Laughing With Angels

A little retail therapy.

2012-01-28T12:38:00.000-07:00

Sometimes there's nothing better for the soul than finding a few new

pretty things to live with.

...and here are some I recently found that I couldn't quite talk myself out of.

so home they came

The pretty velvet ribbon spools that Sundance put on sale after Christmas.

$13.99 got me all five.

10 yards on each spool!!!

This little birdie in his tiny wire cage came from a favorite garden center.

My most extravagant purchase were these pretty fabrics that I had to

drive 75 miles to find.

Some will find their way into a pretty quilt and others

a couple of pillows someday soon.

A new mug to enjoy a steaming cup of hot chocolate in

on these cold Winter nights.

Somehow it just tastes better when it's wrapped in florals.

T J Maxx

Cute little Cath Kidston tins on sale that my neighbor brought to my attention and let me

tack onto her order earlier this month.

pretty, pretty, pretty

Finding these cheap little nuggets

sure put the WOW into my world.

Hoping all of you enjoy a day of bliss wherever you call home!

My Winter indoor garden

2012-01-17T20:58:00.000-07:00

You all know how I love my flowers dried just as much as fresh cut.

So I decided to go around my home this week and photograph some of

the dried arrangements I am living with this Winter.

Having these arrangements around helps keep my favorite season with me all year long.

I love gardening, so it's only natural that I would fill the house with everlastings from the past season.

Don't you just love these little vintage bowls I found in a little second hand shop?

Dried flowers have a way of brightening up the space like no other item of decor could.

The interesting thing about these bouquets of everlastings is that I can actually recall

when I picked them fresh.

This little bouquet is inside an old rusty chick feeder.

Here it is dried...

and below is when it was fresh from the garden.

I love shopping around for unique containers to put my bouquets in,

and this one was perfect.

The roses below are my favorite in the garden.

It's the Colette rose.

This is the same bouquet of Colette roses when they were cut fresh this Summer.

My second favorite rose is Guy de Maupassant.

It a beautiful rose in the garden and in the house.

Below is a photo of it freshly cut.

A large bowl of hydrangeas in the kitchen today.

The photo below is when I first brought them in this Fall.

This bouquet below is looking a little tired and will probably be going in the trash soon,

but I have enjoyed it and it has moved all over the house.

It's in the bathroom in this photo.

Here is the pretty bouquet when it was fresh.

This arrangement below is one of the oldest I have in the house.

It's from three Summers ago and here it still sits.

A little dusty, a little faded, but I smile every time I see it.

Yes, I remember the very day I cut this bunch of flowers.

So while the winds blow and the snows come and cover the garden,

I can keep Summer with me here in my own little indoor garden.

It is already the middle of January and days are flying by.

It is hard to believe that in no time at all gardening will start in earnest.

I will be out there with my shears cutting new bouquets for

the house before I know it.

goodbye to a very good year...

2012-01-04T22:45:00.002-07:00

This morning I vacuumed up the last of the pine and fir needles that have been hanging
around here on tabletops and carpets and putting
everything back where it had been before the Christmas decor
took it's place.
I never know how putting away the holiday decor will effect me.
Some years I can't wait to get it all boxed back up and other years I drag my feet
because I want to hold on a bit longer.

We had a wonderful Christmas
as a family, and hope that you all did as well.

(the photos in this post have nothing to do with my writing,
but are a few things I snapped around the studio yesterday)

I spent most of New Year's day thinking about the how the past year had flown by and

found myself missing it.

2011 was a good year for us.

So many good things came our way over the past year.

And if you don't count the two little bumps in the road I had with my health, it was full

of good changes.

My husband's retirement from his career in law enforcement being one of them.
He feels lucky that because of his career choice,
he was able to retire at the age of 57.
I love having him home, and he is enjoying the fact that he has more time to
work with and ride his horses.
It's much like when we farmed and had the dairy years ago.
I loved having him just outside the door
to come in for meals and to take the children out to feed the animals with him.

Two beloved family members who had lived good long lives left us during 2011.

My father-in-law and a beloved aunt.

I am thankful for the good lives they lived and how they impacted the lives of my family.

It is always difficult to lose them, and yet it is part of life, and I just feel blessed to have
had them in my life.

My children have all had good health and safety this past year---
something I never take for granted and pray for every day,
as I know all you do for yours.

I have a daughter and son-in-law who adopted two boys (ages 3 and 4) this year,
who brought the total of grandchildren to nine.
One of the best gifts that came to us in 2011!

This is a picture of my daughter Kimberlee and I at Christmas when she was 2.

I would be remiss if I did not say how much
I feel blessed for every year I have to spend with my sweet Landon.
What a gift it is to spend my days seeing his smile, hearing his laughter and caring for him.
The richness of life this child has brought to me really can't be
written and expressed in words here.

I remember when I first thought of writing a blog, it was to be
a blog to connect with other mom's of children with Angelman Syndrome and to
educate others about the little known syndrome.

I laugh about the v-e-r-y wide turn my blog has taken from it's first intention,
but because I am home every day, I have a passion for
making my home and garden a comfortable and peaceful place for
Landon and I to spend our days together.
Before I started blogging myself, I was always drawn to blogs that showed beautiful
interiors, great DIY projects and artists who could create art from things that
had been forgotten and discarded. I felt inspired by them and could see that
they were influencing me to use my skills and love of rescuing old and vintage items
to create art for my own home.
They made my sometimes boring and harder days
interesting and satisfied my craving for beauty.
And then when I started blogging myself, I was able to connect with
others who had the same longing.
To find more beauty and friendship
in a world that isn't always
friendly or beautiful.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Several weeks ago I won two giveaways and I wanted to share
the things I won in this post.

The first giveaway was Trisha's from the lovely
blog Glass Slippers and all Sorts of Stuff.

I have been a follower of Trisha's blog since I found her.

Trisha is another Idaho girl and I just found out she lives in the same town my sister
lives, so I am hoping to meet her sometime this Summer
when I visit my sister.

She made these beautiful Eiffel tower ornaments from playing cards for Christmas
and I won three of them for my own tree.
I love them Trisha!!!

I am looking forward to seeing you sometime this Summer Trisha.

Maybe we could go shopping at a couple of our favorite Boise antique/junk shops
when we meet?

My next giveaway win is from Carola at Boxwood Cottage.
When I entered her giveaway I think I kept my fingers crossed the whole time
that I was waiting to hear who the winner was.

When I heard I was the winner, I was, to say the least, very excited.
Carola's blog was one of the first blogs I found when I started following blogs.
I was instantly in love with her house and garden.

Carola is an artist, and it shows in every room of her house.
Her garden is amazing.
Her artwork too.

Her giveaway was the two magazines in the photo below. Her home is featured
in the Casa Chic Brocantage, and it is a gorgeous layout.
Twelve pages of photos of her home and garden.
Every page is full of beauty.

And if the magazines weren't enough, Carola made this beautiful soldered ornament for me and the
Christmas card and little angel ornament.
One of the many things I have always admired of Carola's are her soldered ornaments.
Now I have one of my own!
The magazine is in a language I can't read, but the pictures speak louder than words.

Thank you so much Carola!
I love the magazines and am so thankful for the lovely extras you made for me.

Below are some photos I took of Carola's feature.
I know you will enjoy them.

This is a photo of her gorgeous studio.

Wishing you all a joy-filled 2012!!!!
A little late, but with all my heart!

How I decked my halls

2011-12-11T19:01:00.002-07:00

Well,

it took me awhile,

but I finally got the decorating done.

I love how the Christmas decor turns the house into a totally different place.

I have kept it very simple this year.

Enjoying every minute of it.

That is after I dug it all out of the shed and brought it in and then piled

everything in the middle of the living room and stared at it

for three days waiting to be inspired.

And after sending Dale to the mountains to get some little

Douglas Fir trees to decorate with.

Yes, I know it is against the law in Idaho to just go dig trees in the forest,

but not if you have friends who own the land they are on.

The little Nativity that my daughter made me in the third grade.

My cheesy little garland of plastic bells hang in the gothic church

window frame. Sometimes I just love cheesy.

The next three pictures are of the mantle above the wood stove.

I used all of the vintage books in the house that had red covers and

my little wire trees and silver balls and garland.

Little feather wreath in the mudroom.

Some of the vignettes around the house.

The iron angel brought in from the garden to reside in the house until next Spring

wearing his annual Christmas necklace.

My paperwhite bulbs planted too late to bloom by Christmas, but pretty none the less.

Now for my favorite thing.

And that would be the Christmas baking!

