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Love this staircase -- honey can we have one like it in our next house?
For love of white and iron, this was eye candy. Do you ever think about who the craftsmen were who made things like this? In the 1700's no less.
Summer
Photo: www.swedefurniture.com
Below is a collage of photos I took in Paris the past few weeks.
There is the rear courtyard at Versailles, an interior door at Versailles, a ruin wall overdoor from the remains of a chateau in the town of Roissy en France, and an old French document dated 1741 that I purchased at the Vanves fleamarket.
Just starting to sort out all the 2,000 photos. Enjoy!
Summer
Photos: Swede
Here is a fun way to recycle. I like to use empty wine bottles as vases for single tall stems of flowers, like these Hydrangeas, which were in full bloom when we got back from Paris this week. I particularly like wine bottles with insignias in the glass. Mr. Swede knows to look at the bottle instead of the label when purchasing bottles of wine, so he can bring back the empty bottles. Not exactly what a wine connoisseur would do, but he knows I am happy with them. The Paris grocery stores' wine section had a surprising variety of bottles with the insignias. I like the ones with crowns.
Such a simple and easy pleasure. Above are two soda bottles with sexy curves and two rose wine bottles with insignias in the glass holding single stems of Hydrangea.
Shown with the wine bottles are French demijohn bottles in aqua and green in various sizes as a grouping on the console table in the hallway. The huge ones are on the floor underneath. I have no idea how many gallons of wine these once contained, but I know that I would not be able to lift one full of liquid. I designed the console for Swede Collection HERE.
I could use any vase for these flowers, but I get enjoyment from such simple bottles. I have kept the paper labels on the wines to remember when and where we enjoyed the vintage. You can see how big this aqua demijohn is compared to the size of the wine bottles. The aqua ones are my favorite.
Some people use the wine bottles to hold candles, but I have difficulty finding candles the correct size to fit the various diameters of the top openings. So this is my recycling alternative.
Summer
Photos: Swede
Hello everyone. Yes, we are back from Paris. I say "we" meaning Mr. Swede and I as my luggage decided it wanted to stay longer. Delta promises to find it and bring it to the house. Paris was exhausting but very fun. I haven't posted for over a month, so wanted to quickly post the patriotic pleated bunting I got for our back porch as a surprise for Mr. Swede. I was going to not install it until Fourth of July, but decided Memorial Day was also fitting to use it. Mr. Swede got the three panels hung on cup hooks before leaving for Honolulu this afternoon. I needed a couple days before going back to work to get my days/nights straightened back out. We took over 2,000 photos so it will be slow sorting them all out, but I will start posting the Paris shots soon.
I thought our back porch would look best with three panels of bunting between the columns. You can see that they reflect in all the windows. I first saw this bunting in a neighborhood near me last year and was too late to find it in stores. So I decided to order it early this year before it was sold out. The two-story homes I saw it on placed the bunting on each of their front windows. We have a large number of bikers and walkers on the greenbelt trail behind the house, so it will get lots of lookers.
I got the 72"x36" one with the stars in nylon so it wouldn't fade so much.
Here is the link to where I purchased them from Independence Bunting. HERE If you like this idea you can probably still get them for Fourth of July if you order now. I love ours so am passing along the link. I certainly don't get anything from this comany for promoting them here. If you order three you get free shipping.
We are a very patriotic family with many members serving in the armed forces for generations. This is our tribute to those who died serving their country. Here is a link to the meaning of Memorial Day. HERE When I was a child, my Mom called it Decoration Day and it was also the day to place fresh flowers on the graves of all family members, not just those who were in the armed forces.
Hope you have a great three-day weekend.
Summer
Photos: Swede
