I’m always excited for spring. I hope you stopped by earlier this month and checked out the vast array of ideas for the season via Project Design Now – Spring Mantles. There are some great ideas for decorating—and not just the mantle from the team of design enthusiasts that participated!
This beauty was one of my favorites…Ciao Newport Beach created the fresh, spring look
Spring brings some new bird friends to the area…I’ve spotted a blue bird on my walks, not as vibrant as this fellow, but still very pretty and we’ve had up to 6 Robin Red Breasts visit our birdbath at the same time!
For me spring always means spending more time in the garden. Warm days, cool nights. Sparkling sunshine (have you ever noticed how the light changes with the season. Spring has it’s own special, sparkly light).
The patio bed needed a major renovation. I’ve completed this space and will share a post about it, and other little changes in the garden, later.
It’s a dream of mine to be able to walk through my garden and come up with a bouquet as wonderful as this! I am growing sweet peas, I hope they provide me with bundles of blooms.
Easter eggs whether chocolate or real are a staple for Easter. There have been some really pretty ideas for dying eggs.
So if you haven’t dyed your eggs yet, visit HERE to receive step-by-step guidance on these beauties (above) and HERE for a general overview of how to dye Easter eggs.
Spring also brings with it the chance prepare a few more meals on the BBQ and to generally lighten up on the mouth watering calorie laden casseroles. True confession, I still enjoy the occasional casserole even during the summer.
These lovely to look at tea sandwiches made me want to plan a spring tea party for a few friends!
This meal above is pretty typical of our traditional Easter dinner.
If you saw this recent post, you know I love to set a table. These charming Spring/Easter tables give me some ideas for the upcoming season.
How cute are these little bunny plates?
One last note, if you haven’t already filled an Easter basket with a few goodies for yourself, I’d like to mention the newest book by Kristen Woodson Harvey, Lies and Other Acts of Love which will be released April 5th. If you pre-order from the Design Chic blog site, you’ll automatically be entered to win a $1,000 gift card to Shop Design Chic their online store.
I’m excited to reviewing this wonderful book on April 5th right here.
What are you doing this season. Special plans for Easter Sunday? I wish you a happy spring and all the “new beginnings” it can bring, and a very happy Easter. ♥ Karen
Garden, Home & Party 
anitapelayorivera said:
Good morning Karen!
Don’t you just love this season? Every photo here is so inspiring, and that darling blue bird is sweet as can be! Enjoy decorating, and may the weather for all of us on Sunday be spectacular. We always drive over to one of the lakes here in town to view the sunrise.BLESSINGS! Anita
Karen B. said:
Anita, There is such great energy attached to this time of year for me. The surrounding landscape looks happy and fresh and green and it makes me smile everytime I walk out the door. Enjoy your Easter sunrise. I wish you fair weather, my friend. xo, Karen
On Wed, Mar 23, 2016 at 2:50 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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debra @ 5th and state said:
karen, this was a lovely walk through spring! expecting snow here tomorrow, that’s spring in chicagoland
hugs to you
debra
Karen B. said:
Debra, Even snow can be lovely, fresh with sparkle. That’s what a good mood this season puts me in! 🙂 Hugs to you and may your day be filled with new beginnings that spring seems to offer. xo, Karen
On Wed, Mar 23, 2016 at 8:19 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Leslie @Pretty Petals said:
Karen, Your enthusiasm is contagious! Are you hosting brunch? My son as moved (hopefully not permanently..) to NY and my daughter is visiting her boyfriend (he’s serving for two more years..) in NC so it’s just us. I’ve cooked so much over the years I’m okay taking the day off. I think a fun brunch after church service will probably be our plan. Our weather has been in the forties and rainy so spring gardening is on hold until we dry out. I am looking forward to gardening!
Karen B. said:
Hi Leslie, I do get a little carried away with my enthusiasm this time of year. I’ll be whining when it gets really hot, so I have to capitalize on the ideal weather for now. I’ve heard from my friend on Bainbridge that she’s had enough of the cold, wet weather, so I understand. We’re going to our son and daughter-in-laws nearby for our Sunday Easter brunch. Enjoy the day, it’s fun to have just the 2 of you sometimes, right? Oh, and Layla, of course. xo, Karen
On Wed, Mar 23, 2016 at 9:08 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Linda Coble said:
Hi Karen,
What a lovely post to celebrate spring! Loved all the festive, colorful pics and I can’t wait to see pics of the changes to your garden. Happy Easter, my friend.
Karen B. said:
Thank you, Linda. I’m working on the post about the changes to the patio garden. I confess, I’m waiting for the delphinium to be in full bloom! xo, Karen
On Wed, Mar 23, 2016 at 1:58 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Reviving Charm said:
I love the colors of the season! You make me want to do some egg dying. I could attempt the marbelized version but would venture to say mine wouldn’t come out half as pretty.
