Mr. Prof designer home

What a busy weekend we had but first the end of the week was working on orders, getting them shipped out and cleaning house plus grocery shopping.

Saturday we went to our youngest son's 40th surprise birthday party put on by his wife and 2 children out at the lake and what a wonderful time we had. There were lots of relatives and friends and our middle son Dan and his wife brought their ski boat out and took the kids for rides and tubing and the little one's also enjoyed wading in the channel.

Isn't this just the prettiest little park? It's a private park just for the residents of the Lake.

Here's Darren with Aidan in the tree

And then a neighbors dog came over to see all the fun and look at the size of this little gal! lol

Isn't this just sweet - all the little boys sitting and planning something....cute!

Joseph our grandson

Picking up rocks to skip across the water

Waiting for uncle Dan to take them out in the boat

Deciding who's going and who's waiting!

someone got lucky to go first!!!

Isn't this huge Willow tree just beautiful...several houses along the lake and channel have these gorgeous trees.

Another view of the lake homes


Bridge across the channel

We had lots of wonderful food and chatting and then came home to relax.

My brother and his wife came to the party and then to our house afterwards for the weekend and so today we headed for Illinois to the flea markets and I got a haul! I'll post pictures of what I got in one of my next posts but thought there were enough pictures this time around.

I found a Pewter creamer and sugar for $5.00 as well as a set of Pewter handle silverware that I got for $12.00 and the adorable silverware caddy for $5.00 - a bargain for sure!!!

I also got 3 different size mache boxes that are going to be covered with fabric...they were $1.00 each. So I think I did some good bargain shopping today.

After the flea market we went for lunch at one of the Golf courses and enjoyed the beautiful scenery and then off to one of our favorite shops that closed just 10 minutes before we got there!

And so we drove up the road to the Apple Orchard and it was closed - not much luck so we headed back home but first to the store for more food for Monday because we have 12 cousins and friends coming over for the day and evening to play cards/dominos and whatever else and then we will have dinner and my brother and wife will be here for that as well.

I'm making 3 different casseroles and the rest are bringing things....it's an End of Summer Get-

Together.

So after going out to dinner tonight we relaxed in the screen room with Brownie Sundaes! And now everyone is in bed and I took this time to play catch up on the computer.

Guess that's it for me tonight....now I'm off to do some blog surfing.

Karen

To keep you busy while I'm gone, here's a challenge from a reader in California named Heather:

We got turned on to Steampunk and then your blog via a friend's wedding. They had a Victorian wedding (I made the wedding dress and my maid of honor dress) while another friend hosted the bachelor party at the CA steampunk convention. We went over the top excited about steampunk. Here's a pick of my guys trying on the garb I made them for the bachelor party....

I'm off on vacation, to the city that is the home of this find by reader Pica Maloria: Smith Tower.

See the little pyramid at the top? Someone lives there!


It's not quite as cool as a clock tower, but it sure has character, with the pyramid shape echoed by the triangular windows.

According to the architect's website, it was a caretaker’s suite and an old water tower enclosure


Find out more at Seattlest or at Castanes Architects.

I'll post again in a week! See you then!

Brian pointed out another clock face living space (it rhymes!). I wonder how many more of these are out there? (and you'll help me figure it out, won't you?) This pushes so many of my buttons -- Turkish rugs, wood floors, old brick, and not a bit of modern furniture in the place.

WHITE WEDNESDAY takes us to the land of French monogrammed linens this time. I have an addiction to these works of art and have a nice collection going (sorry not for sale--mine all mine). I am especially fond of the sheet that bears the monogram S and R, as those are the initials of Mr. Sweet Pea and I. Have you ever felt the weight and texture of an antique linen or hemp sheet? There's nothing like it ladies. And the monograms? Don't get me started...

In addition to my antique linen collection I also have an affinity for anything made from old linens, anything with a ruffle and anything made from high quality linen fabric. Hence the pillow collection featuring linen pillows from Carolyn Westbrook Home (used to carry these in my shop), a pillow made from vintage nightgowns that says Home Sweet Home, a pillow I made from an old linen corset bag, and my beloved ruffled shower curtain from none other than ANTHROPOLOGIE. Enjoy...

While we're browinsg the NY Times' crazy real estate features, how about a home in a former sanatorium?


This is the former Holloway Sanitorium, a rambling red-brick hospital built in 1877 in the English village of Virginia Water.

The clover shaped windows are original design.