Tag Archives: flowers

Catching Up

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A quick catching-up post

a bit all over the place- like me at the moment.

I had a lovely birthday despite beginning the morning with my bathroom makeup chair rolling out from underneath me and landing on my arse.

Well, that’s not even quite true-

would that I had had that much padding

it was actually my tailbone that took the  direct hit.

Believe me, the irony of my “Vanity” chair being the culprit of such a mortifying pratfall is not lost on me :(

Luckily, I don’t think anything was really damaged, except my pride…

though I’m still nursing a very tender lower back

and feeling somewhat sheepish that my birthday resolution to go running again was dashed.

Even yoga was out.

Which was not a good thing considering

There were more than a few caloric falls from grace this week…

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starting, but not ending, with champagne before 12pm ( it was 5pm somewhere)

two chocolate cakes

(yes, one was the Costco Cake I believe we’ve discussed with due reverence before)

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and fresh truffles for breakfast.

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Many, many thanks for all your sweet wishes & funny comments on my birthday post.

As I said, each & every one, a lovely present.

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In other ‘catching up’ news…

After a brief hiatus from coconut oil “pulling” due to travel constraints, I’m back in the routine and feeling pretty good about that.

The bad news is I’ve managed to find probably the only naughty coconut product out there …

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Expresso made with coconut water.

Seriously.

Who thinks these things up and why are they out to get me??

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Meanwhile, long time reader and faithful commenter  “Marsha C”

was so inspired by my colourist’s assistant’s two-toned, bedazzled, bedecked & bejewelled  manicure from the

“City of Brights” post

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that she went out and got one herself.

No moss growing on Marsha!! :)..

 

Meanwhile, I haven’t had a manicure since  Lincoln was assassinated .

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Lastly, in literary news…

My Monty Don book arrived yesterday

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Yay!

Love him.

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A good friend tells me she found “Gone Girl” impossible to put down, so I’ve downloaded it onto my iPad

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and another trusted pal tells me I must watch “Homeland” and catch up before the new season starts later this month.

Are you a fan??

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Lastly, the postman also delivered my issue of Canadian “House & Home” which looks full of juicy fresh Fall inspiration

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but  as the hot, summery weather in Santa Barbara continues to hold steady

Except the day of my birthday when it rained!

(Though I’m not complaining, we needed it)

I’m still finding it awfully hard to hit my Fall stride-

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Not to mention cracking the bedside behemoth that is

the September issue of Vogue.

Fuggedaboudit.

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Just…

can’t…

go there…

yet.

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Hope YOU had a great weekend!

xox

~

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Roses. Just Roses.

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..The Roses

.have arrived….

..I only wish I could share the scent with you as well as these photos

.I think you can probably imagine though, right?

.The first blooms are always so gigantic

The colours heartbreakingly beautiful

Feel free to pick one!

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Happy Easter!

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Wishing everyone a beautiful Easter Weekend.

 It was indeed an exquisite day here in Santa Barbara, though I’m fending off a touch of melancholy as has been my custom the past few Easters; reminiscing about egg hunts with our little boys and how those days are long gone for us now. Peculiar that this holiday more than any other affects me in this way.  I’ve one photo in particular of my little men with their Easter baskets that almost makes me weep every time I look at it. My older son’s hair is as gold as if the sun itself has bent to kiss him, and younger son is trailing along,  sporting overalls at half-mast and a look that suggests he’s not at all satisfied with the day’s gatherings just yet.

But…

As nature (and Khalil Gibran) remind us

“Life goes not backward, nor tarries with yesterday…”

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 Columbines photographed today in the garden. I only have this colour at the moment, but I’m on the hunt for the coral and pale yellow combination as well.

I love the little tails that shoot out behind these flowers. They are a sweet addition to a bouquet.

Looks as if we’re going to have another bumper crop of roses this Spring and Summer!

I can barely stand how beautiful the colour of this rose is.

I could almost cry (again. Oh dear…)

Merci to a dear friend for my delicious bonbons

 I hope you receive many treasures from your bunny(s) this Easter Morning!

Looking back to Easters past (a post from 2010);  Peeps & Paas 

And for newer readers;

 if you care to take a peek at the post I hold dearest in my heart  (I warned you I was emotional)

  Here; Bringing up Boys  (please do play the music)

and once again,

Happy Easter and Passover to you all!

xoxo

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Home Sweet Mountain Home

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door with skates, Slim PaleySlim Paley Photo

Wild flowers gathered for my front door.

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front porch, Slim PaleySlim Paley Photo


Greetings from Sun Valley.  I’m so blissed out to be here!

In just a few short hours the weather will run the gamut of  brilliant sunshine, billowing white clouds, a dark horizon, a burst of quick rain and back to glorious sunshine again.

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Sun Valley, Slim PaleySlim Paley photo

The sunlight paints the mountains a multitude of greens after a quick rain shower

The town is buzzing with sporty types all looking very fit and rather chuffed with themselves, having just completed a long bike ride, a strenuous hike or perhaps just a delicious brunch at Christina’s. Being of the “first gear persuasion” myself, I enjoyed a leisurely stroll this afternoon, stopping by some of my regular haunts, including The Iconoclast bookshop (do you think I could remember the name of the book I was looking for??)  and of course the obligatory visit to Chateau Drugs.  Quel horror! A change of ownership without me being consulted?! This is the shop that our friends and I (we?? yikes-altitude, gin & tonic) used to joke that you could find anything- not no more…(just testing)  Change is good, but not always.

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LupinesSlim Paley Photo

Riotous Lupines by the side of the road

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On the up side, as I’m in vacay mode I feel freed up to be as sloth-like as I care to be, which is pretty darn sloth-like.  I finished an entire book yesterday; “The Dignified Guest” by Sue Miller. It started off so promising and then sort of petered out for me.  Quite honestly, I’m in the market for a great book with  characters I can actually fall in love with, or at least admire.   I’m on a dry streak of books inhabited by people I’d rather punch than go to lunch with.  I’d be thankful for any of your suggestions.

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Big Wood River, Sun Valley, IdahoSlim Paley photo

Looking north from my deck this morning.

The river is running fast and high.  I’m not able to catch it with my camera but the sky is filled with fluffy white Cottonwood seeds, (you can just see a fine blur in the right side of the photo) It’s almost like snow drifting through the air. They catch in your hair, on screen doors, in spiderwebs, a fine downy layer coating everything with the promise of thousands of new Cottonwoods next Spring.

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Look at these funny little flowers growing in my garden. I don’t know what they’re called but they look like pink Water Buffalos!

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Well, whether it’s the altitude, the sun or just the pure mountain air- I’m knackered.

I’m looking forward to falling asleep to the sound of the river

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Front porch, log & stone house, Slim PaleySlim Paley photo

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Wishing you a great rest of the weekend

and for those of you in L.A.- I hope you’re surviving “Car-mageddon” without too much inconvenience :)

xx

Thinking Outside The Vase

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I need to take a “Cheat Day” and post an article I wrote for The Huffington Post earlier this year.  I’m playing a rather hectic game of Catch Up this week after being away for so long, and much like my luck in Vegas last weekend, I’m losing! Although some of you might have already read the article if you’ve visited my “Press Box” tab,  I never actually posted it on Slim Paley.  I’ve copied and pasted below, but it looks a little out of focus for some reason, so I’m also attaching the direct link here;

Thinking Outside The Vase
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I promise to be back once again with a good “Friday Favourites” …and here’s the novel part for me… on FRIDAY!

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