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What’s Been Happening Around These Parts…

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Hello friends. Sorry I’ve been a little busy and I just haven’t been able to sit and write. The past few weeks have been a flurry of Halloween, get-togethers, and lots of goings on. Though we did have some unusual October rain, it’s just gorgeous right now in the Bay Area and this week we are supposed to have 70s temps!
I’ve been especially enjoying the warm afternoons and have been trying to get out to soak up some winter sun and marvel at all the pretty leaves.
This is just a smattering and some snaps of what’s been happening around these parts. 
We had some fun at our annual street pumpkin carving gathering. 

Even my college son came back for this and he and his girlfriend even dressed up as Harry Potter and Jinny. So glad they are still enjoying this stuff.
My youngest transporting pumpkins.

Another day we got to Marin County Mart. It’s a beautiful new spot with unique shops and restaurants with outdoor dining. We need more of those with our California weather!

With my guys at the mart which was decorated so cute for fall. I hope to get back up there soon to shop and maybe have lunch. It’s a great spot for a day trip with a girlfriend.

In other news, we added these guys to our home menagerie. My youngest decided we needed to bring back two Wooly Bear caterpillars home from a recent trip up north and so far they are surviving. 😀

Halloween is just near and dear to my heart as I have so many fond memories of my boys and all their costumes. Gosh those years went by so fast.

Loved this picture of them with plastic fangs. I had a bowl of photos with the kids in costumes through the years. Love!

I keep getting Facebook reminders like this. I try not to reshare them all, but it sure is fun to see some of these pop up from time to time.

Halloween and Thanksgiving decor seems to go well with my home. I have an (ugly) brown granite kitchen counter and a lot of black accents so just adding pumpkins and orange was easy.

I love these mums in a rust color and any tortoiseshell glass like this bowl.

Flowers were from my favorite holiday inspiration spot, Bunches Flowers in Los Gatos, where Pete the duck holds court. I caught her posing (yes she is a lady), so I couldn’t resist snapping a picture of her.


Besides all the cool jars and vases and pretty plants, I like to take a gander in here as it reminds me of visiting with my youngest in his preschool days to look for Petey. I’m nostalgic like that sometimes.

The sign and also the pumpkin man were gifts from friends. Love them!

Saturday mornings I go for a long walk with a friend and we occasionally stumble on estate sales. Last weekend I scored a pair of cane backed pecan chairs from the 1960s from a lovely old home.  I think I’ll reupholster them in a cool fabric. I also got a great dhurrie rug (above) in fabulous condition from the owners travels.

I threw some pillows on the chairs until I can figure out what to do with them. I love small scale chairs like this which are good for a game table between them, in front of a fireplace or just to fill a bedroom corner.

Estate sales are the best! Do not furnish your home in all new things. Estate sales and family heirlooms give it soul and make it uniquely yours!
Our entry hooks filled with hats and costumes from Halloween with an original Halloween painting from my artist pal, Meilei and some of my other favorites.
I got to wear one of those hats to the annual Wonderful Witchy Woman Lunch.
With fun friends and here I actually thought I was tan a bit from tennis. Not!
Hobbes the cat decided the new counter stools are his personal perch and only moves from them under force now. Does he not look determined? I added this short lamp on the counter for the winter months. I love the cozy feel lamps on kitchen counters give don’t you? They are great on dark mornings and so much warmer than the overhead lighting.

This little slate sign in my kitchen makes me happy and it’s hiding a nasty old metal phone jack that can’t be removed. You can’t tell can you? Hated that thing and I don’t know why I didn’t cover it like this before.
I’ve been using apples, pomegranates and persimmons in all my salads and as toppings on everything. Butter lettuce and red onions are good companions to any of that and a home made dressing of apple cider vinegar plus walnut oil and just a touch of maple syrup makes for a yummy fall dressing.
I’ve got my winter garden in and have peas, radishes, cauliflower, and kale growing.

 
 My dad is my garden guy. he puts it all in for me and starts many of the plants himself and transplants for me here. I could never grow anything without his help!

