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Garden, Home & Party

~ My love of gardening, making home comfortable and entertaining friends and family.

Garden, Home & Party

Category Archives: Misc

Purses, the final frontier for organization

27 Wednesday Apr 2016

Posted by Karen B. in Misc, Personal Information

≈ 22 Comments

I don’t typically write posts about personal products or fashion, although I love reading sites that do!  Inspiration to break out came by way of Polished Pebble, a blog site written by the very talented Kelley.

Early this year she published a  piece about New Year’s organizing.  You know what that’s like, second only to spring cleaning, it’s such a great way to start the new year. She covered the essentials where her winter wardrobe (enviable) is concerned and mentioned in closing,

Will someone please write a post about purses and analyze why we put so much stuff in them…it’s truly amazing.  It’s as if we women were taught at an early age that the ability to cram your entire life into a smallish bag (which you will then carry around your neck until you need surgery, is part of growing up

Garden, Home and Party: Purses I have loved purses since I was a child.  I’m sure that there are a lot of you who share similar feelings for the essential handbag most women, and a few men, carry.  But
I do wonder sometimes why I feel the need to carry so many “what if” items.  Yes, I was a Girl Scout, and their motto [Be prepared] must have stuck.  Or maybe it’s because I’m a mother, albeit of adult children with their own children, but maybe that’s when it began.

I carry this Coach bag  when I trade off on purses (a favorite) but it weighs as much as the other one when loaded with my stuff…heavy.

Garden, Home and Party: Organizing

So I just couldn’t resist the temptation to pare down my handbag contents.  I’ve successfully pared down most of the closets, drawers and cupboards in our home, why can’t I do this?  It should be easy, right?

First of all, here is an inventory of what I carry in the current suitcase purse I lug it around (the items I’ve lined through I’m going to try to eliminate).  {By the way, I’ve never managed to be organized enough to change purses for different outfits.  I tend to carry a purse until it dies, or I tire of it, and then buy or switch to another to start a new cycle}

Garden, Home and Party: orgainzing

  • Mobile phone
  • 7” x 4 ½” makeup bag that includes lipstick, magnifying pocket mirror (don’t ask), sewing kit, nail clippers, small blush, highlighter, eyeliner maybe I’ll switch to a smaller cosmetic bag
  • Tissue and a couple of band aids – you never know when you might get a blister from a new pair of shoes.
  • Pen & Field Notes book
  • A few coupons keep the coupons in the car?
  • Hand lotion smaller size?
  • Gum maybe I don’t need this
  • Small tape measure
  • Travel sized pill box, filled with antacid, allergy and headache pills – I rarely use these items, but when you have a headache, you know how important they are.
  • Comb
  • Smallish wallet
  • Travel sized sunscreen maybe make sure the sunscreen is on before I leave the house?
  • Reading glasses / Sunglasses
  • Keys
  • Superfluous items ie. the dozen or so frequent buyer cards, promising deep discounts and the like. keep these in the car?

I weighed my purse and it’s 5 1/2 lbs.  Seriously?  Why am I carrying so much stuff.

So I received a bag like this a couple of years ago from my sweet daughter in law—in black.  I don’t think I can manage it for daily use, but I love carrying it to evening affairs.

Garden, Home and Party: organizing

I’m going to make it a goal, pare down the handbag, try really hard not to need some of the items I’m used to having on hand, and start shopping for something that will be more manageable—any excuse for a new purse!

Garden, Home and Party: orgainizing

What’s in your purse? ♥ Karen

A few changes around the house

20 Wednesday Apr 2016

Posted by Karen B. in Decorating, House and Home, Misc

≈ 25 Comments

2016 is well underway (What? It’s April?!) and I was determined to make a few changes in the house.

#1.  I changed out a chair that had been in our family room, with a chair that lived in our reading room. [It’s the little things]  The energy to clean, organize, and maybe mix things up a bit around the house hits occasionally and I have to take advantage of it. That’s the fun of making changes with items you own, no harm, no foul if it doesn’t work out. 🙂

BEFORE READING ROOM:  This is the chair and ottoman that was switched to the family room.  {The reading room gets its own little pre-lit tree each Christmas} 

Garden, Home and Party: a few changes

BEFORE FAMILY ROOM: This chair is oversized and while it looks comfortable, the upholsterer overdid it with the wrap on the back cushion and it feels like you’re being pushed out of the chair when you sit on it.  I plan to have this corrected with our upholsterer.

