I'm on Vacation

 

 

 

My three favorite words as of this moment are.... I'm on Vacation. Leaving work yesterday afternoon rain began to fall. A perfect start. Dashing about on miscellaneous shopping errands the heaviest portions of rain held off until I had arrived at Dave and Erin's. It wasn't until Erin, Emma and I had lugged everything in that the rain fell steadily and the thunder began to roll across the sky. The wind whooshed softly through the treetops so that when you looked out the window they would sway rythmically in circular motion. The light scent of fresh rain rushed in through the open windows and doors. Magical.

Emma and Zach were racing about the house gathering clothing and items they were packing for Paso Robles. Dave loaded the car while Erin cheffed up a terrific dinner of pasta Alfredo with fresh shrimp, mushrooms and garlic served up with buttered French bread and Merlot while we caught up with one another over this week's events. Today was Emma and Zach's last day of school before summer vacation was officially underway.

We ate dinner while watching Susanna Salk tour homes of famous designers. One of our favs was Timothy Corrigan's French chateau.

 

And... Aerin Lauder, granddaughter of Estee, South Hampton home

 

The kids finished packing, Erin finished laundry and Dave joined us as the rain continued to fall and the sounds of thunder could stll be heard in the distance.

Erin and I enjoyed a cup of chamomile and anise flavored tea served with choclate marshmellow cookies as the kids toddled off to bed.

After a breakfast of bacon and eggs they were off to Paso Robles to visit family promising to take pix for our family album.

The rain had ceased sometime during the pre-dawn hours. The morning was beautiful with blue skies, sunshine and warmish temps which has given way to clouded skies with a soft breeze that is once again gently swaying through the foliage and tree tops.

Paul Gauguin wrote: 'Here, I have what is needed to recharge my forces. Here, poetry exudes from everywhere... One has only to drift away into a dream to find inspiration.'

 

 
Vacation. Begins. Woot!

home improvement and other things

 

Tom Hanks, The Money Pit

 

 

Over this holiday weekend I've been gathering together ideas on exactly what I want to do with the rooms in our house. Finalizing ideas. I've been selecting so many draperies over the past few months I resemble Carol Burnett:

 

 

 I have draperies for every room. But then, I'm also a girl who changes her draperies seasonally. A carry over from childhood no doubt. My grandmother would bring out her lace curtains in the spring, launder them and then I'd help her stretch them out on curtain stretchers, outdoors. Seriously, one of those things no one does anymore. I don't even think you can purchase stretchers these days, but I could be wrong....

 

I'll be at Dave and Erin's on and off over the next few weeks, but after that, the fun begins here. Jeff and I have been resting up this weekend as we're both, or were, ran down.  Although, I feel my energy level is back up and running. Which is good as I'm going to need it.

 

So, I've been going over some of my fav designers to inspire me. One of them, Stephen Shubel, a Bay Area designer, has given me a very simple solution to a minor issue of placing two chairs in the soon to be new dinining room. This room is going to have art, books and a sitting area, in addition to hosting holiday family gatherings. The solution was turning two chairs away from the dining area, so simple, and while I've thought of that for the living room, somehow, I didn't for the dining room. I don't know why.  Basically, it's kinda like this:

 

 

I have pretty much the same lay out with a built-in credenza, I don't have the upper bookcases. The bookcases will be going on another wall. My chairs are armless but wonderfully comfy for chatting over. I think, of things I already have when putting a room together. The dining area will be behind the chairs.

 

I somehow want a sisal rug. I've never really been in to sisal that much but this room is calling out for it. I can place an area rug over it for color. While the color in this room is a sunny yellow. Ours will be in persimmon, browns, taupes and white. I have a giant piece of artwork that will go over the credenza. The Italian chandelier will be going over the dark oak farm table. I needed a large, ornate chandelier to balance out the art. There will also be a pairing of rattan chairs around a garden seat. Commerical metal utility bookcasings. Very boho casual.  

 

I love living in a well built home that is as old as I am, which is scary, as the house has arrived at a stage where assitance and updating is needed. I can somehow identify with this...

 

This morning, Jeff and I will be gearing up to work on the front section walkway near the over-sized bowler bay living room window. Jeff will rototil while I rake the weeds up. We'll be placing large rock slabs so the area can be used for outdoor seating.  

 

Lots to do.

