San Fran Here I Come!

My husband and I are flying to San Francisco tomorrow for a week long bicycle trip with some friends of ours and joining about 30 others. We will cycle on average 45 miles per day with one day being 67. But since it is a "ride" not a "race", we have plenty of time to enjoy the scenery! I am so excited that Sunday we get to ride over the Golden Gate Bridge. How fun is that? I have driven over a zillion times but this perspective will be a real treat!


We will ride up the coast along Hwy. 1. I wonder if we will see some sunflowers?


I hope one of the bungalows we get to stay in looks like this!

Back on the bike and head out for another day.

Wine and cheese at night...mmmm!

Cafe in the morning before riding again!


I wonder if we will get some time for shopping?

Lunch at an outdoor cafe?

Afternoon wine tasting? Better be after the miles are complete for the day! heehee


I love PINK!

After a week of riding, a grand hotel like this will be in place! Those bougainvilleas are just gorgeous.



Back to San Francisco, pack up the bikes send back to Georgia, and then go sight seeing on this PINK vespa!

All paintings are done by Miss Fifi Flowers Design Decor Paintings du Jour! Go here to see her gallery, many of these are still for sale.
I will see you all when I get back!

Wayfarer's Chapel

You know when you live somewhere and there are landmarks that people come from all over the world to visit that you just take for granted? That is how it was for me with the Wayfarer's Chapel also known as the "Glass Church." I used to drive by it every week on my way to my 'cello lessons. It is an absolutely stunning piece of architecture designed by Lloyd Wright, son of Frank Lloyd Wright in the late 1940's.

I had the privilege of going to a few events hosted here while I was in high school.

Made of crystal clear glass , local stone and aged redwood timbers, the chapel allows the full glory of its natural surroundings to shine through.

This view of the chapel shows how it sits on the cliffs above the Pacific Ocean. Across the ocean is a view of part of of Catalina Island (I could see it from my bedroom window when I was a girl) which is a fun place to visit too!

When I was looking for pictures, up popped on Google a post that one of our own blogaratti Katiedid posted, she was married at the Glass Church.

It is a very popular place to get married, you can see why can't you? The grounds are gorgeous.

If you are thinking about a trip down the southern coast of California, I would encourage you to make a stop and see this beautiful architecture.

Dreary Day? Flower Power!

There is nothing better on a dreary day to lift one's spirits more than some fresh flowers.

It is that kind of day (and has been for seemingly weeks) here today in northern Atlanta!

These white spider mums are so pretty, with a stem of stargazer lilly and smaller green mums (does anyone know the "real" name of them?) and some very fragrant baby's breath.

The flowers all made such a great arrangement don't you think?

What lifts your spirit on a dreary day?

The plaid chair and a wing across the room are going to the upholsterer very soon. Just want to refinish the legs first....will post on that later! That fabric definitely looked better to me on the bolt than on the chairs and when they were delivered I NEVER liked them. So I am going in a bit of a different direction to open up some other decorating avenues!

HONOR

to HONOR

• honesty, fairness or integrity in one's beliefs or actions, "a man of honor"
• high respect, as for worth, merit or rank, "to be held in honor"
• such respect manifested, "memorial in honor of the dead"
• high public esteem, fame, glory, "he has earned his position of honor"

As you prepare for a fun family long weekend take the time to remember WHY we have this holiday. HONOR those that are serving our country and pray for their families and also of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Freedom is not free. I salute ALL who serve and have served our land. YOU ARE HONORABLE.
Blessings...

photo - Wickipedia
text from Dictionary

Alexandra Blanca

Do you like symmetry? I am not USUALLY one to decorate symmetrically (or matchy matchy) BUT I do like this room very much. Simple, clean lines. This is the living room of interior designer Alesandra Branca's Manhattan pied-a-terre which features a 1940's lacquer cocktail table, 18th century chairs which are upholstered in a Fortuny cotton and the linen-velvet sofa is by Branca, that oh so lovely screen is antique. This is a comfortable room, one that would welcome a tea party or champagne for that matter! (I DO love champagne!)

