Autumn

This autumn has literally fallen over me, too fast, too unexpected. I know, I know, you might say, how is this possible? Halloween is just around the corner? School has began two month ago, summer far behind!But it's all good and true, yet the summer had been lingering in my mind and mood. Looking every morning out of my breakfast/lunch/dining/room window, seeing the sun I have ignored the

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Autumn

This autumn has literally fallen over me, too fast, too unexpected. I know, I know, you might say, how is this possible? Halloween is just around the corner? School has began two month ago, summer far behind!But it's all good and true, yet the summer had been lingering in my mind and mood. Looking every morning out of my breakfast/lunch/dining/room window, seeing the sun I have ignored the

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Garden Journal

An Affection for Geraniums

Pelargoniums

This year I seem to have been drawn to

Red geraniums.

I love the white, pink, purple, blue and orange ones too!

But, when I walked into the garden center last

Spring the deep red geraniums seemed to

Stand out.

To me - they speak of cottage and home gardens.

They're a very cheerful, welcoming flower.

Geraniums are very easy to care for.

Geraniums like  loose , well drained soil.

Geraniums can be fed with a water soluble fertilizer,

But take care the fertilizer is well watered in

And washed off leaves.

In late August you can take cuttings of your

Geraniums, place them in a sandy or perlite soil

with the stem dipped into a rooting hormone.

The roots require air and moisture.

You can easily overwinter your Geranium by

a sunny window or remove from dirt, shaking off

the soil and applying sulfer to the plant. Store it

in a dark, dry area such as a basement until

early Spring.

It is very hot here this first of August, we

are experiencing extreme heat.

My garden is doing pretty well considering,

The flowers that are consistently blooming are

The Mandevilla

The Bougainvillia

The Crape Myrtle

I appreciate you stopping by!

I am sharing this post with these

Delightsome Blog Parties

An Oregon Cottage's Tuesday Garden Party

A Southern Daydreamer's Outdoor Wednesday

Fishtail Cottage's Cottage Flora Thursday

Ms Green "thumb" Jean's Bloomin' Tuesday

Tootsie Time's Fertilizer Friday

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A Return to Loveliness

Creating Your Summer 

Bliss

In the 1999 and the 2000 issues of Victoria magazine

a 'Bliss Team' was created -

Tricia Foley, Leslie George, Nancy Lindemeyer, Susan Maher and Robin Reiser.

"Be Happy. It's one way of being wise"

~Collette

Planning Your Bliss

First up in the morning...

"Put aside a pretty cup

Some Irish Breakfast tea

Buy a dozen oranges

Find the juicer at the top of the closet

And something juicy to read

Start with a stretch

Add peppermint shampoo with a hint of tangerine

Then you'll need a linen robe

Comfy slippers

A favorite blanket

A place to put up your feet

The morning is yours

to take a walk

to take up needlepoint

to take on nothing at all"

These Delightsome Ladies created their

B list

White linen shadow striped robe

natural raffia slippers

Botanica tea with seven herbs

White perfect-to-hold cup

Grass-scented laundry fragrance

Classic woodframe screen door.

Encouraging beauty

The Bliss team encouraged us to find items

that would inspire us to be good to ourselves.

Freshly scented products, soft textures

and a clear, bright summer afternoon

to wile away the hours in.

The Perfect Thing

SUMMER STRAW

"Hovering just above our thoughts, hats are all about dreams."

Give the gift of Bliss

Set aside time to do those tasks

for yourself or for others that you've

been meaning to do.

Bliss Invitation

Invite your truest friends to lunch amongh

the trees

offer a lovely, simple summer lunch

and

b.y.o.b

(bring your own breeze)

Name your own Bliss

"standing in the doorway, waiting on a sudden downpour"

"forgetting the time"

"A long train ride"

"The sound of flip-flops"

"A suitcase with five things in it"

"Drying your hair in the wind"

"Writing your name in the sand"

These are some of the suggestions

sent to Victoria magazine in the 1999

issue.

How would you name your

Bliss?

A Return to Loveliness

is a weekly blog party I host celebrating

bringing 

Loveliness

into our lives and into our homes.

To Join

simply create a post expressing how you

bring loveliness into your life.

Publish 

this post and copy the URL specific to this post

Apply

the URL to the LINKY provided below.

Please link back to this blog in your post and

enjoy visiting all the other

Delightsome participants!

Wishing you a very Delightsome day,

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Impressions from the South

The gate to our house on Hilton Head 2011When I was a child the closest to the ocean I could get was the Baltic Sea at the East German coast line, with one large island - Ruegen - and several small ones, almost entirely reserved for the communist elite. Our quarters at the sea "resorts" were usually cramped and rather primitive.The waters were cold, but the beaches pristine and often

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Impressions from the South

The gate to our house on Hilton Head 2011When I was a child the closest to the ocean I could get was the Baltic Sea at the East German coast line, with one large island - Ruegen - and several small ones, almost entirely reserved for the communist elite. Our quarters at the sea "resorts" were usually cramped and rather primitive.The waters were cold, but the beaches pristine and often

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Dining In

Favorite Summer Lunches

Light and Fresh

Are you Savoring Your Summer?

