Laundry Rooms 2

A few thoughts before I show you these gorgeous laundry rooms and accoutrements.

Why is it when a hubby retires all of a sudden my cabinets and pantry need rearranging? Or I can't cook?! I've done these things for him—even while maintaining a job—for over 51 years. It's getting out of control around here and I'm going to have to put my foot down, perhaps on HIS foot. ;-) I love keeping my home...MY way.
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One of the reasons for my recent surgery involved birthing 9 pound babies. Our daughter was 9 lbs. 1 oz. She was also 23" long. Hubs told someone the other night she was 24". I said, No, she was 23" and he looked at me and said, "I was there." I looked at him and said, "No, you weren't. You dropped me off at the hospital and returned the car we had to borrow to get there. But I was definitely there and have the birth certificate to prove it." I had to call him on the phone and tell him she had arrived. Father's memories, hah!
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Why should we have to tip at the ice cream parlor? They scoop up an ice cream cone and hand it to me after I've waited in line for several minutes. They get a wage. And at almost $9 for 2 dishes of ice cream I don't think I should have to tip. Same with buffets. I do all the work except clean up the table. Wait. Sometimes, we even do that! You want a tip, give me some real service. And I tip restaurants nicely for good service also.
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It is not from the benevolence of the butcher or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from a regard to their own interest. Greed was what compels every business to serve its customers. It's what has guaranteed the best product at the best price. I pay premium prices for the best meat and expect my butcher to sell me the best quality and if, after cooking, it doesn't measure up, then I take the receipt back and expect either money back or another piece of meat. It hasn't happened often, but it has happened and I've been compensated with a smile. That's what good companies do and good customers expect.
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My hubs has often not heard my yes or no answer to a question or has misinterpreted it. I now answer right or correct to his question.

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I loved this little sign when I saw it and have no doubt you'll also drool over it. Your hubs could make it easily for you.

Small, economical and it works!

This also is tiny and can work well.

We need a new laundry hamper and I'm leaning towards one like this. Looks sturdier than the one we have now.

The color is what drew me here. You can tell, right?

Small, tidy, efficient and could also be done in a garage laundry area.

Okay, so some megabucks people live here and it would be a waste of space for me but it sure is pretty for the maid when doing laundry.

Cute and colorful.

Even getting back to basics can be cute and updated!

I've always liked the idea of pretty containers for laundry soap in my laundry room.

Just too much room for me and th' hubs but it looks like they've adapted it to gift wrapping also. This room has more cabinet space than I have in my whole house!

I'd love to have that soap dish and container hanging on the wall. Cute and practical.

A homeowner revamped her basement to make it user-friendly and pretty when she has chores to do down there. She's hidden all kinds of pipes and ugly walls with just curtains. Works magically. Lovely.

Small, elegant and cute.

Part of a laundry room. I like how the owner used the door knobs as holders though.

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Answering the Front Door

The flowers in this mosaic are all from my gardens.

The winner of the giveaway is Olivia of Olivia's Romantic Home. She's been notified and is very excited! Olivia, I've told you before that you have one of my favorite names. I also want to thank you for joining in. The ribbon tree, Living Beautifully book and coffee filter roses have truly found a darling home in which to live, Sugar!
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We have a security system in our home. We had one in California and after several years here, I decided to have one installed in our new house. Just a precaution after a bit of a scary experience once when hubs wasn't home. The security system was installed by a professional. We installed cameras where I can see who is on our property around the house. Very simple and easy to do. The significant fact here is that hubs is gregarious and I'm not. He chats up anybody!

Anyway, sitting here in my office/computer room or sitting in our living room are 2 small (by today's standards) 19" televisions I purchased at a thrift store for $10 and $15 a piece. I don't have to answer my door if I don't want to. And I don't if I don't recognize the person at the door. There's also a sign out front that says: 'Absolutely Positively No Soliciting of any kind!!!' You'd be astounded at the people who cannot read! I've been thinking of adding 'And we've found Jesus', but if they can't read the first part then why would I presume that they could read the second part either. Sigh.

Anyway, a few weeks ago, the doorbell rang. Hubs was in his office and can't hear the doorbell in there. I looked at the TV and it wasn't anyone I knew. I went in to ask th' hubs if he recognized the man out front with a clipboard (Does this not scream solicitor?!). He said no, but he was edging toward the door. I stopped him immediately because 1) He's a sucker for any sales pitch, especially if it's a woman. 2) He'd invite anyone in just to chat. He kept edging and I kept holding his arm to keep him from opening the door. In the end, I won, but I could tell he was itching to open that door and see what the guy wanted. I'm not so curious. ;-) However, next time, I may just have break his arm to keep him from answering the door.
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A quaint and pretty restaurant entrance in France.