Garden, Home and Party: a few changes

AFTER FAMILY ROOM:  The toile chair and ottoman provide a little more space in the room and I was able to move one of my ceramic garden stools indoors and use it next to the chair.

Garden, Home and Party: a few changes

AFTER READING ROOM:  I sit in this room to read during the winter.  The room’s south facing window provides me with plenty of light and warmth when the weather cools.

Garden, Home and Party: a few changes

#2.  In February I reupholstered the red check sofa in the family room.  I’ll be shopping for some pillows and hope to eventually have a variety of cushion covers that I can change out for the seasons.

BEFORE RED CHECK SOFA: I took the pictures for this post when I first changed out the chairs.

Garden, Home and Party: a few changes

AFTER:  I purchased the khaki colored fabric from Dorell Fabrics for the sofa.  {If you live in Orange County, it’s a great source for upholstery fabric} While I shop for new pillow fabric, maybe something more spring/summer like, I was able to switch the reading room black and white pillows with the red pillows.  The red pillows are now in the reading room.  Isn’t it great when you can make changes without spending any money?!

Garden, Home and Party: a few changes

#3.  The final change for this particular post is my header on the site.  Kevin, younger son, changed it for me.  {Thank you Kevin!}

Future changes in store are mostly aimed at the yard.  This year I plan to start small. The first planting area I’ve tackled is the flower bed that surrounds the patio.  Stay tuned, I’ll share other updates as they happen.

Have you been busy around the house this year?  I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to.  ♥ Karen

A book recommendation – Lies and Other Acts of Love

05 Tuesday Apr 2016

Posted by Karen B. in Misc

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

Lies & Other Acts of Love review

It was only 1 year ago that I reviewed Dear Carolina, written by my talented friend, Kristy Woodson Harvey.  Dear Carolina is Kristy’s first book, a wonderful story with characters that are easy to love.

Garden, Home and Party: Book Review

Garden, Home and Party: Book reviewSo I was thrilled to be asked, once again, to review Kristy’s latest book, Lies and Other Acts of Love, released today!

I confess, I found this story even more riveting than Dear Carolina (and Dear Carolina was fabulous!)  The multiple viewpoint of the story, woven between Lynn “Lovey”, the matriarch of this family, and Annabelle, Lovey’s granddaughter, kept my interest and made it difficult to put the book down.

Garden, Home and Party: book review

    {via}

Like Dear Carolina, this book takes place in Kristy’s beloved North Carolina.  After reading both books I feel a deep kindred spirit with the women of the south. I’m not trying to over-generalize, but the women are often strong, highly principled and well bred, these are characteristics I’ve always admired.

Garden, Home and Party: Book review

In this story “Lovey” is a woman of wisdom, due in part to her 60 year marriage to the love of her life, Dan, and  raising 5 daughters.  You don’t bear 5 children and grow older without getting wiser along the way.  With that wisdom there are nuances to truth, and the occasional white lie can be beneficial to all concerned.

Garden, Home and Party: Book review

Annabelle is a beautiful and caring young woman, with what she believes to be a perfect family.  Her life becomes a little less idyllic when she breaks her engagement with the man most would consider her ideal mate, to marry a musician.  Annabelle is convinced Ben, her musician husband, is the love of her life, much like her grandmother [Lovey] and grandfather’s [Dan “D-daddy”] devotion to each other.  Her youthful idealism is inspiring, but as most of us know, maturity teaches us that live isn’t always black and white.

Garden, Home and Party

There are some unexpected events and an exciting finish makes this book a favorite story of family, love and life lessons.

Garden, Home and Party: Book review

Garden, Home and Party: book review

If you need an extra something for someone for Mother’s Day, this book would make a wonderful gift.  In any case, I believe you will enjoy Lies and Other Acts of Love.   ♥ Karen
 

 

{Garden, Home and Party} My report card for 2014

07 Wednesday Jan 2015

Posted by Karen B. in Annual WP Report Card, Misc

≈ 27 Comments

Hi Friends!  I’ve been very energized by the onset of the new year.  I believe that may be pretty much universal, right?  Are you still enjoying the surge of excitement that accompanies the onset of a brand new 365 days? Days you can do with what you will.