 

 

 

 

murphys irish days, fish, anniversary dinner and music

                                                                    Murphys Irish Day Parade

After assisting Liz with closing and packing up our ceramic fish booth on Main street Jeff and I meandered through the crowd taking in the sights and sounds of this annual event. Near Murphys Hotel as we were walking up from Murphys Park, near the Sheriff's hangout, two sheriffs who had been walking in front of us began to run toward the hotel. A brawl had broken out between a biker, a guy and apparently his woman who had jumped in to protect him. Lots of screaming, pepper spray, and an unbelievable amount of cell phones with their long-armed attachments were filming this scene. I hadn't been focused on them as I was wondering what were we walking when Jeff whispered to me, Smile, your on camera!

I looked at a crowd gathering around this commotion and there were 30 to 50 people and almost everyone was capturing this... it was like a mini news crew. By the time we reached the main event the woman was on her knees crying, her man was on his knees handcuffed and the biker guy was on his bike yelling at them. Ahhh, Murphys, this was just the warm up of things to come...  bar room brawls spilling out of Murphys Hotel onto the sidewalks and streets are legendary.

                                  Then it was on to Grounds for our 12th pre-anniversary dinner.

As expected Grounds was filled to it's rafters with Bay area tourists (seriously over-dressed), the annual Murphys Day crowd, and a little bit of everything in-between. It's funny you could tell our local crowd by our downhome casual wear. A lot of familiar faces to say hello to and catch up with... Jeff and I love Murphys and loved living in Murphys.

Before we left so that I could assist Liz I'd had a very rocky day of Vertigo and running a fever. I'd misplaced my phone again (no surprise there) Friday. Forgot to take my camera with me for pix. So I have used the ones I am going to share which does not show how packed and celebratory the mood was last evening.

                                                         
The front dining area was packed.

.

We dined in our usual place in the back. Below the mirror far right.

We kick started our pre-anniversary dinner with their French bread. As a starter we ordered calamari. I chose an Indian Rock chardonnay while Jeff went with a double espresso aka Red Eye.

To our right we had a really fun African American and his globe trotting Aisian wife. He was disappointed as he had thought he would have his leftovers for lunch and enjoy hers for breakfast, but she polished hers off, elegantly, in record time.

To our left were two young guys. One was from Austrailia and his friend was from South Africa.

Jeff went with the chicken corden bleu, while steak girl here, had to go with the filet migon.

Since we didn't polish ours off we'll be having a late afternoon lunch with these leftovers. We went for dessert as, after all, it was a pre-anniversary dinner, and we did polish that off. Jeff ordered tiramusu cake with rich chocolate drizzeled over it while I went with an Italian lemon cake with a side of whipped cream. Sorry, no pix, But they were De-lish.

Afterwards, we strolled across the street to the Prospectors Brewing Company to listen to some blues getting underway.

As the band finished playing the Rolling Stones classic 'Miss You' we left Murphys to head home before it got too wild.

My rocky day had ended nicely. Back at home, as I kicked my shoes off in the den I happened to glance at the bookcase and saw my cell phone lying there. Another bonding moment.

Walking into the master bedroom I tumbled into bed, giving in to not feeling so great but having enjoyed some lovely moments.

family history with presidents on this President's Day...

                                          When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Mitch Miller chorus



You know how I love history, especially, when I can connect family with those holidays on tap.  For this President's Day I've chosen John Wickliffe Kitchell, a close friend of Abraham Lincoln to kick start this blog.

The home of John Wickliffe Kitchell in Pana, Illoines.  He served as a captain of Abraham Lincoln both before and during his presidency. He was said to be one of the pall bearers who escorted the president back to Springfield on his final trip home to be laid to rest.

              The Kitchell family donated the land that later became Kitchell Park in Pana, Il.

 

 

 

 

        CAPTAIN JOHN WIKLIFFE KITCHELL Aged 79 Years, Friend of Lincoln Dies. 

