Tag: Once Upon A Tide

Cottage Life

   Lawn mowers are whirring,  lawn chairs  set out on the grass, decks and patios, flags unfurled, boats beginning to appear attached to  their summer moorings,  license plates from New Jersey and Massachusetts and New York tuck in to their summer addresses,  chinese paper lanterns are hung from porches…. summer life on Stella’s island has returned.  My faithful kayak, Ruby, and I have even taken a few paddles around the cove. 
Life is Good. 
   

 Make a wish!

Fire and Nice

  Jeez, I keep starting out with a nice garden post and just as I’m about to hit publish yet another fire breaks out in the swamp.  How’bout that Comey firing!….  this oughta be interesting. 
   Meanwhile.. back at the ranch…. 
  We’ve had a chilly spring so far in New England – as you drive along the roads and skim the fields and forest,  the trees look like they’re afraid to unfurl their leaves.  We did manage to plant half of our garden beds a few days ago…praying we don’t get a frost. 
 Planted on the left, the right still needs weeding and tilling.  Someone told us planting rye over the winter is good for vegetable garden beds.  I’m thinking not. 
 
 In the planted bed we have romaine, eggplant, yellow wax beans, yellow squash and those 500 or so onions.   I plant a row of marigolds at the base of the raised bed every year, as they help keep the bugs off the plants. It really does work and by mid summer produces a beautiful show of yellow and orange. 

 See how anemic the leafery looks just about everywhere?  Yet the grass is growing like crazy.  We’ve had plenty of rain.   My border garden tulips have come up again, good to see  the voles have not destroyed them. 
  On Staten Island back in the day, my grandfather Al had beautiful garden beds. His little house with it’s beautiful tiny lawn and blossoming cherry tree and tulip beds actually graced the cover of Scott’s turf bags and brochures.   The Tulips in the spring drew crowds, no kidding.  We weren’t allowed to pick them, but I had a favorite teacher, Miss Ferragano, who knew of his gardens and loved them.  He would bring me out to the garden bed with snippers in hand and let me choose the ones to snip. I would proudly go to school the next day with a beautiful bouquet for my favorite teacher. To this day a vase full of tulips reminds me of  Grandpa Al, a hard working,  kind and humorous soul who certainly  had his own trials in life, but you’d never know it by his attitude.  
 My “seaside real estate”  garden at the side gate is thriving, the phlox taking over and the new dawn rose climbers have taken over the trellis.  It’s called this because having resigned ourselves to the fact that seaside real estate had gotten too expensive to fullfill our dream of owning a little piece of it, I collected rocks and shells from our adventures and deposited them here.  Little did we know, the affordable opportunity to buy Stella would become a reality down the road. 
  The horses are loving their spring pasture grass… and the hay fields are flourishing too. 

 
Speaking of seaside real estate… Now that the renovation work is done at Stella and the grass seed has been sown, the new tender grass shoots are rising. 
  Have you ever come across “as the crow flies” destination totem poles?   I made one for Stella, we’ll “plant” it this weekend.  

Cottage Life & Family

   Friday and Saturday weather was glorious, Spring is in full bloom and for whatever the reason, my allergies aren’t bad.  I use Nasacort spray every few days and it seems to be keeping the allergy misery at bay.  I am also happy to report that since I began taking a small dose of  Melatonin  each evening, my sleep is indeed improving.  Boy what a difference that makes… proper sleep. 
   
   On Friday evening we invited the moms down to Stella for dinner as the temps were in the 70’s and sunny most of the day.  The kids showed up too, and it was such a joy to share the evening with all.  M and I feel blessed to still have our moms around to enjoy the place, and we love the close relationship they have with our kids.  Not a day goes by that M doesn’t miss his father, who passed too young from Lung cancer, and we often think of what we all  have missed out on, what he missed out on, having left us too soon when the kids were still very young.  Because of that experience, we cherish those who are still among us, and the times we get to spend together. 