My dad Ray, has his birthday on November 8, election day. The first election he voted in was 1960, and he turned 21 that day and voted for John F. Kennedy.  Isn’t that pretty neat? The voting age wasn’t lowered until 1971 to 18. Love my dad!  
This whole election has been so stressful hasn’t it? I have many friends who feel serious anxiety from it. Thank goodness it’s coming to an end finally. 
My 99 year old grandma Jody (dad’s mom) has seen it all and she cast her first vote and every vote since for a man and she’s ready for a woman to be president she says. She may be one of the only people still around who has voted in every presidential election from Theodore Roosevelt to our first woman candidate, Hillary Clinton! 
I recently took her out for one of her favorite things and In and Out Burger. Isn’t she cute? She’s smart, and sharp and fun. I feel so lucky to have her in my life still!
My mother was also a big supporter of women’s rights and I have said this before, but I just wish she could be here to see the day we finally can vote for a woman president. She  would be thrilled so I am voting in honor of my mom Sue, for Hillary. I know she would be happy about it.
Okay that’s it. I’ve spilled my guts and got you all caught up. Later this week I’m going to be running some home remodel ideas by you all if your still out there.
Have a good week and hugs to you all for being here and reading. I’m feeling really hopeful that this country will rise above all the discord and be together once this election is done.
Kim

The view from our front yard this week!!

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Stuff about Stuff..Purging and Cleaning Out

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This year my life has changed completely. My mom passed away early in the year and everything changed after that. My 98 year grandmother (dad’s mom), who was living alone, fell just a few weeks later and had to be transitioned to a place with more care. A lot of this year has been helping dad clean out my grandmother’s home filled with almost 100 years of possessions.
Losing my mom, helping grandma and dad, and turning 50 this year, has given me a different perspective on life. I’m seeing more clearly than ever, what really matters and what doesn’t and how possesions can take over your life. 
We have spent so many hours, days, weekends cleaning and sorting through my grandma’s things. Like most people of her age, she was greatly affected by the depression and learned not to waste a single thing. That translated to a lifetime of being smart with money, but also gave her a vice grip on just about everything she ever owned. Nothing was thrown out due to the fact it might one day be useable. While commendable and green in some part, living like that for 98 years can be close to hoarding.
My favorite hand colored photo of grandma in the 1930s.

After so many days and hours spent going through grandma’s things I’ve thought a lot about stuff. What I am learning from this is that when you keep everything, it’s hard for the things of real value or sentiment to be found. She herself cannot remember where or why things were saved and from whom things came because there is so much.  Sadly many very special items were ruined because they were lost among the masses of stuff and were not properly cared for.  Going through the stacks of mail and papers took a few weeks itself. She never threw out any junk mail with her name on it- can you imagine? She was worried about identity theft, bless her. I blame the news. 
Grandma and her sister Nora.
Grandma’s collection of costume jewelry is massive enough to wear a different piece every day for several years. It’s like time travel through earrings- Lucille Ball to Alexis Carrington. Seriously!! When I brought her pieces to go through she still adored each one and told me things like. ‘Oh that turquoise necklace is perfect with turtlenecks’ or ‘I wear that with my maroon pantsuit.’ or ‘Your grandfather bought me that on such and such trip. He loved to spoil me.’ You’ve got to love her passion for life!
Sigh. I faithfully took boxes home to my house to store for her. There is also boxes of dress gloves -white and green and opera length versions. There’s a satin box filled with hankies lavished with lovely embroidery and monograms, all perfectly ironed. Those are hard to part with. There are bags, hats, shoes and wraps, fur stoles, and beautiful Elizabeth Taylor era slips in every color of the rainbow. The photographs too are overwhelming. High school yearbooks from the 1930s from both my grandparents and photos from the 1800s and the turn of the century are among the things I really think are precious. 
Grandma in around 1920, Freewater, Oregon. Don’t you love her fur muff?
 Grandma and I visit every week. I am so grateful she is part of my life and here at 98, but I get sad thinking how much of her last years were spent living in a very constrained way due to her stuff. It made her beautiful spacious condo like a small bolt hole. It also gave her no end of worry and stress about going through it herself, and keeping it from us. She was hugely independent.
It all makes me determined to live with less! The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo book has been my bible of late and I have it on my bedside. When I need to stay on track and remind myself to let go of things, I reread a chapter. I love her philosophy that each item in your home needs a purpose and to bring joy. Her book helps you let go of items by saying thank you to them and lets you send them on their way to bring joy to another. It really is a positive and uplifting method and book. I’ve been going through our home and purging things I’ve had for years, even decades. 

