Hopefully your eye is not drawn to all the electrical stuff on the back wall.
Two new planters and one elderly frog now grace my back terrace. This composition was badly needed to screen out the the transformer and irrigation boxes. Bear in mind that the Inland sea oats in the bigger planter will eventually grow taller and flesh out the space more gracefully. Right now they look a bit stumpy and ragged. The shorter container is planted with variegated hostas. Both plants are perennials. Because these two cast concrete containers sit on a non-permeable surface, they were not draining. So I had to elevate them with plant dollies that were strong enough to withstand the containers’ massive weight. Aesthetically, it’s not the best looking option, but I had no other choice. I found the elderly frog, who in a former life spouted water in some English garden, through Antique Swan on 1st Dibs. To see a close-up view and to admire his warty patina, click on the link below.
I chose to photograph the terrace from the front to show all of the new elements. Unfortunately doing so also captured my neighbor’s “collection”. Eventually the antique rose bushes along the fence will grow larger and help screen out that view.
These two Lindheimer’s muhly suddenly bloomed while I was away in Newport during the first two weeks of October. I wasn’t expecting this kind of show so late in the season. Boy, what a surprise! And what a wonderful frame for my new teak bench and cast stone planter. I’ve planted a Squid Agave in this planter, because it’s a perennial that can endure full sun all day, intense summer heat, and dry conditions.
This is one of four Barovier glass sconces produced in Murano, Italy, circa 1940.
These four new, but old, sconces will add some much needed light to my north-facing dining room. For some time now, I’ve been aware that my library/dining room needed more sparkle or illumination after dark. I can always use candles for dining, but what about those other evenings when there’s company for cocktails and such? Guests would arrive through the front door into a well lit living room and then cross through the dark dining room on their way to the kitchen and back areas of the house. Relying on the overhead ceiling fixture as the only light source was less than optimal, because the space has been too well designed to consign the book cabinets to the shadows. Charley McKenney, my architect, came up with the sconce concept which is something I originally didn’t think was feasible. We did consider other sconces, including a custom design, before he found these fixtures at John Gregory Studio in Dallas’ Design District.
The front entrance to Castle Hill Inn in Newport, Rhode Island.
I do hope Castle Hill Inn will not be disturbed by approaching Hurricane Sandy. It has weathered many severe storms in its 138 years and even lost its turret back in the early 1900s. An exact replica of the original turret has recently been built, and it would be a darn shame if Frankenstorm were to destroy it.
I am losing my little Bubba. After many excruciating tests, it has been determined that Bubba has an extremely aggressive form of cancer. Tomorrow we will meet with an oncologist to determine how to make him more comfortable. These last three weeks have been hell, and that includes my ten day vacation taken at the first of this month.
Back in June, I had started to notice his eyes weren’t looking quite right, but after numerous visits to the vet, all his blood work and such were excellent. Then the Thursday before I was to leave for my vacation (my first one in five years which was already very much paid for), Bubba suddenly became listless and lethargic. After rushing him to the vet, it was determined that his eyes were not moving or dilating, but again his blood tests were excellent. They suggested I take him to an ophthalmologist which I did the next day, and this doctor said that the problem did not stem from the eye and that I should take him to see a neurologist. But the neurologist would not answer my calls. Nor did they return them before I left on Monday. Shit!
They eventually caught up with me while I was in Newport, and I booked an appointment for him first thing the first morning after my return — Thursday, October 11. The news wasn’t good. Something was pressing under his brain and causing nerve damage. They did an MRI and kept him overnight, and then did a tummy sonogram. The MRI showed some deterioration in the bone under his brain. All these tests have failed to determine exactly what kind of cancer he has. The doctors suggested a biopsy, but this is risky and there’s a strong chance that it too will not be able to determine what this cancer is. I don’t want Bubba to go through any more drastic medical procedures. Even if they were able to determine what he has, the location of the cancer will prevent medication from treating it effectively.
