Beautiful yellow and white nursery

I so love this gorgeous nursery. Great job Serafina!





I love the sweet orange disco ball above the cot like a mobile!





See the great idea??? I love it! Trail butterflies or flowers across the walls to a dense collection in a white picture frame!



Simple but effective change table!







Via Serafina's Flickr page.

Happy Halloween!

Here's a spooky little poem for today by Paisley Rekdal:

Bats

unveil themselves in dark.
They hang, each a jagged,

silken sleeve, from moonlit rafters bright
as polished knives. They swim

the muddled air and keen
like supersonic babies, the sound

we imagine empty wombs might make
in women who can’t fill them up.

A clasp, a scratch, a sigh.
They drink fruit dry.

And wheel, against feverish light flung hard
upon their faces,

in circles that nauseate.
Imagine one at breast or neck,

Patterning a name in driblets of iodine
that spatter your skin stars.

They flutter, shake like mystics.
They materialize. Revelatory

as a stranger’s underthings found tossed
upon the marital bed, you tremble

even at the thought. Asleep,
you tear your fingers

and search the sheets all night.

Ideal indoor plants

Sidsel Zachariassen

I have been looking to add green leafy plants to my house... on the inside.

So I thought I'd list out the various indoor plants that suit the indoor environment...

African Violets



I'm very proud of my two African violets. The pink one has been my friend for the past 3 years. The dark purple one is about 3 months old.

Just needs a suitable location, kitchen windows are popular since most offer good natural filtered lighting. The soil needs to be kept moist but not wet so I find it thrives in the plastic pots from the nursery and then in a pretty pot. When I water mine, I stand it for 5 minutes in the kitchen sink so that extra water runs off. I keep my purple one in a pretty vintage tea tin and the other in a Sylvac pink planter.

Angel Ivy

Via Romantic Home on Flickr

This plant is apparently popular because it's able to be pruned and shaped into forms. I've seen many pruned into topiaries.

Bamboo



I kept a twisted bamboo plant in a tall glass vase for many years. Does not need soil, just water! How easy is that? The Chinese call it the Lucky Bamboo.

Ficus

Kelly McGuill

Another plant that can be shaped is the ficus. There are many varieties but most are lush, shiny, green medium sized foliage. Apparently this is the best indoor plant because it will survive well even with long periods of neglect. They do enjoy full sun as well as part shade.

David Netto

When they have outlasted their time as an indoor plant - after about 10 years - can be placed in the garden or given away as a gift to a very-special-10-years-in-the-making-friend with house and land! They can even be trained for bonsais (just rigorous pruning)...

Bonsai

I do like bonsais. If they were not so expensive, I'd have one in every room! A local specialty nursery here where I got my pretty crabapple blossom from also grow their own maple bonsais which are exquisite. Bigger than the traditional bonsais, their red maple bonsai looked SPECTACULAR on an outdoor table!

Dieffenbachia, Camille



I've always wanted a big leafy plant in the bathroom and if it had the right amount of space, I'd love a Dieffenbachia Camille. It's got these beautiful big cream and green leaves. During the months of active growth, they require just as much water as any other potted plant, but as soon as the cooler weather approaches watering should be kept to a minimum.

Gerberas, only when flowering



I had a pretty yellow Gerbera on my desk for a while while it flowered. Otherwise it needs to be outside. I just repotted it and hopefully we'll see more blooms soon!

Ferns

Kelly McGuill

This Old House

Very pretty, light green leaves... I am dying to get large planters!

The Peace Lily Spathyphyllum wallisii



The Peace Lily is voted one of the best air purifiers of all and boasts a beautiful large dark green shiny leaf and an elegant white flower. It will tolerate very low light conditions. But make sure you water only when the soil past your forefinger is dry... overwatering is often the cause of many a Peace Lily carcass.. It will show you quite firmly that it is not happy if not watered, as it will almost lay down in despair.

The Lady Palm Rhapis excelsa

Via Kaylee Skylyn

This very dense displaying plant is very slow growing, but can make a super decorative statement with their fan-shaped leaves. The plants do not like drying out and are not ideal in areas with air conditioners, but if the air is humidified they will thrive, and will tolerate low light situations well.

Rat-tail Cactus

Via pat626

If you're into slightly freaky plants, I did see this along a wooden planter set next to a bathroom window on an episode of Greenest Homes. It makes a statement to be sure, with the tail bits hanging down along the planter...

Mother-in-law's tongue

Erinn Valencich

Also known as Sansevieria or Snake Plant makes an ideal indoor plant. It produces elegant variegated foliage, yet is an easy to care for plant. I am not a fan, since I don't really like spiky-shaped leaves...

