27 January 2007
If you don't happen to live by yourself and work at home, the way I do, you might wonder what a person in that situation does all day. It turns out I take photographs. I just wander from room to room, pressing that little shutter button, whether or not there's anything interesting in the frame.
Okay, that's not entirely true. But one can get carried away. I didn't think these fading remains of the fabulous bouquet my parents gave me were ideal photo fodder, but then I noticed how lovely they looked against the colour of the kitchen walls. This was what I was originally photographing:
I bought the little radio I mentioned a while ago. I had a few Target gift cards burning a hole in my wallet, and what more could I ask for than the cutest radio in the world? It's stylish and nice just to look at, but it's also a great radio! Its reception is fantastic; the speaker is loud and clear; you can tune into not only radio stations, but television channels and weather; and my dad says the preset buttons are superb (he has the same radio, but in white). I've been carrying it around all afternoon, since Saturday's programming (on MPR) is so great. Me and my radio:
The new fern has also snuck into that photo. There's something so forest-y about the fern; I love it. Unfortunately, Booty the Cat also loves it, so I've been keeping the door(s) into my bedroom closed during the day. Last night, Booty (who sleeps on my bed, but comes and goes during the night) hopped to the floor, and Minnie (who sleeps on her dog bed, in the corner of the room) gave chase. I tried to get her to lie back down without actually lifting my head from the pillow ('Go lie down' is one of her best 'tricks.'), but she kept pacing around. I finally sat up, to see Booty curled up snugly in the middle of Minnie's bed. He's been doing this a lot lately, because he's full of badness. I shooed him away, and we all settled down again.
And then this morning! We went to visit my parents' puppy!
My parents adopted Sasha (the little one) a few weeks ago now. They know she's half German Shepherd, and it was guessed that the other half is Collie, but we'll see what she grows into. I think she's twelve weeks old. She makes Minnie (who has such pretty eyes in this photo) seem like a well behaved, refined lady dog. This was their second time playing together. Sasha runs around and barks, while Minnie tries to get all the rawhide and Nylabone chews for herself (I give her one a week, after I go grocery shopping, so I think she must find it unfathomable that a dog could have three or more of these things just sitting around!). For the most part, they seem to play together pretty well.
One last photograph. I've been having real trouble 'pulling together' the craft/guest room. I prefer quite small rooms that are rich and cozy, and while the craft room is by no means huge (! It's 12'x12'), it still seems like a lot of space to work with. Then I found this bed cover (table cloth?) on clearance at Anthropologie:
And things are starting to click now. It's given me colours and a style to work with. Luckily, it matches the rug very well, as well as the cushions I already had. The aqua fabric hanging on the side of the bed (with the white diamonds) is a good-sized piece I've had for ages. It's very pretty, but it's sheer, and I've had no idea what to do with it. It matches the new colours for the room so well, so I'm going to turn it into a simple sheer curtain. The squares perched on the back of the bed are cork tiles (bought VERY cheaply from a thrift store, since one was missing from the four-pack) I've covered with Denyse Schmidt fabric. I think they'll get hung over the bookcases on the other wall, with some photos tacked on. Bit by bit.
Okay, one last last thing! I always like to make a calendar for myself, one which I don't mind writing all over. I usually spend a silly amount of time sitting at my kitchen table with a ruler and pen, when I could simply use something store-bought, but that's nothing new. I thought other people might benefit from my doodling, so if you'd like this calendar for February. . .
. . . then just right click here and save-as. Let me know if you have any problems with the PDF; I think it should be fine. And let me know if you use it and if I should keep making more as the months go by!
Annnnnnnnnd, last last lastly, here is the Carrot Cookie recipe I promised ages ago. Kind recipe testers Nancy and Rachel gave it the thumbs up, so I hope everybody enjoys it!
Whew. That's enough for one post.
delurking to say your flower pics are great! and big thanks for the calendar :o)
posted by clothesknit at January 28, 2007 06:02 AM
Look how willowy and tiny you are! Unless you're storing all of your body just out of frame, it looks to me that that clever bit-by-bit diet of yours has done the trick. And your house looks beautiful, clever hard-working lady.
posted by Mermaid Princess at January 28, 2007 10:23 AM
Wow, I am so in awe/utterly jealous of your house! I'm collecting inspiration for when I have my own place and have to say that the colour aqua is featuring strongly now...
posted by Flibbertygibbet at January 28, 2007 11:01 AM
I stumbled across your site some time ago, and I must say your photos are truly inspiring. As are the transformation of your house. I am astounded by how you have succeeded to make it look so welcoming. You really have an eye for colours!
Your lovely doodling now has a featured place in my office where it will be put to good use. Thank you!
posted by Kristin at January 28, 2007 11:05 AM
I adore all your photos! Gosh, the first one with the flowers and blue wall is beeeeeeeeeeautiful. Such eye candy. Thanks for sharing the calendar. Lovley as well...
posted by CrystalT at January 28, 2007 02:12 PM
Thank you for the treats! Can't wait to try the carrot cookies, and the calendar is lovely. So kind of you!
posted by Cate at January 28, 2007 04:36 PM
Gosh so much goodness in a single post, by the time I reached the end I'd forgotten the beggining and re-read 3 times. It's all so great, those blooms against the wall!
Make sure you mist your fern a lot, the leaves can get dry and brown fast if you have the house cosy for winter (or on hot summer days). I love how soft and fluffy they are.
Definitely collie in your parents pup, judging by the look. What a cutie! So nice that the dogs can have fun together, and friendly rivalry about nylobones.
I've no printer but your calendar is so cute and Feb-ish. I bet it would look so so cute in your craft/guest room with those great colours. Yummy.
posted by cally at January 28, 2007 08:34 PM
i LOVE your little iron bed and the way you've done it up. i had to read twice to figure out that it wasn't an picture FROM anthropologie. you are quite the stylist! gotta love it when it all comes together.
posted by cate at January 29, 2007 04:42 AM
Just wated to say thankyou for the calendar! And i have to join in on the praise about your house, its gorgeous!
Alexandra
posted by Alexandra at January 29, 2007 08:08 AM
what a lovely post! i love your house photos, and the calendar + recipe... fabulous! thank you :)
posted by amisha at January 29, 2007 02:36 PM
Thanks for the calendar. I'm using it to organize my bill due dates. That way, at least I have something pretty to look at amidst all the icky bills!
posted by Sarah at January 29, 2007 04:08 PM
hello! i, too, make calendars like this to hang on my frig. for my daughter to keep track of what to bring to school, special appts., or lessons she has that day. thank you! you saved me bunches of time and yours is SO cute!
posted by heather at January 29, 2007 11:35 PM
just printed out your delicious-sounding carrot cookie recipe and wondered what 'all purpose flour' was - is it flour without any raisng agent? In England we have plain of self raising flour so I'd like to use the right type ;o) . Enjoying the bloge and the lovely colours of your home (and the lovely pets)
posted by Sheila at January 31, 2007 02:16 PM
Sheila -- Yep, it's plain flour.
posted by Anna at February 1, 2007 11:50 AM
Hi!
My name is Holly and I randomly came across your site while looking for ideas on how to pain my bedroom. I saw the pics of the blue bedroom and I love the way you decorated it. I am inspired to start on my own now and was wondering, if you remember, what color blue that is? or where did you purcahse the paint? That is the same color blue I was wanting to do my room! very cute! Thank you!
Holly
posted by Holly at August 13, 2008 10:44 PM