Musings on the pond

Sunrise on the pond behind our home

There are many great joys in my life.    My husband John of 47 years who has never seen a glass half empty and (generally) sees only the best in me and (always) sees the best in our sons and their families.   So my greatest joy is to wake up each morning by his side.    I have two handsome smart sons who have given me beautiful kind daughter in laws and three incredible (perfect) grandchildren:  a little boy and two sweet little girls.  I have siblings who live in great places and invite me to visit!   I have friends who make he laugh and make crying more bearable.   I have my art to entertain and challenge me.   I am lucky and blessed.

I often wake early, slip out of our room quietly so as not to disturb John nor our spoiled pups Bella and Ruby.    It was fun to be with my sister and her husband this winter and find out that my brother in law Frank also cherishes these early morning hours.

No matter how cold it is, I love to take a cup of hot strong coffee onto our back porch and sit in my wicker rocker to enjoy a view of our pond.    I get to enjoy the sunrise two way:   I see the beautiful colors in the sky - I know the ocean is washing ashore less than a mile away (and some mornings I hear the ocean washing ashore), but I get a mirror of the morning sky with colors even more intense and beautiful upon our pond.

Now I know our pond is really a storm-water management requirement of the development; it was constructed by creating a dam with a restricted diameter outlet pipe through the dam. Normal flows are carried through the pipe, but heavy flows back up and the water behind the dam is choked back to slowly drain.   When water levels fall because of lack of rain, the pond is refilled with a well.   But for me, there has never been a prettier or more enjoyed pond whether created by man or God!

I've learned a lot about life on our pond.   First, you do NOT have to spend money or look far to enjoy the changing beauty in nature.    Sunrises can be muted or stunning but they energize you and prepare you for another best day of your life (we are after all the only ones who can make it the best day of our life).   Sunsets are vibrant and relax and lull you into restful rest.    Pay attention to the messages on the pond.    Welcome the pond's inhabitants into your life.

I've observed first-hand that a  duck who is new to the pond is most likely not welcomed very warmly at first.   Most likely he will be forced to fly away with lots of wing flapping and quacking, with the regulars settling back down to float about and also enjoy the sunrise.   Persistent newcomers will keep trying to find a place - sometimes they do and sometimes they don't.   Not everybody will be your best friend, but you should learn how to integrate into new groups, or to know when it's best to move on.   It takes time.

I'm reminded of the importance of patience from our blue heron.   No matter how long it takes to achieve something you want, patience and courage are needed.   She will stand perfectly still for the longest time waiting for a small fish to fill her tummy.   Then that long beak dashes into the water and she raises her head and enjoys her meal.   Then back to the patient ritual.   It's important to remember that being patient, smart and fast is the best way to keep from being done-in by someone faster, smarter and more patient (or to at least keep your eyes open wide)   ;-) 

The ponds come with rules because they are more delicate than they look.   Knowledgable people tend the liner (which we can't see but know they're there), fertilize the plants that surround the edge and adjust chemicals to keep the ponds fresh and healthy.   When the weather warms a bit, a fountain in the center will aerate the water and provide soothing cooling sounds for all to enjoy.

We may not always like rules, and you should challenge rules that don't make sense or aren't fair, but good rules are there for a reason.   Mind them.   We have people in our community who are intent on breaking the pond-use rules for their own personal gain.   I've learned there are self centered thoughtless people in the work who deserve to be fined for breaking good rules!

Alas my morning ritual must come to an end and a busy, full day begins.    But this particular morning I needed to share the important lessons I am reminded of each day.

May this be the best day of your life!

Treasure from my parents via sister Jean

My sister Jean gave me our parents' vintage Penguin ice bucket on our recent visit.    What a special item to share with a sister.    I was thinking about the design and presume penguins are soothing figures, and the elegance of the Art Deco design is just terrific.

Bar setup which includes my parents' Penguin ice bucket

The Martins' Penguin ice bucket from the 50's

For the generation that came of age after WWII, the West Bend Penguin was their ice bucket. It must have been cheap and easy to find because everyone had one. For the generation that grew up in the '60s and '70s, this was their parents' ice bucket. My parents Charlie and Margie Martin entertained regularly and I can still see the Penguin loaded with ice cubes ready to make adult beverages cold.  They loved to dance and I can remember a few couples waltzing in our living room.   They also played bridge and the Penguin was always present no matter the purpose of the party.   It was made by the West Bend Aluminum Company in West Bend, Wisconsin.

