The Garden Is In Bloom.....

The summer is flying by, but I am enjoying each and ever second. I thought it was time to show some garden pictures. I just love all the colors they bring. It just makes a person "happy" to see all those divine shades intermingling.

I wasn't going to start with vegetables, but since Blogger wasn't cooperating tonight, I thought, OK, vegetables, it is. I only put some vegetables in pots, and that's enough. A little lettuce, some tomatoes and peppers, and this year, an eggplant. Isn't the eggplant bloom just so cute? Can't wait ot make eggplant parmesan. I'm open for recipies!

My neighbor, Mitsy, puts in a big garden and always shares her bounty with us. Thank you, Mitsy, I'm loving every morsel! She gave me some turnips. Can't wait to cook those up.

These impatience remind me of sherbert colors. All different flavors. Just delicious! And the butterfly bush is new to the garden this year. It's not very big, but I have about 4 flowers on it. Such beautiful shades of purple to lavender! Oh my! Just gorgeous. My little grandson has one, as well. He says he saw a hummingbird on it. What a sight that would be!

As I've said in the past, I don't have much luck with hydrangeas. But these are the new everblooming variety, blooming all summer. So far, so good. The flowers start green, turn to white, and then have just a blush of pink on them as they mature. I just love them! I'm hoping they weather just fine. Any tips on hydrangeas are absolutely welcome!

The back deck has a little garden and tiny frog spitting water into the pool. The snapdragons are wonderful this year. The clematis has already bloomed.

I've been fighting with the raccoons this year for digging up my pots. But, I think I've won the battle. Hubby put out the live trap to catch them the other night. When he catches them, he takes them over to the state game lands and sets them free. But, what did we catch? A Momma raccoon and a baby in the trap, and a baby laying next to it waiting for her Momma to get out. Hubby said he'd take the two over. I said, "Oh No! You cannot split up that Momma and her babies!" What else can you do? Those babies were so so cute.

I just love the double ruffled petunias.

For Mother's Day, Heather gave me a basket of beautiful flowers, tied up with a tulle bow! It was gorgeous; a basket I had always admired in her home. I was delighted with it. Here are the flowers, just growing like crazy! I love that chartreuse green. It has little spikes of pink flowers that come out the top. Not sure what it is. A viola and a trailing vine, which is just beautiful.

I also got a new hollyhock this year. I went to a sale at a local antique store, and she sold flowers, as well. I just love the fullness of this bloom. Beautiful!

Winter was especially hard on the lambs ear, but it is bouncing back nicely. It is a sturdy little plant. And, as they say, soft as a lambs ear.....

One of my statue angels praying under our American flag. I can't help but feel she's sending up a prayer for our country and our leaders. Can't we all use a little prayer? The plant under the flag gets little pink flowers in the spring (Forget the name).

A peek into the main flower bed with the gazing ball and the fountain.

And of course, my precious little lambs. Just love them. The ajuga ground cover is starting to take off.

That's the tour of my garden. It's wonderful getting out in the sun and digging around in the dirt. So, put those garden gloves on ladies, and get dirty! Of course get the Flexall 454 and heating pad ready. Some how I am not as flexible as I used to be!

Have a great week,

Kitty

By the Sea, By the Sea.....

Hubby and I haven't taken a "true" vacation for quite some time. So, we decided with our 25th wedding anniversary, we were overdue! There is nothing like being by the ocean to make a person unwind. It was truly a wonderful vacation. We both are feeling restored and have wonderful memories. Never having been to the "Outer Banks", North Carolina, we lived it up like true tourists. Soaking up the ocean and the sun, seeing all the local attractions, and eating all the scrumptious seafood we could hold in the days we were there. I recommend it highly for any of you looking for a vacation destination.

There are historical sights, light houses, gardens, and lots and lots of water! The picture above is the first picture I took when we arrived. I just had to get a picture of the ocean. Nothing cures "the build up of life" like walking along the beach!

This is a shot from the Currituck Light House. I did climb the 200+ steps to the top, but could not walk out around the top! Just couldn't do it. But, hubby did and took this amazing picture. While in the northern part of the outer banks, we four-wheeled in an open air jeep to see the wild horses. These are amazing animals and I will post about that next time.

But one of my all time favorite spots was the Elizabethan Gardens on Roanoke Island. You all may remember how much I love the statues and urns. Here is the sweet face of a cherub on a wonderful planter in the garden. How angelic! And below is a boy playing the flute. Waer drips out the end of his flute pipe. A more calming sound, there never was!

Beautiful pink roses in the rose garden.

