Time

I know that modern technology makes everything faster and in some respects easier, but there are days when I miss having to look in the dictionary for a spelling, or going to the library for a book, or receiving a handwritten letter, or twirling a long phone cord around myself while talking to my best friend, or even hanging linens on an outdoor line to dry.

I'm not at all suggesting reverting back to a time before electricity. I take full advantage of those modern conveniences...I couldn't get it all done without them.


Maybe it is simply nostalgia, but I really miss some of life's simpler, more time consuming activities. The importance is really in the actual TIME it took to complete a task...it was time, in a sense, to slow down. One had to take more than a second to accomplish something and in those minutes were small moments where your mind could wander...where you could breathe...or even encounter something that you weren't expecting.

Sometimes, OK MOST of the time, technology moves a little too fast for me.

1STDIBS.COM

I LOVE 1st Dibs! The items for sale are the best of the best...and utterly AMAZING!!! But what I love even more are the features! They have some of the best little snippets of inspiring people and places! Not to mention the visual feast of pictures!!!!
I was reading about Jason Fitzmaurice, an artist in Los Angeles, and he said something that rings so true with me, that I had to share... "The most beautiful things to me are between the intentional and the unintentional." I couldn't agree more!

Before and After

There are several stages that the flowers at my home must undergo...the BEFORE!the AFTER!The ARTISTIC AFTERS!!!

Crossin' My Fingers

Crossin' my fingers for a transplant!

Each spring I reassess the yard. If it were up to me, it would just be one huge garden! But the 3 furry children need some room too. Despite the small yard already, I decided to enlarge the even smaller veggie garden. We went behind the fence to accommodate two squash plants... which, if you have never planted before, grow to be HUGE!!

Then I thought that another garden bed inside the fence would be lovely. Now I thought this, not the hubby...who went along, but rather reluctantly. He also nixed my no grass/all garden dream. You can see why below! Look at the state of that grass. Pathetic! But notice the amazingly tall Iris behind one of the boys! I digress... I have a sad little dwarf Crepe Myrtle (seen in the middle of the bed pics) that had been stunted by the growth of its neighbor, this giant Fontinia. (The Crepe Myrtle used to live in the spot just under this giant!) Compare it to the other Crepe Myrtle, of the same age, planted in a different location. So it has a new home, but I had to thwack some pretty major roots to move it. So send it some good regrowth vibes. I also hope that the rather expensive Crinum Lily bulbs come into their own. At the moment the whole thing looks rather small and silly. But the hubby assures me that things will grow fast, fill out, and I will/better be happy with the new addition...because apparently it is the last garden bed we are digging in this yard. Really!?! Until next year? P.S. If you are wondering about the need for the tacky green wire fencing...here are two of the three reasons.

First ROSE of the Season

I love roses, even though they are rather problematic here in the South. Especially for a gardener who is trying to be green! So many bugs and mildews and such. Despite the trickiness, I grow a few anyway. Here is one of the first this year...a wonderfully fragrant bloom, that now lives in a vase next to my bed. When we started in this garden, I had planted about 15 roses. All but two failed miserably! The rest were dug up and disposed of...at least I thought so. Mysteriously last year, a random rose appeared. Now I had removed the roses a few years before, so my guess is that a remnant of a root remained. It is now growing like mad! As it didn't flower before, I am curious to see what color rose appears. Often two different roses are grafted together, so the roses grown from this root will be a fun surprise.

All Saints Church

Sometimes, on our Saturday morning yard sale adventures, we happen upon something too good to pass by. This past weekend, while in Pawley's Island, we stopped at All Saints Church, a wonderful little old church-site and cemetery.

A little history for you, encapsulated well by the historical society.

Despite being rebuilt so many times, this church retains it's old Southern charm. (The present day sanctuary, which I have not pictured, is across the road from this church. It is also quite a beautiful place.)

Although a rather unassuming spot, members of awfully prominent Southern families rest here. Thomas George Pawley and his family have particular significance to this area.

Despite the historical importance of some of the cemeteries members, I found the shining stars to be the wondrous old Live Oaks! I cannot not even express how amazing these trees are! And the pictures cannot possibly do them justice. The sheer size was overwhelming and their canopies provided the most wonderful dappled light. Truly, treasures of the South.

And, fortunately for us, this is the perfect time of the year for azaleas. These bushes dazzle the southern landscape, throughout the early spring, with vibrant shades of pink, red, coral, purple, and white. Even a few late wintertime bloomers, camellias (the red flowers in the background below), are still gracing us with their presence.

All in all a sweet side trip. Be sure to go early on the weekends though, as our quiet walk in the cemetery was cut a little short by a tour group.

LAMP LOVE

I traded a little of my time for this beauty! I LOVE it! Each time I sit down to work, I enjoy it more and more. And some fresh Iris flowers from the garden. Does it get any better??? (OK, It might if I had an amazing view! But I can't be too greedy!)

NEW LONNY!!!

MY FAV!!! A new issue of LONNY magazine. And I do not have any time this morning to browse! UGHHHH! But if you do, it's worth your while! Head on over to http://www.lonnymag.com/!

Serenity

I have a sinking suspicion that I am going to need to tap into some serenity this afternoon!

Strawberries soon????

Here's the first strawberry blossom of the season...let's hope for many more!!!!

Garage Sale Find

Point #1...I have no room in my house for this!

Point #2...I had plenty of projects before this one that are awaiting completion!

Point #3...It charmed 8.00 right out of my pocket! (And it is quite easy to update.)Point #4...Any new project is easier than this old one! It has been needing some serious TLC for years now!!!

New "OLD" Stuff

I've added a few vintage items to my Etsy shop! And I plan to add more in the days to come. So pop on over and check them out. Let me know what you think!!!! I love feedback!

INSPIRATION

Mother Nature has some of the best palettes. Just a touch of pink!Very simple, yet very inspiring!