2012 May

A Little Birdie Told me…..

May 29, 2012 By Shirley

A bird was singing just this morning….

…..just outside my window as I was awaking.

I could actually hear him say…..I need your help….

For as you know….shortly there will be baby birds….

…..the ones that have nestled in your ferns and they will need water.

We hear your song loud and clear….

The bird bath was empty….in need of a repair….it was leaking and not holding water.

Water needed for the baby birds soon to come.

So hubby to the rescue….cleaning out the bird bath…repairing the leak….

…..and a new coat of paint

and let’s not forget the butterflies…they need water and flowers that make them happy!

The birds are singing….they know what is coming…..

The birds are spreading the word….their songs….the bird bath is renewed…

…..they are singing from high atop the trees.

For there is water…..clean and beautiful water……

…..in a beautifully renewed bird bath!….Tweet, tweet, tweet….that means “Life is Good” in Cardinal-ese…

….and the butterflies are fluttering….happy to see flowers….as the deer ate the roses!

So thank you kind human….the one we see in the yard all the time…

…..who is always whistling a happy tune….along with the birds….just happy to be alive.

So that the birds can have their water….and the butterflies can frolic in the flowers….

And all is well with the world….tweet, tweet.

I am joining:

The Gals from the Great Outdoors Linky Party:

Eclectically Vintage
It All Started With Paint
The Cottage Market
The Space Between
Thistlewood Farm

A Bowl Full of Lemons — One Project At A Time

Coastal Charm — Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Filed Under: Uncategorized

27 Comments

The Green Room…but where are the celebrities?…

May 24, 2012 By Shirley

This room was designated the “sunroom” until the house went up next door and then the curtains went up…….

However, on the house plans, the breakfast room was originally to be in that space.

But who needs a breakfast room, when there is the dining room just a few feet away…

…..and an island with counter stools….

…..and a bar wrapping around the kitchen with barstools.

Did not make sense to add another table…did not want it to look like a cafe or something like that…..

When Amy from Maison Decor saw my home tour over at Debbiedoo’s….

…..she made a request.

She wanted to see more of the sunroom….more detail…

So Amy….”this one’s for you!!!”….and maybe I’ll throw in a “Bud Light” at the end….

I present the sunroom…or maybe I should rename it the Green Room…..but do not look for celebrities here….

Furniture by Lane…Venture series

There is an ottoman that goes with this chair, but I chose to place it on the other side of the room…..

….for extra seating….this is a place where we love to gather….

Behind the chair is the desk area…a hutch to display my jadeite and cookbooks….

…..now do I sit there and plan my meals?….or search through my cookbooks for great culinary inspiration…???

…..Well, I’ll keep you guessing….I love cookbooks for their beautiful covers…and love to get the autographs…

………….makes you think that I am a serious cook….right???? Well, Giada thought so…and wrote so….

……………….but really does not know so….:) I pretend with great books!

OK Amy…I can hear you now…details, Shirley…I want details….

The fabric is “Fantasy Garden — Champagne” purchased from Calico Corners….love that place!

The trim was purchased at a great local fabric store…Mill Outlet Village.

The sheer roman shades were made to tone the sun down a bit…

Oh, I should tell you that the person who made the all the curtains and valances is wonderful……

…..she was recommended by a friend and neighbor….

At the time, she just finished doing all the window treatments for Kristy Yamaguchi…

…..so if she is good enough for Kristy….she is more than good enough for me

Had a couple of pillows made to break up the floral pattern in the cushions…

I love toile….and I loved this asian inspired theme….Thought it went nicely with the cabbage roses…

To break up all the pattern, I decided to add a banding and trim to the bottom portion of the cafe curtains….

…..I purchased the green basket weave pattern fabric from Printer’s Alley in Raleigh…..

I was not only drawn to the color of the wicker….this planter/cabinet caught my eye….had to have it!

…..and not to mention, I loved the finials on the planter cabinet…..yep…very pineapplesque I would say!

It’s always nice to sit here and enjoy a cup of tea and a magazine…

…..and Amy….I even lit the candles for you!!!…You know, for great blog effect…

Tole trays are great in a well lighted area…prints seem to fade in the sun…..

…..and they just make me happy!:)

I also love the detail on the sides and backs of each of the seating pieces…

The cafe style was the most practical for the room…however, I wanted more of an “elegant” feel…

…..thus the choice of the kingston valances…..

The wicker came in three choices of colors…white, green, and red….

…..I loved the red and thought that I would add pops of red to the area…

…..it brings out the red in the fabric of the love seat and chair.

Hope you enjoyed the expanded tour of the “Green Room” with no celebrities!…

Addendum: After publishing this, my son left a comment (I think it is his very first one!)
If you wish, click on the link below his comment and see “the birthday girl presents dance”…
I think this was last year…!..It is one to see!

I am joining:

At The Picket Fence — Inspiration Friday

Between Naps on the Porch — Metamorphosis Monday

Common Ground — Vintage Inspiration Friday

DIY by Design — Swing Into Spring

French Country Cottage — Feathered Nest Friday

It’s Overflowing — Overflowing with Creativity

Mrs. Hines Class — Show and Tell

No Minimalist Here — Open House Party

Romantic Home — Show and Tell Friday

Savvy Southern Style — Wow Us Wednesday

The Charm of Home — Home Sweet Home

This post was featured:

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: jadeite, planter, sunroom, toile, wicker

40 Comments

There “Oughta” Be A Law….

May 22, 2012 By Shirley

“Hey Sweetie, I think I did not sell that black scale when we moved”….

“Have you by any chance seen it?”……

………”Sure Honey, I have!”….

………”You can find it on Aisle 2, Shelf 4, Bin number 32″….in the attic”

OK…so are you like me?…Do you envy people like that?….THERE OUGHTA BE A LAW!!!

………NOT SO GREAT ORGANIZERS EVERYWHERE…???….LET’S UNITE…!!!

So in about 10 minutes, whereas it would have taken me 10 hours…..

………my old scale appeared. Gotta love him…..

I am glad that I did not sell this before we relocated…

I went out into the backyard and clipped a few of my hydrangeas that are starting to come into full bloom….

They are so beautiful…just sitting out there happily in the sun….

………I feel that when I take cuttings…..I take away more of the beauty of the shrub….

But then, it makes me happy to see them inside……makes me smile

So now they are sitting in a pretty bowl that I so carefully placed in my suitcase…..

……..as I bought it in Japan, when I was visiting there with my mom and brother.

Japan, where the hydrangeas are gorgeous…and the camellias exquisite…

So thanks honey!…for being the way you are…so organized….so accommodating…

………so that I was able to pick these wonderful hydrangeas

………to place in my special bowl

………on top of the scale, that was patiently waiting for me in the attic to see the light of day again.

I am joining:

A Stroll Thru Life — Tabletop Tuesday

DIY By Design — Swing Into Spring

From My Front Porch to Yours — Treasure Hunt Thursday

No Minimalist Here — Open House Party

Savvy Southern Style — Wow Us Wednesdays

Southern Lovely — Show and Share

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Antique scale, hydrangeas

24 Comments

There "Oughta" Be A Law….

May 22, 2012 By Shirley

“Hey Sweetie, I think I did not sell that black scale when we moved”….

“Have you by any chance seen it?”……

………”Sure Honey, I have!”….

………”You can find it on Aisle 2, Shelf 4, Bin number 32″….in the attic”

OK…so are you like me?…Do you envy people like that?….THERE OUGHTA BE A LAW!!!

………NOT SO GREAT ORGANIZERS EVERYWHERE…???….LET’S UNITE…!!!

So in about 10 minutes, whereas it would have taken me 10 hours…..

………my old scale appeared. Gotta love him…..

I am glad that I did not sell this before we relocated…

I went out into the backyard and clipped a few of my hydrangeas that are starting to come into full bloom….

They are so beautiful…just sitting out there happily in the sun….

………I feel that when I take cuttings…..I take away more of the beauty of the shrub….

But then, it makes me happy to see them inside……makes me smile

So now they are sitting in a pretty bowl that I so carefully placed in my suitcase…..

……..as I bought it in Japan, when I was visiting there with my mom and brother.

Japan, where the hydrangeas are gorgeous…and the camellias exquisite…

So thanks honey!…for being the way you are…so organized….so accommodating…

………so that I was able to pick these wonderful hydrangeas

………to place in my special bowl

………on top of the scale, that was patiently waiting for me in the attic to see the light of day again.

I am joining:

A Stroll Thru Life — Tabletop Tuesday

DIY By Design — Swing Into Spring

From My Front Porch to Yours — Treasure Hunt Thursday

No Minimalist Here — Open House Party

Savvy Southern Style — Wow Us Wednesdays

Southern Lovely — Show and Share

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Antique scale, hydrangeas

24 Comments

To Honor The Best….

May 22, 2012 By Shirley

My Dad…he was the best….

He taught us kids…to respect…to love…to honor…

……OUR COUNTRY!

For, this country IS the best……

……and this week we honor….the best of the best.

We honor those who fought for our freedoms….

……and sacrificed their lives….lives that could have been…the lives that should have been…..

……SO WE CAN LIVE OUR LIVES AND RAISE OUR FAMILIES, IN TRUTH…WITH NOTHING TO FEAR….

BUT FEAR ITSELF….

To walk in the comfort of knowing that we can be the best we can be….

……to make our dreams a reality…..to hitch a wagon to a star.

We thank you….our service men and women….we thank you for your service to our country…..

…..We thank your families for their sacrifice…..their loss…our loss,

…………of wonderful unselfish men and women

…………………….who gave their lives, so that we can live….in peace.

To live in this great land of beauty and magnificence…..

…..of bountiful farms….of bustling cities….of majestic mountains soaring toward the skies….

…..of rivers flowing…..and lakes that sparkle in the morning sun…..

…..of babies taking their first breath..

…………….. as the beginning of their journey of a wonderful life.

For this….we thank you….thank you for your sacrifice.

I hope that my dad is looking down at me…from the beautiful heavens…and saying that he is proud…..

……of how I treasure my freedom….my country…that I live my life, to love, and respect, and honor….

……they way that he taught me…with the utmost integrity.

So on this Memorial Day….I thank our men and women who sacrificed their lives…..

…….so we can “hitch a wagon to a star”….(Ralph Waldo Emerson)

I am joining:

A Bowl Full of Lemons — One Project At A Time

Janes Adventure in Dinner — Front Planter Fun

Mrs Hines Class — Show and Tell

The Tablescaper — Seasonal Sundays

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: americana, flag, topiaries, vintage wagon, vintage watering can

18 Comments

My Beautiful Neighborhood Series…Part 2..A Southern Garden

May 20, 2012 By Shirley

Today we are fortunate to see my friend Pam’s beautiful southern garden….

Pam has been a member of garden clubs for many years..Her expertise shows in the beautiful garden vignettes of her yard…

The side entry gate

The fountain in her side yard by the screened porch with the gorgeous wood burning fireplace….oh the envy!

Clematis, Baptisia, and irises are the backdrop of the fountain

Let’s move to the backyard….it has a lovely view of the golf course and a wooded area beyond.

Oh…there’s something in the flowers….

Oh..it’s “Mulligan” their new Wheaton puppy!

Oh..and there he goes!….

Another view of the fountain and patio….

The fence is beautiful, but it also keeps the deer out…well, sometimes!

More views of the view beyond the fence….

You can see a glimpse of the sand trap beyond the fence….beautiful knock out roses….

Another “vignette”

The bank of windows are of her Craft/Quilt studio…it is a VERY LARGE room with a gorgeous view!

Beautiful hostas….

and more hostas….

And we have another visitor!!

And I leave you with my favorite image…this fountain in the side patio is my favorite…..

The sound of the water trickling is so calming, especially against the sounds of the singing birds!…

Thank you Pam for allowing us to visit your beautiful gardens…truly a showstopper….

I am joining:

The Tablescaper — Seasonal Sundays

Filed Under: Uncategorized

20 Comments

Where IS that house?….

May 18, 2012 By Shirley

That is a common question from the golfer’s who live in the neighborhood and see the back of our house.

The rear facade of the house looks so totally different in style as opposed to the front facade.

Yes, the serene beautiful scene after our very first snow in our house…

…..actually, the very first snowfall was the day OUR BEAUTIFUL GRANDDAUGHTER WAS BORN!!…

……….there were just an hour or so of flurries.

I think it was a sign..

…..a sign of a beautiful thing waiting to come.

I feel as if it really wasn’t snow…it was MAGICAL FAIRY DUST falling from the sky…

…..because as you know, something beautiful and magical happened that day….

My son and daughter in law were blessed with a beautiful, healthy baby girl…..

…..our precious Granddaughter.

So winter turns to beautiful spring…when my beautiful hydrangeas start to bloom…

I love my hydrangeas and so do the deer…hence the fencing….

AND NOW WE COME TO THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE…

You can see why…people say when they see the back facade…Where IS that house?…As it looks totally different
from the back….

AND TODAY….PLEASE HOP ON OVER TO DEBBIE AT DEBBIEDOO’S…SHE IS FEATURING MY HOME TODAY!
I AM OVER THE MOON EXCITED THAT SHE SO GRACIOUSLY ASKED TO FEATURE MY HOME….

THANKS DEBBIE!!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

22 Comments

There’s something different in here….

May 16, 2012 By Shirley

When hubby entered this room….

…..he said, “there’s something different about this room”

Oh really???….what makes you say that?

For you see….

He is very observant.

……He doesn’t miss a thing!!….there’s no fooling him!

“Oh, it must be the new orchid”…I so quickly replied….

Nooo…it’s something I just cannot seem to put my finger on….(or his eyes too, for that matter)…..ha!..

……So I am thinking…my observant one is not gonna guess this one!!

Today, I was running errands…and one of them was to see my friend Frances who owns Arnold’s Monogramming.

I needed a facelift for my chair…

I really want to have it reupholstered, but my practicality is setting in…

The chair is perfectly fine…but would love a new fabric.

So I decided to give it a facelift to satisfy my never ending obsession for always changing things.

…..I AM IN DESPERATE NEED OF THERAPY!!

So my therapy today was going to get this cushion monogrammed…by Frances…she did it while I waited..

…..how great is that!….Such personal service…a beautiful monogram, “while you wait”…

…..But there was a lot of “chatting” going on, while I waited….a good thing.

Oh wait!!!…he exclaims….there’s something black on that chair…he walks closer….

I like it….that is really nice!…So Frances, he likes it…Mikie likes it!!

AND I LOVE IT TOO!!….

I am joining:

A Bowl Full of Lemons — One Project At A Time

At the Picket Fence — Inspiration Friday

Between Naps on the Porch — Metamorphosis Monday

DIY By Design
— Swing into Spring

From My Front Porch To Yours — Treasure Hunt Thursday

Katherine’s Corner — Thursdays Favorite Things Blog Hop Party

No Minimalist Here — Open House Party

Mrs. Hines Class — Show and Tell

Romantic Home — Show and Tell Friday

Savvy Southern Style — Wow Us Wednesdays

Southern Lovely — Show and Share

The Charm of Home — Home Sweet Home

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Monogram, monogrammed chair

33 Comments

There's something different in here….

May 16, 2012 By Shirley

When hubby entered this room….

…..he said, “there’s something different about this room”

Oh really???….what makes you say that?

For you see….

He is very observant.

……He doesn’t miss a thing!!….there’s no fooling him!

“Oh, it must be the new orchid”…I so quickly replied….

Nooo…it’s something I just cannot seem to put my finger on….(or his eyes too, for that matter)…..ha!..

……So I am thinking…my observant one is not gonna guess this one!!

Today, I was running errands…and one of them was to see my friend Frances who owns Arnold’s Monogramming.

I needed a facelift for my chair…

I really want to have it reupholstered, but my practicality is setting in…

The chair is perfectly fine…but would love a new fabric.

So I decided to give it a facelift to satisfy my never ending obsession for always changing things.

…..I AM IN DESPERATE NEED OF THERAPY!!

So my therapy today was going to get this cushion monogrammed…by Frances…she did it while I waited..

…..how great is that!….Such personal service…a beautiful monogram, “while you wait”…

…..But there was a lot of “chatting” going on, while I waited….a good thing.

Oh wait!!!…he exclaims….there’s something black on that chair…he walks closer….

I like it….that is really nice!…So Frances, he likes it…Mikie likes it!!

AND I LOVE IT TOO!!….

I am joining:

A Bowl Full of Lemons — One Project At A Time

At the Picket Fence — Inspiration Friday

Between Naps on the Porch — Metamorphosis Monday

DIY By Design
— Swing into Spring

From My Front Porch To Yours — Treasure Hunt Thursday

Katherine’s Corner — Thursdays Favorite Things Blog Hop Party

No Minimalist Here — Open House Party

Mrs. Hines Class — Show and Tell

Romantic Home — Show and Tell Friday

Savvy Southern Style — Wow Us Wednesdays

Southern Lovely — Show and Share

The Charm of Home — Home Sweet Home

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Monogram, monogrammed chair

33 Comments

Lavender and Homespun

May 14, 2012 By Shirley

I changed out the centerpiece today.

From my shells and candles…and upside down candlesticks turned flower vases…

…..to lavender and homespun.

The wooden box of lavender that proudly sits upon the beautiful homespun tea towel.

A tea towel that I purchased from my friend….from the antique fair…..

So until the lavender starts screaming…take me outside…..

…..I shall enjoy them and their beautiful fragrance.

And then, I may have to heed to the dry species…

Lavender and homespun…what couldn’t be better?….

I am joining the following:

A Stroll Thru Life –Tabletop Tuesday

Coastal Charm — Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Common Ground — Vintage Inspiration

Ivy and Elephants — What’s It Wednesday

The Style Sisters — Centerpiece Wednesday

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Homespun linen, lavender, lavender centerpiece, wooden box

29 Comments

«Older Posts