Where in the World?? Hint...

This is a 'comfortable' European capital city where moving your head up and down means 'no' and from side to side means 'yes.'

Where in the World??

Alright my well traveled friends can you guess this location?

Inside a Craftsman

From the doorway you can tell I'm just not a Craftsman kind of gal. I'd say my style is a little more old world colonial (is that even a style?). I've got tons of furniture that I've picked up on my travels. While I love the traditional Craftsman and Mission styles they are too heavy and austere for me to live with. I've got a lot of artwork to hang -what would you do -hang it all from the picture rail or go for the wall directly?

On another note did you know that the Smithsonian now has its photo archives on Flickr? It is really interesting to look at what house interiors looked like. For example this one:

Come on Over to my House

Welcome to my little California Craftsman. As you may or may not notice -I need help. I'm not too crazy about the curb appeal. First of all I need color! The house color is a muted army green, white trim and navy blue edging around the windows. The garden is a bit of a mess with no color. Right now there are boxwoods under the living room window, white myrtle (?) topiary surrounded by a red mulch circle. Any ideas?? 

Where in the World??

Let's play name that place -can you guess the location??

Missing La Vida Blogga

I've been a little busy lately. I've had long sleepless nights, a new wardrobe, my life has been turned upside down -yet again. I'm in love and I think she is too. I've had a little daughter and I'm very excited to be in the 'pink.' As you can imagine I haven't had much time to do any of my favorite things (including this blog). However, to make up for things I am going to start sharing some very exciting photos of travels to Africa. In a few months hopefully I'll be reporting from Paris (as soon as I get the little one her first passport).

Can't wait to hear from all of you and see what you've all been up to!
Baci!

Just what I need...

A strong cup of cappuccino and some of these Pumpkin Waffles made by my fabulous friend Mary:

I can almost smell it now! MMMMMmmmmm...

Change in the Air

I couldn't let this day pass by quietly, even if I've been very quiet lately. It is so nice to be back in a country where hope and enthusiasm is in the air instead of fear and I only now feel like America is coming back. It has been a year now that we've been in the States and in that year I've been very overwhelmed with everything. There are too many choices to make here and yet it has felt like there are no real choices to be made.

Let us take for example television. Here it is taken for granted that you must order cable or satellite in order to get anything "decent" to watch. I'm fine with that if I actually got choices in the things that are worth watching. The truth is most of what is available is complete crap and there are so many channels that you never watch or really would want to (do we really need 15 channels of high definition game replays of college sports 24 hours a day?). So, to get CNN and the BBC channel we wind up paying an average of $80 a month -for only two channels we actually want! I miss being able to see geographic programs, travel channels (of places other than America by Americans), cultural programing and even the variety shows you can see in Europe. We lived with less than ten channels in Italy yet we watched much more quality programming. I suppose that is what everyone here refers to as the "paradox of choice."

So I'm refreshed to tell you that after a long slumber it looks like things will change here and hopefully it is not too late. While I was listening to the inauguration of President Obama on the radio I couldn't help but cry. I was crying for the terrible things that have happened (September 11, the failing markets, the wars, the fears, the rampant cynicism, the state of the educational system and lack of healthcare for all). I'm hoping all of these things will pass and it certainly appears that at least it is on the agenda for things to be done. As for me -well I'm also changing and hoping for the future. I am expecting my second child soon and I am thrilled at the idea that all of us can actually improve things for ourselves and for all children -YES, WE CAN!