Karo's Last Duck

This is a lifestyle blog and my topic today is personal but certainly about our lifestyle.  Karo, is a member of our family and has been for twelve years.  We have rearranged our schedules, postponed trips, reupholstered furniture and postponed remodels for her.  She has given us unconditional love and companionship in return.  Today we lost Karo to illness and age. 

This is a photo taken not long after  we brought Karo home.  Our floors were a turquoise vinyl, cabinets turquoise metal and we had chipped and peeling paint.  Karo grew and we remodeled the kitchen with taupe floors and cabinets, dark trim, and red walls.  She was easy to train and ready to please.  Richard trained her to hunt.  He was an excellent teacher and she a willing pupil.  She picked up a large number of ducks her first season at a very young age.

Although she became a fierce hunter,  she had an intense love for all who loved her.  Richard's mother, Kathryn was absolutely her favorite.  Kathryn saved leftovers in the freezer so that she would have them when Karo came for overnights.  After we lost Kathryn, we couldn't take Karo to the house because she never stopped looking for her and it was heartbreaking for all.

This is a photo of Karo in a field of flowers at Bologna/Gravy Hunting Club.  She was a welcomed guest and was treated with much kindness by the club members.  One could say the name of the club and she was eager to go.  She had a sense about her that was uncanny.  She seemed to know that when Richard had on his coat and tie it was a workday in which she was not to be included.  When his guns came out and hunting clothes on she would follow him constantly until time to jump in the truck.  As she grew older she had to be left behind and she morned those days and weekends with me.

This is a photo of Karo at her best.  She loved a good duck hunt and would hurt herself trying to please.  Such dignity and pride in that beautiful face.

Karo was an exceptional companion.  She loved to be with us.  If I was in one part of the house and Richard in another she would position herself at a point in between.

She also had some rather nasty habits.  She loved a good loaf of bread which she would steal from the counter given the opportunity.  She swiped a whole freshly baked cake from Kathryn's counter while it was cooling one day.  No meat was safe while cooling and the dining room table had to be carefully guarded once the food was set out.  Her favorite place during dinner parties was under the table where our loving guests would give her the occasional morsel.  She loved being a part of any dinner or cocktail party.  She was a sometimes a visitor at the neighbors whose cats tolerated her presence.  I will miss my walks with her that had become a part of my daily routine.  She was loved by many and will be greatly missed.

This is a photo of Karo's last hunt.  This happened only last winter.  She is in her element here.

Companion by Jackson Parten

Companion by Jackson Parten

Creative talent comes in all shapes and sizes. This beautiful tune was written by my nephew Jackson Parten. He was loved and his talent was nurtured by my sister and his father. He performs with such emotion. It is a haunting tune that sometimes brings tears to my eyes. I share this with my blogger friends for your listening pleasure.

Candace Olsen, You Tall Drink of Water

Candace Olsen, the beautiful, tall  and talented Canadian of HGTV fame has introduced a line of furniture for Norwalk Furniture. She has done another signature line for A.F. Lighting that has brought a high end look into the affordable category. It has been quite popular.

This is an example of a Candace Olsen chandelier for A F Lighting.    She will do for Norwalk upholstery what she did for A. F. Lighting and we will all be richer for it.

   For you blog fans that live in metropolitan areas, you will be able to view  this affordable, upscale line at your neighborhood Norwalk dealer.    For all you blog fans that live in Northeast Arkansas the rumor is that you will also be able to view this line at Swank  http://www.swankbassett.com/ in Jonesboro, Arkansas soon.  Forward thinking owners have brought this line to a public hungry for the look they are seeing everwhere else.  Swank also has a Bassett Furniture Gallery which before was only available in metropolitan areas.

This upholstered headboard is an example of the forward thinking pieces from the Candace Olsen for Norwalk Collection that three years ago were only availabe through custom design or one of the high end furniture lines such as Hickory Chair or Baker.   The lines of this are reminisent of an expensive one I placed in a project three years ago.  Now available to all of us at a competitive price.

The lines of this graceful sofa are both suitable for a traditional and transitional interior.  Another C.O.  for Norwalk homerun.

Here is an example of a contemporary sofa from the same line.

This daybed would be killer in a limited living space as both sides are accessible to conversation areas.

