Sunday, February 14, 2016

Happy Valentine's Day

Good morning Folks ~ I hope you are all doing well wherever you are. That you are thankful for your many blessings large & small.  We've been having warmer days which has been nice, night temps are still in the mid to low 50's, instead of the 40's. It's been comfortable here in Plum Cottage and I am thankful.

Thank you all for your prayers and good wishes for my back. I am happy to report that I am doing much better. Although my back does bother me by the end of the day and it feels really good to get horizontal.

Below are the two huge & heavy cement flower pots, one tipped is the one that strained my muscles. It was filled with water, so a mosquito breeder, because roots had plugged up the drain hole.  I've got to pull out the roots once they dry up, then figure out something else to put in theses pots. I do have them up on small bits of tile.  The other one drains ok. We paid $5 or $10 for both of these at a yard sale many, many years ago.  They are early Florida pieces.


The other night I was watching some cat videos on You-Tube and Miss Tork was sitting on my printer also watching. (Excuse my messy desk, I cleaned it off in the next day or so, so it looks much better now.)







Once cold morning I looked out into the secret garden and there were birds taking baths. I'm not sure, but  I think these are little finches.  They have the sweetest little chirp.





 Here are two of my three 'barn girls.  They love the barn. Lots of places to hide and DH rigged runways to get to higher places where they like to hang out in the windows up there looking out at the world.  When it is cold, I cover this wire cage that's out there and fill it with blankets and they nestle in all together. I caught two of them the other morning.  These two are sisters will be 11 years old this year.  The one in front is 'Shystie', one in back was the runt of that litter and she's 'Tootie'.




 Shystie is shy. :-) but more friendly these days. 

 Yesterday I came across a velvet patchwork vest that I wore in our little private 'renew our vows' wedding ceremony a few years back. It is too small for me these days and I got the idea to make a couple of heart pillows out of it, so that's what I did yesterday, finishing up this morning. I did not do any embellishing, just left it as it was. I am happy with them. They are 10 inches wide by 9 inches high.  Here's a picture of us on that celebratory day. Barefoot on an old Indian rug.








 So, with Valentine's Day being here, let us think on this, it is  a day to celebrate love, whether we are married or single. This is my 3rd V-day without my dear husband, but I have many, many memories and lots of love in my heart from and for him. We all need love, we all can give love.

The print above is compliments of Graphics Fairy. I added the wording.

Love & hugs ~ FlowerLady


29 comments:

Nancy J said...

Pillows, what a wonderful idea for the vest fabric. Sounds delightfully cool at your home, still too hot down here. 14th, we didn't do anything to celebrate, I visited a friend who has just come home from hospital, after major surgery. We talked of the quake in Christchurch in February 2011, and the huge one today ( well, really yesterday, as it is now almost 2 a.m. on 15th) We celebrated her health. And mine and Hugh's. Those were ample reasons to be happy.

Debbie - Mountain Mama said...

Awwww, that's so sweet that you made the heart pillows out of the vest - that will be a wonderful reminder of your vow renewal! Love your little 'secret garden' - those little birds look quite happy splashing around. I love those big old planters also - they're perfect! Can you grow hydrangeas in them in your climate? They'd look lovely in there!

Kim said...

What a wonderful way to hold onto your vest and have it remind you of that lovely day. I hope you spend the day holding them, your kitties and the memories of your husband close.

Janice said...


You always have the best ideas! Nice that the hearts will be out where you can enjoy them, instead of stowed away.
We were busy with my daughter and grandson yesterday, so I didn't get to make the trip to Rose Petals. Maybe, next month. Anyway, I went ahead and ordered two that I used to grow...Mutabilis and Mrs. B R Cant. They won't ship until the 29th of this month.
Have a lovely week, enjoy this spring like weather. _Janice

sweetbay said...

The bird in your last birdbath pic is a yellow-rumped warbler. They spend the winter up here too, eating wax myrtle berries.

Tootie and Shystie are beautiful. I love Shystie's green eyes.

Ruth Hiebert said...

Those heart shaped pillows are so cute. Hope your day is filled with peace,love and happy memories.

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

A wonderful repurpose of your vest. Those hearts are beautiful!!

Leslie Kimel said...

The heart pillows are so pretty. And what a wonderful picture of you and your husband!

Jane said...

The little pillows are a wonderful way to remember a special day. Sorry about your back Rainey. I'm behind on blogs, so I wasn't aware. Cute kittens. With the cold, we are getting some interesting looking strays coming to our feed trough. Sure will be glad when this cold snap ends, I worry so about them. Happy Valentine's Day!

Hugs
Jane

A Joyful Cottage said...

