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WHAT’S in a color?

Aging beauties might need a face lift, but not Mother Nature. She is our inspiring design wizard. And, when she heard a new buzz word for a creative milestone that was popping up in the 30’s she jumped right in to embrace the Golden Age of Hollywood!

But, long before “technicolor,” a significant part of color’s story travels back to the 17th century and the genius of Sir Issac  Newton. You would think that after inventing calculus, gravity and the law of motion, etc. he would take a break, not Sir Issac. He established that the human eye can discern at least ten million colors from an infinite spectrum that he divided into 7 colors.

He thought there must be seven colors in the rainbow and added orange and split purple into indigo and violet because he believed seven was a cosmically significant*, even a ‘magic’ number. The musical scale has seven notes and Newton decided to define seven distinct colors as well.

Interestingly, with today’s technology, the Sherwin Williams paint company is capable of producing 1,700 paint colors! If you’re painting today and you scanned all 1,700, please do not ask your designer or paint store expert, “Do you have any other colors?”

Color can interact to create dynamic or calming experiences. How may times have you said to a friend, “That color looks great on you—makes your eyes look greener, bluer, etc. You should always wear that color.”

Guidelines and tip-offs from nature are abuzz with significant color ways. From one old bird to another—“Always keep your feathers that color!  Brightens your outlook and is definitely uplifting for you!”

Or, the neutral colors of beige, grey, taupe and griege.

From A Cheetah Grandmother—“I taught my family all about their  camouflage shades and said, your chic, neutral palette cloaks you in a perfect safety net.”

                           Always stick with grandmothers!

Sir Issac decided that all colors are derived from the three primary colors—red, yellow, blue. But, in color analysis “less is not more“ because you can mix and mix more. A basic terminology defines color as, when,

• a color is mixed with white, it is a TINT to create a lighter color.
• A color is mixed with grey, it is a TONE.
• A color is mixed color with black, it is a SHADE.

Armed with that knowledge and a lot more, way back in the 80ties, a popular trend focused on your personal color palette by trained Color Analysis Coaches. The Seasonal Color Analysis System was divided it into Winter, Spring, Summer or Autumn

They select your your most flattering colors. Friends who feature them in their wardrobes and homes shared how special and confident this program makes them feel.

So, for my own global approach to colors, I checked in with friends and created the—                                                           

World’s Smallest Most Insignificant Mini-Survey

• Do you have a favorite color?
• Do you have a color you dislike?
• Does wearing your favorite color influence how you feel?
• Is there a color that helps you feel relaxed?
• Do you have a dominating color in your home?

Their answers were quite enlightening:                                     

BLJB: “Spruce green, “When I wear it, I feel calmness, assurance and enjoy compliments. It was a showstopper in my beloved green and white kitchen; our happy and healthy center of activity. I dislike (emoji) orange.”

BS:  “Red, “I don’t wear red, but it’s my favorite. I like it’s can-do spirit, it’s strength and it’s our heart’s color. My least likable color is gold.”

JJEC: “My favorite colors are the classic pastels—blue, lavender, pink, sea foam green, etc. Years ago, I had my colors done and my designation was Summer. It reinforced my feeling of loving and wearing pastels. I would not wear black and the neutrals are too bland for me.”

MJ: “Blue, all shades of blue. When I had my colors done, I used  maroon and grey-blue accents in our homes. They are my feel-good colors! Yellow is not a good color for me.”

JM: “I like all colors, particularly deep or bright ones. I have to think of a color I don’t like, probably grey.”

BSJC: “The rich, warm colors of Autumn—brown, beige, orange and warm greens. Purple is my pizzazy color and I feel energetic when I wear it. For a relaxed feeling, it’s the shade of white.”

RBB: “I like the power and intensity of red. It livens up interiors and elevates my mood when I wear it. Teal and blue shades are relaxing and restful. I never wear brown and strong colors are highlighted in my home.”

CE: “The full range of blue, along with pink and tan and rust shades. I am a Winter and have maintained wearing those shades. I, completely enjoy them. Orange is not for me.

At least they know what they like!

Our world is a kaleidoscope of colors, transporting us to positive feelings and can reflect our personalities. Color packs a powerful punch and is your personal showcase. Look to Mother Nature, a  most noteworthy teacher!

And remember to—

SEY SAYS:

Cast restraint aside, the vibrant, stimulating character of red can create dynamic and positive energy. Red fancies center stage.

Splashy orange is a reflection of a strong, flamboyant aliveness that dares not to conform.

Glowing pops of sunshine invalidates dullness. Yellow illustrates artful brilliance, warmth and luminosity.

The luster and splendor of green infuses the natural world around us. Green expresses feelings of soothing coolness and/or vitality.

This palette reaches far into the universe. Blue offers peace-of-mind  and endless horizons.

No need to be a shrinking violet if you love the  purple offerings created from reds and blues that meld into lavender, periwinkle, mauve. Don’t forget, it’s Royalty’s favorite color!

*Wikipedia: Sir Issac Newton

Happy Summer Solstice and Vacation Blaire!

“Art is as much about what is not there as about what is there. The greatness of a work of art depends more in what it holds back than what it shows.” Enrique Martinez Celaya*

I think the same thing can be said about conversation, if we trade a few words of Martinez Celaya’s quote; conversation is as much about what is said as about what is not said…..sometimes, when words are held back, true meaning shows.  

How many words have I said or written since moving into the Octogenarian Kingdom?  Waaaaay too many, no doubt, but even the ones that should not have been said, have allowed me to grow—at least—I hope so.

     TOUGH LOVE

     A Serious Talk About Downsizing:

I was in St. Louis showering unsentimental decisions (outright judgements) on the dearest of friends—a friendship that began when we were eight years old. She was moving to a Retirement Realm. We had been through this before—a house, a villa, a Florida condo and once again I was her designer/drill sergeant.