I  remember even as a small child grandma saying things like, ‘One day you’ll get x because you will appreciate it and keep it.’ That has prevented me from ever parting with many things. Not to say I don’t appreciate them, but you can only care about so much. I have to choose what really has meaning for our family and things I purely love.
This soup tureen from grandma is in that category of things I love and will always keep. I love it because it’s beautiful, but also because it sat on her breakfast table all my life and reminds me of being at her home as a child.
Lately I’ve spent much time thinking about how you hold onto things just because you have them. I’ve asked myself so many times in the past months, why do I still have this? Why have I kept it after all this time? What if I’m no longer here? Would anyone want it? The answer is almost always, no. 
Something about clearing out feels great. I’m ready to have only things that I treasure and not a lot else. I want a life with less time caring for things and more time to do the stuff that matters and live a life less encumbered. 
Purging gets you looking at a home with new eyes and I now want a fresh look. I’ve painted 3 rooms and I’ve gotten almost all of the things I’ve added recently from estate sales and that feels nice. I can’t wait to show you all. I am super careful now to consider each new item coming in. Do I really need it? Do I love it and what can I donate, now that I’ve brought something else in?
I’m sure many of you may have been through a similar experience. I’m not the same person I was a year ago. I’m trying my best to take stock, look at the bigger picture and make wise choices. I highly recommend Marie’s book for anyone needing a nudge to start thinking less stuff, more life! The massive success of this book in America has really begun a revolution. People are rethinking the consumer centered culture we have become and are seeking more meaning. Retailers like REI who are closing on Black Friday this year so people can get the message to spend time with loved ones not in a store shopping are wonderful. I think this is a good trend!
Kim
 A sweet photo of grandma and sister Nora as young women.

Gardening as a Workout

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We just got back from a little getaway. So much to catch up on like laundry, but yesterday morning I spent four hours working in my yard. After seeing the gorgeous gardens all over Santa Barbara I was motivated to get back there and clear things out. I could have worked out, but this was far better than a workout. I challenge anyone to give up working out one day a week and do a few hours in the yard. It’s a fantastic workout for the legs, back, arms and core. Seriously.


We used to have a ‘gardener.’ I use that term lightly as these gentlemen were more what I call, the mow and blow guys. It was questionable what they actually did besides make a lot of noise and blow dirt around. I saw then occasionally clip things. Yes they mowed. Occasionally they would hack something to nothing to my horror, usually one of my favorite plants. I was nice to these guys who had a limited grasp of English, but no horticultural skills at all. They also insisted on spraying weed killer in my yard, which I repeatedly asked them not to. I love having frogs, lizards and all the good things a yard needs and those poisons hurt birds too. Finally one day I returned home and they had hacked away a very old vine I loved. That was it. I finally said goodbye to them.

Now my sons do the lawn and weed pulling. It’s really how it should be. They put plants in for me and sweep up when I ask them. Teenagers need to experience more physical labor jobs! They learn how to take care of plants and weed…These are all satisfying and a life skill. Not enough of those are being learned. Nothing worse than a man who has no clue about his own yard, or other home things. I don’t find it very appealing when a man has to hire someone for all his home tasks, but that is the kinds of people we are raising if we only focus on school as what kids need. They need both!

Anyway, it seems the gardeners did do a little… My back was about to snap after 20 trip to the green bin with leaves that were below my trees I hadn’t noticed. However doing it myself I saw there was an old David Austin rose back there getting swallowed up by a neighbor’s vine. I untangled it and noticed a few baby strawberry plants,  some hidden bulbs trying to poke through, and buds of some other lovelies as well as a hole in the fence. I moved geraniums about, repotted a few things, threw out a ton of plants that had given up the ghost, and generally fluffed and cleaned. Something so satisfying about it all.

