Day 19 of 28

It's a random kind of day. Therefore, I will show you this picture that I took not too long ago.

Yes, that is a stuffed monkey in a tree. :-) No, I have no idea why it was there. But it definitely brightened my day!

He was really high up in the tree, I have no idea how or why someone would go to all that trouble to put him up there. Maybe it was just to make random people passing by on the street to laugh? :-)

I hope you have a perfectly wonderful random day! :-)

Can't get on board

As much as I love decorating, and I try to keep abreast of the current trends, there are a few that I just cannot get on board with. There are definitely a few current trends that make me go -" oh my goodness, what are they THINKING?" And while I am sure that some people might say the same thing about some of my choices, this is my blog, so I get to pick on them for a day. :-) So here goes...

Burlap

No offense to all my bloggy friends out there with burlap ribbon, and burlap table runners and burlap bedskirts. Burlap is greatly loved because of its amazing texture, and I am in total agreement about that. Burlap has awesome texture. But, that visual texture is linked to a tactile texture that feels like something akin to sandpaper to me. Why, I ask, would you want a burlap pillow on your bed? I don't know about you, but when I lay this head down to sleep, I want it to be on something soft. I don't relish the idea of a nightly facial from my pillow.

Owls

OK, I canNOT be the only person who is creeped out by owls. Seriously. I constantly read about someone who found an old metal sculpture of an owl, refreshed it with spray paint, and oh-my-goodness-would-you-look-at-how-cute-it-is-now! Sorry friends, but when I see these pretty painted owls, all I can picture is this:



And from someone who, at the tender age of seven, couldn't sleep for a week after watching Raiders of the Lost Ark, you can imagine how I feel about having creepy owls staring at me from my living room. No thanks!

Tassels

I don't have a lot to say about this one. I love a tasseled fringe as much as  the next girl. Heck, my dining room curtains are held back with tassels.  So I am not a tassel hater, when used appropriately. But these decorative tassels that everyone is hanging from their lamps, and hutches and doorknobs? I just don't get it. They remind me of something I heard someone say about a platypus once. "God made all the animals in the world, and then he made the platypus out of the leftover pieces."



Wouldn't it be great if I could find a tassel that features an owl as the ornamentation, with some burlap to really set it off? :-D

Plates on a Wall

Now, don't get me wrong, I've seen this done right. In fact, in an upcoming project, I plan on using a few plates as decoration on my wall. And, when done in a kitchen, or a dining room, it makes sense to me. Of course, most times you can't ever use those plates, they're strictly there for decoration, but I am okay with that.  But in a bedroom? Or a bathroom? It just makes no sense to me.  Hey, while I am taking a nice bath, I will gaze at these lovely china plates. Wait, why am I  starting to feel a little hungry? ;-) And wouldn't you be worried about them falling down on your head in the middle of the night? What if there is an earthquake? Hey mom, I survived the earthquake, but I needed fifty stichtes from the pottery shards that got stuck in my head. :-)

Smile - It's good for you!

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight. ~Phyllis Diller

The world always looks brighter from behind a smile. ~Author Unknown

Before you put on a frown, make absolutely sure there are no smiles available. ~Jim Beggs

Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been. ~Mark Twain, Following the Equator

A smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people you're at home. ~Author Unknown

If you smile when no one else is around, you really mean it. ~Andy Rooney

Life is like a mirror, we get the best results when we smile at it. ~Author Unknown

Everyone smiles in the same language. ~Author Unknown

Smile - sunshine is good for your teeth. ~Author Unknown

The shortest distance between two people is a smile. ~Author Unknown

Smiling is my favorite exercise. ~Author Unknown

Keep smiling - it makes people wonder what you've been up to. ~Author Unknown

You're never fully dressed without a smile. ~Martin Charnin

Smile Quotes from quotegarden.com

thoughts

I don't have a lot to talk about today. I am having fun living life, snuggling my little nephew and catching up with my sister. (In-law, but I've never had a sister, and she is what I imagine my sister would have been like, had I had one.) They live all the way in California, and I really miss them.

