...kiss and tell

How's you aim? If it is better than you realize, use it wisely. Sometimes, when things are rushed, we don't sugarcoat words the way that the receiver of those words may need. But other times, a Bulls Eye is just what the Doctor ordered. On this day in 1307 William Tell shot an apple off his son's head. That evening they had applesauce with dinner. I found a replacement for EW's carpeting installation and am thankful for that. This evening I will re-install the arch shade for NO just in time for the sun to return to Chester County. (The following morning folks, we don't usually have sun at night). Have a good time today, eat an apple and don't shoot anyone. With your mouth, a gun or any other kind of weapon. "Holly Berry Needlepoint Rug" shown today. Were you expecting an apple?

"Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend."
Martin Luther King, Jr.

...call me dick

Have you seen them? The Holiday decorations are popping up everywhere, and the music has only just begun. I love it. I am still holding back from putting up my tree...but it's only a matter of days until I do. KD and CD are waiting for Tuna to let them know that she is still here and very much ok.Not so much RMN who, on this day in 1973, and the beginning of the Watergate scandal told 400 Associated Press managing editors "I am not a crook". Ok then. Also on this day, but in 1991 the first TV condom ad aired (FOX- TV). Back to the Holidays, or should I say forward! Have fun today, work hard, keep your nose clean and try not to be a dick. Shown today is "Candy Cane Hook Rug".

"A man is not finished when he is defeated. He is finished when he quits."
Richard M. Nixon

...dancing

..and all that they wanted to do was dance off a little stress. But on this day in
1974 78 people died when the Time Go-Go Club in Seoul, South Korea burned down. Six of the victims jumped to their deaths from the seventh floor after a club official barred the doors after the fire started. Still, don't let "what if" keep you from dancing the night away. It burns calories, gets those endorphins pumping and relieves all kinds of stress. Just ask the animals in this pictured hook rug! It is available on my website for immediate delivery. You don't have to go to Paris to dance tho'!

"Dancing is a perpendicular expression of a horizontal desire."
George Bernard Shaw

...keep the home fires burning

The temperature dropped in Chester County, PA and it is no longer as hot as well, a flame. I am calculating for carpeting in a contemporary home with open staircases. Talk about math! It is a very Frank Lloyd Wright-esque styled home with similar lines and layout. My carpet installer is excellent so I have no worries regarding that. The clients create a warm, comfortable atmosphere and every time I visit it is a Zen like experience. Speaking of warmth, home and hearth...on this day in 1914 a male servant of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright set fire to the living quarters of the architect's Wisconsin home, Taliesin, murders seven people and burns the living quarters to the ground. Perhaps he was denied a well deserved raise? Be nice, work hard and use caution when striking a match. Today's photo is from a refurbished home that caught on fire. The family went through hell but no one was injured thank God.
"Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos."
Stephen Sondheim

...designer heal thyself

Six weeks ago I joined an impromptu tennis match, wearing my steel tipped boots. I know, pretty silly. A day later I figured that I had broken a small bone in my foot. No big deal. My friend and Doctor is currently going through massive chemo so I was not going to call and whine about such a small thing. My dreams are great. I awoke after a dream telling me to put a cotton ball soaked in Hydrogen Peroxide on the lump, so I did. This was at 3 am. Surprisingly and immediately an inch and a half, minuscule thickness metal stick came popping out. Here it is a few days later and now I am free to kick some a** with both feet!.Two interesting freedoms occurred on this day the first being in 1953 when the United States Supreme Court ruled that Washington, D.C. restaurants could not refuse to serve black patrons. Then, on this day in 1984 homosexuality was declared legal in the Australia state of New South Wales. Blacks in restaurants and then gays being made legal? Hell in a hand basket I say. I am delivering a large sisal rug in the next few minutes so I have to sign off. Treasure your freedoms. It can be a very healing thing.

"Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves."
Abraham Lincoln

...divine connections

This past week was unusually busy and I am thankful that everything was kept together. I do my part to try to remember every detail but there must be something more. Sheers were installed as was the corner TV shelf that I designed to a delighted birthday girl DJ. The beach job went well also, as I fit an 11' x 13' area rug, runner, Club Chair and Ottoman, 23 window treatments, framed sailboat art, tool boxes and sugar free energy drinks into my truck and 'sailed' over the Commodore Barry Bridge and onto Ocean City, NJ. Traffic was sparse at that early hour so I made excellent time. Everything fit, coordinated and connected well. Have you ever heard of laminins? Me either, until MB educated me on the subject. Laminins are a family of proteins that are an integral part of the structural scaffolding of basement membranes in almost every animal tissue. They are literally what hold us together being cell adhesion molecules. They are what holds one cell of our bodies to the next cell. Without them, we would literally fall apart. The photo today shows 'design' in it's most intricate form and it has nothing to do with drapery or custom area rugs. Do you think that it's shape is a coincidence? Have a good day, keep your senses open to divine connections and do your best to keep it all together. Oh, on this day in 1946, Father Divine, a controversial religious leader who claimed to be God, married the much-younger Edna Rose Ritchings, a celebrated anniversary in the International Peace Mission movement.

