memorial day

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly 
Scarce heard amid the guns below...

John McCrae, In Flanders Fields (1915) 

Early this morning, we went to our village's green for a ceremony commemorating Memorial Day. The marching band played, solemn speeches were heard, the Gettysburg Address was recited, God Bless America was sung, In Flanders Fields was spoken, Taps was trumpeted, guns saluted, the wreath was placed, and the American Flag was raised by the Scouts.

It was a beautiful morning made more so, by such a moving, respectful, well attended ceremony.

Happy Memorial Day.

view from the porch

 The view from my porch is particularly fetching this spring. The viburnums,

 crabapples, and pansies are really bringing it.

Sitting on the porch, I start thinking about what's wrong. What needs help, more mulch, some pruning, a little edging, and so on. Focusing too much on the micro view, and not enough on the macro.

 It's a little bit like life. I'm finding I need to concentrate on the big picture, and not focus on the frustrating little details. Count blessings, instead of faults.

  As some-what of a perfectionist, I'm well aware of the fact that nothing in life is ever perfect. 

Except, maybe the spring blooms on a dwarf crabapple?

 Have a peaceful and relaxing weekend.  Happy Memorial Day, if you're in the States.

Happiest of birthday wishes to my Dad and my dear nephew Brendan. 

 I'm joining the following:

   I Love Pretty Little Things,  FishTale Cottage,  Common Ground,  

My Romantic Home, and French Country Cottage

carful of flowers

Best part of my day...

Driving around town in a car filled with flowers. 

This week, I'm thinking about Maggie's birthday, my garden, the end of the school year picnic, a band concert, a chorus performance, a yard sale, our anniversary, a vacation, teacher appreciation gifts, my Dad's birthday, and plans for the summer.

I think I'm going to need another Diet Coke.

How's your week?

the little loft

 On a sunny afternoon,

there's no place she'd rather be... 

Up the ladder and into...

The loft, kicked back with a favorite book.

I thought you might like a peek into the upstairs of the little house. We built the house a few years ago from scratch with the help of a friend. I drew the design on a piece of paper.

Its exterior is clad in white stained cedar, and the interior consists of individual slats of beadboard painted a high gloss white. The front door is an old exterior door from the main house cut down to size. The screen door was custom built, as the doorway is just shy of five feet tall. 

The windows are fully functional, and thankfully have screens. Bees aren't particularly welcome in the little house. Outside, yes. Inside, no. The shutters are handmade from cedar. The window box is green enameled metal from Martha Stewart's defunct Martha by Mail Catalog. 

Our four girls have spent hours out here in the summer doing crafts, reading, and playing make-believe.

 The garden has a way to go yet, it's been so cold this spring.

It's hard to be patient, isn't it?

View more pictures, here.

id bracelet

Hello, buttercups.

Thank you so much for all of your sweet comments regarding our little play house. I wish you could come over and play in it for 'reals'. I'm planning on answering all of your questions in a post later this week. And yes, there is something at the top of the ladder, a little reading loft. 

I've a thing for bracelets.  I've never had an ID bracelet and it's something I've always wanted. Probably, from spending too much time reading Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew, when I was little. My girls surprised me with one for Mother's Day, among some other lovely prizes. Instead of putting my name on it, they put the name of the blog. It's from Canvas. 

 Not the easiest thing to photograph, so I 'put a bird on it' or more accurately I put it 'on a bird'.  Have you seen that little bit from Portlandia? 

come on in...

Yesterday, Rosie and I planted the window box on the little house. 

She had definite ideas of what should go where...

Which flower smells the sweetest? Let me see...

 Would you like to come in?

I'll get the door...

Care for a 'cuppa' tea?

Have a wonderful weekend filled with lots of blue skies.

strawberry love

 Strawberries are in season. The girls love them and work their way through a five pound container weekly. They're represented year round in our dining room. The chairs are upholstered in a festive strawberry print and there's a vintage strawberry tole chandelier. 

 When Laura Ashley closed their stores in the States, I stockpiled a certain amount of fabric, wallpaper, and quite a few odds and ends, including lampshades. I spotted the chandy at an estate sale years later, and knew I had just the right shades.

 Speaking of strawberries, have you been to Ikea recently?

They have a whole range based on the book 'Heroes of the Vegetable Patch'. I love vintage anthropomorphic vegetables and fruit, and their whole line is very reminiscent. There's an animated carrot, broccoli, and strawberry to choose from, as well as twin duvets and crib linens.

 They also have some sweet gingham pillows in their 'summer collection'. 

The book's illustrations are really sweet, too. I love that it's all about the gardening from a child's perspective. Now, if only the girls would take the hint...

I'm joining Very Merry Vintage Style's Share the Love and It's A Very Cherry World's RedWednesday.

greengate

 Are you familiar with GreenGate? They're a lovely company out of Denmark with a sweet range of goods. Unfortunately, they don't ship to the States...

The 'Molly' White and the 'Check' Green oilcloth cosmetic bags just arrived in the mail. An unexpected gift from a far-away friend. The 'Molly' on the tag made her think of me. Don't you love when that happens?

I hope you have an excellent weekend filled with lots of sunshine and maybe a surprise or two.

If you have a moment, take a peek at the following: I Love Pretty Little Things,  Common Ground,  My Romantic Home,  and French Country Cottage.

for your mom

Swell Dish Towels

rosy polka dotted goodness...

at House8810

Mother's Nestling Birds Necklace

choose your number of little birds...

at Uncommon Goods

Go-Go Basket

sturdy picnic basket ~ shopping tote hybrid...

at The Land of Nod

Gingham Bunting

sewn with a sweetly frayed edge...

at J u s t P r e t t y .

Marisol Vase

perfectly fresh stylized daisies... 

at Crate & Barrel

Happy May, my friends. Here are a few of my favorite gift ideas for your mom, or for you. Let's face it, you deserve it. My mom is still in the hospital, but on the mend. Thank you for all of your kind words and well wishes. You gals are the best.