OH, NO!!!

MY COMPUTER CRASHED THIS AFTERNOON!I'm waiting for tech support---in the form of my son!---to come to my rescue!

BLUE MONDAY

http://smilingsally.blogspot.com

BLUE SKIES, NOTHING BUT BLUE SKIES...

Let's do some traveling for Blue Monday.

It's going to be a whirlwind trip. So, fasten your seat belts and we're off!

Glacier Bay
Alaska

Key West, Florida


Aspen, Colorado

Madison Avenue
New York City

Jackson Hole, Wyoming



Sun Valley, Idaho

Manchester, Vermont

Washington, D. C.



Baltimore, Maryland

Gulfport, Mississippi



Biltmore House
Asheville, North Carolina

Weeks Bay
near Fairhope, Alabama

Blue Dog Cafe
LaFayette, Louisiana

Barnsley Gardens
Adairsville, Georgia



Belize

London

Vincent Van Gogh's "Starry Night"
Musee D'Orsay, Paris

PINK SATURDAY

Visit Lisa at pupylov.blogspot.com.
It's the 1st anniversary of her lovely blog!







Thank you to Beverly for this very fun party each week. http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com

BUNNY EARS

VIOLET
"Does anybody have a brush?"

OLIVER
"This nonsense makes me sick."

JACK
"Hey ladies, check this out!"

DAISY
"Daddy, are we almost finished?"

SCOUT
"PARTY at our house!"

BEAU (a.k.a. "Mr. Uncooperative")
"NO, I WILL NOT PUT ON THOSE SILLY BUNNY EARS."



CAROLINE (a.k.a. my darling daughter)

OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY / WHITE WEDNESDAY

http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com











http ://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com

CLEMATIS VINE

When we were in the process of redesigning our front entrance and front yard, I had a vision of a gate with vines growing on it. I found a pair of old gates at an antique store, and our contractor was able to separate them, to be used in two different areas of our property.



I asked the landscapers for lots of white flowers in the yard, and he complied. From just a couple of little vines, we now have Confederate Jasmine and Clematis practically overtaking us! During Spring and Summer, they have to be quite severely trimmed back every few weeks. Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to get through the gate. The pruning actually encourages them to grow even more!



Although they've been growing for about ten years now, they grew very quickly from the start. We do almost nothing to them, other than the trimming. They thrive in full sun--ours get full afternoon sun. They like to be mulched to keep the roots cool and damp, so we usually have some pine straw around the base. Admittedly, they are brown and woody during the winter, but I think it's worth it to have this beautiful display every Spring.



The vines get so loaded down with blooms that the ones near the bottom lay on the gravel in the courtyard and continue to bloom their hearts out! I'm a bit obsessed with white flowers. Besides looking so clean and fresh during the day, I love they way they look at night. They actually light up the darkness!



The Clematis is a member of the Ranunculaceae family, which also includes Ranunculus (Buttercups) and Anemones.



The Confederate Jasmine is heavily fragrant and most people feel very strongly about the scent---love it or hate it! To me, it's one of the most evocative scents of summer in the Deep South. This vine actually has some nice fall color as well.

TABLE TOP TUESDAY

http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com

I'm so happy to join Table Top Tuesday for the first time today!

Today, I've been playing in my breakfast room! I seem to be into birds at the moment. I guess that's symptomatic of my spring fever.

I found the pair of birds and the little girl on two different outings to a large antique mall in my neighborhood. (not that they're antiques!) I don't know if you can see it, but she's holding a little bird in her hands.


I love to pull things out of cabinets and create different little vignettes, just to see what I like best. And, I always seem to find things I've forgotten I had!

Although I have a lot of silver, I really love pewter. I think it goes well in the country French feeling of my house, so I've been on the lookout for it lately.

The little white vase that you can see in the back is from Jonathan Adler. He has a fun shop on Madison Avenue, that I always try to put on my itinerary whenever I go to New York.

I forgot to take a close-up of the cute little majorca pitcher. It has birds on it, too!

Don't these cherries look good enough to eat?

BLUE MONDAY

http://smilingsally.blogspot.com


Blue is one of my favorite colors, and I've used it in a number of rooms around my house. Sometimes a little bit, sometimes a lot. The pictures I'm showing you today are from the foyer and the living room.

Look out, it's tipping over! Not really... just my lack of photography skills.


This is mostly just junky stuff from Marshall's, etc. I buy it just because I like the blue-and-white color combination. The tortoise-shell finish etagere is "early marriage", but it's constantly been in service everywhere that we've lived. You might notice the silver gallery tray on the third shelf. It was a wedding present from my paternal grandparents 35 years ago. My grandmother referred to it as a sherry tray. The pewter vase on top was a gift to my mother from her brother when he was stationed in Thailand 50 years ago.

Hmmm... I need to work on that flower arrangement. The mirror is one of my favorite things. We got it about 25 years ago, for this spot in the entry hall and it's been there ever since.

Same picture, but with some tacky fake tulips! I just like how the jar is reflecting in the mirror.

Just one more shot. This one shows the candle sconces that my aunt found at an estate sale in New Orleans. She was sweet enough to clean them up and pass them on to me. I love them!

"NINA'' THE ETAGERE

I was so excited when I saw Brooke's post at Velvet & Linen (http://brookegiammetti.typepad.com/velvet_and_linen) featuring the Nina etagere. I recognized it as the same one I have in my dining room. I like my black one better, but don't tell anybody!

MacKenzie-Childs Courtly Check

(hmm... I see dust!)

I love my dining room, not only because it's filled with lots of my favorite things, but also because it's the spot for so many happy family dinners and holiday celebrations. More pictures coming soon, for those of you who are interested!