Pocketful of Blue

Today I have some photos to share from our stop in Florence, Italy this summer.  This is the famous Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral commonly referred to as the Duomo. See the tiny specks of people at the top of the cupola? Can you believe how massive it is? Construction on this cathedral began in 1294. The dome was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi and was added  in the fifteenth century. Palazzo Vecchio - the town hall of Florence. The oldest bridge in Florence is the Ponte Vecchio over the Arno River. High end, expensive jewelry shops line both sides of the bridge so you can shop (or browse)  as you walk across it.  I was definitely the browsing type.  I mean, who has money to buy jewelry after paying for a trip to Europe?  Not me! If you love art, then Florence is the place for you with its many famous museums such as the Uffizi Gallery and the Pitti Palace. At the Accademia Gallery you can see Michaelangelo's

Today was the first day of school for my kids so I did what any self-respecting Mom does when their kids head back to school. I made a trip to Homegoods of course! I was just going to stay home and clean but the lure of Homegoods only 10 minutes away just kept taunting me. The temptation was too great so I went and came home with  two items that I just can't seem to ever resist. A nice sized white pitcher . . . and a white wire basket. For now I placed both of them on my little bench in the foyer. Tomorrow they may end up somewhere else.  : ) Maybe I will stay home and clean tomorrow . . . maybe. As always, thanks so much for visiting ~ JoAnne joining COZY LITTLE HOUSE ~ TWEAK IT TUESDAY SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE ~ WOW US WEDNESDAY NORTHERN NESTING ~ SHARE YOUR STYLE IN THE NEW HOUSE DESIGNS ~ INSPIRATION THURSDAY

Our trip to Europe has inspired me to do a post on European inspired kitchens especially since finding inspirational pictures of kitchens is one of my favorite things to do! I hope you like these. Roosters have been a staple in french country kitchens for a long time. I love how they are used in a subtle way here with the pretty mural above the range and just a couple ceramic roosters on the counter. Victorian Kitchen by New York Interior Designers & Decorators Robin Baron Design The use of wood, especially for ceiling beams and floors is a common element in European kitchens.  Notice the pretty curved piece of wood above the doorway on the left. indulgy www.yelp.com Don't you love the stone walls and floors of this kitchen? They immediately give it a sense of age and history. designskool.net                   Farmhouse Kitchen by Dublin Interior Designers & Decorators Carolyn Rand Interior Design, Ltd.              

My favorite stop on our trip to Europe was the town of Rothenburg in Bavaria, Germany. Rothenburg is a medieval town originating from the 1200's. Many of the buildings date back to that time and have been well preserved. This picture shows part of the wall that surrounds the town. In the center of town is the town square and the clock tower.  Many charming shops and restaurants surround the square  as well as many more down the narrow cobblestone streets. I may have checked out a few of the shops . . . . . . and tried a few of the yummy things to eat! We stayed at the BurgGartenpalais for two nights. It was lovely and had the best shower of all the places we stayed!  : ) After spending time in two very big and busy cities,  it was so peaceful and relaxing to spend time here. It truly felt like being in a fairytale with all of the beautiful old buildings and flowers everywhere. I loved the soft blue o