Art House Design

Small and cozy

2012-01-30T10:42:00.000-08:00

More often then not many of us live in smaller rooms then many magazines tend to show.

It is the reality for countless apartment dwellers and owners of small suburban or historic homes.

And although the chances for clutter and the lack of storage can make life in smaller spaces more challenging and perhaps a little more complicated, there are many cozy solutions for comfortable rooms.

Natural tones keep it calm, perfect for the bookworm at home.
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Light walls and a harmonious palette make this room perfect for reading, watching TV and relaxing.

The L-shaped sofa offers ample seating and the chair creates an extra spot for reading. Notice the small writing table under the window.

Small does not mean departure from eclectic style. This small living /dining room offers light and comfortable seating. The graphic rug and transparent side chair distract from the fact that there is not much room to play with.
I would perhaps remove the prints above the windows. They compete a little too much with the focal point: The sofa!

The above pictured room is an excellent example for dramatic effects in a less then spacious environment. The burnt orange wall sets the tone for high contrast and the light classic furniture make it elegant.

The basically two tone color scheme creates calm. I love the choice of hot pink as an unusual visual kick! The black chair cushion ties in with the fire place.

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I love the nature inspired country comfort. A big deep sofa and leather chair make up for the small space. An ottoman is the perfect choice for flexible seating and feet up for long hours by the fire.

The wallpapered niches create depth and I love the reclaimed fat beam for the mantle. Check out the wonderful cuckoo clock!

Again, for the color scheme: Less is more.

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This kitchen shows all signs of hip style, yet it's practical and cozy. Light walls and floor keep it seamless and offer the optical illusion of space. The height helps...The bar table and tall stools do double duty as eating area and prep space. The chaise in the foreground transitions the kitchen into the living space.

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This small corner proofs that there is room under the eaves for a retreat to cozy up or to do some quiet work on the computer. Many Victorian homes have more then their fair share of odd shaped nooks and crannies.

Small rooms need to multitask and there are many solutions to do it in style. Ottomans with storage, build -ins, open shelving and stylish containers, under bed storage and well laid out closets help to keep things organized.

There are sofas, doubling as guest beds and dining tables can be used as desks...

And as with all smaller spaces, it is always good to edit your household. The simple rule mainly to buy things to replace others is helpful, as is the idea of less is more.

Images as indicated.

Winter white & gray

2012-01-27T02:30:00.000-08:00

The sky is grayish white, I do not mind the overcast. Such days inspire me. The hibernating world gives me moments to dream and fill my head with images. Colorful or gray...

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I love the light and quiet, solitary feeling.

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This bedroom calms me.

There is a comfort in that gray feeling sky, which lets me dream.

Landscape near Hudson on Hudson, NY

Happy weekend, everyone!

Images as indicated and my own.

Then and now

2012-01-26T01:00:00.000-08:00

I saw a photography by Helen Lukens Gaut at this site, and of course it provoked an immediate comparison to our own recently taken road trip, about 100 years later.

Helen Lukens Gaut, California coast ca. 1911

The road seemed a little narrower then, but the immense nature and beauty of the Central California coastline have stayed the same.

Not the exact spot, but... the California coast 2011

It is wonderful to know, that there is such steadiness in nature and that there were people before me fascinated with this beautiful part of the land. Such loveliness.

Helen Lukens Gaut (1872-1955) was born in Illinois, she moved with her parents to Pasadena when she was eight years old. Her father, Theodore Parker Lukens, a friend of John Muir, became known as the "Father of Forestry". He served twice as mayor of Pasadena in 1890 and 1894.

Helen Lukens Gaut ca. 1900

She married, had two children and later divorced. She remarried in 1905 and with her second husband James H. Gaut discovered California per automobile and taught herself photography. Her talent eventually led her to becoming a rather well-known photojournalist. She rarely published after 1922 and turned her interests towards her love of music and song writing, in which she as well excelled.

It fascinates me, to discover a woman from so long ago I had not known at all. To find her not so far removed in interests and lifestyle and now to re-tell a sliver of her life...
These are magical moments of connection.

Image via site and my own.

We have a winner

2012-01-25T06:47:00.000-08:00

Usually I delete promotional e-mails rather indiscriminately, but this one caught my eye and I thought it's worthwhile sharing it with you:

At the opening of the Digital Book World Conference in New York City two days ago, the British Library, together with technology partner BiblioLabs,LLC, was awarded the prestigious Innovation Award (PIA) for their British Library 19th Century Historical Collection ipad app.

The collection offers seamless, cloud-based access to more then 45,000 of historical works from the British Library, spanning 21 thematic collections.
The app, launched in August 2010, has already more then 350,000 users in 150 countries worldwide.
Available on iTunes now for the American market:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/british-‐library-‐19th-‐century/id438196905?mt=8

British readers go here:

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/british-‐library-‐19th-‐century/id439911364?ls=1&mt=8

This is great news for curious readers and researchers everywhere!

British Library reading room

Picture via google image

Art on Tuesday

2012-01-23T20:16:00.000-08:00

I came across this amazing work and wanted to share it with you!

It is the incredibly creative work of Carnovsky, the dynamic design duo of Francesco Rugi and Silvia Quintanilla.
The design team is Based in Milan, Italy.

Congratulations on winning the 2012 Best Wallpaper * Award!

Kaleidoscopic, dreamlike and so playful. I can see endless possibilities.

Image via website and stumbleupon.com

Bedroom harmony

2012-01-21T07:15:00.000-08:00

Of course I am talking color...

These faded Tiffany blues get me in the mood!

Happy weekend!

Image from here.

Any Human Heart

2012-01-19T14:07:00.000-08:00

Over the span of a few evenings I watched a beautiful movie - a PBS Masterpiece Classic miniseries actually -
as satisfying and moving as you only could hope for.
It follows the life of Logan Mountstuart, a man, born at the beginning of the 20th century and we follow him along through his life and career, filled with all the ups and downs of the human condition. The story mirrors the life changing historical events, the happy and tragic turns of his life, his gentle wisdom and his unerring talent to look forward.
Originally written by William Boyd, Any Human Heart it was conceived as a series of personal journals. It is an intimate and equally brilliant story, one which will stay with you for a long time. Now, that I found his books, I am already looking for the next one.
I watched the movie as an installment on Netflix, but it is also available online.
The movie is wonderful, find below the editorial review from Amazon:

Every life is ordinary and extraordinary. Logan Mountstuart s lived in every decade of the twentieth century is a rich tapestry of both. Matthew Macfadyen (Pride and Prejudice), Jim Broadbent (Harry Potter), and newcomer Sam Claflin all take a turn as Logan at different points in his life in this provocative glimpse at one man s quest for glory and bliss. An aspiring young writer in London and Paris, a spy during WWII, Logan s was a life touched by everything and everyone from the Spanish Civil War, Joan Miró, and Ian Fleming to Earnest Hemingway, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and the Baader-Meinhof Gang. But despite his many brushes with history, it is the women of his life who ultimately define Logan his ill-matched first wife, Lottie; the wives of his best friend, Peter; Freya, the love of his life; or anyone else on the long list of women who ve shared his days and nights. Featuring Hayley Attwell, Kim Catrall, Gillian Anderson, Tom Hollander, Natasha Little, Julian Rhind-Tutt, and Richard Schiff, Any Human Heart is the story of a full life, lived with passion expansive, rich, unsentimental, comic, and profoundly moving.

Impressions from the West Coast III

2012-01-11T07:43:00.000-08:00

We loved the coast line and the magnificence of the landscape. We loved the towns and the big City Los Angeles! Without further ado: Here are some more images! You can click to enlarge the photos in a image show.

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

Hiking with my daughter

Coast line between Big Sur and Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Hills

On the road to LA

Highway sign...

Downtown LA in the mist

View from our friend's house in Calabasas, near LA

Reminds me so of Italy

Sculpture on a street divider in Beverly Hills

Color blocking - picture perfect

Glamour home in Beverly Hills

Lush streets

Beautiful landscaping

I could live here....

Massive life oak tree

Spanish style church in Beverly Hills

Beautiful Obelisk fountain

We reach Santa Monica beach

Late afternoon at Santa Monica Pier

Beautiful Spanish Mission style

Our journey came to an end here, after visiting the Pier and center of Santa Monica we headed to the airport and returned home to a glistening and cold, but welcoming New York! We have many memories and new impressions. The children LOVE California and my husband and I have gotten the feeling, especially LA has made incredible progress since we knew the city more then 20 years ago. It is cleaner and brighter, with amazing cuisine all over and felt safe to us, wherever we went.
What a big and wonderful country we live in...We are so grateful for all!

