I just love this thread!! Jeanne you must come to the holiday forum. It's been a little slow lately but Spring and Easter tables will be wonderful!! I do not have as many inside collections as I used too but have some new things I'm looking for. Number one collection CHRISTMAS decorations. It's the first thing that brought me to the Holiday forum. I love vintage decorations. Shiney bright orniments, nativities and angels. And thanks to the folks over there have started a snow village... small scale because of space. Number two love is depression glass. I do not have alot.. Started collecting sugar and creamers too many years ago!! Havn't bought many lately. I will have to wash them all and take a picture. Number three is charm braclets... I have been looking on ebay and antique shops for vintage ones....and buttons. I need to learn more about vintage buttons. There are several projects I want to do as well as make a bracelet from buttons. And of course anything JUNK!!! Lots of pretty colored glass and things to break... and rusty too!!

These are clay figures from Lucknow in India that belonged to my late father. They are displayed on a (closed) portable writing desk dating to the War Between the States, circa 1865. Two small oil paintings from Australia are behind the console table, which is wicker woven to look like a fabric skirt. The taller figures are Chinese and the silver is a Sheffield loving cup I had "planted" with a very realistic orchid. This table is in a small stair hall that leads to the library. I love to bring things for my house back from our travels, and luckily, so did my parents!

ttodd & cyn, WOW re your in-laws' ancestors' abilities! Those pieces are stupendous. jen, you made me remember that I found the only things I have from my paternal grandmother (Armenian -- I never met her) -- some lace she made that my father gave me when I was about 30. Don't know why he waited, but then again I had to lock him in the study the Christmas when I was 25, and not let him out until he told me my grandmother's name. He wasn't big on sharing his family's past. Anyway, I used to display under a glass-topped table. I need to put it out today. Since starting to collect studio pottery, I have to say I have never felt such a great sense of pleasure looking around at the art in my house--I could never afford real Kandinsky, etc., so I had repros. Now, however, it's all original, with interesting history and associations with each other. I have a few really special favorites, but as Studio pottery is kind of an acquired taste, they wouldn't communicate here, I fear.

When I think of a succulent garden, this is what I think of. Lovely, but not quite right for our house, IMO. Fortunately there are many cottage type plants that are also drought tolerant. Like lady banks rose (the largest rose plant in the world is a lady banks rose in Tombstone, AZ) And of course many Mediterranean plants like lavender. I'm giving careful consideration to placement, though my main focus is to create a bit of privacy without totally blocking off the front of the house--we have a lovely, huge picture window that is only about twenty feet from the sidewalk. I always feel a bit on display with the drapes open. So I'm looking at a wall with vines, a small tree and some shrubs for the front. UC Davis' arboretum has an all stars plant list and I have Sunset magazines and a CA specific gardening book for resources. I like the distant smell of a wood burning fire, but it don't like the smoke up close. If we do a fire pit, it will definitely be gas. I appreciate all the feedback on outdoor kitchens. I had not even thought of keeping it clean and that would drive me crazy. Skipping that. Our lot is very flat which is good! I think comfortable furniture will be important, good point. Thank you!