Flowers for my Mom

While browsing EBay I found this three headed bunny vase that 

I decided to purchase for my Mom.

Since I knew we'd be visiting for Easter I wanted to present it 

with some fresh tulips.

 

 Upon giving it a cleaning I discovered the glaze started to turn color which meant it wasn't truly waterproof and I decided my only option was to use silk flowers.

I went to Michael's and lucked out with 50% off on all the spring flowers.  I pondered a while and found a couple of clusters of white tulips and blue hyacinths.  (My Mom LOVES blue).  I spotted some soft pink delphiniums and some green and white leafed stems for accent.

Right in the middle of my project I see something running around in my back yard.  I realized it was a dog so I (still in my PJ's) went out to see if I could coax it to me.  She was frightened and shivering so I brought her in.  I gave her water and bread.  

She was happy to be fed something.

She had no name tag but a dog license so I was able to contact her owner by calling our county office where the dog tags are issues.

Turns out her name is Bella and she had bolted out the door the night before and was in unfamiliar territory as she was being watched by a friend.  It's a miracle she didn't get hit because she was a mile from their home and our road is a main highway traveled by lots of vehicles.

I made sure I commented to the girl that picked her up to get a tag made for her with a name and phone number.  It would have been so much easier to have found the owner that way.

So...back to my Bunny Vase...

 I didn't realize how poor the pictures were coming out because of the sun 

in the background.  

I was using my cell phone for these pics.

I kept cutting and adding.  It was awkward to work with because of the openings.  I wanted it to seem natural so I didn't want to make it perfectly symmetrical. 

 I also changed the ribbon around the necks of the bunnies.

I think I'm done!

I went and got my real camera and took a few more pictures.  

My mom (who is 90) has a sofa with ivory, blue and pink just like in this arrangement.  I'm pretty sure she will love it.

Mom's living room

 Nothing like a little sunshine to make things look great! 

Flowers for my Mom

My sisters, their kids and my husband and I will gather at Mom's.  Sister Jen promises me another lemon cake too!  Looking forward to seeing everyone since I haven't been down there since Christmas.

 

I hope you all have a nice Easter!

 I'm looking forward to a little getaway myself!

I'm joining
Rose Vignettes 
for 

 Fresh-Cut Friday

 

 

 

Easter dinner early...

Happy Easter everyone!  Sunday was my birthday and our daughter surprised me with a weekend visit.  She made a delicious and super cute cake for me so I decided I to set a table for Easter since we aren't going to be together.  

We're heading down to see my Mom and sisters 

and she has other obligations. 

She knows I love lemon so she made me a lemon flavored cake (real lemons) and a blueberry butter cream frosting (real blueberry's too) and candied lemon pieces.

 Those lemons taste so good-sweet and tender! 

 I wanted to include it in my tablescape but the table is small so

I had to do this in two parts.

 Inspiration

I was looking for inspiration for an Easter tablescape and it was 

delivered to my door!

 

This tablescape was designed after I received this beautiful floral arrangement from my son and his wife.   There is a gentle mix of orange, pinks and yellows and it fits in the room so well!

 While looking through my collection of Easter goodies I found some hand wrapped yarn eggs that my Mom gave me many years ago.  I decided they were the perfect element to tie all these colors together.

 I clustered some paper grass to set the eggs on which I felt lended to the relaxed organic look I wanted.

 I used the Napolean Bee flatware and a rattan charger to continue my theme.

 There are four patterns in the set of these dishes.

 The Bordallo Pinheiro cabbage dishes worked in perfectly too.  

They are a great accent dish.

 The pink Bordallo cabbage bowls had to be included with this Easter table and the Mikasa Italian Countryside dishes proved to be the best companion dinner plate.

My rabbit and egg theme have been strong this year.  These egg shaped salt and pepper shakers are carried along by the rabbit in this cute cart.

The bunnies are hanging around hoping for some greens to be tossed their way.  That little guy on the right thinks he's hiding!

 I adore all the different flowers, textures and color the florist incorporated here in this and I think it's beautifully arranged.  

And I have to tell you it smells wonderful! 

Love the artfully placed willow sticks...

~~~~~~~

Here's a little nostalgia for you...

My sister Jen (right), Sherry (behind)

and me (left) in 1963.

I  hope you have a beautiful and blessed Easter!  

Come join me at the following parties:
Tuesdays at our Home 

Tabletop Tuesday

 and 
Tablescape Thursdays 

Being Nostalgic

Good Sunday morning!  

I'm a bit sad that this is our last linky party 

with My Little Home and Garden's  

Sunlit Sunday

 series for this year, but Karen promises to bring it back 

for another series next year.  

I've picked up some new friends and followers and I appreciate that!

Today just happens to be my birthday and I'm feeling a bit nostalgic.  So I decided to give you a walk through my garden over the many years it was created.

I found this shot my sister took of me in 1991.  (I had a crazy perm back then) 

This was the yard and part of the garage.  I had white marble stones encasing the base of this fountain that was given to me that year for Mother's Day.  

I had planted dusty miller and coleus in a ring around it.

This was the year we moved in (1989). The home was built in 1976 and had some very outdated looks as well as a bunch of problems we didn't anticipate.  As you can see the back yard was all grass and there were a few shade trees that we've since lost.  We've remodeled every inch of this place including a new sidewalk and an entirely new deck with a better railing and design.

Near the garage we had a bulldozer come through and open a path because the dirt had been pushed right up next to the siding on the garage and it caused it to rot at the bottom.  We hired a contractor who built a retaining wall.

This is the wall in it's infancy, 1999

In 2000 we went full speed ahead and installed our own flagstone patio with a small pond.  We had an above ground pool that we removed and since the area had been leveled out for it, it was a natural beginning point for the project. 

  A layer of stones were added and compacted, then 

a thick bed of sand was installed.

   With the temperature fluctuations and deep level of freezing we have you have to make sure the drainage is good so it doesn't cause things to heave up.

This was 2001 the 2nd year with the new patio.  This all happened because I became inspired after watching HGTV on Saturday mornings- and I am lucky my 

husband is a great help. 

The front of our home is near a busy road so the backyard is our retreat.

We kept the path to the patio all grass for several years, but it was a bit of work to keep mowed, so we finally put in a flagstone path.

After several years we demolished the pond and expanded the area with more flagstone, stone walls and a new water fountain.  It's much easier to maintain than the pond was.  

I'm always changing things.  Some plants died off due to some things like voles and some I moved because I didn't like how they were looking in the spot I put them.  These days there are no large projects or changes planned.  I just have fun with it and you might call it my play yard.  

  

Late summer shots capturing some "sunlit" moments!

This was April 25, 2012...things do change quickly!

I'm already dreaming of things to do this year 

and I can't wait to dig the earth and smell the dirt again!

I hope you enjoyed my nostalgic walk through the garden and how it came to be.  

Cheers to spring and summer!  

Let's all dig in!!