If you’re wondering about my time in Newport… It was ok. Castle Hill Inn where I stayed was wonderful, a piece of paradise. Unfortunately, I was desperately sick the entire time with a nasty head and chest cold. The weather sucked and the fog horn boomed every 10 seconds for most of the time I was there. But I did manage to see all of the old Newport’s “cottages” from the Gilded Age. At a later date I will tell you about my GPS fiasco—multiple voices and multiple directions.
So please bear with me and understand that as long as I’m in this damage control phase, blogging will be sparse. I’d rather not blog about sad stuff, but I thought an explanation was needed for my lengthy absence.
I’m having a packing dilemma. I’m flying off to vacation in Newport, RI for ten days and just realized that I have two suitcase sizes to choose from. One’s way too big, and the other is way too small. Drat. Why didn’t I think about this before my last day in town? But I’m very prepared otherwise. Since it’s truly autumn up there, I’ll be packing for cool weather—which means bulkier clothing—which means I have no other choice but to use the larger bag. Drat!
FYI: That doll critter is known as the Patsy Ann doll, which my mother named me after. Funny thing is that when I purchased a vintage version and showed it to my mom, she was so disappointed. Evidently, she had remembered another doll which was much better looking. Definitely not this one. Hah!
Janeil Engelstad at The Reading Room. For over a century the State Fair of Texas, the largest state fair in the country, has been a mainstream showcase for agriculture, crafts and livestock that is sponsored, in part, by big agri-business. On Saturday, September 22 from 7 to 9 pm—during the 2012 State Fair of Texas—Janeil Engelstad is producing an exhibition at The Reading Room, which is located across the street from the fairgrounds that will be a parallel universe to the official state fair.
Titled, Y’UTOPIAS: An Almanac (of sorts) of Sustainable and Off-the-Grid Living in Texas, the project investigates and documents sustainable and off-the-grid living, farming and ranching throughout the state. The installation includes photographs, video and text from her interviews with people who are, in many ways, contemporary Texan pioneers. Like any good state fair, Y’UTOPIAS includes demonstrations and other events. Engelstad has built a functioning worm farm that will demonstrate how worm castings can be used to make worm wine and naturally fertilize a garden.
Engelstad is director of two multi-disciplined and multi-faceted art projects, Voices from the Center and MAP (Make Art With Purpose). Her practice is advocacy oriented, addressing social, political, historical and environmental concerns, and is international in scope. Engelstad has lectured and taught at universities throughout North American and Europe and was a 2006 Fulbright Scholar at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava, Slovakia. She received an MFA in Photography from New York University/International Center for Photography.
The opening reception is Saturday, Sept 22 from 7 to 9 pm, and you can look forward to some Shiner Bock and Wanda Dye’s infamous BBQ! This exhibition will be open during the State Fair of Texas on Thursdays through Sundays 1:00 to 5:00 pm through October 21.
There will be special demonstrations in conjunction with the exhibition: Sunday, September 23, 3:00 pm, Raw & Vegan Chef and Cook Book Author, Haylee Otto will demonstrate how to make milk from nuts and seeds. Sunday, Oct. 7, 3:00 pm, Lisa Staffelbach, Chef and Owner of 24 Carrot Health, will teach fermenting. Come learn how to make sauerkraut and take your own jar home! Sunday, Oct 14, 3:00 pm, Raw Food Chef Phebe Phiilips will demonstrate how to start a sprout farm and grow your vegetables indoors in your kitchen.
This belongs to a little restaurant in Gargnano on Lake Garda in Italy.
Way back when I worked full time as an environmental graphic designer, I designed elaborate sign systems for large commercial and health care architecture projects. I worked in this field before the ADA laws went into effect and when the creative possibilities were endless. I now work on mainly print graphic jobs and web design, but my old habit of checking out signage wherever I go is a habit I have yet to break.
