NO REPLY ….. YES REPLY ……….

I am now in my sixth year of blogging and, I'm wondering whether to start replying to the lovely comments that you all leave. I never really gave it much thought until I realised that many of the blogs that I read reply to their comments.

I am now thinking that I have been rather rude over the past five years ….. if you can take the time to leave me a comment, then, out of courtesy, it seems right that I should reply.  

SO …..  shall I answer your comments from now on ? 

Life might get in the way sometimes, some comments might not need a reply and, I can't guarantee that I shall have a 100% record.

Good idea ….. bad idea ? Do you reply to comments or not …… why do you….. why don't you ?

video from youtube, images in collage via: we heart it, zsa zsa bellagio, brown dress with white dots and night tattoo, last image : via crush cul de sac 

Posted by Unknown 09:34 0 comments

Style & Simplicity

If you're not already aware, I wanted to make sure that you know that

Ted Kennedy Watson's first book 

Style & Simplicity

(that I mentioned on the blog back in December) is now in print and, in fact, is in its second printing already!  Yes, it's that good!  

As you'll remember, Ted is the proprietor of  two wonderful shops in beautiful Seattle- Watson Kennedy Fine Home and Watson Kennedy Fine Living.  Ted also writes the delightful blog 

Ted Kennedy Watson where he generously offers gracious tips on how to live a beautiful life. 

When I was looking for a place to photograph Ted's book I knew this vignette I put together over the weekend was the perfect spot since several of the many items Ted mentions in his book, which is 

"An A to Z Guide to Living a More Beautiful Life" 

were all here on the kitchen island-  hotel silver, candles, baskets, white bowls, horn utensils, a bowl full of citrus!

The book is a charming read and Ted's A to Z list is a reminder on how to incorporate beautiful and simple choices into our daily lives and the joy that they can bring when we slow down a bit and are more aware of all the simple beauty that surrounds us.  As Ted says, "Living in the moment, not in preparation for the moment, is my prevailing thought."

Ted shares things and experiences that fill his daily life with beauty and it is his goal that the list will inspire creative ideas in his reader.  Ted says, "Living creatively is not meant to be about money; rather, it is about being creative with the choices that present themselves to you during the day.  It is about being aware of your options and how you choose to view them."
From the book's Introduction Ted also writes, "For as long as I can remember, the minute details of life have been incredibly important to me.  My goal in writing this book is to share with you many of those details and observations so that you may start, or continue, to see them in your own world and relish in them, too.  The details in my everyday life are no more special than those in anyone else's, but by sharing mine with you, my hope is that you begin to see them in yours.  Seeing the small details requires slowing down a bit and being aware of your surroundings."

I could not agree more! 

I am very honored to be mentioned in the book under "People, Places, and Goods I Like, Love, and Adore."

Thank you Ted!

To order the book (and don't forget what a great gift it would make when ordering;)

click HERE.

To shop Watson Kennedy online HERE.

So... go light a candle, put on some great music (I'm listening to the soundtrack from Pride & Prejudice as I type) , and read/order;) a charming book, and relish the moment!

xxojoan

Posted by Unknown 13:37 0 comments

WHITSTABLE, OYSTERS ….. and the penalty paid !! ……….

A couple of Saturdays ago, we popped down to Whitstable for the day …… a very British thing to do. Lovely weather, seafood for lunch and a few glasses of wine can never be sniffed at.

….. found a nice restaurant as soon as we got there …..

….. and I ordered half a dozen oysters and half a lobster and, of course, a large glass of wine. I knocked back the oysters, devoured the lobster …..

….. and finished off the mussel juice that Mr. Home had left !!!!!

After that, it was time for a walk along the beach and a saunter into the town.

….. someones lunch on the beach { I could have finished those prawns off, if I'd been invited !! }

….. perused some nice shops …..

….. and a thoroughly good time was had by all until ….. a couple of days later, all hell broke loose in the stomach department !!!!! 

I'm sure that there was nothing wrong with the oysters as I would have been much worse { my sister has had salmonella from oysters !! } but, I have come to the conclusion from past  encounters with oysters, that they just don't like me ! I LOVE them, but the feeling isn't mutual so, no more oysters for me!

So sad to hear the news of Robin Williams ….. one of my favourites.

image 3: via the guardian, image 4: via foodukmsn,  image 18: via skreened, image 19: via ticketmaster ….. all other images via me !!

Posted by Unknown 01:23 0 comments