Thankful to be...

2011-11-28T17:57:00.000-07:00

I have been away for too long from this place I love to be.

The problem being...

I have too many places I love to be.

this blog

the garden

my home

my studio

etc.

I have been in the studio for two weeks making gifts for family and friends

and getting ready for a little craft bazaar at my daughter's workplace.

I also made some things to sell at a store in Boise that I have written about

here on my blog called

Warehouse Beautiful

Most of what I have been making are sachets that I fill with the lavender

grown here in the garden.

The photos show a few of the ones I have left after the bazaar and

sending some to Warehouse Beautiful in Boise.

These will be gifts for family and friends.

Isn't it funny how it's hard to stop once you start?

It is always a joy to sit at the sewing machine or stand at the table

and create things that weren't here before.

The graphics I used on most of the sachets I got from the Graphics Fairy

and Dawn at The Feathered Nest.

I have got to get busy doing some serious Christmas decorating here in the house.

Now that the turkey is nothing but a skeleton (poor little bird) and the pies

have gone to my hips...it is time to get the halls decked!

I haven't even been to any of your beautiful blogs to see how your

decorating is coming along.

After I get back from doing some shopping today,

I plan on remedying that.

I'm going to sit my 'pie' hips down and catch up with all of you.

I know many of you are more on the ball than I am,

so I can't wait to see and be inspired.

The last of the children and the grands left for home about noon yesterday,

and Dale and I were left to clean up the last of the left-overs.

How thankful I am for a full table this time of year.

Thankful for the blessing of family.

I remember looking around the table Thursday and thinking to myself,

''how did I get so lucky to have these people be a part of my life?''

There's always a lot of laughter and a lot of chatter,

and NO one remembers to get the camera out to take pictures of it all!

Thankfully there's always Christmas!

I received a special delivery from Italy!

A few weeks ago I won a giveaway offered by Monica of The White Bench.

I feel so lucky to have have won two 8x12 prints of Monica's amazing photography.

I was able to choose my favorites, and then she generously tucked in special gifts for me.

I imagine many of you know of Monica and her beautiful artwork that is published in

many of the Stampington publications.

I love it when I pick up a Somerset Life or Home, etc

and see many of her creations within their pages.

She has an incredible talent for painting and you can see many of her

paintings on her blog. I know you will recognize them as soon as you see them.

She has a generous heart and shares many tutorials on her blog.

I have learned how to do many things from following her instructions.

Monica has been a great blogging friend from almost the time I started my blog

and was always so encouraging.

I thank her for that.

At this time of Thanksgiving I would love to let all who read this blog know

how grateful I am for each and every one of you.

This blog is a joy to me and I am thankful to be---here!

Their old is my new

2011-11-11T20:11:00.000-07:00

Don't you love giving a piece of trash a new home?

I love it and would prefer to do that than buy new any day.

Every thing in this post had years of wear and had already lived a lifetime before

I acquired them.

Many people would never give them a chance to grace their

homes.

Maybe many reading this post would even wonder what I could possibly see in them.

Like this old scratched up mirror propped up here inside this old frame.

This Summer while shopping a flea market with my daughters, I saw this

dilapidated old pink dresser.

I fell hard...not for the dresser itself, but for the awesome aging mirror it had.

You can't tell in these photos, but the mirror has beautiful veining and crackling.

I didn't bring it home because I needed another chest of drawers,

because I DON"T.

I brought it home strictly for the mirror.

Then there's this light fixture in my bath.

I finally got it hung after years of tripping over it no matter where I stored it.

I love that someone painted it pink

I love that it is scrolly

I love that it is hopelessly old-fashioned

and I love that it came with a friend!

This one escaped the pink paint and has it's original finish.

It is smaller in scale and hangs over the bathroom sink.

I fell in love with this style of light when I first saw some hanging in Robin's (Magnolia Pearl)

kitchen years ago in a magazine.

About a year after seeing the magazine feature of her beautiful home, I found these in a

cardboard box at a yard sale and there they sat until recently when I finally

had them re-wired and hung.

So,

for all those who have ever looked into this scratched up, chippy little mirror...

thank you for passing it on so I could add it to my own collection of 'new to me's'.

A time to rest.

2011-10-28T23:38:00.002-06:00

I drove by a neighboring farmer's home the other day and noticed all of his eight
tractors parked in a row. His combines and hay swathers, balers and plows
are all parked neatly in his equipment yard.
This can only mean one thing...
harvest time is over.

My own little harvest is finished here as well.

My mower and yard carts, pruners and clippers

and shovels and hoes are back in the garden shed for another season.

I brought the new turquoise bench in for the Winter and it will stay in the reading room

until next Summer.

Well, maybe not just this room. I have been known to move things around a lot.

Last week Dale's best friend had to come and help move our bedroom back to it's

post Summer arrangement. He asked "didn't I just come the Spring and help move it here?"

You see, in the Summer, I always move the bed in front of the windows so we can enjoy

having the windows open for the breeze and then move it back before Winter.

I cut all the hydrangeas I wanted to cut before the hard frost came a few nights ago.

I'm so glad I did because it got so cold that all we have now are are crispy,

brown and black hydrangeas.

I have been watching the weather forecasts for over a week now so I could cut the last

of the flowers

to have in the house for one last hurrah.

I put bouquets in almost every room in the house.

When I went to IKEA in Draper, Utah, I got these

woven hanging baskets for the bathroom.

I love them because they hold wash cloths and my makeup and keeps the clutter

off the counter.

They make pretty cool bouquet holders too!

Roses on a shelf above the tub.

So before the hard frost I thought I would go out and pick one of everything still blooming.

This is the little pail of flowers.

Everything that I knew wasn't going to make it through the 20 degree low we had.

Those are Landon's toys in the background you see on the floor in the above photo.

I could have picked them up and shut the doors on the armoire,

but it looks like this all the time.

If you came to my house and into this room you would be dodging

legos and all kinds of plastic toys on the floor.

This room and the kitchen is where we do most of our hanging out.

So it is never really picked up.

Landon's preferred toy is a magazine to rip to shreds and so you can

imagine what the room looks like half the time.

This is a good day.

The sweet peas are no more and the roses are now ragged in the garden.

So these blooms are the last of the Summer.

I will be buying my fresh flowers at the market from now on.

They made a lovely centerpiece for the coffee table in the living room.

I can't walk passed them without smiling.

As you can tell, I don't really do any seasonal decorating at my house.

I used to when all the children were home, but now the only only season I decorate for

is Christmas and a little bit for Easter.

I have more than a little bit of 'lazy' in me.

One awesome thing Dale and I did this Fall was go to a Autumn

barn dance that a local rancher holds in his barn every year.

He hires our daughter Kim's band, which plays a lot of country rock and

opens the barn to anyone and everyone who wants to

come out and have a great time.

It is the best time for everyone in town to come together and socialize

and dance the night away. It usually draws over 200 people.

Dale and I love to dance and I think we danced every dance the first hour of it.

The next day I could hardly walk!

Kim had my daughter Haylee and me come up to sing some songs with her.

We had so much fun!

I can hardly wait for the next one.

But my feet can!

Oh October...

2011-10-21T23:00:00.001-06:00

I think the month of October is much too short.

Don't you think so too?

A month this beautiful should be at least 40 days long!!!

and I don't think that would even be long enough!

It has been so beautiful here.

The weather has been perfect for a 'perfect' Autumn.

We've had both rainy and mild.

I have been cutting a lot of the hydrangeas in their many different and varying

colors over the past few days.

The hydrangeas in this post are Limelight, a variety hardy to the zone I live in.

The changes in the garden have been so enjoyable to watch.

Every morning the change is dramatic.

I have been working so hard getting things transplanted and winterized.

Every day I'm out cutting back foliage, weeding and dividing perennials.

I have a small garden so I am able to manage it by myself without help.

It consists of one very large bed, with several smaller beds around the property.

I wish the entire property was in garden, but Dale thinks I have plenty to keep me busy.

(especially since he had to do a lot of it himself this year)

I would do without the large lawn area we have and plant it all in flowers and shrubs

if I had my way.

I am making the most of the area I have by planning more garden structures for Dale to build.

He is always so much help and always willing to build what I think will work in the space.

He retired this Spring from law enforcement and I am enjoying having him home more.

He is loving spending more time with the horses.

I dream of having a garden like Carolyn's at Aiken House & Gardens but I will be content

going to her beautiful blog

viewing all of her amazing beds and beautiful garden rooms.

Did you know that she and her husband do all the work themselves too? And her garden is huge!

