It's A Dog's Life

I think it is no secret that I enjoy Home Tours. On a recent one, I was a bit amazed by this room. Located where a mud room would be in most northern homes, was what  I would call "The Doggie Spa". This tiny bed....for a tiny dog.

Appropriate decorations on the wall

an even a doggie bath. I thought this all a bit extravagant. Then on second though, it seemed a bit practical.
What are your thoughts?

Merry Christmas

I Hope that you are celebrating the Holiday season with family and friends.
These festive Santa cookies were made by my talented niece Kristin

It's a Compromise

As some of you know, we are building a new house. One thing I wanted, other than the master bedroom being on the first floor, was a formal dining room. Okay, so maybe there were a few other things on my list.
The time has come for making lighting selections, so we spent the good part of a day at this store.

This was Tom's idea of a fixture for the dining room.

and, of course I was thinking more along these lines.

Willing to compromise, we are pretty sure this will be it.  (a computer image) It has some metal for him and some crystals for me. I am hoping it will look grand in our formal dining room.

It's Almost Christmas

Christmas feels a bit different for us this year. When we moved to north Texas, this past February, we stored all of our belongings, thinking we would buy a house and be settled before summer. Well, we didn't find the place we wanted to buy, and instead bought a lot... and started the slow process of building. Above. is a recent photo of the construction site. Only thing that has changed this week, is the front door is on.

So, we are still in our furnished apartment and our Christmas decorations are all packed away in storage. My sister Polly came to the rescue though with this tiny  (prelit) Christmas tree complete with little fake gifts and being guarded by a couple of festive snowmen. Don't feel too sorry for us, as we are headed to the east coast this week where we will see three of our five daughters. (and five of our nine grandchildren)

I hope that you have plans with family (and or friends) this holiday season. How are you celebrating the holiday?

Another Home Tour

Tom and I signed up to be docents for a Holiday Home Tour this past weekend

It was one of the beautiful old homes on Elizabeth Boulevard

The house has been lovingly restored

The photos on the piano are of the orginal home owners. The house was completed in 1915

and it was all dressed up for Christmas

All of the rooms looked very festive

The home was a wedding  gift to this young woman from her parents. A graduate of Vassar University, she had three children in this house, living here for nine years (1915-1924). 

Before marrying in 1915. Mamie, the first homeowner toured Europe coming home with a pet monkey.

The current  home owners dog wasn't concerned about all of this history. He just liked the comfortable sofa!

The Seven Ice Cube Orchid Saga

Some of you may remember the blog about the "ice" orchid.-Here I told about the plant that came with this rental apt.I shall try and explain: It actually belonged to Linda, the previous owner of this apt., who passed away last year. Her daughter sold this house containing two apts. that were completely furnished ....to a good friend....and with it came the orchid. Linda loved this plant, and left strict instructions to give it seven ice cubes every Monday.

Well, I did that from February to May when we left for Colorado for the entire summer. I was so worried about the plant when we left....since the apt. would be empty. My sister Nancy did come by once a week until July when she left for the mountains, and I guess then the land lady came by on occasion and watered it (hopefully on a Monday). But, with the summer heat and the air conditioner virtually turned off....the plant suffered.

So, when we returned in October the plant didn't have a bloom on it....

But look closely...since I have been taking care of it for a good month, there are several buds on the end of the stem!
Also look in the mirror. See that piece of art hanging across from it in the stairwell? (sort of like that game...can you find the differences?) Well, our landlord who loves to buy art...seemingly  from Texas artists....hung a newly acquired piece of art, while we were gone. And guess what it is?!

A lithograph of a white orchid.....by Texas born Tommy Tune. Tommy Tune is an award winning Broadway actor/dancer who has also taken up painting.More on Tommy here Okay, that is my seven ice cubes on Monday white orchid story :)