This picture posted on Flickr inspired me for the outdoor dining space. Of course, I don't have enough room for all of those beautiful umbrellas, and Raju might kill me if I paint the side of the house (ala one of those HGTV shows we watched once upon a time, of course, she also cut away part of the deck; damn did her hubby need that margarita maker they won when he came home). So I'm paring down a bit and going with what seems to be leaning more toward a French feel with the red and blue and the Tolix chairs. Either way, it will be better than what it is today.
what it is today: clean slate or barren waste land? cup half full or half empty?
Of course, we'll need more plants, and brighter colored planters than are in the mock above. Shortcuts - I just wanted some greenery in the picture.
The current plan is to put in the tall, skinny evergreens, similar to the ones in this photo from Florence (center of the pic) in a row down the fence. That should give us some privacy and kill some of the ambient road noise. So I guess we're bringing a little Italy back in. Maybe I can call this "Euroblend"?
Labels: Domestic Life, Florence, Influences, Italy
Walkway, Boboli Gardens, Florence | Essences of Italy seriesAs I walk beneath the trees.
Labels: Florence, Italy, just a picture, Silliness
I just love it when people look at my work and that is the first (or second) line out of their mouth. As if my camera jumped out of my hand, ran back down the street, centered the scene perfectly, focused and snapped the shot, noting that it didn't need a flash to get the best lighting.
My hubbie once said this about a friend, but after some thought (I said nothing, neither did his friend) he came to the conclusion that maybe there has to be a smidgen of talent at least to get the camera to produce a nice picture.
And for the record, I do have a nice camera :-) I also have some others that might not be qualified as nice, but will produce some fantastic results if it's the effect you're looking for. Because in the end, the camera is just a tool that the entire world has access to, just like paint, pastels, pens, and clay.
Labels: Florence, Italy, My Art, not just a picture, Observances
Carousel, Florence, ItalyYesterday morning the sky was gray - huge, puffy gray clouds provided a few variances in the shade of gray. I had to stop for gas and there was an eerie quiet for a few minutes - which is odd considering the gas station is on a busy street, and I was there during rush hour.
Another one of those
surreal, slo-mo moments.
Labels: Florence, Italy, just a picture, Observances, Surreal
One of my favorite places in Florence, the Gardens of Boboli had a nice surprise - Cats! They didn't want much to do with anyone, but I think if I'd had more time I would have enough cats to make a calendar.
As we walked home one night, I also noticed these boxers and immediately thought of Dad - so I snapped a picture.
Labels: Florence, Honeymooning, Italy