I just thought this photo was so colorful and cute with that darling lamp and shade, wallpaper and table I had to share it with you.

A pretty gravel-strewn patio for resting and eating. Looks like a restaurant. Certainly, one I'd want to visit.

Colorful door and enchanting entrance, even if the photo is not very good.

Pretty roses-strewn vintage, rustic gate.

Probably a store with luxurious white goods, towels, sheets, gowns, pillows, etc.

More luxurious embroidered linens.

A dreamy sitting/living/music room.

Today I'm wishing I were here as I've been stuck in this house now for a week without going anywhere. Sigh...

Colorful quilts and linens. I must be on a linen kick here! ;-)

The minute I saw this patio with the red umbrellas I was enthralled. An old stone building that the resident in this apartment jazzed up with vibrant color.

Lamps are a weakness of mine and I change them more often than most people do. I truly believe they add one of the essential finishing touches to a room. Hubs agrees with me on this. And, trust me, he doesn't agree with much of what I do in the way of decorating but he lets me fly on my own wings. He loves me beyond any reason I can comprehend.

I have no clue where this mall is but a mall that has this gorgeous lighting is a place I'd love to shop.

A luxury bath I thought you'd like to see and dream about.

Just a bit of eye candy to leave you with today.

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 By creating beauty and order where you live and work, you will be controlling the private hours of your life.
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Linking up with Mosaic Monday.

Couture #12

This is the last couture series. I'm not particularly liking them much. I might throw in a few haute couture designs in with my regular blog posts, but that's it. I originally thought it would save me some time but that's not happening. And, frankly, I prefer doing regular posts about life and such. It has much more meaning to me than expensive clothing.

Haute couture. Enjoy! I think you'll love these creations. Remember to think about the gorgeous fabrics and the actual construction of the garment. Have you noticed yet that gloves are coming back? I've seen a lot of models wearing them and even ones with the fingers cut out as you'll see below.

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Another Travel Story

As I stated in a recent post, my son was in Scotland golfing while his son was in Europe seeing the sights of several countries. Son's girlfriend just graduated University and wanted to see the sites of places she would be teaching about: arts and sciences. Grandson went along to protect her and keep her company.

One country, which is known pretty much for its snobbishness, lived up to their expectations. They would ask for directions and knowing these people speak English, as most European countries do, they refused to answer in English. The only people who would help them were other tourists. It left a stain on their reputation along with many other stains. And truthfully, they don't come any kinder or sweeter than my grandson or his girlfriend.

When grandson's girlfriend—let's call her Miss S—went into a restaurant to order a sandwich to go, the waitress put it in a paper bag, Miss S reached for some napkins on the counter and almost got her hand smacked, and did get a finger wagged in her face. Rude beyond words! She was told not to touch anything on the counter, in English this time.

Now, I can speak a bit of other languages to get me around a country just a bit, but truthfully, most of the countries I've been to have been kind and gracious. But that's pretty much on this side of the world. The other side? Not so much. But I at least can tell them to speak slowly so I can get directions, but truthfully I've never been treated shabbily by any country I've visited.

Our daughter had a similar experience with some travelers on an airplane coming back from the Mediterranean 3 years ago. Same country, same obnoxiousness. Loud, rude and overbearing. Refusing to be considerate of other passengers. We experienced that once with some Austrian students on our plane. Totally obnoxious.

So my advice to anyone is to not think those countries we lust to visit are sweet, kind, friendly and willing to accept Americans. They are NOT! That's one of the reasons I refuse to travel abroad anymore.
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Isn't this one of those kind of houses that you'd see in Connecticut or Rhode Island? I lived in Newport, R.I. for a very short time when I was very young.

A gorgeous Spanish-style home. Lovin' all those windows.

These are all items from Green Gate in Denmark. I'd love to have some but I truly don't need any more plates.

These little tins are a favorite of mine also. I'll check and see how much they are. I can always use more storage things.

They have aprons, sheets, fabric, towels and storage things in the most gorgeous prints and colors.

Another example of their wares. Aren't they scrumptious?

Pretty fabrics in lovely prints.

They even have soaps and lotions.

And pretty ribbons.

And buckets!

A wonderful secluded area for a private luncheon.

Isn't this patio beautiful with the fabric curtains blowing in the breeze? And even a canopy of canvas to temper the midday sun.

Another quiet area to lull around on lazy summer afternoons.

A simple clean bath area in blue, pink, green and yellow. Well done!

A cute way to show off your garden roses in Mason jars on a rustic vintage bench.

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