 These two are my true joy.  The fact that they get along even better as they mature is a beautiful thing. I know they will always have each other’s back and that is such a gift for a parent. 
   
My mother makes the best Gin & Tonic with a fresh twist of lime.. ever. 
The secret is in the ingredients… fresh lime squeeze, and Beef Eater Gin. 
Any other Gin just doesn’t cut it. 
 I’m pretty sure it’s in the dictionary next to the word refreshing. 
 I made that Trisha Yearwood Banana Pudding I posted previously (it’s in the recipes if you browse that tab on my blog)  I substituted the meringue on top  with fresh whipped cream enhanced with a little vanilla and a little sugar – absolutely delicious, wow.  Also hard to believe that was the first time I ever made  pudding from scratch.  When I make icebox cake, I use the Jello Cook and serve variety but what a difference, the pudding from scratch, and what a delicious and easy crowd pleasing dessert this is. 
 Frasier has gotten used to cottage life very quickly too.. he has his own set of bowls and bed and a gate on the deck so I can keep him up there if I’m working in the little yard and don’t want to worry about him chasing the many  rabbits.  At that moment he was wondering if I was going to share a little taste of that pudding.  This after he had already been given a hotdog and a hamburger.  He’s just a little chubby like his mama right now.  *sigh   We both adore food. 

Yesterday while the sun was  shining with  the temps in the 70’s,  my son and I ventured out in the kayaks and did a little exploring.  The water was still chilly at 40 something degrees but it was clear and refreshing and the salt air scent was intoxicating.  Cormorants were resting on the rocks, wings expanded, sunning themselves. The leaves on the trees are just coming out along the shoreline, but we saw many people enjoying their yards and decks, busy  with the spring opening rituals that are a part of cottage life.  I love watching the “island” wake up for the season and feel so very grateful that we are a part of it.

Summer neighborhood

     After barn chores and coop chores and a haircut for Frasier on the back deck, a wellness check at the vet in a nearby town for Frasier and Bailey,  and a major cleanup effort when I arrived home to find a shelf in the fridge had broken while the husband was -lookin-for-somethin-  and therefore  the glass jars of pickles, vinegar, relish, jam, syrup.. had shattered all over the floor leaving every bit of every thing in the vicinity  sticky and glass shardy and he-who-had-a-meeting  couldn’t do a proper job cleaning it up so just do it, K? … 
   After that…
…  I said Frasier?.. waddya say you and I go down to Stella and see what’s going on in our Summer ‘hood.  I need fresh air, don’t you? 
    He agreed whole heartedly so we hopped back in Emma (my Jeep)  and off we went. Do you name your cars?  When I moved to CT from NY my plate was Ema and a number.  I have kept that plate ever since  (30 years now) and therefore, the car I drive is Ema.  (pronounced Emma). 
Emma and Stella  amongst the Forsythia…  a sight for sore eyes. 
 As soon as we got there we met with a neighbor, a lovely older woman who has been summering at her cottage for over 60 years, since the age of 6.  I gave her a little tour of our progress and she was over the moon – as was I at the prospect of such a lovely person just up the hill, on the other side of  Father Jim’s place.   
    Once inside,  I took note of the cluttered sitting area in the cottage and moved all the stuff, because I hadn’t already done enough to my aching back so I knew I should push it just a little more for good measure.  I think it looks better now, more balanced, less cluttered.  If you’re wondering why I placed an off-white rug in a summer cottage space where there will indeed be sandy feet traffic regularly, I don’t have a reasonable answer. 
 Then I finished setting up my husbands sand jar collection… for many years when a friend would travel he would ask if they would bring back a bit of sand or rock, etc. from their destination.  We’ve done the same when we vacation.  The collection is quite exotic now, none of the exotic locations having come from our excursions.. with sands from Ireland, Bermuda, Australia, India, Greece, Cuba, Hawaii, the Hoover Dam, Bali, etc… and the collection sat in a big box in the basement for all this time.   I’m thinking I should have nicknamed Stella “The Sand Box”  now that she’s given the collection a home.  

