A Beach Story

Soon, within the next day or so, I'm going to show you some of the couture items I've been looking at on the internet. I've gathered about 320 photos of gorgeous couture from all over the net. I had been posting about 18 photos on each post and have cut back to 15 each post recently which should start about the middle of July. (I was thinking it was too much for y'all and it might become boring for you.) As I've said before, I schedule them out for weeks at a time. I like to keep ahead of the game. ;-) And I've started posting every 2 days instead of almost every day or at my whimsey. It was just getting to be a hassle because of things that are happening in my life at this moment in time. (Okay, I'm having surgery the middle of July and didn't want to say anything until it was over. But as you'll read in a post for July 10th, you'll understand why. I'll be fine, no cause for concern.)

Anyway, I'm going to post the couture blog posts in between. After viewing them and salivating, I thought it was kind of mean to not show them to all of you AND I just was lazy in not wanting to take the time to grab them, edit them in Photoshop, resize them pixel wise and them upload them to Photobucket and then make a blog post for them. That takes a LOT of time. I am thinking that I'll just post them with no stories or comments, just the photos, to save myself time. However, I've been known to change my mind. In other words, I can't shut up! While I am a very good listener, I'm a very good talker also. But, trust me, you will not want to miss seeing these gorgeous dresses and gowns. They are beyond belief. You'll see. I'll need a few days just to get them ready to post on my blog. You will absolutely not be disappointed. If you are, your money will be refunded. Cheerfully! :-)
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As I mentioned earlier in this post (I think), I'm not fond of the ocean. Here is the story.

One year when we were in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, hubs and I got tired of the pools at the hotel and decided to hit the beach and ocean. There were many people on the beach that day. He's brave and fearless of the ocean so he went in first on the small alcove of beach. I tiptoed in later. We went out to about my chest or neck area and when I had my back to the ocean, a huge wave came in and knocked me off my feet and tossed me around quite a bit. I truly couldn't tell which way was up. When people talk about this now I know exactly what they mean. I looked for light but couldn't see any. Finally, my face hit bottom sand and I knew then which way to go up to the surface. It scared me like nothing ever had before. You are truly disoriented as to direction. Don't think it can't happen to you because that's what I thought. I poo-pooed people that said that.

He helped me to the beach and many people were standing there to help in any way they could. I had wretched my back a bit and was tender for a while. He led me to the outdoor shower and I had so much sand in my bathing suit that I couldn't get it out even after we went home. In fact, I had sand coming out of you-know-where for weeks after that. Yep, it got into every crevice it could. This is not an exaggeration!

This is the hotel we stayed at there.

So I have a very healthy appreciation for the ocean now. I stay away from it as much as possible. ;-)
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This reminds me of Greece with the pretty white walls, sparkling water and abundance of flowers.

Somewhere in France or Spain probably, but I truly don’t know. Just from the stone walls, tiled roof and the shuttered windows, that would be my guess.

An elegant and inexpensive way to creative a bit of relief from the hot sun. Beautiful surroundings made cozy and private.

That curved wall gives the home a lot of character. Exquisitely private setting.

A small kitchen cabinet but arranged to add cuteness even without a lot of space. Having no doors just adds to a lovely display.

A tiny hideaway.

This homeowner/apartment dweller made use of a very tiny space to grow her herbs and have a breezy perch to sit.

If it’s pink it’s got my attention. Love the pink beadboard wall. The whole area reminds me of candy.

Another idea for old buckets and hanging tea lights.

Gift for a friend, perhaps?

Lucky homeowner who snagged this vintage beauty.

Going on vacation. ;-)

A beautiful pathway down to a beach.

Cute.

A back porch made happy!

Another quaint cottage.

Now this brings back memories of my grandmother’s house. We had an old glider like this when I visited her while growing up.

I’m betting Greece with the white-washed stone wall, bougainvillea, tiled roof and gorgeous blue sea.

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Linking up with WOW today.

