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High Desert Diva

July 13, 2010
18:49
That Is All
» ‎ High Desert Diva

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I've decided to suspend this blog. I'm going to make it private as it is a good journal of photos, and sources for me.

Thanks to all who have joined in the fun for the last three years. I'm so glad to have had the opportunity to meet you virtually, and in some cases, in person.

Adios.
July 12, 2010
4:48
Life and Design
» ‎ High Desert Diva

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Years ago, I came across a design book by architect Sarah Susanka called The Not So Big House.

Susanka put into words what I had been thinking for years. She believes in designing homes “that favor the quality of its space over the quantity” not "the notion that houses should be designed to impress rather than nurture.”

I’ve always loved small spaces. The home we lived in for almost 18 years was a cottage built in 1925.

840 square feet on the main floor. I loved the intimacy it provided.
When we decided to move to the desert, we knew we wanted another house with a small footprint. We looked at house after house for almost 10 months. Half-way through the process, we realized moving to the most expensive part of Oregon, wanting acreage, a house, and no mortgage was going to be a problem. We had to compromise somewhere.

With much grinding of teeth, we began looking at mobile homes on acreage. My husband asked me, “Can interior decorators really live in mobile homes?”

Living in a trailer, with fake paneling, plastic cupboards, shag carpeting, vinyl flooring, aluminum siding and metal slider windows held absolutely no appeal to me.

But after watching our formerly quiet country road in Silverton, sprout 200+ McMansions over the last 10 years, we knew we wanted the peace and quiet acreage would provide.

We bought 5 acres with views of the Three Sisters (3 - 10,000'+ mountains) in Central Oregon’s High Desert.

We have 300+ days of sunshine a year, along with so much privacy I’ve yet to meet any neighbors....and we have a double-wide trailer. Which all makes me realize, life's funny, isn’t it?

There was no beauty in this home. None.

This project has been my biggest design challenge to date. We gutted the entire inside…salvaging and donating items to the Habitat for Humanity resale shop, recycling wood and scrap metal as we went along. We tore out the cardboard and plastic ceilings, rewired and re-plumbed where necessary. We hired a crew to sheetrock over the existing paneling and then we coated the walls and ceiling with both low VOC (Devine) and zero VOC (Yolo) paints. We ripped out the germ-riddled plush carpeting and laid Eco-Timber solid bamboo flooring (using a non-toxic glue) throughout the entire house. We tore out (and recycled) aluminum slider windows, replacing them with energy efficient ones. We repurposed antique furniture into a vanity sink cabinet and linen closets rather than buying new pieces. The kitchen cabinets were purchased from a company who offered a green line of cabinetry. Paperstone (countertops made using 100% recycled paper and a non-toxic resin) was installed in the kitchen. Ten of the light fixtures we installed were found at second hand stores or purchased off Craigslist. We salvaged, reused and repurposed many items making our remodel as green as we could afford, and as beautiful as possible....and we paid cash.

Before and after photos here
July 10, 2010
5:04
Driving entertainment
» ‎ High Desert Diva

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"Carry laughter with you wherever you go. "
~ Hugh Sidey

More shadow shots at Hey Harriet
July 08, 2010
18:08
Walk into my parlor
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...said the spider to the fly.
A Hobbit house at the Oregon Garden.Lily pads and a place to rest weary feet.A green roof gasping for breath in 97 degree heat.Weird plant.Other side of Hobbit house.
It is always interesting to view a place one has seen over and over, with the fresh eyes of one who has never experienced it. I walked through the oak grove at the Oregon Garden for the first time in 10 years. The children's garden is always a visual delight with weird plants, animal shaped topiaries, clay pot figurines and buried dinosaur (!) bones. But this was the first time I remember seeing the Hobbit house. How could I have missed it before?
4:32
Gardens on my mind
» ‎ High Desert Diva

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Got plans this Saturday?
If you're anywhere remotely close to Eastern Washington, I highly recommend Suzanne St. Pierre and Scotty Thompson's Art in the Garden show at Living in the Garden.
The best garden shop I've ever seen...
July 07, 2010
0:46
Off to the Oregon Garden
» ‎ High Desert Diva

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I'm taking a desert friend to my former hometown of Silverton for a tour of the Oregon Garden. We're going to stay overnight at the Oregon Garden Resort which offers a smokin' mid-week deal of guestroom with a private patio and fireplace, dinner at Oregon Garden Resort Restaurant plus one bottle of House wine, admission to The Oregon Garden and full American buffet breakfast...all for $89. Unbelievable.
July 06, 2010
0:16
Keeping the sun out
» ‎ High Desert Diva

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I recently found an Apartment Therapy article regarding the use of a transparent welding curtain as an indoor sunshade.
Being the wife of an artist blacksmith, I found this creative reuse intriguing. But I have to wonder about the off-gassing of sun heated vinyl. Perhaps if it was placed outside, rather than inside...
July 04, 2010
19:42
Time for Margaritas!
» ‎ High Desert Diva

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We finished the patio area!
Before shot:After shot
Happily, it doesn't look like the back of a trailer anymore....Last year before we built the deck & ramada:The long, skinny, metal box.
0:18
Happy Fourth of July
» ‎ High Desert Diva

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"Let freedom never perish in your hands."
~ Joseph Addison
Vintage flags and image - Beryl Lynn
July 03, 2010
4:59
Free!
» ‎ High Desert Diva

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“The sun does not shine for a few trees and flowers, but for the wide world's joy.”

~ Henry Ward Beecher

Free of the leash - elation sets in.

Click Hey Harriet for more shadow shots
July 01, 2010
20:13
Progress
» ‎ High Desert Diva

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Patio is coming along, but we ran out of pavers....and then it started raining.
Trux is looking mighty unhappy, but he wouldn't come inside. Silly dog.
June 30, 2010
19:50
Collaboration
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I just finished a charity design project full of collaborators. The High Desert Design Council, specifically Mindy Lyman & Martha Murray, plus a handful of wonderfully talented volunteers and generous business owners, transformed the great room/kitchen of a women's and children's shelter.

We only had one week. And we had zero budget.
Amazing what can be done when people come together.
The biggest visual impact came from paint. Such a simple thing, really. But the WOW factor definitely comes into play when two gorgeous color are paired. No more white walls!See more images here. Huge thanks to Yolo Colorhouse for donating ALL the wall paint.
June 29, 2010
8:18
Only the lonely
» ‎ High Desert Diva

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Some days this is just too remote...
0:09
Books as Art
» ‎ High Desert Diva

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“Book lovers will understand me, and they will know too that part of the pleasure of a library lies in its very existence.”

~Jan Morris

From the creative mind of Frederico Uribe
June 28, 2010
0:50
Art?
» ‎ High Desert Diva

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No, a radiator.

Ingenious.
Splash radiator by Runtal
June 26, 2010
6:44
The chair
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“"I am," I said To no one there And no one heard at all Not even the chair "I am," I cried "I am," said I And I am lost, and I can't even say why Leavin' me lonely still.”
~ Neil Diamond

Mac shot.

