Counting Blessings Once Again

My computer is not fried.  I just have to put all of my files back onto it.

I don't need a root canal, I just had my bite adjusted.

I think it's just a wart, not a c. even though the doctor hinted it might be.

I like the new house paint color.  Painting is fun.

New barbecue is going up and the landscaping team is coming next week.

The sinus pain is temporary, just have to take some drugs for it.  If I want to work outside that is.  Painting the house kind of makes it necessary...

We have rented Stella for two weeks in July - an unexpected, welcomed rental.

Little jobs are getting done, slowly but surely.  There are a mountain of them but I will just Duracell rabbit my way through them.

Meditation course starts next week.  This will help me sleep better and keep my perspective in check.

All is well...

Terrible days make one appreciate the more ordinary ones.

Have a good one!

Stella

Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Ping!  I looked at my email this morning to find out that our friend R. is in hospital and will probably not come out.

I have been without my laptop for one week and it's still not repaired.  V. came home with it from the Genius Bar at the Apple store, I turned it on and the problem persists. My son says that my 16-month-old computer is fried. 

V. came back from our accountant with news about our income tax.  The news is not good.

These are the least bad bits of a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

I am grateful that this day is over.

Stella-in-the-dumps

N'oublie jamais

As I've started a novel titled N'oublie jamais, I thought I'd share this little ditty with you by a favorite singer, Jill Barber. Jill Barber is a Canadian singer-songwriter formerly based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, now based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Watch for her, she's got a unique voice and I love her singing old French songs like she does in 'Chansons'.  My brother-in-law gave me a CD by her yesterday called Mischievous Moon.  

 Stella-the-melomanwoman

Chalk Paint Adventure #2

 I bought this charming, cheap, little end table several years ago and the paint on the top is just flaking off.... Naturally, this was one of the first chalk paint redo projects to pop into my mind.

Here it went... first off, two coats of Annie Sloan Versailles chalk paint.  This is how much coverage I got with one coat.

Next, I cut up an old invoice I purchased from TICA last year, into sections that would look interesting enough on their own.  (I know, how could I?).

Then I took out a pot of collage glue that is certainly several years old, and glued the pieces of the invoice onto the rectangular panels on each side of the table leaving a space all around because I had to.

Now, I am literally waiting, not watching, glue dry so that I can go on to the waxing.  It doesn't look good right now, but once the glue dries clear, it's going to look much better.

Here it is with clear and dark wax and a spray-painted knob.  Not bad for a couple hours' work...

Stella-the-hobbyist

Auction Candlesticks Before and After

So, the auction was a learning experience.  We spent about 3 1/2 cold hours standing and waiting and bidding and losing until finally, I purchased a small lot consisting of a pair of resin candlesticks, a sun dial, a pair of Sad irons and a tray which is the thing I was after.

Here is a picture of one of the naked candlesticks.  It is only wearing its undies for this photo.  Please forgive its lack of modesty.

Before

 Here is the pair.  One is wearing only a coat of French Country Grey chalk paint by Annie Sloan and a coat of Clear Wax.  The other is wearing the same and a coat of Dark Wax on top.

 

In this image, some of the Dark Wax has been rubbed off with an old t shirt with some clear wax on it. See how the sculpted bits are highlighted?

After

Here is the happy pair, all clothed similarly and hanging out where they are going to live from now on, atop a provençal runner purchased in Avignon in 2003, in the dining room. Beeswax candles are from my home town where the honey bee is queen.

Please note, these are not my favorite candlesticks in the whole world but, they came with something I really wanted... a tray. Color is lighter than appears on this photo given that there isn't a lot of natural light in the dining room. 
I've fallen in lust love with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.  I'm feel like painting everything in sight but for now, my little candlesticks are making me happy and proud to be doing something with my hands other than marking assignments... sigh.


Stella-the-hobbyist

Going to an Auction

One of my favorite home and garden centers has closed.  I am saddened by the news and feel deeply sorry for the couple who ran it with such love and devotion to nature and beauty.  They created an oasis of loveliness in the middle of the city.  I will never forget quiet moments spent in their gardens especially during off season when the light and the quiet were soothing to the soul.

Tomorrow, almost everything on the property is being auctioned off,  from buildings to pots and potting soil to trees and garbage cans.  All has to go.

I've never been to an auction so this is a first for me.  At first, I didn't think I would want to participate but my friend and past owner said that buying would be helpful to them...

I went spotting with my sister today and there were almost 3 000 items tagged for tomorrow's sale.

I have spotted a couple of lovely large urns for our new deck and a flock of concrete birds to perch here and there in our yards front and back.

My sister and I made lists and checked them twice, whittling them down to things we would really like to have with dollar limits for each item.  The lots we get most excited about are those that will allow us to create Versailles boxes (finials) and concrete screw-on shapes to top tuteurs we will be making this spring.

Have a lovely weekend.

Stella

Reaching for the Moon

A love story based on the poet Elizabeth Bishop's ten-year love affair with Brazilian architect Lota de Macedo Soares. Beautiful movie, setting, story, art, architecture.

Here is a poem Elizabeth wrote for Lota: 

Close, close all night

the lovers keep.

They turn together 

in their sleep,

Close as two pages

in a book

they read each other 

in the dark.

  

Each knows all

the other knows,

learned by heart 

from head to toes.

Lota's lover Mary knows that Lota has fallen in love with Elizabeth when she gives her her Calder brooch much like this one, but in silver.

 

I wrote about a Calder brooch before, this one belonging to the unparallelled Georgia O'Keefe.

Wish list: Calder-like brooch.  Maybe I could hammer out some silver wire to like like it...

Stella