Here Come the Spring Seed Catalogs

Spring is making a comeback. There may still be some snowy days with flurries and a precipitous dip in the overnight temperatures. There may be a few setbacks to more welcoming outdoor weather -- but I can smell the change. You know, that fresh, light  smell with a hint of sunshine in it that says winter is on the way out. Last weekend I was outside checking to see if the catnip made it through

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Window Dressing

My big old window has been glaring at me balefully since...oh...about Christmas. It got decorations for a few days around Valentine's Day (that was after decorations were 50% off!) and then a cute banner for the baby shower. But what next??

My cute neighbor sent me a link to The Sweetest Occasion, which showed an Anthropologie-inspired garland.

Perfect!

Here's my version.

I started by going through my stash of yarn, ribbon, burlap, etc. I did purchase four sheets of felt ($1.00 total) at Hobby Lobby. I braided yarns, ribbons, and strips of burlap. I cut circles out of felt and strung them on yarn...


And then I played with draping all my creations over my window.

Here's Option 1:

My three-year-old think the "option 1" way is smiling at her!

...And Option 2:

Which way to you like better, if at all? Everything hanging individually, or gathered together?

My husband calls this my "Modern Art Masterpiece" (and I'm pretty sure he's being sarcastic). But you know what? *I* like it! I like the interesting combination of textiles and shapes!

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Featured!

My Gathering Table has been featured on Remodelaholic!

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Baby Shower!

My cute neighbor down the street is expecting her first baby...pretty much any day now! I volunteered to host a baby shower for her for neighbors and church friends last Saturday. I knew she had "work" and "family" baby showers, but good things come in threes, right??
Well, they should!

My next-door-neighbor is the Party QUEEN! She has all the beautiful dishes AND the beautiful ideas! Although I took care of the food, and helped with the decorating, she did most of the real work in the decorating. She has the vision!

Wanna see??

My beautiful buffet is the first thing you see when you come in the front door, so that's where we concentrated the cuteness!

On the left side, we filled containers with wooden blocks and Duplo Legos. A plastic dump truck sits on a tiny cake stand....

...On the right side, more Legos (regular size this time), colorful links, baby books, and word art I created on Wordle (I love that site). I had the frame in my "stash," and I gave it a quick coating of red spray paint the day before the party, and then I gave it to the new momma.

We stuck with mostly bright, primary colors. This was dictated by the new onesies strung on twine in front of the buffet. These were part of my gift as well.


My chalkboard got to stay. I wrote "Babies are such a nice way to start people" on it.

And what's that you see above?

Yep, pom-poms! I love pom-poms. I had never made them before, but they were SO EASY! And CHEAP! A 10-sheet package of tissue paper cost $0.99. You can make one big one or four small pom-poms out of a single package? Never made your own pom-poms before? Go see Martha for directions!


The kitchen table was dressed up with some colorful ribbons over top of the tablecloth, and more pom-poms in a glass dish.


The only idea that was truly my own was the garland I made for the window hanging in my kitchen. In keeping with the "onesie" idea, I cut out paper onesies with my Silhouette and letters to spell "Welcome Baby."


I neglected to take very many pictures of the food...I think I was too busy putting it out to think of photographing it! This was a "brunch" shower, so we had a hash-brown casserole, fresh fruit, cinnamon chip biscuits (divine), and blueberry muffins.


Do you see the beautiful drink dispenser on the corner of the counter? There is a funny-but-sad story to go along with it. It also belongs to my neighbor, and a couple of days before the baby shower I borrowed it to go to a couples' dinner party. My assignment was "drink," and the theme was Valentine-y. I made a great raspberry-rhubarb punch, and I cut out vinyl to decorate the outside of the dispenser... it said "Love Potion No. 9" and had hearts all over it! It was super cute...but I never got to take a picture of it, because....

....as I was taking it to the car...I dropped it! Yep, TWO GALLONS of sticky red punch and a million shards of GLASS all over my garage floor! If I hadn't have been so MAD, I would have cried!

I had to send my husband on to the party without me (other commitments to keep), and I spent the next hour pouring gallons of water over my garage floor and sweeping the mess out into the driveway. (And I'm still finding pieces of glass that I missed!)

The worst part was that it wasn't my dispenser that I broke! But thanks to my beloved Amazon, I found and ordered the exact same dispenser that night, and it even came before the baby shower! I'm so glad I was able to replace it.

The baby shower was a lot of fun! But I definitely enjoy throwing parties where someone else comes up with the cute ideas and I get to concentrate on the FOOD!

Oh, and by the way...the whole baby shower cost less than $50, and that included the gift, decorations, paper plates, fruit, etc!

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CSN Giveaway!

The wonderful people at CSN Stores have offered to host another giveaway!



CSN Stores features over 200 stores with one checkout! They have everything you need to get ready for spring! Are you looking for a fun wooden swing set to keep the kids occupied while you do your spring cleaning? They've got 'em!