"The universe seems neither benign nor hostile, merely indifferent." Carl Sagan

...blacklist

Making a list and checking it twice does not apply to Santa only. We all know that Communism is a social structure in which classes are abolished and property is commonly controlled. That may work for some and to each his/her own. I tend to be a Capitalist,work hard and tend to be a 'determined' sort. The political philosophy of Communism created a second wave of the "Red Scare" and on this day in 1954 the Army-McCarthy Hearings began. Ironically, on this day in 1889, at high noon, thousands rushed to claim land in the Land Run of 1889. Within hours the cities of Oklahoma City and Guthrie were formed with populations of at least 10,000. I was a mere tot at the time and hadn't honed my design skills. What a missed window treatment opportunity! Speaking of which, this Saturday I will install many, many sheer panels and valances. The Seafoam Green wall-to-wall carpeting is on it's way to DJ's home. Her MBR will look fresh and new in a few hours. And yes, the carpeting is 'green'. "Mazaltan Sphere Candleholder Set" shown today.

"McCarthyism is Americanism with its sleeves rolled." Joseph R. McCarthy

...lsd

Hi. Ever feel nervous or stressed? You know what I mean. Do you ever experience, or should I say, "are you experienced" in a raised body temperature, sweating, loss of appetite, increased hear rate, sleeplessness, dry mouth? Personally I do everything in my power to avoid these sensations. On this day in 1943 Dr. Albert Hofmann discovered the psychedelic effects of LSD. It was a popular drug of choice for a while and people would use blotters and stamps to get their high. Being health conscious, I prefer a martini every once in a while...but that's just me. The seafoam wall to wall carpeting is scheduled to be installed at the end of next week. "Beach House Pillows" are doing well still via my website as are "Rustic Ceramics." It must be the time of year. Have fun today and if you are sending a letter post mail, be cautious when licking stamps. "Mazaltan Floor Vases" shown. 'Mazaltan means "place of the deer" by the way. That should save you from Googling it.

"All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full." King Solomon

...Max dreams

This past week has been full of Max dreams, some happy, some sad. It is coming upon the year anniversary of his untimely death and it still hurts my soul. Keep in mind that I save errant bees from latex paint also, so you get some idea of where I am. JW and I were playing tennis last Sunday out back and I found one of Max's tennis balls. We used to play indoors in inclement weather and the family room was our ball field. I still miss him terribly and may need to have my head examined. On this day in 1965, the Astrodome opened, and the first indoor baseball game was played. Not as much fun as Max and I had indoors, but still a good time. I have an appointment today for Drapery Hardware and it should be interesting. Then I am off to Perkasie to drop off a birthday card and do some babysitting. Hold your loved ones close and throw a ball to them. It makes for great memories...even if it is your 97 year old Aunt Bedelia. "Geometric Area Rug" shown.

"Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land." Aldo Leopold

...on record

"This call is being taped for security or training purposes." Are they asking or telling us? The other day I fielded the upteenth call of that nature as I stopped running a business to deal in the frivolity. When I again heard this (threat) warning, I began to sing a song that I had written many, many years ago. The lyric is rather weak, and my voice, without instrumental accompaniment probably sounded empty to the caller. She hung up on me. Since the call was being taped, and I would have to search high and low to find my old demo cassette, I thought it a perfect time to record the song to again have it on record. Did you know that, on this day in 1860, the oldest audible sound recording of a human voice was recorded? It wasn't me though. I didn't record until a few short years later. DJ is still in Florida and yes, those are her real initials. I didn't make them up to coincide with this 'recording' blog. She will experience 'sheer delight' upon her return as I will install many, many sheer white voile window treatments. I won't however, record her cry of glee. Some things should remain private.

"I have tried sex with both men and women. I found I liked it." Dusty Springfield

...going up?

