This is the year...I mean it!

Hey, thanks for stopping by!

Hope YOU are well.

Now that I am back home...

...the beautiful spring weather has me

watching for and enjoying the first flowers in the garden...

...sneezing at the tree pollen in the air and the dust in my house...

...and most importantly...focused on cleaning out!

 I know...

you are all thinking...

cleaning out?

"she says that every year...but never follows through."

Well, this is the year!

I truly am focused and have both a plan of attack

 and a time frame for the work to get done.

So...

I am here to say that within the next month...

...I plan to move mountains...

...mountains of stuff...

out. the. door.

 I will check in and let you know my progress.

Wish me luck! 

:)

P. S. I took my Etsy shop out of vacation mode

and will begin adding to it as I uncover things and clean out.

Sunny Yellow Forsythia and a Whatzit

The sun shone so brightly today...

...yet the temperature was cool.

A perfect spring day!

Years ago I bought this zinc container

 at the Trade Secrets Garden Show.

I was with my girlfriend Paula...and she bought five.

One for the backs of the four chairs in her dining room...

...and one to hook over the foot-board of her bed.

I seem to remember the vendor telling us that they were used by

 French grape harvesters to carry their tools.

...but Paula didn't remember that...

...so maybe I made it up!

Do you know?

Let me know if you do!

Whatever it's original use...

...I love it !

Hope you enjoyed your day

 and that you have fun plans for the weekend!

:)

Antique Blue Glass Jar, Yellow Forsythia and Romantic Homes Magazine

Loving the early morning light this time of year...

This antique blue glass jar came from

 the cellar of Mr. Flea's grandmother.

It's one of my favorite things...

...the blue color, the bubbles in the old glass, the two seams...

and of course...that it is a family piece.

Have you seen the new, May issue of Romantic Homes yet?

It is a particularly lovely issue...filled with lots of inspiration.

And it was so nice to see that 

Carol Spinski's shop Raised In Cotton

has an 8 page feature with wonderful and captivating photos.

 The article discusses how she and her two partners

 have managed to own a successful business together

 while remaining good friends.

Thank you to those who emailed me or left comments about

 Romantic Homes' little feature on 52 FLEA

...and to Rachel from French Farmhouse 425

for mentioning me on her post here.

I was delighted when asked if I would send a few photos for the May issue to be included in this section featuring various blogs.

Thank you Romantic Homes for thinking of me!

:)

Still time to sign up for my Give Away for the book

Romantic Prairie Style

Click HERE for a chance to win!

The Colors of Spring...Fresh and New

This morning brought more sunshine and perfect spring temperatures...
Walking out back I couldn't help but notice the yellows and light greens of early spring...



...everything fresh and new...
...another new beginning.



...a lovely way to start the day!



At the flea market last weekend I bought a huge box of buttons...
...which I emptied into this glass jar...



There are really some beautiful and interesting buttons here...
...I started to sort through them...
...but soon realized that I could spend hours sorting and playing with these buttons...



...so I decided to put them aside for a rainy day...



We are so fortunate to have won tickets to the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center and tomorrow we will see Rossini's Armida.
I have not been to the opera before but look forward to the experience....
Rob, a musician and singer is very excited to be able to see and hear Renee Fleming who has the starring role.
...another new experience...
New beginnings are exciting!

I hope your Friday brings something fresh and new!
:)

Easter Blessings

Grateful for all the blessings and gifts that we have been given...
especially for family and friends...

Happy Easter!
Happy Passover to our Jewish friends!
Happy Spring to all our friends everywhere!

Rainy Day Blue With Sunshine On The Way!

Rain, rain go away!



My forsythia bushes are blooming....
...had to bring some of that sunshine indoors!



The sun is supposed to come out tomorrow afternoon...



...and the rest of the week will bring sunny, spring like and warm weather...



You know what that means?

Flea markets!!!

...and time in the garden...

...and a beautiful Easter Sunday!

:)

A Walk in the Woods on Easter Day

We were so blessed to be able to spend Easter afternoon with my sister and her family......



Late in the afternoon, after lingering over a scrumptious dinner we headed out for a walk in the woods.....



The sky was blue, the air was crisp and clean....



The path was well traveled and worn.....



Signs of spring were appearing....



Here, an amazing burl on this grand tree....



Forsythia spilling over a rock wall....white clouds reflected in the water....



Nature's music ......sounds of the water....



Early skunk cabbage pushing through the spent and fallen leaves of last autumn....



So calm, so serene.....



A promise of new life on this special day.....



Daffodils welcome us back up the drive....



and.....



Gleason, the longest dog in the world, protects home from all sorts of critters....



Sister's beautiful home sweet home.
Thank you!