Redecorating A Little At A Time

 

"Have no fear of perfection, you'll never achieve it."

~Salvador Dali

I am hoping to do some painting, and redecorating, in the coming months. I just want to change some basic aspects of my home. A lamp here, and vase there. A new quilt set can change the whole feel of a bedroom, as can a lamp or throw pillow. Money, as you might expect, is an issue now that Trump has caused prices to raise. It's truly a shock to the system. DO I buy a lamp right now, or do I put the money away in case some unforeseen emergency arises? I need towels, do I start there? While home furnishings have only raised about 2% since 2024, it still seems like a big spending luxury, when you're paying so much for other goods and energy costs. I can't change my whole domestic surroundings at once, which is a shame because for me it's easier to imagine the look, but there is something to be said for allowing my condo to speak to me as I add a piece at a time.

Let's start here.

I love my current quilts, but it creeps me out that they were seen by everyone and their brother when we listed our house for sale, several years ago, and again when were considering selling in 2023. People I don't know, knew my style and what the bed I slept in looked like. Ugh. So, and new quilt set wouldn't be out of line. 10 years is long enough for a quilt set. Full stop! And it's also not out of line to dismiss an icky feeling that's followed me for years! Let's consider quilts.

I like this one from Wayfair. I love Wayfair

But this one is pretty nice too.

I can add a vase with some artificial orchids or maybe peonies to create a soft, inviting room. Colors easy on the eyes, so sleep is only a snore away. Funny, I used to watch CNN and MSNBC to fall asleep, now the news terrifies me so much, it's anything but rest inducing. Now to fall asleep, I use restful noises from my Alexa or if my sleeplessness it really bad, I use little bottles of essential oils I keep by my bedside. Lavender and cedarwood, and are all great for you if you seek rest. I also enjoy cinnamon and clove, as those are my favorite scents. Below is a great article from the Cleveland Clinic about the uses of 11 specific scents and how they work to benefit you. I love farmhouse style, Mid-century and eclectic with a sense of humor. I want to do each room eventually, but mixing too many styles can come off insane. It's a process. So, sometime soon I will share about where I have landed with things. I might even repurpose old items I have packed away. A new lampshade on an old lamp can make all the difference! I just wish I understood why lampshades are so expensive!

Cleveland Clinic 

11 Essential Oils: Their Benefits And How To Use them.

It's going to take a little time. 

Feng Shui

 

“The sky
lights up
with fireworks
when you
follow your
dreams.” 

~Avijeet Das

Hubby and I did a little Feng Shui last week, by completely moving our bedroom around. The bed is no longer under the window, it's on the opposite wall. Other than that, it's somewhat a work in progress. But just by doing that one action, we have gained an lot of positivity. For one... there's more light first thing in the morning! I have come to enjoy having a lot of light in the place I used to be a cave dweller, but the old house taught me a lot about light. And all the hard work came with another bonus, you see, the good folks of Stockton love to launch great big illegal fireworks on Independence Day, and that gave us a free fireworks show from the comfort of our bedroom window!

 

 Let me tell you, it was Spectacular! I know, the illegal ones are dangerous, and I really shouldn't praise them, but it was better for us then risking the possibility of drunk drivers, driving through crowded streets, and not to mention the occasional need to drive long distances to see them. Another plus to the new arrangement in the bedroom, it now allows Joey a warm place on the hamper so he can see outside in the window! Sometimes everything just comes together! More on the room later. It feels so good to be so much closer to having our life in the house over, and the beginning of our lives in the condo beginning!

“Are the fireworks over, or just beginning?” 

~David Sinclair

  Without the Mob, There Is No Circus

Urgent

 

“Seasons are but just environmental moods.” 

~Anthony T. Hincks

 

 There is an atmospheric river bearing down on the west coast. I looks like it will be packing quite a punch. We may even lost power! Personally, I will be painting a room this weekend. That special room I have been working on for the last 8 months or so. Wish me luck with the rain and paint. I think it's going to be a bumpy ride.

 

B/W 2024 #4

 

“Your desire to be near to window is your desire to be close to life!” 

~Mehmet Murat ildan 

Color or Black/White?