Your garden is looking lovely. You had a nice blank canvas. I can’t wait to see how you filled in the rest of the planter…looking forward to that post! Like you, I enjoy seeing the birds in the yard this time of year. I haven’t seen any robins, but I enjoy the hummingbirds and butterflies.
The mantle makeover was a fun challenge. I visited some familiar sites and was introduced to some new ones (always fun)..Thank you!
Karen B. said:
Thank you Vanessa. The blank canvas in the garden was the result of ripping out some plants that had gotten pretty ugly. I’m working on the post and promise it will be out soon. xo, Karen
On Wed, Mar 23, 2016 at 2:24 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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D'Arcy H said:
Keep working on me, Karen–one of these days something other than pots of paint and a bucket of joint compound will appear on my mantel. Maybe I’ll get around to marbleizing some eggs this weekend, just for fun. But those tea sandwiches!!! The colors and patterns are so gorgeous and delicate, they should be wallpaper! 🙂
Happy spring to you! Send some sun up to Washington, please!!! 🙂 –D’Arcy
Karen B. said:
LOL, that was my concern, that the tea sandwiches no only looked pretty enough to be wallpaper, they might taste like wallpaper since they were so intricate as to not look like they would be fresh. 🙂 Marbled eggs would be nice! xo, Karen
On Wed, Mar 23, 2016 at 5:42 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Vicki said:
Hi Karen, I’m eager to see the changes you made to your planting bed so that I can copy them- er, be inspired by them. 🙂 Sweet peas are a favorite. I planted some in San Diego, but I’m afraid it’s just too dry & hot to try it where we are now. I’m sure they’ll do better where you are.
Those bunny plates are cute. I was tempted by some at Home Goods, but I’ll be good and stick with pretty flowers instead. Love the pots of grass at each place setting.
Hope you have a wonderful Easter!
Karen B. said:
Vicki, I’ve always wanted to a flower pot of grass and then set dyed eggs in the grass for a centerpiece…somehow, about the time I remember I wanted to do that it’s 3 days before Easter and too late! I actually think sweet peas would do better in hot, drier weather. They might need to be in a part-shade spot, but you would probably get a bumper crop. Mine are growing but haven’t shown buds yet. Fingers crossed. Have a wonderful Easter! xo, Karen
On Wed, Mar 23, 2016 at 9:58 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Design Chic said:
I love seeing a peek of your beautiful yard – can’t wait for more, and I need to add yard work to my ever growing “to do” list! Thank you ever so much for the support of my new book – it means the world!!
Karen B. said:
Kristy & Beth, Have a wonderful Easter and a relaxing weekend. I hope the weather is fair and sunny for you. xo, Karen
On Thu, Mar 24, 2016 at 5:27 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Merryjo Agnel said:
What a lovely post to celebrate spring! Loved all the festive, colorful pics. Every photo here is so inspiring. and Those bunny plates are so cute.
Karen B. said:
Thank you MaryJo, Have a wonderful weekend. Karen
On Fri, Mar 25, 2016 at 3:20 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Sheila Irwin said:
Karen,
Oh, how I love Spring too! Some great photos here (“Pinspiration”!!) Love that little blue bird photo. And those indigo eggs are amazing! I’m going to pop over and read/save it so that we can do it next year (kinda bummed I already did mine!)
And I love getting a peek of your garden – can’t wait to see a post on the whole thing.
Hope you have a wonderful Easter with your family!
Sheila
xo
http://www.maisondecinq.blogspot.com
Karen B. said:
Sheila, I’m working on the post for the garden, I’m so happy for the interest. Have a lovely weekend. I had already done my eggs too! I’ve started a file for ideas for next year. xo, Karen
On Fri, Mar 25, 2016 at 8:25 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Kristin Smith said:
Happy Easter – I hope you had a great holiday! I love the bluebirds, too. We have two suet feeders on the dogwood right outside our sunroom. I love watching the goldfinches and bluebirds feeding. So sweet! The eggs you posted are so pretty – we did the regular dye – my youngest is 8 so we’ve got to keep it simple! Happy spring! 🙂
Karena said:
Dear Karen, I hope that you enjoyed a lovely Easter Holiday with your family! We actually had snow in the morning Easter day and now it is going into the 60’s two days later!
xoxo
Karena
Featuring Artist Scott McBee
Karen B. said:
It was a beautiful weekend here. I saw the pictures of the snow in the East and South and was surprised, but I guess it’s more normal that it would seem to the SoCal girl. Karen
On Tue, Mar 29, 2016 at 6:39 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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leslieharrisakagwenmoss said:
Hi Karen! I also saw that pretty mantel in fact it was my favorite. I love the whole creamy white look… She’s got great taste. I didn’t have Easter dinner here but if I did I would’ve loved your inspiration pictures.. You always find the best pictures. Thanks for the kind words on my post, coming from you that means a lot.
Karen B. said:
Thanks, Leslie. It sounds like you had a wonderful Easter with your family—that was when your family was down, right? xo, Karen
On Tue, Mar 29, 2016 at 12:46 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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