Once upon a time ...

This is an older post, as I have nothing in my garden to show you right now!... It's still winter here in Centerville... I am linking to my friend Tracie's party Cottage Flora Thursdays at Fishtail Cottage...

"A Fairy's house stands in a wood,
Midst fairy trees and flowers,
Where daisies sing like little birds
Between the sun and showers,
And grasses whisper tiny things
About this world of ours.

Some day shall we try to find
This strange enchanted place?
Go hand in hand through flower~lit woods
Where living trees embrace... "
~Author unknown... xoxo

Lazing Away the Day...

Do you have special places you like to go... secret places to slip away for awhile? ... I do... I have several spots I love to wander away to... one is the stream, just around the corner and down the lane from my home... today Mama Duck and I spent some quality time together there...

I asked her if I might take some photos of her, she looked so pretty, I wanted to show her off on my blog... she thought that sounded nice, so she began posing for me...

She too said she was enjoying a lazy day at the stream... nothing but sincerity as far as the eye can see...

Would I like a cool sip of water?... well, yes, but I shall take mine from my little water bottle I brought with me while you savor the cool, crisp stream water...

Mama Duck said it was a perfect day for lazily paddling around in the stream... enjoying some quiet time before the three Daddy Ducks who are vying for her attention fly in...

I told her I could see why she had so many Daddy Ducks falling in love with her...

You are beautiful Mama Duck... we'll chat again soon! ... xoxo

Remember Summer? ... It's still out there...

How quickly Spring has said it's goodbyes (the little bit we had of it here in Centerville!) and Summer begins easing in this weekend...whatever your plans for Memorial Day are, be it a barbeque, sailing, gardening, flea~marketing or just relaxing, I hope you will take time to honor the true meaning behind the holiday...

I noticed on my Nature walk today, the slightest changes as Spring turns into Summer... even the weeds on the trail look pretty (to me they are beautiful Wildflowers, like the one in the picture above I took today!)... Memorial Day weekend traditionally has been considered the beginning of Summer, even though the Summer Solstice is not until mid~June... I remember as a little girl I could not wait for school to get out for the Summer!... then happy, carefree days, spent with my little sister Jill, enjoying the simple pleasures in life... looking for four~leaf clovers (Jill just told me today she wants to do this again, so do I Jill!)... making clover garlands to wear around our necks or in our hair, out of sweet clover blossoms... setting up our Koolaide stand (we usually drank it all ourselves and didn't make a dime!), digging to China, running through the sprinklers, eating watermelon, making sno~cones on Jill's sno~cone machine, catching Butterflies (which we always let go of course!), playing baseball in the field, riding our bikes in the orchard, walking to downtown Bountiful with a quarter to spend on penny candy and surprise balls (remember those?)... going to the library and picking out fun books to read on a lazy summer's day...rollerskating in our driveway (with our skatekey on a shoelace around our necks)... running excitedly to greet the icecream truck and taking forever deciding if we wanted a banana bar or a drumstick... picking out my new pair of Keds for the summer at the old JC Penneys store in Bountiful...did I want red, white or blue? ... only got one pair to last all summer, which was hard to do what with climbing trees, playing tag and hide~and~go seek... picking bright red cherries and popping them in our mouth, not even caring that their sweet red juice was running down our face...laying in the cool grass after dark and counting the stars... Summer holds so many precious memories for me... but those memories don't have to end... I plan on being that little ten year old girl again this summer, and doing fun summertime things once again... I shall run through the damp grass in my barefeet, and sip lemonade on the porch... I shall wear my hair in a ponytail and let the sun bring out my freckles on my nose... I shall paint my toenails bubble~gum pink... I'm even going to eat bright red cherries and savor their sweet juice running all down my face and not worry about it!...I even bought me my summer pair of Keds the other day... chocolate brown ones!... oooh, there are so many good things about summer, and I will be posting about alot of them throughout this beautiful season that is upon us... so, to all of you, I wish you a most beautiful "beginning of Summer" weekend, and also, to my dear brother~in~law Wes, Happy Retirement Day tomorrow! I will see you at your party at your office... I love you Wes!... xoxo

In love with Wisteria and an old rock home...

