a cardinal in the magnolia morning

I hate zone 5

Just want to say how much I envy all of you in plant hardiness zones 8 and 9. I'd even take zone 7 over where I'm at! My taste in plants and landscaping are difficult to make happen in zone 5...but I try to make it work anyway. The May/June 2004 issue of Metropolitan Home is an issue I always go back to for coveting plants that do not grow natively here. (imo, the home they chose for the cover of this issue was gross - too contemporary) However... another featured home in that issue, a 1949 built Neutra, had the most beautiful landscape. Kangaroo paw, succulents, agave, flax, foxtail fern - all growing giant and beautiful. I love the look of those plants unfortuantely they are only annuals here so I have to purchase them year after year. Huge BUMMER! I bring many of my plants in during the winter months but I really do not have the space for them, nor the windows for light, and it's frustrating. I have a good sized foxtail fern that practically dies every winter but manages to hang on by a thread until I can get it back outside in May. Our white bird of paradise survived indoors this winter but the plant is enormous. I can't wait to get it out of the house!! Some succulents (hens and chicks) actually are perennials here and it's amazing to see them poke out of the snow. I'm buying more and more of them each summer and am already planning to put some in the bed out front where I usually plant zinias.

Not only was the landscaping fantastic at this Neutra home, the interior was beautifully decorated. I still drool over their Arne Jacobsen dining set.

landscaping

I have Spring fever in a bad way. All I can think about are landscaping projects that I want to do this summer. I came up with an idea for an outdoor bar this morning that I hope turns into reality. We could use a bar by the pool. I've been collecting pics of nice yards and patios. If you have any, send them my way. No such thing as too much inspiration!

DIY dog bed

I moved the white shell chair into the corner of our bedroom this weekend. The corner previously occupied by Lottie's "queen of the corner dog bed" that I made years ago by reupholstering an old oversized ottoman. She had some prime real estate in our tiny room! Now I had to come up with a bed for her that could be stored away when she wasn't lounging on it.

step one: Bought a fake flokati wool rug at WalMart for $14.99 (totally machine washable too). Had purchased a dog bed a few years ago but the cover for it finally bit the dust - the zipper broke and the cover was completely worn out. The bed insert however was still in great shape.

step two: Flip that cheap rug over and cut a slit in the center of the grippy rug backing. This particular rug was constructed so the rug itself and the backing were NOT connected. A perfect pocket!!!

step three: stuff in that dog bed insert.

Ta-dah! New stylish dog bed!


Fold in half and shove under the slat bench when not in use.

Lottie approved!

I could live here

Architect's website:
http://www.wrb.se/

oh my god, I won!

Dee Adams has surprise one-day giveaways on her blog... http://deedee914.blogspot.com/ . She has fabulous taste and gives away some amazing things like this sweet collection that I just won (i'm still in shock). She's an interior decorator, graphic designer, illustrator, and fine artist with an eye for the best in Scandinavian and mid-century modern vintage and inspired design. She's a big supporter of Etsy, lover of all things orange, and currently selling her original paintings and limited edition posters at her Etsy shop - also called deedee9:14. Her blog is an absolute must for furniture lovers, both vintage and pieces in current production. Just go there!!! You will not be disappointed!

Jenn dishtowel from Crate & Barrel

I love this towel. To whom it may concern...these are not for cleaning up BBQ sauce spills (I bought 3 just in case).
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=684&f=36213&q=Jenn+Dishtowel&fromLocation=Search&DIMID=400001&SearchPage=1

spring!

in case you're wondering, this tree is a Salix Caprea 'Curly Locks' or
Weeping Curly Locks Pussy Willow. it started budding last week and by Saturday, the silvery fuzzy buds were full size. ah, Spring!!

basement remodel: sub floor

Remember that fix the concrete around the pool project from 2007 that never panned out?? Remember when Mark drove all the way up to Grand Rapids, MI to buy more of the product for that project from someone on Craigslist?? Well, it wasn't a wasted trip afterall. We used that E-Z Stone stuff to coat the concrete sub floor instead of painting it. Since we are putting a floor on top of it, the only palce you'll be able to see this E-Z Stone coated floor will be in the new tool bench/work room portion of the basement and over by the furnace/hot water heater. Check out my new super quiet sub-pump valve in the background! Jealous, aren't you?!

what's new at the ranch

what a good morning it is... picked up this vintage teak tray last week and am finally putting it to use. it's a perfect breakfast tray for me!

before (and someday...after): shelf

I've been seaching for inspiration to finally finish a project that's been hanging over me like a dark cloud for years. I got a large shelf back in 1996 when I was living SoCal. After moving it back to Chicago with me, I attempted to strip it in 2001 only to find that beneath all that black oil-based paint was a shelf in not so great shape. Lots of deep drink rings and some parts of it were veneer. Ugh, what a thorn in my side this shelf has become. But 2010 is the year. The makeover it so deserves is going to happen!


It's going to be painted. I have a few colors in mind. Feel free to suggest a color or color combo for this beast!

basement remodel: drylok and the dumpster

Damn. Do we know how to have an awesome weekend or what? After removing any mold found on the concrete block, Mark treated it to prevent future mold growth and then I got to roll on the Drylok masonary waterproofing paint. We finished tearing out the old linoleum floor and it seems so much cleaner down there already.


We rented a dumpster for 5 hours so the pile of ripped out basement that's been stacking up around the pool is finally gone. It was a beautiful day for dumpster filling!! The warmest day of the year so far.

what's new at the ranch

I love this bench!
Brought it home on Tuesday.
Lottie, enough of the sad eyes.
I buy you stuff all the time.

I could live here

fail.

no. this feeder is not for you. please stop wedging yourself in there and pooping all over my stylish finch feeder.