Cindy's Salon

July 1, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

When talking about a subject one doesn’t know much about, better not to talk much about it. Hence, this blog will be more pictoral than usual. I find myself without the vocabulary to discuss what it is I want “decorating” the outside of my house. With landscaping, as with decorating, less is more, more or less. I don’t want to overdo it; start simple, put in the basics and let it evolve. Let nature take its course. Given my age, that course can’t be too long. Budget permitting, I will help nature along, adding tree by tree, bush by bush, shrub by shrub.

Cost and maintenance are two big considerations in my landscape planning. Gravel might be the way to approach this. I love its practicality. It can be plante...Read More

June 24, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (1)

As promised, I will not talk about windows or the lack of them. I did go to the house on Saturday and it was there as I had left it, covered with plastic sheathing. In fairness to Contractor Mitch, there was some progress with the w-----s, but hardly enough to blog about.


Probably in my budget, but not what I want...

I am adjusting to life ­­NOT on the yacht, a struggle, but I am doing it. I am getting back to reality—like having to get my own breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Why are my clothes not magically appearing clean and folded in my closet when I return at the end of the day? Where is that someone to ask if I would like a drink in the evening before dinning? And how come nobody asks what I would l...Read More

June 17, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Back from my vacation; had a great time. Thanks for asking! Yachting was different when I was a child. I have such fond memories of leisurely motoring on the seas. Mummy and Deddy dressed in their yachting attire and the crew so pristine in their starched white uniforms. Oh sorry, I was thinking of someone else’s history, not mine. But if that had been my memory, it is quite different than my most recent experience at sea; not the same, but still fabulous. My clients had generously invited me aboard their motor yacht which was docked in Marbella, Spain. Its nice not having any real worries about terrorists on the plane, however pirates are another matter. The good thing is they are so much easier to spot. First sighting of a...Read More

June 3, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (2)

We had a crisis, a client decorating crisis here at Siskin Valls, Inc. It all started last week after the delivery of various items for an out-of-state client. When she arrived, she was set-a-back when she discovered that there were items missing. But wait everyone, it only gets worse! They were not only missing from the delivery, they were never even ordered. Yes, that’s right, not ordered. The orders just seemed to have slipped right between the cushions.

Thank God my workrooms understood the gravity of the situatio...Read More

May 27, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (6)

“How long can I keep disappointing my devoted blog fans with unfulfilled promises of photos of my house?” I ask myself this everyday. So here they are; the promised documentation, the reason for this blog. I know you are all enjoying my current events observations and comments on the state of the economy and such, but I do have an obligation to fulfill.



I was in Hudson with architect Joan and we spent a good deal of time going over everything that was wrong so far. Sheetrock really makes the mistakes so much more glaring; a misplaced fascia here, a non-aligned wall there, an insufficiently dropped ceiling above, etc. Yes, ...Read More