d.i.e.

Issa Long Kimono Dress

early 30s

Today I am 32.

There comes a time for nearly all women when they look in the mirror and say, "I'm turning into my mother."
Now a study has confirmed exactly when that moment occurs: age 32.
- NYDailyNews.com

wide

Alice & Olivia Eric Wide Leg Pants

Delish!

weiwei

Ai Weiwei

In China, when we grew up, we had nothing...But for even the poorest people, the treat or treasure we'd have would be the sunflower seeds in everybody's pockets.

Iron Wood Polyhedron

Bicycles

Only by encouraging individual freedom, or the individual power of the mind, and by trusting our own feelings, can collective acts be meaningful. - Ai Weiwei

ark-an-sas

Yes, another wonderful visit with Mamaw!

We shopped at Penney's, made our spaghetti, talked about important things, laughed, and wished the visit was longer. But, we enjoyed every minute of it.

A Time to Talk
by Robert Frost

When a friend calls to me from the road
And slows his horse to a meaning walk,
I don't stand still and look around
On all the hills I haven't hoed,
And shout from where I am, 'What is it?'
No, not as there is a time to talk.
I thrust my hoe in the mellow ground,
Blade-end up and five feet tall,
And plod: I go up to the stone wall
For a friendly visit.

Merci, Mamaw. Merci.

a rose

from my family photo collection: Mamaw, Aunt Ruth, and Mama Gene

The Rose Family

by Robert Frost

The rose is a rose,
And was always a rose.
But the theory now goes
That the apple's a rose,
And the pear is, and so's
The plum, I suppose.
The dear only know
What will next prove a rose.
You, of course, are a rose -
But were always a rose.

I'm off to Arkansas tomorrow for another lovely visit with Mamaw.

bookshelf additions

Perch! Basket Bowl
I picked this much coveted bowl up at The Foundary for $31 (regular price $54). It's a great addition to our newly spruced-up bookshelf.

Air Plant!
I went over to my mom's this weekend & stole a few sprouts from the air plant in her backyard. I had the glass container already, so it was an easy project. It just needs a few rocks added to the bottom. I hope it likes its new home.

tape

So, I tried Jenny's tape project over on Pearl Street Interiors in our entryway & here's how it turned out...

Ta da! I think it adds a little somethin' somethin' to the space. The diamonds are far from perfect (especially towards the bottom), but the imperfection gives it character, right? I put the wall to the test this weekend when my mother-in-law visited & she thought I had painted the lines on, which is exactly what I was hoping for. Who knew tape could be so great?!

I used black Japanese Washi Paper Tape from Happy Tape. It took approximately 4 single rolls at $4.50 a roll + shipping, which brought the total project cost to less than $25 + a sore neck.

Before
Three cheers for tape!
Tape, tape, yaaaaay tape!

mud

An old favorite.

via Darren Segal

Rice
by Mary Oliver

It grew in the black mud.
It grew under the tiger's orange paws.
Its stems thinner than candles, and as straight.
Its leaves like the feathers of egrets, but green.
The grains cresting, wanting to burst.
Oh, blood of the tiger.

I don't want you to sit down at the table.
I don't want you to just eat, and be content.
I want you to walk out into the fields
where the water is shining, and the rice has risen.
I want you to stand there, far from the white tablecloth.
I want you to fill your hands with the mud, like a blessing.

air plant dreams

Michael McDowell

Air Plant Globe Terrarium by LBrand

Epiphytic plants (air plants) use photosynthesis for energy and obtain moisture from the air or from dampness on the surface of their hosts. - Wikipedia

1 cup = 16 tbsp

Kitchen Conversions by Sweet Fine Day

i wish

This made my day today. It's in no way true, but still put a smile on my face.

From: T
Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2011 10:33 AM
To: Dianna
Subject: FW: On the Street....Blue London, Part 1, London

Thought you might get a kick out of this.

T

From: G
Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2011 10:26 AM
To: T
Subject: On the Street....Blue London, Part 1, London

this reminds me of dianna.

Wouldn't it be nice to be as chic as this fantastic lady? Yes, yes it would.

r.a.d.

Schoolhouse Electric Co.

Orbit 7

weekend haps

It was a rainy weekend here in So Cal & a long one for me, thanks to the holiday! The sun did peek through on Saturday, just long enough for my good friend Jeannie & I to enjoy the Racquet Club Estates Mid-Century Modern Homes Tour in Palm Springs. It was great fun!

This home was our favorite because of the incredible art collection both inside and outside & the textured wallcovering used in several rooms.

I fell in LOVE with this Frank Lloyd Wright Midway Garden Sprite, welcoming us as we walked up to this home. I've added the smaller version it to my wish list for our house.

I took advantage of the 3-day weekend and tackled our bookshelves. This is the before photo, the after photos are coming soon.

one avocado

I recently put an avocado in my bag & forgot it was there for 2 weeks. Yes, it's true. I have no idea how this happened. How I avoided reaching into that corner of the bag I use every single day until it was too late, I will never know. The result of this "mishap" is a ruined bag (boo) and the need for a new one (yay). So, here's my new friend Milly. Isn't she purdy?! If all goes well, there will not be any moldy avocados in her future.

Milly Shiny Leather Hobo

happy heart day

wall inspiration

As much as I am obsessed with wallpaper & really want to use it in our house, there are two obstacles standing in my way. Number one, I have serious commitment issues & number two, the price does not align with my budget.
Luckily, there are so many wallpaper alternatives out there to consider.