I can't decide. But windows, and window treatments have been on my mind a lot lately, because I am decorating the spare room, and not one set of my curtains has looked good. I have about 35 sets of curtains, that were for 3 different homes, but somehow the windows in my condo are demanding something different! Unfortunately, what it is wanting is absolutely eluding me! Anyway. here is a color and black and white window. I suppose with the natural color version, a nice warm cream color would look good, maybe in Damask. With the black and white, you can let your mind wander, personally for that I see a nice mid-century look, maybe Atomic Cat. I think I will photograph more windows for inspiration, as my quest continues! Is it me, or wasn't the curtains in my living room lovely? You couldn't beat the light that came through those windows! Autumn light was especially pretty! I smiled a lot in that room!

My office curtains as we were packing to move.

37, 38, Autumn Catch-Up

"For art, she had thumb-tacked hundreds of autumn leaves on one of the cracked walls.

~Eleyne-Mari Sharp

Inn-Lak'ech

 

Leaves. That's all. Just leaves. I didn't get to do a post yesterday, because of painting my office, so this a day I will spend getting caught up. Pictures tomorrow or Saturday of my newly redecorated office, but for now, Autumn leaves.

Leaf Of The Day #37

Leaf Of The Day #38

~Carly

Stockton, California

October 29th 2020

 
 

Where Memories Gather

"Stop looking at the walls, look out the window."

~Karl Pilington

The Ricky Gervais Show

Seasons 1-3 

Okay, so I began removing some of my photographs off the sidebar. I might take even more of them down, because as my pal Jeff once advised, the sidebar was "too cluttered and would have a more impressive look to it, if it wasn't so busy." He was right, but I had such fond memories of all the photos I had posted there, that it was difficult to take them down. I wanted to hold onto each and every moment and memory, that I had created in the Bay Area!

 When I began blogging on Ellipsis, I had designed my blog for myself, and not for those who may visit. There is some logic to that, in that there is no real way to know who has come by, or how many consistent readers I have on a weekly basis, so I decorated the blog, as I would my home! But in the last few months, as I pondered whether or not I needed cease my blogging all together, I began to see how a new outlook on the blog might be just what I needed to inspire me pick the camera back up, and look for the unseen or overlooked!

So, the collections in this post, are a last look back, at the photographs that graced my sidebar from 2006 until now. They all mean a lot to me, but I have a new folder for them, and it feels good to start looking for the reality I am in right now, as opposed to the life I had in Berkeley. In 2015, life picked me up, twirled me around in a shit storm, and threw me hard into the Central Valley, and into the city of Stockton, where I landed with a HARD THUD! It was difficult to come to terms with those facts, but I've been lucky to have had Alan by my side, as we dealt with it together. I'm so lucky, and so blessed to have people who care about me, and who give me strength.  

But revamping Ellipsis, is another necessary step toward moving forward! We have decorated our home, one room at a time, and with each coat of paint, or one more carefully chosen painting, or rug, or toss pillow, home becomes a little more HOME. Decorating a new place takes time, and in a weird way, the house will guide you with lighting, and natural sounds, until it all comes together in your imagination. As that process nears completion, I am finally coming out of that three year fog I was in, and accepting that it all goes together, even my blog, because it is a part of my creative reality, even if no one reads my blog or sees my photographs.

Ellipsis is a place for my memories to gather.

And it's time to make new ones!

 

Autumn trips. Time spent in Golden Gate Park. Sunsets from the Berkeley Hills. My rose garden. My beautiful Golden Gate Bridge. I love looking back on those days, even as I plan new trips and new photo opportunities. 

I'm excited!

#11 Leaf Of The Day

October 2nd 2018

Ione, California

~Mood: Excited

~Me :)

 

Taking Down Decorations

A bare tree stands

with roots at both ends

in December days

~Kiran Bantawa

Bare Trees

Alan and I were talking things over last night, about the holidays, and if we really wanted to do anything about it at all. Any decorating, or playing of board games, or visiting our favorite haunts like, Union Square, in San Francisco. Our moods have been dark and heavy lately, politics overwhelms everything! Should we buy gifts this year? Because if Trump's tax plan passes, well, we are going to be in a financial pickle come the new year. And then there is the fact that we are just getting over colds. Both of us sick, for most of the last week!

