Signing Off for the Season

We've had a rough year.  My dad's health has deteriorated yet again. As such we've been walking a tightrope trying to find a balance this season.  It hasn't been easy and his health has reached the point where we need round the clock care and it takes up a lot of my time as the main caregiver.  So, sadly this blog has suffered and I will no longer be able to continue until we've seen this thing through.

My best wishes to all those I've been in touch with this and anyone else reading this blog.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and will continue to have a wonderful New Year.  Hopefully 2013 will be a time a great joy and help to heal a lot of the wounds that we've all had to deal with this year. 

Are you ready for the Christmas Season?

Time to Break Out the Winter Gear

Floral Touches

I'm not a flowery kind of woman.  But sometimes there a touches that speak to me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basement Inspiration

At the moment my basement is a disaster area filled with furniture and other items from my parents home. I can barely move around down there. However, I'm always on the look out for great basement decorating ideas and promised myself that whenever I have the time (and the money) I would clear everything out and finish off the basement - especially since my son has advised me this weekend that he expects to live her for another 10 years. Oh Oh - we might have a problem.

Feeling my Irish Roots

One of my grandmothers was Irish and all that it implies.  She was a stunning beauty when she married my grandfather.  I have the family wedding portraits to prove it.  This weekend  I was straightening up and had to move the pictures.  She was always just grandma to me but when I look at her now with fresh eyes I can see all the beautiful wild irish charm she contained.  Apparently while I look like my other grandmother, I've been told I have her temperment.  Probably the irish temper part but oh well.  She would have loved this.  I've been thinking a lot about them lately as it's her son that I'm currently caring for.

 

The Quiet Man - 1952

 

A retired American boxer returns to the village where he was born in Ireland, where he finds love.  One of my favourite John Wayne movies.  Filmed around County Mayo by John Ford it stars John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara and Victor McLaglane (my favourite actor from the John Wayne films).  If you love his films you'll recognize so many actors from this film as he made many of them family affairs.  It even includes his children in one scene.

 

John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara in The Quiet Man.

 

 

 

 

 

Dinner Tonight - Tuscan Pork Tenderloin

This receipe is fantastic - I highly recommend it.

 

Tuscan Pork Tenderloin

 

 

Ah Tuscany - another dream location on my bucket list.

 

 

 

 

Under the Tuscan Sun - 2003

 

 

While on vacation, a just-divorced writer buys a villa in Tuscany on a whim, hoping it will be the start of a change for the better in her life.  Starring Diane Lane, Raoul Bova and Sandra Oh. Its roughly based on the book "Under the Tuscan Sun" by Frances Mayes which reads more like a travel log and doesn't really include this same story.

 

Diane Lane as Frances in Under the Tuscan Sun

 



Off to Africa with Louis Vuitton

Trust a Hemingway to get this ad for adventure.  Well maybe someday my name with synonomus with fun and adventure.  If could only do it so stylishly.



Just a few miscellaneous images for inspiration

Virtual Vacation - Paris

The travel bug always hits in the fall for me but lately it's been exceptionally strong.  So another virtual vacation is required - today Paris.

Hotel Recamier

 

Located on Place Saint Sulpice in the heart of Saint Germain des Prés, Hôtel Recamier is a former Bourgeois family home.

 

 

Rooms are small but worth it since all 24 rooms are unique.

 

 

 

 With views of 

 

 

Saint-Sulpice

 

Within walking distance of...

 

 

Luxemburg Gardens

 

And a short distance from ...

 

 

The Louvre

 

Notre Dame

 

 Ok back to reality.

 

Organizing his life

This morning my son through a temper tantrum - he couldn't find anything to wear. Given his extensive wardrobe it was a bit of mystery until I walked into his room and discovered that most of it was all over the floor.  It all fell out he advsied me.  Hmmmm. Not folded - not neatly stacked like my closet - nothing hung up properly - just a pile in a laundry basket.  So tonight like it or not, we will be working on his closet until it looks like this even if it kills him.

We Miss You

When I was a little girl I used to pick Queen Anne's lace for my mom because it grew everywhere around our house.  Never mind that it was a weed it was pretty.  Today is the one year anniversary since her death and I'm picking some in a different medium for her.   She's greatly missed.  It's been a really horrible year for my family with more to come.  However, I'd rather remember her with warmth in my heart so the mourning period is over.  We love and miss you mom.

A Little Apartment of His Own

Since my dad was diagnosed with ALS and has moved in with us the main floor has become a form of hospital area for him.  This has limited the space for my teenager to spread out.  At 6 ft 2 in. he has been complaining lately about wanting to move into his own apartment.  Fine by me, but the reality is ... still in high school, no job... not likely to happen anytime soon.  However, looking through some of my images he decided that he could handle something small like this.  Only in his dreams.