A Seat at the Window

Where oh where....

2010-01-21T15:50:00.002-05:00

I've been out of commission for too long. Computer issues have kept me from blogging for a while. I could still use the old beast for bill-paying ,etc; Then....CRASH!!!!! I've heard the stories, but until now I never got in a computer mess I couldn't slog my way out of. I'm crossing my fingers and toes that the guys at Pembroke Computer can work miracles. They seem confident that they can save the data at the very least. I really don't want to buy a new computer...but if I can save my thousands of pictures I would give in and do it in a minute.
Yeah, I'm the last crazy person who hasn't backed up her data! And yes, I know I should have. I'm so ashamed and embarrassed. It's the home safety equivalent of not having smoke detectors. Hang on a minute......I'm back, checked the batteries, we're good.
It's serendipitous that my youngest son isn't due back in his dorm until February . I've been able to wrestle his laptop out of his hands to do a little business and to post this. Sharing a computer with your Mom isn't the easiest thing to do. {I appreciate it , you little shit. (even though you stand 11" over me) You've been a good sport. (even though it was Dad and I who bought it)}
I'm hoping I get a call tomorrow with good news.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T12:13:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!
I've been absent for most of December......I'll be back at it soon!

What would you do? Orta restaurant in Pembroke

2009-12-11T14:14:00.009-05:00

My husband and I recently went to dinner at a local restaurant, Orta , that we had been wanting to try. Choosing to go on this particular evening was made easy because a client of mine gave me a gift card worth $50.00 as a Thank-you for a difficult job we had just finished. Along with the gift card she sent a lovely note that made me feel terrific. A boost that we could all use every now and then.

It was my birthday so we were hoping for a nice evening. I won't go into detail about the food or the service. It's not my intention with this post to promote the restaurant. When the check was presented at the end of the evening we presented the gift card along with the extra cash to cover the balance and a good tip.

The bartender (we almost always sit at the bar in restaurants) came back and told us that the card had no money on it. Without alarm I assured her it must have been a mistake...the card had never been used.

This time the manager, Jennifer came to us, over our shoulders so we had to turn on the bar stools to talk to her. She was trailing the receipt and carrying the card. Attention was being paid now by the customers in the bar and dining room. Human nature to want to know what's going on , right?
She explained to us that the card never had a balance put
on it.
I asked her to try again....the woman who gave me the card was reliable and responsible. She told me I should call the woman who gave me the card when I got home to find out what the problem was. I told her that under no circumstances would I call the woman .....she gave me the card as a gift and it would be the ultimate tacky act to call her. I knew she would be very upset that something she did to show appreciation was now causing embarrassment.

She came back, this time behind the bar, and said the card was not good.
I asked if the gift cards were sold anywhere other than in the restaurant. She said no...to which I replied, "then the mistake must be on the part of Orta. The card obviously was not powered up at the time of purchase."

And her reply? She said, "Unless she acquired it by shady means." Thanks...let's add insult to injury.

I assured her again that the woman who purchased it was a fine human being who would NEVER do something like that. I asked her to honor the card...we were obviously not in there to scam them...and take my information so we could follow up.

She said it was not her restaurant and she was not authorized to comp the $50.00.

Well, I'm from the old-school restaurant world. My father was in the restaurant business for many , many years . I traveled with him several times up and down the East Coast when he was a supervisor for a chain of upscale Steak Houses. His feeling, and he expected the employees to mirror this, was that every employee was the restaurant...and that was necessary for the ship to sail right.

I looked at Jennifer, mouth agape, and asked her if she really intended not to honor the card.

She said she would not honor the card.

I told her I felt she was making a mistake.

She shrugged her shoulders and said that since the card didn't work she wasn't obligated to cover it. She took my name and number and said they would "research" the issue and get back to me.

We ended up having to use a credit card we didn't plan on using. We had enough cash to add to the gift card, but not enough to cover the entire bill...which came to $107.00 with a tip. There was just a very brief moment when I almost considered not leaving a tip , but I couldn't do that to our servers. It was not their fault.

We left Orta ,walking from the bar in the back through the dining room.
Did I mention how embarrassing it was?
It really was.
Really, really was.
You have to make a real effort to embarrass my husband , he has a high threshold. That threshold was met and surpassed. Yeah, it was pretty close to humiliating. I've never had a credit card rejected in a public place...that's what it appeared was happening to us. I hope to never experience it again.

We had planned to stop at a friend's cocktail party after dinner. Both of us were so upset when we left that we decided we wouldn't be very good company and went straight home. It is in Orta's favor that we didn't go. We both would have been ranting and spewing.

On the ride home we discussed it and decided to hold our tongues until we saw how it played out and give Orta the benefit of the doubt that wasn't given us.

This happened on Saturday night.

On Sunday night , while we were at a family party, a message was left by Jennifer. She said that they were still "researching the issue" and didn't want me to think we were being left hanging.
When we played the message it occurred to both of us that we had the gift card (although I think Jennifer took the numbers off the back) and we were never asked the name of the person who purchased the card.

Knowing Orta was closed on Monday , I waited until Tuesday to call.
A man answered the phone and I asked for Jennifer. He said she was off that day. I asked for either Jimmy Burke or Joanie Wilson (the proprietors). He said he was Jimmy Burke.

I started to explain the situation and he said he had been informed by Jennifer on the previous evening at the Christmas Party. He told me they were still "researching" with the company that handles the swiping of the cards and powering them and so on. I didn't really understand what he was talking about.
I thought he would be interested in hearing the story from me and went on to explain how embarrassing and upsetting it was.
He told me Jennifer was a very nice person.
I said I was not trying to challenge that, but it was not right of her to suggest..NAY.. say that the card may have been aquired through shady means.
I told him that the card had been sent with a lovely note, a photo-copy of the menu and an Orta business card.
Is that usually what you get with a gift card?, I asked.
It is exactly what you would get with a gift card,he told me.
I told him I still had the envelope it had been sent in and gave him the postmark date.(Oct 1) I also asked if I could give him the name of the person who gave me the card, though I couldn't say whether she had a credit card trail or if she used cash.
These two things would certainly help them with their "research". At this point, I said, I am willing to call her to inform her of the problem.

He thanked me for the information and said he would continue to work on it.

Fifteen minutes later he called me back and said he just checked his email and the company that handles the "swipes" emailed to tell hi..m the card was paid for.

Well, that's a relief.. but no surprise, I told him.

He at first said he would send me another fifty dollar gift card.

I said, " Jimmy, I already had a fifty dollar gift card. A fifty dollar gift card wouldn't get me back in the restaurant.I do think there should be some compensation beyond that."

He asked...now this is important...he asked me what would make me happy.

I said , "A one hundred dollar gift card would make up for a lot.It's not hurting the..."

He interrupted me and snapped, "Why don't you give me a chance to handle this in my way".

He was very huffy and at that point I just wanted to get off the phone and said," fine...do what you think is right."

And we hung up.

Here's my view....I went in to Orta with a card that was paid for and should have worked. The client who gave it to me wished for me to have a nice meal and relax. Instead of that we left Orta paying $107.00 ....$57.00 of which I would have gladly paid. Orta got $107.00 for my meal. Due to their mistake. THEIR mistake. If this was handled properly in the first place,it would be over.The request of a $100.00 card wouldn't have actually COST Orta $100.00. They would be getting my business and perhaps my repeat business and my good words for their Restaurant. They would be compensating my husband and I for a very unpleasant experience in their restaurant. I did not demand it....he asked me what would make me happy...and I told him.

That was Tuesday evening. This is what I got on Friday afternoon:
ORTA RESTAURANT

Dear Mrs. Weckbacher,
In this age of computer technology,mistakes often happen. Why the gift card you received did not get activated we do not know but this situation resulted in an embarrassing situation and for that we do apologize.The mistake was not intentional and resulting embarrassment you felt was unfortunate.I am sending you a check for 50.00 to cover the cost of the inactive gift card.
I had originally planned on sending you a 75.00 gift card in hopes that the extra 25.00 would help emphasize our apology. We always try to make sure our customers leave happy regardless of the circumstances in the hopes they will return. Your demand for 100.00 is excessive considering it was an honest mistake. The 25.00 I would have happily sent to you I am sending to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes, a wonderful organization that helps our service men and womenreturning from the war get back on their feet.
Again, I apologize for the mistake and wish you happy holidays and best wishes for the New Year.
Jimmy Burke,
Co-owner

Okay, Jimmy. There's this:

You don't have to explain Intrepid Fallen Heroes to me. I am familiar with them. I agree that it is a wonderful organization. I have given to them. I also have worked for over ten years with the Hanson/Whitman Military Support Group. We have packed and donated hundreds and hundreds of packages over the years. We also send cards and letters, mostly written by us mothers of servicemen.
My son served six years and fortunately he came home not needing the help of IFH. I am glad it is there for those who need it.
I am happy that you have donated to them in your name in an effort to humble me.
If I made a design mistake for a client that involved a degree of embarrassment for them I would go the extra mile to make up for it. I would not go work on a Habitat for Humanity home and tell them it's for their troubles.
I have had a business in this area for many years and I have never treated a customer like that.
I consider your letter very rude and text book passive aggressive.

