my little green book

The name for this blog, "Little Green Notebook," is inspired by Salinger's Franny and Zooey. In the story, Franny carries a little green cloth-bound book in her handbag. I can just imagine her (in the 60's) looking like Jackie O. Probably wearing gloves, and a pill box hat. Perfect red lipstick. And I love that her book was pea green.


These old Kate Spade ads are so beautiful and are exactly what I imagine Franny to look like. (It's a funny coincidence that the girl here is reading "Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters")

Such a beautiful bedroom

Anyway, in the story Franny's book was a little novel, but I love the idea of sweet, small notebooks in purses. And since I am a list person, I always carry one around with me to jot down ideas and inspirations as they strike. Ideas for decorating the house. Clothes that I love in the store but want to check online for in case I can get them cheaper elsewhere. Grocery lists. Christmas gift ideas. To do lists. Goals. Dreams. etc. It's a handy little system for me. And it's really fun to look back through old notebooks to see past lists and ideas.

Here are a few of my favorite notebooks:

Moleskines

Paper Source (For even more color options - try binding your own!)

I decided that there are so many beautiful things that I stumble across on the internet that inspire me (and get me REALLY excited about having money again in a year and a half) that I'd start an inspiration journal where I can post about my favorite things and share them with you.

1790 miles, 6 months, and a birthday

The weary but exhilarated road warriors are back, after covering approx 1790 miles across ancient cities, hidden villages, historic forts, luxurious palaces and forests of Rajasthan. And yet, there is so much more to this enchanting desert state that even as we drove back home, we started planning for our next itinerary into the depths of Rajasthan..

There is nothing more I like than planning for the next road trip :-)

We stayed at some unique places....some images below:

Destination: Ranthambore (Sawai Madhopur)

And we stayed at: Khem Villas

Our cottage

The view from the bedroom

Abundant mums and marigold in the cottage veranda

Beautiful furnishing from Anokhi (who are co-partners at Khem Villas)

Uniquely carved leg of an outdoor cot, and a niche adjoining the outdoor bath

Paper lamps and lanterns lighted the villas

And as you can imagine, we loved the view!

Destination 2: Narlai (between Udaipur and Jodhpur)

We stayed at: Rawla Narlai

The 17th century fortress (a former hunting lodge) is right next to a gigantic granite rock

Our blue toned room

Each room had a sit out...this one came with its own antique swing

By evening, the fortress had a magical feel with light shining through multicolored window panes

Brass urn for water from the Ganges and Lord Ganesha

One of the 'jaali' in our room, and a cute photograph of some royal prince and princess as kids!

Even the staff at the fort had a royal appearance!

It was easy to believe, specially at night, that we have travelled back in time...

Christmas celebrations with a difference! Traditional rajasthani folk singers entertained us with beautifully haunting melodies on Christmas eve

Final Stop: Jaipur

We stayed at: Barwara Kothi

A 'kothi' (bungalow) owned by one of the princely families, now converted into a modern yet very royal home stay

Sigh, it was some trip! To be able to put up our feet and look at this view again...

Well, back to regular world and home now...and I must confess (and hope that my significant other isn't listening)...that at the end of the day, there is no place like home!

And the other things that happened while I was away:

Dec 26th: 6 whole months since I started An Indian Summer!

Dec 27th: Moi b'day! :-)

Adieu for now as I work on my post for new year's eve...

A little good news for the holiday

Recently one of my readers commented about how negative most blog posts regarding the built environment are here in the Lou, and that sometimes its nice to see something positive. I have been told by more than one reader that Vanishing STL is the most depressing blog. I actually take that as a compliment, because seeing St. Louis' architectural heritage squandered and destroyed as often as it occurs around here angers me and sometimes depresses the hell out of me... so I make it a point to post about these acts of insanity to inform others of what is occurring, or as is the case with some posts, what occurred many years ago.

I agree though that sometimes its good to point out the positive things that are occurring in St. Louis even if they are small things, so I have decided that I will occasionally try to do so. So here goes...


This beautiful bridal dress shop opened just last week in the former Ludwig Aeolian Building at 1004 Olive. One of the buildings that been lingering for a while, the Ludwig Lofts has now almost been completed by LoftWorks. When I first entered the building about seven years ago, the roof was collapsing around one of the original skylights. To deal with the breach, the buildings former owner rigged up quite a contraption of a drainage system involving a blue tarp held up by some old desks and other odds and ends laying around and funneling into a piece of 4" PVC that was piped out a back window. This contraption actually did a pretty decent job of keeping the building dry.


This scene of several Christmas trees and lights in the windows of the Vangard Lofts caught my eye on the way back to the Globe Building garage a few days ago and made me think of how far we have come in the last several years. With that I leave you until next year... Happy Holidays!

