Turned the corner and bumped into this cuteness. Had to be super fast with the camera, hence the darkness and what looks like a Black eye!

Love Letter

Dearest Flowers,

I LOVE YOU! There, I said it! I love you! I buy you at the market, I plant you in the garden, I nurture you...so why must you torment me so???? All those flecks that look like stardust! Your littlest offspring is killing me!!! Today, after a dewy morning, I walked out to my car to find streaks of yellow dust coating everything! My only solution, a constant supply of allergy medicine. I actually missed it one day and tried to work in the yard...pure torture! But WELL worth it, as the green is quickly returning, to be followed soon by you lovelies! Maybe next year we won't need as much pollen? A girl can dream...I LOVE you anyway.

Love, A

A Day like Today makes me Happy

So, I had hoped to get some work done today. I had a list of things that I "had to get done"...tasks to accomplish, projects to finish...but Mother Nature had other plans for me. I pruned some hydrangeas, fertilized the trees and shrubs, finished mulching the flower beds, planted some garlic, and ran into a few BIG bumble bees. Today was simply perfect. Fun morning with the gals, sunny beautiful afternoon to work in the garden, and a lovely moonlit stroll with the boys to end the day.

The bees are a buzzin'.

When we first moved to our home, we planted about 15 phlox plants on the small hillside behind the house, hoping to cover it. Well, the hillside is mostly clay, so only two plants survived, far from covering, but really sweet none-the-less.

Japanese Magnolia blossom.

The Redbud, one of my favs, is just about to flower.

Maybe this weekend it will rain and I can get some work done!

Murrells Inlet Marshwalk

After a rather unsuccessful estate sale Sunday morning, since we were in the area, we decided to take a stroll on the Marshwalk in Murrells Inlet. A beautiful sunny morning, until we started taking photos. Undeterred, I kept on clicking. Had a few shots worthy of sharing...

Quickly losing the Sunshine, but the temperature was cool and comfortable.

Pelicans everywhere!

Looking Back towards Land and the Marina.

F L O W E R S

Some Springtime favorites...

INSPIRATIONAL

Wanna see someone FANTASTIC!!!!

Google Iris Apfel!

Better yet, head over to 1st Dibs.com and check out the mini article featuring Apfel in their Introspecitve Magazine. I know I don't have an amazing image to entice you (unsure of the legalities of borrowing pics), but I promise you won't be disappointed. She is AMAZING!!!

Just do it!!

Technologically Challenged

For all who know me, this will NOT be a surprise, but I am a little technology challenged. And I am learning new things everyday about the blog-o-sphere! For instance I did not know that I had to opt to allow anonymous comments. So for anyone out there - MOM - who would like to leave a note anonymously, but hasn't been able to...you now can! One request...you can be truthful and you are more than welcome to disagree, just please be respectful! Comment Away!!!

Appreciation!

You can't always make everyone happy, but isn't it THE BEST feeling when you actually do make someone happy!

And they let you know!!!!

Thank you to all my Etsy customers!!!

DOOMED

"To know when you have enough is to be rich beyond measure."

Lao-Tzu

I know this to be true.

I understand it.

I aspire to live it...

and then I see something, smell something, feel something

A M A Z I N G

and it's all over. I am not interested in having more just to have more...I just get seduced. It could be a fabulous vintage jewelry piece, a cozy sweater, or a great antique chair. It could even be the potential of something that has seen better days. So as much as I try, I think that I am doomed.

The Canyon

So did the rock slide in the canyon make the news last night because it was a big slide or because it was a slow news night? Called the folks to see what all the fuss was about and they hadn't even heard about it. Despite the fact that it has the possibility of being a little treacherous, I really miss this drive!!!!!

New Sofas

I've been dreaming of new sofas, pining for them...something streamlined and covered in a yummy linen. But I can't have them and THIS is why....

In The Garden

Finally, a WARM weekend. Time to get to work.

Composted the garden. Very GLAMOROUS!
And I learned that TURKEY compost smells a lot like a char grilled turkey burger. I guess it could smell worse. I transplanted some seedlings to small recyclable pots, but do not fear...I did resist the urge to put them in the ground. They are still growing safely in my mobile green house. I did go out on a limb and planted some lilies and dahlias. HOPEFULLY we will not have another frost and if we do, the plan is to cover them. I must admit that I was surprised, since it has been so cold, at how many little green sprouts I found. But as it warms, the Camellia blossoms are beginning to fall. Till next year...

Pawley's Island

We decided that a quick trip was just what the doctor ordered, so Saturday morning we headed to Pawley's Island. Just south of Myrtle Beach, the area is a world away in terms of character. Great shops and delicious restaurants are tucked into the dense vegetation of Pawley's mainland. It's relaxed, casual and feels like a coastal hide-away. The Island is filled with beach houses, some even historic: Turn off the main drag toward the marsh. A wide, grassy expanse between the shore and the actual island.

This point of the island has a public beach access.

Rough ocean on one side, especially at the point,

clear and calm on the other. At least on the surface.

Cruisin' the Island.

Spanish Moss, so Southern.

"Pawley's Island Marina & Yacht Club"

Can a Town Hall building be darling? Well, this one certainly fits the bill.

The sweetest little church, dressed for a wedding, that sits directly over the marsh.

On the way home we stopped for a great lunch at Bistro 217...the sweet potato fries were fantastic and as an added bonus, they were very vegetarian friendly.

The End...

New FAVS

I added a few new stops to the favorite list. These ladies just have...IT!

B. Jones Style

the glamourai

Atlantis Home

FROZEN

This cold weather has not done much for my creative juices...

I think that they have frozen.

I have the best of intentions...piles of sewing projects, jewelry-to-be-made laid out awaiting me, pictures planned, furniture in the garage needing a good sanding...but all I want to do is bundle up with a cozy throw, an even cozier pup, and some good design books. Some current favs...

The sun is out. The day feels as if it wants to be warm. I am so tempted to work in the garden. And then I remember the overnight forecast. Can this possibly be the last night this season that hovers around freezing?

Something new...

So, last night I did something rather out-of-the-ordinary. I ironed my pillowcases and part of my top sheet.

Let me explain. I know that this is impractical and that the only reason I even have time for such frivolity is the fact that I do not have any children. But, I was privy to a conversation between a few ladies the other day during which they discussed, OK RAVED, about sending sheets out to be pressed. Now, I am in no position to send sheets anywhere, but I wondered what it would be like to have a freshly pressed bed.

Since I quite enjoy ironing old linens, I got to work. I ironed the top of the top-sheet, but the body of it was just too much for little ole' me. I need my grandmother's mangle for any success with that project. Anyway, on to the pillowcases. Not too bad. It was a lesson in just how cheaply made some of my linens are, as no amount of pressing could even them out. But the result was rather nice.

In the middle of all of this, my husband came home and asked "Just exactly what are you doing?".

A little while later I carefully dressed the bed and thought that it did seem a bit more special than usual. A discussion ensued about actually being able to sleep in the bed and, jokes aside, we settled in. We agreed that everything felt a little smoother, softer even. I did, however, feel a bit guilty about laying my head down, but that lasted only a few seconds.

So, I concur with the ladies that ironed sheets and pillowcases do feel awfully nice and look even better...until you awake the next morning to a wrinkled mess! And even I don't have the time to iron nightly.

NEW ADDITIONS

I love to make things, fix things, rework old things...everything from furnishings to jewelry. Some of the smaller items end up in my Etsy shop. But, most of them end up on me! Here are some new additions. Check them out and tell me what you think!