Twig nest with little brown birds at Roost

“Come HOME to ROOST” is the tag line of a new home furnishings, home accessories store in Maryville, Tennessee, that owner Paula Osborne defines as a store with a “casual flair brought to life with a distinct designer vibe.” And it’s that fresh designer vibe that welcomes you in to Roost — through the twiggy courtyard to the urban interior of a natural world you’ll want adopt for your own nest!

The Courtyard

Outside, a life-size branch dome shelters a private eating area while twig reindeer and artsy painted posts welcome you to take a closer look.  Natural vignettes team with fire pits, and all pave the way to the natural world inside.

Unique dome made of branches

Betty Sue Sparks takes a closer look at colorful garden posts that say a lot!

The Colors

Robin’s egg blue teams with pale creams and tans for a restful nest, or you can select from Moroccan-like patterns to add a pop of fresh color, texture, and pattern.

A twig bed decorated with natural colors and touches of blue

Terry Frost found a textured pale blue pillow sham among the linens at Roost.

Soft colors of upholstered pieces contrast with color artwork on the walls

The Naturals

From the designer sisals to Ikat pillows, decorator touches borrow from an international palette, but the accessories take their cues from nature.

Colorful Ikat motifs lend an international feel to the furnishings at Roost.

Natural fiber rugs in soft colors can be custom ordered to complement the look of Roost’s natural rooms.

Glass domes rest atop twig nests while scented candles wait for someone to set them on fire and add soft lighting for intimate rooms.

Twig nests lined up on a sofa table hold glass domes and scented candles.

The Crafts

Representing fine local craftsmen and artists, handmade articles pepper Roost with unique accessories — creative touches that make a house a home. Some add color.  Some add function.  Some add humor.  But all reveal the care the designers take to provide something different, something special for those who shop Roost.

Felted acorns rest easy in a big blue bowl.

A quilt mounted on a stretcher frame fills a wall with color

The Look

Whether you need something whimsical for a Christmas present or whole-room design from floor to ceiling, you’ll be able to find unusual, handmade items that will give you a put-together look that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Roost is fun, interesting, fresh.  And worth a trip!

Roost

109 E. Broadway Avenue

Maryville, TN 37804

865.984.4100

http://www.roosthome.com

Contact:

Paula Osborn — paula@roosthome.com

Ginger Dockery — ginger@roosthome.com

This is post #23 for National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo) 2013.

The central walkway of Bellagio’s Conservatory decked out for Chinese New Year.

Although the official date for Chinese New Year is February 10th this year, the gardeners, artists, and designers at Bellagio have been ready to ring in the Year of the Snake since . . . well, maybe since last year! It’s almost magical what they do in Vegas, at least in this grand atrium lobby where tourists from around the world gather to look and look again and then photograph the grand displays.

Taking pictures is just part of the fun at Bellagio’s Conservatory

Traditional reds and yellows of Chinese New Year greet you in the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens: room settings of larger-than-life lanterns, firecrackers, and children dancing among beds of bromeliads.

Brilliant red sails anchor the color scheme for the gardens

And families stop to make pictures and take in the sights of money trees.

Six happy children wearing handmade outfits of fresh carnations and chrysanthemums dance in the garden.

And lovers of flowers revel in the rare, glorious bromeliads marked with botanical names.

Scenting the air are terra cotta urns bearing incense to fragrance the night.

And you can almost hear the pop pop pop of firecrackers overhead!

What a glorious way to bring in the Year of the Snake!

Standing guard at one of the entrances — the icon for Chinese New Year: The Year of the Snake!

Wishing you a happy Chinese New Year!

Bellagio’s Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Chinese New Year display: January 12 through March 3, 2013

http://www.bellagio.com/attractions/botanical-garden.aspx

Night-time shot of Don Gaspar Inn taken from their website: dongaspar.com

Serendipity, by definition (I suppose), comes in many forms.  It was serendipitous that we would happen upon three inns owned by David and Shirley Alford all within the pathway we took from Farmington, New Mexico, up to Durango, Colorado, and then down to Santa Fe.

But it was also serendipitous that the one morning we were dining at the Don Gaspar, the third of the Three Sister Inns owned by the Alfords, we would happen to meet someone that we have now come to know and respect.  (You’ve got to read on now, right?)

Situated in a residential area, the Don Gaspar Inn blends into this lovely setting.

Just as I wrote about the other two inns on the tour — Casa Blanca Inn (Click here for post) in Farmington, New Mexico, and Blue Lake Ranch (Click here) in Durango, Colorado — we found the Don Gaspar Inn in Santa Fe had that same classy Southwestern decor of gathered-over-time Asian, American, Indian, and Spanish pieces.  It works for me! I love seeing what owners select from among their travels and purchases to use in their B&Bs, and the Alfords have put their finds together well.

