White...and some black too

<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ahhh I would love to have <span style="font-size: large;">breakfast</span> here!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJr3JWQ3u9HZ7IrLlWGybthZsJheij8EqSdSDkZZcrae7_zwL5GbxHu_n9ursUFnkJgf-SyouRsYfJCqznCxPZfhyjDLrfDF6GoYHpVYB6auHaioAuJAUSariqAz5tRlgHETXNHhHLs4/s1600/1277998161.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJr3JWQ3u9HZ7IrLlWGybthZsJheij8EqSdSDkZZcrae7_zwL5GbxHu_n9ursUFnkJgf-SyouRsYfJCqznCxPZfhyjDLrfDF6GoYHpVYB6auHaioAuJAUSariqAz5tRlgHETXNHhHLs4/s640/1277998161.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This nordic house is typically white, bu</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">t</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2_ETMl8KQRwGYL3ucyiYwhmHOFEvx65TNLiJmLDwhjXVoWVm33SIcXTolKVeO42RCn4ysvHfJG371YOsf4oTFnL9mbXcfMSiRj7FDKBpqjC8jul8tMYo9oRoi14tHxEMrxLiRL4q6sQ/s1600/1277998268.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2_ETMl8KQRwGYL3ucyiYwhmHOFEvx65TNLiJmLDwhjXVoWVm33SIcXTolKVeO42RCn4ysvHfJG371YOsf4oTFnL9mbXcfMSiRj7FDKBpqjC8jul8tMYo9oRoi14tHxEMrxLiRL4q6sQ/s640/1277998268.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">has also some black touches. Like this tub! I love the Carpe Diem script upon it!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbbAqSs9U7UCgRzK4ASwidirhJPh9t4k_53IH3Fd4iLRfeyQbGKVYv0aBSCzUhLU4Brt_QKL7v1Dyk8mR1XlGIbEIdRSAwvu9glZeMJ2Sdilgze1hC9klRzaRS7gKSV73GILClOCMthk/s1600/1277998060.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbbAqSs9U7UCgRzK4ASwidirhJPh9t4k_53IH3Fd4iLRfeyQbGKVYv0aBSCzUhLU4Brt_QKL7v1Dyk8mR1XlGIbEIdRSAwvu9glZeMJ2Sdilgze1hC9klRzaRS7gKSV73GILClOCMthk/s640/1277998060.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufBjwyVLt7s6bSx5FdOy0klEtM0Q-hME0k8jzSJCvjJyPDqsfgS5pqcH_3yXqPQA6nA2jk8ilBIPtRPWKzrtWDJ0HvCEorZ7YJ2XI7FX65w21DqgJTJI1EuvfLfscSlgjPrsPwnw-5ng/s1600/1277998116.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufBjwyVLt7s6bSx5FdOy0klEtM0Q-hME0k8jzSJCvjJyPDqsfgS5pqcH_3yXqPQA6nA2jk8ilBIPtRPWKzrtWDJ0HvCEorZ7YJ2XI7FX65w21DqgJTJI1EuvfLfscSlgjPrsPwnw-5ng/s640/1277998116.png" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEXLevJyz4rDuumZNrxOiOxCxP27dt4OjFYweZnEVpta1Wsl1S65fp5ziiYpjID4H7aqN072arrKrtdQtHMWmPjy5QxZX8K_ar1iIXGZmYavKFA2YYeMNdxuF8xia9g6LJ3Wwh7ZQygE/s1600/1277998213.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEXLevJyz4rDuumZNrxOiOxCxP27dt4OjFYweZnEVpta1Wsl1S65fp5ziiYpjID4H7aqN072arrKrtdQtHMWmPjy5QxZX8K_ar1iIXGZmYavKFA2YYeMNdxuF8xia9g6LJ3Wwh7ZQygE/s640/1277998213.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://boligpluss.no/">credits</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have a nice week end my dearests!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSp5a__6x00pWdSz3nZ0CgUNER_tsw3RQoqMT78df0vmyhUg-xkOmzk5xe__whr_lCQQIX__b-YR3JMMbW94vqEZUjo3La8sWoRYnz-X8gNIoMZTCh7gHTa6L56kLCtykLEEIsVw711Qs/s1600/firma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSp5a__6x00pWdSz3nZ0CgUNER_tsw3RQoqMT78df0vmyhUg-xkOmzk5xe__whr_lCQQIX__b-YR3JMMbW94vqEZUjo3La8sWoRYnz-X8gNIoMZTCh7gHTa6L56kLCtykLEEIsVw711Qs/s320/firma.jpg" /></a></div>

White...and some black too

Ahhh I would love to have breakfast here! This nordic house is typically white, bu t has also some black touches. Like this tub! I love the...