Click Hey Harriet for more shadow shots~~~~~Get a Grip Contest WinnerAnnounced here
June 25, 2010
4:11
Twilight
» ‎ High Desert Diva

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"The summer day is closed, the sun is set: Well they have done their office, those bright hours, The latest of whose train goes softly out In the red west."
~ Bear Bryant
June 23, 2010
4:32
The Guardians
» ‎ High Desert Diva

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I've been working on a charity project with the High Desert Design Council this week. Yesterday, while doing prep work, I came across this print and recognized the work of Silverton artist, Ann Altman.
The Guardians by Ann Altman
Altman's work is perfect for the redesign of Saving Grace. Our color palette is bright and cheerful, and multi-cultural artwork is highly desired.
We'll be searching for similar pieces to display.
June 21, 2010
4:34
Get a Grip - Contest
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The name I drew for the contest winner is Victoria - only she didn't leave any contact information. I'll give here until noon today to get back to me, then I'll draw a second name.
12:29 pm here...haven't heard back from Victoria, so I drew a second name. The new winner is Karine Swenson! Congrats Karine! I just sent you an email...
~~~~~
I received a blind e-mail a few weeks ago from a company called Appliance Art. Typically, blind e-mails end up in my trash. I blog because I want to...not to advertise for corporations. But I was intrigued by the product, and free merchandise was offered...so what the heck, I decided to try something new.

Appliance Art makes magnetic, vinyl and metal foil covers for dishwashers and refrigerators. Their philosophy is: "Don't replace a working appliance just because you don't like the look of it, cover it with an Appliance Art, it's easier on your wallet and the environment."
Makes sense, right?Can't help but think they'd work great in a rental as well.
There's a variety of designs: Quotes, colors, art, seasonal, kitsch, landscape, etc. Take a peek.

For a chance to win a dishwasher design of your choice (excluding custom), leave a comment about how you found my blog. (The company has asked that the contest be open to US residents only) That's it, besides making sure your contact information is there. I'll choose a winner on June 27th. Once I get the winner's address, Appliance Art will send the prize.
Let the comments begin!
June 20, 2010
4:07
Back yard re-vamp
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We're starting work on the back patio. Our plan is to have a (cement) flagstone patio, a gravel path, and native, drought tolerant shrubbery to conceal the parking area from the patio/deck.

Before:Mark's sketch.Cement flagstones.The blue flags mark the area where the patio will be...with the exception of the two out by the gravel which delineate the width of the path.
Mark's string system in place to make sure we're keeping the backfill dirt level...and, of course, Trux - supervising.Gettin' there!The homemade, weighted roller thing...sadly, the garden tractor isn't working.
June 19, 2010
6:23
Garden Center Shadows
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"Plants cry their gratitude for the sun in green joy."
~ Astrid Alauda

Hey Harriet's shadow shots - click here for other shadow shooters
June 18, 2010
0:42
River property
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I spent last evening on a deck, sipping wine, and enjoying the view of the canyon and the Deschutes River.
What a gorgeous piece of property!
iPhone photos
June 17, 2010
3:58
Wintercreek Nursery, part two
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Inspiration in a waterfall.Vertical gardens.
Small garden shop.
I like the willow branch fence.Succulent planters.

All that garden goodness made me want to get out and plant!
June 16, 2010
0:51
Field trip
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Yesterday, the Mariposa Lily Garden Club (I'm co-prez) took a field trip to Wintercreek Nursery. A few photos to drool over:
A native plant nursery near Bend, Wintercreek offers plants we (locals) should all be using. No need to ask if the plants will survive our cold winters and hot summers...they will.

Beautiful grounds and test gardens.

Veggie garden.A pleasure to wander through.
June 15, 2010
0:15
Juniper berries
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I chose the pillows because of the color.It reminded me of juniper berries.Which led me to a fresh coat of paint for the metal chairs.No more bright white.To finish them off, I'll have the cushions reupholstered in Chilewich fabric.I'll be able to hose them off.No more Central Oregon dust....Still need to get rid of the mildew on the deck.
Pillows by Carla Wesson of Perpetual PillowsPaint: Norway Spruce by Benjamin Moore
June 14, 2010
4:27
Tactile
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I've been liking the idea of textured walls lately.

Jennifer Prichard's porcelain wall compositions and tiles are interesting.

Love the color.
J. Prichard Design
June 11, 2010
5:39
Glow
» ‎ High Desert Diva

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The mountains are out.

Three Sisters, Central Oregon's high desert.
I never tire of this view.
June 10, 2010
4:45
For the Bibliophile
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In lieu of a great bookshop to wander through...A virtual collection via Bookshelf Porn
source
June 09, 2010
4:01
Bubbles
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Lazy Meadow, an Airstream getaway in the Catskill Mountains.
via Shelter Pop
6 Airstreams, cabins, a lodge....and....a love shack.Owner, Kate Pierson's (of B-52s fame) "dream getaway".
June 08, 2010
0:04
Blue
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skies had me smilin' yesterday...
until Cammie flipped her litter box.
Since we're not evil pet owners,she was soon tentatively exploring the outdoors...
(She's an old indoor cat, and the outdoors is somewhat scary to her. She likes to be with us though, and since we spent a good part of yesterday on the deck enjoying the sunshine, she was outside, too.)
Until she exhausted herself and fell asleep on my lap.Trux crashed out, too.
June 07, 2010
0:35
Capital Gate vs. Leaning Tower
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The recently built United Arab Emirates' Capital Gate building is claiming to be the building that leans the furthest in the world.

I still prefer the leaning tower of Pisa....
June 05, 2010
4:57
Cloud shadows
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"You must not blame me if I do talk to the clouds."
~ Henry David Thoreau
White clouds casting shadows on the buttes.

More shadow shots found at Hey Harriet
June 04, 2010
4:31
Two clocks
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Mark completed two clocks of slightly different design.

Manley Metal Works
Love the detail
Available at Manley Metal Works - Etsy
June 03, 2010
4:26
Creative Reuse
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A tv worthy of being the focal point...Love this creative reuse!
Got fish?

Image from here
June 02, 2010
3:30
Made me look
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Felted wool stone floor cushions...an interesting departure from the typical bean bag.

Not sure if I like the stone/flower felted pillow...but it made me look!
Available from VivaTerra
June 01, 2010
0:35
A place for books
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“These are not books, lumps of lifeless paper, but minds alive on the shelves.”
~ Gilbert Highet
I like the use of the stairwell wall as book storage in this architect designed home. Check out the stair design, too. Nice elements.

The stairwell wall/bookshelf
“Book lovers will understand me, and they will know too that part of the pleasure of a library lies in its very existence”

~ Jan Morris
Love the book towers!Photo credit: Allen J. Schaben/LAT
May 31, 2010
0:40
Memorial Day
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“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.”

~ Arthur Ashe

Arlington National Cemetery
“Without heroes, we are all plain people, and don't know how far we can go”

~ Bernard Malamud
May 30, 2010
4:54
Exercise in futility
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I planted flowers.Or, as my husband says, I planted deer food.
I just needed some color.
Maybe if there was a collective chant from the blogosphere, the deer would stay away...
May 29, 2010
6:23
Photo tweaking
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Raining again in the high desert. Sunlight and shadows are hard to capture. A bit of photo manipulation here, but the shadows were interesting.

Click Hey Harriet for more shadow shots
May 28, 2010
6:44
Company coming
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My sister and her girls arrive tonight.
Apple cake baking.Flowers to plants.Dinner to plan.Weather to manipulate...
May 27, 2010
5:58
Spring rain
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So much for high desert sunshine. I'm beginning to question the veracity of the Central Oregon tourism board's claim of 300 days of sunshine per year.

The dark streaks on the cedar deck? Mildew. I didn't know this was possible in the desert.
May 26, 2010
6:19
Brooches
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"Put a little pin on and you've got something going on!"
~ Michelle Obama

Anthropologie

Aged and Opulent Jewelr
Crystal brooch - MoMA
~~~~~~~~
A couple of my favorites:
Fake fur flower pin - Stone Buddha
Gray fabric flower pin - Anthropologie
May 25, 2010
4:33
More seating
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Rearranging furniture to accommodate friends for tomorrow's girls night.
People always ends up in this room as it is closest to the kitchen. I figured I may as well plan on squeezing everyone in to begin with!
“Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose.”
~ Tennessee Williams
May 24, 2010
5:31
Good morning
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Looking forward to slightly warmer temps so I can enjoy my coffee outside and watch the sun rise. It is 37 degrees this morning. Too cold.
May 23, 2010
0:45
New Flooring
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One of my favorite, new-to-me products is Bamboo Chilewich. I decided to use it in our camp trailer to cover up the white vinyl floor. (White flooring anywhere, most especially in a recreational vehicle, is ill-conceived.)

Roughing out the templateTrux: supervising (or sleeping on the job)First fittingDetailCompleted!So glad to get rid of the white floor. Talk about inconvenient for camping. It was impossible to keep clean. This flooring, on the other hand, is not only cushioned which will make the camp trailer floor much warmer, but the color and texture are sure to cover up practically anything that is tracked in. And the best part? I can take it out and hose it off. We laid it directly on top of the the vinyl for this very reason. It fits wall to wall, but it is essentially a large area rug.
May 22, 2010
5:22
Grown Shadows
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“Happiness grows at our own firesides, and is not to be picked in strangers' gardens.”

