Village Laguna charm

Have I mentioned that I love where I live? We are so lucky to have so many beautiful and unique homes that accessorize the beaches and hidden coves perfectly. And all that was confirmed last Sunday, when I went on Village Laguna's 39th annual Charm House Tour.

Getting to peek behind gates and perfectly painted closed doors, is an absolute delight in this beachside town. And although we couldn't take pictures inside of the homes, I did snap a couple of pics here and there.

These folks named their house "Xanadu". I kept humming that song by Olivia Newton John the whole time I was walking through! But really, it was an adorable little cottage hanging right over a wash that was chock full of all kinds of flora and fauna and chirping birds.

 There were six homes featured in all, but I focused most of my attention on this sweet little 1926 cottage. Most of it was pretty original, with creative decor and whimsy throughout. Oh, I so wish that I could have taken some pics of the interior! But wait until you see some of the amazing gardens and exterior!

I have loved these Paolo Soleri windbells for a very long time. They used to have a shop in town that sold them, and I would give them as gifts. That shop is long gone, and I can't believe that I never got one for myself! Recently, I found their website, so now I have to save some $$ for my very own windbell!

By now you've probably figured out that I really love these bells, and that I'm just a little bit jealous of their fabulous collection!

This is an aviary that they have in their front yard. Can you see those little doves on the perch? They also had a couple more aviaries in the back yard.

These folks had amazing taste and a good eye to match. In every nook and cranny there were sweet vignettes to keep you noticing all the purposeful color and texture.

The nasturtiums offer a vibrant burst of color to cheer anybody in need!

If you look closely, you can see that there's a bees nest in the birdhouse. No wonder why their garden looks so good!

Neither the crowds, nor the bees disturbed Elenor's cat-nap!

The color of these succulents is wonderful with the sunshine streaming through, don't you think?

The side yard was just as charming as the front of the house!

Guess who's house was also on the tour this year. Give up? Cindy and Mark Evans'! Remember them? I posted on their Mexican themed garden way back in December. You can find the original posts here and here. Oh, and the L.A. Times did a piece on the inside of their house, which you can find here.

I took this tour with my friend, Janine, who has a blog called Laguna Dirt. Be sure to check out her post, too!

Visiting Vipor

I had a visitor on my patio yesterday, and I have to admit, I was a little alarmed. I was out tending my garden, urging my veggies to grow, when I noticed an odd shaped stick on my patio. Hmmm, what the heck, where'd that come from? Walking closer I noticed that the stick began to move.

Around these parts, your first thought when you see a snake is that it's a rattler! So, I cautiously inched closer, squinting to see if I could detect that notorious rattle at the end of it's tail.

Whew, no rattle! It was a San Diego Gopher Snake, which of course is so cool, because their diet is mainly those pesky gophers that ruin our yard and garden every year! I snapped a couple of photos, and called after him as he slithered away, "Come back soon! And bring your friends next time!"

Fantasy land

I woke up this morning feeling a little foggy.

Those of you who think my head is in the clouds, well, you're right! Ha!

Strange day

Photo: Associated Press

So... Osama bin Laden is dead and people are rejoicing in the streets. Huh? I don't get it.

 Although I understand completely why there is a sense of relief, a sense of closure for so many, I really don't understand the exuberance. It seems to me, that this should be a somber day. A day for reflection, a day to feel sad, and to remember all those who have lost their lives or lost their loved ones in this whole mess.

It's a strange day, and it makes me feel weird. Like I am being unpatriotic because I don't feel joyful. Am I weird? Am I the only one who doesn't feel like celebrating?

And now, we are left with all those crazy al-Qaeda-Taliban people who revered that nutcase, and quickly figure out when and how they are going to retaliate. Great. Gulp.

So, excuse me if I don't feel like partying right now, because truthfully, I feel kind of sick.