Thank You, Marisa!

Thank you, Marisa, for Helen and my ostrich! Do you think they're dancing when we listen to this?? Surely they are...

Music Lately

Holly Becker of the great Decor8 blog just asked us to chat about what music we are currently listening to. What FUN!!!!! All the music I mention here is linked to you tube videos you can watch, laugh at, and listen to, too! Doug and I snuck out for a date a little while back and caught the movie Mama Mia (campy, great fun), so Abba Gold is one we've got out now. When I was in Boston the other week, we stopped into my brother in law's record store (he sells vinyl...really!!), In Your Ear, in Cambridge and I snapped a photo of the album cover above.

We also listen to a lot of Hawaiian music because it's so relaxing. Keali'i Reichel is always a favorite.

I am a big fan of AM radio 70s' songs, embarrassingly enough, so we listen to Billboard Top Hits from the early 70s like Rod Stewart's Maggie May, Three Dog Night's Joy to the World, Johnny Nash's I Can See Clearly Now, and The Temptations Papa Was a Rollin' Stone. Just listening on these you tube sites makes me dance!

Thank you Holly! This made me happy just doing it... it is SO true that having something playing can completely lift your spirits!

A Girl Can Dream, Can't She?

Sotheby's just sent me the e-catalogue for their upcoming important jewels auction in NY. I do not wear much jewelry, but I like to look at really beautiful old jewelry and dream! The estimates for these start at $5,000. Doug asked me today for the link to my blog... won't he love to see this post!!!

I think this brooch is so dramatic.

look at the emarald dripping from this pendant!

funky elephant brooch

I love the two locket/pocket watches!

I think my favorite is this amazing leopard brooch.

Lovely, and dear (as in $$$), diamond butterfly and flower brooch.

This Cartier diamond and seed pearl bracelet circa 1915 is so delicate. I love it. I'll never have it, but I love it!

September Weekend

It was a bright, beautiful weekend here in the mountains. We picked apples by the Colorado River Road Saturday (trains passed by!). And Doug and Eddie went cycling yesterday, five times around the little lake. I was a proud mom.

Eddie, Grandma and Christina watch the train.


Bike maintenance is VERY important!

Speaking of Auctions...This for a CAUSE

Two young parents crashed in a small plane on August 15th. I first read about this accident here at one of my favorite blogs, Bliss. I've been following their progress and sending my positive energy. I know only a couple of people look at my blog, but if one more person can send love or hope or help because of me, that is good. So, you can find out more here from the amazing sisters, find out about the incredible auction to help them here or just donate here.

Auction Goodies

Since Doug had the camera today, I'm posting something a little different. When I have time, I love to look at what the auction houses around the country are putting up for bid. I get an e-mail each week from artfact.com listing upcoming auctions. Items range from art to furniture to to toys to some true junk. I've bid successfully twice in the past year, so I am certainly no expert on how to get good stuff or good deals! I would only say that if you are interested in bidding on something, do research into what its value really is (google it to see what comes up...a good place to start), ask many questions of the auction house about the condition of the item (and its provenance if this might influence its value). And try to find out the reputation of the auction house.

I found some goodies at two upcoming auctions. Here are a few...

Eddie would LOVE this great steam shovel (so do I). It's at Nadeau's Auction Gallery in Windsor, CT, or via Ebay live auctions.

Or maybe this sweet guy.

Or a vintage juicer.

oooooh...or this fun lot of glass. Look at the silver top bottles!

These beauties below are being auctioned off in Chicago on September 10th...
I can't stop looking at this settee from Leslie Hindman Auctioneers also via Ebay Live Auctions here. Maybe you like the green... I might reupholster in a creamy white, I think!

Lovely, delicate kettle stand also at Leslie Hindman.
or perhaps a tulip stool

And I like the pattern on these vases.

These are just a few items I like to give you an idea of what is out there! Have fun browsing! And have a great night!

