Summer Garden Tour

If you haven’t already done so, hop on over to A Cottage Industry to see the list of blogs offering “garden tours” on this lovely June day! I’m not sure I’m even on the list since I just sent in my info yesterday… but just in case, I strolled around the yard today and took some new photos of our “work in progress” garden!


Here’s the view from out front… Remember the whiskey barrels that were so popular in the 1980’s? My mom was with me when I bought this – such a long time ago. Being the non-gardener that I am, I just planted a few vinca vines and plunked down a hanging basket of petunias on top…


These little guys will greet you by the front door. I got them at Target in with the Christmas decorations last year (I love that place, but I still haven't quite figured out the connection between these guys and Christmas!). In any case, they enjoy sitting on the front stoop under the shade of the old bench and flowers.


Mr. & Mrs. Wren are busy raising their babies because they chatter at me constantly now that the eggs have hatched. They live right beside the garden gate that I wrote about in yesterday’s blog post; therefore, we try to come and go through the house as much as possible so as not to disturb them.


I’ve been trying my beautiful vintage Mary out in a few different spots in the yard. Right now she’s under the baker’s rack (the free one from curbside)… I planted a foxglove on either side of her and a Mandevilla vine behind her, to grow up the baker’s rack. I’m not quite sure about this yet. It could change before end of summer…


"Patience" has been moving around a bit as well.. Right now I have her sitting on an old bench that hubby built around the same time as the gate (it desperately needs to be powerwashed and cleaned up, but we've been so busy with our 'Roswell Crater' work the past year or two!). I used her old hat in another flower grouping so I bought her a new one of coral impatiens. From the serene expression on her face, I think she's digging it!


Here is the outer edge of Roswell Crater, finally starting to look something like a garden (not bad when you consider that it looked like this a few months ago!). I've been planting some butterfly bushes, crocosmia, monarda/bee balm, penstemon, phlox, red hot poker, etc. – anything that will attract hummers and butterflies into the garden!! And this week we finally put up the birdhouse I bought back around March. I've always loved the look of a birdhouse on a post in the center of a garden.


And here, Foxy Loxy stands guard over the Chip(s)’ favorite birdbath. A little green table with bright impatiens gives some color to this corner of the patio.


Why don’t we sit, have some iced tea, and watch for the hummingbird at the feeder hanging from the cherry tree behind us.


Earlier this evening I took my camera over to the feeder and waited for Mr. or Mrs. Hummingbird. I didn’t have to wait long before Mrs. Hummingbird came zooming in for a drink…


… She was being shy tonight though, and insisted on hiding behind the hanger while she sipped her sugar water…


I’m so glad you could stop by for my little garden tour… Let’s go out through the garden gate (we'll hurry so we don't disturb the Wren family). This is the gate from inside the backyard. You saw it from the outside on last night’s post… Years and years ago I planted ivy to grow up the fireplace. I’ve always loved the look of ivy on brick…


It’s amazing how many more clematis have bloomed since yesterday’s photo! And look – even the clematis seems to be growing in a ‘heart’ shape to match the heart cutout on the gate!

I had the nicest time.. I hope you enjoyed your visit to my garden. If you're new to my blog and would like to see more of our "garden in progress" (or the furry and feathered friends that visit us!), just scroll down... It's intermingled with lots of "inside the house" goings on! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Update: If you are looking for the "butterflies and blooms" that Tracey mentioned on her blog, they're on my June 14th post.

Donna

Today's song: Home is Where the Heart Is - Elvis Presley

The old garden gate...

I dread the day this sweet old gate swings open for the last time… I love it as much today - no, I love it even more than I did when hubby built it back in the fall of 1994…


Our youngest was just starting school that year, and now she’s in college. It’s the gate that swung wide for all the neighborhood kids to come for a dip in the pool… And it’s the gate that our sweet doggies could peek through if they wanted to know what was going on in the world beyond their backyard.


Hubby built the gate to my exact specifications…I wanted a simple arbor above the gate for the clematis (which have just started blooming)… I wanted the stockade pickets spaced apart so you could see a hint of the outside world, or a peek into the garden, depending upon which side you stood… I wanted the pickets to get shorter and shorter toward the center of the gate…


…..and I wanted the gate to have a heart… After all, a heart is the symbol of love, and I loved all the memories being made in our little yard, and I loved all the people that came and went through that little gate.


