Home Inspiration Today

This post title reads (oddly) those little red guys are back like I was having a serious break out or perhaps a case of poison ivy but fear not...in reality I finally have tomato plants in my yard (again).   Whew...tomato panic over : )  Not sure what it is,  but a kitchen garden just isn't complete without these little red guys..... the lowly and much maligned tomato plant. The tomato plant can either be your crowning glory or the agony  of your forever present brown thumb which are you? I often hesitate (even today) to purchase the little buggers at the grocery store.  I'm spoiled. I've tasted tomato heaven...nirvana in a red suit.  Yes my gardening gurus...we are equally appalled and overjoyed by the often scary quantity of offspring  a single plant will give and.... we are in love with all things tomato..ey We sauce them and caprese salad them We creatively arrange them on little toasts with basil fronds   And lets not forget the joy of k...

We have not been able to get away for any long trips this summer but we have a few weekends planned and love to take off in September when the weather cools a bit I'm not an advanced awesome packer but I have learned a few tricks, one of which is to take a wardrobe that essentially is all in the same color family  In this case I'm taking every thing in  white khaki  & soft blush pink  I try to keep jewelry to a minimum,  usually one necklace, a great watch and two pairs of earrings (do you own an Apple watch?  I don't but they look pretty darn fun) I always pack a hat...it's that crazy hair thing that happens to me ; ) Maxi's work because that can transition from day to dinner fairly easily  This is a pretty light creamy skirt from Zara and I like easy comfortable pants usually jeans or drapey linen and tailored cropped trousers are a great call For a quick weekend trip, I wear one pair of shoes and bring a spare but never more than that because I ...

 I finally broke down and purchased a new camera.  My poor little Canon was so battered and grimy that I could barely see through the view finder.  It's also about time I took the time to use my camera properly and quit taking the easy route of shooting just about everything in Auto mode. So here are a few shots of some faux flowers!!!!  shhhhhh don't tell using my new camera and experimenting with exposure and shutter speed I found these flowers at Crate and Barrel Shooting manually is actually really fun and gives you the opportunity to play around  with exposure and depth of field  Here are some close up shots of the little fake peonies  The hydrangea are not nearly as realistic but still pretty I think these last two shots are really washed out and over exposed but I like them anyway Can you do fake flowers?    They are pretty darn easy and are still looking fresh after a month!!! woo hoo ; )

Most the original details in this 1925 Spanish home still reside but there are some recent interior additions that just don't really work  The fireplace has been reimagined (I'm being nice) using stacked ledger stone with the TV  front and center...ugh! So off came the TV and we were able to see the old plaster work  and the original outlets for sconces.   The wiring was hot and actually buried behind the stone.... While starting this project, I actually came across this wonderful intact fireplace surround  from the same time frame manufactured by Claycraft.   Claycraft was one of the many companies producing scenic tile during California's Golden Age which included Batchelder, Cal Art and Alhambra Kilns to name a few.   After taking a few more photos and all of the measurements back to the house  it would have worked!   I couldn't believe it.   But after much thought we decided it would overwhelm the room so we went to plan B We opted t...