PlumWater Cottage

Still thinking Spring...

2010-02-11T11:16:00.000-06:00

This is what I've been reading...a beautiful book featuring simply gorgeous flowers and bouquets. It's definitely the book to dream and plan with.

Cottage Flowers for the garden...

2010-02-08T00:04:00.001-06:00

It's such a shame when you get Spring Fever at the beginning of February. It makes the shortest month just drag on and on. It's all about container gardening here...I'm now in search of a galvanized water trough for big time planting. Easy to weed, no bending over, and closer to the sun...important when your "garden" is downtown with lots of tall houses surrounding it. At least it's almost time to plant the sweet peas!

After ordering vegetables Sunday, I decided to visit another of my favorite seed websites and purchase flower seeds. My mailbox should be full by the end of the week.

Garden Planning

2010-02-07T10:44:00.000-06:00

Uh-oh...it's an ADD day. I really didn't see this coming on, but right after my Heart post, I received an email from Cook's Garden...on to their website...and I ordered seeds for my little garden. Here's what will be growing at PlumWater Cottage:

Carmelita Tomatoes

India Paint Eggplant

Boston Marrow Squash

San Marzano Tomatoes

Pistou Basil

Summer Squash Mix

Summerlong Basil

I guess I should dig out the peat pots and seed-starting supplies before the next snow!

Get inspired...visit Cook's Catalog!

Hearts Aplenty...

2010-02-07T09:37:00.000-06:00

Photos from BHG.com, except lower left primroses (my photo), and heart on a peg (unknown blog...isn't it pretty?)

It's a usual Sunday morning here along the river...CBS Sunday morning on the TV, coffee at hand, and I'm thinking of what to do for the rest of the day. Football? (doubt it), DVD's (the third season of The Tudors), projects...embroidery, jewelry making, sewing? Magazines?....lots in my pile to look at...Where Women Create, Apronology, Country Living...I love days like this.

I have a one week break from school. Statistics just about did me in. I can read and understand them, but do I really need to know how to arrive at them? And all of the ways to do it? I think not. The next class is entitled Applied Research/Program Evaluation...proposal writing, critiques, and evaluations. Delightful. As I see it, it's just this class and a grantwriting class between me and the Master's Degree (that, and endless years of student loan repayment...).

It's a sunny day here...we had a gloomy, rainy (but not too much snow) Friday and Saturday and the first part of the week doesn't look too enchanting weatherwise. There are pictures to be taken of a little Valentine decorating around the house...today looks like the day to do it.

Fruits and flowers...

2010-01-24T10:49:00.002-06:00

Still craving color here along the river; we had a burst of sunlight just before sundown Thursday after a very gloomy week. As I recall, that's it for the week. We're still foggy, rainy, and gloomy---but not freezing. This is good.

I went for color as I grocery-shopped yesterday...carrots, cucumbers, lettuces, lemons, limes, tangerines...and flowers. Two more sets of violets and primroses doomed to an unpredictable future in my house. I hope they survive the remainder of the winter!

Monday at home...

2010-01-18T10:01:00.003-06:00

Gloom and fog (and frog---frosty fog) have been having an extended stay here along the river. The temperatures during the day have at least been somewhat of a treat...the bone shivering cold has left temporarily, I'm sure. This is the time of year I need an infusion of color...any color.

I received my pattern order from Crabapple Hill Studios on Friday, and immediately went out to pick up floss...even though I had plenty, I wanted "new" floss---just for the pure color inspiration. While I was out, I picked up the latest issue of Somerset Life---also filled with colorful inspiration. I love the coffee filter crafts---the pink/teastained wreath and kissing ball are definitely on my "to do" for Valentine's Day.

Currently Reading: The Complete Magnolia Bakery Cookbook
Currently Listening To: Bob Marley & The Wailers

Be Present...

2010-01-03T07:49:00.003-06:00

I did it again this morning...sitting in my chair, drinking that first cup of coffee of the day--I pushed my mind ahead to the end of the week. I hate when I do that, and this year I'm going to try (and it will be hard) to live more in the moment. The year has started with work--Saturday and Sunday and for the next four days (plus school on Tuesday evening) --will it kill me, I ask? I started thinking about the upcoming three day weekend. I've done that for the last several years...skipping my thoughts over the current situation and fixating on time off. Time goes by quickly enough without me doing major time skips.