All images by V.Zlotkowski copyright 2012

Impressions from the West Coast Part II

2012-01-05T16:05:00.000-08:00

I am still not quite here yet. Looking at all the photos, sorting through them again, to select a few to show you, it leads me back to our time in between the years.
Carmel, CA where we stayed for two nights at the Carmel Valley Ranch, impressed me with a neat little town, Carmel-by-the-Sea with charming streets and the most exquisite shops.

One place in particular filled me with joy and desire.
Jan de Luz' The line with tradition.
It is a French linen shop in the center of town, where customers can wait a little while getting custom embroidered items. From bath robes to napkins almost any desirable embroidery is available. It is actually much more then this as I later discovered. Jan has been bringing French style and design to America for over 30 years. He has written a book and apart from the linens he also sells to architects and designers. He carries garden sculptures, columns, fireplace mantles and more.

One can also find table linens, bedding, finest linen from France, Italy and Ireland. There are scented candles, silverware and china.

Sheer eye candy and a paradise for the elegant home pursuer. Interestingly my youngest insisted in getting four linen napkins with our initials embroidered. I did not push for it at all. Perhaps the technical aspect of watching it getting done played a minor role?

You can see the embroidery machine in the background

He was ready to have a bathrobe with his initials done, but thinking of his impending growth spurt I could refer this expenditure for a little later....
Shipping is available as well, for those who have no time to go all the way to Carmel-by-the-Sea!
This is what we came home with:

Now Sunday dinners can be a little more stylish....
All thanks to this cool dude!

Thank you! ; )))

And while I was browsing the neighborhood, I got my
X-mas gift from hubby:

At Burns Cowboy Shop

Burns Cowboy Shop. It's a classic place with an endless array of hand made Western boots to dream of...
Buttery soft, comfortable and just what I always wanted.
Thank you, honey!

Yehaa!

Carmel has plenty of art galleries, clothing shops, amazing restaurants and more. Geared towards travelers, they are friendly, helpful and the surroundings do the rest to make you more then comfortable.

I wanted to show you more of the nature around it, but I guess that needs to wait another day....
OK, one more....

On the road towards Big Sur

All images by V.Zlotkowski

Impressions from the West Coast Part 1

2012-01-05T09:42:00.000-08:00

Union Square in festive lights

We spend the time between the holidays and the New Year traveling the West Coast, showing our younger set of kids the beauty of coastal California. It was a huge success and apart from the cities we saw, the landscape impressed us the most!

Of course I could not get enough on camera....
Click to enlarge the images.

Looking at Alcatraz

There was the crossing of the Golden Gate Bridge towards Sausalito, San Francisco and the Redwoods.....

Golden Gate Bridge behind Fort Mason

My family in the misty light!

I love that view!

Palm trees at Fort Mason Park

We spend the Christmas Day in San Francisco, walking an exploring. The weather was glorious!We squeezed in a visit to the zoo and traveled by tram and cable car up and down the streets of the city!

Good natured Giraffe

View from the Cable Car

Small SF town houses like from a fairy tale

We finally reached the shore of the Pacific

We left the city behind after three days and were on our way south on Highway Nr.1 towards Monterey Bay, Carmel, Point Lobos and Big Sur!

Driving south

The coast was wild and mysterious

A golden light flooded everything

Every turn brought new vistas

And the sunsets were spectacular

If the journey had only consisted of the tour along the coast, I would have been very happy. It is one of the most beautiful stretches of beach anywhere I have been so far!

Exploring Point Lobos near Carmel-by-the-Sea

Watching a sea otter play

Seals were basking in the sun.

Our daughter is a talented photographer

There was nothing more wonderful the the warmth of the sun and the amazing light

Our son in awe of nature

May he remember forever

From here we visited the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park,

filled with redwoods and waterfalls, gorgeous vistas and deep canyons.

This will be a part of tomorrow's post.

No need to overwhelm you all with pictures.

As a look at them again, I feel how, when I travel, the impressions rush by and only from a distance I am able to

recognize all I have received. The impressions seem to imprint themselves a little later in my mind and now again I can feel the sun and wind in my face, hear the cries of the birds and the barks of the seals on the shores. I see again my children's delight and remember the moments of quiet contemplation with my husband by my side.

Wonderful days together

My daughter has become on this journey a photographer with a passion. She explored nature with her camera and walked with me for hours in the forest.

The youngest was his father's companion, joining him on a special father - son trip to Carmel.

California is beautiful!

PS: I can report, we managed to travel light, only with each a carry - on and a handbag/backpack. The most restrained travel and yet we had enough for 9 days.
It was a squeeze at the air plane, but we managed. Air travel has become difficult to say the least, and charging passengers $ 25 per single luggage stops one from becoming overindulgent.
: )

All images by V. Zlotkowski

Happy Holidays

2011-12-21T07:05:00.000-08:00

I am wishing you the best of holiday times, relax and live in harmony with all who surround you and may the new year bring you all health, love, happiness and success!

Thank you all for reading my blog, commenting so often and being such good companions in a world, where more of the friendliness and kindness is needed!

I appreciate it deeply and thank you all from the bottom of my heart! See you all back in the new year!

xoxo

Victoria

From our family to yours! Happy holidays and a happy New Year!

All images by V.Zlotkowski

For The Love Of Old

2011-12-14T21:12:00.000-08:00

Maybe a year ago I saw this book by Mary Randolph Carter and was intrigued. It stood high up on a shelf, wrapped in cellophane and somewhat out of reach. It looked expensive and, at the time, I just made a mental note of it to save it for later.
Later became months and I had almost forgotten about it, when I stumbled recently upon it during one of many excursions to a bookstore nearby. This time I did not hesitate and grabbed it for myself at the holidays. This was such a delightful discovery and her other book, 'A Perfectly Kept House is a Sign for a Misspent Life' has grazed my side table for a little while longer! It has, in fact, become something like my regular go-to when I need a pick me up!

Of course this new one (which is actually the old one, no pun intended) should sit wrapped under the tree, but this year everything is a little different.
For once we haven't gotten a tree - yet! Will there be one?
I am not sure...
Secondly we are traveling and I am already making lists and checking them twice. We vowed this time to travel lightly!
Really!

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Which, of course, gives me reason for plenty of anxiety. I have a hard time being selective! Packing is no exception!
Well, it's simply not in my nature. I collect things. And every once in a while I clean out and begin again. Now, I feel, I found a kindred spirit, for I love old things. Many of them!
Mary Randolph Carter has put it all in such fine words and images, I can recommend both books to keep you sane, especially if you are, once in a while, affected by that terrible decease Perfection. And for the fun of it!
Of course it's not for everyone, I guess this makes the world such a wonderful place.
Minimalists and modernists will perhaps crawl away in a bright, clean and well lit corner....But I am in the right spot!
So, these books together gave me lot's to think about and I'll keep this mindset for the journey ahead! I'll keep it simple and fun!

I will not fret over my children's wardrobe for the journey, will let my husband do his own choosing and will not nag when the days come, and we will go out to fine dining at Christmas and New Year's Eve on the road in California...
The question"What? You did not bring a second shirt?" shall not cross my lips!
I will just look serenely the other way! Being where we will be, there will be plenty beautiful to see...

We will be together, old is wonderful and I will cherish the things which lay ahead. Old and new!

What are your plans ahead?

All images via google image.

From my collections and a movie

2011-12-05T05:42:00.001-08:00

Last weekend found our family at the annual holiday bazaar at the German School in the neighboring town. A tradition, we have been following for the last 10 years or so, since our daughter attended language classes there when she was a toddler.
It connects me every year with my roots. There are all the small things which remind me of Germany: The food, a Christmas pagan and songs, there is coffee and cake, baked by the German mothers and I indulge in Kaesekuchen (German cheesecake) and Chocolate tarts. There are typical evergreen wreath sold for the advent time, the ones with four large candles, to be lit successively every Sunday before Christmas. We've met a delightful couple and their young daughter, a diplomat to the UN, from Mexico and his Polish wife...Since my husband is Polish as well and me being German, there was a lot of talk about the cultures and lot's of laughter too! They had lived for 10 years in Germany and their 11 year old daughter speaks four languages with ease!

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There is usually a great tombola - a lottery, where my kids enjoy to win prizes and there is a book fair, which I look forward to the most, every year. In the past I often found great books for my children, often ones, I read as a child myself. But also modern authors, I know little about, since I left Germany almost 20 years ago. Now my children are not interested in German literature so much, they are now engulfed in their own American reading culture, but I indulge in one of my biggest passions.
This year was no exception and I found a treasure trove. I scored a collection of books. A Rilke edition, selected works, from the renowned Insel Verlag, an old publishing house, with editions, known and collected for their artistic covers.

