A Rose

This picture was taken at the hotel in Salt Lake City.


The Rose Family by Robert Frost

The rose is a rose,
And was always a rose.
But the theory now goes
That the apple's a rose,
And the pear is, and so's
The plum, I suppose.
The dear only know
What will next prove a rose.
You, of course, are a rose--
But were always a rose.

Step Aside Martha Stewart

Savannah Rose and I were invited to attend a "Spirit of Women" Cooking Class meeting this past Monday evening. It was held at a place we had never visited in Great Falls, MT called Electric City Conservatory.



Cooking did not take place as a local business, Penny's Gourmet To Go provided a table full of finger foods.

Carrie and Rachel with Electric City Conservatory showed us how simple floral arrangements in vases, flower orbs, rose petals and candles can decorate a table easily.





One floral arrangement was simply a bunch of Bells of Ireland greenery snipped at an angle on each stem to desired height for your vase filled with water. Snipping at an angle helps the water be absorbed better.

Also, very important for each vase arrangement is to remove all the leaves and greenery from the stems that are to be submerged in the water. This prevents mold in the water and slows down the aging of the arrangement.



The flower orbs (balls) made for the table were from roses and one from bachelor buttons. A floral block called Oasis was cut to size, placed in a sink or bucket of water not submerged but on top. The Oasis then soaked up a great deal of the water in pretty short order. Afterward, knife was used to shape the Oasis block into a ball or round shape. Each individual flower was cut on the stem at an angle with about 2 inches remaining and then pushed into the Oasis.

The smaller the flower bloom, the more bunches are needed to fill the Oasis shape. Also, it was mentioned that the finished flower ball may get your table wet and decorative plates could be used to set them on. The flower orbs do not have a very long table life, approximately 3 to 4 hours.



One of the most beautiful arrangements I have ever seen is called "Spilling Over". The roses are placed in slanted laying position as if they are falling out of the vase.



We closed out our evening by doing a little shopping in the store. I got more ideas for crafting projects and found some fun cards with "character" to send to my sister-in-laws.

Illusion Art

Do you see two pictures in one with this photograph?

Besides the flowers and butterfly, there is a woman's face. The two upper leaves make up her eye and eyebrow. The butterfly is her nose with the flower her lips. Quite clever this artist was in protraying beauty both ways.

As they say "Art is in the Eye of the Beholder". I hope you are having a wonderful day where you are at.

The wind is blowing fierce outside my picture window. The branches of the juge cottonwood tree in the middle of the front yard are flopping around as if in some intense dance. My two seater swing may be overturned for a second time within these past couple days. Our temperature has dropped quite a bit and is between 56 and 68 degrees -- feels like Fall is in the air around here. As I type this thunder is rumbling, so the computer will be shut off post haste. I love rain, it makes me want to crawl under covers and snuggle in.



Fred has been in Kansas City since this past Monday and will be returning home close to midnight this coming Friday, the 21st. Yesterday, he called after an adventure to the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum in a city about 50 miles away called Independence. Being the history buff, he said he really enjoyed some of the exhibits a lot. At least this training he is getting is totally new and exciting to him. He has also warned me that he is destined for more training as he received an email from his supervisor who has been in meetings in Dallas all this past week. He said the email was short and not specific, but read something like. . . "be prepared for lots more trainings to attend in the very near future. . . will explain more soon." I am glad he is in a job where he is learning and doing new things. He is happier and greatly enjoying himself.

At the Duck Pond

The kids and I visited the duck pond at Gibson Park for the first time today with a bag of old buns. The boys had a splendid time and left saying they wanted to return really soon. I made that happen rather quickly as I loaded them and their dad up after dinner for the excursion repeated. I had found another loaf of bread in the bottom of the refrigerator under the meat crisper.







Also, I had been told that people come out on Wednesday evenings for music performances at the same park. The turn out was great and everyone enjoyed the music played.



We took Fred to see the flower garden and arch. He thought it was lovely but allergies and an asthma attack took over and coughing from Fred played along with the music. So much so that at times people were looking and staring like "what is this sick man doing out and about."







All in all it was a nice evening to be out and about. Next time, however; one will remember to check and see if the inhaler is packed along for the trip.

Sunny Day Delight

Yesterday was a gloomy rainy day. I didn't even stick my head out the door and didn't feel inspired to sit and sew, to read, to draw or just plain anything. I would have loved to stay in bed with the covers pulled up to my chin also.

But, like most, I made it through and now today is just gorgeous!

Here is a glass window hanging that I recently purchased at JoAnn Fabrics. It makes me happy and looks so beautiful when the sun light is showing through it.

