Squirrel Proof

As in proof of squirrel not squirrel deterrent. I have been waiting patiently since fall for the return of the vanishing squirrel, this breakfast time I got lucky and I see he/she did too.

New House on the Bay

Today was the first time in exactly two months I've walked the beach and I was amazed that despite the appalling weather lots of progress has been made on the huge (and hugely contentious) new house.


From the beach side it looks rather like a hotel, from this angle more like two houses in one one. What's intriguing me is that little hut. It reminds me of a security booth, perhaps guests will be checking on - or maybe it's just somewhere to store the garden tools or patio furniture?


What I couldn't see is anywhere they could use the old weathervane and turret from the original cottage... I'll keep an eye on it for you.

Looking Forward

This one I'm going to save to remind me, in July (when it's 100F with 90% humidity), that this too shall pass.

Winter: Scenes from Home

Don't try to seduce us with you beautiful icicle frame, winter


or reward us with blue skies and early morning sunlight reflected on the treetops


The reality is extra foot or so of snow on the terrace


and a giant snow wall... with more forecast for the weekend.

Cold

Does this give you any idea how cold it is on Long Island? Given a sunset this pretty I would normally be dashing down to the beach to document the free show but when it's this cold, 22F (-6c) but feels like 7F (-14c), I'd rather shoot it from inside!

Queen Canute

The weather people are forecasting another dollop of white stuff tonight and tomorrow, this despite someone declaring a Snowatus, a respite from snow for a period of time (I'm thinking decades would be a good length). We haven't fully dug out from the storm last week that landed on top of the remnants of the day-after-xmas Snowpocageddon although the icicles are no longer as spectacular as they were.
My curmudgeonliness may be due to the postponement of a trip to the far coast, where it's apparently unseasonably balmy right now but on the other hand I have shoveller's back and I'm sick of cleaning sand and snowmelt off the animals' paws. Thank you winter, enough already!
So I'm going to sit in my American MCM classic chair and, as the Viking ruler of England did with the waves (or so goes the legend), command the snow not to fall.

New Year's Art

Last week I picked up the art I'd selected at the Festivus Art show, along with a few extra surprises. Noted artist Nadine Bouler had slipped in an extra piece of House Art to go with Two if by Sea, a mixed-media piece that mixes architecture and shore imagery, which I've long admired. They are grouped together, under a Arthur Luiz Piza lithiograph, on the credenza in the great room along with a watercolor by Andrew Geller, a Sharyn Bradford nude and Great Tern by Olivia Bouler. And the Puffin peeking out from the frame of Olivia's painting? That's her younger brother Jackson's business card, which he kindly presented to me when we collected the art.


I also found this gorgeous silver bird ornament in Nadine's sack of goodies and I immediately placed it in its new home-the Satellite fruit bowl cage in the dining room.


I've hung my other piece of Festivus art, Louise Millman's collage Joy in the kitchen. I'm thinking of hanging a calender under it to tick off the days until I'm eligible to take the citizenship exam and one step nearer to getting my voting rights restored.

Ice Curtain

it's gorgeous outside but brutally cold, luckily I can shoot the sun reflected on these icicles through the west-facing dining room window. Click for full effect!

Snowmygod!

Alternative title: Spying on the neighbors

Long Shadows

The angle of the sun going down behind the hill opposite the house casts deep early afternoon shadows at this time of year.

Coffee Anyone?

Can I pour you a cup?

Green Guest Bedroom

New roman blinds and pillows brought to life by The Awesome Designer.


Arts and crafts inspired, uniquely modern Robert Allen fabric - Celtic Knot in a lovely green colourway called Kelp.

Snowy view from behind the cooktop...

Pretty - if you aren't traveling in or out of NY area airports

Snowpocageddon!

December 26 2010 - pretty, if you're not waiting for a plane...

Black & Grey with a Touch of Pink

Verity's room recived a mini makeoever this fall - new grey hex patterned rug, black and cream drapes and a new pink Tribeca pillow by Designers Guild. I'm still searching for the right duvet cover to replace the Marimekko one so we can call this room done.

Hi-tech Cat

I don't believe in buying presents for the animals at holiday tie - frankly their lives are pretty much one big treat - but when I saw Unplugged's Holiday Tech Gift List for Naughty and Nice Pets featuring Eero the cat staring at the laptop I rethought my position. There is one animal here who deserves a techie-ish gift


the one who isn't happy until he's had his morning dose of snark


or played a round of his favourite iPad game


Jefke will be getting Angry Birds Seasons in HD. Because I know he'll appreciate it.

1976

Hidden away in the back of a drawer, a slice of someone else's life

Festivus Art

Saturday afternoon was spent at the much anticipated "Festivus- Affordable Art for the Rest of Us" show by Nadine Bouler and Louise Millmann at Ripe Art Gallery. Here's just a small selection of the work:


Nadine Bouler's Angry Landscapes


Louise Millmann's collages.


Besides the great art on the walls there was some serious design going on: Nadine Bouler's cloche for example. There were so many pieces we loved it was difficult to choose what to bring home. None of the pieces we picked is in these shots but if you wander over to Nadine's site you'll find them. I'm not going to be more specific until they arrive at The Cool House!


The show attracted an eclectic crowd including this angel. I'm as much freaked out by angels as I am by clowns so it was only the power of the art that kept me from running out screaming when this incarnation wandered in and began her performance. You can catch the show - minus the angel - until January 8 at 67A Broadway, Greenlawn NY 11740 Tel: (631) 239 1805.

Andrew Geller Watercolor

Andrew Geller Watercolor 1994

Sneak peek: Den Rug

Linky black links on a beige background. Soft and warm. Cat approved.