I said, “Jo, it doesn’t fit.” using my firm, but judicious, designer voice. “Jo, we don’t have enough space for the 12’ X 9’ oriental rug, antique corner cabinet, dining room table, chairs, lamps, 8’ custom circular rug, etc.”

Jo’s expression showed disbelief, dismay, and a touch of panic, as she said, “Sheila, I just had those rugs cleaned—-I love those rugs! Are you telling me they don’t fit?”

Jo is on a roll, “Do you mean my bed is too large? You really think my carved Dresden lamps are overwhelming for the bedroom?”

Not letting this issue die, she tries for an outright shot-in-the-arm—called buttering up, “Sheila, I love your new ideas for my apartment, the lattice-work, the periwinkle color, I know you can make them fit. You always do!”

This was gritty love and I wanted to please her. I measured her favorite pictures, mirrors, each and every piece of furniture—juxtaposed shapes and fit in those two rugs. I needed to offer support and new surprising design concepts for her new abode. We love shopping and bought  furnishings that fit and accented her personality.

It worked! But outshining our tough “talk show moments,” is this; our friendship is wonderfully strong and we still laugh together, eight decades later!               

AN IMPERFECT DIALOGUE 

Wrong Number:

I was a new resident figuring out how things worked in our Retirement Digs when a series of phone calls set-off major frustrations. I picked up my phone and heard….

“Hello, I’d like a refill for my pills.” The lady did not listen when I told her she was calling a wrong number. Instead, she repeated her order once more.

Again, I repeated, “I’m sorry. You are calling the wrong number. I am another resident.” Ignoring my explanation, she said, “For goodness sake, I need my pills!”

Her third phone call, and I was bordering on strident as we began our routine. All I wanted to do was yell, “LADY! Please stop calling me!”

But a bit of understanding was beginning. I sensed her frustration and suggested, “Try calling this number.” I gave her an operator’s number at our community’s general office. Anticipating yet another fretful pill request, I was surprised when she denounced our community’s phone system. “It’s the phones, this phone system does not work here.”

And yet another surprise as she offered her sweet frustration. I heard a long sigh, a hesitation and then my caller continued in a softer voice, “I’m not perfect either.”                                                                                                                             And instantly hung up.

(I’m the one in back hoping she gets her pills.)

I have certainly dialed many wrong numbers and was sorry that she hung up before I could wish her luck!

How do you solve an emotional conversation with rational reactions when two people do not know each other, can not  see each and are talking through air. After our initial irritations, we did not slam the phone down and tried to understand each other. I offered a Band-aid and she softened her voice—a Talk Show headed for kindly responses.   Now This  One Is….. 

                                                                   A Successful Talk Show With Good Listeners.

AN INTERVIEW WITH MY SOUS-CHEF

by

AN OLDER BLOGGER

And the radishes are rad!

O.B.     “Did you say your name was Julia?”

B.         Affronted voice, “No, I actually did not! My name is Blaire. Just Blaire!”  (She loves the word, “actually.”)

O.B.     “So sorry, Blaire. Your mommy said you were her sous-chef. You are no doubt accomplished in many foods. Can you describe one of your dishes?

B.          “Yes, I can. Actually, I go out to my vegetable garden to dig a big radish for my daddy. He loves to eat radishes.”

O.B.   “I noticed your gardening tool is a wooden spoon and you protect your hands with gardening gloves. The gloves are a smart choice. And the tutu matches your pink shirt. “

B.       “Thank you! I wear my tutu a lot.”

O.B.   “How do you prepare your radishes?”

B.      “I get a very big radish and I wash it with soap and water. My mommy slices it and I put it on my Daddy’s plate,”  (Blaire keeps a steely eye on me to see if I am listening. When I have previously glanced away, Blaire put a hand on each side of my face and gently turns it so I am looking directly at her.)

O.B.   “Did you know there’s a famous chef named Julia. That is why I asked you at the beginning of our interview if  your name was Julia. Would you  like to be a famous chef just like Julia?”

B.      “NO, I actually would not. I Am Blaire, Just Blaire!”

Apparently, my quest for the lowdown on her four year old interpretation of fine dining and organic gardening was now dismissed. I’ve done more than a couple of interviews and her disclosures were state-of-the-art responses, but, this was a first because, within minutes, I receive a disarming smile and hug. (And, I do know that she does not want to be a chef called Julia.)

                                                                                                  Just Blaire!

Best pay, I ever received from a beloved Talk Show.

Sy’s Salient Points:

We add value to our conversations if we listen carefully and do not make assumptions.

Kudos all around to each of us as we share, care, laugh and enjoy each other during our own “Talk Shows.”

*Enrique Martinez Celaya is a contemporary artist who works across media—painting, sculpture, photography, writing—he serves as a Provost Professor at University of Southern, CA in Los Angeles.

Happy May Day Blaire

   HALLELUJAH!

 HEALTH, WELLNESS & FRIENDSHIP REIGN

Fearlessly, the retirees around me stepped into old age after passing GO—the After-70-Year-Old Stage. In exploring a tiny aspect of this splendid and phenomenal lastingness, our brave stick-to-itiveness batch has encountered some roadblocks???  But, no worries, we’re all in this together!

My first glimpse of the mystery of old age came from beloved grandmothers, Martha and Lydia.  With even closer observation, the life journey of my parents, Emily and Martin.                                                                                                                                                        Now, front and center—the unknowable is here. It’s knowable! Because I am now that vintage fossil.

That doesn’t mean my sedentary body is sitting next to Whistler’s   

Mother, never moving, as she stares into space looking for—? Actually, I think her thought-provoking appearance shows that she has something important to say.*

History shows us that one important aspect of people living longer even when they encounter tough health and well-being issues is  bonding with friends and acquaintances.                                                                                                                                                             I am surrounded by the togetherness of friends

who educate themselves in numerous subjects including health and wellness. We benefit from each other’s resilience. The three above are certainly benefitting from togetherness.

