Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?

~took my favorite dolly out for a walk today~

~purple rhododendron~

~peonies~i'm waiting in anticipation!

~climbing rose~

~snowball bush~

~doublefile viburnum~

don't you love the old-fashioned flowers the best?

I'm so honored to be interviewed today....

by sweet Amy at www.mittensathome.blogspot.com

She has the most beautiful blog and is featuring different artists and hosting a giveaway, and today it's my turn....here's what I made to give away.
Please pop on over to Amy's blog and follow her to be included in this giveaway! Amy also has a stunning Etsy shop that you can link to from her blog where she makes gorgeous paper concoctions that are so creative, along with many other items.....




I do hope you all have fun plans for this holiday weekend...we don't have any and that's just how I like it. No commitments whatsoever!!!!
Enjoy yourselves...............:)

What I could never sell......

Do you have a collection that you would never think about selling?

I certainly do! This is a partial glimpse of some of my vintage candy boxes.....

I love them beyond all reason.......:)

As I look around my house, trying to decide what stays and what goes.....

I  have to admit that my eyes gloss right on over these sweet boxes....don't think I could ever entertain the thought of selling them.
See, I've been in a purging state for about 3 months now and my house is decidedly less cluttered.
This is a good thing, trust me on that!
However, when I see certain items, well, they just make my heart happy~
I know you know what I mean!
They'll always have a place in my home somewhere...
What makes your heart happy that you couldn't even imagine getting rid of?
Please share......:).

New in my Etsy!!!!!

Just a quickie today, too much going on! I think Friday's are always like this, the week catching up to me!
Anyway, I've been adding to my little Etsy, that's not so little anymore, I think I have almost 200 items in there...yes I've been letting go of some of my beloved things because that's all they really are....things...you can't them with you, right?
My philosophy is, take them in...enjoy them for however long your soul needs them, then pass them on so someone else can love them! And I get a cleaner house in the meantime...:).
And I really have been enjoying having less, purging etc.
Well, the sun is shining so I'm off to enjoy it, hope you all get a chance to do the same~

Is it Summer yet?!!!!!

Well, not quite but check out the picture of my bff, Melanie, and moi above on the beach...we're certainly ready!!!!
O.K., so it's not really us, but don't they look ever so happy?
We had a beautiful day of sunshine for most of today and a great temperature of 66 degrees. A funny thing about me? I love the sunshine, but despise HOT weather, so 66 is just about right for me......

So I hit the thrift today and found this awesome frame for 2.99, it was one of those "how fast can I grab this" type of purchases. And it's big and look at the corner detail!

O.K., one corner is missing but so what? I'll have fun figuring out where to place this beauty...!

Where I've been concentrating my attention of late......:)

my dh had his birthday yesterday....and he was blessed, i should say we all were blessed, with a bright and sunny day! he took us out to lunch for pizza and we sat outside by the river (did i say it was sunny?)

then i came home and made what he wanted for his birthday cake (ummm, it was actually a raspberry pie) while he spent a few hours with our dd, hiking and spending a bit of time outdoors. it was so cute to see them both come home with a bit of a sunburn!
then we fired up the grill and had his meal of choice ~ ribeyes, baked potatoes, baked beans, cocktails, etc.
he had a great day and the best part? he gets two more days to enjoy before going back to work!

we've just decided to expand his celebration all weekend!

~white wednesday~

i'm participating in white wednesday today (in between errands that is)
this is my perfect white, chippy, folding chair.
complete with faded roses decals...

and rust!

i was so thrilled to find this in a local vintage mall, i snapped it up.
it's my favorite prop for when i take photos for my etsy shop...
pop on over to faded charm and take a peek at all the lovely whites!
well, i was trying to participate but the linky won't work for me! enjoy your wednesday my friends!

The important things in life.........

Truth be told, there is a lot going on in life right now that is so wonderful.......my post today has no pretty pictures, just words.

I just had the most fantastic Mother's Day, and it has everything to do as far as gifts go.

I slept in.....was out of coffee....dh and dd went to get cinnamon rolls and coffee for me....so sweet.

Then I got to open a gift from dd (10yo) that she made at school, that I can't wait to frame. It's a note that she wrote to me (a poem, actually) that is so sweet I want to remember it always!

And she and my dh picked out some photos (many photos) for a digital frame for home that I've wanted for a  long time. We've had the frame for some time, so it wasn't a new purchase.........

I cherish this frame with all it's wonderful photos......it's our life!

Then we built a fire in our fireplace, ordered a wonderful pizza, and watched a Harry Potter movie.

IT WAS A PERFECT DAY!

Happy Mother's Day!

A lovely sentiment from a motto I purchased last year...it's the prettiest motto I've ever seen....love the muted colors and the picture of the elated Mom holding her baby...and of course the sentiment. Happy Mother's day to all you wonderful Mom's out there, and to my own sweet Mom, I miss you each and every day in more ways than I can count....love you!

Don't you just love......

A sunny day that lets you dry your newly dyed laces and trims outside?

It's simply perfection!!!!
I do hope the sun is shining wherever you are!!!!!

I "heart" antique birthday books.....

these are all from a Shakespeare birthday book...
enjoy your week!