Yep... we are in a funk. I think we will push through this, but it didn't help that I got a rather large mailer from a local Funeral and Memorial service provider! And not just any one, the one that currently hosts my dad! Don't those people know that this is the time of year when suicides rates are at their highest? Come on guys, you can't get rid of me that easily! I'm just trying to think of that unfortunately timed ad as a, Fuck You, and Happy Holidays, from my dear old dad! He had that kind of sense of humor!

We will push forward. We will put up a holiday tree and some decorations, and we will find the spirit. I know we will. We just have to make an effort. That's the hard part. Making the effort. Anyway, we are about to turn to a new year, 2018, and hopefully some really nice turn of events will happen... call it a 2018 miracle! You never know, maybe 2018 will completely make up for all the pain of 2016, and 2017. It could happen, and if it does, I will put the damn holiday tree up in May, if that's when Trump is finally removed from office! You. Just. Watch. Me! 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

TREASON WILL BE THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!

#9 Leaf Of The Day

December 9th 2017

Cull Canyon Park

Mood: Sarcastic

~Me

Red

"Red is the ultimate cure for sadness"

~Bill Blass

I was going to do this post in a few days, but I had thought I would go ahead and post them today, due to the lack of sleep I got last night, I was unable to do the photography I had planned. The tragedy in Las Vegas hit just after I posted yesterday, and it pretty much consumed most of my time, waiting for updates on the news. I am not sure why I do that every time something like that happens, I guess some part of me always hopes the reports get it wrong. It didn't really happen. It was a false alarm. But as the night went on, it became all very real. It wasn't some ill timed drill. And the numbers involved didn't go down... they went up... and by the time I woke up yesterday, it was the worst mass shooting in American history! And it wasn't a group who did it... it was one man, alone in a hotel room, on the 32 floor. 

I remember years ago, my therapist told me that red was a power color, which made a lot of sense to me. She said it gives one an air of strength. Color plays a lot of roles in our lives, and I found the whole thought of one color making that much difference, I began to read all I could about how to use color in decorating. I am not really into Feng Shui, but I do enjoy decorating the rooms in our home in a sort of seasonal feeling. I bet you think my whole house is done in a fall theme... right? No, not the whole house, just the living room, which is done in Rusty Nail, on 2 statement walls.

The bedroom is Cornflower Blue, again on 2 walls. The guest bathroom is two toned. Blue Glacier and Roasted Corn. The coffeehouse is Meditation Green, my office will be Purple Daffodil, and the on-suite bathroom is Crisp Apple and Apple blossom. Each room has a different vibe, and I am enjoying that, because I find as I get older I need more places of refuge when the world turns crazy. It's funny how the older you get, the more you tend to appreciate your surroundings, especially your own home. I know I do. 

The Cornflower blue on the bedroom walls did wonders for calming me down, as I tried to sleep. When I finally did finally fall asleep, I slept only about 4 hours, be they were in a deep, restful sleep. And the cats helped too. All three of them were by my side, making me feel safe, and very loved! Unfortunately, when I got up, I then woke up to the sad news that Tom Petty was clinging to life after suffering a massive heart attack. I loved his music so much! So, my heart broke for a second time in 24 hours. 

Life is really hard. 

There will be time for the rant I have planned about gun control.

Right now I think I will sink into the colors that soothe my soul.

Put on some music. And appreciate how it all comes together to make me whole again. Life goes on, and it's just an unfortunate fact that we have to live through the bad. to really appreciate the good.

To everything there is a season,

 and a time and purpose under heaven.

#4 Leaf Of The Day

September 22nd, 2017

Old Sacramento, California

Mood: Reflective

~Me 

 

My Desk... 2017 Edition

"My ideas usually come not at my desk writing,

but in the midst of living."

 

~Anais Nin

 

 My ideas come to me under many different circumstances. My artistic ideas happen, oddly enough, when I already have a camera in my hand. Some of my best creative ideas, happen on the spur of the moment. I can't even count the number of times that I have planned, down to the very last detail, a particular photo jaunt, only to find multiple other ideas and sparks of inspiration either along the way, or while photographing the original people, places or things that brought me to that destination.

 

My desk is where all the serious stuff occurs. I pay bills. I edit photos. I read the New York Times, Huffington Post, Time, The Hill, CNN, National Geographic. You get the idea. I Tweet sometimes from my desk, but most of the time I Tweet from my phone while on the go. My desk is also where I tend to fret. I fret about Trump. I fret about bills. I fret about owning a home. I never realized how stressful a mortgage is! Yes, I do some fretting there, but I also play some Wordbird there, and I enjoy my office as my girl cave, so all isn't lost.

