Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Sweet Lantana

Early spring
I planted in a large pot,
a Camellia plant
and surrounded it with
 pink Lantanas.
The Lantana flourished
 along with the
Camellia plant
in the lovely cool weather.
Then,
summer's hot sun
and heat came and
the plants struggled
to survive.....

I kept them watered,
and wondered that the Lantana
no longer bloomed,
yet confident that
the "green leafed" Camellia would
bloom again come spring.

The warm rains came,
almost daily, the
lovely tropical rains
bringing  nutrients
needed to sustain plant life.
The Lantanas began to bloom
dappled by sunlight and
silhouetted against greenery
again they  flourished
beneath Florida's
beautiful summer skies.

Have a blessed day!  Dee Dee

Monday, July 30, 2012

Suggested Great Summer Read

I'm a true fan of
Masterpiece Theater's
Downton Abbey....
and so looking forward to
season three beginning
January 3, 2013
(mark on your calendars )

In the meantime, I'm whiling
away the hot summer days
reading books that
"point below
stairs in this sort of nostalgically
romanticized world."
I believe the ladies at the library
think I am considering "service"
as a "later in life career."

In l928, Rosina Harrison
arrived at the Astor household
to take up her new position as
personal maid to Lady Nancy Astor.

American-born, Lady Astor sat in
Parliament, entertained royalty, and
traveled the world.
An iron-willed woman, she met
her match in the no-nonsense,
wryly humorous, and whip-smart
girl from England's countryside.
Deliciously readable,
Rose will win your heart as
she tells her "life in service
to Lady Astor" story.

Have a beautiful week!  Dee Dee

Sunday, July 29, 2012

A Single Stem Of Crape Myrtle Blossoms

I've watched them bloom
all summer long.....
The colors of this Myrtle are
my favorite and why would
they not be?

A sweet  combination 
for our cottage decor.

One stem of lavender Myrtle blossoms
completes this romantic space.

Have a wonderful Lord's day, everyone!  Dee Dee

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Morning Garden

One can never be too
careful with the Florida sun's
harmful rays. Large brimmed hats are
recommended and I for one
take no chances.
Some of my best photos
of the garden are taken
in the early morning hours.
On this day, I've noticed
the  red Hibiscus
plants are now taller than me.....

And, they are  producing lots of  blooms.....some
partially hidden.

I sprayed them for Aphids today.....those little
critters were back again.

Are you tired of the summer heat?
I'm trying not to rush the
season,
but I can't help
looking at the calendar and
thinking how
 deliciously cool
and wonderful
 the winter is going to be.
  
Have a beautiful weekend.....Dee Dee

Friday, July 27, 2012

Caladium

Each spring
we select a pretty
Caladium for the porch.....

I happen to like them.....all colors
and varieties. Last year we had
a white and green one, that grew
to massive proportions.

The Caladium is one of the Mister's
favorite plants.....


I'm just saying.......sigh......


This pretty ole' thing gets the
morning sun and
 all day it long it thrives
in Florida's heat and humidity.
A good watering 
every other day,
has made the Caladium
 healthy and respond  with
absolutely gorgeous and colorful leaves.
I'm  lovin' the pinks and green....

Have a blessed day, everyone!  Dee Dee

Thursday, July 26, 2012

High Humidity And Lots Of Rain

Our summer here on
the Gulf Coast of Florida
has been hot, humid and rainy.
Each day we awaken to sunshine,
around mid-day the temps are in
the 90s and by afternoon we are
blessed with rain.
Therefore, our tropical
plants are
growing at an alarming rate,
crowding into the small space
that is our garden.
I for one am pleased,
but the Mister can see
trimming work somewhere
in the immediate future.
A White Bird of Paradise
having  grown to extreme heights
 must come down, to make room
for smaller and younger plants.
It looks fabulous, but a good
storm just might topple it into
the pool.  I'm reminded
the lushness of the garden has
been made possible by nature,
doing it's thing......all summer long.

Have a beautiful day everyone!  Dee Dee

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Pin Cushions

These days, most folks
I know are using good
common sense when it
comes to saving money.
All of us have been affected
by the economy, 
in  more ways than one.
Therefore, I've been
using my sewing machine
a lot.....for making gifts.
I search for ideas in books
and magazines. Here lately,
I've looked for new and
fun ideas on Etsy.
What a grand place for
 inspiration!
And...... I have truly been
inspired to create. 
Give me beautiful fabrics  and I
will make something useful.
The children/girls/ladies in my life
will receive
handmade things, from me,
 for those
special occasions.......
or just because I love you gifts.

My first indeavor, as you can see,
are pretty "pin cushions."
A "just because I love you" kind of gift.
I'll be sending a few of these
out, and real soon.....

