I hope you’ll join me on my never-ending search for beautiful pieces, with history, for your home. Find my curated treasures, in Booth #154, at the Antique Trove, in Roseville, CA. ~ Barbara
Hello there! Greetings from Rome! We just ended our second day of touring Rome, Italy. Actually, yesterday’s tour did not start until three in the afternoon, since our plane landed in the morning. But I’ve gotten so much information in the last 24 hours, that my head is spinning! Dorothy, my roommate and I, have the supreme luxury of having Maria, as our tour guide, all to ourselves. Thank goodness! Instead of waiting in lines around the block, Maria and her special powers, got us to the front of the line! The Parthenon, which was originally a tribute to the…
Read the rest >>I’m sitting up in the air, in my very little airplane seat, in route to Italy, as I type this note! While I wish I could master the trick of being In two places at once, I’ll have to miss this event, but I hope you can make it, if you’re in the area! It’s rated one of the best shows of its kind, by the people that rate these kind of things! So mark your calendars to be in downtown Roseville, California, on April 21st. Or check out Mes Amis Antique Fair. I hope you’ll snag yourself something pretty!
Read the rest >>Greetings, one and all! Today, we are in good company! Alison, from the beautiful blog, www.ThePoloHouse.blogspot.com, is here to share the loves of her life! She’s a gorgeous mid-western girl from the suburbs of Chicago, who I have enjoyed bantering with since the beginning. She has a trained eye, which you know, if you’ve ever taken a tour of her stunning home, which sits on what used to be a polo horse ranch. I had better let Alison, tell the story, before I start sharing any glaring inaccuracies. You’ve got the stage, Alison! Thank you so much, Barbara, for your…
Read the rest >>Greetings! If you were here last week, when I decided to turn my shiny brass ceiling fan into a an updated gorgeous ceiling fan, I have good news! As you may recall, I got in way over my head! After some help from Mr. Wonderful and some research on the Internet, I found that my only option was to spray paint the shiny brass pieces of the fan. It would have been a real inexpensive project, but of course I had to try out about four different metal colors before deciding on the one I like best. It turns out…
Read the rest >>Easter greetings to you! We’re starting our Easter morning bright and early, this year. All of you with little ones, anxious to see what the Easter Bunny brought, are up early too! Wrappers flying, fingers sticky, with more energy than a freight train. I remember those days, looking back fondly. Some days, wishing I could turn back the hands of time and snuggle with the kids, wearing their footed sleepers…all warm and soft. And it’s times like this, missing my dad and the kids far away, that I can start to feel a little sorry for myself. It’s easy to…
Read the rest >>Buongiorno! For years, I longed to travel to Europe! I heard stories, saw pictures and wondered when I’d ever get there. There were always bills, furniture to buy, or a first home, or bills, or little children, or some good reason why I had never been. I used to half-way joke that my goal was to get there before I needed a walker! So, six years ago, I was introduced to a small group of women, who travel to someplace special every two years. And since Mr. Wonderful has no interest in such adventures, he totally supported my plans to…
Read the rest >>Is there a season for flea market shopping? I have no idea, but the more I hang out with you guys, the more I can’t get enough of them. I’m slowly discovering more and more flea markets in Northern California. There’s our very own antiques fair/flea market, under the freeway here in Sacramento on the second Sunday of each month. Then there’s the Alameda antique fair, on the first Sunday of each month. Some call them and antique fairs, while others call them flea markets. I can’t tell the difference other than I guess there’s more junk at a flea…
Read the rest >>A WOMAN’S WEEK AT THE GYM. Dear Diary, For my birthday this year, my husband purchased a week of personal training at the local health club. Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try. I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Christo, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear. Friends seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club…
Read the rest >>Greetings, dear friends! We’re going to go a bit off the interior design path today, as I introduce you to a young woman who has impressed me from “Day 1”. (Although, if you’ve been joining me for long, you know I get “off track” on a fairly regular basis.) Today, I’d like to introduce you to Ann Marie, my go-to resource for everything in the blogesphere! Now I know many of you talented bloggers do it all yourself! Trust me, I am thoroughly impressed! Yet, if nothing else, I’m keenly aware of my limitations and when to call the professionals!…
Read the rest >>Greetings! With Easter coming up this next Sunday, I wanted to update our table centerpiece. And since I just received my new blue-and-white porcelain piece from The Enchanted Home new online shop, I was extra happy with a little “retail rush” going on! So let’s get started! If you want to plant two, 3 inch orchids, I recommend you start with a pot, basket or a container that’s at least 3 to 4 inches deep. Get your 3 inch pots of orchids at a place like Home Depot or your local floral wholesaler. You’ll also need a filler such as…
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