Good day dear readers! Hope you are doing well! This was a difficult week for my family and me. We had a death in the family. Unfortunately, with death brings drama. Some members of my family acted ... hmm...how to phrase nicely.... let's just say I'd would've preferred to be treated differently. I can't understand why at my advanced age I still allow my feelings to be hurt. But, there it is, I am sensitive. My girl Haley asked me what I expected. Right. This person has been treating me this way for 52 years. Why would it all of a sudden change? Why am I still surprised? That's what the Buddha meant by letting go of attachment and expectation. I keep expecting her to change, she does not, I allow it to hurt. She doesn't hurt me, I allow her to hurt me. If I let go of the expectation, then I no longer give her the power to hurt me. Simple. But not easy. Also had drama with lawyers, doctors and the heat is friggin' killing me.
You know how it is with chronic illness. Like anything else. Good days/bad days. You learn not to take anything for granted. Pain is bad today and changes in my meds have me sick as a dog.....but.....
Even though I felt like shit, I spent some quality girl time with my sister-in-law yesterday. Just the prescription I needed. Always feel great after that. She's a world traveler so she had a ton of gifts for me! Ah, it's great to be queen. I'm stuck in the A/C again, but...it's not really a complaint. You know my apartment is small and humble, and I love it! I have a lot of new things today to show you. Yes, it's a balance. I'm a lover of beautiful things, but I still want simplicity. I'm moving slow, but I'm having fun. Since I didn't suffer with insomnia last night, I am having a cup of my favorite Colombian coffee, and the music is loud.
Here's how my living room looked this morning. I experimented with not using a rug, I get so sick of straightening it. It looks odd to me without it, though. I hate carpet! I miss wood floors and wish I could paint the walls. Oh well. I'm lazy anyway.
Wish I could afford a new rug. It's crazy what rugs cost! I'd love to have something that looks tie-dyed or even perhaps a Moroccan wedding blanket. Oh well. I have a lot of pretty new things, take a look:
How fab is this! A beautiful pink tea kettle. This was a mothers' day present from my adopted daughter Haley. I gotta lot of love in my life. So grateful, honored and humbled.
As you know, my new favorite color is gray! I almost fainted when I saw these pieces at the Goodwill!
ASA Selection tea pot and tea cups! You already know I am obsessed with ASA Selection pottery. Such perfection and simplicity. I have been coveting this set for a long time. I first saw the set at a gift shop in Cleveland. $54 for the tea pot and four cups, too much for my cheap ass. I spied this lovely set from a distance and couldn't get over there fast enough. Okay, it's only got two cups, but who cares? I got this set for $3.00! Yep, $3.00. Score. I have one other piece of ASA Selection pottery.
My beautiful footed bowl. I bought this years ago for $24. I thought it was ridiculously priced at the time, but had to have it. It is so perfect in its simplicity. It's very tactile, as pottery should be. Matte finish, my favorite. And did you know a beautiful piece of pottery will sing? This one makes a beautiful sound when you run your finger around the edge. Kinda like a Tibetan prayer bowl.
Here is another vase I got at the Goodwill. Beautiful simple shape, beautiful matte finish. It's marked made in Thailand on the bottom. I'm sure this was available at Ikea at one time. Got it for $1.00! I'm fighting the urge to paint it hot pink, cuz it's already perfect. I tend to paint vases that are not perfect. Pictured along with the vase is part of my rock collection. Yep, another obsession. I love rocks. Loving beautiful things and maintaining a simple, uncluttered look is all about balance. Sometimes I panic that I have too much stuff.
I've finally committed myself to decorating my balcony. But I gotta do it on the cheap. Here is a cute solar lamp I got at Target. Not cheap. $9.99. Almost didn't buy it. But do love it.
Yep, another obsession. I admit it. I'm really five years old and I play with toys. I have a few of my favorites in my cute little damaged, yellow lacquer box (for the story of this little box,
click here). I love toys, but can't figure out how to display them since I don't like clutter. May have to have some custom furniture built by
Antonio Ballatore. Maybe I'll do a vertical wall toy display when I when the lottery. But for now it pleases me that I have a toy box on my end table.
I've been looking everywhere for a pink light bulb, to no avail. I finally found a red one at Target. I kinda dig it. Nice cheap way to add some spice to your living room.
Meet my new coffee table! Isn't she gorgeous? Oh gosh, I just can't get enough of neon colors. Especially love how the cover is balanced by the black and white stripes. I have a blanket stashed in there, I love my A/C so much that sometimes it feels like a meat locker in here. I love covering up while watching Rules of Engagement. (I'm obsessed with this show, I watch it over and over - it's hilarious!) Since my place is small, I love using multi-functional, easily moved pieces. I got this at Target for $19.99, which is a pretty good price. It was all I could do not to buy two more ottomans. I was digging the square ones, in a neon pink and turquoise. Love those colors together. But desperately trying to exercise some restraint. Not always easy, humans sure make some beautiful things.
Speaking of beautiful things, here is a little glass garden I put together in my living room. As you know, I love vessels. Ceramic and porcelain are my first love, but I dearly love glass as well. For some time now, I have been mixing glass and ceramic in my display. But for today, I thought I'd do a glass display and a ceramic display. All are pieces I got on the cheap (including that Murano-looking blue piece - $3 at the Goodwill!). The little blue flower bowl to the right is an expensive piece. It was a gift from my sister-in-law who, as you know, buys me the most beautiful gifts. I dearly love it. She got it in Seattle! One of my favorite cities.
Click here for my series on Seattle. I put it on top of a glass piece I got for cheap at TJ Maxx, to give it the place of prominence it so deserves. This little glass garden has two influences. One is the great
Dale Chihuly.
The other is this pic from my paper inspiration file which, thankfully, is dwindling thanks to digital technology. (O at Home, Winter 2008) Paper can be so hard to manage. I strive to be as paperless as possible. I know it seems like an unlikely color combination, but I love the color combo of blue and orange. To see my other blue and orange experiments in a previous apartment,
click here and
click here.
Sister-in-law brought this promotional flyer for me to see. She knows me so well. The flyer shows amazing pieces by
Benjamin Moore. His work is amazing! I particularly love pieces that are miraculous exercises in balance. I wonder if Benjamin was inspired by the great Elsa Rady's
Cycladic Swing. I'm going to send him a message and I will update.
Here is yet another fine gift from sister-in-law. A mug from the original Starbucks' store! And my favorite place in Seattle, Pike Place Market. I love the graphic art on the mug. I love Seattle, I dream of living in a loft over Pike Place or in a house boat. As you know, I dearly love rain.
Here's yet another new vase from the Goodwill. I know, I know. I have a lot of stuff. I am organizing today, though, and some stuff is getting donated. I do love organization. This beauty was only $1.00. Love the shape. Thinking of painting my bookcase white (again).
And because even the most mundane object, must be beautiful: pink dishwashing soap by Palmolive and pretty sponge. The sponge was a gift from my favorite cousin. Man my peeps sure buy me some good shit. Stay tuned to see how my apartment turns out. Happy Saturday my loves! xo
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