Hello. We crossed the Commodore Barry Bridge yesterday and I love to be that high. For me, there is nothing better than viewing a large body of water, knowing that a beach is probably nearby. On this day in 1857 Elisha Otis's first elevator was installed at 488 Broadway New York City. On the same day a few years later, 1903 to be exact,the Wright Brothers applied for a patent on their invention of one of the first successful airplanes. Going up anyone? DL chose an Upholstered Chair and Ottoman in a Sable Black and Taupe heavily woven fabric and an area rug in Tropical Green. How beachy! Have a good day, aim high and don't worry about the fork in the road. It could have been a spoon and besides, who's to say that both choices aren't going to be golden? "Catalina Mirror" shown.

"The leader must aim high, see big, judge widely, thus setting himself apart form the ordinary people who debate in narrow confines."
Charles de Gaulle

...obscene

Hello. I received an email late yesterday for a natural breast enlarger and also for a pill that would make me 'last' for almost four hours. Thanks to whomever sent these. It is grey again in Chester County, PA and a little bit precipitous. I keep filling the bird feeders and hope that they last more than four hours until I can refill them. On this day in 1873,The U.S. Congress enacted the Comstock Law, making it illegal to send any "obscene, lewd, or lascivious" books through the mail. Thankfully Penthouse and Playboy were magazines, not books and it kept everyone's 'circulation' up. I am off to measure for white sheer panels for the second story of a great client's home. They are somewhat transparent, so be careful! Walls have eyes, windows even moreso. Have fun today, keep the lewd to a minimum if at all possible and think sun. Shown today is the 'Bouquet Hook Rug' for those who can't find flowers in nature...just yet.
"The major civilizing force in the world is not religion, it is sex." Hugh Hefner

...don't be terrified

Hi. Snow flurries abound this morning in Chester County, PA. My heart goes out to AA and UD, who are suffering through 80 degree temperatures and winds strong enough to ruffle Palm Trees. It must be terrifying! On this day in 2004, the bombing of a Super ferry by Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines' worst terrorist attack killed 116 people. Claire De La Fuente had yet to record "Something In Your Eyes," but if she had, the 'something' would have been many tears. This week, an article in the Washington Post was discussing the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The American Institute of Architects wants an independent investigation. A janitor at the World Trade Center gave a very concise, detailed run down of the morning of 9/11, stating that an explosion occurred underneath he and 14 other people that was strong enough to knock them off of their feet. This was prior to the first plane hitting the tower. William Rodriguez is the name of the man and his re-telling of the day is pretty amazing. I am off to brave retail interior design today, so wish me luck.
"Success is not in what you have, but who you are." Bo Bennett

...I Love A Parade

Hello. Weather forecasters are calling for yet more snow this evening or tomorrow in Chester County, PA. We had better get out our snow shoes if we want to do any walking, or marching for that matter. On this day in 1868 the first parade to have floats was staged at Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana. Can anyone think of a better place. Let's say you were going to work and school, with ten thousand things on your mind. What if you happened into a beautiful parade with floats, majorettes (and majors) marching down your road? Even if it made you a tad tardy, wouldn't it change your mindset? Today's photo is of a 'Little Boys Make Noise" hook rug. Little Girls do too, lest I appear sexist. Have a great day, march to the beat of your own drum, create a parade in your fertile minds and please pass the cotton candy.
"The young man knows the rules, but the old man knows the exceptions." Oliver Wendell Holmes

...free to be

Hi. It is cold and sunny in Chester County, PA this morning. The 'boys' hate to wear their harnesses but it is a necessity for their safety. They may consider it involuntary servitude, but they also like to run after buses and bite the tires. I delivered the 9' x 12' Tartan Plaid Rug after shop hours on Saturday and it went very well. Snow began to fall as I was leaving and most crawled home. Even with my heavy SUV and 4 wheel drive, I had to keep my wits about me. Slave to the weather? On this day in 1865 President Abraham Lincoln signed the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, prohibiting slavery. The Wing Chairs for AD are supposed to arrive tomorrow. Forecasters are calling for more snow. It will go well and I am sure to deliver to her family room before I am trapped into staying there overnight. Have fun today, work hard and remember... there are no good reasons to be placed in a position of servitude. Subordinate, possibly. Servitude, never. Shown today: "Fusion Ebony End Table." It is part of a new collection now available on my website.

