A Bouquet A Day...

This time of year - there really is no excuse for me to not have a

 fresh bouquet of flowers happening somewhere.  Right now - 

this is what's delighting our front porch at the summer cottage...

I added some white 'baby's breath' - that isn't baby's breath - 

but is a perennial that works just as well.  

Gypsy White Achillea and Pink Yarrow (Achillea)

Lotsa perennials in my beds means blooms most of the time.  

And when there's not - ornamental grasses work just fine.

Summer flowers - how I love thee!

Do you have perennials?  ~Joyce

Placemats or Tablecloth...

In setting my table today for a small gathering of 4... 

I was contemplating using placemats in lieu of a tablecloth.

But it looked too crowded and busy for such a small table.  

Then it hit me - 

  

...one placemat in the center would be perfect! 

And it complemented a jar of irises and lilacs nicely.

The lilacs are not quite in full bloom - 

so they should get prettier as the week goes on.

And those would be 'ants on a log' hiding underneath - 

also known as celery with peanut butter and raisins.

This was my first fresh flower cutting of the season.  

 Soon we'll enjoy some picnic table dining and placemats will work there.  
Welcome warm weather!  ~Joyce 
Linking to Monday Funday

My $3 and 3 Minute Bath Decor...

Yesterday found us doing a road trip for some fun 'big city' shopping.  

After a delightful stroll through Ikea  - we searched out a Trader Joe's -

a grocery store with specialty and organic items at good prices.

  One of my favorite finds...

...was a wildflower bouquet with the sweetest little flowers for just $2.99.

My intent was to separate the bunch and place them in several small containers.  

But one plop in an aqua Mason jar and I considered it done. 

Happy Bath... Happy Me...

 

And now I've also got some fun Trader Joe's bags to play with...

 

Gotta love 'em for their great graphic.

Can you imagine the sweet gift tags you can make with these?

Check out this Pinterest board I found for ideas!

 

Again I say - it's the little things that can make your day!  ~Joyce

Big and Simple Bouquet...

Proof post that simple is often best...   

My hardy dahlias always fall over and alas - I don't have them staked.  

No worries.  The drooped stems make a great excuse

 to cut a whole bunch and bring them indoors.

Now I've one massive sunshiny bouquet by my front door... 

 

And it's just one flower variety...

Yeah for simple pleasures!

 Have you been bringing in garden cuttings?

~~~~~~~

Today's Etsy listing - Vintage 14" Braided Mat

 

Spring Trees - On The Table...

When I returned home from my walk last evening - 

it was getting too dark to take pictures of my own trees.  

So instead - I snipped a few branches...

 ...and brought them inside to enjoy with breakfast this morning.

Pink Dogwood in blue mason jar

I had a friend invited.  Combined with an aqua blue

mason pint jar - 

they were the perfect Spring centerpiece.

I love this time of year when there's usually something 

I can snip from my own yard to brighten my rooms.

Have you done any 'snipping' yet?  ~Joyce

Spring Trees - An Evening Walk...

I took my camera along on my walk around the neighborhood 

this evening.  The trees were beautiful!  

I'm thinking God likes pink...

...and white...

...and whatever color this is - but it sure is creative!

Most everyone had manicured lawns which made for lovely backgrounds...

There's even a church on my walk...

Neat huh?...

More pink (actually a red bud tree)...

And this little pretty was almost touching the ground!

What's not to love about Spring?

Thank you Jesus for eyes to see Your handiwork!

Wedding Bouquets In the Making...

 I stopped by my niece's home this morning and she was smack dab 

in the middle of assembling a bridal bouquet order she has for tomorrow.   

What a delight! 

Her cutting flower garden is immense and immaculately kept...
(She and God together have this thing down!)

The bride is wanting purple and coral - so those were the colors of the hour...

The bride's bouquet...

...and my favorite part - her cute wooden wagon work station...

This will be a beautiful wedding.  Goodbye sweet cutting garden - 

I'll visit again...

My Sister's Garden...

My sister is a gardener... both the vegetable kind and the flower bed kind.

She lives in an old farmhouse (where her hubby grew up) 

that has not seen any real outside alterations in all these years...

I was struck by the beauty of her rose arbor this year...

... and decided a few more pictures from around her front yard were in order....

Her daughter (my niece) also is quite the gardener and 

has her own roadside market selling beautiful fresh bouquets.

I'm loving that sliding glass door to protect the arrangements...

Even though we are 19 years apart (yes, you read that right)... 

I love my sister and am so glad she is in my life.   

In the midst of life's tough stuff - sisters can be a real blessing.

Thanks for the beautiful inspiration dear sister and friend!

Unveiled Faces...

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, 

are being transformed into his likeness 
with ever-increasing glory, 
which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

II Corinthians 3:18

Found in a friend's garden

Sweet Dreams...

Cut my first lavender today and tied it into bundles.  

Hung one in the laundry room...

and one in the bedroom...

Sweetness!