Mornings with the Mournings...

First thing each morning, I go to the kitchen to brew some tea. Always,  an open window is my ritual {Hubby is kind to help}... or I struggle with that 70 year old monster myself if he hasn't had the chance. This window looks out into our backyard garden. On each side of the pane are old twisted-wire plant hangers. We've had some visitors claim these planters as their home! A feathered couple of mourning doves, that I believe are hoping to start a family!

A couple of days after this portrait of Mr. Mourning, the pair left my window...

my pie-bird seems to be crowing at the dove

See the Missus - she's lying down - her black eyes following my lens, mid-picture...

Was so wishing to witness the birth of the babes....
Surely seemed that they might stay with this nest. They definitely weren't frightened by our close proximity, or the camera clicking away!

Maybe next time, Mr. & Mrs. Mourning.... our garden is your garden!



* go visit all of the fabulous blogs that are linked at My Romantic Home!! I'll be there.

Here's What You Need to Know.. (about the last post)

Cliffhanger?... is that what I went and did when I typed out JUST JOEY, two weeks ago and then didn't return to the scene of the crime until tonight? Really sorry ! Here's the story behind that May 13th poem story.  (click may13 to read story)

On May 14th Hubby & I reached a lifetime milestone and began a month long celebration of our 25th wedding anniversary. To appropriately mark our day.. well, there just wasn't a gift that felt right. Hubby isn't much for material things. His wedding ring has sat in my jewelry box for most of the 25 years, so jewelry is on the never-buy list! Both he & I had surprises and trips planned, reserved and ordered. The one gift I could give would be something from the heart - thus, I wrote that poetry-like Just Joey item.

Next question, please...   "Excuse me, what was the idea behind Just Joey?"... oh, yes - that...

To my mind, something that we've considered to be the cornerstone of our life and happiness is this cottage home we live in. The move here, to this family-built house, happened just at the start of our married life. I regard this as my sanctuary. I feel safe and protected under this roof. The garden I've planted, and attempt to maintain, is of utmost importance to me. Hubby is enamored of all the serenity and pleasure that comes from these four walls, also.  Upon the lucky find of a perfectly perfumed and luscious yellow-peach rose - named: JUST JOEY, I knew she suited the 25th anniversary gift to a tee.

I painted burlap fabric silver (silver anniversary) and swathed the rose bush in a silvery bundle. White tulle for a bow, and propped her in our vintage wheelbarrow. Set out in front of our house just in time for Hubby to drive-up from work.

The 25 year Rosa is now planted and placed in the backyard garden. With love, nurturing and a home that provides shelter... may JUST JOEY grow & thrive for the next twenty five years, and more!

******

If I get the chance to play catch-up on blog posting...  do I have Anniversary stories to tell!

Keeping to My Word??

That word I jokingly chose for the New Year was sticktoitiveness. A non-word actually. Here is where I talked about it ~ and loads of food! Well, yes, in some scenarios I've been diligent...

Spring cleaning while it is still winter, over at my house. I showed you my bedroom changes. The particularly petite hall closet  was in my sights as the next project. Holy proclamation!! I did stick-to-it! The closet got a make-over. It was bad in there, people! Could not have stuffed one more coat in the door {forgot to take a before shot}.

I will preface these photos with a wishful thought ~ I do ADORE the early stages shots, where there's next to nothing inside the closet. But FYI - that doesn't work here in 800-square-foot-cottage land! She's now all organized, albeit still filled to the brim, 'cause it's the only space I've got!


EMPTY and bare ->

Looks a sloppy, wet mess here .. but I papered the inside walls with pages of an old gardening book.

Chalkboard painted the inside of the door ->

Partially filled with storage containers and a board that has pockets to stash our mail, bills, etc. Wish it could've stayed in this state...

the rolls standing are contact paper for the shelves

There was wasted space on the upper wall, and if I elevated the 3-bin storage baskets, I could then use space at the ground.... so darn it anyway - had to"junk it all up" and put in a table first ->

more baskets, the iron fits on the table, slightly-used objects high above on a second shelf...



Some baskets hold toiletries for travel, other bins have electronic doo-dads, while other receptacles house papers; sewing essentials and light bulbs. Boy, do we have alot of stuff!! We surely do NOT live like my husband's Great-Grandparents that built this home in 1940!!

That's all she wrote - not a whole lot more can be said or shown of a silly, tiny hall closet! Still, I'm glad that it's done - now movin' on to the second bedroom. Home of anything-you-never-wanted-to-look-at !

Puttering & Futzing

bedroom 2 years ago... this piece is now moved to the Dining Room

Our bedroom has been in need of a fluffing. Past due for a revamp. The tiny... {really, I mean very small} room that houses our bed has become a place to set down clothes wherever they might land. The minimal closet space that we have is stuffed to the brim. And because of those closets the work-out pants and tennies from the day get thrown in a bin that sits on the floor. UNAPPEALING at best!!