And a long view into the formal garden. A knot garden with boxwood and herbs planted in the interior. Just lovely!

And did I tell you about the hydrangeas! I have been trying to get my hyndrangeas to grow here in Pennsylvania for a number of years and without success. These beauties are amazing! What's the secret? A local woman told me they don't like the hot afternoon sun and if they are not blooming, move them. So, that's the plan.

Can't you just feel the cool of the shadow after being in the sun!

And did I tell you about the hydrangeas! LOL! LOL!

Well ladies, that's all for now. Hope you are all well and happy and enjoying the wonderful summer here up north. Sit back and have a glass of "sweet tea" and soak up the joy of this beautiful season!

Blessings,

Kitty
xox

A sampling of the cottage...

I'm sorry it has been a while since my last post. Life has been getting in the way in a very big way! So, just for fun, I pulled together some of my favorite pictures of my cottage to give you a bit of a "tour". The picture above is old millinery and of course my beloved "strawberries" and velvet millinary, arranged on a huge silver tray that I found for $15 at the thrift store. Just love how it looks on the tray.

I was a collector of "primitives" when I first started collecting antiques. I could never resist these "child size irons. I have about a dozen of them, but here are some of my favorites. Can't you see a little girl in days gone by mimicking her Mama with these irons?

I'm sure many of you have seen these lambs before. But, they are my very favorite garden statues. I just love them snuggled down in the boxwood and lambsear.

These mini oil lamps are a sampling of the "milk glass" lamps that I have collected. These are impossible to find now. I cannot believe how hard it is to find things I could find 10 years ago. But, I am thankful for the ones I do have. They are sweet in a combined collection.

And where would I be without ironstone? Simple but beautiful, don't ya think?

Not sure if I have ever shown you my tiny guest bedroom. This is a poster bed I found at an antique sale. Just love it. I had to have the mattress cut down from a double, as it is just a bit smaller. As they say, people were much smaller back then.

And again, child size sewing machines! Just love them. What happened to these traditions? Where little children would sit with their mothers to learn these things? I think we are missing the boat on these old traditions. What do you think?

Well, thanks for touring a bit of my home with me. I hope to be around to see all of you soon. My hubby and I are taking a quick vacation, but I'll be back soon and can't wait to catch up with all of you! Hope you are enjoying your summer,

Blessings

Kitty

Ooooh-h-h-h-h-h, I LOVE that GREEN.....

I have been without a computer for almost 2 weeks! UGh! It's been frustrating, to say the least. So, I thought I would get a quick post out to all of you. I've missed visiting with you. Since "May" is my very favorite month, I thought I'd post about the color green. Here in Pennsylvania, May is the "greenest" month of all! Just gorgeous. So, inspired as I am, here are a number of my favorite pictures, in no particular order.

Above, green is the color of the day last year at an antiques fair. Many shades of this luscious color!

Oh so pretty, this green table and chair with rose petals and such a gorgeous screen!

And who can resist this vintage card of marching angels in their sweet green/blue robes. Definitely 60's, don't ya think?

And the sweet fairy picture below. Not sure, but I may have borrowed this from Stephanie. If I have, Steph, please forgive me, I just loved it......

And the green sleeves of vintage Victoriage dresses. Oh so elegant. Dresses had such beautiful detail then, didn't they.

And the shade of this green coutier gown is just incredible. Hand coloring at its best. Lovely.

And a bolt of green ribbon that is just irresistible. Just love it. It's waiting for a special project.

And a bit of green garden inspiration. Yes, it is time to get those fingers dirty. Just love the thought of it!

Hope you have enjoyed my tribute to the 'green' month of May! Have a wonderful week. I'll be popping by to see all of you...

Kitty

xox

Finally, A Place To Create.....

Well, it is finally done (well, maybe never done, right?) But, my little creative workspace (should I call it a studette?) is now a workable space. After all winter of my dear, sweet husband, building me a very long table, buying storage bins, and sorting through all of my "stuff", I think I can say, I have a studio.

Now, this is not a grand studio, by any means, but, is a great little place for me. My house is small, but I do have 3 bedrooms, and have no children at home. So, I did take one of the bedrooms and carved out a space against a wall, and took over the closet.

Forgive the quality of some of my pictures, but I've been taking them over and over again, without alot of luck.

My husband took an unfinished interior door (Lowe's), and added legs and trim, and painted it white. Underneath are plastic drawers. Yeah, I know, plastic, yuk. But, this is the most workable solution for me. At least I can keep things organized. In my closet, I have 3 large shelves and more plastic bins, to hold even more "stuff".

