Back to the Netherlands

Not in person - I wish. But I did meet a very nice Dutch man who will be making me a very nice Dutch door.

Mine will be just like the top picture - nine windows and the farmhouse X bottom half, and a shelf. But the panes will be like the second picture - beveled with frosted centers. And I haven't chosen the hardware style yet, but it will be oil rubbed bronze with double lock deadbolts on both parts.
I have wanted one for a while, but I had to do some repairs on my rental house first. Now it's my turn !!

So what have I been wearing all week ? Well, on Monday, November 5,

I wore a pair of grey cashmere drawstring pants, a Gap T shirt and a challis draped front jacket.

My statement necklace in amber and red and green glass stones tied all the colors (and non-colors)  together.

On Tuesday, a tried and true DVF wrap dress.

I love the colors in this one, and the shapes of the print.

I always wear a camisole underneath for coverage. I also wore a gold herringbone necklace and a costume piece from INC.

On Wednesday, I finally wore the new ivory wool slacks that I had made by a tailor. They are a bit big, but I want to keep them for a long time (because of the cost) so I think looser is better.
The style is classic - flat front, besom pockets on front and faux flap pockets on the back. No pleats, no cuffs, standard belt loops.

On top, I wore a sweater knit vest that has a lace double ruffle ( you will see below) and a long sleeved polka dot top from Old Navy.

Here's a look at the double ruffle.

Another statement necklace, this time buffalo turquoise and smoky topaz.

On Thursday, I wore my green Cache jacket and INC slacks.

The Tahari silk tank has never been a part of this combo before today, even though it is not new.

I wore three necklaces, amethyst, citrine and faux emerald, all on gold chains.

Here's a closer look at the jacket - it's forest green and lime tweed, all covered in black organza. I have never seen anything like it. I have had it a long time.

On Friday, I got comfy. I wore Sun Moon Stars cigarette pants and a T shirt from Allen Schwartz.

The T shirt has fringe and chains hanging down the front.

Yesterday, I wore a Bar III wiggle dress with a Style and Co beige waterfall cardigan on top.

I didn't iron too well, did I? Anyway, two necklaces, one amethyst and one costume.

Today, I am wearing a silk H&M dress with a Chelsea and Theodore denim jacket on top.

The jacket has a ruffled collar and a wide tie belt.

The dress is a sheath style with bracelet length sleeves.

Two necklaces - one moonstone/blue topaz and one just blue topaz.

Tonight after work, I have to go to the doctor. I rarely go, since my husband is a doctor and I am usually in perfect health and take no medications. But I fear that menopause has done a number on me. I only go every couple of years for a pap smear and a mammogram. But the last two times that I have donated blood, my blood pressure has been high, as has my hemoglobin. So I guess I need some medications for the blood pressure and to maybe see a hematologist for the hemoglobin, since it is really high. The normal for a woman is 12-14, and mine was 16.8. My mom always had a high hemoglobin, so maybe it's a hereditary thing, since she lived to be 96, but I want to get checked out.


Well, see you all soon !!!

Going to the Getty

I wanted to do something special for my MIL Mimi's, birthday, so we took a day off and went up to LA to the Getty Museum. Then we ate lunch at Canter's Deli on Fairfax, the heart of the Orthodox community up there.

 The Getty Museum is located right next to Brentwood, and across the freeway from Bel Air. Just to the east of Bel Air is Beverly Hills.

Just to the north, near Mulholland Drive lies this giant monastery and the attached school.

Also, Wilt Chamberlain's house stands on a cliff overlooking Brentwood and Santa Monica. I don't know who owns the house now.

The museum is free. You pay $15 a car to park, and then take a five minute tram ride up the hill. Sometimes you can spy a deer in the brush.

As you can see, it was a beautiful day - here is Mimi in front of the museum.

This was one of the special exhibits they are currently showing. That's me in front of the white queen.

Leading up the steps is "Boy With Frog", made by the sculptor Charles Ray in 2009.

The exhibit that Mimi and I were most interested in was "The Art of Three Faiths". They have an ancient Torah, Bible, and Qur'an.

Here is the Torah. It is dated from 1500 -1600.

The art on the advertisement is one of the pages of this beautiful script.

This is the Bible. It is also dated from 1500 - 1600.

And this is the Qur'an - it is estimated to be from 500 - 600.

And they also had this beautiful medieval family tree.

Then we looked at the antiquities - this Venetian glass ewer was my favorite. It was gorgeous.

Whenever I go up to the Getty, (about 2 times a year), I love to visit my favorite pictures.

This one is titled "Spring" and was painted by Alma-Tadema, a Dutch man, in 1894.

Then of course, we have Vincent Van Gogh's "Irises", painted in 1889.

If you look closely, you can see his signature in the lower right hand corner.

One of my all-time favorites is "The Piebald", painted by Paulus Potter in 1650.

The horse was believed to be Potter's beloved pet. I adore this picture.

Another one of my favorites is "Old Man in Military Costume", painted by Rembrandt von Rijn, the Dutch master, in 1630.

It is so lifelike - it feels as though he is gazing back at you. The Dutch Realists are my favorites.

Then I saw Dou's "Astronomer by Candlelight", painted in 1650.

I had a big print of one of the Dutch still lifes in my sun room for many years. Here are several examples of this intricate and lifelike painting of fruits, veggies, and insects.

I particularly love how the Dutch portrayed their livestock and beasts so lovingly.

No wonder the Dutch cheese is so delicious!!!

So what have I been wearing all week ? Let's see !!

On Monday, I wore a pair of vintage gray slacks with an Alfani cardigan and a Liz Claiborne tank sweater.

Here's a better look at the detail on the pants and the cardigan.

I wore a simple diamond solitaire necklace.

My right arm was adorned in pick - topaz, moonstone and Italian silver.

On Tuesday, I wore a yellow boucle St John skirt with a wide lapel blazer from Rampage. It wraps and ties in the front.

Here's a closer look at the skirt. It has a matching jacket, but I seldom wear them together - too much.

My necklace was costume, from INC. It's goldtone with crystals.

On my right arm, my Hermes CDC, a yellow topaz ring, and two gold bands with clear crystals.

On Wednesday, to go to the Getty, I wore some olive satin cargo pants, a black turtleneck tank and an olive waterfall cardigan.

My huge Gucci scarf was the perfect complement to the olive color of the rest of the outfit.

On Thursday, I went for comfort, This knit mesh dress is from Taylor.

I wore my INC long tassel necklace.

And some suede shoes from Indigo Blu .

On Friday, more knit. The skirt is St John Santana knit. The fuzzy cashmere sweater is from Karen Scott.

The stripes on the skirt hem are actually black cords woven through the Santana knit.

For a tiny bit of color, my velvet T straps from Nine West in black, silver, and burgundy.

A crystal belt and necklace completed this look.

And that was my week!! Nothing special planned for the coming week, except work and maybe some pampering, in the form of hair color and manicures. Stay tuned!!