LEMON ZEST

The zest for lemons all began with the purchase of this planter box.

The color palette was so sweet and refreshing I simply needed to spread it around.

                                    Like in the flower beds . . . 

                                    I’m certain the birds will appreciate it . . .

                                   The home of my (soon to be) Herb garden

                    

                                    Now, is this bench inviting or what?

I’m not one to wear a lot of yellow but after all the gardening and painting, I couldn’t resist.

This is my way of taking a fancy dress down a notch and making it a more casual, go anywhere kind of dress.

This is a bit more elegant, great choice for summer weddings.

                    

             Did you know?

                                  *Lemon balm has a calming effect

                                  *Lemons can relieve fever and cold symptoms

                                  *Lemon poultices applied overnight are a good rememdy for calluses

                                  *Lemons can fight fatique

                                  *Lemons freshen your breath

                                  *Lemons are a great source of vitamin C

                                  *Lemons make a versatile household cleaner

Dip halved lemon in salt for a bit of gentle abrasive power, then scour brass, copper, stainless steel pots, pans, and sinks.

Or throw used lemons in a disposal to deordorize it.

                        *This is my favorite:  mix  8 drops of lemon oil, 1 cup of luke warm water,

1Tbl. honey and rub it on your hands and feet at night. You will wake in the morning with skin as soft as a babies.

Do  you have any known secrets for using lemons?

Have you used this color palette in your yard or better yet with an outfit?

I do believe I’m now heading out for an ice cold glass of lemonade.

Thanks for dropping by, have a wonderful day.

Linking up with Marion of Marion berry style for Trend of the Month Link-Up: yellow

BOUQUET OF DANDELIONS

I’m sure, at least once in your life, you have been a receiver or a giver of a beautiful bouquet of dandelions. I still remember innocently picking a bunch and presenting them to my own mother and having her carefully place them in a paper cup. I still remember my own children doing the same for me and then placing them in a little glass jar.

Do you remember the simple pleasure and joy when picking one that had gone to seed and

                                                          blowing the PUFF into the air?

I was reminded of dandelion buoquets and simple pleasures yesterday as I was walking in a near by field to cut some daisies for a buoquet.

                                 The dandelions caught my eye

                                  Because they are   . . . cheerful

                                                  they are . . . bright

                                                  they stand so straight and tall

                                                  they are tenacious and strong willed

                                                  their roots are so deep and straight that not even tugging               

                                                  nor mowing can separate them from the source that gives

                                                  them life.

          I eventually found some daisies.

Although part of me just wanted to have a beautiful bouquet of dandelions waiting for me at home.

I hope all you WOMEN had a wonderful Mother’s Day today, and hopefully you were able to spot some flowers in the middle of a field of weeds.

Thank you so much for dropping by, have a wonderful day.

*NOTE: my fun hat was a Mother’s Day gift I gave to myself (I’m good at doing that). I purchased it from the one and only lovely Bella at The Citizens’s Rosebud. You should go check out her fun and unique vintage finds at her etsy shop. (she will even go searching for you). Thanks Bella.

I also found it was fun to mix vintage with modern. (Dress: anthropologie)

Let’s head over to Patti’s for Visible Monday.

 

                                                               

                                            

FUNNY, YOU DON’T LOOK LIKE A GRANDMA

Or, maybe I do.

I was given the news that sometime around the first of September I would inherit this title. . .

                                                              GRANDMA

As overjoyed as I was, it didn’t take but a few seconds to start thinking, really???? What does a grandma look like these days?

Does she dress in maxi skirts with high heels?

Or is it best to stick with a maxi skirt and sandals?

I’m sure she should wear a fun hat, right? Oh, and of course some BIG sunglasses (lol)

When I think of the word grandma, this is what I picture.

(my darling grandma with me and my little sister)

My grandmother always wore a dress, and lots and lots of different hats.

The word grandmother also brings to mind

          -toast with marmalade jam

          -lilac bushes

          -the smell of gardenia

          -a big rocking chair

           -stack of books

          -women quilting

          -women playing bridge

          -rose gardens

          -weekly appointments to the hair salon (and then sleeping with toilet paper pinned on their heads).

          -always being at home

          -full of LOVE, SMILES, and ACCEPTANCE

This new grandma 

          -  will most likely put on some nike shoes for a morning run

          -  still loves sporting her boyfriend jeans

          - has  a difficult time keeping the speed limit

                            and 

          -is still known to yell at referees and umpires.

                 BUT she will

          -share her love of reading with you

          -share her love of entertaining with you

           -take you for nature walks

          -take you shopping  

          -be a listening hear

And most of all she will LOVE, SUPPORT and ACCEPT you every step of your life.

What are some memories you have of your grandmother? 

And, if you already have this title, what do they call you?

I’m leaning towards Grandma Queena (just joking) although this is the new charm baby to be gave me.

Thanks for dropping by, have a wonderful day:)

I’m now heading over to Patti’s for Visible Monday.

TIP-TOEING THROUGH THE TULIPS

I do not live anywhere near Holland and yet I still have the opportunity to enjoy a festival of tulips. 

                Sometimes pictures SPEAK louder than WORDS

So just take off your shoes and tip toe through the tulips with me.

Did you find a favorite color, or variety, did you notice all the color blocking? 

