I've Got Spring Fever -- BAD!!

 For years I have hated lawns (unAmerican, I know) but I just didn't see the point and I adore the look of English Cottage Gardens.  So after checking the CC&R's for our neighborhood, asking neighbors-both sides and across the street.  We proceeded to rip out the lawn (read: rent large "Toys" for my DH and DS to drive around what was the front yard).  All this happened preBlog so I do not have pictures.  After ripping out the lawn we, DH and I, entered the "negotiate" about relandscaping the yard phase.  I wanted a water feature, shrubs, bulbs, annuals, perennials, dwarf citrus, olive tree . . .are you getting a picture??  DH not so much; so the yard sat as we discussed various new landscape options.  Until . . . .Code Enforcement showed up!!  Apparently next door neighbor decided dirt was not to his liking and called them!  The Officer was very nice -- told me he couldn't say who called (the whole time shrugging his head toward next door neighbor).  He said the front yard had to be "green and growing"  and suggested weeds are green and growing!!  I explained all this to DH and he gave me the green light on my plans. 

For months I would purchase plants in gallon tubs, bring them home, stage them in the front yard then stand and stare at them, then move them and repeat.  Day after day I was out there drag, stand, stare. Drag, stand, stare.  Until I found an arrangement that was most pleasing, I thought.  I did get the water feature -- at Home Depot on sale!  I was gifted iris bulbs from a friend in Santa Cruz, purchased baby Olive Trees, Daffodil, Tulip bulbs and Daylilies.(The Daffodil in my header is one of the varities in my yard).  My DH and DD installed the slate path.  My DD has a gift for choosing just the right stones to fit together.  We put a little "fence" and a garden gate, with arbor which stays open to be more welcoming! 

Dwarf Alberta Spruce and Iris

Butterfly Bush - waaaay to big -- it's going to move and be replaced with a dwarf varitety

Water Feature -- timer has not been changed to reflect Daylight Savings Time and I'm NOT gonna mess with it.  I'll ask DS to fix it for me : )

Dwarf Citrus, Bird Feeder, African Iris, Foxtail Ferns, Mugho Pines, Azalea

and my shadow!

I love it, but the winter rains have taken their harsh toll on my Front Yard Garden.  I am longing to get out there and work but we have heavy clay soil that  takes forever to dry . . .so for now I'm planning the new additions and praying for no more rain!!  The News says 2 more storms are heading toward Northern California -- say it isn't so!  It's also time again to repaint the house, dark colors fade so quickly.

I want to play in the yard and plant more of these . . .

But for now I'm waiting impatiently and planning more color, plus resting in anticipation of the mulching process

As always; thanks so much for stopping by.  I love the company and I would be so honored if you would consider following my blog!

I'm linking to Kim at Savvy Southern Style http://www.savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/ for WOW Us Wednesday -- come join the fun there are so many inspirational post! 

LeRae

Top O' The Morning To You!

I was so inspired by all the amazing tabletop displays last week I found another area to add St. Paddy's Day cheer. The top of my dryer!  (Does it count as a tabletop??) One of the links from last week was to "Today's Fabulous Find" Blog, she creates wonderful subway art (and let's us download it).  I printed out the one I liked best, framed it and added it to the vignette. 

A Boston Fern in a thrifted pot, a Leprechaun Hat plant pick, my bottles of Laundry Accoutrements on a thrifted silver tray with  their (e-bay find) decanter tags, and the shamrock runner I made several years ago.  Makes tossing in a load (or 10) so much more fun!  I just noticed the tear in my Rabbit border -- weird, I go into that room a gagillion times a day, how did I not see that????? 

Close up of those lovely silver tags.  I have since ordered 8 more from the same seller, after a little mishap with cooking oils in the kitchen, all the oil is labeled NOW!!

How does something so simple bring so much pleasure?  That's why I love shopping the house and using what I have.  I always feel so frugal and creative after (I hope I'm not the only one!)

AND NOW . . . .(changing the subject)

In celebration of the beauty of Northern California's weather today . . .

My Daffodils are blooming! I have 3 other varieties, these are the early ones.

And so are the Iris.  The rest of yard still looks a little bare.  I need to get more mulch soon.  Ugh, that's one job I really dislike.  I like the results, just not the shoveling and wheel barrow loads, then rake, rake, rake.  But, I do enjoy the finished product, so . . . .I'll add that to the "To Do" List.

As always, thank you so much for stopping by!  I love the company and I would be so honored if you would consider following my blog!  I'm joining Marty at "A Stroll Thru Life" for Tabletop Tuesdays http://www.astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/ and Courtney at "French Country Cottage" for Feathered Nest Friday http://www.frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/.   Why don't you join us to? It's always so much fun and the inspiration out there in Blogland is priceless!  I constantly find new ideas.

LeRae

PS I have a question, so many of you have the blogs you follow on the sidebar.  How do you do that??  I can't figure it out to save my life.  Well, if my life was really in jeopardy I would probably work harder, I'm just saying . . If someone would let me know I would really appreciate it. 