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Art attack

Firstly I wanted to thank everyone for your get-well wishes - you guys are so sweet. I'm feeling much better today, and I'm sure those couple of lazy days doing absolutely nothing have helped no end. So while I've quite enjoyed kicking back, watching dvds and catching up on reading, I do find it quite frustrating not to be working on my cabinet makeover - especially when it's sitting right in front of me! That's been set aside for when I can muster the energy, so in the meantime my thoughts have turned to painting.<br /><br />When it comes to my art, I probably have enough ideas to last a lifetime. This week has been great for giving me time to plan, refocus and potter around my studio - I've cleaned and tidied my desk (which was no mean feat!), finished a couple of orders, and started to pull together some bits and pieces for my next piece. I've also organised to frame this work my youngest daughter did at school recently:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhcZzsx6n-ABhIA5U_IMjeZ2a_O4NeRPt8mVMZGklHzTZEmcxQCZZRLMq5ixZqs5Uru0NfUtZU4AGIigzuo_51Oc8OzaidVTMHPGzBUpyfNJXpd3k1eiWT0alBOYWJ63dfMGl2bqDFDQ/s1600/DSC03497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhcZzsx6n-ABhIA5U_IMjeZ2a_O4NeRPt8mVMZGklHzTZEmcxQCZZRLMq5ixZqs5Uru0NfUtZU4AGIigzuo_51Oc8OzaidVTMHPGzBUpyfNJXpd3k1eiWT0alBOYWJ63dfMGl2bqDFDQ/s400/DSC03497.JPG" width="393" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />I love it, and the fact that she designed the whole thing herself is pretty impressive I think. Once it's framed, I'll hang it in my studio, alongside some other masterpieces by my older two.<br /><br />Right, now that I've spent most of this post bragging, I'll show you a few of the things I'll be using in some of my own works. I'm always on the lookout for really diverse bits and pieces, and my plan is to incorporate them into some mixed-media works that will soon be for sale. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtOmUfcKtXgSsbvVoER9zkchc8yVSlXYAmJxuMjSKwDY4hhkiUrl9Gi7byvmq59TCXenchMEnVdXVgXUw4Jdk217BRdbRwKEqOsVNzEQz_aDELNl4NhZh2bC7n_vuEtGFaXZg5ggoLeQ/s1600/DSC03516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtOmUfcKtXgSsbvVoER9zkchc8yVSlXYAmJxuMjSKwDY4hhkiUrl9Gi7byvmq59TCXenchMEnVdXVgXUw4Jdk217BRdbRwKEqOsVNzEQz_aDELNl4NhZh2bC7n_vuEtGFaXZg5ggoLeQ/s400/DSC03516.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Japanese paper, wood blocks, hand-made parchment, jute twine...mmm</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPf0DR8E59iQ4ozVAI0irtf65AIagxVn5uHfay4FwWEDYZjCnUObpaxeW9PvEkJKm3U9TTI_UQct4pcbY1V6UdIvDvFquIyPVy36ObvslOxTWaPyDO0tOnVvmaGQzLx7yvon3_E_iQQKM/s1600/DSC03498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPf0DR8E59iQ4ozVAI0irtf65AIagxVn5uHfay4FwWEDYZjCnUObpaxeW9PvEkJKm3U9TTI_UQct4pcbY1V6UdIvDvFquIyPVy36ObvslOxTWaPyDO0tOnVvmaGQzLx7yvon3_E_iQQKM/s400/DSC03498.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm really keen to get started, so I'll catch you all soon!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>

Art attack

Firstly I wanted to thank everyone for your get-well wishes - you guys are so sweet. I'm feeling much better today, and I'm sure tho...

