Fleur Cowles…such an inspiration to me. First of all, what a name-unforgettable. Fleur had humble beginnings but grew to be the ultimate hostess, writer, publishing pioneer…spitfire. This woman walked to the beat of her own drum and others loved the sound. She found herself married to (many) powerful men, landed in London and became friends with (many) powerful people. I discovered her by finding a vintage copy of her magazine, Flair, and was so curious about the person behind the publication. It seemed so ahead of it's time for 1950, and that could have been why it folded after only twelve issues. Fleur never gave up, and continued to be one of the most connected and social beings until her death at the age of 101, last year. I greatly admire her unabashed bravado, eternal style, and "flair" for living. 

(image via Town & Country)

If I were a bird, I would want to live here. I would choose the white cottage-very quaint. 

Which one would you choose? 

These three houses represent very formative years in my life. My Father was a Lt. Colonel in the Army, so we moved quite a bit, whether it was for his military career or professionally after he retired from the service. Needless to say we lived in many houses, and so the place I refer to most as home is Wyckoff, NJ, where my grandparent’s lived (the first photo). No matter where we were living at the time, when we arrived there, I was home. I can still hear the doorbell, smell the lawnmower in the garage, and feel the flocked wallpaper on the staircase. That home “housed” some of my most treasured memories, and it will always have a very special place in my heart. What does home mean to you?

space

Rainy day…good time to catch up on my scrapbooking. I use that term with reluctance as it has gotten a bit of a bad wrap…maybe memory book would be better? I try to save as much ephemera as possible when I travel to enhance my albums. It's going to be a lazy, cozy day! Now if only it was snowing and there was a wood-burning fire…;)