Wallpaper fancy

'Do you live in town' by Mini Modern

Wallpaper indulgence! I came across this blog and fell head over heels:

Zebra wallpaper by Turner Pocock

Wallpapered furniture by Bryonie Porter

‘Un Dimanche á Paris’. 

Manor House damask by Yukari Sweeney

Fayre’s Fair carousel wallpaper by Mini Modern

Madame Butterfly by Designers Guild

Saplings by Miss Print

Padgett wallpaper by Designers Guild

Loopy Lines wallpaper by Wayne Hemingway

Cole and Son's Cow Parsley wallpaper

Library wallpaper by Andrew Martin

Are you into it?







All images via wallpaperreview.wordpress.com

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Renewal

I love to ring in any new season with changes. It begins usually in early March with cleaning of the fireplace and chimney, thoroughly dusting all the nooks and crannies, trying to select things to change for spring (hard) and letting go of things for good (harder).
I open the windows wide and let the fresh air clean out the scents of last year.
It is easier to get inspired to decorate for spring, setting out different vases or candles, bedding or exchange of knick-knacks and to lighten up appearances.
We are creatures of habit and things become quickly second nature...


Fall/Winter look in our music/fireplace room

And now for spring and summer I change to light colored linen pillows, they have almost a nautical feel....

It is also an excellent time to clean out closets, pantry and medicine cabinets. The old headache pills you've kept for two years? OUT! That goes unfortunately for last year's sunscreen and many cosmetics. If in doubt - out!

All things have an expiration date, sometimes we tend to overlook that even those hiding bean cans need tossing....
It is certainly freeing and makes you feel tons lighter, when you clean out!  Follow up with paper work, books and magazines. 
Winter clothes need cleaning and fixing. When I begin, I always want to start again eating healthier as well. Winter, with it's usual party splurges and God knows how many holidays weekends, puts me always into a weight gain tailspin. I just can't seem to help it! Now is the time to shed pounds, literally and metaphorically speaking.

It is also for me a time for cleaning of the soul and it is no coincidence that many religions have this time of renewal build into the rhythm of the spiritual year. It makes sense to me and although I do not affiliate myself with any major religion, I do have the need to draw inside me, shed ballast I accumulated over the last year, try to meditate and find my center. Cleaning up the outside of my world helps me focus on inner renewal too! A wonderful kind of enlightenment! I listen to Schubert and lean back!

We start the day with lighter things too, cereals, fresh fruits, maybe an egg...gone are bacon, pancakes and maple syrup. I am not a fan of drastic measures and I trust my instincts. I like to have a time, where I feel body and soul have a new beginning. 

There is a time for everything! Nothing grounds me more!


Happy spring renewal! Open your arms wide!










Images via V.Zlotkowski

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Good morning, Monday

Today feels like this to me:

via

Have a happy Monday!

Image as indicated.

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Sunday revelations

Any given Sunday is a little highlight in our week! We enjoy this calm day and usually try to keep it within our family! Lately, with growing teenage children, we find ourselves often alone at breakfast, due to sleepovers, early engagements with friends or some activity or other! How long has it been, since my husband and I had time together alone, without paid help to spend some hours just for the two of us? To plan a dinner? To quietly read the papers, confer about plans or even talk of this and that without being rushed? Oh, do we get glimpses into a life as empty nesters?

The house is silent, only the sound of the pendulum clock marking the passing time...I turn another page in my current novel.
And then suddenly it's all over, the front door bursts open, our daughter, with rosy cheeks storms in, with a friend and within seconds we are engulfed in fast paged stories about meetings and shoppings, parties and the unfair loads of homework! There is texting and raiding the fridge, all while we sit, stunned at our grown babe!
We have our share of worries, late nights, where I, full of  anguish, await my daughter's return from a party, when a girlfriend drives her home...
And our son, sleeping over with his best friend, being attached to the Xbox way to long...

