My Weekend - The Really Good and the REALLY BAD!

My weekend started with a wonderful recognition breakfast for all who serve in the Women's Minstry at our church! The food and fellowship were great & the message by our Women's Ministry Director was very heartfelt and inspiring. (She's the BEST!)

Then after church on Sunday, we attended the church Baptism service at our friend & neighbors home. Because we do not yet have our own church building, we meet in a school for now, our baptisms have taken place in one of the local lakes or in a church member's pool. We saw 20 people, young & old be baptized, sang a few great old songs, then headed home.

As we were driving up the road to home, I saw a sight that is very frightening to those of us who live in the rural areas here. A wildfire was burning out of control, just over the ridge to the east of our property. Although it was several miles away, these fires are unpredictable and so dangerous! The wind had kicked up and the temperature was in the high 90's at least. All conditions for the most difficult fire-fighting.

As of this morning, the fire is basically just smoldering. But it has left a path of destruction beyond belief! One whole neighborhood of fairly new, larger homes is GONE! As we viewed the TV news, and watched the live aerial film, it was incredible to see that the fire moved so quickly that people didn't even have time to take their cars in some cases! Terrible!

HERE is a link to some videos from our local news. Please excuse the commercials, ugh!

We haven't heard if they have discovered the cause of the fire. We don't know of any human injuries or deaths. We do know that some pets have perished and that 60 structures have been lost. It is a very sad day for many families.

It was an awful way to end a weekend! Please be careful out there...

Chris

A Rooster Party!

Today I am joining in on the Rooster Party hosted by Barb at Bella Vista! I missed the signup deadline, so I'm not on her link list, but I wanted to play anyway! Please visit our Barb & the other participants. Leave a comment if you can. We all love them!

I have my fair share of hens & roosters, and of course had to show them off. (Maybe someday I''ll learn to take great photos like the rest of you...) I've placed mine in a photoshow, and if you have sound, the music is "Chicken Chase". LOL!

Hope you enjoy!

Chris

Old Decor - New Decor

As you know from my last post, I am planning to make some changes to my decor. The two pictures in that post have led me on a merry search for my "style". And I have to say that your comments were all very helpful! I am going to lighten things up, but try to take the elements that I love most from each room and use those ideas.

If I change to a more neutral background, then by using accessories in that dreamy blue and other cool colors in the spring & summer and the warmer rusts, golds, etc., in the fall, I should be all set! And Mary Ruth's suggestion about lighting...why didn't I think of that?

I am posting some pix of the room (living/dining combo) as it is now. These were taken as I was setting up for a Tupperware party, so you'll see boxes and bags and extra chairs that aren't normally there. At least, these will give you an idea of my current color scheme, window placement and layout.

Some furniture will stay, some will go. For sure the dining room table & chairs are staying. I'm also keeping the black occasional chairs & the gateleg table. I love the table that my husband made from the brass gong that I got from my parents. It is too small where it is, but I'd like to find a place for it, maybe in another room. The rest of the stuff can go or stay, depending on whether I can paint, repurpose, or move it.

The sofa is too fussy. I might have it recovered/reworked to have a neutral fabric & a tight back. Probably cheaper to buy a new one...

My girlfriend Patti the Painter is bringing moulding samples today; crown, window, baseboard & door. We'll be discussing color too. I should have some more to say about this in a few days!

I'm getting inspired! Chris

How to Decide?

I am conflicted! I SO love this room! (it's taken from the Thibaut Fabrics & Wallpaper website) It is warm, uber traditional and full of elements that are "just me". Or at least they have been in the past.




Then, I look at this room. Light, cool, and not-so-traditional; transitional maybe? (Mary Ruth, where are you?) I really like those window treatments. I DO have a view afterall! For some reason, the colors speak to me.




I want/need a change. My red, green & gold color pallet, which has always been my favorite, isn't making me as happy any more. I just don't know, darn it!

Which room do you like better? I know it won't help my decision much, but I'm curious!

Confused, Chris

Picture Framing

I have busy in my studio/frame shop. I thought you might like to see a couple of the latest things I've framed.

This first one is for my home. My husband and I bought this print on our honeymoon 4-1/2 years ago. We were staying in a wonderful Bed & Breakfast in Ferndale, CA, called the Collingwood Inn. One of the owners at the time, Peter Consello, is the artist.

