#WhyIMarch

This tweet perfectly sums up yesterday for me.

Any introverts (and/or Brits) will understand why this

was so hard for me.

Showing up to a crowd that ended up exceeding half a million people, alone, in a hot pink, knitted, pussy hat.

Only something truly serious could get me out doing something so silly.

Why?

Because:

I am a well-educated, middle-aged, middle-class, Protestant, white, American citizen who is becoming increasingly aware of my privileged status, at the expense of millions of others.

I am the mother of a twenty-something daughter.

I am the aunt of two brown-skinned girls.

I am the sister-in-law of an immigrant.

I have been an immigrant.

I have benefited from the welfare system.

I have benefited from the education system.

I am a Christian.

Because the new regime is targeting all the most vulnerable members of society and is clearly intent on pillaging the world for their own benefit.

Because of all these things, it is my responsibility to stand up. Even when I'm shaking inside.

Wendy

Ghost Towns Pt 2

There are a number of ghost towns in the area around Ouray, where we were staying in Colorado, but several people had recommended Animas Forks as the one to see. The easiest way to get there was to drive south on the Million Dollar Highway to Silverton and then on to Animas Forks. Unfortunately much of the road beyond Silverton was marked as 4-wheel drive territory and our budget didn't stretch to the nearly $200 it would cost to rent a jeep for the day. I had thought about risking our rental car (a Nissan Altima) as far as I was comfortable to see how close I could get, but as I came down into Silverton it started raining, so I abandoned that idea. My thought was then to have a mosey around Silverton as it seemed to have some fun little shops but when I went to the bank I couldn't get my card to work. So I had to make do with the cash I had in my wallet, which was just enough to buy me a sandwich, fries and soda at the oddly named, and very pink, "Thee Pits Again". Apparently it had been featured on "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" so there was a TV on with an endless loop of the feature episode (with the sound turned off) and a multitude of pictures and newspaper articles on the walls.

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To be fair it was a very generous sandwich, good fries and free refills, but it left me with a handful of change and no inclination to dash through the rain to window shop when there was no possibility of buying anything. So I rather sulkily shook the mud of Silverton off my boots and headed home. Ironically, once I got up out of the valley the rain cleared and it was gorgeous again. I'd like to go back someday for a proper look around but at the time I was wondering if I had been cursed. The Animas River that runs by the back of the town is also known as "Rio de las Animas Perdidas", or the River of Lost Souls. It felt like that kind of afternoon.

Fortunately, I had made a few stops along the way down. The scenery on Million Dollar highway is breathtaking, and just off the road, about halfway along on the way to Silverton, is Ironton. Established in the early 1880s, it survived into the early 20th century but declined over the years and was finally completely abandoned in the 1960s.

It is settled into a hollow between the road and the Red Mountain Creek

and the woods are gradually taking over, growing up between, and occasionally through, the buildings.

Most of the buildings are more or less collapsed

but there are a few fairly intact.

These two were the best preserved. The windows on the ground floor of the first one were open so there was plenty of light but in the upper floor, and all the windows of the white house, had been boarded up. A few of the pictures I took in pitch black rooms with my flash and couldn't see what they actually looked like until I got back to the hotel and downloaded them onto my computer.

There was some fascinating detritus in these old houses.  Like old mattress springs -

I think this is an old Sterno can? (ETA - apparently it's an oil filter for a car)

Layers of old wallpaper - it was fun trying to guess which decade each was from.

The 50s?

The 60s? Could be the 30s.

Layers of linoleum as well.

You could see the woven cotton backing on the earliest layers.

The plaid was some kind of vinyl and was on top so I'm guessing this was the 60s contribution.

In the first room of the white house, the one with the door, there were some large remnants of a very pretty pink wallpaper, as well as some of the white ceiling paper.

This was one of the rooms that was pitch black so I had no idea what it looked like till I got back and could look at the photos.

There was a little bit of light coming into this room but I didn't realize it was yellow till I'd seen the photos. More of those wood slat ceilings.

This is the same cupboard, without and with flash. Looking at it now, it kind of looks like something in a horror film.

Love the chippy paint.

Despite my disappointments at Silverton I had a really good day.

Abandoned places are  compelling. I could hear traffic from the nearby road but couldn't see it through the trees and I enjoyed having it all to myself.

Wendy

Ghost Towns Pt. 1

We were in Colorado last month for meetings and I had a few free days to myself, so I went off in search of old Ghost Towns. When I was little we used to drive up into the foothills in California to visit some of the old mining towns there and I find them fascinating (kind of like castles). They create a pleasant sense of melancholy.

 

 

 

 Can you tell I love weathered wood and rusty metal?

Decorating Style

It may be slightly weird, but I love taking online quizzes. Whether it's to find out my personality type, or what character from Harry Potter I might be. It's Ron Weasley, in case you are interested, and I always, always get sorted into Hufflepuff.

Recently, with all the DIY and home decorating blogs I've been stalking following, I decided to take a couple (or more) of the "What is your decorating style?" quizzes. They basically fall into two categories: written and visual.

An example of the written category might be:

Your living room floor is:

• Painted pine, covered with only slightly worn Oriental rugs, bought at a yard sale (what were they thinking?)
• Deep-stained oak strip, left bare or covered by sisal rugs.
• Custom-cut Marmoleum, in swooping swaths of grey-blue and mustard
• Heirloom Aubusson and Persian rugs.

Based on your answers to a series of these types of questions they will give you an approximation of your style.

The visual category, which is more fun, gives you a series of pictures to choose from.

Source

Again, based on your answers, you get results at the end, but the visuals feel more intuitive, while the written questions can be open to all sorts of interpretations.

Here are a few of my favourite quizzes, the ones I felt got closest to describing what I like in my home.

