Highlights of My Week

Blooming in My Garden:

 I just Love how cute the pond looks especially when a Water Lily blooms.  

It's such a Delight!

 In June all the Lilies bloom in my garden usually starting with the ubiquitous, invasive orange daylilies that came with my house. I have so many that I've been planting them in the mowing strip at the curb because they are indestructible. 

Next to bloom is the Asiatic Lilies, like these gorgeous pink ones with the darling freckles.  

Then this showstopper bloomed!   

This fragrant Oriental Lily is named Stargazer. Isn't that a terrific name? 

I have to have them in my garden because their scent is quite breathtaking. 

All through June I get a kick out of strolling through the yard 

seeing what pretty flowers have bloomed in my garden.  

All my fancier daylilies will be blooming all over my yard soon 

in warm summer hues of yellows, peach, pinks and red. 

And I'll have more photos to share.

What I've Been Working On:

 It's time in NC to plant pumpkins so they will be ready to harvest in 

September and use to decorate or eat!  

I prefer to germinate seedlings using paper towel or paper napkins & zippy bags.  

It's super easy! 

I just dump the seeds on the paper towel, 

spray with water to drench it, 

fold the napkin over, 

stuff in the zippy bag and seal!

On the back of the seed packet it tells you how many days it could take to germinate 

and also how many days to maturation.  

I'll leave the bag in a warm place, like my kitchen counter where I can keep an eye on it 

and watch for them to sprout.  

As soon as one or more does sprout I'll pop them in some good potting soil and watch them grow.  

I like this method because the birds don't eat my seeds and then the bugs don't eat my seedlings. 

Have you tried it?

For the past few weeks we have been scrubbing and tidying up the house in anticipation of my daughter's Graduation Party, as well as family coming to visit and stay with us this summer.  

I like to have a house that is cozy, clean and inviting for my guests.  

While waiting to check out at Costco, I took a photo of my shopping cart filled with the cute cake I ordered for the party, flowers and party goodies.  Congratulations to Sarah!  I'm so proud of you!!

My constant companion ...

When I sit, blog or read out on the veranda she is right there sitting next to me.

Or when work out in the garden, Sookie is always near, ready to help or nap 

and if a box is involved -- all the better!

She's such a dear!  

What I've Been Watching:

We went to see 2 excellent Summer Blockbuster movies!

We Loved them both!  They were very well done, amazing visually with good, interesting story lines.

Can't wait to read:

I'm a BiG fan of SK !!!  I've been enthralled with his story telling since I was just a girl and have read every book he has written in the horror genre, not the Dark Tower stuff though.  I put in my request to read his newest book at my library and I am #46 in the queue!

What movies, books and flowers are you looking forward to this summer?

It's been Lovely chatting with you!
XO,
Michelle

Highlights of My Week

I've been Watching:

Call the Midwife & Mr Selfridge on Masterpiece Classic on PBS

Such great shows!

OMG the season finales were so heartwrenching!   Tears for both!
But now they are over with and PBS will be airing Masterpiece Mystery! which I also LOVE to watch.

Poirot, Endeavour, Silk, Law & Order UK

and some new mysteries that I've never seen called The Escape Artist with David Tennant, aka The10th Dr! That should be interesting and also a show called Breathless that looks retro, sultry like Madmen.

Who doesn't Love a mystery?

I've Been Reading: 

Another book in the good mystery series by Ms. Atkinson that takes place in the UK.  I mostly read at bedtime to relax and get sleepy, part of my bedtime ritual.  You do have a bedtime ritual don't you?

I've been drinking:

collecting my inspirational Oprah quotes & trying to earn some Bonus Stars during the Summer Star Dash!

New Nail Polish:

Cute new scented line from Revlon in these adorable bottles.  Have you tried them?  I bought Wintermint for the obvious reason, I ♥ mint green and this one is a very Lovely soft green with blue sparkles, very mermaid and summery + it has a slight mint scent for 1 day.  I feel Like I need to collect some more of these!

 Blooming in My Garden:

 This is a shrub called Mock Orange that has gotten quite big and is covered with these adorable tiny white bell shaped flowers that are lightly sweet scented.

 Little baby peaches that look so fuzzy & cute!  This is the most fruit I've ever seen on this tiny peach tree.  I've been doing a bit of pamepering to it, feeding, mulching, trimming and such.  I even planted a fig tree next to it recently so it has a fruit bearing friend.  It just so happens that this one area of my garden receives the most sun so I'm taking advantage of that.

This interesting plant has many funny names but I've always known it as Jack in the Pulpit.  I have a nice clump of it nestled in with the hellebores next to the pond.  I first saw this unique looking plant when I was child  we found it growing in the woods way way way behind our house when we lived in the country.  Sometimes in the summer we would hike down the dried up creek bed, be gone for hours & hours exploring the fields and woodlands.  Do you remember that, dear sister?

This is Memorial Day weekend, the official kick off to summer and all the flag flying patriotic holidays coming up.  I found my American flag and hoisted it up so it can wave from the veranda again.  I think it looks nice while honoring all the soldiers that fought and died serving our country. Give a jaunty salute!

