SoBro Bungalow

Au Revoir, My Tiny Market.

I popped into Sunflower Market in Broad Ripple Friday to pick up a few necessities and was greeted by a sign that said the store would be closing soon. If I'd had my Envirosax (never can seem to remember those darn things), I surely would have dropped them. Words fail to express how much I love this little grocery store. I wouldn't be exaggerating when I say that the tiny market was my salvation after having Mootsie. In my sleep-deprived, hormone-induced new baby fog, I just could not handle the cavernous supermarket down the street with its harsh lighting and unhappy checkers. And suddenly here was this totally manageable grocery with the friendliest, most helpful staff who actually conversed with me while ringing up my purchases -- not a small thing considering it was sometimes the only adult conversation I would have in a day. So long Sunflower. I will miss you. 

Scenes from a Weekend Walk

How brave do you have to be to paint your house orange? I don't know, but this past summer, the owners of this bungalow kept me mighty entertained as they spot tested colors trying to find the perfect hue. I love the burnt orange they settled on.

Moss is the greatest. It's so amazing to see something lush and green in the middle of January.

Wacky though it may sound, this is the inspiration for my home's aqua and yellow palette. Now I normally complain about The Indy Department of Public Works' shortcomings (hello plowing and street cleaning), but their lack of attention to chipping, peeling fire hydrants has been to my advantage.

More lovely colors.

Save Sam

Am I being dramatic? Maybe just a little, but this cat needs a home. SoBro has an abandonned/stray pet problem. Jeff and I discovered this a few months after moving into the bungalow. Dogs and cats galore... We hooked up with Indy Feral and now manage a colony in the neighborhood because, well, somebody has to. Anyhow, Sam came along about a year ago and has basically adopted us. We'd adopt him right back because he's AWESOME, but we already have a male cat and he and Sam do not play well together. No sir! 

Sam, who is two or three years old, sits on our front and back porches waiting for us to come outside which is becoming increasingly heartbreaking as winter approaches. He loves to be petted, gets along famously with Mootsie, is neutered and tested negative for all the icky yuckies that sometimes go along with being an abandonned pet. I know someone out there is looking for a wonderful kitty, and I'm willing to go to great lengths to find him a forever home.

Hello, Cupcake

Cupcakes. Cupcakes galore. The Flying Cupcake ala Mode opened a few weeks ago and well, I'm addicted. Mostly to the space. Isn't it darling?

I also can't get enough of the pumpkin gelato. Oh, and the cupcakes? They're pretty good, too.

Tiny Haus

More fun stuff from Haus for the little ones.

Haus Love

I found a killer pair of earrings over the weekend at Haus on College Avenue, but spent most of my time on the "Home" side of the boutique, perusing the artful mix of antiques, vintage, and new items.

A Keeper

Saturday morning Jeff got back from the pool (his second home) and announced Forest Hills, a la-dee-da neighborhood near us, was having its annual garage sale. I'd like to give my honey a pat on the back here. Even in his pre-coffee fog, he noticed that one of the houses was selling off old wood windows and remembered me saying that I wanted one for a little project I'm working on. We jumped into the car (so fast that I didn't think to grab my camera) to check it out. Imagine my delight when, before I could even get to the windows, I saw a granny square afghan hanging over a chair -- in the perfect colors for Mootsie's not so far off Big Girl Room.

Weirdly, the people selling the windows had painted things like cows and sailboats in primary colors all over the glass. People, don't mess with architectural salvage! It's wonderful as is. I inquired as to the type of paint used to make the ghastly "improvements" and Jeff assured me that he could remove it. Are you getting this? So far he had suggested we go garage saling together, as a family, and was now volunteering to scrape paint of the window. But wait, it gets better. He threw the afghan over his shoulder, picked up the window, pulled cash out of his wallet and paid for my goodies. I.Love.This.Man.

It Only Took Me Four Years

For four years I would drive or run by this little shop and think, "I have to go in there," but I was always on my way to somewhere else or too sweaty for a shopping sojourn. I finally made it to The Gardeners' Market a few weeks ago and geez, am I sorry it took me so long. The store has the perfect mix of vintage and new home and garden accents. And, now that the weather is nice, they have bedding plants, perennials and the like. Fabulous. And I'm looking at this photo right now and thinking that yellow tulip chair would make a perfect addition to my front stoop.

A kitchen vignette. This shop ain't afraid of color.

Painted canvases add flair to a plain vanilla fridge. Clever -- and thrify -- idea.

This paint is the perfect shade of buttercup.

Aren't these cheerful little canisters?

A basket full of vintage trays. I couldn't resist the one in front.

It's a big weekend in Indy. Here's what 35,000 people will be doing Saturday morning -- my crazy self included. Have a great weekend, everyone.

Can I Tell You How Much I Love This Place?

Whenever we have visitors,Trader's Point Creamery, an organic, sustainable farm that specializes in dairy products, is a must-do. It's one of my favorite places in Indianapolis -- so quiet and simple. I always feel centered and happy there. The yogurt and ice cream in the cafe ain't bad either.

Moo. Hi, happy cow.

My cousin Brigid and Mootsie checking out the cows.

If only I had a room in my house to devote solely to cheese.

Oh man, this ice cream is good. Carmel. And isn't the little dish fantastic?

Simple flowers, in simple vases. Pretty, no?

I've always had a thing for barns. One day, I'd love to restore a barn and convert it into a home -- sort of a countryfied version of an urban loft. Mootsie's checking out the exposed timbers and slate floor in the Creamery Cafe. And here she is sampling the goods. She ate ALL of it. The good news is you don't have to live in Indianapolis to try Trader's Point products. The yummy-ness is available at many Whole Foods.

Feeling Crunchy

I had a mad craving for Patachou granola on Friday, so I stopped to pick some up for the weekend. The stuff is insanely delicious. It's also $10 per pound, so the next time I get a hankering for granola, I may try Ina's recipe or this one. It seems like I'm not the only one who was jonesing for the tasty, yet healthy (Right? Right? C'mon lie to me.) treat. And because there is a fantastic flower shop right next door to Patachou, I also treated my self to a pretty, little bouquet of tulips just because.