Those of us who live in rural Northeast Arkansas are lucky to have Swank represent both Bassett and Norwalk.  The design choices become multiplied for all who seek not only the currently popular 2010 contemporary but for those who seek to stay in the transitional/tranditional design mode.

Julia Childs Florabunda, You Have Survived

Many of you blog followers will remember Julia Childs Floribunda I and II.  My first attempt to grow and enjoy roses has been a challenge because of the heat and lack of rain.  Here  in the deep south we have had two or three weeks of temperatures in the high 90's compicated with enough humidity to push those temperatures into the 106, 107 range.  These beauties sit all day in west sun and I was concerned they would not survive the heat or my neophyte pruning.  I am proud to say they are surviving and looking healthy with tons of blooms.  I am so encouraged I may actually plant them in the ground next year.

Talk about surviving the heat and humidity.  This heat and humidity cause all kinds of changes for deep south residents.  We enjoy the summer harvest by making foods and drink that are refreshing and require no cooking.  Tomato sandwiches, with or without the bacon, cucumber sandwiches with cream cheese, cucumber pickles, watermelon:  this can be eaten right from the rind or made into tempting margaritas (  see previous article). 

We become slaves to the heat by wearing clothes we never would nor should otherwise wear.  Old women in tank tops, strapless sun dresses and swimsuits that expose that part of our arms that are not ever attractive after the age of twenty five.  Shorts and skirts that expose our spider veins and dimply fat thighs.  Hats that are too large to be real.  We walk around with no make up to enhance our aged skin and opt for sunscreen to keep our faces supple.  Our legs are naked.  We let our hair do whatever it may for the perspiration would undo it anyway.  We all accept this and make no comment as we are all in this together.

When we are given a reprieve from the oppressive heat and lack of rain for a few days, it feels like a cold front.  We would love to spend time on our porches and patios. but those devilish black mosquitoes allow us no relief.  We suffer with welts and itching if we insist on enjoying a little summer cool. 

These are the dog days of summer.  We don't remember this happening until August or September.  People don't act the same when the weather is above 105.  We become isolated , angry and untouchable. 

Don't visit the deep South during a heat wave.  You will find yourself becoming one of us.  Even those of us who have spent our wholes lives here forget from summer to summer how nasty it can be.  We become more attractive and more approachable when the weather is below 95.

Fortunately I have babied Florabunda I and II through a hot, dry spell and they live to provide beauty for another Deep South day.

Ode to Nudes on a Dining Room Table

I have clients searching for a tasteful nude to hang above their bed in the master bedroom.  I have been searching for the right one.  Nudes come in all shapes, sizes and orientation.  The following were done by an artist who has left his journey on this earth.  A younger artist, who is very talented and doesn't have a nude in his collection,  has chosen to be a mentor to this gone but not forgotten artist and is burdened with thousands his nudes.  I visited his studio one day and was overwhelmed with the number and types of nudes this artist had generated over his life.  I selected some to share with my client and there are a few I am considering for myself.  Some of the nudes were so graphic I could hardly let my eyes rest on them.

The artist had three muses over his lifetime.  I could not decide whether the emotions he exposed in his paintings, drawings, and sketches illustrated a positive or negative passion for those women that were his muses.  Depending on the work at hand, I think both.  I have several of these works laid out on my dining room table.  They lay in wait for the clients to find time to come and see the treasures I have found. 

This is the one I hope will hang in their bedroom.  It is done is pastel.  The subject appears to be sleeping and has shed the sheets as the night has been hot.  I love the cool color pallet and the serenity this invokes.

This is muse, Leah.  I love the playfulness in this one. 

This subject appears to be having a conversation with the artist.  I love the way she appears to be completely uninhibited in her nakedness.  Not many of us are so comfortable in our own skins.

This nude is cubist.  I feel the artist did this years ago when he was experimenting with style.  There were not many in this style and as I said before he was prolific with over a thousand works piled in storage.

I love this one.  She is done in sepia tones.  She is wrapped into herself as if she is trying to be still and alone.  Is she trying to ignore the artist or is she in deep thought.

Although this is not a nude, I love the sepia tones and the attitude this model has.  She appears not to be engaged with her artist at all.  Completely confident that he doesn't get her at all.

I have the opportunity to look at these everyday and feel I am getting to know the nudes and the artist just a little better.  When my clients do come to look at the girls on the dining room table, I hope they find the one nude that will speak to them and hang over their bed in the master bedroom.

