I Am Home Again....

This is Cam and Jim, and their rescued Pom, Maggie...they were the perfect hostess and host to me for a whole week, while I was in Madison, WI....We have been such good friends for years, but to have me feel so welcome for that week was such a treat!
Cam and I took long walks, talked, cooked, laughed, shopped, (and shopped), and sometimes, we were just quiet... This is my favorite photograph of Cam in her garden..being the "Italian Earth Mother/Goddess" (for she is truly beautiful outside and in), but, for some reason, I cannot get it any larger than this...try clicking on it..
Yesterday, I tried to put all the photos of both their wonderful farmhouse and their gardens, which are just coming into bloom, with a riot of tulips, lilac, and all the wonderful harbingers of Spring flowers...I don't know why, but lost it all..so today, I am going to just show their farmhouse...tomorrow perhaps, the gardens..

This is Jim at the head of the table, my husband, Bob is on the right, and our friend, Brent, is under the light...This was taken during one of their fabulous dinner parties...We all would take turns entertaining...getting all dressed up, and having great food, spirits, and lots of laughs...I do miss that so....

This is their farmhouse, which is now in an established neighborhood, but believed to be the original farmhouse for quite alot of property..now, they have an acre of beautiful gardens, and sit up on a hill, overlooking the street. Jim built this wonderful porch on last summer, and it so fits the personality of the house (and Jim's love of bright colors)...Cam is wonderful with color, as well, as she is a very talented artist, but left the porch to Jim....I felt a mixture of Tuscan Farmhouse, and Victorian...somehow, they pull this off with great ease.

These chairs welcome you to sit down and have a refreshing drink, or a piece of fruit....again, I love the colors...Keep in mind that in Wisconsin, many of the months are dark and dreary...so, a shot of color keeps up one's spirits.

The inside of their home is also a riot of color...but it works wonderfully..mixing kilims, bright florals for the window treatments, pillows, throws, tapestries, fabulous artwork (many paintings by Cam, and metal sculptures by Jim), crystals, collections of pottery, antiques, plants...and especially, the thing I covet most...Cam's armoire, which breaks down into seven pieces...It houses the television, stereo, and extensive music collection...

This is their dining room/library...I forgot to mention their collection of books...books everywhere..in the dining room/library, in Jim's study, in Cam's studio (she is also an accomplished calligrapher, in the guestroom I occupied (I wish I had photographed it - but once I plunked down all my bags and "stuff", it was too cluttered-It has William Morris wallcovering, and Jim matted and framed Latrec posters...one wall is mirror, an antique bed with beautiful linens, and the view from the window - I will reveal tomorrow).

Back to the dining room/library...it's off the hallway and stairs, which also have another William Morris wallcovering...Jim is amazingly talented in building, painting, wallcovering (Cam has her own set of talents...art, writing, gardening, too many to list)

It was so wonderful to see fresh tulips and spring flowers all through the house....We ate great meals at this table everynight...

The other side of the dining room is all antiques, crstal, paintings, plants, and fabulous red,patterned window treatments....

Back in the living room...more of Cam's work, along with work of friends....Everywhere one looks, there is color..there is art, and always something of interest..all juxtaposed with such flair.

Jim built this ottoman, and they had it upholstered by a fellow I used to use in my design business...it also houses all their Christmas ornaments...We enjoyed last Sunday morning, feet up, watching CBS Sunday Morning, having coffee, and reading the paper..they know how to relax.

It was all I could do not to grab dear, sweet Maggie, and run away with her...but, they wouldn't let me (nor would she)...Poor baby was in a puppie mill for years, in a box, and toothless...Cam and Jim rescued her, and with tenderness, love, and great care, turned her into the happy-go-lucky "Tiny Dancer" that she is today, eight years later....

Thanks so much to you -

Road Trip!!!

On my way to Madison, WI....to see my dentist, along with many friends...Just me and Aunt Lily's Buick (and many audio books). Be well..see you when I return...

Bluebonnet Morning

I was awakened around 4:30 the other morning by our smoke detector going off...sometimes, an insect will crawl across it and set it off. Once I was sure the house wasn't on fire, I couldn't go back to sleep...so, around 6:00, I grabbed my camera, my Wellies, and I took off to photograph the bluebonnets at daybreak.
As day did break, I realized it was very overcast, in fact, raining a bit, and since photography is all about the light, I wasn't going to get that wonderful light, known as "sweetlight" to professionals, that occurs just after sun up, and just before sunset...but, I also know that when it is overcast, one can get some good shots, as the sun doesn't wash out the photos..so, I forged on.

Just as I spotted a nice, country road, I turned, and looked behind me...there were (I counted them) 10 police cars behind me..all with their lights off..."Holy Smokes" I thought, "What could I possibly have done to merit this?" So, I pulled over, and watched as they rolled on by me - thank goodness. I saw the sign that said, "No Outlet", but I needed a place to turn around, which was at the end of the road...A chain-link fence and a big sign that said, "No Trespassing"..I did manage to turn around, but all I could think was there was an early morning raid of some sort going on, and someone was in a boatload of trouble..Just glad it wasn't me.

There has been alot of rain this Spring, and the bluebonnets are everywhere (except where I was)...so, I did get one good shot of a yellow field (below), and went home to take a nap..When I awakened, I saw the light was better and decided to take a different route. I probably should have just taken my camera on my 2 mile, neighborhood walk, and there are plenty about, but I wanted fields..not patches in someone's yard...so, I hit the road again. There are so many different varieties of wildflowers in Texas...some violets, indian paintbrush, and many that I can't remember the names...but, today was bluebonnet day (which are a variety of lupine)....

The trees in Texas are wonderful...gnarled, rugged...

The scent of the violets, mixed with the bluebonnets (which had no discernable scent), was heavenly...

I loved the star on the fence (Texans love their stars), and the curious cow...I could tell she didn't get alot of company, so we chatted for awhile, and I mooved on (couldn't help myself here)...

This golden field was the first shot of the day..just as the light got brighter...I don't know what they were, but I sneezed the rest of the day.

And so, thanks to our beloved Ladybird Johnson, Texas is abloomin...thankyou, Ladybird...

Oh, Patty, in case you read this, nobody else even commented on the pitcher, so it is yours...I think it's lovely..their loss..my email address is : jschatz53574@yahoo.com send me you address, and I will send it to you...