But, like I said, my own garden is very small and I have a lot crammed into it, so it does

entail a bit of work three seasons of the year.

It's the best kind of work!

My Centurion crab apple trees in the back yard are starting to change color

and before the leaves fall, they will be gorgeous.

I look forward to this every year.

I will be raking leaves soon, but I can't get too anxious or I will be raking them twice.

And just around the corner of the house it still looks like Summer.

This is the south side of the house and it has it's own little micro-climate.

The roses and sweet peas are still blooming like they were blooming a month ago.

I cut a little bouquet almost daily.

Sweet peas really are a remarkable little flower.
Lovely form and lovely fragrance.

I am still harvesting lavender and getting plenty for the sachets I will make this Winter.

It's tedious work getting it off the stem, but I just pop in a movie and work away.

For now, I still have many things on my to-do list to do before the snow comes.

SO,

I am going to start lobbying to make October at least ten days longer.

Change doesn't always come easy.

2011-10-09T15:43:00.001-06:00

It's always curious to me how some years Fall makes itself known all at once and

other years it creeps in ever so slowly that you hardly see the changes from one day to the next.

The latter is how Autumn has made it's way here in 2011.

I still have so many blooms and so much green in the garden, and yet everywhere I look I see it.

Change.

Everywhere, change.

I see it in the mornings, and I see it in that special slant of light in the afternoon that

comes only this time of year.

I see it in grasses that grow along the roads here, as they

take on a deeper amber hue.

I see it in the horses as they start to puff up from the subtle growth in their coats

as they prepare to face the cold that will come sooner than I would like to think about.

I see it in the last flush of roses on the bush.

The blooms are more vibrant than in the heat of Summer.

Even in my home I see changes as I prepare the house for more time spent indoors.

The throws and quilts and pillows.

I feel the change in me as well.

A sort of discontent that I can't really identify.

Wanting to change my hair, my clothes, my house, my routine,

just about anything to satisfy this something I can't put my finger on.

A yearning for a new adventure, a new perspective,

just something out of the ordinary.

Or even just something different to fix for dinner.

and wondering if everyone else feels this way as the season changes.

It happens every year whether the Autumn comes in all at once or just seeps in.

It passes...it always does.

I'm easily satisfied, so I know it won't take much.

(I'm having my hair done tomorrow, maybe that will do it)

Cleaning up the 'crap' room

2011-10-01T22:40:00.000-06:00

Pardon my slang,

but this is what we call the guest room.

I am on a mission this Winter to get this room company worthy.

(I think I can hear my daughters and husband laughing)

I'm sure they think it's hopeless))

It used to be my sewing/craft room

(thus the crap)

It has always been the dumping room. Where everything that has no home ends up.

I've tried, I really have, but there is no way I can keep it tidy.

It's in bad need of a paint job, new flooring and a maid.

Since I had some grandchildren coming for the weekend, I decided to straighten it up enough

that one of them could find their way to the bed and make use of it.

A little pitcher of sweet peas should make them feel welcome.

I love the fact that the sweet peas are still blooming. I've never had them bloom this good this long.

They smell so good...

and are such photogenic little things!

They go a long way to making this guest room look a lot more inviting!

I took these photos Friday to have in my garden files to remind myself next year to

plant these again in this same bed.

They have flourished here!

This walkway joins our front patio to our back parking and

I couldn't even count the passes I make here in a day, but I can say it is

always a pleasure with the sweet peas in bloom.

A heavenly, fragrant pleasure!

Outdoor living

2011-09-26T09:50:00.001-06:00

One of the pleasures of Summer and Fall here at our house is the

enjoyment Dale and Landon and I get from our front patio that is covered by a large pergola.

Most of the day this space is shaded by the large trees in the front garden, so it

is a pleasant place to be almost any time of the day.

We use this space every single day.

This is where we welcome company, eat some of our meals, rest at the end of a busy day

or just sit and watch the grass grow.

Somehow, food just tastes better out here,

the breeze seems more soothing,

the time passes slower

and life just seems richer.

With Fall coming soon, we will still have many, many days to enjoys this little

place of solitude.

I bought this turquoise bench last week, and while it will most likely live in the house most of the time,

it sure looks pretty out here.

Yesterday I sewed up some new pillows and loved the bright

pink with the color of the bench.

I'm on a roll with the pillow making right now and have three more to sew on today.

I love, love, love sewing up pillows.

Never can have too many!

Little chippy chair I stole from my mom.

Hi there mom!

(now you now the rest of the story)

Fall roses in the new basket my sweet neighbor Sarah gave me last week.

I am awful at making photo collages, but here is one I did Sunday.

Took me all day :-)

maybe with more practice I will get the hang of it.

(and then again, maybe not)

It kind of sums up life here in the Summer and Fall.

Such beautiful days here.

The calendar says it's Fall but I think we are having the Summer we should have
had late June and early July.

I'll take it!!!!!

Summer fun

2011-09-13T23:26:00.000-06:00

Here kitty, kitty!

One day a couple of weeks ago, we looked across the front garden and saw this.

I bet we have had some thirsty, dirty birds around here.

Jackson seems to think this is a great way to beat the heat.

It was very hot on this particular day,

so he can't be blamed for finding the coolest place in the garden.

Anyway,

I do have three other bird baths.

So I believe the birds will survive.

This past week my sisters came to my house for a sister's getaway.
We decided to go camping and stay up Fishcreek at my tiny
shack (or cabin) in the woods.
Dale took our camper and set it up next to it and I arranged a little
'livingroom' outside between the two of them.

The drop cloths I bought at Home Depot were great to make ourselves a
place to walk and keep a little cleaner.

We had a table on the deck to play cards on and eat at.

Plenty of magazines to leaf through when and if we got bored, which we never did.
The three of us have such a great time when we get together.

It was great to just lay back and enjoy our time together.

The camper made it very convenient to make our meals and take our potty breaks.

My sisters took the beds in the camper and I took the only bed in the cabin.

Here is the quilt that I mentioned in my last post that my friend made the top from
the fabrics in my stash.

It turned out beautifully and I love it!
I think I just may be hooked on quilt making now.

I sewed up some simple slip covers for the benches around the table and had many throws
close by for the cool nights and cold mornings.

Have you ever wondered who designs the interiors of campers?

Do they have to be so - so -
ugly?

Took a few pretty dishes for our meals.

I had recovered the window treatments with muslin.

I used a rubber stamp for the lettering on the muslin.

Clipped some things to the pleats to make it personal.

A little lacking in creativity...but homey.

One of my favorite family snapshots taken on Thanksgiving one year.

Oh the styles of the eighties...makes me laugh!
I'm on the far left with the way over-sized long white sweater and leggings.
Well at least I was comfortable!!!

That's it for the camper.

In the cabin,
not much has changed since I showed pictures of it here last year.

In the evening this is where we spent most of our time.
The bugs couldn't get at us in here.

I love this place!!!

It is such a cozy little space.
Only 12' X 16'.
About the size of most bedrooms and crammed with 'stuff'.

We didn't use the TV, but I like to have it up here for me when I spend the night once in awhile.

I don't get TV reception here and use it only to play DVD's.

We had a family camping trip here in July, and it was so fun to look in the windows and see all of the grandchildren crammed in here watching Finding Neverland just before bed.

My sister's and I have decided we have to do this more than just once a year, that's for sure.

In late July we had family for the weekend and Trigger got a work-out.
I thought I would share some of the photos I took.

The first day the children rode him here in the yard.

This is Ellis, my six year old grandson having his turn.

Look at his darling ears under his hat.
So funny!

Maddie waiting for her turn.

My little granddaughter Lorin leading Maddie on the pony.

The littlest one, Ella taking her turn in her diaper.

Just call her Lady Godiva.

This was taken the next day while we were camping up Fishcreek.
This is what she looks like riding the pony WITH clothes on. Her sister Briana leading her.

Maddie leading one of the Matthews.

Brooke having her turn.

Ellis back in the saddle again.

Best of friends.

Ellis taking the other Matthew (his brother) for a ride.

Allena on Molly.
Some of our grandchildren are a little old to be riding a pony,
so Molly is a perfect ride.

I think Trigger will be so glad to have this weekend behind him.

Back home.

Jeans washed.

Kids bathed.

And Trigger back in the pasture happily munching away.

This is what I have been doing these past weeks.

and

This IS why I love Summer!

Summer in the studio and garden.

2011-08-28T15:01:00.002-06:00

This Summer has allowed me more time to spend in the studio than I usually get,

and I have been able to get projects

completed and new ones started.

