Summer Color

 Summer is filled with big, bold, bodacious color.  My friend Wendy took this first group of photos in Oregon. Wendy is an amazing photographer. You can see more of her work here. 

 Pink dahlias...

 Blue hydrangeas...

 and daisies!

 Lots of green the day I was at Blowing Rock in North Carolina.

 I love how the light coming through the clouds changes the colors below it.

 The Lantern Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden is a rush of color starting with silk lotus flowers.

 Each display is filled with intense color.

 A dragon, a lotus and a reflection

 I recycle my plastic bottles but not like this...

Chinese lanterns and a bit of Chihuly make a hot summer color combination.

Where is your summer color coming from?

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

I just returned from a trip to Charlotte NC. I was visiting a friend. I also feel I made a new friend, Charlotte herself. What a charming and friendly town. Charlotte has a beautiful downtown area with an amazing greenway running through it for walking, running, biking or just hanging out. Public spaces are wonderful, green, artsy and plentiful.
Charlotte's location is kind of great too. There are a lot great towns and places to visit that are only an hour or two drive away.
The weather was steamy while I was there, 100's most days, it was steamy almost everywhere that week. There was still plenty to do and I discovered the secret to summer happiness, wear a hat...

This charming park is near downtown and is part of the greenway winding through the city.

A beautiful cityscape.

The path through the park is lined with birdhouses constructed with cement and decorated with bits of plates, cups, shells and whatever else worked for that particular creation.

Love the pink rose on this one.

The house seems to be an ode to MacKenzie- Childs.

The park is a great mix of form, function and creativity.

A nearby neighborhood was filled with wonderful restored homes. This neutral color palette is stunning.

The front yard garden scape is perfect for this house.

Love these colors. Wonderful details

Great scale and proportion.

Cobalt blue, now that is color confidence. Wish I could have seen the interiors.

On a day trip we went to Blowing Rock. Great views and a charming, friendly town.

I don't know who lives here, but I would like to look out their windows.

It was a beautiful day.

This is a section of the greenway winding through downtown (uptown?) Charlotte.

Another day we went to Gold Hill NC, a small town that is a combination of old time and artsy.

These buildings are the shops and studios of local artisans. I'd like to go back to Gold Hill for the amazing Fall Festival they have each year.

Quaint, rustic, appreciated...  I had a great summer vacation.

I found Charlotte and the towns of North Carolina to be charming, friendly and interesting. I would definitely go back.

I Would Love To Hear These Conversations

Any thoughts on these conversations?

 Charlie Chaplin and Albert Einstein

  Colonel Sanders and Alice Cooper

 

Salvador Dali and Coco Chanel

Antiques In The Park

 Lafayette Park ( in St Louis Mo) is a perfect setting for an antiques sale.

 The park, designed in the 1800's, is surrounded by beautiful Victorian era homes.

I went to the sale on a clear, warm Sunday. There was a variety of products being sold on the sidewalks around the park.

 I thought this lamp was interesting. I especially like the shade.

 This console table needed work but  had plenty of potential.  A wash of paint would make a huge improvement.

 I love this poster. I didn't buy it. I wish I had.

 I also love this chenille bedspread with a peacock pattern in the center and it's in the color of the year Tango Tangerine. Amazing

 I thought this metal wall piece was interesting. I like how the design intensifies towards the center.

 There was a great display of vintage metal signs. Hope they all went home with someone.

The neighborhood is also home to the charming Rue Lafayette cafe. My favorite place " to take a meeting."