Memories of Home in a Peach Orchard House for Pink Saturday 4/14/2012

First of all, I want to give you just a teensy little look at one of the items in my giveaway this month. It's been such a long time since I've done a giveaway for the aprons that I decided I'm in a good enough mood to do it again, not aprons but something else. There will be another item or two in with this. I'm not showing what it is in its entirely yet so just think what it could be. However, if you've been around my blog the last couple of years, it should be easy to guess. ;-)

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Welcome to Pink Saturday once again. Today I'm telling a story so read on. But first, go visit with Beverly's blog and see all the other participants. I'm sure you'll like it and if you're not a follower, please be one so you won't miss anything exciting I may post. I'd sure love it if you would! I'm planning on a giveaway soon and, trust me, you're not going to want to miss out on it. ;-) That's all I'm going to say on the subject.
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There will be more on this lovely photo also. You'll be as excited as I am. Trust me on this one.
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My father was a Naval officer. We traveled a lot, but he traveled more than we did as a family. When he would be gone for an extended length of time, we would usually go stay with my maternal grandparents. I dearly loved my grandma so it was a treat to live with her and grandpa. I remember them living in different states and cities. And since my grandpa was a railroad conductor, my grandma would take me on train rides—overnight train rides. That's why I love taking trains so much to this day even. Sad that trains are going the way of the dinosaur. Those were fun trips, really fun.

But one time that we stayed with them, my grandparents had just built a brick home in a small town across the Ohio river from West Virginia. My brother and I enrolled in the school there but my sister was not school age yet. It was in a peach orchard. We loved it. A new friend and I would ramble through the orchard on little paths that took us away from the prying eyes of adults. We'd find things to explore. It was there I found a plant called sassafras that surprisingly smelled like root beer. That was my entry into the botany world. But we had great times until we eventually had to move when my father came home from his assignment on ship.

However, my mother always told us not to tell anyone we lived in a peach orchard! I was stymied by this, but I learned later she was actually embarrassed that my grandparents would build in a peach orchard. In today's world, most people would pay dearly for a huge peach orchard in which to build their home. Oh, and the house was a beautiful one-story brick. I never understood her embarrassment about that home. I just remember sitting out with my grandpa and he would peel peaches with his pocket knife and give me, my brother and sister little slices of just-picked-from-the-tree peaches. It was a magnificent world to me then. I get weepy just remembering that time of my life. I was so happy. In fact, while writing this post an eerie, yet pleasant, feeling just swept through my body. I think it is my grandma telling me she loves me too.

Just a sweet memory.

Now look at all these gorgeous photos and see if one of the photos evoke a memory for you.
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Violets also remind me of my grandma because she always grew them and we picked them together.

I cannot resist a photo of flowers, old buildings and quaint water fountains.

I want and shall have a Meyer lemon tree in a pot soon. I don't think this is a lemon tree but I like it anyway.

An elegant and cozy sun room.

An unusually beautiful and inviting entrance to a home.

STYLE!

Beautiful dining room with a stunning view.

I guess if you have it, flaunt it?!

Do you notice the red stove?

Again, just look at what a coat of beautifully-colored paint can do for a laundry room.

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Random Thoughts:

Whatever happened to "thank you" and "you're welcome"? Now it's "no problem". What in the world does that mean? Welcome is the proper response. I don't think I ever say "no problem" and I always say "thank you".
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Don't marry a man or woman unless you would be proud to have a son or daughter exactly like him or her.
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Never try to feel smart when you are stuck in stupid! Just realize your mistake, don't make excuses, apologize and go on graciously. Personal experience! Yep.
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Terrorists are all martyrs until they get shot in the leg and then they squeal like pigs.
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I want the cell phones the CounterTerrorismUnit used on 24. They never ran out of battery charges.
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A middle school close to us had a reader board that advertised Free Dental Sealant. What is that that the schools have to give free dental work now? I have no dental insurance and pay my way, but I certainly don't get free sealant when I visit my dentist. I have on occasion "bargained" with my dentist though.
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Ear buds help parents strengthen their vocal cords.
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Our youth are forgetting how to write because they are wired with phones. Taking those shortcuts with texting is making them stupid or, at the very least, stunting their writing skills along with spelling. Trust me on this one. I see it frequently.
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Photos courtesy of tumblr and pinterest.