You asked me what would make me happy....I did not demand $100.00.

I am not a person who makes demands of people and I very seldom make an actual complaint.

My husband and I have lived in this area most of our lives.
We are always happy to find a new place to go and pass that information on to our friends. We and our friends are at the stage in our lives where our children are grown and we go out often. I know one place I will not recommend.

I regret this whole experience and if I could go back knowing what I know now, I would have just let it go and considered it a loss.

I don't know if Mary purchased more than one card on that day...because of that I will tell her what happened so she has the chance to warn the other recipients.

I hope you found some degree of satisfaction in your handling of this.
I have not.
This all started off as an act of generosity and kindness. It hasn't ended that way.

Hooters Beware!!

2009-12-05T11:45:00.000-05:00

Look out Hooters.....the competition is here.

And they make you guys look subtle.

Thanksgiving Afterglow

2009-11-30T21:53:00.003-05:00

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. After a lovely meal with extended family at home I took off for NYC for a weekend with the girls.

Ohh lala....Ring Dings and Twinkies from Betty Bakery in Brooklyn are to die for.

The cakes and cookies are beautiful!

Lights..lights...lights.

I can never go to New York without a trip to ABC Carpet and Home. If you've never been , especially at Christmas, then you are missing something special.

This was my first ever trip to Mood.

Aisle after aisle of THIS. A fantasy of fabric. There are no words. I love fabric.

Painting with sand in Union Square. I really miss the vegetable peeler guy. It was always fun to see him. I love New York.

What's new at Crescent Place

2009-11-21T15:53:00.003-05:00

I've put a few new things up in Crescent Place. Here's hoping it's a good holiday season.

Know any cowboys who enjoy wine?

How about those with stars in their eyes?

And we all have to set a table sometime this season.

Showers I want

2009-11-19T10:22:00.002-05:00

Aren't these just the most beautiful showers you've ever seen? Show me something better,if you can.
pictures are from VelvetandLinen

Hollywood or Tackywood

2009-11-16T15:45:00.008-05:00

Have you seen Christina Aguilera's house in Instyle Magazine? Whoa ,there! Even the adorable baby doesn't keep my eyes from hurting. Not only is this closet ugly...but as a child of the seventies ...it's beyond tacky. I thought we were coming back to a time where conspicuous consumption is not a source of pride.

I saw Mariah Carey once on some Oprah Donahue 20 60 48 show. The interview was quite a long time ago.....before the breakdown disguised as exhaustion happened. She was talking about what a kind, generous and giving soul she was. They showed her at a camp she started for kids who...geez, I'm not sure who they were. I think it was Camp Mariah Adoration. Anyway, they showed her Snow Whiting among the kids wearing a tiny tank top over her giant top and trying to balance the whole shabang on these high heels. Sooo....then they went to Mariah's New York apartment. Her closet/compound is larger than the average gymnasium.The closet alone is 3000 square feet. All chandelierey and sparkly. She had a separate closet for lingerie...and then...can you believe this?!? she proceeded to model a few of her favorite negligees. You can picture the shoe closet, I'm sure. My point is ,though, that when you have that much crap you should really keep it to yourself. It's just so braggy and cheesy to show it all off. And you shouldn't go from bragging about all the good you do in the world to showing how much more you have than everyone else.

Ok...back to X-Tina.The playroom is enough to cause seizures before you go near the video games. Her husband must love the pink pool table.

I have enough trouble sleeping now. I can't imagine trying to drift off to sleep in this bordello-inspired bedroom. How long a list can you make on what's wrong with this room?

Love it....

2009-11-13T18:55:00.003-05:00

I just love these cabinets...so alike yet so different.

I'm always torn like this in my decorating. I find neutrals and soft grays so soothing.......But I still love a big punch of color.

Veteran's Day

2009-11-11T13:12:00.004-05:00

Notanseladams ,Ashley ,Brian and Evan

The crew of the Ramage

Brian
Thank you. All of you.

A Turkey of a Deal

2009-11-09T15:52:00.003-05:00

I love Martha. I've loved her for a long time. This year she's selling turkeys. When she announced this on her show today I thought,
"I'm sure they will be more expensive than your average bird but the quality is sure to be there".

Then she sweetened the deal with the announcement that, till midnight tonight, if you added the code Martha15 at checkout you would save $15.00. Wow! That's quite a savings !
So I checked it out.....

12 lb. Turkey.....................69.99
18 lb Turkey......................89.99

No,that's not a typo. Martha wants you to pay $5.00 and up per pound for a turkey.

Okay, okay you may say. It's Martha quality. And it can't be easy to ship a turkey. But shipping is not included in that price.

I checked shipping rates for my address....

12 lb. Turkey...................45.44
18 lb. Turkey...................58.25

So, Martha, even with the great $15.00 off offer I will not be buying my turkey from you this year. I think I can buy a turkey and all the fixings for side dishes and desserts and a bowl of nuts for what you want me to pay for one turkey.

Thanks for the offer, though.
I do still love you.
But I liked you a whole lot more before you were such a shill.

What do you think?

Nice give-away

2009-11-06T09:35:00.003-05:00

Peanut Petunia is hosting a great give-away. Don't you love it? She has a fabulous blog...get over there and check it out. I know....I know....you've been there already. So go again.

.

Fringe Benefits

2009-11-04T10:16:00.008-05:00

While they are busy trimming the benefits where my husband works I thought I would show you some benefits that have been added to Trims and Trappings. First, shown above, is the Natural One. And below we have the Chainette One.

The benefits shown next are the Multi Ones.

And here we have the Greenish One

And the lovely Cream One...

And the Blue One....

And I would never want to forget the Red One.

Here's hoping your benefits never get cut...unless it's to embellish something!

Leaf Peeping

2009-11-02T16:07:00.003-05:00

We were lucky enough to be able to take a few nice day trips in the last couple of weeks. Notanseladams took some much deserved time off this month. We went to Florida for a crazy wedding and spent five days there. After coming home we decided to take a trip to North Conway NH...one of our favorite places in the world.

This is the trestle bridge at the entrance to our favorite place to camp. I have pictures of it in summer. We also ski in this area quite a bit so I have winter pictures,too. This is the first time we've been here in "leaf-peeping" season.

Notanseladams belongs in front of, not behind the camera, so here he is. Take note...I've told everyone...but this is the first time I've put it in writing. I want some of my ashes..when I'm gone...to be dumped off this bridge into the Sawyer and Saco River.

These natural stone steps are on the trail that leads into the camp area we have been going to for over twenty years. It's a hike-in camp area with platforms on which to set up tents. It's a beautiful place to be...the river is the perfect lullaby to go to sleep to. There are no facilities other than a single composting toilet.

Here is the outhouse containing that composting toilet. This is a fairly new building, maybe three years old , that replaced the old outhouse. It is a luxury suite compared to the old one!
Two years ago we spent a night in this lovely little building while bears tore up our tents and ate all our food. That's right...Notanseladams and I along with Evan and Ashley and two of her friends hid out in this building ALL NIGHT!
But that's a story for another time.

Happy Halloween !!

2009-10-30T11:09:00.003-04:00

Happy Halloween everyone.....

Some oldie costumes: Brian as Jerry Garcia
James as Count Dracula
Evan as Captain Hook
Ashley as a Victorian Lady

Brian as Jimi Hendrix
Ashley as the Pink Power Ranger
Evan as Batman
James as a Hippie

Ashley as a Medievil Princess
Evan as Frankenstein
Brian as a Gorrilla (sans the heavy mask)
James as an Army Man

Zevon as Bob Marley

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Fiona and Twig give-away

2009-10-27T14:00:00.004-04:00

Fiona and Twig is having a great give-away. Lovely blog. Check it out.

Cold Feet

2009-10-26T15:42:00.005-04:00

I want these.......

Or these.......

Or these........
Or these.
Bogs boots.
I love them.

Here Comes the Bride............

2009-10-21T11:37:00.002-04:00

I've been away for a few days to attend a wedding in Florida. The Bride's picture says it all. Yes, it was one of those weddings.

Batman - The Dog

2009-10-15T11:10:00.002-04:00

Hi there.....I'm Batman.
Would someone please remind my people I'm a girl.
Wait..I take that back.
I would really die of embarrassment in a Catwoman suit.

Is it just me......

2009-10-11T12:50:00.002-04:00

Is it just me...or do these chairs look like they need to pee?

The Newest Cadet

2009-10-06T17:17:00.004-04:00

Say hello to Buzzards Bay. On a rainy day this past weekend,
Cadet Candidate Evan W. became ..............