~ Douglas Jerrold

More shadow shots at Hey Harriet
May 21, 2010
12:33
High Desert Garden Color
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I'm grateful for any color I can get in this young volcanic soil.
May 20, 2010
19:55
Best Buddha
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TtV photo by Hey Harriet
"If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change."

~ Buddha
May 19, 2010
6:32
Odd title
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I'm finding this book quite engrossing.The art of letter writing...quite a skill.
May 18, 2010
0:52
Arbor Grove
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Buying books for their cover...I'd buy this.
I'm drawn to tree canopied country lanes,
and try my best to capture them as I'm driving.
Ironically, my very first rental house was on Arbor Grove Road.In the middle of farmland, hardly a tree in sight.
May 17, 2010
19:06
Perceptions
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Looking back:

Words affect one’s perception of themselves, of others.

Age 3 or 4: At a concert with my parents and older sister. Someone boosts Chantele onto their shoulders so she can see. I hear someone offer to pick me up, and then hear my mother say, “She’s too heavy, don’t worry about it.” I stand throughout the concert staring at the adult butts in front of my face. I never saw the band.
Age 3, I'm in the pink tights
Age 7: My mom puts me on my first diet.
Skating with friends, age 7. I'm wearing the red pants.
Grade school years: Family refers to me as "a big girl".

Jr. High: A boy in my drama class calls me Big, Fat & Ugly.
The annual sister cheesecake picture.I'm on the left, wearing red.Jr. High years
High school: I don’t date anyone from my school. I’m a wallflower. The friend of the popular, cute, tiny, cheerleaders. Taller than all my girlfriends, taller than the boys until sophomore year.
Senior year of high school: My best friend’s mother tells me confidentially she never thought her daughter would be fat. My friend had recently gained weight. For the first time, we wear the same size.

College: My best friend becomes bulemic, she starts snorting cocaine. She gets very thin, and receives a lot of positive attention about her figure. She is a size 4.

1992: I read a medical report listing me as obese. I am 5’ 10”. At the time, I was wearing a size 10.
1992 with my sisters.I'm on the right.
Late 90's/early 2000's: My friend, whose mother referred to her as fat and who then became bulemic, has children. Three of them are girls. I hear her tell her oldest daughter she is fat. She isn’t. The cycle continues.

2010: My friend’s are all slim. My face seems to be getting rounder. Technically, I wear the same size clothing I did in high school, although my body sure looks different. I still tower above my friends.

And I still try to make peace with my size.
10:41
Fakin' it
» ‎ High Desert Diva

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This curly grass didn't survive the high desert winter...

so I spray painted it.
It will be much easier to take care of this way. Maybe I should do this to all my plants...
5:39
All quiet
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One week ago, I was in the largest city in America.

“There's nothing half so pleasant as coming home again.”
~ Margaret Elizabeth Sangster
May 15, 2010
5:15
Skeleton shadows
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“There is something about a closet that makes a skeleton terribly restless”

~ Wilson Mizner

Skeletons in the bar of the Cuba CafeNew York City, May 10th
More shadow shots at Hey Harriet
May 14, 2010
17:30
New York whirlwind trip
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Flying in to New York City
Meeting three women I didn't know (Stephanie, Emily and Chelsea) for a whirlwind trip.
Our NY nicknameLooking outside our apartment in the Chelsea neighborhood
Chelsea and EmilyEmily's movie star pose
Outside our apartment Emily and Stephanie at Cuba CafeBeing in New York was a great opportunity to meet blog friends. Michelle and Rachel rode the train in from New Jersey to meet me at Cuba Cafe. I've been corresponding with them for 3 years. So glad to have the chance to meet them in person! I wish the photo had turned out better.

Cuba Cafe And then we went to the Trailer Park bar...Emily and Stephanie G. eyeing the decorKitschChelseaNote the mannequin inside the trailer...Fun trip!
9:07
ReVamp
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I recently went to Virginia to re-vamp Chelsea's (blog friend of almost 3 years) living room/dining room space....
A few hours$0 budgetUsing what she had on hand,but not nearly enough margaritas
Before: Computer area
Before: Computer area/living room
Before: Living room/dining room

After: Living room
Moved bench from wall to use as coffee tableRehung artworkMoved rug from under dining table to living roomMoved side table from computer area to living roomAdded floor pillows for guitar seating
After: Fireplace
Removed tv/video games from above fireplaceReplaced with turtle tank, plants, books, etc.
After: Dining room
Removed rug from under tableTurned table and chairs opposite directionRehung artworkAdded centerpiece
Detail of dining table centerpiece

After: Computer area
Moved all computer desks, etc. towards kitchen area in the attempt to get as much separation as possible from the living room.Rehung artworkAdded elephant trophies from boys' bedrooms
0:48
Laundry closet to mudroom
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I don't particularly care for closet washer/dryers so we walled off one side of the kitchen to make space for a mudroom.Before:After:Front load washer/dryer raised to an ergonomic height.
Mis-ordered kitchen cabinets and a $10 garage sale dresser utilized into additional pantry storage.
Much better.
May 13, 2010
0:46
Before - After shots
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BeforeNarrow, galley kitchen with small opening to dining room
AfterOpening up walls makes space feel less confined.
May 12, 2010
0:54
NY digs
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Our NY rental - pretty cute!
May 11, 2010
2:56
What to do...in New York City
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image from Wikipedia
The Met?
Central Park?
Times Square?
Statue of Liberty?
Empire State Building?
Broadway?
So much to see, so little time!

~~~~~

I can't believe it. I'm in New York City and I've got the yucks. Not feeling well enough to explore the city. Hoping to bounce back in time for the Christopher Walken play tonight.
May 10, 2010
4:40
Blog Fest Meet Up!
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Tonight in New York City!
May 09, 2010
5:21
Happy Mother's Day
» ‎ High Desert Diva

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Chantele, Cherelle, Mom, Charmaine, Cherise
May 08, 2010
4:44
Interior Shadows
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More shadow shots at Hey Harriet
May 07, 2010
0:07
Front yard progression
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The previous owner of this property was fond of water sucking green grass.
Spring 2007

Since we live in the high desert with a limited amount of rainfall, we tore out the lawn and installed native, drought tolerant plants in May of 2008.

Two years later, the yard is taking shape.
High desert seasons are shorter than other areas of Oregon. We had snow and hail two days ago. It takes a while for plants to grow here...
"Gardening is the slowest of the performing arts."
~ Mac Griswold
May 06, 2010
0:12
Studio Visit: Melinda Hannigan
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This image capture is taken from the VR photo of Melinda's studio.
The final art studio we visited in the Seattle area was that of maritime painter Melinda Hannigan.

Melinda focuses on the rust and scrapes of working ships, manipulating realist images into her abstract canvasses.

Or, as my husband says, "She can do rust."
Having perfected rust, however, she was interested in new painting challenges. Melinda is experimenting with mixed media and some of her new paintings feature parts of the sail. (Two other paintings in this series can be seen in the top photo)

Melinda's upcoming exhibitions will be at Fetherston Gallery in Seattle May 14 - June 12, and at the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria June 18 - Labor Day. If you have the opportunity to visit either of these exhibits, I highly recommend it!
May 05, 2010
6:20
Cafe bar counter design
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A few weeks ago, I met with a local woodworker to collaborate on a design for the bar counter at the Cove Palisades marina store/cafe. It was one of those happy meetings where design ideas flow back and forth, each of us getting excited as it comes together so easily. This is Nancy's Sketch-Up rendering of the counter, using materials to tie in with the other selections I've made for the remodel.

Butcher block counterCorrugated metal detail on front & back
Galvanized pipe foot rest and counter brackets (not shown)Wood trim (to eliminate sharp metal edges)

The bar counter will be placed in the opening near the window wall to fill the awkward space between the post. It will help divide the area, providing a nice separation between the cafe and part of the store.
Can't wait to see it installed!
4:10
Cinco de Mayo
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Got your dancin' shoes on?

Reinvintage
May 03, 2010
0:43
Green
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"It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's heart, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanates from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit."
~ Robert Louis Stevenson
Oregon Coast Range65 mph car shot
Trees, moss, green.
My desert eyes love this.
May 02, 2010
18:11
Studio Visit: Gail Howard
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During our recent travels, we met artist Gail Howard in the Georgetown area of Seattle.
Gail was in the process of working on a new piece in her "with the grain" series. The new work is much larger than the 9.5 x 9.5" pieces she has made in the past.

There are to be six long scrolls which will be about 2' wide and 10 to 14' high depending on where they're installed. They're to be hung from a wall or ceiling in the middle of a room so people will be able to walk around and through them. *Envisions a paper forest*
My mind balks at the thought of the tedium required for such repetitious work, yet this is what I'm continually drawn to in all art forms. Gail describes the process of her work as meditative and I can understand that.
Gail's other work:
This piece is composed of a shattered Christmas ornament. It is reflective so it changes as one moves in closer to look at the detail. Quite mesmerizing. I'd like to have this as a ceiling treatment, actually. Imagine...

Detail of two triptychs(click to enlarge)
A piece composed of eggshells.This made an intriguing textured surface.

Gail's studio will be open sporadically for Art Attack. Check her website for details.
7:21
The Pacific
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"I sit listening
To the surf as it falls.
The power and inexhaustible freshness of the sea,
The suck and inner boom
As a wave tears free and crashes back
In overlapping thunders going away down the beach.
It is the most we know of time,
And it is our undermusic of eternity."

~ Galway Kinnell
May 01, 2010
5:38
Reflective shadows
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“The brightest light moving away from us, unless it be reflected, is darkness to us.”

~ Anonymous

Artist blacksmith David Tuthill's work in Ballard, Washington
More shadow shots at Hey Harriet
April 30, 2010
4:04
Dana's bath
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I was hired to help fix up a small bath on a tight budget.
The cosmetic fix:
Dana and her father installed bamboo flooring.Paint: walls and ceiling a cheery yellow. Cabinet, doors and trim: off-white.Shower curtain hung over glass door for color/interest.Bamboo ladder for additional storage/visual interest.
One cabinet removed (hard to tell in this shot, but the larger cabinet was so deep, Dana would bang her head on it.) The smaller cabinet has a much slimmer profile.
New cabinet hardware.
Still to do:
Finish second coat of paint on doorsPaint mirror frame off-whitePaint or find vent that blends better with bamboo floorChoose pendant lights for vanityNew towels and rugArtwork
Color makes a big impact!
April 29, 2010
3:35
Studio Visit
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Last week we stopped by Firelight Forge in Seattle.
Owner's Lisa Geertsen and Andy Blakney
show off a little of their work.
Click here for a VR shop photo.
Andy's work.
~~~~~