I absolutely adore this collection with it's marbleized paper on the covers. It's an older edition, with all the markings of, I believe, rather seldom taken out school library books.
Rilke is known for his poetry, the Elegies are his best, I think, and some beautiful prose.
It has, for time being, a honorable place on our mantle, where I can see it and page through the fine leaves every day!

An example of his writings:

A movie, which I saw with my youngest son on Saturday night fits right in with the poetic motions. We saw Martin Scorsese's HUGO in 3D. It was a feast, for the eye and the soul.
The movie tells the story of Hugo, a young orphan, living in the bowels of a train station in the centre of Paris and the his search for clues to find the key to some mysteries in his life.

The story unfolds in beautiful images, filled with poetry and a language, so seldom heard in movies these days. The actors are superb and if you love the movies, it's the one to see! It is also a movie about the magic of movies...You do not have to be a child to enjoy it!

A treat for the holidays!
An 11 out of 10!!!

All images as indicated and my own. Hugo image via moviefone.

My book shelf now

2011-12-02T05:55:00.000-08:00

I am recycling a post, which I had written a couple of weeks ago on the other blog site, but I have the slightest suspicion this part is still the step-child, nobody wants to look at....

In the meantime I have read A Mountain Of Crumbs and finished Falling Leaves, both related in their subjects, by two women, having written their memoirs coming from the East and Far East! It has been more then captivative reading, very moving, something I warmly recommend for everybody interested in history and the effects on our private lives. Both women immigrated eventually, at slightly different times, to the United States and it was with great interest that I, also a resent transplant, learned about their faith. I can relate, more then I sometimes can explain.

I will show some new finds of books about great design in a couple of days!

Here is the old new post:

I wanted to share some more books I have discovered lately, this time for adults. You can read about my children's and teen book recommendations here.

Let's get started: It's a fairly mixed bunch....

From the delightful Alan Bradley comes a new book in the Flavia de Luce series, which I adore!

I Am Half-Sick Of Shadows.

If an 11 year old English girl in the 1950's with a talent for chemistry and a nose for murder interests you only remotely, then you will be hooked....

This time it's another murder mystery right before Christmas at the crumbling Buckshaw Estate!

If you haven't gotten a chance to read his previously written books, I very much recommend them. Absolutely charming!

Perfect for all Anglophiles!

Another prolific writer, whom I have enjoyed reading over the years, is Bill Bryson. His latest book, At Home, now out in paperback, is another stroke of genius. He describes in entertaining and enlightening ways the history of home as we know it, and, perhaps, as we do not.

It's a short history of private life and architecture in the English speaking western world from the times the Romans left England to present day America!

Indeed: Bryson's enthusiasm brightens any dull corner!

Moving along: I have had read Lev Grossman's The Magicians and liked the book. It's fantasy/realism for adults and the comparison to Harry Potter or Narnia does not hold up to his skillful ways with words. It is interesting to notice, that the reviews are widely spread in all directions. From devotion to hate I have found everything. Personally I favor his storytelling and now the sequel has arrived. I will follow up with The Magician King, hopefully worthy its predecessor!

Sticking with a little more magical realism I am also looking forward to reading Karen White's The Strangers On Montagu Street.

I enjoyed her previous books, in which she introduces the characters, always with a certain amusement. The main character represents the equivalent to the preppy WASP in the South!
I feel it's a little antiquated that the author drives this point home so strongly, but then, of course, she creates the world the characters live in. During this summer's break I have had plenty of fun following her around with ghosts in Charleston....It's light fare, but this is what I enjoy in-between...

Memoirs: I recommend three books. The first one - A Mountain Of Crumbs - by a Russian immigrant coming to America and her childhood and youth in the former Soviet Union. It is especially interesting for me, because I share many memories growing up under a communist regime. To read about her realities made me shiver.

She has been compared to Frank McCourt and his memoir Angela's Ashes. I guess this is already a great recommendation.

Another book which had me in it's grip from the first page is Adeline Yen Mah's Falling Leaves. The story of an unwanted Chinese daughter and her incredible journey into freedom, fulfillment and finally writing.

Of course, much has been said and written about Joan Didion's latest venture into memoir writing. After her highly acclaimed book The Year Of Magical Thinking she has now written about her daughter's death at the age of 38. Blue Nights.

I have reflected a little more about it here.

Some of you might remember the German writer Bernhard Schlink, who wrote the bestselling story The Reader, which was subsequently made into the movie of the same title. (starring amazing Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes in the main roles)

There are many more great books by him, one I very much

like is The Gordian Knot. Perhaps the translation from German into English suggests particular ideas (thinking of the Gordian Knot in history) but the more correct translation should be The Gordian Bow. Of course that doesn't sound remotely as good as knot and I guess this was the motivation behind the translation. The difference between a knot and a bow is obvious, the first is practically not to be easily unraveled, but rather needs to be cut in half, the latter can be pulled apart...There is of course some meaning behind the original title and this differentiation. Sorry to nit pick....

But go ahead and find out yourself! A classic noir thriller about love and deception.

Another book which has me sitting in anticipation is Alan Hollinghurst's The Stranger's Child. There has been a wonderful interview with him on the Leonard Lopate Show; you can listen to it here. Just about everything in the story, set in England from the beginning of WWI to the almost present days, has me all excited. Oh, go ahead and buy it already....

Finally I'll end this rather long post with my last book I have waiting in the shelf beside my bed....

The Night Circus.

Maybe it will be the right thing to do, to read it at night....

A little more magic and love and the spinning of one's imagination.... I can't stay away from it!

But then again, we are in the right time for magic and believe!

Just a few sprinkles....

Happy Friday my dears!

All images via Barnes & Noble website.

Lights

2011-12-01T03:07:00.000-08:00

I love candle light. May it be just a single light at my bedside, simple wooden holder with tapers at our dinner table or festive ones at the holidays, I just love the glow and gentle light.
Bringing out the Pyramide, the rotating wooden carousel-like structure from my home state Saxony in Germany, is a highlight for all of us. It is a temperamental thing, sensitive to position, sometimes not turning at all. But once it's running, we love to watch it.

They are made in small workshops in Saxony, candles creating the heat to turn the wooden paddles above. There are figures telling the Christmas story or reindeer and Santa Claus on small tiers, moving round and round.

Nutcracker, smoking man and chocolate filled Advent calendars are a must in German holiday traditions.

The old ironing machine cloth is perfect for a backdrop!

When I sit in the darkened room, just listening to the sounds of the family at home, the dog sleeping next to me, then I feel completely content, the lights filling me with memories and times past. Back, when I was little and looked at my grandma's Christmas decorations, usually foil wrapped candies, chocolates, apples and a few saved Christmas ornaments, which had survived the bombing of Dresden.
Each piece connected to her own memories.
Or the slowly moving Pyramide at my parent's house and
visits to a humble holiday market at the main square in my hometown. And singing of carols at Christmas Eve.

What are your memories of holidays past?

Pictures by V.Zlotkowski

Beauty on Monday

2011-11-28T07:09:00.000-08:00

Another beautiful morning has risen above the horizon, mild air caressing the bare trees, nothing pointing to a soon arriving winter. I am walking with just jeans and a sweater, a jacket is not needed.

Yet, yesterday was the beginning of the Advent time, the four weeks before Christmas, and I have began to decorate with greenery. The holidays are coming, trees are sold at every corner and since the day after Thanksgiving the shops are filled with everything for a festive time.

Our home at the holiday season 2011

There are dreidels and chocolate filled coins, St. Clauses and reindeers, angels and menorahs. Candles and greenery, stars and more stars blinking everywhere.
All sitting peacefully side by side.

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How I wish that the spirit of love and tolerance would spread across the borders, to people who believe burning pipelines, blowing up cars and killing others will bring good change to their world. How much I hope for peace, something I, unfortunately, have too often reason to believe will not happen soon.
How can this small blog spread any goodwill and hope at times (like all others), filled with horror as soon as I look a little further then my backyard?
I feel strongly over the years since I have began writing this blog, how quickly kindness spreads when we are open minded towards others, enjoying their point of view, tolerate the ideas we do not share and stay positive and supportive.
It is wonderful to get to know so many people all over the world, at the same time knowing many more are out there reading this, without leaving a trace. Can goodwill and change come through a small blog, dedicated to beauty, art and the philosophy of life?

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I hope my words will make others see for a moment what I see, let them feel how wonder- filled and precious life is and how much love between people can help along our hope for peaceful side by side living.
Getting to know people with different believes and values, being open minded towards their dreams and hopes can bring us closer. Small steps do wonders and just trying to come closer to your odd neighbor or the strange co-worker can make a difference.

