Ourdoor Wednesday. Spring is busting out all over.

New plantings for our deck.

Herbs, petunias, heather

 Beautiful Oakleaf Hydrangia in front of building where I work.

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Silver Pennies. Living with antiques

At one time I did a lot of refinishing of furniture but most of those pieces my children have.

I cannot do that kind of work anymore so most of my old and/or antiques will just have to stay the way they are.

Home grown hydrangea in my mom's pewter tea pot and hand sewn hearts for a swap.

This mirror, from my husband's family, is over 100 years old.

It is shown in the first photo over the mantel but it fell and and knocked something off.  I decided to hang it where, if it falls, it will not break anything.

I love the view of the photographs on the stairway seen from this view. 
This is in the foyer.

Blue Willow China

Many people also know the famous Chinese legend of the pattern:

A wealthy Mandarin had a daughter named Koong-Se, who fell in love with Chang, the family accountant. Naturally, Daddy didn’t approve, so he built a fence around his estate and chose a duke as his daughter’s groom.
Of course you can guess the ending: The accountant runs off with the bride, they hightail it over a bridge and onto a boat, but alas, they’re eventually killed by the duke. The gods feel bad and turn them into swallows.

I only have a few of these pieces.

 

There is a fine crack in this and I only use it for a center piece.

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Grand Social

Love fall, don't care for winter, but I do like living in an area of the country where we have a good sampling of all 4 seasons.

Just have to recognize the beauties of the season.

It is getting colder now and most flowers are gone.

These Hydrangea have been brought inside to a cool place, hung upside down and when I can shake them and they are completely dry, I will spray with a fixative and use for winter bouquets.

Last year's dried Hydrangea used at Christmas time.

Now the winter time pretties are coming on.

Nandina beginning to ripen.

By Christmas time they will look like this.

Perfect for Christmas decorating.

Happy 18th birthday grandson Ben.
Made 3 TDs last night
Won game 43-o.
Hip hip hooray.

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From grandma's flower garden

My hydrangea bushes are on the far side of my house and I sometimes forget to look to see how they are doing.

It wasn't long ago all I saw was green but now

they are out.

My first bouquet of the season.
One of my favorite flowers. 


 The bushes need a little trimming out and shaping up.

 Got my work cut out for me this week.
Wonder if one of those grands want to help.
Oops several of them are out of the state on vacations. 
May have to work alone.
Gardening is good for the soul.
Hard on the muscle and this old back but will just take it slow and enjoy.

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Up from the haze

This has been a bad week for me and allergies.

Had a sinus infection.

Had a hard time keeping my head erect.

That has passed.
Sneezing, watery eyes, terrible ear ache.

Feeling better is like coming out of a haze.

Oak hydrangea give me much JOY .

Food tastes good again.

Finally the yarn for my gd's afghan arrived and now I am crocheting up a storm.
Crocheting also gives me time to watch the hearings on the Benghazi debacle while has left me with my jaw on my chest.

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