Alexandra Stoddard, A Wonderful Read

I just love this fall button Sue made for Rednesday, it has such beautiful colors in it. Please visit her at It's a Very Cherry World to see what everyone is sharing today!

Hmm...I wonder, is it coincidence that most of my favorite design books have red covers? Or is it just that great minds think alike?

I recently found the Alexandra Stoddard book at an antiques and collectibles mall. Barb, at Bella Vista, had recommended her to me at a time when I was feeling particularly overwhelmed with my house. This is not a design book full of photographs, although there are lovely illustrations. This book is meant to read and read I have.

Stoddard wrote that our homes are , "...an attitude and a mind-set you can create and live in and love everyday."

She says that houses become homes when they "envelop our personality".

"Whatever is right and good about our lives, whatever is authentic and beautiful, will be reflected in the atmosphere as well as in the details that mirror our souls in meaningful, tangible, physical ways."

Wow! Do you think bout reflecting your soul when you're hustling through the store or fighting off a crowd of like-minded bargain shoppers at a yard sale? Me either! Frankly, I've done enough compulsive shopping, thrifty and otherwise, that I could probably reflect several souls without spending another penny. Instead I'm taking stock of what we have, what we love, and how we want to really live in this home.

Part of that assessment for me is time management. Blogging became an addiction and I was spending so much time at it that I lost track of why I started doing it. I've seen that a few bloggers have signed off permanently, feeling that blogging has become a drain on them for one reason or another. Others simply take a break and return when "real life" allows.. some don't return for months, if at all. Blogging does take a lot of time and that has been the subject of many, many posts lately.

I would say that blogging should be another reflection of your soul and as such it changes with the daily challenges we face. There are no rules. Don't feel that you must post often or on any schedule. Don't feel that you have to trade comment for comment. Post when your soul stirs you, be it serious or lighthearted. Visit when you have time, comment if you have something to say, and just hang out without commenting if you feel like it. Enjoy the experience as you would enjoy a chance meeting with a friend. Let it brighten your day, not weigh you down. Let it be part of all that is " authentic and beautiful" inside you.

Hugs

Dawn

Stealth Cat

I went out this morning to check on the progress of the patio. The guys had worked past dark last night and I never got a chance to see how far they got. All of a sudden our 1 year old cat, Mickey, ran by and flung himself into the hole where the sprinkler was removed.

Is he hiding from someone? Yes, but it's not what you think. He's not afraid of anyone. He's the terror of the neighborhood. He spent yesterday chasing squirrels out of the pecan tree but this morning he was ambushing bigger game...

the dreaded yellow lab beast. These two have such a weird relationship. I really think Mickey thinks he's a dog. Sunny is like his big brother. They chase and wrestle and steal each others' food just like real brothers. Sometimes Mickey is meowing at the door and I think he wants out, then when I open it Sunny comes in and Mickey is happy. He didn't want out, just wanted to be with big brother.

Mickey often ambushes the dogs from a chair, the bed or the back of the couch. He's never tried an aerial attack from this height though! Notice the "wild" cat hiding against the wall. As I said, Mickey terrorizes the whole neighborhood. He doesn't take off as much since that last vet visit...the one where they "fixed" his desire to wander. But anything at home is fair game.

Even Oreo, who doesn't put up with the sharp kitty teeth biting at her ears near as well as Sunny does. At least these two look like they're related, sort of. She is a good big sister and tells him to behave, in no uncertain terms.

So anyway, you can see we're making progress on this project.

But there is still a lot to do. Did I mention we're having a big luau birthday party for my son here on the 25th? Why do we do this to ourselves?

A Patio's Reprieve!

Never leave a scheduling job to men. I'm off to buy a calendar for hubby and the cement guy... look for new patio photos after NEXT weekend!

A Patio's Demise

Looking pretty shabby!

All cracked up and sliding down hill.
But it's not your fault.
At least you've still got your sense of (California) humor.
I know because you laugh every time I trip and stub my toe.


By Friday night it will all be water under the bridge.

I'll never forget you, at least not until the new patio/BBQ area/walkway is poured on Saturday.

Yes, the sun is setting on your pecan covered past but not to worry, you're being recycled. You'll be "green", you'll be trendy, you'll be useful again! And really isn't that what we all want? To have a purpose in life! I know, I know, becoming a concrete footing isn't exactly glamorous, but someone has to do it, right?