Technicolor

A few more photos from my zoo trip this week. Despite a chill in the air and the skies mostly overcast, there was plenty of color to brighten up the afternoon.

Our winged friends were dressed in such brilliant finery............and the blooms in the tropical domes were spectacular.

I've never seen a frog such as this in my garden ~ perhaps it's time to construct a pond.......with a waterfall..........aquatic plants........and at this point in the conversation dh's eyes start rolling back and that pained look appears on his face!

This is a beautiful Mahonia............it brings tears to my eyes because the voles chewed through my beauty this past year after it had reached several feet in height......and then just toppled over one day. Perhaps a tropical dome in our back garden, on a vole proof concrete footing..............just kidding dear!

The Big Guys

I love animals but prefer they be allowed to stay in their natural habits. I dislike circuses because of horror stories I've heard about the way the animals are housed, treated, and made to perform for humans. Therefore zoos are only on my list of places to visit.......occasionally.

The magnificent San Diego Zoo was a one time treat a few years ago. The National Zoo in Washington, D.C. I've visited a few times as I lived in that city in the '60's. The North Carolina Zoo is small compared to the first two and this was my third visit in the 30 years I've lived in this great state.

The visit this week was at the request of friends - we live equidistant from the zoo so it was also a chance to socialize. Sharing these photos with you........of the animals, not our friends!

Below is Wilhelm, known as Willy. He and his mate, she was not in the water on this day, are one of the positive zoo stories. This pair was actually rescued from a Mexican traveling circus. While performing in Puerto Rico it was discovered how abominably they were being housed (in tiny cages), underfed (they were extremely thin almost to the point of starved), and generally mistreated. The pair were taken from the circus and brought here to the NC Zoo where they are gradually gaining weight and of course now have a much more comfortable home where they can move about and swim.

This dear bear Willy put on quite a show for us - tossing balls with his head, lifting a huge plastic bucket on to a raft, swimming with a canvas strap, then springing out of the water and waiting for applause. It was obvious he still enjoyed performing - thank goodness it's under much better circumstances.



Unfortunately our plans to eat in 'Tuscany' following the zoo visit didn't work out as the restaurant only serves dinner Thursday, Friday and Saturday! We did meet the owner who allowed us inside to look around.........small, pretty, homey and definitely on the list when next in town later in the week. Instead we went to 'Capri', not as nice but still Italy, and who can go wrong with anything Italian!

Multiplying Like Rabbits!

My Easter decorations are out, mostly a collection of white and cream rabbits. I like large, realistic china rabbits. They are hard to find, although I admit I haven't looked much this year, these I found in recent years.

The smaller pastel colored eggs are faux but pretty - the large white ones are real (blown) goose eggs found in a bowl at the vintage shop along with an Easter post card, dated 1912, from a daughter to her Mother, and illustrated with a bunch of Spring violets.

My Easter lily is just starting to open ~ I always buy them in bud as they'll last longer in the house ~ then plant into the garden where they will return each year.

This year I added this old tin poster of Peter Rabbit, and a vintage publication (1927) titled The Patchwork Poster Book of Peter Rabbit.

These two are made from resin but are so cute ~ they appear to be constantly grinning at one another.....................cheeky rabbits, we know what you've got on your minds! Aah, Spring fever.

.................and this tiny pair I love because they are made of candlewick and fit perfectly into this tiny Easter bucket with the chick and pussy willow.
I've only seen one real rabbit in the garden so far this Spring ~ and he was huge! Hiding out under my rosemary bush, I'm not sure who hopped faster when we came eye to eye as I bent down to gather up a pile of leaves! We have several feral kitties who visit our garden so perhaps they scare off the rabbits ~ hope so because today I noticed the first Hosta shoots pushing up and I know the rabbits will make a meal of them given half a chance. China ones I like, real ones are pesky.......just like Peter!

'Hey mommy, who's this?" Looks like another baby bunny has joined the group!

Books and Blooms

.....This is a favorite Spring picture.....