 

Although as I look around my office, I wonder why in the world my office isn't finished yet! I have been here almost 18 months, and it still isn't finished. I haven't chosen a color for the walls, I haven't gotten my chair for reading. I always wanted a cozy chair for the corner of the room, to curl up in with Dylan and a book. I love his snuggles, and right now the couch does nicely, but one day I would like a chair for the office. All things in their time I guess.

 

It's hard owning a home. You worry about the roof. You worry about the mortgage payment. You worry about the jerk up the street who loves to turn the corner going like 80 miles per hour. I just know one day he will run through the front bedroom! You worry about aphids. You worry about buying earthquake insurance. YOU WORRY!

 

Buts it's nice to know, when you have a cold, and a fever of 103.3, that you are sick in your own home. Your bedroom is yours. Especially when you have bonded with the four walls and the roof like we have. Once you bond with a house it leads to worrying about all the responsibilities, but it's a little easier to take because it's home. A refuge from the angry, sad world. LOL. It's a lot, and I don't know that we will always be here, but Alan and I decided a long time ago, that if we couldn't make a go of it here, we would be adults and sell, and I am okay with that.

 

Mostly.

 

But for now we are making it all work. That man and I are unstoppable. He really is THE ONE. And with the fur babies, we are a family. And then there is Elvis, gone but never forgotten. He is in Alan's office, on his desk, in the perfect little box. Elvis always sat next his daddy when he was alive, so I know he would be happy to be next to Alan now. When all is said and done, we are a family, and we are at home no matter where we put a key in the door.

 

 But truly... I need to get my office finished!

 

 

Mood: Greatful

 

~Me :)

Will This Be The Year? :)

"December, being the last month of the year,

 cannot help but make us think of what is to come."

~Fennel Hudson

A Meaningful Life

Fennel's Journal #1

We put up our Christmas tree last night, and my goodness it's lovely! It is so pretty with it's tiny lights, and happy little stuffed animals at the base, working hard to keep some curious kitties from taking a mad leap into the middle of the tree! There is a small blue bear, that Hendrix claimed years ago, before it ever came out of the box of soft teddy bear decoration we bought at Costco. We put those soft decorations on the tree every year, so if someone does make a mistake, they don't get hurt by falling breakables. So far, they have never tore the Christmas tree down, we have well behaved cats! But it doesn't stop me from wondering... will this be the year?

:)

 Leaf Of The Day

December 11th 2016

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

 

 

Yellow Fresia And Lavender

"Love isnt all flowers and candles, and dancing midgets.

 No, it is much, much taller than that."

~Jarod Kintz

Love Quotes For The Ages

Specifically Ages 18-81.

Look, See, I made it! Two postings in a row! As I ease back into life anew, Mondays seem to be the day for getting caught up! I was so thrilled to hear from my friend Kat! Lovie, I wasn't sure if you might have given up on me and moved on, so to get a comment from you just made my whole day! And yes, I am taking your suggesstion and I will be doing a video walk through of the house when we are done decorating it! The living room is almost there, we just need to finish the fireplace and get something for the red statement wall! I am learning a lot about color as I move along through the decorating. Next up will be the bedroom, which I am doing in Cornflower Blue, soft lavender and mineral. After that it is on to the hallway, bathroom and finally the kitchen next autumn! I want to let the house show me the way, if that makes sense.

 I want to stay true to it's energy, which from our experience in her the last 6 months, is mostly embracing, gentle and very kind. It's a house that brings you in and gently holds you. It's got such a nice vibe. I felt it from the moment we pulled up in front of it! I hadn't even seen it in the MLS listings. Our real estate expert just decided to add it into the house list for that day! We learned the day we signed the contracts that the previous owned listed it on my birthday! It was meant to be. It was just sitting quietly, in that cute little neighborhood waiting for us, and when we pulled up on the curb in front of the house, Alan and I both immediately remarked on how adorable it was and when we walked in the door the house just seemed to say... 

"Well, what took you so long?"

We have started landscaping the yard. 

Yellow Freesia and Lavender. 

More photos to come soon.

Stay Tuned!

Mood: Happy

~Me :)