       So after shuffling all that stuff around, I almost sat for a moment to enjoy the view out the window, when I caught a glimpse of my rear in a mirror… and remembered right quick why the walk was the most important goal of the day.   (*sigh) 
As we walked the lane there were daffodils everywhere…. 

At the rock jetty Frasier did a little wade-in….. which he quickly surmised was foolish given the frigid water and new haircut status.

Along with the daffodils were a lot of these in the woods… 
I believe these are Lesser Celandine… 
More daffs….
 and as we rounded the last bend heading back to the cottage,
we met another neighbor who lives there year round..
 another warm and welcoming person who’s gardens
are beautiful… 
Speaking of gardens…
this weekend we  top soiled, hayed and seeded the little lawn
and planted the road side border –
All shade loving plants as this side of the house
is full shade with just a little diffuse sun
Astilbe, Hosta, two hydrangea bushes, 
coral bells.
 I’m back home now,  contemplating dinner… 
reminding myself of that rear reflection in the mirror earlier today. 
The Struggle Is Real. 

Stella Revealed…

     Today was the day!  The plumber came and finished what needed doing in the bathroom and outdoor shower and I got to turn on the water and CLEAN THE FILTH!  And that means… I can now show you what we have accomplished this winter at our little star by the sea. 
Kitchen before…. 

Kitchen After…..

 The wall was blown out so it’s open to the living area and the fridge moved over to the other wall,  handles seen on the left below…

PS.. those are two awesome dishtowels hanging on the stove handle made by Hilary of Crazy as a Loom – have I told you lately how much I love my blogbuddies…

 Above the sink…

 … a little cow creamer, needed a cow somewhere to represent the herd that lives on the farm on the overall property here in a nearby field…

Gifts from dear friends…

We kept much of the old, including the wall sconces…

 A photo I took a few years ago in this very same cove –
I won a blue ribbon at the local fair, my first photography prize…
Little did I know we would soon own the little cottage about 60 yards from 
where I took that picture.. 
Underneath the photo is this fella in a boat with his dog and a bucket o’fish…
left by the previous owner. I couldn’t throw him away…

 and underneath the fisherman and his dog and bucket o’fish
is the kitchen island, with my beloved Western Union Operator Chairs…
Guess what… we took them to our welder friend
who discovered they are indeed adjustable, 
all we needed to do was twirl the seat until desired height.
Makes sense, considering Operators were all shapes and sizes. 
Why didn’t we think of that….. 😕

 The little bathroom is to the left of the kitchen sink.

Before…

After…
We kept the old window paned door to the bathroom, love the handles! Need to put privacy film on the panes though… 

 Towels in basket, no room for racks.. 

 Tiny sink, shower to the right… Medicine cabinet can be seen behind me in mirror.

The back (or front, depending on how you see it) deck before…

 After…

The dining table in the cottage – left by previous owner and refinished by us, well really a friend who does that kind of thing…

New light fixture too, and you’ll notice how everything is SHINEY!   I walked into the cottage one day and wished I had brought my dang glasses. The Mr. laughed and said.. well, I wanted it to look like one of those antique boats in here, the high gloss wooden variety!   He got his wish….

    The living room –  We had to  throw out all that had been left, the meece made their nests within the cushions… and some of the cushion “stuff” had been dragged up to the rafters at eye level for good measure, too.  Our “new” furniture in the cottage is hodge podge, some we had here at This Old House, some we bought while junk hunting, just a few things like mattresses, refrigerator, stove are new because… meese.  That is absolutely a word, sounds more tolerable, just sayin.

The view out those windows is just spectacular, my camera flashed it out unfortunately…

 Remember Edith’s Chair?  And Indeed.. the TV is too big for the cottage, but BOYZ will be BOYZ.  Games watched must be GAME SIZE, don’t ya know.

