Totally hung.

WHERE FOR ART THOU?!

Picture this...
Last Saturday I scoured antique stores
and galleries in Stamford Connecticut for
artwork with my best buddy "T". She's
got an eye that truly is incomparable.
Somehow she can see beauty in things
that quite frankly appear awful to me.
"T" is considering leveraging that talent
by reselling her discoveries in a local shop.
Whoever takes one of her newly discovered
masterpieces home will be quite lucky.
All of that shopping got me thinking.
If I could build the ultimate art collection,
what would my gallery be filled with?

Corot
My first purchase would be
The Lake
by Jean Baptiste Camille Corot.
For as long as I remember, I've "visited" my favorite at the Frick Collection. This pastoral beauty portrays trees, water, peasants, and cattle. It calms my soul.

Baranet
"T's" father was an accomplished
painter. "Wind Tunnel" moves
me in ways I can't describe. I'm
blessed to now own this work
that echoes Corot's tones. My
next purchase would be at least
one other Robert Baranet ASAP!

Twatchman
When in the American galleries
at the Metropolitan Museum of
Art, I always stop and stare at
Arques-la-Bataille by
John Henry Twatchman.
It's so modern and yet it was
created one hundred and twenty
eight years ago. I want it NOW!

Stockton

Bill Stockton was an artist and sheep rancher based in Grass Range Montana. His body of work celebrates the beauty of central Montana. In my opinion, one can't get enough Stockton!

Steichen
At the turn of the century, Edward Steichen took photography to the level of fine art. His "Heavy Roses" still intoxicate me with their beauty almost one hundred years later. If it was mine, I would treasure it. Can I have it pretty please?!

Kline
While the above seem peaceful and passive, I adore the brutal brush strokes of Franz, not Patsy Kline. His work moves and empowers me. The ultimate wake up call would be waking up to his Mahoning masterpiece every morning?!

Sargent

I adore this portrayal of the 

Wyndham Sisters 

by John Singer Sargent. 

This massive painting captures 

three well bred siblings in all of 

their patrician glory. Proof that 

three are better than one, the 

elegance of Mr. Sargent's brush 

strokes always captivates. If only 

I could paint like that. Given I 

can't, nothing would make me 

happier than to have a Sargent 

of my own at home. SALUTE!

Rothko

Finally my last purchase would have to be any work created by Mark Rothko. His abstract art has amazed and enthralled me from the moment I first saw it. Looking at all of my choices, it's clear that being an art connoisseur requires passion, knowledge, and CASH. My only hesitation is that if I owned such a collection, I would have to spend years figuring out how to frame it.

Go ahead, try it!

PUT ON A HAPPY FACE!

Out of nowhere.
There's one thing I can't abide and that's mediocrity. Why do anything that doesn't make a statement? The fact is it takes as much effort to do something badly as it takes to do something spectacular. In my opinion there's nothing worse that delivering a barely passable result. Not only is it lazy, it's simply boring.

So bad it's good.
I adore rebellion. What's juicier than hostility manifested through people who feel powerless?! Whether trapped in a bad marriage or the wrong job, those who find themselves in an uncomfortable situation often opt to make an overt statement. Call it protest or terror, it works.

Who's in control?
Irritable people can be quite colorful. Their disdain for the mundane can be quite shocking. Anger is a powerful weapon. Nothing puts one in control more than recklessly lashing out. Our natural avoidance of confrontation only empowers these nasty folk to get nastier.

Ulterior motives. 
The opposite of hate is love. Some simply enjoy bringing joy to others. Whether a smile, joke, or heartfelt hello, a happy demeanor will change almost anyone's attitude. Who doesn't want to make the world a better place? A bearer of good news always solicits a positive reaction of sheer delight. Laughter is infectious whereas anger is poisonous.

Positive versus negative.
It doesn't hurt anybody to be happy or kind. Caring enough to care gives one a competitive advantage. A smile always puts you in control. Who isn't willing to try a little harder when one feels encouraged or supported? Why not balance the negative by being positive? Being happy
is the ultimate power statement.

A complete failure?

I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

Comfortably complacent

After a week in Montana and 

a frenzied return to Manhattan, 

I did absolutely nothing yesterday. 

Never left the house, made the bed, 

nor did a load of laundry. Whether 

my inactivity was due to age, apathy, 

exhaustion, or over indulgence isn't 

important. What's most amazing is 

that for the first time in my life... 

I can do absolutely nothing and 

actually enjoy doing just that.

My life wasn't always that way 

and looking back I can't help 

but think how sad that is. 

Misplaced dreams

When I was young, there wasn't 

anything I couldn't and wouldn't 

take on. For whatever reason I felt 

the need to make everything just 

a little harder. I simply couldn't be 

satisfied with the status quo, I had 

to push for more. Deep within me 

there was a drive to succeed. And 

I now ask myself, where did that 

excess exertion actually take me? 

I doubt it did nothing more than

complicate my already very, very

complicated existence.