When last you read here about the projects going on and the silliness of it all since everybody with any brains was outdoor enjoying the sun... (whew, long-ass sentence).. well, I've been challenging my hoarding instincts (Hubby's too) and ridding our home of bags of un-needables. {probably not a word}. Progress has been made. The bedroom is a place I actually like sitting in now.

notice oil of ocean on top of black chest... comes into play next

Whether we've got the space, or not, {NOT !} somehow there has got to be a television in here. Masters & Johnson would have something to say about that! I have a distaste for looking at TV screens. In the living room our television is hidden, so I searched for a way to do the same in the bedroom...

Simple solution. Easy on & easy off... Hubby will be more likely not to scowl at this, since it is so simple.

Like pillows much?!! hhaaaa

Small details still to be solved. No end pieces on the curtain rods. Artwork above the bed to be changed.  And... on, and on, and on....  really never ends - does it? Such fun to shop my own home and change my surroundings, makes it all feel so lovely and new!

LOVE a gallery wall! Don't you?

Since the bedroom is all clean and decorated, I'm going to show her off at My Romantic Home.

A Wednesday Two Weeks Later...

Mid-week; chickens cackling in the backyard. The windows are open to the fresh air. I know why the caged bird sings...   {just using that quote that I do love} - Yet, I do know why they're singing...
IT IS GORGEOUSLY SUNNY!! Me, the chicks, my neighbors, every little creature - out and alive!

early morning shadows from my perch

Time spent ridding our home of excess isn't particularly the way I see myself whiling away the brief hours of sunshine. Yet, here I am. I've been enjoying this chore. Bags of clothing tossed aside for a trip to the resale. Furniture dusted and moved to new corners. Happy vignettes of never displayed goodies swapping spots with the old & tired. Rather pleasing. Surely have days and weeks more work to go. Maybe not during such lovely non-wintry daylight.

On a post-rainy day of recent, we did take a road trip through the redwoods, and out into the tiny town of Pescadero. A perfect afternoon with mustard fields, goats, cheese tasting and ocean.

Harley Farms sits in a field with a barn over there, and a couple of out-buildings here, and the milking parlour near to the goat paddock. We tasted cheese, but also some warm and succulent butternut squash & jalapeno soup. At the tippy-top of the barn is this room shown above ^. Here, the farm hosts a once per month field-to-table dinner. Along with the charming goats, lovely scenery and smiling face of the shop tendress, there is also a furniture maker. Sad to report, we were unable to meet this chap. His nickname is Three Finger Bob. Sounds like there must be a story to be told... don't ya think?


Bring on the warm California sun!

Short Days of Winter

Winters begun, nightfall came early today. While reading, I found this lovely piece of poetry and found it perfect for this near-to-Christmas day ~

                                                                         ***

I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says "Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass

                                                                          ***

Our home is decidedly non-traditionally decorated for the season. As I wrote previously - it's somewhat "organic" this year. Here's the very little rest that I've arranged. It's not much!

 

 

The ironstone pitcher on the right is filled with flowers from Pops' funeral - they just got plunked in the ewer and I never re-touched the bouquet.... sorta sad looking... oops!

notice the white paint splotches still on the walls - so lovely! :-)

again with the unfinished paint

the minimalist look

Boughs of green, wreaths of boxwood, orchids, ferns, paperwhites and pine cones...organic - some straight from our yard -  SIMPLE & BEAUTIFUL and all that will happen for this holiday!

Where Alice is Likened to a Poker Hand

No topic for this post... 

No energy to think one up ...

Maybe I'm able to connect the dots from Hubby's card night to me with no hand to play..

Nope... I've got nothin'...


Cards.. boys??

At our house in the crazy Alice-like world I've been living in.. {everything all wonky}.. well, it makes sense that poker would be played in our front yard. Oh yeah! So very ghetto, and yet, funny!
CURIOUSER & CURIOUSER!!

Hey.. now I do have a topic!!

A correlation to poker and life ... I've been feeling like the chips were down. Not every day and not in a way that has me feeling down. In fact the chips being down also made me feel like I'd been dealt a new hand. Empowered.

There have been men on my roof. Hacksaws and ladders in my trees. I've been Motrin popping at night in order to move my fingers. Sprayers and cleaners and all sorts of deterrents placed in the yard and garage. I've found strength I didn't know I had. Trees have been dug up and overgrown brush reduced. Cannot wait any longer. The aging house got this way from neglect. Someone had to do something. Again, oh so very Alice... "I wonder if I've been changed in the night? Let me think, was I the same when I got up this morning?"

 

Just like Alice - I too love a tea party and friends.. but, eventually sense needs to be made of our life ..
In Alice Through The Looking Glass there is a potion sitting upon the table, with a tag that reads:
Drink Me. When she consumed the drink she was able to change herself to do what the task was at hand. Oh, if it were only so easy!

Hubby's poker scotch tasting

There ya have it. Found a topic. Me & Alice. Just girls. Makin' things happen. Change feels good.

A toast to you & me, Alice!!   Drink me, INDEED!!  :-)

What My Garden Told Me

Nearly all of my friends have said it at one point or another during this summer. The weather has been so strange. Changes are happening quickly - my annuals and perennials have been showing signs. All about me I've heard the garden stating her discontent. The summer seems on it's way out.

"Hear ye, hear ye, FALL is fast afoot !"

I believe my garden has loudly pronounced her prediction ... {somewhat like her tendress}.
 I'm listening. I'm liking!