THREE NEW THINGS AROUND HERE...

So if you've been wondering why I haven't returned any of your phone calls or emails lately…this is the reason.

My 95 and a half year old father in law has moved in with us! It was completely unexpected and sudden, however, we're very happy to have him here with us.

It's taking a ton of work to rearrange the house and empty out closets, etc…but we pulled down the twin canopies over the antique French twin beds and the guest room has been turned into Dad's apartment…he really feels at home.  His cat is another story…I'm going to kick his butt pretty soon if he doesn't stop messing everywhere…including the sofa!  

A tender moment I caught between Ray and his Dad.
He simply leaned his forehead onto his
Dad's and they just stayed there for a moment…
pure love!

The next thing is my very first oranges being plucked from my navel orange tree in my backyard…holy crap!  They're big ones..and juicy! I can't believe I grow oranges now, it's so cool!

And thirdly…my birthday present from my old best buddy Denny…it's spectacular in person!  I have the perfect spot for it in my den/library…yay!!  Thx Denster!

So to all my besties out there, hope you're having a couple new, interesting, or exciting things happening around your home…I love you all, and you know who I'm talking too! xox juners

HERE'S WHAT WENT DOWN...

So before it becomes the fourth of July, which incidentally is right around the corner, I thought I better regale you with a quick run down with a Holiday Photo Frenzy, so we can be all caught up and move on with 2015.

Very low key holidays for the Schneiders…literally four of us for dinner..what!?  I know, not the usual fifteen or twenty…although we did get up to fifteen for the ending celebration that came the weekend after NYEve…the annual Schneider family gathering…sadly however,  the main focus of this party is to see dad, who unfortunately spent that weekend in the hospital…but he's here with us this week and doing better.  The party wasn't the same without him.

And neither was my birthday…I mean, it wasn't the same, no kids, except our youngest, no friends, no chair dancing!!  It was a bit weird…but what can you say, things happen.  And that's the price you pay for being born on Xmas!  Thank god we kept to our tradition of visiting my best friend Sue on Xmas Eve…her home is warm, welcoming and super Xmasy…so that felt good.

So that's pretty much all I'm going to say about all of that….I'll let the photos do the rest…because as usual, and I don't mean to toot my own horn…but toot toot….the trees were lovely!

Sue and Jim, Xmas Eve

Sue has the best collection of bottle brush trees…
my latest obsession, this is the smallest of showings

Literally one of the nicest trees I've ever seen…
all blush and soft…old fashion in perfect Xmas splendor..you need to see it in person…it's breathtaking

A new addition to my snowman obsession...

Little snowmen and santas hanging on banister

Little lit up tree on table on stair landing…
it's so sweet, and this just reminded me, I haven't
taken the pine branches out of the chandelier…geez!

the pink/orange/gold vintage tree,
looked particularly stunning this year…
hard to capture on film

                                

this years topper was the best…drippy pinks, some golds
and the bright limeish green..just beautiful!

the blue, turquoise, purple/claret /bronze tree
NEVER can get a good photo of the depth of tones
going on in this one.  the addition of Teal ornaments and teal lights took this to another level for me...added to
 the dark blue, (which I really want to change out) and then the wine and purple which play perfectly off the bronze …just need more aqua/turquoise and claret to bring in to the place I'm looking for…but getting there.

   

this topper is turquoise, purple and
glitter beyond belief

Xmas day...

Me, standing, alone, on my chair with the iPhone
playing the Beatles Birthday Song..
how sad am I?

Taylor showed up and jumped in at the last minute
and insisted we stand up together…yay for Talyor!

Some randoms from the Schneider party…
this was Girls night celebration!
Thx to Bonnie who brought all the girls little splits
 of champagne with straws and
beautiful cards written to each one of us..yay Bonnie!

Happy 2015 to all my besties…hope you are all healthy, safe, dry, and peaceful…and surrounded by the ones you love the most…mucho love, xox juners