Follow you inner Interior Decorator

 Every place that I've lived in has had some attempts to make it cozy, even if we were only staying for 6 months or so.  There wasn't much that I could do to the wood paneled trailer in Arizona, but I tried anyway.  The interior decorator in me always comes out and wants to do a complete makeover.  I just want a cozy home - it doesn't have to be fancy.  The apartment that we are going to rent was primarily chosen because of location, so I have to say the outside and inside appearance leaves much to be desired - however, let me look on the bright side- things I like about it - Grape vines on the fence, the apple tree in the yard, lots of space inside.  Things that need to be changed: Brown painted floors that are beginning to peel, Tacky colored walls.  Of course one instant and dramatic improvement would be to paint all the wood trim white, but our landlord seems to think that the wood carries some value with it, which I assure you, it doesn't.  It is very orangey and thin.  So how do you decorate when you can't change the wood trim?  Please send me ideas someone!  

The landlord has agreed to repaint in the colors I picked out, so I have to say that is pretty nice.  The color palette I chose:  Floors repainted in Poppyseed (Navy blue, almost black),  dining room and living room in a crisp white, bedrooms a light blue and the guest room in an easy going yellow.  Since the outside of this house is modest, I'm not trying to make a palace inside.  Somehow, I feel like interiors and exteriors should relate to each other.  And if you can't change certain things about your pad (i.e., wood trim, yellowing siding) proceed with the best of your own good taste, and don't over do it.  I hope to get some before and after pictures to show soon!   

Midnight Swim

"The water brought an unexpected pleasure to the skin, a jubilant rhythm to the blood, a strange intellectual clarity that enabled him to recieve any message the sea might send.  But all at once he noticed how absolutely alone he was.  It seemed to him that the tide was rising, that the shadows of the moored boats around him were taking on life.  An inexplicable fear came over him.  For the sake of his own self-respect he swam a few more strokes, but without taking his eyes off the spot where his clothes lay on the sand.  This spot was his one link with the world, his only security." (The Cypresses Believe in God by Jose Maria Gironella)

My husband and I have been taking regular night swims, partly because its the only time that we can both go out together.  I have to say that I never initially want to go out - being tired from the day.  I'd much rather just throw myself on my bed and never move again, but I'm always happy once I'm in the water staring at the stars.  With a clear sky above, and clear water around you, one can almost imagine you are swimming around in the universe.  I always go toward the populated area because I'm afraid of snapping turtles and other scary things in the night!  I'll definately miss this once we move to our new place in the city, but at least the ocean will be right down the road.  Hurrah for the east coast!