Obviously, still being here, I decided not to skip old age because the dispatches sent were not offering alternatives. Therefore, with eyes wide open, I now work hard to be comfortable with body parts that go on strike, fall apart or refuse to work.

The reality is that a significant number of us living in this Retirement Realm carry around a replaced body part or two, maybe three. Sometimes human chassis’s line up and morph into one another. One friend has had two hip replacements on the same hip. A hip replacement on her other hip, a pacemaker and yesterday she had a full knee replacement. When asked how she feels about another surgery, she said, “Pretty Bionic”.

Sounds like my bionic friend.

A quirky question occurred when I was standing in an airport line from a TSA clerk “Any body  replacements?”  After my reply the next thing I heard blasting loud and clear across the terminal expanse was “METAL ELBOW & KNEE  COMING THRU!” Disappointment showed on my fellow traveler’s faces as this ordinary person tottered off to a new shorter line.

Being only bionic on one side, my metal parts allow me to travel, have flowers in my apartment,

dine with good friends, revisit good books and laugh at our bloopers as we forge ahead. (About the above flowers on my coffee table—my Dream Team Neighbors surprised me this morning with my own interior flower garden.  I’ve been smiling ever since at their flamboyant—”look-at-me” acclamation. I’ve invited the ranunculus and sunflowers to stay and be my roommates.  I’ll keep you posted if they accept.)

A favorite author, Dame Penelope Lively said this as an octogenarian, “I have had surgery and treatment for breast cancer….my sight is dodgy….a cracked vertebra, requiring surgery left me in unrelenting and apparently inexplicable pain …and yet, Dame Penelope also says, “I revel in this spring sunshine, and purple hellebore and the sound of a beloved voice on the phone brings a surge of pleasure.”

.                                                                                     Friendly Voices Make A Difference!

A recent late afternoon visit to the ER for my creaky leg wound lasted until the late night. The transport service that took me to the ER was not part of my insurance plan. No problem, a knight in kindness armor drove a gauntlet mileage, waited in a crowded room, schlepped my wheelchair to pharmacy and in the dark of night drove me home sharing good conversation and laughter. Friendship Reigns!

Regardless of good intentions and the spin of the old age roulette wheel, brainpower strategizes and redesigns aging body parts. Equally so, the humaneness of human beings puts forward warmhearted messages, saying,—                                                                                                                                                                       No Matter What Age!                                                                                                                                                                                  Hallelujah To Health, Wellness & Friendship                                                                           or perhaps, Maya Angelou said this best about aging:

“Despite the creakiness of one’s bones and the cragginess of one’s -silken skin, is this:                                                                                                       Do it by all means do it.”

That’s exactly what we’re doing at my Retirement Realm—we’re excelling at creaky bones and craggy skin.

   Sy’s Salient Points:

My senior crowd is never going to be left behind in the subject of Health and Wellness or for that matter—Friendships. They are bound and determined to make their lives work. No Matter What Age—                                                                  Do it by all means do it.  Maya Angelou did!                                                                                                                                                       

*the conversation.com: 7-3-2015 Anna Whistler raised a renowned artist, acclaimed physician, a prosperous businessman and a daughter who married into the English upper class. She was a shrewd observer of the world, lived in Russia with family, her husband had been hired by Czar Nicholas I…. As her biographer noted, “she was a mighty force in the lives of those around her”.

Happy Easter Blaire

Take a walk with me and stop at my door. There’s a small space seeking attention. It’s not quite an Agatha Christy mystery, but happenings keep happening on a small wooden perch. What is it?

There’s No Mystery! The apartment buildings in my retirement realm have a megawatt of hallways and doorways that overflow with shelves.

Shelves?

You Betcha! Because next to each door is a shelf that can hold a potpourri of creative memories, humorous knick knacks, pretty arrangements—i.e.. miscellaneous collections that I call,  SHELF STEW!

The hallway shelf was originally meant to be a functional counter, not an ornamental item. In early Retirement Home design days, designers wanted to offer a useful site to place packages or purses when searching for keys to unlock doors. Another idea was to include a lighted key hole.

Consider: It is a pleasant, creative way to say, “hello” to friends and neighbors. Amazing to think that this not-so-big piece of 14 inches of wood at it largest section could possibly make any impact? But it can and often offers a smile.

Back to Shelf Stew and the embellishment of Floors, Doors and Shelves to add some hallway vibe to boost our moods and outlook. It is my personal aim to add temporary pleasure or color to a long, long hallway.

Winter homage to nature’s glories using dried branches and bits of baubles.

What it’s not:

It’s not rocket science, actually not any science, literature or the new virtual super chic Metaverse.*    There are no marquee illusions.                                                                                                                          There is no exclusivity, not even inclusivity, it is just a personal bunch of mixed decorating stew, like this,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

A  Kitschy Valentine Day Salute,

a beautiful museum card,

    some 1904 English Tiles.

Same bird!

In reality, some residents are not interested in changing displays. My interests stems from my interior design background because designers have a natural propensity to create and  hopefully uplift, please and/or sell to their clients.

My favorite shelf of all time occurred when my granddaughter was eight years old during her first solo visit. We enjoyed ice cream for breakfast, watched TV mysteries in bed, ( early Nancy Drew), while eating french fries and/or popcorn. She surprised me by asking if she could design my shelf. For starters, she collected shells and found a tiered stand in my closet.

added a sign, “The Beach Makes Peace!!

Added another sign, “Tell us what you think of our decoration!!!…Remembered her manners and wrote Thank you!!!…Thinking ahead, she also added Post-It Notes and a pencil,             

Finished it off with a final flourish and a new sign with heartfelt hearts, thanking all who commented.