I now feel inspired. Also, I am thrilled because my husband has two of our three kids out with him on a day road trip. Maybe I will get a little more house cleaning done while the foot traffic is lighter around here today.

Birdies In A Spring Basket

shared by barncat1 in Hoop Love Vintage Transfers on flickr.com

I find this pattern to be simply delightful!

While I sit here at my computer typing, I am hearing birdies chirping from all different directions. It is that wonderful time of the year.

I don't know if they look as cute as the ones in the pattern, but I will keep a smile on my face and imagine so.

Hope this brightens your day!

Purple Iris Beauty

Someone sent me an email that had this beautiful picture of purple irises included.

These have always been my favorite flowers. They do not have long bloom life in the south. They also do not last in bouquets very long, but they are so beautiful and vibrant in color.

They make me happy!! Hope they brighten your day as well.

Unspoken Messages

A wonderful married couple years ago set me up on a blind date to come to dinner at their house to meet a friend of theirs they knew I would love to get to know. I arrived on time (a chore for me). We talked for a while, then a while longer, till Sandy could resist no more and went to call the missing stranger. She got no answer and both she and Don were embarrassed. Dinner went on without the stranger. A week passed by and Sandy called me asking if the "blind date" that stood me up could call and explain. He did and I gave him one more chance. Upon arrival at my door to take me out to dinner, he presented me with a beautiful bouquet of yellow roses. What impressed me more than the roses was his knowledge of their meaning. Yellow roses signify "Please forgive me." Did I end up marrying this man you ask? -- NO, after 4 years we went our separate ways -- he to his list of golf courses and me to the man I adore. (We are coming upon 16 years of marriage very soon.)

I have simply fallen in love with my fresh cut flower bouquet and pulled out the digital camera to capture the blooms at their peek. I kept snapping shots till I got my most favorite to share with you here. Then I got interested in finding out what meanings of flowers are and found a wonderful site called Florapedia and another one http://www.clareflorist.co.uk/meanings.asp. Check them out for tons of information when choosing your next floral arrangement.



The traditional flower meanings for the Gerbera daisy is beauty and innocence. However, the gerbera variety holds an added meaning of cheerfulness, which stems from the assortment of colors available.



The flower meanings traditionally associated with Stargazer Lilies are innocence and purity, but the more modern connotations are honor and aspiration.



Pink carnations are often given as a sign of gratitude





Zinnia (mixed)--Thinking / In memory of an absent friend



Red roses are the traditional symbol for love and romance, and a time-honored way to say "I love you." The red rose has long symbolized beauty and perfection. A bouquet of red roses is the perfect way to express your deep feelings for someone special.

Flowers Make A Day Brighter

How come one smiles when they see a field of flowers? Even just to see a handful or a large bouquet, a smile will appear.

Flowers in their delicate state and beauty have been a form of expression since the beginning of time.

Flowers have been painted on canvas by many artists - novice or accomplished. Yet, appreciated just the same.

Just to say the word "flowers" brings images of life and splashes of color to ones mind.

One poetic quote comes to my mind when I think of flowers:

"What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet"

From Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, 1594


In a lot of my embroidery (needlework), flowers are a part of the pattern. I finished a piece with a girl holding a bouquet. I loved the detail it has in flowers and plan on doing more pieces to include in a quilt in the future.






Also, in thinking about flowers, I was able to locate just recently in one of my outings, a Wexford prescut glass vase -- antique now days. It is so beautiful and goes with my growing collection of dishes from that same pattern. (A friend of mine found the very rare plates at a yard sale a few weeks back and purchased them for me. Thank you my friend, Kathleen!)

Thrifty Decorating

One's own sense of style and decorating is a unique and creative way to express your individual SELF.

I have developed my own "idea" of Victorian as to the things I find while shopping around town at thrift stores like Goodwill. (Check out their online site: shopgoodwill.com) I got this wonderful art print recently in an auction at shopgoodwill.com.



Now I will have fun picking out a matting and framing look for this beautiful artwork. I see Elizabeth and Jane Bennett from my favorite book by Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, in this.

Another find at a thrift store here in Nashville, TN called Southern Thrift is a wonderful brass Victorian looking shoe vase that I have chosen to put eucalyptus in for display.



I am always in search of my next acquisition for that special decorating touch. A big sense of satisfaction (picture me smiling) comes from saving money also.

Embroidery Craze 2009

Off to stitching I go! As the end of 2008 played out and 2009 rang in my fingers have been busy stitching. My mind is a whirl of different patterns to find, colors to choose, projects to make. I am in Wonderland for sure on this new adventure.



Also, I am taking a leap and wanting to photograph and display my creations for others to see. I want to learn to blog and grow on this journey.