Capt. John Wickliffe Kitchell, born May 10, 1835, died Dec. 26, 1914. Capt. John Wickliffe Kitchell, philanthropist, civil war veteran and friend of Abraham Lincoln, died Dec. 26, 1914, at his home in Pana, Illinois, aged 79 years. Business was suspended in Pana during his funeral. Captain Kitchell, who gave Pana the Kitchell public parks, state agricultural experimental station, Lincoln monument and contributed liberally to many state institutions, was born in Palestine, Crawford County, Illinois, May 10, 1835. He left an estate estimated to be worth $1,000,000. Captain Kitchell died at 1 :15 o'clock and his death followed an illness of five weeks. For several hours previous to his demise he had been unconscious and three days ago all hope for his recovery was surrendered by his physicians, who had given him minutest attention for the past fortnight. The death of Captain Kitchell followed closely on the dedication of the Robert Little, Rosemond road, the first brick paved roadway in Central or Southern Illinois. This road was built by Captain Kitchell and his wife, Mrs. Mary Little Kitchell, at a personal expense of $60,000, and was donated to Rosemond township. The road was built as a testimonial to Mrs. Kitchell's father, Robert Little, and is four miles in length. The dedication was held November 14, 1914, and Captain Kitchell was able to be in attendance a few minutes and spoke a few words from the platform to the assembled three thousand people. Captain Kitchell’s illness at first was not thought serious, and a week ago there was a marked improvement, and he was able to be up and about his room, while prior to that time he was unable to obtain needed rest. A relapse came last Saturday and it was necessary to operate as a carbuncle on his neck developed tumorous symptoms. John Wickliffe Kitchell was the son of Wickliffe Kitchell and Elizabeth Ross-Kitchell and was born in Palestine, Crawford County, Illinois, May 10, 1835. His father was a native of New York and one of the original founders of the Republican party. Wickliffe Kitchell came to Illinois in 1818, and at the time of his death he owned a section of land near Pana, which he was improving. This was in 1869. Wickliffe Kitch-ell, like his son, John W. Kitchell, was one time a candidate of the Republican party for congress. He attended and helped to organize the first Republican state convention at Bloomington in 1856, and was well acquainted with Lincoln, Lyman, Trumbull, Stephen A. Douglas, General James Shields, John M. Palmer and many other notables. Captain Kitchell’s brother, Judge Alfred Kitchell, was formerly circuit judge at Olney, Illinois, and another brother, Edward Kitchell, was internal revenue collector of his district in this state and a one-time Republican candidate for congress. John W. Kitchell at an early age began the study of law at Fort Madison, Iowa, being associated with the late Judge Miller, for more than twenty years supreme judge of Iowa. Captain Kitchell located in Hillsboro, Illinois, in 1850, and lived there and practiced law with Judge E. Y. Rice, against whom he made the race for congress in 1874, but was defeated by reason of the district being largely Democratic. Captain Kitchell’s home was in Hillsboro from 1850 to 1866, with the exception of one year when he was located at Charleston, Illinois, and edited the Charleston Courier. He also edited the Hillsboro Monitor and the Montgomery County Herald at Hillsboro. He came to Pana with his wife in 1866, where he resided until his death. Captain Kitchell from 1854 to 1861 was first assistant reading clerk in the Illinois legislature and was the first clerk to ever receive pay for working after 12 o'clock at night. He was reading clerk when the legislature 449 elected Lyman Trumbull to the United States senate, and was also clerk when the late United States Senator Shelby M. Cullom was speaker of the Illinois house. Captain Kitchell had the good fortune to be one of those who assembled at Springfield to bid farewell to President Lincoln when he took his departure for Washington and tor hear from the platform of the car on which he stood, the memorable last words which the president-elect uttered to the throng of anxious friends at his old home. When the war broke out and Lincoln made his first call for 75,000 troops, Captain Kitchell at once enlisted in the first company raised in Montgomery County at Hillsboro. On arriving in Springfield, Captain Kitchell resigned his position as reading clerk of the Illinois house and went with his company to Camp Yates. He was chosen first lieutenant, was appointed adjutant of the regiment and afterwards captain of Company H, and on the expiration of his term was discharged. At the next pressing call for troops, in 1862, he was principally instrumental in raising a company. Later Captain Kitchell served as a private, and at the close of the war was mustered out with the rank of lieutenant. Captain Kitchell married Miss Mary Frances Little, daughter of Col. Robert Little, of Audubon, Montgomery County, Illinois, Feb. 27, 1862. They made their home in Hillsboro until 1866, when they located in Pana, then a small village of a few homes and a mere handful of people. Captain Kitchell opened a law office at once and gave his time to the active practice of the law. He was for a time associated with the late Judge A. C. McMillen, but the majority of his time he practiced alone. From his earliest residence in Pana Captain Kitchell had faith in her future prosperity, mineral wealth and rich farming community. In 1882 he organized a company that prospected for and located a rich vein of coal, 700 feet below the surface of the ground. The borings and solid core taken out of the first hole were kept by Captain Kitchell. The result of the finding of coal was the sinking of the four large coal mines 450 now in this city. He was president of the Pana Improvement Association. He was also president and treasurer of the Springside Coal Company, which put down the Springside mine, the late David J. Overholt being associated with him. He retired from its management in 1891. At the time of his death he was probably the largest land owner in Central Illinois, having many large farms in this section in the hands of a splendid corps of tenants. All of these farms in later years Captain Kitchell personally super-intended. No estimate can at this time be placed upon Captain Kitchell's wealth, but he is rated a millionaire by many, his holdings being principally large farm lands. Deceased has no near relatives as survivors other than his wife, Mrs. Mary F. Little Kitchell. There are numerous cousins, nephews and nieces and more distant relatives. The funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 1 o'clock at the family residence on Quality Hill, and was for the public. Rev. Frank P. Miller, of the Maroa Presbyterian church conducted the services, and burial was made at Rosemond Grove cemetery. Mayor Corman, of Pana, issued a proclamation calling attention to the death of Captain Kitchell, and asking that all business be suspended from 1 to 3 o'clock, the hours of the funeral. President Warren Penwell of the Commercial club, also issued a similar appeal to that of Mayor Corman, calling for the suspension of all business.

