Five Good Things

Enough with the sick talk around here. Today I'm going to find five things that make me happy. Ready?

#1. Tornadoes haven't killed me yet.

The swath of destruction following the most devastating tornado season in decades is just staggering. I grew up in tornado alley and much of my family still lives there, so I'm very grateful no one has awakened to find themselves in Oz... or somewhere much worse.

#2. I'm glad I don't have to live my life under a microscope.

I'm sure that most of the world is envious of Kate Middleton's fairy tale romance and marriage to Prince Charming, but not me. That kind of attention makes my skin crawl.

She spent the last evening of her "normal" life at the historic Goring Hotel. Even the sheep looks concerned.

#3. I have a normal, happy kid.

Excepting this past week of plague like sickness, he's pretty healthy, too. I understand many parents can't say the same, and my heart goes out to them. I know how lucky I am. Maybe I should buy that kid a sandbox.

#4. Blogging has introduced me to some amazing people.

I ain't gonna lie -- blogging can be a grind sometimes. I'm busy with real life, plus my brain is often working against me, but the people are worth it. Your comments and emails make my day. I think we need to have a supperblogger superconference that pretends to hinge on decor and design, but is actually fueled by martinis and dancing.

That's some totally sincere Hands Across America shit for you. I think I feel a tear escaping my eye.

#5. It's Friday.

Here's a pretty picture from Rees Roberts to take you to the happy place.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

It's Oh So Quiet

I have laryngitis. I don't know if this has ever happened to you, but it's really very annoying. Thank goodness I can still type (although watch me get fingeritis next, because that's how the MF cookie has been crumbling around here). I do realize things could be much much worse (I got to eat pizza last night!), and so I hereby do solemnly swear that no talk of illness shall issue forth from my fingers next week. It will all be sunshine, rainbows and sparkle puppies licking bubblegum ice cream cones with unicorns on top.

But that's next week. Today we are headed to the quiet box.

Tom Scheerer

Via Nero Chronicles

I think you can read.

Via Head Over Heels

Erin Martin Design

I'm not dead yet (imagine my best Monty Python impression), so I would like to spend my convalescence in a room that is quiet, yes -- relaxing and soothing. But also interesting. There has to be a little something something going on to inspire me to fully recover and conquer truly urgent, earth shattering problems, like how am I going to wean Ike off all this horrible TV I've been letting him watch while we both lay on the couch like plague infested slugs?

I promise. No talk of sickness next week. Not one word.

How Many Canes is Too Many?

Lately my thoughts on design have been filled with more questions than answers:  Should i go with 2 small or one large coffee table?  Box-up, display, or hock the knickknacks I've been carting around for years?  And, most importantly, when to say when with a teddy bear colletion:

Psst, I'm pretty sure the answer is one.  Or a million.  Shit I don't even know.  I kinda sorta like how 80 gazillion raggedy bears create a textural, bizarre landscape in this otherwise simple space.  But then again, they're teddy bears.  And then we must consider that they are in the same home as these displays:

Someone likes collections.  On one hand I appreciate the restraint with which all these groupings are displayed.  Despite the fact that Mr. Homeowner also owns 452 canes and 347 magazines (my figures) the place is still pretty spiffy and looks nothing like the vintage shops most collector's homes resemble.  But, then again, these are canes and bears we're talking about here.

And glasses, let's not forget that we need 18 thousand glasses.  I saw a wide shot of this room and that cupboard is like 90 feet high, this is only a third of the glassware.  That bird is like head level to me if that helps put it into perspective.  Why not 4,000 birds you ask?  Fear not

For there are at least 782 quail on the premises.  And, if my design logic is correct these puppies are smack-dab behind teddy bear alley.

But, then again there is this Jesus on the Cross right below a fossilized fish, so there's that.

What do you say?  Are 433 canes appropriate?  Should I keep all those stupid knickknacks of mine?  And what about the double / single coffee table dilemma?  Sorry, you get no visual on that.  Go with your gut.