Thursday, March 29, 2012

Vintage Garden Ideas





A bit chilly this morning.. Yesterday afternoon Tom and traveled to Bryan to a landscaping store to purchase a cement bench for a area out by the pool that was landscaped very late last fall and not quite finished.... I really want to keep that area very clean and simple and have the main focus on the pool itself... After purchasing the bench I am glad I have decided to keep it simple... I am stunned at the prices that one must be willing to pay for garden decor..I have been keeping my eyes open for inspiration as I have stated before... wanting to stay with things I find charming and love the style... In the above pictures I was particularly drawn to the stacking and staggering of the galvanized buckets and the wine crates... the pictures were from the following two sites...............http://www.vintagegardengal.com/ and http://sepiasmiles.blogspot.com/ I will post some pictures next month after more has been completed in the lawns and garden spaces....So far it has started out to be a very different type of season and makes me wonder just what this spring and summer will really have in store for us...

ps.... I made a big mistake and tried the Bloggers new look and hopefully am back to the old one althought I cannot get my lines to line up... Grrrr why did I try it... I didn't like it... I guess I don't take to kindly to change anymore.... Sure hope I can figure out how to make my lines line up again....

Monday, March 26, 2012

The Seeds We Plant

http://dreyne.com



Waking to the morning hours that are more like what we should be experiencing in March... Forecast says a chance of frost tonight ending the days of last week with 3 of them being in the mid 80's which was something that doesn't happen here in Ohio normally... We received over 2" of rain over the weekend flooding fields and filling drainage ditches.... All this has slowed my thought process of outdoor decorating down to turtle speed...


"DON'T JUDGE EACH DAY BY THE HARVEST YOU REAP BUT BY THE SEEDS THAT YOU PLANT" Robert Louis Stevenson



Sometimes I have wishes that I could not have to always be so resourceful and could just go buy anything I wishes to make a space what I would really like it to be, but then reality is always setting in and reminding me that is not the case... Then I try my darnest to stay focused and positive and figure out what the budget can allow and go searching.... Guess that has much to say about the sweet words I shared in the above paragraph...

Course my all time desire is to make objects bounce with personality and charm and not necessarily be what someone else may desire... I do not base my life on others desires... These thoughts are to me what makes a house "my home"... We didn't do much over the weekend.. Saturday night ate at home... followed by the Ohio State Basketball NCAA tournament game... { have I admitted I have tired of the basketball season... the March madness always does me in} Sunday we attended church, followed by coming home and making a breakfast of bacon and a cheese omelet with a buttered muffin ... I always try to get supper mess done before I clean up the kitchen as I did yesterday... All dishes we made so they could be prepared in the oven... The afternoon was spent reading a book I started...It was a relaxing weekend... and I hope yours was the same...

Looking around the house time is telling me it is time to get this posted and get the Monday chores started.... Sending best wishes and many blessings your way....



Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Culivate A Haven




Mantel In Garden... http://gossipinthegarden.com



Another incredible day at my peaceful spot in the country in NW. Ohio.

Yesterday I stared cleaning up in the garden space in front of my home as you enter in until Tom came and said he saw a fairly large snake...Being the total whimp that I am at just the sound of it I was done working outside for the day... I wish I could conquer this but I totally freak out at just even a picture of one let alone the real thing... I know these things come with the weather we are having being at least a month early and with that so does the early hibernation come to life... It will take a day or so for me to get big and brave to go back and work there... Just the thought of it writing has me shivering with goosebumps.... brrr..