Garden, Home and Party: 2014 report card

I use WordPress to host my blog site, and  for those who have read my posts for some time, you may remember that my eldest son set the site up for me.  We’ve tweaked it a few times but basically, I’ve been very happy with the simple way it functions for me (read: User often technology challenged).  Wordpress sends out a report card of sorts each year, or at least they have for the past 3 years.  The report gives you the stats for your site with details such as 1) Posting Patterns. I post only once a week most weeks and I usually send out that post on Wednesday, so no news there. 2) Attractions.  This is where they tell you your top 5 posts.  It turns out my best day this year, as far as views go, was my 500th post.  {Thanks for dropping by that day!}. 3) How did they (visitors) find you?  Pinterest was the single most referring site.  A mixed blessing.  Does anyone besides me marvel at the number of hours that can evaporate when visiting that online wonder?

I hope to continue to practice both my writing and photography.  Who am I kidding, my photography is awful.  But what we practice has to improve, right?  Onward and upward in 2015.  I’m really looking forward to the year, and to time spent with you, my friends.

If you’re interested, here are the posts that received the most views in 2014:

Garden Home and Party: year end report card

{Cozy and other adjectives that describe home}

Garden Home and Party 2014 report card

{Adieu Pierre Deux}

Garden, Home and Party: 2014 report card

{Cottage Living ~ Moody Cottages}

Garden, Home and Party: 2014 report card

{Front Yards – alternatives to lawn}

and last but not least…

Garden, Home and Party: 2014 report card

{Rooms that enjoy a Neutral Palate}

I’ll be back next week with some tips on organizing and weeding out.  I’ve mentioned here, more than once, I’m really simplifying my house.  I want only what I use and love around me.  I no longer need to hold on to random items…more on my perspective next week.

{Garden, Home and Party} New blog friends

22 Wednesday Oct 2014

Posted by Karen B. in House and Home, Misc

≈ 41 Comments

Tags

Blog Friends

During my hiatus from blogging this past August, but just after my post about my feeling I’d lost my creativity, there were several suggestions from my sweet blog friends on blog topics.  These were helpful. After all, when you are blanking on ideas, it’s really nice to hear some solid leads on subject matter.  {Thanks to all of you for your patience and kind words of support}

Garden, Home and Party: blog friends

I plan on using these tips.  Country Meadow Designs suggested I post about new blog friends. If you read blogs you probably have experienced a growing list of worthwhile and talented writers to follow.  Its like a little unexpected present.  If you’re like me, you read certain blogs religiously.  Then one day a blog-buddy mentions a site that has something of interest to them, you hit the link and think, “why have I never seen this site before?!”

Garden, Home and Party: blog friends

I’ve done these new blog friend posts before HERE, HERE, and most recently HERE.  I enjoy reading so many different sites that now I find I have to sit down and treat my visits to my favorites much as I do with a new design magazine when it arrives in the mail.  Interestingly, blog reading has replaced many of my subscriptions to magazines. Something I never imagined would happen.  {Welcome to the 21st century, Karen} Has that happened to any of you with magazine subscriptions? 

By the way, some of these bloggers have been blogging much longer than me and I’m wowed when I see how long they’ve been writing and delivering fresh, inspiration-filled, beautiful posts to our e-mailboxes.

So without further delay…come with me, there’s some wonderful people I’d like to introduce you to.

Garden, Home and Party: blog friends

May I introduce: Kristy Woodson Harvey ~ author

Garden, Home and Party: Blog friends

Let me start with one you probably already know and love.  Kristy of the talented mother/daughter blog Design Chic recently completed her first novel (actually she just completed the writing on her second, but her first novel, Dear Carolina will be released in May 2015).  I know, talk about talent in the gene pool. While still contributing to Design Chic (still a must read and favorite of mine, but then it’s probably a favorite of yours too), Kristy started a new blog site, Kristy Woodson Harvey – author and it is so much fun to read.  She has introduced us to fellow authors, shared inspirational ideas for personal goal setting (one of my personal favorites) and in general provides the same fabulous home design leads as the Design Chic team continues to do.  I feel sure you’ll love your time visiting her site.

