Hanging Stuff

Now that we have been in the house a few weeks I decided to get started on some window treatments. I am a big fan of minimal window treatments and don't like to put them up just because there is a window. So what ever I put up will be if I think we need privacy in an area or the window and room really need the help. 

I started with the 2 windows that look onto our stairs. The lower window is right off our porch and anyone could look right into the house through it. I have found some really great fabrics at Ikea. I love Scandinavian design and modern botanical prints. I found two that I loved. I also started hanging some of our art. The design poster nest to the window was a gift from a friend and I love its bright color next to the curtains. 

The other print is my absolute favorite right now. I needed to add something a bit tougher or darker to the kitchen to temper the blue walls. This botanical fit the bill and makes me smile every time I see it. I am also using it to recover a bench and my vanity seat in the master bedroom. 

One other thing I hung was this adorable squirrel dog leash holder our dear friend Brian got us for our wedding. I am obsessed with squirrels. These Creatures makes a large variety of pet and home items - bowl stands, leash holders, shelves, book ends etc. So adorable - and a local Seattle company. 

Piece by piece it is coming together. 

Iowa Squirrels

So here it is I unveil my love of squirrels. Yes - the little vermin with those cute fluffy tails. I love watching them play in the tree branches and chase around the tree trunks. I love watching my dogs chase them - knowing they are never going to be able to catch them .

When I travel I am on the lookout for squirrels - especially city squirrels. New York and Chicago have some awful nice ones.

Ramon just traveled to Iowa for work. Now I had placed a few things on Ramons' agenda while he was away. One was to find me a taxidermy squirrel. I really want one for one of my wedding tables. And heck - Iowa seemed like the kind of place to find one. He knows of my squirrel love and heard from a couple of people that there were these black squirrels in Iowa. I wanted to know what the heck that means - what is a black squirrel - after all grey is the classic. A little more investigative work and he learned that these black squirrels hang out in the cemetery. Weird - right?

Here is what you wear in Iowa to sneak up on squirrels in the cemetery.

Here is the cemetery.

And here are the squirrels - the first picture is a black squirrel and the second is his friend mr. auburn squirrel.

Mr Ramon said they were so cute chasing each other and playing. One of the best things about this time of year - the squirrel fun.

Oh yeah - if anyone out there has a taxidermy squirrel that they would let us borrow - just let me know!!