The Story... and An Introduction to a Special New Blog!

My goodness!
Who would have thought that we were such a romantic lot?

Thank you for all the wonderful stories you wrote....such mystery, intrigue and romance!

It was uncanny the way that some of you touched upon some very obscure facts!
For instance, Ellie speaks of a Mr. William Abbot...
...how could she possibly know that there is a William Abbott in my family?
...eerie....right?

Well...
...I hope I do not disappoint you too much as there is no REAL story attached to these layered photographs. As I was playing around with them it came to mind that I was so drawn to these images for several reasons.
First of all my grandparents had a farm a mile from where I grew up....I have many fond memories playing in the orchards and climbing the fruit and chestnut trees.
I have listened to many stories of picking fruit and late nights canning...and of course, my grandmother made the best pies ever...



The pictures of the two girls were found together at the flea market and were obviously taken at the same time...so I imagined they were sisters...

If you have been reading my blog for any length of time, you know how close I am with my sisters.

Debbie wrote:

Two girls trapped in a life of kitchen work. All they wanted was some time away from the never ending crops that had to be canned.

Oh yes....I can identify with that!

...and Tina wrote:

The Barnes sisters, dreaming of a life far removed from their mother's life as the wife of an apple orchard owner.
Oh not for the Barnes girls this life of apples, apples, apples!

I got a kick out of that!
As a young man, my Dad was happy to get away from the farm...


...and I love what Tracie wrote:

Beatrice Barnes & Odetta Orchards.
... One was quite a salty character and the other sweet as pie...

In any case, your imaginative and creative stories were wonderful!
Thank you for playing along!


And now...I want to introduce you to a brand new blog!
It belongs to my dear friend Evi who has just published her first post this afternoon!

As many of you already know Evi and her legendary dolls and other creations...I am sure you will be delighted to know that in the weeks ahead, you will be able to get a further glimpse into her home, her gardens and the fabulous studio where she creates her wonderful dolls.

Evi will still be participating in several shows per year but hopes to use her blog as a more effective means to share her one of a kind creations with her regular customers all over the world and with new customers too.



I was visiting this afternoon and this little sign was just outside the door to her studio...



Just a few images from the garden beyond...



If you get a chance, pop on over for a visit and welcome her to our wonderful blogging community.



Evi has so much talent and much to share with us.







I hope this week is going well for all of you...
...it is certainly flying by for me!

Pleasant dreams!
:)

Home and Garden Tour....1

Yesterday was the much anticipated Home and Garden Tour of eight homes in Centerbrook and Ivoryton, Ct. ....
The event was held to benefit the Ivoryton Library.....



I drove early Saturday to help my dear friend Paula whose home and gardens were a part of the tour. Paula's 1830 cape is so very charming.....I have mentioned it in quite a few previous posts...



Her many garden "rooms" are filled with whimsy and surprise......Paula does all her own gardening and decorating .....



Here she is just before the tour began still working in her garden by the little pond....



As planned, our good friend Carole of Maynard Greenhouse met me after my shift hostessing at Paula's home was over.... Together, she and I visited the other seven homes and gardens on the tour....The two of us took hundreds of pictures....had a lot of fun and both of us will be posting on this wonderful event during the coming week....



This is one of Paula's window boxes.....purple petunias and pink oxalis, among other varieties..... Flowers are not exactly my area of expertise so check out Carole's blog for correct identification.....



Whimsy is more my area.......and Paula's gardens and home have plenty of that! We have been antiquing and flea marketing partners for about ten years now.....I can't imagine anyone having more fun than we girls do on our trips to Brimfield or Madison Bouckville....
Although not an expert at anything.....I can safely say I know a lot about junk....



It will take me a while to sort through the 400 plus pictures I took of this event.....these are just a few from Paula's yard....a teaser of what is to come...



All the homes and gardens on the tour were very different and Carole and I look forward to sharing the details with you.....stay tuned!

A Wedding in the Secret Garden

We're planning a wedding....a very intimate affair with just close family and a few friends.......It is for the lovely Charlene, a sister by marriage......It will be held in the secret garden or beyond in the myrtle patch in the wood at the end of June....





maybe here.......



or here.....



Sister Mary Beth and her husband Robert have such beautiful grounds and the perfect setting for a wedding.....






Charlene loves these colors......



There will be light fare for eating.....



There will be music and dancing.....we have a family of musicians......and we all love to dance.....






There will be candlelight and romance........



It is fun and exciting to be part of the planning of this intimate and special affair......



It will be an evening to remember and cherish...not just for Charlene and her love, David but for the rest of us too.........

Springtime Palette Year Round

I found some more photographs that I had taken a while back while visiting at Paula's home .......



She decorates year round with a perfect spring palette of creamy whites, greens and browns....



She incorporates architectural pieces, interesting antiques and unusual objects with varying shades of nature's lush greens and lots of texture......



The result is a home that appears fresh as spring, light and airy........

Carole recently posted on Paula's winter gardens and I know she has another post coming with some recent pictures of the interior......Paula is getting ready for the GardenTour in June..... I just can't wait.....it is a day full of wonderful homes and gardens, fun and good friends. If you make it to the tour you can stop in and see Carole's amazing garden shop....all set up for spring.....

Calming Thoughts of a Warm Summer's Day

If you want to have an especially lovely afternoon.....visit a special girlfriend...on a beautiful summer day...... who happens to have incredible gardens.....Sit and chat for a while.....let her spoil you with a lovely lunch under the blue sky...... and then take a long nap in a calm and pretty bedroom! Doesn't that sound dreamy? Breathe deeply....winter will be over soon.

Garden Tour Coming In June!

Once again, Paula's gardens and home in Centerbrook, CT will be part of a wonderful garden tour this June 20th. Paula's charming home brings the garden inside with her nature inspired decor and use of color. She has created rooms outside in her gardens that are both breathtaking and inviting with their whimsical touches and unique charm. It is an event not to be missed!