No Matchy-Matchy -- Live With What You Love

When I was a young woman just starting out,
I dreamed of buying a matching living room suit, 

matching bedroom furniture and matching dishes and flatware. 

I think the curtains, pillows, and rugs were probably matching sets too!

How things have changed, huh?

Today, we don't want that "matchy-matchy" look.
Instead we live with what we love.

It doesn't have to match as long as it "goes."

I'm using two mismatched chairs at my farm table.
Their wood tones and farm style go together nicely.

My couch and chair don't match but their textures and colors complement each other. 

Accessories are one-of-a-kind finds and my coffee table is an old farm table 

with the legs trimmed down to the right height.

I think mixing things up is more interesting than if everything matches
and it feels more like it's been collected over time.
French Country and Farmhouse styles lend themselves easily to this look
as things are often passed down in the family.

Be brave! Mix it up!
You can put together a blended look by repeating design elements such as
color, finishes, themes, shapes or architectural details.
Keep your room from becoming too busy by painting the walls a neutral color.

In my kitchen, I have several different patterns of dishes (all from Goodwill).

My faves are the big red rooster plates, the simple white scalloped plates 

and the buffalo china bowls. 

I like to mix and match them for a casual feel. 

The unifying element of my dishware is white with a touch of red.

My cups are a mix of white Pottery Barn and Chris Madden mugs that look pretty together.

And my flatware is vintage Grosvenor Community design . . .

with a mix of other styles thrown in as needed
(bakelite forks, battered old ladles, family hand-me-down spoons.)

Do they match? Nope. Do they go together? Yep.
Do they make me happy? Definitely.

In the dining room, my ironstone collection and my mother's "good" china
blend nicely and make me smile.

The mirrors are all different and add charm and impact to the space

and the white accents pull it all together.
The natural wood furniture helps to ground the lighter colors in the room.

My point is: if it makes you smile when you come into the room, if it holds a special memory, 

or if it causes you to dream about the future, it's the right choice for you.

It may not match but it goes.
So, live with what you love!

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Little Farmstead, Dwellings, Between Naps on the Porch, Coastal Charm, Cedar Hill Farmhouse,
A Stroll Thru Life, Savvy Southern Style,A Delightsome Life, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson,
21 Rosemary Lane, Adirondack Girl at Heart, French Country Cottage

Perfect Timing

Do you believe in perfect timing?

When you're at just the right place at just the right time?

When everything falls into place and something wonderful happens?

Well, I do.

It happened to me at an estate sale, where else?

We had checked out a recent sale, taking in the few offerings quickly, 

and were about ready to move on when an old mantel clock caught my eye.

"It's pretty banged up," the elderly man pushing a walker said.

"It's going to need a lot of work," his wife echoed.

"It's only $5," I whispered to Ron,"and I just love it." 

It looked as if it had been dropped. 

The wood trim across the top of the clock was missing and the sides were loose.

But the thing that caught my eye was the pretty hand-painted Victorian floral design 

on the front lower glass. The design is actually painted on the reverse side of the glass. 

The original top metal dial also had painted floral designs in the corners.

And, in the middle of the clock face was a peep hole into the brass gears.
I felt like I was peering into the past. 

I didn't care if it worked. I had to have it.

On the way home in the car, I cradled it on my lap,
listening to it twang every time we hit a bump in the road.

It was as if it was thanking me for taking it home.

As we drove I thought about my vintage alarm clock collection.

Something about old clocks has always spoken to me; 

maybe they're a metaphor for the passing of time and the history they've seen,
something I appreciate. 

Once home, we took a closer look at the mantel clock and were pleasantly surprised
to find all the missing parts inside the clock case, including the broken wood trim. 

I loved the brass pendulum and the two fancy keys inside.

Then we started researching the history of this clock.

And it got even more interesting.

Because the old paper labels were faded but intact inside the clock, we had a good starting point.

We saw it was a Waterbury clock and it was about 19 inches high by four inches deep. 

The case, we learned online, was rosewood with two key winds. 

By examining the details on the label, we were able to place it around 1870 -- Civil War era! 

Can you imagine what this little clock may have witnessed?

Ron was able to repair the case issues with a little glue . . .

. . . and a picture frame clamp.

I gave it a revitalizing rub with Howard Feed and Wax wood conditioner
which brought out the natural beauty of the wood, making it even more beautiful.

We are deciding whether to take it to a clock repair shop. 

I don't really care if it works (at least it's the correct time twice a day!) 

I just want all its parts and pieces put back together again.
What do you think? Fix it or leave it alone?

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Linking with:
Little Farmstead, Dwellings, Botanic Bleu, Between Naps on the Porch, Coastal Charm,
Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, Savvy Southern Style, A Delightsome Life,
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, 21 Rosemary Lane, Adirondack Girl at Heart, French Country Cottage

Simple Pleasures of May

The French are well known for taking time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life 

whether it's food, family, home or garden.

My simple pleasure? 

Stepping outside in the early morning, a cup of steaming coffee in hand, 

still in my pj's and robe, to stroll around the garden. With my sheepskin slippers quickly getting soaked with dew, I sip my coffee as I listen to the birds waking up around me.