Cadet Evan W. We're very proud of you.....

Even though you wouldn't let me take a serious picture.

Before and After...Computer chair

2009-09-29T17:32:00.001-04:00

I have a very dear friend, Janet, who left Social Work a few years ago and started a business called Dirty Deeds. She does clean-outs ...as in home and office clean outs. She seems to most often do clean outs for seniors who have spent many years in their homes and are now moving into Elderly Housing; or the families of people who have died and have the tough task of sorting through a loved one's things.

Even before she started the business she was always on the look-out for furniture and usable items for the people she worked with. She provided furniture, appliances and often good quality clothing to her clients. (She was in the Adult Mental Health field)
Now ,with the business she is in , she still is able to donate a large amount of things to people with mental health issues who are trying to make it on their own.

Often the clients she services through Dirty Deeds just want her to dispose of the old furniture and miscellaneous goods she carts away. Janet has always been an avid recycler and can't bring herself to throw away anything that could be of use to someone.

I have often been the happy recipient of things she could find no other home for. I have also been known to say, with love, "Janet...that is something that belongs in the dump!"

This chair is part of a set that found it's way to my house. At first I thought there was no rescue for it. I'm not a big fan of the mid-century modern style.

But, oh man, it was comfortable! It definitely needed at least a paint job and seat recover.

It still doesn't really go with anything in my house, but I don't want to use anything else at my computer! It's quirky and whimsical enough that it can stand alone, I think.
Thank you Janet, my friend.

Shine a light on it.....

2009-09-26T14:19:00.000-04:00

Have you ever seen CandyLights? I love them. I just got two strands to dress up A's dorm room.
They are very pretty all by themselves but it's easy to dress them up, too.

They are small white lights that are dipped in silicone. They come in several colors.

I just got inexpensive crepe paper rolls and cut strips, in two layers, at about 12" long.

I then scrunched it......

wrapped the scrunched pieces around the lights...

and wrapped white stem tape around the paper and lights.

I love the two tones.

This is not their final resting place. They are headed to Amherst. I'll have A send me a picture when she puts them up.

Trying to earn a living

2009-09-22T21:17:00.002-04:00

Because I'm interested in earning a living...

I added a few items to my shop.

I'm hoping there are a few things here that people just can't live without.

Barn Doors

2009-09-17T14:12:00.003-04:00

I wish I could have doors like these!

Phallic Dog Park

2009-09-16T15:59:00.004-04:00

Is it just me.....or do you find something really odd about this sign? Something tells me the artist had more than hydrants on his or mind.

Seen at a rest area along Rt.495 in MA.

Marlon Brando and Geisslein

2009-09-11T11:38:00.006-04:00

What a lovely gift for a gray morning! Thank you Geisslein. Visit her blog....always beautiful!
What's better than a young Marlon Brando?

Change of Plans

2009-09-10T18:29:00.004-04:00

Today I opened another Etsy shop. I've been planning to do it for a while now , but couldn't seem to get it together.

I finally took the time today to start photographing. I got a few things up...it will probably take me a while to get the rest of the things up...but it's a start.

I'm thinking of doing a give-away to celebrate. Don't know if anyone would be interested. What do you think?

It's a vintage shop, of course, since I already have a supplies and handmade shop.

What do you think? Change of Plans.

Today is the first day......

2009-09-09T14:47:00.000-04:00

Do you remember that corny old saying from the seventies...the one overused in posters everywhere?
"Today Is the First Day of the Rest of your life".
Never has it seemed so real to me.
Above are A and Notanseladams on the grounds of the lovely Plimpton House at Amherst College.
We dropped her off on Monday.. and we now..after 25 and a half years...have an empty nest.

I'm sure she will love it here. I would move in if I could! There are fireplaces in the common areas...IN A DORM !...and a lovely front hall with a gorgeous wide and winding staircase.

Her room has two..count 'em..two giant windows and high, high ceilings.There is enough room to move in a sofa! It is the first housing she has stayed in that I would actually consider staying overnight .

Notanseladams and I are looking forward..bittersweetly, to this next stage of our lives. We're not completely empty really...E will be coming home for weekends since his school is only 45 minutes away.

Competitive Peeing

2009-09-08T10:10:00.003-04:00

Is it just me...or are there no circumstances under which you would make use of side by side toilets? This is taking the old "women go to the bathroom in pairs" saying a little too literally. This oddity was found at the Monkey Bar in Amherst MA.

It's a Nice Day for a White Window.....

2009-08-31T12:57:00.000-04:00

These Pleated Roman Shades were made for a client's summer home on the Cape. The shades are made with a textured white fabric and the intent was to blend..not to stand out.

The walls are a subtle sand color . The room is soothing and relaxing. Though I am a big fan of color, this look is one I love. Simple .

This shows my method of making Pleated Roman Shades. I don't like having dowels at each of the pleats so I came up with a way to avoid that. This method allows for just a shade slat in the bottom hem to keep the fabric straight. It requires more rows of rings on twill tape , but is very easy to operate. It can be set at any height during the day using a cord lock or cord cleat.

In this fabric the shades look great either raised or lowered.

I have always loved the way Roman Shades allow for absolute privacy.

These two pictures show another room where the same effect was desired. Again the shades were made to almost disappear while allowing for total privacy when let down. These are Flat Roman Shades , made to hang flat when lowered , instead of in pleats as the previous pictures.

The lack of color in this room is relaxing....as is the lovely view.

Good Bye Ted Kennedy

2009-08-26T12:30:00.005-04:00

REST IN PEACE Thanks for all your years of service.

Bathroom Project

2009-08-24T13:37:00.008-04:00

Summer, as always , has flown by way too fast. Some projects have been finished and others delayed or forgotten.
Last year our neighbor came by with these great wooden crates.
"Sure, we'll take them", both Notanseladams and I said.
And they sat on the back deck for a year.
I knew I would eventually come up with a great idea for them...eventually...eventually.
We finally did a few 'pick-me-ups' in the bathroom( that's right..THE bathroom, as in the ONLY bathroom in our house.) New visitors are always a little surprised to see that the Powder Room is also the BATH ROOM...literally. Yes , we have raised four children to well-adjusted young-adulthood on ONE bathroom.
Would it shock you to hear that I was raised with SEVEN brothers and sisters in house with...steady now...ONE bathroom!
Anyway....I finally saw that with a little tweaking , the crates would make great storage in the bathroom.

They were so dry they sucked up several coats of primer.

I used Muralo Ultra , the paint we used for the wainscoting , as the finish. It has a hard ,semi-gloss finish and has stood up well for the last few years. I touch up the paint on the wainscoting every now and then..and it always looks like new.

Because they will be in the bathroom, I did a couple coats of the finish , too.

I found casters at Lowes......

And attached them to the four corners.

I drilled thick holes in the front...sprayed brass grommets with a silver finish...

I bought a yard or so of rope at Home Depot. Pushed grommet fronts into the holes I drilled , and inserted the rope. A knot in the back secures the rope as handles.

And.... Voila....I have two wonderful storage bins that fit perfectly under the old piano bench (with sawed off legs) in the bathroom.

The rest of the story.....I have six more of theses crates.
Any ideas?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Plymouth Harbor

2009-07-29T10:16:00.005-04:00

Last Saturday night a very dear friend chartered a boat out of Plymouth Harbor to throw a Farewell Party for her son who he is headed to Iraq with the Army. It was a beautiful night..warm breezes , great company and lovely views.

My husband, Notanseladams.

Here is my role model for aging. She is a rare bird. The grandmother of the soon-to-be-deployed, she is 84 years old, almost 85. She's more fun than almost anyone I know (and I do know some fun people!) and never has a complaint about anything. (Except the policemen who try to put a stop to 4th of July festivities...but that's another story) She lost her husband of more than sixty years in early January of this year. They had a wonderful marriage and six children , eighteen grand children and one great-grand child. She has not changed her positive and generous spirit.

This is Duxbury Pier Lighthouse ,better known as Bug Light.

The back side of Plymouth Beach, a wonderful sandy beach.

And the sunset...it was lovely that night. To Michael..and all the troops..I wish you safe return.

I Wish You Could Smell This

2009-07-24T10:42:00.003-04:00

We have had the rainiest and coolest (NOT as in Hip) summer I can ever remember here in Southeast Massachusetts. My garden has taken a pummeling with the rainfall. After seeding a new lawn we had torrential rainfall like I have never seen. A large amount of seed was washed away and spread where we don't need it. I had grass growing on my asphalt driveway! Made me think of the men who loose the hair on their heads only to have it cruelly grow on their backs!

We reseeded though, and have been paid back with what appears to be a thriving and healthy lawn. Finally.

An awful lot of seed ended in my flower beds. With all the rain and the busy summer I haven't had the chance to spend any real time weeding. Yesterday I spent the whole day pulling healthy grass out of the beds. I moved a few plants around and thinned my mint.

