Donna's Art at Mourning Dove Cottage

I heart you

2012-01-26T13:49:00.000-08:00

I couldn't resist buying these heart candies at the grocery store yesterday.

Do you like conversation hearts?

Bleeding Heart Flower

2012-01-25T13:40:00.000-08:00

Playing around with watercolor.....

and came up with a pink bleeding heart!

I printed it onto some notecards and added it to my shop.

Change

2012-01-23T14:31:00.000-08:00

Change happens everyday, and a lot of changes can occur over 15 years. That's how long we've lived in our home, now called Mourning Dove Cottage.

What prompted this post was a tree that was cut down over the weekend in our neighbor's yard right behind us. That neighbor (an elderly lady and an avid gardener) has now gone to a nursing home and her house is up for sale. She had a beautiful garden, by the way.

The tree that was cut down has made a big difference in the look of our back yard because it was along the fence line and gave us a lot of privacy, not to mention a haven for the birds, and it softened the look of the fence.

I miss the tree. It was a big beautiful Elaeagnus tree.

Let me show you some of the changes that have occurred in our back yard since we moved in 15 years ago.

This was the back yard looking toward the back of the house (before we painted the house) and before the patio was layed, and before the pergola was built, and before the back yard was fenced in.

The back yard when we moved in. A tree stump in the middle of the yard. One tree.

The above photo shows the neighbor's tree that was recently cut down.

This is the neighbor's house, minus the tree. It looks so bare now. We had the privacy fence put up several years ago.

So you see, many changes have occurred over the years.

And many more changes will come!