Can you imagine?

Our school, like many others, has an annual holiday drive to help children in need to receive a gift for the holidays. My children pick usually more then one of those wish cards from a tree in the school lobby. They feel compassion and hope our gifts will spread more then something material, but love towards someone we do not know, hoping that these children will grow up knowing of love in a world where desperation could rule instead.

Let us stick together, all of us writing beautiful blogs, spreading compassion, tolerance and love towards others. Let us begin at home and let it grow into the world.
Let us share more then the beauty of material things, but kindness and goodwill among each other!
Holding one other hand and a chain begins.....

I am wishing you all the beginning of a lovely and peaceful holiday time.

All images as indicated and my own, bumper sticker via google image.

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-23T13:51:00.000-08:00

I am so thankful for all what this year has given us.
My heart is filled with Thanksgiving.

My wishes for all of you is that you may feel the same!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tea pot

2011-11-22T14:16:00.000-08:00

Today is a gray, rainy day. What better way to lighten the mood but with a cup of golden tea, a touch of milk and a home baked cupcake? Made by my girl last night!
The tea pot was a special Marshall's score last week! Barbara Barry's Top Note Design for Wedgewood! YES!
I am sure some of you know the thrill...
But as any tea lover will agree with me: No teapot is really good unless it pours smoothly, without dripping and sputtering! This one is excellent, reminding me a little bit of the genie lamp from Thousand And One Night, which of course gives me an reading ideas for some long winter nights!

But I am sure this one will serve us longer than that...

Good night!

Book via amazon.com and teapot image my own.

Mellow yellow

2011-11-21T06:24:00.000-08:00

For whatever reason I have lately an infatuation with yellow. I have actually never really liked the color on me or near me. But as many things change in life my love for yellow has emerged. Of course, yellow rooms have been around for the longest time, evoking light and sunshine and warmth. Nancy Lancaster's London yellow drawing room comes to my mind, a classic and often repeated design among the countless admirers.

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A wonderful Lancaster inspired living room

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I have found Jan Showers use of yellow quite admirable. The soft toned yellows feel more relaxing to the eye and less exciting.

These yellows do not scream, but rather create elegant, happy backdrops for our busy lives.

The last one perhaps does not really qualify for a yellow room, but the overall feeling for me is yellow, rather then neutral.

Some Farrow & Ball wallpapers I love:

Farrow & Ball's Brockhampton Star

Farrow & Ball's Ranlagh papers

Farrow & Ball's Vermicelli papers

Have a happy, sunny week!

All images as indicated and via Jan Showers website.

Friday thoughts

2011-11-18T12:19:00.000-08:00

This weekend looks simple.
There will be no shopping and no stressful cleaning, I'll take breakfast in bed and give lazy new meaning.
I might take the dog for a walk in the park.
I could lay in bed and read until dark.
I'll write a few mails and chat with my mother.
I'll have tea on the sofa and a walk through the garden.
The sun will shine through all smudgy windows, but
I will relax and put all off for Monday.

V.Z.

Picture via google image. Poem by me.

A midweek autumn dinner

2011-11-17T13:07:00.000-08:00

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When the days grow short and darkness rises early, I enjoy cooking comfort food.
Last night I prepared acorn squash and bratwurst, Brussels Sprouts and some delicious ice cream afterwards.

It's so easy and makes a satisfying meal. The scent of the baking squash is irresistible. Once the sausages are frying, it becomes enticing...

The dog did not leave my site and waited patiently to get a morsel.
My son explained why he needed definitely a test bite before dinner.
My husband asked at six if dinner was ready....
My daughter volunteered to set the table???
Guys, we never eat before seven?!

Nicely browned, with a hint of butter and brown sugar! Hmmmm!

Alright! Dinner is served!

Top image from Joseph Oregon Fireworks Pottery, bottom google image, inbetween my own.

Fall/Winter patterns

2011-11-15T11:10:00.000-08:00

I love the patterns of the seasons.
It gives me another reason to freshen things up around here. At one of my last visits to BoCoCa, a lovely neighborhood in Brooklyn, I found this lovely patterned paper and had an idea how to use it!

The large and not exactly exciting IKEA wall unit, which has served our rambling family dutiful for more then 10 years now, needed a little help. Its still in almost perfect condition.

Sometime last year.

I have been contemplating painting it, but shy away from the mess, since we use this room constantly. I decided to let it be and just make little improvements....The biggest challenge is not to let it get too messy and filled up. Which, of course, is not easy with an overflowing library.
Before:

And after:

I love these individual cubbies, like in a doll house I can set up little scenes...with things I love!

I have began 'winterizing' our house, cozied up corners, pulled out blankets and pillows.

I brighten dark spots with candles and warm up my husband's reading leather chair with an enormous sheepskin.

Talking of patterns, I found two lovely books at a yard sale on Sunday, they belong right into this post and will give me great more decorating inspirations. They are not new, but that does not matter...timeless design always fits in.

My daughter is a little under the weather today, we are going to sit down and have lunch, something we never do together during the week, so it's special....but the poor baby just wants tea...

Are you warming up your place? At least in this hemisphere it will be necessary really soon.

And look who walked by today...(You shouldn't be around this time of year....)

It has been a rambling sort of post, with no clear pattern at all. Pictures of all sizes....Forgive me!

Just a little while ago my good friend Patricia from PVE came by for tea and a walk, it's good to have her back.
Why don't you stop by at her blog and say hello?

All images by V.Zlotkowski

Autumn splendor

2011-11-12T03:37:00.000-08:00

Going to the Farmer's market, and coming home with an armful of nature's best, is one of the endless joys I get from this season.

Of course, it's the fruits and bountiful vegetables, but the flowers last usually much longer in our family with always hungry teens...
Apples and pears are devoured by the pounds and root vegetables, pumpkins, tubers and greens and end up quickly in stews and salads.
But these sunflowers, grains, eucalyptus and lilies stay on my window sill and remind me to go outside...I yearn for views and walks and the aromas of nature, before she closes shop and all will covered under a cold blanket.

The view from the new shopping mall Ridge Hill, near Hastings-on-Hudson. Looking sharply, you can perhaps see the the gray Palisades above the Hudson in the middle picture.

This year has passed faster then I like to think, another year almost gone, wistfully I sigh!
But is has been filled with wonderful things, I am grateful!
What better way the to look forward to Thanksgiving....

Have a lovely weekend, my friends!

All images byV.Zlotkowski

A little more magic

2011-11-10T18:23:00.001-08:00

Here, as promised, part two of the amazing house I discovered and would love to share with you!

I returned next morning, this time bringing my husband along. I had to share my enthusiasm with him, thankfully he is game... After a scrumptious breakfast at the Gryphon Teahouse we were ready!

Swiftly moving through the lower floor I headed upstairs.
By now I felt like almost at home between all the wonderful and priceless pieces and would have gladly given a grand tour.
But my husband settled on the second porch, taking in all the sunshine he could get! Sometimes I would get a call from him, inquiring of my whereabouts...I wonder, how could he simply ignore all the enticing treasures to be discovered???

There is the main floor, remember? Just a quick reminder:

Alone the hall is so impressive, come look!

Slowly climbing upstairs I saw this:

And that! Here is more destruction then downstairs.

Rooms after rooms, filled with incredible objects!

I felt like the old explorer, coming upon a treasure...

The ballroom!

Reaching the third floor, you'll find a clear distinction from the rooms below. The ceilings are low, no more stucco, simple wall treatments, it must have been the servants quarters back in the days when this house was lived in. Perhaps a nursery. But the charm is undeniable.

Obviously people lived up here longer then downstairs, since there were traces of 50's style walls and floor. I found an old kitchen...

I couldn't help being enticed by all the mirrors...What's a girl to do??? Self portrait with IPhone! It's the 21st Century after all.

Oh, I would have gladly taken many things home with me...but, alas, I had to leave them behind. One day, perhaps!

Remember the bride picture I found in this place?

Here she is now! I couldn't part with her! If I only would find out who she was... Isn't there a strange resemblance to the portrait above? I couldn't help notice.

This is a rather bad close up, but I absolutely adore her outfit. Look at her hat, her dress with all the beautiful lace,

her pose and the dainty elegant shoes! Quietly, almost a little sad, she gazes into the camera, perhaps into her future life. 1919!

I wonder about her life...

She will be cherished for as long as I shall live!

The house is a treasure box and I will not reveal the exact location! Historic Savannah is not large and with a little

detective work and open eyes you will find it, if you truly look for it. I love the idea of a kept secret. Just look for a large old house, near one of the loveliest squares, with wonderful porches, filled with antiques...

