After the Rain

A late Spring shower is a bath for our senses.
It doesn't rain here often so the sound of rain is magical.

Like a hum before bursting into song.

We stop what we're doing and listen

as the rain refreshes the grass and bathes the flowers.

Then, after the rain . . . glistening jewels quiver on delicate spider webs.

Pools of crystal beads lie on a leaf like a broken string of pearls.

Everything is fresh, dust bathed away and stale air cleansed.

Birds take shelter, then venture out after the rain, beady eyes searching for worms.

Pigeons splash in puddles like little children; 

chickadees and finches shake the wet from their feathers, then refuel.

The heat of the day evaporates in the cool mist.

After the rain, the earth turns dark -- rich, fertile, moist.

And it sings.

Breathe it in and listen.

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A Spring Refresh in the Dining Room

Spring has arrived in the dining room.

It doesn't take a major make-over to refresh the dining room with a few Spring touches.

Removing the tablecloth and adding a metal tray with a green-filled garden urn 

instantly changes the mood of the dining room table.

I like to keep it simple. Adding a few old books adds height and interest.

And some fresh violas complete the spring look.

A bit of green in a French champagne bucket brightens up one corner.

A garden statue on the vintage sewing machine base adds a whiff of elegance.

The other corner features some white blossoms, an old mirror, and a vintage violin.

So romantic!

Happy Spring! 

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Linking with:
Shabby Art Boutique, Little Farmstead, Our Southern Home, Dwellings,
The Dedicated House, Between Naps on the Porch, Stone Gable, A Stroll Thru Life,
Savvy Southern Style, Designthusiasm, A Delightsome Life, 21 Rosemary Lane,
Follow the Yellow Brick Home, French Country Cottage

A Cozy Change of Scene in the Office

I shuffled into the sunroom this morning to find it snowing outside.

A heavy wet spring snowstorm is not uncommon in Colorado but it's hard to believe 

after yesterday when it was warm enough to tidy the winter garden in T-shirts.

As I stood by the sunroom window, watching the drifting snow suddenly transform into
a horizontal storm, I felt lucky to be indoors where it was warm and cozy. 

And then, I had a thought.

Why not bring my laptop in here, turn on the little gas stove, and move my office for the day?

Setting up at my old farm table, I could look out the windows while working. 

Why didn't I do this sooner?
Isn't it interesting how we view things so differently depending on what we're looking at,
as if seeing through different eyes.

The warmth of the stove felt wonderful on my back as I checked e-mails.

I was excited when I saw several from Realtor Phil. I zeroed in on one cabin that sounded promising so I replied, asking it we could take a look at it. 

If you haven't heard, I'm on a quest to find a rustic mountain cabin,

a getaway from the ever-expanding city. If you missed that post, you can read about it HERE.

Something like this would be perfect!

Once the idea of a cabin became a real possibility, I began envisioning how I'd decorate it. 

Seems like everything I see would look nice in the cabin.

And then there's all the stuff currently stored in the attic 

like my Dad's old rocking chair and some beautiful elk antlers.

At an antique mall I recently found the perfect red plaid throw I'd been looking for, 

a cozy accent to my red farm table. The table and blanket both might make their way to the cabin. 

During my "southwestern" phase years ago, I collected tiny cowboy boots.
I probably have about 30 pairs!

Packed away for years, wouldn't they look cute on a shelf in the cabin?

A vintage Indian print blanket will look nice in the cabin someday too. 

For now, it adds warmth to this green velvet chair. 

This room is always cozy and my thoughts often turn to dreams of my cabin in the mountains. Imagine looking out the window as a majestic elk walks slowly by. 

Here, I'm more likely to see a finch, a nuthatch, a chickadee or a dove visiting my bird feeder. 

Such a lovely distraction. 

Yesterday, we saw a large hawk chase our little birds through the yard, 

It was a thrill as we were sitting on the patio and had front row seats to the chase. 

Happy to report, all little birds escaped unharmed and the hawk continued on his way. 

So, it appears my office assistant thinks we're working way too hard

and has decided it's past nap time.
The first of many naps to come today in one of her many beds.

The snow has slowed down now, leaving a white dusting on the lawn and spring flowers.

This much-needed moisture will be good for the garden and will help green up the grass.

But for now, it's time for a cup of tea and more daydreams. 

Pull up a chair and let's look for mountain cabin ideas on Pinterest. 

Cabin Quest Update:
We went to the mountains this week to see the little cabin mentioned above.
The cabin was perfect -- 365 square feet and adorable.
Sadly, there was another house right next to it that didn't show in the listing photos.
Kind of defeats the whole purpose of a getaway, don't you think?
I'm glad we saw it though. With each viewing, we refine our wish list.
Onward!

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Designthusiasm, A Delightsome Life, 21 Rosemary Lane, Follow the Yellow Brick Home,
French Country Cottage

Architectural Salvage in the Garden

Recently, I wrote a post about using Architectural Salvage in the home. 

As I was putting it together, I realized I had enough architectural pieces
in the garden and on the patio to write a separate post. 

As they do inside your home, salvaged pieces add texture, warmth 

and a sense of history to your garden and patio. 

This widow's walk railing evokes stories of a woman
watching the harbor for her husband's return from atop her house.

One of my favorite salvaged pieces is this rusty metal arch linking the patio and the garden. 

With solar twinkly lights, it makes the garden feel magical. 

Purchased on a road trip through Oklahoma, I like to imagine
what kind of garden it might have come from.