Cocooning indoors

2012-01-18T10:18:00.000-08:00

How about you? It's been so chilly lately that I'm quite content just to curl up on the sofa with Otis and Riley, my coffee, a good book, and a few warm snuggly blankets, and Otis and Riley have been loving the "lap" time. I'm not an outdoor kind of person in the winter time, but that's a different story in the summer. Patiently waiting for warm weather.

~~~~

On another note, this past weekend our daughter, Jen, and her cousin went skydiving. Who knew? I never realized my daughter was so daring. Maybe she got that from her dad. We enjoyed being at the airport and all the excitement around us. It's amazing what all goes into getting ready for that one jump. I think, in fact, I know, I was more nervous than she was.

Oh, but it was wonderful! Scary, but wonderful, watching her floating in the air like a bird and then landing safely on the ground.

Fun and exciting.....but something I could never ever see myself doing.

Moving furniture and redecorating

2012-01-13T09:40:00.000-08:00

January seems to bring on the "need for change" here at Mourning Dove Cottage and every year around this time I find myself cleaning, organizing, and redecorating the house.

One simple change I made was add a tablecloth to the breakfast nook which now makes it feel more cozy.

The bookcase that was once in the dining room was moved to the living room and is now by the front window with a lamp that I like to keep turned on low all day long. A pretty antique lamp should be enjoyed, don't you think, and I like the warm glow it brings to the room. The bookcase fits perfectly under the window and is filled with books along side the breakfront that is also filled with books. So many books.....

The sideboard server now replaces the bookcase in the dining room corner.

I brought an old pine trunk from the bedroom and put it behind the sofa where the sideboard once was. I'm not sure this will stay here, but for now that's where it is.

So the moving of furniture might or might not continue, but I must thank hubby for all his help the past few days, and for putting up with my great ideas. Change is good, I tell him.

More "tweaking" to do and the decorating continues.

Have a great weekend everyone!

The finished pet painting

2012-01-12T12:08:00.000-08:00

Remember this beautiful Great Pyrenees I was commissioned to paint?

Here's the finished portrait.

A sign of spring, already!

2012-01-08T10:51:00.000-08:00

Much to my delight as I walked out into the garden this morning I happened to see the tender young shoots of daffodils popping up in the garden. Oh what a lovely sight! Spring cannot come soon enough for me. I'm trying to hurry winter right along.

It has been quite warm for January these past few days. Maybe spring will not be too far off. I am looking forward to digging in the soil, smelling the fresh ground and getting my hands dirty.

Out in the vegetable garden our winter vegetables have been growing nicely. We have gotten several servings of broccoli so far and have enjoyed it fresh in salads and also steamed.

The cauliflower heads are small and still growing. I love watching them get bigger and bigger.

As the days go by, I will be out there looking for more signs of spring.

Have you been noticing any?

The Great Pyrenees

2012-01-06T08:23:00.000-08:00

This is what's on my art table today. First pet portrait for the new year.

Garden decor.....

2012-01-04T18:07:00.000-08:00

...for the new year.

It's January, can you believe it? Happy 2012 everyone!
Over the holidays our family played Secret Santa at one of our gatherings and this is the gift I ended up with. I love it! It's a metal garden stake temperature gauge in the shape of a flower adorned with marbles. It's perfect for the garden. And as you can see the temperature is only in the 20s. Brrrrrrr. There was ice in the bird bath this morning.

So what's the best thing to do on a really cold bitter day? Cozy up by the fire with a hot cup of coffee (or tea or hot chocolate) and enjoy reading your favorite magazine.

Hope you're staying warm in your neck of the woods!

Christmas is over....

2011-12-29T12:57:00.000-08:00

.....and all of the decorations have been tucked away in the attic for another year here at Mourning Dove Cottage. I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday.

I'm ready for spring now! How about you? Well, it's a nice thought, anyway. I have been cleaning and rearranging the house and bringing in a few fresh new things.

Over the holiday I received a package in the mail. I love getting packages in the mail! It was from Deb at Posted-From-Home. I was the lucky winner of her wonderful give-away a few weeks ago. Her blog is a lovely place to visit ~ a house of love and spirit and creativity.

The wrapping was tied with a cute "Christmas Wishes" tag, including a lovely hand written greeting card, and a glittery post card with a bird.

She made this salt/flour bird ornament with the December 25th tag. Love it!

And....this handmade "mug hug" (below) which is perfect for keeping my cup of coffee warm during the next few months of cold weather.

It's already hugging my cup of coffee and keeping it nice and warm. Thank you, Deb, for these wonderful gifts!

This week will soon be over and a new year will be upon us.

I hope all of you have a safe and very happy new year!

Merry Christmas

2011-12-21T10:24:00.000-08:00

I would like to wish all my dear family and friends a very Merry Christmas!

We are busy here at Mourning Dove Cottage getting ready to host the family Christmas dinner this year. Most of the preparation is done ~ shopping done, gifts wrapped, cookies baked, and now it's just a matter of grocery shopping, cooking, setting the table and deciding what to use for a centerpiece.

Last evening we lit the candles in the front lawn and took a photo of our cottage in the dark. The neighborhood looks so pretty at night with all the Christmas lights.

I hope all of you will enjoy this beautiful season and that it will be a wonderful Christmas for you and your loved ones!

December in the garden

2011-12-15T10:42:00.000-08:00

Come in and enjoy the garden with me today. It's an absolutely beautiful day here in eastern Carolina and I'm getting my fill of warm weather, blue skies and sunshine. Sometimes just sitting in the garden with the sun on my face is all I need to rejuvenate my soul.

It feels like a spring day with temps nearing 70 degrees. I've been missing the garden...missing nature, with all the cold weather we've been having but what a lovely break today. The birds are chirping and the windchimes are softly tinkling.

Surprisingly, there are blooms in the garden!

It makes my heart happy.

A well deserved break from all the cookie baking I've been doing lately, don't you think so?

Christmas cookies

2011-12-14T13:34:00.000-08:00

Did I tell you the elves are helping me bake Christmas cookies?

That's why I'm getting so many different kinds baked, and having so much fun! You should ask them to come to your house.

The cookies in the above photo are Spritz cookies (little butter cookies made with a cookie press). The cookies below are Lemon Bars. My family loves Lemon Bars.

Some of you have asked for the Peanut Blossoms recipe. Here it is~

Peanut Blossoms

1-3/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
Hershey Kisses

Cream butter and peanut butter, gradually add sugar and brown sugar, cream well. Add the egg and vanilla, beat well. Blend in dry ingredients. Mix thoroughly. Shape into balls. Roll balls in sugar and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 375 degrees for 8 minutes. Remove from oven, then put a Hersheys Kiss on top of each cookie and press down lightly. Return to oven 2 to 5 minutes longer.

You will love these!

Enjoy!

Baking cookies

2011-12-13T08:25:00.000-08:00

I finally started baking Christmas cookies. My kitchen remains in a state of chaos for about a week, but it sure smells good as the sweet aroma wafts through every room of the house. Peanut Blossoms are one of my favorites and those are the first to be made.

Have you started baking Christmas cookies? What's your favorite?

The tree is trimmed

2011-12-10T06:37:00.001-08:00

and it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Little by little the holiday decorating is getting done.

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care....

the mantle is decorated.

Every year we bring out the nativity scene and display it in our old German cupboard in the dining room.