This year I'd like to eke out as much quality time from each day that can be had...be more productive, be more organized, and definitely be present.

Currently Reading: The Italian Slow Cooker by Michele Scicolone
Currently Listening To/Watching: CBS Sunday Morning

It's Complicated

2010-01-01T07:31:00.010-06:00

On New Year's Eve Eve, I went to lunch with my friend Carol. Lunch at Grand Traverse Pie Company...pie...so good. After, we went to the movies to see It's Complicated.

The pictures shown today are from the movie. Jane (Meryl Streep) had a fabulous house in Santa Barbara, with a fabulous potting shed and an even more fabulous garden. On top of all that, she had a fabulous business called The Bakery. Beautiful, envy-producing elements of a life.

Who wouldn't love this kitchen garden? One of the dishes Jane fixed for her architect was Croque Monsieur...ham and cheese. It looked so delicious, I found a recipe for it and had it for dinner last night (preceded by a trip to Sam's to get gruyere). It was pretty tasty, as was the movie. As my friend commented, all of the "good parts" weren't shown in the trailer. P.S. Loved the purse she carried, too.

Photos: It's Complicated website

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T07:31:00.004-06:00

"A new year is unfolding--like a blossom with petals curled tightly concealing the beauty within."

--unknown author

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T07:24:00.003-06:00

Happy Holidays to everyone. May they be everything you wish for.

Friday

2009-12-18T10:45:00.002-06:00

Just a week until Christmas...and I'm looking forward to the big event being over. For some reason or other, I just can't get into the holiday spirit. It seems that so many people are overwhelmed by the shopping craziness and have forgotten the reason for the season. I've always enjoyed the week between Christmas and New Year's...it's become more of a time to reflect and rejuvinate to prepare for the coming year.
One thing I am looking forward to is a visit from my parents. I hope the weather doesn't cancel the visit.
Off to lunch with a friend...and a little grocery shopping. Ugh! Hope it's not too crazy at Sam's Club--but who am I kidding?

Currently Reading:
Currently Listening To:

Mosaic Monday, Norwegian Style

2009-12-13T18:30:00.000-06:00

Once again, I find myself clicking through Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian blogs...all of the photography is so beautiful. I love the zinc, white, and greenery. Poor man's silver (silvered glass) is something I've been collecting for the past few years. Nice, since it doesn't tarnish. The best part of looking at these blogs is the automatic translation of the pages with Google Translate. It's the best!

Visit Mary at Little Red House for more Monday Mosaics.

Photos: Ellis, Country by Mail, and Country House; mosaic uploaded by me

Sunday Morning...

2009-12-13T09:16:00.006-06:00

Currently Reading: Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon
Currently Listening To: Holiday Music

Fa la la Friday

2009-12-11T08:36:00.005-06:00

Today is the start of a three day weekend for me...the benefit of working all last weekend. No plans to even leave the house...a weekend of baking, cleaning, and relaxing. I've gathered some interesting recipes this week and I'm anxious to try them out.

I've brought a few DVDs home from the library...Angels & Demons and Public Enemy (Johnny Depp as Dillinger)...and I'll probably watch a few Christmas movies--A Christmas Story, for sure.

Photo Credit: MidWest Living

Currently Reading: I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas by Anna Getty

White Wednesday

2009-12-09T04:39:00.001-06:00

1)BHG.com 2) BHG.com 3) mine 4) Under A Blue Moon 5) ?

6) mine 7) RS Home 8) ? 9) BHG.com 10) BHG.com

11) Crabapple Hill Studio 12) Dove Grey Studio 13) mine

14 & 15) BHG.com

A few of my favorite white images. I just hope to not see number 13 (unlucky number 13?) this winter in Evansville.

Visit Faded Charm for more White Wednesday.

Tuesday

2009-12-08T07:30:00.000-06:00

It's a rainy, rainy Tuesday here in Evansville...I'm thankful it's not snowy as it is just to our north and west. I'll take a rain over snow any day.

I have a final exam this evening, so I've taken the day off to study and regroup. It's a good day to be at home. Before any studying is started, I've got to do a quick pick-up of clutter. I swear it grows overnight!

