Happy Weekend!!

Image by Parker Fitzgerald Florals by Amy Merrick

Kinfolk Magazine

Happy Weekend Everyone!!!

I know it's the month of May..

But..

Today felt a little like Christmas...

A very special package arrived on my doorstep this morning....

Image by Chocolate Creative Design

For all my followers...

You definitely know by now that I am obsessed with gardening...

Normally, I buy ALL my flowers and vegetables for planting at our local garden center...

But this year..

This year is different....

White Flower Farm is still considered local as it's based in Connecticut..

But..

It's like buying a pair of Louboutins.. 

In my case..

only for special occasions..

Ok Ok Ok...

I'll tell you what's in the box...

Only THE finest, THE most glorious and THE most beautiful dozen Dahlia tubers one has ever seen...

You see...

besides My loveliest of Ladies,

Miss Yumiko Fletcher of Hana Floral Design..

(image by Adeline and Grace)

 There are 3 other floral designers whose work I greatly admire...

Miss Amy Merrick

(obsessed with her blog)

Miss Nicolette Owen of Nicolette Camille

and

Miss Sarah Ryhanen of Saipua

 So what is it about these 4 extremely talented women that has inspired me so??

Well..

They all share the same style...

They all LOVE Dahlias...

Maybe they too wasted countless hours viewing a gazillion slides in numerous Art History classes only to be inspired by the Dutch Masters...

Perhaps...

But I have to say...

There are 3 even lovelier ladies who were creating arrangements within the same genre WAY before the previous ladies were even a thought in the universe...

The Ladies of the Big House on Island Farm...

Image by Chocolate Creative Design

I wrote a POST about them last September regarding their dedication and cultivation of the Dahlias in the garden...

But I really didn't describe to you what wonderfully talented floral designers they all are...

If one is lucky enough to walk into the Big House during the summer, you will be immediately greeted with the most divine works of art..

Dahlias, honeysuckle, dill flowers, sweet peas, berries, roses and numerous other floral & fauna meticulously gathered from the Island gently sway and dance from vintage copper and iron frogs in breathtaking pewter compotes.

They had me at hello...

I was hooked by their magical abilities...

They allowed me to watch...

To take in their secrets...

In fact...at a mere 11 months..

They allowed the Monster to have his first gardening experience..

THE planting of the Dahlia tubers in May...

Crawling through the freshly plowed garden and covered from head to toe in dirt he found joy in the empty dahlia barrel from where they overwintered...

Nervous that I had now maybe ruined my chances at learning their secrets...

Fear covered my face...

But...

Giggles emerged...

Lots of giggles....

He may not have been baptised in a church...

but he was most certainly baptised in the garden at the Island...

So now...

In just one short week...

we will be planting our own dahlias...

we will be arranging our own dutch inspired creations...

and

we will be carrying on the traditions of the Ladies of the Island..

Be Safe, Plant a Garden and Have a Great Weekend!!

A Cupcake a Day Keeps the Blues Away....

A cupcake a day for EVERY day of the Month???

Are you kidding me?

This is definitely not going to help swimsuit season...

BUT

I do have a HUGE soft spot for them...

The Monster dances when he sees them

 and

it they just so happened to be the Tall One and I's wedding cake...

Wouldn't it be AMAZING to offer 31 flavors at a birthday party or a wedding?

But..

If you had to choose just one...

What would it be?

Cupcake a Day for Every Day of the Month

created by

 Ming Makes Cupcakes

Chocolate Therapy #132

Image created by Matthew Nosworthy

Tuesday Typeface...Trinkets & Such....

Super cute Typography Trays at Nordstrom!

Just in time to hold those diamond earrings from Mother's Day!

a little glitter to start your week...

Why does it always seem that Little Girls have ALL the fun?!

La Piccola Danza Sequin Capelet at Nordstrom

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Image by Chocolate Creative Design

Happy Mother's Day!!!

They made it just in time...

My lovely white ladies...

Lily of the Valley may remind me of my mother and grandmother

but...

When I asked the Monster which flower reminded him of me...

"White Lilacs Mama"

Maybe it's because it's THE only flower in which when they come into bloom are quickly snipped, brought in by bucketfuls and are carefully arranged in vases throughout the house...

They may only last a few short days...

But aren't they heavenly?

Which flower reminds you of your Mom?

Happy Weekend!!

Image by Marie Labbancz

Happy Weekend Everyone!!!

Well..we are now officially in the month of May!!

Hooray!!

It is by far one of my favorite months...

Wedding season has begun...

The oaks and elms are a mass of 100 shades of green...

 while hues ranging from white to light pink to fuchsia dance on the flowering trees..

The grass is delicate and soft beneath bare feet...

The air is perfumed with the scent of lilacs, viburnums, cherry, apple and pear blossoms.

It doesn't get any better than this!

For all you May babies...

Did you know that Lily of the Valley is YOUR flower?

Well it is...

Some of the most elegant and graceful women of our time have carried Lily of the Valley as they walked down the aisle..

In the Language of Flowers, the Lily of the Valley is representative of sweetness, humility, returning happiness and trustworthiness.

,

But for me..

The Lily of the Valley has GREAT significance....

I literally cannot pass by them without thinking of my Grandmother or Mother...

My Grandmother had them planted along a secret pathway to her pool...

It was most definitely, without a doubt..a fairy pathway...

When my Grandmother passed and the house was sold...

My Mother scooped them up and replanted them at my parents house right by their pool...

When the Tall one and I purchased our antiquated farmhouse...

My Mother once again lovingly scooped some of them up and we planted them amongst the lilacs and the giant spruces..

(It would have sounded SOO much cooler if I said pool right?!) 

So as the pips begin to emerge from the new spring soil..

I think of these lovely ladies...

and immediately (no thanks to my mother)

have this song run from the top of my brain to the very tip of my tongue..

Funny how things get passed down..

Since the very first time the Monster could sing..

My Mother and my Mom in Law both taught him this little ditty...

In fact..

If you just utter the first three words "white coral bells'..

he will sing the..whole..song...

it doesn't matter where he is..

the shower, up a tree, getting off the bus, riding a bike, getting dressed or even eating..

anyplace anytime anywhere..

He just can't help it..he has to finish the song..

I just tested him this morning..

kicking a ball..waiting for the bus..

3 little words..

Bam!

It's a fun party trick and I invite anyone to try it if they see him...

So whether it's seeing those delicate coral bells or hearing their song..

we both think of our lovely mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers...

Happy Mother's Day to all you beautiful ladies...

We'll be singing your song...

Be Safe, Call Your Mother and Have a Great Mother's Day Weekend!!