Early, early this season, I was able to make another peony wreath.

I used peonies and hydrangeas that I had dried

last Summer.

I wasn't able to get as many cut this year as I had cut last

year and so I wanted to save this season's for using around the house this Winter.

This new wreath is hanging in the reading room.

One day last week I had the 4 year old twins,
and so while they were doing this...

I was doing this...

And then I sewed these up while I was on a roll.

The pillow below I sewed up in June.

As you can see I still have plenty of fabric for a lot more sewing projects.

A friend of mine put together a lovely quilt top for me from some of my stash,
and now I want to put together a couple more quilt tops from most of
this fabric on the second shelf.

Here's a few shots around the studio this week.

Jars of vintage lace and other bits for fabric collages.
(and this is just a fraction of it)
I'll be the 90 year lady old they find buried in her own stash of vintage laces.

Hey undertaker...I'm definitely takin' them with me!!!

And something to make me smile as I look up from the sewing machine.
A little music box I bought when I worked at the garden center from a Christmas past.

The studio loft is full of extra supplies and my decorating books and magazines.
The peonies in the bucket are still peonies left over from last Summer too.

Since I will be going to my favorite little shop 'Rebecca's' this Labor Day
weekend, I thought I would show you what I bought the last time I was there on the
Fourth of July.

I seemed to have been drawn to mostly the trims and millinery bits.
Oh yes, and buttons. Always buttons.

I loved these green velvet grapes (berries ?).

A little booklet of pretty illustrations and more millinery.

I loved this little floral hair piece.

I also loved the crocheted buttons and lace collar.

I have been wanting a comfortable sewing chair for some time, but knew I wanted something
cute as well as functional. I was so happy to see this pretty little matelasse slip covered
chair that now sits here in my studio.
Love it!!!

I also came home with this cool aqua architectural piece.
Funny that the iron piece behind it also came from Rebecca's about two or
so years ago.

I am looking forward to seeing Rebecca and Laura again this coming weekend,
and see what more I can add to my to my ever growing 'Rebecca stuff' stuff!

Outside the studio I have some little iron baskets hanging from the front wall that
are planted with pansies. I have been surprised that they have done so well
against this wall all Summer, even in the past two weeks of hot, hot, hot.

A little story about this siding on the studio...

When we owned a small farm and dairy in our early marriage,
on it was a little henhouse where the farmer's before us had raised
hens and where I then raised about 25 hens while our children were growing up.
Actually, by today's standards of our backyard coops now it was huge at 10'X 14'.

Anyway, as I was saying,
I couldn't bear to leave it behind when we left the dairy, so Dale moved it to the place
that we were moving to. Our children then promptly cleaned it up (ha)
and made a playhouse for themselves.
(yes they had had all their shots) and we knew nothing of bird flu then))

Then when we moved here, I couldn't leave it behind again,
so Dale moved it again and used it as a tack shed
since our children were all grown up by then.
It had seen better days, but had many memories wrapped up in it,
so when we redid the shed in the back for the studio,
we ( we, meaning Dale) dissembled
the henhouse and sided the studio.

Now,
I think this just may give you a clue into my personality
and why I hold on to
so many unnecessary 'things'.
I hoard memories...and stuff that hold them!

Stargazer lilies in front of the studio.

And finally a few pictures of the garden blooms.

Even though the Shasta daisies are done blooming I wanted to show a photo of how
pretty they were this year for those who don't see my garden blog.

Then there's the beebalm.

I love, love, love echinacea (or coneflower).

SO easy to grow...a caveman could do it!!!

Here is a variety I bought and planted last year called 'Double Decker'.

I'm guessing it was a caveman who came up with such a clever name too!

This was a couple of weeks ago.

and this is today.

Double Decker indeed!

Should be Party On!!!!

and some pretty roses that I can't keep from photographing.

Gosh, I was long winded today!
If I would post more, I wouldn't have to talk so much.
Well---maybe.
Wishing everyone a wonderful week ahead!

Sweet, sweet peas!

2011-08-18T16:25:00.002-06:00

The sweet pea.

I always think of little girls when I see the sweet pea bloom.

Don't know why.

Just do.

It is everything sugar and spice,
And all things nice.

What would a cottage garden be without them?

Every Spring I buy a couple of seed packets and plant them anywhere and everywhere.

They do not self seed well here in my climate and I never remember to collect the seed.

So I buy.

Seems like such a small price to pay for 'pretty'.

Don't you agree?

And the 'pretty' will continue all the way through Fall.

They are just SO Cath Kidston-ie too.

The mudroom is getting a shake up and I thought some bright colors

were in order out here.

It will be a treat to walk in the back door and see this.

At least until the frost gets them.

Have you got your copy of this?

It's Jo-Anne Coletti's latest issue of
The Feminine Home- Where The Heart Is.

Well I know how you can!
It's been all over blogland.

Last year I was lucky enough to have been included in the first issue she did.
She featured my studio and garden in it. It was such an honor.

I am sure this issue is just as lovely as the last one was.
In fact, I KNOW it will be.
Every thing Jo-Anne does is beautiful!!!

To order your own copy click on the link below.
Vintage Rose Collection

I know some of you are included in this beautiful magazine and I will
be looking forward to seeing you in there.

Big hugs from here everyone!

The little valley I live in!

2011-08-14T22:20:00.001-06:00

In Idaho, we tend to refer to many of our areas as valleys.
We have many mountain ranges here in Idaho which makes for a lot of valleys.

There is Magic Valley (Twin Falls area), Treasure Valley (Boise and surrounding areas),
Mini Cassia Valley (Burley), and etc.

I live in what is called the Little Wood River Valley.

In the photo below,the mountain range you see beyond the foothills
is called the Pioneers.
This is where the water for this entire valley flows from.
It is collected into the Little Wood reservoir for storage.
It is the life blood of our area.

The photo below is facing north of town.

The Pioneers run to the east of us and end at the Craters of the Moon Natl. monument.

They run to the north and east of us and meet the Boulder mountains to the north,
which then creates the Big Wood River valley and that is where the
Sun Valley Ski resort and the towns of Ketchum, Hailey and Bellevue are located.
All of them are little mountain towns.

Sun Valley is definitely a resort town, filled with many awesome and very expensive shops.
Many of the rich and famous have homes there.

Here in my little town, we call that area the upper valley.

Many of the people in our town work there at various jobs

and it is where I worked for a few years as well.

If you squint and look real hard at the photo above I have put a little white 'here' to show

where our dairy farm was and where we lived for many years

before we crossed the highway and bought part of my grandfather's place
which is where we live now.

The photo below is facing east...
and there in the back ground is my little home town.

If you put the last three photos end to end

you see most of the valley on the north side of the highway that divides it.

This picture below is me descending what we call Picabo Hill and coming down into town.

If I stand and face southeast, this is the rest of the valley.

The little black 'here' shows where I live now.

The Craters of the Moon is to the east of us and so on the south and east

of us are lava flows for miles.

With the mountains to the north and west of us and the lava flows to the south and east,

when people ask where I live I always say that I live on the edge

of Heaven and Hell.

The two extremes make for a beautiful valley.

And below is a photo of what we call Queen's Crown. It is a peak at the top of Picabo Hill.

The photo below is descending the other side of the hill into the little town of Picabo.

The gold medal skier Picabo Street was named after it.

My mother was raised in this teeny little Picabo.

Picabo has a population of about 75.

Cattle grazing on the Queen's Crown Ranch.

Queen's Crown is an awesome landmark from any direction.

It can be seen for miles in two different directions.

In the photo below, it can be seen in the distance.

This was taken on my way home from my doctor appointment in Hailey.

I love, love, love this view!

It means I'm almost home!

I wanted to share this post with you so you can get an idea of the Idaho that I call home.

Idaho is a rural state with very few cities, and the cities we have are small cities.

Mostly, Idaho is made up of a lot of charming small towns set in little valleys like

the one I live in.

I was born and raised all of my young life in Boise and love the city,

but this Little Wood River Valley is my home.

Bye bye beautiful...

2011-07-30T14:45:00.001-06:00

The peonies are now done blooming for the year

and all I have to remind me of them are the pictures.

Hundreds of pictures, I might add.

This is a photo of our reading room.

I have never read in this room. lol!

My husband sometimes reads his Western Horseman magazine in here.

Does that count?

The only reason it got the name reading room is that there used to be a huge bookcase

in here filled with all the books in the house.

It was way too large for the room and found another home with one of our daughters.

This is where all the children gather when they come to get away from the adults.

