Monday, September 2, 2013

Summer Gardening and a Surprise!



Hi everyone! Sorry I’ve been absent for the past month but life and summer has kept me busy. We’ve been busy planting in our field area that we had cleared just before snow flew in January. My business suddenly decided to breath life back into itself and I got the idea in my head that after a decade I should redesign my website. Do you have any idea how challenging it is to wrap your head around a computer program after a decade? And with menopause? Yes I ask for a lot but it’s all good!


Summer has been bountiful as far as plant life goes thanks to the great amount of rain we received this spring. This is one of my favorite flowering plants called Sneezeweed. It’s the first to bloom in the spring and the last to die back in the fall. Best part is it decided for the first time this year to add some yellows flowers to the arrangement.


I also love Hydrangea, every variety, and I have to say I love this incrediball Hydrangea. It doesn’t flop from heavy heads and if you deadhead the flowers it’ll make more. I planted up this little garden two years ago and my dwarf boxwood hedge is coming in nicely. Another two years and we should have a real hedge.
 
 
Incrediball Hydrangea
 
 
Blue Endless Summer, except they need to include a disclaimer with this shrub, it doesn't really bloom all summer!
 



Limelight Hydrangea


The heads on the limelight get as big as my head and they turn the most incredible green in the fall.
 
 
This is a type of Hydrangea Paniculata f. grandiflora and I love all the ferns just above him along the top of the wall. We get tons of ferns that will suddenly jump up around here and Mister Man keeps mowing them down only to have them jump right back up. He isn’t trying to mow the ferns just the grass but the ferns are literally everywhere!
 

 
My best friend Deb, yes even the same name, and I have been talking a great deal about gardening and Hydrangea and with my birthday coming up soon she surprised me with an amazing gift clear from Seattle Washington! Two huge Viburnum and a Let’s dance starlight purple hydrangea. The Viburnum are planted and staked since I’m going to grow these two as trees and my new Hydrangea went into a new garden I just started that will be nothing but Hydrangea. I personally don’t think you can ever have to many Hydrangea.

 
I don’t know what it is about olive trees but I have a slight fascination with them so I picked up two small plants early this spring and imagine my surprise when they actually grew olives!

 
Yep, they grew olives, black olives that are ripening! This is very exciting for me and I don’t even like olives….lol.
 

As for this guy he’s been loving his life of hiking, swimming although he doesn’t actually swim he’s more of a wader and finding mud. I snapped this picture the other morning after his hike and he was panting on his side.
 
So that’s what I’ve been up to a life of gardening and work and loving being outdoors. I hope all of you have been enjoying your summer and I’m going to try and get caught up with you all.
 
Enjoy your Labor Day!
XXX
~Debra~

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Come on Baby Light my Fire......

 
 
Great news I had my physical last week and I’m in great shape and the doctor was thrilled I’m right on time with MENOPAUSE!
 
 
 Ladies, ladies, ladies I’m here to say it isn’t as bad as you think. Ok everyone is different but I am thankfully suffering from one thing and one thing only…..HOT FLASHES! 
 
 
I discovered something that was a tad unpleasant during the heat wave last week….heat brings on hot flashes! You would think Mother Nature would take pity on us and not try to evenly roast us inside and out! But life goes on and with busy lives we don’t have time to stand in front of fans all day.
 
 
Now I’m not trying to freak you guys out there but I found a little something that would work for men too on a hot day……personal necklace cooling fans! You hang this puppy around your neck and it blows cool air on you and I have to say it’s a very nice comfortable COOL air. No hands required so Mister man could wear one when riding around on the tractor to keep himself comfy and cool too. So I ordered us each one and nice price too around ten bucks.
 

So next time something is wearing you down, even men, take a look around on the Internet and I bet you find a helpful answer to your problem. If not you’re about to make a million by designing what you need. Try a personal fan I have mine hanging around my neck and I’m smiling!
 
I hope you’re all having a wonderful workweek!
 
XXX
~Debra~

Monday, July 1, 2013

Objects of Affection!


 
I need to tell you a little something about myself….I’m highly suggestible when it comes to objects. I know instantly if I love something and then I go on a mission to find whatever it is. My latest obsession is an antique French plaster plaque that I’m blaming on Mon over at Splendid Willow and Loi at Tone on Tone.
 
Yep, this picture is a small area in Monika’s home and I love how she did a little something extra with the Kanji black marks….gives her plaque some emphasis  don’t you think?
 

Then Loi came drifting on the scene with his amazing plaque and I was off and running trying to find a plaque of my own. I want his fabulous green secretary too but that’s for another time.
 
I love pieces of artwork that have life of their own and make a simple statement. I'm all about keeping it simple and elegant.
 
 Veranda
 
Veranda came out with simple flower medallions on faded worn wood and I was over the top. I need to find something with that aged green color I love it!

 
Loi at Tone on Tone kept torturing me with yet another fabulous plaque when he did a post on designer Frank Randolph's home that was featured in Veranda.
 
 
Are you noticing how these simple works of art work in any setting and with any type of furniture?


When I saw this grouping of plaster plaques offered at an auction I knew there were plenty out there to be found and I only needed one!
 
My Plaque
 
Lucky me I finally found an antique French plaster plaque of my own two weeks ago complete with aging. The sucker is big and heavy so wherever I decide to hang it Mister man is going to have to do a little work so it doesn’t rip down the plaster wall. I found this item at  Alhambra Antiques and have purchased many things from Olga and have been thrilled with every piece.
 
 
Now I’m on the lookout for a small industrial looking cabinet like this one for our downstairs bathroom that I showed a small part of last week. Shame this was sold because it was the perfect size for my needs.
 
Beth Webb Interiors
 
Now my newest obsession is trying to locate the perfect small bench/stool like the one pictured here. I have a small piece of antique zebra that I’ll be upholstering the seat and then the piece will be going into our newly redecorated living room when it’s finished. How about you what are you hunting for this week?
 
I’d like to thank Steve over at An Urban Cottage for rescuing so many of us with his post about our reading lists going away. Steve took the time and effort to find options for us to transfer our lists…so thank you Steve I know you saved me!
 
Short week this week for all of us and I would like to wish all of you a happy and safe 4th of July celebration. We’re going to be doing extra celebrating around our household because it’s also Mister Man’s birthday!
 
Happy 4th of July everyone!
xxx
~Debra~
 
 
 
 
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