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Full Bloom Cottage

<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.fullbloomcottage.com/">Full Bloom Cottage</a> is a on line shop specialised in antique French furnishing.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWcOrWFShHgvC3NgRcIivSg4GLyjGt3DxOQblWGllC4zKoqLf7ekYJDRh8PeA2K-x7k44GEQAUG9I6Zc1TOqOAkF0HCXWuR1_YMe5-Dzmfglv_Owtb5K-efGXkuAq1Du3gqgIE3Uum-s/s1600/1278099261.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWcOrWFShHgvC3NgRcIivSg4GLyjGt3DxOQblWGllC4zKoqLf7ekYJDRh8PeA2K-x7k44GEQAUG9I6Zc1TOqOAkF0HCXWuR1_YMe5-Dzmfglv_Owtb5K-efGXkuAq1Du3gqgIE3Uum-s/s400/1278099261.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSS45lcSyYCPsQZed1q7QgDAVmn3373vKw4HXqxAt3Cp1zywqy8ILgqAuZQ77qC_tfUeeXtPHbtFRLetz9OYM3t-2N0XD1FDaLa-zrb3bDv7FTzeAO5RFS_eQVhQdsLpGN2Zew0JyJpis/s1600/1278099304.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSS45lcSyYCPsQZed1q7QgDAVmn3373vKw4HXqxAt3Cp1zywqy8ILgqAuZQ77qC_tfUeeXtPHbtFRLetz9OYM3t-2N0XD1FDaLa-zrb3bDv7FTzeAO5RFS_eQVhQdsLpGN2Zew0JyJpis/s400/1278099304.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Loretta, the owner, also has a beautiful </span><a href="http://www.fullbloomcottage.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">blog</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUl_q6QlRu3wTkyU9n7kXUqQex5LWdeYWpzz65O4Nz24D8_KWsU_bvlsTQXpfmRhjrtgwML47A0JDeyBmfmFSIOlSbb-bcWpTRUPLMObL-d4WxvfV5qOdhVbQToZ98AUoNlCXSeYscmw/s1600/1278099223.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUl_q6QlRu3wTkyU9n7kXUqQex5LWdeYWpzz65O4Nz24D8_KWsU_bvlsTQXpfmRhjrtgwML47A0JDeyBmfmFSIOlSbb-bcWpTRUPLMObL-d4WxvfV5qOdhVbQToZ98AUoNlCXSeYscmw/s400/1278099223.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I found her blog and shop, I was sighing all the time because of the wonderful images!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9gxbDKE88zc0W8PSRdUJ_SOi3AV8kETGKD8WJ9_lOj1lNZdfuJeOeyp_zoY80IvGyslJItP498oGh8kpPjzI3K1XaYAvcX4_g0iN_CsNBVrAUm4ccizCj3QMyVNr_uKftBFzDwlC-oQ/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="419" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9gxbDKE88zc0W8PSRdUJ_SOi3AV8kETGKD8WJ9_lOj1lNZdfuJeOeyp_zoY80IvGyslJItP498oGh8kpPjzI3K1XaYAvcX4_g0iN_CsNBVrAUm4ccizCj3QMyVNr_uKftBFzDwlC-oQ/s640/1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These images are just what I need now! A little bit of <span style="font-size: large;">eye candy</span>!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> We are running to finish some big works at my new house, so hopefully next week we will go on holiday!</span></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV11so51-JhSJV88x5JSn6EmJg7s27-S6gdWpw3r3fiP4hoYxluZp9jyktfQvL_BCv3iNngbs9NO6CjeKgB08GlSAAtvvqpXONnpVe5NmRO5zXsTb1J2JXMqsItoGjLWJHksQqi-lXWBg/s1600/1278099375.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV11so51-JhSJV88x5JSn6EmJg7s27-S6gdWpw3r3fiP4hoYxluZp9jyktfQvL_BCv3iNngbs9NO6CjeKgB08GlSAAtvvqpXONnpVe5NmRO5zXsTb1J2JXMqsItoGjLWJHksQqi-lXWBg/s400/1278099375.png" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really need a vacation! My <span style="font-size: large;">head is so full of projects</span>, home decor ideas and many other stuff that I don't even know if what I've already chosen for my house is the right choice!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroHmEoWAsC7QaYMQJNlvjw4PB8FtxR_Gf67ze6htsSnCrUdZiqf7-LqhTMKoJlPuB4poX6MmX27N2bKtZIOKWkT6v2dS43x54bfjAfOFAGlT_xl7x8Q8q_SqLl4JwES1bNgn1OmluzVg/s1600/1278099092.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroHmEoWAsC7QaYMQJNlvjw4PB8FtxR_Gf67ze6htsSnCrUdZiqf7-LqhTMKoJlPuB4poX6MmX27N2bKtZIOKWkT6v2dS43x54bfjAfOFAGlT_xl7x8Q8q_SqLl4JwES1bNgn1OmluzVg/s400/1278099092.png" width="365" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fullbloomcottage.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">credits</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I think that a little break is just what I need! No projects, no ideas and absolutely nothing apart from rest! Yes! That's what I want!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRD0TF2vDafQiT3SXlLMbZ3Es7Y0b6FlZqHRCAKtcR6btVdTtexDHLlgAc4KL_RrYvo0iC-XBoeRKtAU4oE9R2QT2hlSRKTQ_6KZ2w81UG2HakCPOChwMh_wbJhGT5W0n-Y-azzxNC84/s1600/firma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRD0TF2vDafQiT3SXlLMbZ3Es7Y0b6FlZqHRCAKtcR6btVdTtexDHLlgAc4KL_RrYvo0iC-XBoeRKtAU4oE9R2QT2hlSRKTQ_6KZ2w81UG2HakCPOChwMh_wbJhGT5W0n-Y-azzxNC84/s320/firma.jpg" /></a></div>

Full Bloom Cottage

Full Bloom Cottage is a on line shop specialised in antique French furnishing. Loretta, the owner, also has a beautiful blog When I found h...

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Summer Dreams

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXiyMNfPdN58QjxvwzbBtKgdOLtRHcL3ITuYORhkcCB4lfvMsVlYbyTWud_rbHGRQBA3uI9J0VbZ0qr0SFoSl0KZX3QeamvalG7kec-83UBhLnZKbxteS_QsrRRwS13Kmaumg4z-fqI0/s1600/1279376017.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXiyMNfPdN58QjxvwzbBtKgdOLtRHcL3ITuYORhkcCB4lfvMsVlYbyTWud_rbHGRQBA3uI9J0VbZ0qr0SFoSl0KZX3QeamvalG7kec-83UBhLnZKbxteS_QsrRRwS13Kmaumg4z-fqI0/s640/1279376017.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">credits: </span><a href="http://tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">, </span><a href="http://vintagecottagefrench.tumblr.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">2</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">, </span><a href="http://vintagecottagefrench.tumblr.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">3</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">, </span><a href="http://justbesplendid.tumblr.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">4</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgop0__XBedwohUdNWAbTiTjScbdpom9uYKS3zNTF_-4aWbX2_OR3VTvuhUHtmOqjMISaoVbSk2pdkx9YlK3DxewiBwh2LdkYJ_UUD7589qwjCZAowzN0YS2JzMZ_puZIT_zDCAiGExA/s1600/quote_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgop0__XBedwohUdNWAbTiTjScbdpom9uYKS3zNTF_-4aWbX2_OR3VTvuhUHtmOqjMISaoVbSk2pdkx9YlK3DxewiBwh2LdkYJ_UUD7589qwjCZAowzN0YS2JzMZ_puZIT_zDCAiGExA/s640/quote_5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHRfMkNsJcZaEBkjIUHFuMxYA44wBd9JK-7fqm485lvgxqQqlGf4moC1vc-2t97W0drPjP_ktIBs4tAsolly_XwrKlUhCWZnR_hSOzrcpXsmZVcpYkv0trmizCHYAkXncBcMQ2Yezj9g/s1600/firma1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHRfMkNsJcZaEBkjIUHFuMxYA44wBd9JK-7fqm485lvgxqQqlGf4moC1vc-2t97W0drPjP_ktIBs4tAsolly_XwrKlUhCWZnR_hSOzrcpXsmZVcpYkv0trmizCHYAkXncBcMQ2Yezj9g/s320/firma1.jpg" /></a></div>

Summer Dreams

credits: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4

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I'd rather be here today...

