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This is my most recent purchase of the work of Marcel Vertes!
It was a "wall hanging" purchased in France in the sixties;
The title of the work is "Le Jardin de Pierrot"
Pierrot was a boy member of the characters in the "Commedia dell'arte"; a comedy group
that started in Italy and spread to France.
It was hand printed on linen fabric by the company Corot and the label signed by the artist.
I had it made into a pillow!
He died in 1961; so it was done before that.
Imagine my surprise when a very nice man from Chicago wrote me that he had purchased
what seems to me to be the "original" hand painted on burlap!
(he found me by "googling " Marcel Vertes)
and saw my collection and read my blogpost about the artist!
He was at an estate sale; and it was sitting on the floor unpriced. What a great eye!!
The hand painted burlap painting is stretched on a wooden frame.
The man who bought it was told that it was sold by Sotheby's in 2006 for $14,000.00!
It is very large; 81″ long and 31″ tall. Gorgeous!
His signature in paint!
Here is the overall view. As you can see the colors are slightly different;
but the boy in the tricorn hat and the donkey are almost identical!
It is very large: 81″ long by 31″ high, painted on burlap!
My pillow is above.
They are very very similar; thought not exact.
Here is the close-up of the boy in the painting.
My close-up of the donkey above.
His donkey.
This lovely painting is now for sale on ebay!!
PS; while writing this post I remembered I have a "gouache" by Vertes of this same boy with a tricorne hat!
Happy Father's Day!!!
One of my readers wrote me today that she was thinking of how "dashing" my father was in
my little film we found of my parent's wedding in 1934!
She gave me the idea to run it again on Father's Day!!
I ran this last year on Mother's Day, and for anyone who didn't see it, you might enjoy it!!
I had a wonderful Mother!! And a wonderful Father!!!
She was the creative behind my own creativity; although my father, (whom I cannot remember) was extremely creative as well!
I owe so much to my mother; and since she died when I was 33; I never really was able to thank her for her encouragement
and support of a talent……that really barely had a "job description" when I started "decorating"!
So, I decided, in honor of my talented and wonderful mother , to repost this "surprise" film I discovered this past year! (thanks to my cousin and her contractor!)
I hope those of you who haven't seen it will enjoy it! Those who have seen it can push "delete!!
Now we begin the original post……..shortly after we discovered this film!! (78 years after it was filmed!!!):
So, I decided to share the thing I am most thankful for in a long, long time!
Honestly; the best "Surprise Present" I have ever received (that was not alive!) is this!
I was born in 1947 in Los Angeles; My mother was 40 years old when I was born (that was a neighborhood scandal!) I have a brother born in 1938; ( there were blood issues ; now easily solved);
however, my mother lost 7 pregnancies after my brother; who was born in 1939!
My Daddie died when I had just turned 4; I heard wonderful stories about him; I have some great photographs of him which I treasure….and are on my walls!
I don't remember him…really…except little tiny "snippets"..I never saw him "move"; and I didn't remember any "mannerisms" or "body language".
My mother was an enormous influence…..we were incredibly close; I learned everything I know from her; and she was a total pistol;
until Parkinson's took her down at 67 (YIKES!) and took her life at 70.
So: my cousin Paulette calls me to say she found a yellow "Kodak" box with my father's name on it; inside is a roll of film with a date stamp of "June 20 1950″
I think it might be my birthday party! Off it toodles to be turned into a disc! I put it into my laptop; and this is the story!
It is a film of them right after their wedding!!
It was a "silent movie" filmed 16 years earlier; in 1934! It is a movie (when you had to crank it up……and let it wind out…..and crank it up again!)
My mother was 26; my father 32; they were married in Yuma Arizona, in 1934!
Right after the ceremony; this person filmed them leaving the "Justice of the Peace" office;
and off they went to some divine hotel with a cousin; filmed by someone! In 1934!
After they left for the hotel, they were filming each other and talking to each other!
My father took it to the film store to update the film 16 years later. He knew he was dying; I think he did so so we could watch it when he was gone! He died in 1951.
This is the 3 minute film.
Having a movie of my parents right after they are married is great enough; however, this is the first time I have ever seen my Daddie "move"!
It means more to me than I can express!
One of my friends said it so beautifully!
She said…."this shows the power of film to bring people back to us"!
Watching it, I felt they were blowing kisses at me!
I saw a lot of love here! Please share your comments!
Pretty darn stylish people; and the cutest car! A 1934 Ford Cabriolet with a rumble seat!
An incredible gift!!!
click on the next line to view!!!
Tonne Goodman style editor of Vogue!
This is my NEW addition to my uniform for fall! PANTS!!!
I love that Marsha…….can inspire us to write on a "topic"; and I cannot wait to read them all!
Mine is a bit weird! (no surprise!!)
My goal for fall is a "new uniform"!
I love, love love uniforms. For the past 14 years……
it has remained the same……a white crew neck tee shirt; with either a "white gauze" long skirt….with a brown belt……or a white tee shirt and a Black long gauze skirt…….I bought them all……I am afraid!!! (the skirts)!!! I bought them "out"!!
I started with one long white skirt…..bought 15 years ago…….here in Santa Barbara……I bought 4 of the same skirt.
Then; as they started to wear out…..I had them copied…….and got 4 more. Then; I discovered the "double layer gauze one" and bought 7 in white…..7 in black. Then two years later….seven more in white…..seven more in black. I have the exact same belt…..brown and black.
Every year……7 black……7 white……every day……..I always felt great in them!
Two separate times…….magazines (thank you Lord!!) came to photograph our house!
(it never occurred to me…..nor, I think to the magazines….to photograph "me"!!!)
One : (Traditional Home in 2003, I think) And another "Santa Barbara Magazine" in 2008) I had on the identical outfit!
Same tee shirt (petite bateau); same long white skirt….same brown belt; same brown sandals…….
5 years apart! This year……2014; same uniform! Same belt….same tee shirt……(increasingly hard to find) same…..same….
Some people find this strange……I find it so wonderful……and easy. I deal as a decorator with color; print, all of it
all day with client's houses! Unfortunately……I had a closet full of other things!
(my cousin…..a true "fashionista" said……"what the hell is wrong with you? Don't you have any other
Santa Barbara Magazine "Penny's Roost"!
Traditional Home magazine…."Provence on the Pacific"
So. My need for fall? Adding to my "uniform"!
Not deleting the skirts…….(although ; as you can imagine….many have completely "worn out"! They are not made anymore….some still
are OK…..perhaps have a year or two left)
I read a blog by my friend Tracey Jackson…..(who has written with her friend the songwriter Paul Williams a wonderful book…."Gratitude and Trust" do read it. it is life-altering…I mean it.)
She wrote about "keep it simple" and a uniform…..and as an example: she said:
"A lot of ink has been given to Vogue fashion editor Tonne Goodman. She is also known for white jeans, though she also wears black ones. She tends to pair them with black or white tops. I love the way it looks. I was reading a piece on her and she said she could go off to fashion week in Paris with just a carryon. I was envious."
Tonne Goodman has won numerous fashion awards. She wears a "uniform". Here is her story about her
So I am adding as my "must have" for fall…..straight leg white jeans……straight leg black jeans; I am trying to find more "petit bateau" white tee shirts; a few more black and navy classic blazers…..and the main thing I am doing is
"getting rid" of just about everything else in my closet.
I went for 3 semesters in the end of high school to a Catholic school……I thought the nuns were the
penultimate "elegantly" dressed people.
Perhaps I am emulating them!
(Tonne Goodman packed for a week in Paris in a carry on!!!)
and I will be able to pack for any trip anywhere in a carryon……
Away we go!
ps she won the "Eleanor Lambert Award"
(she was one of my very favorites!)
I have many new subscribers!! I am going to post a few of my favorite (and others' favorite posts)
In between new posts, so the new subscribers don't have to go searching!!
(Be sure to click on the title to see the complete post!)
In 1997; we decided to move to Montecito from Pasadena.
We spent our honeymoon here in 1978; and I had grown up in Pasadena coming up every August!
We sold our house before we put it on the market in Pasadena!
I looked and looked for an older house; and my real estate agent almost gave up!
One day, she announced that she was showing me a "vacant lot"!! Oh no! I don't want to build!!
She drove up to this!
(When you see where the pond is; this is where it is "before"!!! there was a pond! Nothing!)
(The one house next door is shown above.)
She said, "There is a 45 acre nature preserve on one side; there is the 45 acre property of your Mother's friend Mrs. Bacon on the other two sides It can't be subdivided!;
and there are deer in there!"
She has known me since high school; and she knew that would clinch the deal!
The day we bought the property; I looked at this view; and there was a command in my head!
"A pond wants to be there!!"
(and right there is where it is!)
I told my husband that day! He said, "Slow down, honey! We have a house to build; all kinds of more important things!"
"I said, no, you can't dig a pond with a house in the way!!"
I wouldn't let go of that! So he let us have the bulldozers dig a pond!
It filled up with water!
My goal from the beginning was to create a "nature preserve" of our own; and a "not too big house"!
I read every book I could find on attracting and keeping birds, butterflies and wildlife of all kinds!
And then I found that the National Wildlife Federation had a "Backyard Habitat Program" to assist homeowners who want to
assist wildlife! It is a fascinating program that anyone can qualify for; even if you only have a balcony!
I used two landscape designers; one in the beginning, and then I switched to my favorite! I
took Margie to the "nature preserve" next door, and said " I want a landscape a lot like this!!"
Margie listens; and she can do any landscape someone wants! Her range is amazing!
The first thing we found out is that our lot is the "drain" of Montecito! All the flow charts end here!
So there was a massive drainage system that needed to be installed!
The "dry creek" below is connecting one "catch basin" to another! Designed by Margie to be a lovely part of the landscape!
Margie Grace Links to website
I worked with my favorite architect David Serrurier. There was another caveat: The building envelope was 65 feet square; which meant he had to fit a house, a guest house and a garage
in that space! The property is over 2 acres; but it couldn't have anything built on any other part of it!
The guest house is above.
It feels like a little village! But the landscaping was crucial to the "animal habitat"!!!
look at the size of the tree on the left. That was about eight years ago!
That sycamore tree is 60 feet tall now!
To learn about the "Backyard Habitat Program" click here!
