Favorite Blog

The blog that I always go back to for interesting homing and lifestyle articles is The Pleasantview Schoolhouse blog. Anna's blog has been a steady source of fabulous little articles and fantastic photography!

A Pathway Begins

A good hour and a half later and here the pathway is shaping up nicely. On either side of the larger rock is Moneywort which creeps along nicely and will fill in between the rocks. Very excited.

Developing Godly Character

This is my favorite book on developing character according to the biblical principles. I'm thinking of re-reading it just to soak up more of the truths. It is so encouraging and uplifting! What are similar books that you enjoy reading?

Our Very Own Miss Fannie

One of my very favorite children's books happens to be, "Miss Fannie's Hat" by Jan Karon. Our church just happens for have our own Miss Fannie, her name is Lucille. She is the most gracious host of anyone I know. When a visitor stops by her home to chat with her and have a bite to eat, it is actually is a full feast on the eat-in kitchen table. Our church honored her as the eldest mother of our church on Mother's Day with this hat from Dillard's. She wears it well.

Herbs in an Unexpected Place

While visiting my brother who is actively serving in the military, my Mum put together an herb box for his wife. It just happens to be in an old ammunition box.

Precious Nieces

Grammy quickly snatched this photograph of Miss Aaliyah and Baby Kenley. There's going to be some sisterly bonding happening in the next few years for these cuties.

Baskets and More Baskets

When I happen upon well made baskets at garage sales for pennies, I think I've hit the Jackpot. They are so useful for many things around the house, i.e. displaying towels or storing towels in the bathroom, gift baskets, displaying fruit and the list goes on...What do you use them for?

Pearls and Roses Centerpiece

Many of you know my sister was married earlier this year. I co-hosted the bridal shower for her in February with my best friend. The shower was held in St. Louis at a very large church which had a closet crammed with seasonal decorations. We had little time for setting up the evening of the shower. I dashed to the closet and gathered a few items: stringed pearls, ivory rose petals, various peony and rose blossoms. This is what I came up with. My sister was pleased.

Tea Time Bouquet

Stunning yellow roses placed in a blue and white Asian tea pot with accompanying tea lights are a nice ensemble during a Ladies' Day Luncheon/Tea. 

Ladies' Day Party Favor

Simple folded heart paper doily with candies inside arranged at each place setting is a nice treat for your guests.  

Passion Flower

Have you ever wondered what a Passion Flower looks like? Here's a Passion Flower vine. Now, that's some unique flower. I must admit this belongs to a friend and not to me.

A Mother's Day Gift

The ladies in our church draw names at the beginning of the year for Secret Sister/Pal for the coming year. This is my Mother's Day gift for my Secret Sister (a hand embroidered tea towel and fancy-dancy pair of gloves in a beautiful woven basket).

Project Organize: Scarves

A scarf can make nearly every outfit more chic, especially during Winter. I had all my scarves hanging on three wooden hangers. It really wasn't the best solution for displaying them. I would forget about certain ones that can be worn in warmer weather. A friend was getting rid of this brass belt rack and it works great for organizing the scarves at the back of my closet. Now, I'm more likely to wear my scarves.

On that note, if you haven't seen this YouTube video, I highly recommend it. It just might spark a scarf fetish in you.

First Peaches

The dwarf peach trees are producing for the first time this year. Let's hope they are good.

Thyme Varieties

A profusion of English Thyme grows happily at the foot of the Herb Garden bird bath. The smell of thyme is intoxicating.

Juniper Thyme - (hoping it will grow like a carpet to cover the nasty painted blue bird bath paint...the bird bath was given to me by a friend who didn't care for it)

Thyme Pages:

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/varieties-culinary-thyme-23609.html

http://pantrygardenherbs.com/?page_id=771

Manners Brush Up

Vintage manners books are a great read. It's fun to read how people were expected to behave 50+ years ago. If you feel you were perhaps born in the wrong era, you will enjoy reading a vintage manners book and seeing the pictures. Or you can go to YouTube and type in "vintage manners" and watch any number of etiquette videos from the 1940-1960's. 

Home Almanacs

Both books are out of print, but they can be found on Amazon.com for a few dollars plus shipping. Though each book has the same title, each edition has a different focus. Country Living's version emphasizes is on monthly cleaning and seasonal tasks. The other version is all about what to do in every part of the house and is rich with colored vintage artwork. There is so much to learn from each book. I consider them to be essentials in my Homing Library.

Welcome, Spring Blooms

What is your favorite season? If it's spring, I'll have to agree that you. Seeing the crocus push through in early spring and later daffodils and tulips budding on brown lawns gives me a great feeling that new life is on it's way. During the haste to keep the lawn and flower beds looking healthy, we sometimes forget that our treasured blooms also belong indoors for enjoyment.  Victoria Magazine's, 'The House in Bloom' has heightened my awareness of incorporating blossoms indoors.

Garden Plans in Action

An inexpensive graphing notebook can be purchased at your local office supply store. Well worth the investment as it will become helpful in developing plans and documenting those that have already been implemented.

Library Bed #9, first design.

Sperry Church design.

Cutting Flower Garden - All perennials

Small Space Gardening

As a country girl transplant, I value the space that is afforded me to garden in the city. When I happened upon this book last year in my favorite antique store, Promiseland Antiques in Pawhuska, Oklahoma; I snatched it up. Read cover-to-cover. Love it! You can't go wrong purchasing this for yourself and sharing it with a friend.

First Arrangement

My Mum likes to make flower arrangements. There were a few flowers left over from a recent arrangement and so I put together this arrangement for my Secret Pal-Sister at our church. I used an inexpensive woven basket to bring the natural color theme together. I used the odds and ends and it worked. You can't beat that.