Spring is Here

  First come the azaleas. No frost, pruning and feeding are paying off!
 

  

                                             Bridal Wreath Spirea

   Then come the roses.  The Butterfly Rose is the first to bloom, the others are loaded with buds and ready to burst. One of the reasons I go to Roses Unlimited each year is to buy the Mill's rose food, which is so hard to find. I was told about it decades ago on a rose tour in Atlanta, a rose grower's secret!

     First bud to open on the Iceberg

   Found while pruning.

My beds are all planted, seedlings are sprouting. At the other end my lettuce is coming in thick. I think this is going to be a good year for my plants, I got a head start and had a plan!

Christmas Decor & Luncheon

 

First fire in the new fireplace.  Love my found andirons!  I was happy at how well it worked and how warm it made the living room. Being such a small fireplace, I didn't think it would perform so well. Smaller than the smallest standard fireplace and why I had to hire a mason to build it, but sure glad I did!

            Red cardinals on the white tree spurred the cardinal theme.

   A throw Bob had found on a trip.

Table set for a luncheon. The girls from our small post office were coming on their lunch break.

                     Nancy and Dawn.

Tried a new chocolate chip recipe with cornflakes and marshmallows.  These sandwich bags were perfect since the cookies were large.  They were a hit!

Christmas comes and goes too fast.

Dressed for Thanksgiving

 

And in one week it will be time to decorate for Christmas!

   And if the berries are any indication, maybe a cold winter with snow?  Asheville had some today, so paws crossed Timber and Geisha see one more snow! 

Unusual Portrait

I've always loved the old charcoal portraits and photos.  You either love them or hate them. Bob hates them so what I didn't sell I have down at the farmhouse. Strolling through the antiques mall this weekend, look what I found! A silk handkerchief with a portrait on it! There is a small hole in his cheek, but that didn't stop me from buying it. 
 

The silk is so soft and in pretty good shape with a gorgeous monogram on the opposite end.

The monogram.  C-E?  I looked online and only found one like this on Ebay where you could barely see the portrait, so I would say this was a special find. Now to find a place to showplace it!

New Items for the Farmhouse

So I was just stopping by a small antiques mall that I only go to when I need my lemon balsamic vinegar, but one of the booths was having a liquidation sale, and I couldn't resist! They are all so pretty!
 

 There were also some old photos, this was the only one I really liked and it was 20 cents! Looks like a home that would be in the Outer Banks.

Now sitting on the mantle.

  I really don't need bowls, but at $4 apiece, why not?!

   My favorite. Hard to photograph glass with all the glare. 

Somewhere along the way I picked up this linen embroidered tablecloth with green leaves, perfect for fall.

    Earlier this summer I came across this huge amber glass floral embossed light fixture. I was going to sell it, but was afraid the post office would break it. I'm glad I didn't. I am waiting on my sheetrock guy to come and re-do the corner of the living room that had shelves which I took a sledgehammer to and I am going to hang this light in that corner over a little table/chest that has been in Bob's room covered in books.  (photos to come!)

The light has 3 candles inside and a brass top with a chain.

It's hard to get a good photo of this also because of the glare, but once hung against a white wall you will see how pretty this globe is!

Sea of Mexican Hydrangeas

                 I created a monster! I planted two, I now have 2,000!! I am ripping them out by the dozens, but I have to admit when they bloom they are so beautiful!
 

                          Vases are full inside and out. Despite no rain for over a month and a horrible heat wave that won't stop, these flowers look fabulous!