Garden Girl for the Holidays

Over the years I've picked up a few old garden statuary pieces, but I can't let them be outside in the elements any longer. Some of them have survived for about 100 years, so they deserve to be in the comforts and safety of shelter. I found this precious Garden Girl fountain around 13 years ago in a little hole-in-the-wall antique shop in St. Louis. I spied her in an alleyway along with many other old pieces. Her graceful lines and sweet face called out to me. 

Vintage Conservatory Valentine Entry

Hello Friends, are you doing some decorating for Valentine's Day? Today I'm sharing last year's Entry with a vintage botanical theme. I wanted to put together a romantic Valentine's Day vignette in the Entry, but I wanted to do something just a little different than my usual Valentine decor. Any time I can create a setting with a "vintage garden/botanical" theme I'm excited, because vintage-garden goods are some of my favorite items.

Farmhouse Table Valentine Tableau

My Garden Room farmhouse table needed a new look once February arrived. I'd been using my rustic vintage wooden ice cream-maker bucket which I've loved, but I wanted something a little more garden-y and "french-y" for Valentine's Day. I cleared the table top and tried something fresh for February.

Potting Bench and Patio

Seems like it takes me forever to get a task completed lately, I guess that's because it actually does. I've been wanting to finish up here on the patio for weeks now, but I still needed to find a fern and a few other plants for the urns. I have to wait for Hubbs to help me out, so that means the weekend. And at that point, if it's rainy, forget it... another weekend down the drain. 

Vintage Owl Vignette and an Update

First of all, I'm having a little issue with Blogger. I'm not sure why, but it's decided each time I have to edit a post that it wants to "republish" and act like I just published it. This is getting old and I've tried scheduling the old time, but it's doing it any way. Anyone else having this annoying problem? I imagine a few of you are wondering about my sanity and blogging ethics. I hope it fixes itself soon, I feel like I'm walking around with toilet paper stuck to my shoe...

I wanted to share my new-to-me vintage concrete owl that I found at The Vintage Peddler last week. Isn't he a cutie; just the right amount of white chippy-ness!

Classical Statuary in Eclectic Settings

Anyone that has "moved" can tell you that there will be certain items, that no matter how much you loved them in your old home, that just don't work well in the new abode. The architecture, furniture, setting...whatever...the personality of the new house just doesn't mesh with all your old decor.

A Garden Girl, some Hydrangeas, and thinking out loud...

 This is one of those posts that is a little of this and a little of that...

just some small things to share with you.

Blogging has changed so much from when I first started almost 6 years ago.(You hear that every day, but it's really true) It used to be that you could confidently share a pretty photo or vignette, how you made a small change on your kitchen counter, or a new "whatever", without feeling like you were supposed to be entertaining everyone. We were excited to show our latest flea market and garage sale finds without feeling "less than". I still love those kind of posts, because honestly, it's those kind of "everyday life" posts that let us in on the real person that's blogging. It really intimidates me that blog posts now are expected to be some kind of major "production", elaborate DIY, or fabulous room reveal. And that if they aren't, then what you may post might be considered as irrelevant, blah, or boring.

(found my sweet little fountain last week)

Don't get me wrong...

I totally love a great DIY, Room Reveal etc.

but I have to tell you...

my life is just not that darn exciting,

 or productive, for that matter.

...and I really don't need or want it to be.

So today, 

I just want to show you where I put my little French Girl fountain,

and that I bought some Hydrangeas...

one pink, and one blue.

Now I just need to pick the right place to have hubby plant them.

 and that for right now they are in my black goat cart 

that I finally found, 

and sitting on the front porch.

'Endless Summer"...

they bloom all summer long 

and then have the most amazing colors come Fall.

 I can't wait to get them planted.

Last year I really missed having Hydrangeas

and Peonies, and Roses, and Black-Eyed Susans...

 Hydrangeas are my go-to flower.

They're beautiful in any season.

 and that my "Little Miss Muffet" is sitting on her tuffet...

taking a bath.

sorry for the cord in the pic.

I'm keeping it real today.

Try as I might, I just can't get "into" Facebook or Instagram.

I know Instagram has real possibilities,

 and it seems like so many bloggers are heading that direction

 because there's less "pressure".

Even there, many blogger photos look "professional",

 and that my little phone pics look silly in comparison.

Oh well,

Let's not miss out on sharing the sweet small things 

of everyday life on our blogs.

Let's not let blogging turn into a "Professional" sport.

Here's to feeling that as people and as bloggers,

 we are "relevant"

...no matter what.

linking here:

Savvy Southern Style

xoxo,

Potting Bench Progress

Hi Everyone, hope you all had a great weekend...