National Wildlife Federation : this links you to the Garden For Wildlife Program/ Backyard Habitat.
Look at all the ducks that come back every year!
I had one duck house in the beginning; and now have two!
Thanks to my friend in Georgia!
Winston Brown, at www.lwbcreations.com !
Three years after we moved into the house a lady who had grown up nearby looked out the window at the pond, and said,
"I think it is lovely dear, that you put the pond back"!
In shock, I said…."Back? What do you mean?" She explained that in the early forties,(before I was born), there had been a pond exactly where we dug it!
Same size, same shape, same. There were stables here for polo ponies; and the pond was filled in to make a riding ring!
I still get chills telling that story. This land spoke to me, that is all I can say!
the duck house in the front was built in England by
I just found out!!!
I keep the duck treats under this bee skep!
They recognize my voice, and come to me when they hear me! They are wild mallards; and they nest every year, laying their eggs inside
the duck houses! If a stranger comes out; they are "guarded"! And ducks return to
where they are hatched, so lucky us!!
Here are the sycamore trees recently!!!
My poor gardener had to "unlearn most of what he has spent a lifetime learning!
"No blowers, no mowers, no hedge trimmers, and I like the roses climbing the trees! And the vines on the rooftop!!"
We planted a whole bunch of milkweed for the monarch butterflies! He was completely horrified to see this, above!
Those monarch caterpillars eat all the leaves!! Yes! And then they make chrysalises and there are monarchs all over!!
When my granddaughter was in kindergarten; I decided to do the "Backyard Habitat" project with her!
We filled out the following questionnaire, and took pictures!
She had such fun!! "Granny, take a picture of THAT thicket!! It's like an apartment house for birds!"
She proudly presented this certificate to her class; and said, "Granny and I won first place!!"
Now, (of course, there isn't a "first place"! But she learned so much!)
Now, after 16 years, we have a covey of California quail, hummingbirds (3 kinds), and every kind of bird!
Not to mention, bobcats, coyotes, raccoon, Great Blue Heron, (I have to chase away when there are baby ducklings!)
The lady , (Joan Lentz) who wrote the book , "Birds of Santa Barbara County" identified 120 species in two hours
by their song!
I was outside playing my "iBird Pro" app on my iPhone and it was making the "Hooded Oriole" song;
and a male oriole landed on my hat!!!
The questionnaire is as follows:
The National Wildlife Federation is a wonderful source of information on what to plant to attract and nourish wildlife! It has been the most gratifying
thing about living here! Hummingbirds make their nests in the tendrils of ivy; and we even saw one baby fly for the first time when we were standing inside the
guest house front door! I said, "WOW! That is a once in a lifetime experience!"
(there were two babies so big they were perched on the top of the nest)
She said, "Granny, was it the boy or the girl?"
You just guess what I said!!
Since I reposted the Spring and Fall-Winter slipcovers; here are the Summer! (Like, now!)
I know, I know! I did a post already on the Summer Slipcovers!!
But something went haywire; and it disappeared from my website; some people received it, and some didn't! All I could find was "error 104″!!
It has completely disappeared!
So here is another one! Just push delete if you saw it before! It will be different, because I can't remember exactly what I showed or said!!!
I love changing slipcovers with the seasons! It is like having another house!
It also saves the various fabrics from as much wear and tear! All have to be dog and cat and kid-proof!
We'll start at the front door! The dining area is to the right; and the sitting area with four chairs to the left…the bay window
seating area is straight ahead!
Luna is in her guarding position on the ottoman covered in an antique linen and hemp hand-woven French fabric!
In Spring, these 4 chairs are in vintage red French ticking! In Winter, cozy paisley!
These are covered for Summer in white on white Indian fabric that is all hand appliquéd in various geometric patterns!
You can see the incredible hand-work.
Looking the other direction!
The bay window has different pillows; a combination of some similar Indian appliqué that I found in bright yellow!
My favorite pillow in this group was made from a panel my mother bought in
Europe many years ago; and I found folded in her linens!
Now for an amazing story!
A few years ago,we rented a house in Spain for a week; we had our whole family ! (All 15!!)
I went to a painted furniture place I had always wanted to see; and look what was hanging on the wall!!!
The identical linen panel on another color background!!!
I'm trying to find out where it came from!!
This ottoman is in a vintage red French toile in
Spring; and in a red strie velvet in Winter!
This is another view!
The dining side of the "Big Hall" with Yellow Soulaido French fabric on the chairs !
This fireplace is opposite the other fireplace!
The trumeau mirror is one of a pair with two different scenes with children playing painted on them!
Dog-proof is important!!
What I love about slipcovers is so many things!!
My mother was from the "South". (Lucky me in so many ways having particularly to do with the "HOUSE!")
She taught me to have four………yes four…… seasonal sets of slipcovers for my furniture.
(My goal is four; I now have three; and I will have four!" In this post I will show two out of three.)
First of all; when a new season starts; I get a" new house"! It's almost like having 3 houses in one.
It is just a joy! Even my husband gets excited.
The very first day of "fall" The old "Oriental" rugs rugs go back down; All the pillows change, the slipcovers change on the furniture;
and it does almost look like a different house!
My lifelong collection of antique paisley shawls, antique needlepoint (collected for decades; even some made by me) ;
and the fall cozy colors emerge to replace the Summer pillows and fabrics.
The banquette is covered with my antique tapestry pillows; collected over my lifetime.
Some were found on a trip to Dallas; to do a "speaking engagement"; for which I was paid generously . ( I came home with divine
antique tapestry pillows which were made from an 18th century tapestry chopped up and made into pillows; and none of my "fee"!)
Boy did I have fun (And what pillows they are.)
The tapestry was falling apart; there is nothing wrong in this…….
the lady who made these exquisite pillows rescues the intact , fragile parts of the tapestry; and makes exquisite pillows
with antique trim, hand-dyed velvet, and down fills.
They must not be considered "pillows"!
(They are 18th century works of art preserved for all these years and bringing joy and beauty
hundreds of years later as fragments)
(just explain this to your husband…when he says…."WHAT did you pay for those pillows???)
(You can do it!)
(this lecture has been delivered to many clients; Most often successfully.)
Here are a few examples:
This is one from Dallas. There is a village scene around this tree.
This little creature I found in the flea market in Paris.
You can see that collecting things can give so many layers of beauty and meaning to your house!
(This is our new dog, rescued from a freeway onramp)! The dogs are fond of the banquette; and the leopard blanket came from Bunny Williams
recommended dog bed source: (Wally beds ; totally washable)
So to begin; this is fall. This is our "big hall" a combination living-dining room……
This picture shows a lot of the furniture! with……
The fall slipcovers.
Deep rust Fortuny on the ottomans; teal on the chair seats, tapestry pillows and some quilt on the banquette, and the rugs and paisley
by the fireplace! (one of the two fireplaces in the room).
Rug and cozy seats around the fireplace on the "seating" side of the room.
(there are two fireplaces one at each end. One at the "seating end"; and another at the "eating end".
Still at the seating side of the room
My husband's incredibly talented uncle's "book box".
We inherited it.
Lars Bolander (the chicest antique dealer alive), carries a copy all hand made……..go to
www.larsbolander.com and see for yourself! And buy something. The best!
The "chicest" thing I think I own! " Arce Bianchi"! He was a taste-setter, bon-vivant, and a major "patron of the arts"
In San Francisco in the forties, fifties and sixties.
The stool is from the thirties. My old friend gave it to me along with our "sphinxes" on our front terrace.
A "safari in the thirties".
This is the opposite side of the room!
Directly opposite the other fireplace!
Its oriental rug is a cozy addition.
This is the dining area: this area has its fall and winter backwards Fortuny.
Again; Slipcovers. And end of FALL.
HERE IT IS! THIS TRANSFORMATION STARTS MARCH 21st.
The main rugs go to storage and the pretty peach floors show.
Cushions pale yellow silk; ottomans yellow Fortuny.
Different pillows and quilt on the banquette.
This close-up shows the spring pillows in better detail.
By the way, the valance is two antique valances sewn together found at an "Antique Show"
Antique shows are great places to find vintage textiles.
And my antique toile coverlet with the hand embroidered work salvaged from some beautiful old sheets made into a pillow by my friend Kathy
(Pillow Beach on Etsy)
I was minding my own business, (yes working!) looking for furniture for clients in my favorite antique store in our area; and this bird; this happy little bird caught my eye!
What a delightful, fey,whimsical, little bird! I was captivated!
And look!!!
Shelves all over the store filled with them!
plates,bowls. platters of all sizes, cups, saucers, espresso tiny cups and saucers! Oh my heart!!!
There had to be story about all this; I could see subtle differences in the glaze color, in the application of the trims; and even slight differences in the bird!
I asked the owners, (twins who know everyone and everything about Santa Barbara County for the last 100 years!)
"Oh yes, Mrs. Flood collected this pattern for 50 years or more!"
Oh happy day! More
This is what our pond looks like now. I was so upset about this I couldn't even photograph it!
Finally…….now that the ending is written……I could.
This was two months ago.
Can you imagine???
This is what our pond looked like a few months ago!
Montecito is in a severe drought; and we have been ordered to cut our water use
by 60%. When we dug this pond 17 years ago; it filled up with water!
However, because of the drought, the water table has fallen.
Our mallard ducks, who have come every year and laid their eggs in the duck house, came and hatched
their ducklings. The ducklings can't fly for at the least, 52 days. They hatched
April 13!!
These are our ducks in our pond last year June 29th!!! They were just about to start to fly! The Mama
is in the middle (slightly lighter); and she is talking to me!
This year……different story altogether..and I didn't see it coming!!!
When the pond started going down precipitously ; I was beside myself!!
We ordered 6 thousand gallons of water trucked in by tanker. It lasted 4 days!
(The water is what protects the ducklings from all the predators.)
My friend Radisha suggested that I buy "wolf pee"! And apply a ring of it around the pond! I did!!!
(Guess where you get it??? "Predator pee.com"!! could I possibly make that up???)
It is collected at zoos and sanctuaries; and the wolf pee is the one every animal is afraid of!
(the sale of these "predator pees" help fund the shelters and
refuges of coyotes, and wolves…..and other mammal predators!)
The "wolf pee" worked for a week; and then the water was down so far I knew the coyotes and bobcats and
who knows what would prey on these ducklings!
