Itty Bitty Birdies!

Do you get all soppy over the birds who choose to make their homes in your garden? I'm really hopeless at this time of year, spending far too much time looking through binoculars and spying on the backyard shenanigans of feathered friends. Remember these so called "decorative" boxes on my back fence? Well this Spring the white one became the nesting site of a pair of tiny Chickadees. Out of the original four teeny tiny eggs, only one became a real live little birdie - who knows what Nature's master plan is? Here he was peeking out the day before he fledged.
Next morning, while walking around checking everything, the sprouting shoots, the unfurling hosta leaves, the climbers, and the bursting buds - I heard the chick cheeping from the ground, and the chirping of the parents above in the tree. Ran for the camera - got this shot of him clinging to the bluebell leaf. Amazingly, the chicks seem to be the same size as the parents, and only two weeks old!
Later that morning, having a coffee on the deck while the carpet cleaner worked his magic inside, I saw the chick standing quietly on the bench cushion - wish I'd seen how it got up there. Then the parents both brought it a tasty lunch. Soon they all fluttered off into a brushy area to do whatever proud parents and their new offspring do.
The year's at the Spring,
The day's at the morn,
The Morning's at seven,
The hillside's dew-pearled,
The lark's on the wing,
The snail's on the thorn,
God's in his heaven,
All's right with the world.
~Robert Browning~

Inspiration Friday ~ Sit awhile

Now the bright Morning star, day's harbinger,

Comes dancing from the East, and brings with her

The flowery May; who from her green lap throws

The yellow cowslip and the pale primrose

Hail! flowery May that dost inspire

Mirth and youth and warm desire.

Woods and groves are of thy dressing

Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing

Thus we salute thee with our early song

and welcome thee and wish thee long.

John Milton ~ MAY SONG ~

Hope these pictures will remind you to sit and relax in a favorite spot this first weekend in May. A pot of tea, or a tall glass of cool lemonade, perhaps a pretty decorated cupcake or something chocolatey - of course a good read, your current novel, a decorating book full of inspiration for that next project, or that new magazine which arrived in the mailbox this week.

ENJOY!

Flowers for you from my garden

The past couple of scorching days have been spent in the garden planting the vegetables - assorted tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, beans, squash and numerous herbs. Sometimes I think it's so much work and it would be easier to pop out to the market or a roadside farm stand. Then comes hot, steamy July and I watch DH filling a basket with warm, sun ripened tomatoes, placing them on the kitchen island alongside shiny peppers and tender new zucchini, and I'm thankful we did all that work to encourage those little flimsy plants, and tiny seeds to burst forth, climb up those cages and stakes, and bring forth their tasty fruits to grace our plates..............................and then to keep me so darned busy making gallons of messy tomato sauce and dozens of containers of pesto to fill the freezer for another year.

Would love to know who grows a vegetable garden ~ always happy to get tips, or share tips, for making it easier, if possible!

Meanwhile, until the veggies start to grow, I'm sending you flowers from my garden. I looked around today and was pleasantly surprised to see so many beautiful new blooms. Guess these last two days with temps. in the mid 90's have really got things growing - and now some rain expected in the next day or so which will be great.

The Allium is like a cluster of stars ~ the purple Clematis on the porch rail is one of my favorites. This very rose pink Clematis is on my mailbox post.

This rose "Peace" is one one of two bushes in the front beds - it's so beautiful.

The gorgeous pink Geranium buds.

Bright and brilliant yellow Lantana ~ and then the amazing yellow blooming Jasmine which is covering about 20 feet of chainlink fencing installed by my neighbor along the back side of the property - yeah! chainlink now almost invisible and I planted just one small plant a few years ago. The perfume is intoxicating.

The coral blossoms of the Honeysuckle on the back fence.

Blue Ridge Mtns. "Wildlife"

I know there are a lot of doggie people out there - how about this one whom we met in the delightful small Western NC town of Waynesville. The owner, sitting on a bench eating his lunch, said the doggies, four rescued Huskies, wouldn't allow him to eat in the vehicle! Their leashes were attached to bolts in the floor and they were being so patient - not a bark or growl. He ran them every day in Maggie Valley - a must for sled dogs. Notice his license plate!
This bronze fox wasn't going anywhere either - thought it a beautiful piece of sculpture and of course have an affinity for these animals ever since watching the family living in our garden last Spring (see my pics in post of 3/16/07). We have seen one adult this Spring - think it's either the same Mom from last year or perhaps one of the four now grown juveniles who is hanging about the wooded area across from us. It actually walked across our back deck one evening last week - that was a surprise.
In another delightful mountain town, Hendersonville, the current friendly painted and decorated animals on Main Street are bears - last time we visited there were horses. These were two of my favorites - the botanical theme, and a traveling bear preparing to see the world.