The ‘heart’ of the gate offers a little glimpse into the magic that awaits you when you enter…. If you look in this direction, you might see a hummingbird feeding at the hanging fuchsia…


…and if you look over here, you might see a new Mr. & Mrs. Wren starting to build their home in this birdhouse that we just put up yesterday…


But for years now, the wood has started to rot away… Pickets are being nailed and renailed into fewer and fewer places where the wood is still strong enough to hold a nail or screw. The old wheel that once allowed the gate to roll effortlessly is long gone. Some of the pickets have broken at the bottom of the gate, but I wouldn’t change a one of them. The broken pickets have resulted in the little hole that our Chip(s) use to enter the backyard, gather their peanuts, and then scamper back through the opening with cheeks so full of peanuts that they barely fit!


Yes, it’s a lovely gate… old, worn, full of memories, built with love… It welcomes our family, friends, birds and all the little creatures that visit our little yard. I pray it lasts many, many more years as I’m not even close to ready for a new garden gate…


Donna

Today's song: Home is where the heart is - Elvis Presley

More backyard visitors...

My sister cut out this cartoon for me - she knew I'd get a kick out of it - and I did!! I think it's hilarious!! (Thanks, Pat!)


And here we hve life imitating art... That's probably exactly what the robin on the ground is saying to the robin sitting in the birdbath!!!


And here a mockingbird stops by for a drink...


A few minutes later, a young male cardinal stopped by for a peanut...


And, as you all know, I have a soft spot for all my Chips...


So here are various Chip(s) at the birdbath(s)...



They're just too cute!!! And I'm learning to keep my hands steadier! You can even see his little pink tongue in this one:


A little red eye going on in this next photo...


The gazing ball bath is the perfect size for Chip(s)...


And here's one of our Sammy(s), also stopping by for a drink after his peanut snack!


We've started to make some progress in the Roswell crater... Hopefully it won't look so desolate in the near future...

Donna

To all the unsung heroes....

"The older I get, the smarter my father seems to get."

~ Tim Russert

(my thoughts and prayers go out to the Russert family on this Father's Day weekend...)

He opened the jar of pickles when no one else could. He was the only one in the house who wasn't afraid to go into the basement by himself. He cut himself shaving, but no one kissed it or got excited about it. It was understood that when it rained, he got the car and brought it around to the door. When anyone was sick, he went out to get the prescription filled. He took lots of pictures ... but he was never in them.

~ Erma Bombeck wrote of her father

"He didn't tell me how to live;

he lived, and let me watch him do it."

~ Clarence Budington Kelland

Happy Father's Day to all the special men in my life,

Donna

Comment Reply to Annie: Yes, that is me with my dad in the top photo, and my girls with hubby in the second photo! I loved your "mini-me" line!

The birds and the bees (and butterflies & Chips)

My hummingbirds have finally returned! I have no idea where they were for a few weeks, but the male and female have been all over the yard lately, at the feeders (here's the female last night) and at the flowers. And they're very territorial (just like the Chips!), so they chase each other all around the yard, going so fast that it's hard to follow them with your eyes!


I finally got my foxgloves planted and they have been a HUGE hit with the giant bumblebees! If you look closely, you'll see one of them in the center flower. They land on the end and then walk all the way inside to the back in order to collect the pollen/nectar. They are fascinating to watch!


I'm afraid I don't know much about butterflies but I snapped this beautiful yellow (swallowtail?)on the lantana hanging pot at the front of my patio yesterday.


And last - but definitely not least - I give you Chip.. Foxy Loxy has always wanted a "coonskin" cap (just like the ones Davey Crockett and Daniel Boone wore)... But since I don't allow any hunting in my backyard, I guess he's going to have to settle for a live "munkskin" cap instead!


Chip(s) love to climb on top of Foxy Loxy's head to eat their peanuts... By the way, these are two different Chips. Their coloring is slightly different and the top Chip has a long, narrow tail whereas the bottom Chip has a shorter, fuller tail. I'm getting to be an expert at telling all my Chips apart. And their numbers are growing. I think we have about ten now. Word must have gotten out about the endless supply of peanuts!

Donna

How Fun! I've been tagged - twice!!

Kady over at Life on Bonnie Lane was kind enough to tag me for this fun little game! If you have never visited Kady before, please visit her blog! She is so warm and down-to-earth; she writes from her heart and loves her home and her family - and she is funny!!! You owe it to yourself to click on the link to her blog! Okay, now I have to answer the following five questions:

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?