I haven't decided where I'll hang it yet, so it'll be on the studio wall for a while...

This second piece is a gift for my girlfriend's husband. He actually purchased it in his "youth" to remind him of one of his favorite places. Now it will brighten the walls of his office. I think he's going to be daydreaming about the beach instead of working, don't you?

I have lots more framing to show you. Just have to figure out the right time/place/method to photograph it...

Cheers! Chris

Three or More Tuesday!

Once again, it is Three or More Tuesday, hosted by Tam at The Gypsy's Corner! Please be sure to visit Tam and the other participant's in this always fun event!

Today, I am showing off some of my plate collection! This love of plates actually developed when I was a teenager. I was given a carved wooden plate from Tyrolia by a friend of my mother. I have more that are not on display, since this house hasn't the wall space of our last home. These are just some my favorites!

Cheers! Chris

The Pavilion Is Up!

Despite the heat & the smoke (yes, we have more wildfires in No. California, ugh!) Ed was able to get our new pavilion set up on the back deck.

We love it! I especially love the "candlelier", but DH thinks an electric chandy would be more versatile. He's right, the candles don't provide enough light to see what you are eating, for example. And, if he puts a dimmer on the switch, we can still have softer light when we want it.

I have so many things to do for next spring. We need new cushions and a new rug. There is a plant stand in the corner, by the screen, that my father built many years ago. It is falling apart. and I want to dismantle it and make a pattern so we can duplicate it. We also plan to replace the deck boards with Trex. We used it on the deck off our master bedroom & it is great stuff.

Still need to do some sprucing up, but couldn't wait to show you how my great find worked out!

Cheers! Chris

P.S. Please keep the firefighters and folks affected by the wildfires in your thoughts and prayers.

Hummingbird Breaksfast

THIS is why I have to fill my hummingbird feeder everyday!

Some mornings, I have seen a dozen of these little stinkers trying get breakfast, all at the same time. This morning, there are about 8 of them. They make such a racket chirping at one another! The feeder hangs outside one of the kitchen windows, making dishwashing rather fun. I have been known to sit at the island counter for 30 minutes just watching these aerial acrobats!

Most of them are Anna's and Allen's Hummingbirds, with a few of the Black-chinned varitey thrown into the mix. I just love them, all birds actually! How 'bout you?

Feed the birds! Chris

Lucky Me!

I almost never go to K-Mart. Not for any particular reason; it is just out of my normal travel patterns. This past Saturday was an exception.

Saturday morning, 7 of us girls met for breakfast. This is something we try to do once a month. We met at a great little restaurant in Rocklin, CA called Granite Rock Grill. The fellowship, food & conversation was wonderful! I had a peppered bacon scramble. Definitely NOT low cal, but really yummy!

My daughter was with me. As we left the restaurant, she mentioned she had been looking for a CHEAP patio lounge chair. We decided that since K-Mart was close, we'd see if they had any deals. As it turned out, the ONLY lounge chair they had was almost $100!

But... Oh, they had deals alright!

Look at what I got! This $700 pavilion was on sale for $179! I have wanted one of these forever! It is the floor model, needs to be disassembled, comes with no instructions for set up (good thing hubs is an engineer), and appears to be in perfect condition! SCORE!




My husband & I went back on Sunday afternoon so that he could see it while it's set up & take a look at the fittings and assembly before they take it down. Even he said I "did good"!

We can pick it up today or tomorrow. I can't wait to get it set up and redecorate my new room! I'll post more photos when I have it just right.

I always say, "I never find deals like that". Guess I'll have to change my tune? Now if I can find a new outdoor rug for a deal like that...

Have a happy Monday!
Chris

Filoli Gardens for Fertilizer Friday!

This is my first time to participate in Fertilizer Friday, hosted by Tootsie @ Tootsie Time. I have chosen to show off a garden other than my own. The Filoli Estate Gardens in Woodside, CA. Please be sure to visit Tootsie and all the other participants!

You can visit the Filoli Garden website HERE. Better yet, if you're ever in Northern California, near San Francisco, visit the garden in person!

I decided that, rather than trying to post & explain all 100+ photos I took in Filoli's gorgeous gardens, I would create a photo show. I think you'll understand the grand beauty of the gardens without a lot of verbiage attached. One note: There are some flowers, roses mainly, where I have placed a photo of the nameplate right after the flower photo.

Enjoy! Chris

Sunday in the Psalms