Each morning on our Nature walk, we pass this beautiful old rock home... I gaze at it longingly... imagining "what if it were mine"??? ... it is listed on our State Historical Register, one of the first homes in Centerville in the 1800's... it is made from rocks washed down from the nearby hills... as many of the homes in my area are... Centerville is a quaint little town, where alot of years~old traditions are still kept... in nearby Farmington, where my sister lives, all new businesses must incorporate these wonderful natural rocks in their architecture... I love that! ...

The grounds are immaculate... but what is most impressive, besides the beautiful stone house, is the breathtaking wisteria clamboring up the side of it...

I love how the graceful blooms look against the old rock wall...

Let's take a closer look... their delicate fragrance is sooo Heavenly...

I used to paint some... the other day there were several artists sitting with their easels set up, painting this beautiful wall of Wisteria... I want to join them... perhaps I shall get my easel and paints out once more... the sun is shining today and the clouds are gone... it promises to be a most beautiful day...

Did you know the old~fashioned meaning for Wisteria is "Welcome Fair Stranger"... If this were my home, I would have a beautiful sign painted that said that to hang outside my beautiful Wisteria covered old rock home... I love to daydream about such pretty things that touch my heart... yes, today is a most lovely Spring day... sending happy thoughts to you and wishes for beautiful things that touch your heart as well... xoxo

"I can see clearly now, the rain (snow) is gone"...

"I can see all obstacles in my way... gone are the dark clouds that had me blind...

It's gonna be a bright, bright, sun~ shiny day"... Life is good... xoxo

Okay, enough is enough! ...

It has been really rainy here the entire month of May... with a few sunny, warm days in between... like the days I took the photos in my gardens in the previous posts, and the Bluebird yesterday mid~day... we sneak our Nature walks in between showers... we always want the water... it makes everything so lush and green... BUT! ... I am starting to think it is never going to end... and maybe Jack should start building an Ark... I took this photo during the calm before the newest storm...

This is my new little friend I met on the trail... his name is "Diego" and his mama bought him a new hoodie since he is sooo tiny and gets sooo cold! He is a little Mexican Chihuahua... isn't he precious! ...

I am starting to feel like I am in the Twilight Zone... today it is SNOWING! And 34 degrees!!! This is what I see when I look out my front window... yuck!...

Remember the Twilight Zone where the sun never came out and one guy wondered why, then realized he was in the "Twilight Zone"??? ... Please, tell me I am in Centerville and everything will be okay! ... xoxo

Sunday Brunch Guest...

Today we had the most special guest for Sunday brunch... this beautiful male Western Bluebird! I know we have Bluebirds here, but it has been a long time since I have seen any... what a cheerful sight today to look out at one of our trees that holds birdfeeders and see this precious little guy! ...


Our Bluebirds out West are different than their Eastern Bluebird cousins... but every bit as spectacular! Our yard is a "Certified Wildlife Habitat" through the National Wildlife Federation, so I have all kinds of different seeds and such out for the birds, but decided to run to Lowe's and buy something "extra special" for our guest... I bought the premium Fruit and Nut mix as Bluebirds LOVE fruit... and I didn't know if they would like the "raisin and cherry" mix I had out... soon, his beautiful mate came as well... she is much lighter blue on top and I was not able to get a photo of her before they flew off together... I can't wait for them to return... I want Baby Bluebirds! ... If you would like to certify your yard as a Wildlife Habitat, please visit the National Wildlife Federation... your property must provide the four basic habitat elements needed for wildlife to thrive: food, water, cover and places to raise young... I enjoy this so much, and I think you will too! ...xoxo

My Garden Path...

Hello... I hope you are enjoying a beautiful day where you live, maybe out in your garden, like me... here's a look at what's blooming today in mine... Delicate Columbines... so pretty, I made it my new header photo for awhile... I thought it might be fun to change my header to the pretty flowers that bloom in my gardens... my Clematis will be next...

Oooh, I had a little helper today... this is Pita... my neighbor's darling Pomeranian... Pita loves to come help me in my gardens, and get a yummy treat... isn't she adorable! ...