I am doing a few chores today... right now the laundry... but have a small urge to do something that pleases the soul... The search for inspiration always seems to accomplish that.. How we create our own spaces can be our own doing... I enjoy quiet dining, a lovely space for entertaining guests and to bathe... all this a part of being feminine... We need this just a a guy needs his man cave and to be in the garage... When not having a large amount of space key would be to make the spaces what you enjoy the most... Any space can be a opportunity to cultivate . Soon I will be thinking of decks but as of right now Tom cut out new lattice for under deck yesterday and will be staining those and the deck floors soon for use... so I am on hold for a but... I feel oh so fortunate to have a large yard and outdoor living space.. Certainly not the yards of a mansion but it takes a couple hours on a riding mower to cut the grass so I have a place to go meander a bit... I love to play dress up... oh no not on me... I am jeans only person... but I love playing dress up on my home...The word "Luxury" just is as simple as being comfortable or we wouldn't consider it "Luxury"... When looking at the word in this manner it seems quite easy to achieve...I do believe we have the feeling from time to time to be lifted to a different space and do a but of day dreaming...I do more in retirement but most of the time it just feels right... I want to take some time soon to search out some found objects to create my outdoor retreat... the wonderful area with no walls but yet a space that beckons you to come... A firm believer that a good home must be made with ones passions and sense of charm.... not bought......


Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Easter Inspiration





Easter is a world wide custom... How on earth did rabbits and eggs come to be involved with what we believe as a tradition... Bunnies and eggs are symbols of new life and rebirth... just as spring itself is....

The first Easter bunny legend was documented in the 1500's. By 1680 the story about a rabbit laying eggs and hiding them in the garden was published.. The legends were brought to the United States in the 1700's when Germans settled in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country..

Traditions of nest for rabbits have evolved to the massive amount of candy treats and gifts we not enjoy today....

I have posted a very lovely table setting in wonderful shades of blue that has a WOW factor... When studying close this would not be that terribly hard to recreate in shades you desire for your Easter... Or could easily be just mixed with lovely soft shades.... I would personally love to see it in shades of browns and all shades of tans with lovely white or brown transferware dishes...

Monday, March 19, 2012

Monday Musings




















Tom and I were out of state over the weekend as we traveled with another couple , The Kimes, to Louisville, Kentucky to attend 2 baseball games of the Louisville Cardinals... Defiance's Dace Kime is one of the pitchers on the Cardinals team... The weather was fabulous... trees were in bloom as well as bulb plants were strutting their spring display...



Back home this morning it is a lovely morning, sun shinning brightly with temps forecast close to 80 degrees.. It has been like a dream to know we are still in March.. Tom is off to the golf course...while I still sit in my jammies composing this post and enjoying my last sip of coffee offering for the day...



With the sense of spring comes the desire to open up doors and windows and
Take on a fresh look about the home... I would like to bring in a touch more of international look to my home but most likely it will not happen and I will just play musical chairs and stack and cluster as I always do to bring a new look for the eyes to behold... I am thinking I should bring some of my pink rose china plates out of cabinets to add a touch of spring confection to my home..



I have continued my reading of numerous books finding the hours of winter flying by when doing so... Now I have a stack of many great reads of paper and hard back...



Opps, just heard the wall clock chiming the hour and telling me it is time to post and get into some clothes of the day for doing household chores... Sending best wishes and hope you enjoy you day...











Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Tuesday Musings

CELEBRATE THE HAPPINESS THAT FRIENDS ARE ALWAYS GIVING, MAE EVERYDAY A HOLIDAY AND CELEBRATE JUST LIVING......

Storms throughout the overnight hours... some heavier in outlining areas, but the sun is shinning brightly and warming the earth today... Hard to make it seem like we are still in winter...


The two sweet little birds that have nested on my front porch have arrived back once again as I am always amazed at their return and survival....


Yesterday I read a lovely idea and really had never given any thought until the suggestion logged into my mind... Have friends over for a small brunch for a very cost friendly idea of a book exchange... It can be as simple as a beverage and a dessert or snacks... One could also ask the guest to bring a dessert to share and maybe 3 books they have read and enjoyed to swap and share with other attending... I also was thinking it would be nice to make a favor of a altered art book marker for each guest to take... I think a sweet invitation of handwritten words is always special also...as I feel it is becoming a long wonder art.... My thoughts would be a lovely time to gather when our yards have been cleaned from winters ravage.. spring has past it's prime and lovely flowers have been sit into the ground and containers... I love small gatherings of friends and shared musings... I really have this strongly in my mind as I have acquired so many wonderful readings the past couple months to hold in my hand and past time with the peace and enjoyment... Sending wishes to enjoy your day and I am off to read and relax till later this afternoon before the need to prepare supper will be upon me... Enjoy....



