Sweet dreams

One of my all time favorite things is curling up in bed while listening to the rain.  Add to that scenario my brand-new warm, fluffy, 44 ounce (not sure what the optimum ounce count is, but that sounded good enough to me) down comforter (bought on sale, thanks to Presidents’ Day), and I am ready for the coming rain.  Curled up in bed with a good book, it just doesn’t get any better.

Add to this delightful locale my newly acquired throw pillows, and this cozy spot looks down-right grown up, too.  Since I am the world’s slowest interior decorator, the pillows took awhile to arrive on said bed, but it’s coming together nicely.

Where’s your favorite spot to enjoy the rain?

Xeriscaping

My neighborhood is one of well-kept lawns, and neatly maintained flower beds.  It’s the rare home that deviates from this impeccable standard.  Though as soon as spring brings slightly more be-outside-all-day-planting friendly temperatures, my house may just become a stand-out on the block.  The idea of xeriscaping is being bandied about, for a few reasons.  For one, I live in an area where water just isn’t a plentiful commodity.  Sure, it may seem like a tropical paradise, with all the emerald green lawns, and swaying palm trees.  But left to its own devices, it’s a somewhat thirsty place.  So, saving water where I can would be helpful, not just to the water supply, but also to my checking account.  (Having been a renter for ages, that water bill takes some getting used to!)

Creating a drought-tolerant landscape is much lovelier than it used to be.  There are some beautiful, unusual plants available, and to stand out from my neighbors may not be such a bad thing.  Once my delightfully generous mother got wind of the plan, she started giving them as gifts.  Great colors, interesting shapes, and fun names.  Chocolate soldier?  Never heard of it, and now I have one.

Have any favorite succulents that simply must be part of the design?  Let me know, and I’ll throw ‘em into the mix.

And the winner is...

It turns out I decorate like I renovate.  One piece at a time.  When I was doing my bathrooms, I went to multiple stores for each type of item before choosing my very favorite one.  I looked at quite a few different tiles, faucets, and slabs of marble before the winners took their place on the podium.

The chair for my reading nook now sits cozily in the corner of my bedroom.  I looked around at several until I found just the right one.  Not too big, not to small, and a color that was just right for the rest of the furniture in the room.  Now all I need to do to make it the ideal little corner in which to read is to find the right lighting, and perfect side table.  I may be the world’s most leisurely interior designer, but I always enjoy the result.  And that’s the best prize of all.