Lisa's copper work.
Don't you just love Milo?
More of their work can been seen at Firelight Forge
April 28, 2010
13:38
Cove Palisades Remodel - progress
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The marina cafe/store remodel at Cove Palisades is progressing.
The wall with the door opening and the wall to the left will be covered with corrugated tin which will be distressed a bit so it won't look shiny. All the light fixtures are to be switched out to industrial looking pendants.
The peg board was a surprise. I didn't know it was ordered, and can't really see anything redeeming about it. Also, I specified dark stained slat wall (slats) to tie in with the color of the wood floor. Not wild about slat wall to begin with, and this color looks anemic.
This shot shows the two different wall colors the best, although my photography skills aren't doing the colors justice.

The before shots can be seen here.
I'll post more photos once the tables, chairs and barstools arrive, and the bar counter is installed. I'm looking forward to seeing all the elements together.
4:20
Work = Fun
» ‎ High Desert Diva

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I'm a firm believer in happy office spaces.

Jonathan Adler's stationery items + my office.Yep.

Photo: Philip Clayton-Thompson, Blackstone Edge Studios
April 27, 2010
4:55
New Fave
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Terrain, from the creative minds at Anthropologie
April 26, 2010
4:11
The Road Home
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Negotiating Seattle with a camp trailer.Fun times.
April 23, 2010
4:57
Seattle
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Entering the city...
Great window display in Ballard.
April 22, 2010
9:36
Traveling, cont.
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We have a really cute dog.Lanes with trees so thick a canopy is formed.Cammie rides up front with us.Water.
April 21, 2010
4:28
Traveling
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When we left the high desert.Lots of dry vegetation, and juniper trees...very brown.

Heading west...towards the water and greenery.

I always feel restored at the coast...
April 20, 2010
0:13
Anniversary
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19 years ago today, I married the man I fell in love with.
So glad I did.
April 17, 2010
5:57
Beauty
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"Beauty deprived of its proper foils and adjuncts ceases to be enjoyed as beauty, just as light deprived of all shadows ceases to be enjoyed as light."
~ John Ruskin
Shadows at home
More shadow shots at Hey Harriet
April 16, 2010
6:22
The Patio Project
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Last year's summer project was the back deck and ramada...
This summer's will be the patio area.
This is the product I want to use. Preformed cement flagstone looking blocks.
It is one of the most expensive products at the landscaping place.Of course it is....Sigh.
April 14, 2010
18:54
New York, New York
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Here I come!
image from here
A trip to visit blog pal Chelsea in Virginia is turning into a whirlwind trip to New York City May 10 & 11th.
We're planning some sort of blog fest meet up...somewhere.
Michelle is in...anyone else?
Rachel? Yes!
Elizabeth?Coffee-Wednesday?
Tameka...
do you need to go home to New York that week?
Anyone else?
So excited!
4:37
Metal furnishings
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I had this photo in my files...it is listed as a Casa Midy piece, but I can't find it on their website, so I'm not sure where I actually pulled the photo from. I do love the idea of a metal settee though.
I would use Chilewich upholstery so it could be an indoor/outdoor piece.
And I would, of course, have Mark fabricate the metal as his work is superior.
April 13, 2010
4:43
Pampered pets
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Yep. Spoiled.
Mark decided Trux needed a canopy so he could have a dry spot to sleep when we take our camp trailer out...
Cammie gets to sleep inside the camp trailer...
April 12, 2010
6:35
Facebook
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I created a fan page on Facebook for Manley Metal Works.
Check it out.
Become a fan!
4:55
Selections
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Sample board for Cafe/Store
Existing flooring Yolo interior paint(color looks off on my screen - it is actually more orange than beige)Corrugated tin on a few walls and bar counterIndustrial vibe for the lighting...stools...and chairsTeak and aluminum tables...It's all coming together.
April 10, 2010
5:01
Sunlight
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"Live in rooms full of light."
~ Cornelius Celsus

More shadow shots at Hey Harriet
April 09, 2010
6:43
Featured
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Stephenie at Decorating Addiction featured pictures from our remodel (as well as that of Theresa Smith's) on her blog the other day. Many thanks!
April 08, 2010
4:26
Facelift
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I've been called in to help give the Cove Palisades store/cafe a facelift.
Wall color, window shades, counter tops....
Not a bad place to spend some time....
April 07, 2010
4:01
Simplicity
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found here
April 06, 2010
4:29
Field trip
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Yesterday, we stopped by the R.S. Stapleton Company Showroom to see the display of Mark's ironwork handles.
The company is owned by my friend Elena and her husband Scott. The cabinetry is built by Scott while Elena does custom paint finishes. She also recently took a class on applying a cement product as a countertop. She's showing off some sample boards here:
I loved the finished product.New fave countertop.Elena also creatively used picture molding trim as the finish pieces atop the backsplash. Adore this look.
April 05, 2010
4:57
Ceiling tiles
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Easter was spent with Mark's family at his sister Kathleen's home. One of my favorite displays in her home is the double-stacked benches and ceiling tile all of which she happened to get from me when I used to sell antiques.
Found a similar look at Design Style Guide
April 04, 2010
4:44
Easter
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Vintage postcard from the Postcard Shoppe
April 03, 2010
5:32
It's dark
» ‎ High Desert Diva

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Crystal light fixture shadows and gilded Shakespeare:
"How shall we beguile the lazy timeif not with some delight?"
Hey Harriet's shadow shots
April 02, 2010
4:43
FabCab
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The latest on the prefab market from a Seattle design company.
See the slideshow here
From the website: FabCab is a new venture that has been started for the purpose of creating and selling pre-fabricated and kit-built environmentally-friendly dwellings.
Cute!
March 31, 2010
20:15
Of a Certain Age
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Anyone else old enough to remember the sound of a dial phone?
Not the ring, particularly...the ch, ch, ch, ch sound the dial made as it spun.
It seemed to take forever, especially if one had a 9 or 0 in their number.