I still have a few more decorations I'd like to put around in different little spots in the house and this will probably go on up until Christmas! Most of my decorations are the same as years past. I guess I bring out the things I love the most and everything stays the same. How about you? Do you decorate the same every year?

Now the cookie baking begins!

The front door

2011-12-07T06:17:00.000-08:00

I have been decorating outside for Christmas since the weather has been so warm. Hard to believe it's December with temps in the 70's. I hung a simple swag of fresh greens on the front door with a big red bow.

While stringing the twinkle lights in the jasmine over the door I noticed the jasmine is blooming. It made my heart happy to see these sweet yellow flowers this time of year.

I placed a big pot of ivy on the front steps. It will give some greenery during the gray winter months. You could also use rosemary.

And that's about the extent of decorating for the front of the house. How much decorating do you do?

Oh ho the mistletoe

2011-12-06T05:35:00.001-08:00

hung where you can see,

somebody waits for you,

kiss her once for me.....

The mistletoe is hanging in our doorway. It's going to be a holly jolly Christmas! Now if I can only get the rest of the decorating done. We have our tree standing in the living room waiting to be trimmed. The boxes have come down from the attic and are waiting to be opened......hopefully I'll be back soon to show you some of our holiday decorating!

Hope you're enjoying this festive time of year!

December

2011-12-01T16:27:00.000-08:00

Hello my dear family and friends. Can you believe it's December already? We had such an enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday, a busy time it was, and here we are in December, and still busy busy. Happy Birthday!! to my oldest daughter, Jen, (today is her birthday. While my youngest daughter, Amy, was here from NY over Thanksgiving she ran a 50K race (32 miles) and we cheered her on to the finish line! Congratulations again, Amy!

Galen and I are getting quite a few orders for wooden toys for Christmas and I just finished two pet paintings and another one to be done. There is a cookie party at my sister's on Saturday, family coming to dinner on Sunday, and decorating for the holiday which might have to wait a bit longer.

I haven't had much time to spend on the computer but I am anxious to get around and visit each of you and see what you've been up to, and I can't wait to see all those wonderful Christmas decorations! Hope you are all doing well!

Oh, and by the way, my amaryllis is in full bloom! It's beautiful, and I am enjoying it! Will it make it to Christmas? not sure...

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-21T13:06:00.000-08:00

Wishing all of you a Happy Thanksgiving!

Our youngest daughter is flying in from NY this week. We are all preparing for a feast to enjoy at our oldest daughter's home on Thanksgiving Day. I hope all of you have a good week and I'll be back after the holiday.

Happy Turkey Day!

Mosaic with swans

2011-11-20T13:58:00.001-08:00

I want to show you my latest mosaic project I finished today. I love mosaics and every now and then I find I just have to make some kind of art out of broken pieces of pottery or glass. This one was started using a terra cotta flower pot saucer. Mosaics are fairly easy to do, and the more you work with them, the easier they get.

This is the finished dish. Three little porcelain swans were added on the lip to give it a bit of artful whimsy. These figurines can be found at thrift shops ~ flower figurines can be pretty too, also little people figurines.

I always end up mixing more grout than I need when doing these mosaic projects, so this face that I formed from the extra grout will go nicely in the garden. A little bit of paint and he'll be finished.

One art project that turned into two!

Looking out my kitchen window...

2011-11-17T07:25:00.000-08:00

...to a gray chilly rainy day. The kind of day that makes you happy to be inside. Light some fragrant candles, turn on the lights and enjoy a cozy day in your home. As I sit here and write this I hear the rain drops falling softly outside, the birds are chirping and Otis and Riley are snoring on the sofa. I am enjoying my coffee that I made in the french press, for different, (I usually perk it) ~ sometimes it's just the ritual that makes it taste better.......and now I feel like baking.

Don't you love to bake on a day like this? Going through some of my old magazines the other day I found a recipe for Palmiers (you know, those little french pastries). They're made with puff-pastry sheets, simple to make, actually only two ingredients, how easy can that be! I'll let you know how they turn out.

The winds have picked up outside and I hear the splashing of puddles from traffic. It's the perfect day to enjoy being inside and appreciating the delights of a warm home.

Hope you are enjoying your home today.

Hydrangeas....

2011-11-15T08:49:00.000-08:00

...we love them for their colorful mop headed beauty in the summer,

and their natural splendid elegance in the fall.

Sunshiny day

2011-11-14T07:04:00.001-08:00

It's one of those beautiful fall sunshiny days! Oh how I love them. Otis and Riley have already found their sunny spot on the picnic table. They are my little sun worshippers. I think they love the sun as much as I do.

So after I get the laundry finished I'll be spending most of my day outside too!

Have a lovely day, everyone.

Good morning everyone

2011-11-11T07:59:00.000-08:00

There is a definite chill in the air this morning, a lot colder than yesterday. My cup of hot coffee feels good this morning warming my hands. Looks like cold weather for the next few days and then maybe a warming trend again.

I've been painting quite a bit this week and wanted to show you what I've been working on. I finished my birdhouse and it's now hanging in the tree outback. I added jasmine vine to give it some interest and a rustic look.

I've also been painting some "open" signs for Galen. He puts them on a pole and adds a whirligig making it stand about waist high, self standing in concrete. He's making these for some of the downtown shops for out front on the sidewalks.

We got a special order for a whirligig for Christmas. This will be a jackrabbit and ham radio theme. The request is for a father-in-law that did short wave radio years ago and his "handle" was jackrabbit. This will be a Christmas gift for him. Here is the jackrabbit so far...Galen carved it out of wood and I painted it.

It will be very similar to the fox and the lazy dog when it's finished.

Pick a theme and Galen will figure out how to do it!

Colorful and unique, one-of-a-kind heirlooms!

If you are interested in one for the holidays, it's not too late to get your order in. We have a few listed in our shop right now.

Enjoy your weekend!

A vintage suitcase

2011-11-10T05:40:00.000-08:00

Don't you just love old suitcases? They take you back in time to a different era, a different place and doesn't it make you wonder who that person was that owned that suitcase and how far they travelled and places they been. I've had this vintage suitcase so long I don't even remember where it came from, but I've always wondered about those initials carved on the top....

Well, I've made good use of my vintage suitcase and because of the lack of storage here at Mourning Dove Cottage I use it to hold our winter gloves and scarves. It doesn't take up much room and it's perfect for those things you only get out once a year.

Do you have vintage suitcases? What do you keep in yours?

Virginia Creeper

2011-11-08T14:11:00.000-08:00

I've always liked this vine, but I know a lot of people don't. Some think it's very invasive and some even think it's poison (but it's not).

It has beautiful leaves that are absolutely gorgeous turning from a yellowish orange to a bright red this time of year.

I left it grow up the wall near the dovecote and love how it looks. I guess some people would call it a weed, but to me, it's a beautiful vine and I'm happy to have it in my garden.

Nature and a Blue Ribbon

2011-11-07T13:05:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! Let me start out by saying we won the Blue Ribbon! The Whale and Mermaid came in first place at the Whirligig Festival! We are thrilled! Here we are in front of the Courthouse steps looking just as proud as can be, Galen and me (actually we look like we're doing an ad for Starbucks coffee) Ha!

It was a great time and a great festival. Fun with friends and family!

.

So today after all the craziness of the last few days, I was able to relax for a bit in the back yard and enjoy the warm sunny weather. How do you like my new blue garden clogs (Sloggers) that I bought at the festival for only $5.00!

