Althorp and Diana

If you know anything about me, then you know that I love all things British and am, I have to admit, a royal family freak.  I actually could use a 12 step program for my obsession with their blue blooded ancestry, their fantastically grand homes all over Great Britain and their sometimes horrid choice of clothing.  If you even mention Queen Elizabeth, I start feeling veklempt (talk amongst yaselves).  I will give you a topic - the Royal family - my impersonation of Linda Richman and "Coffee Talk" from Saturday Night Live, in case you are not familiar:)

www.mariotestino.com

One of my favorite topics of discussion is Princess Diana.  Although she was deeply flawed, she was also a most interesting person...dynamic, charming, gorgeous, young at heart, and with the best intentions for those who were less fortunate than she.  Like so many other girls, I watched her marry and was riveted.  I recently saw the exhibit put together by her brother and it was a religious experience for me.  I was able to see, up close and personal, pieces of her childhood including her toys, her ballet shoes, home movies never seen by the public, her diaries, her journals, and her jewels.  There was a lot of history of her childhood home, as well.  The icing on the cake was seeing the wedding dress, which we all know, was a wrinkled confection by the time she stepped out of the carriage at the cathedral.  Also featured were many of her other dresses, along with the khaki pants and the polo shirt she wore in the land mines.  

 She grew up in a huge country estate, known as Althorp, which has been in the Spencer family for many centuries.  The Duchess of Devonshire, whom many of you may have learned about through the Keira Knightley film, "The Duchess," is part of her family and its rich history.  Many have compared Diana to the Duchess, as she was also a controversial, opinionated woman for her time.  She also was stuck in a loveless marriage and continued to live with the Earl in order to see her children.  

Diana's childhood was complex, as her mother left the children and moved to Scotland while the children were still young.  She has two sisters, Sarah and Jane, and of course, her brother Charles, the Earl of Spencer, whom most everyone remembers for his very candid and moving eulogy at her funeral.  The Althorp estate is, to me, one of the most beautiful in all of England.  It once encompassed thousands of acres, but much of the land was sold off through the centuries in order to maintain the estate.  As you can see, the family is still in possession of a tremendous amount of property.   Charles lives there now with his family, having moved back from South Africa after Diana's death.  The house is open in the summer months for tours, and there is a beautiful memorial on the property near her final resting place, which is an island in the midst of an oval lake.  It seems like a very lonely place to be buried, but she was hounded by the paparazzi to such a point that her family saw it as fitting that she could rest in peace with only her family and closest friends having access to her grave.   Some have criticized Charles for opening the home to the public.  Many of these massive country houses are open for public viewing during the summer months, as the families have "apartments" that are totally private and the tours are needed in order to help with the overwhelmingly expensive upkeep of these stately homes.  Just imagine trying to dust this place!

So these are my little words about a woman who I find completely captivating, in all of her beauty and character.  She wasn't perfect, but she was fascinating.  And her childhood home is a dream.

What are your feelings about Diana?  Please post a comment by clicking on this posting and scrolling down.  I want to hear from you!

The Althorp Estate in Devonshire - just try counting all of those chimneys!

Road to Althorp

I want to visit this home so much - hopefully soon

The island in the middle of the Oval Lake where Diana is buried

I love the courtyards of these old estates with their pea gravel

Diana's last photo session - photo by Mario Testino

Diana and Charles in their school uniforms

Another photo from Mario Testino - I love these photos of her - no jewelry, wearing some of her favorite and most famous dresses that were auctioned for charity shortly before her death

A paparazzi shot of Diana on El Fayed's yacht...she appears so alone here but was actually at her happiest.  I don't think for a minute that she was ever engaged to Dodi Fayed or even in love with him.  As if I am privy to such information, right? Maybe someday I can get an inside source into the palace LOL

Blogging is fun but challenging

Today I noticed that the "Leave a Comment" post has disappeared from my blog - after fiddling with the blog for the better half of the afternoon, I noticed that yesterday's post, which took a good hour to prepare and was filled with all sorts of gorgeous photos, has also gone to neverland.  It is gone - ugh!  So tonight I will figure out all these issues and tomorrow will be filled with all sorts of important things instead, such as finding more amazing interiors, exteriors, gardens and lovely vignettes for us to say "ahhh" over.  Be back tomorrow.  Chow!

