Thursday, March 19, 2015

Birthday Eve, Caravan, flowers

 

Good evening Folks ~ We are having such gorgeous spring weather down here in s.e. FL. While we do have green and colorful flowers all year long, we also have a LOT of spring blooming trees.  Yellows, purples, pinks, just beautiful!

I want to say thank you again to all of you for your kind, encouraging and uplifting support.  It is priceless to me and I appreciate all of your comments and emails.  I have been feeling at peace the past couple of days, and that’s a good thing.

I’ve still been playing with paint colors and mixed up three of my samples together and think I’ve finally got a color I really like for myself.

Today my friend Ramona gave me a 3/4 full can of an aqua color paint.  She thought of this can of paint in her stash from watching the video on my blog a couple of posts back. Well, this is what I did with a bit of it this afternoon.

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Here are these two walls after pressure washing. I still need to do some scraping on the wall with the peeling paint.  It is the wall that faces south, so really has taken a beating with the sun blasting on it.  You can see my paint sample colors. Smile

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This is part of the cochina patio stones that I pressure washed. You can see how bad it all looked by the cement patio stones in the foreground. I can only do so much of this at a time.  I worked for two hours pressure washing and was worn out, so quit for the day. This patio can be worked on more too, but I had had it.

We found these patio stones in a heap on the next street east of us a few years back. We loaded them into the van, brought them home, and started putting the puzzle together. I was thinking today how I miss the sweet surprise ‘free’ gifts that my DH used to bring home from his jaunts out. Curbside shopping is fun, and I still look, but haven’t found anything lately.

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The afternoon of the 17th I got a sweet bday pkg from a follower who lives in Washington state.

Pale, green/blue and brown eggs that she had blown out herself.  Nice for Easter and Spring.  I put some of them in this old basket with a couple of hearts I had in it.  This is now in my bedroom in my craft area.

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The book above on the left is a journal and it says Life’s little reminders on the cover, and has different sweet reminders on the pages inside.

The book on the right is by Sarah Young. I already have her book Jesus Calling that I got a couple of months after my dear husband left this planet.  It is a blessing in my life, something to re-read and be continually blessed and encouraged by.  This new book ‘Jesus Today’ is about hoping in Jesus. It came at just the right time for me now, just as the other one did.

Below is a zip lock baggie filled with mint from the fields near their home.

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Thank you dear Lily for thinking of me.

Below is a blurry picture I took of two pieces of candied ginger I had just taken out of the bag.  What a wonderful treat to see the one in the shape of a heart!  Another gift for me at this time.

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Today two of my friends, Ramona and Jude, took me to a Vietnamese restaurant.  Jude had told me about this restaurant and how delicious the beef rice noodle soup, ‘Pho’ was.  Well, she was not exaggerating!  I couldn’t get over how tasty it was, different herbs and spices I couldn’t put my finger on. Now I want to try making this at home as I love to cook. I brought almost half of my meal home with me. We had Edamame as an appetizer, and then they brought out batter fried oreo cookies with whipped cream and drizzled chocolate for dessert with a candle in the middle for me to blow out, while the two ladies sang Happy Birthday to me. Sweet! Dessert was really good and different!

Judy had brought me a spring of Queen’s Wreath blooms,  purple and looking sort of like wisteria, otherwise known as Sandpaper vine as the leaves feel like sandpaper. I have this vine that has just started to take off and I hope to get flowers soon.

Thank you Jude & Ramona for a lovely lunch.

 

Birthday greetings.

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This sweet mug is from another dear friend, Doreen. I’ve never seen these with little covers to keep your drink hot. 

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I hope you all have a lovely 1st day of spring tomorrow.

I will be celebrating my 66th bday.

Happy Spring ~ FlowerLady

Here are some blooms taken yesterday.

Blanket flower, self sows, a real treat all year.

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Hydrangea tree.

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Spiderwort

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A succulent.

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Unknown rose

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‘Paul McCartney’ rose. This rose smells heavenly.

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26 comments:

Betty said...

Happy Birthday. Bloggers are wonderful friends to have and such a beautiful gift to get on your special day.

lil red hen said...

