More fall photography - no apologies, it's beautiful and so short... looking north
and south across the neighbor's lawn to The Cool House
Sunday, November 21, 2010
North and South
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Peak Fall
Friday, November 19, 2010
What Once Was
"Go get your camera" the squirrel said as he sat on the branch
"I don't think so" I replied. "You'll just move while I'm gone"
"C'mon, trust me. I've been sitting here for five minutes. Do you think I'd leave now?"
"Sure, squirrels are notorious for disappearing the minute your back is turned"
"Look, I'm here, I'll stay a little longer. Do you like my bushy tail? Wouldn't you like a photo of my cute eyes, my tufty ears?"
"OK, don't move, I'm coming right back"
...
"You're still there!"
"Of course I am, I said I would be"
"Hang on while I pull the lens cap off"
...
Point. Click. Gone!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Peace
Appropriately, on Armistice Day November 11 2010 after days of pounding surf that made Long Island Sound look like the North Sea, the wind dropped and the water became calm again. I escaped from the chaos that was the final day of painting and out at West Neck Beach I took this shot of the sun reflected on the bay. Light against dark; perfect peace.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
Blown Away
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
The perfect place for a rock garden...
would be here or here but
who would have the audacious landscape design chops to build it right at the bottom of the beach access steps?
It adds a sense of danger to our daily walks - especially in inclement weather. But the kicker? That would be
this. I have nothing further to add.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Neutral Layers
Peeling bark
Hen of the Woods - the mother of all mushrooms
Tropical plants
All photographs taken on a beautiful Fall day at Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay, NY one of Long Island's famous Gold Coast Mansions, now a New York State Park.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Big Blue Bay
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Wednesday, October 06, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Looking outside
Warm days, cold nights, falling leaves, rain showers and the occasional tornado - the transition from summer to autumn on Long Island.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Six years and counting
The official date we bought The Cool House passed a little while ago but today marks the sixth moving-in anniversary. I can't believe that it's the second longest The Guy and I have lived anywhere together - and the most complete renovation we have undertaken. Most of the work, roof, windows, bathrooms, exterior maintenance, was completed 2004-2007 but the last six months have almost matched that in terms of the scope of the projects finished and money spent. Of course, it's almost time to redo some of the work we did when we first moved in, such as re-staining the siding and painting the exterior trim and the great room will need a refreshing coat of paint soon but for the moment let's not be daunted by the to-do list but rather celebrate what has been accomplished this past year:
January-June 2010
We finished the laundry - new floor, new cabinets, new countertops and a new paint color - Iced Cube Silver - on the smoothly sanded walls. From start to finish this took us four years but 90% was done in one month-long period in tandem with the Master Suite.
The domino effect of making our bedroom beautiful caused
The great room sectional got its pretty pillows and because the dining room was feeling left out I went ahead and ordered new drapes for it. We also decided the rug we'd originally chosen for Verity's room would be better suited to the dining room - if we removed the old stained carpet and laid hardwood floors - so that's what we did. What? Crazy? Well, we had already decided to put down hardwood in the kitchen so it seemed sensible to just go ahead and run it into the dining room, too. I know, that's not much justification for undertaking another project!
Which brings us to the major update, the renovation we'd been looking forward to since 2004, the ultimate undertaking: the Kitchen. It isn't completely finished yet, although the countertops will be installed in less than two weeks, but so far I love everything about it, including the new energy saving windows (a big bouquet to the new carpenter who spent two days on these fixing the previous guy's mistakes) and mud-room door.
And while we are in the kitchen, let's not forget the final touches we made to the powder room. It got its third makeover in as many years: new wallpaper - just two rolls (that's a double roll if you speak US design) - and a pint of black paint.
June-December 2009
Three outdoor projects were started... and finished:
the re-landscaped side yard
new fencing on the east and south sides
Belgian stone pavers laid in front of the garages
and one interior undertaking: the Great Room makeover including re-upholstering the twelve-piece sectional.
It's been a fun rwelve months but I'm impatient to get the last pieces in place and the furniture back in the first floor rooms so I can finally sit back and enjoy the house.
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
Super clouds
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
From vermilion to a dozen shades of grey
A touch of bright orangey-red to brighten your day
while outside the Sound pounds the beach and the rain clouds glower
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Monday, November 16, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Head of design?
I am seriously re-thinking The Guy's role in the design/decor decision-making process. Yesterday I took him to look at the last of my selection of walnut beds.... and we came home with a table. The table is gorgeous, and of course it was on sale, but I swear that when I first suggested it eons and eons ago he rejected it out of hand - this weekend he has to have it. Meanwhile he's still holding fast to that upholstered bed. Who is this person and what has he done with my man?
No details on the table until it's delivered - which will probably be mid-week. Until then, how about a nice Fall photo?
Hermes, who cares not a whit for design, is on the fence.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Santa Monica Evening
The quintessential Santa Monica beach experience in four shots:
Santa Monica Pier
Filming an Italian movie on the beach - the girls in red swimsuits, the boys playing volleyball and all Frankie Avalon look-alikes - Baywatch with a touch of sixties teen Beach Movies
One of a whole salad of vegetable-mimicking seaweed
Dipping toes in the cold Pacific ocean
Have I mentioned how much I love the west coast?