Beige by Any Other Name

I have recently been working with a client on reupholstering her sofa and ottoman.  These items were bought in 2003.  The current upholstery is a shade of beige that is just about perfect in the room.  Much loving wear has made it necessary to freshen things up a bit.  We are looking for a very durable fabric that breathes.  This sofa is at the center of the entertainment area and just off the kitchen so it is the most used piece in the room.  As you can see from our chosen memo samples beige is not as plain as the nose on your face.

Maharam Fabrics:

All of the above have at least over 100,000 rubs.  Rubs are an industry term for durability.  As you can see beige can have green, yellow, and red undertones.  These are meant for commercial duty.  I think they will be eliminated because they do not breathe and would not provide the comfort sought by the owner.  They might be durable because no one would find them comfortable to sit upon.

Lee Jofa fabric choices:

Here we have the Lee Jofa samples.  The rubs are not as high but the comfort level is ever so much better.  Looks like we have two beiges that are yellow in tone and one greige (grey/beige).

These samples come from two of hundreds of fabric companies and they all offer hundreds of beiges in a variety of fabric content.

We shall soon see which comes out the winner.  Ofcourse, there is always the possibility that we will have to tap other sources and start over.  Beige can be tricky.  I will let you know when the outcome is decided.

Watermelon on a Hot Summer Solstice

One would think one could ease into summertime.  Summer solstice, the longest day of summer and the shortest night.  99 degrees here.  That is without factoring in the heat index ( how hot it really feels and it feels really hot).  A day for shutting the blinds, playing some soothing classical music and drinking something cool and refreshing.

Try one of the darling Lee Bros.  watermelon magaritas.  No cooking involved and the

bright pink color is rather soothing.  The green in the lime peel  is cooling on its own. 

4 cups seedless watermelon

Eight 1 inch long strips lime peel

Kosher salt

16 oz (2cups) fresh lime juice (from 16 small limes)

16 oz (2 cups) tequila blanco

8 oz (1 cup) Triple Sec, Cointreau, or other orange liqueur

Cut the flesh from the melon, chop into chunks and transfer it, in batches to a food processor or blender.  Liquify.  Makes about 1 quart watermelon juice.

For each cocktail, alt the rim of an 8 oz glass.  Fill cocktail shaker with ice, and add 4 o of the watermelon juice, 2 oz lime juice, 2 oz tequila and 1 oz orange licquer. Shake vigorously and strain into the glass.  Garnish with lime peel.

Sit down in an air conditined room, turn a few low lights on, put your feet up and enjoy the quiet dark of your shuttered room.  A good time to view all those photos taken this winter when the air was cold and the snow was deep.

Just too hot to blog.  I am headed to the farmer's market for some watermelon and limes.  Would love to hear from all of you about the "coolest" room you have ever seen. Really.

Gone to the Dogs

You blog followers may remember the posts  made while in the process of completing the sunroom project.  This is the beautiful Henredon chair and ottoman we ordered in a linen floral.  We ordered small chairs so that the owner's rather large puppies might not want to squeeze themselves into them. 

Maggie, the Great Dane weighs  as much as I do and has found a happy place to sit in the beautiful chair.  This young lady has excellent taste.  Her daily frolics in the yard have certainly kept her limber.

Question of the day. What is Your Favorite Chair?

Where is your favorite chair? What room is it in?   Please describe or post photo.

My favorite chair is this 1960's maple covered in the 80's in a Schumacher velvet cheetah.  Ottoman is custom made to fit just right.  Mink lumbar  pillow was made by my mother-in-law from my aunt's stole.  My mother had a cow and told me I could never have my grandmother's stole if I had intentions of desecrating it in the same way.  A lamp and small table sit next to this chair waiting for a refreshment to sip while I read.  This chair resides in my living room next to a collection of art work done by women I love.  It calls to me.

Today's Question? Bedroom?

What color would your bedroom be if you had the time and resources to change?

This Is Not Your Grandmother's Wallpaper

For years wallcovering went out of fashion. People had overdone every flower motif and the industry had lagged behind in providing innovative, environmentally responsible products.  The last 10 years have seen the wallcovering industry do an about face.

Left; Oregano   Right; Coco

This is an example of Innovations metallic Cork wallcovering.  http://www.innovationusa.com/  Cork is an environmentally responsible product.  It also creates a sound barrier when applied to walls.  The texture is amazing.  Would be a great product to use in a home theater.  Most color selections have a natural appeal.