A relatively new favorite for me…

Garden, Home and Party: blog friends

I don’t remember how I found Leslie’s site, Gwen Moss, home and life inspiration, but for me there was an immediate sense that I could be friends with this talented writer and fellow Californian. She is currently writing about her family’s adventure of a few moves in a short amount of time, and the resulting move to their new (to them) home.  I love her writing and can only imagine how enjoyable following her on her renovation journey and the ongoing discovery of her surroundings will be.  Leslie writes with an honesty that entertains and comforts, like a heart to heart with a dear friend.  Her holiday decorating is filled with original ideas, the kind you like to steel borrow for your own.  I hope you will stop by and say “hi” to Leslie, you’ll be glad you did.

Garden, Home and Party: Blog friends

Her recent Halloween table post…

Garden, Home and Party: Blog Friends 10.2014

and finally, for this round of introductions…

Garden, Home and Party: new blog friends

Kim of Tidbits and Twine, {don’t you love that name?} is probably the most recent discovery for me.

Garden, Home and Party: Blog Friends 10.2014

In Kim’s About Me tab she shares her story of always being enthusiastic about design— that’s what links so many of us, isn’t it?

Garden, Home and Party: Blog Friends 10.2014

Blogging since March 2013, I find her posts unique in her approach of sharing tips and how to’s on the subject of common stumbling blocks many of us face.  For example, how to style a bookshelf, decorating with texture, do’s and don’ts for decorating the guest bath, etc.

Garden, Home and Party: Blog Friends 10.2014

Naturally, all of her tips are published with great image examples of each topic of design.

So that’s my newest round of blog friends.  I hope you drop by and say hi to each of them.  I think you’ll have fun.

 

{Home} It’s time for favorites

28 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by Karen B. in Misc

≈ 26 Comments

Tags

favorites

It seems there are at least a couple times a year when my creative juices dry up.  I have no original ideas for a blog post and the more I try, the harder it becomes.  These blocks have always been temporary, fortunately, but it can be frustrating.  I’m a creature of habit and my habit (and joy) is to post a new blog once a week.  {Compulsive much, Karen? No, why do you ask?}  That’s when I decide to do a “favorites” post.  In my files I am forever finding favorite rooms, favorite pieces of furniture, a kitchen or bathroom that makes me dream of one day having it, even ‘unbelievably cute pictures of animals‘ have their own file.

There’s always blue and white favorites.  As you probably know, there are entire posts dedicated to Blue and White, something I always enjoy. There are link-up parties  dedicated to blue and white beauty in all forms and fashion.  I’ll throw in a couple of my b+w favorites.

Food, don’t get me started, gardens, oh my!  If this kind of post seems like I’m calling it in, its because I am, sort of.  While I search for my creativity this will have to suffice.  If you’re bored by Garden, Home and Party’s idea of great images, I’ll understand.  Hopefully, by next week I’ll have an idea for a new post.  Thank you for your patience.

Garden, Home and Party: Favorites

So, join me and my dog as we walk through this grouping of favorites.

Garden, Home and Party: Favorites

For me, England could be home, I love the city and the country life in England.  If I lived in the country I would want my house to be split timber, covered with flowering vines and of course, a cottage garden.

Garden, Home and Party: Favorites

I’d like a fountain in the yard of my English split timber home, surrounded with ferns and flowering plants (but if these are oleanders {they look like oleanders} I’d have to replace them with hydrangea).

Garden, Home and Party: Favorites

This garden might seem a little more French or Italian, than English, but I really like the stone path with the lavender and other plants bordering it.

Garden, Home and Party: Favorites

Any file marked ‘favorites’ will usually include at least a few animal images.  My small dog, Madison, is a mix Border Terrier/Jack Russel Terrier, she has this same look of enthusiasm on her face, especially if she thinks we’re headed out on a walk.

Garden, Home and Party: Favorites

When there’s a picnic in a peaceful field with a dog nearby, that’s an image that makes the favorites list.

Garden, Home and Party: Favorites

Who can resist this?!

Garden, Home and Party: Favorites

Mostly, my favorites files include rooms…with lovely furnishings and maybe some old world feel to them.

Garden, Home and Party: Favorites

 

Isn’t this a great bathroom.  I love the use of the furniture piece, I suspect the paint is new but the wall mounted faucets give the piece such an antique look of authenticity, along with the mirror and sconces.

Garden, Home and Party: Favorites

Well done wall galleries always draw interest.  I realize you can’t really see the gallery on the right, but I can imagine it.  The bell jar lighting, the painting on the left with the art light, all things that make this space a favorite for me.