My sister's sister is staying with us too, along with her two precious kids. It has been a blast watching them all play and interact. I can't believe how much energy little munchkins have. And how innocent they are. They are so well behaved, at a stranger's house.

Lover brought me flowers, and surprised me with a diamond necklace this week. Just because. I love that he is so sweet and thoughtful that way. He doesn't like to give gifts when they are expected. He prefers to give them when there's no expectation, because, really, isn't it much more meaningful that way?

So anyways, not a lot of progress on the house. Not a lot of time to blog. But that means that we are having fun in our life, and that is what is most important. :-)

Signing off now, nephew needs more snugglin' :-)

Need a husband?

So I read this article recently that talked about the "serious shortage of elegible young women in China." The article talked about the fact that Chinese men are reaching their mid-twenties and discovering that there is a real lack of pretty gals out there to marry up. It's causing quite the commotion, as, well, young men typically like to have young ladies around to pursue and ultimately marry. ;-)

The article said that a whopping 28 million men in China were destined to remain single, because of this shortage. The article also said that the reason for the shortage was "complicated."

Um, no. Not complicated. Everyone, and I do mean everyone saw this coming once China enforced its "one-child policy" and everyone started choosing boys to be their one child. They earn more, they can care for the parents, they carry on the family name... etc. I mean, how many beautiful Chinese girls have been adopted over the last few decades because their families didn't want them?

I guess I just have to say that I am not surprised. I am curious what the country will do to solve this crisis. When I mentioned the article to Lover, he said, "you know what that means, right?" War. It's a historical pattern. When there aren't any females around, the males go and find some (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, anyone? Helen of Troy?) Let me just tell you that I am glad I am married! To all you single girls out there - be careful! ;-)

Made In China

Lover often sends me listings on Craigslist, usually with a question along the lines of... love it or hate it? Yesterday was no exception, with listings for couches, entertainment centers and miscellaneous items. Then Lover sent me a listing with this picture,

and this description:

The is a Pier One Vase. It is made out of Clay and is in great condition. It measures 27 inches tall and has a 16 inch diameter at its widest point.

The best part was Lover's commentary:

This would be cool if its history was

"Made in China in the 13th Century"

instead, its history is

"Made in China by the lowest bidder"

And that's why I love the man, cuz he makes me laugh.

Good Morning

"The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it" - Michelangelo

Wendhurst Castle's Christmas Wish List

Oh the stories this old house would tell, if it could talk! I am sure it has lots of tales of Christmases past, both good and bad. I am also sure that it has horrible ghost stories of the "remodeling" that was done to it throughout the years.

That said, I've put together a list of the items this house would like. Because we all know that all houses have personalities and of course care about the things in them. :-)

First up, for the living room, would be a new love seat to replace the current one whose exact twin lives in the waiting room at the local oil change shop. Ew. Ugly oil change couch would be replaced by cozy and stylish loveseat.

Also, for the living room, new end tables. While the current ones match, they are a little rickety. They're also very small, and contain only open storage. We're looking for ones with drawers and shelves, to soothe my organizing heart. I mean, to make this house happy.

For the dining room, a new set of chairs. The castle would like chairs worthy of its elegance, not dated, falling apart, mismatched chairs like the current ones. Something like these would be nice.

For the kitchen, the castle requests a new fridge with a working freezer, so that the occupants of the castle may freeze things upstairs or down, thereby making their life easier. Who's ever heard of roughing it in a castle?

For the bedroom, and because castles have no concept of money, two nightstands like this beautiful carved Moroccan side table. They'll add just the right amount of ambiance and romance to the room.

Also for the bedroom, a large, pretty rug to warm up the toes of the couple that takes residence in the master "suite." This rug is really pretty and isn't too terribly expensive.

For the office, the castle requests a small antique loveseat that has been reupholstered in a fresh white. This will encourage plenty of lounging and relaxing in one of the sunniest rooms in the house.

For the bathroom, a set of fluffy white towels to replace the old ones. Fluffy white towels are always superior to any other color of towel, and fluffy is always better than... non-fluffy.

For the hallway, at the top of the stairs, some sort of cool light fixture. Perhaps something like this one?

