HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Happy Valentine's Day dear blog friends. Wishing you flowers and chocolates and someone to love.

XO

PILLOWS, PAINT, AND A BEAUTIFUL SUNSET

I have a goal to get my workroom clean and organized well in advance of the holidays, and I have made a start, but there are so many distractions. The pillow fabric I bought for the new family room sofas was staring at me, so I got that little chore out of the way.

I think they look festive, but of course, I always consult my quality control people.

Having gotten the "thumbs up" from Scout and Nigel, I went back to my sorting, but as soon as I had enough space cleared, my paints started talking to me. When paints start talking it's best to listen. So, I layered paper, then acrylic paint, then charcoal, with no real intent, and found myself here.

Thinking I might scan and print this on fabric, and see what happens when I add stitching.
 I have two bouquets of beautiful roses from last week and they aren't getting any fresher, so I made time to take some pics and play around with my editing software. DH gave me this lovely peachy-pink color.

And my visiting big brother and family brought me these beautiful white ones. I love white flowers, but especially roses.

None of which got me any closer to a clean workroom, but by late afternoon, it was nearly 70 degrees, and it would be a shame not to get outside and enjoy that, so I took a walk down to the river.

Got webbed feet walking through the tall grass.

Then hung around waiting for the sun to set. I had a feeling, it was going to be a good one.

It would have been a shame to miss that. 
Now it's back to work. I will get that room sorted out. Then I'll start on the unfinished room over the garage, because that is going to be my new work space, once we accomplish the Herculean task of emptying it. 
Dream big.
XO

LAST ROSE OF SUMMER

The beetles are gone, finally, and my roses are enjoying a last hurrah.

This pink, is one of my favorites.

Here's a closer look.

But, you know I can't just leave it there. A few clicks brought it here...

Scraps of fabric and paper, and a lot of stitching brought it here.

May you catch the melody of the last summer rose, and hold the tune until spring. XO.

SPEAKING OF ROSES

"I haven't much time to be fond of anything...but when I have a moment's fondness to bestow, most times...the roses get it. I began my life among them in my father's nursery garden, and I shall end my life among them, if I can. Yes. One of these days (please God) I shall retire from catching thieves, and try my hand at growing roses." ~ Wilkie Collins

Do you know Mr. Wilkie Collins? One of my favorite authors, Victorian era novelist and playwright,  life-long friend of Charles Dickens, and a must read for fans of British country house mysteries.  Some say that the genre began with his novels, The Moonstone, and The Woman in White.

"Won't you come into my garden? I would like my roses to see you." ~ Richard Brinsley Sheridan

"He who plants thorns must never expect to gather roses." ~ Arabian proverb and truer than true, don't you think?

Spent blooms have their own glory. I'm hoping.

Hope things are coming up roses at your house. XO

ROSES IN DECEMBER

"God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December." ~ J. M. Barrie
You don't need memory for these December roses. A little frostbitten, but lovely still...

One more day of unseasonable warmth (70 yesterday) and then I really will have to prune these lovelies. Hope you still have something pretty in your garden. XO

EASING INTO FALL

It's no secret that I love this time of year. Here on the shore, it's a long slow slide into fall. Mother Nature can't seem to decide what she wants to wear. The roses and crepe myrtle and rose of sharon are still in bloom, but everywhere are tempting glimpses of the fall color to come. Mornings are misty, and every leaf and blade and web is hung with diamond dewdrops. It's a pleasure to step outside.
Today is warm and muggy, but by Sunday the expected high is just 60 degrees. And so it will go, up and down, until finally the chill is here to stay.

I'm not in a hurry. I like to savor these days and walk round the neighborhood with my camera, storing memories for the dismal winter months.

I'm always a bit nostalgic in the fall. I think it's the most romantic time of year. A part of me longs to be back in Susan Brown's parents' garage. Seventeen, and up to my elbows in paper mache. Working on a Homecoming float, and falling in love with a lanky teenage boy. That man who is with me still.

Hope you're enjoying the outdoors and storing memories of your own. Hope you have someone to cuddle  when the frost comes. 

XO

WILD STRAWBERRIES

Seems there is a new discovery in the garden everyday now. I like to take my camera when I feed the horses in the morning, then have a little walk around our property to see what's new. Today's new arrival? Wild strawberries....walk with me.

Found this sad little egg in the middle of the pasture. Wonder who stole it and dropped it there...

My dianthus border is in bloom.

Hundreds of blooms on the Knockout rose.

Irises of all sorts are blooming now.

Found this nest at the edge of the pasture, and yes, I did climb up on the top fence rail to get a pic, and yes, the branch I was holding onto broke, and yes, I fell, but no harm done, and looking at the pics I realized that I accidentally hit the video button.  There's some pretty hilarious footage of my bare leg and muck boot flailing around, and no, I won't be sharing it! Don't beg! It's unbecoming.

What's new in the great outdoors at your place?

FAVORITE THINGS

Is there anything prettier than last night's raindrops on this morning's roses?

Hoping you get to enjoy a few of your favorite things today. I'm thinking "whiskers on kittens" would be nice, but that's just me. My most favorite thing, is on his way back from Myrtle Beach. XO

EARLY MORNING BLOOMS

Mornings like this make me question why I call myself a "fall" person. 
Fed the horses, then grabbed my camera to capture these blossoms in the early morning light.

Rhododendron

Don't know the name of this rose, but cuttings have been passed among family and friends for as long as I can remember.

Knockout rose.

Snapdragons

Iris

Veronica Alba (why are you blooming already?)

Azalea

And finally...anyone know the name of this funky fungus? Was going to Google it, but my son advised me to be extremely careful how I described it! LOL!

?

Wishing you a day of glorious spring blossoms! XO