Just to remind you of my holiday treatment of the fireplace mantle: A beaded Christmas tree and a pair of votive lights and i called it done.
The flowers that were on the dining table during the holidays took a long time to fade.
I decided to enjoy their slow demise by moving them to the mantle and adding a dried fern leaf that nicely matched the browning flowers.
Mark enjoyed the Foo dogs so much that I added them to the opposite end of the mantle. There were just enough bits of teal in his painting that the dogs and the vase seemed appropriate partners for the painting.
I replaced the flowers went I went grocery shopping recently to complement my new painting, which we'd swapped for the little girl's portrait.
Mark decided that the new painting perfectly melded his painting with the textile filling the wall space next to the fireplace.
This is a closeup of the top of the beautiful Miao baby carrier. The Miao people are one of many different Chinese ethnic groups.
Miserable weather, miserable news. Thus I am sitting opposite the fireplace to enjoy the view before I lose myself in a book. Hope you are all managing to survive this scary end of Trump's administration. Definitely sending thoughts and prayers to Joe and Kamala.
It seems as if I relaxed a bit when Biden and Harris were declared the winners, but I've been gradually tensing up again. I thought I'd relax tomorrow, but thought about all of the work to be done in and for this country, that I realized that relaxation won't happen. I am reading People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks, and I am loving it. Just finished Our Time Is Now by Stacey Abrams, and I HIGHLY recommend that. Before that, I read The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Dare, and I loved that too. So nice to read 3 excellent books in a row!
Posted by: Kristin | Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 07:57 AM
KRISTIN — I am trying to accept that the "new normal" seems to be endless chaos. Just bought a couple of beautiful design books to give me some eye candy instead of snow. I just read Mayor Pete's autobiography "Shortest Way Home'' and "Hidden Valley Road" about a family with 12 childrens; the two youngest were girls and 6 of the 10 brothers developed schizophrenia. Pete's was a quick and interesting read and the other was fascinating in terms of medicine and research if distressing in terms of one family's dysfunction. Next is "The Rise" about Black food culture, chefs, writers, growers etc. by Marcus Samuelson.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 11:31 AM
Love how the mantel and wall are looking with the complementing art and artifacts. Loved "Where the Crawdads" sing and just started Gilbert's "The Signature of All Things" upon the recommendation of a friend. Keeping everyone in my heart as we move forward into a new era.
Posted by: Barbara H. | Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 01:11 PM
BARBARA — Yes, definitely hoping for the best and some actual movement forward in our government. I read the Gilbert book and loved all the natural history info but was less enthused over the characters and relationships.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 01:32 PM
I'm very impressed by how you change your art out to create compelling vignettes. I'm not moderating my news intake as much as I should, although I managed an effective escape yesterday, spending most of the day in my garden. Today the winds are blowing at gale force and doing anything out there (other than battening down the hatches) is impossible so I cleaned the house....
Posted by: Kris P | Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 06:12 PM
I like that you rotate your art and keep things fresh with new companions and complements... plus it's always amazing to see what you pull out!
It's been an eerie quiet this past week as the country drifts without a president. Better than before, but still no good.
Posted by: Frank | Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 06:52 PM
Great use of the materials in new ways--you are so creative! Yes, miserable news, but the weather hasn't been as bad this January. Well, the cloudy skies can be rough, but the temps are comfortable. Walking the dog has actually been pleasant this winter. ;-)
Posted by: Beth@PlantPostings | Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 08:56 PM
You have the most interesting "things". That textile is gorgeous. Any baby wrapped up in that should feel royal. I have been shuffling some things around too. Must be the season. Scary some of those Reps.
Posted by: Lisa at Greenbow | Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 05:30 AM