Random Thoughts 9/1/2012

Here is the floral bucket I finished recently. Read about it here.

There was a mother nursing her 4 year-old little boy on the cover of a magazine recently. I only saw it in the news but there was a big flap over her nursing and/or doing it on the cover of a magazine. I didn't read the article of course so I have no idea what the story was about but I do think the nudity on the cover of a magazine was inappropriate. Why would someone even think to "pose" for that kind of article? I believe our bodies are sacred and wouldn't want mine splashed over the world like that. I have absolutely NO problem if a breast-feeding mom would like to nurse at my home, even without a cover over her, but most women I know cover up. But, personally, I love watching babies suckle. It's sweet to watch their little cheeks trying to get their nourishment. My granddaughter would cover up when nursing here because of her grandpa but if he wasn't here, I didn't mind it. After all, I powdered, kissed and changed that little behind many, many times. I still love patting her 32-year old bottom!

I'm supposing it's just a sign of the times when nothing is sacred. Modesty is laughed upon and I know it's going to get worse. What some people do for notoriety just astounds me sometimes.
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When hubby saw the feather boa on the refurbished lamp, he said it looked like it was going to take flight. Actually, when we turned the ceiling fan on it did blow feathers all over the living room for a while.
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Pink has always been around. It's a color for men also. I've dressed my hubby in it for many years and he's gotten so many compliments on his wardrobe. Just lately it's been held in high esteem and we've become adventurous in displaying it. It's always been my favorite color, but I'm seeing it more and more in decorating than ever. I always look for pink shirt, ties, etc. for him. He loves standing out!
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It is one of my goals to never desire a knowledge of other people's business. When I know too much, I'll start judging. And who am I to judge? I'm an imperfect human being who doesn't like being judged. Just stop it.
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Today is the birthday of one of my grandsons. He's the youngest grandchild. He's so funny. He's a teenager now but when he was primary age, he said to me, "Nana, isn't it funny that I was born on Labor Day? Labor Day? Get It?" He was such a young age I didn't even think he knew about labor in connection with childbirth. He laughed himself silly over that one. Squirt! :-)

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My favorite wall decoration—pink and white stripes, though this one does look more pink and darker pink.

Sweet window in an old stone house with white sheer curtains to let in light and bright pansies in the window for color.

An absolutely stunning display of ribbon work.

Sweet slipcovered chair. Almost looks like a doll house.

Another thatched cottage in a field of yellow daffodils.

I have a friend with chickens and a chicken coop. This isn't it, but she's going to photograph it for me to show you...real soon. Right, Stacey?!

A beautiful pink and white room. Love this one.

Simply a place to stroll I thought you'd like to see.

A neat little room with fanciful wall cubbies for displaying trinkets.

It doesn't get much better than laundry drying on the line for me. Reminds me of my kids' diapers billowing on the line while the sun bleached them white in the California sun while we mums sat in the cool shade of the grass watching the munchkins play on the jungle jims in military housing. Wistful memories.

I saw this dress and thought it was too beautiful to not show you.

Gorgeous display of crystal and beautiful deep pink roses.

A very neat way to store fabrics and art supplies. Mine will never look this great!

I swoon over this darling entrance to someone's home.

I just had cake and ice cream while creating this blog post. I think, however, you'd all like this cupcake above chocolate ones. ;-)

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Random Thoughts 6/22/12

Random Thoughts:

My son's friend was married to a Russian woman briefly several years ago. I think it was one of those mail-order bride situations. Her parents came over to visit them in Southern California, first visit ever, and they were stymied by all the food and food items available as well as the orchards. They couldn't believe the orchards in Southern California didn't have fences around them. (Now, we're talking S. Cal here, where most people have a few trees in their backyards even.) Anyway, they were aghast at the plethora of orchards. They said in Russia all the orchards had fences around them and if you tried to pick the fruit, you'd be shot as there were sentries posted. How awful that must be. They even "sneaked" into an orchard and pulled a few oranges off to eat while visiting. So if you ever think about living in the eastern European countries, think of what you'd be missing.
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My hubs' brother and his family lived in Italy for several years. Their apartment came with walls. That's it. No cabinets, floors, sinks, toilets, etc. You got walls. When they moved into the apartment, a window was broken. It took months to get another one. You don't just walk into Home Depot and get one. You wait and wait and wait. I think they were happy to go to Belgium after that. ;-) But I haven't heard the Belgium stories either.
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Living in actual cowboy country I made this observation: Cowboys don't whistle at women; they nod when passing. Yep, they sure do. Cowboys are the last true American men, in my opinion.
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A couple of weeks ago, I read about a woman on American Idol who didn't win. (Having had no television for over 25 years, we have never seen AI.) But her reaction was: I have absolutely nothing. Seriously, how ungrateful can a young person be? What does it say about our society when a very young woman laments that she has nothing?! She lives in the best country on the face of the earth. She has some talent or she wouldn't have been a contestant on a television show. She has the ability to set her own fate. She could get a job!! She's alive and breathing. I'm sure she has food provided to her by her mummy and dada. In the photo accompanying this story, she had on a very pretty dress. What does she mean she has nothing? How tragic she must be.
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The above young woman sounds like a few other people I know who have upgraded basic stupidity to disability level.
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Now on to some beauty:

What the woman who lives in this home did to her sofa is fantastic. Just adorable. Of course, I love that style.

More white slipcovers in this cute living room.

How clever to display your roses and carnations in a button jar.

I’d love to have a bathroom with a shower that didn’t need a door or shower curtain. This color is beautiful also.

Tiny office but it’s enough. Very clever and so attractive you don’t have to hide it. Looks to be a closet turned into an office.

More lovely blossoms surrounding this entrance to several apartments.

Another unique birdhouse. I plan on getting some more done in the next several weeks.

Another clever and innovative homeowner using a basket to hold towels. Look at the sprigs of evergreens in her toilet tissue.

Pretty porch done on the cheap it looks like. Cute and cozy.

And yet another pretty sun porch to laze around on.

This homeowner likes exactly what I do also. Lots of cushy seat pillows and roses everywhere I can find a spot to put them.

This is a miniature garden. I’ve never done one but they are cute if you like tiny things.

Another clever idea for a laundry room. I don’t think I could stand doing laundry in a dreary room or area. I did mine just like the rest of my home—pink with roses border and pictures hanging in there.

Another tiny fairy garden. Cute!

I like the wallpaper and the curtains best. But the whole room is lovely.

Somebody’s eye candy in their studio. ;-)

A crown someone made. Why don’t you make one to put around your living room or wherever you choose. I have one in my bedroom on a shelf, but I am going to bring it out into my living room so everyone can see it.

Cakes we love to look at and not even eat. This whole setting is just adorable.

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Sofa Slipcover

I'm thinking of having a slipcover made for the sofa and wanted to get a good picture for the interior decorator who is helping me. Sounds la-de-da, huh? Nuuuuu, not at all.

I could not seem to find anyone around here who makes them. A blogger said she could make them for me but she lives in the east and I'm in the west about 2,000 miles away. She assured me it could be done by sending measurements, photos and such. I checked with IKEA when we were over there in June but their slipcovers ONLY fit their sofa styles. I thought about it and was going to let the blogger do it, but then I went on the Ethan Allen website. TaDa!!! They now have a sofa that is just like my sofa that I bought from them 15 years ago.

I called their store in Boise, chatted with the interior decorator explaining that I saw on the website where they can do slipcovers. She checked and said they could but only for specific styles. (Actually, they can do a slipcover for ANY sofa but it would cost about $1200 custom made—just for the slipcover!) The style is exactly the same as my sofa. I measured and sent them to her via email and she checked and said yes, it could be done for my style. I was ecstatic especially when I heard the price that I saw was definitely worth it. Can we say $400.00?! I tell you that's a steal for perfect fit slipcovers.

Eye candy: roses on my coffee table. Onward...

From the side of the victorian vase. I love them thick and plentiful in that vase.

Here are the photos along with my measurements I sent her. How serendipitous is this??? Fifteen years old, and I don't have to spend $2,000 buying a new one when this is in perfect like-new condition. Just slipcover it in white thick upholstery! This photo is indicative of the true color of the sofa. The room is so dark it shows much darker when I try to photograph it from across the room. I shall be getting a solar tube next! I need more light in the front of this house.

Anyway, here are some style of Ethan Allen sofas I love and though it looks exactly like mine it isn't quite because of the size—just an inch or two off. These photos are smaller because I pulled them off the website.
Same with this one. It's the exact same style but an inch or two off.
This is a favorite style of mine but it starts at $1900.00 and that's just not gonna cut it at the moment. Love Bunny would protest vociferously, trust me.

I also like this style. It comes in 3 cushion style also, but it starts at $1800 and...well, you get the point.
I'm so happy tonight I could just spit! Now, I have to tell Love Bunny. Wish me luck. *Sigh*...
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