Thanks so very much for stopping by, have a wonderful weekend.

IT’S A PLAYDATE

This is a motto I like to live by, “That Every Day is a Celebration”.

Granted, most days we consider are just an ordinary kind of day, and yet everyday life can be filled with something extraordinary, with some special occasion to celebrate.

Today I celebrated by PLAYING . . . 

                                                    with my grand-dog!

I didn’t begin the day ready for this play date, in fact I was all dressed up.

But when Yuqi (my grand-dog) wanted to play, I quickly changed.

 

Well, I thought this top and sandals would work.

But, he had other plans, like soccer, playing catch and “let’s go for a walk, grandma”

Therefore this change proved fit for the occasion. (I had no idea this skirt could be so versatile).

There’s a few things I’ve learned throughout my years, but this one is top on my l iist. 

*When someone you love is ready to play, ALWAYS be ready to change and have the time of your life.

Have you celebrated by playing lately? 

Please do share. . .

Thanks for dropping by and have a wonderful day:)

I’m linking up with Patty and the girls for Visible Monday to see how they are celebrating.

There is Sunshine in My Soul Today

Maybe it was the extra Vitamin D the sun gave me on my morning run

or

Maybe it was just the way it brightened my surroundings

either way . . . there is definitely some sunshine in my soul today.

And with that feeling I knew I had to 

                ”color my thoughts with only the brightest hues.”

This was the perfect opportunity to try out the floral trend or flower power. Just recently I commented on Sylvia’s blog that I would most likely keep this trend to shoes.  That was, until I laid eyes on this blouse (jcrew on sale) and it just made me happy.

I can wear it ‘Trina Style’ with the brightest hues and just fun written on it.

Or I can tone it down for a work outfit.

Or I can wear it on a Saturday when its just time to kick back and enjoy.

How are you coloring your thoughts? Are you expressing them from the inside out? And, are you sharing these colorful thoughts with others?

Thank you so much for dropping by, have a wonderful weekend!  GO CELEBRATE WITH SOME OPTIMISIM TODAY. . . put a little sunshine in your soul.

Brightening Someone’s Day

This is the best way I can tell you about Anne Bray, the amazing and wonderful Spy Girl, she goes about brightening the day of others by sharing her incredible artistic talents. I woke to this message this morning. Talk about a pleasant surprise. I feel so honored to be generously included in her Digital Catwalk series. It will totally make your day to see her fabulous work and continues series. (Click Here). Thank you Anne for including me with these lovely women.

*When Anne sent this to me it brought back such a fond memory I thought I would share it with you. I began my career as a sixth grade elementary teacher (yes, call me crazy) and at this time I had what is called a gifted and talented endorsement, which enabled me to teach the ‘gifted and talented’ students. (I’m still trying to figure out what that all means). Anyways, one year after the test scores were all gathered I noticed one particular boy whose math and reading scored were just average but his creative scores were off the chart. I had to fight tooth and nail (with the big wigs) to have this young man in my class. I finally won and to this day, he is truly the only student I consider ‘gifted and talented’. After he realized I would accept his creative energy he flourished.  One way he would use his creativity was to arrive at school very early each day and follow me as I emerged from my car into the classroom.  As I would prepare for the day he would gather colored chalk and at one end of the chalk board sketch a picture of me and what outfit I had on that day.  It provided quite the entertainment for the day. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve had my picture sketched, so thank you Anne for bringing back such a joyful memory.

I leave you now with my all time favorite story which made me the teacher I was able to become.

                                   RED FLOWERS WITH GREEN STEMS

                                             By Helen Buckley

“Today we are going to draw pictures,” announced the teacher.

“Oh good,” thought the little boy. “I love to draw pictures. I can make cars and trucks and horses and fish and . . .”

But the teacher said, “Wait! Today we are going to draw flowers.”

“Good,” thought the little boy. “I love to draw flowers.” and he started to draw all kinds and colors of flowers.

But the teacher said, “Wait! I will show you how.” She drew a red flower with a green stem.  He thought his flowers looked better but he turned his paper over and drew a red flower with a green stem and the teacher praised him.

“Today we are going to play with clay,” announced the teacher.

“Oh good,” thought the boy.  ”I love to model with clay.  I can make cars and elephants and houses and birds. . .”

But the teacher said “Wait! Today we are going to make dishes.”

“Good, thought the little boy. “I can make real good dishes,” and he began to make them in all shapes and sizes.

But the teacher said, “Wait! I will show you how.”  And the teacher modeled a deep dish from the clay.  The boy looked at the dishes he had modeled and thought they were better than the teacher’s, but he crushed them in his hands and made a deep dish from the clay and the teacher praised him.

Then the boy moved to a different school.

“Today we are going to draw pictures,” announced the teacher.  She passed out the paper and crayons but the little boy waited.  The teacher said, “Aren’t you going to draw your pictures?”

And the little boy said, “Show me what to draw.”

The teacher said, “You can draw anything you like,  If everyone drew the same picture, each of us would not be able to express his special gift.”

The boy thought a minute, took out his crayon and began to draw a red flower with a green stem.

*REMEMBER TO CELEBRATE YOUR OWN GIFTS AND TALENTS AND THEN SHARE THEM WITH OTHERS AROUND YOU.

It will surely brighten their day.