No, I don't worry too much that it is all white because that is an Ikea sofa/chaise and I bought

two slipcovers.

One for when the children come, and one for...

hmmmm...I'm not sure what it's for. lol!

I guess it's for when the other one is so shabby that it can't even qualify as chic.

This room is where you will usually find my husband when he has a show he wants to watch

or a nap he wants to take.

And no, pink doesn't seem to bother him at all!

Peonies in the gazebo

Peonies to welcome you at the front door.

By the bed

Me thinks there could never be a more beautiful flower.

Many come close, but this one is

Queen in my garden!

Thank you all for letting me share today!

Peonies everywhere!

2011-07-20T10:24:00.000-06:00

The garden has been bringing it's bounty of blooms to us lately. It is such a pleasure to

walk out in it every morning and see what is new.

All gardeners know that you miss so much if you don't take every opportunity

walk around in the different light throughout the day. So many changes happen

over the course of a few days.

Even now as I write this the peonies are fading away.

Here are a few pictures I have taken while they were at their peak.

I know a few of you will have seen two or three of these pictures on my garden blog,

so forgive me for repeating myself.

But I just can't help myself.

I have one of those personalities that becomes easily addicted to things. I would maybe even

use the word 'rabid'. lol!

When I find something I love, I have to have more than one.

Yes, I am one of those who can never eat just one cookie, one soda,

one french fry,

or one potato chip. (and that's why they are seldom brought into the house)

(chips, I mean)

This is how I am with peonies!

They just give, and give, and give.

I even had to take some to the gazebo on a beautiful sunny day.

As I am sure you have all noticed by now, I love the pastel colors of these blooms and am attracted

to fabrics in the same hues.

They remind me of cotton candy.

I love huge bouquets of peonies because of the statement they make.

And this is not all.

I will be back to share more of my obsession soon.

So far behind, I think I might be first!

2011-07-14T22:51:00.001-06:00

You know that saying?

I'm so far behind, I think I'm first!

Well that seems to be my life lately.

Here I am finally with some things I've been meaning to share here.

Gifts from Lili M.

My trip to Rebecca's (my favorite little antique shop nearby)

and the fact that I was published in the latest Somerset Life.

Awhile ago I was contacted by Somerset Life and asked if they could use

one of the pictures of my collage tags from my blog

in an upcoming issue.

I was excited that they had even found my blog in this huge community

of blogs, and I said, 'of course you can'!!!

I just didn't think it would be so soon.

Thank you so much Somerset Life for the opportunity to be part of your

beautiful publication!

Now on to Rebecca's.

This little shop is only open twice a year.

A few days over the 4th of July and Labor Day weekend.

I look forward to it every year.

The setting is in Rebecca's beautiful yard in Bellevue, Idaho.

I would love this urn sitting in my garden!

Maybe one day I will talk her into selling it.

Inside the little shop are all the things I love.

I'll just be quiet now and let you look around a bit.

Last year over Labor Day, I met a woman named Leslie

who designs and creates jewelry from vintage pieces

and sells in Rebecca's little shop.

Her pieces are so beautiful and I was thrilled to hear that she has

opened an online shop and sells there as well.

tarnishedlace.com

Leslie also has an etsy shop by the same name.

I thought I would share some of the photos I took of her pieces while shopping.

It wasn't easy getting good pictures in the light there and all the people

that were crowded around her jewelry, but I waited and would snap a few here and there

when I got the chance.

I love unique vintage jewelry, and these are some of the loveliest I've seen.

Really beautiful! Don't you think?
I just wish the light would have been better in the shop to give you a true picture.

I want to share some of the pretty things that Lili M has been sending my way lately.

If you remember,

I won her lottery of something wonderful in the mail

for a whole year.

Aren't these little shoes and post cards so pretty?

I will smile and remember you Lili, everytime I get my keys to the house.

I just received the beautiful floral card this week. It is stunning.

My picture doesn't do it justice.

And before these, came this beautiful collage made by my sweet friend Lili herself

all the way from the Netherlands.

It is such a lovely collage made by a dear friend from far away.

I have to let you know Lili, what a gift it has been for me to get to know you over these past

years blogging. I think I connected with your wonderful sense of humor first.

Anyone who knows Lili, knows about her interesting and beautiful life, but it's the way she

writes about it that got me hooked on her blog.

That, and the fact that I covet (I know it's a sin) her house!!!!

And now I have this to place in my own home to remind me of my funny faraway friend!

The peonies are blooming and I have been taking many, many photos everyday of

them to share here and on the garden blog.

Soon, very soon...I will have my head back on straight and my act together.

But I will still be behind. lol!

Always a silver lining.

2011-07-03T16:14:00.000-06:00

Oh it's good to back writing on this blog again.

Everything went well and I feel awesome!

I slept pretty much the entire five days after the surgery, but everyday after
has gotten better and better. The past two weeks have
passed very quickly.

It seems like every cloud I've had in my life ends up having a silver lining.
I know this is true for almost everyone.
Mine was the fact that I have read more in the past two weeks than I have made
the time for in the past two years.
I also have caught up on some projects that I had sitting in the studio unfinished.
I have also been able to walk in the garden and enjoy
just looking at how things are growing and making a few notes on ways I can
tweak a few things out there.

Isn't it funny how life has a way of sending something our way that
has the power to slow us to a crawl so we can actually take in how great life really is.
Am I bummed that I haven't been able to work in the garden---yes!
Am I itching to get in and do some deep cleaning in my sorely neglected house---yes!
But I also want to read a little more.
Plan a little more.
and watch a few more movies.

So the garden is finally catching up to the calendar and things are now growing fast.

I thought today I would share some of the shots I have taken while walking through
the garden the past few days.

I also wanted to share a few of the pictures that I had taken before I took my blog break.
My little Lily of the Valley.

The Brandywine crabapple.

A few of the many lilacs here in the garden.

I will be back in a few days with pictures of some shopping for 'good goods' I

did at Rebecca's. (the little shop I go to every Fourth of July and Memorial Day.

I hope all of you in the US are enjoying your holiday weekend.

A little bit of patching up to do...

2011-06-13T20:42:00.001-06:00

I would like to start this post off with a thank you.

Thank you for all the wonderful comments I got on my last post.

I feel so grateful that I was able to write and have my feelings understood.

I wanted to also thank those who left sweet words for me that have no blog and no way for

me to get back to you for the beautiful messages you left for me.

I will also be taking a little blogging break after I post this,
but will be back to visit with you all soon.

You remember I had my gall bladder out in January?

Well one of the incisions (the one below my bust line)
didn't close, in fact got bigger and now is causing some problems for me.

(Like making me look like a 56 year old with child)

I will be having surgery the first of next week to have a mylar mesh patch put over the incision.

Yep...just like patching a flat on a bike tire!
OK, maybe not 'just like', but close.

The real bummer is that I can't do much of anything for 8 weeks.

8 WEEKS????
Are you kidding me!!!!

But you can bet I will be a good little girl this time.
(evidently wasn't as good as I should have been last time)
Thus the hole in my gut!

The rest of this week will be spent getting the garden ready for the gardener
to neglect it for the next 8 WEEKS!!!

Do you think I can do it?

I have a plan.

I am determined to wear white
(or something akin to it)

everyday for 8 Weeks!!!
(or something akin to it)

Do you think I sound a little upset?
I am just a little,
but I will make the best of it.

At least now I will have plenty of time to visit all my favorite blogs!

***

The garden smells so good right now.

And these are the reason why!

The first six pictures here are of the President Lincoln lilac that I love so much.

Smells like Heaven
and looks unlike any other lilac in the garden.

Isn't she a lovely little thing???
oops, 'he' (President Lincoln I mean)

This is the Sensation lilac.
Not very fragrant, but so unique.

(this picture is for you M)

Here is the Beauty of Moscow lilac.

I think when the crab apples bloom is my favorite time in the garden.
You can't go outside without being knocked over by the scent of them.

Red Jade weeping crab apple

The next few pictures are of one of the Centurion crab apple trees.
This was about two weeks ago before the blooms opened.

Then a few days later.

Now fully opened and spreading their beauty everywhere!

I love this bloom!!!!

I have to come back soon to show you the lily of the valley and a few other things

that are starting to bloom.
Maybe I can even get Dale to take some pictures of me in my all white attire

(so as not to do any dirt moving)

pretending to garden.

Of course I have a lot more photos of the lilacs on my garden blog Grace Gardens

Since that blog is where I journal the progress of the garden, that is where I will

be posting most of the photos of the progress in the garden.

Do you think I can make a gardener out of Dale day in the coming days?