(I think my husband thought a straightjacket would be a good idea!)
Hysteria set in!! Sobbing…..it was bad.
It was so scary and terrible. I feel so responsible for these ducklings!
We had to leave for the east coast in the middle of this emergency! We left at 3 am on a Monday…….I was catatonic.
This mother duck. She is the heroine of this story.
That very day that we left;
she walked 1 mile across the nature preserve next to us with her seven ducklings
To my friend Lynn Conrad's pond.
(the babies cannot fly until they are 52 days old , minimum)
My friend has the exact duck house. (I ordered it for her)!
She called me to tell me a neighbor had called about 7 pm and said,"Open your Gate!!
There is a mother duck and 7 ducklings outside your gate!!"
She did and in they came!
."your ducklings and mother are safe!!!"
Here are "our" ducklings in her pond!
She recognized the mother duck! The same duck with 12 babies five years ago; (I could not make this up) got scared at her pond…..and walked
across the nature preserve……down the middle of our lane….up our driveway and into our pond!
I called her; and she answered the phone……"do you have my ducklings???"
This is one smart mother duck!! (we both recognize her…..she has an extra-long neck!)
When I returned; my housekeeper and I went to see them! I honestly was crying! When I started talking
they came running! Peeping like mad!! They recognized my voice! and the mother did too!!
It was truly a peak experience!
Just yesterday I spoke to Lynn……they have all just flown away….(they will be back to visit)
except one! She said…"this duck is so tame; if I sit down, it will sit in my lap!"
Thank the Lord these ducks were so lucky to have such a smart mother! YIKES!!
Animals are extremely smart!
I am so happy they are safe! They love the architecture of their duck house!
Here is the same mother; (and she is the same) with her babies safe and sound. I cannot even tell you how happy
I am!!!
The mother is talking to me!!
They all flew about 10 days after this picture was taken!
Except one who is so "tame" Lynn says "If I sat down, it would sit in my lap!"
Now. My job is to figure out how to get the "heart of the garden" back!
The water is the key and the heart! The pond needs to be lined. Carefully. Then the only loss will be
by evaporation…..which is very little!
We have to fill it (once it is lined) with water brought by tanker (we know and love those people)!
And the frogs (and I pray the turtles) will come back……and by the Spring..
the duck houses will be floating again. My dream will come true!!
And the ducks can come back; lay their eggs in the houses
and their ducklings will be safe again!
The happy ending that is most important happened. Thanks to my smart mother duck and my friend
with the pond and the duck house!
"Joie de Vivre!"
Pretty much describes the owner and spirit behind Indigo Seas: founder and owner of the shop: Lynn von Kersting.
Lynn is the personification of the expression: "Joie de vivre". It means "joy in life"; it is a rare and beautiful thing! she is the walking ,talking epitome of it!
Well, there is a "secret place" in Montecito. Honestly; even close neighbors barely know it is there!
One can only see it from the water……or walking on the beach going from the "Biltmore" east towards the "Miramar"!
It was the dream job of a lifetime for me!
In 1989, my client and dear friend in Pasadena, Molly Munger, (her Italian villa by Reginald Johnson circa 1919 is pictured in my "work" section) , told me
that her father "Charlie Munger" had some property in Montecito that he wanted to develop for many years; and he was
"getting close"! "I think you want to go up there on Tuesday with Charlie and Nancy" (his wife, her stepmother)!
So I did!
His property was originally part of a subdivision of a large estate owned by the Hammond family; and it was slated to be more large condominium buildings which were built in 1970.
The Montecito community was not happy about these buildings; and they went bankrupt. Charlie and Warren Buffet (his partner at Berkshire-Hathaway) owned the bank
which had the second mortgage. They knew that anything resembling the original buildings would be impossible to build. Charlie also knew that Montecito
was a very special place. He had been a guest at a very unusual development in Oceanside, California, called "St. Malo".
It was developed starting in 1929..(it was the first gated community in San Diego County)!
and a family with a "vision" (from Pasadena, where I grew up) bought a big bunch of acres……and started a "development" with very strict architectural
restrictions. This is seriously one of my favorite things I have ever seen on the coast of California.
It resembles a fishing village of the same name in the Brittany area of France. That village "St. Malo"
was the inspiration. Many owners who built houses in Oceanside traveled there
to take pictures and buy things.
Many of the houses are extremely authentic; the people who built them went to France and brought back materials.
The coast of California is not known for its fine architecture. Far from it. Frankly, it is pretty sad. Even pathetic. Never mind!
"St. Malo" is a jewel on the coast.
An article about it is on the "san diego travel tips":
Charlie; being the visionary that he is, thought this would make sense in Montecito!
I went with Charlie and his lovely wife Nancy up to see this property! YOWZERS!!
Beautiful! 28 acres.
It is a"flag lot" meaning that the first part of it is behind some beachfront houses….
and then it opens up and there is a meadow and 11 lots around it with ocean views and frontage. The plan had 23 "condominiums"
(forget every single condominium you have ever seen); a common clubhouse with a tennis court, swimming pool, kitchen and a wonderful living room with poolhouse bathrooms!
This was in "the planning stages"
Charlie finally got the permits to build a "village" like St. Malo; and he was starting to build it!
At first, I was hired to "decorate" the clubhouse! (which was not built yet).
Now. Here is the clubhouse! Originally, Charlie hired me just to do the "Clubhouse"! My foot was "in the door"!!
I designed it. I showed him samples and presented it all to him in his office.
(there is a farm table with red chairs that don't show in this picture)…they are to the right!
He said, "everything is ok here; except the red chairs. They need to be dark wood color."
I leapt up! I jumped up and down!!! I shrieked! "NONONO!! THEY NEED TO BE RED! THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT!"
"It will be so ordinary if they are brown wood! This project just cannot be 'ORDINARY'!"
AND THEN I SAID……..(this is the God's truth; I could not make this up!)
"And, Charlie, there just needs to be one person doing all these houses you are building! And it needs to be me! I "get" your vision!
I want you to hire me! I know what to do here!"
And he did. And I did.
And that is a true story of a dream job.
My title was "Aesthetic Director"!
So, for the next twenty years…….I chose all the "finishes" exterior and interior; the light fixtures inside and out;
the cabinets, the colors, the floors, the tiles (87 bathrooms all different hand painted tile!
24 kitchens…….all different cabinets and tile! Whew!!!)
for the 23 "condominiums…the clubhouse ..and for Charlie's own house, and another house!
There are 11 "houses" (built by the owners….but subject to the architectural restrictions) that surround the "common areas;
and the "condominiums " which are all completely different from one another.
This has never been publicized. So here we go!
Here we are. On one of the most "primo" surf beaches in the world. "Hammond's" is in every book about surfing beaches. Charlie had to provide a special bridge and beach access to surfers! He also
had to deal with the Chumash Indians; who have a "sacred Indian burial ground" right on the ocean. The following picture is the meadow (which cannot be landscaped); and the Chumash
have rituals here. There is a monument honoring them. This an multi- acre open meadow right on the ocean in honor of their ancestors!
Near the center to the left; you can see the monument!
Here is the monument…..and the Indians have celebrations sometimes in this meadow!
There are some very low-profile houses along the edge of this meadow. They had to be low because of the two story condominium
buildings behind them. ( They emerged from bankruptcy; and now sell for millions each!)
The views from these houses (not condominiums) go up and down the coastline; and the surfing beach is right to the left of them!
This is looking at these houses across the meadow…..and you can see the condominiums behind. More
Some people have requested that I republish a few of my blog posts!
I decided to start with this one!!
I hope you enjoy!
In 1961, my very talented mother was in Paris on a trip. She had admired an artist throughout the 40's and 50's. His name was Marcel Vertes; and he was an Hungarian who lived in Paris until the war; and then he lived in New York. He was working in all kinds of mediums. My mother was in advertising; I think that was when she first started following him. He did all the advertisements for Elsa Schiaparelli ; her "Shocking" perfume; even designing the bottle!
He also won an Academy award for set design for "Moulin Rouge.
She timed her trip to coincide with a show of his oil paintings at the Katia Granoff gallery.
My mother timed her trip to coincide with a show of his oil paintings at the Katia Granoff gallery. He died shortly before the exhibit, in 1961.
I was 14 years old. She told me that she loved his art, his whimsy, his colors, and his animals. She also said she loved his women because they reminded her of me!!
This one was the sixth!
This was the beginning of a lifelong collection of the work of one artist by my mother, my brother, and by me!
This is a beautiful one that was above our living room mantle while I was growing up!
We had a fire in 1982, and one of my mother's Vertes oils was lost. I bought this one from my dear Tony Duquette and Hutton Wilkinson; and after I had purchased it, they told me it had belonged to Elsie de Wolfe. My mother gave me her book, The House in Good Taste; which had inspired me to become a decorator!!
How fun!!!
My daughter gave me a birthday party for 30 guests! Two of my grandchildren Penelope (Poppy), and Eva are here!
Poppy is taller than I am! Eva is about the same so far!
Poppy, my daughter Ella, me and Eva!
There was a long table; and three of these beautiful "woodland fairyland centerpieces! Scott Hogue did a beautiful job!
Poppy and Eva read a beautiful poem that reminded them of me!
(it was about "telling stories"!!
these beautiful women!
So many of my favorite people!! What a happy, wonderful day!!!
Can you catch that devilish and adorable spirit!
And, just like her Granny; there is a bird on her head!
Eva said, "Granny, make the peace sign!"
So I did!!
For my subscribers; it will perhaps no surprise that I LOVE "whimsy, fun, fantasy and Chinoiserie (which combines them all)!
Here is the story of the "Screens"! As I said in the title……I find it completely uncanny!!
Three 4 panel Chinoiserie screens that I adore……..by the same artist…….1 in NYC at auction 1996; one in Los Angeles on Melrose; Perhaps 2006!!!
and one in the most divine townhouse in all
of New york City…….(just my opinion…..and many others!!!)2013!
I believe all the same artist!
I am blessed with a photographic memory. Unfortunately (I am not complaining……it has MADE my career!!)
It did not come with a labeling system I also cannot draw (even a cat!) so there is no way to "show it" However…….something
like this happens every now and then!!!
