Happy Summer!  I am a bit late to the party but you cannot deny, summer has bloomed!  Summer brings a heavenly
Mock Orange, several Clematis, a tall Daisy, white Lilies,  a scented yellow Day Lily variety and a Sweet Pea around
our mail box with a will of it's own!

I do love cutting what I can and bringing in vases of flowers for neighbors & friends and for our own home as well.
Here we have some sweet, slightly shabby, Raspberry Sundae Peonies.

One last bouquet for the year ~

I hope these lovely flowers are a nice peace offering to you.  I have been a neglectful Blogger for some time now.
Yes, I have been taking care of family and home on a bit oaf an amped up speed.  Caitlin is doing very well now and
I do Thank God along with all of your thoughts and prayers.   Yet, it is now time to return to my friends here and look
forward to new ones...  to get back to a bit of a day.  Yet we will never be the same.  We have grown and stretched and
re-prioritized.  THAT is the clincher, some things are much more important now.  Family and home are more than ever in my heart.

Miracles DO happen, everyday. 

Hobbes was so cute, all snuggled up in "my" chair. Hmm, never thought I would
have a chair all my own. As kids we would love to sit on the floor to play board
games or watch T.V.   As we became older we would call out "I get my spot back."
This assured us that when we returned we could retrieve our cushy seat.   I do not
know what the deal was... were there too few seats or just favorite spots?  Well,
it held the peace in a large household, where I will add we had ONE T.V. and we
all agreed on the program.  Thus when we watched T.V. it was as a family.  My
families living rooms were had fun and laughter.



No, Hobbes is not watching T.V., although I actually have seen him do this!
He has taken to snuggling into my favorite chair.

X.O. 

Mary

P.S.  I finally have photos of my latest piece!  
I will have them up within a week... sooner hopefully!

Wishing you a Blessed Easter ~

The sun is out today and above freezing!  Progress that is.
AND I spied a small flock of Red Robins!  They are early I believe,
Good news to me for Spring surly must be arriving ahead of schedule!
Oh Pretty please!

THE ROBIN is the one
That interrupts the morn
With hurried, few, express reports
When March is scarcely on.
The robin is the one
That overflows the noon
With her cherubic quantity,
An April but begun.
The robin is the one
That speechless from her nest
Submits that home and certainty
And sanctity are best. ~ Emily Dickinson ~

May the sun be shining down upon you today!

Hugs, Mary

"Snow! Snow go away come again some other day" .  
I just recalled this from my childhood.  I do believe it is supposed to refer to rain, not snow. 

There is an upside to snow and cold weather!


mmm. Just perfect on such a day where there is 2 feet of snow outside {over night this landed in our yard!}.



Not the snow blower, that we had from my Dad and Mom {thank you Mom}

The snow.  The wind howled all night long and the thunder! wow!

But when you have this waiting for you...

A cup of very very special hot cocoa!
This is made by Andrew, the cousin of my son's Fiance'.
He is a chef and actually is one of the designers of flavors
over at Black Dog Gelato.  This cocoa was so amazing!  A creamy, velvety,
rich, thick deliciousness! I guess they have hot cocoa there also...
so when you are in the City make sure you go there!!! Cold or hot they have you covered!
Unbelievable deliciousness!!!

SECRET Ingredients!!!  {my lips are sealed}



And look what I found in my cup!!!!




links ~
Black Dog Gelato

xo,

Mary

Take Me Out Tonight

The New Year has begun with all of us, including Doug, Monica, Caitlin and also James still being down with the cold/flu bug...
not exactly energizing but it is inspiring. Once one is FINALLY well again, we are talking weeks here, a grateful feeling washes
over you and you are ready to get out there and meet 2011.

So I begin 2011 AND the Valentines season (oh, yes there is a Valentine Season) with
a cute video and song that will inspire everyone wherever they are at *(notice the line "dust off...").




Hobbes also enjoyed many naps over Christmas and New Years... I once saw him emerging from the folds of a VERY
fluffy comforter that was on a sofa.
Any talking or movement  I make he interprets as  "she is going to feed me"," she knows I am HUNGRY for the third
time this morning!"  This guy will eat all day if you let him, but I will not let him. Must not let his cute face bother me,
nor his paw as he ever so gently taps my shoulder or arm.
Soo cute is he.

XO,

Mary

XO,

Mary

... I had a moment to play around with sprays at the top of this wreath. 



It has not been often this fall that I have found time to re-charge like this.



Putzing around, fluffing the nest.... a favorite activity of mine ~ in need of restoring.





Here is a link to a new friend who has done such a lovely and sentimental job of getting
her nest feathered!   Do please stop in to say hello to her.

Merry Christmas!

xo,

Mary

The Shop is Opened!

 

A season of calm and bright.  

That is my wish for us all, dear friends.

For now ~ wreaths, peaceful and joyous.... indeed, ready for a celebration.

Indeed! I did get carried away!



These petit vintage style wreaths have been a favorite of mine for several years now.


I just made mine with a wee loop to place a wire hanger 
within so to dangle from your tree.

A gallant deer, a brilliant candle and ~

Glistening pine cones.


Then, the petit cottages designed by myself for YOU!

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It is a time to be so grateful for all of the love we have.
It is an "Oh Merci" Christmas!