Historic Rose Hill Cemetery - Macon Georgia

Several weeks ago, on my way home from visiting my daughter in Statesboro, Georgia, I made a point of stopping off at Rose Hill Cemetery in Macon, Georgia.  If you have never been, and enjoy the beauty and history of old cemeteries, then you must see it.  It's famous for being the burial place of Duane Allman and Berry Oakley of  the Allman Brothers Band, whom I worship and adore.  I ended up staying over two hours, walking and taking photographs...reading the headstones, trying to read others that were long faded and worn.  I circled around what seemed like 5 times trying to find the Allman graves, when thankfully, two men from New York City noticed the dumb look on my face and asked if I was lost.  They pointed me in the right direction, having made the pilgrimage themselves.  I would have never found it...tucked into a hillside near the Confederate soldier section and near the railroad tracks.  It is a beautiful memorial to two very talented people who died way too early.  I have uploaded my photos and hope you enjoy seeing them as much as I enjoyed walking around that day, even if I was wandering aimlessly.  Have a beautiful Sunday.

Sweet, yet Bittersweet - Ready to Relax Beside the Fire

Photo Courtesy of Notebook Magazine

Today was my last day with the big law firm in the sky.  It was a bittersweet kind of day.  I said goodbye to many, "see you later" to others and cried crocodile tears, knowing that I will miss it terribly in some ways, but knowing that I won't miss the almost 3.5 hours per day I spent in my car 4 days a week for the last 22 years.  I won't miss filling up my gas tank to the tune of 2.5 tanks a week, nor will I miss parking and walking to the building, as I did on Wednesday after my umbrella blew inside out, and as I dropped my debit card underneath my car, all the while navigating a downpour with a cup of coffee, my purse and my work tote (it wasn't pretty, but I had to laugh and did manage to provide some smiles to my co-workers).  I won't miss reviewing the 300 emails I reviewed each day for content and urgency, I won't miss waiting for the elevator for what seemed like forever to take me to the 45th floor, nor will I miss looking out the window and seeing soldiers with guns in helicopters as I did on 9/11.  I won't miss the client billing I was responsible for, and I won't miss preparing expense reports.  I won't miss road rage, the wind that blows between the skyscrapers and often made me feel as though I was Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz during the Kansas tornado, nor will I miss trying to cross West Peachtree Street before all of the cars start drag racing at the green light.  I won't miss asking people for things 5 times and finally getting it on the 6th try, and I won't miss spending 9-10 bucks a day on lunch.  What I will miss is my place on the hallway where my best bud and I practically read each other's minds throughout the day, where my boss would come whipping around the corner, pulling her rolling work bag, her long hair bouncing slightly in her hair clip as she flipped on the light in her office to do what she had done every weekday for the last 21 years.  I will miss the kindness that the place showed to me as I fought for my life in the midst of breast cancer,  through 32 chemo treatments, while rubbing my head, wondering what my hair might look like, should it ever show up again.  I will miss the people who bought me the world's ugliest nightgown, only to dip their hands in paint, and then place those same hands on the gown, along with a sentiment of how much they loved me.  I will miss the way that these people stood by me when I lost my beloved mother to cancer last year.  I will miss how they asked me every day, "How are you feeling?  How is your family?"  I will miss how, after I learned that, once again, my family was faced with the big "C" when my beautiful husband was told he had lung cancer while undergoing tests for congestive heart failure, they continued to walk beside me.  But I am hoping that the very same technology that often drove me to the brink of insanity at the office will now keep me in touch with these people, these souls that I will miss seeing face to face through half-opened eyes at 8:30 am every Monday through Thursday.  Because of technology like this blog, Facebook, and email, I will get to hear their voices and see their faces, just differently.  Although I left there today with a spring in my step, carrying two large shopping bags filled with my life for the last 22 years, along with a beautiful orchid plant, I know that I made some of the best friends ever, and hoping that they will keep in touch and continue to be such a wonderful part of my life, even if I am sitting on the sofa all day beside the fire, eating bonbons.  Love and hugs.

New venture, new look

So there are only two days left for my 9 am to 5 pm life -- I have been working for attorneys for 27 years, 22 of those years where I am currently working.  But just recently, I decided to take the plunge and pursue my dream of doing something that I love and trying to make a living at it.  So as of November 5, instead of having fun with this part time, I will be going at it full time, selling antiques, collectibles, all things vintage and retro, upscale designer clothing and accessories and books.  My items will be on Ebay, Bonanza and Etsy. I will also be working as a picker with The French Nest, a simply divine antique store in College Park, Florida, and planning my place in an antique store in my neck of the woods.  I'm sure there are some other things I can get my hands into, this blog being one of them.  And starting this coming weekend, my blog will have a new look, even though it's only been up and running for 5 days.  A wonderful seller on Etsy has a design that is calling my name and it's a "one of kind" - one to call my own.  She has even offered to put it all in place for me as I try to figure out how to get this blog exactly how I want it.  Blogging is fun, but it's a lot to learn, so please stick with me and learn with me because I can't do it without you!

