Rainy Days and Thursdays

It's a rainy day here in South Florida today. We need it so badly, I really cannot complain. I know my garden and garden friends are enjoying it immensely.

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Last weekend we had the sprinkler on and it was creating a mist that a Cardinal couple was enjoying so much it made me think they hadn't seen water in awhile. I am sorry I did not have my camera at the ready to take pictures to share. They sat on the edge of the green fencing we have to put around the beds to keep Jasper (our German Shorthair Pointer) from stampeding through everything, and fluttered their wings in pure enjoyment for about 5 minutes. The way the sun peeked through the branches and such, it was incredible. You almost couldn't look away.

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Like when we were in Camden, Maine....if you've ever been to the Camden Deli and sat in the back overlooking the harbor with the mallard ducks floating just below the window, perhaps you have found, like me, that you really can't take your eyes off them. It's like watching another part of the world that carries on while we are carrying on in our own. When you think of it, there really is a lot going on that we don't really notice. When I actually do notice it, it stops me in my tracks for a few minutes. It's a good reprieve from the day, really.

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Please enjoy the day with Warm Wishes and Sweet Dreams........Carol

Secret Garden

"There is one gift valued above all others, and that is the gift of oneself."

~Theresa Ann Hunt

As promised, here are pictures from our not-so-secret garden.

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This is one of my favorite views from the garden gate.

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The crepe myrtles are beginning to bloom. Pentas and lavendar in front of the bird bath. The birds are loving it this summer.

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A close-up of Myrtle. She's so pretty!

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One of our two dozen roses with lemon grass in the background.

Warm wishes. Sweet dreams.

Carol

Dreams and Such

"Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall at last unveil." This quote by John Ruskin has so much truth in it. I have had the dream of decorating and having my own store for so long that it appears to actually be coming true! It is true that I have been decorating for a few years now, but I am always surprised that when I've accomplished something that I ask myself, "Where did you get that idea from?" It is truly a gift from God. It has taken me a long time to find my gifts, but that is indeed what it is. I have had the opportunity to work with some wonderful people who have become my friends as well. I will show pics soon of a bathroom renovation I am working on. I am happy to call this client a dear friend as well.

As far as the new part of the business goes, I am pleased and excited to be among greatness. I met with Denise Cote of Our Cottage Garden.com this past week and it was like we have led parallel lives of sorts. She has an absolutley beautiful home and garden in Historic Flamingo Park and has surrounded herself with loveliness. Check out her website and eBay offerings.

My point here really is that everyone I have met has welcomed me into the fold. There is a camaraderie of sorts that I am very proud to be a part of. I have much to learn. Everyone I have met has put their own spin on their business to make it their own. I am still working on finding my own niche, but it is there, I know it. I'll keep dreaming and so shall I become!

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Isn't this picture beautiful? It is a Blue Wave Hydrangea, as seen in Country Living Magazine. I have this thing for blue and purple flowers, and love to mix them with anything white, pink and yellow. That is pretty much what my garden looks like.....not this flower, unfortunately, as it does not grow in Zone 10, but the color scheme is there. I will take pictures of our gardens as it is at its peak right now. Sometimes the summer heat is too hard on the flowers and they start fading. Hurricanes don't help either, but we were lucky last year. I hope we will be spared this year as well. We've started to finally get some of our summer rain, so everything is coming back to life....in the garden that is. With the rain comes the humidity and I, on the other hand, start to wilt. I'm a Fall and Winter kind of gal, but tolerate it, I do.

Have a wonderful day and week all.

Warm (and I do mean "warm") wishes. Sweet dreams.
Carol

My First Show - Part II

With a wave of my magic wand, my first post will reappear! OR.....it is here again because I had to retype it. I vote for the second one.

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Well, all the work was worth it. I was very nervous that this little show would end up looking like a garage sale. I spent weeks looking at everything I could get my hands on for display ideas. In the end, I was pleased. I looked very different from all the other booths. I received many positive comments and flagged the ever popular question, "Do you have a store?" or "Where is your store?" My response was always, "This is it for now, but I hope to have one some day."

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Iwas tickled to have sold an architectural piece with my own custom finish. That was very cool! (It's the sunburst arch in the above pic.) I was also surprised to have sold so many plants. I had a few that were in old containers (like old oil cans or coffee pots) and also a few just wrapped in burlap. (NEW ENTRY: Since the posting of this entry originally, I am happy to report that I have also sold the cabinet and floor mirror, both of which are custom finished. The little chest sold at the show, but I can't take credit for that particular/very cool finish.)

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The Barbara Schriber cards were also very popular, as well as the Cathy Penton charms (from Australia), and the Bittersweet Designs small composition books. I will be restocking these items for my next show, as well as adding some new things.

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I will have original artwork by Patti Gainey, a very talented artist from Georgia; some beautiful jewelry from These Flowers, This Moon; and organic soap and soy candles from WoodSprite Organics and A Wild Soap Bar. I had a lot of requests for aprons, so I'll be working on getting some of those in also.

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It is my goal to have a few pieces of custom upholstery (actual reupholstery) that I have designed and possibly an example of custom bedcoverings. I really love textiles and love to mix beautiful fabrics for a one-of-a-kind result. Of course, there will be plenty of "new" old stuff. That is my favorite, after all!!

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On to what's next.....I was invited to have a booth at the Ft. Lauderdale Antique and Collector Faire. At first I didn't know what to think, but after discussing it with my hubby, we decided that "YES" would be the right answer. The dates are August 4 and 5 at the War Memorial Auditorium. More information on that will follow soon.

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Following that, I will be back in West Palm Beach in November for their first show of the season. That looks like it for this year, but if plans change, you'll be the first to know. I really want to thank all of you who came out to see my little show. Your kind words went right to my heart (and to my head in the form of ideas for next time). This is my first attempt at this blog stuff that appears to be so popular. I welcome your comments and will try to remember to update it in order to keep you posted on what is to come.

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Warm wishes. Sweet dreams,

Carol

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P.S. Here are a few more pictures from the show.

A Quote for You Today

"To me, every hour of the day and night is an unspeakable, perfect miracle." Walt Whitman

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Please enjoy the gift of today everyone. Carol

Can You Believe It?

This is exactly what I feel like doing....hiding my face. I told you all I was new to this blogging stuff. In an effort to customize and personalize my space so it did not look like so many others', I have sent my first blog posting into "draft" cyperspace. I cannot figure out how to release it from draft and republish it. I looked in the "help" area and it appears I am not the only person this has ever happened to, however, no remedy to the problem was listed.

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Does anyone out there know what to do? I would so like to get my first blog back. I was very proud of that one, and it was, well, my first.

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Oh well. What's a girl to do other than go home and start again tomorrow? Maybe when I logon tomorrow, someone will miraculously have told me how to fix it.

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Wearily, I sign off.....Warm wishes and Sweet dreams.