Artful Journey

I was determined to get my envelopes for the PTEexchange out on time this month. Mail is always great, and PTE gives the opportunity to be a little creative.  May your road be smooth and carefree...  And if the weather isn't warm where you are... Do April SNOW showers bring May flowers?  Maybe it's time to bring some flowers indoors, willow ware and pink roses as a reminder that Spring really is around the corner. I am attempting to do the 100 day creative challenge.  Last year I made it about half way through...this year, I hope to complete the 100 days. Between the Flower Shop, my trusty camera phone, snail mail, art projects and blogging, I might be in with a chance. How about you?

bring work home with me... a reminder, spring is coming... After looking and working with flowers all day, you might think that I will have had my fill. That is what I would have thought. But the reality is, that even after looking at them all day, I like to have a vase on my table... and maybe even a little mason jar for the living room. Tulips definitely signal spring! These tulips were a little droopy, so past their sell by date...but, they work perfectly in a little mason jar. Hopefully, the florist trick of adding a penny to the water will help them last a few days... It's hard to believe it's the end of the month, it was down to the wire, but I managed to get my Pushing the Envelope Exchanges out... More flowers to match the postage stamp... February was international correspondence month, that was inspiration to get a few letters to pen pals out.. it's never too late to send a little love... I am hoping March brings warm weather, flowers,...

Thank goodness for Friday flowers, you can be assured that changes are always happening in the garden. knockout pink! Looking around and seeing that pop of color always lifts my spirit. knock out red! Since starting to blog, I have seen some fantastic photos, and I am inspired. The shape and color are stunning, so I have taken the time to get up close and personal. If only I could do their beauty justice. Onz has suggested I take it to a different level, and practice sketching or painting. I've put that in my planner for next week's to do list. Roses for inspiration. Another part of my transformation Thursday is to do something creative everyday. Also not just to read and admire blogs, but to incorporate some of what I see into my journey. Karen creates some simple, elegant, beautiful cards, so I wanted to incorporate some of that into my card/envelope exchange this month. A group of zebras is called a dazzle, but even in a group of zebras you...

Friday flowers follows that transformation Thursday theme. I love this time of the year; to look out in my garden seeing new things coming to life, and some old mainstays lingering on. The pansies seem to be lasting a long time. Since I am a sentimentalist at heart, I can't bear to get rid of them while they are still flowering, even if a bit straggly. So cut back, they remain in their spot, with a few white petunias to offset them. Side garden in transition And of course, there is a rose bush in the flower bed. Copacabana The back garden is filled with roses. It seems every time I look another bud has bloomed.  And talk about a climbing rose bush... Over 10 feet in the air through the lilac tree reaching for the sun up close and beautiful! Nature...showing the heights we can reach if we have the support. As for me, getting loads of support here and keeping up with my contentment and transformation challenge. No unnecessary s...

Whew! The heat is on, with a fury....all of a sudden, it's gotten hot, hot, hot. In a week, it has gone from rainy and cold to hot and humid. Vacation and last week's weather have put the planting a little behind schedule but I am on it.  Hopefully, those tender roots will survive this heat and thrive. ...with a little help from the angels. Have a good start on the front garden...and I have hung my summer basket on the door. Summer color! Roses are in bloom... and the portulaca (or moss roses) have been planted. But there is still alot to do.  All this gardening has left little time for mail creation, but some of my favorite magazines came. I will be browsing through them tonight while enjoying iced tea in the back garden. Time to sit sit back and relax. And of course, temptation came through the mail slot... oh no, these must go... As part of my contentment challenge with no unnecessary purchases for 90 days, these had to be ...

It's Friday, and the start of what looks to be a warm weekend.  There's a good chance that we will be heading to Cranes Beach, armed with sunscreen and a wide brimmed hat...that Irish skin really needs protecting.  As part of my garden transformation, I need to get some beauties in the ground today. Last weekend, we hit our local garden center....oh, the color! A feast for the eyes.  What a selection of Hydrangeas...the blooms were just enormous.  I had seen similar sized ones last year when we visited the Columbia Road flower market in London with Onz and David, but had never seen them in the US.  Amazing, they are the size of dinner plates. All I can say is wow! and double wow! And then I am a sucker for roses...take a look at these beauties. I lost  a rose bush last year, and am trying to decide which one to replace it with. A few more trips may be required before I make up my mind. In the meantime, I have some snapdra...