Doors and Floors!

My Retirement Realm only allows small pets. Hence, Delilah only pops round for her Christmas visit.

Delilah expects a Christmas bow display!

Doors sometimes offer…Surprise! A Festive Birthday Wish from a Dear Friend!

So Many Holidays, New Promises!

Stages of Autumn:

Eerie & Spectral?

.

Turkey Territory!!! 

June brings a bouquet of wedding pictures. Perched on shelves are smiling young couples, never ever foreseeing that future moment of nostalgically gracing a shelf in their retirement home.

Plus, among those many hallways are not only shelves, but doors. And if you knock on that door to say hello you will discover a fellow human being who has timeless style and awesome intellect. This is not a rumor; I can unequivocally say that we who have ended up here have found valued friendships scattered among these verdant acres.  Friends, who without a moments hesitation, will come to you aid.

At the top of the Friendship Tier___My Family!

                                                                         Happy Shelving To You!

Sy’s Salient Points:

Friendships are transformative. (A pencil & Post-It Notes on a shelf offered an opportunity for new acquaintanceships.)

*  METROPOLIS Editorial, Jan/Feb 2022:”The Metaverse will be the amalgamation of virtual reality, cryptocurrency, NFT’s (non-fungible tokens)…..a collective reimagining of the build environment.”

*A critical essay by Claire L. Evans in METROPOLIS, Jan/Feb. 2022: Claire’s opinion piece regarding Mark  Zuckerberg’s Meta’s social VR platform, “Horizon Worlds.”                                                              “This metaverse isn’t a new world, only a way of prolonging the grift of social media.”

Happy St. Patricks’s Day Blaire!

Murray Moss said, “You can’t fall off the floor!”                                                                                                                But you can fall onto the floor, or the ice, or the snow. During the next weeks you are going to see plenty of falls if you are a Winter Olympics fan. I was/am and in the past I enjoyed a sport that was challenging and inspiring. Tell me what you think and if you plan to watch.

 DO NOT underestimate a boot attached to a 3/16 inch piece of long steel that is holding up a live body standing on an acre of ice in a freezing atmosphere. Be smart, keep moving — keep your circulation going!  Being lazy in an ice rink is unacceptable.                                                                                                                    (People have frozen to death….I’m not sure about in an ice rink, though.)

I wanted to keep moving; ice skating sounded interesting and so, one summer, I took my mother’s hand as we made our way to St. Louis’s 1894 Union Station filled with freeways of train tracks, gold leaf ceilings, arches and richly colored stained glass windows. My mother and I walked down the vast indoor entry staircase under the glorious Whispering Arch to sign up for a summer skating program in Minnesota.

Whispering Arch

Grand Staircase

We had pre-arranged to rent a master bedroom in a graceful two-story home where our glimpse of life rivaled that of Jack and the Beanstalk as lush, leafy branches tapped against our windows. Our walk to the rink was equally splendid, and formed my lifelong love of trees. If you were so inclined AND of a certain age, it was great to hop-scotch from sun spot to sun spot walking to the rink,—landing on those audacious sun spots that dared to find a path from the sky between the tree leaves.

In case you’re wondering about the perfect diet for a skating athlete to follow, mine centered on the Woolworth Five and Dime lunch counter. It was heaven if you wanted to exist on pancakes, French toast, grilled cheese, macaroni and cheese, hamburgers, French fries, chocolate milkshakes and hot fudge sundaes. I always skipped the ‘vegetable of the day’ unless it was corn.      I was eleven!                                                                                                                                                                                      

As I soon learned, there were many places to fit in as a skater, competitions, compulsories and free skating. After a while, I discovered I liked competing with individual challenges including compulsories.

When I started, the figure skating world was focused on skating figures on the ice, otherwise known as Compulsories.  This involved using blades to draw circles, figure 8s, and similar shapes on clean sheets of ice demonstrating accuracy and clarity of exact line placement. Dauntingly, early ice skating officialdom decreed a series of eight inflexibly escalating tough as nails tests. Three judges administered each test, studied each line and angle diligently, and then would decree….Pass or Fail.

Free skating, the showpiece of skating with its zip and zing offers the sheer joy of speeding along and jumping; a feeling akin to flying unencumbered, (do consider the caveat— landing the jumps is essential,) spins and footwork, all a fine art.  So much fun!  We worked hard during those summer programs, starting at 6:00 am weekday mornings and skated all day with short breaks.

In the nineties when television became interested in skating competitions showcasing skaters executing mind numbingly dull eights of barely visible lines carved into the ice, tv ratings spiraled downhill—the bells tolled and the compulsory figure section of skating vanished. Kaput!

Free skating, now, represents the sport. The preeminent male skater in the fifties and rightly so, was Dick Button.* His jumping/flying/skating skills equaled that guy who had to go into a phone booth and magically exit in blue tights with an “S” emblazoned on his chest. Check the height of Dick’s jump, no cape as he soared over tall buildings landing on soft knees with deep edges.

In those early years, skating clothes had not morphed into the fantastical with a thousand or so shimmering sequins. The men wore short formal jackets looking like they had left their restaurant job…. “Hi, I’m Ted, I’ll be your waiter tonight….”

During a Denver summer, I shared an apartment with a favorite friend; we were teenagers, did our own cooking and were always happy to have an invitation to enjoy someone else’s cooking.

To my joy, my coach invited me to some lunches with Dick Button.  I enjoyed good food and amusing conversations with a two time Olympic Champion who was the first to land a triple jump in world  competitions way back in 1952.  Dick completed a Harvard law, degree, created production companies, became a tv analyst, etc. — truly an accomplished human being.                   