Innovation Pearl Wood:  Left; Copper  Right; Verdigris

                                                                                                                                           

This is Innovation's Pearl Wood.  It is woven of veneer from the Paulownia tree bark.  The Paulownia tree is an invasive species like the Kudzu.  It grows rampantly and rapidly.  The backing is made from cellulose. 

Pearl Wood Verdigris used on a contemporary fireplace surround in an unfinished interior.  The color depicted in the sample above is most accurate.

Recycled sand and glass are another innovated use of green product.

Left; Satellite                   Right; Equinox

This is Innovations' Murano Molten.  The product actually uses recycled glass.  The texture and shine are beautiful.  This is especially attractive in a powder bath.  I used a similar product from Innovation in a project three years ago and it was imported from Italy at the time.  Glass and sand wallcoverings are extrememly heavy and require extra care at installation.

Maya Romanoff  http://www.mayaromanoff.com/   is the first company I know of to use this innovative technique.

 

Maya Romanoff's  Bedazzled is now available in 14" x 14" tiles which makes installation much easier.  The butter color on the would be dazzling in a powder bath.

York Wall covering http://www.yorkwallcovering.com/  has now introduced a series of recycled glass and sand wall coverings.  They are the first to be produced in the USA.

I don't find the York product as subtle and timeless as the others.  Too much pattern and color for me.  The bright color and pattern are what have prevented so many from using wall covering.  We tend to think it locks us into an era.

Maya Romanoff's Mother of Pearl made of capiz shells.  Textural and natural. 

Innovations Mulberry in dark copper.  This product is made from the bark of the mulberry tree.  Very chic and textural.

This is Anya Larkin for Koroseal http://koroseal.com/   vinyl.  It is called Rick Rack and looks like pearlized pleated fabric on the wall.  It is commercial grade therefore very hardworking.

Here it is seen in a powder bath.  Subtle and elegant.

Up close and personal view of Rick Rack.

Here are two examples of chinoserie hand painted wall covering.  This is a type of paper that has been produced for hundreds of years.  It is so classic that folks actually make their living restoring antique pieces of this wallcovering.  It is an art.  There is nothing more attractive in a traditional home than a dining room wall done in these hand painted pieces.

de Gourney  http://www.degourney.com/

This beauty is by Gracie http://www.graciestudio.com/.  They have been in businees since the 1800's.

So whether your style is traditional, transitional, or contemporary, there is a wallcovering to suit your needs.  Get past the fear of using this product.  It is new, it is environmentally thoughtful.  There are so many inventive wall coverings today.  This is not your Granny's ivy and strawberry border.  These looks are timeless and will remain relevent for many years.  Many are To the Trade so if you need a little help in finding the perfect wall covering just let us know.

Porch Sitting, Iced Tea Sipping Good

Looking for a good read or something to browse while sipping iced tea on the porch?  If you are a fan of beautiful magazines, I have two to recommend. So many publications are disappearing in this strange economy.   The first magazine was introduced to me by my generous friend, Barbara.  "Garden and Gun" http://www.gardenandgun.com/  is a publication that both my husband and I enjoy.  The current issue has  articles Southern Dream Towns, Good Dog by Tom Brokaw, A Modern Fish Camp as an example.  Each issue features well written articles on design, food,sporting equipment and clothes, and destinations Southern.  The photography is amazing.

Another keeper is "Delta Magazine" http://www.deltamagazine.com/ .  This slick little publication comes from the center of my old stomping grounds.  It is published byJ. Scott Coopwood of Cleveland, Mississippi.  Always chock full of lovely photos, recipes and well written articles.  It is one I keep to look at over and over again. 
Every month an interior design feature and also a feature about a party which might give you an idea or two.  Many issues have featured history articles that are truly enlightening.

Julia Childs, You Look Shameless

Morning came with a difficult task at hand, the pruning of Julia Childs Florabunda I and II.  I could hardly say good morning.  They are prickly little devils.  I wore my gloves, not the cute vintage lime green ones but the heavy duty garden variety.  

Sadly my patio gate and both Julias look less glorious this morning.  Hopefully the pruning will encourage more beautiful butter yellow flowers.

The up side is I am now enjoying the flowers inside today.

They look and smell divine.  Just hope my pruning technique worked.