I love bringing mint in the house in vases.Just walking by it you get that wonderfully fresh whiff of mint.

We listened to rain all night and woke up this morning to another day of pouring rain.

I'm so glad I brought this in yesterday.....

What a Difference a Paint Job Makes

2009-07-18T10:10:00.004-04:00

This house on the Vineyard (Martha's , of course) was perfectly lovely ,though a little dark for a beach house, before the paint job.

The wood blinds were the same color as the wood paneling and flooring , making for an all over feel that was cozy but missing something.

And eeeew...I could do without that bedspread and that LAMP !!!

Painted and freshened up with new furnishings and rug it looks like a whole new place.

With the blinds still matching the wall color it doesn't seem quite so overwhelming since the floor now seems warm in color.

Lovely...I love what a good paint job can do !

My Herb Vase How-To

2009-07-14T15:26:00.004-04:00

I saw this beautiful vase on Lisa Porter's blog (one of the loveliest blogs out there , by the way) not too long ago. I was so in love with it I had to give it a try.

Here's my first attempt...a little sloppy , I know, but the next one will be better.

Everything you need:
a receptacle ..I just used an old drinking glass
Lamb's Ear , several ( the plant please..not the animal)
Misc. other plants ( the tiny flowers I used are actually weeds)
double stick tape

There really is not much need for instructions....Just tape around the glass....

add leaves.......

add more tape.....

Add leaves and flowers or herbs in a way that is pleasing to you...

And voila !

I think it's pretty as is. I'm going to use this one to keep my cut herbs in water on the windowsill.

But next time I'm going to make some for table decorations for a party.

Her's an even easier idea. I wrapped one row of tape around a votive holder and added hydrangea leaves. Tied a piece of raffia around it to finish it off.

I have a party coming up in August and I will make a bunch of these for my screened porch.

Says it all.....

2009-07-13T21:53:00.003-04:00

We were in Brant Rock on Saturday night. Went for a walk on the jetties and around the Marina.
It's a beautiful seaside town, just 20 minutes from where we live . I have many , many childhood and adult memories of time spent here.

I don't know if it was serendipity or design that these two boats were side by side. I just found it too good not to document. Click on the picture to zoom in .

When we were kids we spent endless days walking the jetty .Those days the tidal pools were teeming with life. Starfish , crabs ,and periwinkles everywhere. The most life we saw on Saturday was the seaweed draping itself over the rocks.

Back then , too , most of these houses were slightly shabby cottages. Most now are rehabbed and year-round homes.

I've always felt , as the boat names above say , that being near the ocean is a necessity for survival.

Jackson Browne in Boston

2009-07-09T11:09:00.004-04:00

Jackson Browne will be back in Boston on July 19. A and I have tickets. Oh.. Oh, it's the same day as Grandma's clambake!! I thought it was the 17th. It will be a busy day. This will be the third time I've seen Jackson Browne with A....seen him many times with B (AKA Notanseladams).
The picture here is A with Jackson when we saw him play the Calvin Theater in Northampton last yearish. (maybe a year and a half)
She grew up on his music and has loved him all her life. It was a thrill for her to get to meet him. I mean a real thrill. He was gracious and kind and she was in awe and starstruck. I almost didn't get the pictures because she only had eyes for him.
B and I met him several years before, after a show at Great Woods at a benefit for Friends of Boston's Homeless. He was charming , gracious and unbearded then. I think the beard is gone now....at least I hope it is.

What the @#*&% ???

2009-07-07T13:23:00.002-04:00

ALL THREE NETWORKS ARE BROADCASTING THE MICHAEL JACKSON MEMORIAL!!!!!!!

Are you kidding me? Really...are you kidding me?
Yes, he made a huge contribution to Pop music.
To Pop music.
Pop music.
Pop.

Charlie Gibson , I can't believe you are talking this way.
Charlie Gibson, I have lost all respect for you.
It would feel more right if it were one of the ding-a-lings from Entertainment Tonight or Access Hollywood.
But still not right.

Michael Jackson, I have nothing against you. I understand your talent and even your appeal. I remember thinking "I'll Be There" was the greatest thing I had ever heard.
When I was ten.
Even my Dad said you would outgrow the rest of your family way back then.
You were a talented guy.
In Pop music.
Pop.

You may have even done some really nice things for people.
I don't think you molested those kids.
I do think you were a victim of arrested development.
You were probably a wonderful father in a way that is very different from most other wonderful fathers.
You were the King of Pop music.
Pop music.
Pop.

What the hell is wrong with this world?

Seriously.

Potty People

2009-07-02T17:08:00.004-04:00

Aren't these adorable? I got them at Wilgeshouse for $4.00 !! They are 4" tall and just quirky and whimsical enough for me. Just add a little black paint and a dab of hot glue and.......Voila!!!

Hendrix Loves Catnip

2009-06-16T17:31:00.003-04:00

Hendrix...our cat, loves catnip.

Zevon ..our dog , is a little jealous.

A Boy Who Can't Be Embarrassed

2009-06-11T09:36:00.004-04:00

I've been working on the invitations to E's Graduation party. It's been a pain because my scanner isn't working. Don't worry ...I asked first if he would be embarrassed if I used that picture. He said no. You would have to go a long way to embarrass that boy.

But I'm trying !!

By the way....he doesn't get his height from Grandma.

Todd Snider is Coming to Boston

2009-06-04T17:27:00.004-04:00

If you love music and don't know Todd Snider , you've got some catching up to do. He's been around for a long time now. I first heard of him around '95 when Songs for the Daily Planet came out on Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville Records. It was one of those CDs that seems like you've had it forever after a few listens. These are songs that stick to your ribs.
There hasn't been a disapointing CD from him since. There is a whole lot of humor well mixed with some sensitive and touching songs and a little bit of politics with a lot of biographical stories thrown in. It's over simplifying to call him Folk/Rock but tha's the slot he most fits in.
If I can only talk you into buying one Todd Snider Cd then make it Near Truths and Hotel Rooms. This is a live Cd that shows him at his best. Todd is one of those very few musicians who is as entertaining when he is talking as when he is singing. And he talks a lot. I've heard this CD a whole lotta times and I've never become tired of it. You get so you talk-along as much as you sing-along. His stories are entertaining , true or not.

He's making a rare appearance in Boston next week. He's touring in support of his latest CD The Excitement Plan. I don't know if he's touring with a band this time. Warren Zevon, who we never missed when he was in town , didn't always tour with a band. While it was still a treat every time , the times he had a band behind him were extra special. Last time we saw Todd Snider he took the stage by himself as the opening act for Don Was at Johnny D's in Somerville. He was on for a very short time..about a half hour ..but he packed a lot of entertainment onto that tiny stage. He'll be at the Paradise on June 12th. We'll be there with a gang of people, young and old. If you aren't in the Boston area go here to see if he'll be performing around you. You're denying yourself something really wonderful if you don't. I hope you are all lucky enough to get a chance to see him.
Just a laugh here. When we saw Todd at Johnny D's we got the chance to talk and have a drink with him. Just as charming as I would have hoped and expected. He left a message on A's cell phone. She was at school studying for finals and was so disapointed that she couldn't come home to see him. The message was cute and funny. Then my husband, Notanseladams snapped this lovely picture to document the meeting . Yep...that's what I got.

How To Wrangle Those Store Cards

2009-06-03T12:32:00.005-04:00

It's gonna be a lot easier to be behind me in line at Shaws, Stop and Shop, Petco, CVS, Office Max, Ace,Barnes and Noble and....................

How easy is this? Punch holes.......... and put on a key ring!
This was inspired by my NEED to clean my purse.

Leonard Cohen in Boston

2009-05-31T15:00:00.011-04:00

I don't think I have the words to describe the show we saw on Saturday night. Sublime..Sensational..Exceptional...Transcendant...All expectations were met AND exceeded. From the moment he appeared on stage he was musical perfection. I knew I would love the show ; just seeing him ,the legend, would be enough. The performance by Mr. Cohen , his back-up singers and his band was more than I ever could have wished for. They were rehearsed to within a breath in the show.......but it didn't come across as phony. The band , who L.Cohen tipped his hat to often, was so tight I don't think there was a single missed note in the entire three plus hours they played.

