Monday, November 12, 2007

On the fourth Fun Monday, i learn to use fewer words

i love today's fun monday assignment, which comes from hootin' annie. she writes: You're to take 30 GIANT steps away from your computer, IN ANY direction. TAKE A PHOTO AND/OR NOTE WHAT YOU'RE SEEING!! Then, take 15 baby steps back. TAKE A PHOTO AND/OR NOTE WHAT YOU'RE SEEING.



here's my starting point: my blogging spot, in the far northwest corner of the house, in a funny little porch off the bedroom. the mask was a gift from p.miller, who bought it in paris. the small framed print at the right was a gift from a printmaker friend in duluth, and the little cat tile at the left was made by my nephew when he was a little boy. oh, and my friend joey gave me the chair. i love this space.

and then i take 30 giant steps, and i end up ....



outside, on our back porch. (we have a small house.) the first thing i noticed was this row of little metal candleholders, so that is what i photographed. we spend a lot of time out here on this porch in the summer, but now it is november and far too chilly. it's almost time to put up the christmas tree that we bought for this porch. we twine it in red lights and put them on a timer, so when we get home from work in the cold and dark of a december evening, the lit-up tree is the first thing we see.

and then i take 15 small steps, and i end up.....




in the front hallway. the first thing i noticed is the crayon drawing that my niece, Liz, made when she was 3. it's called "my blue makeup." liz is 9 now, but this remains among her finest work.

36 Leave a message!:

Willowtree said...

Now you're getting the hang of it! (finally)

Kaycie said...

You aren't afraid of color, are you?

I have to disagree with Willow. I like it when you write lots of words.

laurie said...

WT: don't expect this lesson to stick.

kaycie: nope. we don't have one single white rooom in the house.

The Rotten Correspondent said...

I think I'm in love with your house.

Scratch that. I KNOW I'm in love with your house.

And WTF is Peter talking about??

Flowerpot said...

we don't have any white walls either, Laurie!

Beccy said...

I love the 'blue makeup'!

Hootin'Anni said...

Fantastic!! You did one excellent job. Of photographs AND the writing to describe what you saw first after doing the steps! Yes, I love it.

Lisa said...

Love the 'blue makeup,' a fine work indeed!

Bev said...

What a great idea! Sooo interesting to see inside other people's houses! Always interesting to see where people blog, and sit in one small cosy light space in a chair. The engine house, as it were! Your house has a nice atmosphere to it.

Debs said...

Great pics and writing a description. :D

Crystal Jigsaw said...

What lovely pictures and a great house.

Crystal xx

Blue Momma said...

We only have one white, well beige hallway left, plus the laundry room.

Color is great. I like the framed artwork. I really should have some of my son's things framed.

Karina said...

"My blue makeup"...so cute! Did she title it herself? I love that!

Tiggerlane said...

That porch sounds great - I love the idea of the tree greeting you! "Blue makeup" = true art!

Robin (the PENSIEVE one) said...

I didn't have to supersize your niece's picture to see the blue makeup. I wonder if she ever "colored" her face the same way?

Love your blogging spot--it's bright and cheerful...a great environment to keep you in a good frame of mind, huh?

Lane said...

What a lovely house, with great artwork included:-)

Karmyn R said...

I LOVE the color of your rooms - beautiful.

laurie said...

RC, i see similarities with your house!

flowerpot: color gives me energy, i think. but doug picks most of them. i'm not good at that.

beccy, lisa: isn't that funny? and two shades of blue.

thanks, annie! a great fun monday assignment.

bev, i love peeking in people's houses. doug says, "you must be glad winter's coming..." because people have their lights on!

karina, she did. my brother asked her what the picture was called, and she thought about it for a while, and that's what she came up with.

Kaytabug said...

AWWW how cute! I need to frame and hang more of my kids works of art!
I bet that tree is beautiful to see!
I read your comments and I am cracking up at "you must be glad winter's coming..." because people have their lights on!" I just love glancing into ppls homes!!! Winter is the best time for it!

Sauntering Soul said...

Your house is adorable!

-Ann said...

I love your blogging space. I also like how you pointed out all the important stuff. (Although, if I were Liz, I'd be pretty annoyed that you'd intimated that I'd peaked artistically at age 3. :))

Joy T. said...

Awww love the "blue make-up", what a super Aunt to frame it and hang it up for all to see!!

Jo Beaufoix said...

I love this Laurie. Your home looks lovely and warm and vibrant, and 'My Blue Make Up' is fabulous. :D

AnGlOpHiLe FoOtBaLl FaNaTiC said...

I like words, too. Your porch is lovely. And, I think your niece is an ar teest.

Junebug said...

Aw to own a laptop would be nice! I have a few pictures that my artist daughter colored when she was small. I think they make great artwork.

my4kids said...

I love that first room the bright colors are fun! If I wasn't renting right now I would have color in every room.

ChrisB said...

I love your niece's drawing I have lots of my grand children's pictures framed.

Robinella said...

I love seeing a Christmas tree anytime, anywhere.

Babaloo said...

Laurie, I love your blogging corner! And am happy to see a MacBook just like mine... :-)
And would just like to add: No white room in my house either. Except the hallway. And that's more off-white than anything. And need a new coat of paint. Like the other rooms, too. Ah well, soon.

bermudabluez said...

love, love, love the color~~and I really like your blogging space~

laurie said...

thanks for all the comments! i love that blogging space, too.

my witty little trick with that photo is this: the photo on the computer screen is the same picture. it's the blogging space.

unfortunately, the glare makes it almost impossible for you to tell.

lisa's chaos said...

I think it's so great that you still have the drawing hanging. Your neice must feel so loved. :)

mjd said...

I like that you have shown your starting place. My starting place is too scary to show. Your niece's picture is lovely. Those early artworks are always the best.

Robin said...

Love the colors in your house. Thanks for sharing

Robin of mytwoblessings

Babaloo said...

Laurie, neat little trick indeed! Now that you mention it I can see it, too. Very clever that. Too clever for most of us, I'm afraid. :-(

Pamela said...

I've always wanted a porch.
Thats a perfect place for a Christmas tree...even more for a live one so it doesn't dry out.