Still Life

Peonies

The peonies are now officially in bloom here. The big gorgeous blooms and the fragrant aroma beg to be cut and brought in the home. I obliged.

Psssttt.........come closer.

................closer............

...........a little closer............

 .........oh how I wish you could smell them. 

Heavenly.


In other garden news, we have a garter snake living on the west side of The Bates Estate. I've dubbed it Henry/Henrietta since I don't know if it's male or female. I'm thinking female since I also saw a baby in the grass the other day. Today H/H was in the flower garden. Not terribly happy I was following close with a camera trying to get a shot.

Honestly though, there is no need to stick your tongue out at me! Cheeky snake.

It's another beautiful day here today. We are taking them as they come. Feels like the humidity is ramping up.  I'm working on the pool, but we still have more de-leafing and filtration to do. I am hoping by the weekend I'll be able to take the inaugural dip of the season. 

Did anyone catch the USA v Ghana World Cup Match last night? Well, let's put it this way.......my man Clint Dempsey came through with a goal 30 seconds in. It was a great match. Ghana is a tough team that came back to tie in the second half as we were nearing the end. Ugh. Luckily, our man Brooks came of the bench to score - the first USA goal by a replacement in World Cup history. Way to go Brooksie. Nice header! We held on to win so we were quite happy with  that result. And that has been your Tuesday World Cup update. Thanks for tuning in.

Lots of design work on the desk today. Mostly logo revisions and some ad design.  What's happening in your corner of the world?

Ciao for now,

Lilac Dreams

My Favorite Flower

I wait in anticipation each May. For all the snow, the cold, the winter that wouldn't give up- the lilacs are actually right no time this year. Lilacs being my absolute favorite flower, this time of year when they put on their show, makes me very happy.

There are huge lilac bushes (taller than the house) of purple and white right outside our bedroom window. Their intoxicating scent drifts in day and night and whispers through my dreams.

 

When I step outside to pick them so I can fill just about every vase in our house (and that's a lot of vases), I can't help but put my nose right into a blossom and inhale their most heavenly scent.

What a glorious gift.

One vase down. Many more to go.

I'll have to try my hand at painting lilacs during my watercolor time, to add to the other flowers I've been painting like yesterday's 'creative cuppa' (it's what I call my 'paint with morning tea' projects on instagram).

Here's wishing you a perfectly wonderful day, but first..........now that you know my favorite flower, what's your?

Ciao for now,

PS- Did you know that if you pick one little bloom off a lilac, and suck it from the bottom you get the tiniest burst of sweetness?

Still Life: The Color Of Hope

Springs Eternal

Everybody around here is getting pretty antsy for some spring like temperatures. We'd like a little more than just one day sandwiched in between never ending polar vortex stretches. It's been a long cold, snowy winter. Which we can usually handle when there are hopeful signs that spring will get here eventually. 

When I went to the store yesterday to get my ingredients for my St. Patrick's Day Shepperd's Pie, I spied what is a true harbinger of spring.  

Daffodils, in all their yellow glory.

We are far from daffodils in bloom here.  So, to be able to grab a bunch to brighten up your home gives you a tiny taste of spring, and confidence that it surely will arrive in the not so distant future (even if today's 26 degrees doesn't support the fact that it supposed to arrive this week!).

 In Ireland at this time of year, the daffodils are everywhere.

They're blooming in the parks..................

 
.............in the fields...............

..............in the middle of the highways............

.....in the middle of the 'roundabouts'.

Everywhere you look.................mass plantings of daffodils. As if a flower fairy sprinkled magic daffodil dust over everything.

It's a beautiful sight.

At least I can have a reminder of that beauty in my home for a the small price of $3.00.  A steal for a little hint of spring to brighten up these last days of winter that just won't seem to release their grip.

I forgot to tell you yesterday, our pal Lucan turned 14! He celebrated St. Patrick's Day and his birthday in grand style.

 

The neighborhoodlums came over for a little St. Patrick's Day cheer and Shepperd's Pie.  A good time had by one and all.

Busy with a ton of design work at the moment.  Doing my best to juggle like I've been on tour with the circus before.

What's happening in your world?

Ciao for now,

 

Shifting Focus

Keeping It Simple

When there is a lot on my plate, as there has been and continues to be, I find it helpful to stop trying to multi-task. Stop looking at the entire list. Break it down to one task at a time.

Make a conscious choice.

Choose simplicity.

I'm working on a couple of logo designs right now that are inspired by natural elements.  It's easy for me to find inspiration for that. 

Even in one small leaf.

Friday didn't end up being as productive as I would have liked. After my printer ran out of toner, my mouse and keyboard up and quit on me. Don't you just hate that?

So, by choosing to focus on simplicity, I'm hoping to set myself up for a stellar week.  No matter what challenges lie ahead.

What do you find helps you when there is a lot to be done and things don't go quite as planned?

Have a great week in your corner of the world.

Ciao for now,

Still Life: Favorite Things

Glass Pyramid Display

I saw this vintage glass pyramid display on esty in Shaving Kit Supplies' shop and I knew I had to have it. That was a couple of years ago now. It remains a favorite piece. You can display small bits and bobs, and you can change what is displayed whenever it suits you. It makes everything in it look more special. Perhaps because it gives them a special place to reside.