I'm looking forward to lots of summer parties, graduations, BBQ, get togethers, vacations and family visits.

I Love spending time on the veranda, 

sipping a cold drink, working on my blog...
or reading & waiting to catch a breeze.  If you're lucky it will be sweetly scented by honeysuckle or magnolia blossom which I think has a slight lemony scent.
In the evening, it's a good spot to watch for fireflies or...
                                                                 just sitting watching the world go by.

How are you spending your Memorial Day Weekend?

Thanks for chatting,
XO,
♥ Michelle

Iris are in Bloom!

I have so many favorite flowers and Iris is definitely on that list.

I was fortunate enough to inherit a pretty 2 tone purple iris that was growing in the yard when we bought our old house 20 years ago.  So I have transplanted and divided it up so much it is all over my garden and neighborhood.

Here's a nice photo of a different shade of purple bearded iris that is a deeper richer color with more of a plum.

 

This variety was a gift from another gardener that wanted to rip out all her flowers and only grow veggies!

This sky blue Iris' petals are so pretty.  I Love the way it looks next to that hosta.  There is a lovely yellow Iris that grows in my garden but I can't seem to find a photo.


When  the bearded Irises are just about finished the Siberian Irises start blooming.

The Siberians are so prolific & happy nestled in and around the pond I need to divide them every few years to keep them blooming well. I probably should've turned the pond on before taking this photo!

I'm always on the lookout to collect different colors of Iris so if you have any to trade, email me!!!

Next up to bloom will be the Japanese Iris.  Mine are situated in a spot that has gotten crowded and is rather shady as of late.  I need to dig them up and divide them, too.
Check back later to see what is blooming next in my garden.
xo,
Gardengal ♥

My Mother's Day

The fun started Saturday evening

We traveled Downtown to see the artsy movie, Grand Budapest Hotel at the a/perture. My friend, Christi, drove so as a passenger I could check out the happening scene all down 4th street. There were lots of people out, loads of cool restaurants with crowds dining al fresco. I saw that Mediterranean Cafe that I want to try which is across from Camino Bakery, both of which I follow on Instagram now. 
Are you as obsessed with Instagram as I am?
The movie was packed, silly, funny, British & beautiful!

On Sunday we went to church at St. Leo's again.

It's a beautiful Cathedral with wonderful Gothic architectural details, glorious stained glass windows and statuary, even lovely flowers and a sheep statue decorating the altar.  I feel incredibly pious and closer to God in those surroundings.

Afterwards, I picked lunch at Hong Kong King All YOU Can Eat Chinese Buffet.  We all like it and I hoped it wouldn't be too crowded.  None of the chain restaurants take reservations and I knew we'd be starving!  
No mom wants anything to do with cooking on mothers day, am I right ladies?  
We scarfed down heaps of fried shrimp, beef & broccoli, General Tsao's chicken, crab rangoons, egg rolls and a bunch of honeydew melon chunks.  

After eating all we could, 

we came home for a rest.

I snuggled on the couch for a bit with The Fab Four, aka my pets, reading and digesting.  I kinda felt like I'd surely never would be hungry again!

Later my oldest daughter, Sarah & her husband, Steve came over to visit.  We chatted about things catching up on our plans and recent activities.  We decided to order pizza and enjoyed watching AFV, America's Funniest Videos together, just like old times.

I think this picture of Sarah walking through my garden 

during the golden hour is rather magical.

We took some photos for her blog, lostvestige 

Here's a photo of my Mother's Day Treats:

How Cute is that?

These are all my favorite things.   

I absolutely adore Tea!

I first saw this new tea on Pinterest and pinned it to my board named "Try This!"  http://www.pinterest.com/gardengal3360/
My daughter, clever girl, must have noticed and decided to surprise me, thank you sweetie!!!
I couldn't wait to sniff this tea and brew it up.  The scent is redolent of panettone, the delicious Italian Christmas bread!  Lots of vanilla and a smidge of citrus. It's Divine!

If you'd like to try this tea, too, here's the info:

• World Market exclusive

Our The Republic of Tea Downton Abbey Estate Blend Tea Tin is a must-have when inviting Lady Grantham over for gossip. Classic Earl Grey black tea is blended with bergamot, orange oil and exotic vanilla for a lingering finish, it's sure to add a little more intrigue to any event. Enjoy this robust tea with or without milk. Delicious served hot or as an iced tea.

I thought the description was delightful!


But the best part of all was just hanging out with my favorite people, just talking, spending time together, eating food & laughing. 


One of my fondest most memorable Mother's Day was when Sarah was a toddler. 
Could it have been 1993?  
I hosted a brunch at our home in Ferndale, Michigan inviting my mom, younger sister & brother. I remember we had mimosas to drink with my Favorite Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante with fresh squeezed orange juice.  
It was just so Lovely to sit outside on the deck, enjoy the spring day and relax with my loved ones. It feels so nice to do something sweet for someone you Love, doesn't it?
Just a perfect day.  
That was the year my hubby surprised me with an antique doll nestled in tissue paper & wrapped up in a vintage box.  It was really cool and thoughtful.  I think I had already ordered some jewelry for me!  Let's see, the first year was the huge cz earrings, next was the tennis bracelet... hmm 

Anyway, I hope your Mother's Day was memorable.  What did you do to make it special?
Lovely chatting with you...
Have a cute day ♥
xo,
Michelle

What's Blooming in My Garden

Now that the weather has warmed up and my garden has begun to grow it is a busy time transplanting and taking care of it.  It's satisfying work and flowers make me happy!