Garden, Home and Party: Favorites

Buffalo check, a favorite in a room that has so many more formal features create a juxtaposition that I can’t resist.

Garden, Home and Party: Favorites

…and then there’s blue and white.  Anything done well and then the added attraction of blue and white, I’m sold.

Garden, Home and Party: Favorites

Um, Carolyne Roehm, where can I pick up a couple of these blue and white planters?

Garden, Home and Party: Favorites

That’s right, it doesn’t have to be fancy to make the cut.

Garden, Home and Party: Favorites

Even these blue and white cupcakes not only look great but are undoubtedly scrumptious, who could resist?

Garden, Home and Party: Favorites

{all images, other than magazine marked pictures, are from tumblr}

Do you keep a favorites file?  What kinds of goodies might I find in it if you were to share?

 

{Home and Party} Mad for Plaid

14 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by Karen B. in Decorating, House and Home, Misc

≈ 25 Comments

Tags

plaid

As some of you may remember, plaid is my favorite color, and, no surprise, I’m not alone.  “Plaid Day” is May 18th, but there’s a new celebration of plaid as well. Plaiddurday is the first Friday of every October, so Plaidurday this year is October 3, 2014.  Since I love plaid, I figure I might just celebrate both.  It is a holiday, right?

Garden, Home and Party: Plaid

Plaid Day, May 18th, is the day where the sheer magnificence and general wonderfulness of plaid is celebrated around the world. Plaid Day is celebrated by wearing plaid on your person. Those who refuse to adorn themselves in the Sacred Flannel are duly sacrificed. Serious Plaidies indulge in tribal plaid face paint and the ceremonial burning of a kilt. Common phrases used on Plaid Day include, “I’m plaid with that,” “You’re TOTALLY plaiding today,” and “That’s SO plaid.”

Garden, Home and Party: Plaid

{via}

Garden, Home and Party: Plaid

Garden, Home and Party: Plaid

Garden, Home and Party: Plaid

Garden, Home and Party: Plaid

Garden, Home and Party: plaid

{via}

Garden, Home and Party: Plaid{M A C}

Garden, Home and Party: Plaid

Garden, Home and Party: Plaid

{via}

I used to want to collect Tartanware.  After spotting so few pieces at the antique stores I frequented, and noticing the prices, I decided I would do without a collection.

Garden, Home and Party: PlaidGarden, Home and Party: PlaidGarden, Home and Party: PlaidGarden, Home and Party: Plaid{via Marcus Design}

Garden, Home and Party: Plaid

Garden, Home and Party: Plaid

{via}

Garden, Home and Party: Plaid{via}

Garden, Home and Party: Plaid

I saved the best for last…an old Elle Decor feature on Glen Feshie Lodge.  Never did so much plaid look so great!

Garden, Home and Party: Plaid

I realize plaid isn’t for everyone, especially today with our Scandinavian influenced neutral palate with lots of gray and weather worn woods, but a room like this wins my heart every time.

Garden, Home and Party: Plaid

{Garden} Recipe for growing moss in the garden, and a winner

29 Wednesday Jan 2014

Posted by Karen B. in Gardens, Misc

≈ 21 Comments

Tags

growing moss

The winner of the Carolyn Westbrook book is:

Sheila of Our Bungalow’s 2nd Century:

Happy birthday, Karen! My favorite mirrors are also those whose silvering is losing its luster! When I was a little kid, we didn’t have a lot, and my parents started making use of cast-off family antiques (which now fill my house). I remember them not wanting a mirror because the silver was going bad, but even as a child I thought it had such character. To this day I love old, beat-up mirrors!

Congratulations, Sheila. Send me your shipping information via email and I’ll send the book.

Garden, Home and Party: Mirrors and a giveway

I love to work in the garden and living in Southern California I can do this without concern for weather most of the year.  This is something that has great benefit and at the same time leaves me longing for the occasional snow storm or an abundance of rain found in so many other places.

Garden, Home and Party: Moss in the garden

{1}

One of the many things I admire in a garden is the moss-laden stone where weather encourages this growth.  England comes to mind, but I’ve seen beautiful moss growing on stone benches and planters in Washington state and other regions of the world.  Where I live I have to work at it if I want something to have the patina that comes with moss and rust and such.

