Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Shabby Apple Giveaway


It's no secret that this is a busy time of year.
Along with  keeping up with the household chores & the work and school schedules,  we're now adding a long list of outdoor activities to the schedule... lawns to mow, flowers to plant, weeds to pull.
 
  
 Along with the never-ending list of chores to be accomplished, this time of year finds us busy attending graduation parties, showers, weddings, etc.
 Yes, it's a busy time, but also a time for fun and memory making.

Trying to keep up with our busy schedules and also find time to shop for the outfits we want to wear to these fun and memory making events can be a challenge.  

 
 So, when I was recently given the opportunity to offer one of my readers a generous $50 gift certificate to Shabby Apple, I was thrilled to do so.  If you aren't familiar with Shabby Apple, they specialize in vintage clothing.  All of the pictures above are from their site.  I had a lot of fun looking through the pretty things they offerEverything is so feminine and has such a fun vintage flair.  

  
 I love this.
It reminds me of the way I used to dress my Barbie doll.
 Definitely vintage and feminine.

Now, about that giveaway,  one lucky winner will be chosen to receive a $50 gift certificate to Shabby Apple.  Please click this link vintage clothing    and take a look at what they have to offer.  If you're interested all you have to do is leave a comment on this post.
Winner will be announced on May 22nd.
Sorry, giveaway is open to readers in the USA only.
Good luck and thanks to Shabby Apple for making this giveaway possible! 

 


 

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Oh What a Beautiful Morning


Our recent rains have given way to a fresh, clean landscape.
The pollen has been washed away, our dreaded humidity hasn't surfaced yet and this morning was as close to perfect as it gets, in my humble opinion.

So, with camera in hand, I took an early morning stroll through the garden taking note of the wonders of nature.  The peonies are loaded with buds just waiting to open.  I'm making a mental note to find an ideal vase for them.  I'll leave most of them outside, but I can't resist bringing in at least one bouquet.

 The hostas are emerging from their winter homes.
They look so fresh and healthy now before the summer heat and little critters get to them.

I picked up this container at Walmart recently.
I love this combination of colors.

 Speaking of containers, I tried a new-to-me color combination on the patio this year.  I wouldn't have thought to mix these plants together.  The idea is loosely based on a photo I took at a garden walk a few years ago.  I love the inspiration that can be found at the local garden walks.  Sadly, I just learned that the one I've enjoyed for several years is going to be discontinued.  Boo Hoo!

 For the center of the patio table I bought a hanging basket filled with these mini petunias (I think they're called Supertunias).  I then removed them from the hanging basket and put them into my existing glazed pot.  This turned out to be less expensive than buying several individual plants and much easier too.

 
The cost of flowers can add up fast, so I cut corners where I can.
For instance, our Lowe's always has plants in the very back of the garden center that have been reduced to clearance prices.  Some of them look like they're not long for this world, but others are just a bit ragged.  Nothing a bit of TLC can't cure.  The gerbera daisies pictured above were all reduced to $2.50 per pot.  I honestly couldn't see anything wrong with them.  I also purchased two hanging baskets filled with begonias for $2.50.  I plan to separate them to line the edge of my herb bed.

  
On a final note, I took a picture of my one and only iris.
The year before last we divided our big clump of them.
It had been growing in the same spot for 8 years and wasn't producing as many flowers as I thought it should have.  I read that they needed to be divided every few years.
Last year we didn't get any blooms, which I think is to be expected.
This year we have several healthy looking clumps scattered about the garden.  However, only one big bloom and another bud getting ready to bloom.  Oh well, it's a mighty pretty bloom and there's always next year.  

Thank you for sharing this beautiful morning with me.   



 

Thursday, May 2, 2013

May Flowers


~ My daily trip to the mailbox just got prettier ~


So far I am loving these May flowers.
Thank you, April showers. 




 




Tuesday, April 30, 2013

A Plan B Kind of Weekend

 
 ~ Creating my own sunshine on a rainy weekend ~




 Sometimes when our best laid plans for spending time working in the garden are dashed due to Mother Nature's plans for rain, rain & more rain, it's time for Plan B.
Such was the case here this weekend.
We did get to the garden center to pick up a few plants on Saturday morning and even got them planted before the raindrops started to fall.
I do love it when it rains right after I get something planted.  It seems like such a good way to start the plant off in it's new home.
  As long as we had to halt our outdoor activities, we decided to visit Redbox and rent a movie.  We decided on this one:
 
Hubby thought it was funny.
I had high hopes, but thought it fell short of my expectations.  (a little lame).  Although I may have nodded off a few times so I might not be the best judge :).

When it was time to return the movie, the rain was still coming down so we thought maybe another movie was in order.

    One family's story of surviving the tsunami in Thailand.
We both thought it was sad, terrifying yet very well done.  I think I was sitting on the edge of my seat for the first half hour.  No chance of nodding off during this one.
The acting was superb. 

On Sunday it was a downpour ... all day long.
Both of the boys were coming home for dinner.
I assembled a french oven beef stew  which bubbled away in the oven all afternoon while we all watched a third movie.
This one was about a covert operation planned by the CIA and Hollywood during the Iran hostage crisis.  It was very interesting with many tense moments.  No nodding off during this one either. :D.

