Metamorphosis Monday - front landscape edition !

So, I've almost got the front finished - just need the mulch delivered.  The painter is hopefully starting this week on the porch too - yahooooo !

This weekend I put in the rest of the annuals, did the pots and changed out headless first born:

before:

And now:

Slowly, but surely I'm getting things back in order after three summers of construction !  The pools just about ready and the back yard is coming along nicely as well.

I hope you all are having a great weekend !

I have linked to Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch AND  Just Something I've Created at The Girl Creative,  so go on over and check out all the GREAT stuff that's been going on in Blogland this week ... I know I will be !!!!

www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com

www.thegirlcreative.blogspot.com

In my house we call them Stinkers !

Yup, we call blankies, STINKERS around here !    J #2 started it when he was a baby, calling his blankie his "stinker" and his twin's blankie was "nother".... and it's stuck.  I've been crocheting since I was a little girl and we have tons and tons of stinkers around here !

When J #1 got sick, I always had my crochet bag with me in the hospital and the nurses and doctors all commented on how fast I was cranking them out.  Nothing like fear and nervous energy to make me crochet fast and for hours and hours all night and day in the ICU !   Of course J had several around him on his bed - even in when he was in a coma.  So, I started giving them as thank you's to the staff.  In total I've made over 50 stinkeres for the wonderful nurses and docs who care for my boy.  I've even done special ones for their kids who go away to college in school colors, as grad gifts and baby gifts.  Now I even sell them !

Here are a few I have on hand ready to sell:

I got a case of yarn delivered this morning !  I have several  colors  in the works, including a set of crib stinkers for J's cath doc who just had twin boys !!!!!

I keep my Vera Bradley bag right in the kitchen with my current projects - so when ever I have a 

couple of minutes, I can just pick up my hook and yarn !!!!   

I've linked to:

Making the World Cuter Monday !

Another little outside project:

We had over 100 BAGS of gravel left over from the construction.  So..... I had the guys dump it on the pond area.  I always used mulch there in the past, but it kept blowing away with the landscapers !  I'm thinking this will be heavier AND we had it so it was "free" !

This area is right in front of the former classroom that was morphed into the guest house/cabana.  As you can see we still have to do the siding on the front.  The town stopped us from finishing because our neighbors are still fighting the addition - the one we already finished !  They said it was too depressing to live next door to a disabled person and do not want to see any evidence of accessibility because it ruins their "quality of life".  So, the town has demanded we take down the scooter ramp that allows him access to the house !  Apparently, his quality of life doesn't count.  We are in court over all this and until then we have a "work stop order" and cannot finish the last bits of siding on the front of the cabana.  I think this weekend I'm just going to tack up some lattice to obscure the ugly.  It's going on two years of dispute and I'm sick of looking at green styrofoam !!!!!

Tomorrow I'm heading to the depot to buy the railings for the balconies outside the master and the twins bedroom.   Mr. Handy man is coming next week ( fingers crossed ! ) to get the railings up.  The town has to let us do it because our insurance company demanded it  - ha ha - got you on that one city hall !!!

I need to get the rest of those impatiens in tomorrow too.  I did lots of pots already and as soon as the pool is open I can finish up with the rest of them.

Stay tuned for pictures of the blankets I'm selling - I've got a bunch of new ones done !

Metamorphosis Monday !

For my birthday, J and J bought me these:

And with a little help from our handy dandy landscaper they turned this:

Into this:

Now the grass has to grow in  and the blocks have to settle of course.

I hope you all had a great weekend.  We got lots done in the back AND the front yards.  If the sun cooperates I'll finish up and show you more next time !

I have linked to Between Naps on the Porch's Metamorphosis so go on over and see all the GORGEOUS stuff that's been happening in blog world this week !!!!

                                  www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com

On the agenda for today.......

Planting !!!!!

Hit the "depot" yesterday and picked some flats of impatiens and petunias.  Tomorrow I'm going to the "good" nursery... the selection is so much better and I need more lavender !

So.... what's on your agenda today ?