He was very gracious and often acknowledged the contributions of the band and singers , as well as the additional contributions of Sharon Robinson,one of the back up singers, as long time collaborator on several songs. He gave over the singing duties to Ms. Robinson on Boogie Street and to the Webb sisters (the other two back up singers) on If It Be Your Will. Both songs were delivered impeccably and it was impossible to feel cheated that Mr. Cohen didn't lend voice to them. He held his hat to his heart during each of these performances as well as during every solo delivered by members of the band.
Did I mention the lighting? I'm telling you ,not a detail was left out.The lighting , along with the sheer curtains that hung from the ceiling created a visual mood to work beautifully with the music. The beauty of the lighting was profound during the choruses of Hallelujah when the normally subtle , bluish light became bright white light that bathed the entire stage as if...as if...okay I can't say it but you can imagine! With any other song that light would seem harsh but with this it was glorious. I was not the only one who actually gasped.
It was an evening of beautiful music, interrupted only by a 15 minute intermission. He didn't talk a lot and each time he did there was not a wasted word. He introduced the band no less than three times ; I sometimes find this a little indulgent and grandiose but Mr. Cohen gave the introductions with such grace and respect it was very easy to take. At one point the 74 year old Cohen mentioned that it had been about 14 years since his last appearance in Boston..."I was 60 then. Just a kid with a crazy dream!"
We go to many live music shows. I love a huge variety of music....always have. Over many years I have been to hundreds of shows. Nothing has ever come close to this. At the end of the show, with the entire band at the front of the stage with him, he acknowledged the crew, the dressers,(someone has to take care of the ubiquitous fedoras), the bus drivers , everyone involved in the tour. At the end of the "thank-you's" he added one more. He thanked the audience and with a sincerity I believed, he said," We will always remember this night" I will always remember this night.....I hope this tour has made Leonard Cohen want to be out there with his fans and that he will return to the road again....saving retirement for the distant future. He is a gracious gentleman. Thank you, Leonard Cohen!!!

It would be wrong not to say a few words about the venue. The CitiWang ,formerly known as just the Wang, is a beautifully restored theater. In the seventies it was known as the Music Hall and I saw many ,many acts there. It was a run-down beauty then...well worn ,with shadows of it's glory days peeking through. The restoration took many years and many dollars to complete. It is now certainly one of the most beautiful spaces Boston has to offer. Marble and gold, glowing light and soaring balconies.Chandeliers too many for me to count...two giant chandeliers hang from the
stunningly painted ceiling in the grand foyer as if from red velvet ribbons alone.
The seats, of course, are not perfect. My husband , at 6'3" was a little cramped but my 5"5" was very comfortable. Getting in and out can't be done without having others in the row stand up. The seats are forgivable though with perfect acoustics and lovely, yet sometimes distant, views.
The further seats soar in height but somehow the view is still perfect. When my daughter was six we went to her first ballet, Swan Lake , at the Wang. When we approached our seats I was a little nervous that she would be bored sitting so far away from the stage. We were second to the last row, second balcony. When the dancers started she gasped...looked at me with wonder...and said, almost breathless,"Ohhhhh, Mama..look at the tiny people!" It was wonderful.

Today is a Very Big Day....

2009-05-29T10:23:00.004-04:00

27 years ago today!!!! Who are those children ?? It really has flown by....in the blink of an eye. We were frantic....I was finishing my dress while I was getting my hair done. We still laugh at times wondering how we actually pulled it off!

Thank you B!!!!!

A is home! We were so happy to see her.........

Our happiness, however, didn't compare to Zevon's happiness!

This Guy graduates from High School today.................... Yay E !!
Yay us!!!!

That's grass , baby!

2009-05-21T13:06:00.005-04:00

Yes , it's coming up! After all that time, all that work , and all that money the signs are there that we will have a lawn! It's only been nine days. I was willing to wait longer to see green but I'm gonna take it! Can you tell I'm excited? We'll probably have to over-seed in a few spots but that is to be expected. Yippee!
My Lupine is coming up great. The flower beds will look so much nicer when they are framed in green.

Doesn't that look pretty? It's funny that purple is my favorite color in the garden. It is my least favorite color for decorating inside. I have many purple perennials.The annuals I use to fill in are mostly purple : ageratum and lobelia. I like to put in a little white Sweet alyssum, too

I've made a few changes in my kitchen. This wall was looking too plain. Love the painting, but something else was needed.
What do you think? I used the wire basket for a long time over my stove to hold oils, spices , utensils.Now it's holding glasses. Just wanted a change. I have the brackets installed for shelves over the stove ...just have to get the actual shelves, now. When we remodeled the kitchen six years ago we decided not to have upper cabinets.I always wanted open shelves and it has taken this long to get moving on it. We went from a really cramped and tiny , falling apart kitchen and didn't want to close it in again with too much cabinetry. I'm happy with our galley-esque kitchen now , but there are still a few things on my punch-list. Someday I'll post pictures of the long and painful remodel.
I'll post about my wire collection,too. I love old and old looking wire baskets and holders. I've collected a bunch over several years. I've never spent a lot of money on them...they have to be cheap. I see them more and more now...and as with anything they cost more and more.

Countdown

2009-05-19T22:46:00.003-04:00

Nine days till A comes home......

Ten days till E graduates.......
Eleven days till Leonard Cohen.......

Boy do I have some good things coming!

Relaxed Roman Shades

2009-05-18T15:05:00.001-04:00

Relaxed Roman shades are a good treatment for a window where you need privacy or to control light. They are less tailored looking than a flat or pleated roman , and less fussy than Balloon or Butterfly shades. They are very easy to raise and lower with the use of a cord lock, though they sometimes require a bit of "dressing" at first just until the fabric is trained. They are most often done on a single window but the shade above is done as a triple to move as one. It uses four rows of rings and cords. It will require perhaps a little more "fidgeting" after raising and lowering than a single ..but it is a good solution when you need the option of privacy and don't want to have a very fussy treatment.

Here's an example of two relaxed romans side by side instead of making one large one. They can be raised and lowered individually. The single Relaxed Roman uses just two rows of rings and cords. The cords are run up the length of the shade, through screw eyes and into a cord lock. If you prefer not to use a cord lock then a cord cleat is necessary to tie off the cords at the height desired.

This cozy window seat required three shades, with the two on either side slightly narrower than than the center.

This shade has two rows of trim to add a little punch.

Each shade has a batten sewn into the bottom row of rings to keep the fabric from bowing into the center. This spaces the bottom to the stay at the same width as the top. It is most often a piece of rodding or dowel , cut to the width of the shade. Fabric tubing is a real time saver for this because otherwise a seperate fabric sleeve would have to be made to cover the batten.
In this case the three individual relaxed romans are just used to break up what would be a wide expanse of window under the silk panels.

A sheer relaxed roman is just enough to add a sense of privacy , when drawn , to a walk-in closet.

The fringe on this shade doesn't keep it from being masculine.

A lovely linen print...

This relaxed roman in an embroidered fabric is bordered in a lighter linen to match the thread used in the embroidery.

This relaxed roman is done just as a valance to bring the fabric from a bedroom into the walk-in closet.

Mother's Day

2009-05-11T11:08:00.007-04:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day. I did. It was a very relaxing morning..a little too relaxing for Hendrix , our cat. He indulged in more than his share of catnip and lounged on the deck rail all day. Later in the afternoon we went to my sister's house for a cook-out and had a great time.
I wish you could smell these apple blossoms. It should be a very good year for our apples judging by the abundance of blooms.
I'll trim the suckers away from the trunk....I just love the look of this.
There are so many things in bloom...
about to bloom.....
and just starting to fade. I love this time of year so much.
The Lamb's Ear is looking good...
Columbine coming up...
And I can't wait for my Peonies to pop!
Everything else in the yard is doing so well...we are at a loss to figure out why we've had such a hard time with our lawn! This year we decided to start from scratch. We have been trying for what seems like many years to restore the lawn with over-seeding and fertilizing with NO success. We thought we would have it hydro-seeded but a few unexpected expenses ( hello hot water heater...hello washing machine!) and some expected expenses (hello tuition!) have made that impossible. We are planning to seed the lawn tonight. B. has worked so hard on this I really hope it turns out well. Any advice out there for a new lawn? I'll keep you posted.

The Lettered Runner

2009-05-05T20:42:00.001-04:00

Layla at The Lettered Cottage is hosting a give-away of this lovely burlap runner made by Grace from Coastline. I would love to see it with a big W.

Tricks of the Trade: Zipper tape tutorial

2009-05-05T13:42:00.004-04:00

The big advantage of using zipper tape is that you can cut it to size..from just a few inches to yards long. There is no waste because you cut the tape to the size that fits the project.

Start by cutting the tape, through the teeth and all, to the size you want. I use kitchen shears so I don't damage my good sewing scissors.

From the top edge of the tape cut into two or three of the teeth.

Sit the zipper slide at top...

Slightly push the slide onto the teeth.....

And gently pull at each side of the tape until the pull glides on the teeth.

At this point you want to secure the ends so the pull doesn't slide right off the tape when it opens and closes. I like to use a matching thread and just take a few stitches through the tape and over the teeth on each side of the top to give an end point for the slide.

Do the same at the bottom, just going across both sides of teeth and through the tape. Take several stitches so it is secure.

You now have a custom-sized zipper!