Chinese Evergreen

Via ctmarie3 on Flickr

I'm going to have to get one of these! The Chinese Evergreen is good for those that don't have a lot of light in their home or are gone a lot with the lights out as the plant does not need much light to flourish. The plant needs to get kept in a warm area and the leaves will turn brown or black in cold atmospheres. Everygrowing.com suggests that you make sure the soil is dry between each watering to avoid killing the plant.

Cast Iron Plant

Kelly Proxmire

It may have an interesting name for a plant but the Cast Iron Plant is an easy plant to take care of and an ideal indoor plant. It requires low light, can handle drafts and is known for being the most cold tolerate indoor plant.

Clivia

Lovely orange Clivia in Tyra Bank's office

I have two orange Clivia plants courtesy of my mother in law's and she's just scored another younger one for me. They look lovely in the garden but they flower only but for a short time and only flower annually - beginning of spring. I have never tried them indoors but they do make a spectacular display when flowering and their dark green, simple foliage does make for a good indoor plant. Might see if I can score more at garage sales around for my lounge room.



Clivia miniata is both beautiful and indestructible. Deep green, straplike leaves arch 2-3 feet above the crown. Clivias require very little care, growing larger and more impressive with age.

Orchids

Robyn Karp

These plants thrive in Malaysia where I've grown up so this has a special spot in my heart. So far I only have one, a lovely delicate green orchid given by a dear friend and it lives outside when not in flower. I've just got my first green bloom yesterday after a year of inactivity so it will go on my piano on Sunday when most of the buds would have bloomed.

Dracaenas, the happy plant variety



Again, large green leaves ... but this time, on a thick stalk. I do like this one too. Nice for an area that has loads of low furniture as it's got a fair height.

Rubber tree



Popular in clinics and hospitals, in my experience! This indoor/patio plant can grow very large... so contain it by prunning, or repot into bigger containers. (Whatever you do, don’t plant them in your garden, unless you know where your pipes are!)

Monstera Deliciosa

Via Jason Unbound

Now this one I do like too... it's got interest, with the large bright green leaves.

Kalanchoe

My pretty Kalanchoe, last summer

These have dense, small coloured flowers with succulent leaves. These hang down, so suit planters that are set way above the ground on a tall side table or hanging. I have about 5 of them around the place, but none indoors yet. I have a desperate lack of suitable planters! These do not thrive in the cold or moist areas (many of mine died indoors) ... but thrive in warm spots. I love growing these because like most succulents, all you do to have another plant is to break off a branch with leaves and flowers and stick them in another pot!

Golden Cane Palm



A more delicate leaf palm that clusters from the base. The more light it is exposed to, the more golden it will become. Goes well indoors only with very good light.

Moss

Christopher Maya

It's quite attractive, having planters covered with this mossy green fluff. I do like it...

Well I hope I've given you some ideas to breathe in more fresh air indoors... and to add that beautiful green touch to your indoor space.

John Cage: crazy bastard or crazy genius?

I'll let you be the judge.




Oh, and if you think this is bizarre, you should read up on his piece entitled "As Slow as Possible"
that's currently being performed in a church in Germany. It's slated to take 639 years to play. The performance began in 2001, so it will end in 2640. I wish I were kidding. Cage enthusiasts are some crazy motherfuckers.

My bright white porch and redone garden pots!

Meet Sir Lancelot!

I shared before how this place was an explosion of just the one paint pot (peachy cream) when we moved in and I revolted in shades of whites, blues, plums and yellows...



The same went for the courtyard/porch area. The porch was ALSO painted this peachy cream... and I hated it. Wanted to move away from the poorly designed mediteranean feel...

My "new" porch

So a fortnight ago the in laws descended on our place... for a break. So a fortnight later, I have a new bright white porch! :) It makes the laserlight cleaner and whiter somehow... (even though we didn't clean the top of the laserlight... the translucent hard plastic roofing for the porch).

This is my father in law painting the first coat.

This is about a fortnight before he went to task.

The white glory.

And this is Hannah playing with mud, grass and water... better than her bugging us by her sweet offers of "help"!


So nice to sit outside now and eat and work... the white of the porch really sets off the white blossoms at the end of the porch. And the place is so much lighter and brighter. I wish I could just slap some paint down on the not-favourite orange brick tiles too.

The mother in law thought she could do a better job at my newly laid out courtyard after cleaning out monster spiky plants in April.

