Backyard Paradise

My sweet boy Carson wants to go visiting next door!  His Best Friend, Max, a Great Dane/Lab lives there!

No birds in the cages, but plenty in the trees!

Blooming Plants!

Carson patiently waiting for his buddy Max to come out and play!

Max and Carson like to have "drinks" together.  :)

I LOVE these big elephant ears!

The path between our houses....it's great to have such an oasis next door!

Clever way to conceal the pool equipment

After growing up on the coast, there is always a love for things "of the sea".  :)

Starting with Bloglovin

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I'm also about to acquire a Vespa Scooter.....These are some of my favorite pictures I've found while dreaming of scooters!

Dreaming--Small Town Homes

On a weekend road trip I found myself wondering if I could go from Big City life to Small Town life.  I grew up in a small town of approximately 25,000 and couldn't wait to move to the big city after college. 

 I dream of living in one of these beauties but wonder if I would be bored within a month and regret my move.   IF I did move, I would have to be close to a large city so I could get my fix of the amenities.  And there's always the burning question....how would I support myself in a small town?
Check out these beautiful houses I found......after all....I'm only dreaming....but that's fun, right? 

 These last two are gorgeous too, and look to only need maybe some yard maintenance.  However, after remodeling and living in a 75 year old cottage close to downtown Houston, I certainly know the expenses never end with a beautiful, older home. 

Oh....and can you tell I have a THING for porches.....LOVE THEM!!!
Which house would YOU like to move to?

My Dream.........

 

Hello folks....I've been off blogging for a while now but suddenly have the urge to POST!  My new posts are going to be some of the things I dream about.......Like this Truck!  I would LOVE to toodle around the Texas back roads in this beauty. 

Neighborhood Plant Farm

This fun and funky, colorful Houston Heights Plant Farm is on my errand route  most weekends. For several months I've been telling myself ..."I need to stop in and check that out!"  It's on a busy urban street, in the shadows of Downtown Houston and just the type of place I like to poke around!

My friend Susan A. and I drove by on our way home from Urban Market Hunting.   Susan A. has a VERY brilliant emerald green thumb while mine is more a blackish, green!  My best plants are ones that thrive on neglect.  Yet, I'm still drawn to garden stores, with the ever present hope that one day I'll be able to keep things alive.

These succulents found a pretty home in a colorfully painted frame.  Cute idea, huh?

Other succulents and herbs found a forever home in a pretty white colander. 

Around each corner was a fun surprise......there were cute bunnies that let us feed them.

The bunnies live in the hutch on the right.

These type of signs always catch my eye.  One of these days I want to create on for my yard, with some of the exotic destinations that I've traveled to.

Everywhere we turned there was a pretty grouping of plants, yard art and statuary.

I found lots of pretty fall color on the front porch.

You know what they say about us Texans.....?  We are REALLY proud of our state and use the state shape in many, many different ways.  How about a Texas birdbath????

Inside the former 2 bedroom/2 bath cottage the owners have created a fun place to shop for unusual items.  Do you know anyone that would like a Texas Plant Stake?

The colorful kitchen .............

We had a blast shopping for plants and visiting with the help.  She was so knowledgeable and accommodating and even took our picture!  If you are in the Houston Heights area....go check it out....you won't be disappointed.

Friendly Ghosts and Other non-Frightening Fall Decor

Ok....I deserve it....You can ALL say....Better late than never, Susan!  You bloggers always amaze me by being so on top of your decorating blogging. :)  Here we are coming up on Thanksgiving and I'm blogging about Halloween/Fall decorating.  

I like to decorate my mantels with books....and this cute purple book I found at a Garage Sale, about "Gus the FRIENDLY Ghost" fits right in.

Here's a view of the whole mantel.  I have a two-sided fireplace and this one faces the dining room.

Last year I received this cute Halloween card, I saved it knowing it would play a part in my decorating.  Maybe next year I'll get around to framing it.

More books and a raven pillow that was a gift from my neighbor decorate my living room mantle.

Originally the pillow was stark white...but since that doesn't fit into my color scheme, I tea dyed it to make it look older and more yellow.

No....I don't really have POISON, but I found some Martha Stewart bottle labels so I FORCED myself gladly drank  (with help, of course) a bottle of wine! (and yes that IS me holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa!)  Wonder Woman Watch Out!

I found this cute jack-o-lantern and black cat garland (made out of thin wood) last year and it's become one of my favorite pieces.

Sweet, plump little birds add to the nature theme.

More books....these are from my trip to Paris a year ago.  Since they are small and flat, they made great mementos of the trip to bring back with me.  I decorate with books all year long.  Do you?

Here's a view of the entire mantel.

My living room mantle is painted red.....on a deep purple wall.  What??!??!?!  Is it that obvious that I Like COLOR!  Ya'll have a great Thanksgiving!!

Urban Market Hunting.....Part Deux

Writing this blog has taught me about what I like and what I'm drawn to. I've discovered that I like letters, signs, odd/unusual things, mannequins, bicycles, France and FALL!

After my first trip to France...(note I said FIRST because I WILL go back again)...I now have a small collection of French sign/plaques.  These reproduction plaques are similar to the originals I found near Aix en Provence at a horse barn/track.  Mine is from 1976 (ahem....I'm drawn to that date because it's when I graduated from High School....yep...I'm officially O-L-D).  These were made into lamps....good idea, huh?

I've seen many bottle dryers over the last few years.... before that...I didn't even know what they were!  Isn't BlogLand great for learning new things?

I've also learned while blogging that I LOVE old bicycles.  I only have ONE old bike and I retrieved it from Heavy Trash in my neighborhood....which I prefer to call Big Trash Boutique. WOOHOO!!!

A globe collection would be great for me to start (if I had the room).  Travelling is a LOVE of mine and maps intrigue me.

A very Martha Stewart-Esq idea on this pumpkin that I'm going to "borrow" next year!  Upholstery Tacks!

A pretty re-purposed dresser.  They did a great job matching the pattern, don't you think?

Once again...my love of French things drew me to this piece of artwork...I think I'm an official Franc-o-phile.

Pretty French Pillows!

Even though my basic style is Cottage...albeit FUNKY Cottage....I adore other styles as well.  If I were rich enough to have two house....one would be cottage and one would be more contemporary.  My designer friend calls this look "Transitional"....what would YOU call it?  

Orange is definitely THE color this year.  It seems to have made a big resurgence since the 1970's when harvest gold and avocado green and orange were used a lot.  It think this zoomy, sleek and stylish orange sideboard would look good with the chairs above.

Who knew a simple, newspaper craft could turn out so cute.....perky flowers!!!!

Yeehaw.....we love our Texas cowboys hats and don't they look chic on these mannequins?

And again....MORE fun and exotic pumpkins.  Check out that long, bright orange one on the top of the pile ....FUNKEEEE!!!!

Anyone having a Blue Christmas this year?  Love the retro look of the pink and blue.  

So....guess what I came home with?!?!?  The leg's below!  I'M Super Excited to try a Pinterest project on them!