Bedrooms.. before…  frames left by previous owner, mattresses thrown out because meese. Many many meese.  The frame was also rickety.. had to fortify it with many many nails and the Mr wanted to throw the whole thing out but I saw the lovely bones of it and just couldn’t part with it.  Many Many arguments insued but nevertheless….. she persisted…and…

 Good save, wouldn’t you agree?

 The big piece we scored at a consignment shop a few weeks ago will serve as the pantry above and linen storage in big deep drawers below.  Remember my Once Upon a Tide Whale?.. seen below above gas woodstove…. and a sign above pantry piece  sent as a cottage-warming gift by dear friend, Sally.

 Second bedroom…  Before…

 After…

 Not bad, huh? I think we made good use of 700 sq ft of cottage space.

 Outside, the forsythia is blooming – such a cheery surprise as I pulled up this morning…

 I went back to Job Lot – the place that wouldn’t sell me just one of their old worn out boxes for my baby chicks… and got a few beautifully glazed pots for $18 and $8.  These are a good size, hard to tell in the picture, great deal!  Makes up for the box snub.

 My newly planted perennials are very happy…

 As is the Rosa Rugosa that the BOYZ stuck in the ground for me… see my dilemna?  Not only were there THORNS… many many of them, but a Cliff walk too…

    See.. I wasn’t kidding.. those four thorny bushes are just under the forsythia at the end of the cedar fence.  They are very happy there too, even among the salt spray and wind… they don’t call them hearty invasive plants for nothing.

 Henry is a large turtle who came with the place – 
Turtles are good Karma, 
 Some believe they represent good spirit over evil…
I’ll take it. 

Seaside Gardening

  Today was glorious… reached the 60’s!  I got the itch to stick my hands in the soil and where better to do it than Stella.  First stop was my favorite local garden center – where I proceeded to spend a ridiculous amount of money on perennials, all of which I can assure you I absolutely needed.  I have not quite assured the husband of this, but he hasn’t had dinner yet, it’s still early. 
   What did I get?  I had to keep in mind these perennials needed to be zone 6 hardy, salt tolerant,  some had to like full sun, some had to like shade, some had to like a mix of both.  I got four Rosa Rugosa in white, for the cliff on the side of our seawall that once  had happy scrubbery  that used to live under an ugly overhanging deck we ripped out.  There’s a big dirt pocket there now and Rosa Rugosa are hardy “beach rose” variety – complete with some NASTY THORN issues – WOW.  I decided right quick I was not going to attempt to plant those prickly bastards, no… on THIS subject I am a delicate wall flower and the planting of the prickers will be left to THE BOYZ. 
  
  I also got Canadian blue hosta  because right now I really like Canada.. a lot!… not only do they appear to be more civil and kind than us, I have a big crush on their Prime Minister.  The hosta is for the side of the house(shade) –  and there’s Alium giganteum, American cranberry and  Blue Fortune Anise Hyssop – (what a mouthful but a simple plant, really)….   Those items are for the full sun  Fire Pit Garden.    Coral bells in two varieties were planted along the side of the yard that has what looks like a  575 year old split rail fence shared with Father Jim.  I was very careful while planting not to sneeze in the fence’s vicinity for fear that it would topple.  We want to start out on the right foot with the Father. 

 We planted these shrubs in the fall to hide  protect! the guestimated 575 year old fence.  The Coral bells, if happy there, should fill out that bed nicely. 

 Once the planting was done, Frasier and I sat down at waters edge and just breathed it all in. 
  Meanwhile… back at the ranch, the Mr. has been planting Onions.  575 of them. I kid you not. 

