See the haze up ahead?  That is smoke from the forest fires that are burning in eastern North Carolina. As we returned to Raleigh from Myrtle Beach, SC last week, this is what we saw for many miles of the trip.

Odds and Ends

What a mess!! I'm glad this will be gone in about two months, but I don't want to be the one who has to scoop the leaves out. It is back-breaking work.

This well-gnawed bone appeared on my deck this morning. I surely would like to know what animal left it there. Maybe my foxes are back...or a raccoon. It is about 4 inches long and a little over an inch in diameter.

It has to be a portion of an animal's femur, don't you think?

The trees are beginning to bud, and I cannot wait to see the light green that comes with the first tiny leaves. It is my favorite color! As you can see from this last photo, the skies here were a gorgeous Carolina blue today. And North Carolina Blue reigns - at least so far - in the ACC Tournament being played in Greensboro this weekend. They defeated Clemson in a game they probably should not have won, but we're glad they did.  They will play the winner of the Duke-Virginia Tech game this afternoon.

More from Mel's Wedding

A close-up of one of the table centerpieces I did. I loved the effect of the silver-rimmed bread plates and goblets, and the silver chargers atop the black linen with blood-red napkins. Did you notice the love-knot in the napkins?

This was the "candy bar", the favors they were giving out to guests. It was backed by the black shelving, holding photos of the couple (all in the same type of frame), candles and red rose bud vases. I was impressed with the ice buckets holding the candy; they were engraved with the last names of the couple and their parents. It makes a wonderful keepsake reminder of the wedding.

An overview of the venue showing the two movie screens. I read that tonight, they will be showing American Idol, since contestant Scotty McCreery is from the town of Garner, where the venue is located. All of Garner is invited!

Another of the centerpieces I put together for Mel. Three vases of flowers, two of candles plus three votive candles. I am certain that all that candle light was very dramatic when the chandeliers were turned down low.

For some odd reason, I've been noticing chandeliers lately. This one hangs in the ballroom of the NC Governor's Mansion.  There was an interesting story about one of the chandeliers (the dining room, I think), but I don't remember enough of it to tell you. It was something about a family who had once been rich (in their home country) and they emigrated to the USA, and  for some reason, they donated their family home chandeliers to the state of North Carolina. I'll try to find out what the true story was.

This one (of a pair) hangs in the outer office of the Governor of North Carolina.  I can't tell if it is bronze or dirty brass - but it surely does put off a lot of lumens - which bounce off the white ceiling and result in very bright light. That room has large windows also, so it is almost like being outdoors. The capitol building is old and drafty, but this room is always like a sauna bath. The women who worked there had on suit jackets, but I'd have to be (or would want to be) in a tank top if I spent much time in that office! It's no wonder that the fresh greenery we put in there looked as if it had baked in the desert when we went back to take it down.

Christmas Decor in a Private Home

This post starts a series of photos from this home, which usually takes three of us three days to decorate, but this year we were able to finish in two days. Pam and Jackie lit the fresh Fraser fir  tree while I placed garlands and ribbons in almost every area in the house.

If you are on Facebook with me, you have already seen these photos. This home has the perfect colors for Christmas decor and they have so many collections that it is an interesting place.

This hutch is in the breakfast room, which also has large windows overlooking the rear garden. We drape those four windows with pepper berry garland and magnolia leaves, but no ribbons.

This mirror graces the dining room wall and each year, we decorate it with faux garland, ribbon or cording, gilt leaves, red dried hydrangea and Florentine angels. After all the decor is finished, we go back and add touches of fresh greenery (pine, fir, cedar, boxwood) to all the faux garlands, to make  them appear more authentic and give the home a nice aroma. I am posting most of my photos with Picasa now, and they will only let me post four at a time, so you'll see four new ones tomorrow night, from this home. The owner will be reading my posts and I am sure she will enjoy your comments on her lovely abode.

NC State Capitol

The view into the rotunda. Read here about the building.

One of four trees placed in niches on the second floor. All were decorated with ornaments made by NC school children. This tree had hand-painted, hand-made ceramic balls which were quite lovely. It's too bad they don't show up well in my photo.

In the center of the rotunda, sits Antonio Canova's rendition of George Washington. Everyone wonders why he chose to portray George as a Roman General.  See the plaque below for an explanation.....click to enlarge.