Based upon where we were traveling that afternoon, we knew we would arrive past check-in time.  We were told our key would be in an envelope near the doorway.  But when we arrived, Paige, the innkeeper who was out walking her dog, saw us, stopped to get the key for us, and then led us to our room.  We recognized the drill. It was that same personal whatever-it-takes service we had received at the other two inns!

Bert’s ready to see our room at the Don Gaspar.

The Olive Tree Room, like the other rooms we enjoyed in the Sister Inns, held a comfortable (to say the least) bed with a carved Asian-inspired headboard and silky sheets.

A dreamkeeper awaited us on our comfortable bed.

On the wall was a Navajo rug (at least I think it’s Navajo!) that blends well and greets guests as they open the room.

A focal point of the room — this folksy rug hung as art.

Comfortable chairs with good lighting between them allowed us to “set a spell” (OK.  I’m Southern.) and check email, peruse brochures on Santa Fe, and flip through the coffee table books as if we were right at home.

Not many rooms come with two great reading chairs!

The bathroom, too, had the same amenities that we found at the other inns — an interesting basin, carved mirror, and nice-smelling shampoos and lotions.

Nicely appointed bathrooms are always appreciated!

Perhaps what stood out for us at Don Gaspar, though, was the morning breakfast time.  You might think when you see this limited space that a squished-in feel would be a negative.

Southwestern sunshine floods the intimate breakfast room.

But it was exactly that closeness that allowed us to get to know the guests so well.  All of us heard everything anyone was saying — from where we lived to what restaurant was a favorite from the night before.  Then we got up and helped our plates from the bountiful buffet again and talked some more!!!

Beautiful buffet setting with rostra (wreath of red chile peppers) above.

Stirring the conversation was the ever-pleasant Ana who worked her magic in a tiny back room to provide the Southwestern casserole and sweet breads that we loved.  In fact, she could work for the tourist bureau with her knowledge of where to eat, how much it costs, and how you get there whether you want a place where the locals hang out or a gourmet dinner cooked by any number of Santa Fe’s creative chefs! (We chose Maria’s on Ana’s recommendation.  Good local hangout with big plates of Southwestern food.)

Ana keeps the conversation (and the hot coffee) going!

And so that’s how it happened.  We were just meeting and greeting each guest. Talking about what to see and do.  And asking where folks were from.  When this gentleman who was having coffee answered my What do you do? question with this answer: I’m an artist.

Look at me. I’m in a photo with Nicholas Herrera!!!

And a pretty famous one at that.  We met Nicholas Herrera, folk artist from New Mexico, whose books about him reveal what he produces: colorful, folksy paintings, carvings, wall art, and put-together pieces that most would say are whimsical and, judging from conversations with gallery owners we met later, just downright desirable.  He’s stayed at the Don Gaspar often, but this particular time he was doing a show at the convention center and delivering a painting to someone meeting him there.

Mixed media on board — commissioned folk art by Nicholas Herrera.

After check-out from the Don Gaspar, we explored Legends Gallery in Santa Fe since a current exhibit included many of Herrera’s pieces. We were fascinated with what we saw.  Like this one entitled Matachina Dancer.

Matachina Dancer (Hand Painted Watercolor, Hand Carved Wood)

And this vignette called Storytelling.

Storytelling (Collaboration with Susan Guevara) Oil, Hand-pigmented Watercolor, Hand-carved Wood

And this hand-carved piece, Santa De Mi Madre.

Close-up of Rosas De Mi Madre (Hand-pigmented watercolor, wood, bullets)

We said our good-byes and looked around again.  Since this was the middle of winter, the lovely flowers in the website pictures of the Don Gaspar‘s grounds were just not present.  But we knew if we could return in spring or summer, we would see a flowing fountain flanked by people enjoying their coffee among nature’s (and the caretaker’s) creations!

Courtyard picture from http://www.dongaspar.com/newsletter-web.html

If you’re in Santa Fe, look up the Don Gaspar Inn.  It’s within walking distance of The Plaza and all the fabulous shopping there.

But, more importantly, it’s a place where people enjoy chatting and swapping tales of good sites to see and good times to be had.  We can highly recommend the Don Gaspar Inn — and its two sisters, the Casa Blanca Inn and Blue Lake Ranch.

You may even want to do what we did:  buy one of those rugs (maybe from Shiprock or Packards on the Plaza) to hang on the wall so you, too, have that Three Sister Inns touch in your home!!!

Don Gaspar Inn

623 Don Gaspar

Santa Fe, NM 87505

888.986.8664

Email: info@dongaspar.com

Website: www.dongaspar.com

Facebook: Don Gaspar Innkeeper

Las Vegas — like no other city in the US!

I’m one of those rare people who had never visited Las Vegas.  Now, thanks to working with Discovery Communications and training teachers in Clark County, Nevada,  I’ve been there three times since October!

And I like it!  There’s nothing better for me than strolling through hotel lobbies, looking at sculptures (especially love Chihuly!), artfully decorated rugs and drapes, fountains that shoot sky high to the “Star Spangled Banner,” and interiors that imitate street scenes in Venice or Paris or New York!