My Miniature Life

When I was a little girl, Papa built me a dollhouse.  That's where it all started - the decorating, remodeling and redecorating passion!  I did not even have people living in my house - it was just about decorating.

He had no clue what he was doing as far as the mini enthusiast world, he just winged it.  He used an easy scale - 1" = 1' and it turned out perfect!  The shingles are the left overs from their first house and so is the flooring.  This thing weighs a TON.  He even included a "deed" complete with builder's signatures.

When we were young newlyweds, Mr. Lavender Hill and I went to Vermont on a get away weekend.  In Manchester we came across "The Enchanted Doll House" - the sweetest little miniature and doll shop you can imagine.  Here I picked up this little pink house:

For years after I was married we went to doll house shows and traveled around New England in search of shops.  It was so much fun !  But, alas, I was blessed with three SONS and after a while I let my hobby go.  The houses are just beautiful decorations now.  Someday I'm going to have enough time to actually get back into this charming hobby and start remodeling and redecorating on a much smaller scale !

Let there be *fun* Lights !!!!!

I like light - I crave light to be honest !   I'm a fan of different and funky lights and I'm not scared to look in some unexpected places to find what I like !

We always had a chandelier in the foyer, but I really wanted a fan to circulate the AC.  I found this one on line and I think it's a good compromise:

The dining room chandelier is Austrian crystal.  My mommy bought it for us for an anniversary, maybe 26 years ago.  She brought it from, where else ?  Austria !

This is one of the few ceiling medallions I didn't paint.  I might still..... any suggestions ?

This is the medallion in the Living room - there was a spot there for a chandelier, but I decided to go with just table lamps, I thought it was cozier.

Upstairs in my room there a few funky lights too !

This one is in the sitting area of the Master bedroom:

I found it in Pottery Barn Kids !

The one in my bathroom is from Pottery Barn Teen !  Told you I like things from different places !

The one over my sink is a bit more traditional:

Lighting is a fun way to show your personality and to think outside the box !

The Loot !

My birthday is May 8.  The next day was Mother's day and today was my first born's 23rd birthday.  Makes for a run of celebration around here !

For my birthday:  Alexa and Matthew bought me a whole set of Mickey dishes !!!!!!  AND -- a pair of Vera Bradley flip flops - purple of course !

The twinsies got me the rest of the pavers I need for the front path - AND J #2 promised to actually do the walkway !!!!

On Mother's Day I was blessed with an adorable Pajama Gram nightie from Matthew and Alexa - Lavender of course !

A beautiful purple and lavender stained glass butterfly ornament for the garden from J #1:

And a stunning bouquet of flowers delivered from J # 2, complete with lavender vase and a mushy card!

But today was my favorite Mother's Present of all time:  My first baby was born on the day after Mother's day on May 11, 1987.

That's him with his precious fiancee.... just under 3 months left until the wedding !

Mommy and Tinta

I have been very blessed in my life to have not one, but two amazing women love me.  My mommy and her sister were born on the very same day - March 8, seventeen years apart !  Tinta actually delivered her baby sister on her 17th birthday !

Here they are in 1934 !

Tinta was more like another mother for my mom and when she got married in 1937, she and Papa loved on her as if she was their own.  They never had children but they had us !!!!   They lived next door when I was growing up and when Papa hit 90 they moved in with my mom.  They both lived to be 93 - ten years apart.  

Living next door, they were a huge part of my life.  My mom worked, so it was Papa and Tinta that put me on the bus for Kindergarten, helped me with my homework, took me to dancing class and played with me. Tinta taught me how to cook, clean, garden and sew.  She taught me that being a housewife was an honor and a privilege. She taught me how to love.  She and Papa were married for 60 years and oh, how they loved each other.

  Every childhood memory I have is wrapped up in the hearts of these three amazing people - Mommy, Papa and Tinta.  

It's just Mommy now.  She turned 80 in March and is still a power house.  She volunteers at the hospital, helps out at the bakery and loves to travel.

So this weekend, I honor these two women.... the one who gave me life and the one that taught me how to live it too.

Mommy and Tinta:  Happy Mother's Day !

And... Happy Mother's Day to all of you and the special women in your lives !