Blossoms and Bees

Busy like a bee with spring cleaning.

Easter is almost here and my house needs to sparkle!

Anyone know any sparkly vampires to help me out?

Sending sweet sunshine your way!

Change of Plans

So I had a little change of events on Friday.

I was hoping to post some colorful blooms freshly cut from the local Botanical Garden Center.

Had the whole afternoon planned out.

My mother-in-law was sure to be in for a treat... 

Well.

Friday, apparently, was the one day out of the year that they close... 

Or so I was told by the nice lady who told me to leave.

Unless I was a vendor participating in their Garden Festival over the weekend, I could not enter.

So we had lunch.

A little bummed, yes.

BUT...

The day was far from ruined.

Enter Laguna Gloria Art Museum.

A lovely, restored villa built in 1916.

There is a lovely local Art Gallery inside.

I found out they also have a little bistro that I will have to try on my next venture.

Food, art, and vintage villas...  just a few of my favorite things!

I could stroll for hours in the gardens around the property.

Mayfield Park is also a stone throw away.

I'll have to visit soon.

They have peacocks and gold fish ponds!  

It was a lovely afternoon...

I guess I can even say I'm glad the nice lady at the Botanical Gardens told me to leave.

I'll just go visit that nice lady again real soon.  

Happy Monday!!

P.S.  I also just wanted to thank everyone for all of your sweet comments.  I adore hearing from you and can't tell you how much it makes my day.  

"Photograph: a picture painted by the sun without instruction in art."

~ Ambrose Bierce 

Lucky

Plenty of Sunshine headed my way!

Going to visit the Botanical Gardens today in hopes of some lovely photo opportunities.

I'm still working on my projects so expect updates really soon....

Until then, 

Sending everyone sunshine, cupcakes and a little luck!

"To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee, One clover, and a bee, And revery. The revery alone will do, If bees are few."

~Emily Dickinson

Sweet Finds

Wishing I could go antique hunting.

So I thought up the next best thing.

Virtual vintage ventures.

(say that five times fast)

Feast your eyes on some yummy vintage goodness.

From top left:  Hand Stamped Ribbon (Seasonal Delights), Vintage Books (Sadie Olive), 

Boho Gauze Dress (Lotus Vintage), Ampersand Recycled Felt Pillow (Alexandra Ferguson),

Treat Crate (Ingenuity On Display), Eco Toes (Infusion), 

Vintage Fan (Old Crow Farm), Vintage Coverlet Sachet (Designs Maya*Made),

Sunshine Antique Garden Marker (Monkeys Always Look),

Vintage Camera (Every Eskimo), Baby Shoes Print (Warm Whispers)

Happy Thursday!!

"Everything I buy is vintage and smells funny. Maybe that's why I don't have a boyfriend." 

 ~Lucy Liu

Enchanted Forest Escape

Took a long walk in the rain puddles today.

After the horrible migraine that attacked me last night and followed into the morning...

I needed to escape.

Lost myself in a bright, green forest.

Dazzling dew drops sparkled even under a grey sky.

And purple umbrellas sheltered me from the downpour.

I found quite a bit of magic.

"I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells.  Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope.  Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life's realities."

  ~Theodore Geisel

Time To Play

I'm really trying to take time to enjoy things that matter.

The little things in life that seem to go by so quickly.

Often I get distracted and run out of time.

But distractions aren't always bad.

My poor pup was just aching for me to play with him while I worked on the computer.

So I stopped working. 

For a matter of ten minutes.

To have a little fun time.

And you know what?!

It felt good and got me inspired to work harder.

So here is YOUR challenge.

Stop what you are doing right now.

(well ok, read this first and then stop...)

And do something fun for at least five minutes.

I think you can handle it.  

It might even brighten your day.  

I'm off to work again.

And play.

"When was the last time you spent a quiet moment just doing nothing - just sitting and looking at the sea, or watching the wind blowing the tree limbs, or waves rippling on a pond, a flickering candle or children playing in the park?"

~Ralph Marston 

A Warm Welcome

Spring has arrived!

Flowers are blooming.

The sky is that perfect shade of blue.

Everything just feels lighter.

Fresh.

Sending everyone sunshine on this first day of Spring!

Happy Weekend!!!

"Earth laughs in flowers."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Watching The Clouds Roll By

“You must not blame me if I do talk to the clouds.”