In between movie watching I finished this book:

My neighbor had loaned it to me awhile ago.
I wasn't sure I was going to like it at first, but it turned out to be an enjoyable read.
It's told from the point of view of a five year old boy named Jack.
Room is the eleven by eleven room where he was born and has lived with his mother.  It's the only world he has ever known.
To his mother room is the prison where she has been held captive for seven years.
That's all I'm going to say about that one.  Don't want to spoil it for anybody who might be planning to read it.

Once dinner was eaten, the rain was still falling so we raided the game cupboard

 Personally I would have chosen The Garden Game, but I was out- voted by Clue and Battleship.  I guess that's what happens in a house where females are in the minority.
All in all, the weekend was a good one.
It might not have turned out as planned, but there's nothing like a rainy weekend to make it seem perfectly acceptable to stay in and be a bit lazy.

    ***

With regards to my previous post, I guess I took for granted that everybody was familiar with pine needle deliveries.  I really shouldn't have because when I lived in Michigan I had never heard of such a thing either.  Sorry for that oversight.
By way of explanation, in these parts we mulch around our houses and yards with pine needles.  They are delivered in bundles.  Because termites can be a problem here it is recommended to use pine needles around the house instead of wood mulch as the wood mulch can attract termites.  It is a common sight to see trucks hauling trailers filled with pine needle bundles around here.  Once in a while someone rings the doorbell to ask if we are in need of any.
I kind of wish that person would ring my doorbell right about now since the delivery that was supposed to come last week never did.  The message left on the voice mail was never answered either.
So glad I sat home all day waiting :/.

Happy last day of April to you.

If it's true what they say about April showers, then May ought to be filled to the brim with flowers this year.       

 

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Vignettes in the Dining Room







 I'm home today waiting for a delivery of pine needles.
They were supposed to call this morning before coming, so I made sure to get in and out of the shower pronto so I'd be ready when they arrived.

I decided that while I was waiting I would work on some little vignettes in the dining room.  I managed to put away the Easter decor awhile ago, but since then it's been kind of neglected.  I started by shopping the house for things I thought might work.  This platter was a thrift shop find (tsf) which has been languishing in the cupboard.  I thought the hint of yellow was just the thing I needed to add that spring/summer touch to the china hutch.

 I've had this tin sitting in the attic for years.
I don't think I've found a use for it until now.
It seemed like it might work into my hutch and, I might add, it was also a tsf. 


 I won't mention where these two cow creamers came from, but I'll bet you can guess :-).

I mixed them in with some blue & white china and two ginger jars that I recently found at a consignment shop.  

By this time I was satisfied with the hutch and hadn't heard a word from the pine needle crew so, on with the decorating...

One of my favorite things to look for when I'm out "thrifting" is vintage linens like this one and

  this one.  
At one time somebody spent a lot of time lovingly stitching them.
I think they are much too pretty to be sitting in a drawer, so I'm working them into my vignettes today.

  
 This seems like a good book to put under the lamp to raise it up a bit and offer interest to the vignette on the sideboard.

 To this vignette I added a floral arrangement and a yellow bird (tsf) under a cloche.  I like to leave some open area here to add dessert plates or the water pitcher when I'm entertaining in this room.

 Last, but not least, I have an antique Victorian era dresser that sits in my dining room now.  I bought it many years ago at a garage sale and it's had many different uses since then.  It's currently filled with tablecloths, napkins and candles and candle holders that are used on the dining room table.  The top is decorated with china teacups that once belonged to my mom and mother-in-law.  Oh, and that topiary was found at the Habitat ReStore recently.  I needed some texture and height in this vignette and I liked how the colors work with the picture on the wall.

Well, here it is after 2:00.
Just tried to call the pine needle people and got their voice mail.  
Not sure if I'll be seeing any pine needles today, but my dining room is decorated and I'm ready for a late lunch.  I think I just may eat it in the dining room today.

What are you up to today?
Hope it's fun whatever it is.

~ Kim    
 


Monday, April 22, 2013

Lovely Day


There were balloons,

 
 a surprise floral delivery,


a beautiful and delicious bouquet of fruit,
but best of all . . .

 
 being surrounded by the love of my family.
Can't think of a nicer way to usher in my 55th year.

Thank you for all of your good thoughts and birthday greetings. 

 
 












Thursday, April 18, 2013

Strolling Right Along

 ♫ Come into the garden it's a beautiful sunny day ♫

As I took my morning stroll through the garden, that song popped into my head.  It was one I remember hearing on Mr. Rogers show many years ago when my boys used to watch it. 

Spring continues to unfold here in North Carolina.
It seems a daily stroll around the garden is necessary in order to not miss any of the action.  I watched for days as the tulip buds grew plump.  It's a good thing I got out there on the day they opened as they only lasted a day or two due to our high temperatures at the time.

With all of the heavy and sad news that has settled on our country this week, it has been a welcome reprieve to spend time with nature.

  
  I've made it a policy to not discuss politics here and I won't, but I must admit yesterday I was tempted.

 
 Have no fear, the happy homemaking will continue and the political rants will not happen.  Just makes me feel better to let a bit of steam escape ;-).

Moving right along (and changing the subject), I was talking to my soon to be 27 year old son the other day and he was telling me how he couldn't believe he was going to be so old.  I asked him if he'd like to trade ages with me.  He just flashed me a cute little grin
When I think about the age I'll be turning tomorrow ... well, I'd just as soon not be reminded.  But it seems like everywhere I go it's staring me in the face.

 
Yikes!!
How did I get here so fast?