Maybe some day one of you will wander into it and think back of this post!

Well, if somebody will ask me, I might tell....

Hint: It houses an antique store and was build 1860 and completed 1869. And another famous Savannah house sits practically next door...

Well, if there is one thing I would love to do: Bring this beauty back to life! If only....

Of this and that and some added magic

2011-11-10T11:56:00.001-08:00

As promised I will talk a little bit about this and that....

Firstly, why don't you go here and read a little about book recommendations I have for you all to read this coming winter.

There is much, but I am sure you will browse right through it....

There are also children's and teen books here!

Well, but if you decide to stay here for a moment, I'll take you to a special place...

Secondly, it's of course all about my recent travels to Savannah, GA.

I spent only a (long) weekend with my husband, but it was just wonderful.

I discovered a hidden gem, a magical place.

A villa right in the middle of town, where time truly has been standing still. But it's neither a well kept museum, nor a residence of an old ghost...it's an antique shop with a secret....

Will you follow me?

Let's knock on the door...

Only a small sign points out the shop behind the door....

A kind lady or gentleman will open and ask you inside.

You may browse at your leisure.

It is a long, ground level room, filled to the brim with tables and chests, shelves full of frames, books, prints.

Mirrors at every bend, disorienting the visitors. Have I been here already?

There are small and smallest rooms, carpets, street signs, lamps, chest of drawers from all kinds of periods, all breathing the times past.

A box filled with old photographs draws my attention.

As I look through them a framed picture, showing a lovely bride with a huge bouquet of flowers, catches my eye. Why do I feel such a connection? It's a Savannah bride I am told, from 1919!

I hold her gently in her gold frame, tattered silk hanging from the back.

I make my way through rooms, where baby carriages sit on top of tables, windows have faded curtains. I find a tiny enclosed garden.

As I turn a corner I find an old staircase leading upwards what looks like the outdoors. How can this be, there is a garden on the ground just behind me...

As I climb to the top I realize I am standing on a porch. A porch familiar to me...

Looking around I suddenly connect the dots. Back in July I had visited Savannah numerous times and of course taken endless pictures of every possible romantic spot.

The back porches on this grand old house had me enthralled from the first moment I saw them.

Here is an image from then:

Now I am suddenly standing inside and the autumn sunlight warms up the old chairs, inviting me too sit and soak up some sunshine.

But that has certainly to wait, this house opens up like in a dream.

Turning back I find myself at the main floor and a grand entrance.

Beautiful, how the the light streams into the hall!
I can see the main entrance, far back!

There is no way I can take this all in at once.... The crumbling walls and ceiling, countless objects, paintings, chandeliers....This has not been touched for at least 80 years.

I wander around in a haze. My mind travels back, I begin dreaming. Of dinners and life, parties and the times back to the Civil War and beyond.

I slowly get a feeling for the house. The central hall divides the house in two almost identical halves. Two large rooms left and right from the grand entrance would have welcomed visitors, open in the back equally to two more, slightly smaller rooms. Behind these on either side a small cabinet and the large porch outside.

The impressive staircase reaches up gracefully at least two more floors. Realizing closing time has come and passed I find my way back downstairs again only to be invited back the next day...

Shops do close early in Savannah, usually 5:00 to 5:30 PM every day. I snap a few more picks and take the bride home with me. She belongs with me...Only a few Dollars exchange hands and I smile as the friendly shop owner wraps her in newspaper!

Just look at the amazing wall paper!

And the crown molding and the medallion above the chandelier...

Everything has enchanted me and I would have spend the night here if I only had been given the chance. I saw a few chaises... I am all excited to return first thing the next morning to explore the rest of the house. Oh, I can't wait...

Of course I have been back and, not to strain you as well, I will return tomorrow and show you the rest of the house, believe me, it seems endless and wonderfully mysterious. Nothing reveals the treasures, quietly waiting behind these windows, when you look from the outside up the magnificent front!

All pictures taken by V.Zlotkowski

Hacker

2011-11-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

Today I realized that a hacker has moved into my e-mail accounts and has send ridiculous mails to all my contacts!
So, if you have received any strange looking (viagra related) mail from my e-mail, please be advised it was not send by me.
I apologize for any upset ....
: (

On a happier note:
Over the last weekend my husband and I travelled to Savannah,GA to celebrate our anniversary.
It was wonderful and there is nothing so invigorating for a marriage as a few days alone together.....
Filled with great walks and talks, food and drinks, perfectly grown up entertainment....ahhhh!
The picture above was taken by me in a in an amazing house, about which I will tell you more tomorrow. It was a discovery of sorts, perfectly fitting for Savannah!

Image by V. Zlotkowski

Little anniversary journey

2011-11-02T17:00:00.000-07:00

We are celebrating 16 years...of a happy, eventful and adventurous marriage. And we make it our own this time by having a little weekend getaway just for the two of us...
We have fallen in love with each other many times over, and this year we actually fell in love with this place together...
Can you guess where we are going? A little hint: Glorious Spanish moss laden trees in many squares around town!

See y'all back on Monday!

Nate Berkus Show

2011-10-31T20:20:00.000-07:00

It's all about small spaces on small budgets!
This Thursday, November 3rd, 2011 the latest Nate Berkus Show will be aired at NBC at 2pm New York time. Check your listings.
For this episode Nate teamed up with the popular design magazine, DWELL, for their annual small space issue and helps them solve America's toughest small space dilemmas.
A few selected pieces will be used to create little space miracles.
Among the items will be:

A Rug (unifies small space to create illusion of size) --From FLOR tiles.

Two occasional tables (they serve double duty) -- from IKEA

Marimekko pillows (pattern draws eye into room) - MARIMEKKO from Crate & Barrel.

And of course there will be more, the studio audience, as always, will have many surprises and give aways awaiting them!

Click image to enlarge:

I am a fan of his show and his affordable and clean lines! Go, have a look! It looks like super fun!

PS: And don't forget to look at my children's book recommendations here! The holidays are just around the corner....

Image through Nate Berkus Show, items above via websites.

Winter?

2011-10-29T06:48:00.000-07:00

Reading the forecast there was snow mentioned.... End of October, are you kidding?!

I think I will need something for the season!

What do you think? And the place to go with it...

Or this?

And I love this!

From the Milli Collection. And the equally incredible timeless Stephen Gambrel! You can find it here and here!

To see some of the winter weather around here check out my other site! It's rather hard to believe!

All images via Milli collection and Stephen Gambrel websites.

New treasures

2011-10-28T04:59:00.000-07:00

I scored two lovely treasures. I found a beautiful tea pot and a lovely silver tray for the holidays! My source for many hunts is Etsy and you can easily follow me there.
From Falcon and Finch came both: The tea pot looked like nothing much upon first seeing it, but I loved the shape.

This is what I'd gotten:

And the result after some really hard polishing: On the bottom it reads 1883
B. Rogers Comp. silver on copper 1200. And silver shiny it is now. The two dark parts on the handle seem to be bakelite.

The Reed and Barton silver tray was already beautiful, I just gave it a once over and voila! Perfectly ready for coming parties!

A little green next to it....

Right at my window!
And here one more look at the tray and tea pot!

I just love it!

PS: Don't forget to check out my House and Living part, where my latest post is all about recommendations for children's and teen books! Think holidays!

Have a wonderful last October weekend! Halloween is coming too!

: )

First image FalconandFinch, last four by V.Zlotkowski

Reading, writing and living

2011-10-26T04:30:00.000-07:00

I can't say that fall lends itself more to reading then any other season for me. Although the notion sounds romantic, with days shortening and the fireplace beckoning.
There is not more time than on long summer days, beach side. Or snow covered winter afternoons, when others go skiing. Reading has been for decades on top of my priorities. It's what I do. My family will attest to it. And the dirt under the sofa as well.
I am also a survivor through reading. For books have always helped me cope. And imagine.

I have begun writing too, which now takes the other half of my time, after I care for my family. And read. I have become more reclusive, turn away from much entertainment and hole myself up, happily.
It's a strange state of affairs. I still can't fully think of myself as a writer.
But writing I do.

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I picked up a writer's magazine yesterday, showing a sad and painfully thin Joan Didion on it's cover.
I have read her haunting account of her husband's death in 'The Year Of Magical Thinking'. A book which filled me likewise with sadness and hope.

Joan Didion

She has an extraordinary eye for reality. Her essays have interested me more then her other writing, telling me of an America from the 6o's and 70's I never knew.
Now she has written a new memoir, about loosing her daughter. The book is called 'Blue Nights'. It will be out this November.
So many of my own fears and feelings, I imagine, will be touched.