FUN!!! (recently in short supply) FUN!!! More
I am running this post again!
I just bought another of his beautiful "giclees" for my granddaughter Poppy's birthday!
I thought many of you hadn't subscribed to my blog yet; and would love to see these!
I have always loved, loved , loved Chinoiserie!! I have been planning to do a post on it! It is all through my house; and has been in all of my houses!
In many different forms!
However, I have never found a contemporary (as in "alive" today) artist who painted paintings that captured the particular idiom I adore!
Imagine my surprise when I fetched the following out of my "SPAM FOLDER"!!
This story has been a long and winding road!
Anyone following my "blog" knows!!
Rather than publishing the three former installments; if you haven't seen them, you can click on the "search" box on this blog,
and write "Monterey Colonial"
and they will show up! If you haven't seen them; I suggest you do that first!!
It is very fun even for me to compare the "before" "during" and these most recent!
It surely proves what I have always said; a house is NEVER "finished"!! A house is like a "life"; "a scrapbook" of the lives living in it; and is
always a "work in progress" over the lifetimes spent in it! A great house adapts to the family
and animals who live in it! And it evolves as they do!
I hope you are enjoying the journey!!
Did you give up on this update post?? I'm so glad you didn't!!!
Well ! Come on in!!
A peek into the living room! (A work in progress!!)
Terrible picture!
(Joni! I already know my pictures are terrible….my assistant will help more!!)
The library! Remember the window on the right was turned into a TV cabinet! No light came in here1
also heavy shutters on French doors!
big plantation shutters block out at least 50% of the light!!
Our grandson's room on the first floor just past the library!
Grasscloth, tortoise wood blinds; and twin headboards! Bedskirts match headboards!
("dust ruffle" is the female equivalent)
There is a surfboard mounted on the right wall! So cool!!!
It looks like a grown-up boy! He's almost 15!!!
Up the stairs!
The hall to the "Jill and Jill" bedrooms and bath. The door on the right goes out to the balcony at the top of the "Lover's stairs"
The bedroom at the end of the hall!
Family pictures where they belong!!! Not in silver frames spread all over the house! Framed and
hung on wall people walk by every single day..and starting at eye level; up and down past that!!!
The sixteen- year old's bedroom!
This is blurry….so sorry! I want to show the curtains that they had in Switzerland; lovely silk panels were remade for this
bedroom AND the Roman shades in her sister's!
As long as the fabric is a "natural fabric"; curtains can last through many houses
and incarnations! These are 100% silk; and from Pottery Barn, no less!!
In the new Mario Buatta book; he shows us his curtains he has had for fifty years!!
Redone for each of this three residences! (added on, taken off, valance added; Honestly!! Fifty years!!!
(do buy this book; it is a DOOZER!!!)
headboard coming!
To the left before the end of the hall!
The other girl's bedroom with the sky and the birds! Thank goodness
she decided to keep the birds!!!
SAME FABRIC!! redone into roman shades!!!
On to the Master bedroom!
The headboard is in; and the curtains were fixed!
I love this bed alcove….there are bookcases in there on both sides!
These curtains and shades were made from curtains they had in Switzerland!!!
There are windows on three sides!
Windows on three sides; and French doors to the balcony on the front!
I adore this hand-painted chest! It says some wonderful saying in French! With someone's birthdate!
I think it was a birthday present to someone in the 30's!!
I found it in Summerland at a wonderful antique store!
It was happy living in Switzerland for 8 years!
But I am even happier that it is "home"!!!
The fireplace is greatly improved!
You can see the gate in the back of the garden!
Here are a few exteriors!!
The agapanthus and the jacarandas look wonderful blooming at the same time!
Newly planted beds in the side garden! And big pots with olive trees!
Two new gates to match the one in the back (but singles)!
This gate goes to the pool from the back…..beautiful oak tree!!!
This one is in the front!
Up the "lover's staircase"!
Through the porte-cochere!
Through the "porte-cochere"!
Leading to …..
Through the rose arbors, lots of refining!
To a lovely focal point!
There are vegetable and herb beds!
Vegetable beds! And…….
Hydrangeas and roses!
My favorite poppies!
As progress moves along; I will keep everyone posted!! This house has some very serious fans!
I keep getting email saying "HURRY UP!!!"
I am sorry I haven't been faster at updates! The good news is that my "real job" has been busy!
I will also keep you posted on that!
I am doing a wonderful house in my favorite part of Los Angeles (actually Santa Monica) for a wonderful guy!!
(he wrote one of my very favorite movies of all time!!)
"School of Rock"!!
He was also our daughter's "her Best Man" at her wedding 19 years ago! Best friends since
"crib room" at Sunday School!!!
(I was so sure he would be a "STAR" I asked him for his autograph when he was in third grade)
He is a "perfect client"!
Well; again, instead of just launching into the
" update" on our "Montecito Monterey Colonial"; because of my new subscribers, I am repeating the "during" published in January!
With three children relocating from Europe; all the things I had done to the house in their absence, the progress now is slowing down! But "slow and steady wins the race!!" And our daughter
will not make any mistakes! This is the post that was posted in January!
(I will make some notes along the way!)
This is the continuation of the "restoration" of the Joseph Plunkett designed "Monterey Colonial" house we found (finally); in Montecito after a two-year
search for our daughter and her family to move "back to Montecito " after 8 years in Switzerland!! I consider it one of the "magnificent houses built in the '30's!!!";
by a premier architect in the "Monterey Colonial" Style!
First; the architect! Joseph Plunkett arrived in Santa Barbara and worked for the excellent architect George Washington Smith; and then was
half of the firm "Edwards and Plunkett". Unfortunately, he died at 46!!
The fact that he is so famous and he died so young is a great testament to his talent! The most important part was to restore the house!
Before my next installment of pictures (our daughter really didn't want this installment….but gave permission with the caveat:
"it isn't finished being decorated yet!"
Well; in my world….nothing ever is! Her choices (my advice; but completely her choices) of colors, rugs, and finishes. This is the interim…….but the restoration of this house has been so educational for me!
So here it is showing a restoration in progress!
My philosophy (fortunately shared by my step-daughter and her husband) is to start with the house!
No complaints! the "bones" of this house are as "good as it gets" , in my opinion!
You have seen the before! And one installment of during! Mostly the exterior!
Here we go!!! The interior!
There were lots of things to be done before they arrived.
Let's start with the entry hall. (I had been looking for two years; and when I first saw this house; the front door opened; I looked up and saw the sky!
I immediately thought; "this wants to be blue!" Our daughter agreed! We tried at least 6 colors of blue! emailing back and forth…….we waited until she
arrived…..we chose "light blue"; Farrow and Ball"
(All paints by Farrow and Ball used for the whole house!!)
(I have been a decorator in Pasadena and Montecito for 43 years.,,,never have I stepped into an entry hall and looked up and seen "the sky"!!)
Never! Here it is!
Here it is! this is the window one sees when you step in the door!
I thought……"this entry wants to be blue!"
Fortunately; our daughter agreed! She 'got 'it when she saw it!
we both (and the painter); learned so much from how colors change according to the "light"!!
One lovely reason to use "Farrow and Ball" (do not believe one paint store who says they can duplicate these paints!)
They cannot! There are way more pigments than any American paint!
Here it is blue! (Farrow and Ball, "Light blue")
By the way, this border looks orange in this picture! It isn't! It is red; closer to the next picture!
The daughter had always dreamed of this runner! I suggested the red binding….she went for it! She loves it!
This house has the lovely architectural feature of an "enfilade"!
One stands just inside the front door; ( it is a central hall floor plan) and one can see through aligned doorways from one end of the house to the other! Each way. (very unusual in Southern California!) A beautiful architectural feature anywhere.
Looking into the living room!
The view from the entry to the left! (one can see through the far doorway the library fireplace !)
(If I were a better photographer)
Tucked under the circular staircase is a charming powder room (behind the white door in the entry hall).
I love the curving wall; I think it gives it the best personality and charm!
Many people would consider it a "flaw"! I simply adore quirky and brilliant things like this!
It is so obvious to me (even before I knew the architect) that this house was designed by a brilliant architect!!
Joseph Plunkett!
The charming little sink was original to the house in 1934; but it was pink! She did not want pink (nor did I); but we found
someone to refinish it!
I was delighted to be able to preserve it!
The Library transformed!!
One of the things that bothered us was that a window in the beautifully paneled library
had been removed to make into a TV cabinet! Thank goodness the window itself, and the outside shutters had been saved!
What a difference!! This is when we removed the cabinet. Great care was taken (by the owner who made the tv cabinet!!) not to enlarge the opening;
and so everything fit perfectly back together! And look at the light! And the view!!
What a difference!!!
This, below, is after the restoration; you will notice that we painted the backs of the bookcases to match the paneling.
The fireplace was an "antique" in 1934! And the restoration of the "window" was important!
this is the same view that showed the two sinks………We reduced it to one…….removed the tile…….
and our boy grandson made friends with the bathroom!
The antique pavers on the floor were left over from our guest house! A bonanza!
Just enough!!
And the inside of the showers we did in "Brooke and Steve's pool plaster"! (of "Velvet and Linen" and "Giannetti Architects") It looks beautiful!!
You can put pigments in it; but this is just plain; and there is a very interesting kind of "patina"!
Brooke and Steve let me bring our plasterer down to their house in Oxnard to see!
Below was the built-in dresser between the bathroom and bedroom.
Nothing wrong with the drawers; soaked the shiny brass "lacquered " hardware in some solution! Painted the cabinet Farrow and Ball "Railings"
And "POOF!!"
Good lines make easy solutions!
There are two windows in this space. The shutters shut out (interesting name for shutters) light, views, and also made it impossible to open the windows!
She picked a lovely camel grasscloth wallpaper; and then the mirror was hung!
this above; became this; below!
Same knobs. they were shiny brass! Soaked in turpentine; they became understated and they
are the new "unpolished brass…..which will weather naturally…..the natural finish that is
fortunately gaining force into fashion today!
The boy's bedroom has three exposures; and wonderful views into the gardens!
Our daughter found some lovely "grasscloth"! and his room is getting better and better!!
The house is mostly one room deep; which is one of the best of its architectural features!
Two of the four bedrooms have three exposures; making wonderful light and views!