(This photo, which shows the cottage garden, was taken before I created Cafe' Bleu in the corner).
If you missed that post, here's a link... Cafe Bleu Reveal.

As the sun peeks over my rooftop, I love to see what has emerged overnight --

a peony bud about ready to burst open or a daffodil in full bloom.

This time of year everything changes so quickly, I can almost watch it grow.

Have the pansies I potted a few days ago made it 

through the harsh weather we've been having lately?
Yes! They're fine but, sadly, my bleeding hearts and hostas
took a beating in the latest hail storm. 

Has my little dog damaged anything in her enthusiastic patrol of the yard 

or has she found a new bed for an afternoon nap?

Perhaps I'll hear the steady drone of a small plane overhead. 

I see the same plane fly directly over my garden every day at the same time. 

It's probably some kind of business commuter plane 

but I like to imagine it's something more romantic.

Do you remember the plane in Out of Africa that flew over Karen's farm 

and dipped its wings in a friendly wave? Wasn't that was Robert Redford in the plane?

Or the plane to Lisbon in Casablanca cloaked by heavy fog as Rick said goodbye to Ilsa?

Maybe my little plane is searching for something or someone. 

In any case, I look forward to seeing it fly over every morning.

Still waiting for Robert Redford to fly by and say good morning.
Or maybe wash my hair. Ha!

Early mornings in the garden are a special time when it's quiet and dreamy. 

I might hear an occasional car door close as neighbors head off to work 

or squirrels clawing the fence as they chase each other back and forth.

But, usually, it's a time for reflection and planning my day.

The French have the right idea . . .
slow down and notice the simple pleasures of life in the month of May

whether it's a garden filled with birdsong, a warm croissant with hot coffee, or a cold dog nose.

P.S.
Yesterday Colorado got slammed with a late-season snowstorm
(more than three feet in the mountains)!
Here in Denver, we received only a few inches of the heavy, wet stuff.
Still, I had to race around, bringing all my potted plants inside.
So my new Simple Pleasure of May is
reading a good book in front of the fire! 

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Linking with:
Dwellings, Botanic Bleu, Between Naps on the Porch, Coastal Charm, Cedar Hill Farmhouse,
A Stroll Thru Life, Savvy Southern Style, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, 21 Rosemary Lane,
Adirondack Girl at Heart, French Country Cottage, Little Farmstead

Cafe' Bleu Reveal

There's a little corner in my back yard that's kind of wasted space. 

It's too small to sit comfortably, too shady to grow anything, too boring
to want to spend time there. It was barely big enough to accommodate my bistro set.

Here's the "before" picture.
Tiny, but I could see the potential. 

Except for a lilac bush, a nice shade tree, and a cottage garden 

on two sides, the corner itself wasn't much to look at. 

Although my little dog liked to explore the raised area behind the table, 

we didn't make much use of this space.

That's when I decided to make some changes. 

The first thing I did was look at the space for a long, long time. 

This appeared to be a back-breaking project and I debated if I really wanted to take it on.

Several years ago, I'd built a low brick wall defining this small corner 

but it merely took up valuable space. When you live in the city, every inch counts. 

So I took a deep breath and decided to dig in, so to speak.

I removed all those bricks, every single one, down to the ground level, stacking them
in little towers. Then I outlined a new edge with an ax and started digging. 

I chopped off a bunch of dirt from the raised area and threw it in my wheelbarrow,
pushing back the wall about a foot.
A foot may not seem like much but it made such a difference in the available space.

Next I relaid the brick wall in a semi-circle under the tree and topped it with a paver capstone. 

A layer of fresh gravel gave it a French feeling underfoot
and some river rocks expanded the existing dry stream bed on one side.

After all that work rebuilding the brick wall, it seemed a shame to cover it up.

But when I snugged a weathered garden bench up against it,
I still had space for a small bench that I could put my feet up on. Yippee!

Then came the fun part. 

Blue cushions, an old quilt, a farm chair I spray painted blue,
a blue enamel bowl on the fence, and a few shade-loving plants.

I couldn't believe my luck when I found a vintage, circa 1960s, blue bicycle
at an estate sale this weekend. Just what I'd been looking for and only $10!
We removed the shiny metal gears and wiring and added some daisies in a basket
(also found at another yard sale).

I hung a faded blue cafe sign on an old ladder against the tree . . . 

and christened the space
Cafe՜ Bleu.

Now I have a cool private corner where I can retreat during the heat of the day 

or sip a glass of wine in the evening.
From this quiet space, I can watch the birds visiting the feeders and birdbath,



or admire the garden as it explodes in a Spring frenzy.

Definitely worth the effort.

Come on over and put your feet up.

***

If you enjoyed your visit, I hope you'll follow me by email.
Just subscribe (it's FREE) in the upper right column of this page.
You can also follow my Pinterest boards to see all my favorite photos.
Thank you!

***

Linking with:
Dwellings, Botanic Bleu, Between Naps on the Porch, Coastal Charm, Cedar Hill Farmhouse,
A Stroll Thru Life, Savvy Southern Style, A Delightsome Life, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson,
21 Rosemary Lane, Adirondack Girl at Heart, French Country Cottage