Local flavor...

We live in a fairly small city on the east coast of Florida...It has a true small town feel. When you head out west...away from the ocean,

you hit dirt roads and orange groves and horse country.

It is relaxed living for sure...kids live in shorts and flip flops.

We do have some beautiful old homes, and many new.

Local designer, Rod Mickley, gives us a taste of our town...

Outdoor living is a favorite thing...

I love all the natural light in these living rooms.......




....That African chair!
..... I would possibly give my eye teeth for those old colored illustrations.
More natural light...It is always sunny.



....And the living is easy...

So.

I have a wall of pics in our living Room. It seems to grow when we are not looking.

I had great plans to attack it this week, but haven't had a sec.

We also have other photos and art scattered. um. everywhere.

I wanted a bit more cohesive look. I don't know why...nothing in our house is "cohesive".

It's such a polite word.

Anyway, a talented,new BBFF (Blogging BFF....oh, she may just barf a little reading this) took on the challenge for me...and did a little photoshop magic,

changing the art/pics around a bit. Bless her little blogging heart!

So.

Do you have a fave way?? Do I take the whole thing down? Do I paint all the walls white (which I am soo hankerin' to do)

Ideas??? I'll give ya a dollar.....really, this time.

The now...notice the nicely stacked pics on the bottom (rolling eyes)

The pretend. I LOVE how she did a little tall short tall short thingy....
Another pretend....Come on people...It's good for the brain

like crossword puzzles or sudoku...

Exhausted yet??? Oh, and ignore the scary dying palm fronds.....please.

The goal.....get it figured out by this weekend.

Another world...In our world

There is a place...far away in the Mahale Mountains of Tanzania,

that might rightfully be called Eden.

here, on a far-flung beach below a huge story-book tropical forest, you can enjoy a different kind of peace.

A tiny camp-like sanctuary called Greystoke Mahale will take you in as

you explore the region...and breathe in the rawness and the beauty

Of Western Tanzania...

They say the water is as clear as gin...
The food world class...


A bohemian retreat to fill your senses...

Not your typical vacation, It is known for Chimpanzee watching(claims the largest chimp population in the world)...
and mind cleansing............
Try it....I sure want to.

A little color...a little art...

WOW...What an Open House Tour Julia put on! I had to scoot off to NYC and then The Chesapeake Bay the morning of the tour, and am just back now.

But a HUGE thanks to everyone who toured Ginny's colorful home and left messages!!

While I go tour all of the other luscious homes on the Hooked on Houses Tour, I'll leave you with a little color and art from my home...

It's nice to be home after a whirlwind visit to the City and Country...

A painting that absolutely glows at night...by Ginny Piech Street....

This is a wall of art in our living room (Ashley from Decorology has sent me some great photoshop pix of how to arrange this better...be looking for that post soon!)...

A mosaic my four kidlets made...was meant to be a table, is now art on our front courtyard wall

I just LOVE it...

One of my most favorite wood carvings...
A Talavera sink brought back from San Miguel de Allende Mexico...working art!
Laundry room door....REALLY working art!

Let me unpack a bag or two, and catch up with some mail...and I'll talk to you soon!

An artist's color infused mid-century studio/home tour

An original hooked on Houses Open House tour... stop by Hooked on Houses to see more delicious tours....don't even need to spend gas money! Deal of the day!

come on in...this is not your ordinary home...

She is an artist.

While we breathe oxygen,

she inhales color.

my pictures do not do her place justice

She lives in the bright house surrounded by golden bamboo.

And flora and fauna of only the brightest colors...she picks sunwarmed mangoes from her tree out front

Her doors are Azure blue...
Art and Heart and soul are everywhere.

I imagine they all dance together while she sleeps...

Her simple counters fell into place, perfectly... she watches Orchids and bamboo grow as she washes the dishes.

Tropical leaves splash her walls...
Her cabinets are a soft blue and green stripe,

with a blackboard above...to celebrate life.

She lives in a mid-century house infused with color...
Hollywood faces adorn her wall, while bronze fish make their way through mangroves...
Defined by color...
she displays little pieces of her life, like a mosaic...

Sailboats make their way....
It is a relaxed home. Full of family and living.

and art always finds it's own way upon her walls...

...She is a mother
An artist...

And a friend...

experience her color enriched world here:

Ginny Piech Street, collage and sculpture artist

Barcelona for the weekend, anyone???

Come look at a few gorgeous

rooms.....

...Vaulted arches...
...even the door is pure art...

...Peace...

Thank you Mi Casa!

Food Porn...tropical style

It was serendipity.

I stumbled upon this

gorgeous Blog...I love blog stumbling

Rachel Rappaport has gifted us with 100's of her luscious original recipes

and even tutorials!

And the name...I feel like we are sisters...or cousins....allright, just let a gal dream, eh!

Gingered Tropical fruit kabobs....Oh Heaven

Healthy and beautiful BlackBean soup with Chorizo...

Cool it off with a frozen kiwi sorbet....

This has 4 ingredients people....and one of them is water!

Summer evening simple, no?

...and a beautiful finale... Mango-chile cupcakes with key lime frosting...Luau in a paper wrapper...who can resist!
Check them out...make sure you have an hour or so. wink.
Coconut and Lime....

original recipes and tutorials by Rachel Rappaport