...because I'm under the weather with a lingering flu bug. Of course, the chances of me spending the day in bed are next to none, but hey, I can dream can't I?<br /><br />So my lovelies, I'm thinking a lazy day is just what the doctor ordered, and I might use the time to catch up on some reading as well.  <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeul0QZpt1SomlSrOKsgySDH-8i-oeAqC8yulrecYWqy5MoRHZEMa4VeJ2vPA9a1-fk9OGQIXDyAsrT28an0nLk9wuKrM35kdMkjFR4bO_i1bulmBvGiZKlVP2D1gNJ3GN-dOcQti5Rw/s1600/lazybones.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeul0QZpt1SomlSrOKsgySDH-8i-oeAqC8yulrecYWqy5MoRHZEMa4VeJ2vPA9a1-fk9OGQIXDyAsrT28an0nLk9wuKrM35kdMkjFR4bO_i1bulmBvGiZKlVP2D1gNJ3GN-dOcQti5Rw/s640/lazybones.png" width="468" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">photo courtesy <a href="http://lazybones.com.au/">lazybones.com.au</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Now that I think about it, my day is sounding pretty good right about now! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Catch you all soon,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a></div>

I'd rather be here today...

...because I'm under the weather with a lingering flu bug. Of course, the chances of me spending the day in bed are next to none, but he...

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The Books Cafe'

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Morning Ladies!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Here we are for the second <span style="font-size: large;">Books Cafè</span>!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopbc9dfS60vSjO8SoX4_Xi_xbqB_Q2GRmHPErO4fl-xzY_PTPTxvqcR7l_b1VJpsQ_aYaaW8tpCzJi9EdsVfBbnWgwvVOD6CNrbE_YJzgvHUzs-NI1azGTVhAED5_20l1Gkjt4bDynmw/s1600/books_caf%C3%A8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopbc9dfS60vSjO8SoX4_Xi_xbqB_Q2GRmHPErO4fl-xzY_PTPTxvqcR7l_b1VJpsQ_aYaaW8tpCzJi9EdsVfBbnWgwvVOD6CNrbE_YJzgvHUzs-NI1azGTVhAED5_20l1Gkjt4bDynmw/s400/books_caf%C3%A8.png" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I've told you the theme is <span style="font-size: large;">"Summer Reading".</span> So you can talk about a book you've read last summer, or a book you want to suggest to someone who's packing her/his luggages for holidays or a book you've read during a very special summer.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I will talk about a <span style="font-size: large;">book very special to me</span>. I've read it during Summer 2008. At that time I was 4 months pregnant...yes just at the beginning. Me and little Sofia (well at that time I didn't know she was a girl...I used to call her "French bean") had just got over a critic period and went to the mountains for rest.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The book I read in August 2008 was <span style="font-size: large;">"The Orange Girl" by Jostein Gaarder</span>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">"La ragazza delle arance" di Jostein Gaarder, for my italian friends.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJZN1ZRqJeMBPtZQK9uepitA3f-oNptWqC57Cw-MV0CwuNMCBCVLFgyKLqwg1NSOXBtzuyIay2JIWVks1MiBsDgl7ZYLuHUz68uJW_cl7kwiFEXjYrGYE_oUi69n4vfotOyp9SqnrVpI/s1600/cover2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJZN1ZRqJeMBPtZQK9uepitA3f-oNptWqC57Cw-MV0CwuNMCBCVLFgyKLqwg1NSOXBtzuyIay2JIWVks1MiBsDgl7ZYLuHUz68uJW_cl7kwiFEXjYrGYE_oUi69n4vfotOyp9SqnrVpI/s200/cover2.jpg" width="130" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcZOHRaMTPvAVwp2oM8SEYjG0c88EIQptuLytGJjfP9GspzbbxBZkcpxgnNgrbU8YmssCGX0Kaff6ImkiM0ba3zSo1-lJeyM7y4HS9e3HOPooAdR8SxWiVjOY9QqtLeZ7wCVrQyhD5EU/s1600/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcZOHRaMTPvAVwp2oM8SEYjG0c88EIQptuLytGJjfP9GspzbbxBZkcpxgnNgrbU8YmssCGX0Kaff6ImkiM0ba3zSo1-lJeyM7y4HS9e3HOPooAdR8SxWiVjOY9QqtLeZ7wCVrQyhD5EU/s320/cover.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jostein Gaarder is one of <span style="font-size: large;">my fave writers</span>!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"The Orange Girl" is a book about a fifteen years old boy, Greg, who discovers a letter from his father who is passed away when he was too little to have memories of him.