So what do you think...is this your taste or style?
How might YOU arrange the furniture?
Would love to hear!

Photographer: Joshua McHugh
Images Elle Decor

Gone to the Beach!

While moving frequently most of my childhood due to my Dad's aviation career, I had the good fortune to land on the southern coast of California on the Palos Verdes Peninsula (PVP) my 8th grade year through high school. (Picture above is an ariel view of the PVP). That being the longest period of time I had EVER lived in one place, I consider myself a California girl! I went to college in San Diego for two years and finished my degree (Music) at CSU Long Beach.

Redondo Beach looking south to PVP

Although Georgia has a coastline, I am way too far from it. There is nothing better than an early morning walk, jog or bike ride along the water's edge or sitting in the afternoon with a good book listening to waves hearing the seagulls and children at play. Ohhh I really miss it.

I started thinking about all of the beaches I have lived near, thought you might enjoy. I arranged them in order of my living in each area.

Sunset Beach cliffs near the dorm in college in San Diego

Corona del Mar, Newport Harbor, California

Pensacola Beach, FL

the ever so gorgeous Canon Beach, OR

Jewel Beach, Kodiak, AK

Clearwater Beach, FL

Kodiak, AK (yes, we moved there again!)

Gulfport, MS, we would go here when we lived in New Orleans

going kayaking in Sitka, AK

sunrise at Ft. Lauderdale Beach, FL

while living in Mobile, AL, we would go to Gulf Shores, AL

notice here and Pensacola, the so very white sand

my son wakeboarding at Virginia Beach

I NEED an ocean fix. In a little over a week I will be heading to San Francisco, I cannot wait to smell the ocean and enjoy the beauty. How about you? What makes you happy? Where do you like to go that you feel renewed and refreshed?

Google Images unless personal

What is YOUR Personal Style?

Kelee Katillac, has created the Katillac Shack a "virtual" home to many different creative people and graciously asked me to have a room. I would be honored if you would go to the Katillac Shack here and visit my room! Kelee has come up with a drawing to help me out!. You know how we decorator's are, always changing, rearranging and reupholstering!

Kelee recently asked, "What Is Your Personal Style & it's Meaning?"

this is what she says,

"As you may have noticed, here at The Katillac Shack ALL styles are welcome – because ALL people are welcome! A willingness to explore another's style is an act of tolerance and kindness. In this big, beautiful, diverse world we need ways of better understanding each other. And, it is true that when we enter a home, we get a peek inside the heart of the homeowner. That’s why at The Katillac Shack there is a room for everyone. No style – positive and consciously created – is turned away. Our style may define us, but let’s not let it divide us."

We are all uniquely created and have different styles and tastes, that's what makes the world go 'round!

Kelee is one talented lady and wears many hats, one is that of an author!

Time Passes Quickly

It seems like only moments ago my firstborn son came into this world.  This little boy full of energy and everything "boy" changed my (and his Dads') world completely. Over the years there would be a few battles, lots of laughter, some tears and loads of fun.  Today he is 24 and such a fine young man, I am so very blessed.

Happy Birthday, Greg, I love you.

Lines and Colour!

The blogaratti - I think the Visual Vamp came up with this term (if not please let me know) - those of us in the masses that blog - are filled with some amazingly talented people.  One that I am especially in awe of is Michelle Morelan,  A Schematic Life.  She is an interior designer from Canada and does the most fabulous renderings of her projects and has done some for a few of our blogging friends.  I envy her talent and seriously would like to take some lessons....too bad we don't live near one another, I would bug her to teach me!

Joni's living room, French design in Texas

New York City commission

Velvet and Linen front door

Lounge by Debra Geller

Bedroom by Patricia Gray

Patricia Gray's townhouse (a surprise rendering from MM to PG)

Today marks Michelle's 200th post on her blog,

what a great milestone, congratulations Michelle!