Sitting right here reading about Istanbul and sultans and empires and Roman ruins and bathhouses and The Grand Bazaar. Well, earlier I was. Now I'm inside typing this. French windows are open wide. Cool air drifting across my arms as I type.
Do you know how many times I've opened and closed that little window? Um. A lot. It's the final piece of the back patio puzzle sliding into place. Absolutely no troglodytes can peer over or through. None.
I'm on my second Turkish movie in as many days. Last night The Edge Of Heaven. Tonight, Head On. This last one is actually German, but about Turkish culture. And I have a pile more in my instant watch Netflix queue. I download to my Roku player and watch on the television. So cool! So free!
A male voice singing Ave Maria drifts in my window now. It rises and falls over the hills and down the street and up here to me. Seriously beautiful.
... a male voice singing Ave Maria - I bet that is seriously beautiful!
Another movie - Cinnamon and Coriander - highly recommend, even if it is less about the Turks than the Greeks, who used to live in Constantinople.
Posted by: Renate | Monday, June 07, 2010 at 09:28 PM
I'm so envious of your roses. Beautiful. We've had so much rain that our famous roses have turned to mush and black spot. I love the door in the gate and I hope you make a little video of your renovated back garden for us to see and drool over. The shadow patterns of your pergola on the gate and wall look like a Mary Ann stencil... well, almost. I'm afraid you made it so pretty that you won't want to spray paint out there any more.
Posted by: Jo | Monday, June 07, 2010 at 10:49 PM
Do you always think the trip you are planning RIGHT NOW will be the best trip ever? I know that is how it is here... but I am getting a little tired of the tropics and want to go somewhere fun... like Portugal (sorry, Turkey would not be quite as high on my list). or even the upper penisula of Michigan in the summer would be nice...
Posted by: Claire | Tuesday, June 08, 2010 at 02:30 AM
I'm enjoying reading of your travel plans because tomorrow we go off on our trip.....to Istanbul! I'll look forward to reading all about your fun times when we get back. We're only there a couple of days before moving on but have had seriously good times there before and I can't wait to return.
Excellent choice of holiday destination as ever.
Posted by: Gill | Tuesday, June 08, 2010 at 05:32 AM
The window gate......how completely sweet. And your roses are beautiful.
Posted by: Mary Beth Shaw | Tuesday, June 08, 2010 at 05:49 AM
Jo - not to worry spraypaint station is in the garage, but ready at a moments notice to be moved to its new driveway/side of the house location as needed. the back patio will be left blissfully clutter free and lovely to behold.
Posted by: Mary Ann Moss | Tuesday, June 08, 2010 at 06:35 AM
Mary Ann's Speakeasy!
Posted by: Violet Cadburry | Tuesday, June 08, 2010 at 09:35 AM
That tiny door just makes me smile and those gorgeous blooms, now that is what I call a place to relax and unwind. HMMMMM. Need a house sitter????? VBG.
Posted by: Susie LaFond | Tuesday, June 08, 2010 at 03:40 PM
That is a wonderful gate, and I too do trip planning through movies, if I think of it.
What I really want to know is what font did you use on those little photo labels? lovely, esp with the peoonies.
Posted by: Maureen | Wednesday, June 09, 2010 at 09:13 AM
Actually, I now believe they are roses, not pea-knees.
Posted by: Maureen | Wednesday, June 09, 2010 at 09:14 AM
Oh, I am so enjoying your adventure and posts. We head out to Istanbul in September after a quick three days in Paris. Luv your photos and commentary. Thanks for sharing with us. My ROD journal is being made especially for this trip. So I will be very interested to see your journal upon your retur. Oops...am just assuming you will share it with us :)
Catherine
Posted by: Catherine Aguilera | Wednesday, June 09, 2010 at 03:02 PM
What an idyllic life. The backyard space is amazing, love the gate, the tiles, the flowers, etc. Ave Maria indeed! I can hear and smell your LA...lucky girl!
Posted by: barbara | Wednesday, June 09, 2010 at 03:42 PM
"So free"? what are you referring to" Are the movies are free? I'd like to know if they are...
I adore your roses! Our gardenias and magnolias are blooming right now. So our yard smells sooo good!
Posted by: carol sloan | Wednesday, June 09, 2010 at 05:59 PM
Carol - with a Netflix membership (i have the cheapest 1 dvd at a time rate) you can watch free unlimited instant access movies. Not all the Netflix movies are instant, but they have a HUGE amount that are. You put them in your INSTANT queue and they are downloaded to your ROKU player. super cool! I use the Instant more than the regular kind they send in the mail.
Posted by: Mary Ann Moss | Wednesday, June 09, 2010 at 07:55 PM
Maureen that font is Snell Roundhand
Posted by: Mary Ann Moss | Wednesday, June 09, 2010 at 07:59 PM
HEART the little window!!! I would so open it a billion times too! Love the cuteness!!!
Posted by: Erica from ATL | Thursday, June 10, 2010 at 07:56 PM
What a wonderful prospect. Great apartment. Lovely roses!
Posted by: Elizabeth Freeman | Friday, June 11, 2010 at 09:24 AM
So much beauty....it hurts (:
XOXOrly
Posted by: Orly | Saturday, June 12, 2010 at 01:41 AM
your courtyard is so beautiful...when is the party? You need to do a vide of your "open patio" parte...lol
Posted by: Roberta | Sunday, June 13, 2010 at 06:15 PM