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In this letter the father tells Greg the <span style="font-size: large;">magical love story</span> between him and "The Orange Girl". How he felt in love with a girl who was carring a bag of oranges in a cold day of autumn in Oslo, Norway. How he tried to found out more about her and how they incredibly met in Sevilla, Spain.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZto-D4B5Ov3Y7NYbzrZxIAuEYCIrkH6tn7EEg4yewBCeGm1Q_mN0ViD56cCgeE-A0WOlLwgA7LgeuxGTmY5tMeBesCKob0tEiGjyDTWMK0v5C9MwKx1XTaerc4fSkhMxLNhISJMZhe4E/s1600/cuori.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZto-D4B5Ov3Y7NYbzrZxIAuEYCIrkH6tn7EEg4yewBCeGm1Q_mN0ViD56cCgeE-A0WOlLwgA7LgeuxGTmY5tMeBesCKob0tEiGjyDTWMK0v5C9MwKx1XTaerc4fSkhMxLNhISJMZhe4E/s400/cuori.png" width="266" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Thanks to this letter Greg learns to know his father and also his origins.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">But this letter, written by a man who knows he is about to die and leave a son alone in the world, is also an incredibly <span style="font-size: large;">concentrate of love for life</span>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">With this letter Greg's father wants to teach his son how to live with joy every day, how to be always curious of the world, how to understan</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">d that life is a misterious gift so full of opportunities...</span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Iad0A3k1hNHt1vckAYg5zsZJMElxNazC2QQvqa8lF0N1IborZsrgNjcypdFj5wmpV9c3lZIxG-gUoRfGCk-DKlOG6B1Q0MMMB58vRW7oQpWsAKwHMpnZX2k-wI2QmVlBAjP03OnZGhg/s1600/mappa.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Iad0A3k1hNHt1vckAYg5zsZJMElxNazC2QQvqa8lF0N1IborZsrgNjcypdFj5wmpV9c3lZIxG-gUoRfGCk-DKlOG6B1Q0MMMB58vRW7oQpWsAKwHMpnZX2k-wI2QmVlBAjP03OnZGhg/s400/mappa.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com/">credits</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I <span style="font-size: large;">couldn't read a better book while I was expecting</span>! When I finished it I promised to myself: I want to teach to my little French Bean that life is wonderful ....with its successes and mistakes....</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">.... that our world is a mistery that we have never ever stop to try to understand!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>RULES TO ENTER THE BOOKS CAFE':</strong></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Link up a post of yours talking about a book with the theme "Summer Reading". You can talk about a book you've read last summer, or a book you want to suggest to someone who's packing her/his luggages for holidays or a book you've read during a very special summer.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Post can be in english or italian;</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Link back in to this Books Cafè post, so that people can find out this little books friends corner!</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiEevSzSm-NcgUhiEv7WOftu_CUNJSCoLTOemmYmOwX9HC0PAlg_E2FNElK2DGiBWrx_0vAuUhxOTGAKmZaZ8-T3fCFuAlNeQKtt15XGmIQ8nl9yodHRMJWkTYRNoOXeHsWXNdSZyGQ4/s1600/book_caf%C3%A8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiEevSzSm-NcgUhiEv7WOftu_CUNJSCoLTOemmYmOwX9HC0PAlg_E2FNElK2DGiBWrx_0vAuUhxOTGAKmZaZ8-T3fCFuAlNeQKtt15XGmIQ8nl9yodHRMJWkTYRNoOXeHsWXNdSZyGQ4/s320/book_caf%C3%A8.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_DzjlBFpiE8koZ2yVqevSAm-jZGwHwE_wX6m70qAq238hdDDI84DDVUHQmHxe94uhUkltb1bFX6dAX8JfF-Jt13d1SlByeY23QNYp1w-uuwz9UD7qHyAPEFLo7sX6tQyFAOUApmuMUOI/s1600/firma1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_DzjlBFpiE8koZ2yVqevSAm-jZGwHwE_wX6m70qAq238hdDDI84DDVUHQmHxe94uhUkltb1bFX6dAX8JfF-Jt13d1SlByeY23QNYp1w-uuwz9UD7qHyAPEFLo7sX6tQyFAOUApmuMUOI/s320/firma1.jpg" /></a></div><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=36261" type="text/javascript"></script>