Have a sweet ole' day!  Dee Dee

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Sewing For Babies

I've been sewing
 most of the day
for two sweet babies.....

I'll tuck a few outfits in the
package , size 6-9 mos.
He weighed 8lbs 3oz
a big boy
a G Grandson,
 who looks like his father.
He'll stay warm lying beneath
a blanket covered with all sorts
of funny elephants....made by his
G Grandmother, who loves him very much
sigh.......
I've  made a beautiful pink
quilt for a sweet
granddaughter, not yet born,
but soon.....

The pink tulle fabric has
adorable nursery rhymes.....
My generation grew up hearing
them....
I used another fabric with tiny
hearts splashed all over.
I'm thinkin'  she already has
a special place in my heart,
and one day soon I'll hold
her in my arms,
and tell her just that.

Have a wonderful day everyone!  Dee Dee

Monday, July 23, 2012

Enjoying Good Reading

Often I post of lovely discoveries
and today you will find me quite
happy with a table covered over
with old issues of Victoria magazines.
I'm completely delighted,
having found them in our library
re-sale store, in flawless
like-new condition, clearly
marked with a tiny sticker price
of  25cents.
A kindred spirit, had saved her
beloved Victoria's for some time, for
they date back to 1989.
How sad she must have been to
part with her treasures,
but surely found peace in
 contributing to a good cause...... our town  library.

While spending hours at a time,
comfortably seated for good reading,
I'm finding wonderful  stories and
features that are timeless.
-
"Symphony in White"
James McNeill Whisler's
painting titled
"The White Girl"
I pondered on this page,
thinking her quite lovely.

 

The covers of Victoria are
always lovely to see, and
reveal much of the magazine's contents .....
"Crisp White Linens....Romantic Picnics"
-
1996 Victoria's article .....
Emma Thompson's
Labor of Love:
"Sense and Sensibility
and others.....
Spreading Your Wings....Beautiful Discoveries
-
A Smiling Summer
"There is a smiling summer here,
which causes birds to sing, and
sets the bees in motion, " writes
Emily Dickinson in 1858......

I'm enjoying promised good reading,
 as you can see,
 all the while,
 beating the summer heat.....

Have a beautiful week, everyone!  Dee Dee

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Book Marked To Re-Read

In Jan Karon's book
"A New Song"
I'm  finding places I've
book-marked  to re-read
from time to time.
Page 158, bottom of page.....


"We are, finally, all wanderers in search of
knowledge. Most of us hold the dream of
becoming something better than we are,
something larger, richer, in some way more
important to the world and ourselves.
Too often, the way taken is the wrong way,
with too much emphasis on what we want
to have, rather than what we wish to become.'"
~Louis L'Amour

Have a wonderful Lord's day, everyone! Dee Dee

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Nothing Prettier

Folks young and old gravitate
to Honeymoon Island, Florida,
 right around sunset.
We've gone to the same location
on the island to watch the sunset,
for a number of years.
It is there we get the best views
of the sun dropping into
the Gulf Of Mexico.
I took this photo a while back,
asking the couple's permission
 to photograph them.
They happily obliged.......




More often than not, the
sunset photos I take
will have something of
interest between me and the sunset.
Such is the case in both photos
seen here.
There is nothing any
prettier than a Florida sunset
seen from Honeymoon Island.

Have a beautiful weekend......Dee Dee

Friday, July 20, 2012

The Dog Days Of Summer

Several weeks ago,
I planted this beautiful
Mandevilla.....
It was early morning and
the weather cooler and
almost perfect for gardening.
Since then, the rains have
come,  along with the high heat
extremes and humidity.
The Mandevilla has thrived
under these conditions,
and I have taken to mostly
indoor activities.

I come outside for short
periods at a time....to hang laundry,
water the plants
or go for  short swims in the pool.
The garden has, more or less,
been given over to the elements.

These are indeed  the
"dog-days" of summer.....
Sweet blessings for all.....Dee Dee

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Christie's Hercule Poirot

I've been a big fan of Agatha Christie
for many years, loving a good mystery
read now and then.  When I discovered
Hercule Poirot on Masterpiece Theater,
Christie's character came to life for me.


I found the book in our library
re-sale book store....loved
the copyright was dated l934.
Inside the front cover ,
written in her best penmanship
was the owner's name, date and address.
Mrs Durward E. Smith
649 So Main St
Georgetown, Ill. Oct. l956

I find it interesting as I
read along, I not only see him
in my mind's eyes, I hear his voice
quite clearly as he is in
Masterpiece.