Let’s see… in June of 1998 I was mothering my two girls, then 9 and 12, who were anxiously waiting for school to get out so they could start enjoying the backyard pool (which is now lovingly referred to as the Roswell crater – see June 11th post); I was taking care of our three cats and one dog; giving hubby “honey do” lists; getting things organized for my fall craft shows; and probably searching for the perfect accents for my then primitive home! (Some things have changed in 10 years – some have not!)

2. Five things on my To-Do list:

1) Clean and organize my home office;
2) Finish planting flowers in the Roswell crater;
3) Paint the ‘dark brown’ rocking chair that’s now in the family room. I’m thinking pink or blue or green for a change, but more than likely it will end up white;
4) Completely redo our master bedroom that is stuck in the 80’s - everything from taking down the wallpaper border, to painting the walls, to painting the ‘dark brown’ bedroom set (the last of the dark brown furniture!);
5) Take/make time to read the two books I picked up at Target last week (A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith and Second Chance by Jane Green – talk about diversity in reading materials!!)

3. Snacks I enjoy:

Layered buttered popcorn and Milk Duds… I’m a movie snack addict. (Did I mention layered buttered popcorn??)

4. Things I would do if I were a millionaire:

I’ll have to second Kady’s idea of hiring a maid to come clean my house! And if we’re really ‘dreaming big,’ I’d like to take a crack at being a snowbird. I’d stick around New England until just after Christmas (the snow, winter, and cold are tolerable – even cheerful - until December 26th)… Then I’d set my GPS for points south and wouldn’t return to the northeast until April or May!! I’d also finish paying off the girls’ college education/student loans, pay off our mortgage, help out some family members, and definitely donate a huge chunk to a couple of my favorite charities. .. Oh yeah, I'd also go back to The Purple Rose and do some serious damage!! (see yesterday's post!)

5. Places I have lived:

Southern New England and Northern California

Now, for these same 5 questions, I am tagging:

1) Joanne at My Little Cottage in the Making
2) Sherry at Edie Marie's Attic
3) Pat at Mille Fiori Favoriti
4) Cindy at My Romantic Home
5) Linda at Linda's Blue Gate

Okay, now how fun is this?? I also got tagged by M from Tales From an O.C. Cottage! M writes about hers and her sister's cottages, their decorating styles, crafts, shopping sprees, pets, gardens, etc. I secretly think M writes for sitcoms out in "the O.C." because she is hilarious (and if she doesn't, she should!)! I can't ever read her blog without laughing out loud, so be sure to pay her a visit!!

Here are the rules for her game:

1. link back to the person who tagged you. 2. post these rules on your blog. 3. share six unimportant things about yourself. 4. tag people at the end of your entry.

Okay, this is probably WAY more than any of you ever wanted to know about me, but here goes!!

1. When I make instant coffee at home, I make it straight out of the hot water tap. No microwaving or kettle on the stove for me. (I still haven't mastered that patience thing yet...)

2. Speaking of coffee, I’m addicted to Paul Newman’s Iced Coffee from McDonalds (extra cream, two Equals).

3. I love clogs and wear them all the time. I shouldn’t. I’m a klutz and I’m always falling off of them or out of them. (If you’ve ever seen the Will & Grace where Will falls off of his clog and sprains his ankle – I totally relate.. It’s happened to me.)

4. I love movies. Count me in if you’re going to see the latest romantic comedy or scary movie. (Not slasher films no – no – no! Just a good spooky ghost/mystery movie!) And I’m easy to please – I usually love them all.

5. I type 128 words per minute (correction – I used to). I’m in my 50’s and back in my day when women applied for office jobs they were almost always given a typing test. The only person I’ve ever known who typed faster than me was my dad (and he probably still does). It must be some weird hereditary thing! (My oldest daughter just told me she types freakishly fast, too... yup - must be in the genes!)

6. I own the hardcovers of all Mary Higgins Clark’s mystery books (no collaborative works – just hers). Every time she comes out with a new one, I buy it. And once I start reading it, I hardly put it down at all until I’m finished. They’re quick, enjoyable reads - a totally guilty pleasure!

So for this little game, I am tagging:

1) Nancy at Nancy's Creations
2) Dana at The Stone Rabbit
3) Brenda at The Brenda Blog
4) Sarah at Burgeon
5) Patty at Attic Clutter
6) Katy Lin at The Great Adventure

Have FUN everyone!!

Donna

The Purple Rose - Gifts & Home Furnishings

I happened upon the most adorable shabby/cottage shop several weeks ago... The Purple Rose is located on Route 20 in Northboro, Massachusetts.


Just look at this faux fireplace upstairs... Ahhh, if only money were no object!


