THE GARDEN ~ ~ ~

These pictures are of some of the gardens on Saturday before our guest rug hookers arrived!  If you're a long-time reader of this wordy blog, you will have seen something like this every Spring!

I like to put a welcome bouquet on the garden gate.  I have this little pottery pocket vase from Holmes County Pottery and just fill it with whatever is in bloom at the time!  Last week's flowers were wild phlox, Lenten Roses,  a sprig from a brunnera plant, hosta leaves and a broken stem from the potted plant on the right!

Looking across the driveway from the gate, you see the waterfall ~ with no running water!!  Our fish went to fish heaven two winters ago so we don't keep the water on ~ maybe later.  It's like a dry creek ~ sort of ~ with a pond at the end!  The red Japanese maple is surround with May apples that grow wild in the area.  There are grapevines to the right and some nice grasses on either side of the walk that will grown taller than me by the end of summer.

Ta da ~ the surprise patio set looks good on the deck!  The wood set we replaced had been there 18 years ~ out in the weather and held up very well until last fall!  We picked up a couple of new side chairs, too, for a song!  For once, we were in the right place at the right time!   

  As you come through the garden gate, you walk toward this area and often you see a kitty cat at the window, just like in this picture!  Mr. Kitty is desperate to get outside and waits for any opportunity to slip out!  All of the potted flowers you see are combination planters ~ I cut the hangers off and voila! ~ we have full and lush plants to adorn the yard!

The breezeway looks kind of ho-hum to me this year, but this was what I could put together before the ladies came calling!  It's simple but it works. 

 The dining table is set and waiting for lunch to be served.  I bought a flat of pansies and put them in these enamel pots that Sonny bought a couple of years ago!  Thank goodness he did ~ they worked great as a table arrangement!  I'm not much of a tablescape person ~ some people have beautiful center pieces but mine are usually pretty simple.  I like to focus on the food and hope that carries the event!

The kitchen keeping room table seats six ~ cozily!  With the dining table seating eight, it was pretty easy to accommodate 14 for lunch!  I love a candle in a hurricane ~ this one came from Shaker Village in Kentucky.  All their dining tables are set that way and I love that atmosphere!

Getting ready to pack for the Western Reserve Rug Hooking Guild's hook-in tomorrow!  I dyed 5 more yards of wool this morning and now need to get everything  ready to load in the truck when the man of the house gets home!  After we do that, we have two Little League games tonite!  I may not stay for both ~ we have to be on the road at 5:30 in the morning!  Are we crazy or what?  Don't answer that!

If you live in the area, maybe I'll see you tomorrow?  I hope so!  If we don't know each other, make yourself known!  I'm off to see the wizard ~ ~ ~ !!!

Have a happy weekend!
Alice