I happened to look up at just the right time. This is the schefflera that is across the room on the sideboard.
I added a Wallace Nutting to this wall in the den.
And here’s a view of the hall upstairs, where I used to have my studio. It’s changed a great deal since then.
These days, Don’s dresser is in the niche under the skylight. We added the framed posters that we rediscovered when we had the big shed clean out. On the left near the dresser is a reprint of a London Underground poster – The Playgoer Travels Underground. It’s very Twenties/ArtDeco – a period I’ve always been drawn to. I bought it in London in 1991. On the right, a poster I’ve had even longer – since the late Seventies. It’s from a production of The Mikado that was done at the Stratford Festival in Canada. As I played Katisha in a production of The Mikado many years ago, I wanted to see Stratford’s production and it was brilliant. It’s faded a bit over the years, but the graphic design remains incredibly striking. I distinctly remember getting both of these framed during the first year I lived in San Diego, when I could finally afford it.
That bookshelf is a vintage and handmade find. I bought it about 4 or 5 years ago at a local antique shop. It holds all my vintage children books, some of which were my mom’s, and my vintage Nancy Drew collection. My dad’s lead Model-T car is there, as well as a train car he made many years later.
I’ve obviously never seen a shelf like this one – it’s truly one-of-a-kind. This young girl – Martha Jane – seems to be dressed up in a nurse’s uniform.
The pine piece functions as our linen closet since we have none. You can’t see the stacks of books that are piled on top of it – all of them read by Don or me. My dress form is to the right of that, as well as a couple of tripods and my vintage wire laundry basket.
Today we’re going to do some initial work outside. Since it’s going down to 32 degrees tonight, I’m not going to start uncovering the garden beds until tomorrow when the danger of a freeze is gone for good.
Such a late spring this year!
But I’m really ready to get the glider and chair cushions out of the closet under the stairs (currently hidden by the egg cup cubby,) do some more sorting in the shed, move the vintage wrought iron chairs back to the Secret Garden – that kind of thing.
Stay safe.
Happy Wednesday.