The Books Cafe'

Morning Ladies! Here we are for the second Books Cafè ! I've told you the theme is "Summer Reading". So you can talk about a ...

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How excitement!

Just a quick visit to blogland this morning - I have a big day ahead! This morning, I'm catching up with an old friend I haven't seen for ages (Hi Susan!) and she's popping in to have a look at my <a href="http://driftwood-interiors.blogspot.com/2010/05/my-big-planthe-kitchen-makeover-at-last.html">newly painted kitchen</a>. I'm really looking forward to it, and thought you might like to see what I whipped up this morning:<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-EpZNHbF7TMGhsdLUwHg5pgxm5tXJ9Kf7tUnrRkPqQKlc7pZZhlnbxKPqOpL0WxaO2Cqy0QTvoQIj4kJUuDcUNuBu2Ou0E63NZjGFcOryHeqz25kmH2iZpiJVsgyqBssdO7Vna6TuFE/s1600/tea+via+whats+cooking+america+com+HighTeaLemonCookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-EpZNHbF7TMGhsdLUwHg5pgxm5tXJ9Kf7tUnrRkPqQKlc7pZZhlnbxKPqOpL0WxaO2Cqy0QTvoQIj4kJUuDcUNuBu2Ou0E63NZjGFcOryHeqz25kmH2iZpiJVsgyqBssdO7Vna6TuFE/s640/tea+via+whats+cooking+america+com+HighTeaLemonCookies.jpg" width="520" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://whatscookingamerica.com/">source </a></span></div><br /><div style="color: black; text-align: center;">Domestic goddess - you betcha!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then, later today, I'm going to head off to meet someone many of you will already know: the creator of this</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NLZCE63UHPqrSdjBLz18Rmv5hqUGmiwce31pS6zHWgBMqMRN2YKF9dmPFfbvCkoVfDMgrYVkBNQm4lmbDnIU0LTUMA1KmcIVyxYloCcPo5At9emiPouiAN7fjDX1n4SS7y_jWxEEEms/s1600/tranquil+townhouse+juju+on+wall3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NLZCE63UHPqrSdjBLz18Rmv5hqUGmiwce31pS6zHWgBMqMRN2YKF9dmPFfbvCkoVfDMgrYVkBNQm4lmbDnIU0LTUMA1KmcIVyxYloCcPo5At9emiPouiAN7fjDX1n4SS7y_jWxEEEms/s400/tranquil+townhouse+juju+on+wall3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> and this..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdC46GCyN3-4nVxgn6iIx4wC1LNN3STJ7tev0OzVXSsRYStwpknUM0_9rXvoREmx7N-TJdFkcxhN2sV9SURC5pxvl90xFvR1qL4fJ167Udqy85ttPY-ejJW77Bg4zaiUunMMOBPbgqw4A/s1600/tranquil+townhouse+crochet+squares+sample.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdC46GCyN3-4nVxgn6iIx4wC1LNN3STJ7tev0OzVXSsRYStwpknUM0_9rXvoREmx7N-TJdFkcxhN2sV9SURC5pxvl90xFvR1qL4fJ167Udqy85ttPY-ejJW77Bg4zaiUunMMOBPbgqw4A/s640/tranquil+townhouse+crochet+squares+sample.jpg" width="481" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Yep, that's right - I'm catching up with my namesake <span style="color: magenta;">Kerry</span>...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpU2NJ_NwsNSXxu8ptwgEiylJbp1radhnmfYYsh7TKEBzd6Z3asZ7TKoGzyVeVKlE7_TJDQvOP2lP2xHL3ilo1L9VjEQAoucYZp39YrXop7ypaxZJfCbPGUrU2uZwXV5tD_-anNbGx9s/s1600/tranquilbanner1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpU2NJ_NwsNSXxu8ptwgEiylJbp1radhnmfYYsh7TKEBzd6Z3asZ7TKoGzyVeVKlE7_TJDQvOP2lP2xHL3ilo1L9VjEQAoucYZp39YrXop7ypaxZJfCbPGUrU2uZwXV5tD_-anNbGx9s/s640/tranquilbanner1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">...from <a href="http://tranquiltownhouse.blogspot.com/">A Tranquil Townhouse</a>! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">How excitement! So, if you're in Brissie today, and you happen to see two crazy women talking ten to the dozen in your local coffee shop, it will probably be us! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hope you have a great day too, and I really wish you could all join us. Maybe there needs to be some discussion of a future bloggers' convention......? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

How excitement!

Just a quick visit to blogland this morning - I have a big day ahead! This morning, I'm catching up with an old friend I haven't see...

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Afternoon by the pool...

<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What can you do on a <span style="font-size: large;">hot summer afternoon</span>? </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When you ate every single movement because it makes you sweat, but your baby is so full of energy (how can she???) that is running up and down the house and just cannot stay quite?</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Simple: <span style="font-size: large;">relax by the pool</span>!</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdTbRIP6O46Q9ITBbGBK6H_tAXjRkhq0uRCSkL0d-YmKYbYJIAoEmDe-gUwoCq45FqtTROt09IYd4DcLknX4mK-GEN6fWrWf2ECKTla0e7oDP3gZaZupkGBT5AAWXornJfTNLUkj7HMk/s1600/pool.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdTbRIP6O46Q9ITBbGBK6H_tAXjRkhq0uRCSkL0d-YmKYbYJIAoEmDe-gUwoCq45FqtTROt09IYd4DcLknX4mK-GEN6fWrWf2ECKTla0e7oDP3gZaZupkGBT5AAWXornJfTNLUkj7HMk/s400/pool.png" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBoj-bGReblGNJefx3EdyKjSEclnHB_IWWBPNet-wd7yDCkP_WOdL9MB7Wz4hFIT_GIxTRNnpeM7rnPWSXwBbJ3Bh_un2UHeJtsMZffsL27TzU3mQz5ld5l7IwIYFf719wlDkXUwojqoI/s400/pool1.png" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, unfortunately I DON'T have such a wonderful swimming pool.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">So yesterday I placed Sofia' s little plastic swimming pool in the terrace </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">and spent the afternoon watching her enojoying <span style="font-size: large;">playing with the water</span>!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dScsG5uh1sz88FJF6Ydl_6LrLCTP40SCHYqcA1xeLGOvqQXIliPbhsFuDRR209BwxZgOE4UMNRvjmRlDxrpdoOmmGYxioZAgdrSMk0BGivQZgaXwlMwtGHPmBVU4n0NsaatEjo_GCEc/s1600/sofia_pool.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dScsG5uh1sz88FJF6Ydl_6LrLCTP40SCHYqcA1xeLGOvqQXIliPbhsFuDRR209BwxZgOE4UMNRvjmRlDxrpdoOmmGYxioZAgdrSMk0BGivQZgaXwlMwtGHPmBVU4n0NsaatEjo_GCEc/s640/sofia_pool.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course it ended up I was completely wet as well, but we had fun and refreshed a little bit! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rdC5F6YmHv32Cyzbd6Jy_z2VTFFZJV4dMBZ94S9YDoFI3DC4rsGkdqLeNz5JDyW7pfAfMVYTzBGjn1YrkPBby_r7XStEyXD6PELVsUqjCV8m9pWpX3QU6e8RW9YMIlnZbIVcRiKmF2g/s1600/firma1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rdC5F6YmHv32Cyzbd6Jy_z2VTFFZJV4dMBZ94S9YDoFI3DC4rsGkdqLeNz5JDyW7pfAfMVYTzBGjn1YrkPBby_r7XStEyXD6PELVsUqjCV8m9pWpX3QU6e8RW9YMIlnZbIVcRiKmF2g/s320/firma1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div>

Afternoon by the pool...

What can you do on a hot summer afternoon ? When you ate every single movement because it makes you sweat, but your baby is so full of energ...