                                                              The Battle Hymn of the Republic

Concluding the blog is Aaron Kitchell (Jeff is a direct descendent of Aaron's) and the Crane family (cousins of the Kitchell's) stories to show our families ties to George Washington.  Happy reading!

                                                                    Yankee Doodle Dandy
  Some Tales of Horseneck during the Revolution

Aaron Kitchell, Statesman & Friend of George Washington

From Kitchell Family Genealogy by Margaret Ellen Kitchell Whallon, 1932: Aaron Kitchel, cousin of Daniel Kitchel who came to Cincinnati in 1788, was one of the most notable members of the family. He was a U.S. Senator from New Jersey and a warm friend and counselor of General George Washington, on his staff and was one of his pall bearers. He is buried in the Churchyard Cemetery at Hanover, New Jersey. For 36 years he was a member of the state legislator, the national congress and the senate, on the commission of forfeited estates of Tories and on the commission that established the Northwest territory. He was the son of Joseph.

---

The Crane Family Mansion in Cranetown was once
used by Gen. George Washington as his headquarters

From The Genealogy of the Crane Family Vol. II by Ellery Bicknell Crane, 1900: WILLIAM CRANE-4, (Nathaniel-3, Azariah-2, Jasper-1), married 1st, _____ Wheeler, of Newark; 2d, Mary (or Mercy) _____. He resided in that part of Newark called for many years Cranetown, then West Bloomfield, now Mont Clair, NJ, and was a subscriber for the purpose of hiring a minister to preach the Gospel there. He was overseer of the poor from 1753 to 1756 inclusive, and of highways from 1760 to 1764; freeholder, 1767. He may have inherited property here from his father, and possibly succeeded to the home estate; of that, however, we are not certain, but the notable Crane mansion occupied by him or his family during the period of the war of the Revolution, still standing at the junction of Valley road and Clairmont avenue, was his home, and occupied about three weeks by Gen. Washington as his headquarters, Gen. Lafayette being with him. The time of occupation doubtless being from the later week in October to about the middle of November, 1780. While those two great generals were making Mr. Crane's house their home, he with four if not five of his sons were performing soldiers' duties in the army of which they were the commanders. It is related by Rev. Oliver Crane, D.D., LL. D., that on the arrival of Gen. Washington at the house, Mercy Crane then in charge, and causing supper to be prepared, discovered she had no tea to serve, and becoming quite disturbed about it offered an apology to the General for the lack of what might seem to him an important feature of his repast. "Never mind, my good lady," replied His Excellency, "please have a crust of bread toasted and use it for tea, that is good enough for me." Mrs. Crane's anxiety was thus dispelled, and supper was served. Night came on, and the capacity of the house for beds was overtaxed, the lower back room selected by the two generals for their use, had been used for the dining-room, the deficiency of beds then was thereupon made known to the General, who rejoined, "But there is plenty of straw in the barn, is there not?" The straw was soon brought in and spread in one corner of the room, and the two famous generals retired to rest, wrapped in their army blankets, on that bundle of straw.

