Derby Lite

No Derby party this year, it's just as well since I can't find my 20 odd silver julep cups!  Maybe next year.  In the meantime, I had to at least attempt a Derby "table scape" to share.  That julep cup should be polished, frosted and filled with crushed ice, simple syrup, mint and bourbon, not an old candle.  I could have sworn we had more bourbon than that.

I'm looking forward to next year and the 137th Run for the Roses AND a return to hosting parties!

Please join Susan at BNOTP for Tablescape Thursday.  Thanks Susan!

The Blue Room

Well, here it is from every angle.......

Now if I can only get the electronics stored away inside that buffet.........I'm getting a little resistance on that.  I am very happy with the way it turned out!  Check in with Sally to see more shades of blue.

Yo, House of Turquoise.......

check me out!

A very simple scape, as usual.  I just wanted to show off my latest turquoise/aqua find.  May I suggest to all of you - never by candles in this color.  What was I thinking?  I was thinking Easter Bunny and pastel eggs but they still didn't make the final cut for the Easter table. Suitable only for a post about turquoise/aqua tablescaping.  Please visit Susan at BNOP for more tablescaping and Erin at House of Turquoise for your turquoise fix.

Sneak Peek

It feels very "dennish" in there now.  I couldn't be happier.  One of my favorite spots for a nice martini after shopping Michigan Ave. on a chilly, blustery day is the bar in RL, Ralph Lauren's joint next to the Polo store - swanky.  That's what this room feels like to me.  Cheers!

Blue Sunday

It's happening, it's happening NOW.  The Polo Blue is going up on the walls of the Den.

Here's what you do, put on some appropriate music, in this case - Willie and the Wheel - Texas Swing with   Willie Nelson's voice - be still my heart.  This is where my Texas/OK heritage comes in. After a few Fat Tire beers and some fried chicken, I'm ready to roll.  Literally!  Bring it on down to my house honey!

Check in next Monday for the final result.  Thanks Sally for your Blue Mondays!

Accidental Vignette

As I was sitting on my couch, in the soon to be blue den, I noticed this lovely little vignette.  It was created at random by myself and my 4 year old.  That's his harmonica, or as he says "charmonica."  The strand of fake pearls and earrings are mine.  This is a terrible habit of mine.  Taking my jewelry off wherever I may have happened to settle in for the night.  This is why I lose jewelry.  This is why I own fake pearls and CZ's.

One of these things is not like the others.....

And I like it that way!

Last week's antique find has found a home among water color paintings I bought at an art show at the age of 11 (babysitting money).  My big brother made the frames for them.  All of these beauties hang over my grandmother's writing desk.  The guitar is ever at the ready for when my wonderful, musical genius nephew visits.   The release party for his first c.d. is next Tuesday here in Nashville!  Very sentimental vignette.  I definitely need to switch out that horse!

Ruth at Sunset

She made it back out to the sunshine.  I'm only posting this because a few of you expressed deep concern over her temporary fate.  Please don't judge me by the grass i.e. clover and dandelions.  Remember, we're just renting.

Big Day at The Ranch

When I arrived home from a shopping trip this afternoon, I had a package.  Inside were my "calling cards."

I am so happy with them.  I ordered them from pixel impress on Etsy.  Pam was great to work with and even enclosed another pixel impress creation as a thank you.  Check her out!

What was the shopping trip all about?  I went to get more herbs and of course ended up at the Franklin Antique Mall instead.  I love a good whim, especially when it is this successful.........

Of course this is going in the Den.  It will look fabulous next those Polo Blue Walls!

I also found this little beauty......

and finally these silver pieces to round it all out.  All this for under $100!

That little trophy will look great full of mint to garnish the juleps at this year's derby party.  You could fill it with sugar cubes for coffee, but it has been my experience that no one drinks coffee at derby parties.

Tartan Inspiration

Here is a wee book of Robert Burns poems sent to my mother in the 1930's from her Scottish pen pal.

This treasure sits among others inside my Japanned secretaire in the Den.

This Den, with one wall painted Sherwin Williams Knoxville Gray - a failed experiment - will now be painted Benjamin Moore's Polo Blue.  I was recently introduced to designer extraordinaire Scot Meacham Wood via bloglandia, i.e. The Skirted Round Table.  His work is gorgeous.  I had finally decided on a color called Stonecutter by SW but after learning that Mr. Wood was painting his apartment Ben Moore's Gentlemen's Gray, I have decided to go one better with Polo Blue. 

 I had been thinking of slip covering the couch, and some of the chairs in there in a crisp white and outfitting them with tartan pillows........now,  after being inspired and in a sense, confirmed by Scot Wood,  IT'S A DONE DEAL.  Of course, I didn't say when it would all be done, did I?  Happy National Tartan Day - it's about time!