Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Spring at Plum Cottage

 

Hi Folks ~ We've had some chilly weather for two days now, around 60 at night, feeling like it's in the high 50's. Good sleeping weather. Really nice during the day. Breezy, some clouds. Lots of birdsong, dragonflies, butterflies, cats eating my butterfly weed, so will be soon adding to the butterfly population.

I painted the wood siding on the caravan in two sessions, two different days. I’ve still some aqua to add on the inner frame work around little stained glass windows, on either side of the door. I need to reglaze the windows first.

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Now, here’s a question for you. Paint the two hearts on either side of door below, aqua or white? These two hearts were my first ‘curbside’ find in March 2013, after my DH left this planet. I was thrilled because they were ‘hearts’.

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Now for some pictures from the gardens.

Below are George Tabor azaleas.

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This below is a Tillandsia, or air plant. 

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Hibiscus

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Frangipani which I bought last year. Very pretty. My others from cuttings from a friend many, many years ago, are pink.

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I don’t remember what this little sweetie is. I almost lost it, but this little sprig hung in there and surprised me with blooms.

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Louis Philippe or ‘Florida Cracker Rose’. 9 buds in this picture.

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Climbing ‘Maman Cochet’ fading but still pretty and smells wonderful.

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Sunday was my 67th bday. My dear BIL & SIL, Todd & Sue, took me out to lunch after we all went to my church together. We went to a great little Greek restaurant called Chris’s Taverna.

Todd had the meat salad on the left, Sue the gyro in the middle, and the Greek salad on the right was part of my meal. I had a gyro the last time we went there and it was delicious!

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I also had Mousaka. I took half of my salad and half of the Mousaka home. I also had a glass of their red house wine, which was very nice.

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Sue, unbeknownst to me, had told the waitress it was my birthday, so at the end of our meal, several waitresses came out with a dessert with a lit candle, singing ‘Happy Birthday’. Smile This was delicious with orange in the custard. Phyllo crust. Yummy! I took a couple of bites, then took the rest home.

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Last night my dear friends Nanci & John took me to a wonderful Thai restaurant. I had Snapper with red curry sauce over brown rice. John had a vegetable red curry over white rice, Nanci had Pad Thai.  We all got a little salad with this wonderful carrot/ginger dressing to start us off, and I had a margarita. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures.

Lots of bday wishes while at church, it was a good bday.

With bday $ I bought a new bedspread set, for spring/summer. Below shows the fall/winter one on the left, which is on the bed now and I love it, but I wanted a cooler look for our hot, humid weather. I ordered the new one this morning and it should be ready to be picked up at my local Walmart, Tuesday. I love the colors in both and the mixture of flowers. Suits my eclectic cottage style. My DH would have liked both of these two.

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So, I guess that’s it for now from s.e. FL.

I hope you are all having a great week so far.

Count your blessings, be kind, be forgiving, be encouraging.

Love & hugs ~ FlowerLady

29 comments:

Jane said...

Happy belated birthday Rainey! I love all the painting you've done. On the hearts - depends on what you're going for - if you want them to stand paint them white, but if you like the Boho look the teal would probably be better. Love your new bedspread.

Happy birthday hug,
Jane

Ruth Hiebert said...

I love that color on your home.If I were to paint the hearts,I would make them white,but either color would look fine.as usual,I enjoy all your flowers.Have a great rest of the week. BTW,you are a few months ahead of me in age. :)

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

Well, happy birthday! Glad you had some fun times out and that bedspread is very pretty. Both are very pretty.
White or aqua? Either will look good. Really make those hearts "pop."
Enjoyed all your flowers too. Spring is looking good at your place.

Sallysmom said...

I love that spring-summer one. Post a pic when you get it.

Andrea said...

Oh Happy Birthday, i wish you all the best, good health, good feelings and wonderful friends. Of course always have good weather, haha! I am a bit envious with your weather as we are now just starting with our dry season and yet we are already feeling it is almost at the peak, imagine 36°C already! I wonder how we will fare if it gets to 40C, which we haven't experienced yet. Anyway, have a good year, enjoy life and everything. Lastly, i love the hearts to be white.

crafty cat corner said...

Happy Birthdday Lorraine, I love the colour combination you've chosen for the little shed and your house, really pretty.
Wow, what big portions you get over there, twice the size of what we get here.
I like the hearts just the way they are but will look forward to seeing what you do with them.
Briony
x

RockWhisperer said...

Personally, I like the color that they are.

Happy Birthday! You are two years younger than me. Hugs xoxoxo

tina said...

I say paint the hearts white. They'll pop good. Love Greek food. Thai food, not so much. Looks like things are going well. You look so happy!

Tatyana@MySecretGarden said...

Happy belated Birthday!
Delightful post!
I'm not sure about the hearts' color. Is it possible to try both?

Betty said...

Happy Birthday. I would paint the hearts aqua and the bedspread set is so pretty. Love the caravan.

Rebecca said...

Belated Happy Birthday!
What a great way to spend that birthday $$$!
And me? I'd probably go with the aqua. (Would probably be a bit too much white for me - but suit yourself. You can always paint over them.)

Darcie said...

A Happy Belated 67th birthday!!! You place is looking lovelier, and lovelier as the days go on. You have worked so hard on your little piece of paradise. I often in my minds eye picture you there, and I see you gently caring for it all. Enjoy your new bedding!

Nancy J said...

Love and wishes for your birthday, a bit late, you kept this very quiet. Beautiful flowers, love the unknown one so much. The hearts, white will make them really show against the walls, aqua will be more subtle. And a new bedspread, perfect for Plum Cottage. Hugs from NZ.