And now, 70 years later, new Olympic skaters will be crowned. New megastars will land quadruple jumps on a boot attached to a 3/16 inch piece of long steel. Kudos to the talented skaters and the other Olympians who soar in their sport!

Sy’s Salient points:

Skating led to opportunities that would reach far into my future including a demanding learning curve. Delightful friendships ensued to be continued in new and different rinks throughout many, many summers.

*Dick Button: Wikipedia

Happy Valentine’s Day Blaire & Happy Birthday Everett

TO MY FRIEND, RAY BARNECUT…

Lay-back-spin

A growing process:

We joined group living, as had 800 others when we moved to a retirement realm. Our new home/apartment was surrounded by hallways, dining rooms, nature’s walkways, gathering rooms…but, behind one doorway was our private domain.

Flashback: Our New Dream!

A blueprint for comfort and style to suit us. All 1163 sq./ft.—ours!
For starters, I’m an interior designer. What could be better?

I had an empty canvas and a new storyline. When we first saw our apartment in the Retirement Realm, we thought, “This is doable. We can do this!” Realistically, we were not focusing on the fact that there was nary a stick of furniture in our new bailiwick. Not stick nor stone. Hmmm!

The Anatomy of a Room:
Not counting a small dining alcove, kitchen and two bathrooms, today’s focus is on the runt of our three main rooms that had to hold a multitude of functions, i.e. guest room, computer room, TV room and relaxing room. “Necessity being the mother of invention” I needed to invent/design a handsome room for two geriatric fossils who knew they were vintage, but imagined themselves as being trendy. Hmmmm!

What fun! So happy to design our study because except for my husband’s comfortable leather chair and an elegant antique Chinese cabinet filled with books, research chronicles and clippings, my husband almost never asked what anything cost. Blissfully, who knows?

Expressive colors dominate our study, for instance; Commanding the floor is a favorite design color (SHERWIN WILLIAMS 6868 REAL RED.) In here it’s the background hue of my Pakistani Bokhara area rug. Its thick pile has a grid pattern of oval cream, black and terra-cotta shapes. The name Bokhara has long been used to indicate rugs in the Tekke framework of the Turkoman Tribes in Pakistan.*

To digress: A former yearly Thanksgiving tradition between a daughter and I was a New York journey to see theatre productions, museums. friends, shopping and check out over-the-top special holiday trappings.

A favorite, were the window decorations at Saks. One year the fantasy Christmas theme highlighted a single color per window with a mannequin placed inside a glass ornament surrounded with flocked trees, presents, jewels, white poodles — gorgeous window tableau after tableau. And ahead “what to my wondering eyes did appear” but my BOKHARA RUG in the Window of Red!

Whew, that was heady. Apparently, Saks and I are hand-in-hand with our design flair and panache, plus, that window designer had unparalleled acumen and discerning taste. (Too much?)

Also popping up in my joyful nostalgia of happily designing a

room to fit our needs was this memory. Can anyone remember the:

Our study needed more than a rug. A guest room needs a bed and I knew of a company near me designing old-fashioned Murphy beds, i.e. today’s stylish description “wall bed”.* We came up with a design that pleased us, focusing on our travels and a fondness for Asian antiques and folk crafts.

Closed, it’s an artful element; open, a comfortable bed delineating the flexibility of this study where space is limited. Functionality was a top priority with its built-in reading lights, back shelf and we added a wrap around desk in the same wood finish.

Two handsome burnished different leather chairs are juxtaposed against two bold terra-cotta walls where our beloved books make the room a personal haven.

We were collectors. When someone asked what we collected….I could only answer “everything.” No matter where we traveled, my husband always sternly admonished before taking off, “We, are not buying an extra suitcase!” Of course, I agreed, fingers crossed behind my back.                                                                                    We always bought an extra suitcase!

Our study is a composition of color, texture and the play of soft outside light filtering through sheer curtains that wonderfully extend a sense of privacy and still offer their mercurial ability to move with a breeze.

When talking about the anatomy of our room….its anchors, bones, remember there is so much more….its cosy, cocoon heart! The family pictures, books, decorative memorabilia and collections….they are our story, as we walk through life together.
Time to move forward and become

        UNFETTERED

Sy’s Salient Points:
Senior surroundings in an independent environment that includes transitional care is a pivotal brass ring for aging.

Dark rich hues/colors….proffer a sense of sanctuary.

*The bed is named for William Lawrence Murphy (1876–1959), who applied for his first patents around 1900. According to legend, he was wooing an opera singer, but lived in a one-room apartment in San Francisco, and the moral code of the time frowned greatly upon a woman entering a man’s bedroom.

        Happy 2022 BLAIRE!

Having finished her Salad-Days and into her Main-Course days, Sheila answered a general announcement to present a lecture at an ASID National Conference in Baltimore. When she told her friend who was President of her chapter that she had thrown her name into the ring, he said, “Don’t get your hopes up, it’s pretty much of an “in-crowd.”

Post 11, Hmmm, what the in-crowd said.…???

Truth be told, I had no lecture, no research, nada, zilch. I threw out a title and then trotted back to working with clients.

A few weeks later,  a resounding whirrr ….a long distance phone call from Washington DC, ”We’d like you to present three one-hour lectures this coming July.”                                           Pure Incredibility!                                                                                    There were no lectures! There was just a bunch of stuff who knew where?

(This was February and the call was from Barbara Henn, Director of ASID Education and soon to be a cherished friend.) Time to solidify my bird-brained whim of the moment idea as to how a group of ladies decided reinvent the wheel!….the Interior Decorating Wheel.

*Whims, sometimes do open doors to new life-long explorations and late one afternoon, I drove 75 miles to hear brilliant, quick-witted and warm hearted stories of “The Master Decorators” by Hutton Wilkins. During my long drive home (late at night) on the dark California freeways, I reflected on Hutton’s knowledge and wanted to pursue my feelings of a deep connection to “Those Trend Setters.”