I sure hope so!

and I will let you know how the slashing goes.

See you soon!

Dandelions---what's on my mind and in my heart today.

2011-05-30T18:14:00.002-06:00

Sometimes the feeling to write what's on my mind is too strong and it won't go away until

I put it down in writing.

Today was one of those times.

Not long ago I was shopping at Target in Twin Falls. A lot of the time when I go,

I seem to go on the day that the care facilities for the people with mental disabilities bring their residents shopping.

As a mother of a child with a severe mental disability that is obvious the minute you see my son,

I am always interested in the way that the public interacts with them.

Sometimes I am pleasantly surprised, and sometimes I'm disappointed.

I am always amazed at how young people seem to view them as just another shopper, while the generations that didn't go to school with a person with a mental impairment because most were housed in a state run institution don't seem to know how to act around them.
Some seem uncomfortable, others avoid the situation all together by taking another route in the store, and some are simply wonderful and warm and take the time to say hello or nod and smile at the individual.

Several years ago I was appointed by the governor of Idaho to be on a state council for children with disabilities as a parent representative. I served alongside educators, heath care professionals, and state representatives who's job it was to better the lives of those Idahoans with mental and physical disabilities.

We worked to ensure that their rights as citizens were protected and that they received those

services that would enable them to thrive in our state and in our country and in our world.

My dreams were huge then. I saw a world that would embrace them and love them

the way I did my son. I have seen miracles happen in my community because my son was able to attend a public school. I watched the barriers come down with the inclusion of my son, who at the time was the only child with any kind of disability in our town of then 400 souls.

Children can be so understanding once the know the 'whys' of differences. Several years that Landon attended school, some of the teachers would have me come into their classrooms when the new year began and tell the little ones a few things about Landon and what made him different than them.

I told them about his likes and his dislikes. I would explain little things that they could understand like why he drooled and why he would stare at the back of his hand when someone would talk to him. I told them that his favorite food was tater tots and that he didn't like meat. They 'got' it, they 'got' him!

The day that Landon graduated, he got a standing ovation from the entire school K-12. Dale and I were asked to say a few words at that time. I told the student body how thankful I was to them for being so respectful and protective of Landon. I told them that when I was told by our doctors that Landon would never be as other children were, my biggest fear had been that he would not be valued as a person. That he would be seen like a couple of the doctors who had diagnosed him saw him. A child that wouldn't be worth our trouble to raise. That would drain the energy we should be using to care for our other five children at home. I thanked the students for seeing beyond what is thought of as normal behavior and seeing the person. The person that had the right to have friends and feel loved and valued by his peers.

Sometimes when I see a stand of dandelions, I wonder if this is how some

view people with mental impairments.

A substandard flower in God's garden.

I am now thankful for the people that were put in my path when I was younger that I believe

helped prepare me to become Landon's mother.

As a child growing up in the city of Boise, I remember a little girl on our block

who had a severe disability. I also remember how devoted and loving her mother seemed to be towards

her, and that made a big impact on me. I never went and said hello to her or her mother.
I never asked her mother what her little girl liked to do or what her favorite food was.

You see...I saw her as a dandelion because she couldn't do the things I could do.

I also remember riding the the bus to school with a boy who had been severely burned and was missing

his ears and nose and eyelids. I don't think he was in my life by accident, I believe he was in my life to prepare me. I would sit near him on the bus and say goodbye to him when we got to his stop.
I went to high school with a boy who had cerebral palsy. He was a kind boy, who walked with a gate that I found odd.

But by this time I was starting to see them as me,

more the same than different.

Not dandelions at all.

I believe that they were put in my life for a reason.

I was being prepared for the hardest challenge of my life.

My own beautiful flower.

My own 'little different', but more 'the same'.

In the beginning, his syndrome wasn't obvious, but as he aged and didn't meet milestones, it became

heartbreakingly obvious that he would have severe impairments in both body and mind.

He started to look different and when he did, people would stare. Most people don't mean to be unkind.

Some do.

I have had so many...

'kids like those'

'how long is he going to live?'

'there are places for people like that' (mostly doctors) a few friends))
'you must be a saint' (I assure you...a saint I ain't)

and I could go on, but won't because even with some of the hurtful comments I have had spoken to me,

I understand that most have never been said to cause me pain.

It is because of lack of understanding.

Maybe they thought of my son as a dandelion like I did the little girl on my

block when I was growing up.

There have been hard times. There have been things I would never

ever want to live through again.

There are things I can't even think about to this day or I would start crying and never stop.

But after a time of grieving

comes the gift!

I have likened this experience to hiking a mountain trail. A rough trail. A trail not traveled by many.

And along this trail, in the distance, is a highway.

On the highway are many, many people going about life at the speed of light.

I am picking along the trail, moving brush and rocks as I need to.

Sometimes I get so tired I want to turn back.

Sometimes I want so badly to make my way to the highway and catch a ride far away from where I am.

But along this trail is beauty everywhere I look. Beauty that takes your breath away.
Beauty that so few get to see unless you travel slow and look hard to take it all in.
Things that I would miss if I were on the highway.

Things I wouldn't feel if I weren't on the narrow, rough trail.

When I get tired and discouraged I think of all the others that are on this trail with me.

I am not alone. I am not the only person traveling this rocky yet beautiful path.

And

I am traveling this road with my son. I am envisioning the person he will be when we pass from this life.

I think of him taking me in his arms and thanking me for loving him, for caring for him, for giving him life,
and for thinking of him as the most beautiful flower in my garden.
Not a dandelion at all!!!

White Wednesday...

2011-05-17T21:14:00.002-06:00

I thought today I would join Kathleen at Faded Charm for White Wednesday.

Can you believe that this is Kathleen's 100th White Wednesday post???

White Wednesday has been such a huge success and has brought many a 'white lover' together

because of it.

I want to congratulate Kathleen on such an inspired party theme.

It has been such a pleasure to take part in it over the past two years.

Some of the whites residing at my house.

I collect little vintage books. Especially books in these neutral shades.

I haven't read these yet, but I will!

I'm especially anxious to read the Little Lame Prince.

Intriguing title, don't you think?

Jars of any kind are always on my mind when I go shopping.

The bottles shown here are not vintage of course, but I love them just the same.

Don't you love going to an auction or yard sale and finding a box of bottles

for hardly anything at all?

Speaking of-

I went to an auction on Saturday and came home with a few treasures.

I don't get to go to many auctions, in fact, this was only the second auction

that I have ever bid on anything.

I've gone to many an auction with my husband, but few that sale anything I would be interested in.

I just don't have any use for a running gear off an old hay wagon.

(but evidently hubs does)

I did come home with the coolest old cast iron cook stove with some beautiful

scrolly detail on it to use for a planter on the porch.

It doesn't have it's top, so it will be perfect!

I caught Jackson on my bed the other day and he looked so comfy I had to get a shot of him.

He was sleeping so hard he didn't even stir when I took them.

I sure do love this kitty!!!

And now...

for the best part!

I won two giveaways last month and had to share my wins today.

(since they go so well with the the WW theme)

I received this beautiful package from Marie at Lost Bird Studio

and inside were the prettiest things you have ever seen.

Don't you love how she wrapped this???

I am so excited to now own one of her beautiful charms!

This heart stole my own as soon as I unwrapped it!

Isn't it gorgeous???

and

this tag has my name written all over it, don't you think?

Such a beautiful piece of artwork Marie.

I love every detail!

All Marie's work is gorgeous. I have followed her for a long time and enjoy

seeing all the many things she creates.

The second giveaway I won was over at Debra's Capers of the Vintage Vixens.

Debra has a blog party called Bloggers' Bodega.
It is such an awesome get together of bloggers and I love going down the list when I can
to see all that there is out there. So many treasures to be had!

I was lucky enough to win this pretty little shoe from Lynn at The Vintage Nest.

Love, love, love it!!!

Look at this!

It just makes me smile every time I see it!

Fit for a queen!

Thank you so much Debra and Lynn!

If you have the chance to go to Kathleen's, you will enjoy looking through the links of all the amazing bloggers that share their whites with us.

Who knew white could be so colorful!!!

Grand opening for a beautiful new store and collage for my mom

2011-05-09T13:51:00.004-06:00

Do you remember the store I posted about awhile ago called Warehouse Beautiful?

They are having their Grand Opening this weekend.

This is truly an amazing shop filled to the brim with all kinds of

treasures. I remember walking in and literally being blown away by the beauty of it.

I wanted to let any of my readers who live in the Boise area about it

in case you wanted to see it for yourself.