Holiday Decorating & Craft Party

2009-12-05T07:30:00.001-06:00

Visit the party hosted by Bella Dreams...my photos will be posted later today.

Holiday Party

2009-12-05T06:59:00.000-06:00

Experimenting...

2009-12-04T10:42:00.002-06:00

All of a sudden this morning, I decided to do something with all of the burlap I purchased a few weeks ago. Originally purchased to make curtains for the sunporch...now a scalloped mantel cloth. Just an experiment, so now that I've seen how it looks, I'm going to remove it, try to press a crease in it, and sew on a little lace or ribbon.

Currently Listening To: Martha Stewart Holiday Jazz

Scenes from around the house...

2009-12-02T20:35:00.001-06:00

Every year I have a little internal battle...do I bring in the geraniums, or do I just yank them out of the pots and throw them in the compost pile...or, more likely, let them freeze and die in the pots? I'm not good at keeping plants alive inside, but the geraniums still look pretty fabulous for December 2nd. It's rained all day here, and the temperature has dropped to 36 degrees. All day...do I bring them in, or do I just forget about them...

Well, they're safely inside, looking pretty perky in the entryway. Lots of buds ready to bloom. I think the plan this year will be to try to root some cuttings from them. If it works, I'll have 'free' geraniums for the spring; if not, I'm not out anything.

A few Santa banks...the cast iron Santa in the middle is marked Hobart...from Hobart Manufacturing in Troy, Ohio. The others are reproductions.

Colorful ornaments in my bargain 'bridge dish' from the Santa Stroll in Huntingburg a few weeks ago.

Currently Reading: Layered, Tattered & Stitched by Ruth Rae
Currently Listening To: Classics for Relaxation

Decorating Collage-Tiny Trees

2009-12-02T07:49:00.004-06:00

{Click to enlarge}

Tiny tree decorating is 'big'in my house this year. I've taken some ideas from MidWest Living and Coastal Living...these are some of the inspiration photos from the magazines.

Looking forward to the blog party at Bella Dreams on Saturday...

December--Rabbit! Rabbit!

2009-12-01T06:42:00.004-06:00

Festive bunnies for the first day of the month...Rabbit, Rabbit!

Photo: www.thesoapark.com

Currently Reading: Unclutter Your Life in One Week by Erin Rooney Doland

November Retrospective

2009-11-30T07:01:00.003-06:00

While looking over my list of simple pleasures, I find that it mostly involves beverages or food. I guess that just about sums up what I think about and/or look forward to. Kind of pathetic.

November was a wonderful weather month--it was what we usually enjoy in October...the months definitely 'switched personalities.' I am not a fan of winter; after the holiday festivities of December, I certainly start dreaming of spring. Maybe that's why I'm such a fan of all things Swedish lately. The pictures with this post come from Country Living.com--featuring a sunny, almost spring-like atmosphere. I love decorating for Christmas, but by the time it's over, I'm ready for the pared down look I find so enticing in the decor of Sweden.

Photo: http://www.countryliving.com/

What to do, what to do...

2009-11-29T08:44:00.004-06:00

A re-run photo from last Christmas. In the meantime, I've collected more silvered glass pieces and I'm finding it hard to put it all together. When I layer it, it's too, too much. Wish I had fresh hydrangea in my aluminum tumblers--I'd like a re-do on summer!

Currently Listening To: CBS Sunday Morning

A Puttery Saturday

2009-11-28T09:10:00.003-06:00

I've been relying on some of my favorite images I have tucked away in photo files. These three are all from Better Homes & Gardens. Other than the annoying pop-ups on their website, there are some really great ideas and recipes to be found there. I'm holding off on taking any more pictures of my holiday decorating until I'm finished.

I have no plans to leave the house today...there's dinner already in the crockpot, a pot of coffee ready, and a decorating strategy in place for this afternoon. My only need/desire today is a box of hyacinth bulbs. I've seen them on so many of the Swedish blogs and they look so pretty in their almost-ready-to-bloom state. Hyacinths have never struck me as a particularly Christmas-sy flower, but in that culture they are. All inclusive decorating...that's my style this year.

Have a fabulous Saturday!

Photos: www.bhg.com

Currently Reading: Jeanne d'Arc Living magazine
Currently Listening To: Rosemary Clooney Christmas Songs