Mostly Musings of a Myriad of Mating Marriages of Birds plus some Miscellany

I can't remember when this bird obsession started, it's been a few years, but I see no change of heart in my near future. Is it a faze? A fad? Is this the equal/sequel to ducks, geese, and teddy bears? Okay, well, who cares? I'm sticking with it for now. So I got the nest urn at Lucketts from the first trip and then last week I went to an old haunt I'd not been to in a long time...All Things Country in Pasadena (Yes, they have one of those in Maryland, too. I think there's one in most states; this one doesn't have a dance hall where John Travolta rides a mechanical bull). And found the fab bird.

Little closer view of the bird; it's beautiful and velvety...yum.

And a cone of bird-inspired decor...

...and I'm kinda proud of this one. I got the silver tea pot from Chicks Picks at the annual Lucketts sale, the bird on top from the cottage the same day, and brought them home to be mated, painted, covered with glue and glitter, and decorated with a nest and velvet leaves. Sorry, but I think it turned out pretty darned cute.

Front view, still kinda cute, huh?

A little aside...bike rim wreath...still nature-inspired, right?

Little birdie-inspired vignette at the shop.

Close up of Harold and his bird friend.

This is part of the miscellany...I bought this great old paper umbrella from Tammy of Sweet Finds at...wait for it...take a wild guess...The Pink Cabbage! I didn't know where I was going to put it exactly but the colors were pretty much made for the dining room. When I went in Edith was screaming for some shade so she won the umbrella. Edith was made by Bill Something who had a studio at Oella Mill and I asked Paul for one of his tea pot ladies for Christmas a few years ago and he obliged thankfully; I love her. And for now she's got shade.

Another misc. There were bushes and bushes of these flowers all around the Safeway parking lot the other day, here's one peek.

To Daddy on this day of memories...

Carl Warburton George, Jr. September 4, 1930-August 20, 2003.

Texan, Aggie, husband, father, son, brother, church leader, exotic animal breeder and keeper, architect, engineer, writer, innkeeper, (flower deliverer for Pacific Grove Florist below)...

...the finest man I'll ever know. Passionate about every aspect of life; you taught Valori, Maya, and I how to stop, smell, see, hear, take in the roses, not take anything for granted, and be the best we can be at whatever we attempt. You were extraordinary at all you did but never a peep of what you did came from your mouth, only through your actions. We love you, we feel you with us always, but still miss your physical presence dearly. While you were the driver you took us on many fine rides through life and we have so many fabulous stories and memories for which we shall be forever grateful. With all my love, Tiny Tears

Finished Making Mel's House The Cutest in the World!

Not my best photo taking but you get the idea. Mel's mom removed all the wallpaper in the kitchen/eating area and Janine and I painted there and in the living room and hallway where they had a beautiful shade of sage green. There was nothing wrong with the way it looked; it was beautiful. But as we all know, we get tired of things even if they look good and just want a change. So one of Mel's greatest wishes was that I do dots on the big wall in the kitchen in the aqua blue we painted the wainscoting and it looks pretty darned cute.

I had finished the living room within the first round of two days painting so between then and her second stay in the hospital and my subsequent recovery from strep throat she had done a lot of redecorating with her special small pieces in addition to the big pieces that Kurt had moved around while she was in the hospital.

You can see how too cool she puts her great pieces up; great, special things well placed in unexpected places...perfect!

Sweet vignette in a small shelf in the kitchen.

Mellie and Kurt's special salt and pepper shaker collection. Pretty much everything displayed in her home has very special meaning which, in my humble professional decorating opinion, is just what decorating should be.

With touches of one-of-a-kind ideas.

Here's one of her main inspirations for the color scheme and decor for the kitchen area-one of Jenny and Aaron's pieces she was lucky enough to receive in a swap a while ago.

And a collage Hope made of one of her cards just for Mellie with all the colors also. I hope having these things done will let her enjoy her healing time off in her fabulous cottage 'cause that's what it's all about.

Leesburg/Luckett's two weeks in a row?!

Hubby took Friday off since the kids were off school and he was hoping we'd be able to head to O.C. for the weekend. The weather did not cooperate. It was nice enough on Saturday for him to play golf but, having taken an extra day off, he was antsy. So, when I mentioned that Hillary of Chicks Picks was offering Mellie's art at the Luckett's Annual Sale, the guys wouldn't dare refuse to join me in supporting the cause.

Here we are; Hillary, me, and Cristina.

And, just as I arrived, Hillary was wrapping one of Mel's pieces going home with this lucky girl. My camera (or me) was acting up so sorry for the grainy resolution but at least you get the point...great timing.

And here's just one of the many displays of Mellie's art.

Out in the tents, there were other vendors and here's one of the cool pieces...frou frou chairs covered in old feed sacks...very chic.

Inspiration that Karen and I have talked about in the past. It's hard to imagine I can take our old (one year) turtle cage and make it look like this...we'll see.

Loads of great vignettes of inspiration.

First trip to Leesburg brings first vignette from Leesburg

The first round of decorating with a few things didn't make the cut but when Mellie passed on the Bromeliad I had new inspiration and the perfect plant for the great pot from the cottage.

Here's the full home view; you know I have to love something to put it on my "special" t.v. So far, it's all from the cottage, I'll get to Lucketts some time soon...