b-mo celebrates too. happy 4th friends!

we have hope for peace in our world and can only wish and pray that our troops will come home quickly and safely. no more war.

we will remember how fortunate we are to have a roof over our head, food on the table, clean water, no troops invading our streets and the freedom of expression without fear.

b-mo's hat provided by old navy dog supply. he is not so into it today.

fast and furious

summer is here and as we all know the cherries are abundant and at every street corner. i had to photograph them and include them in my 2 day red theme.

the second photo is business card from my new favorite sunday brunch spot. the place i had buttermilk pancakes & fried chicken smothered in maple syrup a month ago. had to stop in this last weekend too.

now to the interesting "fast and furious" title. we looked at a cabin in sonoma last saturday....then went up again on sunday to confirm the first impression...then signed the offer last night.....now we are waiting.

i knew it could be great when we got off the freeway 40 minutes outside of san francisco and we were surrounding by country, country and more wine country. then we turned off that road and continued for 7 miles of winding country roads surrounded by vineyards, a lama farm, pastures and just before the cabin a zen retreat with monk's walking the property overlooking the wine country. it was like i was already on vacation and i was still in the car.

one more time...fingers crossed. no photo's of property, but will post if it happens. it is REALLY rustic and not totally charming...but potential out the ying yang.

look into my eyes

back by popular demand AND a demanding dog. he made me do it, cant you tell by the way he is staring right through me in the picture?

happy monday, and make it a great week. when you don't feel like doing something, do it with a smile...

french.lodge.mountain.lavender

wouldn't you know it, it was a beautiful weekend in SF and i was out of town. we had a rainy may, so any weekend that is in the 80's is golden. well, i can't complain because i am home and still enjoying this beautiful city with its crystal blue sky and light warm breeze.

anyway, back to the weekend. did you know there were lavender fields in northern california? well, i didn't either until my friend laura pointed this out last year. we actually had a trip planned last year, but i had a last minute business trip to asia, which threw off the whole trip. boo!

the challenge for me is the busy summer and the fields are only open for 6 weeks. we have had this trip on the docket for a year now and we finally made it this weekend.
let's just say it was stunning, as the backdrop is the glorious mount shasta. these pictures do not due justice to the majestic, in person experience.

unfortunately, this year has been a wet season and the lavender (french and english) is about one week behind in bloom. as you can see, the buds were just ready to begin their transformation.......soooooo close...shoot!! it was still breathtaking, but there is already a planned trip for next year to ensure we see this in full bloom.

we also found a great little 1930's mountain lodge in the town of mount shasta for our overnight stay. charming, with the antler anchor to the main lodge.

hope your weekend was a magical as mine.

from farm to flat

i found this little table/stool recently at my one of my favorite french importers warehouse. her container got wet on the ocean and everything came in covered in mold and it was a bit groady to say the least.

i wish i had a before and after of this one, but after lots of sanding, fresh air, and lots of sunshine this great little piece is perched in its new SF flat (for now anyway).

the details on this old log are really, really rough and the legs are not even and it leans a little to the left...which ultimately means....we are a match made in heaven.

the best news is there is a little sister, totally the same kind of primitive cut legs, but a tad smaller and way more sun drenched and weathered.

have a great weekend. i am off to mount shasta with my crew to take in the lavendar fields. they have a very limited season...and it is now.

city cabin

our bathroom is looking a bit rustic/cabin-ee with this little collection.

a rcvd this great little bird piece of art (the bird on bottom) from my friends brenda & meg back in april. i wasn't sure where it was going to live, but i think this is just the right spot with 2 favorite flea market finds. the perfect trio indeed.

off to idaho for bud's memorial. be back soon.

round & round she goes

i bought this stool a while back from a dealer, but it needed a wee bit sanding before i brought it into the apt. well, it is saturday and it is in the 80's and the rooftop is calling my name and i have one of those handy dandy sanding bricks ready for action.

so, the sanding took about 5 minutes....and done. i'm not sure why i waited so long to do this project. the green paint on the base of this stool is super perfect. oh, and on the wood there are drops of kelly green paint that totally make me smile.

it is from belgium and was a steel of a deal.

and the winner is.....

red ticking. b-mo was blind folded and i spun him in many circles and then had him pick out of the winning bowl.

congrats red ticking. i hope you get as much joy from this little piece of sunshine that i did. this is a little french latte bowl that has its very own perfect imperfection of a chip.

i don't know how old this one is, but she is definitely and oldie, but goodie.

yay! i have a feeling you will like this one.

before sundown

i don't know how today has gotten away from me, but it has. so, tomorrow before sundown i promise to post the give away and announce the winner.

this photo was actually NOT taken at sundown, but on a beautiful sunday morning a few weeks ago. this room continues to bring solace and the comfort you can only find at home. i am usually sitting on the bench under the window (behind where i am standing to take the photo), with b-mo next to me and a nice cup of coffee....letting the sun warm our spirits.

please note the simple and affordable ikea chairs adorning all the other geriatric objects and finds in the room.

it's a give away

so...it has almost taken 2 years to see that "100" show up on followers. not that i am counting, but i did decide that after 100 followers i would start to post and cell special found objects that i can actually part with.

you know, if you are a "find scout" as i am, it might take a few years to part with some things, but after they have served their purpose it may be easier to say good bye AND what a better place to share the object wealth.

i'm going to set up shop soon, but in the meantime i wanted to give away one of my favorite finds. the only clue is, i have blogged it.

so, i don't really know how to do a give away, but this is what i will do. i will pull all the names of each person that comments on this post and then put all your names in a bowl and have b-mo pull out the winning name. THEN...i will post the winning trinket.

