Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Another Lovely Home In The Country

























































I wanted to share another lovely country home here in Ohio in our neck of the woods that was on the garden tour... This home is colorful.. serene and the perfect place to sit ... read... think... talk... or just enjoy the lovely country view... There is a waterfall with a coy pond and another larger pond surrounding... The geraniums you see pictures are all grown from seed by the home owners... It is quite beautiful... I love the last pic of the wagon that is featured in the back yard and the truck that was ever so present in the pic... The old way of travel and the new way of travel...

Short post today as it has been quite a full day... I golfed league this morning ... came home and we had visitation at the funeral home... we stopped and bought a few groceries to prepare a dish for the funereal dinner tomorrow morning... I am frying bacon for BLT's before we attend the grandson's baseball game at 5:00 and we are invited at 7:00 to a friends house with another couple for card playing and conversation... A very full day indeed...















Monday, June 27, 2011

La Fleur de Terre Garden Club Presented

This is one of the most beautiful doors I have ever seen....

A setting area on the front of the home...


















A lovely porch on the side of the home....




















2 of these greet you as you enter the back gardens...













Back gardens
















Another beautiful seating area in the back gardens...




































This wonderful old old tree anchors the home site and is just beautiful and oh so large...























Another seating area by the wonderful old tree...























Another seating area on the back patio area...


















































The presentation and generous offerings of refreshments of those who attended the garden walk... Lemonade and ice tea in canning jars for you to sip on and they were delicious...




























More refreshments...





























Presentation.. presentation.. presentation..































Oh so lovely and so generous...





































































These pictures she explained were original to the home and are in a place of honor still in the home...





































The lovely hand I captured is the owner explaining this attic room that is the favorite of her husbands... It is beyond beautiful and charming.....
















































































The fan and top of the bed in the master..











































Purple chair in the master..














































The master bedroom and it was as if a king and queen would be sleeping here... It was breathtaking.. The bed and the fabrics were like none I have ever seen...
The fabrics alone used in this home were far more than one person could dream of.... Every detail was total exquiste and very posh....













































More of the master...



















































The lovely old purse was frame and in gold guilt... I wasn't able to capture the stairways leading up to the 3 floors as it was crowed and I had to keep my eyes on the steps but there must have been close to 100 pictures lining the stairways all in gold guilt and some of the most fabulous frames I have ever viewed... There was barely a inch between the pics....

















































This is one of the pics in the home I found to be so very sweet...






















































A bedroom..






















































A bedroom.. I can't remember the number of bedrooms or sleeping areas but I am thinking 7 or 8.....

























































The man room in the attic..






























































This fan is in the attic man room and I was so intrigued by it... There are two working fans and the fans themselves rotate ... along with the fixture rotating...































































A wall of hats in another smalled bedroom

































































More hats in a small bedroom...



Saturday myself and 2 friends... Kay and Pat attended La Fleur de Terre Garden Club Garden walk.... The homes were featured were in the Hicksville... Sherwood and Mark Center area...

I am sharing one with you today that is possibly the lovilest home I have personally be in that someone actually lives in... I had a hard time taking the pics with people milling around and standing everywhere... I could not believe we were taken in the home... as the owner excused herself to get in her home to Kay ... Kay said sure as long as we can come in with you.. She was very gracious and about 10 ladies and ourselves got taken through the home... I was not able to stand and take pictures as it was crowed and I just placed the camera out by me and shot... I was not able to get pictures of the kitchen as they were busy placing food out for the walkers but it was just incredible... Just not your ordinary kitchen ....

I will give you the information that was written on the sheets we were given on the walk....

Our "Old World" garden charm and romance invites you to explore the many texures , fragrances and colors and encourages and open one's heart to desire, love, and life... There are formal yet comfortable and inviting areas that are extention of the exquisite old world feel and time periods of the inside and outside of our home... This allows us to have a outdoor summer paradise.. Meaning and feeling of a sacredness permeates the beauty of the garden... The wonder and exquisite beauty invites you to explore and discover the wonders yet to be found...

The timeless of a giantic 100 year old maple tree is the foundation of our garden... Antique planters and containers add permanence and age... The lush green and vibrant colors radiate, delighting the eye and bring passion that inspires creativity yet a serenity that soothes and restores your soul... This all provides a backdrop for strolling, relaxing, warm openhearted conversations with family and friends, laughter , fun, childlike playfulness ot sacred meditaion, reading and prayer...

I have to admit this home and every detail is totally exquisite and not the ordinary everyday home of many...

I have other pictures to share with you this week that are both charming... lovely and sweet but today's post is definately breathtaking....

































































Friday, June 24, 2011

Equality








The quotation "ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL" seems to have many questions and thoughts connected to it... I simply cannot ignore the ever so obviousness of our equality. People in my eyes are far from being equal to each other... In many blogs as of late I have heard quiet whispers that some may feel they are not posting the lovely finds and homes and clothing ect. as some of the others may be doing... A couple of the blogs I read have decided to maybe not post again... I am rather sad and concerned about this... that they feel their life is not interesting enough to continue... One in particular ... has a lovely small home and a lovely life not filled to the brim with riches but provides lovely thoughts and little blessings and wonderful old fashion nourishment to her family... I love reading and looking at her blog but for some reason she feels it is not that interesting to others... These feelings can very easily overcome us and their are times we may have to battle some to overcome them....

Financially people are born with many advantages and some will never see due to no wrong of their own.. Just the attention given to celebrity babies clearly demonstrates we are not equal.... I remember just a couple years ago one of our celebrities had a 5000.00 birthday cake made for their child's second birthday.... Oh my gosh... in my thoughts all I could muster to say was " give the kid a cupcake" and do some good with that money....