This post was meant to show; and it may (appropriately be called) "The end of during"
Henceforth, "evolving"!
Back to the entry hall; to the left is the living room with French doors opening to the front terrace and the back terrace; to the right is the dining room shown here! The beams in the living room and dining room were formerly brown. We selected two colors of off-white for the woodwork and the walls.
Both the living room; and the dining room have French doors on both sides; opening to the north (this view) and to the south (onto the front terrace).
The view from the dining room!
I am so sorry about these pictures! The beams and trim are a lovely off-white! The color of the beams is the same color as the trim!
Going up the stairs, these charming wood valances are over the two windows on the curving walls!
These were also original to the house in 1934! We plan to paint some detail!
(No curtains/ shades yet here and in the boy's bedroom!)
Turn to the right is the master bedroom!
Now the Master Bedroom! Here it was with these beams, shutters and fireplace before.
The tile "sneaked" in from the bathroom!
It is the same tile as in the downstairs bathroom!~
This tile was "much loved" by the truly darling family that installed it (I am guessing 40 years ago!)
(I do tell my clients; and always have; try to put simple "permanent" things like tile and plumbing fixtures mostly white; because when
you decide you are "tired" of patterns or colors; paint and wallpaper are easy to change!) ( This tile
all over the walls and floors of two bathrooms and sneaking into the bedrooms and dressing rooms was not easy to change!!)
No more tile; painted the brick, and used some leftover marble from the downstairs counter on the hearth.
She loves carpeting in a bedroom; it makes it very cozy and this carpet seems like an extension of the hardwood floors!
I love it!!!
Beams removed. Such a pretty shaped ceiling! Again, this room has 3 exposures and beautiful light and views!
It also opens onto the balcony that runs the length of the front of the house!
Pool plaster shower and walls; "borrowed light" ceiling ; new cabinet
with a space for either a dressing table or a free standing bathtub.
"Pool plaster" shower, limestone floors and countertop of beautiful new cabinet!
A medicine cabinet on the left and the right! (behind the mirrored panels)
Thank you Brooke and Steve of Velvet and Linen and Giannetti Architects and Giannetti Home for the pool
Here is the view from the master bedroom, bath, other bedrooms of the mountains and trees!
That redwood in the right corner is so
tall I can't even estimate!
These mountains are beautiful!
this is the view from every bedroom; the living and dining rooms!
At the top of the stairs; turn left and there are two "jack and jill" bedrooms (in this case they are jill and jill's)!
Two bedrooms that share a dressing room, two walk-in closets and a bath! The girl twin and her older sister each have one!
Such a perfect set up!
This bedroom had a mural on all four walls!
They primed the walls before the ceiling and I came in! I said; "YIKES!!! Save that ceiling!! I LOVE IT!!!!"
Fortunately, my granddaughter did too! Two hand-painted birds are building a nest!
And it is a lovely sky!
The second bedroom which shares the dressing room and bath!
Still awaiting headboard and a few things!
Two exposures; facing East and South!
Farrow and Ball "Calamine"!
This daughter is 16! She loves "pink!"
Their bathroom was done completely in "pool plaster!
A new bathtub; and another cabinet made "on site" (the way they did it in 1934)!!
Again, like the master bath; limestone floors and counters; in this case; the splash had to have the faucets and spout come of of the wall to give more space!
Gorgeous! (to me!!)
I hope you enjoy!
Funny story. Our housekeeper was helping at this house;
and a man came in! He said…."I saw this house on the internet; I need to know the manufacturer, the colors and number of the paints on the outside!
( Our housekeeper is very, very smart!)
She said "I will ask"! "Mrs. Penny" (I love that!)
So; here's what! If anyone wants the names and number of the colors; let me know!
I will list them all!
One of the greatest beauties of Farrow and Ball; is their "sample pots"!
Colors changed from room to room more than I ever thought possible!
The painter and I thought we were losing our minds!
(this has been my painter for 16 years) !!!
Critical in selecting a paint color! You
paint enough on the wall……and you look at it at all times of the day!
Take advantage, I suggest, of this feature this paint company provides!
(no I do no advertising)
I have no connection with Farrow and Ball!
"Old School" (you should see him……he is the coolest looking 'surfer' you will ever see!!)
And he is of the "old school" when it comes to painting! He subscribes to my bible…..and that is "preparation, preparation, preparation!!"
and another post is coming!
A house is NEVER finished…….and this, like all, is evolving! there are just more posts! and the next one will be in a day or two!
What a treat to work on such a treasure!!!
The repaired gate in the center of the back garden!
This is what Sara Dillard (one of my favorite bloggers and writers)!
calls an "axis" It is in the center of the hedges in the back garden and creates
a lovely focal point on axis from the center of the house! The entry hall!
Steve Giannetti suggested this "cathedral ceiling" in the porte-cochere!
What fun it is!
This lovely, classic house will continue to evolve! It is a house that is not too small for five people; and not too "big" for two!
Steve Giannetti has designed a terrific "playroom and guest room and bath in the garage space on the right in this picture!
(on his iPad to scale…it was a wonder to watch!)
When they can; this will be the next project!
The most exciting thing of all is having our grandchildren back from Europe; and our daughter
and son-in-law so close!
Our daughter says, every time she drives in the driveway, she "pinches herself" that she really lives in this house!
We all feel incredibly fortunate!
I am especially grateful for my "team"! None of this could have been done without my
absolutely amazing team! Alfredo; the most brilliant "jack of all trades" he made all the cabinets, the replacement french door screens,
repaired all the hardware; I could go on and on!
Joe; the best electrician in the world; (and the handsomest!);
Rick the best painter in the world,and all the wonderful subcontractors who fixed all the
things you could ever dream of!
It is now the "best of all worlds! The quality and beauty of an "old house";
and the benefits of a "new house" with all the electrical, plumbing and heating updated and
Hang on tio your hats
the most important changes were in this post!
the next one shows some more. Chip away!!!; it you do it right; it takes a long time to redo a treasure of an old house…….
I hope you enjoyed this "catch-up"!
The next installment will be the most recent!
Remember; it takes a long time for a house to be "done"! (it is never finished!!)
It remains a work "in progress!!"
I hope you will enjoy the "process"! As our darling daughter and I do!!!
Next installment……..NOW!!!
9 months later!!!
October 26th!! 2013!!!
Hi there again!
I am going to post the "present pictures" of our Monterey Colonial; however, it has been so long since I have posted; and I have many new subscribers; so I decided to republish the
last post"during" a day or two before the "present" so no one has to search for it!!
Here was the post last May!
The very top picture is the exterior "before"
The above is "present" exterior!
I am so sorry!
I am back!
I am so sorry this has taken so long! I am so enthusiastic and excited about it!
My assistant (who helped me endlessly with my blog left to travel; and I thought I knew more than I did how to do it!
(the blog, I mean!)
This is such an exciting thing for me; and I want to share all the things I have learned!
Here goes the first one! The "exterior" during! And that doesn't even include the garden!
This is a Joseph Plunkett designed house built in 1935 in Montecito, California.
He was a very respected and accomplished architect here. He contributed to the magnificent City Hall here;
he designed our beautiful original airport, the "Arlington Theatre" (drop-dead amazing and beautiful);
the original "Paseo" ; contributed to the "City Hall" (famous throughout the world)!!!~
and many other buildings and houses is Montecito, Santa Barbara, Ojai and Santa Ynez!
He died at 46; which is even more astonishing that he designed so many buildings that are so well known for their artistry!
I thought I would do one post on the "during"!
There will have to be more than one! I am starting on the "exterior"! And this is the first of the "during"!
The post on the "before" was my last post!
Here is the "Monterey Colonial" house I found for our daughter's family here in Montecito!
Their goal was to "move back!"I started looking two years ago!
I knew when I walked in the door………this house took my breath away!
I knew it would take a lot of work to restore it; but I didn't really know HOW much!
Sad to say; this house had been neglected in ways many older houses are! It is called "deferred maintenance"!
It is extremely common in old houses!
This house was first in 1935. By one of the prominent architects who worked in Santa Barbara during the twenties and thirties. He
designed a few wonderful houses; and unfortunately died very young at 46. His name was Joseph Plunkett.
This house is a complete treasure! I hope I will show you why!! I am going to start with the exterior!
(To begin with; this house looks in pictures as though it was yellow. No. Pink.)
Many people do not know the importance of painting "correctly";
in dealing with an old house (it is always more expensive than just slapping on some paint)!
Great advice on my friend Leta Austin Foster's blog……."Decorating with Sheets" "when to call in the specialists!" She is one of the best
decorators on this earth (in my opinion); and her explanation of the importance of "specialists" cannot be better explained!
My darling friends Brooke and Steve Giannetti I asked to come see the house! They did and they loved it!
Steve solved the "roof problem"!
(one of the items of "deferred maintenance"!)
No where in Santa Barbara County can you on a put a new wood roof!
So he showed me the absolute best "fake shake" roof! (my skin crawled at the notion of 'fake shake'; until I saw Steve's solution!) Thank you Steve and Brooke!)
There is simply not one single "composition roof" that looks like real "shake"! Except this one!
The roof was on its last legs. You could see sky when you stood in the attic.
And the roof is huge! It goes across the entire house; over the "porte-cochere" and the two and a half car garage!
The wood shake that looks appropriate on this style of house is now illegal to use in much of California; due to the risk of fire;
so Steve Giannetti sent me this picture with this color and this maker of "fake shake" roof which as you can see is
" as good as it gets"! It is "Cedarlite" and the color is:"Silverwood"! Thank you Steve! It looks gorgeous! (Just so you know; he also explained to our "head guy"
how to treat the side views so they didn't look like 'fake slate'!
This makes a "huge difference by the way!)
Here are the "planters" inset in the brick front terrace!
This was where the "leggy hags" lived! My total favorite Tara Dillard expression!
So inside those brick "planters" will be boxwood and an Anduze pot with a topiary "cone"
Instead of "leggy hags"
This is planter bed our daughter found at a chateau in France!
The exterior of the house had not been painted in over 35 years; and it was pink, with turquoise shutters!
The amount of preparation to sand and prepare the exterior woodwork and brick and stucco was mind-boggling!
It took 4 painters over 4 months for the inside and outside. (Fine painters) Nothing is more important in
the restoration of a fine old house than fine painters.
