Growing

Plants 

 Indoors

 And out.

 Even outdoor plants indoors.

And indoor plants outdoors.

Berries from the garden make the best jam.

karen

The Visitor

This morning as I stepped out onto the deck with my cup of lemon ginger tea and my copy of "Artful Blogging", I thought about how lucky I am to live here in the country.

Surrounded by beautiful woods with a lovely creek flowing along the edge of the property.

I felt blessed and content as I sat there sipping my tea.

I looked up for a moment and noticed a flash of white through the deck railing and this is what I saw…

A beautiful white duck just like the one I had as a pet years ago.

I don't know where he came from, but I heard he lives among some downed trees at the edge of the creek.

He seemed to be staying close to the three families of geese that have made their home here.

Probably for protection from the many predators that also share the surrounding woods and creek.

 I do hope he stays a while and takes a swim now and then in the pond.

Sushi the cat, like the white duck, was a visitor who popped in several years ago and decided to stay.

 I love my life in the country and can't imagine ever living elsewhere.

I could never trade my moccasins and the morning dew on the grass for high heels and hard pavement.

The simple pleasures of country living are my happiness.

karen ann

Getting Around To It

Last summer I found this wonderful Dutch Wax Resist fabric at a flea market near Pittsburgh, PA.

Yesterday, I finally got around to using it.

I made these fabulous drapes for my dining room.

I finally got around to hanging my glass star as well.

And replaced the aqua pressed back chair with this bent wood one.

Here's hoping today is just as productive.

karen

On Being Artful

As I sat on the deck this morning with my cup of coffee and my copies of "Artful Blogging" and "Where Women Create", I realized I haven't had much time to be artful or creative lately.

The arrival of warm weather has brought with it outdoor activities in addition to the indoor ones that keep piling up. There just aren't enough hours in a day to accomplish all the things I want to do.

 Gardening has taken priority over spinning and other indoor activities.

These beautiful Cone Flowers are the latest addition to my herb and flower garden.

 I've added some potted moss to my indoor plants

as well as a little Patchouli.

The vegetable garden is in and beginning to sprout and I feel relieved knowing that I can take a step back to admire what I've accomplished.

When you think about it gardening IS "Artful".

karen

The Colors Of Summer

It's a bit chilly here today with dark skies and some drizzle, but the colors of summer are popping out all around me.

Happy colors.

karen

Repurposed Parachute

I know…I know…it looks like a big jellyfish beside my chair, but it's really a parachute turned lampshade.

It looks and feels like cotton.
From what I could find online, it would have been used by the military for dropping flairs or small objects.

 It fits nicely over the vintage lamp shade frame that I've been storing forever for something special.

And sits perfectly atop the floor lamp in my living room.

karen

Something Unusual

When I'm browsing the tables at a flea market or garage sale I'm always drawn to the abnormal or unusual.  This morning as we were out and about we made a quick stop at one of the many garage sales that were going on this weekend. My unusual find is a small ceramic piece.

Just something cool for looking at.

karen