I don’t know if those lady trend setters heard Ralph Waldo Emerson emote with his great quote, (he was a bit before their time….1800’s), “Go forth into the busy world and love it. Interest yourself in its life, mingle kindly with its joys and sorrows.”                                                                                                                                   

“Don’t Forget Elsie, Syrie, Ruby & Frances!” **

          Elsie                          Syrie                                                                                          Ruby                       Frances           

They looked for a change.  There was a restlessness and the need for an income.  Superbly creative, they were the first to turn their talents into dollars and cents.  Elsie, Syrie, Ruby and Frances became the lifeblood and oxygen of decorating.

Was one better than the other?  Such comparisons would be inconsequential—unrealistic.  All were known for their attention to detail. They willingly gave up traditional family life for their careers. Their aggressive egos propelled them toward success, and what they did for interior decoration was revolutionary.

        Elsie de Wolfe was a New York stage actress.

                    Syrie Maugham was part of the smart Mayfair set and a socialite.

             Ruby Ross Wood was a journalist and a ghost writer.

           Frances Adler Elkins was a concert pianist and a composer.

Wouldn’t that be Camelot? Start at the top? No, they did not

                       “Reinvent the Wheel,” but they wereTime to discover their stories:

But, the trillion amounts of Google information was, sob….not up yet. Happily, my husband was a university professor allowing me full access to hunt, check-out and fill my rolling suitcase with early 20th Century books and magazines. Used books stores became my next great love and my office became wonderfully cluttered. Then, a sizable glitch glitched. How to transfer original pictures into slides.

Again, my husband and the university saved me with a remarkable overhead stationary camera. It was a tabletop 2′ high contraption with long arms holding the camera upside down to position magazine pictures under it. Phew, I had to learn how to manually set the settings because pictures from 1907 magazines transferred into dark renderings as I balanced on a high stool to be above the camera. Processing early 21st century photos was hard, a bit intimidating with flukes/photo take-overs and my upside down camera that became a new appendage. Amazingly, many years later, Google has identical and closely identical picture/slides to the ones I  slaved over with my high trapeze standing-on-a stool-act for my slide presentations.

I loved the research as more pictures and information unfolded because their designs captivated me with their daring exploitations. For starters:

Elsie virtually created the profession of interior decoration in 1905 by replacing heavy Victorian plush and dark Jacobean furniture with Louis XV and Louis XVI furniture. Her rooms had a light style—-chintz fabric, interior treillage and scaled down furniture to make rooms less formal.***

Legends are what Syrie Maugham was about. She was the first English woman to enter interior decorating which in the early twenties was scarcely a recognized profession. Syrie was generally thought of as the creator of the all-white room.

Ruby Ross Wood was a gifted decorator. She was the first to use blue-and-white striped bed ticking for drapes and upholstered  furniture accented with white lacquer floors.

Francis Elkins was the first great California decorator who had the conviction to decorate with daring spirit. She mixed periods and countries with unforced grace and is often given credit for starting the look we embrace today, “Eclectic”.

Enchanting Trend Setters, Elsie, Ruby, Syrie & Frances

Salient Points:

Even in my Main-Course Days, Retirement as a way of life seemed unappealing; lecture opportunities offered sparks of inspiration and opened countless doors.

Eclectic interiors offer a joie de vivre….mixing antique, Asian, modern, rustic, etc. Versatility+

(Word to the wise: maybe not all in one room at the same time!)

*Hutton Wilkins curator, historian and lecturer: 1991 Decorative Arts Study Center, San Juan Capistrano

** The title of a 3-hour lecture given by Sheila Yates, Original Title/Proposal/Intro, ASID Conference, Baltimore, Maryland 1993. I recall balancing on that stool and peering into my camera. Thank goodness the lecture went well!

***Sheila Yates, Lecture Excerpts, Baltimore 1993

    Happy 16th Birthday & Thanksgiving, Blaire

When Sheila encountered old age her design career’s unique experiences became a guide to embrace change and shape an entirely new lifestyle; the adventure of being a resident with 800+ elders all heading to the backstretch………

In Post 10, Sheila has high hopes of encountering supercalifragilisticexpialidocious friendships and a few hundred unique experiences. For starters, she can try smiling and saying hello. Check out her next blog to see if at least one soul takes the bait???

Our new job in our Retirement Realm was to  discover some fine and dandy new neighbors, and hopefully friends.

                                                                                           We did!

Truth be told: We were smack in the middle of a bonanza of brains, energizing go-getters and the refreshingly charismatic.

Undisputedly, grinches happen, just adjust!  Play some music, drown out negative thoughts, stick with the lighthearted and their sense of humor. We did and fell in love with talented talents we often met at meals in one of the four large dining areas boasting extensive menu choices that “break the bank”, albeit, some can break your taste buds. If we want privacy we are able to order, pick up, trot it back to our apartments and close the door.

It’s a smooth set-up and optimal for us because of my husband’s dialysis protocol.

A warm, friendly and well trained staff serve while juggling the juggernaut of dinner ware and answer questions as they and we share our generational microcosm. They enrich and energize us.

We hear their stories, their dreams, their realities, their heartbreaks and sometimes have our flashbacks remembering our salad days, possibly sharing stories they hope never to hear again.

Some are as young as high school age, others might be filling extra time after leaving careers, picking up extra change. Heaven help them if they mention something about which we feel knowledgeable. Bittersweet for me are the times when favorites call personally to say, “Goodbye” as they leave to move forward  in their own lives. I still miss many.