****EDITED****  I FIGURED it out!!  I added ALL the inspiring Blogs I stalk visit often to my sidebar! 

St. Paddy's Day Decorating

The Weather in Northern California has been so unpredictable lately.  Rain and Hail one day, sunny and warm the next.  Today was wonderful!!  Puffy white clouds, blue skies, warm temp.  I was motivated to get out my small collection of "St. Paddy's" I know I don't like the creepy, scary ones.  I look for the fun, happy ones.  Just a few touches to spread the cheer around the house.

The Front Door

My Husband thinks I have a wreath for every Holiday, in reality I use the same base and change the "accessories".

I found this fabulous guy at Marshall's.  I have another one I just haven't found the right place for him yet, I hope I find a couple more this year.  I just love them!!

Coffee Table in the Family Room

Family Room side table

Kitchen Table

Here is hoping your March came in like a Lamb all soft, warm and cuddly.  Brighter skies are ahead!!  The rain, hail, snow will be gone soon and spring will have sprung!  As always, thanks for stopping by, I love the company, and I would LOVE it if you would consider following me!!

LeRae

I am linking to Marty at "A Stroll Thru Life" http://www.astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/ for Tabletop Tuesday, to Courtney at "French Country Cottage" for Feathered Nest Friday http://www.frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/ and to Cindy at "My Romantic Home" http://www.romantichome.blogspot.com/ for Show and Tell Friday!

Shabby Chic' ing (or what I found at GW)

Oh my goodness!  Today was an uber (I know I said uber) fabulous day at GW, 50% off Sale!!  Of course the place was jammed to the rafters with shoppers looking for good deals -- just like me!  I still managed to score some fabulous finds.  While dodging shopping carts I saw 2 adorable wooden trays, for $1.99 each with 50% off; I grabbed them.  When I got home, inspiration struck -- I jumped over to the Graphics Fairy, (love that blog) and printed off the "Hare" that was right on the front page, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE rabbits.  Then my daughter and I talked about Frenchy words for the slightly larger tray.  We found one we liked -- but the creative process took over!  We changed our minds and found a really pretty Hydrangea we liked better.  2 prints of the Hydrangea later we were so carried away being "creative" we did not take before pictures -- but you are all so crafty (the good kind of crafty) you know what I did.  Spray painted one tray "Oregano" and used a Cream Craft Paint on the other.  Then my new BFF Modge Podge my daughter and I got to work sticking down the images.  I think I still may antique them, and I'm considered adding a touch of glitter to the Hydrangea but I'm not sure -- I want to be able to use the trays too, what do you think?

Anyway, without further ado . . . here they are!!

the rabbit one

the Hydrangea one (sorry about the flash glare)

both together

(didn't my daughter do a good staging and photo job?)

So much fun for a President's Day Monday!  A little creative outlet, some together time with my youngest and 2 adorable additions to my home!

Thanks for stopping by, as always; I love the company : )

LeRae

I'm linking to A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday

http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

Sometimes Life Is Hard

Sometimes life deals blows that make us stagger; I'm grateful to be able to take it to the Lord in prayer.

Philippians 4:6

I'm off to a slow start . . .

With my Christmas Decorating.  I ran by GW yesterday ~ looking for something else, but . . . since I'm already there I need to, have to "look" a little bit.  I rounded the corner of the Seasonal Decorating aisle and sitting there waiting for me was this!

Isn't he wonderful? He's ceramic, there is not one chip on him!  I pounced! I think I did the evil villian laugh (boowah~hahahah) I wrapped my arms around him and ran for the cash register before anyone else could see him!  He is an amazing addition to my Santa collection, the colors are PERFECT for my home!  His presence inspired me to pull out all the Christmas storage boxes and bins which are now sitting

ALL OVER THE ENTIRE HOUSE!

My dogs are so confused!

Right now he is residing on the sofa table in the Living Room, who knows if he'll stay there.  I may just carry him around with me all day!

Because I love my "new to me" Santa so much I dug through the bins and boxes until I found another of my favorite men.  My "Tah ~Dah" Santa (to me he looks like he's thrown his arms in the air and yelled "Tah~Dah!).  I just love him, he makes me smile.  I keep him in the kitchen next to the sink so when I'm working in there I see his smiling face (my kids have threatened to have me committed, periodically I throw my arms in the air and yell Tah~Dah! Yep, way to much homeschooling).

Tah~Dah it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Thanks for stopping by, I enjoyed our visit.

Until next time!

P.S. Thank you so much for the lovely comments!  I was so surprised I almost fell off my chair.  Then I cried, you all made my night!

LeRae

I'm linking to French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

and

To My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

http://myromantichome.blogspot.com/



Thanksgiving Table

 I've been such a bad blogger!  I started in August (I think) and then all the great Blogs in Blogland and some pretty intense "real life" situations brought me to a place where I felt I had nothing to contribute so I just stopped.  Today my youngest daughter told me I should post pictures of our Thanksgiving Table (since she thought it was so pretty) on a blog -- I told her I had one; she stared at me and asked why I hadn't told her -- okay, again with the nothing to contribute . . . so here is my table with my thrifted Turkey Soup Tureen and Pumpkin Soup Bowls; and the really cool Turkey salad plates I found at HomeGoods; the leaf place mats are from the Dollar Store and the Place Cards are from TJ Maxx.  I'm so glad my family felt special today -- that was my intent.

I'm linking to French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by, I enjoyed the visit

LeRae