One of my favorite websites is Velvet and Linen , http://brookegiannetti.typepad.com/,

 from designer Brooke Giannetti.  To say that everything on her site is gorgeous is an understatement.  In addition to loads of gorgeous updates, she recently featured a home in Santa Barbara, California that was original brought to us from House Beautiful.  This house is only 12 years old, but what the owner and interior designer Penelope Bianchi did with it is extraordinary.  Out of all the houses I have perused over the years, this one ranks way up at the top.  Her "decorating" is exquisite because it looks so undecorated, as if it evolved over decades.  The vines are Virginia creeper, which are now going into the house, which is ok with Penelope.  Take a look - it is absolutely enchanting.

All photos - copyright House Beautiful

A copper tub - my favorite

Virginia creeper vine

Her style is traditional, yet unexpected

What a gated entrance - love the lanterns

Notice how she uses so many elements, yet it doesn't look like your old neighbor's front yard - sophisticated

The "barn" garage

Chaise lounges on gravel overlooking one of her many gardens

The wildlife pond

Another view - again, this was a vacant lot with a few trees when she purchased it

You can't go wrong with this color - so gorgeous

I can't even speak - look at that panel

Her bedroom - I just want to curl up!

Her bath - I love the dress vanity in the corner and the color, too

Look at the assortment of photographs and artwork on the walls...

An asian bridge over a dried creek bed makes a beautiful scene in another garden

It was a great day back in September

 Many of my friends and family have already heard about the fantastic time I had on a Saturday this past September, doing what I love most...picking!  And that's not berries...it's for junk...rusted, crusty, old and dusty.  The stuff that alot people don't want anymore...but now there's a whole new set of folks that do want it and it's getting more expensive.  However, if you don't mind digging, getting your hands dirty and shoving away the random dog and spider, there are some awesome old things out there, waiting for that new forever home.  I am posting pictures of some of my finds from that day in September...it was a great day in so many ways.  I was doing what I love, meeting some very interesting people, the sunlight that day was amazing, and it was one yard sale after another for about 30 miles (Hallelujah, hallelujah).  Perfection with the exception that my sweet Lucky dog (my gigantic mixed breed rescue - had him for 12 years and he was my sidekick through life) and my sweet mother were not with me.  My mom was my partner in crime, my cohort, my love, my best friend.  But she was really with me...I believe she was sitting on my shoulder.  I could just hear her saying "What are going to do with that?" or "I don't know...I wouldn't buy it but you know more about this stuff than I do...you always do well...don't listen to me."  And I did do well that day.  I found some wonderful, interesting items..some to keep, some to pass on to others.  and all the while I had a blast doing it with the most extraordinary angel in the world telling me to have fun, to move on past my heartache and to be true to myself.  Which is why I am, at this very minute, posting to this blog and knowing that my last day of the 8-5 grind in downtown Atlanta is approaching, November 5th.  Thanks Mama.

And to all you followers and readers out there, send me some love by leaving a comment...It's lonely out here in cyberspace:)

Still haven't figure out what this iron lid once belonged to - but I loved it anyway - will be a great addition to my kitchen.  If anyone knnows what it belongs to please let me know.  My research hit a dead end.

She is warped and tattered but still beautiful - Keeping her

The perfect little table for that perfect little place in my bedroom

An arcade machine from 1941..."Your Ideal Love Mate" - could have sold it a dozen times
 before I even got to my car that day

Loved this old wooden crate - perfect for holding towels

A fun vintage bar tray with the folding legs in the back - perfect for that retro look

A tattered old book from 1901 that I love - the patina is beautiful

Not worth much but liked it anyway

A ceiling tin from an old building in Senoia Georgia - now in my living room

The picture doesn't do this lovely maiden justice - again, not that old and not worth much but a great look

From the Belmont Textile Mill in North Carolina - I am keeping this one

Yes, it is the real deal and it really did belong to THAT Colonel Tom Parker

My love of turquoise - I had to have it.  The perfect ending to a perfect day