Option #1 - Temporary Wallpaper
Takes care of the commitment issue & is more budget friendly. I love Silver Gio from Tempaper and the Sherwin Williams' Easychange line is great. It takes a little searching to find the treasures, but they're there.

Option #2 - Sharpie Stenciled Wallpaper
So cool! Checkout this HGTV how-to.

Option #3 - Contact Paper
Such a great way to add excitement to a wall without the permanence of wallpaper & at a very low cost. Checkout this fantastic chevron wall tutorial via Sabbe.

Option #4 - Stencils
There are so many fantastic stencil options out there. Royal Design Studio has some really great modern patterns and all under $50. I recently picked up the Chainlink Allover stencil with our powder room in mind.

Option #5 - Tape

I never would have thought of using tape to make your own wallpaper, until I saw this tutorial over on Pearl Street Interiors. Brilliant! Happy Tape is just the place to find Japanese Washi Paper Tape in lots of colors for this project. I recently picked up a few rolls of black at $4.50 a roll to try in our entryway.

one from her

One year after they were married.

King, Ark.
June 4, 1897

My Dearest,

I was so glad to hear from you yesterday. I was afraid you would not write any more until you got to Marshall. I am getting along as well as anyone could. I can't be exactly well all the time. I wanted you to be here last night because I was sick, and couldn't sleep, but this morning I am all right and glad that you are where you can do the work your heart delights in. I wish I could be with you in your work and be benefited by it, but that could not be and so I'm happy anyway. I think everything is getting along nicely at home. Of course things happen that worry me but I think all will be right in the end. I love (torn out) and Belle better, if (torn out) than I ever did. I must write to Charlie today. Darling, I want to be a help to you and not a hindrance and I want you to tell me just what I ask you. Will you? Anything you say will please me. I need a new wrapper, and I can get a nice one for eighty cents. There is some pretty Swiss here and if I were to get a dress of it would (torn out) be pretty and then - now laugh - I can make the baby a dress of it. It is 12 and a half cents a yd. Tell me all about it dear. I am not wanting either if I ought not to have them. Tell you girl if she is getting too extravagant and she won't want a thing. It is too wet to work in the garden today, but tomorrow I am going to see what I can do.

Please write to your girl everyday. I was sick yesterday or I would not have felt bad at all. I felt all right after I got your letter. I can not tell you how glad I am that you found your uncle and cousins. I wish I could see those boys. I feel as though your trip was not all lonely. Write to Helen. Write soon oh very soon to your own girl,

Lottie

before becoming his lottie

Mar. 30, 1895

Miss Eugenia,

If agreeable I would be pleased to call this eve in time for church.

Very respectfully,
W.T.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apr. 13, 1895

Miss Eugenia,

I think that quite a number of the students will attend service at the Catholic church tomorrow morning at 10 O'clock, and if you would like to go, I would be pleased to accompany you.

Very respectfully,
W.T.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apr. 28, 1895

Miss Eugenia,

I would be greatly pleased to call this eve in time for church.

Very respectfully,
W.T.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jun. 8, 1895

Miss Eugenia,

I thank you for your kindness, and will be pleased to call for the nice fruit. If you would like to attend the Mirror Rally at 8-15 I would like very much to accompany you.

Very respectfully,
W.T.

love letter

From a collection of letters between my g.g.grandfather and g.g.grandmother.

Conway, Ark.
June 19, 1896

My Darling Lottie,

When we came here last September, we counted the long years until you could graduate and go with me. After you went away to teach at Hamlet, we decided that the years were too long and we shortened them into less than one year, fixing our wedding day in September. When you returned to school, we talked of the long time until September, and our marriage was fixed for June. We said three months, two months, one month, four, three, two weeks, and we would be married and separate for our summer's work. Tonight it is one week until our wedding day and you are going with me, to stay, throughout the long, tiresome summer, throughout our lives. And yet with the short time I get impatient. I want you tonight. Every day I need my own darling Lottie. The time seems near at hand when we can have a home of our own. If you do not teach this summer, you can begin to fix for our home in September. I want us to be all by ourselves as soon as possible. It seems to me that as complete happiness as can come to mortals is very near to us now. Only one more Tuesday night is to pass over me in my bachelor state. In contemplation of my wedding day I am as happy as my impatience will let me be. I am sorry that I must pass next Sunday without seeing you, but it will be very busy. There will be two sermons and a YMCA service to attend. Monday and Tuesday will be very busy also. There will be a crowd here from Saturday on to the close. I am glad the time is short. It will soon pass away and I'll claim Lottie for my wife.

I am very well prepared for commencement. I stood my French examination this evening and I am sure that I made a good grade. I have but one more, Latin, and I am reviewing that. I have been reading it tonight. I have plenty of time to review it well, and I have never made much less than ninety on it. I have no fear for it. I know my orations well enough to rehearse them. I practiced both of them this evening without referring to my manuscripts.

Next Tuesday morning I'll need for Lottie to remember me strongly about ten o'clock. My memory is treacherous sometimes. I do not want to forget my speech even if I can not win the medal. I am sorry my course was so heavy that I could not work for the scholarship medal. I wished it because you got one. Everything is alright though. I'll get Lottie and that will be enough for one fellow. As you can see from this writing I am all jerky, and I'll wait awhile.

Goodnight my own precious darling,
Willie

There's so much to love about these letters; the writing, their dedication to each other, and the depth of feeling each one portrays. I also love the fact that her academic success seemed to challenge him, even though he was a high achiever in his own right, and that she was the one to win the scholarship medal.