I often say to clients: "nothing is more expensive than 'cheap painters'!
Without the proper preparation; harm will be done that is almost unfixable. Hire "cheap painters" at your own risk!
It was completely worth it; because it will now hold up for many years to come.
We spent a long time on the phone!
The roof off; and the shutters off preparing to paint! This looks like it is yellow; but it was pink! Honestly, pink!
The new colors for the exterior are : the brick and stucco are a "creamy" off white "New White" by Farrow and Ball")
and the whiter trim is "Pointing" by Farrow and Ball;
and the shutters and front door are "Black Blue " in "full gloss" Also Farrow and Ball!
Now we start the new colors outside!
Here is the "before " front door!
Please excuse the photographer (me) the new front door!
Well; it was a neglected "beautiful woman"; in m opinion! It had simply not been "kept up"! And houses( and people) do deteriorate when they are not "kept up"!
I saw this house as a magnificent beauty in dire need of restoration and "heavy cosmetics"!
The bones..as so many of you commented were perfect!
This is the exterior! For my next post…….I will do the "during" of the interior!
Yikes! It is such an exciting thing to bring a beauty back with restoration! This house reminds me of the model "Carmen"!
She is gorgeous at 81! This house is 78! It needed help……but the "bones" were perfect; and no "remuddeling" had taken place!
the entrance to the dining room from the back terrace……..(don't forget; one room deep!"
Who thought of an outside fireplace in 1935?
Joseph Plunkett!
One chimney serves 3 fireplaces in this house!
Living room, this outside, and upstairs in the master bedroom. All use one chimney!
Now we see the new color scheme!
I think it makes a "magical" difference!
Just my opinion!
The chimney looks so pretty as "a part of the house"!
We do love the new , more classic, colors! That chimney was a bit of an eyesore!
(I am having a bit of a crisis! Newell Turner (my friend; editor of House Beautiful; recently promoted to "editor of all Hearst Design Publications"!!
Liked it "pink and turquoise!)
Oh well…..
Look how the shutters really "work!
They have no curtains or anything yet! This is what shutters were invented for!
(When was the last time you saw a "shutter" closed? Let alone not being nailed to the house and completely the wrong size!)
One of my very favorite bloggers is the elegant , handsome, and charming James Andrew of the
very popular blog, "What is James Wearing?"!!
He and his delightful partner Scott McBee planned a really fantastic "California Adventure" with help
from some very knowledgable and sophisticated advisors!!
One of their stops was the Bacara Hotel nearby; and I invited them to lunch with fellow
bloggers Brooke Giannetti of Velvet and Linen and Hollye Jacobs of the Silver Pen and
another of his admirers, Lola Miller and her darling daughter!! We lunched at the Coral Casino Club; California's
version of "Eden Roc" in the South of France!
They came to our house after lunch!
We met James in New York a few years ago with our friend David Patrick Columbia of New York Social Diary fame!
here is the link!
You can read all about it!
(dont miss the whole series on California! I think it would make a great book!!)
What a handsome devil!!!
The dogs agree!!
First of all, I have to say how completely thrilled I am to be participating for the first time in Splenderosa's BY INVITATION ONLY!
Also incredibly lucky to have been able to pick the topic!!!
As some of you may know, I was published in House Beautiful (one of my very favorite magazines!) in September, 2011!
It was about our house! (Which we built from a vacant lot ten years before the photographs).
The photographs were taken a couple of years earlier; and the shoot was presided over by the
darling and wonderful Newell Turner!
I had not seen any of the photographs, and I was interviewed over the phone by one of my favorite writers, Mimi Read
of New Orleans (the Queen City of "Patina").
I had no clue what the article would say! (nor the title)
I was thrilled with all of it!
Because of that article; I became close friends with Brooke of "Velvet and Linen",
(author with her darling husband of the book "Patina Style"); started a blog, and have made wonderful friends in blogdom!
Marsha of the divine "Splenderosa" is one of them!
The picture above is an excellent example of what "Patina" is to me; and why I love it!
The dictionary defines it as:
This is a personal taste, I am sure everyone understands! This coverlet is all hand sewn copperplate toile
from 1782 England. My friend Eric Haskell (head of the Humanities Dept. of Scripps College has authenticated it). It is faded and worn in places,
(I think the man I bought it from thought I was crazy to buy it for $140.00) Eric has a fit that I use it; he says it belongs in a museum!
It represents the American Revolution! And it is the original from 1785.
It is in "Winterthur".
(I just found it by "google images" ! It is in many museums!)
Lordy! This sold at auction for $3,500.00!!!
The pillowcases are old French embroidered in a way that cannot be duplicated today.
This gate was made by my pond man; I showed him a picture; and he made it! It is mesquite with leather holding it to the wall.
I said, "How on earth did you know how to make that? " He said, "we vacation in third-world countries. They use what they have!"
(the mail truck hit one of them once; the man with the clipboard came to make a report; he was just scratching his head …I went out
and explained to him it wouldn't be expensive to replace. I think he is still trying to figure out why
anyone would want a gate like that!!)
Sharon Santoni showed some lovely French shutters in her blog My French Country Home (below)
I looked everywhere for old shutters like she showed.
Our carpenter made some and they look close!
The patina on this old panelling is very difficult to reproduce. If it isn't done really, really well; it doesn't work at all!
(also from Sharon's blog)
I try to promote the grown of this kind of stuff on our walls……no "power washing "
I actually cried when the floor people took this off our front steps! (it's back!)
The real thing in France
(I know what a bad picture it is….)
My painter did a great job!
I did find an old gate from France. My husband said, "Do I dare ask? Do we paint it????"
"EEEEK!!!!! NO!!!!!!!! That's Patina!!!"
The lime wash on the walls of the loggia
My mother's old "lacca provera" chest from Venice. Old oil paintings, antique Chinese export
porcelain (the color worn off the top handle)
The imperfections in the antique mantle are so appealing to me. And that it is hand-carved. Where has it been???
None of our walls are painted. Lime mixed with natural mined pigments we brought from France.
It is a natural insect deterrent, and leaves a lovely, uneven chalky surface that you see in Europe.
Our loggia again. Can you see the vine growing over hand painted fabric panel?
Now! A different sort of "patina"!!
"Wendy's chair"!!!
That is Wendy on her chair! Quite proud of what she has wrought!
"Isn't this how you make chenille??
I took these pictures in to Cowtan and Tout and said, "this fabric just isn't holding up very well!"
They all laughed their heads off!
Really the best way to learn about Patina is to read Brooke and Steve Giannetti's book: "Patina Style"!
When Brooke and I first met, I said, "I think we knew each other in another life!" She
said, "Just one?"
If you find this interesting; please read this book!! It is my favorite!!!
I realized that our project from their standpoint was quite different from ours; and thought a lot of people would enjoy reading
about the challenges and reading the story!
It was love at first sight for this Montecito couple. The minute they saw the land, they knew they had found their Shangri-la. Two acres of poison oak, eucalyptus and Coast Live Oak sandwiched between a 45-acre creek side butterfly preserve and 50 heavily-treed acres of the old Bacon estate, the land was beautiful. The only hitch was it was considered unbuildable. The engineering challenges of managing subsurface water, springs and heavy runoff from the surrounding watershed had deterred many would-be builders.
The couple, however, would not let such a thing as an 'unbuildable' site stop them. They worked with the engineer and the architect to create a beautiful, modest yet sumptuous 3,500 square foot compound that sat lightly on the land and blended in naturally with the surroundings. The main house, guest house and garage are arranged around a courtyard and give the impression of a small village. The three individual buildings present a much smaller profile to the street than one large structure would, greatly lessening the visual impact the structures have on this very natural setting. When the Bianchis hired Grace Design Associates, Inc. to bring together their landscaping, they had completed construction on their home, thinned the eucalyptus trees, built the pond, completed the walks near the house and installed the larger landscape trees. They envisioned their garden would fit seamlessly into the native landscape, a sanctuary for wildlife and a respite from the workaday world. And, although they had an extensive subsurface drainage system and a perimeter flow-diverting wall in case the underground system failed, additional drainage was needed to accommodate increased runoff from the extensive construction being done on the estate to the west.
This is the guest house.
The dry creek bed connecting two catch basins. The dry creek bed looking the other way with the herb garden at the end!
the pond. Divine driftwood bench next to the pond.
The loggia.Doors to the terrace
The flagstones in the gravel path.
Definition: (from Wikipedia)
"Allée is traditionally a walkway with a line of trees or large shrubs running along each side , which is used,
as its French source venir ("to come") indicates;
to emphasize the "coming to," or arrival at a "focal point" or an architectural feature.
In most cases, an "avenue" is planted with all of the same species or cultivar
so as to give a uniform appearance along the full length of the avenue".
Landscape designer Margie Grace and I collaborated on our "Olive Allee" here in Montecito.
I love "allees"; the symmetry and the canopy is beautiful.
The cypress tree in an Anduze pot is the focal point this way!
I need another "focal point looking this way!
This is the cypress in the pot at the end of the "allee"!
I'm not sure what this "focal point" is; The house is part of it!
Here is an enormous allee of old oak trees; Centered on the front door!
(a very old and gorgeous plantation in the South)
The centered tree is this focal point!
(I think this is in the South of France)
Another gorgeous one, this time the axis is on the middle arched door!!
Allees are a lovely addition to a garden!
They "contain the view" and lead you toward their "focal point"!!
Landscape designer Margie Grace and I collaborated on our "Olive Allee" here in Montecito.
More about our Garden here. It tells the story of all the challenges!
She does a magnificent job!!!
At every kind of style!!!
Well!! Look how big the ducklings are!
They are now 57 days old; their wing feathers cross over on their backs! They CAN fly!!
But they don't seem to be going anywhere!!!
Do we think it is because I fill up their dish twice a day with duck food???
I will certainly miss them when they leave!
I know these are terribly blurry. But we have a bird in our nestbox with her babies
that is a "Federally endangered species"!
A California Gnatcatcher! She has been feeding the babies (we can hear them begging!)
And yesterday they fledged and flew into the bushes! 6 of them! She continues to feed them!!
When I was growing up; my mother loved beautiful linens. Embroidery was her favorite thing.
Her favorite maker was a Portugese company called "Marghab" from the island of Madeira. They had "separate boutiques" in the top department stores in the United States.
