Presents for the heart

FRIENDS often want to spoil you. They present special little gifts that bring a smile to your heart. They KNOW what you love, taking a moment in their busy day to scoop up something they spy on a shelf or counter, perhaps at an auction, or tucked away in a vintage shop, thinking that YOU might like that treasure.

Last week Susie and Anna at SuzAnna's Antiques presented me with this 1891 edition of USES of TISSUE PAPER. They just knew I would love the illustrations. They often find sweet things to share with me ~ thank you so much, you are the best shoppers............and shopkeepers!

I just have to share the introduction from this little book. So many of you create beautifully crafted items, from soft quilts to glittering mosaics. We all share a love of displaying decorative items in our homes so I think you'll find this quite interesting.

The Uses of Tissue Paper.

It is surprising to find how very much can be done in the way of decoration by the use of simple means. One of the greatest triumphs of this age of invention is seen in the use of every-day materials for the purpose of producing beautiful effects. In the past a mistaken idea prevailed that the beauty of a thing depended upon costly material and elaborate workmanship, and so it came to pass that decoration was left to a few skilled hands, and was only possible to the wealthy. Marvels of decorative needle work, consuming years of time, attest the love of our ancestors for the beautiful, and later on as the taste for home beauty spread, samplers were wrought by girlish hands and often formed the principal ornament of a home. But these are more hurried days - days of activity and pressure, and only the few, comparatively speaking, have time for elaborate work, and so year by year, decorations that can be quickly made acquire a greater value.........................

...........and this was written one hundred seventeen years ago!

Southern HEAT

Trickling down my back, feeling like miniature rivers, the water pools around my waist, dampening my flimsy clothing.

HEAT - the scourge of Summer in the South. It arrives without fanfare, seems suddenly to envelope one's day quietly, welling up from the cool, misty dawn.

By high noon, it envelopes one's senses, slows one's pace and breathing.

By late afternoon it sears bare arms and legs even when lolling, useless and damp, in the shade of the porch.

I am melting.........bring me a river, a pond, a pool, the ocean......ice, water, water, water.

Cool, clear crystals against water-colored wood - vintage sconce at SuzAnna's Antiques.

The Door is Always Open

The French inspired guest room welcomes you ~ but when empty something pretty was needed to prop the door open. This heavy resin, hand painted piece may have been made to use as a doorstop, it is flat on the back ~ if that was not its original function that's what it is now, and I love it!

Pretty painted 'doorstop' found this week at SuzAnna's Antiques.

And then...............step through the door into the room and what do you see but this fabulous French clock attached to a black iron stand. This is a beautiful and thoughtful gift from my friend Vanessa at Vanilla Lavender - we met for a little treasure hunting and lunch on Tuesday and had a great time together. Thanks again Vanessa ~ truly love the clock and will always think of you when I glance up at the armoire.

forever (for-ev`er) 1. for always, without end 2. without the bonds of time; eternal

Front Porch Party Day!

Welcome to my southern front porch in Raleigh, North Carolina. As you know, Rhondi at Rose Colored Glasses has taken on the huge job of hosting a worldwide Front Porch Party today ~ what fun, many thanks Rhondi. Hope to spend time visiting each of you on your porch ~ or viewing pictures of your dream porch.

When you reach the top of the driveway, notice the Hydrangeas in front of the porch. They decided to bloom in time for the party today. These two are Endless Summer and were planted as small gallon size pot plants just 18 months ago!

As you climb the front steps this vignette of things I love welcome your arrival at the front door of the cottage. SIMPLIFY has been my mantra for the past year............unfortunately it's not working too well because I keep finding treasures that beg to come home with me.

The porch is small but perfect for my cozy cottage. The dining room window looks out onto the porch. There's room for three comfy wicker chairs ~ I can squeeze in a fourth if you bring an extra friend along ~ and a small round table to display ever changing vintage treasures. We can move them if you want a place to put your cool drink, and as the temperatures have decided to stay in the mid to high 90's all this week, I'll make extra ice!!

Palest pink picnic basket from SuzAnna's Antiques.

Last year, one fresh and brilliant morning, Spring fever overtook me while visiting SuzAnna's Antiques. Many of you know this is my favorite local ~ make that favorite anywhere ~ shop, and y'all will be stopping there when you come to Raleigh, right? I bought the chartreuse green potting bench that day and it has become a place to display garden items such as birdhouses, pottery and crockery, vases of flowers, birds' nests and a collection of birds. It's a perfect fit at the end of the porch. In the coming weeks of Summer, the Morning Glories and Moon Flower vines will clamber up the end of the porch making a curtain of leaves and purple and white blooms, providing shade from the hot afternoon sun.
Above hang two candoliers - pretty in both the sparking sun and under the stars in the evening with the candles lit.

In front of the porch is a small fountain which is becoming popular as a drinking and bathing pond for many of our garden birds. Chickadees like to drink on the very top as the water spurts out. House Finches, Robins, Cardinals come to drink, and yesterday a large Catbird actually appeared to be trying to swim in the lower basin, quite funny to watch. We've also seen squirrels drinking and one day a black cat stopped by to taste the water.

If you followed my chronicles of the Carolina Wrens this Spring, these pictures show you how they enjoyed the porch so much they raised a family here, and a corner of the porch ceiling is a favorite sleeping spot at night for the female Wren.

I'm so happy you stopped by today to relax with me on the front porch. The perfume from the Jasmine climbing the porch posts is wonderful. The trickling water in the fountain is calming and, if we stay still and whisper, perhaps a bird will splash around as we sip our cool drinks.

Often described as the forum of the American nation, the porch is a stage upon which the drama of everyday life is acted out. Whether simply rustic and charming or ornate and imposing, they can be as diverse as the country itself.

The porch is a bridge between the interior life of the home and the world outside----a place to quietly reflect on the day, sit with the neighbors and catch up on their news, linger with friends, or be alone with your loved ones and your dreams.

............Porches - American Beauties ~ Wynn Wheldon............

Early Spring ~ porch sitting time is here!

Thank you for taking the time to visit my front porch today. Be sure to come back again soon, I'll be looking for you.

This morning as the sun came up ~ it's going to be a hot day.

P.S. Just found out that today is Rhondi's Birthday ~ best wishes dear friend, Happy Birthday and many more. We'll celebrate your day on the porch of course!

Oops! I needed a little break.......

Know I should have been in the garden yesterday morning but meeting Vanessa for a a little fun and retail therapy at SuzAnna's had to be squeezed in too! Will show more pics later of the fun things we found ~ gets better all the time.

See you all at Rhondi's Front Porch Party tomorrow.

Blue Angel

I'm not really 'blue' ~ just so busy with the garden chores and other things that I just have to take a bit of a blog break for a day or so. When I get back I'll be stopping by to catch up with all your news. Don't forget, Rhondi at Rose Colored Glasses is hosting a great Front Porch Party this week ~ stop over to get details.

" A garden without seats is unfriendly."

Christopher Lloyd ~ 'In My Garden' 1994

Deep Purple

As dusk falls across the garden

some flowers take on an

otherworldly look.

A favorite purple clematis climbs an old obelisk each Spring. Rusting legs caused it to fall in a recent wind, I was concerned the thin brittle stems were broken and my flowers would die. Happily they survived. I shored up the shaky structure with strong wooden stakes. Improvise in the garden. Don't toss out the old things, they bring history to the place.

Shabby in the garden works really well.

Deep purple in the thunderstorm this evening.