These vintage beauties are available from Russell Johnson Imports
"The telephone, which interrupts the most serious conversations and cuts short the most weighty observations, has a romance of its own."

~ Virginia Woolf
March 30, 2010
20:08
Blog update
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Many thanks to my uber talented virtual blogger pal Chelsea for updating the look of my blog!

I stole this photo from her Facebook page...
and then went to her blog to lift her business cards to show off. I think this two-sided card is one of the best I've ever seen.
Nifty, eh?
March 29, 2010
19:30
Love
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This man,this cat,this photo.

"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved - loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves."
~ Victor Hugo
0:12
Oregon Garden Resort
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Pet-friendly room booked

Should be fun!
March 27, 2010
5:08
Ceiling Shadows
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More shadow shots found at Hey Harriet
March 26, 2010
0:20
Tomorrow
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Global

Saturday, March 27, 2010 8:30pm - 9:30pm
Earth Hour is a global event organized by WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature, also known as World Wildlife Fund) and is held on the last Saturday of March annually, asking households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights and other electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change.

Register your support at www.earthhour.org
March 25, 2010
0:36
Grass for the home
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Grassland...bringing grass inside
Dried grass wall panels
Love the orbs!
March 24, 2010
3:23
Kuba cloth decor
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Kuba cloth: a cloth of raffia fibers, naturally dyed and woven by members of the Kuba tribe, National Republic of Congo.
Whitecross Farm via Remodelista
Pierre Yovanovitch
My Kuba
Photo - Philip Clayton-Thompson
Charmaine Manley Design
0:06
Pack Your Kit - Premier
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Wednesday, March 24, 20106:30pm - 10:00pm
Andy Batt's Studio - 2021 SE 11th, Portland
Come celebrate the You Tube launch party for PackYourKit.com being held at Andy Batt's studio on March 24th. Kim and Francisco are featured with five other accomplished Portland photographers in this funny and informative You Tube Series, produced and created by the Portland boutique ad agency Blackstone Edge Studios, and featuring hilarious AP photographer Matthew Dae Smith.
March 23, 2010
4:39
Springtime on the Deschutes
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Deschutes RiverHigh Desert of Central Oregon
March 22, 2010
0:35
Mirror, mirror
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Using mirrors to bounce light around the room...
Charmaine Manley Design
Catherine Gratwicke
via Remodelista
March 21, 2010
4:43
Covet
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Main Entry: cov·et
Pronunciation: ˈkə-vət
Function: verb

transitive verb
1: to wish for earnestly

intransitive verb
1: to feel inordinate desire for what belongs to another

I'm constantly amazed at the talent of others. When the talent belongs to a member of my family, however, I just feel damned proud.
Take for instance, this shawl woven by my cousin, Heidi Zeretzke. I can't even imagine weaving something that appears so intricate.
Facts from Heidi:
This pattern was featured in the Nov/Dec 2006 issue of Handwoven Magazine. It is called Shadow Weave. There are lots of variations on Shadow Weave (Which is a particular kind of weave structure which typically uses alternating light and dark threads to create the shadow effect.) Because this was featured in the magazine I suspect there a other shawls like this out there.

I used Bambu 7 yarn from Cotton Clouds in AZ. The pattern as well as the yarn may be purchased from them.

The shawl was featured in the annual Staff/Faculty Art show at Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA.

Sadly, she's not going to sell it.
March 20, 2010
7:26
Found shadows
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Great shadow shot from Max Levy Architect

Click Hey Harriet for other shadow shooters
6:15
Nifty
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W allcoverings site with vintage papers dating back to the fifties.
March 18, 2010
18:37
Surf's Up
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Artist John Pugh spent two months planning this mural in studio, and another six months painting it with the help of eleven other artists. It is located in Honolulu, Hawaii...not a bad place to spend half the year!
Featured are Queen Liliuokalani, the last Hawaiian queen, and Duke Kahanamoku, father of surfing. Even the stairs and sightseers are part of the mural.
John Pugh
March 16, 2010
4:30
Back to Lurking
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"You can find the entire cosmos lurking in its least remarkable objects."

~ Wislawa Szymborska
Sorry, I haven't been commenting lately...I've turned back into the blogger who lurks.
March 14, 2010
18:39
My birthday
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+
The Astrological birth sign of Pisces (February 19 - March 20) is usually associated with being extremely creative, sensitive, and artistic, as well as a healthy fascination with the metaphysical and spiritual.

Pisces are the most intuitive and spiritually developed of the zodiac birth signs. Aptly called "old souls", Pisces thirst for spiritual knowledge and personal growth. They are the twelfth, and last, of the Zodiac signs, and as such, tend to have a more finely tuned intuition, sixth sense or extrasensory ability to perceive others feelings.

The duality of the Pisces personality is best described as a constant ebb and flow back and forth, straddling the physical, material world and the ethereal, divine realm where Pisces vivid imagination, powerful intuition and creative daydreaming feel like home.
Pisces are creators. Pisces are common as inventors, writers, musicians, painters, and dancers. Pisces make great friends and mates. Pisces are extremely loyal and caring. Pisces often possess uncanny intuitive or psychic abilities.

from Pisces.com
Five days of company; friends and family. Good fun. Time to get back into the swing of things...
March 13, 2010
4:58
Scenic
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“These high wild hills and rough uneven ways
Draw out our miles and make them wearisome;
But yet your fair discourse hath been as sugar,
Making the hard way sweet and delectable.”
~ William Shakespeare
Columbia River Gorge

Hey Harriet's shadow shots
March 12, 2010
4:14
All things Alice
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Alice window display - Charles Anatase
This charming film is the earliest version of Alice in Wonderland
The art of Karen Otto
Disney takes over the LA Times
March 11, 2010
4:37
Car Shots
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Driving East...So impressed with all the wind turbines in this part of the state. Got wind power?

Changing scenery.Favorite traveling companions.Driving West.
Crossing the Columbia River.
The Columbia River Gorge

Day's end.
March 10, 2010
4:35
Exploring Palouse
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The road from Pullman to PalouseEastern Washington.
a bit blurry...I'll think of this as an impressionist photo

Tile detail outside The Green Frog, a deli.
Loved the old sliding door and hardware on the outside of this building. What do you suppose the door was for? It is up about 15 feet from the ground.And the detail on this former bank.
March 09, 2010
1:18
Garden Inspiration
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The Sweet on Spring sale at Living in the Garden.Inside the conservatory, Suzanne St. Pierre in yellow.Carla Wesson Scotty Thompson's mosaic masterpiece.

Exterior detailsSeen in the garden...Talk to the hand

this blue pot = yummyand these...

This bench seat (and the pillows) came home with me...Sigh.
March 08, 2010
5:34
Wesson's Bunkhouse
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We were invited to stay at the Bunkhouse of friends Carla & Rich over the weekend. Our 7 1/2 hour drive took us to Pullman, Washington, a college town/farming community smack on the Idaho border.
The Bunkhouse as seen from the driveway.Welcome.Love the vintage leather chairs and the cozy fire place.Rich & Carla made the Murphy bed (which also folds out into a table).The details...Carla made the quilt. The pillowcases are vintage with embroidered flowers.
Trux wanted to go chase rabbits.The entry hall has a built-in bench and storage. Ladder to loft.The bathroom countertop is brass which is turning a charming speckled verdi-gris. The faucet and metal wash tub used as vessel sink are vintage.
Details.Looking out at the morning frost.
Our hosts: Carla and Rich Wesson.
Sometimes one hears people say they built their home. In reality, they had it built. Carla and Rich are professional do-it-yourselfers. They built the bunkhouse and did all the finish work. The carpentry by Rich complete with vintage square nail detail. Carla is a master tile setter and did all the tile work, mixed her own paint color for the walls which she refers to as Palouse Green, and handmade the quilt that adorns the bed. The thoughtfulness that went into the building of this space is remarkable. Heavily insulated, impressively wired for sound and lighting. Connection for Ipod available as is wireless internet. There is both a front and back deck where one can sit and listen to the creek. We'll be back!
For info on renting the Wesson Bunkhouse, contact carlawesson@msn.com
March 07, 2010
4:35
Through the car window
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Whitman County, Eastern Washington.
“The fight to save family farms isn't just about farmers. It's about making sure that there is a safe and healthy food supply for all of us. It's about jobs, from Main Street to Wall Street. It's about a better America.”