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The Chaos Theory

Those who know me well also know that I can be <strike>hugely</strike> a little on the messy side, especially when I'm working on a new painting. And to make matters worse, after a while, I find it impossible to ignore the chaos. That's exactly what's happened this week. I've had quite a few ideas for new artwork, but I just can't manage to get going on it when my studio looks like it's been ransacked. So yesterday, I spent a few hours tidying up, and while I still have a few things to take care of (like organising my tax return paperwork - argh!) it's looking much better, and already I'm feeling clearer and more focused. While I'm honest enough to realise I'll never be capable of keeping a fastidiously tidy studio, it doesn't stop me from being smitten when I spy lovely examples of serene (and tidy!) work spaces. And if said workspace happens to overlook a stunning garden (and maybe a pool?) then who am I to argue?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAy4aViptt9-_MyHDNgQtabVcAcGHEre8F_qtZzRMV8Bc1ywWuOOoeCp5p1bzDwL50Ciq6KCZQnmNWh_rQTJmihd8gXEAoIpvyDR2iOH-SpLrNoIHnIe51EATfraTx8NCBr_d7L59WK4/s1600/poolhouse+studio+maggie+tabberer+barn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="617" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAy4aViptt9-_MyHDNgQtabVcAcGHEre8F_qtZzRMV8Bc1ywWuOOoeCp5p1bzDwL50Ciq6KCZQnmNWh_rQTJmihd8gXEAoIpvyDR2iOH-SpLrNoIHnIe51EATfraTx8NCBr_d7L59WK4/s640/poolhouse+studio+maggie+tabberer+barn.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Maggie Tabberer's barn in the Southern Highlands</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcfJIWDG2v2vGFaY3FuIlXJiNtCZdjk5KMp9gkG-jI6Lm5IN4gDvLHZ75CXrQ6Cm_0KwfHBtmF4tcows4ldUlSzahMlEvCMRadjVErF7KknsPRs5pZv3G3dT0gEk8MQDKIC7YbVUuvNc/s1600/poolhouse+studio+bellevue+st+avalon1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcfJIWDG2v2vGFaY3FuIlXJiNtCZdjk5KMp9gkG-jI6Lm5IN4gDvLHZ75CXrQ6Cm_0KwfHBtmF4tcows4ldUlSzahMlEvCMRadjVErF7KknsPRs5pZv3G3dT0gEk8MQDKIC7YbVUuvNc/s640/poolhouse+studio+bellevue+st+avalon1.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Avalon stunner via <a href="http://realestate.com.au/">realestate.com.au</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUM3OBREF-pkSulc1U12hlgDFEV2QFSGL0y8rQ_IXGtEHpYxAMcqvzKSJbKorMQnx7V1aGaKftLXSVq_sLprv5rOxPfxh0lx5RxHRXFJzpVeuLz7g6FgFS5Bh5O10vCMvVK6Sli0_Rwo/s1600/poolhouse+studio+carithers_exterior_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="441" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUM3OBREF-pkSulc1U12hlgDFEV2QFSGL0y8rQ_IXGtEHpYxAMcqvzKSJbKorMQnx7V1aGaKftLXSVq_sLprv5rOxPfxh0lx5RxHRXFJzpVeuLz7g6FgFS5Bh5O10vCMvVK6Sli0_Rwo/s640/poolhouse+studio+carithers_exterior_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">source</span> <span style="font-size: x-small;">unknown</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VXfDA5jma39EfU59wzZXHAHTT6lq7V4QTMojw2sH6pfHicSlRY97nhrBXgfPd-OjFW7Ls8rJ1EgZfP-QhFXHkuH9bV1gFb5qNg27lq9ltWlNgZZTC698wvxquUne7DbNS9VD4lzu5Zw/s1600/poolhouse+studio+carithers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VXfDA5jma39EfU59wzZXHAHTT6lq7V4QTMojw2sH6pfHicSlRY97nhrBXgfPd-OjFW7Ls8rJ1EgZfP-QhFXHkuH9bV1gFb5qNg27lq9ltWlNgZZTC698wvxquUne7DbNS9VD4lzu5Zw/s640/poolhouse+studio+carithers.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">source</span> <span style="font-size: x-small;">unknown</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Would it be too greedy to want this next one just a little bigger? Probably, but hey, this is my fantasy studio, so I'm going to upsize my order.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVBZbcj9SJfrhkCfWu76bj86c38trLKxvNVQG2yB79mXVtasR9vnHm9mB29mS49khZIF7kkcsQ98J2WoaRNz1OiM7Z5Qu3Gz0xm5KjPqMxf5vi_ZHNiSzazBRbgTJrLwMgUUdAeoUik8/s1600/poolhouse+studio+via+traditional+home+dormitorio+de+invitados+junto+a+la+piscina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVBZbcj9SJfrhkCfWu76bj86c38trLKxvNVQG2yB79mXVtasR9vnHm9mB29mS49khZIF7kkcsQ98J2WoaRNz1OiM7Z5Qu3Gz0xm5KjPqMxf5vi_ZHNiSzazBRbgTJrLwMgUUdAeoUik8/s640/poolhouse+studio+via+traditional+home+dormitorio+de+invitados+junto+a+la+piscina.jpg" width="483" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">via <a href="http://traditionalhome.com/">traditionalhome.com</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyAeEUFGXGVX_oPqO57teqU4Bjtnl_YrDL0c-bSxEeXgIk08hM0kjpnNbUT4GcoZfM0fs7xSCxLYX2QlBw2K2wTU6_qpN-CeZIsgoUWUodStnuDM8RjvbxLH8gsKMAi0_Dh9T6W-sAZPM/s1600/poolhouse+studio+chester_6673via+canadian+house+and+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyAeEUFGXGVX_oPqO57teqU4Bjtnl_YrDL0c-bSxEeXgIk08hM0kjpnNbUT4GcoZfM0fs7xSCxLYX2QlBw2K2wTU6_qpN-CeZIsgoUWUodStnuDM8RjvbxLH8gsKMAi0_Dh9T6W-sAZPM/s640/poolhouse+studio+chester_6673via+canadian+house+and+home.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">via <a href="http://canadianhouseandhome.com/">canadianhouseandhome.com</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0YQzchqFaMYqRrqlSr9fTmpJdlqj7ppUW6tU154um08XqwUf-xEmoiD5d1BJSSOb5CrikPM1oKhmrKm64gcFwLdspy0e01QxRW05Z0tkSNRCHSxKfspp4NJRpZp1KQdufzbFq1BX3dBM/s1600/poolhouse+studio+via+verandah+house+blogspot+com+Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0YQzchqFaMYqRrqlSr9fTmpJdlqj7ppUW6tU154um08XqwUf-xEmoiD5d1BJSSOb5CrikPM1oKhmrKm64gcFwLdspy0e01QxRW05Z0tkSNRCHSxKfspp4NJRpZp1KQdufzbFq1BX3dBM/s640/poolhouse+studio+via+verandah+house+blogspot+com+Picture+1.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://verandahhouse.blogspot.com/">via verandah house </a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Inspired yet? I am!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Ok, back to work for me. Have a great day everyone,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