Wasted energy

When hosting cocktails for one hundred of my dearest friends, why did I think anybody cared about my monogrammed and pressed linens napkins? Or that their glasses were owned and not rented? For whatever reason those things made me feel better about myself. It was important because it mattered to me.

Ill gotten gain

I must have been searching for some

elusive something. Was it validation?

Recognition? Status? Most of those 

people I once cared to impress have 

long forgotten about me (and I 

them). The few that kept in touch 

did so because they cared about me 

and not all the accoutrements. I can

now look back and think, how odd 

that I couldn't (or wouldn't) see that.

Broken hearts

I've been very fortunate to have loved 

and to have been loved. Sometimes it 

worked and at other times it didn't. 

No matter who it was, our shared time 

together made my life better and I'm 

eternally grateful for that. Ultimately 

I found a partner who was "perfect" 

for me. His love actually makes me 

a better person. That's because he is 

the perfect balance that puts it all in 

perspective. Slowly he helped me to

drop all of the pretense and to simply 

be happy being little old "me".

Lost loves

There's no doubt I tried to be the best parent I could be. I made so many mistakes it's a miracle my children grew to be adults. What is certain is that they have always been loved. Sadly that's not something everyone can say. Neurosis aside, I hope that someday they can accept the fact that even fathers are human.

Misspent youth 

I built my career through hard work. tough negotiation, and a bit of luck. Companies came and went as I was sold more times than an old Buick. However along the way I built friendships that have lasted long after our roles as coworkers faded away. And looking back, that's what 

I truly consider my success.

Mellow maturity

The way to enjoy life is to let it just happen. Planning, plotting, and worrying, about things you can't control never works. Accepting your strengths and weaknesses enables one to go with the flow. Someday I hope that my epitath will be 

"HE ACCOMPLISHED 
 ABSOLUTELY NOTHING 
 AND WAS GOOD AT IT!"

7th Day Surprise! Cherish This

PRIZED OBSESSIONS

Yesterday's "hunt" was quite successful.

I found the final light fixture for the M.P. Master Bath.

Here are some highlights on Money Pit goodies.

I'm not sure Lewistown is ready for this...

Master Bath Light Fixture - Mid Century Blown Murano Glass Orb

Powder Room Wallpaper - Waterbury Jardin Chinois

Front Hall and Stairway Walls - Pratt & Lambert Italian Blue

Dining Room Table - fully extended to ten feet

Upholstered Host Chairs - Dining Room

Living Room Wall Sconces - to be positioned above Fireplace Mantel

Dig this.

ANOTHER MAN'S TRASH...

A hunting we will go...
I'm off this morning to spend the day
in Connecticut with my best friend "T".
We're going to antique and hit all of my
favorite consignment stores. Who knows
what we might find but whatever it is,
it will be fabulous! For many years the
two of us have bagged more than our
share of hidden treasures. We both love
the finer things and while we (I) claim to
need less, we (I) keep buying more!

Le joie de la chasse
I love beautiful old things. For years I've dug through auctions, tag sales, consignment and antique shops. Furnishing my home (and others) with treasures found along the way.

Shh... it's a secret 
It started years ago when I came upon a small auction house outside of Chicago. At that point, NOBODY in the Midwest wanted English or French antiques. Rather they were still enamoured with golden oak and Tiffany lamps. That meant that everything I treasured was unwanted and therefore accessible. And slowly... I started to pick up fabulous tidbits for virtually nothing.

A Stickley situation
One Saturday at a "household" auction I came across a Craftsman style oak bed frame. I got it for five dollars and loaded it into the car. Driving home I glanced back while waiting for the stoplight to change. All of a sudden, I spied a label that read "Stickley" and realized I not only purchased a new bed, but had acquired a major antique! That type of "find" is crack to a collector (addict) like me!

Le Prix Francais
When "T" moved to Chicago, she found a fabulous gold coast coop.
A newlywed, she had to furnish it from scratch. A large estate of french antiques was about to be auctioned off. I trolled the preview and rushed to a phone booth (long before cell phones) to call "T". We agreed to meet at the upcoming auction to bid on this rococo jackpot!

Lots and lots!
Sunday arrived and the place was packed. As the auction began, "T" and her husband
had not arrived. A lovely Louis XVII bergere sold for nothing. Next up was a lovely pair of french bergeres that I knew suited "T" to a "t".

Going, going...
Bidding started at a ridiculously low price. I realized the perfect pair of bergeres were going to go for a a pittance. So, I bid and won them. With no sign of "T", I decided to GO FOR IT. Over the next half hour, I bid and won a plethora of pieces.

SOLD!
As bidding was about to end, "T" finally arrived. Fortunately she was thrilled with all of my ill gotten gain. Her husband (always the gambler) leapt in and bid on several more items. They ended up taking a truckload of french finery home!

The ultimate treasure
Over the years "T" and I have found many lovely things as we dug through the debris. Loot aside, what I treasure most is our friendship and our many years of memories. Wonder what we'll find today?

Can you see it?!

THE WORLD OF TOMORROW?

