The Seiberling Mansion, Kokomo, Indiana

As it appeared as the home of the Seiberling Family
As it appears now as the museum

Construction on the Seiberling Mansion began in October 1889 and was completed in the fall of 1891. The house was built for Monroe Seiberling of Akron, Ohio at a cost of $50,000.
The architecture of the house is a mixture of Neo-Jacobean (Queen Anne) and Romanesque Revival styles. It was designed by Arthur LaBelle of Marion, Indiana. Built at the height of the gas boom in Indiana, the house was originally heated and illuminated by natural gas.
The mansion includes eight rooms on the first floor, seven on the second, and a grand ballroom on the third floor with an entrance to the rotunda outside. The grand porch overlooks the grounds. Interior woodwork includes ornate design and parquetry of native walnut, oak, maple, cherry, mahogany and tulip poplar. The Victorian staircase is stunning. Moorish themes are featured in brass door knobs, plates, hinges, and sash lifts.
Since 1972, the Seiberling Mansion, because of its historical and architectural significance, has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of Interior.

This mansion is located in Kokomo, Indiana. Before it became a museum, Indiana University housed its regional campus in it. I attended college classes in it during the fall of 1964. I have been back to visit this Victorian home and they have truly restored it to its original beauty.

Things from a Different Perspective

I enjoyed taking some old outdated light fixtures and intermixing them to create two fixtures that LadyCat and I have in our home. I took one fixture's round iron frame and placed it on the arms of an old colonial candle ceiling fixture. This created a Spanish flare ceiling candle holder which we have hanging in the living room for decor only. The fabricated stained glass globe that used to hang in the round iron frame was turned upside down and is used as a lamp shade in our loft. The cost was less than $5 for spray paint and a ceiling hook. Our Denmark friend and fellow blogger, Protege, has a similar candle holder hanging in her beautiful windows. Its amazing what can be done with things that can easily be considered of no use or value. So many times we even find ourselves in a situation where we think we have no value within ourselves and yet if we can break out of that paradigm, we discover that which we thought of no value can actually be shared and enjoyed by others from a different perspective.

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Announced by all the trumpets of the sky,arrives the snow.
by Ralph Waldo Emerson

In the depths of winter I finally learned there was in me an invincible summer.
by Albert Camus

I love this picture and these quotes. So striking, so calm! And, yes, it is snowing in Indiana ~ The Bach

The Sounds of Silence

The Sounds of Silence

The morning was mute, quiet and still

as I awoke from a peaceful rest;

The sounds of silence were a soft calm

and peace was mine - I was blessed.

A hushed world was solemn in thought

at the silence all around;

Snowflakes fell like pure-white feathers

and never made a sound.

A lull like this, in a busy world,

as Nature's gift of wonder;

I stifled thoughts of anything

that might put it asunder.

For just awhile on a winter's morn,

I turned within, in awe;

Listening to the sounds of silence

and the beauty that I saw.

Joan Adams Burchell

December 11, 2004

I would love to have a greenhouse.

The older I get the more enjoyment I have of pampering my flowers. I wish I could spend more time with them. I brought some in for the winter trying to save them. So far so good. They are doing quite well. I have them to the east morning sun. They are one of my highlights each day; to see how many blooms I have and how healthy they are basking in the sunlight. Any plant lovers out there that save their plants during the winter months as I do?

Russian Solitare ~ As I call it anyway

Many of you know, Willow is my neice. As one of the benefits, I am given, from WT, gifts that he picked out for me while on his world travels. One such gift is a deck of cards from Russia. The deck has 36 cards starting with the number 6 as the low card, up through the face cards, and including the ace. I am no card shark even though LadyCat and I have recently joined a euchre club which we're hosting on Feb 6th. However, this Russian deck is quite interesting with the face cards depicting Russian communistic leaders. I enjoy playing solitare with this deck. I don't know if I am doing it correctly, but instead of playing with the traditional 7 stacks of cards, I only set up 5. It works, using the ace as high card and starting with the low 6 in the discarded stacks. It's fun and quick and cool. As you can tell in the picture above, I beat it! YEAH!... This is only one of many gifts given to me by WT. He and I love to laugh together! :)

The Cafe Paris ~ Mr. Toast Creative Tuesday Entry

Come to the Cafe Paris
And see the goods, oui oui
You'll find what you're looking for
Plenty food, fun, and more.

Madamemoiselle will treat you well
She has the goods to sell, sell, sell
The drink is fine, so come unwind
Bring friends to feast and dine.

The Bach

To see more of Creative Tuesday go to http://goodteatoo.blogspot.com/2009/11/introducing-creative-tuesdays.html