This Grand Opening includes all the shops located in what is called

the Warehouse District.

Warehouse Beautiful, Red Rooster Annex,

Garden Gate Antiques, Gatherings at the School,

Betty Lou's Estate Sale

118 37th Street

off Chinden between Orchard and Curtis

Friday May 13th

10am-8pm

Saturday May14th

10am-5pm

A portion of the sales of this grand opening will go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma

Society.

My daughter Ember is participating in the Pacific Crest Triathlon on June 26th

in honor of my sister-in-law who passed away in October from leukemia.

Her web page is

teamintraining.org/oswim/pctri11/ejensen

I am hoping that I can go, but even if I miss the grand opening, this is a shop I will be visiting

every time I make the trip to Boise.

*************

I am so happy to be posting today. I have missed it since Easter.

I haven't had the opportunity to blog lately because of some events

that have kept me from the computer.

So today I am going to sit here all day and get caught up with some of my friends here.

It is only 47 degrees out here today and rainy, so it is the perfect opportunity.

Later this week we are actually going to have some warm days,

so I know that I will be in the garden doing some clean-up.

Can you believe that my forsythia still haven't bloomed and that my lilacs are

still in tight little buds???

Not a lot to post about on the garden blog yet, that's for sure!

WHINE!!!

I am so ready to plant these pretty red thrifts that I found at the nursery the other day.

I also bought some hollyhocks to plant by the shed.

I am getting that bed ready right now, but wanted to paint the shed first.

The weather hasn't wanted to cooperate with me on that plan however.

So I thought I would do a little photo shoot with the Thrift while I wait to put them in the ground.

It has been so hard for me to stay away from the nurseries and garden centers this Spring.

I am always tempted to push my growing season here by buying my annuals for pots and vegetables too

early and then have them die due to frost damage. I never remember to cover them with frost cloth

when I should.

I wanted to show you a fabric collage I made for my mom for Mother's Day.

As my mom gets older it becomes increasingly difficult to decide what to give her as gifts.

This year I thought that a collage would be fun to put together for her.

I used a photo that my father took of her soon after they were married.

I am new to collaging with fabric, and so it takes me ages to make these, and I have so

a lot to learn and much room for improvement.

It takes me days (weeks really) to choose the picture I want to use.

then...

Then it takes me days to decide what I want to use as my fabrics.

Then it takes me forever to do the layering.

This one I kept pretty simple and I like how it turned out.

Get a look at those legs, will ya!!!!

I have so many great pictures of my mom, so I know that I will be making a lot more collages

of her as the subject.

I love using old photos of my own family for collages.

We have so many great ancestral pictures in my family.

My dad had a darkroom in our home when I was young and copied old family

pictures for people.

I remember the days spent in his darkroom as the pictures

would develop from plain white sheets to the most wonderful images

of people's families.

My father was seldom without his camera, so we have sooo

many wonderful pictures of us as children.

His favorite subject was my mother of course.

Mom seemed to like her gift, but not nearly as much I loved making it for her!

I hope all of you enjoyed a wonderful Mother's Day!

Wishing you all a lovely week ahead too.

big hugs from here!

What have I been up to, you ask???

2011-04-23T08:44:00.000-06:00

Well,

I've been dying for Easter!

Not dying eggs...

I've been dying coffee filters

for projects.

These went from this...

To this!

and then from this...

To this!

I made them to decorate for Easter.

Here are some photos of some of the other Easter decor around the house.

(sweet little Wendy Addison bunny from my neighbor Sarah)

A little Spring lamb

I love me some sheep!!!!!

Little bouquet of silk tulips

I cut some forsythia to force about ten days ago.

They haven't bloomed in the garden yet.

I thought these should come in and be decorated

with some pastel mercury balls I acquired a few years ago to

use for Easter decorating.

I got a little carried away and posted a lot of these on the garden blog too.

I really love forsythia for it's early Spring bloom...

even if early Spring isn't so early where I live.

It was 21 degrees last night!!!!!!!!!

(whine)

I put together a couple of little Easter collages with some of the

decor in my house this holiday.

(except the chicks...they are from last year)

Today will be spent in the kitchen, in preparation for a little Easter feast tomorrow.

Not many of the children will be home this year, but I will put in a ham,

make some rolls...etc.

I thought I would make cupcakes today
and decorate them all Easter-like

for the children.

Oh it's going to be a good day...the sun is shining,

and the town Easter egg hunt starts in a few minutes,

so I'm out the door.

I hope you all enjoy a wonderful Easter too!!!!!

Why seek ye the living among the dead?

He is not here, he is risen.

St Luke: 5-6

A friend's new blog and my new garden blog.

2011-04-14T13:32:00.000-06:00

Oh...and some collages too!

I finally learned how to do photo collages.

Well...kindda...

I still have some practicing to do.

These are my first attempts.

I have wanted to do them for a long time, because sometimes I have too many pictures to share

for one post and it's a great way to condense so you aren't having to scroll through a ton of

pictures.

I have rediscovered how much I love photography.

I am terribly out of practice though and

spend a lot of time playing with the settings on the camera and different light sources.

And while I will never do family portraits again or weddings professionally

(hated it) too much pressure and too much time away from my family))

I do love taking pictures of 'things'.

Cool 'things'

Pretty 'things'

I still have so much to learn about digital photography, and am quite a late bloomer in it.

But my desire to have my camera with me all the time is strong,

so I can capture all the beautiful things

the world has to offer.

The three collages here are shots I took around the house

of things I thought looked Springy.

************************

Now...

I would like to introduce you to one of my face to face friends who has recently started a blog to promote the
sale of her quilt patterns. I don't know how many of you who read my blog are quilters, but even if you aren't, you will love her designs.

Kay and I have been friends for a L O N G time.

We have children that grew up together.
Our families spent a lot of time together when our children were young.
So many good memories!

Her youngest son even married one of my daughters!

I don't think either of us ever thought that any of our kids would grow up and marry.

When Season first told me she was seeing Beau I said 'you're kidding, right'.

She wasn't

Kay has so many talents, and quilting is one of them.
I wanted to share a few of her designs here today.

To see more of her designs, you can visit her blog Applevine Design

or her Etsy shop by the same name.
This girls got talent!!!!

******************

I have started a garden blog to keep record of the many things that go into keeping a garden.

I needed this blog for me. I often go about things backwards and I'm hoping this

blog helps me to go at things in a more orderly fashion.

So really this blog is for me personally, but since I am also keeping a record of the garden through pictures

I thought I would also make it public.

I will not be enabling the comment setting on it however,

because...

some days it will be the ramblings of a woman who has had too much sun,

too many ideas rolling around in her head,

too much dirt and grime,

too many tasks to ever be able to tackle in one day,

so it won't always be worth reading.

but...

some days it will be full of beautiful blooms,

interesting gardening tips,

some conversations.(mainly in my head)

Whatever strikes me on any given day.

While my Laughing With Angels blog is where I like to show the pretty things in my life.
This blog will be a little of everything.

The blog's title is Grace Gardens.

I think of my garden as an expression of grace,

so the name seemed appropriate.

This is the little Spring banner I created for it.

I do hope you are all enjoying Spring wherever you live.

The snow is finally gone here except for a patch or two in the backyard.

And I couldn't be happier!

Dreaming of this...

2011-04-06T22:19:00.001-06:00

I can't wait to have these blooming in the garden again.

But it will be quite awhile yet.

This has got to be one of my favorite trees in the garden.

( I have a ton of favorites...as you know)

It is my Red Jade weeping crab apple.

Today I am linking up with Tracie at Fishtail Cottage for her 'Cottage Flora Thursdays'.

Most of you have already seen some of these pictures from last year.

Since my garden is a late bloomer because of where I live in the US I decided to show some

of my favorite views of the 2010 garden.

out by the pasture fence...

Darn that wretched garden hose always spoiling my pictures!

Now that I've said that, you will be sure to notice.

lol!

And notice in the picture below, how I cleverly tried to hide my lawnmower

with a watermark?

Peonies are definitely the show offs of the garden.

One of the biggest joys is when I am able to cut armloads of these to bring into the house.

Here is my pretty Henry Kelsey climbing rose.

The rose in the foreground of this shot is John Cabot...another climber.

This is a view of the front garden from the highway that runs in front of our place.

hmmm...

I wonder if I could get Idaho Power Co. to shorten up those power poles

so they quit spoiling the view?????

I love the rose in the foreground in this picture.

It is a William Baffin rose.

It can be on an arbor or stand on it's own,

as it has very strong canes. This one is not on an arbor.