On my visit to the Bloedel, Bainbridge Island, Washington last fall I found plenty of beautiful moss, including a moss garden they created.

Garden, Home and Party: Moss in the garden

{2}

…and then there’s this…England {sigh}

Garden, Home and Party: Moss in the garden

{3}

Garden, Home and Party: Moss in the garden

{4}

Garden, Home and Party: Moss in the garden

{5 ~ Bruges, Belgium}

Recently one of my favorite sites, Design Chic, featured “Marvelous Moss” in the garden, and in the same week I stumbled upon a recipe, in fact 2 recipes, for growing moss on stone or terra cotta (I have searched in vain for the source, but here are the recipes I had copied and pasted for future reference).

Garden, Home and Party: Moss in the garden

{6}

The moss on this bench is the goal, I love it, especially the rich green in contrast with the white hydrangea.

Garden, Home and Party: Moss in the garden

{7}

Garden, Home and Party: Moss in the garden

{8}

I’d guess that moss grows in abundance in the shade of these willow trees.

Garden, Home and Party: Moss in the garden

{9}

I love this fountain in part because it looks antique and for it’s pond-like basin, so soothing to listen to water dripping gently into water.

Garden, Home and Party: Moss in the garden

{10}

I’ve seen man-made water features such as this, isn’t it pretty?

Garden, Home and Party: Moss in the garden

{11}

Garden, Home and Party: Moss in the garden

{12}

Garden, Home and Party: Moss in the garden

{13}

I would love a stone wall, maybe one with a better gate, in the back yard.

Garden, Home and Party: Moss in the garden

{14}

I confess, my sundial is starting to look a bit aged, like this one, but it’s in too much sun to truly grow the emerald stuff.

Garden, Home and Party: Moss in the garden

{15}

Garden, Home and Party: Moss in the garden

{16}

Garden, Home and Party: Moss in the garden

{17}

Garden, Home and Party: Recipe for growing moss

Garden, Home and Party: Moss in the garden

{Newton Winery, St. Helena, California}

{As an avid fan of blog-reading and general online fanatic  enthusiast, I’m forever wondering how I survived without all of this information at my fingertips before.}  First of all, did you know you can buy actual live moss spores?  I was very surprised.  {What doesn’t Amazon sell}

If you decide to try the recipe, the first one suggests you can use moss from the garden as a starter, or obtain moss spores.

Garden, Home and Party: Moss in the garden

Adding Moss Works Best On
Terra Cotta Stone or Concrete Containers ~ Stone or Concrete Sculptures

There are 2 ways to go about doing this. Both ways work really well, so choose one that best suits your tastes.

Moss requires an acidic environment to grow, which can be developed by painting a pot with buttermilk or yogurt, that’s why both recipes below have one or the other.
Recipe 1:

  1. Collect mosses either from around your yard or a friends or neighbors (you can also buy moss spores at a garden store)
  2. Finely chop the moss up (or sprinkle in the moss spores into the mix below if you purchased them)
  3. Allow the moss bits to dry up for a couple of days (if you collected them yourself)

Then mix together in a large bucket or bowl:

  • 1 cup flour
  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • 2 packages active dry yeast
  • 2 tablespoons corn syrup
  • 1-1 1/2 cups dried, crumbled moss

Once the above is mixed together, put the bucket in full sun for three days.

When the mixture is good and smelly, brush it generously with a paintbrush on the outsides of your clay pots. Then wrap the pots in plastic wrap and put them in partial sun.

In two weeks the pots will start to grow mold, and by eight weeks the pots will be nice and furry with moss, and looking very antique and old.
Recipe 2:

  • Blend pieces of dried moss or purchased moss spores into
  • 2 cups yogurt or buttermilk
  • Paint onto your pot with a paintbrush
  • Put your pot into a plastic bag to create a humid environment for the moss to develop
  • Set the pot and bag in a cool, shady spot until the moss begins to form, which will be about 10 days
  • Make sure to plant the container so you will be watering it regularly, which will keep the moss alive and growing.

I know moss growth isn’t for everyone, in fact we had a door to door salesman stop by one day selling some “special” cleaning product.  Before I could stop him, to demonstrate his wonder product he sprayed a part of the brick at our entry and was so proud that it instantly removed the bit of moss that had grown there!

So would you actually apply one of these recipes to a planter in your garden? I think I may try it…I’ll let you know if it works.

