Autumn Windows

I thought I would share my latest window project with you. I started building this the week before I went to the States and then spent two more weeks when I returned. I then installed it mid-October. As with any project, there are always things that you could continue to fix and refine, but I have to say, I am very proud of this one.

My Current Addictions

1. While I was back in the states, my parents gave me an early birthday present. An Ipod Touch. I can't seem to put it down.... Totally addicted. My four-year-old Ipod Mini died a year ago and I've been going through music withdrawals. The Touch is beyond compare. Applications galore! My current Fav is Ragdoll Blaster. Makes me laugh out loud on the tube... Shooting rag dolls out of a cannon at red targets. What's not to love.

2. I've always been a fan of Altoids. But, while I was in Denver, I discovered that new category of Curiously Strong Mints - the green boxed Creme de Menthe. I have to be careful, however, because even though they originals are produced here in the UK, they are impossible to find here. Only in the States. Thus, frugality with the Altoid popping.

3. Perhaps the best (or worst - depending on how you look at it) obsession is the Facebook application Farmville. I CAN'T GET ENOUGH. Planting your own garden and raising your own virtual animals and tending your own orchards... what's not to love. Currently on level nine... I'm sticking around long enough until I can get a baby elephant. Addicted as I am to this... I don't think I will ever match Mr. McShaffrey's Level 32 or Mr. Beam's 1,078,163 coins.

Home - then Home again.

Well. I just got back home from visiting home. Three weeks away from my life here in London back to the wondrous Mile Hi city of Denver. I think I've often quoted the axiom "You can never really go home"...

Visiting my parents was fantastic. They seem to be doing well despite the Alzheimer's and chaos that includes. My father is still in the mild state and is still very functional. I did however spend many many many hours re-living the same stories. But, it truely is better than the alternative.

As you can see from previous posts, I started going through all the family photos. Scanning them. Archiving them. And putting them in albums for my mom and dad. It was fantastic to see. But, they did seem to be multiplying faster than I could deal with them. I'd go looking through closets and drawers only to find just one more box of photos. The great thing, is that both my parents were there to identify the person, place and thing in most all of them. I started out doing this for my parents. So that we could write down who these people were before they were lost with the memories. But. Truely. I am the one who was blessed and still being blessed by the experience.

I never knew my father's parents, nor my mother's grand-parents. But the families have a long and rich history that is deeply moving. As my father's short-term memory is getting shorter, his ability to recall events from 70 years ago is astounding and in the process, I get to meet those grand-parents I never knew.

Denver is a great place to visit. Some of my best friends in the world are there and it was fantastic to catch up and occasionally meet some new people. It was wonderful to see the old haunts and of course... eat lots and lots of Mexican food. But. Yes, there is a But. I am home now in London. My city. My home. As difficult as it is to live here, I am exactly where I want to be. As time progresses, I must return to Denver more often, but as my parent's legacy has taken them from Texas to New Mexico to Colorado... Mine is here. London.

Where is Your Honour?

I am furious, fuming, outraged and down right ticked off. Someone has just left an anonymous comment on a post that I wrote quite a while ago. It was about a very dear friend who had passed away. This comment made serious accusations about my friend while, not surprisingly, leaving the details out. Strangely, they were made interlaced with compliments.

Luckily, I, as the author of this blog, have the right to publish or reject comments made on my blog. Now, as I try to figure out what this is all about, I ask myself first... Why on earth would I publish this comment when no evidence was given? All the years I knew this man, nothing of this ever reached me. I could have been naive, or just clueless, but I will not add fire to tabloid disgrace.

I'm left with the question, why leave an anonymous comment? Why hide behind a mask and not be willing to show your face. All I see is cowardice and malice. When gossip like this comes from an anonymous source, all reliability and credibility is shattered and nothing but disdain for their author is left.

If you are willing to spread gossip, slander or lies and hide while doing so, then you are nothing more than a viper that feeds upon your own ego. If you are telling the truth, with evidence in hand, then at least have the dignity and honour to show your face.

But...if I knew the identity of the accuser, would I publish the comment? Absolutely not. Why? Because the man is dead.. A dear friend is dead. He was loved by many, many, many people. He was one of the most generous, caring and patient people I have ever known.

One last thing... If I knew that the said accusations were true, would I publish the comment? Probably not. Not because I would want to hide the truth, or spare someone justice, but because I would not have written about how much I was moved, affected and blessed by this man in the first place.

The Past is Coming to Life

So... I've been digging through thousands of family photos this past week. I've become the unofficial family archivist. I thought I would share a few of the best!

Me on my first birthday

Me on my first day of Pre-School at age 3

My sophomore year in High-School

My Senior Picture

Last Days of Summer

I've been back home in Colorado visiting my parents since Wednesday of last week. It has been fantastic to see them and catch up. More on that later. But... on Saturday, we drove up into the mountains to look at the changing leaves. It was gorgeous. We started to drive up to St. Mary's Glacier, but got only about half-way up as the car started to heat up (Dad had to put in in the shop yesterday). However, we did get to see some amazing colours and scenery. Thought I'd share some.

Summer Window

This is the window that I designed and built for the Summer for John Lobb. It took a week longer to build than anticipated. Each of the Zeplins have been carved out of polystyrene blocks, then sanded, then plastered, then sanded, then painted then silver-leafing applied. I felt like I was sanding for days. Truth be told, I wish I had another week as they could have been sanded several more times.

Spring Window Design

Over the last nine months or so, I've started doing some window displays for a shoe store in London. John Lobb - the gentleman's boot-maker located in Piccadilly. I thought I would share some of the pictures...