The item's official name is the West Bend Penguin Hot and Cold Server Ice Bucket.It appears to be aluminum and I guess I could serve soup in it (no thanks!).   It also came in a copper-colored version, which is much more rare. The sloping handles, which look like penguin wings, and the top handle are wood on mine, but other versions had Bakelite handles, either in brown or black. 


The Patent on the bucket is No. 2,349,099 and Des. 127,279. The design was filed March 13, 1941 and issued May 20, 1941; the patent was filed May 19, 1941 and issued May 16, 1944. Nonetheless, the bucket really had its heyday in the 1950s and early 1960s and are now returning in popularity.
 
There is a Penguin on display in the new Museum of the American Cocktail in New Orleans.


During a consignment shop visit, I picked up a Vintage Handwrought Aluminum Floral Round Serving Tray Platter.    It's a charming complement to the Penguin bucket
 

I look forward to telling my grandchildren about the little bucket and to serving them cold lemonade in the summer.

Thank you sister Jean!

IT STARTED WITH ONE WALL....

My husband, our two pups and I have the privilege of escaping the cold mid-Atlantic winter weather by heading to the Gulf Coast and visiting with my sister Jean and her husband Frank.   The Whites live in the pretty town of Covington, Louisiana on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain near New Orleans.  As though Covington needed more great restaurants and shops, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina left the town with new businesses opened by folks displaced by floods in New Orleans.   Fortunately many of them still remain in business - and though going into New Orleans is a fun option, dining and shopping at the new businesses in the Covington area is also enjoyable.

The home on the White's White Star Farm  is a spacious log house sitting in the middle of five wooded acres.  The property has a pond, beautifully landscaped grounds with azaleas, fruit trees, huge live oaks and many other flowering shrubs and flowers.

White Star Farm

 Front gate with Star of Texas proudly displayed

Little bridge over stream

Well stocked fishing pond

One of many glorious live oak trees

 
It is home to Audra, a draft cross-horse; her father is a Clydesdale and her mother is a Percheron. 

Fourteen lucky chickens free roam the property and produce about half-dozen eggs a day - in hues of blues and browns.

Two parrots live in spacious aviaries which are moved outdoors weather permitting.    Here's Frank with lucky parrot Junior

Paris and Cosmo, 13-year old Yorkies, are well loved and cared for in their senior years.   They spend most of their time in a lovely lodge style living room having their every need met with alacrity!

Back to the wall....

Shortly after we arrived, Jean said (in her soft southern voice): "Do you think you guys could help us paint one living room [paneled] wall white?".   The interior of their log home is all wood and the front and back have covered porches which run the width of the house.   The porches provide shade and protection from hot weather sunshine, but shield the interior of the house from natural light, especially in the short cool days of winter.

"Sure we said" and the project unfolded.

Here are some before pictures of the main living area.   It was very comfortable and inviting - but dark (Disclaimer:  Jean is an amazing housekeeper - I shot these photos after a night of movie watching/popcorn eating complete with comfy warm blankets):

I asked Jean to give me an idea of how she wanted the house to look when we were finished:  quite simply she wanted a "Pottery Barn" inspired uncluttered space which embraces the architecture of the log house.    An inspiration fixture was her Pottery Barn chandelier then hanging over the dining table:

The first decision was:   which interior walls to prime and paint and after that decision was made, what color white?

One of Jean's and my favorite design shows is HGTV's Fixer Upper.   We both agreed we would look to designer Joanna Gaines for inspiration.    One of her blogs mentioned Benjamin Moore Alabaster White as a pretty warm shade and off we went for a gallon or two.   It turned out to be the perfect color to complemented the warm honey color of the logs and paneling.

I then heard the voice of my BFF and designer extraordinaire Janet Davis:  " Edit, edit, edit Linda".   So that's how we started.    The double garage was filled with work tables onto which everything in the main living space was moved then sorted by type and item.   We called it the General Store!   It was a great way to select items to return to the living space.

Two designers who have influenced me for years are Joni Webb of the blog Cote de Texas and Brook Giannetti of Velvet and Linen.   They would both say - stay simple, clean and with special "patina" pieces.   Their style is always a guiding principle.

