~SO...SMILE, SMILE, SMILE....

 :)  Well..my little Fairy Garden is just about finished.
The greenery is in for the most part..but now that I have gotten this far, I think this is always going to be.... 

Would you just LOOK at my cute gloves???  :( 

...a work in progress.  I tried to keep things neat and clean..but..you can see by the ring of dirt where the little wheelbarrow was. 

Sooo...

These were the plants I chose.  Not really being the kind of person to sit down and study books on the subject...I probably made some errors..I just bought the smallest things I could find.  Of course I was in a HUGE rush as PH was standing by with my "gift hat" in his hand and my handbag over his shoulder as I picked among the plants.. (bless his heart!)  Is he GOOD or what??!!  :)

I chose Cherry blossom ..(the pink plant)otherwise known as Calibrachoa hybrid,  Calibrachoa Deep Yellow, Crystal Clear Alyssum and Easter Basket Alyssum, and Calibrachoa Double Lemon.  There is also a moss and another plant that I lost the tags on..somehow!  PAR!!  :)

The door clears the stone  perfectly.  Next the small stones will form the path. 

I used Baby Tears as a base.  I poked it in every corner.  I am waiting for the little stones that make the path..and thanks to Joyce@ October Farm.   She sent me a link to a place where I can get a paint to do the windows of the little Fairy cottage so they will glow at night!  Yes!  And..perhaps a touch to the stones that lead to the little front door. 

Can you see the tiny froggy pond there in the grass.  Perhaps I will cut it in deeper.

I already had the little clay pots.  I left one half turned over..(a little kitty will be sleeping in it as soon as he arrives! :)   

This is the back side of the little house.. I fixed the sod here with a better piece....:)  I was getting tired and my back was killing me from leaning over...

I really need to move the little pond.....somewhere... hmmm..

  This wheelbarrow is HEAVY! :)

But...
IT'S DONE!!

I finished another project..(for the most part.)  The tiny benches, the little fairies.. the kitty..but that's it.   The fairies  will be placed completely through out...not all clumped near the front of the house.
 So...there you have it.
Now if I can just keep it alive.  That will be the REAL accomplishment. 

Mine is not so great when I look at some with little houses all done by hand..so if you've done that...shhhhhhh.. I don' wanna know.  Ok??  :):)

Luv'n hugs,
Mona

Say...wouldn't a water feature ...Never mind..

~PROGRESS...AND THE HAT, etc. ~

The pure joy of blogging.  I think you all know what I am talking about. 
It's really all about people...

I bought the plants for my little project yesterday...what a time I had picking out something that wouldn't grow over everything...but..most of this will have to be trimmed...but...I'll worry about that later.... as usual.. :):)

When we got to the little nursery near out home yesterday..we got out of the car and parked right next to us a lady was just coming to get in her car.  I smiled and said.."I love your hat!  Every year I am going to buy one..and never do."  She had on a hat just like this one..

She smiled back at me, opened her rear car door and handed me THIS hat and said.."Here..take this one.  I have way too many hats anyway!"  Needless to say I was surprised and said "Oh no, no..I can't take your hat!!" but she insisted and so a little red faced, I took it, thanked her and gave her a hug.

She was about my age or so...and just so sincere.  Should I have still refused and walked away? ...I've never had anything like that happen before...in a parking lot..by a total stranger.

You see, my two "Joyce" friends are NOT total strangers..not at all.  We know each other through our blogging...that's different..but I was humbled when my blogging

 friend  Joyce@ October Farm..sent a box of goodies to me for my attempt at Scrapbooking..and  my friend Joyce @ A Bear's Blog sent me a gorgeous handmade bear "Abigail" when I was so ill.

This is Abby, handmade by Joyce, and Mele, who are great friends, I might add!  (If I sound a bit doubtful..I have my reasons!:)

Abby has her own blog, by the way. 

ABBY BLABBY BEARS BLOG~

 

 I know that bad things are happening out there..and then you have things like this...

Notice both my generous friends are named Joyce?  

SO many of you have shown me so much kindness...thank you!!   I get overcome when I start thinking of all the fantastic women and men I have met.

I will never ever forget finding that angel for me on Dawn's blog when I was terribly ill!  Never!

My wheelbarrow Fairy Garden is done..only some enhancing suggestions left to do..but otherwise it's done...sorta..

Luv'n hugs,
Mona

~A FAIRY GARDEN PROJECT...~

Since I've been (wrongfully) told that I live in Fairy Tale world,...I've decided to TRY to create
a tiny one for the Grands and me...ok..and precocious little neighbor girl that lives across the street.  Nothing too extensive..simple..little...
*smile*

 My little garage sale wheelbarrow that I love, will be the home of my Fairies!
AND I can move it around... *doin' a little delighted chair dance here!!*

A sweet blogger I visited..had made a Fairy Garden of one of these..so..

once I remove the remenents of last years annuals which are just along the edge, I will plants baby tears..some moss..at a few things I have bought and some more I will have to find..and

be on my way....hopefully. 

