on a personal basis . . .
Diana Simon likes adventure. Always ready to explore. It's genetic. My father loved to travel, so it's got to be in my blood.
I'm visual — loving architecture and nature — making myself at home in an urban or country setting. My explorations may take me on treks through vineyards in Washington state, wandering the back streets of colonial Merida, or climbing Mayan pyramids in the jungles of Quintana Roo. Closer to home, my adventures often take me on photo safari to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.
With gardens in mind, I enjoy planning and planting our vegetable garden. Similar to planning a web site — decide on content, map out placement of compatible plants for easy navigation, content management, and adding colorful zinnias and sunflowers to attract bees and butterflies to the site.
Last year the garden was over abundant and necessitated Saturday trips to sell veggies at the Piedmont Park Green Market. This year will be an edited version, a smaller and more manageable size.
I also volunteer as the "Garden Club" for my mother-in-law's assisted living home. Our little group has started plants from cuttings and seed. We hope to spruce up their neglected garden space and include some tomato plants.
My husband, Joe, and I spent many years restoring an historic farmhouse in Decatur built by Judge John Candler in 1900. Once restoration was completed we realized the house was too large for just the two of us. We decided to host guests as a bed and breakfast. In 2006, our first guest arrived from Cardiff, Wales.
We love meeting people from all over the world and extending warm Southern hospitality. If I can't be globe trekking, I may be found in the kitchen with a guest from Japan teaching me to cook Japanese home-style curry rice.
My design inspirations may also be International. I love print publications and often look to European magazines for creative ideas. For colorful photography, textures and typography I like French Maisons Coté Sud. Closer to home, it's Garden & Gun.
I hope we can keep print publications alive. I would miss the feel of holding a magazine or catalog. Reading a book is different from reading an ebook. My library card is very active.