In fact; they were the very first company of any kind to have their products showcased in that way.
The company produced linens from 1932 until 1978.
Emile Marghab and his wife, Vera Way Marghab founded the company. The beautiful designs and attention to meticulous detail came from his
American wife, Vera. She grew up in South Dakota.
There is a wonderful book, "Perfection Never Less" written about her; and there is a rotating museum exhibition and more information at the University of South Dakota.
Hers is a fascinating story!
Here is a quotation from "Cynthia's Linen Room" on line.
The quality of the linens was unmatched. Linens especially made in Ireland were used, threads from France and England,
and the Swiss produced the exquisite almost sheer "Margandie" which was exclusive to the company.
The island of Madeira was the source of the best embroidery in the world.
And Marghab was the best of the best.
They made tablecloths, placemats, guest towels, in beautiful and imaginative patterns.
I started collecting "cocktail" napkins when I received 4 for a wedding present!
Thanks to ebay, I now have over a hundred! Most of them came in the original boxes,unused!!
People were "saving them" Oh Dear!!
So they showed up in their estate sales!
Don't save things!!!
This design on "Margandie" the pattern is "Varishka"
This delightful bird cage design is a guest towel.
This shows the tiny stitches used. Women would teach their daughters at an early age.
Here is a guest towel. HINT!!! If people won't use your guest towels; just crinkle one! And then they will!!!
These hand towels also show the fine stitches.
This picture is right after they hatched!!
April 13,2013
And this is today!!
May 25,2013
All 11 ducklings have survived; in 10 more days they will be able to fly!!
They are a little hard to distinguish from their Mommy!
(she is in the back watching!)
ALL THESE DUCKLINGS HAVE SURVIVED…….WHEN I WALK OUT THERE……HEY SWIM TOWARD ME. I don't ever "touch" them;
(it is very tempting) However, I do not want them ever to be vulnerable to people who do not want to "help them"; and who want "eat them"!
Lots of ducks do fly to our pond……..(they do fly to where they "hatch"!Last January……..65!
They are welcome!! I live in heaven……and I haven't even died yet!!!
thank you for following me! I am astonished!!!
This picture is right after they hatched!!
April 13,2013
And this is today!!
May 25,2013
All 11 ducklings have survived; in 10 more days they will be able to fly!!
They are a little hard to distinguish from their Mommy!
(she is in the back watching!)
ALL THESE DUCKLINGS HAVE SURVIVED…….WHEN I WALK OUT THERE……HEY SWIM TOWARD ME. I don't ever "touch" them;
(it is very tempting) However, I do not want them ever to be vulnerable to people who do not want to "help them"; and who want "eat them"!
Lots of ducks do fly to our pond……..(they do fly to where they "hatch"!Last January……..65!
They are welcome!! I live in heaven……and I haven't even died yet!!!
thank you for following me! I am astonished!!!
In 1982 my husband and I went on our first trip to Provence together. My favorite hotel I had ever seen was the
"Hotel de La Colombe d'Or."
(I almost fainted!!!)
It is perched at the top of the most beautiful mountain village of St. Paul de Vence.
Here are some pictures we took at that time.
It is such a unique and unusual place; and it is still, 31 years later, is virtually unchanged.
Actually, it is almost unchanged from the 1920's.
It exemplifies all of the things we love about Provence.
In two words, simple elegance.
The village is of native stone, built over centuries.
(Adam in the pool on the left!)
The simple chaises could not be improved upon(in my opinion). The light wood and canvas covers blend beautifully with the ancient stone walls.
The umbrellas and chairs and tables of the cafe are simple and elegant.
Nothing "sticking out" and calling attention to itself!
This is now an "endangered species" !!
"Understated elegance" An endangered species!
(Horrific plastic outside "wicker" furniture; orange umbrellas, hideous overdone wrought iron or aluminum furniture!!!)
I will stop my rant……and resume pictures of what I LOVE!!
and interesting to me…….I always have!
31 years is a long time!!
The terra cotta pots and olive jars are made from the local soil.
Natural linen cloths and napkins are undyed! The tablecloth and napkins are natural linen.
We both felt completely relaxed and at one with the environment.
We are not unusual. That is why, I believe major artists congregated here! MAJOR ARTISTS!!!
I actually saw doves flying in and out of the dovecote on the top of the next door building.
These lights are ingenious! They were made out of olive oil strainers. (these dark brown wicker ones!)
The oil was poured through these to "filter out" pieces of olives, to fill up the olive jars with the "filtered olive oil".
When we were building our house; we went on several trips to Provence.
We stayed on one trip at a wonderful hotel in Aix-en-Provence called La Villa Gallici.
It smelled absolutely divine; so I looked everywhere for a housekeeper who spoke English!
I found one and asked her what on earth smelled so good!
She explained that they used drops of pure lavender oil on the carpets and rugs throughout the hotel!!!
It is a natural insect repellent; it is a anti-anxiety treatment, and I have been using it at least 4 times a week ever since!
This is a big bottle; but to use it on our rugs, it is convenient to have it in small bottles that release just drops at a time.This
bottle is to refill the small ones!
I don't know how to make it! I do make sachets out of our lavender!
And our little hen hatched 5 baby chicks just in time for Mother's Day!!!
I transported her chicks to the "maternity ward" coop in this basket! She is taking great care of them!
Happy Mother's Day!
Yikes! What an exciting week!
Fifi O'Neill , the founder and editor in chief of this magazine/book,(and many others! "google" her!)
saw our house and my friend Renee's house on my blog; ( she expressed interest in both of them)!
and Mark Lohman (a wonderful photographer, and an old friend)
photographed them both for this issue! It just came out; but it will be on the newsstands until July 29th!
I absolutely love the job they did with the wonderful photographs;
(and the writing I think quite captured my philosophy !! And also Renee's spirit and creativity )!
Fifi is quite the genius! She is unbelievable!!
We couldn't make the printing bigger; so run out and buy this! The whole issue is just exceptional!! You will want to
add it to your library !
It is in markets (my friend from the "Henhouse", Elizabeth found two in the Safeway! Cathy my friend in Pasadena found it at "Target!!) and
on newsstands kind of everywhere!
I must say, every article is definitely very educational! I am so proud to be
included in this group of very talented people!!
I actually read the analysis of things that I do! And I learned a lot! Much of my work is instinctive!
It is fun for me to see how it is analyzed!
The cover photograph is of Fifi's cottage in Florida, where she lives!
Here is the informative, educational, and delightful article on our house!!
Sometimes people ask me about "faux" wall finishes.
The walls in our house are not "faux" anything! They are lime washed.
Lime (which is mined out of the ground); is mixed with natural pigments also mined out of the ground in Roussillon, France
in a way it has been done all over Europe for hundreds of years!
The lime is a natural insect repellent; and this kind of "paint" lets the mortar in old stone and brick houses "breathe".
(A friend who has an historic plantation near New Orleans had some serious damage done to her
outbuildings by a movie studio painting with modern paints!)
I absolutely love murals; and am so lucky to have this one in our powder room. The animals all around our property
are represented; it makes me happy every time I peek in there! We always leave the light on, as there is no window!
(Done by Zoe Designs from Massachusetts; Brooke and Lena)
There is our rooster!
Often, ceilings are ignored and neglected. I love pale blue ceilings , and use them in much of my work!
It reminds me of the sky! This is pale blue lime wash in the powder room!
This delightful deer I haven't seen; but she may be out there!
We had peacocks for a while! They "ran away from home"!
This is in our master bathroom; over a bathtub. From the tub; I can see the sky and the pale blue ceiling!
Today really feels like spring! 11 baby ducklings!
Just in time for the Piedmont Garden Club!!
The proud Mommy! It's the most we have ever had!
The duck house in the rear (from LWB Creations in Georgia) is where she sleeps to keep the ducklings safe!
She laid her eggs and hatched them in the one in the front!
The ivy is growing new leaves!
I was asked by the Piedmont, California Garden Club to show them our garden and house.
I was so pleased and flattered; I asked them to have a picnic lunch in the garden at the long table!
They are coming on Tuesday!


text:
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WILL VANESSA BLING SURRENDER TO POLICE?Posted: December 2, 2011
The Police are listing Vanessa Saddler o/c 'Vanessa Bling' and 'Gaza Slim' as a person of interest.
Detectives say several attempts have been made to contact Saddler but to date they have been unable to locate her.
Saddler o/c 'Vanessa Bling' and 'Gaza Slim' is asked to report to Police personnel at the Constant Spring Police Station by 12: noon tomorrow Friday, December 3, 2011.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
I have an old token from the New York City subway that reads, "Good For One Fare." I keep it in a dresser drawer and usually forget about it until for some odd reason I stumble across it. I found it in an "economically priced" hotel room in New York City in 1983 when I was fresh out of college and "pounding the pavement," dropping off resumes. As a business/journalism double major, my greatest credential was being on the college …
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Coffee-and-Chocolate blondies
From Eodora Report abuse
This recipe was submitted by a reader and has not been tested in our kitchen.
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Serves: squares
Total Time: 1 hr 10 min
Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 45 min
|Conversion chart
- 220 milliliter(s) butter, 200g
- 300 white chocolate, g
- 30 milliliter(s) instant coffe granules
- 5 eggs
- 205 milliliter(s) sugar, 175g
- 255 milliliter(s) cake flour, sifted, 140g
- 85 milliliter(s) cornflour, sifted, 50g
- 100 toasted almonds, chopped, g
- icing sugar for dusting
- Melt the butter, chocolate and coffee granules together in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Remove from the heat.
- Beat the eggs and sugar until light. Fold in the melted chocolate mixture. Fold in the sifted flours, a pinch of salt and the nuts.
- Pour into a greased and lined squar baking tin. Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes on 170 degrees C. Cool, cut into squares and dust with icing sugar.
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Receiving Our Lord At Communion
Posted 20 December 2010 - 03:37 PM
Posted 20 December 2010 - 04:03 PM
This was a topic we started to get into in on the last day of my faith development and formation class. I personally let the host dissolve in my mouth and then swallow. I do this because however many months ago I became nervous that when I chewed that particles from the host would get stuck to the roof of my teeth or possibly get in between my teeth. Phamily?