Nothing like nature to rest your soul.

I still have a few flowers blooming in the garden and happily enjoyed their pretty colors while sipping coffee on the lounger with Otis and Riley by my side.

Happiness flutters in the air whilst we rest among the breaths of nature.

~Kelly Scheaffer

November

2011-11-01T18:27:00.000-07:00

It's November already! Hard to believe how fast time is moving by. The first weekend in November is always set aside for the Whirligig Festival in our town. Saturday and Sunday we will once again enjoy another fair. Galen has entered one of his whirligigs in the whirligig contest and we are hoping we will take first place. We'll see...wish us luck!

Here is the whirligig he entered ~ a short short short video.

Whale & Mermaid

A walk with the wieners, a bird house and a book

2011-10-30T11:37:00.000-07:00

There's a chill in the air today and it's a beautiful day for a walk.

The wieners were ready to go. I put on my hooded sweatshirt, gloves and scarf and out we went into the fresh brisk air. It's about 54 degrees here today (that's cold for me) but later in the week it should be back up into the 60's (looking forward to that ~ I'm not a cold weather person, as you probably know).

The leaves are not as vibrant this year as they were in years past ~ slow to change color and they seem to be dropping fast, but I did get a few photos of some pretty Autumn color. Otis and Riley enjoyed running and playing and sniffing everything possible at the park.

And since the weather has turned cold I've turned to painting and reading. I'm working on a bird house that I purchased at AC Moore. I like their variety of bird houses and they're very inexpensive. If you put several coats of paint on and a clear coat varnish, you can use them outside.

This one on my art table is still in the works and will get a bit more embellishment. I'm going to make a bird house wall on the back of the house where I will hang several colorful bird houses all clustered together.

The book I'm reading is another one of Barbara Taylor Bradford's books, The Triumph of Katie Byrne, and it's so good I can't put it down!

Well, I hope you're enjoying your day today,

whatever it is you're doing!

Whimsical garden lamps and bird feeders

2011-10-28T12:12:00.000-07:00

I fell in love with these whimsical creations at first sight when I came across them at the NC State Fair last week. I don't know who the artist is, but the imagination and creativity is amazing. They were on display in the garden area.

It looks like they are made from recycled lamps and other found objects. The painting is very artistic and colorful.

Some of them have string lights inside.

If you look closely you can pick out certain items that were used and some pieces are turned upside down.

A marbled bowling ball (below) beside the lamp ~ unusual, clever and whimsical.

I think I might have to figure out how to make one of these for myself, or two or three. Yes, I know, a little restraint would be wise. But wouldn't a whimsical lamp be just beautiful tucked away in a secluded spot in the garden ~ or a small group of bright birdfeeders hanging under a tree. Oh, yes, I am definitely going to be thinking about this project.

Let me hang on to summer just a little bit longer, please

2011-10-27T16:29:00.000-07:00

I know this cooler weather is lovely, but I'm not quite ready to let go of summer. Do you ever feel that way this time of year?

I mowed the grass today and the sun felt so warm and wonderful, and when I was digging in the garden it just felt like summer.....oh, beautiful summer. Otis and Riley played in the back yard as the butterflies flittered around. It was pure delight!

The forecast is calling for colder weather on the weekend. I guess I will have to change my way of thinking and focus on sitting by a warm fire, snug as a bug in a rug.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Plant your amaryllis bulbs now....

2011-10-25T08:25:00.000-07:00

....so they will bloom in time for the Christmas holiday! Blooming time takes 6 to 8 weeks.

I chose a "Red Lion" this year. I'm hoping mine will look as gorgeous as in the photo above.

Oh, and by the way, thank you all for identifying the fat skimmer in the previous post!

Anybody know what this is?

2011-10-24T12:58:00.001-07:00

Hello my friends. I found this at a thrift shop recently, only 99 cents and thought I had to have it. I like the dark yellow mustard color and the old crackle finish.

But I can't figure out what it's used for. I believe it's some kind of dipper but I could be wrong.

Any ideas?

It looks nice in my kitchen (smile).

A Blue Ribbon ~ Love-A-Fair

2011-10-21T10:43:00.000-07:00

The NC State Fair is going on this week here in Raleigh and on Thursday hubby and I and my sister and her husband spent the day enjoying everything there is to enjoy at the fair!

And...one of the great things about this year's fair is that Galen and I won the first place Blue Ribbon! (we kid each other...I say it was my artwork, he says it was his woodworking). Either way, we won. The "Carnivale" marble roller ~ here it is ~

I took quite a few photos during the day but limited myself so as not to bore you.

We had beautiful fall weather, a little on the chilly side.

My sister and I (below)...we like to sit on this huge adirondack chair in the garden every year and have our picture taken.

Hope you enjoyed the fair photos.

Have a great weekend!

Old, rusty, and corroded

2011-10-18T05:42:00.000-07:00

I find a certain beauty in old, rusty and corroded things. So when I saw this old soap dish at Goodwill recently, I had to have it. I love the design, the two tiers, and the cut-outs in the metal.

Only $1.50 ~ can't beat that for beauty! I'm going to hang it in my laundry.

Planning before planting

2011-10-16T15:34:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I like to plan out and draw my flower beds on paper

at Mourning Dove Cottage...

before I actually plant them.

A dachshund painting

2011-10-15T06:38:00.000-07:00

I just finished this pop art dachshund painting.

Very different from my usual "detailed real to life" paintings. It was fun!

Both are for sale in my etsy shop.

Autumn decorating

2011-10-14T07:03:00.000-07:00

I like to use natural elements for my autumn decorating.....

...some orange and cinnamon spice potpourri, a bouquet of golden wheat, some apples in a basket,

and dried hydrandeas from the garden.

This should take me from Halloween into the Thanksgiving holiday.

Oh yes, and a spicy pumpkin candle!

Hello Autumn

2011-10-12T08:45:00.000-07:00

After the rain let up and the sun came out today, my chrysanthemums were so bright, they shone like the sun itself.

They sure do light up that corner of the garden!

English Ivy

2011-10-11T05:44:00.001-07:00

I like to plant English Ivy in some of my hanging baskets and pots and enjoy the lovely greenery during the winter months.

The cascading vines are beautiful and you can train them into a topiary form.

Good morning, my friends

2011-10-10T06:49:00.000-07:00

The weather here these last few days has been absolutely delightful. Perfect fall days. I have been spending much of my time outside ~ planting flowers, moving shrubs and making plans for new beds.

Over the weekend, Galen and I dropped off one of our handmade marble rollers at the state fairgrounds for entry in the hobbies and crafts division. The state fair opens next week!

On our way home we stopped at the NC Museum of Art in Raleigh and spent the afternoon browsing and enjoying the new museum. It is a gorgeous place, very modern, spacious and filled with natural light. We had a yummy lunch in the restaurant and then walked around the grounds. It's beautiful outside as well as in.

Enjoy your day wherever you are!

Under the Dovecote....

2011-10-03T11:52:00.000-07:00

....I discovered these beautiful periwinkle blue flowers, blue Ageratum.

A gift from Mother Nature.

Cotton fields

2011-10-02T08:43:00.001-07:00

Nothing like a drive in the country on a beautiful fall day.

Autumn Joy

2011-10-01T08:04:00.001-07:00

I'm planting Autumn Joy Sedum and Apricot Delight Yarrow today. The weather is absolutely bee-u-ti-ful!

And in the veggie garden ~ broccoli and cauliflower.

Yummy colors...

2011-09-29T05:27:00.000-07:00

....to accessorize the bedroom.

Rosy, coral, salmon ~ that's how I would describe these yummy fabrics that will be used for throw pillows on the bed in our bedroom. My sister gave me these scraps of fabric the other day which she never used and I immediately thought, bedroom pillows. I love the warm colors!

