Take A Picture~It'll Last Longer!

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As a designer, there are a few things I always have with me whenever I meet with clients, things I could not live without. None of them are surprising...bet you would guess that I always have my trusty tape measure along &  my paint color paddle. Yawn, yawn. Something that is SO important whenever you are trying to create a feel or look in a space is a visual reference. You know, A PICTURE! And now that most of us have a handy dandy camera on our person almost all the time, this is a tool that is so easy to use, but one that is often overlooked.

It is really hard to exactly remember what a room or piece of furniture looks like. Like a lamp....I wish I could find something that would work with my office lamp. SNAP!

That was so easy! Now I have the lamp in my pocket whenever I want to see it with something I come across in my travels.

Right now I am getting ready to plant some pots that I just moved to a new spot in my garden. I really don't know what I want to put in them, but hey! , if I have a picture with me I will have a much better idea of what I may like in the space while I am in the garden center.

Views from different vantage points will help me to see what may work best for the plantings....

So, next time you are working on a decorating or gardening project, don't forget to grab a few images before you go shopping. You will be amazed at how much help it is to you!

He's Been Workin' on the Railroad

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I know someone who has always wanted to own a railroad.  Large, loud machines to move cars, miles of track to maintain, factories to supply, passengers to shuttle, schedules to keep. It is possible to have everything you want in life, if you just use your imagination.

There is a lot to running a railroad.

I mean, this guy is under A LOT of pressure.

He may snap at any moment.

Sure, sure there are the usual grumpy passengers, occasional track washouts, the rare derailed train. Those are petty annoyances.

All can seem so quiet and quaint along this line of track, in this beautiful part of the country.

The serene setting can lull one into submission.

But always at the back of his mind is the Lenape Legend of the Nulhala Mwekane --a creature known for its stealth and insatiable appetite for steam engines.

This engineer must always be alert.

Some dismiss the stories of this beast as pure myth. But is it??

He thinks he has seen some evidence, and felt an unexplained chill on his spine on more than one occasion. His friends think he is nuts--maybe all that coal dust is getting to him.

But hearing thunder when there isn't a cloud in the sky?

Having the strange sensation that one is being watched?

What could all of it mean? I will leave it up to you to answer the questions for yourself....

and take whatever precautions you deem necessary.

(These are photos of my husband's amazing garden railroad in our backyard--Sweetie, we have way too much fun :) )

A Conversion Experience

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This garage building is about to go through a major change. How exciting!

This garage is slated for conversion to a two bedroom guest house, and I am so looking forward to the project.  I have been going over lots of pictures, measurements, layouts, etc.--gathering ideas that will make this the cutest guest cottage anybody could ever want.

Oh, the possibilities! Be sure to check back in the weeks ahead. I will be posting updates as things progress.

When Everything Changes

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Change is a constant part of life. And, as I am sure you already know, change is challenging and often chaotic. In my own life, a year of earth-shattering change started on Memorial Day the year that I was 17 years old. On that Monday, my father died after a short and brutal fight with throat cancer. Just a few months later, in the early morning hours of  New Years Day, my mother died. She was swiftly taken by an aggressive brain tumor that had only been diagnosed that Fall, as I was starting my freshman year of college.  I was now 18 years old, had lost both my biological parents, and along with my stepfather, had two lifetimes worth of belongings to sort through.

I can't tell you very much about how we did that, or in what order. You would have to ask my then boyfriend, now husband, what day to day life was like that year.... I don't remember much of it.

After weathering many seasons of change in my life, I do know that when going through periods of transition-whether it is  happy, such as the birth of a baby-- sad, such as the end of a marriage-- or maybe a mixure of the two, such as when the youngest child has flown the nest---there are so many things that we have to deal with. Like real material things, along with all of our emotions. There is a lot of clutter that has to be shifted around, sorted, and gotten rid of.

At that time, it is important to remember these five things.......

1. Be Patient With Yourself-- You aren't yourself.  Things are going to be confusing, decisions hard to arrive at. Giving yourself a loving dose of care and understanding is just what the doctor ordered.

2. Dealing With Clutter Is Emotional--The STUFF we have in our lives, whether a precious family heirloom, or an old, obsolete baby car seat have memories and emotions attached to them. These things stick to us, just like the dust that settles on our clothes as we are cleaning out, and can make us feel weighed down. It can also make us want to avoid dealing with it all together. Refer to tip #1, and keep moving forward.

3. Keep Things Simple--Have a set amount of time that you will work on things each day. Set a timer, and when it tells you you are finished, honor it.  Don't think that a marathon session of sorting and organizing will do anything more than exhaust you.

4. Reserve A Calm Space To Retreat To--Designate an area that will remain stacks-of-boxes-piles-of-paper-heaps-of-crap--free. Preferably this should be a place where you can't even see the stuff you are working on, and a spot that is pleasant to sit in. You will need this when your timer goes off, and you are ready to be finished for the day.

5. Create A Vision of What You Want Things To Look Like Going Forward--Picture what you want your life to look like going forward now that this change has happened. I know this is easier said than done, but it is important to think about so that you can work toward that goal--a goal where your home can be a nurturing place that supports and facilitates your vision for you and those you love.