Raindrops on Roses

Okay, there are times when it is necessary to bypass accuracy in order to come up with a catchy title for a blog post. "Raindrops on Dahlias...Pansies" just didn't cut it for this morning's musings.

Ahhh, I digress (yet again). After an extremely wet month of June, I know I was not alone in being sick to death of that perpetually soggy feeling. It seemed that my mood was perfectly synchronized with the dreary skies. After a few weeks of fairly consistent sunshine this month, I greeted the forecast of a few rainy days/ evenings with as much enthusiasm as I would a pesky rodent invading my pantry. I took some solace in the fact that last night's "storm" wouldn't impact my plans for the weekend. The skies were perfectly blue this morning and the fluffy, white clouds were merrily chasing the rain laden, gray buggers out of their playground.

Once I had sufficiently offered thanks for the sunshiny skies, my attention was drawn to the garden. Despite my own reaction to more rain (Eeyore voice over), the flowers were sassy and re-energized after their shower. Every rain laden blossom and bud was simply happy as could be. Perhaps I/ we need to take a cue from our botanical friends?!?

Projects Nearly Forgotten

This morning I realized that the majority of my recent posts have been about flowers, kids and/ or kittens. Lest ye think my creative juices have dried up, I will share some projects I've been working on the last few weeks. An aside: for me, creating is something I must do, in order to maintain a semblance of serenity, in my life. If I am feeling "off", it is most likely that one (or both) of two things have been put on the back burner: 1.) spending time with God and 2.) spending time crafting. As soon as I remedy those missing pieces, my topsy turvy life rights itself. Now, if I could remember that lesson before I get all turned inside out, it'd be smooth sailing!
Okay, projects...
I've been really into making tags and collages. Both feed my need for immediate gratification. I work on several, at a time, and am able to move freely, from one to another, as I complete specific steps. Idle hands just don't work for me...and waiting for pesky, but necessary, things (drying times, etc.) drives me batty! My pictures are not up to par today...sorry. It's gray & gruesome out, so I had to use the flash. Oh NOOOO, the dreaded flash!
I'm thinking this is going to be a multiple post day. I'll attend to mundane chores, then reward myself with some blog time. A good plan, I think. I'll share my vintage sewing/ knitting stand revamp after I put the laundry away.

Flowers, Flowers Everywhere

Have I mentioned lately that I LOVE spring??? Aside from the reasons I've already mentioned, in previous posts, I, personally, am just more acutely aware of things. Today, as I was kicking some pesky weeds out of my front garden, I happened to glance at the of the inside of my white tulips. I don't know if my pictures captured it, but the insides were so cool! My senses all seem to be in overdrive and I pay closer attention to details like that. I suppose it falls into the "take time to smell the flowers" suggestion, which I heed willingly. Every morning, as I walk my daughter to the bus, we take a few minutes to study our gardens: in search of new signs of life. We do the same thing in the afternoon and are rarely without a new discovery, during these warmer months. I was never what one would consider a nature girl, so this Pop-a-bonnet-on-my-head and let me tiptoe-through-the-tulips feeling is very new & exciting to me :-) Okay, I know my sister is reading this...you can stop laughing now!

Coming Along...

It was another beautiful, if not terribly warm, early spring day in Connecticut. My son was home with a touch of the stomach bug (which I narrowly escaped...I HOPE), so I was able to get some yard work done. I also spruced up my new patio a bit. I'm so eager to get flowers planted, but they're calling for frost on Thursday, so my patience will have to stretch a bit further. I made two bench pillows, using body pillows that we no longer use. They're not quite big enough, so I'll have to pick up a third. I had a huge amount of the brown fabric, from my friend Melody's shop. When I got it, I had no idea what I would use it for, as it doesn't match anything in my home...outside is an entirely different story. It goes perfectly with the stain on the patio and the planters I picked up at the dollar store. There is, apparently, a method to my madness...even when I'm not aware of it! Now, if I can just get some flowers planted. What was it I mentioned about patience??? Almost forgot: I was given buckets of those cool wrought iron pieces, on the back of the bench. They were left over from a job a contractor friend was working on. He figured I could put them to good use, so he saved them from dumpster doom. Initially, I was going to try to remove the rust, but decided I rather like the aged look. I stuck them on with a little Gorilla Glue...I love the unique touch they give the bench!

Can it Be....Spring??????

