Flowers . . . all year long

I began taking photos for this post last weekend, but today something occurred to totally change the focus of the post.

My original plan was to play with the photographs because I am trying to improve my photography skills.

But, a chance comment from Kris of Junk Chic Cottage really got me thinking about the things I take for granted.

Kris worked so hard this past week planting flowers and getting her garden into shape for the spring weather - only to have it snow yesterday.

Kris explained that she needed to purchase the flowers right away because they were going out of town soon and if she waited, the flowers would no longer be in the stores.

52 weeks of the year, I can drive 1 mile to Fernando's flower/produce stand to purchase fresh flowers/strawberries grown in the fields right behind the stand - the area between the truck and the tents was blooming bright purple today, but for safety reasons, they wouldn't let me go out to photograph the fields.

On any day of the year, I can head to Trader Joe's to pick up flowers for decorating and planting.

The bucket I found at Target last week for just $18 - far less than the olive bucket for $95 at my favorite antique shop - is perfect for holding the mums I found at TJ's.

TJ's also had wooden patriotic containers for mini rose bushes that I couldn't pass up.

The mini rose bushes were $1.99 each and will be planted in the garden by next week.

My children had no trouble finding flowers fresh from the fields on Mother's Day and the heat has helped to already dry out the yellow roses from my daughter.

After reading about the garden difficulties Kris experienced, I vow to no longer take for granted the fact that I have fresh flowers in the house

and in the garden 

all year long.

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Join me at these parties

Show and Tell Saturday at Be Different ... Act Normal

Sundays at Home at Thoughts From Alice

Anything Blue Friday - The Dedicated House

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Saturday Showoff at The Rosegarden in Malevik

A Great Win!

Several months ago I won a giveaway on Elaine's blog, Sunny Simple Life.

I got to select $75 worth of merchandise from Origami Owl.

I went to the website and chose a bunch of stuff, e-mailed Rachel of Rachel's Junk in a Trunk as to what I wanted and forgot about it.

Yesterday, I received a package in the mail.

I am a sucker for the marketing ploy of a great package design.

I love the little Chinese food take-out box and fortune cookie shaped jewelry boxes.

And, I love their motto, "we tell stories with jewelry".

I had forgotten what I ordered and it was so much fun to pull out all the little pieces from the box.

I love using words in my decorating in addition to wearing them.

I laughed as I created the I Can collage because I must have uttered, "I can't" at least 3 times today- all having to do with "I can't take this heat"!

I enjoyed styling the fun Origami Owl pieces for the photographs

even though I am not sure what I will do with them yet.

I definitely do 

and am loving Elaine and Rachel for introducing me to Origami Owl.

A Rainbow of Colors

It was over 90 degrees at the beach today, so we did the smartest thing to escape the heat - grabbed our kayaks and hit the water.

Steve told me to grab the underwater camera, (we learned the hard way why we need an underwater camera while kayaking) but I had no idea what I would photograph today.

My posts, Winter Blues, What's In a Name, and Sunlight on the Sea all focused on sights we see while kayaking.

The minute I hit the water, I knew exactly what I would focus on while paddling.

As my boat drifted along through sparkling green water, my eyes were delighted with every color of the rainbow.

Brightly colored kayaks sat idly on docks waiting to be dropped into the water.

Although most of the boats are white, there are a few boat owners who share my love of color.

The landscape was dotted with colorful houses, but

as much as I love color, this tan house with a trio of dormer windows and a wrap around porch really strikes my fancy.

It was wonderful to spend the day in the cool water, surrounded by color

and to spend my evening in this beautiful garden, but that is for another post.

Thank You, Mrs. Jones

We take the same walk nearly every morning.

We walk out to the beach - Pierpont Elementary school sits on the ocean and today the kindergarten class was doing math on the beach.

Lulu plays on the beach.

We walk through the park

and finish our walk back home along the boulevard so that Lulu can dry off from her daily swim.

Today I remembered to take the camera along because I wanted to show you the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jones.

We walk past their home every day and just before Easter, 

this rusty old wheelbarrow was sitting in their driveway with a sign that read 'FREE'.

Mrs. Jones said there wasn't enough space for the wheelbarrow in their eclectic garden

full of cleverly designed sculptures.

So, the rusty wheelbarrow with the flat tire was taken to our house.

where it sat for a few weeks

until Steve drilled holes in the bottom for drainage and I planted flowers to create a wheelbarrow garden.

Thank you Mrs. Jones.

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I am joining

The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home

French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

Rooted in Thyme for Simple & Sweet Fridays

My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson for Share Your Cup Thursday