Where I’ve Been and Where I’m Going!!!

It’s been so long since I’ve posted. Thank you to everyone who has emailed me enquiring if I am okay and well. Yes, I am fine, just been busy with my family, my design clients and …….a new beach house!

Summer was outstanding! Africa was beyond amazing! Dave had a fabulous birthday trip and checked one off his Bucket List! Here is a photo of us in Cape Town!

And here is the dining room of the gorgeous Cape Grace Hotel. I hope to do another specific post in the future of all the amazing things we saw and encountered, but suffice to say it really was a trip of lifetime.

Zambia was also incredible – each day was an adventure in every sense of the word.

The Singita Ebony Lodge in Sabi Sands was like a dream. I have never in my life encountered a more spectacular place.

The people, the landscape, the animals, the places we stayed were incredible.

I have been touched by Africa

and we all agreed that we returned home changed by our experiences. Memories to last a lifetime.

When we got back I fulfilled something on my own Bucket List – I was in the Annisquam summer musical –The Wizard of Oz.  I was the Wicked Witch of the West!  Ha, ha – so funny, right?! 

I shared the stage with my son, niece and nephew and my sweet sister, who was backstage supporting me and the rest of the cast.  What fun we all had! More memories to last a lifetime!

At the end of the summer we sold our lovely, beach house and bought another house three doors away; closer to the ocean and the lighthouse.  It’s a 1920’s shingle style and over the next six months we will be renovating it and making it ours.  Meanwhile, I have been busy with my design clients, my family and the children’s school.  I admire the Bloggers who masterfully balance it all (but I just keep falling over)!!

(sunset on the Zambezi River, Zambia)

For the next few months, I will not be posting often. Please forgive the blogging break and my inevitable, erratic future posts, but things have gotten so busy and I can’t commit the hours to the computer that I used to.  If you want to follow my crazy schedule it would be best to subscribe to Willow Décor via email. My posts will go directly to your email, so you won’t miss anything. Also, to all my dear readers, please let me know how YOU are doing! I so enjoy your emails and comments – I read and try to reply to every one!! (Thank you menopause, for keeping me awake from 2 am at 4 am, I get all my emails done!)

 

(Victoria Falls – Zambia)

So until I can keep all the balls in the air at the same time, I will try to keep dodging the ones falling on my head.  Know I will be back, and until then I am wishing you lots of happiness and beautiful spaces.

xox- Gina

 

(all photos and content property of Willow Decor and not to be copied with out permission)

My Bucket List Trip

This year is my husband’s 50th Birthday and also our 20th Wedding Anniversary – so much to celebrate! Because it’s Dave’s big year he wanted to take a Bucket List Trip – for my international readers a Bucket List is a list of things you want to do before you die; a once in a lifetime excursion! We have rarely traveled without our children and this trip is no exception. I have been planning it for months and months and so excited to share it with you.  Later this summer where are we off to……..AFRICA!!!

Our first stop will be gorgeous Cape Town, South Africa.  We will be staying at the beautiful Cape Grace Hotel on the Victoria and Alfred waterfront. This photo also shows the spectacular Table Mountain in the distance.

You may be familiar with the Cape Grace Hotel. It’s been recently remodeled by the fabulous South African Designer, Kathi Weixelbaumer.

She used local hand painted fabrics created by the artists at African Sketchbook as wall coverings, drapes and upholstery to depict the story and history of Cape Town. You can read more about the beautiful Cape Grace Hotel and the décor HERE in a wonderful post by Joni of Cote De Texas

The fabrics are extraordinary.  Here is another room done by Kathi Weixelbaumer that highlights the beautiful fabrics.

I will be meeting with the African Sketchbook folks and we will be touring the wonderful factory/studio to see how all the fabrics come to life. You see each fabric is hand painted and is a perfect work of art!

We will take in all the sites of Cape Town and the surrounding wine country.

And of course visit the Nelson Mandela Gateway and Robben Island Museum. What a great education for the kids.  Then we are on to Zambia!!

We will be visiting Victoria Falls, one of the seven wonders of the world. (and I thought Niagara Falls was big!)

Then off the Sanctuary Sussi and Chuma Lodge along the edges of the Zambezi River.

Apparently we shouldn’t  be surprised if a herd of elephants come up on our deck and drink out of our pool!

We will also spend time at the Nakatindi Village and Community School. We can't wait to meet some of the local children.

Then we are headed back to South Africa and Kruger National Park to go on safari to see the big 5 - elephant, rhino, lion, leopard and buffalo!

We will be staying in Sabi Sands, the center of the Kruger National Park at the Singita Ebony Lodge.

The lodge is lit entirely by gas lanterns, so you really get the “Out of Africa” experience.

The lodge looks spectacular. You can take your meals indoors in the “library” or

on your private veranda over looking the River…

or outdoors in the “Boma”.  I’ll let you know which is best.

Of course I am a bit of a worrier – the tiny planes to get there are freaking me out.  And what if the kids get malaria or are attacked by lions?  I know I’m thinking crazy thoughts, but you know how mothers can be. 

 

Still, we are all excited and looking forward to a life changing experience! We will have many evenings to celebrate Dave’s 50th and our 20th Wedding Anniversary.  I am sure I will find inspiration at every turn.  I will be sketching and writing notes the entire time.  I can’t wait to show you all my photos!  If any readers have been, I would love to hear about your experiences before we go!!

(All content property of Willow Décor and not to be copied with out consent. All photos Google images)