My Daughter

2009-05-02T15:35:00.001-04:00

I miss this girl. She's been in Edinburgh , Scotland since early January. The semester is almost over and she'll be coming home May 28th. It will be nice to have her home again.

Forsythia,Lucero,Good Company

2009-04-28T17:15:00.003-04:00

I messed up here. The plan was to show a nice picture of the Forsythia in full bloom just days after bringing naked-looking branches in the house. I've been neglectful...this picture shows the dying blooms falling off limp branches because I waited too long! They really did look nice for a few days.

The naked branches make for a better picture, I think.

This great bunch of kids were nice enough to let an old lady like me hang out with them last week. In fact my niece, the beautiful girl in the center, invited me to spend the evening with them. She bought tickets to see Lucero at the Paradise in Boston and called to tell me she had one with my name on it! My son B, on the far left, shares an apartment with her in Cambridge and I love going in town to spend time with them.

We started the afternoon with lunch at Miracle of Science. It's a nice little bar/restaraunt in Cambridge..very near MIT. (Hence the name.) The menu is written on the wall in a Periodic Table of Elements chart. The bar and tables are made from old soapstone lab tables.We shared a hummus plate that was delicious and I had a salad while my niece and B had chicken salad and a burger.

We then went to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum for the After-Hours event. They have this every third Thursday of the month. It is a social gathering with cocktails and music held in the courtyard. You can also tour the galleries, leaving your drinks down-stairs. There has not been a picture yet that could do justice to the courtyard. Gorgeous!

You must have heard about the infamous theft ,including a Rembrandt and a Vermeer, that have never been recovered. The frames still hang empty in the galleries. Mrs. Stewart left an iron-clad will that stated that nothing should ever change ....no additions or subtractions.

We went from the sublime to the rocking. Yup..that was way too corny.Lucero put on a great show and played for a very long time. Over the years we've many shows at the Paradise. B and I were pretty young when it opened. I'm certain we were at one of the first shows ever there....Andy Pratt and Carla Bonoff. Wow...how old am I? I stayed up way too late but had a terrific time. It makes me really happy that these kids are still willing to spend time with me.

This is a view I will hopefully be seeing a lot of. It's right outside the entrance to Mass Maritime. E will be a cadet there this fall. I can't believe how fast the time has gone by! B and I are so proud of him. We were there this weekend for his uniform fitting and placement tests. A friend , whose husband and son are both graduates of MMA , called to ask if were nervous in light of recent events.This was E's first choice of a college...I still think he made a great decision. Our son, B spent six years in the Navy. My Dad was a Navy man. I think it's in the blood somewhere.

Queen Anne Valances

2009-04-09T11:09:00.006-04:00

Queen Anne Valances are made with a scallop bottom edge and Pinch Pleated top. Buckram is used in the pleated header to give the needed stiffness to the top edge. I gave this one above a little added detail with a contrast top edge. The trim added at the bottom edge is a really nice way to finish the hem.

This Queen Anne has, instead of fringe, a piped bottom edge. I also did a covered button at each of the pleats. This, when done in the same fabric as the valance is a subtle but pronounced detail.

On this valance the client chose to keep it as simple as possible..with no edging or buttons. The fabric has a fringe detail in the print.

This plaid Queen Anne is dressed up a bit with addition of fringe at the hem. It gives it a touch of formality and keeps it from being too "country".

This Queen Anne was a fun project. It was made for a child's room in a sea scene fabric with a yellow pom-pom fringe.

I made these lovely Queen Anne valances for a kitchen. The client wanted a finished edge without the dressiness of fringe or the bulk of piping. They were finished with a bias cut flat flange edge in the same fabric as the valance itself.

The buttons at the pleats were also covered in the same fabric.

Queen Anne valances can be formal or casual depending on the fabric and trim you choose. They can be mounted on a simple rod or a board with screw eyes attached to hold the pins inserted in the pleats. It's important to measure for exact width and return so the valance can be mounted so there are no gaps and the valance hangs straight.

How to grow quick Easter Grass

2009-04-06T22:27:00.005-04:00

This basket was planted just 5 days ago. All you need is...........

A basket..potting soil...lentils; your common, everyday lentils...and plastic bags or a bowl to fit inside your basket.

Line the basket with the bags or bowl....add the soil....

Dampen it.....

Spread the lentils evenly over the soil........

Water them......

You can trim the bag before they grow, I waited 5 days.....

Voila!

P.S. That basket is 25 years old. I made a pair of them for my twins' first Easter.

Easter Bunny

2009-04-02T20:11:00.012-04:00

The Easter Bunny had to get an early start around here. It's a long way to Scotland. Yes , she's in college , but we still have to send A an Easter basket...and it wouldn't be complete without bubbles. Her basket was packed and shipped off to Edinburgh yesterday.

I don't usually make cookies this early and it was nice to get them done. I used the sugar cookie recipe I use for my Christmas cookies. It's a Martha recipe...I just add a little grated lemon peel to give it a Springy feel.

I find the best way to go is to use parchment . I load the first two sheets in the oven and then lay out the cut cookies on two more sheets. When the first batch comes out of the oven I just slide the parchment off the cookie sheets and lay the the next batch,already on parchment ,onto the sheets.This makes things go a lot faster...no waiting for the cookies to cool before putting taking them off the sheets.

I used to make a lamb cake every year. That's a cake in the shape of a lamb; not a cake made of lamb. I didn't make one last year.....Not sure if I will make one this year.

W gets a kick out of watching me do the cookies. He doesn't actually watch me make them...he passes through the kitchen between periods in the Bruins game. He said,"You are out of your mind" a few times before I was done.

Call me crazy, but it is something I really enjoy. Always have. It's a shame that when the kids were little it was much more difficult to find the time to do these things.

I used to use disposable pastry bags with adapters and tips to decorate the cookies. I love to use the squeeze bottles now. They are perfect with Royal Icing. I love Gel or Paste food coloring because they are so concentrated they go a very long way.

Looks like a lot of work but it really goes fast once you get on a roll.

Bunnies,of course.

Pretty eggs.....

Speckled eggs...

Little chicks......

More eggs.....

Bag 'em up.......

Add the candy and the all-important bubbles and....Voila!

Happy Birthday!!!

2009-04-02T17:48:00.006-04:00

Happy Birthday!!!!

25 years ago today B and J, our twins ,were born. I am so proud of the men they have become! When W and I found out we were having twins we thought we were the luckiest people in the world. They were born 7 weeks early and had to spend a month in the hospital. I spent all day every day at St. Margarets until I could bring them home. B was born 10 minutes before J and weighed 4 lbs to J's 3. They came home weighing 5 and 4 lbs respectively.They are now 6'3" and 6'. My preemies are not so tiny any more. I have loved every minute of being a Mom , even the tough times. It has been in the blink of an eye that they have grown up. The truest saying I have heard is this: Parenting is made up of long days and short years. I can't believe how the time has flown!!!!!!!

Sneak Attack

2009-03-30T19:39:00.004-04:00

Just played along in a Sneak Attack and this is what I got! It was alot of fun...the first one I remembered to be there for. Play along next time. Get the details here or hit the Sneak Attack button on the side bar.

Cornices

2009-03-26T14:43:00.008-04:00

Today I thought I would show you some of the cornices I have done over the years. The one you see above was an interesting project. The client gave me an embroidered pillow and asked me to incorporate the dog into the cornice without using the background. I stitched a piece of cotton around the dog shape and painstakingly trimmed and turned it. I then applied it to the finished cornice with fabric glue and a few tiny stiches to hold it. Even without the applique the cornice incorporated two different fabrics and two different trims with a cut-out design.

This cornice in the red leafy print was a fairly complicated design, cut out with a jig-saw. The trim used on the bottom edge was applied directly to the face.

This is just a simple straight cornice with a border at the bottom edge. Swags and rosettes were added for an extra touch.

A simple shaped bottom edge gave this cornice a little character and adding the cornice fabric as a border on the leading edge of the drapes brought them together.

This is a common cornice shape...with just a piped top and bottom edge.

This is the same shape, in suede , with a fringed bottom edge.

The client who had me do the Toile cornice and striped balloons found a picture of the exact same treatment (fabric and style) in a Calico Corners flyer. She purchased the fabric from Calico and asked me to replicate the design.

The shape of these bedroom cornices was determined by the shape of a table the client had and loved. The corners replicate the edges of the table.

This is a simple shaped cornice, trimmed with a crystal fringe.

This shaped cornice is trimmed with a tassel fringe. The drapes are made with a companion fabric and the same tassel fringe is applied to the leading edge.

I make all my cornices with 1 by pine. The frame is put together with drywall screws using 1 by 6 pine boards. The face is made by joining boards to get the desired length and then applied to the frame with drywall screws. I mount them using angle irons. Plywood could also be used but I have almost always used 1 by pine.