Back to "the wall".   Our original plan was to paint only the living room wall which separates the kitchen from the living room:

This was to be the ONE wall to paint 

 A gallon of primer and a gallon of Benjamin Moore "Alabaster" later, here is the wall:

Living Room wall - painted Alabaster White

We shopped Jean's home and relocated some of her favorite pieces.    The above armoire (formerly in her bedroom) is by artist David Marsh, a Houston, TX artisan.  David Marsh has been designing truly unique, sustainable, and whimsical furniture out of his Texas studio for over 30 years.  The special chest is flanked by palm prints reminding Jean of her former home of Savannah, Georgia. 

But we didn't stop with one wall.....

We had fun decorating the beautiful stone mantle:

Fireplace and mantle (before)

In sorting through boxes stored in Jean's barn - we found a painting of the Pack Saddle Mountain near Llano, Texas by Frank's grandmother Melanie Keiser circa 1962 .   The painting, done from memory,  depicted a scene enjoyed by then 11 year old Frank.   We dusted it off and placed it as a centerpiece of the mantle - leaving it unframed.

Artist Melanie Keiser Pack Saddle Mountain - circa 1962

 The General Store provided lots of choices from Jean's collection of ironstone and a favorite copper horse statue also from Pottery Barn.  At a consignment shop nearby we found a pair of wild turkey signed and numbered handsomely framed prints by artist Art Lamay.   We knew they would be perfect.

Prints by artist Art Lamay

The finished mantle and hearth turned out to be both  meaningful and beautiful

Mantle and  hearth before

Mantle and hearth after

 And then we tackled the dining room

Dining room before

This picture makes the chairs look blue - they're actually steel gray

There were several important pieces to use in this space.   One was another David Marsh artisan piece in a beautiful teal blue.

Tall armoire - David Marsh, Artist

We also wanted to use a vintage plant stand which was in our Grandmother Nanny's home for years.   Jean has a collection of Longaberger baskets and voila - a perfect use for the stand (which was then on her front porch).   It is painted with a chippy olive green paint which we decided to leave for it's patina and charm:

Another important piece was our mother's antique lamp

The base is metal and the shade is hand painted on the underside of the frosted glass.

Finally the entryway got some paint and attention.   The front door opens directly into the main room and our goal was to create separate entry and living room spaces.  The window in the below photograph will soon be covered with a beautiful stained glass window.

Entry "before"

Entry "after"

Jean has a collection of cast iron animals including this beautiful bronze piece inspired by Jack London's book "White Fang".    The sculpture is a real treasure.   Many years ago Jean and our grandmother Nanny were at an antique's auction.   Nanny purchased an armoire which was locked, and the auctioneer told the audience anything in it goes too because there was no key for the armoire.   When Nanny got home, she used a stash of antique keys to find one that successfully opened the chest.  In it was this beautiful piece which we believe to be one of a kind.   The wolf is wearing a collar, consistent with the animal in London's book.   He is standing on handsome marble and soapstone slabs.   It is quite heavy and very very special.

 

Antique clock topped by iron black sheep

We relocated a green table originally in the dining room to behind the sofa.   It is a perfect sofa table and provides beautiful lighting in the foyer.

David Marsh curio cabinet festooned with chicken collection and Lu

minaria candles on timers!!

We moved the stain glass window from the dining room wall to a front window at the base of the stairwell.    It is beautiful in the south light of the window!

Jean and Frank had earlier renovated their kitchen.

Kitchen before

Kitchen after

Beautiful soapstone countertops, fresh apple-green glass backsplash  and painted white cabinets (original) updated the kitchen.    The island was custom made by Frank and new appliances include an induction cooktop that Jean loves!

And we couldn't leave out the front door:

Front Door Before

Front door after

But the best thing about the project was all the time the four of us got to spend together and all of the family stories we told.    A little 5-year old friend stopped by the other day and said "Oh, Miss Jean, did you buy new furniture"    Alas, our project is very successful.

So "just one wall" turned into a great project and proves the journey of a thousand miles starts with one step!    And it was fun!

Thank you Jean and Frank for giving us safe haven from the cold Delaware winter in your (even more) beautiful home.   We had a ball and love the memories.