Rainey, making the hearts from your vest was a brilliant idea. Really. So perfect and they are gorgeous. I love that photo of you and your hubby. Your hair is so beautiful. My late husband and I renewed our vows 7 years before he passed. I'm glad we did. The flower pots are really neat. Love that old world look. Valentine's Day isn't just about couples. If it were then children wouldn't celebrate it. No, it's about love, and love is what we all need. So true, my friend. Hugs, Nancy P.S. Happy love to you, dear one.

Susan said...

Happy Valentine's Day Lorraine. Your 2 heart pillows are very pretty. What a great idea to make them out of your vest - preserves the memory and you get to enjoy them daily. Glad your back is better. Your pretty kitties look very sweet.

Darcie said...

Had to come over and wish my friend a Happy Valentines! Whenever I think of hearts I think of you...today was one of those days. Then I saw what you did with your vest! Absolutely perfect to turn it into hearts! So perfect...so fitting.

Celestina Marie said...

Beautiful post. I love the hearts you created from your vest. What a beautiful photo of you and your love. The hearts are a special treasure of that day. Blessings.

Sheri - Creative Spaces Landscaping said...

Sending you lots of good healing wishes and happiness in your heart. Love how you reused your vest creatively into a great way to keep the good memory alive. Just please be careful in the garden, I know how hard it is to "not" do something in the garden but your safety comes first!

Happy Gardening and best wishes,
Sheri

Deborah Montgomery said...

What a beautiful picture of the two of you! And, as the new owner of a head of silver hair, I'm admiring your beautiful long natural hair. The pillows that you made from your vest are beautiful keepsakes. I admire your industry and creativity!

Maryann said...

I love how you repurposed the vest into those little hearts. What a great idea. every time you look at then you will remember that day. Wonderful photo of you and your love...Blessings to you

Deb said...

Oh those pillows are just a wonderful idea. I do hope your back gets better soon I imagine those urns are near impossible to move. Thank you for posting the nursery where you bought the roses recently I had lost the name and now I can order some roses.

Unknown said...

A sweet post Lorraine. So glad that your back is doing a little better. Your vest hearts are so pretty and how lovely to have them as a beautiful reminder of a special day. I loved seeing the photos of your lovely kitties too and the pretty birds. Your garden is a very lovely and special place.
Enjoy the rest of your week and happy belated Valentines.
- Kate

Rebecca said...

Ditto to what everyone else has said!
We're back home after a quick trip to visit two of our children and their families.
Hope to catch up with everything tomorrow...

Barbara said...

What wonderful little hearts to make with your vest. I think they are gorgeous and so was your love affair with your dear one.

Cheryl said...

Well that was the perfect thing to do with your vow renewal vest! Two sweet hearts of remembrance!

Glad to hear that your back is recovering. I love that you care for the little stray cats.

Jessica Jarrell said...

Ohhhh, I love the pictures of the little birds. They are finches, they are called goldfinches. One of my favorites! One of my favorite parts of summer is watching the birds sneak little baths in. It's too cute. I loved all the kitty pictures too, of course!

I'm sorry about your back, you know I sympathize :/ Take care of yourself and get lots of rest! I hope you get to feeling better :)

Dewena said...

I'm sure that just handling the pieces of fabric for these hearts brought back such tender memories. And wonderful to know that it won't be discarded or given away but will go on as some of your lovely heart pillows.

Shystie's eyes are gorgeous! And those concrete planters look super heavy; be careful!

Andrea said...

Hi Lorraine, thanks for the kind words you left in my blogpost for GBBD. We have lots of birds too in the property in the province, they multiplied and come near us after my father died and the trees are left untouched and uncut. The area is also left untended, and biodiversity love it. My problem with the birds is that they always get ahead of me with our volunteer papayas. They prick them even at the younger stage that is still not as sweet as i wanted, hahaha.

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

Your heart cushions are the perfect way to use and enjoy your special vest. Seeing birds enjoying your birdbath must always be a source of joy. I know I sure enjoy our bird visitors, even though we have no bird bath.
Thank you for your previous comment too about sharing the same bromeliads. When I look at ours now I think of you around the world in Florida!

Annie said...

Beautiful idea to make those cushions. I enjoyed Valentine's Day for the first time this year.

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

What a great idea to make the pillows and they are so pretty! I am glad that you are feeling better and stronger and I've enjoyed the little birds and your kitties :)

Thistle Cove Farm said...

Your pillows are wonderful and such a cozy reminder of a special day. Those planters look HEAVY (because they are HEAVY -smile) and easy to see how you could strain your back.
I don't celebrate Valentine's Day but glad it brings pleasure to so many others.
The kitties look well care for; you're a good steward, Rainey.

Kit said...

Your pillows are lovely and a great way to remember your love. :) Hugs, Kit