(this little quote from joyce brother's has been on the kitchen table for a very long time...just waiting to be posted)

good luck..

sonoma

spent the day in sonoma. another good friend is getting married in august at this private estate in sonoma. it is a family compound that has been in the same family since the mid 1800's and my friend happens to be friends with the generous owners. its going to be a pool party....and talk about a pool (see photo above).

it was a day of measuring tables and benches, crafting ideas and plotting out the decor plan. i don't do weddings, but this summer happens to be another one of those summers for weddings and we all happen to be in the crafty industry and would much rather be practical than wasteful. it must be our 30's (and some of us 40's) sensibility.

after a day like this we are feeling like we need to revisit real estate in sonoma again. the ups and downs of buying a home. it just happens to be a bit more tricky when looking at listing prices :o).

last note: we started the day having brunch at the fremont diner in sonoma. i had the buttermilk waffles with fried chicken and maple syrup. oh....holy cow it was good.

and the winner is part 2

that darn, affordable carnation. another little way to brighten up your already wonderful day. $6.00 and this time they came with some amazing greens with broad leaves.

old trophy, too good of a bargain to share online.

yay, its thursday evening...i think i will have a full glass of wine to ring in the weekend a bit early.

ps...i'm getting nervous as the copper tags have not arrived for the wedding bottles...if they don't arrive tomorrow i will have to go forward with plan b (no copper tags)

phase one

i'm helping a friend this weekend with her wedding/reception flowers. she wanted to use these milk bottles she has been hanging onto for several months (she drinks the milk) and i think she made the right choice. the location is rustic and in the headlands right on the other side of the golden gate bridge....

when you are on a budget the creative forces can be intense, and this is something i wanted to take off her plate as she has more important task to manage (family, hair and stuff)

so, this is the first phase. wrapping my favorite utilitarian vice (TWINE) around the neck. then... i am awaiting copper hang tags (used for gardening), which i will fasten around the knot on the twine... their names and the date will be embossed with a sturdy pen. usually this is something i do for a gift, but why not transfer it right to a bottle...

then the wild flowers take center stage.

i'm keeping my fingers crossed these hang tags make it by tomorrow...please keep yours crossed too. if they don't, its our secret and magic must ensue immediately.

3 little ditties

1) a trip to berkley and we came home with roses from one friends garden and the most amazing eggs from another friends city chicken coop.

2) french tea cup with many cracks, but still holds water

3) 1930's small oil on canvas with a few small flaws, $20.

all in all a nice little threesome.

from flea to flashy

when i moved to sf 5 years ago my first and most important task was to find all the best flea markets in the area. i was willing to drive and drive if needed, but soon found the once a month alameda flea market in the east bay.

it was HUGE and felt a bit rough around the edges back in the old days (2005), just my style. well, 5 years later it is called "antique sale" and it is still HUGE and now if you show up at 9am you have to park so far out you need to catch a shuttle. ;o(

i went last weekend for the first time in the last 6 months and i was so overwhelmed by the changes that i wasn't able to focus enough to even consider buying. i left empty handed this time, but i am going to be fully prepared and armored next month. i will have to show up at 6am and wearing my running shoes. (most of the items i gravitated to were sold)

stacks of piles

i am a composed and organized hoarder and stacking dishes on shelves in the kitchen is the most organized i'm gonna get. don't get me wrong though...everything does have a home.

each little dish/cup found = under $10.

texture

3 different finds, all under $30. the most recent being the center french bread basket, covered in old linen grain sack (hand stitched on, primitive, needs a good soap and warm water scrub and then air dried...need to wait for some heat) only $10.

i have to

post these. my mom and family live on a 50 acre farm and they have 12 horses and most of them are over 20 years old. oldies but goodies..that is what i tell them whenever i visit them (ghost, star and i can't remember the other one right now).

AND the out building is the local fruit stand, not yet open for summer, but charming all the same.

i promise i will not post any more idaho post...i know they are a bit dull and scenic.

blossom me idaho

idaho was in full spring bloom. the drive to my mom's ranch winds you through the orchards and vineyards of south western idaho, 23 miles west of boise.

it is always breathtaking, but the older i get the more i tend to take notice of mother earth's beauty. these are blossoming apples, pears and i think peaches.

hello and good-bye

did a little brock street shopping a few weeks ago. this little south of france gem was suppose to hit the storage closet, but somehow made it to the 3rd floor, got itself waxed and perched in the living room with a great city view.

she will hopefully make her debut at the brock street pop up store one day, but there might be a battle in store.