A lesson from Sassoon

There has been a lot of recollection in the salon recently over the loss of Vidal Sassoon, an industry legend. It is tricky to summarize such a monumental figure, especially since my first memory of him is from a shampoo commercial from the eighties: he was surrounded by a group of pretty girls with shiny swinging lochs stating "if you don't look good, we don't look good!" Never a more true statement has been claimed about a salon to me. He revolutionized the hair industry. His vision allowed women to simply wear their hair without harsh weekly teasing and he shared his talent with hairdressers across the world. Changing the face and customs of beauty for the better.

Of course, I never met the man, but the first haircutting book I bought in my early twenties was Cutting Hair The Vidal Sassoon Way. It is the only book I didn't give up to our studio library, it's like a bible to me. Though some of the finished styles on the pages may be dated, all the principles still apply. 

  One of my favorite interviews of him was about how he came into his apprenticeship. He implied that if not for his basic use of manners the opportunity may have been lost to him. It taught me early on the importance of kindness and now I impress upon my small children how useful please, thank-you, and holding the door for others is.

 He was charming, talented, and innovative. I would love to have the 'Je ne sais quoi' that guided him to blaze a trail of inspiration that has brightened the world of hairdressing the way he has. Alas, I have merely been blessed by his presence in a way that has allowed me to create what I enjoy.

I was about eight years old when I first saw that commercial that has burned in me the importance of service and skill and these are a few of the captured images that have come to life because of the life someone else shared. 

I feel truly blessed to work with people who are mentors to me and have actually met the legend Vidal Sassoon himself. I can only hope to inspire others and leave this world with more beauty than before I was in it.

Raised garden beds

 Last year I agonized over how to make raised beds in the garden until one day I was leaving a landscape supply company and saw these circles in various sizes standing upright in the rear view mirror as I was leaving. Come to find out they are galvanized steel fire rings and I think they make a fine raised bed.

To dress them up I sprayed the outside different shades of blue. To give them a formal touch in the future I may stack stone around them to create a sort of bench. Eventually we will add a flagstone path between them and convert the ceramic planters into a water feature.

 Inspired by my failed attempts to grow a sunflower house I used netting and bamboo poles to grow a green 'cave' to play in.

We thought it was fun.

 This year we are going to grow on a teepee.

Can't wait to share what grows,

Happy Gardening!

The all season house

The garden was our first 'baby', in 2008 my husband built a paver patio as part of it's growth. We noticed that the new space needed overhead coverage. So when I found this gazebo at Costco I sought my husbands approval. We went back together and measured and thought it would be a good fit. 

 The problem was they only had a floor model left and could not sell it to me. The manager assured me they would get more and told me to call back every day. Two days later I called and they had sold the floor model and the closest one in a box was an hour away. I explained calmly that I was upset to the gentlemen on the phone and that I was on a waiting list for it,  he kindly apologized and shared with me that it was pending deletion in the system, but another store close by would sell me their floor model. I called the other store to be sure they would sell it and was told I had to do it in person. When I arrived a couple hours later I once again heard they could not sell me the floor model. This time I shared why I was I was angry...only to hear the closest one in a box was three hours away, but they would be getting more in.

Now, like most parents I am ga ga for my baby.

  I drove faster than I am willing admit to get to that Costco before it closed (feeling like I must be crazy) and I am SO happy I did because it fits our garden like we planted around it! Our real children think the "summer house" is great,  they call it the all season house. I enjoy sitting out in the rain without getting wet and the ting, ting, ting sound the rain makes.  

I love that my little obsession paid off because Costco still hasn't gotten more of these gazebos in yet.