***  Please stop by my shop!   ***

With Kindness,

Mary

October Celebration!

Fall is a wonderful time for celebrations.   Golds, oranges,
that wonderful cranberry red leaf color. Fires in and out of doors.
Leaves crackling under foot.



The way the sun shines upon us at this time of year, a warm hug.



A Birthday Celebration for our second child, Douglas, now a young man.
Merci Beaucoup Dear Father. How blessed I am.

*** UPDATE ~ Birthday Boy chose real German brats from the Wurst Kitchen!
*** they also have great hot dogs and Italian sausage.

Hugs,

Mary

I have a petit garden at this home.   I  smooshed in {garden term meaning "put in another plant"} four tomato plants within ONE tall, square, wire cage.  Another plant, grape tomatoes, was placed a few feet away and then a pot of basil soaking up the sun.  Along side of that is a pepper plant with 3 peppers on it!

All of this is in a bed were I lost a small magnolia tree and a hydrangea bush last fall.  This is what I call my vegetable garden :)  It is in the sun and everything is loving the spot.  Oh I also have two self starter/volunteer  tomato plants along the back side of the bed... an heirloom variety.  Lovely.

We have enjoyed several meals with the tomatoes and basil but today came the day where I took the leap into preserving the small bounty with a  freezer method.

If you want to have bounty from your garden, farmers market or pick your own farms this winter then read on with my SOOO EASY technique!



1. My tomatoes ~ washed, stems removed.
2. I made a small X at the top of the tomatoes with a small pairing knife. {this expedites skin removal}







3. Place tomatoes in boiling water for 45 SECONDS.
4. Immediately remove, with slotted spoon or the like, to large bowl of ICE water.
5. Peel off skin and place in another bowl  ** remove any bruised or bad spots... I did not use any tomatoes with bad spots
6. I like the entire tomato so I do not remove seeds... but you can now squeeze out the seed if you like.



7. Place in freezer bags.



NOW here comes the strange part! I almost did not do this but at the last minute
I decided to give it a try.

8. Place a straw in the Zip Lock FREEZER bag, seal except where the straw is.
Sip the air out of the bag with the straw!   Sip several times until the bag is well collapsed
then quick take out the straw as you are sipping out the air.  THIS WORKS!



Notice the wonderful results! A fair amount of the air is now out of the bag.


9. Place in the coldest part of freezer to begin with.



I know I only have 4 small bags.. but I am still thrilled. You can also freeze tomatoes in a sauce form even with spices. I wanted all of my options opened so no spices for mine.

I am hoping to freeze many more of my tomatoes ... this was fun, easy and clean up was a breeze!

Mmmm, just think of taking one of these bags of treasure out of the freezer this winter

and simmering up a nice sauce, soup  or pot of chili.

Are you preparing any produce at your home for the winter?
Let us know what you are doing and any tips you have!

Hugs,

Mary
p.s.  I will be back soon with pretty thinks to share

Hello Dear Friends.  I am sorry,  I have been missing... all is fine.
I have been learning a lot on many fronts of life.
Yesterday I actually learned a new skill in the work shop!
It felt marvelous to not have to ask for help...
to be growing in my skills.


Let me tell you HOW HOT IT WAS yesterday!  Definatley not the day to be
working outside  {easier to clean up the mess outside}.
I actually had to bring in my material and electric tool to cool down inbetween tasks!


This is the window box outside of my kitchen window.  A few years ago we
waited an entire summer to get this delivered! 
Do you see the pretty little plant swag that I made? {above photo} The trailing vine
was hanging down pretty far so I decided to connect it to the middle pot and let
the remainder fall down the center. The other side is not as long yet so it is a bit
lopsided for the moment.




Petunias love the heat but with all of the rain I think they are a bit waterlogged.
I love the patterns in these flowers~ which is why I chose them. 
Next time I would include more solid shades of pink with them...
they seem to be a bit faint in color.
They still look lovely!



Back to my special project :)
Caitlin will be doing her own version of this special project so I made a few for her also.
I can not wait to get them done!  I especially cannot wait to see Caitlin's!!!

I know... a bit of a tease today, but really!  I love this product!!!

Thank you for visiting sweet friends!

Hugs, 

Mary

Has laundry ever looked so Glamorous?


I did quite a bit of household duties the other day.  I was very satisfied with
all the bits of tidying and cleaning.  By evening, I noticed this pretty basket..
looks like a celebration waiting to happen!   Inside of a favorite Simply Shabby
Chic basket is a vintage table cloth... love that silver with the white!

I am happily busy with my VERY SPECIAL PROJECTS!  I love them! 
I can hardly wait until the time I can present them!!!

What are you working on?  A project, a vacation, celebrations!?  
Post a comment to let me know! :)

Hugs,

Mary

Whew! It is H-O-T here and humid. Going from having the furnace on and
two days later turning on the air is too quick for me.

My Garden has been affected by the heat wave also.... acting a bit confused and
perplexed... the garden has EXPLODED with blooms everywhere.  It is like
being in a bedroom designed in the 1980's... flowers everywhere ~
the floor, the walls, the curtains, the bed and vases on dresser tops over flowing
with more flowers! Ok, maybe I like all of those flowers :)


I hope that your summer is also turning into a beautiful flurry of blessings and fun!