cheerful yellow

Yellow is such a cheerful color.

 

It's also my mom's
favorite color!

 

I wanted to show how touches of yellow,

and garden themed accessories,

can transform a simple
pale blue and white guest room
into a summery retreat.

 

 

Replace the ordinary bathrobe with vintage aprons.

 

Place a few yellow mix and match accents on the bed.

 

Old books and color pencils can make for inexpensive and unexpected accessories.

Natural or realistic plants and flowers are a must to maintain a garden theme.

 

Things don't have to be a perfect match. Just keep to a color palette and theme to keep the room cohesive.

 

Charming birdhouses look right at home.

 

Vintage tins with floral designs are perfect.

 

Whimsical garden statues make wonderful guests.

 

Antique garden hand tools make a lovely display.

 

A sun hat and drying flowers complete the look.

 

Now kick off the garden boots,

have a cup of tea

and enjoy your hard work!

 

I have always said that designing rooms with a simple neutral palette are the best ways to allow for seasonal decorative changes.

 

Cheerful sunshine yellow is the perfect

color palette to kick off summer!



memorial day

As with everything else,

Memorial Day weekend

will be very different.

 

No big family gatherings,

no big parades,

no beach picnics.

 

But the saddest part is that we will have to quietly honor the veterans both past and present for their service to our country.

 

They deserve all

the banners flying,

applause,

cheers and thanks

that they so truly deserve.

 

So this memorial day weekend,

take a moment to send a note of gratitude to a soldier or a soldier's family member.

  

 

I hope you have a wonderful

 

Memorial Day weekend

 

with those you love.

 

And here's to the kick off of a

happy and healthy

summer season for all!

 

pretty in pink

The last post got me thinking.

 

I realized I have a real garden passion for

 

PINK.

 

I had shared that my home is all neutral.

 

But when I think about it,
it's not all neutral I guess...

 

 

All of my homes have had one space

reserved for touches of pink.

 

 

At my Pennsylvania, home my studio

was located in a shed

in the middle of my garden...

 

 

On Sanibel it is the entire top floor of the house.

I'm so fortunate to have had my studio featured

in Where Women Create magazine!

 

Lovingly I call it the loft...

 

In this "new" old house

my studio has not yet been built.

 

I can't wit for that project to begin!

 

I must find pink calming

yet inspiring.

 

Do you have a color

that sparks your creativity?





may flowers abound

I'm still thinking of

May flowers...

 



May is such a beautiful month.

 

It reminds me of spring in the North.

 

But it's lovely in the South as well.

 

My morning garden walk lifts my heart

as I admire the beautiful blooms.

 

 

All that is missing in the cottage garden

at my new house is my sweet boy...

Pumpkin.

You are so terribly missed.

 

I'm surprised how much I am drawn

to pink when I garden.

The front of the property is all greenery

and potted white flowers or topiaries.

 

But the "wild garden" in the back is quaint,

cottage style and peppered with pink.

 

I am such a neutral and white decorator,

yet my garden abounds in color.

 

What makes your garden heart

go pitter-patter?

 

succulent art

This is for my gardening friends:
you know who you are!
And I miss you all terribly...

Succulents are wonderful additions to any garden. I have always loved them, but since I've become a southern girl, I adore them.

 

They are all throughout my property, but I have my main beauties on my porches. I would like to share what I do with my baby succulents.

 

I make succulent art...

 

The process is simple.

You will need:

shallow dish

small pebbles

cactus soil

tiny decorative pot

baby succulents

white crushed shell or rock

 

 

Fill the bottom of your container

with a layer of clean pebbles.

 

 

Add cactus soil, or any well draining soil mix on top of the pebbles. Fill to 1/2 an inch below the top of the container.

 

 

Center the decorative pot (or vintage tea cups work well too) and bury all but the facing. If you have any broken or chipped tiny containers or tea cups, this is the perfect project for them!

 

 

Begin arranging your succulents. Start with the largest in the center and work your way out.

 

 



You can also used cuttings for this project!

 

 

Plant all but the tiniest succulents. Then carefully add a layer of clean decorative crushed shell over the entire surface of soil.

 

 

Use a skewer to poke holes through the shell to place the tiniest succulents as a lovely and delicate finishing touch,

 

 

It's an easy project that takes almost no time! And I think you will be thrilled with the result!

 

 

I suggest instead of watering, coat the surface of the entire container with a mister. Especially if your container doesn't have a drainage hole. Succulent roots and cuttings are very sensitive to root rot. So to avoid over watering, a mister will do the trick!

 

I sure hope you will try this.

No green thumb necessary!

 



mom's perogis

The month of May is all about my mom.

Her birthday

Mother's Day

Nurses' Day

My parent's anniversary

 

This post is in honor of my mom and dad...

 

Mom's perogis

and dad's favorite food

 

Ukrainian Pierogis

 

Ingredients:

 

4 small potatoes

4 cups flour

1tsp salt

3 egg

2 T vegetable oil

¼ cup water

Colby cheese

Directions:

1.       Boil 4 small potatoes and mashed (dry) 

 

 

2.       Add 4 cups of flour

3.       Mix with hands until crumbly

4.       Add one teaspoon of salt

5.       In a separate bowl mix three eggs, two tablespoons of oil and one quarter cup of water

6.       Add to the flour mixture

7.       Continue to add small amounts of water until dough is mixed and pliable

8.       Refrigerate one half to one hour

9.       Roll out dough on floured surface

 

10.   Cut dough into 3” circles on a flat surface

11.   Add 1 spoonful of mashed potatoes and 1 small cube of Colby cheese to ½ of the circle

 

 

12.   Fold dough over filling to create a half circle and tightly crimp the edges with floured fingers.

 

13.   To store pierogis, lay flat on a tray and freeze then package in an airtight container and freeze.

 



 

14.   To cook: Drop pierogis into boiling water. Once they float, drain and fry in butter until golden brown.

 

15.   Add salt and pepper to taste and serve warm with an accompaniment of sour cream.

I miss being with my mom and dad.

 

We have so much fun together.

 

 

Hopefully we will all be back together again.

Laughing and being silly

and enjoying life as a family.

 

Miss you every day...

 

Do you have a food that immediately make you think of family?

 

It's wonderful to have these special memories.