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What you don't see in this pic is the light fixture lodged precariously from the second shelf.
The little antique stool was sitting on the ledge where Bob insisted on wedging his body....for a late afternoon nap. The little chair started to fall - held only by the lamp cord. Which amazingly failed to bring the attached light fixture tumbling.
Everything was in perfect balance - and yet just micro-meters away from utter chaos.
It was certainly worthy of a Kodak moment.
Sandy and Ree Ella were here this week. A stop-over on their road trip from the Chiricauhas to Sedona. Both met on the fire lines where they serve as EMT's and FoodSrvc coordinator (try feeding hundreds of weary fire fighters in the middle of nowhere!), and decided to do a "girls" road-trip in this part of the country. They got here about 5 after hiking in the chiracuahas that morning and arrived in time to go to the community concert with me to see Tree Leaves. I loved it. Here,in Globe our concert series for (6) concerts costs me $35 and i am encouraged to bring any guests I may have staying at the house that night for FREE. So, we got to see a duo who placy a combination bluegrass,folk,religious called Tree Leaves. Both women both love community musical efforts and it was nice to beable to share my "small town" entertainment with them. Fixed breakfast this morning and went over Sandy's travels(from hawaii to England) , book reviews and wilderness experiences. I now feel I have new connections out there: Sandy lives in Squim Washington and Ree Ella lives in Casa Grande. they may just find me showing up on their door-step one of these days. Another great B&B visit!
This is what happens when you live with an ARTIST. Sarah can put a new face on just about anything! 
Kenneth came by this morning with EllieB and Alex in tow to show off the new paint job on the suburban. Really - now doesn't this just make you smile?
And can you believe how big the kids are getting?
About the same time, Brandon was walking by on his way to put in some more time at the office - just up the hill from us, and stopped to talk about road crews with Kenneth, jane stopped by to pick up her portraits I did earlier in the week, and john U and Patsy came by to see if I had any work for them to do.
It's not always this busy at cedarhill....but often enough that it isn't unusual. I like having a house that is "on the way" to somewhere, so that on any given day....someone seems to be stopping by for ....something. (And what did I ever do before there was a rock wall to sit on!)
A note about John U and Patsy... They will tell you they've been friends for 4 years, and what they find to do together is to go around asking people if they need some help. And it is not an empty question. These two can really work. Patsy can handle a wheelbarrow as good as anyone, and I found John U sweeping the sidewalk the other day after I had them move some gravel for me - because as he said,some pieces got on the sidewalk and he thought it best to sweep. I applaud their initiative...and muscles.
Oh- also just said bye to a family of four who stayed overnight. Turns out they had both lived in China and Turkey, and we discovered a week's worth of conversation in the ten minutes of parting good-byes....so they are returning with their two kids...and her mother and aunt this fall. It's been a great day.... but not alot of work on the paper... EEEKs..
One of the projects this Fall was to repaint the Front Porch, including all the swings and chairs. Renee suggested doing all the furniture in off-white, which is the trim on the house. It is amazing what a difference it makes in presenting a soothing picture...
when it is done this way. It seems to flow with the house. Of course it helps that Renee passed along some of her fabulous remnants from some of her projects which fit the porch...perfectly.
This is the BEFORE... 
taken sometime in 96 . ... Looking at this now, I have to say that Mother's "style" was haphazard by any measurement of good-design. But it was always comfortable. I read a book years ago which talked about "human scale." Mother's houses always contained that element. Even if the furniture didn't match.
Like I said... I've been using PAINTING as a form of therapy to transition from a household which always had someone in the kitchen or hallway...or bathroom....to one which is much quieter. Good thing there are alot of surfaces at CedarHill which NEED painting.
My current project is the kitchen. I have caulked, pulled out misc. nails, been ruthless in discarding dishes and pans which I don't love and/or use, and begun the painting process. Hoping that my ace handyman - JD Fix It- shows up on Tuesday to finish the job since I am in the process of finalizing the next issue of GMT...and will have to FOCUS on that.
Cheers,
L
This last weekend was another fine reason to be in the B&B biz. Ron and Misa had taken the boys hiking up the Tonto Ruins and had never been to Globe - before now. They too were accommodating to the remodeling going on in the house and we spent several hours on the back patio - until it got so late, that Ron actually went out to DiMarcos to get us all Italian food, which he brought back to the house. The boys started a bonfire in our fire pit, and Ron and Misa and I shared a bottle of wine and talked. It was one of those "just right" evenings where you loose track of time.
Misa came over from Japan with the boys five years ago and when she sent them off to school, they spoke very little English. As, she says, she waved them off to school that day...and basically said "good luck."
Can you imagine...new country, different language, demanding schoolwork.. And yet...they adapted...learned...and excelled.Having just come back from europe where it would have been so helpful to speak French, I am more aware of the challenges that not knowing a language presents when one is trying to navigate every day activities.
I am amazed at the boys. Not only in learning a new language so quickly. But in doing it on-the-fly, while being asked to produce schoolwork, and understand concepts in a foreign language.
Ron says they will be back now that they have discovered CedarHill....and the little town of Globe, which their friends (from Phoenix) have told them about for years.
Last Sunday when I was in the throes of moving furniture, painting wood floors and cleaning out closets, I got a knock on the door about 6pm from two weary travelers who had camped out the night before. They asked if I had a room and when I tried to refer them to Noftsger Hill Inn because , as they could see by my clothes...I was painting floors.... they looked crestfallen and said Rosalie told them SHE was remodeling too and had no room!
That's when I told them the truth. I DID have a room which was clean. In fact I had two rooms which were clean. Which were the only rooms in the house un-disturbed. So, IF they were willing to accomodate the mess everywhere else, I would happily let them stay. To which they enthusiastically said yes! What a great time we had! Saralaine lives in Tucson now and had a husband who was an Egyptologist, and Diane is an artist who worked for him, recording the archeological finds...and now lives in Boston.
Such interesting people in this world. And somehow they find their way to Globe. That is what I love about having this house which so easily accomodates my life ... and others. Thanks mother....for planting that seed..and passing it on.
My friend Sarah put us on the hometour this year and while, I always take a deep breath whenever that happens (this will be the 3rd time in 15 years...) it does always seem to be a positive thing. You know. All those little projects on the back burner finally get done.
Like taking down the 15yr old wallpaper in the bathroom and repainting...etc
But then Sarah volunteered to come paint the glass on my front door with Tiger Lillies. THAT alone is worth being on the home tour. As an artist who seems to have un-bounded abilities...and ideas of how to use them...you can never go wrong giving her free rein on anything in your house. The door now has an array of tiger lillies,daffodils and tulips and makes you smile coming...or going. Its is the ultimate "Welcome Mat".
HOMETOUR this year is Sat 17th and Sun 18th 9am - 3pm.
Everyone who attends will recieve an copper "ticket" engraved with an image of the old Gila Court House as a keepsake.
One of our apartments just opened up again and I'm passing the word to any contract personnel working in the Globe-Miami area. This is a one bedroom apt. and comes with all the kitchen basics, and bed & bath linens, plus cable tv, hi-speed internet and laundry facilities. These apartments are available for extended-stay rates which include all amenities above...and utilities. For more info: please see the link: CedarHill- the bed and breakfast"
or email me !
Wow.... that was fast. RENTED thru December. updated 9/ 20