About the multifaceted: there is a significant part of our bonanza of brains who are a principal resource to me for their smart blog upgrades and I am pretty thankful for joining forces…

• *with Betty, who saves me from innumerable gaffes, checks misspellings and is an invaluable cheerleader She is the most attentive editor a blog writer could have and comes up with subtle and compelling ideas. (Did I mention needing help with my speeling?)
• **with Matt, who raises the standard and jazzes up my blog. (The younger set excel at jazzing up social media a lot.) When you have a project manager the caliber of Matt who is my computer ninja and offers resourceful, energetic and creative input, plus compels me to keep learning, you know I am one….lucky duck. Did I mention my spellling?

(All this while running his business on limited sleep….he is the father of 18 month old Everett.)

• ***with Sue, an artist who shares her Intrepid caricature; my lady started building a new life and like her friends often feels astonished at all there is to do,  such as
  dipping their toes into….Gasp….athletics!
• Her tongue-in-cheek sweet humor is depicting this up to the minute trio wondering during their heart-to-hearts how did this happen so fast….this new time of life that is rewardingly full of time to learn new skills and the courage to plan new adventures. As a designer who feels privileged to work with my clients, I respect them and their homes, equally so, I respect cherished friends at my retirement realm as our laughter rings out with our singular humor.                                                                                                                                                               
• By the the way: Hmmmm, Did I notice my own blog “lady” has my chin problem?

Stay tuned….

Sy’s Salient Points:

MULTIFACETED humor is our necessary stabilizer and needed throughout our Retirement Realm!

Lives are  forever changed for the better by soulmates…. unforgettable forces who bolster, boost and care….ALTRUISTIC friendships.

Thoughtful gestures knock our socks off….NOBLE moments rule.

*From a good authority: She fearlessly began sneaking from school to buy candy with her lunch money, took train trips in a sleeper compartment, waltzed into the dining car to hear, “Sit here, little lady,” etc.  On her honeymoon in Alaska, donned sailor clothing with her new salmon fisherman husband and went on the town with the guys. Opened a chic cooking emporium, became a gourmet cook and a gardener; this plucky, brilliant, lionhearted friend/editor still has the chutzpah to color-match hair/ensemble and look stunning.

**From a good authority: Each and every day, Matt’s three-years-old dream repertoire included firefighter, astronaut and pilot….probably could tell time to prorate schedules. He immersed his teen-age self into becoming a star soccer player, track phenom, journalist and digital artist – later, a volleyball teamer and sailor. Once his fingers touched computers, his company, San Diego PC Medics arose along with undauntedly becoming the soulmate to 600 or more computer challenged retirees as a side job. Goodness, can you fathom his patience? Believe me, you will never find a more patient mentor/teacher….there needs to be a heaven for computer ninjas! Matt will be the first.

***From a good authority: At an early age, (8,) Sue planned to join Hiram Bingham at Machu Picchu and excavate monumental artifacts, but decided NYU offered a healthier lifestyle preceding to a career in Nutrition/Dietitian as a superlative teacher with a sense of humor. Her artful witticisms define a kindhearted and congenial lady who enriches the lives of family and friends with connoisseur dinners. I thought of her talent upon discovering the book….  “Cartoon Collection by Steve Martin & Harry Bliss” Celadon Books 2020 and this quote:  “I’ve always looked at cartooning as comedy’s last frontier….and the idea of a one panel image with or without captioning mystified me…..and “I realized these people are actually funny.”  Right on, Sue!

Happy Halloween Blaire

When Sheila encountered old age her design career’s unique experiences became a guide to embrace change and shape an entirely new lifestyle; the adventure of being a resident with 800+ elders all heading to the backstretch…………

Can tigers change stripes? Can an intrepid octogenarian learn new rules/schmules?

Is she smart enough to learn new ways — hmmm? Will she follow new rules — hmmm?

Talk about big challenges for her! Check out Post 9

I kept getting lost!

This was really hard because I was capable of cutting edge navigation — maybe….wellll…. sort of?

Welll….I better well try because scattered around our new acreages are cunning little side streets tucked here and there and I was the sole family driver.

There’s more….around those 65+ acres are seven apartment buildings, each 3 floors tall, holding  31+ apartments of different sizes.

Those buildings are augmented by dozens of small bungalows set around the perimeters of the property that have their own individual garden areas as part of their property, the owners being petit land barons.

For me, just being surrounded by legions of accomplished retirees amounted to a significant learning curve along with a disturbing rule for which I would need a tutor because upon entering the “Open Sesame” gates to this retirement property, a sense of sadness ensued.

Dominating the streets and all over the place….“10 mph speed limit signs.”                 Every time that sign appeared, I had a strong, but fleeting touch of nostalgia and sorrow for the freeway speeds I had just left in the dust. I wanted to execute a U turn and just go for a quick ride on the freeway, but I learned to be strong and tough it out.

            (I had to get home, someway.)

Full disclosure: In my past life, I truly wish the below marquee nudged me every other mile because those highway motorcycle people, all gussied up in snazzy, dark uniforms, never listened to my creative reasoning/excuses for my gravitationally challenged lead foot.

Where was Thomas Paine* when I needed a whack of his Common Sense? But,  just for a brief sake of argument…

Does a car actually move at ten miles per hour? (It does not!)

My bike-riding neighbor exceeds ten miles per hour while coasting!

A Chinese man hand pulling a people-loaded rickshaw pulls faster than 10 mph on massively crowded Beijing streets—and trust me, most of the other 800+ drivers here were not driving ten miles per hour — — maybe an obscure one or two, maybe a few hundred, but unquestionably a formidable task for some of us.

Where is that silver lining for exceedingly high-caliber drivers like myself?

I have a brilliant solution.  Remember, we have 60+ Activities. We need one more….a spot where superior drivers could excel.

Our Own  Racetrack?

Yes!

A racetrack installed around the perimeter of these 65+ acres — this could be promising — maybe we wouldn’t wear uniforms, but trophies could be won and proudly displayed.

Noooo….!

