LA DOLFINA

While on our walk this morning my husband and I stumbled upon a treasure.  (I still need to wash it off)     We rushed home to borrow our neighbor's wheel barrel and wheeled it directly into our backyard where it found the perfect spot!   This is the enclosure we built out of corrugated metal to hide our garbage cans.  I want to hang the abalone shells all along the top edge and then drape it with white lights for some coastal Christmas charm. They say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 

Sometimes treasures collect you...    Last month at The Alameda Pointe Antiques & Collectibles Fair , this one wouldn't let me leave without it.  I felt very guilty because it was more than I could afford but as hard as I tried I just couldn't walk away!  The worst part was I had no idea where I would put it and knew I didn't need it.  My friend patiently waited while I did my best to negotiate the price down and then fronted me the cash as I promised her I would never buy another boat again! Well, last week, it found it's home. The perfect spot. The guilt is gone (My two loves, coastal & chinoiserie)   and I'm wondering how I ever lived without it!

This post is for Rita and her "Dearly Beloved".                                          This ship was built by one his Grandfathers who was a ship's carpenter.                             I recently had the pleasure of spending a lovely afternoon with a dear friend who shares my passion for all things nautical.  These are photos of some of his most cherished possessions, many of which were passed down to him by his Grandfathers.  The last 2 photos are of the antique microscope that one of his Grandfathers used to study the diseases of oysters.