It's currently on my refrigerator where I like to display something seasonal and lovely. These old books and jonquils speak quietly to me. I am in the process of aging some used books I brought home ~ and will display them on my shelves.........but only if I can get them to look this beautiful.

'Daffodils that come before the swallow dares,

And take the winds of March with beauty.'

...........William Shakespeare..........

Hang it up!

Today we're headed West................to Asheboro, home of the North Carolina Zoo. Meeting friends there and hoping for a fun day out, lunch with the animals, and dinner in Tuscany, well that's the name of the restaurant we plan to try this evening!

My friend, who always picks out the sweetest gifts for me ~ such as fabulous bunny slippers and that gorgeous iron card holder for the wall I showed at Christmas ~ will hopefully enjoy this Spring gift I made to take to her today.

I found these large wooden French Provincial style hangers in a vintage shop last Fall and have started playing around with them. I added French words by rubber stamping, a small lavender bag, assorted ribbons, a silk rose, and my latest fun thing ~ tea dyed cheesecloth, torn and shirred, twisted!

Wearing o' the Green

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

~Palest pink camellias in my neighbor's garden ~

~Tulip pics from a magazine ~

Remember in my "green" post I mentioned vintage garden furniture ~ how about this 'Springy' yellow and green set just waiting to grace a garden..................and those amazing corbels....more treasures spotted at SuzAnna's last week.

Enjoying all shades of green today but I'll pass on the green beer ~ make mine a glass of red wine please!

The Green Path

Before we turn green..............not with envy...........more with 'wearing o' the green' for St. Patrick, hanging out the shamrock flag, sighing at Spring buds bursting and new grass growing, how about a quick word on truly GOING GREEN.

Many of you are already making changes in daily living with your cleaning products, your choice of vehicles, your food purchases, composting your scraps, buying natural fiber clothing, carrying reusable shopping bags, recycling your plastic ones, etc.

According to this edited article from Country Living (US edition) magazine ~ "these days it's easier to shop for environmentally smart items, thanks to an increased effort from both well-known and niche brands. The trend is conscious consumerism, and manufacturers and retailers are catching on. Try using kinder comforts in your home."

According to Graham Hill, Founder, Treehugger.com & VP Interactive, PlanetGreen.com

"Everything you already do in your day-to-day life - home decorating, your clothing, the food you eat - can be done with a modern green twist. Green is more than just 'stuff'; it's a real lifestyle."

Notice 'home decorating' mentioned here. As many of us are really interested in this happy pursuit, how nice to seek out lovely things for one's home without even having to buy new. Do you know that a huge percentage of all new furniture is now imported from China. Living in North Carolina, once the center of the US furniture industry, we have seen thousands lose jobs as their lifetime manufacturing careers have been pulled from under their feet. Using cheap materials and labor in other countries also has an impact on the planet, and when those items quickly fall apart here on our shores, they end up in our landfills, destroying our air and surroundings.

OK, I'm off my soapbox now ~ just wanted you to do your part to make and keep our country environmentally safe.

I am reusing and thoroughly enjoying my old stuff, especially when it comes to decorating around the house. I love my cotton doilies made by my English cousin ~ they line the shelves in my linen closet instead of plastic shelf paper, and look so pretty. I'm using old twine and string to wrap packages, found at the vintage/thrift shops in place of costly ribbons made overseas by child labor, they can be attractive when faded to sepia tones.


I'm decorating the cottage with vintage finds ~ it can be so much fun and extremely satisfying.

Remember, you don't have to shop for new garden furniture for the Summertime ~ vintage places in your town will have plenty just waiting to be given a new home. Anyone can point and shoot a spray can of touch up paint ~ or better still use a brush and one of the new 'green' environmentally safe paints.......which of course come in other colors too!

Old wrought iron garden furniture spotted at my favorite place to shop ~ SuzAnna's Antiques

Are you with me? Let's all do our part and take the green path to save our planet for our precious grandchildren ~ and all future generations.