Childhood Memories

Seeing as how last week was a pretty steady 100+ F (38 C) with humidity a few of my plants died. 

Yes, you read that right. A few plants died. I am a terrible person. My soul is as black as my thumb. In my defense, I wanted to die too & this orchid had been going strong since April. 

This 60's dress frock needs some work, like to be steamed, but whatever, I'm sneaking you all a peek. Aside from being gorgeous, it reminded me so much of being a kid & playing dress up I probably would've bought it even if it were ugly. 

Growing up my mom had a huge cardboard box filled with clothes under her bed. Clothes that she had outgrown like this fantastic backless floral dress. Or her bright pink lace prom dress that she hated (but was so fairy princess Barbie for a kid) even though (or maybe because) Grandma made it for her. Come to think of it, there were a few homemade dresses in there. 

And all of these clothes smelled the same, like if this were a movie there would be clips of happy kids running through grass in the sunshine. And you know what else? That dress above, by some freak coincidence, smelled just like that old box of dress ups.

What was your favorite thing to dress up in as a kid?

Anticipation

So...remember when I told you that my freesia bulbs sprouted?

I thought it was a bad idea to plant all of the bulbs at once. I, in a 'continuous blooms all winter would be great!' way, thought it would be better to wait.

So I planted them all!

 It may be dreary after they all wilt and die,

 but it will be one spectacular scented show when they all bloom!

(now I just need to stake them before they all fall over)

A Freakish Little Bunch

They don't tell you to store bulbs in a cool dry place for nothing.

emphasis on cool:

which is nowhere 5 flights up from the pavement

 when heat is included 

& the sun shines strong all day.

This is Freesia

the greatest scent on earth.

Guess I'll be getting my fingernails dirty tomorrow :)

Day 15

First time this beast has bloomed in December, rather than May.

I did my homework and found that in order to bloom around Christmas they need to feel the coolness of autumn. So I stuck them on a windowsill that didn't get full sun all day, and sure enough, buds started to sprout!

I know, I know, it makes complete sense. Sometimes I lack that.

A Victorian Love Affair in the 21st Century

“First you need only look: Notice and honor the radiance of Everything about you... Play in this universe. Tend All these shining things around you: The smallest plant, the creatures and objects in your care. Be gentle and nurture. Listen...” -Anne Hillman

The Smell of Summer

As hard I try, I can't believe it's really Memorial Day weekend. Weeks pass by, yet they feel like days. I'm still stuck in mid April!

Yet, the two Christmas cactus, who wanted nothing to do with us in winter, when we needed them most, have started to bloom. Profusely!

Well, who am I to argue with nature?

I bought these peonies, unopened, yesterday while at the market. We sidetracked to a park bench to watch the world go by, which they didn't like too much. By the time we meandered home and put them in water, they opened to have a dash of fuchia in the center. Joyous surprise!

The blue glass is something I got at the Antique shop years ago. There were four of these blue and two more in green glass, and even though they were way out of my college student budget I didn't hesitate to scoop them up...who needs car insurance anyways? They were, at one point part of a window; the edges still have a chalky hardened adhesive on them.
You can see the two a bit better here

xo

Pruning

My favorite thing about having plants, is to prune them. Seriously. It's so relaxing.

Also, a few fun advantages (I'll elaborate later on):

• They look nice and some smell pretty
• Some Prevent mold or remove toxins from air
• So Many Craft Projects!
• Increase humidity & air quality
• Talent-free Shadow Puppets
• Stress Reducing! 
• And, as Jersey demonstrates, excellent for games of hide and seek!

Until next time,

Go bury an acorn!

So here we are, Hello & Welcome!

I guess we'll just dive in!

This wicker love seat was rescued by yours truly from the scariest of places for unwanted/ no longer used things: Grandma's Barn Attic. It's a place of wonder for sure.

As the story goes, sometime in the late '40's my grandparents were driving around on a back road when they noticed this Victorian beauty. Dumped on the side of the road. DUMPED. Curlicues and all.

So being the young couple with dreams in their hearts and love in their heads they picked it up.

I'm not sure how long it was in the attic, I do remember it being on the porch in the summer, but it was surely in need of some love. So into the bath it went! 

Jersey is on the left, Cali on the right.

And here's Cali lounging once it reached it's home in the bay window. You can barely see the greenery that makes up the bay window garden, those are worthy of their own post entirely.