Meet John Doe and the Aqua Blues

I had the opportunity to Meet John Doe yesterday...by television. Confused? Let me clarify. I have a cold which I knew was coming. Tool Man always brings me colds (and flu) that he picks up at work. I've told him many times he can stop now...please! I'd just rather have flowers!

Anyway, I decided to not do a thing yesterday as I was fuzzy headed (?!?). Perfect time to settle down and find an old movie to enjoy. We have basic cable so when I say old movie that usually entails something from the 80's if I'm lucky.

Yesterday was different. I found Meet John Doe with Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck from 1941. 1941, I say!!! I loved it...it could have been a theme today about hard times and the John Does of the good old U.S.A. coming together to help each other.

The most fun with that movie was my distraction with the scenery, the set, and the clothing. I love vintage clothing and that is why it is such a treasure to watch an old movie. But what really grabbed me was the set and the colors. Yes, the movie was originally in black and white, but they added color to this version.

Aqua and robin egg blue popped out all over the place. Aqua painted walls, white woodwork and doors, green curtains, furniture in blue/aqua prints with the wood in a chocolate brown, and accent colors in yellow. Wow, I want it...the perfect color palette! Poor Tool Man came walking into the room and I'm shouting 'look at this, look at this scenery, look at the colors'. Sigh...I needed another woman to share in this excitement cause Tool Man just didn't get it.

That is why I'm sharing this with you today. Many of you 'get it'. It's the excitement and pleasure of the perfect palette.
So thanks for sharing in my excitement! :)

Picture by dominomag added to my ideabook at Houzz.

Living it up at Lakewood,

Cindy

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Color of the Year

Pantone has announced PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise, an inviting, luminous hue, as the Color of the Year for 2010.

Yes...I love it.  It is a calming and comforting color. I am attracted to various shades of blues for my color palette for the interior design of my home this coming year.

Go to Pantone to learn more!!!

Living it up at Lakewood,

Cindy

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

What makes a Christmas bright?

Not packages from the stores,

Nor pretty trees and twinkle lights, 

But friendships such as yours!!!

Merry Christmas From Lakewood,

Cindy

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The Gift

THE GIFT

Author Unknown
 

T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,

HE LIVED ALL ALONE,

IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF

PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY

WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,

AND TO SEE JUST WHO

IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,

A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,

NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,

NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,

JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,

ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES

OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,

AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,

A SOBER THOUGHT

CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,

IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,

I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,

ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,

SILENT, ALONE,

CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR

IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,

THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,

NOT HOW I PICTURED

A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?

CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES

THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,

OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS

WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,

THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,

AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE

A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM

EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,

BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,

LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER

HOW MANY LAY ALONE,

ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE

IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT

BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,

I DROPPED TO MY KNEES

AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED

AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,

"SANTA DON'T CRY,

THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,

I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,

MY LIFE IS MY GOD,

MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER

AND SOON DRIFTED TO SLEEP,

I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,

I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,

SO SILENT AND STILL

AND WE BOTH SHIVERED

FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE

ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,

THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR

SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,

WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,

WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,

IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."

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Are You Kidding Me?!?

I've been having a little attitude lately. That's me. When I hear someone start complaining, well...I think, are you kidding me?

I came across someone who was complaining about painting her home. She was wondering why, oh why, did she start this process at holiday time with the parties, the decorating, the gift buying, and blah, blah, blah!?!

Are you kidding me? You have a home...a beautiful home and you are complaining...ummm...why? Why are you not counting your blessings that you have a home?

I stumbled upon another person who was decorating a full tree for every room of her house. She was becoming stressed trying to get all this decorating done with not enough time in the day, and yadda, yadda, yadda.

Are you kidding me? Who are you decorating for anyway if it stresses you out? Who is suffering besides yourself? Family, maybe? Why are you not counting your blessings instead of counting your trees?

I found someone's blog who, well, made me plain tired with everything she is doing for the holidays including revamping and rearranging furniture, painting everything, decorating to the max, and just plain overdoing until she is surely about to drop from pure exhaustion.

Are you kidding me? Listen, even Martha Stewart, can't do it all. She has a full staff for details and backup. Why not just take time to relax and count your blessings?

Now this won't be a popular post, I'm sure. But I'm older and wiser now and that is okay with me. Life is all about perspective. There are many who are not as fortunate as we are. We need to count our blessings!

A family friend of ours just passed away unexpectedly. He was is his 50's. I can't even imagine how his wife, a very sweet woman, will get through this holiday or the many more to come. She is all about family and friends. She knows how to make you feel good. Does she do it with a tree in every room, or freshly painted walls, or with everything being perfect? No. She approaches life with the right attitude, a simplistic manner, and a grateful heart. She counts her blessings. When she looks back upon her life...her memories will be filled with good times with family and friends.

What about you? What will your memories be about? Are you so busy you miss what is really important? Make this your best holiday yet...not by trees, decorations, or food. Make this your best holiday ever by counting your blessings.

Merry Christmas,

Cindy 

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