Catching Up On The Latest News
Hi there everyone! It's been awhile since we last connected so how about if we all catch up today? I'll share what's been happening around the blog here lately and you be sure to share what's been happening in your life as well in the comments. I can't wait to hear!
First up is this new "Bee Happy" vignette on the foyer table. I picked up these adorable bee items at Hobby Lobby and I just think they are the cutest! The expressions on the bees caught my attention and I smile each time I walk by the foyer table and see their goofy faces. I think this vignette is fun for late Spring and early Summer. Plus the bee pincushion will come in handy in the sewing room later!
Since Easter, I have been working on planting flowers in our patio pots and in our little backyard garden. Here I am at the garden center at Home Depot a few weeks ago. That place has been hopping each time we go there! I think that folks are doing even more planting this year in the aftermath of all of the storm damage from Helene. So many plants and shrubs and trees were lost from people's properties.
Here are some of the patio containers. They got moved all around when the roofers were working on our new roof last week so that's why you see bricks where they should not be. We will have gutters installed next week so they will most likely get moved around again. Just ignore the arrangement and look at the pretty flowers, lol!
Because our back patio gets much more sun now, I'm experimenting with some different flowers than what I usually plant. In addition to my faithful impatiens, you will see zinnias, petunias, marigolds and snapdragons.
The coral bells in our little backyard garden have decided to really bloom this Spring. See the long shoots coming out of them?
Our rhododendron plants really got beat up during the hurricane but they are bravely blooming this Spring anyway! The Mr. took this spectacular pic of one of the blooms.
And, our azaleas are blooming beautifully as well. Wish I could keep these blooms going all summer but it doesn't work that way.
And we have beautiful flowers inside the house, as well, thanks to The Mr. who brought me two beautiful bouquets of flowers on Sunday for being a "fur mama" to our three fur babies. I decided to break up the flowers into three different arrangements. This is a gorgeous pink long stemmed rose.
And these lovely red long stemmed roses and berries are gracing the bookcase in "my" music room.
And the chrysanthemums and daisies are on the mantel in the living room. Flowers, flowers, everywhere!
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The Mr. has been super busy here lately playing concerts at various venues. He is in five different brass groups plus has a piano/trumpet duo so, as you can imagine, we keep the road hot going to various music concerts. I'm very proud of his musical abilities!
I've also been trying my hand at doing some sewing these last few weeks. This is a gorgeous dress that I ordered from Blair recently in my usual size. But, when it arrived, it was much too large in the waist and top for me. So, I got out my sewing machine and took the dress in on the sides. It fits me much better now. I really like the softness of the dress and the fabric's pattern.
I also created this stretch waist skirt using fabric from a lounging robe that belonged to my mother. I had kept this robe as a remembrance of my Mom and it was stored in a box for close to 30 years. She loved wearing her lounging robes in the evenings after a long day on her feet at work. I can remember that one of the first things she would do each evening was to get comfortable in one of her many lounging robes. Rather than keep her robe in a box any longer, I decided to fashion a summer skirt that I could wear. I will always think of my Mom when I wear this skirt.
I also sewed a set of pillowcases for our bed using two fabrics that are so pretty. I don't consider myself a great seamstress, but every once in a while I enjoy trying my hand at creating something new. I thank my friend, Sharon, for her inspiration to try sewing. It continues to be a fun adventure!
We also visited the "Parade of Homes" a few weekends ago and saw this interesting new home. An artist lives in it and she was on site to talk with as we toured her beautiful home filled with her artwork. The Parade of Homes didn't happen last year due to the devastation of the hurricane so it felt lovely and normal to be able to participate in this once again!
So, as you can see, we've been pretty busy during the end of April and the current month of May! Our house restoration is moving along slowly but we are making progress which is a good thing!
And, I'm always grateful for these three furry members of our family! Cassie, Garden and River fill our days with smiles, laughter and some exasperation on occasion! And that's what family is all about, right?!
I hope this "catch up" post has been enjoyable for you. Just a little bit of this and that. Take good care and be sure to leave a comment letting me know a little bit of this and that in your life, okay?
Until Next Time,
Debbie (This and That)
*Pet photos, rhododendron photo and me in the dress photo taken by Bill Ross.
