How about this?

Picked up at the thrift for $9.99. No markings - except for a small tag reading "Made in Indonesia" and some lovely cursive graffitti on the back of the previous owners doing ;)

{Man, may 2010 be the year of the baseboard!}

xo

Vintage or new doll's house?

While we were away the baby showed a huge amount of interest in a Barbie doll's house one of our friend's girls got from Santa. She was particularly captivated by the toilet which made a flushing noise, I'm not joking, to the point where she stripped down and tried to climb into the house to sit on it. I guess an understanding of scale comes later.

Anyway, as her second birthday is coming up, count them - two years!, I thought a doll's house might be a good idea for a present. But my dilemma is new or vintage? Here is want I have found so far, what do you think?

Green Dollhouse by Plan Toys



This one has a rain barrel!

Terrace Dollhouse by Plan Toys



Vintage Tyo Doll House Sesame Street



60s Vintage Fisher Price



Vintage 1950's Dream House

there and back again

Hi. We are home! Home. It sticks in my throat a little. To be perfectly honest, sometimes when we are away, when we are up on "our island", I feel more at home than ever.

In any case, we are back. I am sorry I didn't send any postcards this trip. It went so quickly, and the internet availability was limited.

Here are the ones I would have sent.


the ferry ride from Sturdies Bay to Schwartz Bay


looking up on a hike in the woods


a fire waiting for us in the stove

Happy New Year my dear friend. xo

Tea towel gift wrap

I picked up this sweet Christmas tree tea towel at my local thrift shop for 15c and realized it would make cute gift wrap. I'll have to look out for more throughout the year for next Christmas.

Wish list

Loving this Chester Wallace Tote from Canoe. Made from vintage canvas, it's a clever design, working both as a smaller shoulder bag and a huge tote if you need it.

You got your wish - it's *still* raining

You reminded me of an episode of Living With Ed where he buys a rain barrel and his wife hates how it looks. I actually kind of like the way it looks, but then you know how I feel about orange. I consulted his book to see if I could find a resource for you but alas there wasn't one. It does say it costs $90 which seems steep. He also writes you shouldn't water your vegetables with water collected from your roof, just your ornamentals, which I wouldn't have thought of.

Can you believe this weather? - I bet we could have filled up a couple of barrels over the past couple of days.

I do like the grey one below. If we lived in the city of LA we could get a free barrel as part of the LA Rainwater Harvesting Program. LA Times article here.

Update: I think I just found Ed's rain barrel here.

Rain Rain Don't Go Away

I am loving the wet stuff. We don't get enough of it over here - compared with you. Crazy how you can live in the same city and have completely different weather.

So I am thinking to maximize we should invest in a rain barrel.

I like these - but wonder if they are too "traditional" for our mcm home?

$149-$219 at Gardener's Supply Co.

Maybe this grey one instead. (Supposedly designed after an English "dollie"??)

$149 at Gardener's Supply Co.

What do you think? I am hoping they go on sale in the new year.

Or we could just go the "do it yourself" route. Instructions here. Will watch Craig's List for free barrels.

Stay wet! xo