And then there’s one of my favorite hobbies:  people watching.  Which, in a town like Vegas, is a 24/7 pastime whether you’re on The Strip watching the fashion parade or in a casino catching glimpses of folks caught up in roulette or the new “penny” slots.

Fountains of Bellagio, Las Vegas

If you follow my blog, you may remember that in November, the Bellagio Conservatory was decked out with three-hundred-pound pumpkins, towering scarescrows, and a talking tree surrounded by lines of people listening for his next phrase.  It was, in short, “over the top”! (Click here to read “Fabulous Fall at Bellagio.”)

If I’m lucky, I’ll return again just in time to see the Chinese New Year display debuting January 9th, 2013.  (Click here for schedule.)

The talking tree in the fall display at Bellagio’s Conservatory

But during the month of December, the Bellagio Conservatory was all Christmas and winter wonderland — in the best sort of way.

If you want magic, you can’t get much better than this Bellagio dream world. It begins with a centerpiece tree reaching almost to the top of the Conservatory’s glass dome. Silver and gold bells (hung by brave people in cranes, I suppose) draw guests and photo bugs into the expanse, inviting us to leave the grown-up world at the doorstep to become a child again.  I did, for sure.

Visitors snapping pics of the Christmas bells and ceiling-height tree

Snowflakes, soldiers, and silver bells!

A wintry touch with snowflakes suspended mid-air

A soldier stands at attention near the centerpiece Christmas tree at Bellagio

In the center of room stood shoulder-high log houses resembling their miniature counterparts made of gingerbread.  And through the village ran trains on winding tracks.

Hundreds of poinsettias form the landscape for artful gingerbread houses

Varietal mums (the likes of which we don’t see in my neighborhood greenhouse) formed the base of the village with tags proudly defining the blooms and bracts.

Beautiful variegated leaves in these Picasso Premium Poinsettias

Probably more than one child has asked a parent if he can ride this rocking horse that almost reaches the height of the stars. (Another popular photo-op, judging from the families using him as a backdrop!)

Rocking gracefully — this horse stands tall among the landscape.

And penguins moved, too, flapping their wings and taking a spin around the ice as they showed off their best moves under the crystalline trees.

Home for the penguins — a miniature pond for skating!

Costumed carolers added sounds of the season and then graciously posed with young and old.

What fun! A picture with the Carolers at Bellagio!

Polar bears danced, pranced, and swam to the delight of everyone.  (An awesome sight made more spectacular when you realize they’re covered head to toe in white carnations!)

The center of attention — a polar bear of white carnations.

Later that week during the morning hours, we happened upon the “refresh” team cutting more carnations and doing balancing acts to make sure only the whitest whites would be visible to guests that day. (Reminded us of the Rose Parade preparations, if you’ve ever been to Pasadena.)

Cutting the stems of replacement carnations for the dancing bears

With thigh-high waders, this team works on keeping this bear lookin’ good!

And their efforts paid off.  Here’s that bear in great form!

The Bellagio’s floating polar bear!

Other bears required more maneuvering, but the prep was worth it!

A bit precarious, if you ask me, but necessary to maintain that awesome white polar bear appearance!

Perhaps it was by design that the section with the postcard backdrop (all flowers, too!) had the longest line.  Everyone wanted a family picture in front of Happy Holidays so that, I suspect, the photo could anchor their 2012 Christmas Card or, at the very least, be forwarded to Facebook and on to the folks back home.  We loved it, too!

A very busy, very popular Happy Holidays backdrop

Photos weren’t just taken by the guests at the Bellagio Conservancy.  Trains also got into the action. A camera mounted on the locomotive panned the crowd and then sent the images to a screen held high above the poinsettias.

An inset camera on the locomotive reverses the action by photographing the crowd!

Ohh, ahh said the crowd.  And then they pointed to themselves and smiled at the fun technology can bring!

Look!  Here we are!

Watching ourselves on the screen as the locomotive videos us!

Some people were definitely in the Christmas spirit. When we saw one person in front of a tree, bear, horse, etc., and one person readying the camera, we heard this quite often: Would you like for me to take a picture of the two of you?

And the answer was almost always Oh, would you?  That would be wonderful!

People loved watching others being photographed. Some offered to take pictures for them.

It worked for us.  Here’s our picture snapped by a very friendly visitor from Osaka, Japan!

Merry Christmas from Vegas!

So, from the Bellagio Conservatory to you, we wish you Happy Holidays and new travels in 2013!
Thanks to all of you for reading our blog this year.  And a special thanks to those of you who clicked Like or Follow. (Your support meant a lot.)

We hope to bring you more Places to See in the coming year!

Sincerely,

Rusha and Bert

Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South

Las Vegas, NV 89109

888.987.6667

http://www.bellagio.com/attractions/botanical-garden.aspx

For more information, check this out: