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June 22, 2015 By Shirley

We Should Call It The Ivy House

It’s no secret, I love English Ivy.

I have always admired the beautiful cottages in the English countryside

that have many ivy covered walls.

So if I cannot have that ivy covered wall, I am settling for English Ivy in the house.

My hubby looked around the other day, and stated,

“with all the ivy plants you have around the house, we should call it The Ivy House” . . . funny guy!

Great Room Table Vignette-Housepitality Designs

You may remember the Summer vignette that I created on my coffee table in the great room.

And this cache pot of ivy in the master bedroom:

Master Bedroom Mirror-Housepitality  Designs

And I added  ivy to the dining room plant stands

Dining Room Antique Shutters-Housepitality Designs

Dining Room Antique Shutters-Housepitality Designs

The white ceramic containers used to have my bird’s nest ferns in them

however, now they have been relocated to the porch.

Another English Ivy on a plant stand near the kitchen.

Plant stand/ivy-vintage ironstone-Housepitality Designs

I have been taking my recently purchased vintage wood brackets from room to room

thinking that there was a better place to showcase them.

I loved where they were previously;  the more, I saw them, the more they looked like

wings coming off the hutch.

Then I had an epiphany . . . love epiphanies!

Vintage wood brackets-Housepitality Designs

Now I just did not cover them in ivy!

Vintage wood brackets-Housepitality Designs

The ivy is from the vintage ironstone bowl duo.

Vintage wood brackets-Housepitality Designs

While carrying the brackets around, I set them on my very large sofa table

and that is when I had the epiphany.

Vintage wood brackets-Housepitality Designs

The brackets seemed to define the space and allow a backdrop

for a special piece . . . my ironstone pieces that are a family.

Vintage Wood Brackets-Housepitality Designs

Vintage wood brackets/Ironstone Bowls-Housepitality Designs

I may not always have the ivy in this bowl,

as you know things are always evolving here.

Vintage wood brackets/Ironstone bowls-Housepitality Designs

Having all the ivy in the house for the summer reminds of  a song

that my dad taught us when we were little

on our weekly Sunday Drives.

Vintage wood brackets/Ironstone Bowls-Housepitality Designs

So I leave you today with a verse of that song. I can still hear my dad singing that song

and we kids singing at the top of our lungs in the car.

“Mares eat oats and does eat oats

and litte lambs eat ivy

a kid will eat ivy too, wouldn’t you?”

But you sang it this way:

“Maresie dotes and dosie dotes and little lambsie divy

a kittle-dee divey do, wouldn’t you?”

Did you go on Sunday drives as a child? . . . I still enjoy a great Sunday drive on the road less traveled.

Hope you had a great day yesterday spending it with a special dad(s) in your life.

I am joining:

Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday

Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: english ivy, ironstone, ironstone bowls, plant stands, vignette, Vintage wood brackets 37 Comments

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Stacey says

    June 22, 2015 at 7:11 am

    Your ivy is so pretty! I agree that the wood piece makes a perfect backdrop there on the table.

    I think when I was a kid I sang the song like you did. 🙂

    We planted ivy in some pots outside this year. It’s going crazy but it’s contained. Sure enjoying it.

    Reply
  2. DeEtte says

    June 22, 2015 at 7:17 am

    Oh my, this brings back memories! Yep, we all looked forward to those Sunday afternoon drives out in the country. How sweet!

    Reply
  3. Liz @ Infuse With Liz says

    June 22, 2015 at 7:24 am

    We shall have to nickname you Ivy! Ivy does make a nice accent and since it can grow with low lighting it’s perfect for interiors. I can’t remember taking Sunday drives all that often except for a family affair but I do like them nowadays. The song sounds cute!

    Reply
  4. Kim says

    June 22, 2015 at 7:36 am

    I have several ivy plants around the house, too. One of the only plants that I don’t kill. I love the corbels framing the ivy. Good epiphany.

    Reply
  5. Marty@A Stroll Thru Life says

    June 22, 2015 at 7:51 am

    Your ivy is all so pretty and I love that song. I sang it to all my kids and they sing it to theirs. Fun memories.

    Reply
  6. Amy Kaminski says

    June 22, 2015 at 8:09 am

    That table looks lovely with the corbels framing the ivy. Good idea! We always sang that song as kids and I sing it to my grandkids now. Sunday drives to nowhere are the best and usually end in ice-cream!

    Reply
  7. Kirby carespodi says

    June 22, 2015 at 8:13 am

    I have one of those cottages covered in ivy, and you should thank your lucky stars that your ivy is inside, in pots! It is so invasive and so destructive! We have spent a month every fall for 10 years getting the stuff under control, and we’re not done yet. As always, everything in your house looks GORGEOUS!!

    Reply
  8. martina says

    June 22, 2015 at 8:35 am

    I’d say you found the perfect spot for displaying those pretty brackets Shirley!! Have a great week!

    Reply
  9. Cecilia says

    June 22, 2015 at 8:45 am

    The ivy looks so pretty! I got a chuckle out of your version of the song; we didn’t go on Sunday drives though I do like to hop in the car now and take a drive down country roads.

    Reply
  10. Denise says

    June 22, 2015 at 8:49 am

    Yeppers, I love me some ivy too! I remember that song, and of course the second way is the only way to sing it! LOL~~oh, love the way you used sea glass in the candle thingie. I’m gonna try that in mine, I have a similar one. *copycat*

    Reply
  11. Karena says

    June 22, 2015 at 8:56 am

    Shirley I love English Ivy as well and the way you have it displayed round the house for some nice greenery! Part of the fun is changing things up isn’t it!?

    xoxo
    Karena
    The Arts by Karena
    Closer: Michael Clinton

    Reply
  12. penny @ the comforts of home says

    June 22, 2015 at 9:06 am

    “if the words sound queer and funny to your ear, just sing the song like this….” My mom taught me that song and we did sing it in the car!

    Loving all of your ivy and the brackets look great there!

    Reply
  13. Robyn says

    June 22, 2015 at 9:16 am

    love those brackets and they are perfect with your Ivy. I love Ivy and your plants are beautiful! Happy Monday!

    Reply
  14. Donnamae says

    June 22, 2015 at 9:17 am

    You really do have a lot of ivy…perfect! I have none…I can’t seem to grow ivy. I do have a green thumb…but that’s the one plant, I can’t seem to grow! I used to love Sunday drives with my parents. Now, that hubby is retired…I’d rather take a Wednesday drive…same scenery…less traffic! 😉

    Reply
  15. Linda miller says

    June 22, 2015 at 9:28 am

    I definitely like the new location for the brackets. Have a great first day of summer.

    Reply
  16. Diane says

    June 22, 2015 at 9:37 am

    I love ivy as well.I have it in a pot on my covered porch and it is doing great. However, everytime I try to bring it inside,I get spider mites…any suggestions???

    Reply
  17. Sara says

    June 22, 2015 at 9:38 am

    Your Ivy looks really beautiful… I have tried several times growing it inside… :(.. Just can’t seem to keep it alive. Outside no problems. Please share your secret.❤️

    Reply
  18. Design Chic says

    June 22, 2015 at 10:01 am

    I am the biggest fan of ivy and seem to use it as my plant of choice. Must admit, I have to buy it more often than I want…no green thumb here! Thanks for the reminder of Mares eat oats…Will and I will be singing on the way to the beach!

    Reply
  19. Patty says

    June 22, 2015 at 10:13 am

    Your ivy is one of the things I love the most in your home!
    And now I am going to have that song going in my head all day….funny how that happens.

    Reply
  20. Pat@back porch musings says

    June 22, 2015 at 10:50 am

    I love the ivy! I don’t have good luck with it, but I give it a try every chance I get.

    Reply
  21. Des says

    June 22, 2015 at 12:04 pm

    Love the corbels with the ivy….so beautiful!!!! For some reason the ivy loves to grow on the outside of my house which is a bad thing but doesn’t like the inside….go figure?!?! LOL
    Have a great week!!!!
    ~Des

    Reply
  22. Nancy Brantley says

    June 22, 2015 at 12:34 pm

    I love ivy too….love the corbels on the sofa table with ivy. I remember those Sunday rides and I love riding those back country roads now. Such a pleasure to see the cows grazing in a large pasture….

    Reply
  23. Kris says

    June 22, 2015 at 1:33 pm

    Hi Shirley,
    Love all the ivy and the corbels on the table with the ivy in the middle is so pretty. I love a Sunday drive too. You certainly have a lot of pretty roads less traveled by you for those trips. Have a great start to the new week.
    Kris

    Reply
  24. Mary Alice Patterson says

    June 22, 2015 at 1:48 pm

    The new vignette on your sofa table is fabulous…love the mixture of textures!! Your ivy looks so beautiful and healthy. The one I bought to try again has already bitten the dust…oh well.
    Mary Alice

    Reply
  25. Joann says

    June 22, 2015 at 1:57 pm

    What a clever and unique use of your brackets, Shirley. Love it! We also sang in the car…such fond memories! But, that is one song I have never heard. Thanks for sharing .

    Reply
  26. Pam Richardson says

    June 22, 2015 at 2:01 pm

    Shirley, I love how you have used ivy! And those brackets are amazing!! I do remember special Sunday afternoon drives as a child, and in recent years until we sold my convertible!. Blessings!

    Reply
  27. Cindy says

    June 22, 2015 at 2:18 pm

    Very lovely Shirley! Now I’ll be singing that song all day! lol!

    Reply
  28. Southern DayDreams from Celestina Marie Design says

    June 22, 2015 at 3:04 pm

    Hi Shirley, love the brackets as a backdrop. Ivy throughout looks gorgeous and brings a garden touch and so charming. We love taking drives around the back roads here in Texas. As a child we took drives too and always sang going down the road.
    Blessings, cm

    Reply
  29. Yvonne @ StoneGable says

    June 22, 2015 at 9:08 pm

    You have a green thumb my friend! LOVE the sofa table ivy vignette! I learn something new every time I visit you!!! Can’t wait to see you soon!

    Reply
  30. Richella Parham says

    June 23, 2015 at 12:19 am

    Mairsy Dotes! We sang it too!! Love this post, Shirley. Sometime soon I’d like to come see your Ivy House and have you come see my. . . hmmm. . . Doggy House. I guess that’s what I’d have to call it. But seriously, I bet we’re not more than 20 minutes away from each other. We really should at least get together for lunch!

    Reply
  31. Janette @ The 2 Seasons says

    June 23, 2015 at 8:25 am

    You must have a really green thumb. I have never been able to keep ivy alive. Your plants look wonderful.

    Reply
  32. Barbara Anne says

    June 23, 2015 at 8:30 am

    Love your ivy! My parents pulled so much ivy off of their chimney (dad said ivy ruins mortar) that mom declared “The only good ivy is potted ivy!” so it cannot spread.

    We sang Maresie Dotes, too!

    I’m downhill – globally speaking – from you in The Humble House.

    Reply
  33. Dawn says

    June 23, 2015 at 10:02 am

    Maybe you could redesign the blog with an ivy theme????

    Reply
  34. Renee says

    June 23, 2015 at 1:53 pm

    I think the brackets look great. I have been in search of a similar pair for myself. I love plants in the house, but unfortunately my cat does too! I have never heard of the song, but it is adorable. My husband and I have been going on Sunday drives….so relaxing.

    Reply
  35. Mary says

    June 26, 2015 at 5:58 am

    I love those brackets Shirley, they would look great in a certain potting shed I know 🙂 I never have luck with ivy indoors, it seems to suffer from spider mites.

    Reply
  36. LorB says

    June 28, 2015 at 9:01 am

    It’s a pretty way to decorate. I just don’t do well with plants. Not even the cactus which doesn’t take too much care…

    Reply
  37. Pinky at designs by pinky says

    June 28, 2015 at 11:51 am

    Beautiful vignette, you have GREAT ephanies! Yes, we sang that song as children, and the same way you did! Didn’t go for Sunday drives cause we grew up in our Grandmother’s house and our cousins came over every Sunday, to play and we all then had dinner.

    Reply

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About Me

Hi I’m Shirley and I am here to share my love of classic interiors, french country style, my passion for flowers and making our home, The Hickory Cottage, a warm and hospitable home for family and friends.

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