OUTLOOK NOT SO GOOD

I think my laptop is finally calling it quits. I can get it to turn on every once in a while...but it refuses to admit that the internet exists...so even then it's fairly useless.

Needless to say, this puts a bit of a wrench in the works as far as posting is concerned.

And please note: If your computer starts to sound like it's brewing coffee...know that it's not long for this world. And if it starts to smell like melted crayons...say your goodbyes.

PROGRESS

So...Justin and I have taken a break from working on the house to enjoy our first summer upstate. But after a couple months off we're ready to dive back in.

We decided to start with the guest rooms. One is going to double as Justin's writing room, and I want it to feel kinda like the study of a nineteenth-century gentleman naturalist. Think: dark wood, old maps, bird prints, leather bound books. The other is going to double as our closet and I want it to feel like an old fashioned ladies' dressing room. Think: pastels, vintage fashion illustrations, embroidered silk bedspread, deco folding screen.

Over the past few months I've managed to gather some great pieces for each room from garage sales, craigslist, and some upstate junk shops. (All at bargain prices, of course!) And we've gotten back to work painting walls, arranging furniture, and hanging art (my favorite part!). Finally! Progress!

It's been a labor of love...and there are lots of little details from each of the rooms that I want to share with you. Too many to fit in one post. So I'm going to do it over the next few posts. Until then...you get a sneak peek at the color of the dressing room. A shade of minty green, of course. I'm so predictable!

FEELING NAUTICAL

Urban Outfitters has some sweet vintage looking sailor inspired outfits right now. And since I am officially a boat owner...now seems like the perfect time to expand this genre in my wardrobe.

Above: Pins and Needles piped sailor romper in white

Cooperative silk bow dress

Pins and Needles Peter Pan striped tunic

Pins and Needles piped sailor romper in navy

Oh...and I should mention that most of this stuff is on SALE! For under $40! Wait...does that mean that summer is almost over?!

MAIDEN VOYAGE

We took our new canoe out for a sunset voyage! We set off from the boat launch at Kingston Point Park and paddled north along the shore of the Hudson. Except for a few distant barges, we had the river to ourselves. And my goodness was it picturesque. The swallows were out in force, and there were deer drinking along the banks.

Justin sat in the back...so he did most of the paddling. Luckily, summer camp served him well and he's quite the canoer! And the boat? She is indeed yar.

Now we just need to name her. Some ideas: The Harvest Moon, Colonel Mustard, Trocadero (after my favorite Swedish soda), The Hello Yellow, Golden Girl, Josephine (after my gram), and The Crescent Moon (in homage to Henry Hudson's ship The Half Moon). What do you guys think? Suggestions? Opinions?

DREAMS DO COME TRUE

We got a canoe! It's a 17 foot vintage mustard yellow Old Town with a light minty green interior. I did some serious craigslist hunting and this was one of the cheapest boats out there. And it's pretty darn cute too.

We had to drive an hour and a half to get it....which was totally fine. After all, it was a bargain. But...driving an hour and a half back with a giant canoe strapped to our tiny old car was a little bit nerve wracking. Once we were convinced that it was not going to fly off of our roof and on to the Thruway we were fine. Apparently our canoe strapping skills are better than we gave ourselves credit for!

Next up: take her out and see if she's yar.

CANOE LUST

Ever since our neighbor took us kayaking a month ago Justin and I have been wanting to get a boat of our own. We considered getting kayaks...but I think a canoe is more our style. There is just something old-timey and romantic about a canoe.

If money wasn't an issue we would totally get a beautiful hand-crafted wooden one...

But, honestly, I think we'll be perfectly happy in whatever inexpensive canoe we manage to find on craigslist. And we can just spruce it up with some adorable canoe accessories.

Like some pretty wooden paddles...

And some lovely canoe packs...

And some old fashioned wooden seats....

Hmm...now if only we had a vintage Chevy wagon...

sources: vintage postcard of girls in canoe found here; american traders wooden canoe; sanborn canoe co. wooden paddle; john mcguire canoe basket; mcgarry's canoe pack via selectism; essex industries canoe seats; chevy wagon photo by john wilmot. and as always: if i used one of your photos and you would like me to take it down or credit you differently please let me know. i would be more than happy to change it. xx darbie

CAMPBELL’S À LA WARHOL

Did you know that in 2004 Campbell's Soup issued a limited edition set of Andy Warhol inspired tomato soup cans? I had no idea! They exclusively sold them at Giant Eagle supermarkets...which only has locations in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, and West Virginia. Not that that would have been a problem if I had known they existed. I mean...Pennsylvania is only a few hours away. I would have happily driven to ALASKA to buy some.

But, alas, I found out about them 6 years too late. I scoured the internet for more info...but all of my google research led me to believe I would never get my hands on a set of my own. Until...lo and behold...what is this in my search results? A craigslist post? Somebody in Dallas selling several sets of the Warhol cans?!

To make a long story short...I bought them. Justin's parents live in Dallas and the seller was nice enough to drop them off on their doorstep. Now we just have to get them up to New York. I can't wait to see them in person!