Fippery and Finery

A quick blog today as Madam Lu is outside 'helping' Sir bathe his carriage...

Sir, the heirs, and I went to the always splendid West Central Homes Tour and Art Festival this weekend.  (Madam Lu spent the day chasing "meow-meows", swinging on the "wheeeee", and trouncing around the meadows at Great GrandmaandGrandpa 'Beck's.) 

Ok, Ok, back to the homes....West Central (for those of you who are not 'in the know') is the creme-DE-la-creme of revitalized homes in a friendly, social, artsy neighborhood.  We toured simple homes from @ the Civil War era...homes with Greek Revival and Italianate flair...of course the Craftsman style homes are abundant and warm-wooded-feeling...and one maybe two that I would say are slightly Victorian-esque in their finery.  There are so many things I love about this neighborhood...the people are so very "West Central" in a way that is neither snobby nor snitty.  We have already covered the variety of home eras and styles, but the variety in exterior textures, colors, and decor is a feast for the eyes.  Most of all, however, I love the GARDENS!!!!!  These people just get it.  The art of mismatched rocks.  The delight of discovery and half hidden treasures covered in moss.  The untamed and mostly un-manicured jungles of colorful delights.

The Cottage has a VERY, VERY looooong way to go!

I will say that West Central has gotten quite pricey...as more and more people find that the suburban dream is not as dreamy as they imagined, they seem to flock to the quaintness of neighborhoods with tree lined streets and long, spindled front porches.  This is the time in the story where I send a shout-out to all my friends who are inexplicably drawn to these splendors but may find themselves intertwined with a person who is happy with their suburban dream...or "not moving again-ever, woman-so don't even look at me like that"...women outlive men...soooo, I am pretty sure our dreams are not in vain!

A generally less-pricey but no less splendid neighborhood is the Williams Woodland area.  Just blocks away from West Central, these homes are even more decked out in Fippery and Finery and are still quite affordable.  I would highly recommend the Christmas tour of this budding beauty of a neighborhood.  I have my scheming heart set on it!

And what is happening at the Cottage De Haven????  Um, er...well....we had our neighborhood association picnic last weekend and Sir and I made 3 sets of corn hole.  I have plants to move in my flower beds (today)?  And I am still NOT DONE with the Heirs' Suite.  Barf!  Sir and I have entered serious negotiations for our dream lay-out of the basement...but first will be the arduous task of gutting the ENTIRE thing...including 2 layers of paneling, about 1200 sqft of ceiling tiles,  and scraping and cleaning all of the glue off the floor...   Fun?  Oooodles!

I'm off to feed Madam lunch and then to do some digging...