VICTORIA will reign..........again!!!

As I mentioned, I was thrilled to find a bundle of VICTORIA magazines, plus this book by Victoria called Intimate Home, when I was in Asheville.

As if this wasn't fun enough, I've now discovered that VICTORIA magazine is to be relaunched and the first issue (November/December) will be published for purchase this October! Apparently Hearst Corp. have partnered with Birmingham, Alabama publisher, Hoffman Media to bring our beloved mag. back. Newstand price will be $4.99 and they hope to have a paid subscription base of 250,000 after the first two publications. Hopefully it will be just as good as when Nancy Lindemeyer started it and we will all want to subscribe.

Other fun items recently found at SuzAnna's - the old brass letter box which would have been part of a front door - the type we have in England - no curb boxes there! Postman still comes on foot and pops the "post" through one's door - you hear it plop onto the mat and the box slot slam.....................I love that sound.

Now, don't think I've lost it as DH does! The heavenly blue shutter, one of a pair, complete with iron shutter dogs, are to be hung inside - yes that's inside - on the sides of my bay window in the master bedroom. I'm still working on the "romantic somewhat Bohemian" old world look, and think this will clinch my idea of a slightly faded over time European cottage look.
Funny thing is I had bought another set of old shutters which have heavy white peeling paint and would really require a lot of scraping and then washing with a blue paint to get this exact look. This set is just about ready to hang and are the perfect blue against the already blue gray walls.

Around Asheville

A few pictures taken around Asheville, NC. The Grove Arcade, a beautiful historic building, contains some lovely, and of course expensive, shops - clothing, shoes, furniture, bath & body, home accessories, galleries full of North Carolina artisans' work, a lovely yarn shop (for Peg!), and cheese - an amazing selection supposedly from North Carolina to Tibet!! Personally I'm a "cheese-aholic" so found this one quite interesting.


A stunning work in wrought iron - would like this bench for my garden!

Gorgeous carved stone frieze on an old bank building - this mason also worked on the Biltmore House.

And then, in the search for cottagey bargains....................my best find, a huge and fabulous antiques, garden, vintage barn called "ScreenDoor". I spent so long browsing through here that DH read the entire daily paper and then fell asleep in the car. He's such a dear though, never complains, just wonders where the stuff will go in our small house!

Guess what I found besides some interesting odds and ends that would fit in the car................nine years of the October issue of VICTORIA magazine for just $10.00.......I was thrilled because, like many of you, I threw out my entire set from issue one through the last, and now want them back so badly!!!!

I really loved this place and will drive back to Asheville (5 hours) just to visit here again some day...............and I'll rent a truck so I can bring back the beautiful old doors, windows, cottage furniture, wire garden stuff etc. Anyone want to go along for the ride!!?

Scenes from the Blue Ridge Mountains

Back from the mountains - it was wonderful, weather perfect, nothing like cool, clear mountain air to make one happy to be alive. Asheville, North Carolina........................small city set like a jewel in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Sitting on the Sunset Terrace of the famed Grove Park Inn, we enjoyed lunch just as F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda did in the 1930's. This was the view from our table across the town toward the mountains.

Driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway we made several stops to view beautiful waterfalls such as this.

On the drive from Waynesville to Chimney Rock we passed through Lake Lure. If you watched HGTV Dream Home 2006, you will remember the house was here above the lake enjoying the perfect view. The movie "Dirty Dancing" with Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Gray was filmed here.
Went to the top of Chimney Rock, 2200 feet up - but luckily didn't have to scale the mountainside, there is an elevator which takes you through the mountain almost to the top! Just have to walk across a small bridge and up 44 steps to reach the top for the view of Lake Lure and the surrounding mountain vistas.
These mountain trails were the site used for filming "The Last of the Mohicans" starring Daniel Day-Lewis.

Rushing creeks, masses of native Rhodedendrons covering the banks, budding but not yet in bloom.


How cute is this? Made fast a U-Turn to take this picture. Such a dear horse, stood there for the longest time "advertising" the stables - hope he gets special treats for being so patient!

Thanks everyone who wished me a good trip - as always I had fun but am happy to be home again. The cottage needs Spring cleaning - carpet cleaning tomorrow - and planning to get back into the garden.

For those of you who shared your love of Celtic/World music with me, I must tell you that Loreena's concert in Asheville on Thursday night was just fantastic. This composer/singer/musician is an amazing performer - her accompanying musicians wonderful - and it really was a night I shall always remember.