Here and There

      Just so ya know – I typed a whole lot of hateful spew here and then deleted it all.  Who needs confirmation of his royal HighnASS’s offenses dujour?  It’s getting so I’m afraid to turn on the TV or click on the CNN icon or open my FB page or read my E-MAIL for crying out loud – every single morning I wake up and wonder – what will the offense be today?   I’m trying like hell to just ignore it, and yet that feels irresponsible too.  
      What do you do to divert your attention from things-that-are-driving-you-batshit? Me? I’m taking care of me just a little bit better than I did all winter. (10 extra pounds to prove it… which means I have that damned 20 to lose that I was trying to lose last year.  Yeah. That.)   Spring has arrived according to the calendar, and in the last few days the temps have begun to rise… as have the crocus!
 The dogs and I have been out walking the fields again… 
The skies have been so blue…. 
 The  horses aren’t quite used to the Spring schedule yet.. This is Max’s  – hey, aren’t you supposed to be giving us grain right about now? – look…   As the days grow longer, they stay out in pasture longer and aren’t given grain till bedtime, meaning when darkness falls and they’re closed in for the night. 
  This morning I took a load of bedding and curtains down to the cottage and oh, if I could send you  the joy of salty sea air as warm sunshine hits your face as I experienced it today.. I would, my friends, I would. 
 While soaking it all in, I spied with my little eye…. 
Can you see it?….. 
… a piece of cobalt blue sea glass – a rare treasure around theses parts.   Now, if it weren’t such a hard-to-find color, I’d toss it back into the sea for a little more seasoning – but it’s edges are soft and it does have enough scruff to make it a keeper because what are the odds I’d find it again?  
    When I saw that flicker of blue… that little glass treasure, I felt the Universe was sending me a message ….   And that reminded me of something else… 
    Why I let this get away from me still surprises me.  There was a moment  years ago now.. when I was sitting outside a hospital on a retaining wall, taking a break from my vigil at my daughters bedside.  I was looking up at a window on the 4th floor where all I could see were balloons…. the ones suspended above my daughters bed.  I was saying to myself….. How are we here, how did this happen.. look at all these people around me, just going about their day… buying food , God, I can’t even eat…. and they’re LAUGHING… laughing…. while my daughter lies up there with her life hanging in the balance.  How do I ever live my life…..    And just as important…. IF I ever do get to life my life again, and my daughter is a part of it… please don’t let me forget how precious life is, how grateful I need to be, each and every day, for even the little things. 
    A funny thing happened on our way to “recovery”.  My daughter, through her own trials, found comfort and wisdom in inspirational quotes.  Still does. ..and it’s these inspirational quotes that I turn to when I need a reminder.  I’ll share them here with you – 
     

  
 Till soon, friends – 


       

Till the Cows Come Home…

  We’ve been back and forth to Stella many times this week – things are really shaping up down by the water.  I should be just about done with the furniture placement and decor by Friday and will give you a tour then.  Today we will go buy a  used vacuum cleaner at the Oreck dealer because currently, her floors are covered in grit. 
    Last weekend we met with one of the owners of the entire seaside community where Stella sits and he gave us a tour of his cattle farm.   His family has farmed this property since the 1600’s if you can believe it – amazing story.  The fact that it is all on the water (300 plus acres) is even more amazing.  People like my family are truly blessed to have a little spot to call our own on their property- the fact that through the generations they have decided to preserve the farm as much as possible instead of cashing in on the huge property value is a miracle in itself. 
   So – I am a bit of hypocrite when it comes to my love of animals.  While I am horrified at the practice of slaughtering them,  I am not a vegan.  Honestly I don’t feel great if I try to eat NO MEAT –  and I have tried.  I do believe in and try to practice buying meats from sources that hopefully raise their meat birds and cattle and pigs humanely.    This farm is one of those….. 
   As we drove around the fields on the farmers gator, what I noticed  first is that the cows love this man.  They don’t fear him, they know he is kind to them and he is their source of  food.  He emits a certain call and they come running – 
  In the photo below, you can see their proximity to the cove…  Stella is just around the bend. 
 These cows are born here, and are raised in a beautiful, clean, healthy environment with shelter if they chose it.. for two years.  I have mixed feelings about all that… looking into their soft warm friendly eyes, I hate the fact that they will be in a freezer by the time they turn three.  They couldn’t ask for a better way of life for those two-three years, though.  I wish this were true for all “food” animals but sadly, it’s not. 
 Here’s a picture of the same cows in summer pasture… 
 It’s a beautiful thing. 
 Meanwhile.. back at the ranch here….   I’ve been begging the Mr. to let me adopt two “veal calfs” for years now.  Those poor babies are taken from their mother at a day old, never to know life as a cow – they are slaughtered immediately for their tender flesh.  UGH.  I don’t eat veal, I do draw the line at supporting that practice.   Two of my friends have gone to the local auction house and adopted two calfs that were slated for slaughter… 
Meet Stanley Livingston…
 He has no idea how lucky he is… 
And so far… the Mr.  is not moooooooooooved by my begging. 
*sigh.   Nevertheless….. 