Vignettes Can Be a Lot of Different Things

People think vignettes have to be a book and a vase of roses or something similar. Not necessarily true, chicks, although that can be quite stunning and original if taken the time to think it out "creatively." It can be anything you want it to be as long as you assemble items in one particular space - a little space with items that evoke emotion is what works best for me. Something pleasing to the eye. I've gone around my home and just photographed some little descriptive vignettes to show as examples.

A pedestal rose plate with bars of fragrant soaps - some hand painted - and some little fizzie bath hearts given to me. They are absolutely sweet smelling and fragrance my guest bathroom.

A stack of white towels in a little pink wire basket. They are in there for guest's immediate pleasure and convenience so as not to have to go rummaging around underneath the cabinets. Just a thought to the comfort of my guests and family. ;-) I have a friend with a teenage boy who is meticulous in his personal grooming and will not use a towel after someone else. So I decided to do this with him in mind. Always a fresh and scented one for that young man. He steals my heart with being so well groomed.

Some little birdhouses on my mantel - one I made and three my friend, Rhea, made. Hers are stunning and I have a lot of items from her - so many, in fact, that I may have to dedicate a room to her! ;-)

Some old vintage rusty finials on my mantel also. I love the patina and rust of these old iron objects. These don't have much verdigris on them but I especially love the verdigris on old copper objects. And, of course, the proverbial "rose" to add to their beauty. If you knew how many roses I have in this house you'd faint. I have several hundred ribbon roses, many silk roses, dozens of paper roses, millinery roses and porcelain roses. I should call this the Rose House. Well, actually some of my friends do call it that.

Starfish that I spray painted pink and sprinkled on german glass glitter. I just love the look of them on the mantle. I love "fluff" everywhere I can arrange to have it.

Even my craft paints and paint swatches from a paint store can be a vignette when arranged on a vintage old shelf with snippets of leftover lace tacked on the shelf. I think you'll have to agree it adds "color" to the place!

As simple as some vintage salt and pepper shakers painted pink and set on the shelf with paints.

Even little sachets scented with fragrance oils lined along another shelf can add not only beauty but a wonderful scent to enjoy in any room. Yes, I actually do this in every single room - living room, family room, baths, office, bedroom......every room. And these certainly add beauty to the room.

And then there are the tops of book cases that aren't really conducive to hold actual book on the top so I just put some vintage sewing drawers with CDs or DVDs in them and little boxes I've tried selling but didn't. So buyers loss is my room's gain! LOL

One of my favorite vignettes is artist paint brushes. I just love seeing all the brushes in a pretty vase or container. These are mine and I would NOT call my self an artist. I call myself a BEGINNER!! ;-)

I have a bowl on my coffee table that has some pink sea shells (I painted them pink) and I love the juxtaposition of them with the roses and faux desserts I have on there. This one below is not in my home but I think it's stunning. Just simple everyday things gathered together in one spot for a lovely vignette. Rocks in a vintage yellow bowl, starfish and old ephemera.

The roses, sea shells, starfish, a wicker basket leaning against a wall, attractive statues, a container of nails and a plate of fruit.

I liked this room when I first saw it and was drawn back to it because of the table vignette near the dormer. I also stack pictures on the floor leaning up against a baseboard. I just love the look of "high" and "low" pictures. Most people hang their pictures too high on a wall. That's fine if there are other pictures below it but the room looks out of whack if all pictures are at one level in a room and that level is 6 feet up the wall. Lower your pictures so that the lowest part of the frame is no more than 46 - 48" from the floor. It will make quite a cozy difference in the look.