Love this!

 That was only half the yard. No time to barely clean up, I ran to do a ortho appointment for the teen, getting school supplies and then baking some promised cookies and tacos.  I looked like a disaster, ruddy skin, crazy hair and all. My husband came home and said you look so pretty today. Seriously? He says he likes me like this. So gardening is not only good for the yard, but good for your looks? Not sure about that one, but I did feel great at the end of the day and slept like a rock.

I am lucky to have inherited the garden gene from my dad and grandmother. Dad had his first garden at 18 months old and is still growing beautiful flowers and organic vegetables at age 75. I think that’s why he and my grandmother are so healthy, she almost 98!

So tell me have you gardened lately? Would you give up a day of working out to work in the yard? I highly recommend it. You can’t think of anything. but what you are doing and it clears the mind too.

Plus you get a beautiful yard if you keep at it!
Have a great week!
Kim

Images Pinterest

California Girl Carolyn Murphy’s Style

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I’ve admired Carolyn Murphy’s homes, personal style, and green living ethic for a long time. 
This home was featured in old House & Garden. I really miss that magazine.

This single mom gardens and has her own chickens too. 
Vogue
Another home she had was featured in Vogue a few years back…

This Provencal inspired house was designed by Schuyler Samperton.
Love!

These two photos Vogue.

She’s very much the California girl and surfs.
I always love her clothes and how she puts things together.

Fashion wise she tends towards classic shapes. 
She seems to wear a lot of black and white.

 He’s a cute accessory. 😀

Makes me want a white dress in my closet.
I found this article on Into the Gloss where she shares what she uses on her lovely skin. Even though she’s a spokesmodel for Estee Lauder she admits using Cetaphil, Carmex and Spectrum coconut oil from the supermarket as well as Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair, which she swears by. I’m thinking I might need to try some myself looking at her skin!!
Kim
Images Vogue and Pinterest and HG.

Happy Christmas Everyone!

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I’ve been going as fast as I can this week. Got almost everything done except for a few little bits.

Here’s a little of the simpler variation I did on decorating this year.
I loved this herringbone ribbon so added that to the front room where we have white brown and some black. My bells from last year are mixed with my usual hodge podge and cuttings from outdoors.
 Loved the trees in these wooden pots from Trader Joes this year. I bought one for this room.
Two more in my powder room.
I stole this idea from my friend Leasa and added some festive bits to the soap dish.
These vases now have the Starry String Lights from Restoration Hardware wound to the branches.
I also used the timed Restoration lights on the living room mantel. 
(These are on sale right now and work great in summer around umbrellas!)
I wanted to keep it light and bright in that room which is darker.

The boyz helped with the tree.

I had some fun wrapping with this ribbon I found at Cost Plus. Wish I bought more.

 I love adding little ornaments to a package and tags you make yourself.

I also made sure to do some shopping in town. As much as I like going online and to places like TJ Max, I know our small businesses can’t stay here if we don’t shop. I was surprised how many cute gifts I found at all prices when I spent some time in our cute Los Gatos downtown.

This bakery, Icing on the Cake, has so much besides their wonderful cookies and cakes. You will certainly get inspired by all the unique items that functional and also fun.

I love to see how friends decorate as well.

I was lucky to experience some Swedish hospitality at my friend Catrin’s house. Love the simple and elegant beauty of her home and Scandinavian holiday look and yes served saffron buns too!

My friend neighbor Kim and I made these door banners with moss.
Her version (above), came out the cutest.

 She also has a great collection of cloche jars and they look charming all together.

 

Kim created a runner with this beautiful paper held down by gold wasabi tape at the edges. It came out quite glamorous and pretty with mercury glass, hydrangeas and poinsettias.

They had their vintage Christmas music albums out at Kim’s. I love it!
I know I have mine somewhere… Taking up garage space as my husband would say.
Another talented girl, my friend Meilei made me this darling painting that is in my entry.
So many people are crafty!
 I also got this cute pig and toffee from another pal.
Then another very gifted friend Lori, made us amazing homemade toffee.

