Bloomin' Tuesday

Welcome to Bloomin' Tuesday. My pictures today are the flowers that have survived the end of summer and are still blooming in my garden.

I love the marigolds and vica. They are both so hardy and beautiful. I have them in pots surrounding the pool.

I have a few zinnias that have finally bloomed among the impatience. The zinnias did not do well this summer. I will plant some again in the spring.

The snapdragons are hardier than I had thought. Some still have fresh, beautiful blooms.

This week's flag has a fall theme. It will soon be Halloween.

Thank you, Jean of http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/ for hosting Bloomin' Tuesday. To see more beautiful blooms, please visit Jean.

Blue Monday

Happy Blue Monday

Blue is the color of calmness, security, of ‘dreamlike yearnings’, of distance, therefore ‘divinity’ ‘spirituality’. It is also the symbol of fidelity, faithfulness.

This dried blue hydrangea arrangement was made by my friend, Sue. I saw the hydrangeas in her shop and fell in love with them. Withing five minutes, she had designed this lovely arrangement.

I collect all kinds of angels. I have a corner curio cabinet filled with them. I especially like this angel who is dressed in blue.

This blue pitcher belonged to my mother-in-law. I use it for a vase. Flowers look elegant in the pitcher.
This cruet is lovely. It is filled with a wonderful smelling potpourri and tied with blue satin ribbon.

I hope that everyone enjoyed my Blue Monday treasures. I'd like to thank Sallie at http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/ for hosting Blue Monday. Please visit Sallie and find your way to some wonderful Blue Monday posts.

Buttons, Buttons, Buttons

I love collecting. Several years ago, I began collecting buttons. I have new buttons, old buttons, big buttons, small buttons. Buttons tell stories. I have buttons that were on my grandfather's World War I uniform, buttons that were on my great-grandmother's clothing, and buttons that were on my children's clothing. I filled up this enormous jar, two sewing boxes, and now am filling smaller jars. I've also given many buttons to my family and friends.

I have several smaller jars of buttons.
I have seen so many creative uses for buttons. One of my plans for the upcoming long winter evenings it so sort through and organize my many buttons and use some of the unique ones in crafts.

Pink Saturday

Thank you, Beverly for hosting Pink Saturday. Please visit Beverly at http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/ to celebrate Pink Saturday.

Some of My Treasures

I collect porcelain dolls. Until we have shelves built in the spare bedroom, most of my collection is stored in the attic. I do display a several of my very special dolls.

Meet Sadye. She is a gift from our daughter, Jennifer. Jennifer bought her a few years ago when she went to the beach with some of her sisters. I love Sadye's lifelike features.

Meet Michelle. She was a Christmas gift from our daughter, Sherry. Sherry bought the same doll for her daughter, Brooke. When she saw how much I liked Brooke's doll, she bought the a doll for me. Michelle's delicate detailed feet fascinate me.

This is the anniversary card that my husband Johnny gave me for our anniversary in June. The pink in the flowers stands out among the other colors. When I open the card, it plays beautiful music. I keep the card on my vanity.

Thank you Ruthie!!

Imagine my surprise a few days ago when Ruthie of http://justruthie.blogspot.com/ notified me that I had won her 100th post Give-away. I worked at the office today. When I got home,I was delighted there was a lovely package waiting for me among the usual bills and junk mail.

Ruthie has beautiful penmanship. She wrote me a sweet note. Her handwriting on the envelope and note were meticulous. Her writing looks like calligraphy.

Ruthie sent me a book about Friendship. It features the wonderful paintings of Norman Rockwell. The pictures took me back to my childhood. My grandparents received The Saturday Evening Post that featured covers by Norman Rockwell.

There was a bookmark from China to remind me of Ruthie's early days in China. I will use the bookmark while reading Simple Acts of Friendship.

And - there was a sweet smelling sachet. The embroidery looks like it was tediously done by hand.
Thank you Ruthie! Your Give-away was a gesture of kindness. I feel really special to have received it.

Our Family's Pets

My husband, Johnny, is a dog lover. I bought Prince, a Shiloh Shepherd, for him in 2001 after his Border Collie, Nickie, died following a severe seizure. Johnny had Nickie for 14 years and I initially thought that I acted too quickly by getting him another dog so soon. That soon changed. Prince is his constant companion and a member of our family. He even rides the four-wheeler. And - of course, he is the smartest dog in the world!

Prince is a beautiful, huge dog.

This is Prince jumping up a tree trying to catch the imaginary squirrel.

This is Prince staring through the door at me telling me to let him in.

Our daughter Michele and her family have two dogs, Otis (a Sheltie) and Bosley (a pug). Bosley is strictly Michele's dog. Bosley even has his own raft so he can float in the pool.