One of my other neighbors gave me this cute Butterfly House for my birthday... Butterflies love to rest out of the hot afternoon sun in these little homes and I love how it looks in my cottage garden...

My hanging basket of Fuchsia is really lush and the Hummingbirds are almost non~stop sipping it's yummy nectar...

If you look closely, you will see pollen this pretty little honeybee has scattered while visiting my Heartsease...

My new little "Cupcake" miniature rose I posted about in the early Spring is starting to bloom... I am soo excited... the bush is covered with buds! ...

This morning, my first Clematis blossom opened... this Clematis is called "Fireworks"... love it! ...

Pretty shades of Dianthus "Wee Willie"...

A white Cosmos, "Cutesy Mix"... I also have all shades of pink just starting to bloom...

Purple Petunias are a must~have! ...

Oooh, another little visitor today... this pretty little Hummingbird Moth warming itself in the sun... I just couldn't resist holding her for a bit... they love to tickle my fingers...

So many more pretty plants, just waiting for it to warm up a bit more... we have had days and days of rain off and on, now we need the warmth of the sun...

What's blooming in your garden today? ... Don't forget... "Leave a path in the garden so Angels can walk through"... xoxo

A Gathering of Thoughts...

"A Gathering of Thoughts"... just the name of my sweet friend Rebecca's blog evokes beautiful images in my mind... not only of the gorgeous creations she makes, but also of the lovely thoughts she always shares... Rebecca is the epitome of loveliness, in every way... many of you already know her, but for those of you who do not, please stop in to visit with her for a bit... I always look forward to her heartfelt posts, but I especially love the ones she posts on Sundays... Rebecca is the daughter of a preacher and her love of family and life comes through in these posts... I especially loved the post today about a little white country church... and a beautiful poem that went with it... it took me back to a much simpler, gentler time... Besides her inspiring thoughts, Rebecca creates the most exquisite treasures... Recently I special ordered a French Sachet from her... she usually fills these with French Lavender, but due to my awful allergies, I cannot have dried lavender, so she was kind enough to make mine special with little beads inside... Take a look at my new pretty...

Here is a closeup of the gorgeous embellishments... vintage millinery flowers, vintage lace, vintage doilies, vintage pieces of jewelry and buttons... isn't it lovely! ...

She also tucked in one of her new notecards she designed (which are available on her website)... I must order more, as I am keeping this one for myself! ...

Thank you Rebecca, not only for creating my special sachet, but for being the beautiful friend to me that you are... xoxo

A Peek Inside My Atelier...

Bonjour Ladies! ... and welcome to my little "Atelier"... I'm sure you all thought my birthday week posts would never end! ... I just had such a wonderful week! ... I have so enjoyed seeing where so many of you ladies create beautiful treasures... your studios, crafts rooms, little getaways... some of you have shops, some of you are featured in magazines... and I am fortunate to own many of your creations myself... I do not own a shop, nor am I featured in magazines, but I DO have alot of fun creating pretty things for my family and myself... here is where I spend alot of my time when I'm not on my Nature walks, or out in my gardens (or at the computer!)...

Pretty sparkly tags and vintage buttons waiting to be placed on something pretty... and my little collection of shakers and various collectible little jars and bottles...

My "treasure board" and little desk...

I painted this old carousel spice rack I had from years ago, and put little beads, pearls, charms, etc inside the jars... it sits next to more vintage buttons and little millinery flowers...

My glitter station... what would we do without glitter? ... one day, I spilled some silver German glass glitter on the floor... as I went to sweep it up, it looked so pretty, I left it there! ...

Vintage treasures inside my cabinets, along with saved magazines I refer to often...

My sewing machine and crafts table...

A little spare table, with one of my mama's vintage tablecloths on it, and little boxes holding craft supplies...

I spend alot of time "dreaming"...

Ooh la la... little things that remind me of my French heritage...

A pretty straw hat I adorned with ribbons and flowers...

Pretty vintage treasures I have purchased from some of you ladies...

Vintage doilies... many crocheted by my mama many years ago...

Ribbons and lace...

Shelves of bits and bobs...

My, the time has flown by! ...

I always love to have you visit, Merci! ... I hope you will drop by again soon! ...Bisous...