Monday, March 12, 2012

Charming










Enjoyed a peaceful lovely weekend... it was very mild and sunny... Today we are having a few showers but a fairly pleasing temp for this time of year...

I have had my mind and thoughts wondering once again to the outdoor spaces and thoughts of fabulous flea markets finds to repurpose into out side decorating... I would like to use some as planters of sorts for bedding flowers... Most of the time visions are wonderful but where are we to search and seek for them...

I was viewing the Country living magazine over the weekend { along with completing 3 books} and found several charming things of interest... If you like a object it is fine to take it out of doors... so it fades and patina comes along with adding character....

I miss the outdoor space and it was wonderful just to be able to go yesterday afternoon and pick up small branches that continue to fall from strong winds... Tom should be returning from his 4 days in Indy and the Big Ten Tournament... The outcome was not to his liking being we are Ohio State fans but Michigan State played a great game and came away with a tournament win... I myself am ready for basketball season to be over and move on and be able to sit out and watch the crack of the ball bat and some base running.... I do not watch pro baseball ... just enjoy the high school Tinora Rams... and looking forward to good things this spring from them... In ending the short post this day I would like to leave you with a wonderful thought.....


WHEN GOD OPEN DOORS ... WE NEED TO WALK RIGHT THROUGH... OTHERWISE WE WILL MISS WHAT HE HAD WAITING FOR US.....





Friday, March 9, 2012

A Bit Of Time For Myself

I am relaxing and enjoying the moments and as soon as I post I will finish the last few pages of a __Time To Embrace ___ and know it will remain in my mind as one of the better reads I have ever enjoyed.... The books are written by Karen Kingsbury .... I purchased these on Ebay... as I have many of the Amish reads I have enjoyed as of late... I have been reading till 1:30 in the morning as of late... finding my peace there...
Tom is off to Indianapolis, Indiana to spend time with his son and grandchildren and to attend the NCAA Big Ten tournaments and cheer on his beloved Ohio State Buckeyes.... I will sit in my lazy boy and view it from the confines of my living room... I do not attend games of that amount of people... After my heart attack I have had attacks of vertigo with large amounts of people and heights of which I never suffered before... It is a time he loves to spend with his son and I am sure they are on the golf course right now together although it is really not quite golf weather... chilly... windy... but the sun is shinning and they are not fair weather golfers so I can see the smile on both their faces right now....
Last evening we attended the guys basketball tournament and it was our Tinora Rams last game for this season... We had a fair season and I am very proud of our guys in the green and white as they are a great group of guys that give it their all till it's over... Sometimes life can be hard to do that... Everyday living can be really tough on given days....
Back to the books ... they are hard truths told of the struggles and challenges but leaves you wanting to cheer on marriage... these two books are truly a amazing and humbling experience in reading and exploring your own life .... I thought book one was wonderful reading but book two was even much better...I am off to finish the last few pages....


Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Musings In Thoughts

I haven't been on Blogger as much the past few weeks as I am normally... Some of the reason being I have been taking time to myself and reading books... allot of books... A few weeks ago I received a negative comment that was not only hurtful to me but took some of my desire to share feelings and thoughts with others. Seems I am gaining back some of the confidence that I need to continue writing more posts soon...
I received my Romantic Homes magazine this past week and I was so pleasantly surprised.. it seemed to be more the magazine I remember of past years that I loved more... Love the simple sharing of the idea of the lunch sack trimmed with cupcake papers...and oh so cost friendly and sweet... Many other objects and decorating in soft colors makes the thought of spring all the more alluring and the yearning stronger... I just felt this issue just a had a gift for charm...
I have tucked a few samplings of Easter around my home... a couple sweet bunnies and of course some eggs all tucked into hand made old book page paper shred... I love the color and texture of the paper shred...
I hope all of you my friends and followers are finding the right portions of peace and happiness as they are, oh, so a necessary recipe for living life and enjoying moments...