I'm almost afraid to say it, for fear that we'll get hit with another Nor'easter tomorrow, but...today was an absolutely glorious SPRING day!!! The sun was shining, the birds were chirping appreciatively and I was like an overly-caffeinated Tigger all day long. I know that this is the time of year (every year) we New Englanders lament that it has been the longest winter in the history of the world. This year, though, it's true...it really is! I'm sure the meteorologist guys have pie charts and weather graphs that would dispute my claim, but what do they know? It has been LOOOOOOOONG!
Although I have a huge list of (inside) spring cleaning tasks to tackle, I just couldn't stay inside. I picked up pieces of broken planters/ pots that I forgot to move inside last fall, cleaned up my gardens a bit and (only me!) got the hose out to melt away the one remaining pile of snow at the top of my driveway. I called three friends who, much to my consternation, agreed that I could not plant bulbs yet. I was advised to wait until I was sure there would be no more frost. Well, what if I am sure? Does it matter what the weatherman has to say about it???? REALLY! For once, I decided to heed the advice of the masses, lest my gardens fail to produce to their fullest glory. I suppose, since I've waited this long...

Shower Flowers

The baby shower is, at last, a fait accompli! I'm exhausted after all of the prep work, hostessing, and clean-up. The outcome, however, made it all worth it.
~The mommy-to-be was elated.
~The Grandma-to-be was thrilled.
~Most of the guests showed up.
~The gifts were abundant.
~The weather was beautiful.
~The food was yummy...and I won't have to cook for a week...or until my kids start complaining about eating left-overs.
I didn't have time to take pictures during the shower, but I did snap a few shots of the remaining flower arrangements. There were originally six, but the others were given as prizes for the games we played. Normally, and I have written about this before, cut flowers make me a little sad. For some reason, though, these seem to brighten the whole house and are lifting my tired, but content spirits!
Time to curl up, in front of the fire, with my book.

Sweet Blogger Friends

I'm sure many of you have experienced the feeling of being "the new kid on the block"....or blog, in this case, as you began your journey into this vast, oftentimes overwhelming, world of blogging. Although I was instantly "hooked", I wondered, during my first few weeks: "Is anyone (aside from my sister, my mom & my best friend) ever going to read this stuff?" That question was usually followed by an immediate afterthought: "Do I really want anyone else to read this stuff?" Afterall, the things I share here range from my daily frustrations with being a single mom...to my dating horror stories....to exposing myself by putting my attempts at creativity "out there". It was with some hesitancy that I even dared to leave a comment on other blogs. I distinctly remember, the first time I got brave enough to add my two cents, I carefully chose a posting that had a slew of comments already posted, counting on the fact that mine would get swallowed up somewhere in the middle. As I wrote the comment, acutely aware that I was choosing words that weren't too flowery or familiar, I felt as if I'd sidled up to the "popular girls" in high school, and attempted to join a conversation that was well underway. Anyone who knows me well would laugh at this uncharacteristic show of insecurity. I am a "bloom where I'm planted" person and rarely is there a social situation which makes me feel the slightest bit uneasy. With some lingering trepidation, I realized that, in order for me to get connected to the ladies within this community, I was going to need to get over myself.
I plugged along, pouring through your blogs, with growing admiration for your artistry and imaginations and began to feel slightly more comfortable each time I left a comment for one of you. One of the biggest blessings about this experience has been "meeting" my friend, Monica (The White Bench). Monica was, I believe, the first non-family member/ existing friend to leave a comment on my blog. When I decided to do my vintage jewelry swap, it was Monica who contacted me directly...and that is how our friendship was birthed. Since our first exchange of emails, scarcely a day goes by where she and I aren't in touch. I do my best to keep track of the 8 hour time difference between Connecticut and Italy and try to get my "Have a wonderful morning/ day/ evening" straight :-) Most of what I have shared, in this posting, is old news to Monica as she has become a cheerleading squad of one, ever ready with kind words of praise and encouragement. I was more excited than she (although she might argue that point) when she finally received my swap package in the mail. Although she emailed me as soon as it was delivered, she kept me waiting while she brewed some tea and sat down to open her goodies. Fortunately, I didn't have to wait long to find out that she was pleased with what I had sent her. Monica wrote me the most wonderful email and was so descriptive that I could imagine her face as she tore into the package. The gorgeous flowers are pictures Monica took, and sent to me, of a bouquet she gathered from her garden. By the way, Monica, peonies are my absolute favorites as well...with lupines also at the top of the list! My parents live in Maine, so lupines hold a very nostalgic place in my heart.
Aside from taking a few moments to publicly acknowledge what Monica's support has meant to me, I want to encourage anyone who is new to blogging not to get discouraged if it takes a bit of time to get/ feel acclimated. Because this is such a large community, you may have to spend some time navigating and reaching out before you find your niche.