And of course, she did! We scoured the city for old bricks... cleaned them, and then the dedicated woman spent all day making sure the line of bricks was perfect. PERFECT. Stamps all facing up and out... And then made us pick up my pebbles, clean them and put them down again...

Before

After

And the last thing... I found out I'd been spending 5 months watering a DEAD plant! We replanted a weeping tree outside next to my front door in April... and it's been DEAD for months. I just thought it was WINTER!!! Hehehe...



My mother in law pronounced it dead on sight (I'm a NEW gardener)... and then we scored a sweet little crabapple blossom tree for $60 (normally $90-120) which apparently "loves the spot" :)



Then I painted the eaves and post... and am considering doing the dividing wall and gate next (behind my crabapple).

See the shining painted eaves!??

Then after the in laws left, the work continued... upon suggestion of the father in law, I used leftover tiles on the property to create a "bin" area for my rubbish, recycle and green waste. I'm very happy with the outcome!



Nice huh? I love my in laws visiting ;) Things get done around the place!

The help

Yesterday, I went to my first bat mitzvah. Despite the numerous Jews I now count among my closest friends, I used to be a raging anti-Semite. Just kidding! The truth is that I switched schools in 7th grade and missed my window of opportunity. Also, St. Louis, MO is pretty WASP-dominated.

Yesterday was a milestone, in more ways than one. Sadly, I was not a relative or friend of the young lady celebrating her transition (in stylish black Minolos) into adulthood. I was the help.


It was my first gig with Event Temps, a company that provides food service staff for catered events (parties, weddings, mitzvahs et al). As many of you know, I returned to Boston in September hell-bent on getting a job at a certain Chicago-style pizza chain. In case I ever do get hired by this establishment, I'll refer to it here as "Dos."

It was my dream to work for "Dos": After getting groped by stuck-up Cantabs at the Hong Kong and slinging sushi at a place that never quite mastered its payroll procedures, I figured "Dos" would be a well-oiled machine. There's a location just 5 minutes from my house and it's always crowded. And yet, after applying online, following up in person and on the phone, nada. I even tried the Fenway location and interviewed, but was told they were fully staffed for the time being and to check back in a few months. So my dream to work at "Dos" is now, as Langston Hughes would say, a dream deferred.

So now I am an Event Temp. Saturday morning, I carpooled out to a synagogue in Wayland, MA to pass appetizers, fold napkins and man the soda table. In the car ride over, the other temps on my shift assured me that this sort of work was easier than waiting tables. But what I have concluded after working my first shift is that it's also less rewarding. Partly because you're supposed to be somewhat invisible -- no one is ordering off a menu and consulting you. You're just paid labor, keeping water glasses full and clearing plates. And hovering-- there was a great deal of hovering.

The event was a success; I didn't spill anything on anyone and the people seemed very nice. The kids were hyper, but partly because of my zealousness in refilling their sodas. But I did notice a few of the tweens watching us as we went about our work and I know what they were thinking. They were looking at their well-dressed parents sipping wine and looking at me, in my ill-fitting black polyester vest, pouring said wine and I'd bet they were thinking, That will never be me. Maybe not consciously, but let's face it, we were the life losers in the scenario. They were probably wondering what we had done, how we had screwed up to deserve the fate of refilling butter ramekins on a Saturday afternoon.

And I'm not gonna lie, this was a less-than-steller feeling. Waiting tables, I commanded more respect. I could talk and smile with people, do my best to make sure they had a good meal. Event Temps are supposed to be courteous but not engage much with the guests. Engaging with people is my favorite part of waitressing, so this was disappointing to discover.

I need a job, so for now, Event Temps will have to do. But "Dos," if you ever need me...I'm there. Call me!

Loft inspired

Briefly, we're going to be moving shortly... and be in a space much like this for some reasons I can't go into right now.

Like it... but oh so not like this! But I can DREAM!

I LOVE the white, and the white ... and on the white...



And the brick wall on one side is kinda awesome too!



And would be so funky to paint random boards a soft, different colour! I'm loving pink!



And the sliding bathroom door would look awesome in this glossy bright bright yellow!



And since the small studio space we're looking at does not have much storage (and we're so spoilt here in our current home for built-in storage) it would be cool to have these white Ikea shelves installed above the kitchen counter.




Oh happy happy space... in my head, at least!

Update: In a few months, we're moving back to my husband's hometown to fulfill a dream (more on that later) and one of the options was to move our 184m2 (1,959 squared foot) home into 40.5m2 (436 squared foot) studio with a small, low loft at the back of the in law's yard... but the romance is over and we're not doing it. (We plan to save our sanity and marriage instead!)