Farewell, Domino :(

Alas, Domino is no more. I have been subscribing since late 2006, I think, and will miss my monthly fix. I was extremely sad to receive a card in the mail saying that Domino has been discontinued, and they will be sending me some strange magazine I have no interest in instead. Not even Architectural Digest (it's sister mag) which would be great, but something totally un-design related!

As a journalism graduate training to be an interior designer, design magazines hold a special place in my heart. Domino did a great job of publishing an interesting magazine with a mix of high and low end style. One of my favourite articles was this peek inside Matthew Williamson's house. The fab chair in the corner here inspired me to find myself a similar wicker 'throne' on craigslist ($35!) which I aim to paint in vibrant colours this summer.

To all at Domino - you've been inspirational, thank you!

Funky Solar Lights, Finally!

Thank you, once again, Ikea! I have been looking for some solar powered garden lights for a while. Unfortunately, what I want and what I see are not the same. I am sick of seeing the same dull colonial style lamps.

This spring, Ikea has finally come out with 'Solig' - a range of solar powered garden lighting which is sleek and gorgeous! They even have solar powered japanese lanterns. These are a few of my favourites...

Of course the big question is, will they really give off any light in my sun starved garden? We will find out soon enough!

The Tenacious Tree

This tree is a joke. I don't know what it is for sure, but it has been suggested that it is some kind of 'Locust' tree, possibly a Black Locust. It's hard to tell because all we have of it are offshoots of the roots, so fairly small (although the tree was about 18' tall already) and I haven't inspected the actual tree they are coming from.

When we first moved in last summer, it was about 10'. A couple of people told me to get rid of it, because it was a pain. I liked the dappled shade it was giving the garden, and the screening from the neighbours, so I ignored them. Well now we are regretting that. There must have been at least 20 thorny shoots growing up out of the garden. Instead of one trunk, there were masses like a bush, all babies coming from a tree about 30ft away. This is the spot where I want to put my patio, so I decided before the leaves come back, it was time for us to get rid of it.

Poor T worked up such a sweat that he had to take a pre-soccer shower. It still isn't out of the ground, but after almost 2 hours in the misty rain, I finally persuaded him to leave it for the night. Underneath the surface we found about 50 roots going all over the garden to its various babies. I don't think we will see the end of this anytime soon, and I have just read that when you chop a root, many more spring up in its place!

It bit me in the hand a couple of times (even through my gloves), I think it knows that its end is nigh.