---

The British are Coming! (the Horseneck Version)

From The Genealogy of the Crane Family Vol. II by Ellery Bicknell Crane, 1900: ZADOC CRANE-5, (William-4, Nathaniel-3, Azariah-2, Jasper-1), b. 1758; m.; no children; d. 1841. Gen. Washington had an old gray horse which was almost as well known as its rider. Zadoc Crane, one of the Revolutionary Fathers, took care of the old gray when Washington was at Cranetown, in New Jersey. While Zadoc took care of the horse, the family entertained Washington, and waited upon him with a finely Japanned server. This server, though the Japanning is all worn off, was brought to the Fair to exhibit in Bric-a-brac, by Mrs. Emma Fasshaber, whose father was Zadoc Crane's uncle. Those were times famous for having tried men's souls, and it was absolutely necessary to exercise the greatest care and vigilance. The oats fed to Washington's horse were kept concealed under a stack of hay, and every time Zadoc got a mess from under it he replaced the hay nicely, and after feeding, he carefully picked up every scattered straw for fear the British might nose the oats and "cabbage" them. During the time Washington was occupying "Cranetown Gap," as he styled it, the alarm came that the British were about to make an attempt on the American lines in their somewhat insecure position, and desiring to be in readiness to meet such a movement should it be made, and not feeling at this critical moment that he had a man to spare from the ranks, he called for volunteers outside of those in the service to act as couriers to warn the minute-men living beyond the so called "first and second mountains," covering the region between the Passaic River and the second mountain, including Horseneck, Pine Brook, Swinefield, etc. Zadoc, a son of William, who had been lame from boyhood, offered to assume the difficult and perilous undertaking. Although lame, on leg being shorter than the other, was well able to ride on horseback, and soon appeared mounted on his own spirited horse, and armed with a heavy cutlass, this being his only weapon; just as the sun was disappearing behind the mountains, under special orders from the General, he set out on his important errand. It was a ride for the night, calling at every house and routing them from their slumbers. As the gray of the morning began to show itself, he was marching his men toward the Crane mansion, and just at daybreak drew up his squad in front of the doorstep, on which stood Gen. Washington for the purpose of inspecting them. "Well done, my man," was the salute of His Excellency. "Now come in and take a horn of whiskey, for you must need it."

                                                American Revolution War themed song

finishing touches have been tweaked and are ready for their close up

 

The vanity has been completed while the mirror will be getting some finishing touches added to it over the next few days. The bathroom now has a very spa-like vibe with the addition of some of my very fav items. I think it's important you have special things around you that bring back wonderful memories when you look at them... and for that moment you can see where you were, whom you were with before you're whisked back to where you are now in your life. This is what makes a home your sanctuary and not some random place to hang your hat.

                I love this hand-mirror. I've had for more decades than I care to remember.

 

The heart shaped voltive holder is a keepsake from Amanda's wedding. The battery operated faux metallic voltive is from a holiday shopping spree when I selected stocking stuffers for Emma, Zach and Landie this past year-- such a fun day!

 

 

This framed print is a birthday card that was given to me by a friend. I love what it says.

This collection holds sandalwood incense along with a dried flower from a bouquet that a friend had picked in her garden and gave to me. The heirloom perfume stopper belonged to my paternal grandmother and reaches so far back in my memory that I can't remember it not being in my life. It was a pair. When my grandmother passed my aunt and I each took one as a keepsake. This crystal voltive holder was one of the first things I purchased when I moved into my Forest Meadows condo when Dave was 19 and Amanda was 13. Tara then 18 and Kyle lived a few blocks away, in downtown Murphys, and were expecting Hali. I was suddenly all on my own. It was the most challenging year of my life but it was also one of the very best.

The two back prints, Jeff and I picked up one Saturday afternoon, while  we were gallery hopping through Harbinger, when we were dating. It was such a beautiful day. Sunshine, blue skies with balmy temps. We dashed into Alchemy afterwards for an espresso and Mexican chocolate coffee with whipped cream that they served in those wonderfully large over-sized bowls. I remember that tooled back up to my condo later and barbecued steak and tossed together a Caesar salad while listening to a jazz cd of all the great lady jazz singers; Ella, Billie, etc., a gift from Jeff. We sat out on the 3rd story deck where the aroma of bbq mingled with the scent of towering sugar pines aka ponderosa pinetrees.

