Luluology’s blog

This is the post where I confess that all my creative endeavors do not turn out as expected.

UUUGGGHHH. 

I had planned a lovely post, with before and after photos of my kitchen table and chairs.  In my mind I thought they would have a dreamy Scandinavian feel painted white.

I have carefully primed and painted the table and six chairs---even revisited the paint store to discuss the viscosity of the rather expensive paint I had purchased. The chairs have been in and out of the garage no less than six times...I kid you not.

The result is a ghastly 80's country- looking set that just needs a blue swiss dot table cloth and a mauve plastic two- quart pitcher to be complete.

Usually, I'm confident about my paint choices, and don't worry too much about it.  After all---it's just paint, right.

Yes, it's just paint, but it's time I don't have.

I'll work with this...don't be surprised if I end up painting them black.

....or maybe you already know Michelle.  I met this creative woman at the pool last Saturday.  She has lived in her current home only two months, and she seemed to know more people at the community pool than I did!  Michelle was setting up a gorgeous tablescape and I just had to know what she was up to. 

Michelle relocated to the area with her family.  She has a background in interior design, and wanted to combine her design talents with her penchant for entertaining. Her charming southern voice made me say "tell me more"-- and I asked to come to one of her parties so I could see her in action. 

Michelle in Action

Michelle is an independent consultant for the Taste of Home Entertaining company.  I had heard of their popular recipe-filled magazine, but wasn't aware that they have branched out to include other aspects of entertaining, including lovely tableware and serving pieces.

While Michelle was well spoken and friendly at the party she led with her hostess, it wasn't just a sales pitch for the catalog items.  She had many creative entertaining ideas.  I especially liked one of her comments: "You are welcoming people into your home, and it is all about creating a warm and loving environment."

Italian ruffle container

Best of luck, Michelle.  I hope the community welcomes you as you would welcome them.

Nada: A Novel (Modern Library Classics)

Carmen Laforet

This is my pick for my book group this month.  We are meeting at a Spanish restaurant, so I searched for a Spanish novel.  It wasn't an easy search.  There is plenty of great literature translated from Spanish, much of it from Latin America, though.

I hope it is a good story.  I never like to read a book before I recommend it for book group because I want to experience it the same time as everyone else, so there is always a bit of anxiety.  Nada is set in Barcelona, post Spanish Civil War.  It has been in print continuously since 1945, but not available in English until more recently.

your lulu here:

scroll down...down...down... there it is:  luluology

http://www.etsy.com/storque/section/events/article/mega-beth-tour-chicago-edition/1457/

Yesterday was the summer solstice for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. How did you celebrate the arrival of summer and the longest day of the year?

Midsummer's Eve

4 comments

 We enjoyed a Scandinavian influenced Midsummer's Eve celebration on the longest day of the year.  As a family we spent the day at the pool, then tried to stretch the fun out long after sundown. We enjoyed some smoked salmon and dill inspired by Andreas Viestad of New Scandinavian Cooking for dinner.  We built a small bonfire, though didn't burn any effigies...those types of things left best to political revolutions and high school homecomings. 

The fire provided the most perfect s'mores we have ever had--just the right amount of coals to toast the marshmallows and melt the centers without burning. Of course the kids just couldn't go to bed until we had set off some fireworks.

Orange

 Orange cafe offers a weekly pancake special each with a different theme.  The day I visited the pancakes were inspired by "Comedy Movies".

pancakes before

"..like warm pie"- American Pie apple and carmelized bananas 

 "...you my boy blue!" - Old School  blueberries, blueberry whipped cream, blueberry jello sauce

 "...Mini Me loves chocolate."- Austin Powers  white chocolate mousse, chocolate covered raisins

 "...I asked for no sugar."-Road Trip strawberries, cream anglaise, almonds,  dusted powdered sugar

...and after

From a creative kid I know:)

Captain carrot

by L.P.C. 5/08

Gotta love spray paint.  It was dry before the raindrops started to fall.

The vintage garden gate was a solution to the problem of having a toddler and no fence around the yard.  I added the gate to my deck, which is surrounded by railings and benches.  Little kids aren't able to open the gate, and I was able to watch the kids playing from the kitchen.  All it needs is an occasional sprucing up with some black spray paint.

What are your neighbors like? (The ones you live near or next to, not the ones in your Vox neighborhood!)

 

shelter

 ...Ever notice there is nothing that makes you want to move more than having bad neighbors?  I remember many barking dogs (even the ones sans vocal boxes made weird yipping sounds-so sad),  a grouchy elderly couple who cut down our bushes, the rowdy college gymnastics team, the "curious" neighbors caught evesdropping.

Let me just say, I don't feel the need to move.  

We have fantastic neighbors.

As a kid, I always thought it would be great to live in a neighborhood of nice, neat blocks complete with sidewalks, because it would make trick-or-treating so much easier.  While I appreciate my small town/rural upbringing, I now live on a tidy street and my children have plenty of smooth concrete to skateboard, bicycle and draw on. (Though, finding real rocks, i.e. native, not landscaping rocks, for the geology unit in 4th grade is difficult, trick-or-treating is a breeze and the haul of candy indecent). I someday long for space and hills and fields to surround my home, but for now I am supported by some genuine, caring people.

At times I think the reason we do not have every resource we need, emotionally, physically, financially, is because it would eliminate the need for interaction with others.  And these human relationships are some of the things that can make life so sweet.

So, maybe to have good neighbors, we should be a good neighbor. 

If that doesn't work, just move.

This photo is by Hannahbanana.

She is a truly creative and talented woman.  Hannahbanana introduced me to Vox... taught me that anything could be a potential post...and not to be afraid to whip a camera out of your purse and snap a photo of  your meal. 

Needless to say, I love going out to dinner with her!