garage sale find!

It seems the winter rains are finished--we haven't had rain for a week and today was beautiful and sunny. So that means garage sale season is starting! Here's what we found at a sale on our walk home from the coffee shop. A black, like-new, Restoration Hardware bistro set, perfect for the months of outdoor living that are ahead.

more painting

Painting the walls and ceiling in the hallway isn't exciting to anybody but me (I love how white paint reflects any glimmer of light). It's turning into a 3 coat job, one of primer and two finish coats. By the weekend it will be done and back I go to painting trim--there are four doors in this little hallway! I made a detour and painted glossy black this long-ago garage sale find. The more I look at Scandinavian interior blogs, the more black and white I want. The search is on for a black and white striped cotton runner for the hall. First thought was Ikea but no luck.

best in Seattle area

We go there to visit our kids...and go to a couple of great bakeries. Macrina has three bakeries and cafes in Seattle. Just take a look at the fantastic cookies in the window of the 1st Avenue location. There is always bunching up of people at the counter, waiting a turn to buy to take away or to eat at the cafe. In my carry-on coming home yesterday I had a crusty loaf of Apricot Bread, also Olive bread and a sweet streusel-topped fruit bar. The macaroons got eaten well before flight time.

We had breakfast at the Bread Peddler in Olympia. This bakery-cafe is another busy place so picture-taking has to be very quick. Fruit tarts, brioche, "chocolate shots", scones, bread pudding, muffins, however to decide? And beautiful breads too, we grabbed a baguette and whole wheat/rye loaf. Oh my, I love to eat in and around Seattle!

our blossomy time

The clouds have disappeared for now and the bulbs and flowering trees have burst--here are some favorite spring blooms in our front garden on this beautiful sunny morning.

painting trim

Can you see the trim around our windows? It is original--our house was built in the 1930s--and is one my favorite things about the house. So now I am working on repairing the cracks & chips and then priming and repainting. I keep pushing myself to do more sanding, a real chore, because these moldings deserve the best treatment!

assembling an emergency kit

After watching a lot of CNN's earthquake coverage and seeing many times the graphic of the Pacific "Ring of Fire" that California is part of I am beefing up the disaster kit I keep in my car. You see I have the usual: change of clothes and shoes, small first aid kit, a couple of plastic ponchos and realize it is incomplete (where's the flashlight/energy bars/extra cash...?) In the house we have an emergency kit but it too needs improving. So that's what I'm doing. Am also painting but more on that later.

lotus bleu

On San Francisco's Hayes Street, this sliver of a shop calls out a welcome from half a block away with brightly colored awnings, front door and delightful window displays. Once inside you will start thinking that it's time to chuck the cool white decor and go with guaranteed-to-make-happy yellow/orange/greens/reds: felt rugs from Nepal, wool and cotton rugs from Madeline Weinrib, handmade alpaca throws from South America, heavenly cotton bedding & napkins & dishtowels, fabulous ceramic lamps and as you see here vintage furniture reupholstered in delightful high-spirited fabrics. The store's design team is always ready to help with custom orders -- you want to re-cover your craigslist dining chairs in shocking pink, they can turn them into show stealers!