My MOM!!

My Mom, Wow! Where do I even begin. As soon as I start to write about her I get big tears in my eyes. Not sad tears but overwhelming loving tears.



 I was a fifties child and Mom was the quintessential  fifties Mom. We were the typical family of that era. Dad worked Mom stayed home with us kids. We had a house a car and a dog. Life was pretty good!! Little did I know that it was more than pretty good.

 Since I have grown up and have become a Mother I can look back and realize it was great! You see we had everything we materially needed but more importantly we had a love from my Mom that I can hardly describe into words.

 Mom had the ability to show me the kind of love we all hope to have in our lives. You know the kind of love someone gives you freely without any strings attached. The kind of love that is unconditional. I knew without a doubt that I was loved. I also was made to feel that I could do anything I set my mind to do, and I would always have my Mom by my side as my most faithful fan.

Above all the things she gave me, the greatest gift was that I knew she loved me no matter what. Her love is still that way today. I am so blessed to still have my Mom in my life and you know what? She is still my biggest fan!

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom! I love you big bunches,
Sue

Cobalt Blue

I love the color cobalt blue! I especially love it mixed with white in porcelain pieces. It always looks so classic to me. A blue and white porcelain piece in a room seems to elevate the room somehow. I do have to mention that I bought the most amazing, cute cobalt patent leather flats for Spring. I am sorry I digressed!!  I think cobalt combined with a bright pink is amazing. I have a collection of rooms that have incorporated the color cobalt so I thought I would share some of these lovely images………..

Be still my heart!! Just look at that gorgeous wallpaper. I love the symmetry in this room. Notice the silver metal pedestal tables with the unexpected  lamps . The high gloss white mirror is wonderful placed on the wallpaper. I love this room!

All neutral and white and then the pop of the cobalt on the table, how pretty.

Notice how the cobalt is sprinkled (a technical design term) around the room. I think it makes this room come alive!!

This bathroom is a wonderful design in of itself and then they had the genius to add just one splash of color in cobalt!!

This room done by Johnathon Adler shows just a touch of cobalt. It shines in the room with the beautiful apple green sofa. Blue and green are smashing together.

You would have to LOVE cobalt to have a room like this. I find I prefer white with a touch of cobalt. Love the Greek Key pillows and that rug is amazing.

This room is more to my liking I love all the white with the touch of the cobalt in the rug and settee. Notice how they also have a different blue/gray on the wall and the table lamp. It looks to me as if you can mix blues and it still is lovely.

Cobalt is introduced in a big way in this oversized art. Good styling here. Look at the coffee table book, just a hint of the cobalt and black to correspond with the painting and its frame. It is all in the details.

 

I found this room interesting. Not sure if it is to my taste but still interesting. I love the textures going on here. The old armoire with its chippy paint and then the sleek cobalt mirror. The straight lines of the chairs with what almost looks as if they are wearing a bright fuchsia shawl. Just interesting!

Cobalt tiles and knobs on the stove. Martini glasses on the shelves and just a peek of a cookbook with cobalt in it’s spine. I also like the bold contrast of the golden yellow with the cobalt. What a nice punch of color.

A touch of cobalt with your gray. This is stunning!

I like to add cobalt in the summer to give a cool look for our hot summers. The following are pictures of my touches of cobalt that I use in my home…….

This is on the end of my mantle. Notice that I also add books in cooler colors.

As you can see a touch of cobalt makes an area look cool and fresh. Blue and white porcelain is always a classic and can be purchased at high or low price points. Do you have touches of cobalt in your home? Where do you use it, as a main color or an accent? If not I hope that this inspires you to add a little cobalt to an area in your home.

“Enjoy the Process” Of: Thinking of ways to add Cobalt to your color scheme.”

Kathysue

The PORCH Is DONE!!

I am so sorry I have taken so long to get pictures posted of my porch! First, I had to finish a few projects like the trim on the lampshade and pot the palm. Then, it rained for three days. I went to take pictures and there was this funny glare on my lens. I'm not sure what is going on there. I am not a photographer and I have a horrible time getting a good picture. One other thing I have learned through all of this is…. Now I am nervous to show you with all the hype and post I did on it! I hope you all are not disappointed in the outcome. Don’t get me wrong I love, love it and enjoy having my coffee out there every sunny morning with my feet propped up on my cute little Greek Key stool. Soooooo here it goes, My Porch………

This picture shows my little suburban Californian ranch. Can you see how adorable a black and white striped awning would look on my bay window? I know my mind never stops designing. It is always on the move. Next is a closer look…….

Ta-Da!! this is where I sit and have my morning coffee and prayer time. I listen to the little fountain and the birds singing bright and early. The sun rises in front of my house so it stays nice and cozy in that little corner. My favorite thing to do is to turn on the sprinklers and listen to them and watch as they water the lawn. It is always the simple things that bring so much pleasure isn't it? I will show you more pictures from different angles. I hope  you don’t mind………

Notice the mirror, it use to be oval. I found this one at Home Depot for $37. It was a perfect style to go with the stripes. I found the Greek Key Stool at Big Lot’s for $45, and after its makeover I was one happy girl!! You can read about the stool here.

This gives you a better idea of the size of the curtain. It is a 54” width and I shirred it on the rod to about 30”. It actually gives me just the right amount of coverage to avoid the morning sun, but I can still see out to my yard.

Here you can see my wall planter. I bought this years ago at Tuesday Morning for $50. I had it for a couple of years before I actually hung it. I could not decide whether to have it in the front or the back. After the house was painted yellow and I added the black trim it was the perfect thing to put right next to the door. You will notice all my flowers are pinks, white and purples. I use these colors in the Spring and add a little more blue with Lobelia in the summer.

You can see the design in the footstool really well from this angle. Notice the trim I put on the lamp. It is a chain pattern of circles which mimics the circle pattern at the corner of the foot stool. For those of you that have asked about the fern that thinks it is an octopus, it is called a Meyer fern or foxtail fern. It is in the asparagus fern family and extremely hardy. It has been in this spot for 30 yrs and I do nothing to it but pull out the dead branches and water it. So easy to grow. It measures 7.5 ft in diameter so it is rather large to say the least- Crazy fern!!

The lampshade has a reverse print on it so it looks pretty cool at night.Here is a picture right when the sun is going down for the day………

That is my finished front porch except for one more detail. I ordered the round boxed custom cushions in black with the cream cord welting. I can hardly wait to get them. I think it is really going to look sharp. I hope you have enjoyed seeing my porch makeover, finally DONE!! You all are so patient, even you Julienne!! You are all the best!!
 I so appreciate all of your continued reading and support of my blog. I love reading your comments and I can not believe how many new bloggie buddies I now have. I know there is talk of competition and some mean comments in blog land, but I have been so fortunate on my journey in blog land. I have had only welcoming and kind bloggers visit my blog. So when I say you are all the BEST!! I truly mean it.

“Enjoy the Process” Of: Sharing a finished project with bloggie buddies.

Kathysue