~ Willie Nelson
March 06, 2010
6:03
Field Shadows
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“To the attentive eye, each moment of the year has its own beauty, and in the same field, it beholds, every hour, a picture which was never seen before, and which shall never be seen again.”

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Eastern Washington field shadows
Find more shadow shots at Hey Harriet
March 04, 2010
0:47
Sweet on Spring
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photo blatantly stolen from Suzanne's blog
Getting excited! We leave for our road trip tomorrow to the Sweet on Spring sale AND we get to visit blog friends Suzanne & Carla (and their hubbies).
Here they are last summer when they came to visit me...

How many of your favorite bloggers have you had the opportunity to meet in person? Thinking back on it, I've actually been lucky enough to meet quite a few. But I'd like to meet so many more. Michelle: all of our e-mails back and forth aren't enough! Tameka: we're not that far away. Why is it that the state that is a half-way point for both of us, has to be Nevada? M.Kate: you know I want to visit Malaysia. Willow: I'd like to see the Manor, and hit all your favorite second-hand book stores. Sharon of the Pink Chateau: a junking trip with you would be so much fun! And all the rest of you...GW: showing so many photos of the ocean and getting me through long high desert winters. Many thanks for opening up the world to me.
March 03, 2010
0:51
Velvet, baby
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I recently ordered a Roman shade for our master bath...finally, the bathroom looks complete. I chose a simple, brown nubby fabric so it wouldn't compete with the metallic wall paint and the Victorian velvet drapes hanging around the shower stall. A bit of gold decorative trim along the bottom fancies it up a bit and mimics the trim on the velvet. I like it.~~~~~~Here's a before shot of the bathroom. We removed the tub and large window and put a smaller window on the other wall so we could put in a shower stall.
Post remodel - pre fabric
March 02, 2010
4:54
Whitman County
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Our upcoming road trip will take us to a beautiful part of the Northwest, Eastern Washington. Scotty Thompson (part of the creative duo at Living in the Garden) takes gorgeous photos of his part of the world and shares them on his photo blog.
Photo by Scotty Thompson
March 01, 2010
0:17
A Giant Mosaic Saguaro
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and other expressions of creativity....this coming weekend at Living in the Garden's Sweet on Spring sale; an annual event/road trip for Mark and me.
We've been invited to stay in Carla's bunkhouse...soon to be B & B. How cute is this?
Can't wait to get there...even if it is a 7-8 hour car ride.
February 28, 2010
5:03
Staging
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Last week, Martha Murray (a designer from Bend) and I picked through existing furnishings at Complements Home Interiors to assemble enough borrowed goods to stage a few rooms at the Design Center in Redmond.

See the slideshow here.
It was a fun project and hopefully will be beneficial to many of us. The Design Center looks less like an empty warehouse, Martha and I got to show off a bit, and Patti from Complements has a secondary, temporary venue to display her furnishings.

Mark made me a curtain rod (so handy having a metal artist as a husband) so I could hang fabric behind the bed in an attempt to cover the existing (and to my eye, horrible) wall treatment. Can't tell in the photo, but I used vintage door knobs on the end of the curtain rod as finials...I wanted to mimic the circular theme found in the bedding.
All in all, a very satisfying project.
February 27, 2010
5:27
Mag Wall
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Raw iron powder + paint primer = magnetic wall

From the creative minds at Parliment in Portland.
Check out the photos of their world headquarters...Love the design of their work space.
February 26, 2010
4:13
Idea Box
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Leaving for Portland to attend the Home & Garden Show. Most interested in seeing the new Idea Box model.

Click here to see other pics of this pre-fab home.
February 25, 2010
5:11
Planted potholes
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Public installations taken to a new level. I like this.

From the imagination of Pete Dungey
found via here
February 24, 2010
0:05
Busy Time
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Staging some of the rooms at The Design Center today with furniture on loan from Complements Home Interiors....
February 23, 2010
0:52
It's puzzling
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Back in November, I posted about The Standard Grill's copper penny floor on the High Desert Design Council blog.

So when I saw this photo on the Apt. Therapy site, at first glance I thought it was pennies...raining money on the wall. So clever. But it is actually puzzle pieces. Which I like as well.

But I still think pennies would be cool.
February 22, 2010
7:21
Friendship
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I met my friend Julie when we were 15 years old. We could talk for hours on the phone...literally. Sadly for our pocketbooks, it was always long distance. No such thing as internet in the early 80's.
We pose in 1986 in our big hair glory...
and again at my wedding in 1991...hair was even bigger. Oy.
Happy 43rd birthday Julie! I can't believe it either.
0:02
Slide show
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Ingenious.
Determination paid off. Lots of little holes and chain links applied to vintage Kodachrome slides and a pair of curtains is born. Love the jewel tones!
Instructions via the Craftster
February 20, 2010
7:10
Random
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Stumbled across this listing while browsing...
Free church pews on Craigslist.

Might be worth the drive to Burns, Oregon...otherwise known as the middle of nowhere.
February 19, 2010
0:11
Here we go
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Before pics of the master bath remodel I'm working on...

Working on a new layout, estimates, etc. Going to be fun...
February 18, 2010
5:03
Happy Birthday Mom
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"Most of all the other beautiful things in life come by twos and threes, by dozens and hundreds. Plenty of roses, stars, sunsets, rainbows, brothers and sisters, aunts and cousins, comrades and friends - but only one mother in the whole world."
~ Kate Douglas Wiggin
February 17, 2010
0:12
Quirky
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The perfect set of playing cards for the slightly quirky...(I qualify)
Tim Burton's Playing Cardsavailable at MOMA
February 16, 2010
4:55
El Cosmico
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Marfa, Texas has a boutique trailer hotel.El Cosmico opened last fall.
Y'all know I love good trailer design!(see before & after photos in left side bar)

We have company coming in a few weeks...they'll be staying in our "guest cottage".
February 15, 2010
5:10
Lan Su
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Portland's Lan Su Chinese Garden has been open for 10 years and I've yet to visit....must rectify that....
February 14, 2010
18:49
GONG XI FA CAI
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Still Water Art Studio
February 13, 2010
5:06
Barely there
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Corner shadows
Hey Harriet has more shadow shots...
February 12, 2010
4:57
Links
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Maybe there is something to social media.
Like blogging and the connections formed, I'm starting to see the use of Facebook as another way to stumble across inspiration.

Take for instance, the Steel Toe Studios website.

Mark knows Erica, the owner, through the Northwest Blacksmith Association. Erica has an interactive website where one can design their own belt. Check it out.

So cool.
I became a fan of Erica's on Facebook, and found a link to her friend's site, Crafting an MBA which is fascinating.

Read the first post here, and then learn....
February 11, 2010
0:23
Mirror
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“Mirrors should reflect a little before throwing back images”
~ Jean Cocteau
Three mirrors help bounce light around a narrow hallway.
Vintage white framed beveled mirror found years ago at the Roadium flea market near LA for ten bucks.
Click here for other Theme Thursday mirror shots
February 10, 2010
19:47
Silly shot
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Messin' around with the computer camera. A Mac shot of Mark and me.
He says I look like I'm 27.LOVE this man!
0:54
Nap time
» ‎ High Desert Diva

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“No day is so bad it can't be fixed with a nap.”
~ Carrie P. Snow
These soft daybeds were found while browsing Royal T in Bend, Oregon
via Table Tonic and Obdeedoh
Love the casual cleverness of this pallet daybed with the door as headboard/backrest. And I can't even begin to tell you how happy the collection of paper lanterns and flowers makes me!
Designed by Shirley Watts via Sunset
February 09, 2010
0:13
Monday's hike
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We drove out Peninsula to hike along the rim of Crooked River Canyon on Monday. Since I didn't bring my waders, we turned around and drove to Deschutes Canyon instead.

