In sheep's clothing...

If you know me, then you know my love for lambs and sheep. Combine that with my love for clothing and you can guess where this photo might have been taken. I just had to share this amazing life size sheep "stuffed toy animal" from my recent visit to Brooks Brothers at the Galleria in St. Louis. We were in St. Louis all last week for my husband's ear surgery (details in a moment), but after we had him home and settled in, our daughter and I did what we enjoy most...shopping.

The Golden Fleece has been the logo for Brooks Brothers since the 1850's when they first opened their doors in Manhattan.

When I asked for permission to take a photo, the saleslady said this was from a famous German toy maker. I cannot even imagine how much he might cost...and didn't ask. I just fell in love!

These photos were taken with my I phone, so they're not as clear as I'd like, but you can see how lifelike this fella really is. 

Brooks Brothers is the licensed franchisee for the men's clothing for the movie, The Great Gatsby. I can't wait to see this, it opens next month. I hear it's on a much grander scale than the 70's Robert Redford / Mia Farrow film. If you get a chance, pick up this month's Vogue Magazine for a fabulous spread on the jewelry inspired for the movie from Tiffany's...just breathtaking!

So now for an update on the week. Hubbs inner ear surgery went well, but not without a few glitches. If I had known in advance, I would have been more anxious, but I knew God was in control of this surgery, so I wasn't worried. (The proximity to the brain and brain stem for this surgery cause it to be exacting and somewhat complicated.) Having the prayers of all of you and my family, gave me so much comfort. We're home now and he's taking it easy, but his ear looks a little "worse for wear". We go back for a check up in a month. Hopefully at that point we will have begun to see improvement in his Meniere's symptoms. This has been a long road, but we feel we're in the home stretch. Thank you again so much, for remembering us in your prayers.

I'm sharing this at:

Cedar Hill Ranch for The Scoop
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
French Country Cottage
The Charm of Home

love ya,

Be Inspired #136: A "Charming" Dining Room

Hi Everyone,

Time for Be Inspired
a place to link up all your inspiring posts.

I've been a fan of Faded Charm since my first week of blogging. I didn't know what a "party" was, or how to link up to one, but the moment I laid eyes on Kathleen's wonderful blog I was smitten! I joined in for all of Kathleen's White Wednesday parties except twice, and once was because I was in the hospital. OK, so you know how much I love this girl!! Over the years I've watched her decorate her beautiful home in the Pacific Northwest with one-of-a-kind vintage finds, and through the years admire her style and eye for decorating with "whites". She just purchased new frenchy chairs and they give her Dining Room a lovely new vibe. 

New Dining Room Chairs at Faded Charm

Kathleen can even make a chicken feeder elegant!!

Amanda from Dixie Delights

revealed her new dressing space and now I'm wondering

if she'll come to my house.

Jann from  a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

loves to look beyond just planting in an everyday "pot".

She has some fun ideas for garden containers.

Laura from The Turquoise Home shares her Living Room reveal.

You won't believe the difference a paint color and wall treatment can make.

You'll want to see the "before" and "afters".

And since I've been lovin' me some cows this week,

I had to share Linda's adorable Moo-Cow pillow from Coastal Charm

 Wanda from No Place Like Home

shared a yummy and  pretty recipe with Pansies and Herbed Cream Cheese.

What a wonderful addition to a Springtime Brunch.

This week's Sponsor Spotlight is on the oh-so-talented Christie Scibior and her wonderful Etsy Shop full of watercolor prints and notecards of her designs. I just adore her art and have one of her precious watercolor prints, myself. Please take a minute to run by Christie's shop, and then fall in love with her sweet creations.

Thank you so much, Christie!

Time to link up to Be Inspired

...now open to all inspiring posts. Please have a link to this blog

  within your blog post to be featured.

Thanks everyone!

and while you're partying please check out these other great Friday parties!

Be Inspired Showcase and an Update

Hi Everyone, It's Wednesday and time to showcase
 just a few of the inspiring and top visited links from last week's Be Inspired.

Chicken Wire Jar Sleeves

from Robin at Happy At Home.

Such a fun way to add a farmhouse touch.

Penny from Penny's Vintage Home and her hubby

 Painted the Brick on their lovely home 

and it looks fabulous!!

I've seen lot's of Union Jack dressers, 

but this is the first coffee table,

from Aimee from The Vintage Estate

 Andrea from Opulent Cottage shared her charming front porch.

I just love how she's used the quilt as a bolster pillow on this great bench.

And Mary from Home is Where the Boat Is

shared a post with a wonderful quote inscribed on stepping stones.
(I love each and every post that Mary writes!)

Thanks gals for joining in!

And a quick update on my husband's inner ear surgery.
He's made it through and recovering today,
a little more complicated than we first thought,
but doing great.
Thank you so much for all your prayers and well wishes.
you all are the best!

Hope you'll come link up tomorrow for 

xoxo,

Organizing the Potting Bench and other backyard business...

This cold Spring has really put me behind in getting things cleaned up and functional outdoors. It's been the "domino effect" around here with chores and projects. Get the yard people out to do the Spring "clean-up" and shrub trimming, then a big job of painting our pool deck which my sis and nephew helped me do. I can't do much more until we open the pool, which is usually around Mother's Day. (If it doesn't warm up it might be the 4th of July!) Then, all the real work (and fun) will start.

So... under the deck, where we house all our patio furniture, (and the potting bench) looks a little like a bunch of homeless hillbillies have been taking up winter residence. But I did manage to get the potting bench scrubbed down and put in a little bit of order.

I'm just getting started, and I'm looking forward to a visit to the nursery for some cheery blooms. But right now the potting bench is just a clean slate, emphasis on "clean". Hubbs and I put this together a couple of years ago. I'd been looking for ways to create a place to organize my flower pots, plantings, garden tools, and soil storage. I ended up with this great worktable that had been used for a tool bench and an old bookshelf. I properly "married them", and it's been fun having everything organized together within easy reach.

In lieu of purchased plants, I did find a small patch of wild violets along the fence to use as a stand-in until I can get my hands on some storebought blooms.

just a sweet little gift from nature in an old McCoy planter

Here's my vintage garden cart that I also put together a couple of years ago. I just love creeping phlox, but I've never been able to keep it going in a bed or border. I'm not sure why, maybe not enough water throughout the year, but in here it's taken off like gangbusters.

This little area will get more attention when the white garden chair gets decked out with geraniums and some other annuals join in on the fun. It's still a little bare around here, especially since we've hovered around 32 degrees several times this last week.

Here it is when I first planted it two years ago. My husband had threatened to haul it out to the curb for the trash man if I didn't do something useful with it.

How could you pitch this little garden cutie?

OK, sometimes we don't ask those rhetorical questions,

for fear of an honest answer...

I'm really looking forward to have the time to get everything in shape.
Next to Fall, this is my favorite time of the year...
Has the weather been cooperating with your outdoor plans?

joining in for these parties:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Swing Into Spring at DIY by Design
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage
Tips and Tutorials at Stone Gable
French Country Cottage
The Charm of Home
Rooted in Thyme
Jennifer Rizzo
From My Front Porch to Yours
Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings

xoxo,