Interior Design

My Little Collection of Antique Fans

Look but don’t touch. Well… that rule only applies to the carved ivory fan on the right. The ribbon threaded through the blades needs to be replaced before it can perform like it should.
Look but don’t touch. Well… that rule only applies to the carved ivory fan on the right. The ribbon threaded through the blades needs to be replaced before it can perform like it should.

One can never own too many hand fans. At least not here in Dallas. Perhaps you remember an earlier post of mine which showcased a few fans from my summer collection. I also have a winter collection which I will share with you at another time. I have found that unique, contemporary fans are hard to come by. Perhaps it’s because there isn’t much of a market for them. On the other hand, antique versions are plentiful online, so I’ve recently started collecting them. To see each one opened, click on the link below.

Landscape & Gardening

Time for Some Pretty Flower Pictures

After today’s tragedy, a garden can offer escape and a little beauty.
After today’s tragedy, a garden can offer escape and a little beauty.

Firewitch Dianthus borders my greenhouse and blooms profusely this time of year. Because of a string of dingy days over the past two weeks, the flowers had been too soggy to photograph. Consequently they were a wee past their prime when I was finally able to shoot them this past Saturday. If I deadhead them after this cycle is finished, they’ll bloom again in the fall, but it won’t be as abundant as this springtime show.

Interior Design

The Last Cold Snap, the Last Fire

You can click on the photo for a much larger version.
You can click on the photo for a much larger version.

One last hurrah before our sweltering summer. I have now used all of the Irish turf and the old firewood. And while allowing the embers to cool, I will enjoy the smell of their smoky goodness which tends to linger in all corners of my house for at least a week. The following photos will show you two of those corners.