Living between these two canyons is convenient for hiking.One never has to go too far for spectacular scenery.
A nice, dry trail.
The Deschutes.Trux is always so happy to be off leash.Nothing like a smiling dog.
February 08, 2010
0:51
Look twice
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Chandeliers by Madeleine Boulesteix I've seen teacup chandeliers before, but I had to look twice at these to realize what they were constructed from...the clear glass works.
February 06, 2010
18:42
Home shadows - evening
» ‎ High Desert Diva

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"Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before."

~ Edgar Allan Poe

More shadow shots at Hey Harriet
February 04, 2010
6:22
The power of paint
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Just back from the Bay area. A trip to visit friends and check on the progress of Teresa's kitchen make-over.
Cheerful paint can do wonders to transform a room.Next step: decoupaging maps onto the cabinet doors.
I also attended the White Elephant Sale; a fund raiser for the Oakland Museum. The line to get in was over 2 1/2 blocks long...this photo was taken as we neared the entrance.

An extremely well organized jumble sale.
February 03, 2010
4:30
Sitting pretty
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I was sitting by the fire last week, looking out the French doors at all the snow. On the ground, the back deck, the ramada, the tree branches. Cammie was even over by the door looking out. Sadly, the photo doesn't show the snow at all....just a glare.
I'm sure there's some technical gobbly gook that explains why the eye sees differently than the camera. Wish I could figure it out...
February 02, 2010
7:35
Color!
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Pantone's color of the year - Turquoise
S.R. Gambrel
Erin from House of Turquoise has an impressive array of gleaned photographs showcasing the many shades of this color.
February 01, 2010
9:15
Why?
» ‎ High Desert Diva

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A Walter Van Beirendonck creationAFP/Francois Guillot
January 30, 2010
5:24
Ten o'clock shadow
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Bundled up for a 35 degree high desert winter hike. Down coat, scarf, hat, ski gloves.
I refer to this as the Michelin Tire Man look...
See more shadow shots at Hey Harriet
January 29, 2010
0:10
Leavin' on a jet plane
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I'm leaving tomorrow to visit friends in the Bay area. If only the plane I will be flying was as roomy as this vintage 747.

Image via Life - Getty Images
See the rest of the slideshow hereLove the go-go boots as part of the stewardess uniform!
January 28, 2010
1:05
Plantings
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Winter in the high desert has me longing for fresh growth...something green, something besides sage brush and juniper.

Herb mirror by H20 Architectes

Sedum planter at EuroAmerican Propagators in Bonsall, Calif.
Photo: Debra Lee Baldwinvia LA Times
Too bad the deer are so fond of succulents. Maybe I could get away with some on the front porch...
January 27, 2010
3:19
A hike
» ‎ High Desert Diva

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This juniper tree is struggling...lots of moss, but only one branch still living.
Playing spot the dog.Nearing the canyon.We can hear the water by this point...and finally, the Deschutes.
January 26, 2010
1:36
Genius
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I love this concept. Much better than a bunk bed!

via Real Living & Table Tonic
January 25, 2010
0:37
Penthouse Airstream
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I do love a good trailer design.Afro-Funk by Carla Soudlen forThe Grand Daddy Airstream Penthouse Trailer Park

See other trailer designs here via Curbly
January 23, 2010
5:43
Shadow play
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Cast iron shadows - patterned beauty

More shadow shots featured at Hey Harriet
January 22, 2010
19:35
Looking West
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“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.”

~ Edward Abbey

Our front yard with mountains in the distance.
0:04
Online shopping
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I do love creative reuse.

These vintage items are available online at Napa Style
January 21, 2010
3:42
Sweet Indie
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Today marks the 10th birthday of the second youngest of our ten nieces.
Happy Birthday India!

When India was a baby, my sister Cherise lived in Seaside, a northern Oregon coastal town. My aunt and uncle and a handful of cousins also lived there. One night as I was getting ready for bed, my aunt called and said, "Honey, I have some bad news. Cherise had a surfing accident and is in the hospital." Evidently, (in what must have been a spectacular wipe out) the board's fin came down on top of Cherise's foot and sliced through her wet suit bootie. By the time she got out of the surf, blood was pumping out the wound. An infection set in and spread up her calf. My aunt, a nurse, said it wasn't good.
My mom was in Michigan visiting my older sister. By the time I called there, it was after midnight eastern time. I told her I was driving to Seaside in a few hours; I had been tapped to take care of the children while Cherise was in the hospital. Me: the childless one.
India was about 7 months old at the time. I think the hardest thing for my sister was having to abruptly stop nursing her baby due to all the medication the doctors were forcing into her body to fight the infection.
And I was left taking care of small children I barely knew while my sister was hospitalized fighting a nasty infection. But a bond was formed that week in my semi-desperate care giving frenzy. Sweet Indie has a special place in my heart.
Cherise and her girlssummer 2009
January 20, 2010
0:20
Jack rabbit
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Having a dog around keeps the rabbits from invading our property, but we occasionally still see one.

"People's dreams are made out of what they do all day. The same way a dog that runs after rabbits will dream of rabbits. It's what you do that makes your soul, not the other way around."

~ Barbara Kingsolver
January 19, 2010
0:22
Winter doldrums
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Nothing like a bouquet of tulips to brighten one's day.

"If I were to name the three most precious resources of life, I should say books, friends and nature; and the greatest of these, at least the most constant and always at hand, is nature."
~ John Burroughs
January 18, 2010
0:16
Making a difference
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“Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'”

~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Craft Hope is a collaborative Etsy site with proceeds benefiting Doctors Without Borders
A couple examples of the rapidly changing stock:
Halter apron from Yellow Bird Aprons
Man Cowl by Happiknits
To see more items, click here
January 17, 2010
4:57
Score!
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I love Craigslist.

After haunting the online resale site for at least six months, we scored this French door fridge for less than half the original price. Patience paid off.
Looks much better than the big, white beast we had for 20 years.
January 16, 2010
5:20
Architectural shadows
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Night time shadows on metallic paint.
More shadow shots at Hey Harriet
January 15, 2010
5:01
Farm life
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“Cows are amongst the gentlest of breathing creatures; none show more passionate tenderness to their young when deprived of them; and, in short, I am not ashamed to profess a deep love for these quiet creatures.”

~ Thomas De Quincey
Our niece sent photos of the newest addition to Bochsler Farm
January 14, 2010
0:06
Moving East
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image from here
Musing on earthquakes and tectonic plates. Three significant earthquakes in a little over a week; Solomon Islands, N. California, Haiti. They seem to be moving east. Is this normal?
Update: Friday, January 15th, earthquake hits Venezuela, 5.6 on the Richter scale.
January 13, 2010
0:39
What I'm reading
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Set in medieval Cambridge, this is a tale of a female Italian doctor (medical examiner) who is sent to England by the King of Sicily to investigate a series of murders. From the website: In a backward and superstitious country like England, Adelia faces danger at every turn. As she examines the victims and retraces their last steps, Adelia must conceal her true identity in order to avoid accusations of witchcraft.
I enjoyed this so much, I've now moved on to the second in the series, A Serpent's Tale.

Read anything good lately?
January 12, 2010
7:08
And people wonder
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why we moved...

Watch the video...it all becomes clear.
0:44
Physalia
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Vincent Callebaut
A floating, whale-like ship that cleans the world's rivers...This is fascinating.
January 11, 2010
0:23
It's Complicated
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It's funny, too.Steve Martin - dancing!

I loved Meryl Streep's character's home...the decor...who says claw foot tubs have to be white?

And the garden...
ItsComplicatedMovie.com
A bit surreal in the money sense...I couldn't have even afforded to buy all the paper lanterns in the outdoor party scene...but the fantasy is nice...Hollywood!
Elle Decor has a slideshow of some of the best spaces
January 09, 2010
5:03
Lack-o-sun
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No sunshine this week, so a night time shadow was in order.
Click Hey Harriet for more shadow shots.

On another note:We've had black ice for the last few days. Ice everywhere. Walking is a trial.
January 08, 2010
5:33
Retrofit
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Stylish stereos ~
image from Life Magazine
My niece and her husband are currently restoring a Sylvania stereo cabinet. This solid piece sold for $300 in 1963...quite a chunk of change for that time period. The cabinet had been left outside by the previous owner, so there was rain damage and the radio no longer works. An ipod connection is being installed to bring this piece up to 21st century technology.
Cool project.
January 07, 2010
18:31
Man & dog
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"Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust... It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made."