~ Henry David Thoreau

Sweet Finds

fresh.

lush.

cheerful.

leafy.

lucky.

green.

from top left:  print (Jennys Bake Shop), cupcapron (Glue and Glitter),

bath salts (For Strange Women), vintage buttons (Whats Vintage?),

garden mums dress (Dear Golden Vintage), 

soapy cleanser (Mrs Jones Soap Box), handbag (Jens Bags),

vintage frame (Second Line Frames), dishes (Hope Johnson Ceramics),

checkbook cover (Bits O'Honey Designs), organic lavender sachet (Inleaf),

hydrangea pillow (Harper and Henny)

Don't forget to fill your day with green goodness... 

or else get pinched!  

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

"May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go."

~Irish Blessing

Rain Dancing

 splash

 chill in the air

 excuse to sleep in

rubber duck

wishful

"Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain."

  ~Author Unknown

Happy Succulents

Since I have a tendency to have plants that don't love me...

I really do love them.  

I just like a plant that isn't too needy right now.

That is where succulents come into play.

Water them maybe once a week.

If you forget....

They still forgive you and keep on living.  

So kind of them.

Because I do truly feel bad when, as the saying goes,

"Another one bites the dust..."

But we won't dwell on that.

For now I have happy plants in my house.

I found that little silver bowl at an antique store in Fredericksburg.

I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it when I saw it calling my name... 

and it was the right price at only $4.50.

Happy.  

Happy Monday everyone! 

"The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance; the wise grows it under his feet."

  ~James Openheim

Sweet Shots Weekly Review

I

Viewpoint   10/365

"Art is the window to man's soul. Without it, he would never be able to see beyond his immediate world; nor could the world see the man within." ~Claudia Johnson

Comfort  11/365

Another rainy Monday and I'm craving all things cozy.


About to go make some hot cocoa and start some spring cleaning.
Happy Monday!

Hello Up There  12/365

From a rainy Monday to a beautiful sun-kissed Tuesday... the weather here has been all over the place. I took the pitiful dog for a walk seeing as it was such a lovely day. There were tons of birds in this tree, but when Noah and I walked up all but three flew away. These guys didn't seem to care one bit. Wish my camera had better zoom, but that's as close as I could get.

Addiction  13/365

You know you are a 365 junkie when:
A. You feel lost without your camera.
B. Dreams are filled of shots you could take.
C. Objects often mundane to the norm become interesting.
D. You see everything in a whole new light.

I had this cutesy little flower picture that I was going to post... Then I made lunch. Hot oil in the pan, eggs whisked... ohhh look at how the light goes through the eggs... really? This is what I get excited over these days?!

I think I'll continue my addiction. :)

Under The Oak Tree  14/365

"Ho! Ho! Ho! to the bottle I go. To heal my heart and drown my woe. Rain may fall and wind may blow, And many miles be still to go, But under a tall tree I will lie, And let the clouds go sailing by."

-- Frodo Baggins - Lord of the Rings, J.R.R.Tolkien

Friendly Neighbor  15/365

"A cat's eyes are windows enabling us to see into another world."
- Irish Legend

Visiting my grandparents in San Antonio, I came across their neighbor's kitty, Spooky. She is not camera shy at all. Didn't have much time for a shot today, so Spooky gets to become famous.

Whistle While You Work  16/365

My grandfather took advantage of the cool spring breeze this morning to do some yard work. Did I mention he is 97 years old... Filled the whole trash can full of weeds and then mowed half the yard. I'll never complain about being too tired to do yard work again. :)

I focused on using a cross processing method to help give my shots a more vintage feel.  I like the coloring it gives and how it makes most shots softer.

Feedback is always appreciated!

Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend.  :)

"Weekends don't count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless."  

~Bill Watterson

Sweet Finds

Light.

Airy.

Sublime.

aqua.

{from top left, hair barrettes: Mia Beads, large rose pin: EmersonMade, geometric shoulder bag: Jens Bags, 

bluebird teatowel: The Shabby Chic Cottage, bridcage gift tags: Paper Pumpkin, vintage creamer: sfgirlbybay's le petite flea,

french rose pillow: dedeetsyshop, Fener Original Map Painting: Rachel Austin}

"If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom."

  ~Audra Foveo