The Chaos Theory

Those who know me well also know that I can be hugely a little on the messy side, especially when I'm working on a new painting. And to...

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Virginia Macdonald Photography

Over the weekend, I managed to stumble upon the work of Virginia Macdonald. This Toronto-based photographer is seriously talented, and her portfolio is full to the brim with beautiful images. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYoRoQ1zZHQ3xw-SMzVRKM5i8P54SZTj0-Ou5nFQeitaBybrPOcF_bApwIZrElmXcUII_SfxpyB3Xy4NOvYpDLNTVTTYuw0alx0ZDs0LdKRSf_Er5BhL1fdQ2VwQ_GLT1g9IXrn5o1b3U/s1600/virginia+macdonald2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYoRoQ1zZHQ3xw-SMzVRKM5i8P54SZTj0-Ou5nFQeitaBybrPOcF_bApwIZrElmXcUII_SfxpyB3Xy4NOvYpDLNTVTTYuw0alx0ZDs0LdKRSf_Er5BhL1fdQ2VwQ_GLT1g9IXrn5o1b3U/s640/virginia+macdonald2.png" width="468" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6epHEQOCX5uHrQpdof19-SxvmY1ChlXNAsBc_wLVYA7mc0605K-UO_O0H3OuCz4ipkVxthqUVBESjS5FvynEqw0wG_GtjWpSUiwG-zuZJvHNoaNhuoFPEXY3QiWQtPhEujmw2U56GPGY/s1600/virginia+macdonald1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6epHEQOCX5uHrQpdof19-SxvmY1ChlXNAsBc_wLVYA7mc0605K-UO_O0H3OuCz4ipkVxthqUVBESjS5FvynEqw0wG_GtjWpSUiwG-zuZJvHNoaNhuoFPEXY3QiWQtPhEujmw2U56GPGY/s640/virginia+macdonald1.png" width="444" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdOna7ZFavw0L85C7XFvHcrwQRIwl3YNAZA9OBxh2dgTISEy5VGYQXUavbJLUAJxapKhGca1t1CcR8Qc459LcB9QxMuLmWGQLo2UaF_52wKG7acoX7qnC4MCxU0l9w-llKBNw5no4WVY/s1600/virginia+macdonald4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdOna7ZFavw0L85C7XFvHcrwQRIwl3YNAZA9OBxh2dgTISEy5VGYQXUavbJLUAJxapKhGca1t1CcR8Qc459LcB9QxMuLmWGQLo2UaF_52wKG7acoX7qnC4MCxU0l9w-llKBNw5no4WVY/s640/virginia+macdonald4.png" width="492" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAiWGVUvGyp_ZKxzFPvZTV1i1AdYPOFHx5HwjAtFwU5gO65WkQ4C5HEyOcdZTeFpVI4gNOL8jnfgle1CvGHFoUAHyBVx-70PmFCuSD5Iajd1n8RB5MwXD8-xGxATWbcEjtVEfOAomwv0/s1600/virginia+macdonald3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAiWGVUvGyp_ZKxzFPvZTV1i1AdYPOFHx5HwjAtFwU5gO65WkQ4C5HEyOcdZTeFpVI4gNOL8jnfgle1CvGHFoUAHyBVx-70PmFCuSD5Iajd1n8RB5MwXD8-xGxATWbcEjtVEfOAomwv0/s640/virginia+macdonald3.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Gorgeous, no? And you have to check out her <a href="http://virginiamacdonald.com/">website</a>. It's totally worth it for all the stunning pics, but the topper is her bio - priceless! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Btw, not much progress was made on my <a href="http://driftwood-interiors.blogspot.com/2010/07/ive-made-my-decision.html">cabinet</a> - sport on Saturday and a netball carnival all day Sunday. It's definitely on the list for today though, so I'll keep you posted.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy Tuesday,</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>

Virginia Macdonald Photography

Over the weekend, I managed to stumble upon the work of Virginia Macdonald. This Toronto-based photographer is seriously talented, and her p...

Read more »