I like how she festooned it with sage from her herb garden! I still have the bunch hung by my pots and pans and it smells very good.

We squeezed in a batch of Ethel’s sugar cookies!! You know the ones from that old Betty Crocker cookie book? Today we may make more as they are gone already.

Last night an annual dinner was held by another friend. I loved Jen’s pretty table with real holly and pinecones and just a hint of sparkle.

 Jen makes an amazing kale salad that I will share in a future post. It features those Meyer lemons that are coming up all over here in Northern California right now. Sunset Magazine has a whole lot on Meyers in the January issue.

I bought myself an early Christmas gift. Isn’t it hard when you are out shopping to be good?
You see so many deals on things.

So far I love this book, in the 5 minutes I have had to read, with it’s diverse, mainly California homes, especially Donna Dixon’s and Windsor Smith’s.
I will be at my parent’s for Christmas with my whole family for once and I am really excited.
I hope to do some nature hikes and more together time with our boys. 
There are so many nice friends out there reading and leaving notes. 
I’m grateful to you all for being here!
Happy holidays to you all!
Kim

Spring House Style

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I love the way my painted brick looks with this brown and white bird print and wooden box.  We recently painted it and I am really enjoying how much lighter my house feels.

This year’s crazy warm weather has got everything blooming in my yard. I’m loving the sun and buds and baby birds chirping every morning. It all makes me in the mood to brighten up the house with some pops of color.
I still am not sure what kind of tree this is, but I love it’s white-pink flowers.
My husband hates the mess in the pool.
Here’s some bright additions and a peek into a few other parts of my home.

I found this butterfly tray at Pier 1, and added yellow accents to my entry.

Here’s my $7 Trader Joe’s Christmas topiary in a crackled green-yellow pot. Still doing well and worth every penny!
I found this wooden box and ivy at Bunches, a florist I adore in town who always has something new and fresh.

I reorganized my library shelves by color and it feels new!

One of our older Christmas cards of my sons on the beach, which I framed.
My husband brought this tea pot back from China for me. It’s so pretty I put it on my shelves.

More lighter and brighter accents..
The living room mantel with some of my older books with green colors.
A burlap pillow I bought at my favorite store Fiori’s before they closed in January. I should change to something lighter than the fur throw, but the cats love it!

Another favorite photo framed.

My grandmother gave me two of these garden stools from her 1960’s furnished model home. One is outside, for drinks, by the pool. This one is cheering up a corner in the dining room with some of my favorite books.

I added these two sea life prints on either side of my french doors to brighten up the dining area. It needed some white. I had them in the bath in my last house. Love these and have been waiting to see where they would look best.

My dining runner flipped to black stripe side. My dear friend Jen gave me this darling crown and I added some hydrangeas to my votive holders.

Another picture I love with birds.

A  zebra print pillow that I added to an ottoman in the entry. Great for purses and coats. I stacked these colorful  astronomical prints from my grandma’s house above.
My latest find from the DeAnza flea market. I couldn’t resist. This sign is perfect for this area!  It points right to the two bear pits we call boy’s rooms here!

  Our bedroom. A few months ago I added this Josie Kalamakari yellow & aqua quilt from Pottery Barn and a felt yellow pillow from Nordstrom  Rack. 

I moved this butterfly print in here from the mantel and it picks up the yellow, gold and grey colors in our room.

 My Max framed on a rare weekend together in Sonoma.

Love these bowls from Anthropologie to hold jewelry and baubles.

One of my most favorite things. These are rocks and things that are heart-shaped that my boys have found for me on beach trips and hikes through the years.

My bedside 🙂

Books I’m trying find time to read!

Another  favorite thing.  A watercolor bought in Paris, on our first family trip that needs reframing.

I removed a top off this blue urn from Homegoods and added hydrangeas from the yard that needed cutting.

 I order this striped rug for $49 from Pottery Barn. I think
stripes look so fresh now. Love this for cold feet in the bathroom floor.

Look what I got at Trader Joes for $4.00!! This is Spring in a pail and it smells divine.

Are you ready for Spring too? Hope this gives you inspiration to change things up a bit!
Kim:)

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