Happy, Happy Birthday! My birthday is on Easter Sunday this year; number 74 for me :)

Mrs. E said...

I always feel like it is spring when I visit your blog. Happy Birthday, dear lady!

Jane said...

The blogging community certainly has some of the sweetest people on Earth. Happy birthday a day early, Rainey! I like that you are mixing the colors together to make your on unique color. Just make sure that you mix enough to do the entire house!

Hugs
Jane

Lemon Verbena Lady said...

Happiest of birthdays dear FL from The Herbal Husband and me! Big hugs and kisses xo

Antique ART Garden said...

Happy Birthday! I believe that unknown flower was a bleeding heart.big hug! Gina

Ruth Hiebert said...

Happy Birthday for tomorrow. I hope it is the star of a most wonderful year.

Jane Westwell said...

Many Happy Returns, Lorraine!

Your painting project looks like a very pretty gypsy caravan or shepherd's hut - so quirky and bright - and the flower pictures are gorgeous as always... but then you ARE the FlowerLady :o)

Hope you have a wonderful birthday weekend with lots of sunshine and friends, and happy memories of your DH. Jane xx

Kit said...

Happy Birthday! May you have many many more! Love, Kit

Tatyana@MySecretGarden said...

Happy Birthday dear Lorraine!
I'm so happy to have you as a blogging friend!

Sandy said...

Happy birthday, one day late. Just seeing this post. You are a joy and an inspiration!

Sallysmom said...

Happy birthday. Hope your day was simply wonderful.

Connie in Hartwood said...

The first day of spring is a perfect present ... happy, happy birthday!

NickiLee said...

It's been a long long time since we've connected - fitting that I would stop by your Blog on your Birthday! Happy Birthday sweet lady. I have thought about you often and your little get-away - it looks fabulous!!! Love the colors.
Hugs
Nicki Lee

Stephanie said...

Happy Spring and Happy Birthday, sweet friend! I hope your birthday was a joy and blessing!

Love and hugs!

jerilanders said...

Happy 66th Birthday Rainy! You are doing great in your garden and yard. The aqua paint ia a perfect highlight against the lavenders and purple of your caravan.I wish you lovely and perfect day, you deserve it.

Anonymous said...

Happy, Happy Birthday Dear Rainey! I hope you are having a wonderful day and that it is filled with joy and peace (and a few more gifts to boot!).

Love and hugs,

eli

Becky said...

BEAUTIFUL Blooms! My favorite shade is the one next to the light shade next to t he window to the right in the photo, Reminds me of a pansy and they make me happy!

KathyB. said...

Happy, happy birthday ! Your dinner out and the pho sound deliciously nice. I am going to have to try out our local pho joint now.

Your flowers are beautiful and your painting projects are looking very good . ( I have to admit I completely understand how this can tire a body out. )

You have so much interest in all the life God has given you and your creativity is an inspiration.

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

Belated birthday greetings Lorraine! What a wonderful date to celebrate a birthday! Things are still looking beautiful at your place.

Becky said...

I hope you had a lovely birthday!

Morning's Minion said...

We share a March birthday--mine was the 18th. I'm not a believer in astrology, but I recall reading once that those born under the sign of Pisces are creative souls.
I enjoyed looking at your paint samples. Isn't it bewildering how the colors can look so different once out of the can and spread on a wall?
The aqua color is the perfect accent for your plum/lavender.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Happy Belated Birthday to YOU. Sounds like you got some great gifts and I'm sure you enjoyed your meal out with friends... There's just nothing better than real friends in our lives... You are blessed with many.

Love your flowers... Can't wait to see more and more color here this spring.
Hugs,
Betsy

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Belated
Happy Birthday
and as always
enjoyed your sharing.
"you are so young"

M.K. said...

Happy birthday to you, Rainey (a bit late!) Just reading this. I'm glad your friends took you out for some good fun :)

Val said...

A belated "Happy birthday," Lorraine. This month has been so out-of-whack, I'm completely behind with everything. Best wishes for a new year that will bring another job you love, more blooms, and more joy into your life. ♥