A. B. C. MURDERS
Page 3....
He came slowly across to me, an open
letter in his hand. He read it through
himself, then passed it to me.
"Tell me, mon ami," he said. "What
do you make of this?"
I took it from him, with some interest.
It was written on thickish white notepaper
in printed characters;
MR HERCULE POIROT,-
You fancy yourself, don't you, at
solving mysteries that are too difficult for our
poor thick-headed British police? Let us
see, Mr. Clever Poirot, just how clever
you can be. Perhaps you'll find this not too hard
to crack. Look out for Andover on the 21st
of the month.
Yours, etc.,
A.B.C.
And so it begins......another great summer read.

Have a beautiful day.....Dee Dee


Wednesday, July 18, 2012

IKEA Floor Lamp

Most of the cottage is
decorated with a more feminine
touch...more to my taste.
The Mister has always
been gracious, allowing me
the "lady of the house"
to do the decorating.
I'm not so sure one would
call our family room the
"man room"
but the decor is indeed more
to his style and  liking.
It is a no frills kind of place,
simply decorated  for
relaxation and entertainment.
More recently, I've
added a simple IKEA
floor lamp to the room
for his reclining, reading
pleasure.

I'm pleased that he's pleased.....Dee Dee

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Discovery

I stopped in Michael's
Art and Craft store a few
days ago, looking for
information on
"cold porcelain clay."
I've been inspired while
looking at lovely  clay jewelry
on Etsy.
 
Michael's had  what I was looking for
and I hope to use the clay, for making
 unique and one-of-a-kind Christmas gifts.
The craft store was abuzz with folks,
many hanging out
in the bead and jewelry section.
The Susan Lenart Kazmer "Chic"
jewelry making packets and charms
seemed to be getting lots of
attention.  I bought those
seen here, came home and
spent much of the afternoon
looking at tutorials on
"Chic" jewelry making by Susan on the
Internet. I love her vintage, industrial and rustic
styles and hope to come up with
some ideas of my own.

Have a beautiful day!  Dee Dee


Monday, July 16, 2012

Dusting Off My Watercolors and Pencils


I've been so busy lately
with sewing, and  making baby things,
that my watercolors and pencils
have gathered a good bit of dust on them.
This afternoon, with
a steady soft rain outdoors, and
a lovely quiet home inside,
I've felt a nice tug on my
creative juices.
Sitting down to draw, I'm
more often than not, inspired
to illustrate the young children
in my life.
This very happy four year old,
opening his present
rather quickly, has expressions
in his eyes and in his smile,
that say it all.
I've  chosen to surround him with the
color he likes best....orange.
And yes....his summer shoes are
of the same color.

Have a beautiful day, everyone!  Dee Dee

Sunday, July 15, 2012

God's Great Love



Then the Lord looked upon the earth
and filled it with His blessings.....

Have a beautiful Lord's day!  Dee Dee

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Burberry Style For Baby Girl

It's a mother's prerogative
to select colors and designs
for her new baby.

And so it was on a recent
shopping trip for fabrics, that

she selected something unusual and quite lovely
for her baby girl's cradle.
"I love these fabrics Mom,
they remind me of Burberry.

And so it turns out, that I too love the colors she put together,
and we're both pleased with the results.
Being a grandmother awaiting new
birth is heavenly.  Only a few weeks
left now, and I still have stacks of
precious baby fabrics to work with......sigh.....

Enjoying these sweet times.....Dee Dee

Friday, July 13, 2012

Art Deco

I suppose I have a fondness for
"art deco" going way back to my youth.
Growing up, our home decor
was unique in just about every way
possible.
My mother looked at the magazines
and tried to imitate what she liked best.
I think maybe she was  a frustrated  decorator......
and so it was  that our family sat on
 one of the first white
sectional sofas,  in our
otherwise traditional neighborhood.
I would now describe the style as
Scandinavian, or contemporary.
Today, bits of that style and nostalgic
reminders, are
scattered  throughout my cottage.
A small art deco style clock sits on a
desk in a guest room.......


and a  white/glass  art deco
style lamp illuminates the same room.


It's interesting  how one's
first decorative impressions,
follow them all through life.

Enjoying the memories.....Dee Dee

Thursday, July 12, 2012

The Planting Will Have To Wait

Earlier in the week,
I brought home a tray
of beautiful pink
Penta plants.
Then the rains came,
followed by extreme
humidity and heat.......

I would wait for
the planting a few days.....

In the meantime, I'm
enjoying .....

beautiful pink Pentas on the porch......
Not a bad thing, the
waiting to plant
has given us a garden
in close proximity.
Sigh.........I fear I'm looking
forward to cooler weather
with great anticipation.

Have a beautiful day......Dee Dee