.                                                                                                                              **

I did love this idea, but truth be told, my friends…. safety rules. It must forever be –
ten miles per hour for me.

More nitty-gritty….another “schmule” that’s a sterling biggie for our community and population, drum roll, please, the Safety Pendant that is worn on this property at all times….not in the shower. Each resident is given one to be worn around the neck or on the wrist and residents use such personal choices as an attractive chain or a bracelet wrist watch type of jewelry. They must be handy for each resident to push promptly if a fall occurs or an illness ensues.***

Advanced Trivia: Take your time….this is a hard one! Can you spot the authentic Safety Pendant?

Safety Pendants are the life-line of that extra touch of care, especially in the case of falls. With the push of a button, a medical professional answers within minutes and in my retirement community, it is our Safety Department personnel who answer. They arrive in jet-speed time. All are EMT trained and a first-class asset!

Now you know, our schmules are worthy, beneficial and we know someone really cares about us….

Sy’s Salient Points:

The schmules discussed in various blogs are just one part of a definitive message that Retirement Realms offer….a manifesto for positive aging.

Common sense is sound, practical judgment concerning everyday matters, or a basic ability to perceive, understand, and judge in a manner that is shared by nearly all people. Wikipedia*

Many residents attest to the magical arrival of Safety Personnel arriving to offer necessary help and judgment in an emergency.

*Published in January 1776 in Philadelphia, Thomas Paine’s, “Common Sense had nearly 120,000 copies in circulation by April. People will be much happier if they are responsible for the creation of the laws that rule them.”

**byB

***Each year, 3 million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries. “Falls Are Serious and Costly” CDC 2021                                                           Medical alert or alarm systems do not qualify under durable medical equipment and are not covered by Medicare.

                             Happy Birthday to your Mommy and Auntie D., Blaire

AN INTREPID OCTOGENARIAN

Please help SY direct those busy traffic patterns. 

          After downsizing,

we ferried former treasures to our new space in a sincere attempt to bring the outside-inside — albeit, a very diminutive garden room. But, I never expected it would offer such a happy tongue-in-cheek atmosphere. It’s verdant vibrancy showcases nature’s greenery amidst funky bibelots — a not-so-secret garden, that creates an extension of our apartment.*

(Full disclosure, it does  not take a green thumb to grow succulents and cacti.) Plant food food and water and cacti and succulents grow grow anywhere. Plunk them anywhere, they don’t care. 

Following the December arrival to our Retirement Realm, our audacious Christmas Cactus literally sang “Oh Christmas Tree” showering itself with blooms.

Plus, our porch has a few over-the-top “piece-de-resistance” art statements…two noble cranes — really noble — 5’  of nobleness and…a vintage wrought iron balcony stand from the Mayor of Atascadero’s, CA. office. (The complete small iron balcony was removed intact when the building was renovated and given to us by a cherished designer friend. We upended to create an attractive design structure.)  Plus, it holds a place in our hearts because it is from our friend, Wayne.

About those two 5′ cranes , Clemmie & Winnie, two unstoppable historical standouts petitioned for a trial porch visit. They promised to offer that extra spark of porch panache and once they arrived, they would not budge. So here they live “Clementine and Winston” — Churchill, that is!

Clemmie, beside being quick-on-the trigger with unwavering support for Winnie was purposeful, stylish and beautiful, whereas, Winnie, known to be a bit rumpled with his ubiquitous cigar and homburg hat had a staggering vocabulary.

His articulation & phraseology took language to “stately and noble” stratospheric heights — a league of one! (As you see, he’s still articulating.)

And he was a staunch, unwavering patriot who rescued his country to bring peace to our world in 1945.** So happy he decided to join us! 

Then….there’s Mozart,

(no slouch even at age six) who would not be left behind — nor would he stop serenading the Sago Palm that persists in poking a frond into his space/face.

Stay tuned, I’ll let you know who wins…

                                                                          Amadeus?             or                 Sago!

There’s more:

Comfortable furniture offers harmony and solace while those perky glass gazing balls add decorative touches that reflect bright colors. ***

Years ago, while driving to my family’s Missouri Lake home, we were barreling down the too narrow roads — (my father only knew “barreling down”) when we raced past a yard sale. He could decelerate in a nano second and behold, just waiting for the right Californian to arrive was a quaint day bed begging to go to California.

Guess where it is right now with paint, a new mattress and extra foam padding where my son-in-law loves to take an afternoon nap, but more importantly, it’s that memorable family extension of my Father, my Mother and their lake house.

The winsome small wooden gizmo in the bottom picture was made my Father in his late eighties. He created a mini-workshop in the garage after my parents moved to California late in their lives. With almost no tools or space, he created sweet plant stands and a gizmo or two.

How great was that?

SY’s SALIENT POINTS:

– The smallest Pocket Garden can create joyful moods and resonate with nature.

– Be inventive with cherished antique pieces.

– A garden amplifies air quality and nature to capture feelings of renewal & a sense of peace.

– A mix of architectural objects will integrate decorative history into reusable design.

*May AARP 2021 Bulletin: “Bring plants into you home. Plants not only look beautiful, but many of them…can improve air quality.”

**Eleanor Roosevelt said about Winston Churchill’s speeches….(they),  “were a tonic to us here in the United States as well as to his own people.”————”Franklin and Winston:”….by Jon Meacham 2003 

*** From Gazing Ball History by Mick Telkamk: “First introduced in 13th century Venice by artisan glass blowers, gazing balls are a common sight in yards and gardens as decoration. The reflective spheres have served many purposes over the years. Those colorful globes may bring an attractive bit of flair to the garden, but did you know the popular lawn ornament has also been used to ward off evil, bring good luck, spy on young lovers and alert a considerate host when guests might need attention?”

                                               Happy Back to School, Blaire