Lest we Forget.

Today we remember the servicemen and women who have given everything for their country and for us so that we can enjoy America's freedom. Memorial Day is not about grilling and swimming and vacations to Chicago. It is about our soldiers and their sacrifices so that we can grill and swim and travel whenever we please. Remember them today and the families that support our warriers.

LA continued...

The Tearoom

While in LA, we also visited the Museum of Jurassic Technology.  I learned about this museum in one of my classes and it seemed like something interesting to do.  I am so glad that we went!  It is an amazing place full of strange, esoteric exhibits such as "Garden of Eden on Wheels: Collections from Los Angeles Area Mobile Home Parks" and "Tell the Bees: Belief, Knowledge, and Hypersymbolic Cognition".  Luckily, the MJT has an amazing website as well full of information.  Oh, and they also have a Russian tearoom serving complimentary tea and cookies, always a good thing!

I would definitely recommend stopping by if you are ever in Culver City!

Oh, the places we will go...LA

Ben's house

Back patio

Ben's plants

La Brea tar pits

Sisters

We decided to get away this weekend ahead of the Memorial Day rush. So, at 4:30pm on Saturday we headed out of town (better late than never!). After a long drive across the desert, we arrived in Redondo Beach. And, it was freezing!!! I am always amazed at how cold it is in LA and along the coast. And the wind was crazy! Ben said that it hasn't really been warm since he moved there. I hope that it warms up for him soon. It is almost June!!

Stolen!

Le pigeon aux petit pois - Picasso

L'Olivier pres de L'Estaque - Braque

La Pastorale - Matisse

La femme a l'eventail - Modigliani

Nature Morte au Chandelier - Leger

all images from Guardian.co.uk

How is it possible that someone could just walk into the Paris Museum of Modern Art and cut these paintings out of their frames and walk off with them?!  This is the 21st century, people!

Hello Lovely.

All images from White Farmhouse

This is my new favorite store.  I happened to see it in a letter to the editor in Fresh Home magazine, I think I got the magazine at Lowe's.  Anyway, the prices are amazing!  I only wish that the store was right down the street instead of in Peconic, New York.

Outdoor Spaces.

outdoor retreat - house to home uk

I can't even tell you how much I love this

Domino

Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart

I've been thinking about outdoor spaces since we are redoing part of our yard. I love outdoor rooms, but it is so hard to find the right furniture. You can't just go into a store and buy something perfect. I like things that have been around for awhile or modified somehow. Rebekah sent me the photo of the cot and I started looking around on the web. As always, there are some great ideas!

New Project.

Here's what the empty space looks like now. Had to buy the canopy so that we would be able to work back there.

One kind of 'garden bed'

found here

image found here

image found here

I think that we've finally decided what to do with the big empty space left by our toppling pine tree. We are going to build a retaining wall and make a raised garden. The space is in the sun most of the day and I can have herbs, flowers, etc. Now, we'll see if we can pull it off. If only we had thought of this three years ago...

Party.

Mike took a picture of me, Don and Julie.

The Universe was winking at us.

We went to a reception last night for Don.  He won the Explorer's Club medal this year and a couple on the board had a party for him at their home in Scottsdale.  They have an awesome view from their back patio!

Upholstery webbing.

Martha Stewart

These bags are for sale here

D. Reyne's Everday Elegance

And my own design...

I needed something for a coffee table in front of our couch outside. I couldn't find anything I liked, so I started going through the garage and put this together. I haven't totally finished it yet, but I like it.

Oh, the places we will go.

I actually went here several weeks ago, what an amazing place! Tumacacori is about 2 1/2 hours south of Phoenix, almost to Nogales. This mission was built in 1691 by Father Kino. Those of you in AZ know who I'm talking about...probably the most famous priest around. His name is everywhere. The story goes that General Pershing stayed at the mission sometime in the 1890's and carved his name into the wall. You can't see it anymore, but wow.

Anyway, I highly recommend heading down there and stopping in Tubac for lunch. There are great little shops and tons of food.

The first time.

Here it is. A new endeavor. I am terrible at Facebook, so why not start a blog, right? Wish me luck!