There are two ways to enter for a $35 CSN Stores gift card (in the form of a promotional code). You may do either one, or both!

1. Tell me what "Spring Project" you want to tackle this year
2. Become a follower of Red Hen Home

Winner will be chosen through a random drawing on Tuesday, March 1, 2011.



I can't wait for spring! My projects have been few and far between this winter (I'm sure you've noticed). But I bought a new air compressor a couple of weeks ago, and I can't wait to try it out!

Crossing the Pond

It's upon me and virtually nothing on my before I go "TO DO List" is complete.............my darling step-dad, Bob has taken gravely ill and we have held vigil at the hospital. All thankfully, is looking up. Guilt is my current partner as we pray for his continued improvement. 

So, off it is to the charming village of Sherborne England, south of London, in what is known as "Thomas Hardy Country" of thatched cottages, castle ruins, medieval squares and an abundance of charm.

My long held dream of writing a book is finally here.  Failure looms, trying.......well, what is there to lose other than the "what if's"

 I also need the time to reflect, to quiet my mind, to think........2010 was unlike any other. I embrace the thought of solitude.

 

 But, at night? First things first, I must become acquainted with the local pub. Traveling solo is a license to stretch beyond your comfort zone and usually the rewards are memory making

 

I say I won't, after all my new Sketchers are coming with me, but the local tea shops have scones with clotted cream. Have you ever had the real clotted cream, from Devon? OMG!

 

 Dearest friends, Sylvia and Joe are allowing me the use of the cottage on their grounds for 5 weeks! My gratitude is unending
(Dear Father Time....... please go slowly)

   

Long thoughtful walks will be in order

   

OH NO..............Not again!
I can feel him practically breathing down my neck, we'll be so much closer......All I have to do is.....
bring 'Pride and Predjudice'

Or write about      My own Mr. Darcy      But since I will be attempting non-fiction the fates are against me.

I love the differences between our two countries and the similarities, we do after all speak the same language........sort of.......
Having been many times and having taken numerous small groups over the years visiting gardens and antiquing, I have learned so much; and often the hard way

ME:     "oh what a charming plant what is it?"
CLERK  "mind your own business!"  was the sharp retort
ME      "I am sorry, you must have misunderstood. I was inquiring on the plant name"
CLERK   "mind your own business!" in a stronger tone
ME:     "I uh, well I uh only...."
CLERK:   "Oh it's been so long since an American asked.......bending over laughing.....that is what the plant is called here!"
Note to anyone interested, we refer to it as 'Baby Tears'. Helxine is the botanical name

 

MY FRIEND ANGELA:   "yes let's cross the lane and see the old house, I have a key" "just wait a moment while I get a torch"
ME:  "Isn't that dangerous, a bit overkill?" thinking to myself, this is a very old building
Note: torch = flashlight

On our very first visit, in our typical travel fashion, Steve and I rented a car and headed south without a care, nor a reservation. "Let's see what we find along the way!" was our mantra. Add jet lag and a learning curve..........driving on the other side of the road. As we headed deeper into the countryside warning signs became increasingly dire


LORRY CROSSING

MIND THE LORRY'S

then the ominous DANGER; LORRY'S AHEAD!

What kind of an animal is this?! How big are they???


Note; Lorry = Truck    

ME to STEVE; "How odd, this village is posting signs about a BOOT sale in this field tomorrow". "And with such fanfare!, balloons, signs everywhere......it's july how many boots can people have to sell?!"
Note;  Boot = Trunk, as in "Come, open your trunk and sell from it!"

One of the joys of the countryside and it's major past time is garden visiting. Large public gardens that once surrounded a castle and moat, a Duke's Estate, you name it...... But, I will tell you that the very best are the deeply rural private gardens. A perfect way to engage with the locals and their customs. Every proper garden open for visitors offers tea and cakes for sale. Naturally there are no strip malls (thankfully) nor many spots to pop in and grab a water for MILES. And very unlike the locals, I dislike tea, immensely.

It was hot and I was terribly thirsty

ME   "Do you possibly offer a beverage other than tea?"
TEA ATTENDANT:  "Squash"
ME    "Did you say Squash, as in juice?"
T. ATTENDANT;  "yes mam, I did"
ME:  "Then squash it is", ever so meekly
T. ATTENDANT;  "There you are, do enjoy!"
ME......wait this is...... o r a n g e  juice, freshly "squashed"

I adore the British; their quirky sense of humor, "proper" mannerisms, yes...the food, their history, gardens, architecture, antiques, decor.....ALL   
Stay tuned, life is an adventure and I will take you with me, vicariously.

I never traverse the straight and narrow, but the "road unseen", Consequences? ALWAYS..........

CHEERS!

Of course! The perfect pillow
Anything I should look for over there while shopping? Do tell!

A note to my clients.........I will still be working, but that part did not make for a good story........know to contact me any time; debra@scentimentalgardens.com

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