"Don't worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition."
Abraham Lincoln

...plates

Hello. The boys are running around creating quite a rumbling in the house this morning. Nothing scary tho'. The shaking of my floors was not caused by any pact with the devil as Pat Robertson might say and although I did turn the heat up, their behavior is not a result of global warming. Danny Glover may disagree with me. There are things called 'plates' in our Earth guys. It has nothing to do with Tiger Woods promiscuity.
The Haiti earthquake occurred at a fault that runs right through Haiti and is situated along the boundary between the Caribbean and North American plates, which are rocky slabs that cover the planet and fit together like a giant jigsaw puzzle. These two plates constantly creep past one another, about 0.8 inches (20 mm) a year, with the Caribbean plate moving eastward with respect to the North American slab.
On this day in 1556, the deadliest earthquake in history, the Shaanxi earthquake, hit Shaanxi province, China. The death toll may have been as high as 830,000.
Things can change in a second so do your best to walk tall and remain strong.
I have updated my needlepoint rug and pillow section and a gal from WA ordered some yesterday. I have also added 'Animal Ribbon Tassels' because with all of the devastation around, leave it to me to be somewhat vacuous and provide a sense of beauty. Even if it is an area rug or a drapery tassel.

"Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well." Lord Chesterfield

...baby, it's you

Hello. I finally got to see my neighbors adorable baby girl yesterday as her mommy walked both she and their dogs. I didn't resist pinching her cheeks but not hard. The area rug came back in no time at all and it is the correct color this time. I told you before that the vendor is excellent and Northwood Carpet is something to consider, flooring-wise. Occasionally it takes quite a lot of patience and investment of time for a custom item. Not as long as it takes a human to have a baby tho. On this day in 1973, in the case of Roe v Wade, the US Supreme Court struck down state laws restricting abortions during the first six months of pregnancy. In the following decades debate has continued to rage between those who believe a woman has a right to choose whether to continue a pregnancy and those who believe that aborting such a pregnancy is murder of an unborn child. I will stick to home furnishings, area rugs and accessories. I updated my barstool section for those who prefer to sit while drinking.

"If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament."
Florynce R. Kennedy
"Let's not pretend that abortion isn't about the mass slaughter of innocents."
Michael Aston

...do you have a dream?

Hi. On this day in 1993, for the first time, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was officially observed in all 50 states. King, and his policy of nonviolence, was the dominant force in the civil-rights movement. Martin Luther King Jr. has now been dead longer than he lived. But what an extraordinary life it was.

At 33, he was pressing the case of civil rights with President John Kennedy. At 34, he galvanized the nation with his "I Have a Dream" speech. At 35, he won the Nobel Peace Prize. At 39, he was assassinated, but he left a legacy of hope and inspiration that continues today.

Yesterday I laid and installed Webster Carpet/Runners and the final result was a resounding win. It was raining in Chester County, PA so I could not bring the boys, much to the dismay of the client's boys. Next time! Have a non violent day and keep the peace. New animal needlepoint pillows are slowly being added to my website. Click on the Pug!
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." Martin Luther King, Jr.

...sitting pretty

Hello. The boys joined the boys last evening and we told not so scary ghost stories and had a great time. We sat in front of the fire and even 'recycled' some old books and magazines. GZ in CT ordered the 'Carved Settee' and should be sitting pretty in 4 to 6 weeks. The large Tartan Plaid area rug arrived yesterday morning but the company made it in the wrong color! They stand behind their product so everything will work out fine. The furniture will have to wait to be placed, of course until the correct rug is laid. Sitting very pretty still is the Pentagon. On this day in 1943 the world's largest office building was dedicated in Arlington, Virginia. Did you know that ground was broken on this building on 9/11/41? Hmmmm. On September 11, 2001, hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 was crashed into the western side of the Pentagon, killing 189 people, including 64 people aboard the plane and 125 working in the building. Coincidence? Have a great day, do your best and well, sit pretty when you have a free moment.
"Sitting around the house playing the wife and mother is driving me crazy."
Patsy Cline

...common sense

Hi. Common sense is defined as "ordinary good sense or sound practical judgment." Are we born with it or is it learned? If the latter, does everyone learn it? If so does everyone use it? On this day in 1776, Thomas Paine published a pamphlet entitled "Common Sense." It was first published anonymously on January 10, 1776, during the American Revolution. Common Sense, signed "Written by an Englishman", became an immediate success; it had the largest sale and circulation of any book in American history. Common Sense presented the American colonists with a powerful argument for independence from British rule at a time when the question of independence was still undecided. Joan Rivers, a teen at that time, donated her weekends to passing out the pamphlets. A mature person was driving ahead of me on a major road late yesterday and suddenly decided to stop and make a U-turn. Common sense dictated that I turn on my hazard lights to alert those behind me. Instincts told me to lower my driver's side window, flash my middle finger and yell 'get off of the road you stupid f*ck.' I did neither. I did deliver the silk and velvet runners to a delighted client. Have a great day, use your common sense and if you don't have any, learn some.

"Why shouldn't truth be stranger than fiction? Fiction, after all, has to make sense." Mark Twain