Oceana Whispers

That's the name of her new floral boutique; my cousin's new business in the big, big city. I've been here all week acting as marketing slash publicity slash designer slash worker slash peacekeeper slash psychiatrist slash best friend slash clown slash buyer slash personal assistant - you get the picture. How amazing to watch someone's dream coming to fruition. The walls, by the way, are painted a wonderful colour called 'Marilyn's Dress' (Benjamin Moore) with crisp white trim, black semi-gloss doors and a container of incredible furniture is on it's way for next week. Flower coolers are arriving, p.o.s. men fixing and prepping the credit card machine, plumbers, electricians - and friends popping in - nosy parkers. I am enjoying the 14 hour days. I know it's hard to believe but I am away from the internet (freak out) and did not even know that Bernie was sentenced to 150 years. What will the floral boutique look like when he gets out?

Lucky To Be Alive

Every morning you wake up, you are lucky. Your heart beats and your blood flows and the oxygen you breath fills your lungs; your brain sends messages to your eyelids to blink and leave a film of fresh tears over your eye's flesh. Your skin perspires, you think, you create, you sing, you speak and your fingers type; the legs move with ease and your toes help push you forward in the direction of your life's journey. You give life. You take life for granted. I do believe that. The magic of living is fleeting. You are lucky to be alive. It only takes a death for you to realize it.

Julie & Julia and The Soundtrack of Our Lives

Yesterday was a wonderful, wonderful day. I was up early and hit the sun-kissed county road to pick up my daughter and Miss Joyce Hannah. Joycie Girl had her 6 mos. check-up and needle. She is doing so well! She now weighs 17 lbs. I was sitting out in the waiting room and I heard the needle go in...and she let the rows of magazine flipping patients know too. After visiting Dr. Kiss (yes, that's her real name) we went to Value Village. My big find: An original 1961 edition of Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking! I was so thrilled. I could tell by the way the pages waved and flopped that the book was some one's favorite and was well used. Some lucky family enjoyed these recipes often. The weather was hot and humid and we three gals did not even care. We left the air-conditioning 'off' and giggled as the moist wind twisted and twirled our hair as we drove from plaza to plaza. I must tell you. I was impressed. Joycie Girl is a true shopper. Later that night I received the new book by Julie Powel, Julie & Julia! So now I must cook and read and then go see the new movie. Isn't it amazing how a blog can become a book and then a film. (here is her new blog) We all have hope!

Sidebar: I completely disconnected from technology yesterday. No phone, no cell, no internet, no blog, no email. It was a day long sabbatical. I arrived home at 10pm with my teenage son and his friends announcing in loud unison 'Michael Jackson is dead. Farrah Fawcett is dead. Can you make us a snack?' I just stood there with a jaw-dropped look on my face. Michael gave me and you and the world 'The Soundtrack of Our Lives'. Superstar to Reclusive Billionaire. Adorable to Freakish. (I'm sorry that I must write that, but it's true) Dead at 50 - so young - with $400 million dollars in debt. I am sad. Food will help.

The New Butter Dish

Select a small slab of your favorite marble. Chill in the fridge. Add the slices of ice-cold fresh butter. Take to the table. Wait for the oohs and ahhhs. Voila! C'est chic et bon.

Masonry Vernacular Style

Sounds like a bad, bad sore leg condition doesn't it? In fact, these homes were built with the goal of leaving ornate Victorian style far, far behind. Three main types of masonry construction date to the early days of Miami-Dade County: hollow clay tile, concrete block, and oolitic limestone. Hollow clay tile, lighter than concrete block, was used up to the 1920s in large construction projects. Concrete blocks were easily manufactured from local materials. Rusticated concrete blocks, molded to resemble rough-cut stone, were popular prior to 1920 and are still seen in Little Havana. Oolitic limestone is the most typical masonry building material in South Florida and is unique. Quarried in south Miami-Dade County since the mid-nineteenth century, it consists of small rock particles and is used in rubble form. Coral-like keystone from the Florida Keys was popular during the 1930s and 1940s. Masonry Vernacular style commercial buildings, generally two stories in height, feature simple rectilinear plans, parapets and arcades.

Characteristics:

1. Plan: regular, rectangular.
2. Foundation: continuous or slab (commercial), brick or concrete.
3. Height: two stories (apartments); one-two stories (commercial).
4. Primary exterior material: brick, common or running bond; stucco, rough texture.
5. Roof type: hip; flat with parapet (commercial).
6. Roof surfacing: composition shingles; built-up, commercial.
7. Ornamentation: simple; usually cast-concrete or ornamental brick such as corbelling.

Saltbox Houses

What is a saltbox house? A house with a 'catslide' (hee hee) roofline. (that's nasty) It is a Colonial style of architecture which originated in New England. This style is one you will see most often as the symbol or icon for primitive decorative items. Saltboxes are frame houses with two stories in front and one in back, having a pitched roof with unequal sides, being short and high in front and long and low in back. The front of the house is flat and the rear roof line is steeply sloped. The sturdy central chimney is a simple but effective focal point. The simplicity and strength of this design, first seen around 1650, continues to make saltbox houses popular today.

Bahamian or Conch Style

Found mostly in the Overtown area of Miami and in the Charles Avenue area of Coconut Grove, this vernacular architecture was typically the work of shipbuilders-turned-carpenters from the Bahamas and Key West. This is the style that reminds me of my hometown (sans palms silly!) These "conch" houses feature a one-and-one-half or two-story rectangular mass, with broad gabled or low, hipped roofs. They are usually of balloon frame construction, rather than the original cross-braced system of heavy timbers based on shipbuilding techniques. Buildings are raised off the ground on wood posts or masonry piers, allowing air circulation underneath the house. Exterior surfaces are of horizontal weatherboards and windows are double-hung sash type. The most prominent feature of these buildings is the balustraded front porch, sometimes wrapping around the sides on both stories. More Florida styles here. So fascinating! I learn more each day. (internet smitten) Click on the top photo. It's a wonderful painting by Peter Vey.

Mission Style

The simple Mission-style buildings were inspired by the early Spanish mission churches in California. Many can be found in Florida and Texas. Mission is the 'cleaner' Mediterranean Revival Style; less fuss. Exterior walls are usually covered with stucco, although oolitic limestone is also used. The most distinctive features of the style are tiled roofs and arches. Roofs are commonly low in pitch or flat, featuring curvilinear parapets or pent roof sections. The same parapet lines are often repeated over the front porch. Parapets may be topped with simple stucco molding, or with a single row of sloping Mission tiles. Cylindrical tiles, or scuppers, drain rainwater. Windows may be sash or casement type. Arches are typical on the facade and common on other openings. The front porch sometimes extends over the carport or garage entrance to one side of the main building mass. Applied decoration is kept to a minimum. It's a wonderful look with a Latin flavour. I personally love it!