Creative Holiday Decorating

Loved this wreath I saw in a shoe store in soho NY this weekend.
Also a favorite was this mitten tree in Anthropologie's window in San Fransico last year.

Say it ain't SNOW!

Let's hope this is not a sign of things to come this winter!

Peace "'Sign" of the season

I don't always know who buys my art or what it will be used for so it's always a surprise to come across one unexpectedly. Found this one in Walmart in NJ.

Could avoid it no longer...

With the exception of the occasional wedding or funeral I have managed to avoid going to church since I got to the age my mother could no longer "force" us to go & that's a long time. So I found it at the very least amusing that I paid 32 pounds for me & Callan get into West Minster Abbey, my treat since It's the first time I "made" her go to church!I lit a candle for my Mom
This statue was the first thing I saw when I entered, she so looks like I feel sometimes!
I found the ceilings to be the most beautiful part.
One last note on the Abbey, they should take part of the admission fee & put it towards improving the rest rooms. How does a church that size only have a 5 stall bathroom & not all in working order? Funny part is it was a unisex bathroom so the guys who are usually in & out got a taste of what we ladies go through on the line for the "loo"!
And finally the lesser known St Margaret's Church is right next door, smaller and less ornate but free & very pretty.

Liberty London

What's not to love about this bag. I came so close to buying it but the reality is I'd use it once, maybe twice & then it would hang with the rest of my collection of bags & I would go back to my messenger bag that I have used every day for years. I own a bunch of shoes, yet I wear the same ones everyday & when they wear out I try to find the exact same ones to replace them. I'll buy the same top in 6 different colors & I'm set for the season. A bag this fun does not belong hanging in a closet so I did the mature thing & took a photo & left it there for someone whose more flexable in their wardrobe to take out on the town!

Renegade Craft Fair London

When planning our trip to London & Paris we scheduled it so we could attend the first ever Regegade Craft fair in London. I was a little dissapointed that it was so much smaller than the one we attend in Brooklyn every summer but that is probably because it was new to London. I got a new tote & Callan was delighted with her new crown! Best of all it brought us to an area of London we would not have discovered otherwise.

Inside the Musee du quai Branly In Paris

This is a museum dedicated to the indigenous artworks of the Americas, Oceania, Asia & Africa. The interior is really nicely designed and flows organically throughout the gallery space. On display there are large totem poles, ceremonial masks, textiles, jewelry, clothing, sculptures and much more. Personally I enjoyed this museum much more than the Lovre. If your going to see the Eiffel this is just a couple of streets away & worth the trip!
PS. It is dark inside & there are floor to ceiling glass cases that I had a few near misses with so watch your step!

Musee du quai Branly In Paris

I loved this bent metal architectural element in the museum gardens, a version may turn up in my own garden!

Musee du quai Branly In Paris

One of my favorite things I saw in Paris was the Musee du quai Branly. It is awesome inside & out.

Giant Elephant in Union Square

Yesterday I spotted a giant elephant standing on it's trunk in Union Square, it wasn't pink & I was not under the influence...For more info click here

Hurricane Irene

We sit atop a hill so we didn't flood but a big tree around the corner came down taking power lines with it Saturday night leaving us without power for a very long 28 hours! It was actually quite nice working by candle light, unfortunately the battery only lasts 4 hours!

Nice office eh!

Working from home...Got to love it!

Guardian Angel

Philadelphia's Magic Garden

3 - milestone!

This morning I ran 3 miles for the first time ever! Not a big deal to some but for me it was huge! I only started running 2 months with the patient coaching of my son who would stop & start & keep pace with me no matter how slow I was! I'm still slow but I'm going for endurance not the win!

It's Zucchini time!

I picked my first zucchini of the season today! I got a late start on the garden this year so I was very surprised to have one already. The plants are huge, with lots of flowers so hopefully I'll have a better crop than last year, which only yielded 3! - Quality, not quantity - right!

Kutztown Folk Festival 2011

I am regretting that I didn't take a ride in the oil drum nascar ride!
Virginia is getting too old for all that bending so we got her this raised bowl stand. She's trying to figure out how she going to pick up the bowl & bring it to us when it's empty now! Have I mentioned what a smart girl she is!Loved these, so simple, a ceramic top glued to a stick. And they look so much better than the real ones that keep growing in my garden!
How cute is this guy, they had a mama duck with a bunch of ducklings following her but with all my other buys I could only get one.
My guys spotted this one, made from a real hand grenade, too clever to resist so home it came!
This must be the year of the snail as I have aquired so many
Last but not least, a propane tank pumpkin - love it!

Gryphon envy

My next door neighbor aquired this wonderful creature last week and I immediately fell in love! Since he's in the process of selling his house I was hopeful to aquire him myself... He promised me that if whoever buys the house doesn't insist on it being part of the sale then it's mine....let's all hope a non gryphon appreciator buys his house! Did I mention he's 500 lbs!

Mr. Big in the Big City

Felt very touristy stopping to snap this photo walking down 45th street yesterday.