The rose behind it is the John Cabot,

and that one is on an arbor.

It is just a little deeper pink than the William Baffin rose.

I have several of both of these roses in the garden.

I can't seem to get my fill of them.

The delphiniums take center stage in about mid July here.

My favorite is Black (or Dark) I can't seem to remember)) Knight.

It grows over 6 foot tall on sturdy stalks.

I place them in many of the beds here to add color and height.

I know many of you have seen some of these photos before, so thank you for humoring me

and allowing me to show them again.

Gardening is truly a joy for me, and so I am very anxious for the work to begin again.
I have so many plans for this year
and can't wait to get started.

Spring Break!

2011-03-25T22:42:00.002-06:00

Does this little girl look bored to you???

Maddie is on Spring break.

And Maddie came to gram and papa's house because her mom had things to do.

In these pictures she is watching a movie while she waits for me to get out into the studio.

She knows that when we get out there she will be able to talk me out of some of my

'special stuff' and she will pack it home (much to her mother's dismay)

I think my two daughters...with daughters...blame me for all the extra clutter in

their houses.

WHO ME?

Isn't that what grandmothers are supposed to do?

Pawn off all the 'special stuff' they no longer want?

That's what my mom did, and her mother before her.

It's tradition I think!

This movie must be boring, because now she's almost asleep!

Can you see her through the door?

We did get some grape hyacinths dug and planted.

I had to scrape the snow back to find them.

And there they were...almost 2" tall under the snow.

I took advantage of the little bit of sun that was coming in today to

get some pictures of the living room.

I haven't shown many broad shots of my home on this blog

(probably because it's too much trouble clearing away my junk

and the stacks of magazines that I have around constantly

to keep me sane through the Winter)....as I was saying, I don't take many

full room shots because I love focusing in on the little things in a

home that make it what it is.

What makes a home a home to me are the personal things we choose to

keep around us. For me it is an old pot that belonged to Dale's grandmother.

The old books my mother collected for years and then passed on to me.

Or the iron garden angel I saved up to buy because at the time I bought it I needed it

to remind me of this promise

"He shall give His angels charge over thee,

to keep thee in all thy ways.
They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone"

Psalms 91:11-12

Or little green shoots from a hyacinth bulb.

I know I keep saying this but...

I am craving Spring weather...and when it doesn't come to my outside world...

(it is snowing outside right now as I type this post)

well,

I just have to find a way to bring it into my inside world.

Just a few sprigs of anything will do!

As long as it is green.

And even better if it comes with a little pink attached.

These pretty tulips are from the market, not my garden.

It will be another month, maybe longer before my tulips bloom.

I know you will probably be shocked to find out I won two more awesome giveaways ; )

The first giveaway win was a French inspired surprise from Debbie-Texas Daisey

from the beautiful blog

Glory Feathers, Star light, and Roses

Debbie also has a beautiful garden blog Behind My Garden Gate.
That is how Debbie and I met. I love garden blogs, and found hers not long after

I started blogging myself.
Debbie takes me to garden centers in Texas that I will
never have the chance to visit in person, and she grows things
in her garden that I can't grow here.
A trip to her garden is such a pleasure for me.

So do you want to see what I won?

A lovely Eiffel tower necklace and three petit Frency boxes.

The necklace is beautiful!!!!!!

I already have two of the boxes full of stuff in the studio

and one I have in my bedroom to hold those stray things that seem to

find their way onto my bedside table.

Thank you Debbie...I love everything!

I also won Lili M's beautiful OWOH giveaway.

She was giving away 12 months worth of hand written, snail mail correspondence.

Can you believe I get a lovely card from Lili for the next 11 months?

This was my first month's handwritten note from dear Lili.

She wrote me a sweet note on the back of one of these beautiful note cards from one of her

favorite Dutch design studios pipstudio.com

and then sent an extra one for me to use myself.

and tucked inside the envelope where two bags of Dutch Pickwick tea.

Thank you so much Lili...

it will be wonderful enjoying this giveaway over the next year.

What a brilliant idea this is!

Well in case you are a little curious about what Maddie talked me out of in the studio...

all I can say is...

she left with her arms full!

White Wednesday...I just needed some pretty...

2011-03-16T12:19:00.001-06:00

Oh boy, did I need a shot of something.

I have been living in the grey for too long. Our Winter has

brought very little sun, and a whole lot of grey.

SO...

I had to get out of town for awhile.

I had to go where there was no snow.

I had to go looking for light!

My daughter Ember lives in Boise and she was having a birthday,

so I thought..'hey, Boise doesn't have snow...

it may even have some sun...

and it has Ember!

Em took me to some wonderful shops, and we found some great things.

I think I found the light I was seeking.

These are just a sampling of some of what I found.

I bought some of this...

but a lot of it came from Ember's own stash.

She thought I needed it more than she did...

(and because she knows she will find a lot more of it once the yard and estate sales start)

Ember has spools and spools of bias tape and I was able to talk her out of several yards.

need it!

love it!

gotta have it!

She gave me a lot of bling too.

(I know, I know...it was her birthday, but...)

I do try to not take advantage of her goodness too often...

lest she catches on...lol!

We went to some antique and vintage shops while I was there as well.

This shop was beautiful!

It was called Warehouse Beautiful

I saw so many things I wanted to bring home for the garden.

She had beautiful iron pieces. I love iron in the garden!

A visit to this shop really helped make my life a little less grey!

This trip to Boise was so wonderful.

I needed a break from my routine. I needed a change.

I needed NO SNOW!

(thank you so much Dale for taking care of everything at home)

Em took me so many great places including my favorite ice cream parlor Goodys.

I also got to go see my mother who lives in Oregon and my sister who lives in Idaho,

but only thirty minutes from where my mom lives.

We had the best visit.

Sadly, it was while there that I heard about the news of Japan's disaster.

All I wanted to do then was to get back to my own home.

It put everything back into perspective for me.

How quickly our lives can change. From happiness to sadness in an instant.

I had to share this with you too.
(and they have white on them)

A few days before I left to go to Boise,I saw this pair of antelope alongside

the road as I was driving to the bank.

Aren't they beautiful????

I wish they wouldn't stand so near the road.

They are too pretty to be so close to danger.

Another beautiful thing to come into my life before my trip was this package from

Shelley at Sweetpea Home.

Wrapped up so pretty! With a beautiful charm attached.

Shelley has been doing some purging around her house and thought that I would love these

amazing metal letters that spell ROSES.

Oh do I ever love them!!!!

I felt such gratitude that she would think of me to now care for this treasure that

I knew she enjoyed for so long in her own home.

I decided for now to hang them on a piece of jute

and string them in front of the mirror in the living room.

These are so perfect for my home and I love them!

Thank you so much Shelley!
You know I adore them and you!!!

I want to thank Kathleen at Faded Charm for this opportunity to show all the whites in my world.
and the not-so-whites....

White Wednesday!

2011-03-02T12:14:00.000-07:00

I am joining Kathleen at Faded Charm today for another White Wednesday.

Can you believe that this is number 89 for her????

Not for me however, because

it's been awhile since I have played along.

This week I went looking for whites in my home and studio that I hadn't already shown

here on my blog, and this is what I came up with.

My friend Suzan sent this pretty little gift a long time ago when we first met through blogging.

It came in a package crammed with beautiful things that she had made and that I have

shown here before.

I love the simplicity of it.

I have an inner battle going on constantly within myself over how I choose to decorate my spaces.

One of my personalities would love a home packed full of nic nacs...

and so many pictures and beautiful things hanging on the walls

that there would be no wall showing at all!

And then there is a part of me that needs a serene surrounding...

a calmness...

space to breath...

Having a studio apart from the house has satisfied a little of the struggle.

In the studio I cram as much visual stimulation into it as I can.

Having so much out and around me helps with the creative process.

It keeps my mind full of ideas and dreams of the next project.

I know I don't share a lot of the things I make here on my blog...and I am trying

to get braver about showing them off. In the future I hope to do a post or two

about the things I make for my home.

I'm not at all shy about sharing the great finds I unearth though,

like this beautiful old light fixture part I discovered on one of my hunts.

I have been making more of the collage tags that I showed earlier using the garment tags I save.

My husband thinks I am buying new clothes just to make the tags.

In truth,

I make the tags to lessen the guilt over buying so many new things for the closet!

(I say for the closet because my kids don't think I could possibly ever wear everything

that's in there) I don't get rid of anything))

Just a few of the thousand I'm working on.

I told you the closet was full!!!!!!