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Monday, February 22, 2016

Doors



 Some doors are of a confessional nature.  Good for the soul when opened.


Others spread wide  to reveal worlds of artistic glory,


 and others welcome you back home at the end of a day.


If you're blessed with the right door,


 you'll never have to wonder who you are.  Your door will remind you.



 Some doors inspire individual expression,



 while others provide a sentinel for fluttering laundry.


 But no matter if your door is adorned


or classically utilitarian,


it deserves a chance to make a bold statement.


Location, location, location!




When you enter through a door,


let it take your breath away.


Don't forget to inhale!


You wouldn't want to miss out on mysterious fragrances.


Some doors are positively MEDIEVAL!!


Remember that they have stood the test of time.  Drink them in!  





And never pass up a good knocker!


 Embrace simple doors,


be still and hear them,


 and don't forget to look up.



 Many a door has needed a new coating of paint.  Possibilities are limited only by your palate!



 Too few fall under the spell of an artist.



But if you are lucky enough to find a door who has, carpe...


carpe...


 carpe as if your life 


 is at stake.







Sunday, February 21, 2016

Pinocchio




Pinocchio abounds in Italy!  He's like the national mascot!  Once we picked up on this, we found him everywhere--always delightfully charming and unique.



On a carousel...



or a bookshelf,




or even mass produced, he has a certain adorable charm.



This rustic puppet appeared at a street market in Florence.



Black strings


or white.



He even works as a gumball machine!



Soft and cuddly,






contemplative,


whimsical,




Flanked by glasses and flasks


and even hanging out with expensive candy,


he


is ever the gentleman.







In Venezia we found him in carnival masks,


and in Rome just a few doors from Trevi Fountain, he got his own whole darn shop complete with



stacking toys


and pull toys too.


High budget


and even higher budget,


he never failed to put a smile on our faces.


I'm going back for this one someday...


Yes, even Murano glass!




Meghan and I both brought one of these little guys home.






Just a simple story about a wooden boy--actually quite a naughty wooden boy--who learns through trial and error.





Pinocchio has stood the test of time.


Gotta love a classic...

Favorite books

  • Me 'n Steve
  • Thundering Sneakers
  • James Herriott's vet books
  • The Count of Monte Cristo
  • Travels with Charley
  • A Walk in the Woods
  • Peace Like a River
  • The Egg and I
  • Mary Poppins
  • Extremly Loud Incredibly Close
  • How Green Was my Valley