TIMBER!!!

I love trees.  I mean I really love trees..... so this was a tough one!  I have watched the trees in my front yard grow and grow and grow and I became more and more overwhelmed.  I knew that the bradford pear tree was reaching the end of his "line," and the spruce tree was, well taking over the house!

(Note to all folks who plan on planting a spruce tree....It is a tree for the outer perimeters of the yard in most cases.  One mistake that is often made when people run to the local plant palace is that they don't really pay much attention to the tag where it states, "This tree will grow so big that it will consume your house as well as the neighbors' house."--okay, the tag doesn't say that, but it will say something like 40-50 feet tall!)
P.S.-always look for dwarf versions for front yard landscaping and for trees up against the house.

So back to my tree trauma...My next door neighbor, my neighbor across the street, and my neighbor on the opposite corner have all lost their bradford pear trees (a total of 4) within the past 6 months in the famous mountain winds and rainstorms.  I didn't need a lot more motivation.

When did I know that the spruce needed to go? well, other than the obvious ridiculous-ness in its size, the second clue was when I could not walk between the house and the tree!

So, my tree man came and performed a miracle and now I just need for the yard fairy to come and perform another one!  I am excited to see my house and yard, but now I need a new yard!  Well,  I will just add it to the list of projects...or I will wait for HGTV....hmmmm.

House Rules....What House Rules?

I am passionate about color.  Color is transformative in every context.  Even more interesting to me, are the colors we choose to surround ourselves with in our homes.  If you really want to understand more about a person, then make sure you get to see her home.

We have all had those situations where we meet a new friend or co-worker and although we can certainly get to know that person on many levels in multiple contexts, we always look forward to seeing his or her home.  Why?  I am certain there are many members of The Decor Police out there, but that is not what I am getting at. We really just want to see our friend's home because in a way, it is the final piece of the puzzle in her personality.

•  Is she quirky and eclectic in her approach to decor?  
• Does he have a lot of collections on display?
• Is he a minimalist?
• Does each pet have his own bedroom?
• Does she have a home full of original artwork?
• Does she have a large collection of black and white photography?

 It isn't about wearing white gloves and wiping the top of the television when nobody is looking... her house helps to tell her story, all of our stories.