{1} tumblr Connoisseur, Oxford :: {2} Garden, Home and Party :: {2 England, 3 England, Yorkshire Dales, 4 Bruges, Belgium} source unknown :: {5} Design Chic via Cheryl Rowe :: {6} Design Chic via la maison gray garden :: {7} Design Chic via Mother Earth Living :: {9} Irene Suchocki Photography :: {10} Haus Design,sadly Barbara has stopped her blog posts :: {11, 12} Pinterest :: {13} Providence Ltd. Design :: {14, 15} source unknown :: {16} tumblr, Connoisseur :: {17} Wasping through the Countryside :: {18} Pinterest

{GHP} A blue and white infusion

30 Monday Sep 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Collections & Accessories, Misc, Trends

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

blue & white decor

I’m revisiting this post so I can join Pink Pagoda for her blue and white link party (originally published 2/9/12).

Since it’s raining here and since it’s only 5 days until St. Valentine’s Day when most of us will be thinking shades of pink and red, I thought I’d provide an infusion of blue and white.

Martha Stewart

 

What is it about the combination of blue and white that appeals to so many?  Its classic—I mean it’s never experienced the phrase “So dated!” of say dusty rose and sage green (remember how we all admired that combination even if we didn’t use it?) of the eighties, or chocolate brown and white of the seventies (When I was first married everything had to be chocolate brown and white).  Blue and white clearly knows a popularity that remains timeless.

 French KissedFrench Kissed

I have a few touches of blue and white in my home and a guest room that is blue and white, but I’ve never been able to afford the complete switch.  You know how it is, you get down a path with one color palate and to change would involve some pretty major discarding of items that no longer compliment the blue and white theme, I’ve never been able to convince myself that I want it that bad.  And I don’t mean I have to have everything matchy-matchy, but I do like some cohesion where my color palate is concerned…is this just me?

Color Outside the Lines

Classic Casual Home

 So, for now, I’ll dream in blue and white and delight in the images I find on the various blogs I enjoy reading each week.  I hope you’ll indulge me and maybe get as much pleasure as I do from the clean, crisp look of blue and white in the home.

Lori Tippens Interiors

Tobi Fairley

Joe Minton Designs

Veranda

Ralph Lauren, Jamaica

Belclaire House

Belclaire House

The Enchanted Home

Traditional Home, Joseph Minton

Do you long for a different color palate for your home?

I’m linking to The Pink Pagoda for her blue and white party…take a peek.

{GHP} The modern penpal

12 Wednesday Jun 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Misc, Personal Information

≈ 16 Comments

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Garden, Home and Party
News sources have been insistent that social media and all of the electronic means of communication are ruining us as a society, that we’re becoming more disconnected and distant.  As an optimist, I can’t agree with that view.

Garden, Home and Party{source}

As a blogger I am touched by the encounters I’ve experienced with people from all over the world.  Their sincere kindness and their willingness to take time out of their day to read, and yes, sometimes respond with comments (sometimes not) moves me.  You and I both know how busy life can be, whether you’re a full time worker, like some of my blog friends (including me), retired, or somewhere in between, LIFE IS BUSY!

Garden, Home and PartyGarden, Home and Party{source}

This line of thought came to me when out of the blue I received a message from a woman in another state that was paring down.  I can relate.  She decided to sell some of her things through consignment, one item was a set of Pierre Deux stone coasters.  When she Googled Pierre Deux coasters, my post of the coasters being on my wish list came up.  She contacted me and asked if I would like her set.  For shipping costs only, I will receive a gift from a stranger.

Garden, Home and Party{tumblr}

Garden, Home and PartyGarden, Home and Party{source}

Garden, Home and PartyGarden, Home and Party{source}

Garden, Home and Party{source}

This delightful surprise and the chats that I’ve enjoyed with friends I’ve never met from blogging brought to mind the excitement I felt, as a grade-school girl when our 3rd grade teacher put our class in touch with a classroom in Germany.  These children became our pen pals.  For a few years my pen pal and I would write to each other sharing our school events and happenings.  I’m sorry to say I lost touch with her about the time we would have entered middle school, no surprise, I suspect other pursuits began to interest her.

Garden, Home and Party{source}

Have you ever had a pen pal?  If you’re a blogger, share with me one of the most memorable, random acts of kindness someone in blog land has bestowed upon you.

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