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It reminded me also of the writer Isabelle Allende's daughter Paula and her untimely death at age 28 and Allende's subsequent book with the same name.
I always fear the loss of any of my four children, a fear, parents experience at many given challenges to let go. And yet, mercifully, we rarely experience the death of a child in our days, thanks to the advances in medicine and our daily awareness of luring danger. (I am aware that it is not so in many parts of the world until today)
When it happens, it seems, we are struck harder. Although I think of it as a misconception, since neither the mass death of children through epidemics or common childhood deceases could surely have had anyone getting used to it. Nor the death of a single child. Maybe hardened. I can see why mothers hardly smiled in pictures of long ago. How many of them experienced terrible losses?
Of course there are other ways of loosing children. Through divorce or alcohol, drugs or neglect.
Having experienced it myself I know what millions of divorced parents feel. Also as a child, coming from a family where divorce would have been a better choice for so many reasons.
So much is touched and broken open again.
Yet there is hope for me, all my children are well and my husband sitting next to me.
I am writing and filling in the pains of years past with my own magical thinking, my
writing and memories. I capture them and make them obey to the demands of my soul.

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There are other books which have given me a chance to think back to experiences I tried to come to terms with, the oddness I felt as a child, the not belonging, my teen years living with an abusive, alcoholic father and a weak, depressed mother.
Just a few days ago I finished reading Jennifer Haigh's novel 'Faith'. A book about keeping or loosing faith in people, a family under extraordinary circumstances. A book through our book club, which I liked against my previous thoughts.

A few days ago a 20 year old boy from our neighborhood was found dead on the street. A suicidal overdose after a short career of alcohol and drug abuse, a young mind criminalized through his habits, coming from a 'dysfunctional' family and what must have been unimaginable hopelessness and loneliness. I did not know the boy, nor his family, but it did not let me sleep. I kept thinking about him and his missed life.

And again I am pushing myself to think positive, stay optimistic and hopeful. Against doubt and the dark walls, which sometimes build themselves up around me.
These are the moments, when I feel the most connected to life, when I feel my soul intact and guiding me towards the future, my dreams and the one's of my husband and children. Where I see what's possible and what I still can do!
I am a reader.
I am a writer.
I am alive.

Autumn

2011-10-25T14:42:00.000-07:00

This autumn has literally fallen over me, too fast, too unexpected. I know, I know, you might say, how is this possible? Halloween is just around the corner? School has began two month ago, summer far behind!
But it's all good and true, yet the summer had been lingering in my mind and mood.

Looking every morning out of my breakfast/lunch/dining/room window, seeing the sun I have ignored the dropping temperatures. But now I begin to feel the season. We had to bring our oleanders and ficus tree inside, the hibiscus is still holding out, but it's days are numbered too.

There are fat pumpkins reminding me every day that we are at the end of October. I shudder. Still, I walk in shoes without socks...
I haven't decorated for fall, as I usually do, and so far Halloween just looks from the outside in.

Today, walking through the garden on a somewhat blustery morning, I rescued the last fallen Dahlias, glorious yellow and pink tipped beauties, together with some reddish blue Hydrangeas they now brighten my spirits and smile at me:

Look at the glory of autumn!

We have been out for long walks with the dog, numerous 'last' sittings on our deck with hands around hot tea and still I had not felt fall.

Now suddenly I see the turning leaves, some trees almost bare. There are mountains of leaves on every corner in our neighborhood and I can smell the occasional firewood burning.
Oh, summer....my old friend!
Autumn has sneaked up on me, just as the years have. Perhaps I am holding on to that feeling of summer, realizing that my hair grows more gray under that layer of color.
Unlike fall, I do not become more colorful as I move into my next season....
But it is also time for bringing in the harvest.

I am slowly falling in love. I just need to change my mind set a little. Embrace the cooler air, the light falling golden through transparent trees. The mist in the morning and the high, star filled skies at night.
The promise of an golden autumn!

All pictures by V.Zlotkowski

It's Friday

2011-10-21T03:42:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I need a little boost on Fridays, when I feel I want to hang loose but I can't....

So I collect some sunshine and preserve for later!

Happy weekend!

Picture my own window ledge.

Connected

2011-10-19T07:51:00.000-07:00

I have a longing interest for all things past. History, ranging from literature to art and architecture, from
grand homes to cottages, from antiques and vintage items to private treasures. The list is endless.

I am drawn to old china, transfer ware, blue and white Meissen or Delft, old silver, cutlery, dishes, old photographs and letters, books of course and many pieces, which do not always fit easy description.
Just look at the beautiful clock my husband brought back many years ago from Amsterdam. Somebody made it it, had it sold to a Dutch family, it was sitting on a mantle, chiming their times high above the canals....and finally it found its way to America! A small house in New York.
Although unknown to me, I think of all of them.

All these things hold beauty and collective memories. When I gaze at an old picture I am moved towards these times, try to imagine the lives and circumstances. It fills me with compassion and melancholy of sorts.
I love the stories I hear. I feel like a collector of worlds. Its looking into mirrors.

When I touch the handle of the wonderful silver coated coffee pot, I bought on eBay a few months ago, I think not only of the friendly woman who sold it and turned out to be of German decent and her mother, whom the pot belong to, but also the times it has been used. It is an elegant piece, used perhaps at weddings or birthday parties?

Now it sits heavy and pretty on my window ledge and gets used again at parties and just recently was a centerpiece at my birthday.
If these pieces only could talk...

I particularly love old silver. The knowledge of how many hands have held on to the knives and forks, the circumstances under they were acquired, the places they have been...
I bought vintage silver from Connecticut and the Midwest, china from Florida and photographs and letters from Brooklyn.

I have old roll clothes, used for pressing bedding and tablecloths from Germany and France, wooden candle holders from Belgium and vintage chandeliers found on City Island in the Bronx, NY.

And the books....well, this is another story!

There are also new things from our times, well made and precious to me. They also will be things of the past one day. I am keenly aware of this.
For that reason I try to look for lasting things, well made furniture, fewer but better.
I am less interested to collect as much as possible anymore. Though I used to...
Now I look for the quality and our needs. What sense does it make to have a cupboard filled with china I never use?
I am a collector of things, but I have learned to be selective.

I am also a caretaker, a keeper of things close to me and I will pass them on. There will be again some one to take them from me, when I am gone and just my touch and memory will remain. There will be a story added. This connects me and I love the thought of being a part of the long chain of time.

All pictures by V.Zlotkowski

A family visit

2011-10-06T13:08:00.000-07:00

These last few weeks have been rather wild, to say the least. I've been busy without time to clean the house....forget about writing, or relaxing. I squeezed in the occasional shower, cooked rarely, instead I entertained! We celebrated my birthday while I aged a little faster...

It was good having family here, but in the future they will need to be spaced better. We all are too particular, the quarters and the staff at hand were simply not adequate....(Think summer camp for grown-ups)
My parents are not an easy couple at the best of times, but in foreign environment it has been more difficult. I spare you the details. I am sure you all can fill in the blanks with your own experiences.
They had exactly one week planned for their visit to us in America after 10 years and at first I was a little disappointed about the short duration of their stay. After all they spend three months in France each year.... But some tensions between guests arose. And at the end of that week I drove them back to the airport, with a sweet and sour feeling. I've had a dream prior to their arrival, some sort of dark premonition. So, why was I surprised? I had hoped after we all had not been together for so long it would be different. But some things never change.
Did I mention my sister was here too for the very first time in America? My parents and her travelled together. It was great having her, just the overlay with the parents was unfortunate. And my oldest son and his sweet girl? Would it not have been for them, I would have surrendered to a looming depression. I am sure any psychoanalyst, reading this, will have a field day!
And then there was our family in full back-to-work/school swing. Topped by a husband, away on business for a good chunk out of that particular week. Of course nothing like that was planned this way.
It has taken all my energy and a little more. While all this was happening my washer and dryer broke and I am since then stranded without them. Four weeks now.
Visiting the laundromat is an humbling and time consuming experience. But it gave me time to think. Quietly, without interruptions. Only my sister and my son's girl joined me there.
We bonded deeper over dirty laundry! Thank you, girls!
I missed you there yesterday!
I will be ever so grateful when I'll finally wash and dry laundry in my own home again. No more complains over that kind of home-work. (Please remind me later.)
The new state-of-the-art equipment is supposed to arrive next week, after a false attempt with half of the parts missing last week. I really dislike Home Depot. At least the one near us is simply impossible. Ill educated sales people and incompetent customer service.