~ Roger Caras
3:30
Guess who's coming to dinner?
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I posted this in 2008, but wanted to repost since I have so many different readers now. Such an interesting question. I look forward to reading your answers.
If you were to host a round table discussion, and could invite anyone (dead or alive), who would you include?
A lively dinner party ~
image from here
“Conversation should be pleasant without scurrility, witty without affectation, free without indecency, learned without conceitedness, novel without falsehood”
~ William Shakespeare

I'd like to have a discussion with:Leonardo da Vinci Stephen Hawking Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Jane GoodallandRobin Williams (for levity)
What about you?
2008 comments here
January 06, 2010
0:21
Feather Headdress
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Need a feathered African hat to complete your decor?
One of my favorite interior shots of '09...
Photo: Marc Rogoff
Click here for other images from 40 Winks
I found similar ones at Tucker Robbins
January 05, 2010
4:31
Bordello chic
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This article in the LA Times led me to Etsy to see what I could find...
Rusty Rose Petals
Ann's Lights
Lise Vintage Lighting
Eamartin 6
Vintage Glitterati
Sheri's Crystals
What fun!
January 04, 2010
0:25
Cammie cat
» ‎ High Desert Diva

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Looks as if she's inside my Georgia Jar...

“The cat is above all things, a dramatist.”
~ Margaret Benson
January 02, 2010
5:36
Through the window
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"Character is like a tree andreputation like a shadow.The shadow is what we think of it;the tree is the real thing."
~ Abraham Lincoln
More shadow shots at Hey Harriet
January 01, 2010
5:16
Welcome Twenty Ten
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“For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice.”

~ T.S. Eliot

Vintage postcard from Swan Creek Cottage
December 31, 2009
5:17
Revelry
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Photo: Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images

rev⋅el⋅ry [rev-uhl-ree]
–noun15th century
unrestrained merrymaking, boisterous festivity
Happy 2010 to the folks down under!
Happy New Year's Eve - be safe tonight
December 30, 2009
5:31
Rear view
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Ever witness an accident in your rear view mirror?I did last night.
The worst part was knowing the car being hit and forced off the road was my husband's; the person I love most in this world.
I think my heart literally stopped.
I was in Bend for a meeting. Mark called and suggested I meet him at work afterwards so we could follow each other home (30 miles). He was worried about me driving in the snow. He was right to worry. I slid into an intersection on a side street on the way...couldn't stop at the stop sign. Luckily, nothing happened. I told Mark I thought we'd be fine once we got off the side streets onto the highway.
Five miles out of town, poking along about 35 miles an hour with the rest of traffic. The roads are snowy and icy. It is dark. No street lights on this highway. I see headlights pull out behind Mark and move into the fast lane. In the rear view mirror, I watch the car lose control and start sliding. Eyes forward momentarily. Eyes back. The car hits my husband's and both cars spin and slide off the road. Eyes forward. Trying not to panic, trying to find somewhere to pull over. I finally get off the road about 1/3 of a mile up, and start hiking back. The snow along side the road is half-way up my calves. It is slick. I can see both cars, and a pick up off the road, along with flashing lights. A policeman was a couple cars back. The combination of police lights and oncoming headlights keep me from spotting my husband until I am right there. He's fine. But the tears start as soon as I see him. He's fine.
Mark works for the Oregon Department of Transportation in the Heavy Equipment Shop. His job is to keep equipment like snow plows and de-icers running so other people can travel safely. He left for work this morning at 5:15 am. It is 15 degrees outside. I can't quite breathe.
December 29, 2009
0:19
High desert nights
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“Loneliness adds beauty to life. It puts a special burn on sunsets and makes night air smell better.”

~ Henry Rollins

This is the view from our front porch. Doesn't get much better than this!
December 28, 2009
0:27
Snow dog
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"Dog. A kind of additional or subsidiary Deity designed to catch the overflow and surplus of the world's worship."
~ Ambrose Bierce
Perfectly content to sit in the snow for hours...waiting...watching...there just might be a rabbit to chase!
December 27, 2009
4:15
The Drive
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I don't know how many times we've made the drive over the mountain (to the valley where our families reside) since we moved to the high desert...a hundred? More? Every time we make this drive, it looks different. Familiar places, ever changing.
Starting out, close to home; freezing fog crystalizes the trees.
The summit - blue sky!
Hoodoo ski area - not much snow this year
The burn -
Lost Lake covered in snow -
The lava flow under snow -
Low clouds near Idanha -
Photos through the windshield and side windows...gotta love 'em!
December 26, 2009
20:04
Sisters
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Not the best photo quality,but a treasured day with family and two of my sisters.
Hope your Christmas was wonderful!
December 24, 2009
0:28
Happy Holidays
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Wishing you all the very best of the season.

I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.
~ Charles Dickens
December 23, 2009
0:53
Cocktail party
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"To me, being grown-up meant smoking cigarettes, drinking cocktails, and dressing up in high heels and glamourous outfits."
~ Lorna Luft
This dress...
adorned with this pin...
and this apron while serving...
while balancing on these kitten heels.
Champagne cocktail, anyone?

“When her guests were awash with champagne and with gin,She was recklessly sober, as sharp as a pin.An abstemious man would reel at her look,As she rolled a bright eye and praised his last book.”
~ William Plomer
December 22, 2009
4:39
Christmas cards
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First time ever...I didn't get my Christmas cards mailed.

image from Vintage Cru
Instead, a virtual message for you all...
Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect.
~ Oren Arnold
December 21, 2009
20:26
Winter Solstice
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+
4:42
Why I prefer vintage
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The style...
the details...
1940's swing coat from Nifty Vintageperfect!Velvet tam beret from Southern Bella Vintage
December 19, 2009
0:40
Camera Obscura
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I neglected to take any shadow shots this week so I'm sharing a link and photo to a gallery of Abelardo Morell's pinhole photographs.
Thanks for the introduction, Rachel!
“The belief that one's own view of reality is the only reality is the most dangerous of all delusions.”
~ Paul Watzlawick

More shadow shots can be seen at Hey Harriet
December 18, 2009
5:10
Pretty in Peace
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The owner of one of my favorite shops on Etsy, as well as the creative writer of Tea and Honey Bread, T. Allen-Mercado creates jewelry and revels in the written word.
I treated myself to a new necklace, the Nirit,

and received many compliments last night on this stunning piece!
December 17, 2009
0:26
Santa Baby
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Ok, I've got a thing for Santa Claus.

It started in first grade.
Mrs. Rosendahl (first grade teacher extraordinaire) was into making crafts so she had the entire class of 6 year olds make Christmas ornaments that year. She put a big pile of Christmas images on the floor, had us all sit around it in a circle, close our eyes, and reach in to pick out an image.I cheated.
I had spotted Santa and I wanted him.
This is the first ornament I hang on the tree each year.

I don't know what to tell you about the rest...they keep accumulating...
December 16, 2009
8:59
Reusing vintage linens
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This idea isn't new, but it's a good example of what old linens (you know the ones, they're stained and torn, but the lace is so beautiful you can't throw 'em away) can be made into.
My sister-in-law, Nancy, made me this tiny stocking with old linen, lace and buttons.
December 15, 2009
10:13
Photos that reach out and grab you
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Scotty Thompson, part of the creative duo at Living in the Gardens, has started a photo blog.

Bright color for winter doldrums...

and photos that make you look twice.I saw the ocean when I first looked at this photo.(maybe I'm projecting...)

I sit listeningTo the surf as it falls.The power and inexhaustible freshness of the sea,The suck and inner boomAs a wave tears free and crashes backIn overlapping thunders going away down the beach.It is the most we know of time,And it is our undermusic of eternity.
~ part 4 of Spindrift by Galway Kinnell
In reality, it is fields in Eastern Washington.Just beautiful.
For more of Scotty's work, click here
December 14, 2009
20:22
Creativity
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"Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known."

~ Oscar Wilde

What to do with empty toilet paper rolls?Wall art.
Found at Growing Up Creative~Scroll for tutorial
via here