That mirror on the back wall was just gorgeous!! And I loved all the robin's egg blue in this room. It's one of my favorite colors to decorate with...


Anyone for tea and crumpets?


Confession time... I think I could easily furnish my home with items designed for children. I love the rugs and lamps and furniture and curtains that are geared toward nurseries and girls' rooms!

Now if you read the "About Us" section on The Purple Rose website, they apparently have a few 'spirits' that occupy their store (an old house)... The 'three women' who have never moved out reside in the first room to the left at the top of the stairs... Now there are two sets of stairs, so it is either this room or the robin's egg blue bedroom pictured above! I wasn't there early in the day so I did not smell the coffee!


I just loved these huge letters spelling out ART, going up one of the staircases to the second floor.

So if you find yourself in the Northboro vicinity, by all means stop by and enjoy the visual delight that is The Purple Rose! Their hours and exact location are listed on their website. And if you don't live in the area, they accept all major credit cards and Paypal through their website!!! Have fun browsing/shopping!!!

Donna

Roswell, New England...

Yes, indeed... It looks like the aliens have come and gone and left a big saucer shaped crater for us to deal with.... oh, the ugliness of it all.....

Okay, it was actually the 21' above ground pool that our girls and their friends splish-splashed in for many, many years. This photo was taken last year after hubby dismantled the pool. This is what we were left with... a scooped out crater full of stone dust!!


So last year we (as in hubby) built a 10' x 10' patio right next to where the pool used to be. The location was my idea so that we were able to plug the waterfall fountain into what used to be the electrical box for the pool filter/pump. We then had lots of top soil brought in, but toward autumn we ran out of money for this project and good weather, so everything got put on hold till this year...

We've now finished filling in the crater with top soil and we've put up a temporary E-Z up tent until someday (dream, Donna!) we can buy one of the nice 'mosquito netting' cabanas that all the stores are now carrying... The almost 100 degree temps and HIGH humidity are coming to an end tomorrow, so we're going to take advantage of the C-O-O-O-O-O-L temps this week to finish planting and whatnot...


So, this is it so far... As you can see, I have a thing for using plants and colors that attract hummingbirds to the yard! And this is where I take most of my photos of Chip(s), Sammy(s), and the birds... There's still a lot to be done but as I keep reminding myself, "Patience" is a virtue!!

Donna

Fountains and an Award !!

Tonight hubby and I were at a Lowes near our home... It is hot as blazes here in New England - and oh-so-humid! But as we walked by the fountains in the garden center, I swear that it felt cooler just listening to the water... Anyhow, I know a lot of you have been on the lookout for fountains and birdbaths, and I thought they had some pretty neat fountains so I snapped some photos to share... I have no idea if all of these styles are available at all Lowe's, but here's a sampling of what they had at mine:

Of all the ones I photographed, this was one of the priciest... $199 for the waterfall style. But soooo nice!!

I was so tempted to buy this Rose Fountain (but I think I definitely have enough already!) The top is in the shape of a little bouquet of roses - a very shabby/cottage look!!! I thought it was a very good price at just under $45...

This fountain was also very pretty, and not too bad at just under $100. I know it's hard to get a perspective from the pictures, but it was definitely taller than the rose fountain... The lion's head fountain behind was quite a bit pricier at $279, but what a presence! Very good sized and such a classic look! So if you have a Lowe's in your area, it might be worth checking out their garden center...

And guess what?? Can you believe that Sarah at Burgeon and Kady at Life on Bonnie Lane have both given me the Arte y Pico Award! Thank you so much, Sarah and Kady! I'm so honored that you have found my blog an inspiration! I hope everyone has a chance to visit Sarah's and Kady's beautiful blogs! They are wonderful, warm, witty ladies and bloggers, and I know you'll enjoy visiting them!

The rules for the award are:

1. You need to choose 5 blogs you consider deserving of this award for their creativity,design, interesting material, and contribution to the blogging community regardless of the language.

2. Each award has to have the name of the author and a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone.

3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that presented him/her with the award.

4. The award winner and the one who has given the award have to show the Arte Y Pico blog so everyone will know the origin of this award.

5. To show these rules.

So here I go, being a rule breaker right off the bat... Rather than naming five blogs, I'm awarding this to all of the blogs that I love and read regularly... I'm sorry I don't have time to always leave comments but I want you all to know that I enjoy your blogs so very much. So to everyone on my "favorites blog list" on the right - thank you!!! You are all an inspiration to me and whenever I visit you, it always brightens my day!

Donna