed off to my sumptuous banquette.  Is there really a woman out there who has not fantasized about a British accent, an Aston Marten (maybe a Jaguar) and a living room like this?

Well, Anita liked the living room mirrors and asked where to find them on the HB Start a Conversation page and guess what?  Ben responded that you can find the mirrors in downtown Los Angeles on La Cienega. 

Which brings me to my final point:  Ben is nice.  Maybe he has people to respond to internet queries...(I do so want people, where are my people?).

People or no, I think it's obvious that Ben cares about his art.  He cares about how it affects his clients and how it affects those of us who buy the magazine.   He takes his work seriously and yet it's clearly fun for him to create these amazing spaces.  (You must see the Chinoiserie bed in the guest room!)

Thank goodness there's someone out there being kind to those Aston-Marten-driving British men.  (And the rest of us, too!)  Thank you Ben! 

You can read the HB interview here.

Cheers to you!

 

"Holiday" Weekend

How many of you have lots of projects planned for your weekend?  We spent our weekends last summer pouring concrete and like Bill Murray in Groundhog's Day:  Here we go again!

Kev built the forms, I mixed the concrete and together we made...

...these!  And the sidewalks, too.  The master plan involves a "bike path" for these two country kids to enjoy...we have to hustle though, they're growing up fast!

This weekend we'll be fixing up the spot by the (purty) propane tank...because it's a holiday, after all.

Stay cool, my friends!

Cabinet Hardware

Remember when I confessed my love of these handles?

I've added them (in another style) to our painted, plain melamine drawer fronts.
Let me tell you, melamine is tough as nails. (One reason I'm not too eager to replace these cabinets all together, just yet!)

"Before"

   

The handles remind me of a smile under a handlebar mustache (cheerful, no?) and they make the most lovely little *clink* sound when opening and closing these plain drawers. 

Hardware Overload?

Everyday Moments

It forever "seems like yesterday" when you're the parent.  My kids have been busy doing the things that kids do and I've been busy trying to keep up with them, while trying to stay present to the moments that matter.

My daughter is preparing for her First Eucharist.

It's a full circle moment, watching her do the things I did as a child.

Farming the land is in full swing around here, every chance my son gets, he is outside, walking in his dad's, grandpa's or uncles' steps.  Which usually involves at least one tractor to get the day's work done.

I have loved this perpetual journal idea from Abby for a while and finally got around to doing something about it:

I used a thrifted sea-foam index card holder, prettied it up with some MS home office products to make a spot to record those little-big moments.

Like the things they say and do: 

"Grandma, can you pass me one of those chickens?"  

(Little Mr.'s explanation of deviled eggs being served at lunch.)  and

"Mom makes me craps every Sunday." 

(From Miss D. in her weekly writing from school...that'd be crepes :) 

Do you record your family's memorable moments?  Do tell!

May your day be full of *little big* moments!

Love to you!

Fabulous

These pillows haunted me after a visit to my favorite antiques store.  I have a (now flexible) rule about anything stuffed from anywhere - "New stuffing only!"   I broke my rule and bought them. (They were $7.00 each!)

Remember when we used our old pantyhose to stuff a pillow?
Remember pantyhose?
Does anyone call them "pantyhose" anymore?

They received a tearing apart. (Yes, I *gasp* threw away the pantyhose filler.)

I am so in love with needlework in general...as long as someone else has done it!

I added to green velvet backings, zippers and some new stuffing...And they have a cozy spot on our sofa...

This weekend  I was reading Jonathan Adler's Happy Chic Colors...

...and I stopped my tracks when I saw this picture of Diana Vreeland in her Billy Baldwin designed, red, Red(!) living room - and that little pillow there!
Check out the view in the mirror, too - the art, the tulips, the "inspiration board"...the swag!  And, Doh!, I want a floral sofa now!

via

You just never know where something fabulous might lead you...
Someday I'll be lounging on my chintz sofa...
My grandchildren will sit in a little chair next to me.
(They'll take turns because they are such lovely little dears.)
And I'll quote Ms. Vreeland:  "Too much good taste can be boring."
Or possibly myself:  "YOU are full of Fabulousness!"

Love to you!