I'm in the midst of rearranging my mantle from winter holiday mode, to just winter mode.  The pyramid display is moving from my bookcase to the mantle for a little change of scenery.

Right now it 'houses' two little structures I made last year at Christmas. The top one is a trullo, a type of house that is found in Puglia, the region of Italy my great gramdparents emigrated from when my great grandmother was pregnant with my grandfather. The second of course, is a wee Irish cottage.

The shelf in the middle holds a stone........(you are now officially sworn to secrecy)....that I 'borrowed' from the floor of the crypt at Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin. It also has a coin-piece that was part of one of my Gram's necklaces. 

Do you have a favorite place to display some of your special things?

Hope all is well in your corner of the world. It is pretty darn cold in these parts today. However, the woodstove is going, the dog is napping next to it and all is right with the world.

Ciao for now,

Still Life

On The Ground, Waiting

When G went out the back door this morning, he found these on the ground.

Dear Pears, Sorry we didn't realize you were oh so perfectly ripe for the picking.

And eating.

Heavenly.


Now, some still lifes I really admire.

by J. Ingerstedt

 

by aya goa 

I came across the picture of a cat on pinterest via one of my favorite blogs, Decor8 and just happened to find the post Thoughts On Mindful Living at Home. It resounded with me. How, when we are all juggling so many things, are we able to create our own moments of 'still life'? Worth a read.

 

by Jennifer Causey

You can see more still lifes on my Pinterest board. Some of these photographers and artists are amazing.



Freeform Friday

It's gray today. However, in case you hadn't realize it, it's also Friday. This is a good thing.
This song has been in my head since we listened to the jazz band in Washington Square Park play a few weeks ago while in NYC.

I'd never heard of Vivan Green. Perhaps I live in a closet. Or under a rock. But I simply adore this duet with Mr. Jules Holland planing a mean piano accompaniment. 

Click here if you're reading by email or reading on the blog (embedding was disabled......sorry). 

 

Have a great Friday and enjoy the rest of your weekend as well. Tomorrow we're off to our friends Ralph and Cathryn's lobster bake. Oh yeah. Works for me.

Ciao for now,

Still Life

Windowsill & Feathers

It rained early this morning. We needed it. It's just been sunny as sunny can be. And is now. The rain is gone and the sun is shining. A great way to start the week.

The kids around here are back to school today. I feel bad for them (and the teachers). I just don't think they should go back until after Labor Day. You're only a kid once. Let them enjoy the last hurrah of summer.

There's a lovely breeze coming through the window.

And this on my sill.

Gar came across this picture of me and my Grammy Cocciardi. It fell out of something he was moving. Who knows how it got in there. So, I placed it up on my windowsill between two little bottles for safe keeping.

Am I rocking the blue satin jockey jacket and cap or what? I mean, come on people. Not everyone can pull that look off. Ha!

Oh, I remember thinking how cool that set was. I also remember being obsessed with Scott Baio. There. I said it. Now you know.


Also on my sill, this pretty sterling spoon my best friend Tina and maid of honor sent us for our 25th Anniversary in June. It says 'huge serving of  love, laughter and happiness'. Sweet.

Do you remember  me telling you I'd been finding feathers like crazy on our walks? At least one each day for the last two weeks. I'm on a feather roll.

I think I even scored a Snowy Owl feather!

I've never seen a Snowy Owl, but you can bet I'll be keeping my eyes open now that I know there was one in the area.

Sunset Meadows

Subtle one last night. Pretty just the same.

Today, I'm working on a shop header as part of my client's branding package. I'm also roughing out ideas for another new client I'm designing a logo for and I'm loving her business plan. There are a lot of women out there creating really positive businesses. Go ladies!

Enjoy the day in your corner of the world and I'll do the same.

Ciao for now,

Still Life: White

Petals

Last year we transplanted a big hydrangea from my Mother. We weren't sure if it would take, though by all accounts, it seemed to acclimate pretty darn well after the transplant.

We had to wait until this year to be sure and it's been looking pretty happy.

It's bloom time now and it has survived and thrived.

  

 

 

Weekend Roundup

It was a beautiful weekend. Ours included:

- Campfire with friends and neighbors Friday night and a new soup recipe getting the thumbs up.
- Swimming in the pool.
-Weeding my front walk way. I also sprayed it with a white vinegar and water solution to kill the ones I couldn't pull and deter new growth. I'm happy to report that it worked like a charm. The weeds I sprayed died overnight. Poof. Shriveled up, crispy, gone. 
- Laundry. When isn't that on the list? However, since we put ours on the line to dry, we try to take full advantage of the nice weather when it's here.
- Campfire Saturday night and fresh Hake from our friend Ralph, cooked over the campfire, with some fries.

Mmmm.

- Chilling with the neighborhoodlums. 

That's enough for one weekend, isn't it?

Sunset Meadows

Almost forgot........and enjoying this beautiful sunset.

Amazing.

Lots on the plate today. Some design tweaking. Bookwork. Oh, and laundry out to the line since it's so nice out.  What's happening where you are?

Ciao for now,