IN AND OUT OF BLOOM

Last year I was caught off guard by how fleeting the blooming periods were for all the different flowers in our yard. But this year I'm prepared. And I am making every effort to thoroughly enjoy them before they disappear. Like clockwork, the lilac has faded and the rhododendron has opened up in its place. And sadly, it too will be flowerless before I know it. But in the meantime I'm going to soak up all this loveliness streaming through the living room window.

HELLO AGAIN

I haven't posted anything in a SHAMEFULLY long time. After my long winter's nap, the sunny days inspired me to take on a zillion new house projects. Some that are now completed...some that are well underway...and some that have just begun. I plan to share all of them with you in the coming weeks.

Here's the teaser:

My dream of wall-to-wall, over-the-door bookcases in the living room has become a reality.

We're almost done rearranging the studio and putting up those shelves in the attic.

We got a new couch and some artwork.

The bar area is completed and fully functional. (Margarita anyone?)

We have been attempting to make our yard a little less Grey Gardens.

We leveled out our patio and had some stonework done.

And I've started tackling the upstairs bathroom.

I will post about all of this in detail soon. Until then, here are some pictures of our big beautiful lilac bush. It's a little gangly and untamed, but it has the most beautiful deep purple blooms. And our neighbor, who is basically the plant whisperer, assured me that with a little bit of seasonal trimming it will grow out instead of up and will be even more breathtaking.

WATCHING THE LEAVES CHANGE

Fall is truly magical upstate. I love waking up each morning and seeing the bright, beautiful leaves out my bedroom windows. And with all of the trees up here it's like every room in the house has a brand new view!

This is what I see when I walk out the front door...

And this amazingness is right around the corner...

I'm not that into the earthy palette usually associated with fall---browns, burnt oranges, yellows, maroons---but I REALLY respond to the crazy neon oranges and electric reds that I see on these trees around town. Apparently it's impossible to capture with my camera...but I swear, they look radioactive.

LAZY DAYS AND VINTAGE LANTERNS

Summer is in full swing.  We've had a lot of visitors over the past few weeks...mostly refugees from the super-heated streets of NYC.  We've been doing our best to treat them...and ourselves...to a proper upstate summer.  Think:  tubing the Espous, swimming in "The Deep", hiking through Plattekill Clove, kayaking on the Hudson.  And, of course, no upstate summer would be complete without  a backyard barbecue...so we finally threw down the $69.70 for a Weber grill and have been eating lots of delicious dinners on the patio ever since.  

This has inspired me to start sprucing up our back porch.  One of the first things I did was string up some of my vintage paper lanterns with a cord of cafe lights.  It instantly made it a hundred times more lovely out there.  And they look good in the daytime and the nighttime! Win win.

FIREWORKS FESTIVAL

On the Sunday before the 4th of July the city of Kingston hosts a fireworks festival down by the water,  just a couple of blocks from our house.  We watched it with our neighbors in their backyard.  What a view!  Fireworks look especially dreamy when they are behind a silhouette of trees.

OUR YARD

The exciting thing about moving into a new home in Spring is that the yard is full of surprises.  We've seen trees that looked totally dead sprout leaves and come to life...and there have been several different flowering perennials whose blooming periods have come and gone.  The photo above shows some of the foliage in our side yard - a big thick patch of clumping bamboo, a purple beech tree and a blue spruce.

When we moved in our lilac bush was in full bloom.  After the lilacs faded and disappeared our giant rhododendron was suddenly covered with the most beautiful purply pink flowers.  But now they're gone too.  I had no idea how SHORT the blooming time was for these things!  If I did I certainly would have taken some pictures.  

Just this week a row of stunning pink peonies opened up in our front yard.  Our neighbor says he thinks they have been there since the 1920s!  

I couldn't help but cut a few stems to put around the house.

Yesterday our first tiger lily opened up.  Today there are about 10 more!

And then there are these pink and white flowers.  I think they are some kind of Dianthus? 

Whatever they are they seem to have an extended blooming period.  They started flowering a while ago and are still staying strong.

There is also some honeysuckle, hostas and a slew of weeds...some which are perfectly lovely looking...and some which are more...well...weed-like.  The yard certainly needs work...and hopefully Justin and I will be able do a little something to it before the summer is over.  But in the meantime I am happy to enjoy whatever perennial surprises it has in store for us.

BIRD CRAZY

About a week after we moved in I noticed a robin building her nest right outside our dining room window.  I'm trying not to bother her...but when she's not around I peek in to see if there are any little blue eggs.  None yet...but my fingers are crossed. 

You would think that was the most exciting bird related news I have...but it's not.  I found a lost parakeet wandering down my street this morning.  He walked right up to me and jumped in my hand.  I basically dropped all of my plans for the day, brought him home, gave him food and water, and then we took a nap in my bed.  He spent the rest of the afternoon on my shoulder while I worked on the house....and he is currently living sans cage in our guest room. We have asked all of our neighbors if they know whose bird it is...but no one does.  So, looks like we may have a new member of the family.  

We haven't decided what to name him (I keep saying him...but we actually have no idea if it's a boy or a girl). We're considering The Superintendant or Little Admiral.  Anyone have any suggestions?

BACKYARD DREAMING

On Monday we are going to write some of the biggest checks of our lives.  Lots of them.  And we will be getting an amazing house in return....but we are going to have VERY little money left over. So you would think I would be focusing on important things that we absolutely need for our first house.  You know...necessities.  Tables to eat off of, chairs to sit on, beds to sleep in.  But no...all I can think of are super fun things that are TOTALLY unnecessary.  Like a TIPI!

I mean...a tipi would be such a great addition to our first backyard. Right?  And we have a little patch of woods that wouldn't be good for a garden...but would be PERFECT for a tipi.  

Well, I did a little bit of research and I found a lot of companies that make and sell pretty authentic ones.  This site lists most of the places I came across.  Unfortunately, they are a little bit out of our budget.  Even the smallest, most basic models seem to cost over $1,000.  (As well they should.  After all, it is a HOUSE.)  Amazon sells a $250 makeshift version - but I think I'd rather hold out for the real deal.  And there is always the DIY route.  This guy made one himself using the book The Indian Tipi - Its History, Construction and Use.  His came out beautiful...but between the cost of supplies, extensive labor and math skills required for the project...I think I would rather pay someone else to do it. 

 So, looks like I better start saving up.  And honestly, I'm ready to say that we do, in fact, NEED a tipi.  And if you aren't already convinced...please scroll down to the pictures of the tipi interiors.  SO MAGICAL...right? 

So if you are looking for a good housewarming gift...a 10 to 12 foot tipi would be just fine. Thanks!