More from the NCMH ~ Thomas Day Exhibit

Most of the furniture in this exhibit is not the style I prefer, and yet I can appreciate the quality and workmanship, especially since most of the pieces were made in the 1830's and 40's.

One of the quotes painted on the wall is as follows:   "I hope you will Ever regard your character more than your life - and it is well for young ladies to be verry cautious particularly when well spoken of be Ever on your Guard in all respects. A Good character is of Great Vallue consequently it requires much attention to retain it. The HIgher the character the greater the responsibility. The more is Expected of that character or person and consequently the more you have to learn & know to meet the Expectations & wishes of your friends. " Thomas Day to his daughter, Mary Ann, 11-27-1851

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of all the pieces, I like this one the best.

More of the Thomas Day Exhibit

I hope you can enlarge this and read the caption. The needlework on this jacket was exquisite!

I don't know much about transfer ware, but this must be one of the best examples around.

More woodworking tools...They had a really neat woodworking shop set up as it would have been in the 1800's.



Click to enlarge......Some of Thomas Day's philosophy...he appears to have been a very intelligent man!



Thomas Day Furniture Exhibit at the NCMH

A beautiful example of the craftsmanship practiced by Thomas Day, a NC furniture maker, who built furniture in the 1840's and 50's.

An example of a wedding gown from that era and a child's potty chair.

Woodworking tools of his era (above and below) I will be posting four photos from the exhibit for the next few days. 
(Today is my younger daughter's birthday. She claims not to read my blog, but she might like it if you tell her happy birthday!)

As you may know, I worked a lot last week; two days of at least six hours per day and two days that were longer. It doesn't sound like much until you know my age and the fact that I stand on my feet the majority of the time I am working. I'm not crowing - just stating a fact. I have noticed that my stamina is not as good as it was five years ago. So.......I'm t.i.r.e.d......and blogging is suffering because of it. If I am sitting here in my chair at the computer, all I really want to do is check Facebook and read a few blog posts - not write one. You'll forgive me, won't you? And hang around until I get my mojo back?

Five women from the neighborhood went downtown to the NCMH - North Carolina Museum of History - to see a furniture exhibit on Tuesday. The furniture was all built by a NC free man of color, Thomas Day, during the 1830's and 40's.  He was quite a craftsman, and was well known in this area for his good quality furnishings. The exhibit has quite a few pieces (many on loan to the museum), as well as a model workshop of the type he had., with lots of old wood-working tools. I took lots of photos, and I will put them here some day soon. 

After the exhibit, we went to Caffe Luna for lunch, where two of us had calamari atop a Caesar salad, and one had pumpkin raviolis. I'm not sure what the others ate; I was too busy devouring mine to notice. It was pretty good! The last time I ate there, I had either risotto or pasta with mushrooms, and it was excellent, but they don't have it on the menu any more, and I was disappointed. Maybe they'll read this and put it back!

Our NC State Fair starts this week. I haven't decided if I'm going or not. I'd like to see the exhibits and the flower arranging competitions, and visit the petting zoo and hold baby chickens, etc. but I'm not sure it is worth the noise, the crowds and all the walking. Of course, there are the deep-fried bacon with cheesy mashed potato bites, the roasted corn on the cob, the sausage and pepper sandwiches, the home-made fudge......maybe I will go after all.......LOL

More from the Beach

The only good thing I can say about the 2nd place we ate dinner is that they had a nice bathroom. These hand-painted tiles graced the walls of both the ladies room (and the men's - according to mr. kenju.)  I ate scallops, which had been fried to within an inch of their lives and with a gallon of grease, it seemed. My stomach rebelled and  I won't name the place, lest you forget and think I gave it a good review. This is looking north. Low tide on an almost cloudless summer day - perfect for sitting on the beach! Someone asked yesterday if I swam. I went in about thigh deep, but the undertow was strong and no one was in the water with me - so I didn't venture further out. It was warm, though!

Below is a monument on the grounds of Fort Fisher, which was erected in 1921. It has fared well through many storms to be so old. I hope I look as good when I am 89!September 11 - May we never forget.

The Beach ~ 2010

Our hotel, the Marriott Courtyard in Carolina Beach, NC; a very nice, small hotel (160 rooms) with free internet in the lobby and a good breakfast buffet!

Downtown Raleigh

The State Capitol
Lower Right

I took these pix from the 29th floor of an office building; the location of the Cardinal Club. It was a beautiful, sunny, clear day.