Trivia ~

Today...

I finished painting the newly installed moldings on the walls and ceiling in the guest bedroom. I am always impressed by what a bit of molding can do, and it is so easy to put up.

I love the soft vanilla of the wall paint, it adds warmth and subtle color to a cold, north-facing room and blends in well with the adjoining powder room.

I ordered trim from Fabric Warehouse that will be a perfect embellishment for the new drapes. I highly recommend this online company, the employees are both helpful and accommodating. I have never been disappointed with any of my purchases.

With crossed fingers and hopes for rain I picked up a few new plants for fall.

 And,

 finished reading another one of Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache novels, in which everything from the past is tied together in a perfect outcome and even Rosa the duck is happy.

All in all a wonderful, satisfying day!

I hope your day was a good one too.

Good night, sleep tight.

Une petite surprise ~

I had a little surprise this morning.

I knew I had raccoons about the property but they are usually illusive. Then this morning I spied these little guys snoozing, up in the branches of my very old  Lady Banks rose.

I couldn't resist taking a picture, there were three of them but one was hidden. I am fascinated by spark of intelligence in their eyes and the length of their paws, no wonder they can conjure up such mischief! 

How can anything so cute be so naughty!

The gift of rain ~

On Friday mornings for most of the year I meet with a group of other gardeners at the LA Country Arboretum, our class is called The Compulsive Gardeners. Yesterday our topic for discussion was a sharing class on what we have been doing in our homes and gardens to conserve water.

Well....

something we did must have worked because last night we were gifted with wonderful rain.

It was a soft, steady rain, falling most of the night and into the early morning hours.

And although this is (excuse the pun) just a drop in the bucket towards relieving our terrible drought, it is wonderful to see everything washed off, clean, and free of dust.

The garden is sparkling!

Colors are more intense.

It gives us hope.

Thank you for visiting, I hope you have a lovely day.

Happy Halloween ~

Wishing you all a happy and fun filled Halloween

...don't let and ghosts or goblins get you!

Two for one decorating ~

I have been busy painting the guest room. I love the paint color that I selected; it looks wonderful with the new drapery fabric. The walls and ceiling are now done and I am starting the woodwork.

Meanwhile,

I decided to take a little time to finish decorating for the up-coming holidays

I love decorating for Halloween and Thanksgiving, it's so easy and usually, with minor changes I can use the same things for both. 

In one of my kitchen cabinets this year I decided to display my Franciscian Apple dishes, they had been languishing in a cupboard and deserved to be used. Perfect I think for this time of year.

My daughter gave me this wonderful Jack-o-Lantern, after Halloween I just turn him around. Voila, with a little turkey added this vignette will be perfect for Thanksgiving.

Two for one...easy as can be!

Hummm...now just where did I store the turkeys?

Happy Halloween!

This post has been linked to: http://www.frenchcountrycottage.net/

Un peu de beauté pour la journée ~

I love Dahlias and I added quite a few to the garden this spring. They have been blooming for several months, giving me much pleasure and enjoyment.

I have lots of different colors and sizes but this one is my favorite. The flowers are not particularly big, about three to four inches wide; making up for it's size is the wonderful color combination and its prolific bloom.

I thought they looked rather pretty in this tulip vase...a little beauty for the day.

Have a wonderful  weekend. It is finally cooling off a bit here just in time for fall clean-up and planting.

Halloween in a box ~

 For Halloween and Thanksgiving I was planning to fill my new box with white pumpkins and dried hydrangeas, but when I brought up the decorations from the basement and started going through them I found some adorable Halloween plates from Debbie Mum that I had forgotten I had.

I simply had to use them.

So...the white pumpkins and dried hydrangeas will have to wait,  

and,

here is my version of Halloween in a box. 

Love this cute little witch, she's not the least bit scary and reminds me my other little witch that is currently holding court in the media/library.

Doesn't she look like Old Black Witch in the book?

After Halloween I will trade out the plates, add a couple other things, and be all ready for Thanksgiving!

This is such a fun time of the year!

Thank you for visiting, I hope you have a lovely day.

 

This post has been linked to: http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com/

Fairy flowers ~

Bulb season is here!

It is the time for planting spring blooming bulbs, this year, maybe because of our drought, the selection seems to be limited and so far I haven't been able to find any of the dwarf Daffodils I love.

But, I did find Leucojum bulbs which I really wanted to add more of this year.

I love their dainty little flowers and they adapt well to our climate.

 They naturalize in semi-shady areas, requiring absolutely no care.

No Lily-of-the-Valley for us, so Leucojum is my substitute. Now if I could only find something that would stand in for Peony's I would be very happy indeed.

Such pretty little flowers.

 I took these pictures last year after a light rain; it is enchanting how the droplets cling onto each little bell.

These are the perfect flowers for a fairy garden...I must sneak out early some morning when they are blooming and see if I happen on one.

Thank you for visiting, I hope you have a magical day.