In this big cupboard, I have alot of my quilts, fabric, linens on the top. In the bottom half, I have magazines, paints, and misc.

Around, the room, I tried to use every nook and cranny. The little white stand by the bed is not filled, and is waiting for more "stuff" to be bought. The vanity is just a place for my pretties and inspiration.

Shelves above the table hold my jars and dishes full of "yet to be used" supplies. I don't have alot of wall space in my room, so I use this 3 tiered stand for "Inspiration".

A white planter and white milk glass jars atop a mirrored dresser tray hold buttons, beads, notes, and misc.

A sweet angel picture, that I absolutely adore, sits on the shelf, watching over me. Apothecary jars are filled with lace, forget me nots, and old millinery. Pink refrigerator dishes are ready to be filled.

If you are looking for a good desk lamp (in silver), that has the new natural daylight bulb, go to Lowes. I think I got it for $30. And, it is a nice size, and the head of the lamp moves up and down to give light where needed.

An old wire basket sits atop a stool I got on one of my very first auctions, years ago. Of course, I paid too much for the stool, as I got caught up in the excitement. But, it's a keeper.

On my desktop, I use an old toast holder to hold my punches and some tools. Can't have too many pens, either, right?

And for that "all too precious" old wallpaper, I have an old wood bin. Just perfect for keeping it safe!

I found some old sewing machine drawers at a yard sale a few years ago, and found some great old hardware at the Washington Antiques Fair last year. So, I had hubby put the hardware on the drawer. It holds some of my postcards and old photos. This drawer sits atop an old set of wallpaper covered drawers that Heather gave me. I just love it. Of course, it holds "more stuff", like glass slides for my future self-taught class on soldering, more paper, and misc.

Well, that's a tour of my little studio. Hope you all gained a tip or two. Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Blessings,

Kitty

xox

Bits of This and That.....

I recently went to an antique show and got just a few good pictures of some beautiful merchandise they were offering. It was a fun affair that I took my Mom to. Heather wasn't able to go that day, to her dismay, because this is an annual event for the women in our family! Isn't this Victorian dress just wonderful?

Look at that teeny-tiny waist. They tell me the mannequin was a size 6, and the dress would not meet in the back, so it must have been a 4! How wonderful to be that size. How did those victorian women do it? After all, corsets can only go so far....

The hat below, I believe is from the 20's, and it is just gorgeous with all of those beautiful millinery flowers. I've never seen one like it, and with a price tag of $125, I'd have to say, it is definitely worth it.

This darling settee has such beautiful lines. Can't you just see this at the end of a victorian bed? Or in a French room, under a window? (Sigh.....)

And who can get past all the beautiful blue transferware. Such a yummy blue, at that! Well, I wish I had taken more pictures, but I got caught up in the moment and forgot to take them. So, for now, and until next year's show, these will have to appease me...

I wanted to share with you the latest addition to my "little studio". Actually the studio consists of a very long table and much storage, which I am in the midsts of taking pictures to share with all of you.

Madai, my very good friend from Forget Me Nots from Wren Cottage made the "NEST" banner for me, and I think it is just the most perfect touch to my mirror and little studio.

It came wrapped up in a little package, inside the tea died envelope. Folded in half was a page from the book "The Secret Garden", and inside this page were these sweet little tags, a darling paperclip and some Earl Grey Tea! Just the most thoughtful little gift! Thanks every so much, Madai....

And if that wasn't enough, look at the sweet little butterfly collage girl she made on the outside of my package. Oh so sweet!

Finally, I am showing all of you a few things I picked up at the antique mall recently. It was not a day of finding alot of bargains, but it gave me "the fix" I needed. Hubby and I decided to take the hour drive to the AAA-76 Antique Mall in Ravenna, Ohio. But, unfortunately, I didn't read the map right and we ended up doing a big round-about! But, we had a fun day, just the two of us, and made it into an adventure. After all, we ate at the Cracker Barrel, how can that be bad???!!!

Paper for crafting, and the little book is ALL in French. Actually, I got 2 and am sharing with Heather. Below are sweet pictures that I can't wait to use in my paper art.

And, I couldn't go home without at least one old millinery hat. I was lucky to find this beauty with the roses and the 2 large flower pins.

A few more books, gardening, and a book of Psalms, and a sweet little Victorian book that when you open, it is a little chalk board.

So, that's been my adventures for the last few weeks and hope you enjoyed sharing this with me. Wishing you all a wonderful rest of the week and beautiful, sunny spring weather!

Blessings

Kitty

xox