Cups in the Cupboard * Taking your ball home


     Since there is not heat at the cottage other than a propane stove I don’t know how to use yet,  I spent yesterday inches from hypothermia as I wiped down cupboard interiors, draws, furniture, etc and unpacked the boxes I brought with me.  Lysol wipes and Pledge wipes work wonders when there is also no running water. The real cleaning of things like the bathroom and the kitchen sink and mopping of the floors will happen around April 15th when the water is turned on for the season.  I also wore slip on loafers with no socks, dumb.   T’is true we have indeed entered SPRING according to the calendar… however Spring has not entered our actual atmosphere yet.  I did just open the mudroom door to let the dogs out and I smell a hint of it in the air… 

    So we got a lot done at the cottage this week and today we go furniture shopping for a few more pieces to make it all work.  We’ve got dishes in the cupboard, pots in the cabinet, cleaning supplies in the cleaning supply closet, hangers in the one clothes closet only we still need a poll to hang then on.  Somehow we forgot that little detail.  The other detail we somehow missed is … those awesome stools I got at the Trove?.. the Western Union Operator stools from many moons ago?… they’re too short for the bar area my Mr. built.  Actually, MOST bar stools will be too short for the breakfast bar area the Mr. built.  There’s that.  

   Regardless, I am giddy.  She is perfect.  Just the right little space with much of her old charm retained for my family and I to enjoy hopefully for generations to come.   I’ll give you a sneak peek… with a full tour once she is complete. 





  Meanwhile, in other news… 

     I believe the Affordable Care Act is flawed and needs revision. My family is one of those whose premiums went up $400 per month at the beginning and went up again last year. The ACA .. or Obamacare- was not intended to punish. It was intended to give all Americans healthcare- we are the only major country left who does not have this. It wasn’t a perfect plan, it needs fixing. 
     Republicans had seven years to come up with an alternative plan. Even DT said some parts of the ACA were necessary and he wanted them kept in. Even DT said our rates were going to go down. Sadly, Republicans couldn’t get their sh*t together to get their new bill passed because it was more flawed than the current ACA – those who would have paid more or lost coverage completely were anyone 50 and older and the middle class, the sick and poor. 
     What’s tragic is that DT pointed fingers once again where the blame did not lie. This was not a Democratic failure, it was a Republican failure. Even Paul Ryan admitted that in his speech. They didn’t need Dem votes to get their bill passed- it was their own party that couldn’t agree. So what does a President do in this situation? Logic would tell you he’d vow to work on the current issues regardless, because many of his people are suffering through those issues….. instead of saying- Good, let it explode, I’m taking my ball home.
      That’s not what a leader does. A Leader digs in and looks for solutions that will work. That’s the Art of the Presidential Deal.




Treasures…

   I’m getting fed up with being fed up, I’m anxious over all the anxiety,  I’m mad as hell about all the madness that has descended in this ill wind that currently blows through the white house and our government at large.  The damned fibromyalgia is flaring and I’m getting tired of seeing my own hot air spewed all over my social media pages. 
   So today.. even thought there are at least five new obnoxious revelations by the Orange Scream and his cohorts that I could highlight here… aren’t there daily??… Today…  I will be the light.

