Treasures From the Past

Beautiful old silverplate pieces were going to be discarded - egads! I couldn't bear the thought! So, I'm on a mission to find them good homes. Not my home, mind you. I adore their form, the ornate details, the patina. But they don't reflect who I am. But I have faith someone out there will embrace them - either as they are or as a project to rejuvenate or repurpose. This tea and coffee service is missing the top piece of the coffee lid and I'm pretty sure the lid on the sugar doesn't really match - but it's a suitable replacement.

And this highly ornate pot is a feast for the eyes!

These pendant lights were a rummage sale find. I love those milk glass globes! Again, doesn't really fit my home and style, but I can't help but appreciate the beautiful details in both the glass and the metal pieces.

And finally - a map! Actually it's a wooden puzzle with a copyright from the early 1920's. I considered keeping it to help my grandchildren learn their US geography (minus the one missing piece in the northeast). But then again, do I really want to risk it getting chocolate fingerprints and kool-aid spots added to the felt tip marker that's already been used to outline each piece? Hmmm...and I can't imagine how exactly, but I'm sure it could be used in an artsy/modern mixed media creation to become something wonderful and treasured. Just have to get it into the right hands.

A Dry Weekend At Last

At last - a weekend without rain! And I put it to good use. The yard is in dire need of attention so I managed to fit in mowing and trimming, but more importantly I got to play in the garden. Some of my tomatoes and peppers got to enjoy the outdoors, but protected from the wind inside this wonderful mini-greenhouse. There was only room for about 1/3 of the plants I started indoors, so I'll have to switch them from day to day. I found the old aluminum storm door panel with the "S" to be quite useful in keeping the plastic door from whipping against the tender young seedlings when the wind was gusting. Our last name starts with S so I use this as part of my front porch decor, though usually in a different way!

I tidied up this flower bed a bit as it needed trimming around the perimeter and a dead plant and couple of weeds removed. I am so proud of how it looks already this year, and it should only get better. Next to the concrete blocks are Sweet William and Red Wonder Wild Strawberries. I started both from seed last year. The strawberries actually bloomed and produced berries late last year, but the Sweet William won't bloom until this year. The white blooms in the photos are the berries - and they already have several tiny fruit forming. Buds are just beginning to show on Sweet William - couldn't capture in the photo, but it looks like there will be both white and pink.
Next to the wall, the yellow leaved plant is a eunoymous, which will become more green as the season continues. The other plants are Hollyhocks - and I'm so anxious to see them bloom this year! I've never grown them before. I started these from seed last year, and because they won't bloom until their 2nd year, I've been looking forward to them for what seems like forever. I had some more Hollyhocks in the veggie garden, but needed that space for more veggies. So another chore I tackled today was to create a small bed for them next to our front porch and move them. Got that done, so if I didn't disturb them too much, their blooms should be visible to passers-by instead of hidden behind our house!

I have several items to decorate my gardens, and just created this fun tipsy watering can totem. I was inspired by Dottie over at D+G Gardens and Crafts Blog. She is wonderfully creative, and shares the how-to for her creations on her website. She has some beautiful crystal totems that I want to copy as soon as I get all the pieces gathered. She also does tipsy pots and tipsy tea kettles....the inspiration for my tipsy watering cans. I had been collecting them over the last couple of years with the intention of using them on a giant grapevine wreath I have. I still have yet to complete that project, but there are more than enough left over to do it too.

Vintage Junk Crazed

It seems I'm vintage/junk-crazed these days. Not that I haven't loved old stuff before now, but it appears to be growing....now including items from the 50's-60's and even the 70's. I'm a yard sale junkie and I find myself zeroing in on the vintage and broken/rusty/crusty stuff and turning my nose up at the new.

Good news is, I'm not alone. From websites like Etsy to The Junk Revolution, to the tons of blogs out there authored by those with the same addiction, there is a growing population who are enamored with old stuff. Some because they are old enough to be nostalgic, others because of the "green" element (reduce, reuse, recycle), and others just because they're getting caught up in the fun!

I've posted previously about aprons, bowls and plates and such. Now I'm caught up in cut glass, and crystal pieces, and milk glass. Love these! I changed out from a lot of darker, heavier pottery pieces for these lighter, brighter pieces for spring. Just need my flowers to start blooming so I can fill the vases!

Wander Through the Woods

We took a little time out over the weekend to go to the woods on the back of our property. I visited the pond and wandered around while DH searched for morel mushrooms.
This gorgeous plant looks like a giant bloom, planted at the base of one of the towering oaks. I'm not sure what it is called. The leaves are a very soft, fuzzy texture making me think of a plant I've seen called Lambs Ear.I captured the tracks of one of the many woods-creatures. I think likely a raccoon or skunk.I should have taken photos of the morels DH found - but those were supper tonight and are long gone! There were at least 40 of them - bountiful compared to most years. Dredged in flour, salt and pepper, then pan fried and served with bacon gravy - heaven on a plate!

Elm at Dusk

The title pretty well says it all. I saw it - I liked it - I shot it....and sometimes that is all you need.

Green and Growing

I've been away from my blog for a bit longer than usual, but have a good report to share now on the green, growing going on around here.

All 12 tulips I planted last fall are up now, though the 2 on the north-most side of the bed came up 3-4 weeks later than the rest for some reason. Two are at the bloom stage - one is a nice bright gold, but this one has a rosy tinge that I'm anxious to see more fully. (And yes, it's time to fire up the hateful weedeater - but the blooms on those weeds in the background are kind of pretty...don't you think?)


The raindrops glisten on the strawberries....and what is that peeking out? Blooms???? Yes! Blooms!!! These Red Wonder Wild Strawberries may have been a bit of a challenge to start from seed last year, but what a treat they have proved to be. I can hardly wait to enjoy the tiny but unbelievably delectable berries - if I can keep them from getting frozen! Forecasts call for another freeze this evening and unfortunately, this could keep happening for the next 4 weeks - ugh.

My indoor garden is filling out too. As the sweet peppers are leafing out, I've been transplanting so there is only one per cup. The tomatoes got started later, but they'll catch up soon. I've had a few minor disappointments - the Tam peppers never sprouted - but I only wanted one plant for salsa anyway. I may only end up with one or two of a few specific things because of poor germination, but I knew some of my seed was 2-3 years old. All in all, I'm pretty happy with the turnout so far. And knowing I have several things growing in the wintersown jugs and coldframe tubs outdoors is a bonus. Yeah spring!