Then there is the physical equality... we are born oh so different with traits... Some are much more capable than others...

Learning a very important lesson through the wisdom of life's journey however can make us a much better person when you can conceive that although people are not all born equal that should be TREATED equal... until proven otherwise... This can be quite challenging for some....

Inequality is a sad fixture of ones life... I recently have acquainted this thought process to blogging as I have stated above... Boasting can be truly hurtful to others and sometimes it would be better served if we present it in a softer manner.... considering the feelings and positions that others may be in... All the posh living and purchasing are wonderful for those receiving it if they even realize it.....On my roads I have certainly learned and fully understand our journeys will always have these imbalances... I am hoping to relay my thoughts and give others inspiration to hang in there and just enjoy what we can through this post and help accept the true facts that confront us... I can compare my life with the thoughts of what the person that may be living as a homeless person on the streets because of events that have taken place... My life must truly look wonderful and blessed for that person... It is rather sad when one inflates their value and it all becomes how "special" they are and not necessary living the quality of what they really do...

It is a good time for all of us to re-think paths we go on... I know some are ever so much kinder than others and create wonderful insight for many. It is a very obvious... God created people with different gifts and abilities... In a sense we are placed here on different degrees but it will be what we do with these and how faithful we were with the gifts given that will be our final reward... It is truly up to us " ourselves" to treat others equally......



Thursday, June 23, 2011

Thrift Chic

I am taking a coffee sipping break before going off to do daily chores once again... Most of the time I find myself very content to try to be the Thrifty Chic and it is the appeal I enjoy and love to look at and surround myself in... Every so often however I find myself in the position that my budget doesn't allow for thrifty spending even... Seems sometimes I let myself feel as battered and beat up as the timeworn objects I love... Thank goodness this doesn't take place very often and a couple attitude adjustments can usually take care of it... There are days I feel like I can only move so many things around for change ... drape so many necklaces... embellish with so many ribbons and laces and brooches... A couple days ago I was inspired to make some grain sack pillows from the remnants I have and found a lovely afternoon after doing my chores to take the sewing machine out on the deck and start creating... I had only been there about 20 minutes and I heard the sound of Tom's grand kids coming into the back yard area.... You know when you have a pool there is something about kids and water that they yell and scream at the top of their little voices... I do not have good focus left with aging and the taking of my meds and it did not take me long to place my sewing machine back in storage and of course the kids were hungry.... so the peaceful afternoon ended as quick as it started and the hectic one set in... all within a half hour... I need to get myself motivated again and get the sewing machine back out soon...
As you enter into one's home I think the entrance is the first introduction that guests have to your personality and style and what you love. You know what they say about first impressions... I think this also takes place in one's home... My entrance is rather small and you can slip right on through rather quickly but I can say you instantly know what style makes my heart go pitter- patter... Lucky for me I am the person who can almost all of the time be happy with another man's junk and make it my treasure... I could never start from scratch in my decorating again although it would be a lovely thought it is not going to happen... I would most definitely be more French inspired but now I can just add a tuck here and there once in awhile... French antiques I find to be quaint but also on the high end of purchasing when it comes to one's budget... In Ohio, French is not often found.... Actually that is most likely a good thing as I will not be tempted... but I do love to enjoy looking.... Just admiring.....
As I post this morning the skies are hazy and grey and light rain is falling... Making it a positive ... at least the house isn't so hot to be cleaning... Tom's family is coming in from Toledo for a visit and a meal Sunday afternoon so I have some planning and making ready again this weekend....Last weekend we had his daughters and family for a meal and Father's Day... I completed my menu and grocery list this morning... Now I just have to ready and make all of it happen...
Well I am off to do chores... as I don't hear the maid or the butler making any noise ...Where do I think I am at the Ritz ??? LOL Hope you all have a enjoyable day and many blessing come your way....

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Finding Balance

Yesterday after a morning of ladies golf I was able to lay in the sun and jump into the pool for most of the afternoon to cool down from our 90 degree day... Last evening brought us a rain and today appears to maybe bring some more rain... The last few days I seemed to have lost some balance...and feel the need for some calmness. Some times I have to stop and figure out why I am having these feelings. Occasionally summer time seems to create this as the cleanup and chores seem to be endless and the same ones everyday. When we allow so many things to go on in our lives .... sometimes we have to be selective in what we choose to do... Realizing we need self discipline to make things best for one's self.... Learning the process and realizing you are not going to be able to do everything is the first step to making our life more desirable and simple....
Maybe when the air of the out of doors is clean and fresh some deep breathing can energize your mind... Stepping out into the evening stars ... enjoying the skies and the silence can be very rewarding... I enjoy the silence and many times when it becomes disturbed is when I find myself in need of balance... It is not to bad sometimes to let go of the pressures... stop and get off and let the rest of the world go right on by.... Sit quietly and just let it all go... Enjoy this freedom you have allowed yourself for as long as you can... We cannot allow others and events to control every moment of our lives and must have the wisdom to know that... I find many times when things are mounting I seem to write... and here I am doing just that... Writing and the release of writing is very painless... Reading as well as writing allows us to gain wisdom while we are spending quiet moments and resting our bodies.... This also creates solitude of which I love... I know many do not like solitude but for myself... I love it... I must enjoy it on a regular basis... People and relationships are equally as important... Allowing yourself this and a balance will nourish your spirit.... Today I am planning some solitude and some quiet moments..... I hope you all will be able to allow yourself this luxury today during the days hours sometime... Best wishes and many lovely thoughts and sent your way....
Ps. As I post the morning has gotten more hazy and grey and the skies are starting to rumble... Looks as though relaxing in the sun is not going to be a option today... at least not for several hours... Hum, now what is one to think of doing....A perfect example of how we can be controlled....