After all that driving to and from airports, dinners, sightseeing and the shops I am happy to sit at home, rub my silver in contemplation and enjoy the sunny autumn moments on the deck, surrounded just by the birds....
Why is it so hard to find a middle ground in such times? The expectations are high, everybody is aware of the short time together. We all have our ideas of what's important and it looks like there is no right way to satisfy all our needs.

There are only few things truly helping: Some humor and tolerance!

Tolerance for not enough time spend with each and every one, for too much time spend there instead of here, for not cooking the right meal or for going out to dinner again, for the stories told, for driving lunch to school at times when I should have gone elsewhere, for running around and trying to be everywhere at the same time! For talking about inheritance...
For spoiling the kids and being slave to one's own customs.
And humor to laugh about all that non-sense!

Image via E. Braeunig

And yet, after they have all left, there is a gaping hole, an empty space in my aching heart!

I think of all the thoughts I have not shared, words I have not spoken, failed attempts to sooth the excited waves of family turmoils....for not bringing enough peace. For trying too hard.

Images via Kykuit website

But foremost I think of all the wonderful things we did do: The walks in the New York City, the places we've been to (Kykuit, above), the times we spend talking and eating delicious food and drinking good wine. The walks around the block and the chats with my sister. The great dinners and shared feelings. Holding my mother's hand. Listening to all their voices.
The gifts I received. Thank you so much! All of you!

The time of having them all together here at our home in America, so rare, still lingers in my mind. I cannot regret this, although I have had my doubts.

The discovery of yet another great neighborhood in Brooklyn with my older visiting kids was worth every driven mile! They stayed on a week longer (too short)
and I relaxed in their presence.

BoCoCa (Brooklyn); where we walked for hours and finally ended up in a wonderful bookstore to discover one of our favorite writers: Bernhard Schlink (The Reader, Flights of Love, The Gordian Knot and the latest The Weekend), ready for a reading that very night. Of course we stayed...

It was wonderful.

The past weeks have been a reality check of sorts and a lesson towards my own, perhaps overgrown expectations.
How come that one tends to ignore past experiences?
I have learned that less is sometimes more and more tolerance eases some pain. C'est la Vie! Laugh out loud!

And that red wine is really good for my mood! There should be a prescription available from the doctor.

Just this morning after having written my post yesterday
I wanted to add some words Steve Jobs once wrote:

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.
-Steve Jobs 1955-2011

The words just for me! May he rest in peace! He was so creative and inspiring.

All images by V.Zlotkowski and as indicated. Painting by Jan Steen.

Expectations

2011-09-16T14:36:00.000-07:00

This weekend is special... And that means usually we are having guests! After 10 years my parents are visiting again from Europe, as well as my sister - for the very first time coming to America and my oldest son arrives with his girl from Berlin! It's going to be a wonderful reunion.
There has been lots of prepping and sorting, making space and fluffing up featherbeds....
The culminating expectations for the coming days could not get any higher.
It's not so much the actual plans, we try to keep this in motion and easy going, but to have them here at our place is just wonderful!
Of course you might ask what the occasion might be and here I will reveal that yours truly turns fifty in the coming week... this has been looming for a while ( duh) and although aging has never bothered me, I felt over the last months how this milestone has occupied my mind.
I have the strongest urge to reinvent myself. To turn over a new page in my life and fill it with all that, what I have been dreaming up lately. When I was younger to refer something to later times made often sense and meant only that priorities were such that my own plans had to wait a bit. Now I feel the time has come where I can't wait for more suitable times. The time is now!
There are so many things I have experienced in my life: Multiple immigrations, many moves, parting from people I love and people I do not, meeting the dearest friends in the most unlikely places and learning to make a home, when roots have been cut off.
I look back and count my blessings!

What's the essence of my life until now?
Firstly I am a mother! It has shaped everything within me! Nothing could have prepared me for the overwhelming love with which I would receive 4 children over quite a span of time. I never thought I might have four. I did not think about this for the longest time. What it would mean for my career, my personal growth, my own development.
I wanted children!
That they might have also been an alibi for my insecurities, well this occurred to me only later in life. But it changed the course of my life and now I am utmost content with motherhood. I grew up with all my children. They teach me so many valuable lessons. To love, to be patient (somewhat), to hold my horses, so give without expecting anything in return, to be rewarded by all sorts of small and large tokens of appreciation, to look at life with new eyes. To be more flexible.
They are young and modern and independent and above all they are wonderfully confident!
If anybody would have foretold the insecure, ugly little duckling I thought of myself as a twelve year old, that I would move to another continent, marry twice and have a large brood, speak another language almost better then my original one, I would have laughed out loud. Impossible, I would have said.
But nothing is impossible. I learned that! And to have faith in one's abilities.

Being married to a man who loves me deeply, challenges me regularly and devotes all living hours to his family has been the most wonderful thing that could have ever happen to me. After a failed relationship in my youth I have now a mature, responsible and sheltering marriage. But perhaps this also was only possible after the lessons of the first one. I feel now that everything carries a lesson in life. Sometimes it just takes a long time to learn it!

Marriage is movement: We change and to love the changes, the different people we become is not always easy. There are so many challenges, but one of my lessons has been: Live and let live! And to keep it special. With open arms...I love!
I try not to take anything for granted! Life can change in an instant and to cherish every day together has become so important to me. I remind myself often and I forget sometimes.

Deep inside me resides the artist, after many years of dormant life she has reappeared on my mental doorstep and I am ready for the new ideas, which do not let me sleep at night.
Or perhaps these are my tumultuous hormones, not knowing which direction to choose?

My thoughts are more and more turning towards writing, but the form still eludes me.
When I read I notice the shape and texture of a story, the way the language shapes feelings and mood. Years of reading have been my education, but it does not guaranty success in writing myself. I am probing and like a blind person, I feel my way in uncharted territory.

Life ahead is uncharted as well and I love the idea. To move along in it, still full of energy, with great expectations and many more years is what I hope for. I feel so young!

The path ahead is filled with wonder!

All pictures by V.Zlotkowski

Autumn polish

2011-09-13T11:12:00.000-07:00

Fall is for me like the beginning of a new year. Perhaps the onset of a new school year makes me feel that way. Spring moves seamless into summer, but it's different with autumn. It always fills me with the need for autumn clean up and I am off to a good start:

First the dining room:
I sorted out, moved china on display in my china cabinet, left only things out for daily use:
Coffee maker, coffee, toaster, much loved salt and pepper pigs, a small silver lidded box holding stevia bags, my daily silverware in easy reach to set the table!

It looks so clean now. I moved things away from my window ledge and now the sun streams through glass candle holders and a small fern plant in my copper planter.

Old postcards from the mirror were removed and only the most important ones are left on the large world map!
I waxed the table with delicious table wax and the room is done for the next few weeks!

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Then I moved to our family room to give it a thoroughly check up. There is a dresser, filled with games and a drawer with candles, but the top has become a catch all for spill over china....
So I sorted: The melamine plates down to the basement, glasses back into the cabinets,
vases restored to their original purpose: holding flowers...

Do I see still some lego under there??? The basket candle holders need to go back to the deck table....And the old torchiere has to go elsewhere!

Better!

What's left?
My desk, the sorting of magazines, cleaning out of the bookshelves.

The winter room needs a fixing as well: Fire place and chimney cleaning, piano tuning, and a new wall paper.
My husband declared it's good to have visitors coming on the weekend, the house looks spic and span... Well, it's sheer coincidence!!!
So much has been removed: I am clearly heading for my own yard sale...
But there is more: bedroom sorting, clothes sorting and give aways, looking through my winter wardrobe.
I am trying not to hold on to things I haven't used in a while, I am learning! It's hard though!

Still I hear the cicadas in the trees, but I am so looking forward to the long cozy hours at the fire place, the rustic meals, pumpkins and the harvest of apples.
Autumn, I am yours!

Pictures by V.Zlotkowski and as indicated.

We remember

2011-09-11T06:56:00.000-07:00

Today I we remember the September morning 10 years ago, filled with sunshine only to turn into terrible terror! I remember the many lives lost!
No words can describe how it moves me to see these pictures again!

I will never forget!

New York is my city as well and to see her rise from the sadness to new beginnings fills me with such hope and joy!