This ornate fireplace screen adds a historic touch to the patio

while the cement angel is a lovely accessory. 

Old salvaged doors make great outdoor screens.

(This one, an alley find, is hiding the fuse box). 

These metal sconces were electrified at one time.
We removed the wiring and now they hold candles on our patio fence.

I love the look of rusted metal fencing in the garden.

Sometimes, reproduction pieces look just as good as the real thing. 

Old windows are handy inside and out.
Here, I've used one as backing on my potting bench.

This old chimney stone was from my Dad's garden.
I don't know how it came to live in his garden
but now it lives in mine.

Architectural salvaged pieces bring a unique elegance to the garden and patio
with their steadfast beauty from days gone by.

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Decorating with Architectural Salvage

When I see a chippy old window in an alley or a battered door in a construction dumpster, 

I just can't let it end up in a landfill when it would look stunning in my house. 

I may not know how I will use it or where it might fit, but it's going home with me. 

You never know when a treasure might literally fall into your lap. 

This beautiful leaded glass window was gifted to me on a morning walk

in a hundred-year-old neighborhood.

If you missed my "Window Shopping" post, you can read that story HERE.

Incorporating salvaged architectural pieces into your decor creates a warm vintage look, 

especially in a new house. I love rescuing these bits and bobs from the landfill and 

giving them a new purpose as artwork, furniture or a focal point in a room. 

Old windows can be used in so many ways like framing a vignette. 

And they're easy to switch out with the seasons.

I started thinking about architectural salvage recently when we saw a beautiful old wooden panel tossed aside in a construction site. Seeing it in the dumpster that evening, we rushed to rescue it. 

It came from an old house in our historic neighborhood and appeared to be part of a bay window. Amazingly, the large glass window was intact in the seven foot panel.

I had no idea where we would use it but it was just too beautiful to imagine it in a dump. 

After cleaning it up and trying it in several spots, I finally settled on a corner in my sunroom. 

It added a historic feeling and warmth to this newer room. 

That lovely panel came from the same construction site where we found this amazing porch post.

If you missed that "Post on a Post", you can find it HERE.

 Antique mantels are one of the most desirable architectural pieces. 

They can be used as a headboard or as a faux fireplace like this one from an Ohio farm. 

Note the salvaged tin ceiling tile that makes a perfect firebox screen.

Old doors make interesting tables, headboards or focal points. 

This alley find draws attention to an empty corner and 

provides a distressed surface for displaying artwork. 

An old hand-carved peg board is a useful storage piece

while the small window anchors this vignette.

You could also cut a mirror to fit behind the window for a different look.

Finials, corbels or crystal doorknobs add interest on a shelf while old lighting 

always catches my eye like with these gorgeous salvaged sconces.

I also use a lot of salvaged materials in the garden and on the patio

and will share those with you in an upcoming post. 

Happy Salvaging!!

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21 Rosemary Lane, Petite Haus, French Country Cottage

~~ French Country Home Tour ~~

Welcome to my home.

I saw an ad today in the neighborhood newspaper advertising an upcoming Home Tour
so I thought I'd do a private home tour just for you.

Come on in and make yourself comfortable.
I can't wait to show you around.

I fell in love with this house at first sight because it reminded me of a quaint stone cottage.

Built in 1907, my Victorian Cottage is located near a big park in an old part of Denver, Colorado.
As a history buff, I love living in an old house that's been home to so many fascinating people
including a turn-of-the century mailman who kept his horse in our back yard!

Our cozy house is small and decorated with a neutral color palette
of creams and whites in a comfortable French Country style.

We have only the very latest home security system.
Don't let Roxy fool you. At the first squeak of the front gate, she'd be tearing the place apart!

The living and dining rooms flow together in a long, narrow space -
1900's version of open concept.

The far wall is covered with old mirrors, adding visual interest and reflected light into the room.
They also draw attention to the high ceilings and away from the dog toys on the floor.

The mantel is not original to the house although most visitors think it is.
 It was actually salvaged from an old Ohio farmhouse and painted white.
I think it warms up the space and provides a pretty focal point. 

The compact galley kitchen is a blank canvas where I can add fun French Country touches. 

A white farmhouse sink is on my wish list!

A tiny bedroom on the main floor serves as a guest room or a cozy spot for an afternoon nap.

The sunroom, with a farmhouse flair, is one of my favorite rooms

to have coffee in the mornings, read in the afternoons,
and catch up over a glass of wine in the evenings.

Roxy has claimed the comfy chair. 

Upstairs is the bedroom, bathroom and my office.
I like to imagine I'm in a tiny attic looking out over the rooftops of Paris.

Once the weather warms up, we're outside on the patio or in the garden all the time.

When I bought this house thirty years ago, the back yard was all grass. 

Over the years, I've added the flagstone patio, a potting shed, winding paths, rock walls 

and the flower gardens that surround a tall crab apple tree. 

Sometimes, I wish we had a bigger house to make room for all the treasures we like to collect

but, honestly, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. 

I do hope you enjoyed your visit. 

Please come again soon.

***

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.
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Thank you!!

***

Linking with:
Shabby Art Boutique, Little Farmstead, Dwellings, Our Southern Home, The Dedicated House,
Between Naps on the Porch, Stone Gable, A Stroll Thru Life, Savvy Southern Style,
Designthusiasm, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, 21 Rosemary Lane,
Petite Haus, French Country Cottage