Our bed is covered with a cream colored quilted bedspread and shams (very neutral), and the walls in the bedroom are a light mocha color (also very neutral). The drapes are a terra cotta salmon color.

Soft yellow pillows on the bed and a mustard colored throw bring in a warm sunshine feeling. Standing in the one corner is a painted chest of drawers also in a mustard color.

The large dark mahogany armoire beside our mahogany sleigh bed brings in more warmth and on top is an old creamy yellow sewing box and a few antique crocks.

As you can see, I love warm colors and the new rosy, coral, salmon fabric will bring in a nice punch of color.

I think a bedroom should be a relaxing retreat at the end of the day with all your favorite colors surrounding you.

Oh, the unruliness

2011-09-27T05:33:00.000-07:00

This morning I walked outside to the back yard with my coffee and looked around and realized all the work that needs to be done in the garden. That's a fine hello first thing in the morning, right?

The old tomato vines are now as tall as I am and need to be pulled.

The watermelon vine has completely taken over the garden, and not one watermelon this year!

My beautiful basil has gone to seed but I will still pick it and dry it for the winter.

Weeds to be pulled and mulch to be spread.

Time to give my unruly garden some of my undivided attention.

Enjoy your day!

The Fair

2011-09-26T05:56:00.000-07:00

It's fair season!

The time of year when county and state fairs are held all across America ~ thoughts of candy apples, fried food, bountiful produce, livestock, garden mums, ferris wheels and other rides. So when hubby brought a marble roller in from the woodshop that he just made and was ready for paint, I thought carnival ~ all the fun rides and bright colors of the fair!

He is planning on entering this one in the NC State Fair. As you can see, it is still in the works, the base had to be painted before the top rails went on and a whirly wheel will be attached to the side, but it will soon be finished.

Our State Fair runs from October 13-23. Do you enjoy going to your local fair? To me it's a part of the season, and fall just wouldn't be the same without it.

Nature

2011-09-25T07:51:00.001-07:00

Nature holds all the answers - go outside and ask some questions -

open your heart and listen to the response.

~Amethyst Wyldfyre

Feeling the weather

2011-09-21T13:30:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone! Today was the first day the sun has shone in several days. Where oh where has the sun gone?? The weather has been rainy and gray for so long I thought I'd never see it shine again, so this afternoon when the sun finally peeped it's head out, I took my cup of coffee and headed for the garden to see what's been happening. It is still very humid and warm, but the bright sun is a wonderful sight.

The garden is so green and lush. This beautiful little butterfly was sipping nectar from my purple verbena.

The Encore azaleas were putting forth pretty pink blooms. I love how they bloom twice ~ in the spring and again in the fall.

And the buds on the chrysanthemums are ready to pop. I will be enjoying these mounds of bright yellow flowers real soon.

Friday is the beginning of fall, September 23rd, the autumn equinox, marking the end of summer, and here in the south this is the best time of year to garden. Time to plant those cool weather annuals and fall vegetables, put bulbs in the ground, and add shrubs and trees.

Looking forward to beautiful days ahead, cooler weather and sunshine.

A "berry" simple fall decoration

2011-09-16T05:40:00.000-07:00

Gather some berries from your back yard and put them in a hanging wicker basket. I picked these nandina berries which capture all the beautiful colors of fall ~ red, orange, gold, brown and green.

Hang this simple but lovely fall basket on your door to say "Welcome".

Berry simple!

Apple season

2011-09-15T06:18:00.000-07:00

Apple season is upon us!

I love apples and I love any kind of apple dessert. I made a yummy apple crisp yesterday and the recipe is so easy, I thought I'd share it with you.

Apple Crisp

8-10 McIntosh apples, pared and sliced (I used Gala, any kind will do)
1 C flour
1 C sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 stick butter
cinnamon to taste (I use lots of cinnamon because I love it)

Pare and slice apples in a pie plate. In another bowl mix all other ingredients. Sprinkle this mixture over the apples making sure all apples are covered. Bake 400 degrees for 40 min. Serve warm or cold.

Easy and delish!

A pumpkin candy dish....

2011-09-13T13:03:00.001-07:00

my latest thrift find ~ only $1.50, I love it!

I think I'll be filling this with candy corn.

Groupon, wine tasting and pub food

2011-09-12T06:54:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Hope you all had a great weekend. Saturday our daughter and son-in-law invited us to go to a wine tasting with them in Raleigh. They had a groupon for four at the Chatham Hill Winery. If you're not familiar with groupon, which I'm sure you probably are, it's a discounted gift certificate that you use in your local area.

The Chatham Hill Winery is North Carolina's first urban winery, the newest thing, (no vineyard here) and is located in the Morrisville, Cary area in the Research Triangle.

We enjoyed a short wine tour, a tasting of about 8 different wines and some locally made cheeses, and browsed the art gallery. A great place to visit and something fun to do on a weekend.

We then used another groupon for the Trali Irish Pub and Resaurant also in Raleigh. This is a great place for lunch! A traditional Irish Pub with a warm atmosphere.

We enjoyed a smoked salmon platter and their salads, sandwiches, and shepherds pie.

Everything was really good.

We were happy to to spend a wonderful and fun day with our daughter and son-in-law.

Wiener dogs....

2011-09-10T17:13:00.001-07:00

enjoying the weekend.

Happy Friday!

2011-09-09T06:14:00.001-07:00

Happy Friday, everyone! I love hearing the birds chirping first thing in the morning. We were able to open the windows last night before going to bed and I woke this morning to the music of the birds and a soft cool breeze coming in the bedroom window. Just perfect!

Outside by the back porch and patio area the nandina berries are putting on a beautiful show. You can tell fall is coming by the rich rusty red color of these berries. Aren't they pretty? I'll definitely be bringing some of these inside for my fall decorations!

We will be visiting a local winery tomorrow for a wine tasting with my daughter and son-in-law and then on Sunday getting together with family and a cousin from PA that I haven't seen in a long time.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

A good book and a cup of coffee

2011-09-07T07:10:00.000-07:00

A gray weather day is the perfect time for a good book and a cup of coffee (or tea if you like). I'm reading Anne Rivers Siddons, Sweetwater Creek, just one of the many books I've read of hers, and this, too, is another good one. I like how she writes.

This is my favorite spot to sit and read, and as you can see beside my chair is a book stand filled with my favorite books and magazines.

We may be in for a few more gray weather days as Hurricane Katia moves its way up the coast bringing more rain.

I think Otis is looking for some sunshine.

A mermaid

2011-09-06T05:43:00.001-07:00

I painted a pretty mermaid on a piece of tin that will eventually sit on the top of one of Galen's new whirligigs that he's making in his wood shop. The shape looks a little bit odd but it will fit on top of a gray whale where the blow hole is, and will move up and down when the wind blows.

I will paint a mermaid on the other side just like this one and when the whirligig is finished I'll show you what it looks like and how it works!

Enjoy your day!

Are you ready for fall?

2011-09-01T11:31:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry for my absence but sometimes life just gets in the way. I want to say thank you for all your well wishes during Hurricane Irene. We weathered the storm and had a few limbs down, two small uprooted trees, and standing water in the backyard. It's been a hectic week but my garden is slowly returning to its natural state.

I'm ready for fall to begin, how about you?

Our mornings have been cooler, a sweater has made it's way out of my closet, mums are at the garden centers and market baskets are filled with apples to be enjoyed ~ just a few signs that fall is on it's way! And it's now September.

This coming weekend we will enjoy the last of the baseball games, and a Labor Day get-together at my sister's.