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"When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight."
--- Kahlil Gibran

Survival of the fittest

2011-09-03T03:59:00.000-07:00

After some time I have fallen back into the old habits of gathering and collecting.
It's a mystery to me how it happens!
My house begins to look like a pawn shop, everything is everywhere, I am not a hoarder, or am I?
I love things and I love to surround myself but then there always comes the breaking point where I begin to feel overwhelmed. I need to clean out, reduce, separate the good from the not so good, things overdue to part with, the old, but not old enough to keep and the simply not needed objects. Oh, where to draw the line?
I have done it before.
There are too many magazines around my house and collected mementos from travels around the world, shells and plant bits and pieces, books of course and dresses I do not wear anymore but I hang on for the memories I have in them. There are movie and opera tickets, trolley stubs from cities I have toured, a fan from Venice and paper napkins from Paris. Old travel brochures and older travel guides, perfectly outdated.

Perfume samples and bottles without a scent left in them.
Paint from years back, artwork provided by my children, old suitcases filled with toys and memories of childhoods past, books and more books. Birthday wishes and cards from yesteryear.
A whole shelve filled with cook books I have hardly used! Anyone?
Piles of shoes and boots in all sizes.
Simply much what life has passed to me! I tend to keep it!
But it is cathartic to clean out, refreshing to start anew and it eases the load to maintain.

So I will start again tomorrow, sorting and giving away, selling and tossing, for a fresh autumn and a clean house!
Wish me luck!

Have you seen? Ladurée

2011-09-02T13:08:00.000-07:00

Just when I needed a little lift......

There is this lovely brand new Ladurée shop in town. New York City that is and a few days ago I've been there and only the line-up out the door stopped me from trying out some of their delicacies...

The blog world is full of delicious stories of their macarons, I do not need to tell you what they are, right?
Good to know that we now can have the originals this side of the Atlantic!
I guess I need to stop by soon again.

Ladurée, 864 Madison Avenue (71st Street), (646) 558-3157, open Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 6. Macarons in 15 flavors are $2.70 each; chocolates, $10 and up.

The parting

2011-09-01T18:37:00.000-07:00

Another summer comes slowly to an end by way of sending our kids back to school, our older ones off to college and our selves back into the rhythm of the working routine.
Today I am sad; my second oldest boy had to fly back to Europe, back to his life and studies, so far away from us. We will miss him dearly.
Every parting pulls on my heart and in these moments I reflect on distances and our wants and wishes.
But it is as nature has intended it: The young ones need to go off without us, learn on their own terms and we need to let them go!
There is the driving and packing, hugging and kissing, tears and laughter, last minute advise and the hope for phone calls.
Although my older children have been away from me for long, it's the same every time never the less:
My motherly instinct comes forward and for seconds I imagine them lost without me...
But no, they will do fine, they will call and they will go on without me!
I am happy to have such loving children, strong and independent, full of life!
I tell them often how much I love them!
That is what they need to hear!

I feel a little lost too at these times, but I will go on as well, looking forward to reunions and the sweet moments of arrivals home!
The texts written and received and the hour long talks, walks around the block and the meals cooked together!
To listen to their adventures, the news, the heart breaks and the victories, the tough decisions and the battles lost!
They need us to be there, in the distance, but ready!

There is so much to look forward to!
Good speed, my boy and wonderful beginnings!

“Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life.” – Jack Kerouac

Storm front

2011-08-28T07:22:00.000-07:00

Sitting in my car, waiting out a tropical storm in Savannah this July!

After a stormy night we are relieved, no power outage, no trees down in the garden and the only problem is the significant flooding of our basement.
I could not sleep well and woke up much earlier then normal to the pounding of the rain on the roof and against the windows, but it was not as strong as we feared!
I am thinking of all the much worst hit neighborhoods and the people who lost loved ones. My heart goes out to them!

I hope you all stay safe!

Pictures by V.Zlotkowski. Copyright 2011

Tag of war

2011-08-26T07:39:00.000-07:00

The morning heat floods the ground floor - we do not have central air downstairs - and only the bedrooms sport those cooling vents which in resent years have become a life savior of sorts for me. My declining hormones must be the reason
for it, since my rhetoric question:
Is it hot in here or is it me? is regularly met with a shrug of the shoulders of my certainly better half.
My vain self will not admit nearing menopause since I feel the age of matronly changes will do me any good, it will push me finally over the edge and afterwards there it will be:
I am getting old!
But it's only physically I am telling myself. My mind churns out ideas as it never has before and the days could not be long enough to let me realize all my ideas.
But I digress! Back to the heat: I discovered after 10 years of living in our house that there is a fan hidden in our steaming attic. A great big thing living in the wall to the side of the house. I had seen it, but the existence of the central air unit up there as well had me under the impression it was defunct....What a mistake. I discovered a turning knob in my husband's closet, a space where I rarely reach into and since then I go upstairs with guilty pleasure, open the latch to the trap door to the magic attic and let that fan blow. A cool breeze descends downstairs and I guess the dog enjoys it as well since he lies on the marble tile floor in the hall and lets his ears flap. I would not mind joining him there!

After a short while my husband would go up for one reason or other and suddenly the humming would stop and the fan turned off...
Well, up I'll go eventually and turn it on again and the discussion follows like this:

Me: Honey, please leave the fan running, it makes such a difference downstairs.
Him: There is no breeze downstairs. Con Edison will love you, lets turn it off.
Me: Just for a while now, ok?
Him: The children will wake up, its so loud, I know your sense of hearing is not the strongest. Let's set a time now! How about ten minutes?
Me: It's 10:30 in the morning, they certainly could wake up.....

His phone rings and he is off to his home office, and I hear the kids traipsing around upstairs. Fan or no fan: They have woken up!

So we compromise for a while. Later I go upstairs to bring in laundry up and to feel a little relief in my air conditioned bedroom and to my dismay I realize it's not nearly as cool as I expected. Looking up the thermostat I see a whooping 77 degrees. Windows open, there is no breeze whatsoever.

My husband promises the evening will bring cooler air and just leaving the windows open will cool it down enough to sleep quietly.
Enough air condition already.
At bedtime I cannot sleep, I turn, stick my legs and other body parts out, toss to the other side. It's not helping. Out I go, close all the windows at 11:45 PM and switch on the air condition. My husband apparently sleeps soundly through all the commotion.
Down to 74 degrees I feel the relaxing cool air caressing my face, cooling my raging hormones and eventually I drift off.

My husband knows little of feeling the heat, he is resistant to cold as well and proudly
proclaims himself unaffected by natures extremes.
I love on winter days to have my freezing fingers warmed by his forever warm hands.
But the summer heat is different. Nothing can make me feel so good as the cooling breeze of a fan...

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Until autumns walks softly on falling leaves I will be in need for it's assistance.

Final note: I explained my hormonal imbalance to my husband and my dependency on cool air for my sanity. Now he tolerates the fan use a little longer, perhaps for fear of further female outbursts...

Image by V.Zlotkowski and as indicated.

There will be rain

2011-08-25T12:52:00.000-07:00

Well, it looks like our weekend plans have to be postponed. The emerging hurricane is on it's way and a gray and rainy morning arose today.

Peaches, berry crumb cake and sunflowers...last weekend!

To lift my spirit I rescued the dying sun flowers, which had been on my table since last Friday's visit to the farmer's market. They had began to hang their pretty heads and finally this morning I arranged them on this footed cake stand where they bring in all the sunshine I miss today!

Today's morning latte and sunflowers sunny side up!

And while I was contemplating my day ahead I walked slowly through the garden to discover many of my Dahlias in bloom, and before the storm will wash them out, perhaps break them, I took some pictures...

I love these colors. The hydrangeas inspire a wonderful palette of muted pinks, blue greens, mauve and cream.

I do not recollect the sources from these last four images, I take no credit, but they are beautiful!

Hope you all stay safe this weekend!

xx
Victoria

All pictures by V.Zlotkowski except the last four interiors.

Working on a living room

2011-08-17T12:20:00.000-07:00

We are back from the South, with lots of ideas and great inspirations! Coming back from somewhere always leads me to do some changes in my house....But in this case it's this and the somewhat overdue paint job!
It's the absence and the distance I have put between me and our home! It makes me always see clearer and I can make decisions easier!

Our living room has seen better days. Don't get me wrong, I love the mixed feeling, the old red leather sofas and chairs, so inviting for reading. The baby grand, tucked in the corner near the window and the blue and beige chain link patterned carpet. The artwork is mixed too and there is an ottoman with a cowhide atop. And small writing desk...
The curtains are well worn and over the hot weeks in July the shades on the front windows have strangely disintegrated... A part fell off, obviously just glued on previously! Looking at all this I am thinking of needed improvements. The paint is chipping, darkened around the often used fire place and wall sconces.
I am thinking wallpaper. I am thinking Bloomsbury. I am thinking Farrow and Ball!
And I am thinking of the Rosslyn pattern.

What do you think? What would you do?

All images via Farrow & Ball web site.