Snap Post!

Doing a snap post today since Mr. Shaking Head (aka my best half) has been unwell over the weekend :(

My favorite store Good Earth recently sent me a sneak preview of their upcoming collection... sharing selected goodies with you!

Miami Real Estate Woes Continue

Last month real estate sales in Dade County Florida, which includes Miami and Miami Beach, slowed even more, to the lowest point in the last 18 months. According to information taken directly from data supplied by the Coral Gables, Homestead-South Dade, Kendall-Perrine, and Northwestern Association of Realtors or their MLS, there were a mere 481 single family homes sold in the entire area, with a whopping 14,909 homes listed for sale. When it comes to luxury real estate, i.e. homes valued at $750,000 and higher, the story is similar. In August there were a total of 87 listed homes priced at $750,000 and higher that sold, with 2,773 listings on the market.

There are photographers..

And then, there is Janne Peters,

whose photography,

makes you hold your breath

while your heart skips a beat or two

glimpses of the orient

simple flower arrangement - and so beautifully photographed

The pink painting against the rough wall, wood and ceramic against the stone wall...absolutely adore these images..

I can feel the quiet of this chateaux, and can almost hear the drip of the water from this tap..

Pink, Mauve and White - eternal combination

Waiter - There are white flowers in my jelly!

Need I say anything...anything at all?

These images will speak to you...

[All images from Janne]

Latest Real Estate Report

In August, homes sales dropped for the sixth straight month, as the housing market continued on it's downward turn, according to a report by the National Association of Realtors. Homes sold in August fell 4.3% from the previous month, and sales nationwide are down 12.8% since August 2006. There is a positive note to all of this, which is that the national median price for all existing homes rose 0.2 percent to $224,500 in August from the same period a year ago. Foreclosures have more than doubled in the past 12 months. The inventory of homes for sale is at an all time high according to Mike Larson, a real estate analyst with Weiss Research.

Country roads, Take me home...

..Hmmm...maybe not!

Rather,

Country boats, take me to Srilanka, ..

To the place

I think I can belong

Illuketia,

boutique resort!

[John Denver purists - no hard feelings, eh?!]

Almost ancient garden

The 'green' of the pool

Fancy a lemonade in the veranda?


Or, would you rather catch a quick nap?


I can 'feel' walking barefoot on this floor

Srilanka is south of south of India! No wonder, architectural traditions are similar!

Inner pond

Look inside over the pink!

Look outside over the pink!!

And all I have to do, is dream...

... dream dream dream..

Orange corner for morning cuppa

Brass door lock (there is a word for this but for the life of me, I can not remember it right now!)

Dosai, a little marmalade and some flowers complete my experience!

Another gem from Srilanka - Apa Villea Illuketia

Hand that Block!

So that I can handblock!

Hand carved teak blocks, painted in different colors, have been used to create these pretty pretty fabrics

[From Anokhi, another one of my regular haunts]

Paper Art

Leave me unattended in a paper shop

And I can browse for hours

Feeling the texture

Smelling the unique fragrance of handmade paper

Fingering the delicately embedded bougainvillea flower or a tree leaf

Lingering over the translucent sheets

Trying to decide what not to pick, what to leave behind

And walking out with arm loads of delicious paper

Promising to be back soon!

Showcasing Art made of

Organic hand made paper

Simple and elegant

something that we can create ourselves

when at home on a rainy day!

[These beautiful posters are from Auroville]