I hope all of you will have a great weekend. I'll be around to visit you next week.

Preparing for the worst....

2011-08-26T05:48:00.001-07:00

....and praying for the best.

Hurricane Irene is moving up the eastern coast today and should hit North Carolina late today or early tomorrow (Saturday). I was outside yesterday bringing in anything that might blow away in the yard and moving outdoor furniture to a safer place.

Now we just wait ~

I noticed my American Beautyberry bush was loaded with bright purple berries yesterday when I was mowing the front lawn. It surprised me because I didn't expect to see the purple berries so soon, I think of this more as a Fall berry bush, but then again, Fall is not that far away. These berries are so pretty used in flower arrangements.

My Obedient plant (in the first photo) is blooming profusely and the hummingbirds love it.

Well, now we just sit tight and watch the progress of the hurricane and hope this will not be a big one.

Hope all of you have a good weekend, and thinking and praying for all of you along the east coast.

Good morning everyone

2011-08-22T08:39:00.000-07:00

Hope you had a great weekend. As you can see the house needs some straightening up and I'm doing several loads of wash this morning, but I thought I'd take a quick break to say hello. I see it's almost noon time....where did my morning go?

My sister and her hubby are coming tomorrow and the four of us are going to see The Help. I'm excited to see the movie ~ I read the book last year and couldn't put it down. I know alot of you have already seen the movie and it's been getting good reviews.

Well, enjoy your day! I'm going to get some lunch now and make a nice big cup of coffee.

Saving plants

2011-08-19T12:52:00.000-07:00

Whenever I go to Lowes I always check the clearance rack in the back of the garden center. I was lucky a few weeks ago when I found this May Night Salvia and Apricot Delight Yarrow on sale for $2.00 each. They looked pretty bad when I bought them, but with a little TLC they are now thriving and I hope to plant them this weekend. Isn't it great to save a plant and save some money too!

Wishing you all a great weekend!

A cooking helper

2011-08-18T10:55:00.001-07:00

How many times have you had your cookbook laying open on your kitchen counter turned to a certain page trying to follow a recipe and your pages flip over or the cookbook closes altogether so you try to prop it open with a cup or a can or a plate....something heavy. Well, today I found a cookbook holder at Goodwill, and the price.....$1.79.

This will make following a recipe from my cookbook much easier. And isn't it great looking? It's made of black metal, looks like wrought iron, with a rooster on top. Lots of swirls and a lattice back.

I still can't believe it was only $1.79. My thrifty find of the week!

English hedgerow

2011-08-16T11:40:00.000-07:00

A hedgerow is defined as closely spaced shrubs and tree species, planted and trained in such a way as to form a barrier or to mark the boundary of an area. The root word 'hedge' is much older: it appears in the Old English language, in German (Hecke), and Dutch (haag) to mean 'enclosure', as in the name of the Dutch city The Hague, or more formally 's Gravenhage, meaning The Count's hedge.

We have a hedgerow growing along the side of our house extending all along the one side of our back yard. We inherited this hedge when we moved into our house 14 years ago. It stands 6 feet tall and about 3 feet wide. It makes the perfect privacy fence and a great buffer, reducing traffic noise from the street. Only problem is, it needs to be trimmed several times throughout the summer.

I like to trim the hedgerow by hand using only my hand trimmers (not electric), and a ladder. It takes the good part of a day, but I find that if I get started early in the morning it's really not that bad and it becomes very therapeutic for me.

The straight line across the top is fairly easy to achieve just by standing back every now and then and eyeballing it.

Our patio is enclosed and very private with the tall hedge on one side and holly bushes and a picket fence on the other side.

When Otis and Riley were puppies I put up a green wire fence all along the hedgerow to keep them from getting out, and now the hedge covers the wire and makes it unnoticeable.

Even though hedges are a lot of maintenance, there is an aesthetic beauty to them.

~Perfect for a cottage garden.

Charm bracelets

2011-08-15T06:25:00.001-07:00

I was just a young girl when I got my first charm bracelet. I still remember that day, shopping with my mother and sister and aunt at the Sears store in the Lancaster Shopping Center doing our school shopping. My mother helped me choose the bracelet. Oh, the excitement. A new stylish bracelet with the hopes of adding many many charms.

I am still wearing that silver charm bracelet today. It is a piece of jewelry that holds wonderful memories of the past...high school, friends, typing class, majorettes, booster club, sweet 16, summer vacations, holidays, and things I love and hold dear to my heart.

My gold charm bracelet was started after I was engaged to my dearest hubby and many of the charms on this bracelet are memories of our times together.

This is the latest charm that will be added to my gold bracelet...

a little Otis and Riley.

Do you have a charm bracelet?

Breakfast in the garden

2011-08-12T04:54:00.001-07:00

Early morning is my most favorite time of day. I love the peaceful quiet of the garden. I love sitting alone with my thoughts, watching Otis and Riley romping around the yard, while I take in the cool morning breeze, listening to and watching the birds. Breakfast even tastes better when it's in the garden.

The sun is not out yet. I can hear the soft cooing of the mourning dove in the distance.

There is not much blooming in the garden right now because of the heat, but I am thankful for all the greenery around me, the trees, the bushes, the ivy.

Otis and Riley enjoy digging a hole in the tomato patch.

I begin to plan my day ~

It's Friday! Have a good weekend, everyone!

May all your weeds be wildflowers

2011-08-11T09:33:00.000-07:00

....as visions of tomatoes danced in her head

2011-08-10T08:12:00.000-07:00

Last night before going to bed I got the coffee ready for the morning and then glanced around the kitchen in the darkness at all the tomatoes...lots of tomatoes. Our garden has been good to us this summer and for that I am thankful.

~ Goodnight tomatoes...Goodnight kitchen...

Off to bed....thinking about tomatoes.....dreaming about tomatoes....

and this morning I got up bright and early and canned tomatos. Tomato Juice.

I sterilized the jars last night and got everything ready. This morning as I was preparing the tomatoes, wonderful memories of my mother came back. I would help her every summer with the canning.

I always loved seeing all the jars lined up on the shelves in the pantry when we were finished. It gives one a feeling of accomplishment and self-satisfaction.

I hadn't canned in years but going through the whole process today made me want to do more, which I think I will.

It's the greatest thing to open a jar of summer freshness in the middle of winter!

Enjoy your day!

Sparkling crystal

2011-08-08T12:57:00.000-07:00

I have always loved crystal. Something about the way the light makes it sparkle.

Whenever I see crystal baubles in antique shops or flea markets I will usually pick a few up and bring them home with me.

Here's an idea for you if you have one of those ...umhum...ugly overhead light fixtures on your ceiling. Add some crystals! The photo below is taken of the ceiling light in our bedroom. I've used an assortment of crystals and will add more as I get them. Gives it the look of a chandelier.

Pink Cottage Rose

2011-08-06T07:08:00.000-07:00

For a few weeks now I have been having painter's block, you know, where you just can't bring yourself to pick up a paint brush and put some paint on canvas. As I was having my coffee the other morning and reading through some magazines, all of a sudden I felt the need to paint....with pink paint. I just wanted to slather pink paint all over a canvas.

And so I did, and it felt good, I was creating again. I had no idea what I wanted to paint other than the usual....flowers or roosters, and since there aren't any pink roosters I decided on pink flowers.....pink roses. Pink cottage roses!

And......ta dah! This is the finished painting. I'm calling it Pink Cottage Rose.

It would be perfect hanging on one of the walls here at Mourning Dove Cottage, but I'm thinking I might sell it at Whimsy Two.

Double the size

2011-08-04T06:11:00.000-07:00