Several years ago some designers I worked with found styrofoam cornice kits and wanted me to use them. I reluctantly agreed.....and lived to regret it. The Cornices were easy to cut but it was almost impossible to clean the little styrofoam beads that flew everywhere. They were put together using long T-pins. Although they were very light and therefore easy to handle, I was always very nervous transporting them.

With four rambuctious kids I would never have wanted a styrofoam ANYTHING installed in my home. I imagined the cornices being whacked by a flying indoor football or frisbee and snapping in half.

The last styrofoam cornices I made were a mini disaster. I had made three, 2 for standard single windows and 1 for a triple slider, for a kitchen. Those days I worked late into the night almost all the time so I could be with the kids during the day. I had the cornices wrapped and ready to be installed late in the afternoon. My youngest, E , was being his normal bouncy self ....yup...jumped right on the cornice for the triple slider and snapped it in half.

He's eighteen now and still will mention it occasionally......only now we laugh. "Remember when I stepped on that styrofoam thing ,Mom?"

"You actually jumped on it."

"Jumped, stepped...whatever. It broke. Remember you cried?"

"Like it was yesterday"

I did sit down and cry when it happened. I was the kind of tired that I haven't felt since my kids were little. I had to have a few moments of self-pity before I could snap to and fix the darn thing. Yay for duct tape! It took longer to fix it than it took to make it from scratch. I didn't have the money to pay for a new kit AND I desperately needed the pay-check I would get when I installed it.

I told the designers I would never make another styrofoam cornice....and I never did. I wonder if any of them are still out there. I know the cornices I make from pine will last...and they can be covered and recovered.

Cornices are the most expensive, material-wise , of any window treatments I make.They also are a lot of work to make and install. I know I don't charge enough for them. Pricing has always been my Achilles heel.

Cornices are a good solution when you don't want something fussy looking. They can be very tailored. Adding trim finishes the edges nicely but a self or contrast piping works as well.

My Dad

2009-03-24T10:55:00.003-04:00

This is my favorite picture of my father. Today would be my dad's 80th birthday. He passed away in January of this year . We love him and miss him.

Good Bye Misha

2009-03-20T20:24:00.003-04:00

Misha 1994-2009
The beloved dog of close friends has gone where all dogs eventually go. Peace at last. We will miss you. Sending warm hugs to Janet, Anne ,Brock and Yeltsin.

Happinesss is........

2009-03-16T14:22:00.004-04:00

It's a little early here to start planting outside but I'm ready to start seeds indoors. We were teased , as so often happens in this "wait a minute" climate, with a beautiful weekend only to wake to a dreary and raw Monday. Ah well, better Monday than Sunday. I filled my flats with seed-starter mix and soaked them. I'll plant this week and in the next few weeks to get things started.

I dream of some day having a greenhouse. Only a dream,though. The list of things that come before that is a mile long. I am happy to see so many things starting to poke through the ground. The color in our yard is an awful grayish -brown that I can't wait to be rid of.

The crocuses are coming up around the River Birch. We planted the Birch 2 years ago and it is my favorite of all the landscaping decisions we have made. The bark is a cinnamon color and it peels back so beautifully. I really have to plant some purple crocuses this fall.

Things will be bursting soon.

I also spent the weekend turning hems on a couple jobs I have going. Yes. I hand-hem the bottom and sides of most drapery jobs. This is tedious but it pays off in the final product.

I Served the King of England

2009-03-13T14:01:00.005-04:00

I loved this movie. It tells the story , in flashback , of Jan Dite's rise and fall and reflection starting at his release from prison. (After serving 14 years and nine months of a 15 year sentence...good behavior, you know.) We are told in voice-over that the diminutive Dite's life's ambition is to be a millionaire. It's a serious story told in slap-stick style.

In the 1930's , in Prague, young Dite starts out selling hot dogs at a train station. There he comes in contact with Walden, a Jewish businessman, who will turn up briefly several times in the movie and will become somewhat of a mentor to Dite. He will see him again at a train station in an entirely different context. Dite's rise takes him from hot-dog vendor to busboy, waiter to Head Waiter,and eventually millionaire Hotelier. There are some dips in the rise and an eventual fall.

Dite has much luck with women in spite of his tiny size. The decadence of the time and place is shown in generous proportions through beautiful women being used as playthings and the indulgences in food and potables for the rich.

The photography is beautiful throughout. Whether we are in a brothel or a bar, a restaurant or a hotel the interiors are lush and gorgeous.The camera leaves out nothing and for those of us who love decoration and design it is an unending treat. The food preparation and service are treated with the same care. The dinners and banquets depicted in the movie are a delight to behold. I've always heard that Prague is a beautiful city and it is higher on my list of must-sees after this movie.

The beautiful photography is reason enough to see this movie but there is more.

Dite's ambition makes him selfish and blind to what is going on around him. At the beginning of the war Dite has become Head Waiter at a posh hotel restaurant. There he has another mentor, Skrivanek, the M'aitreD. As the German's move in he does not join the resistance but becomes a sympathiser due only to the fact he falls in love with a woman his size.

There is a brief but profound scene where the happy hustle and bustle of the dining room merges seamlessly with the joyless room after the German Occupation.

Dite betrays,in different ways, both his mentors. His eventual riches come from the suffering of others. Though this terrible time is treated lightly in the movie I think it is because the camera and script shines completely through Dite's eyes and mind and does not try to make us feel anything. We are merely presented with Dite's view of life. There are times when Dite has a tiny twinge of conscience and it is presented as just that; a twinge.

A still oblivious, but rich Dite is imprisoned after the Commmunists take over. It is his post-imprisonment time that finally causes him to reflect (both literally and figurativelly).

Be aware that there is nudity and some scenes of sexuality, though not graphic.

In Czech with English subtitles.

The Ultimate Kitchen Sink

2009-03-12T15:05:00.003-04:00

This looks like it is being used in a Bathroom. Don't you think it would make the ultimate kitchen sink. Found this and many more beautiful things here.

This just in..............

2009-03-07T13:07:00.004-05:00

I don't know if anyone cares..............Whose husband just called to say he has Leonard Cohen tickets? MINE!!!
Who's going to see Leonard Cohen on her anniversary? ME!!!
Ok, no more whining. I am really happy right now.

Looks like sunshine..

2009-03-07T11:54:00.003-05:00

This was one of those jobs that was a joy and a pain to do. I love the fabric, a sunny golden silk that is an unusual 118"W, with the stripes running horizontally. I was a bit of a wreck about the length of the panels, lined and interlined!

I install 99% of the jobs I do. In this case I told the designer that she would have to hire someone to do the installation. I'm not a real lover of heights; ski lifts..yeah, ladders..no! I have an eight foot ladder and if I can avoid going higher, I will. The man who installed these panels and the high Butterfy Balloons was pretty easy-going about the death-defying act of Window Treatment installation.

The panels obviously were done with the stripe running horizontally, as the fabric ran. The Buterfly Balloons (also known as London Shades) were done with the stripe running vertically.

I was very happy , as were the Designer and client , with the way they turned out. Just a beautiful, sunny room.

Before you know it.......

2009-03-05T14:10:00.003-05:00

THIS

TURNS INTO THIS...............................

But never fear...Trader Joe's is here................

Spring is on it's way!

LeonardCohen

2009-03-04T18:53:00.003-05:00

They added a second show. I'll be at a funeral when the tickets go on sale. Hmmmnn...I really need this show.

Leonard Cohen

2009-03-02T13:33:00.005-05:00

This man....this man is touring. And I won't get to see him. I love a live music show..we go to a lot of them. A variety of different genres, too. But, oh my god...this is the one that could make me swoon. Just a few weeks ago..I re watched I'm Your Man again and fantasized about seeing him live. W (my husband) assured me that we would see him if he ever chose to tour again. I laughed at the silly boy and told him I thought it wasn't likely to happen.

W came home Friday night with a clipping about the tour.. A (our daughter) emailed me from Edinburgh about the tour...Yes! Boston.. at the Wang..on our Anniversary! Tickets went on sale this morning...and promptly, I mean promptly sold out. I tried online..I tried by phone..I tried, and I cried.

I am hoping they add another date. Please, please, please. I can't believe L. Cohen will be in Boston and I won't be able to see him. He is 74 years old and this is his first tour in 15 years. Did you see him recite Tower of Song when he was inducted , finally, into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? I want to see him. stomp , stomp. Stomp.

If you haven't seen I'm Your Man then I suggest you watch it. You are in for a treat. A sublime musical and documentary experience awaits you.

A couple more Window Seats........

2009-02-27T17:02:00.003-05:00

I made this cushion, pillows and shade for a closet/dressing room. Oh, to have that much space! I love the how the light can come through the Relaxed Roman shade but still provide privacy. This one was for a child's room. There was a nice mix of fabrics and textures...colors and trims.Having just a valance works well with the blinds.