I'm Back

I am home. My trip seemed like a whirlwind and so short. My guys are relieved that I'm here, as is Grandma I think, and I am glad to be back. It is always hard to leave my sisters - we had such a good time together. Besides just being with Dor (and Mark) and Em, I loved our Red Sox game at Fenway, a trip to the beach in Rockport, a stop on a whim at my grandmother's old house in Cambridge, and a visit to Mom's gravesite on the last morning, which was beautiful. And Eddie actually talked with me on the phone a few times - astounding! He sounds so grown up on the phone. Then, all of a sudden, "OK. Bye!" and he's off. (I do wish I could do that.)

Eddie officially started Montessori yesterday. I cried. He loves it. It's like the beginning of the rest of his life... very adult, very responsible. Really it's not all that... he's having such fun (and of course I do hope the rest of his life is great fun), but he is just growing up so fast.

And then it also truly feels like Fall here. It's chilly and the days seem short. I hope we have a little Summer left. Maybe a Friday swim at Grandma's pool.

Here are some of my memories from my trip... Fenway ParkAt Dor's home, hydrangea, Mark's garden, sweet 45 and the lovely Eloise (Em's pug)!

Cambridge viewCopley farmers market On the road to the beach...

Anna Lisa Summitted This!

Illimani from the air, originally uploaded by Alexander Yates.

This is Illimani in the Bolivian Andes. I am so proud of my friend Anna Lisa who summitted this peak the other day. It is 21,125 feet tall! And it is cold down there now! And she's just like one of us - except now she's this big mountain climber (she's trekked in some fantastic places with her Swedish boyfriend of 11 years, Jonas). I am really in awe of her accomplishment. It was her first 6000+ meter peak and she must have felt on top of the world! Yey Lis!!!!

I'm off to Boston in the AM to visit with Dor and Em, and I am very excited to have some sister time. I will miss my guys so much, but I will only be gone until Sunday and I know they will be fine without me, and in the very capable hands of Grandma! Thank you Grandma and Doug.

Not Lasting Impressions

We like to make impressions in Playdoh around here. Cars are the stamping tool of choice. Today a man got squished, too. Caution - some of these are so bright, they almost make me want to throw up! Especially when looking at blogs, I am so drawn to soft colors like whites and creams, and lovely calm spaces. Sometimes life is very bright when a 3-year-old is involved.

Dusk

Dusk was nice at our house last night...

Beautiful Day

It's become a ritual of mine to hike on the anniversary of Mom's death (she didn't hike... but, for some reason, that's my way of recognizing the day). Each year I take Eddie, but it's tough now because he's too heavy for me to carry in the pack and he just can't go very far on his own. So, this year he and I went on a short hike in the morning and I went alone on another hike at noon. Eddie and I had such a fun nature walk. He decided to take his guide, an art piece he'd done at camp, to see if we could find the creatures he'd stamped on it.

We found many grasshoppers and butterflies (not the others, but that's OK).

We just had a lovely time together.

In the afternoon, I went to Booth Falls on my hike, an hour walk to the North from East Vail. Wow, that's a beautiful hike with such a reward at the end. I tried to get there with Eddie on my back two years ago, but it was too sketchy at the end -- steep and loose and I couldn't take the risk. Well, if I'd gone the right way two years ago, it would have been a piece of cake. I went the wrong way again this year! Silly me. The correct way takes you around to the top of the falls. The way I went takes you to the bottom of the falls (and based on the wear of the trail to the bottom, many do go that way but it's not easy. Actually I just read some of the reviews in my above link and others have definitely done the same thing and don't even know there is an easier way). I was inching along in some places wondering, "How the heck are those octogenarians back there going to do this?!" I'd been up there ten years ago, too, and knew I didn't remember all the scree. Thankfully, I HAD been the right way back then, because I finally realized my mistake and knew if I kept scrambling up the side of the cliff (well practically a cliff) I'd get back to the real trail, which I did. I did not want to go back the way I came in. The bottom of the falls are spectacular, though, so it was well worth the fear!

The last picture is looking down from the top (Doug was not so happy when he saw this pic and how close I was to the edge) - so pretty. Have a great night!