How can I not like a room that contains all of these wonderful memories that life has given me?

Now, I can turn my attention to the guest bathroom that still has so very much needed to be done with it... Deep sigh.

                                                          These Foolish Things, Nat King Cole

Painting and other observations....

                                                        Our House, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

Painting rooms. I used to love this. It was theraputic. I still love the thought of creating a different way of using space. I still love the end result. The process... not so much.

Our home was built in August 1956. Four months before I was born. When we moved into this house almost 8 years ago the house was 50 years old. While in fabulous shape with great bones it showed the wear and tear in the interior paint which had once been a pristine white which  then faded to a cigarette smoke infused white of sorts. Not beige. Not white. Somewhere in-between.

The only room we hadn't painted was the master bedroom bathroom. Which is more like a petite water closet. If you walk in you can take 3 steps before you hit the wall. If you're a guy, maybe 2 1/2 steps.

I'd say the bathroom overall is, having just measured it, 3' x 6.4'. Very small. It is a far cry from today's luxurious mega-hundred square feet rooms that display fireplaces, Carerra marble tubs and double basinery countertops with built-in sauna's that open onto a lush tropical garden that pop off the glossy pages of home magazines.

For years, I've walked into this room sighing deeply. Following this was always a very gutteral GACK! Sounding like I had a fur-ball that needed to come up. I hadn't formulated where I wanted to go with this room. It has a large circular mirror that is securely adhered to the wall. On the surface, this doesn't sound bad. Then you look at the darkened gold leaf mirror border with same darkened gold leaf stars circling the mirror. This mirror could easily have been in Betsy Ross' home and been her inspiration for the American flag. 

What I have liked is the original 'Boomerang' formica counterop/backsplash in perfect condition. In white with a gray/blue and light cranberry design. After sighing, I would tell Jeff, I haven't the strength to deal with this yet... one day I will. It's just not this day...

Fast forward to today: I can say I've found the strength (at long last) and tackeled it admirably. How to marry all of these oddities together was the challenge. I just hadn't wanted to deal with it.

How did we deal with it? First, Jeff removed the original 1956 built-in light. Sadly, I did not take a picture of this as a before. Darn. Then I chose a richly colored gray paint by Valspar named Vintage Gray. It has deep rich blue tones. It's a warm color that just envelopes you and is very spa-like. Which is the vibe I went with for this bathroom.  The camera doesn't really capture the beauty of this paint but will give you a kinda clue.

One of my greatest downfalls, if you want to call it that is... artwork, books, music and movie videoes. We have these in abundance. How can one (me) be a creative individual (which I am) married to an equally created individual whom is an artist (Jeff) and not have ALL this stuff in abundance? IDK. It happens.

So basically, all we had to splurge on was paint. We have everything else, one of the great things about age. I wanted this bathroom to be spa-like in it's simplicty and elegant with it's accessories. I brought out some of our fav pieces of small artwork. I added an African mask sculpture that sits on the window sill beneath a beaded creme-colored silk linen valance. The mask pairs next to a honey/vanilla glass encased candle (think possible necessity). Jeff hung a brass/glass new light fixture that has a mate in the garage. We've had these two fixtures for years and never used them. We had bought them when we lived in Angels Camp just before we moved into this house. Go figure!

I painted this atrocious monstrocity of a mirror white. It now looks contempory and the stars could possibly be starfish-- it has a new beachy vibe. I'm still working on the details of the mirror.

I snapped some pix last evening and this morning. The paint changes colors depending upon the time of day and light source. In a few months Jeff and I will be putting in new flooring tile, but that's later. So here are the pix... In the first pix we had just hung the light to see if it would work with the new plan. The last pix in this group is of the boomerang countertop/backsplash. The scratch is in the mirror but reflects towards the wall.

What the mirror looks like now. Still doing touch up on mirror.

My fav part is adding the accessories. Especially, artwork...

 

 

Valance and other things. It's funny. The blue bead on the African sculputure base is an opaque heavy glass blue but yet comes across on film as a solid blue bead.

 

 

A new thing I did purchase for the bathroom was an LED night light that is pretty cool. It comes on at when it begins to darken and turns off when light appears.

There we have it. Our new little bathroom that I don't have to cringe every time I enter and have to look at it.

                                              You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To, Sarah Vaughn