Been there, done that.
During my parents dating phase, the 1939 Worlds Fair was in full gear. What better place to take your girl than to  "The World Of Tomorrow"? The fair exposed Americans to new and exciting technology like television, Elektro the robot, air conditioning, dish washers, fluorescent lights, and nylon! You could sense the hope and optimism. America was finally pulling itself out of the depression -
TEN YEARS LATER.

Boom, crash, bang!
During the twenties everything had changed for the better. Anyone was able to own things they had only dreamed about. Then one Tuesday in October of 1929 it all ended. The economy fell apart. Net worth disappeared. Bank accounts evaporated. Housing markets collapsed. Jobs lost. Post apocalypse, Americans adjusted to having less, working harder, and barely keeping their heads above water. All remembering what they had lost.

Deja vu.
Sound familiar? If you know your history, we're living through the same times only eighty years later. My generation built our lives and careers during the heady days of the late eighties through post millennium boom. We thought we were invincible and nothing seemed out of our reach. It was easy to have everything if you just worked hard. Real estate was our safety net and we leveraged ourselves to the maximum.

Better than ever.
Our 401K's grew to staggering levels. Being successful seemed to be a God given right. So we borrowed, shopped, traveled, dined, and embraced the newest technology. Things like fax machines, computers, microwaves, cellular phones, VCR's, CD's, DVD's, I-Pods, and
I-Phones! Everything was new. Everything was easy. Everything was achievable. Then all of a sudden it fell apart. The stock market collapsed and reality dealt us a major bitch slap.

Lesson learned?
My parents knew what it was like to lose almost everything. While Ethel never lived without, her privileged life changed dramatically with the crash of 1929. That experience impacted the way she dealt with money. Even in better times, Mother made sure that every penny was tracked, documented, and leveraged for maximum impact. Constantly vigilant, it was as if she was waiting for it to all happen again.

Seem familiar?

Fact is, recessions are cyclical. The only difference between 1929 and 2008 is that many lost new radios versus eighty inch flat screen TVs. What changed is that this time Americans had a safety net. In 1929 unemployment insurance did not exist nor any other Federal support. Families were on their own and barely survived. While some may grouse based on political orientation, it could have been worse.

Less is more.

Why are we confused? Most of us assume things will just magically get better. Yet at this point, reality is only just setting in. Most have decimated their bank accounts. Sold anything they didn't need. Downscaled to more realistic proportions. And suddenly realized that they can still enjoy life without all that stuff. We're living through the same adjustment that American went through in the thirties. Once again Mother was right.

Back to the future.
If you think about it, my children and their peers have experienced a similar magnitude of loss to what my parents witnessed. Certainly entitled, we bear the responsibility for their disillusioned reality. Now it's a period of adjustment. We are living in the modern day equivalent of 1934. One of the most dismal years of the depression, reality finally hit Americans with a vengeance.
The facts speak for themselves.
Link here to a 1934 dose of reality.
Suddenly things don't seem as bad do they?
Isn't it time that we all stop complaining?!

Sizzling...

THE LONG HOT SUMMER

I left my heart...
Yesterday I returned to balmy New York. Somehow it's always a melancholy journey. My heart is rooted in Big Sky Country especially when I leave Frank behind. His garden is flourishing and we feasted on his tomatoes - ripe quite earlier than prior years!

Green with envy
We're excited about landscaping the Money Pit. While in Billings we visited the historic Moss Mansion. We took a leisurely neighborhood stroll to look at turn of the century gardens for inspiration. Searching for plants that will thrive in Montana.

Slowly but surely
The Money Pit is well on it's way to being the home of our dreams. The kitchen counters are in and the new floor has just been stained. Once that's done, they will install the island. Then frame out the windows and finish the crown molding. Finally brother "B" and his team will install the white subway tile on all remaining walls! Don't forget the cabinet knobs and appliances! My hope is the majority will be completed by my next visit late August.

Black box
I absolutely adore our new Butler's Pantry.
This used to be a corner ell of the kitchen.
We've transformed it into a "jewel box"
that lends just the right touch of urbane
elegance to our Montana Manse. We
wanted this transition into the kitchen from
back hall to have some pizazz. With the
ceiling and bar back splash clad in antiqued
mirror I think we will accomplish just that
and more. Talk about creating something
out of nothing... I'll drink to that!

Yes master...
The marble tile is ready to be installed in the Master Bath. While quite decadent, we were practical and went with a man made quartz for the counter top. The last thing I want is to be blamed for a stain or glass ring etched into Carerra!

A feast for the eyes
I finally saw our Dining Room floor for the first time. When the carpet was removed, we were fortunate to discover minimal damage underneath. Now fully repaired and sanded, it's ready for staining! Custom mill work will restore the missing wainscot.

Our guestimate
Upstairs, the guest bath now has a counter. Soon white subway and hexagon tiles will clad the floor and walls. While we still hope to move in late fall, we don't want to rush the process. Quite a massive undertaking, haste might lead to waste!