It’s a tragedy. It’s a mystery. It’s a crying shame: Our artificial white Christmas tree turned an unfortunate shade of yellow. Of course, a white Christmas tree is meant to imply (okay maybe only half convincingly) that it is a green tree covered in a fresh dusting of pristine snow. […]
(image source here) Due to Superstorm Sandy, Halloween was weird this year: no costumes were worn here at the home tome (we weren’t in the mood to don the nifty gnome suits we got last year), and, thanks to downed power lines, live wires, and no electricity in the ‘hood, […]
Well, it’s a crazy thing to do, especially at this age, and especially after not having any for so long, but we are getting a roommate! We don’t know much about him yet, but here’s what we do know: He’s moving in some time around Christmas. He promises to not […]
Super Storm Sandy: Check. Power back on: Check (though it has flickered several times, in fact twice while I was trying to post this, and many in our area haven’t gotten it back AT ALL yet.) Internet, Phone and TV Service finally restored: Check, check and check. Price-gouged gas in […]
I have amassed an embarrassing number of paper napkins. A whole mountain of them, all with a different theme: holiday napkins, striped ones, napkins featuring cartoonish slices of watermelon. My collection once fit in a large bowl in our pantry, and having outgrown that container, they’re now overflowing from an […]
I don’t know who is more at fault here: YOU (whoever you are) for thinking that this little decorative pumpkin trifecta was yours for the tasting, or ME, for assuming that you wouldn’t think this little decorative pumpkin trifecta was yours for the tasting. Either way, not cool. Just so […]
When does a person develop his or her design sensibility? I’m not exactly sure, but I think my own interest in mid-century modern stuff was born at a fairly young age, even if it was sub-conscious. See the chairs above? They were located in the women’s waiting room of The […]
To: Groundhog From: Jocelyn and Rob We have been observing you for quite some time now. We see you across the street on our neighbor’s lawn. We’ve also seen you at various locations on our yard. But it wasn’t until a few days ago that our suspicions were finally confirmed […]
This funky candle holder was purchased by my mother somewhere in Wisconsin (probably in Madison) sometime in the early to mid-70’s. I remember it hanging on our back deck. Our deck was a magical place: it ran the length of our house and overlooked a large backyard, complete with a […]
This Sunday, Rob and I had one of those days where we intended to get 50,000 house-related errands done and ended up staying home in our pajamas instead. Not that we were unproductive: I worked on various writing projects at the dining room table and he worked on his art […]
1. Nope. 2. No thank you. 3. Yes, I know that my mother is a master and could win the World Ironing Championships in the categories of Competence and Thoroughness. Yes, I know she is a legend in her own time. Yes, she has been known to iron underwear. And, […]
I have always been a big fan of The Smoothie: I have purchased and concocted many of my own in my day. But the past few months have really been The Summer of the Smoothie. The blender has made the short trip from the cupboard to the counter what seems […]
This week, Rob and I are celebrating three years of marriage. Our wedding was everything we’d hoped for and more. Much as I enjoyed that day, I also relished the nine months of planning FAR more than I expected. We did a lot of DIY projects and got help with […]
There are many advantages of living with and being married to the creative genius, Robert Strati. And I’m not just talking about his ability to whip up gnome curb appeal referenced in the last post. I’m talking about real art. Quiet, introspective, and transportive work that has been shown and […]
Okay, so I have been jetsetting around the world on my whirlwind book tour (read: driving around on the weekends in my ten year old Hyundai), but some interesting things have been going on here at the home front, too. Namely, with the gnomes. Many of you are already acquainted […]
Few situations could fill me with feelings of such contradiction as when this spider showed up sometime last week. Since then, I have been in a state of simultaneous awe and horror, admiration and revulsion. He built an elaborate web hanging from the posts of our front pergola. I’m telling […]
THE BOOK TOUR (caps intended to create a sense of gravitas) for The Homeowner’s Guide to Greatness is well underway and I have been having a blast. Here’s what’s happened so far… First stop was The Book Loft in Columbus, Ohio. This independent bookstore is located in the historic, cobble-stoned […]
In honor of De-sigh-n Month, I am pleased to present the following guest post from Tess Pajaron, who is located halfway across the planet, in Australia. She’s an avid follower of the home tome and accompanying pinterest boards. She says, “Ever since I got married and settled in a new […]
