Wabi Sabi

Past Perfect...

The spirit of Japan is not always easy for westerners to understand but staying in a traditional Riokan helps clarify the meaning of Wabi Sabi


Wabi suggests freshness-simplicity-quietness

as in fresh crisp bedding rolled out on tatami mats each evening

Sabi suggests a burnished beauty 

like the weathering of wood

the tarnish on brass-

the creeping of moss on stone

There is nothing Wabi Sabi about a Ferrari

Precise Perfection

"One picture is worth a thousand words"  


 Images that define the beauty and serenity of WABI SABI

an old grape stake fence

worn leather of well used books

a chair seat with all the scars of age

down cushions with permanent impressions 

of hours well spent

 ...freyed and faded silk

...peeling paint on ancient candlesticks

A blossom in decline speaks of fleeting beauty

Stunning interiors reflecting Wabi Sabi

INTERIOR-STEPHEN SILLS ASSOCIATES

INTERIOR DESIGN-STEPHEN SILLS ASSOCIATES

INTERIOR DESIGN -DARRYL CARTER

INTERIOR DESIGN-DARRYL CARTER

Fresh seemingly simple interiors that are never vulgur or overdecorated

So leave the Ferrari in the garage (if you can afford one)

Keep upholstery  simple, neutral,  and timeless 

ESPECIALLY if you are on a budget...

shop antique malls and flea markets for pieces PAST PERFECT.

Recognize the beauty of places ravaged by time 

siding battered by the elements

a tarnished faucet

a tangle of rusted fencing

...tendrils weaving through rafters

I love that Wabi Sabi spirit of Japan- an appreciation for the beauty of imperfection.

I always attempt to imbue my own design projects with that same spirit believing

there is much to be said for perfect imperfection ...

           But all things in good measure

                                                                                now I am off to have my car washed.

Cheers,

Rela

PUPPY LOVE

CASHIE & LINDSEY

Unposed-Unrehearsed


Don't underestimate the depth of  innocent loyal attachments

Her first single

 released when she was 15 

"PUPPY LOVE"

Do you know who this mega star is ?

Paul Anka

 PUPPY LOVE

written for 

Annette Funicello

This is my Puppy Love

FINLEY

"A dog doesn't care if you are rich or poor

educated or illiterate

clever or dull.

Give him your heart and he will give you his."

John Grogan

GARDEN & GUN

Until I saw this cover of what is BTW a fantastic magazine

I didn't know the difference between an American Lab and English Lab

There is a difference !

A little on-line research and I found

GREENSTONE LABRADORS

I watched 

MARLY AND ME

and thought I was ready for anything

We adopted Finley from Greenstone  

when he was a year old -

I just didn't know what exactly "anything" was

until 

Finley took off with a 7 pound filet of beef one hour before 

our dinner guests arrived.

But look at that face...

For the Love of Dogs...

from dish towels...

to kitchen aprons

Dog Art personalizes the homes of dog lovers

GRACIE

Photography-Denise Amantea

MOXIE

by

Christine Merrill

the celebrated dog portraitist

COOL BREEZE

by

Christine Merrill

THE GREAT GATSBY

INTERIOR DESIGN-KERI ELMQUIST

Portraits are a good way of

 commemorating all things special

BLUE BUG

by

Sheila LeClaire

In her whimsical style Sheila creates little jewels in oil

TOP DOGS

FALA

The most famous of presidential pets

belonged to Franklin Delano Roosevelt

She was his constant companion and when she died

seven years after The President

she was buried next to her master

Creature Comforts

No one would mind being in the dog house if it was an Airstream

BUT....

You don't need to be a dog lover to LOVE

a poignant story told from a dog's point of view

I LOVED THIS BOOK

cried and cried

and yet another

"This book is a classic. A beautiful, uplifting...

exquisitely moving story."

IRIS RAINIER DART

It's become very clear to me that  Labs- American or English

have become the single most popular breed in America

That's Puppy Love

 Diane Keaton 

 stars in

DARLING COMPANION

Thumbs Down from me

It's overwritten, trite and generally stupid but never-the-less

Diane Keaton is always fun to watch and it is a shaggy dog story

Speaking of LOVE...  How much do you love the taste of summer ?

Fresh produce at Farmer's Markets in the Napa Valley attract

locals as well as visitors 

Aba and Anna Milo of Palm Beach 

at

The St Helena Farmers' Market

held every Friday morning , May to October

Find all kinds of treasures at our Farmers' Markets

from

Handmade pottery

to handmade pasta 

that's like no other pasta you have ever eaten

PASTA POETRY

Just drizzle some wonderful Tuscan varietal olive oil on it and be transported

or how about some of that oil on vine ripened tomatoes with fresh basil

Do you remember your  FIRST CRUSH ????

Ours has developed into a full blown love affair

In 2002 we planted 175 olive saplings

on the hillside above 

Summer Hill Vineyards:

 Four Tuscan varieties in a specific proportionate combination.

Our first harvest was so small that we had to combine it with fruit 

from the ancient Mediterranean trees that grow between the grape vines.

The blend is pure serendipity. 

The yield is very small as our oil is FIRST CRUSH only

The flavor is full, fresh, spicey and unique to our terroire

To enjoy this exclusive and precious bounty

contact

GLEASON 

EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

Here's to a summer of love !

Rela