Debbie - Mountain Mama said...

Happy Belated Birthday, we share a birthday weekend!! Another thing we share? That quilt on the left - I have it in my guest room and have had it for years - it's also my fall/winter quilt! And we share one more thing - an absolute love of gardening, and it seems cottage gardening in particular! I love the flowers you showed - of course, they won't grow in my zone 5a garden but I can enjoy them in yours!

Oh, and the hearts? I love them just the way they are!!

Melanie said...

Happy birthday! Sounds like you had a nice one, celebrating with all that yummy food and then the pretty new bedding. I love Thai food - one of my faves. I got a chuckle out of you having a margarita (mexican) with Thai food though. lol

If you like a lot of color, I'd say go for the aqua paint on the hearts. Otherwise, white would be fine, too - just not as much of a "punch".

I have never seen the air plant (tilandsia) still on the stalk like that - and with all those beautiful colors! I have one of those air plants, but it's plain green.

And you can send some of that "cool" 60's weather my way. It's only 35 degrees here in northern IL today. It's also gray and drizzly and tomorrow is calling for sleet and snow. Yuck!

Janice said...


Well Lorraine, it looks like it's about a tie between the aqua and white, with a few votes for leaving them as they are...that's kind of funny. I know I wouldn't be any help, as I'm a terrible decision maker. I always have to deliberate on things like that for a while, or I'll end up having to redo them.
I've never seen Tillandsia, but it's very pretty. All of your blooms are lovely, as always.
Enjoy this beautiful spring. Can't wait to see decision on the hearts! _Janice

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

Sounds like you had a very lovely birthday - Happy Birthday to you! All that talk of delicious food has me feeling very hungry right now. Your little caravan is just as cute as can be! And your flowers....my goodness - so enchanting! Everything looks so nice and I love your new bedding, too. Hope you have a blessed Easter, dear friend. Hugs xo Karen

Debbie Harris said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Looks as if you had a wonderful day.
I love your caravan! Oh my it is adorable, Lorraine. I think you could paint those hearts either or color.
You always have the prettiest flowers in your garden, and thank you for sharing them with us.
Great choice on your bedding. :)

Have a beautiful Easter.
Debbie

Cathy @ My 1929 Charmer said...

Belated Happy Birthday! I think I'd lean to painting the hearts aqua too. It's funny you mentioned 60 at night was cooler, well 60 during the day would be a heat wave here! Its' dropped off and is cold here again. Love your flowers in your garden and NOTHING in bloom in our area...just buds sprouting.

Rose ~ from Oz said...

Happy belated birthday dear Lorraine!! It's always lovely (after being missing in blogland for months) to catch up with how you are going and the happenings at Plum Cottage. "decluttering" was one of the very best things I ever did 3/4 years ago and I've become very intune with Feng Shui. Take care lovely lady and I'll be back to catch up with some of your older posts. HUGS Rose

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Happy Belated Birthday... Sounds like you had an awesome birthday. You have so many special friends down there... Love the pictures of you and your birthday cake!

Love your new paint job on your house... Looks like a sweet little dollhouse. I'd paint the hearts AQUA simply because those colors match each other so well --and you still have plenty of white....

Beautiful flowers... We are finally getting some spring here --but today, SEVERE weather is on the way... (Don't like that!)

Hugs,
Betsy

CraveCute said...

Looks like you are have a very Happy Birthday Month! Love the caravan and your gorgeous garden! Makes me really want to move down there after our ugly winter! What a great celebration you had, haven't had Greek food for awhile, I think I've got a craving now! Haha!
Happy Easter!

Leslie Kimel said...

Happy Birthday! I think the hearts would look beautiful in the aqua color. The caravan is looking just adorable. Love your new bedspread!

sweetbay said...

Happy birthday! A beautiful post. Your caravan looks great painted. I have to say I like the hearts the way they are, but I think since you want to paint them I'd paint them aqua to go with your other accents.

The orchids are stunning!

I really like your new bedspread set. It looks so much like a flowery quilt. I love the look of things like that.

Thistle Cove Farm said...

HAPPY belated birthday! You look marvelous and so glad you went out for your celebration! I ADORE your caravan...reminds me of gypsy caravans...so beautiful. The flowers are absolutely unreal...the colors!! I've got forsythia and hycianth's and think I'm fancy. I'd be smart too if I could spell.
The bedspreads are so pretty...like them both.

Deb J. in Utah said...

Happy Belated Birthday, my friend! I love the bedspread you bought with your birthday money. Your flowers are gorgeous as usual and the new paint looks just great. Have a Happy Easter. He is risen!

Dixie @ Arranged Words said...

Happy Belated Birthday! It looks like you had a wonderful time. Good for you!
The breadspreads are very nice and you did a great job painting.
And O such wonderful flowers...
Happy Easter.

Deborah Montgomery said...

Happy birthday to you! How nice to go out with family and friends.
Your flowers are gorgeous. I've never seen the air plant -- the colors are wonderful. I might paint the hearts white, but I think you should paint them aqua. Seems more "Floridian," if that makes sense.
Your bedspreads are very pretty. I like to change mine up for the warmer weather, too.
Have a blessed Easter, my friend. Love, Deborah

Unknown said...

A very Happy Belated Birthday Lorraine! So sorry it took me a little while to get over here and catch up but I had visitors over the Easter break. It looks like you had a wonderful birthday dinner and it all looked delicious! I love the new bedding - so pretty and cottagey. I think the hearts might look nice in aqua - but you have probably decided by now! Lovely to see your beautiful home and garden. :-)
- Kate xx