Every spring I take my houseplants outside to give them a boost. It seems they grow twice the size with all the fresh air, natural light and rain water.

The spider plant that my neighbor gave me, which was a spider plant baby, is now loaded with new babies. The snake plant above has grown so much it's now almost 4 feet tall!

A small shoot from a Christmas cactus has now grown strong and healthy and is twice the size as when I took it outside.

And my philodendron setting on the back porch loves the summer weather as it puts out a bunch of new leaves.

Give your plants a summer vacation and let them enjoy the outdoors!

Good morning!

2011-08-01T05:38:00.000-07:00

...and what a beautiful morning it is! We had rain last night and this morning the garden was happy. I took my coffee outside, fed the birds and swept the patio and walkways. Thank heavens for the rain to cool temperatures a bit and to water our thirsty gardens.

And speaking of gardens, we've been having a bumper crop of tomatoes and so not to let any go to waste I made tomato sauce and froze some last week, and this week I will can some tomato juice. We're still enjoying those wonderful tomato sandwiches and tomato salads, too!

Enjoy your day!

Are you minding this summer heat?

2011-07-31T09:17:00.000-07:00

Despite this really hot weather and triple digit temps we've been having lately, I still have a few flowers blooming in the garden.

My oxolis (below) seems much too delicate to stand up to this heat, but it does.

I am thankful for the flowers that don't seem to mind this scortching hot weather.

Pinching back

2011-07-30T09:28:00.000-07:00

The Coleus in the garden needed some pinching back to make them full again. I brought some of the stems inside to root on the kitchen window.

After they've rooted, I will pot them and get a new plant!

Inspired by....Lavender

2011-07-27T12:22:00.001-07:00

What's not to love about lavender.....

.....when I saw this lavender cake recipe in one of my English Home magazines, I had to make it. Doesn't it look wonderful in the magazine ~ and I have lavender growing in my garden.

I got busy right away and started mixing. As the cake was baking you could smell the aroma of lavender.

I watched through my oven window.....and, hmmmmm, why isn't the cake rising? What did I do wrong? Was it in the conversion of the recipe?

Well ~ this is how my cake turned out. It looks like a flat pastry, not at all like the magazine.

So, want to know what I did wrong?

I used regular flour instead of self-rising flour. Silly me. I was so worried about the conversion, I skimmed right over the flour.

It's still very delicious!

If you would like to try it, here is the recipe. It's a wonderful cake and would probably taste even better if it was made the right way!

Lavender Cake
175g/ 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
175g/ 3/4 cup caster sugar
3 eggs lightly beaten
175g/ 1-1/2 cups self-rising flour, sifted
1 tbsp. fresh lavender florets
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
2 tbsp milk
50g/ 1/2 cup icing sugar, sifted
1/2 tsp water
a few fresh lavender florets for decoration

Preheat oven to 180 C/350 F. Grease a ring tin or a deep 20cm/8in round cake tin. Cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add the egg gradually, beating between each addition until the mixture is glossy. Fold in the flour, lavender, vanilla and milk. Spoon the mixture into the tin and bake for an hour. Leave to stand for five minutes, then turn out and cool on a wire rack. Mix the icing sugar with the water until smooth. Pour over the cake and decorate.

Enjoy!

Copper adds warmth to a kitchen

2011-07-25T09:49:00.000-07:00

Use copper in your kitchen and you instantly have a rustic country feel. I love copper and I was thrilled to find this little copper bucket (above) for 89 cents at a thrift store over the weekend. I thought it was perfect to hold measuring spoons and some kitchen utensils.

Having red walls in our kitchen, the copper is a nice accent. I cook with my copper pots and pans that are hanging over my stove. I also like to decorate with copper pitchers and platters displaying them on shelves and hanging pieces on my kitchen walls.

Loving that warm glow.

Just a short time on the porch this morning....

2011-07-24T05:37:00.000-07:00

....before the heat becomes unbearable.

I imagine myself walking on the beach early in the morning, a cool salty-air breeze.....seashells,

the pounding ocean waves and the sound of seagulls.

Lovely ~

think cool thoughts today if you, too, are dealing with this summer heat wave.

Enjoy your day!

A fun project

2011-07-23T10:20:00.001-07:00

This is a cat and dog seesaw whirligig that just came out of Galen's woodshop. All handmade. I had fun painting it in bright whimsical colors.

He hand carved the cat and dog figures and added pipe cleaners for tails. The seesaw moves up and down as the fan spins and the whole platform turns in the wind.

I don't know where he comes up with these ideas!

Kinda cute though.

Find it at whimsytwo.

Just another piece of whimsical folk art.

Birds, bees and butterflies

2011-07-22T12:46:00.000-07:00

The hummingbirds are loving the bright orange flowers of the trumpet vine hanging over our pergola,

(but I can never seem to get a photo of them, they flit around too fast)

while the bees and butterflys are enjoying the gaillardia flowers in the garden.

(I was happy to get a photo of both side by side.)

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

Catching rainwater

2011-07-21T07:39:00.001-07:00

I've been watering the garden and all my hanging plants with rainwater collected from our rain barrel. These past few weeks have been brutal and everything is so dry from the heat. Yesterday was 102 degrees and the next few days will be the same.

I can't say I like the looks of these barrels (not to mention where to hide them) but when it comes time to give my poor thirsty dried up plants a drink, I am very thankful for this ugly black barrel.

Right now I am waiting for a break in this heat and for some cool refreshing raindrops to fall.

Wieners in the garden

2011-07-20T05:04:00.001-07:00

Otis and Riley love spending time outside playing in the garden,

looking for bugs (or mice?),

always on the lookout for squirrels,

enjoying the sun,

and catching naps.

My kitchen windowsill

2011-07-17T12:00:00.000-07:00

This is what my kitchen windowsill looks like right now.

Oh yes, lots of tomato sandwiches!

Raleigh newspaper surprise

2011-07-17T10:31:00.000-07:00

Galen and I went out this morning and bought several copies of the Sunday Raleigh News & Observer after seeing Galen's photo in the Arts & Living section! We picked up a few copies at a nearby gas station and then headed to Starbucks to sit, relax and read.

Whirligigs in Wilson are making the news. The Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park received a $250,000 grant from The National Endowment for the Arts to refurbish the whirligigs and move them to a two-acre park in downtown Wilson.

Here is Galen working on the Christmas Tree whirligig. (The following photos are courtesy of The News & Observer.)

Below is the famed folk artist, Vollis Simpson.

Galen also made the front page of The Wilson Times earlier this week (photo with Vollis Simpson.)

Hubby is happy to be a part of the restoration of the whirligigs. The warehouse is located on the corner of Douglas and Barnes Streets and is open for visitors anytime Monday thru Friday. Large photographs of Vollis Simpson and the whirligigs taken by local photographer Burk Uzzle line the outside of the warehouse.

It's an exciting time for downtown Wilson, NC!

Sharing plants

2011-07-16T05:49:00.000-07:00

My sister brought me some Cleome plants this week. She had an over abundance of them and needed to dig some up and divide them. The two of us have been sharing plants for years, not only with each other but with friends and neighbors. It's a great way to increase the variety of plants in your garden and very economical too!

Cleome is a perennial in North Carolina. It's called the "spider flower" and grows to about four feet tall or more. It prefers bright sun and fertile soil and will reseed. It's a beautiful cottage garden plant.

I'm thinking I will plant it in and around my foxglove, daylilies and obedient plants. It should blend in well with them.

So if your plants need divided and you have too many, don't dig them up and throw them away, Share, and spread the happiness!

Hallway art

2011-07-15T05:43:00.000-07:00

I was going through some photos the other day and changing out some frames that I have hanging in the hallway, something I don't do very often, and then did some rearranging.