Homegoods
Farmhouse Glam with a touch of Boho/Traveler
Farmhouse Glam is the delicate, exquisite balance between beautiful femininity and rustic nonchalance. She's all about the discovery of unexpected sparkle amidst the less polished. She wears high heels and a denim jacket, a string of pearls and bare feet. And her home feels as special as it does comfortable.

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Interestingly, the answer page gave a list of "Who is Blogging Farmhouse Glam" and the top two were Miss Mustard Seed and Perfectly Imperfect, two of my favourite bloggers.

Style At Home
Country Charmer 
You're a born romantic, and you love pieces that show something of the lives their past owners lived. You don't need to impress with fine things; you'd rather look for the piece whose beauty others somehow passed by. You're resourceful and eclectic, and follow your own instincts in both decorating and life. Your sunny outlook is charming, but be careful not to let your rose-tinted glasses blind you to the real world -- at least not all of the time!

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BHG
Cottage
"Laid-back" best describes your way of life, which means Cottage style is right up your alley. You love rooms that feel casual, breezy, and informal. Consider slipcovered furniture and painted wood pieces to achieve a put-your-feet-up vibe. Use crisp white as the ideal backdrop for layers of soft accent colors found in pillows, rugs, and vintage accessories.

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Interior Design Packages
Traditional European Design Style
Should you be fortunate enough to inhabit a setting with tall ceilings and windows, stone or wood floors and even a suggestion of the ornate in accompanying cabinets, wall panels and lighting, you will have a great foundation for creating a Traditional European Style home. Refined finishes with layers of color, gold or silver leafing and a finishing glaze are the signature of fine old world furniture craftsmen whose work you will covet. Pleats, tufting, ruffling, trims, nail heads, medallions, tassels and fringe dominate chapter two in your furniture and drapery journal.
Crystal chandeliers and wall sconces or more masculine bronze, wooden or wrought iron pendants and candelabra will light the stage for the exquisite drama that enfolds as you design and furnish with stately carved wood and stone, richly textured fabrics of damask, tapestry, velvet or satin and complimentary mirrors, urns and porcelains.

HGTV
I actually took this one twice by accident, about a month apart, and got two different answers, but I think they are both right in their way.

Old World, New Way
Deep, rich and regal but muted for a time-worn effect. Finishes are distressed, woodwork is rough-hewn. A lived-in but luxurious old world.

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Romantic
Elegant yet relaxing. Luxurious fabrics, soft colors, fresh florals. Appeals to all the senses and sets a warm mood.

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Real Simple
I got about 50/50 on this one.
C. Cozy Casual
You’re about comfort and warmth, favoring warm, traditional rooms made for relaxing with family and friends. Your ideal decor draws on English and early-American furniture designs, as well as laid-back country, cottage, and farmhouse styles. Weathered, low-maintenance furnishings are easy, inviting, and built for daily life. Think golden retrievers, fuzzy slippers, and just about any movie by Nancy Meyers.

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D. Vintage Eclectic
You go for history, quirks, and curves. A rich, layered look combining flea-market finds, furniture designs from various time periods, and a diverse collection of accessories and artwork appeals to you. Dusty colors, timeworn or handmade textiles, and collected objects create a lived-in feel. Think Paris flea markets, Granny’s teacups, the film Grey Gardens.

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I had to Google "Grey Gardens" when this came up, and I'm not sure if they mean the documentary or the TV movie - either way, I've got to see them both now.

Sproost
This was the most fun. Instead of choosing between a set of pictures it asks you to value each picture on a scale between "Love It" and "Hate It" and you can see it taking out options in a grid to one side of the page. At the end it gives you a percentage breakdown of your styles and a detailed description of your main one.

I scored:
40% French Eclectic
40% Classic
20% Nantucket Style

French Eclectic
Parlez-vous français? Even if the answer is no, you can confidently say your home does! French Country, like its name, somehow manages to both be formal and casual, classy and unassuming at the same time. You like your spaces to feel inviting from the moment you (or your guest) opens the front door and this feeling should continue even after you've entered your most formal room. Even though there are French antiques here and gold details there, the rustic elements provide a balance and warmth that seems to say, "come in, relax and stay a while." Your love of antiques leads you to flea markets, garage sales and hours of eBay hunting.  

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Materials
The materials and pieces you are drawn to play on the mix of formal and casual. Many of the pieces look like they were passed down from your great-great-aunt (even if they are brand new!) and you managed to upholster them in a way that made that piece both then and now. Much of the furniture is wood-framed and the wood is either left natural (hey there rustic!), painted white (hey there country!) or even gold (hello refinement!). And many times there is a strong mixture of all of these. If you find yourself leaning much more towards the "country" side of things and away from the Parisian side, drop the gold details and replace them with wrought iron. 

Colors
When it comes to color, you are drawn to bright and airy options. Thoughts of the French countryside are key - warm colors such as yellows, reds and oranges hinting at fields of gold. But the nice thing about French Eclectic is you can just as easily go in the opposite direction: pale blues and greens hinting at acres of lavender fields and expansive blue skies

Space Planning
When you think about laying out your French Eclectic room the key is to invite people in and encourage them to stay. So furniture should be grouped nicely to encourage intimate conversation and the main pieces should be comfortable in both look and feel. There should be plenty of places to set drinks, prop feet and lean back. And yet the functionality of these pieces doesn't necessarily mean that they aren't beautiful antiques or replicas. 

So it looks like I'm Farmhouse Glam/Country/Cottage/Traditional/Romantic/Casual/Eclectic.

I'm not sure I'm much closer to 'defining' my decorating style, but I sure had a lot of fun.

Take a couple of the quizzes and then let me know in the comments what you came up with. Are you Contemporary/Beachy/Arts and Crafts or a Retro/Zen/Cowboy sorta styler?

Wendy