green goodness

 Green pottery...

collecting these beautiful treasures is a passion!

I like to mix in a few pieces of transferware.

All of the different shades of greens look so wonderful together.

Oddities like flower frogs and color pencils add interest.

The different shapes create a visual texture.

Live plants give the display life.

The antique Hoosier top without the doors is perfect for showcasing my crazy collection.

Elements of old metal garden tools finish off the display.

I have searched yard sales, thrift shops and auctions over the years to constantly add to my growing collection.

It is a nice tie of my love of gardening and my love of vintage pottery. We all have our "thing" we love to collect, but I have my "thingsssss" I love to collect.

fairy garden

 Fairy gardens are so special.

And I love them all!

Making a container fairy garden is so simple.

Just start with a clean container with either drainage holes or a thin layer of small rock in the bottom.

Now add a layer of well draining soil.

It's time to add starter plants like fern and ivy.

Place a layer of clean decorative tiny river pebbles and/or moss around the plants.

Once you're pleased with the plantings, place your fairy in her garden.

I like to add very small gifts for the fairies... like acorn tops full of jelly, tiny cups of honey and little notes.

It takes so little for me to escape the real world. I can visit my fairies and be transported to a magical place where there are no worries, no sickness and no suffering.

I hope you have a way to escape too.

I'll see you in wonderland...

evening garden walk

 It has been so hot. The garden is still doing well in spite of the hot sunny days. My favorite time in the garden is right after sunset but the darkness has not yet set in.

I stand and water for about a half an hour. The twinkle lights just start to glisten as I finish. It's magical.

Here are a few pretties from my garden.

My beautiful girl keeps watch.

My first gourd.

It's such a sweet little thing.

Woven garden cloches to protect seedlings.

A little bench under the grape arbor.

Even a house for my fairy friends.

It's a magical place at a magical time of day.

Now I just need to wait until the fairies arrive.

shopping in my closet...july

 Living in Florida can, in a lot of ways, feel like Groundhog Day. Now that we are living in quarantine, it's even more so!

Part of me can't believe that's it July. I thought it might be a good idea to go shopping in my closet again. It's a good way to revisit my wardrobe and get organized.

Inspiration outfit from the Sundance catalog.

This inspiration outfit from the catalog

dress $148.00

belt $110.00

jewelry $98 earrings, $250 cuff, $198 necklace

shoes $135.00

dress Marshalls $19.99

belt thrift shop $2.99

earrings Goodwill $2.00

beaded cuff thrift shop $5.00

necklace (gift) $0.00

sandals Dollar General $5.00

So here is a quick recap...

Sundance outfit $939.00

Shop in my closet outfit $34.98

Now there is no doubt that the quality of the catalog items are impeccable, but I am more than thrilled to be able to replicate the look by shopping in my closet.

And let's be honest, I'm not going anywhere! It's not everyday that I even get properly dressed. But it is nice to spruce up every once in awhile. I like to feel girly.

No surprise there!

I do hope you are all fairing well. It's a scary time so I want you to take care of yourself. Both mentally and physically.

cottagecore

 Have you heard of cottagecore?

It's a term that's actually been floating around the internet since 2014 but it has become more prominently used during this quarantine period. It's basically a nostalgic movement with a return to traditional homemaking skills like baking, gardening and crafting.

For some of us, this is just our way of life. But now a lot of people are looking to escape the stress of everyday life.

My cottagecore life is:

Appreciating the natural world.

Using vintage linens.

Cultivating seeds.

Gardening.

Having a feminine wardrobe.

Harvesting...

...and enjoying the fruits of my labor.

Flower arranging.

Cottagecore means different things to different people. It's an escape of the stress filled world, the pressures of real life trauma and the long sleepless nights. It's an alternative to "doom-scrolling" the endless negative news stories online, on television and in newspapers.

Strange how cottagecore has become a movement. This is truly no different than how I have lived my entire life.

It's a good idea to embrace...especially now.

Unplug and give it a try.

welcome

 A garden gate wreath is a cheerful way to welcome people into my garden.

I make different wreaths throughout the year.

A peek through the gate

and down the garden path...

I'll coordinate the wreath with the

flowers blooming in my garden.

All my garden birds are welcome.

And the bees are so plentiful again the year!

It's a wonderful summer season in the garden so far. Beautiful warm sunny days and occasional afternoon showers. Any time spent in the garden is good for my body and soul.

Wishing the sun is shining on you today.

nature's summer bounty

 Summer flowers are happily blooming like there isn't a care in the world. I feel so blessed to be surrounded by beautiful gardens, birds and bees. 

I take inspiration from some of my favorite historical gardens like those at the Edison summer estates.

Incorporating those inspirations into my garden make me feel connected to the past.

It's a wonderful escape.

Having a place to quietly sit and reflect in my garden is really important. I can enjoy the hard work that goes into my garden, I can appreciate God's beauty and I can escape reality even if only for a short while.

Wishing you all peace, beauty and good health.