Do you have hallway art or hallway photos?

I think it makes a long (dark, in my case) hallway more interesting and pretty. I've also added mirrors to reflect some light. You could use all the same color frames or do a mixture.

I started with the big mirror in the center and then worked out from there. You could fill the whole wall if you wanted ~ a gallery of your favorite photos and artwork.

Well, today I'll be spending more time outside because the weather is cooler, finally. After weeks of 100 degree days we got a break. This morning when I was sitting on the back porch having coffee I was actually chilly. Otis and Riley and I had a long walk to the park, and now it's out to the garden to dig in some dirt.

Enjoy your day!

Night lights

2011-07-14T02:34:00.000-07:00

There's something lovely about being outside at night.

String lights in your trees....

and linger as long as you please.

Good morning sunshine

2011-07-13T04:50:00.000-07:00

in all your sweet loveliness....

and good morning my sweet pups ~ my sunshine.

Dill refrigerator pickles

2011-07-11T07:05:00.000-07:00

Loving my dill refrigerator pickles!

With an abundance of cucumbers this year from the garden, and beautiful big dill heads, I had to make dill pickles.

Just google dill refrigerator pickles and choose one of the simple recipes.

Easy!

Painted the green frog....

2011-07-10T08:56:00.001-07:00

on the purple marble roller.

Find it in my Whimsy Two shop along with all the other great wooden toys for kids!

A new wooden tray

2011-07-09T07:17:00.000-07:00

I love it when Galen brings in a finished tray from the wood shop.

A blank canvas!

Maybe a cluster of grapes on this one....

When it's finished it will go in my shop with the other trays.

.....off to paint now,

Enjoy your day!

The colors of sunshine

2011-07-08T09:43:00.000-07:00

Lantana

Rudbeckia ~ Black-Eyed Susans

Coleus

Gaillardia ~ Blanket Flower

Wishing you a day filled with flowers and sunshine!

Fluffing and the things we love

2011-07-07T09:45:00.000-07:00

I thought today would be a good day to clean and fluff my nest. It has been so very hot outside and last night we had a soaking downpour so it's wet, hot and humid. We've been having 90 degree temps for over a month now. It makes it quite uncomfortable being outside especially trying to do any kind of gardening.

Days like today I enjoy being inside. I like moving things around and redecorating while I'm cleaning. Do you? It's interesting how many things I have bought over the years at flea makets and thrift shops. The dove candy dish above was only a few dollars and the candelabra I found for 25 cents at a yard sale. Even the baskets were bought at thrift stores.

My pretty Italian dish, a thrift find.

Of course, all these pretty things make for more dusting, but do you think I mind? Not at all. These are the things that make a house a home, a place for all the things we love.

And speaking of love, I'm being watched today......yesterday I took Otis and Riley to the Vet to get their rabies shots. They are not feeling very rambunktious today, just taking it easy on the back of the sofa and watching me dust. They like watching me.

So I will continue dustings all my lovely things, fluffing the pillows and sweeping the floor.

A day well spent inside.

And tomorrow, I'm hoping, will be cooler outside because the weeds are getting taller and the grass needs mowing.

Shopping at Aldi

2011-07-06T04:18:00.000-07:00

Do you like to save money? Are you familiar with Aldi? It's a German discount grocery store owned by the same people who run Trader Joes. Nothing flashy, just low low prices and great savings.

You won't see brand names like Kelloggs or Betty Crocker, instead you will find "Millville" and "Baker's Corner". You can find some yummy German chocolates and a good bottle of wine for under $3.00. Great prices on dairy and fresh produce too!

There are no butchers, bakers or pharmacists. You bag your own groceries and pay a quarter for a shopping cart which you get back when you return it (that was a bit of a surprise).

Yes, high quality food for super low prices!

In this day and age, aren't we all looking for a way to save a little?

An abundant harvest

2011-07-05T04:57:00.001-07:00

Tomato sauce, tomato soup, tomato salads, fried tomatoes, tomato sandwiches......

next year we plant way less tomatoes.

Today, however, I am thankful for the tomatoes.

Happy Birthday, America!

2011-07-02T08:50:00.000-07:00

land of the free and home of the brave

Have a great 4th of July weekend everyone!

It's the little things

2011-06-30T04:19:00.000-07:00

...that sometimes make us the happiest,

like a good cup of coffee in our favorite mug,

early morning sunshine after a rain storm,

.....and spending time with our grand kids.

We had our granddaughter spend a few days with us this week. She's not so little anymore, in fact, she seems to grow taller each time we see her. Just having her around and enjoying simple things like playing board games and sewing a pillow, made me realize how much fun can be had in little things. And what a joy seeing her smiling face each morning.

It's just the little things.....

but sometimes the little things make the biggest difference!

A preserved recipe

2011-06-24T06:18:00.000-07:00

How many of you have old recipes that were handwritten by a loved one....your mother or great grandmother maybe, and now those recipes are just laying around in boxes or stuck in between the pages of your cook books?

Here's an idea for you. Why not preserve one of these very special handwritten recipes?

I just finished one for my cousin ~ it was handwritten by our grandmother. As you can see it is old and stained and torn around the edges.

I used a 5 x7 canvas and painted it to look old. I used white, tan, and gold paint. After it dried I brushed on a layer of mod podge. Then I carefully placed the recipe on the canvas. Once you have it centered all you do is put on a few more coats of mod podge and it's finished.

I did one of these for myself last year. It was my grandmother's sugar cookie recipe. I loved those cookies, and now the recipe is preserved forever and displayed on the cupboard in our dining room, and whenever I look at it I think of my dear sweet grandmother.

It's an easy project.

Go ahead and try it and save one of those very old special recipes!

Daylilies and a mourning dove

2011-06-23T08:21:00.000-07:00

My bright yellow daylilies light up the garden like sunshine.

And look who's hiding on the top of the pergola ~ one of the young baby doves that came to live here at Mourning Dove Cottage.

Isn't he cute?

Hope you're enjoying your day!

Garden face

2011-06-21T04:18:00.000-07:00

I think it's fun having faces in the garden in unexpected places.

I made this garden face out of some leftover grout from my mosaic garden stone, if you remember, here.

I brushed on some forest green paint to give him some depth.

He's hanging on the garden fence keeping watch over the garden.

Enjoy your day!

Coastal beauties

2011-06-20T09:11:00.000-07:00

Galen and I took a day trip on Saturday and drove to the coast. North Carolina has some beautiful coastal towns. We headed east toward Plymouth, then Belhaven, and then to Edenton.

One of my most favorite things to do is meander through the towns and look at all the houses.

These are some of the beauties that we saw.

Historic Edenton just happened to have a street festival going on down by the waterfront when we got there.

We toured The Cupola House and Gardens.

Two arial photos from the cupola.

We had lunch at a coffee shop on Broad Street.

Being near the water just makes me happy ~ I love the coast.

Even though it was 98 degrees that day, hot and humid, it was still enjoyable.

I feel fortunate that we live close enough to the coast and close enough to the mountains that we can visit both.

The veggie plot

2011-06-16T13:16:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled with the way the veggie garden is growing this year. Our veggie plot is not that big, ~ we have three raised beds and some pots filled with plants.

These are the Super Sweet 100 (cherry tomatoes) just starting to ripen.

Big Boy tomatoes. I planted six of these.

Cucumbers.

An abundance of squash from two plants.

Potatoes popping out of the ground. This is the first year we planted potatoes and I can't believe how many we're going to have.

I had to show you my dill. It towers over the garden and smells so good.

And lots of delicious lettuce that we've been eating in salads and sandwiches.

Lovin' all the veggies!