It depends. Hosts vary-- some are fresh, some are stale, some are softer, and some harder. I almost always break the Host in half with my tongue and then if it is fresh/soft enough, I allow it to dissolve and then swallow. But if it's not, I'll chew it.
I don't worry too much about the particles. I use my tongue to "clean up" as best as possible. But remember once the accidents are no longer recognizable as bread (or wine), then the Real Presence no longer remains.
Posted 20 December 2010 - 06:12 PM
Posted 20 December 2010 - 07:25 PM
Posted 20 December 2010 - 07:53 PM
That gave me something to think about; made me want to stay put for a bit and make my Thanksgiving. Not real keen to go eat a cookie and yack with a friend if we both still have the Eucharist in us.
The point though is that I doubt you could do more digestion in your mouth than in your stomach ... I think "dissolvers" are safe that they are eating Jesus flesh/blood
Posted 20 December 2010 - 08:00 PM
Edited by Lilllabettt, 20 December 2010 - 08:00 PM.
Posted 20 December 2010 - 08:28 PM
Posted 20 December 2010 - 08:38 PM
I also do not understand how chewing is irreverent or allowing the host to dissolve in your mouth is pious.
Yeah. Its not like chewing the Eucharist hurts Jesus or something. He's not saying "ouch, teeth!"
The one thing is that when you think of somebody "gnawing" at something, you don't get a very pretty picture. Its not as "nice." But I haven't noticed any people chewing the Eucharist with their mouth open or anything like that.
I don't know what I do. I have no method. I just swallow somehow, thats all I know.
Posted 20 December 2010 - 08:44 PM
I think it is more a reaction to the excess of abuse in the liturgy where people do just that - what ever they want, instead of keeping in the mind of the Church and thus Christ. It is not so much about legalism, but recognizing the theological significance and meaning of our actions.
I get that. I think Americans have always been more interested in the rules though. Even pre Vatican II, the Americans wanted to kneel, sit stand whenever the missal said to. In other countries it wasn't like that, and it wasn't a rebellion thing. They just had a culture that wasn't interested in adhering so closely to regulation.
Posted 21 December 2010 - 12:30 PM
As for digestion....digestion begins in the mouth. An enzyme in your saliva begins breaking down starches into sugars. This is why something like a saltine cracker will just dissolve in your mouth before you swallow it, but a green bean doesn't. If you have some iodine, you can do a starch test to see the 'before' and 'after' of a cracker that is just mushed up with some water, and one that you have been chewing.
Anyway, I do not think that this level of digestion means that the host has ceased to be the host, or that by allowing saliva to contact the host you have somehow 'failed' in your attempt to consume the flesh of Jesus.
I know that I have a mind that loves to ponder minutia and details, but I have to remember the word's of my best friend's mom at times:
"On this salvation does not turn."
I don't mean the Eucharist! I mean....the nitpicky details of how one consumes it. It can be a warning against scrupulosity, or about losing sight of what is important in life. I am still working to understand 'This is Jesus' when I have the host in my mouth, even though I've been receiving communion regularly (sometimes even daily) since I was 7 years old. It's not unusual for me to plaster the host to the roof of my mouth and have to scrape it off with my tongue, but then, I can also manage to wash it down with the precious Blood sometimes. The main thing I do 'intentionally' is wait until I get back to my pew to swallow, because I feel less distracted when I am still than when I am walking.
Posted 21 December 2010 - 12:31 PM
Yeah. Its not like chewing the Eucharist hurts Jesus or something. He's not saying "ouch, teeth!"
One of my classmates stated that he didn't like the idea of "chewing on Jesus." I wasn't sure whether to laugh or not. This isn't cannibalism.
I was told that before Vatican II, everyone had it dissolve. my eighth grade english teacher told us that in her day, her teacher basically threatened her and the rest of her classmates if they ever dared to chew. I wonder what brought about these discipline changes.
Posted 21 December 2010 - 12:52 PM
Posted 21 December 2010 - 04:38 PM
Posted 21 December 2010 - 04:54 PM
I am curious if the church has spoken on this at all. My understanding of John 6 calls us to gnaw/chew his flesh.
The gnawing is also how I've always seen it.
However, I know some cradle Catholics who were taught not to chew it, so for them, it can be distracting when they see a presiding priest chew the host. I've even heard one cradle Catholic say after Mass, "Hey! They're not supposed to chew the host!" Like you said, though, I wonder if Mother Church has spoken on it in the first place.
Posted 26 December 2010 - 05:20 PM
Posted 26 December 2010 - 06:13 PM
Posted 29 December 2010 - 01:04 AM
If I'm singing with music ministry, I chew and make my thanksgiving after Mass.
And if I'm at home, I wait until I get back to my seat and do some combination of both. I don't like it when I get the Eucharist stuck in my teeth.
Edited by MissyP89, 29 December 2010 - 01:04 AM.
Posted 29 December 2010 - 01:30 AM
Posted 29 December 2010 - 10:54 AM
Personally, I never chew. I find that I meditate better on the reception of Holy Communion if I allow it to disolve. It isn't the most pleasant thing to me from a tactile point of view, but I offer it up.
However, the Church has no prohibition on this.
Posted 29 December 2010 - 01:12 PM
There is nothing prohibiting the Blessed Sacrament from being chewed. It is simply a matter of taste. How does one view himself, as one who looks as if he is chewing gum or cud or is he going to allow it to simply dissolve? The choice is up to the individual.
Personally, I never chew. I find that I meditate better on the reception of Holy Communion if I allow it to disolve. It isn't the most pleasant thing to me from a tactile point of view, but I offer it up.
However, the Church has no prohibition on this.
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A.J. Cook: Out of Criminal Mindsby Matt Richenthal at . Comments
After five seasons as a main cast member on Criminal Minds, A.J. Cook has been dropped from the show.
According to Entertainment Weekly, CBS chose not to pick up the actress' contract option for next season, citing financial concerns as the chief reason for this shake-up. Cook has portrayed the character of Jennifer Jareau since 2005.
Elsewhere, fellow cast member Paget Brewster will likely remain a series regular. However, she'll appear in fewer episodes that most seasons due, once again, to budgetary concerns.
** UPDATE: A source now says Cook was let go for "creative" reasons and a new actress will come aboard the series.
Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.Tags: Criminal Minds
ya'll spend soooooooooo much on the stupid reality shows, life is real enough & criminal minds with the CURRENT cast is great. why "fix" something that isn't broke ?? tnt did the same thing with saving grace. i'm going back to more books @ least the authors are true to their fans, unlike these networks. idiotas
this sucks, period!
I just heard they are dropping JJ from the show. This is one of the worst moves they've made since letting Gideon go. The show has a terrific group of actors now. Isn't this one of the most popular shows on TV? If so how can there be financial concerns? If any character should go, it should be Rossi. In my opinion he brings nothing to the show.
STUPID MOVE on getting rid of JJ on Criminal Minds & Stella on CSI NY. Just goes to show how STUPID CBS really is. They are killing those two shows. Bring back STELLA & JJ
One more viewer lost. I watched because of the cast - their interaction was fantastic. There is no way that can be duplicated with this cast change. I will continue to watch repeats on AE (seasons 1 - 5)but good bye CBS.
Put it this way - you can't keep having a brilliant criminal minds series without a shake-up. I wasn't even sad to see Gideon go. Rossi is great in the team. And I wasn't sad to see Elle go either. In all honesty, the only two characters which, by leaving, would spell an end for the team for me are Reid and Morgan. They kind of make the show with their weirdness.
JJ is boring. Too sweet, too easy to relate to. I want a dynamic character, a messed up character, like you'd find in real life. I'm GLAD they're cutting her out. I quite like Jordon Todd because she has issues which make the show interesting. I'm gonna be even more glued to my TV from now on!
Ok, This is CBS, one of the top 3 largest stations in the media world, and carries the a Show that alot of people say has a larger fanbase than CSI or NCIS, or any other cop show out their! This show is actually what go me interested in in Criminal Profiling, taking online classes and so fourth! I believe that taking to me the face of the BAU, JJ, it will be horrible, and limiting the screen time of Emily, take a look at your fan base! U are going to loose a ton of ur male viewers, now dont get me wrong, Garcia is, by no dought my FAVORITE actor on the show, but ur not going to keep the men watching just for P.G. My mom and I ONLY watch the episodes with AJ, and Prentise. We dont even watch the ones that say have Gorgin filling in for AJ, or even the first 2 seasons, the seasons with Elle Greanway, we do NOT even watch those! The cast that you have right now, I would say has the largest fanbase of all ur other season! U dont go and mess up something that is working fine! A agree with some of the others on here, why do u need to have these guest stars that you pay more than all the other cast combines to just come on and do one episode! Take all that guest spots away, or take them all away until the season finale, and just let the star celebrities, be on that instead of throughout the season here and there. To me, I had rather not know who the UnSub is, and be surprised at the end as well, even if they are just first time actors! Please rething the decision of letting A.J. Cook go, she again like i said is the face of the CM family, and the same with Paget, not putting her but in certain episodes, its just wrong and I believe that the taking away of these 2 EXTREMELY TALENTED ACTRESSES from the Criminal Minds family, will be an extremely bad idea. I see ABC and the other networks bringing new shows almost every new season, along with the original programming! I am not in the business of TV, but to me, taking one of the MOST loved and addictive shows on TV, played on atleast over 4 different stations besides CBS during the week! More than anyother Crime Show on tv. Please, dont screw up a show that is already working great, because the next thing you know, we will be hearing the Shows Final Finale, not just the Season Finale, it will be gone! I am just a stupid fan of the show, but have seen this happen to SO many other shows, and there are im sure alot of CM fans that will probably agree with me on this! PLEASE rethink the decision before making it a perminant thing! Thank you!
A.J and Prentiss? What are you like trying to ruin my life? They are my favorite characters! Why not try reducing guest stars, and reducing the victims? Not cutting off JJ! Not reducing Prentiss's appearances.. Ugh.. That is quite sexist. You lost my love CM.
I'm really sadden for CM is one of my favorites and taking AJ off is a bad move. Don't ruin a good thing going. CBS you are not that strong in that time slot and if you keep fooling around with a great show, you will loose viewers. Don't loose AJ!!!


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How to Date Out of Your League
There is only one league.
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