I've spent most of my time outside this last week. First, working on getting the container planters filled with flowers for the deck, patio and front yard, then coming up with more things for the potting bench area. 

Out on the Deck for the Summer Block Party

Is "vintage" the same as old and worn out?

If so, I have tons of "vintage"

 just hanging around out on the deck, off the sunroom,

...which is also "vintage".

This old garden table has a furnace grate for a top,

married to a sewing machine bottom.

 It's setting in front of one of my white metal garden gates

and my kitchen window.

my favorite, "angel vine"

I found this little concrete lamb several years ago,

and he's developed the perfect patina.

Which is the same as,

"hasn't had a bath in a while".

Hope this Picnik "gritty effect"

is hiding the fact that my deck is in need of a paint job in the worst way.

But hey, it just wasn't happening this year.

So an indoor/outdoor rug from O.Com has helped to hide the neglect.

Yep, just buy another little rug...

Chippy white iron fencing, gate, and garden chair

and some of my many watering cans.

My husband asks me why I have so many flowers

that constantly need to be watered.

"Why do you set yourself up for so much work?"

and my answer is always the same.

I need to see beauty when I look out my window,

flowers just instantly lift my mood.

I have two vintage flower pots full of mint, I'm obsessed with it.

It's my favorite to flavor everything from orange juice to club soda.

Yummy... and don't forget the lime.

Below is a sweet topiary from Mother's Day last year.

I wintered it, but it wasn't very happy inside.

It needs lots of light so it rebelled by

having a near death experience.

Wish I knew what it was.

It needs to be "whipped into shape"!

I'll be linking to Savvy Southern Style

 for The Summer Deck and Porch Block Party.

and check out At the Picket Fence

for the rest of the links today.

and I'm also joining in on these parties:

Remember to check out At the Picket Fence

for all the Block Party Summer Themed Parties this week.

have a great day,
it's the first day of Summer!
lot's of love,

Vintage Inspiration Friday #26 Thinking of Spring

This time of year I start thinking about Spring.

Not just "Spring", but more specifically,

thinking about plants and flowers for my deck and porch;

bringing some color back into my life and surroundings.

I bought the book, Carolyn Westbrook Home,

several years ago and have found endless inspiration.

One of my favorite segments is at the end of the book;

The Potting Shed

Everything about this setting speaks to my vintage heart;

old metal chairs, shutters, chippy white table, old iron gate, garden statuary.

The old metal basket, and even a beautiful way to display broken concrete urns.

I adore this rusty iron and chippy paint gate.

And even the canning jars with a seed packet;

a simple display, but lots of impact.

Oh, to have a place for bags of soil, garden utensils, pots and ideas!

If you haven't seen this wonderful book,

you'll really enjoy it.

It's one of my all time favorites!

Thanks Carolyn

And now;

Take a look at some great inspiration from last week!

Magpies and Magnolias

Snow Business

All Things Home

Grandmother's Handwritten Recipes

Angela Lace

Brides Maids

Sweet Nothings

English Love

Hope you can join in for the party!

Anything vintage or vintage inspired

please link up within your post,

and visit a few others.

and if you've been featured,

be sure and grab the button!

Hope you're starting to see some signs of Spring!

love to you all,

Debra

She ain't heavy...she's my fountain

Look at this lovely old fountain...

isn't she just the sweetest?

I found her in St. Louis a few weeks ago.

She called to me from an alleyway amidst other concrete treasures.

I had to have her.

Who would think that she could make a grown man

cower in pain and agony?

And then be blamed (along with me)

for a week's worth of discomfort

...I'm just sayin...

Here's another back breaker from a couple of years ago...

What is it with the heavy stuff,

that just makes me swoon?

This little fella isn't quite so heavy

but he's definitely a "two hander".

Not too heavy,

but wouldn't want this concrete doorstop

landing on my tootsies.

And speaking of sweet husbands...

This is my Birthday clock,

wonder why he likes to remind me what time it is?

I've stopped counting Birthdays!

Love the detail.

And finally, an urn that sweet husband bought for me

from Pottery Barn.

When he first saw it he complained that there wasn't any way

EVER he was carrying that sucker out to the car.

But that was before my dear sweetheart

realized it wasn't heavy,

just made to look that way...

Oh, the joys of shopping,

old or new,

heavy or light.

But wouldn't trade my guy for anything...

hmmm....

nope,

not anything.

Say Hi to...

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life

Kathleen at Faded Charm

Cindy at My Romantic Home

Jessica at My Favorite Things

And Laurie at Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie

Thanks Gals!

Hope you're having a fun week!

I'm still waiting for the wallpaper I ordered to get in...

Thanks for letting me share this random post

to keep myself from storming the home decor store.

love ya,

Debra