After the daffodils are finished the azaleas and dogwood take center stage

Roses and Irises are have been in bloom for the last few weeks

Emily attended the homeschool prom and we took a few photos in our garden before she was off to dance the night away.  She looked so pretty and my garden did too!

This pretty pink azalea is almost as tall as Emily

Here's a close up of her prom hairstyle. She did the braids and pinning all by herself!  Isn't she clever? 

 I spied this sweet clever dove in her nest which she has made in the branches of the climbing rose

This photo shows how massive that climbing rose is.  It's scent is quite wonderful!

Another pretty heirloom climbing rose that grows in my garden is the Zephirine Drouhin pictured here.  It's very fragrant,  thornless and can handle some shade.  I grow a few different types of clematis on this trellis as well as morning glory and moonflowers which will bloom later.  That's a Nelly Moser Clematis with a few blooms nestled in the rose. 

Peonies and daylilies are the next lovely flowers that will be blooming in my garden.  

So watch out for my next garden post soon.

xo,

Michelle

Highlights of my week

Gosh, it's been a super busy few weeks.  I've been working on getting my business cards together to order.  I decided to arrange some of my niftier vintage pieces together and do a photo shoot that would promote the vintage rental aspect of my party planning business.   My daughter helped me with with the formatting using picmonkey, paint & Vistaprint.  Lots of kinks to work out and fiddle with!

I decided not to use this photo for my business card but it will be good to use as an inventory photo.  My next step is posting photos of all the inventory available for rent.

All the daffodils are just about finished blooming now but that just means more pretty things are blooming in my garden.  I miss them though!

I took this photo of my bookcase showcasing all my travel books I've collected.  Paris & San Francisco are definitely on my Dream vacation destinations.

 Emily & I hit the Starbucks after her orthodontist appointment so she could get a huge frappucino.  The iciness helps with the pain of getting her teeth adjusted.  She picked Java chip.  I thought she looked cute!
And the best news is...drums, please!  She might get her braces off in June!!!

Do you like my collage of Easter candies?  

The new Peep flavors were fun & yummy, but my all time fav Easter splurge is the white chocolate rabbit!  

I especially Love getting one after the holiday for half off!!
So what is your favorite holiday splurge?

Happy Easter!

xo
Michelle

Highlights of my week

I've been obsessed with these adorable, white lace edge, metal plant pots from Ikea.  

I bought a bunch of them!  

At Christmas time I filled them with pretty pink or red poinsettias and tied them with red organza ribbon for festive decorations around the house and to give as gifts to friends, as well as teacher gifts.  

When your done with the plant you can fill the pot with pens & pencils, make up brushes & whatnot 

or get a new Springtime plant to fill it.  

Doesn't this pretty hyacinth look lovely and the aroma is divine!  

The Ikea planters come in all kinds of different sizes and recently they came out with a darling light pink pot and I've embedded a link so you can check them out. 

Now really, How cute is that?

Even if spring hasn't quite made it to your neck of the woods yet you can always get a little spring fever by adding a cute flowering plant to your window sill or desk.

I couldn't resist buying these charming posies.

They were only a few dollars each.  The African Violet will be blooming for months!  And even if I do manage to over water it or kill it another way, flowers that last for months for a couple of bucks is so worth it, ya know?  I'll definitely transplant the hyacinth outside into my flower garden.   

Currently...

I've been watching:
Cabin in the Woods, Super 8 & Divergent

All are ridiculously scary/thriller movies that must be accompanied by 

copious amounts of popcorn, soda and Twizzlers!!!!

I've been lamenting:

The shooting of the character,Will Gardner on The Good Wife.  

Were you as shocked as I was? 

I did not see that one coming!  All I could think of was,

"O Captain! My Captain!"

I've been reading:

I recently discovered Kate Atkinson's mysteries by reading a review in Entertainment Weekly or the Costco monthly magazine.  Her stories are based in the UK and seem to follow a few of the same characters, which I like.  I'm enjoying the stories but I must say that the writing, at times, is pretty incredible and just blows me away.  Here's an excerpt from "When Will There be Good News?" by Kate Atkinson.

The only important thing is love

When everything else has gone, love still remains. 

Often, after one of her moments of sadness, Dr. Hunter would give her head a little shake, as if she were trying to get rid of something from it, and smile and say, "And yet we are not downhearted, are we, Reggie?" 

And Reggie would say, "No, indeed we are not, Dr. H."

Is that just beautiful?  It really spoke to me.  And there are a bunch of books in the series to read!
Now, where's my cup of tea?
No better way to relax than a cup of tea and a good book!

Have a good week, readers ♥
Xo,
Michelle