This is Bosley taking a nap.

This is Otis. Otis is a spirited dog. Michele's husband, Joe, favors Otis. I think that her children, Kristen and Joey, also favor him.

Bosley and Otis aren't overly fond of each other. It's unusual that they are ever this close together.

Bloomin' Tuesday

It's difficult to say good-bye to the warm days and long evenings of summer. Summer flowers are almost gone. The days are shorter and there is a briskness in the air. It's time to welcome fall. The beautiful colors of fall are beginning to come into their own.

We went to the greenhouse for mums and to the pumpkin patch for pumpkins. I am trying to integrate the surviving summer flowers with the beauty of the colorful chrysanthemums.

I replaced a basket of petunias with these beautiful chrysanthemums.

When we get closer to Halloween, my grandchildren will carve the pumpkins so we can set the lighted Jack 'o Lanterns out for "Trick or Treat."

I have two baskets of this beauty.

This pot of chrysanthemums was a gift from my good friend, Elaine. Thanks to Jean of http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/ for hosting Bloomin' Tuesday. To see more beautiful blooms, please visit her.

Blue Monday

This is my first posting for Blue Monday. Blue is and always has been my favorite color. I remember when I was a young child I had a favorite blue blanket. And today - I still have a favorite blue blanket. I'd like to thank Sallie at http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/ for hosting Blue Monday.


“Blue color is everlastingly appointed by the deity to be a source of delight.” -- John Ruskin

I have a small collection of pottery and usually have two or three pieces on display. Each of these pieces was given to me by a friend and each has a special meaning.

Happy Blue Monday!!!

Super Commenter's Award

I am thrilled to announce I have just received a Super Commenter’s Award from BJ of http://sweetnothingsbj.blogspot.com/, a very special friend who shares her love of life with others. I was not aware of the new world that awaited me when I first entered the world of blogging. I would like to pass the award along to some other bloggers whose comments I always look forward to reading. The rules are:

1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award.

2. Each award has to have the name of the author and a link to his/her blog so that it can be visited by everyone.

3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link of the blog that presented him/her the award.

4. The award winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link blog so everyone will know the origin of this award.

5. Show these rules.

Blogging is a wonderful form of sharing and meeting new friends and can’t be complete without acknowledging that we have actually been there. It would not be as special without exchanging thoughts, comments and support. I would like to pass the award along to 5 Super Commenters who brighten my day with their comments: Ruthie of http://justruthie.blogspot.com/, Bo of http://blinksnwinksfrombrown-eyes.blogspot.com/, Mary of http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/, Nancy of http://knittingpathsoflife.blogspot.com/, and Terrie of http://terriedj.blogspot.com/.

Pink Saturday

This is my first Pink Saturday post. I have lingered on the sidelines enjoying all of the posts. Pink is one of my favorite colors but I really don't have a lot of pink.

I would like to thank Beverly at How Sweet the Sound http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/ for hosting this Pink event.

I bought a set of berry bowls from a friend's shop. I love the delicate look.

This cup was a gift from a good friend. It is one of a set that had belonged to her mother.

This is what I call "Pink Willow." I have a few pieces. I have a huge collection of Blue Willow.

I really like this tray. I was in a shop and the tray caught my eye. Some of my most precious treasures are those with the least monetary value.

Dilemma

I am in a decorating dilemma and it is a dilemma that I created myself. My kitchen, dining room, and living room were decorated in country and primitives with an Americana theme. I decided that I was tired of the country and primitives and wanted to do something different. The result. I have no particular style. I have bought Victorian, art deco, an antique side board, and an assortment of odds and ends from flea markets. I am now working on my living room which opens to the dining room. I'll post pictures if I ever get it together. I gave most of my Americana to my daughters. I do have a few pieces left. I think I'll store this basket and the two pictures. Of course, I'm keeping my living room and dining room furniture. I'm just changing accessories.
This Americana Basket

These two pictures are grouped together and I'm replacing them with a collection of assorted plates.

I like this rooster so much that I'm keeping it. The rooster matches nothing.
I am replacing the braided area rug in the living room with this rug - but I still have a round braided rug under the table in the dining room.
I replaced the Americana pictures on each side of the fireplace with a set of framed pictures.
I'm keeping this antique chair. The caning is really nice.
I have this chest and a smaller chest that I'm keeping. I store candles and tarts in them.

I bought this new painting. There is a glare on it in the picture. I am going to put it on the dining room wall. I took down a large mirror.Have any of you ever done anything as bizarre as this? I hope that I can get it all together! I know that a country rooster doesn't look good beside a Victorian floral arrangement!