Backyard Bear

YES, that is a bear in my backyard.

YES, YES, that is a bear in front of the studio/office.

YES, YES, YES, that is a bear eyeing the one remaining birdfeeder we left up.

YES, YES, YES, YES, that is a bear hugging a tree because my dogs caught the vibe and were barking like crazy.

I could not bring myself to write about this right away, as it scared the living daylights out of me. All four of us, and my son’s girlfriend were home when the visitor appeared in my backyard. They were totally smitten by the uninvited guest. I freaked.

My husband and daughter sprang into paparazzi mode, and my son eventually ran out (which made me totally nuts) and scared it away.

I showed these photographs to a few friends. From their gaping expressions, they will probably never visit my home again. In fact, I showed the images to my friend's Janet and Danny, and when Janet visited this week, I could tell that her bear antennae was working overtime as she tip-toed (in her high heels) out of her car. Her husband, New Yorker cartoonist, Danny Shanahan then published this cartoon:

Check out the whole bizarre bear story here and find out what to do if you have a bear in your backyard.

Have you had any experiences with bears in your yard? If so, please tell me before I visit.

Photo Credit: Ted Fink Cartoon: Danny Shanahan for the New Yorker

Report From The Porch: DIY Sun Jar Light

You may have noticed a few things have been on my mind lately: renewable energy, getting the most out of outdoor living spaces, and a seemingly obscure, but wildly popular idea: Ditch Your Lawnmower, Hire A Flock Of Sheep (over 100 comments and 1000 facebook "likes" on this post). At the moment, I could only figure out how to combine two of these ideas. Collecting sunlight to illuminate the screened-in porch is the perfect convergence of two delightful concepts.

What? You were hoping I hired a flock of sheep to munch up my lawn? Stay tuned...

DIY Sun Jar Ligh

sun jar

Creating solar lights that harness the power of the sun are easy to make and maintain. When energy is generated during the daytime, the light will keep glowing into the evening. These aesthetically pleasing lights are perfect for a sleeping porch, pool, outdoor shower, hot tub or garden.

I spied the Sun Jar Solar Light (right) at the MOMA Store in New York City. It was created by designer, Tobias Wong. I contemplated purchasing a few (5 or 6), but at $50.00’s a pop, a “few” seemed a bit exorbitant.

I Goggled around the DIY sites hoping some creative soul had DIYed a homemade version. I found this fabulous Instructables tutorial. Careful, once you dive into Instructables you may never buy anything again.

Enjoy the glow!

(For three more ways to elevate an outdoor living space, check out this post.)

Photo credit: Instructables, MOMA,

Sleeping Out

It is common knowledge amongst my family and friends that no amount of prodding or bribing will get me to sleep outside in a tent. Any thoughts about camping were squelched years ago after a mini-vacation that deposited the four of us, by boat, onto an island during a non-stop rain event. There’s a mention of that fateful trip in this post about glamping. Even if my kids were miraculously transformed into the cutest little campers again (sigh) – there’s still no way I will ever sleep on a one-inch foam pad.

lake-porch

It’s been hot here. There is no air conditioning in my bedroom. I won’t get into the uneconess of air conditioning right now, but if you want to learn more about cooling without air conditioning, check out this NYTimes article. Or,…you could ask my husband who tries to convince me daily that a/c will only make me feel hotter in the long run. Ha! What does he know about being a middle-aged woman?

I will say, that if you cool your home with air conditioning, Practically Green recommends that you shade your unit because you can reduce the amount of energy by 10%.

girl-porch

Anyway, a recent bout of unrestful sleep has left my thoughts meandering. Then my writing goes south - rendering me useless. By late afternoon, I need to close my bleary-eyed peepers. I headed onto the lounge chair in the screened-in porch and was lulled to sleep by the sounds of frogs, birds, crickets, and a cooling rain. I woke up feeling refreshed, connected to my natural surroundings, and thinking about my friends who have a summer bedroom. The first hint of warm weather, they haul their bed out to their porch. Such a fine idea!

Do you have an outdoor sleeping space? If not, here are 10 tips for creating one.

Enjoy a restful weekend!

Credits: Wonderlust Journal, Apartment Therapy

Inside Out

Every once in a while, an image captures your attention and you can’t let it go. After dreaming about this photograph last night, I thought I’d throw it up here and see what you have to say about this "down to earth" home.

“The idea of having a sand floor was to bring the outside in, to live naturally. It’s very calming, which is what my wife Andreia, and I wanted in a beach house. We picked Comporta in Portugal, an hour south of Lisbon, with its wild beaches full of birds and dolphins but very few people. The original inhabitants fished and grew rice. They picked straw at river’s edge, and built small houses with compacted earth floors. This was the tradition; you cannot build anything new. Our architects at Aires Mateus could only rebuild what was there, because it’s a preserve. When our kids, Joao and Maria, go into the house, they play like they are on the beach, with shovels and buckets. A cleaning lady comes in; she goes over the sand with a big rake. And no, you don’t need to wear shoes. There is a heated concrete floor underneath, so even in winter, the sand is warm.” ~ Joao Rodrigues, Coastal Living

For more information, visit CasaNaAreia.

Credit: Gaelle Le Boulicaut

Set Adrift: Driftwood Projects For The Nest

There’s something nostalgic about driftwood. It’s already lived a whole other life before it was uprooted from the ground and set adrift to sea. The sand, wind, water and waves have a way of uniquely weathering the patina of fallen wood like no manmade finish can do. Driftwood Rack

The DIY Driftwood Rack from Sunset is simple, beautiful and free. It’s the same idea as this coat rack.

Driftwood Headboard

This rustic handcrafted headboard lined up next to the linen bedding, created by artisan Trisha Rose, sets a calming bedroom mood. Doesn’t it?

Driftwood Table

This one-of-kind table made from a piece of driftwood we found along the shores of the Hudson River (see, you thought I was only partial to the ocean), sports a slab top of black walnut from a downed tree found on our property. Here’s a tutorial for making driftwood tables. We left out the polyurethane and used Gorilla Glue, which is non-toxic after it dries.

Driftwood Wall Art

My Uncle Danny was a master of reuse. His renditions of eco-art could be found all over the nooks and crannies of his seaside home that my cousin, Amy and her family now live in. He created this piece in the 1960’s, and it is still displayed on an outside wall of the home.

Note: Before you head out beachcombing for driftwood, check your local state beach authority for regulations about collecting scavenged wood.

Credits: All Driftwood Furniture, Sunset, Cabin On The Water

More beach-inspired projects: Beachcombing With a Purpose: 2 DIY Shell Projects DIY Decorating With Nautical Knots What The Sea Left Behind Sun Senses: Beach Inspired Home Decor