Indoor Shots

Home is surely where the heart is. 

A place for thoughts and dreams

For meaningful conversation and leisure

A place that reflects YOU and your character

 

Home sweet home

~Jess

Just Because

The soul that sees
beauty may sometimes
walk alone.

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have you decorated

for Valentine's Day yet?

 

~Sheri

Flakes Of Gold

In 1848, James Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's Mill, using water from the South Fork of the American River, which set off the gold rush in California.  This is the actual site where it began.

 This was an interesting place to visit.

The black tail deer are friends of the area.  We met two mothers and fawns.

The Native American teepees made from trees.

The local town's Blacksmith Shop.

Can you believe
there was once gold
in these waters?

 

 

~Sheri

A Valentine For Me

The other day I was talking to a friend about getting real.  While I know it's important to be sensible, cautious, aware, and real, at the same time I hope I never lose my sweetness.  Many people in the world can be harsh and bitter sometimes, and my hope is that love will always remain in my heart.   

The very next day I was shopping and came across this Valentine, and I just had to get it.

 

Sweetness.....

the world

is in great need

of it today.

 

~Sheri

A Single Step

Recently, we heard the most touching story about a traveling toy fox who’s been all around the world in an effort to raise money for a brave man battling stage-four cancer.

Mr. Fox is making international headlines and we hope that if you can, you will help to send his friend, Mr. Gary Moore, on the trip of a lifetime: Click here to read about Mr. Fox and Gary.

This story was especially endearing to us because Jess and I love to travel so very, very much--it raises the spirit and broadens perspective, elevates the heart and opens the mind.  

Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights;

it is a change that goes on,

deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.

~ Mary Ritter Beard ~

And we loved Mr. Fox because we too have a beloved furry friend that we take on every one of our own adventures. Meet Teddy—the traveling bear!

Teddy was a companion of our grandmother, and when she passed away shortly before our first trip to Canada, Jess and I decided that he would accompany us on all of our travels as a reminder to live boldly like our grandmother did.

Granny in Egypt   

In 2009, one year after our trip to Canada, Jess decided to embark on a brave adventure of her own. She saved up for months, quit her job at an architecture firm, and boarded a plane bound for Europe. For the next three months, she backpacked from... 

London, to Amsterdam, to Paris…

Teddy (or, "ours en peluche") at la tour Eiffel
  

to Barcelona, to Valencia, to Nice… 

Sunning in the South of France
  

to Florence, to Interlaken, to Vienna…

Enjoying a delectable Viennese sachertorte before the opera
 

to Hamburg, to Berlin, to Munich… 

At Oktoberfest—Prost!

to Venice, to Rome, to Athens…

Exploring his "Greek heritage" at the Parthenon
 

and with her along the way traveled her faithful friend, Teddy. Since that trip, Teddy has been to many wonderful places…New Orleans, Seattle, the American Southwest, and the Caribbean, but his adventures in Europe will always be close to our hearts because it showed us how possible it really is to realize your dreams.
 

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

~ Lao Tzu ~

Since then, we have been dreaming of publishing Teddy’s tales in a children’s book, and we’ve been hard at work to make it happen. We hope one day soon to share with you all his journeys across a great big world, because in travel there is the connection of bodies, hearts, and minds. You never know what surprises await... 

We wish you your own great adventure, Mr. Gary Moore. May you travel broadly!

~ Nel & Jess ~                                                                   

Afternoon Tea

I used to have four of the same cups that matched, but lately I have been collecting cups in every shape and color.  I guess you might call it my "eclectic" collection.

Here is my newest tea cup from Anthropologie.  Me and the girls love this shop with all its unique items.

"Under certain circumstances

there are few hours

in life more agreeable

than the hour dedicated

to the ceremony known as

afternoon tea."
 

~Henry James

Won't you have a

cup of tea with me?
 

 

~Sheri

Back in Order

I have been an organizing machine lately. 

My mail, documents, and miscellaneous clutter were really starting to pile up.

Since the new year, I have been making an effort to organize my home and life little by little each day.  

It's still a work in progress, but I must say it feels GREAT to de-clutter and even re-decorate parts of my home. 

When I was growing up, Mom always told us "Out with the old, and in with the new." I always remember this when I feel like I need a bit more space.

Have you started any projects in the new year? 

~Jess