Never Did Show You These....

I had intended to share some of my favorite snapshots of houses/buildings from our trip to Bermuda. Then I never did. So stingy.

It is so cold today, it will do us all some good to look at these lovely, colorful buildings and imagine a warm breeze blowing....

And here are some lovely shots from our day at the Royal Naval Dockyard. *sigh*

It is always good to get to know some of the locals.....

Now, who wants to meet me in the lounge for a Dark and Stormy??!?

St Peter's Church, Bermuda

The last full day we were in Bermuda we plucked up our courage and drove our little scooter all the way to the eastern tip of the island to see St. George's Parish. While there we saw St. Peter's Church....Wow.

The oldest parts of the structure date to 1620, and  it is believed to be the longest continuously used Anglican church in the Western Hemisphere.

I am sad to say that we were't able to tour the inside the day we were there. Even still, the outside of the building was so striking in its simplicity and beauty, especially against the intense blue of the sky, it made quite an impression on us.

The building is made from Limestone, and has Bermuda Cedar details like these lovely doors....

lamp posts, and rails....

Looking at these pictures just makes me happy.

Tomorrow I hope to post some pictures of cheerful houses with white roofs....

Bermuda Bliss

This year my husband and I celebrate 20 years of marriage.  Holy Wow. And for the first time since we had our children, we went away for a few days.....just the two of us.

Again, HOLY WOW.

I didn't realize how much we needed this time alone, away from it all, just to reconnect and recharge.

And what a picturesque, stunning place Bermuda is. I can't wait to share my pictures of all the gorgeous blooms, historic buildings, and colorful houses later this week! Stay tuned!....

Boredom in the Bedroom

Well, I don't know what you thought this post might be about..... but boredom in the bedroom, whatever kind we may be talking about, is not to be tolerated!

Just this past week, something made me take an honest look at my own bedroom....and I began to YAWN.

Now, it wasn't always this way. I have loved my bedroom and the things in it for a long time, but with all the other distractions, responsibilities, and things that just pull my attentions elsewhere, there hasn't been any love given to the space for the past few months. When I  took a step back and evaluated the state of things, the words "anemic" and "pathetic" readily came to mind--not really the vibe I was after.

It was time to get to work.

So, what about your Master Bedroom? Let's talk about what a Master Bedroom should be, and what it should not....

• A master bedroom is meant to be a personal retreat from the world. When you walk in and shut the door behind you (and the door should preferably have a working lock~ ahem) you should be able to feel you are removing yourself from your day to day stressors and giving yourself space for quiet.
• A master bedroom should not contain anything that pertains to your work.  I have redesigned bedrooms for clients who reluctanly went to bed at night because the space had a desk piled high with things needing their attention. It was the last thing they saw at night , and it greeted them first thing in the morning. No wonder they looked so tired.
• While the room should not contain things that irk you, it should contain things that delight your senses: soft lighting, a variety of textures (think satiny sheets and nubby chenille throws), colors that you find soothing, fresh (but not overpowering) scents, and flowers and /or plants that bring life and additional color to the room.
• And, most importantly, a master bedroom should contain order. If you have a pile of stuff on a chair in the corner, not only will you not have a place to sit, but you will feel annoyed. Annoyance is so NOT serenity.

I am glad to say that my bedroom is no longer a snorefest.

I bought some wonderful 300 count sheets in a soothing hue, found a decorative pillow that picks up some of the detail in the headboard and adds a punch to the existing color scheme.

Add some cuttings from the Ninebark shrub and Mexican Oregano plants right outside my front door, and the room comes to life.

Now the space is one that I am happy to retreat to after a long day.

Time To Get Outside

Tomorrow my kids have off from school. I, by default, will have off from work. There are so many beautiful things happening in the garden, and I am hoping that we will all get a chance to get outside and have some fun. I am dying to to pull some weeds, clean up the plants that have become overgrown, and make some room for some mums, kale and pansies. Fall is here, and it is time to celebrate!

Getting outside lately has been difficult. We have had rain, followed by drizzle.... And then more rain. Oh, and then it decides to rain again. I am beginning to feel that I live in a suburb of Seattle rather than Philadelphia.

I don't mind the moody overcast sky, but I have to admit I will very much enjoy a less humid air mass. My husband tells me there will be a cool breeze by this weekend~highs in the 60's?? Evenings in the 40's!!! YAY! Perfect gardening weather.

Are you ready to get outside and enjoy Autumn also?