Summer is such a beautiful time of bounty.

Available to us are such a variety of in-season items

that make delightful lunches.

I so look forward to the first home-grown tomato.

Just so that I can make a simple 

Tomato Sandwich

I oftentimes use Honey-Wheat bread, spread with

mayonnaise, sliced vine-ripened tomatoes sprinkled

with Sea Salt and pepper. When I have a few

I add fresh Basil leaves.

Sheer Delight!

Peaches, Greek Yogurt and Honey

I am blessed that one of my neighbors produces

locally grown honey! I use it on quite a variety of dishes.

One of my favorite lunches includes fresh, in-season Peaches, 

locally grown -sliced and topped with two

generous spoonfuls of Greek Yogurt - plain -and 

drizzled with honey.

I cannot describe how marvelous this light lunch is.

It is one to savor and to enjoy!

Spinach Omelet

I love eggs in just about any form. One of my favorite light lunches is to saute fresh spinach with garlic and salt - a little butter.

To whip together a light omelet - cooked just right an egg does not require any salt -I fill the omelet with the spinach, finely shredded cheese and serve with sliced tomatoes and a wedge of brie. 

Very satisfying and filling.

Chicken Salad Sandwich

An easy, quick and delicious chicken salad can be made with a 

store-bought rotisserie chicken. Shred all of the meat - white and dark.

Add finely chopped red onion - I usually do about 2 tablespoons. I add 1 tsp. Herbs de Provence, red grapes sliced in half - 1/4 cup to 1/3, chopped pecans 1/4 cup, 1/4 cup or more mayonnaise. 

(season to taste)

Mix

all ingredients until incorporated. I use fresh croissants, focaccia bread, herbed rolls or honey-wheat bread.

The flavor and texture contrast in this sandwich mix is 

delightful. I love the sweetness of the grapes with the 

savory meat along with the crunch of the pecans.

Topped with a leaf or two of curly lettuce, a side of grapes

and you have a very Delightsome meal.

Salad

I love going to the farmer's market and getting a variety of fresh

vegetables to make a salad. Yesterday, I purchased curly leaf lettuce and asparagus. I have fresh tomatoes on hand, red onions, shredded cheese, boiled eggs and croutons. I also like to add a scoop of raisins, sunflower seeds and baby portobello mushrooms.

Sprinkled with a light Balsamic vinaigrette 

and I am set for a lovely lunch.

What do you like for your summer lunches?

I do appreciate your visit.

I am sharing this post with these Delightsome blog parties:

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday at Blessed with Grace
Simple Pleasures at A Collection of This and That
Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum
Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

Wishing you a very Delicious, Delightsome day,

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Early summer heat

The early summer heat unravels me. I try to tend the garden, but by late morning the hydrangeas look dead. Only the cooler evening air will revive them. For good measure I am going to water them longer tonight.I hope for rain, but there are no clouds. The midday heat hangs heavy over the garden, the house sits quietly.There are no sounds.It's the year of the chipmunks, I watch them play among the

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Early summer heat

The early summer heat unravels me. I try to tend the garden, but by late morning the hydrangeas look dead. Only the cooler evening air will revive them. For good measure I am going to water them longer tonight.I hope for rain, but there are no clouds. The midday heat hangs heavy over the garden, the house sits quietly.There are no sounds.It's the year of the chipmunks, I watch them play among the

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Summer Blues

Striking a balance

decorating built-ins

I love the built-in shelves in our living room - they 

add such interest to our room - 

For Summer decorating, I tend to lean toward 

blue and white.

This is what the shelving looked like before.

I love the look of these old door knobs.

I am fascinated that the flower

depicted in a lot of old blue and white

objects is the Peony

Vintage objects add a touch of interest.

 I completely cleared the shelves, cleaned them

and began with central pieces - my girls.

I just love these girls! They seem to go with everything!

Then I alternated blue and white objects with

Milk glass objects - alternating them as I went

down the shelves.

I tried to complement objects as I went

not to completely match both sides, but to 

strike a balance.

I gathered books that were bound in blue, black

green and cream.

I did end up with some that were purple and pink,

but, they seem to go pretty nicely. 

After the larger items were placed, 

I added smaller touches to fill in.

Somewhere I read that the shelving looks best

when there's about one-third air space left.

The Milk glass seem to be able to flow through

the seasons.

The nearby small tables were given a touch of

blue and white too.

What do you think?

Do you work a system, a plan a 

formula when placing items on your shelves.

I am pretty pleased with the end results.

I do appreciate you stopping by

I am sharing this post with these 

Delightsome blog parties:

Between Naps On The Porch's Metamorphosis Monday

Savvy Southern Style's Wow Us Wednesday

Faded Charm's White Wednesday

Smiling Sally's Blue Monday

Transformation and Treasures @ The Pink Postcard

Friday Pretties @ I Love Pretty Little Things

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home 

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Vintage Inspiration Friday @ Common Ground

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Fridays Unfold @ Stuff and Nonsense

Inspiration Friday @ The Picket Fence

Wishing you a very Delightsome day,

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