Swags and Jabots

2009-02-26T15:15:00.005-05:00

When I first started making Window Treatments the most commonly asked for style was Swags and Jabots. (Today it is Pinch Pleat Panels...before that Roman Shades..and before that it was Balloons. )The sheer Swags above help to create a very inviting bath. The Swags are draped, in two colors, over a decorative pole with gathered panels on the side.

These Swag are draped, along with a center Jabot and gathered panels, on a fabric covered pole. The rosy sheer fabric makes for a very feminine touch.

The Swags and Jabots below are mounted on 3 small boards and trimmed with rosettes.

The Swags in these pictures are called Bustle Swags. They are free hanging, usually set with a drapery pin, and hooked in a ring over Panels. A trim applied along the hem adds kind of an outline around the Swags.

Below are Draped Swags with Jabots ,again edged with trim.

These are more traditional Swags and Jabots. Lovely in the silk shown below, which is interlined to add softness. Jabots can be mounted either over or under the Swags.

A fun, yet somewhat formal candy-stripe.

These Swgs and Jabots are beautiful in the chocolate brown silk and elaborately trimmed. A very formal look.

Another formal silk and fringe look, this time with the Jabots mounted over the Swags. This is a beautiful Dining Room.

This Dining Room is formal but features a fun purple wall color that is repeated as the lining for the Jabots and in the fringe that is applied at the hem of the Swags the and edges of the Jabots. The client designed this style herself and was very happy with the results.

We Could All Use a Little....

2009-02-25T14:18:00.003-05:00

Love these hooks. I found them at Sundance.

SPRING!!

2009-02-24T12:42:00.003-05:00

I am so happy to see the crocus spikes popping through the mulch. It's on the way. Spring , that is. It's been one of those winters here in New England. Snow has been on the ground for a very long time now. While I do love the Winter...I am always ready to see it leave. I have big plans for the garden this year. I even have two new raised beds waiting to be filled. I am going to try this year to get my peas in by St. Patty's Day. I have always heard that it's the best time to start them , but I've never been able to get them in so soon.

Our girl Zevon had an unplanned play-date today when a roving dog from a few streets over stopped by. Our last dog was a wanderer....what a love she was ,though. She would see our boys getting in their football equipment and show up at the field. One time my friend picked us up for church and then went back to pick up her son. Fritz,the usher, was leading her out by the collar as we walked in. Almost everyone in town knew her. Even the grouchy lady down the street had a soft spot for her. I know it's irresponsible to let a dog wander like that. She just loved her family and was always watching out for us. She was a beautiful black lab.

When we got Zevon we had an electric fence installed. Best idea ever. She trained easily with it. We've never had to worry about her leaving .Well, Dolly had a much younger family to look after and no electric fence so I can forgive her wandering. Zevon will be five on June 29th , she no longer wears the fence collar, and she's always there when I call her.

Window Seats

2009-02-23T16:12:00.007-05:00

I have always loved window seats. They are like an invitation to curl up with a book. I admit I need little to persuade me to curl up with a book....... This one above I did for one of my favorite clients. She's never afraid to mix a lot of fabrics and she loves trims. I think in this case she just gave me the fabrics and told me to just mix and match and make the cushion and pillows.

A window seat can also work in just a tiny nook. Okay, so I wouldn't be able to curl up here, but the little girl this belongs to can!

I love this window seat. It's really deeper than it looks from the picture.This one I could curl up on. I can see myself cracking open Wuthering Heights for the umpteenth time. The mix of very light cushion with the warm red of the Roman Shades and the pillows makes it very inviting.

This one is all fun with navy blue and kelly green, then topped off with polka dot relaxed Roman Shades.

Winter's Passing

2009-02-22T12:57:00.007-05:00

This was a cheery sight outside my kitchen window on a dreary day.Winter is slowly ending...it's cold and rainy today....but I can feel the promise of Spring coming!

We had a great day yesterday. Went to the ICA in Boston (What a beautiful place!!) to see the Shepard Fairy Supply and Demand exhibit. Our son had already seen it but went with us anyway. Thank you. Enjoyed it immensely, and it was nice to have a younger voice via our son to guide us through. If anyone out there has access to this, I highly recommend it. No matter what your political leanings are it provokes thought. It is in Boston through August. Our daughter will be home from Scotland in late May and I'll be going with her again.

After the museum we went to Redbones in Davis Square in Sommerville. A really fun place....very casual and great barbecue. Our son's girlfriend joined us for dinner...just love her! We sat at the counter facing into the kitchen. It's a tiny kitchen with a wood burning grill and five or six guys moving around like a well-oiled machine. It was REALLY busy and we got there at 5:00. Delicious!

We went back to our son's apartment in Cambridge to pick up my niece (His roommate...I love it!) because we were all going to the Ryan Adams show at the Orpheum. My husband and I have been to so many shows there over the course of our many years on this earth and I am sure the biggest change that has happened is that there is no longer smoking . It's a rare old gem of a building. Some people love..some hate it. I am a lover. The show was terrific. Our seats, however, were not. I'm okay with being in the balcony...second row from the back...and sitting with my knees up to my chin. What really is not okay is having a group of people sitting behind you having a full on..loud,louder,loudest conversation. A girl sitting beside them asked nicely if they could respect the fact that we were all trying to enjoy the show and their loud and constant talking was affecting the enjoyment of everyone. Most everyone around us ,us included, gave a group "here! here!'' to her . The answer back? "That's why they have the big speakers..get over it." There was some more back and forth and they continued on. Rude . Inconsiderate. All those things. We ended up going downstairs at intermission, thinking we would just hang around the lounge area and listen to the rest of the show. We were lucky enough to be able to walk onto the floor area and see the show from the back. Thank you rude, selfish, inconsiderate concert-goers, it was a great spot to be.

I'm always happy that the younger part of our family is willing to hang out with us. We're very lucky that way.

I am so ready to be looking at green grass and flowers again. Can't wait to get the garden going again so we can looking at this.....

And this.........

And this..........

And this again!!!!

Federal Valances

2009-02-17T20:18:00.005-05:00

These pictures show what a difference a slight change in installation can make. These Federal Valances are made to mount on three seperate boards. The first two pictures show them mounted with all three boards at the same height.This gives a different look from the usual Federal where they are mounted on a single board and the fabric is straight across the top.

The next two pictures show an installation done differently. The center board is mounted slightly higher than the two side boards. I prefer this to the first style. The client preferred the first style.

Federals look and hang best when the hem is edged with some type of trim, whether it is fringe or even a self-pipe. I've often finished the hem with a contrast fabric or a bias cut border of the body fabric. They most often are a formal treatment but with the right fabric they can also be casual.The Pinch Pleat panels under the valances add to the formal feel of this room.

Flat Romans

2009-02-16T17:27:00.011-05:00

I make a lot of Roman Shades.They work as a stand alone window treatment or as a layer under panels. They are my favorites; when lowered they provide absolute privacy and can be raised to any height to allow maximum exposure. There are many styles of Romans. Flat romans are just that- when lowered they hang straight and flat and when raised they fold into neat pleats. These Flat Romans have a contrast banding on the side and a small attached valance.

These pretty green and pink Romans are made for a bedroom/bath suite. The green stripe in the bath is banded at the bottom with the pink from the bedroom.....and the bedroom pink is banded with the bath green.

You can make a big statement using very little fabric.

You can see how neatly they stack up when they are raised. A wooden cord tassel

finishes off the end of the cords.

These Romans were made to provide privacy at night and the client wanted them to almost disapear during the day. They don't take away at all from the lovely view.

These cute inside mount Romans are trimmed at the hem with fringe. Depending on the fabrics and trims used a Roman Shade can be formal or casual;traditional or contempoary.

Flat Romans seemed to be the perfect choice for this cozy bay. The window seat cushion and pillows are the right finishing touch.

Here are a couple more examples of simple contrast banding at the hem adding a subtle but important touch to the shades.

The ease of operation of a Roman shade in any style is helped immensly by using a cord lock. With a cord lock you can lock the shade in any position. When cords hang long and young children are likely to be around you should also mount a cord cleat to hold the cords out of reach.

Etsy

2009-02-10T13:11:00.002-05:00

For some reason I have not been able to add my Etsy shop to this blog.It is igetthewindow.etsy.com Hope to add the link soon!

2009-02-09T19:53:00.002-05:00

And we have lift off!!

2009-02-09T19:36:00.002-05:00

Everyone out there makes it look so easy...so I'm finally joining the ranks. I have been sewing for a living for several years now. I have twins who turn 25 this April and I started this shortly after they were born so I could be home with them.Two more kids and lots more sewing followed. It has not always been easy but it has been rewarding.

I hope to post pictures of work I've done in the past and work I'm doing now. Maybe throw in a tutorial here and there.

Now that I've started I feel like a shy date...suddenly I'm keyboard-tied. I'll lead off with a few random pictures.