And finally, for the front porch, a gliding loveseat that will allow the occupants to do lots of snuggling while people watching during long summer evenings.

So there you have it. This castle's Christmas top ten wish list, something for every room in the house. (Almost) Oh, and if you would like to purchase any of these items for your own castle, just click on each image and it will take you to the site. Merry Christmas!

Things You Never Knew About Me

1. My red hair is completely natural, but I get asked if I color it on a semi-weekly basis. The first time I was asked this question I was nine years old. I was completely at a loss for words.

2. I have two foreign high school diplomas. Spanish high school end at 10th grade, and upon completion you receive your diploma. Then you may enroll in an optional baccalaureate program for two years, and if you finish this program, you receive another degree.

3. I walk a very thin line between the world of fantasy and reality. Sometimes I can be completely convinced that what I believe is true, even if, well, there is no such thing as a centaur.

4. I am the oldest of four, and Lover is the youngest of four. I exhibit many of the stereotypical firstborn qualities, while Lover exhibits almost none of the typical "baby" traits.

5. I eat ice cream year round, in upstate New York, even if I have to be under a blanket so as not to get too frozen. That's devotion, my friends.

6. I can read an average size novel in two hours. I will probably be able to tell you the whole story, in detail, but I will likely be unable to tell you the title of the book.

7. I can read a map with the best of them, but I've gotten lost on five different occasions going to church. (the one we are at two/three times a week. )

8. My comfort level ranges from 70° F to about 73° F. This means that I am either freezing cold or uncomfortably hot most of my life.

9. My arches on my feet are so high that I can never find comfortable shoes. They are either not supportive enough, or the straps, boot or other shoe part that fits around my foot is always too tight. Needless to say, this curbs my shoe addiction.

10. I have my own invented word that I use when I am upset. Fruggers. At least I thought I invented it, but apparently it is a German word. Now you also know that I don't speak German. :-)

What did you say?

Credit

Last night my brothers were over for dinner and I randomly decided I should light a candle. (It was a chilly night) There was a coffee scented one on the desk in the dining room, and a little one on the table called "Beach Walk." (Both by Yankee Candle) I turned to my younger brother and asked

"I want to light a candle, should I do coffee or a walk on the beach?"

He heard

"Do you want coffee or a walk on the beach?"

Which was funny enough.

But then he said

"What kind of a drink is Walk on the Beach? Is that like a non-alcoholic version of Sex on the Beach?"

Just a walk, folks, no funny business here!

Needless to say, we were all in stiches, and I completely forgot to light a candle. :-)

For a recipe for Sex on The Beach, go here.

Fun Times at the Renaissance Festival

Last weekend Lover, my brother, my other brother's girlfriend and her sister and I (are you confused yet?) went to the Sterling Renaissance Festival. We also brought along some other friends, their parents and the friends' kids. What a crowd! However, the friends didn't make it into this picture. :-)

The festival is so much fun, there are tons of shows to watch, shops to browse and impromptu skits in the middle of all of the people.

We love the glass blowing exhibit (so much so that I forgot to take pictures of it!) and this wood shop was pretty cool. Here's my brother looking cool as usual in a chair carved from a tree trunk.

Then I did my best impression of a garden gnome that was also hanging out in this shop.

Dead on, right? I could totally moonlight as a garden gnome. :-) Well, except for the beard. Our favorite show by far is Johnny Fox. He is a sword swallowing- sleight of hand - magician turned comedian. While the sword swallowing is impressive, he is just genuinely funny, and we always laugh our heads off.

Of course, there are beautiful horses at the festival, and most participate in the jousting tournament. Here's my new friend that Lover wouldn't let me bring home. :-)

I was also chosen to be the queen in a Human Chess Match, and we won! My move was the one that checkmated the black, which I am very proud of :-)

And lastly, the obligatory self portrait that we always take on trips. We had such a great time, a great way to spend the weekend!

The Long Weekend

Our long weekend was filled with...

crops from our garden

pictures of my little niece in the daisy patch out back

baby bunnies (from our yard!)

pictures of flowers

monopoly and finger puppets

time together

and an impressive fireworks display

What did you do for the fourth?