But the worries are so outnumbered by our astonishment, to have raised our children so far,  without major injuries and now facing the scary task to let go, to trust them through adventures of questionable nature, mishaps and problems along the way, that they will make it, just as we did! To take part (as much as they will let us) and enjoy their growing explorations of coming adult life, disappointments and ecstasies of first love and the temptations of forbidden things along the way.
We are worried, we are happy, we are in a turmoil of feelings and it comes as a sudden revelation to me, that my husband and I are going through these exciting times in almost the similar confused fashion as our teens. There is no recipe for managing these years and I feel, that humor and patience are still some of the best qualities to take the challenges presented daily. To have good friends, with whom to share these experiences with, is a blessing for all, for our children as much as for ourselves!
With empathy and love we shall make it through! And silently I send out a wish to the unknown forces of life to protect us all.

Have a happy Sunday!










Images by V.Zlotkowski

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St. Patrick's & Happy Birthday

It's the Green Day, St. Patrick's and also my good friend Patricia of PVE's birthday! 

Happy birthday and many healthy returns to you, my friend! May your source of creativity never end, may your outlook stay always so positive and optimistic, may there be always the green light for GO!

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Happy birthday, much love to you, Patricia!

Clover:

Common Names: Clover
Latin Name: Trifolium pratense spp.
Parts Used: Flower heads
Cultivation: Grows wild!
Magickal Properties: Exorcism, fidelity, love, money, protection. Clover is a masculine plant associated with Mercury and the element of Air.
Magickal uses: White clover is used against hexes; red can aid with finances. A 4-leaf clover protects against madness, strengthens psychic powers, and is thought to lead to gold or treasures. A 5-leaf clover is a very powerful charm for attracting money.
Medicinal Properties: Alterative, anti-spasmodic, expectorant, nervine, sedative, tonic.
Medicinal Uses: Clover can be used safely to treat skin disorders in children. It is also an expectorant and anti-spasmodic which can be used to treat whooping cough and bronchitis.

Thought you would like to know! ; )

And a happy St.Patrick's to all the Irish and Irish at heart!

xoxo Victoria

Image my own and as indicated.

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The Story of Keep Calm and Carry On

Have you ever wondered how this now so famous slogan came to be all over the place? It is a rather romantic story!

Enjoy!

Happy Friday, everyone!








Photograph by V.Zlotkowski

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Birds & birds

People who have read my blog for a little while know how much I love birds. I love watching them, feeding them, but I do not like them caged....I take pictures of them, when I happen to see them and occasionally I come across things, which have a bird theme. Nice ones. Delightful fabrics are sometimes among them, or wallpapers, ceramics, jewelry. 

Birds are a timeless inspiration, symbol of freedom, beauty and and song.

               

               

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Yesterday I heard this little guy long before I spotted him. So loud and clear a thrilling sound.

        

And this small owl found her way onto my dresser...  

    

The old 19th Century Swedish duck illustrations were laminated and getting used as place mats in our household.

I found the wonderful wallpaper here.

And last but not least: The tireless woodpecker across the street... 

is brass designed...

 helping you to say hello!

Get him here.

All images by V.Zlotkowski and as indicated.

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Monday happiness

This Monday has arrived light filled and warm! 

And I am thinking: Hello sunshine!

This yellow lifts me up and puts a spring in my step!

Morning light radiates happiness!

Spanish hacienda style makes me dream of California again.

And a spring ready closet!

All images via Houzz.

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Outdoors & indoors

                      

Well, today was the first warm day around here, temperatures soared to 67 degrees...

I ventured out to do a long good garden clean up and rewarded myself with coffee and poppyseed cake on the deck.

Unfortunately my youngest is home with a nasty cough, croup like, spasmodic and painful. For a kid with asthma not so good and we all suffer from loss of sleep. Missing school adds to the damage, thank goodness the weekend is around the corner and we can catch up a little!

Sitting in the sun was so beautiful, but I am under no illusion that this warm weather will last. Maybe, please?

But it is, after all, only the beginning of March. But I can dream, right?

All these colors above made me think of this lovely 

room:

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Happy Friday!

Images byV.Zlotkowski

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