Shabby Chic Mantle...

I consider Spring

to be my very favorite season...

 

it's full of promise,

of inspiration

of anticipation...

 

 

so I made a banner with my Rachael Ashwell

DIY Banner Kit...

 



 

and added a few tissue paper flowers,

because Spring does feel like a party!

 



these paper lanterns

are also by Rachel Ashwell...

 

I have these in several color combos

along with another new in the package banner

just like the one above in my Etsy Shop....

 

 



 

when I was a girl

my grandmother treated me

 to one of these sugar eggs each year...

 

mine were usually filled with chicks and bunnies,

and I nibbled all the sugary decorations,

I had no restraint...

 

so I was thrilled to find this antique sugar egg

at an estate sale last year...

in perfect condition...

 



 

My marching glitter rabbits have also

made their way to my mantle...

 

-------

 

I am still in a bit of vacation mode here,

my brother is in town...

 

it is always fun to re-explore your area,

with the eyes of a tourist...

 

to freshly see the wonder and beauty

that surrounds you,

that you too often take for granite.

 

 

thank you for visiting me today,

I hope you are finding fresh beauty in your daily life too...

A Spring Day at Point Defiance Park...

 

There are those Spring Days,

when you wake up...

 

the sun is shining bright

the clouds are fluffy and white...

 

and you know

 if you can...

you must get out and enjoy this time...

 

the morning I spent at Point Defiance Park

started like that...

 

but, 

 in true Spring form,

the sun shined

 then the wind blew

 then it rained..

and repeated several times...

 

so please forgive a few blurry photos below...

 

I have taken you with me to Point Defiance Park several times...

it is an amazing park

with over 700 hundred acres of gardens and trails...

 

here are just a couple links....

Border Gardens

my favorites

The Rose Gardens

more Roses

 



 

as I said recently

I really need to add to my Hellebore collection....

 

 

this pink and droopy bloom

was my favorite...

 



 

lovely Primula...

 

 

I love that the park leaves

these patches of English daisies

to grow in the lawn...

 

I extra love it

when the patch is slightly heart shaped!

 

giant patches on anemone

have me inspired to encourage mine to spread more...

 



another thing I admire about the park

is their natural approach...

packing a layer of leaves onto the flower beds for the winter

and turning them into the soil in spring...

 



 

the bare bones

of the grand rose arch...

 

 

the same arch in bloom!

 

it takes my breath away

each time I see it...

 

magical...

 



 

a nice peek

at the lovely Puget Sound,

along the loop drive...

 

 

I hope you too are enjoying some lovely Spring Days...

The First Weekend of Spring...

 I am just popping by

to wish you a wonderful first weekend of Spring!

 

suddenly after so many lazy Winters days

there is so much to do...

 

Spring Cleaning,

 

Garden Clean up,

and the part of garden clean up

where you just stop and get lost admiring the tiny blooms

 and the way the greens are suddenly greener,

 

I get lost watching the baby squirrels outside my kitchen window,

 

then there is that antsy feeling

 of just wanting to go out and socialize...

 

the anticipation of road trips...

 

its all bliss,

my mind and heart are full...

 

I hope yours are too...

 

ing

 

“It was one of those March days

 when the sun shines hot

and the wind blows cold:

 when it is summer in the light,

 and winter in the shade.”     

 

    Charles Dickens

 

 

Happy Weekend!

The Sea of my Childhood...

I am so lucky

to have my brother in town!

 

last weekend we took a trip to

Oak Harbor, Washington...

 

a small town on Whidbey Island

were we spent a few years of our childhood...

 

 

before

I moved to Washington State

I lived in Los Angeles,  California...

 

the beaches there so different

than the almost still waters of the Puget Sound...

 

each beautiful...

 

the beach is my happy place...

it moves me,

it humbles me,

it  grounds me.

 



the snow capped

Olympic Mountain Range in the background...

 





 

We are tied to the ocean.

And when we go back to the sea,

whether it is to sail or to watch -

 we are going back from whence we came.

 John F. Kennedy

 

It was an amazing weekend...

 

Thanks for stopping by,

Vernal Equinox...

Take the Winds of March with Beauty...

 

 

right on cue

Spring hath Sprung...

 

 

its hard to believe these sweet

tender blooms are out there in the cold wet garden..

 

they give me cause to put on a coat

and awaken my soul...

 



 

 

this beautiful calendar

which celebrates Edith Holden...

 

was given to me years ago

by my dear blogging friend Jacqueline

from Cabin & Cottage

 

my kindred spirit

 

 



 

the beautiful drawing are pure delight...

 

and I feel connected

to Edith in some small way,

to see

 that I enjoy the same garden blooms as she did...

right on schedule... 

 



Daffodils that come before the swallow dares

and take the winds of March with beauty.

 

SHAKESPEARE

 

 

 I am linking up to...

Amaze Me Monday

Metamorphosis Monday

 

 

Happy Spring to You!!

Sprung....

 

 

No Winter lasts Forever;

No Spring Skips its Turn...

 

Hal Borland

 



 

on this beautiful day,

of blue skies and sunshine..

 

Spring has Sprung..

 

It was a welcome day,

glorious...

 

 

Daisy and I spent our afternoon on the porch...

 

Iris and Cosmo,

busily explored the garden....

 



 

 

It's the girls Birthday Sunday!

 

they will be 6,

time flies...

 

 

I have a guest coming into town...

so I will see you next week.

 

Have a Great Weekend...