Colored Glasses

Interior Designer Mary McDonald has been collecting colored glasses for years.  "I always pull over to the side of the road when I go to Palm Springs to pick more up.  They're not very important on their own, but in a group of all different shapes and colors they look like jewels."

I was impressed when I came across this page entitled, TABLESCAPE, in the current issue of House Beautiful featuring her stunning bar.

Both the table and cabinet, which McDonald uses as a bar, are antique. She had the cabinet ebonized and then painted the inside red to glam it up.

I've never been one to covet colored glasses but after being inspired by her cabinet bar filled to the brim with jewel toned glassware I set my sights on starting my own collection.

An estate sale I attended last weekend yielded a lovely assortment of vivid peacock blue colored glassware.

And then I remembered that I had a couple of different sets of colored glasses tucked away in the back of my cabinet that I rarely ever used!

Out of sight, out of mind as they say.

(This angle reminds me of a kaleidoscope)

So now that I've rediscovered my collection of different colored glasses I'm thinking of a way I can showcase them like Mary McDonald did with her stunning bar cabinet.

I love the way they play off the pillows I had made from Missoni silk scarves.

I love it when inspiration strikes and gives you ideas with things you already have but didn't know how best to show them off or display them. 

I can't remember the last time I used these glasses.

I'm pretty sure it was before my son was born almost 21 years ago!

 

Shame on me!

It's definitely time to bring them out of the dark and into the light!

Stay tuned as I figure out just how to do that!

Handblock Fabric Bonanza!

On their last trip to India, Laura & Kiran made a special trip to Bagru, a traditional block printing village outside of Jaipur in Rajasthan that still uses vegetable colors.

 

The Master Printer dips the block into the tray of dye lying next to him and carefully presses it onto the fabric lining it up by eye.  Each table is 6 yards in length, so each piece of printed fabric can be only 6 yards long. 

Traditional Block Printing is a skilled craft and in order to get this design, the printer must pass over  the full length of the fabric 5 times with a different block and color each time. With every press of the block he has to be very careful to line up the motifs.

Laura & Kiran brought back a gorgeous collection of super soft, light weight, 44" wide hand blocked fabric for their local customers who share their love of traditional block prints.

They bought dozens of different designs but only 6 yards of each. They will cut them for you with a 1 yard minimum but when they are sold up they are gone!

Quantities are limited so get there soon for the best selection and if you mention LA DOLFINA, you will get 20% off one item of your choice. Fabric is included.

Earthbound Farm

 When Drew and Myra Goodman came to California's Carmel Valley back in 1984, they were determined young transplants from Manhattan, drawn to the natural beauty and richness of the land.

Even before they turned over their first shovels of soil, they believed strongly in doing the right thing.

They settled on a 2.5 acre raspberry farm and decided that doing the right thing meant committing to farming the spectacular land organically, producing food they would want to eat themselves and would feel good about serving their families, friends and neighbors.

That labor of love became Earthbound Farm.

It wasn't long before Earthbound Farm was doing a lot of the right things.

Undaunted by those who said it couldn't be done, in 1986, they became the first company to successfully launch prewashed, packaged salad  for retail sale.

When they introduced their mixed baby greens or "spring mix" to restaurants and supermarket produce aisles, they started a salad revolution.

Today, gourmet salad greens and packaged salads have become staples of grocery baskets everywhere.

Earthbound Farm proves that even when you start small you can change the world!

In all the years that I have visited the Monterey Peninsula I had never been to Earthbound Farm.

As you can see, it is absolutely breathtaking!

Each and every vista is like a painting.

The overcast sky was perfect for taking pictures.

 

 

And I didn't hold back!

I love the look of the tan bark around the garden beds.

My husband and I have been talking about doing the same thing in our little side yard garden.

After being inspired by Earthbound Farm we are going to do it this weekend.

  

Earthbound Farm is a gift...  

Don't miss the chance to stop by and experience it the next time you are visiting the picturesque Carmel Valley.

 

 Their Farm Stand offers fresh organic produce, spectacular organic flowers, delicious organic food, gourmet groceries and unique gifts.

 There is a Cut-Your-Own Herb Garden, chamomile aromatherapy Walking Labyrinth and Kids' Garden brimming with touchable foliage.

And each year during the local growing season, they host a variety of special Saturday events.

Earthbound Farm is open year-round

Mon-Sat 8am-6:30pm

Sun 9am-6pm

They are located at

7250 Carmel Valley Road

(3.5 miles east of Highway 1)

Carmel, California

And...

Just a hop & a skip down the road is

Tancredi & Morgan!

 

So... what are you waiting for?

Home Sweet Home!

My surgery was 2 weeks ago today, although it feels like it has been a year!  As you know, I am the proud recipient of a new kidney and pancreas.  I was told that the donor was a 21 year old male and my surgeon commented that it was the best looking pancreas he had seen ‘in years’. I’ve posted ultrasound pictures of my new kidney (Kenny) and pancreas (Priscilla).

 (My new kidney, Kenny)

I was released from the hospital last Saturday and spent this past week ‘testing and resting’. For the first few months, I need to self monitor blood pressure, blood sugar, weight and temperature in order to head off any signs of infection or rejection.  So far, all numbers have been normal (knock on wood!).

(My new pancreas Priscilla)

 

I need to give blood samples at the lab (in Walnut Creek) twice a week and visit the transplant clinic at UCSF in San Francisco once a week. In addition, I’m on about 20 different medications (30+ pills) per day. This pill regimen is only for the first few months to combat infection and rejection - it will eventually taper down to 2-3 pills daily.

Friday, June 29, 2012 will forever be remembered as the most significant day in my life - because it changed my life. It marked a day that ended 28 long years with Type-1 diabetes and related complications - and the day that begins my second chance at a healthy life. To say that I am grateful would be a gross understatement.

My faith has taught me that there is a power much greater than human capability and that He has a plan for everyone.  It is with that faith that I have always carried any burden, knowing that I do so according to a plan. I carried this belief right into the operating room the Friday before last, without the slightest bit of nervousness - I actually had a sense of calm.  Needless to say, my gratitude starts here.

There are so many people who I would like to acknowledge.

My surgeon, Dr Friese and the amazing nursing staff at UCSF. We are fortunate to live so close to such a world class facility.

My family and friends. This CaringBridge site allowed updates and access, but most cherished by me was the amazing outpouring of support and encouragement from your notes and well wishes.  Wendy would read these to me practically real-time.  I can’t tell you how much this meant to me.  Your love and support helped speed the recovery and mask any post-surgery pain.  THANK YOU so much for your kind words.

And last but certainly not least is my amazingly supportive wife, Wendy.  She literally slept next to my hospital bed and spent every waking hour with me. Believe me, there is NO rest in this hospital environment. 24 hours a day, there is not 20 minutes that goes by without someone coming in your room (poking, prodding, testing, cleaning, etc) Needless to say, Wendy got very little sleep.  She was also my second set of eyes and ears on every update, opinion, lesson & test.  As you know, she also maintained some great updates on CaringBridge. I am eternally grateful for her amazing support which has obviously continued as we transitioned back home. She maintains the role as nursing support, driver, cook & cleaner.  She has been incredibly strong throughout this ordeal and I am extremely grateful for her unwavering love and support.

Within the next couple weeks, I hope to assimilate back to a new sense of normalcy.  I also hope to keep up with every one of you. Again, thank you for your love and support. Perhaps we can meet over something sweet someday!

To your health!

- Steve

Written Jul 13, 2012 9:09am by Steve Reiser