A local pub is collecting sneakers, bras, socks, duffel bags for the homeless of New Haven. I decided to send a shout out to my friends on FB to start a collection to help her and I am so happy to see the outpouring of caring people who are donating those items.  Already within half a day’s posting, I’ve got socks, shoes, duffle bags, reading glasses and hair brushes here at the farm waiting to be disbursed.  A good friend is sending 18 pairs of socks through Amazon to my house along with two duffle bags – I haven’t seen her since HS!  Amazing.  WE the People are what makes America great. I needed to see it again and here it is, being dropped off at my side door. 

Here’s a funny for you – the computer guy is here right now putting in a new router. Apparently ours was a dinosaur and the new one will give us internet at warp speed.  The key though.. was to remember the old password.   *sigh.   And come up with a new one.  *sigh again.  Why must passwords be such a pain in the ass. 
Ah, but we’re not complaining today, are we… 
   My 52nd birthday was spent in my favorite way – among my family,  the kids and their partners and the moms, enjoying each others company. We went to a noisy italian restaurant that serves huge portions of delish, you always go home with a meal for tomorrow when you visit the Log Cabin.   I was even able to keep up with most of the conversation despite my defective hearing.  The sangria was the bomb!  While I’m not much of a drinker, put a glass of a good red wine Sangria, a Mojito, a Margarita with salt or my mom’s version of a gin and tonic with a splash of lime in front of me and I’m good to go. Just one glass is all the resfreshment I need and the alcoholic version only happens a few times a month.   Cheap date, I am.

  While I don’t need gifts and prefer to be the giver, a few of my blog buddies who have been reading here for years surprised me with a few treasures.  I sure wish they hadn’t, but I am so grateful for their thoughtfulness and the friendships we have forged through this little blog.  You know who you are.. thank you dear friends. 
  This shall be placed prominently on one of Stella’s walls… 

.. and these are part of a line I have not been familiar with until now… 
I am so looking forward to trying these two culinary delights out…and from what I understand, the maker has a fantastic show on pbs – you may have already heard of her – Vivian Howard – 

http://www.vivianhoward.com/

 Ever since I read The Prince of Tides many moons ago I have thought a part of me was meant to live down south somewhere…  but time and experience and a few summer visits have taught me that the heat and humidity aren’t my best friend.  However, Vivian Howard’s South is just lovely. Check her out.

   This book arrived in the mail this afternoon – thank you H!  Tonight’s new read!

 As for Stella – oooh, we’re getting close to move in time!  The floors are finished and just a little tacky to the touch. So we’ll wait until Friday and then.. AND THEN.. friends… we get to move  “stuff”.. in.  You know I’ll share it with you as we go.  I’m nearly giddy.

 I found a couch yesterday that was within our comfortable price range.. it’s actually a love seat.  While I had a whole ‘nother look in mind,  the look and the price didn’t match the budget.   The love seat size is better suited to Stella’s small size and the color is a slate blue/grey – should go OK with the rest of the place.  Not taking the pillows – have never been a geometric design fan.  The couch was found at the same place we got a few other pieces for Stella – Consign & Design in Branford.  In the couch picture you can see a real gem in the background – unfortunately not for sale.

 When the owner of the consignment shop rented this space – the desk you see way in the background there was in a back room covered by a tarp.  The previous owner said – Oh, you can have that, we have no use for it.

  “IT”… is an original sign-in desk from Ellis Island.  THE Ellis Island.  Can you imagine all the hands that rested and signed upon that desk…. amazing… perhaps even some of my or your relatives. Hard to tell in this picture, but the desk is huge. the books on the desk are about chest high, to give you an idea.

                      What I would pay for this desk… however, some things are simply – not for sale.