This Month in Grand Center

Demolition of the Central Apartments at 3727 Olive began late November / early December. For the first (and last) time in several years, the storefronts at the first floor of the building were revealed from behind the plywood barricade that had been erected to block the sidewalk so that pedestrians don't get hit by falling brick. Apparently when the entire building comes crashing down on the sidewalk during demolition, no protection is needed.

The un-adorned entrance to the Central Apartments

By mid-December most of the front wing of the T-shaped building is gone except for building entrance and west storefront, and only the west half of the main portion of the building remains.
From this angle it is easy to see that the concrete frame, floors and roof slab of the building was in fine structural condition. Only the exterior brick skin of the building, which was peeling away in several places was in need of serious repair, meaning that the building as a whole was definitely rehab-able.
Demolition revealed that the upper floor contained a large attic space above the plaster ceiling that increased in height toward the front of the building due to the roof slope, which could have provided very loft like spaces for units on this floor.
Like most apartments built in the early 20th century, these included built-in cabinets that were still intact as the building came down.
On the east end of Grand Center, where SLU recently cleared several buildings including the Locust Livery Stable, the two new block-wide slabs of asphalt stretching from Locust north to Samuel Shepherd are now marked by large new lighted signs. They appear to be poorly designed knock offs of the attractive neon signs by Kiku Obata that have marked several surface parking lots in Grand Center for about a decade. The originals add a nice bit of kitsch to the still emerging arts district, but these additions by SLU are simply ugly.

101st post and other good things...

Yes, this is my 101st post! It has been the most wonderful journey through the last 100 posts, and, I am already looking forward to my 200th post...in the very near future :-)

Talking of journeys, a short journey/trip is getting me all excited! Wanderlust has hit again, and Mr. Shaking Head (i.e. The bestest hubby) and I are hitting the road to Rajasthan tomorrow :-)

The national highway. Images of the road...during summer and during the monsoon :)

We will be staying at an eco boutique resort in a wildlife sanctuary, and then, at a fort converted into a boutique hotel

What I will bring back to you end of next week is a lot of images and experiences from the magical desert land of Rajasthan. Also, will bring back a lot of colors and traditions in the form of local art and craft for my home, and....for your home! :-)...Yes, I am going to get for you original craft straight from the craftsmen. These, along with other fab stuff, will be available through An Indian Summer's Bazaar!




Do I hear you asking: 'So, what's up with the bazaar?' Well, here is an quick update: I have been working on and off through last some months to get the bazaar up and running. I never realized that setting up an online shop is going to be such a major pain in all the wrong places! There are so many formalities, red tape, logistics to be figured out..that I almost gave up! But then, my knight in shining armour (aka' The bestest hubby) stepped in to help me figure this stuff out. So now, while I focus on sourcing the most exquisite goodies for the bazaar, he is helping get the bazaar operational.

I am targeting Jan 15th as the day when we 'go live' [all fingers and toes crossed. Wish me luck (pls)!]

I will catch up with you after a few days now...

Here's wishing you

A Very Merry Christmas!!

Tiger tiger burning bright,,,

In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

Jungle. Deep and dark. Place where you go to be one with nature. Try to survive. And rough it out.

Did you say rough it out?

Nah! Not any longer!

If Taj Safaris had their way, Jungles would be the most luxurious places pretty soon! Here, let the national bird of India (see below) and the national animal of India (see below the first below) take you on a tour of Bandhavgarh wildlife sanctuary and Pench national park

For the .001% folks who just went 'duh?'!: A Peacock and Tigers!

I am just wild about this lounge!

hee hee...i am so p(f)un(n)y

Watering Hole for the Homo sapiens

Wow! I never knew charpai's can make such cool lounge cots!

And if you recall what a charpai is from one of my previous posts, please pat your back...I am so proud of you!

Just in case Moi Lady would prefer a table and a chair..

I am sure the lovely burnt orange will not attract hungry tigers..um...yes..I think I am quite sure. Though, you make sure you have your alarm timer set for every 10 mins...


Ah! This is much better! An elevated day bed. Now, who has ever seen a tiger jump?!
And in any case, Mr. Tiger has been warned not put his dirty paw on the mattress!

Slumber in peace under the watchful eye of the lady in the Pichwai painting

Oh well! You don't think the lady could protect you from Tiger dreams? Well, here, these two metal figurines will keep you safe

Wake up refreshed with sunlight streaming through as you soak in petal filled tub

And start the dawn with a cuppa of tea....or a hookah!

And, be off to the meet the elusive tiger with the help of the elephant and his mahout

Good! While you visit me, let me visit your luxurious lodge. I wouldn't have known that some thing like this existed in MY jungle, until I read it in this blog called An Indian Summer!

hee hee..what a shameless plug! That too on my own blog!

Are you coming??




I will. As soon as I get rid of this blistering pair of air gherkins!
And No. I don't read Tintin! Hmmph.

All images from Taj Safaris