Settling In

In what seemed a very short time we went from this

to this

to this

to this

to the final product.

We are all moved in now but still have a lot of settling in to do.  Nearly everything is unpacked but not everything has found its place yet.  No pictures or paintings have been hung.

Our wall art is nothing to auction off and retire on but we like them.  This house just doesn't have suitable wall space to hang much beyond the bedrooms.

This is my favorite.  It's a reproduction of an Alfred Bierstadt painting of the Yosemite Valley in 1865.  I would have his works all over my house if I could.  The problem with this painting is that it is so big you really need to be standing far away from it to appreciate it. The only bare wall large enough to hold it is in the entry hall or on the fireplace (and I don't want it there).   If it were in the hall you would feel like you were on the very front row at the movie theater, head tilted back and having to move it from side to side to view the picture.  It will kill me to get rid of it.

I love the squaw. This painting has been in the family for a long time and moved around with us from New Mexico, Texas, North Carolina and back to Texas.  I hope C. finds a place for her.  You see, my darling husband is the interior decorator.  That's his passion.  I design the kitchen but believe me when I say it's best I leave the rest of the house to him.   

My father-in-law gave this one to me.  Such precious kittens and momma kitty.  Although I'm allergic, I adore cats. 

Just look at these sweet faces!

This is Uncle Edwin.  Not really.  We don't know him at all.  He's some doctor who realized the importance of washing your hands and sterilizing instruments in the operating room.  Everyone thought he was crazy.  One can find out all sorts of useless information on the Internet.  Ain't it grand?