 I remembered that in my shed I had stored a little house.

 ...so I went in search of it..

..and finally found it..(I'm not the most organized person!)

I also found a nice flat stone for the front porch..
I am going to add a bit of garden soil and moss..remove all those tiny dead leaves..
I've ordered just the right stones...for, you know..the pathway?
(I think)

Is this not sweet?  I am in love with this tiny home...as soon as I get the moss for the floor I will show you the inside...so sweet..

Now...all I have to do is DO IT!  (the glaring spot is my hand pulling the flowers aside so you can see the front of the little dwelling.  The door opens and closes ...so sweet. 

I WILL stick to this project...I just have to do some searching for a few things I want..
No...no little people.  I've already looked at them and so far...nothing really seemed right.

NOW we are getting to WHY I start things and then regret it, however I've wanted to do this for a long, long time..so.. we'll see.

Anyone ever made one of these?  I have to go back and find my blogging friend that has one already made! 
Tomorrow I'm off to...garden shops to find the floor to go inside the little house and a soft mossy carpet of ....something for my Fairies to walk on..
I can see it all now..tiny bridges, little benches....ponds...ok..I'm outa control already...:)

Luv'n hugs!
Mona

So...did you know...that the morning dew is just Druid diamonds carelessly dropped by Fairies??

~SATURDAY MORNING ..PARKING LOT..~

Saturday morning found us bumper to bumper on the notorious 91 Freeway between Riverside and the beach cities out here in Southern California.  A GIANT parking lot.  At the point I took the photo's we were once again moving..but then all of a sudden...STOP! 

I was trying not to slam my foot into the floorboard..as Patient Husband began to look grim!

I cannot IMAGINE why! 

 This is my daughter's french toast cassorole all loaded with pecan..(I WISH I had my new camera!)

I love this baking dish in very soft apple green...I would steal it, but she would just come and get something of mine... THAT girl! :)   Yeah, yeah, I know...it's blurry!  Sorry..

I'm not sure what this is?  But I know it's eggs and potato's, with cheese  and a slice of avacado on top.  It was delicious.
I forgot to take photo's until it was nearly too late..as usual.

 The guys out on the patio smoking a cigar and bonding.  Not sure what this is all about because not one of us smokes.  ???

Little Great Granddaughter Emily..checking out my camera.  I let her her use it to take pictures and was surprised when she knew exactly how to turn it on..and then to hit the right button to snap a photo..and...took better pictures than I do!  Oh well...

I love this!  It was sitting on my daughters table.  The tiny gardening tools and wheelbarrow..

Now I am on the hunt for these...

Just looking for things to snap...see me in the mirror.

This is a marble topped antique HUGE hutch.

This was a pre Mother's Day luncheon...

Sunday we joined the rest of my children..

I hope your mothers day was as sweet as mine.

Love and hugs,

Mona

I didn't blog about my mother..but I think of her often..and I miss her every single day. 

If I could just call her and tell her all that has happened since she left us.  How good that would be.

Her favorite song was "In The Garden" and it just now began playing.. :) 

She knows. 

A favorite meme of mine...hosted by Marty @ A STROLL THRU LIFE..

~BITING THE BULLET..~

I did it.  I bit the bullet and bought a new camera.  Those strawberries were the LAST straw....berry! :)

I turned the air a wee blue while trying to get a clear shot...and what is upsetting, the camera is one that is supposed to be very stable and blur reduction and blah blah blah.  Of course it WAS free.

I got it with my credit card points.  :)  Well, it seemed like a good deal at the time...but..

This is the one I finally bought.  Of course I wanted one for a lot more money, but after some enlightening by Di @ The Blue Ridge Gal, I would have been way over my head.  I DO NOT read directions...but I have promised myself I will this time!  It's light weight, pocket worthy and won't slip out of your hand like a "fresh fish!"  Well, that's what they said! :)
*nodding head vigorously!*

This one I can see in my handbag.  I usually have to feel around to find anything....plus I am always losing my black cell phone too.  Since I have gone gray, I thought, why not!  Might as well have a gray camera along with silver jewelry, etc. etc.

I want to thank Di  for all her help and information.  Not just on this, but other things too.  A true and very dear blogging friend!

Should I have gotten the S95?  Will I one day be informed enough to discuss the differences?  I think not..but...I'll just take my pesky little self and  hop over and ask my friend "Di."  :):)
If you don't know her...good heavens, you certainly should!
Smart lady, Di!

In the meantime:

 The rose bush sweet daughter, Maryalice, gave me is back in all it's glory.  It seemed to be dying so I cut it back and LOOK!!  Maketh me smile!! :) and :)
See...I pushed the my little butter yellow bench back onto the grass under the arbor...and I love it.
Now to grow my  beautiful vines over it...Clemitus?? (how do you spell that?  Probably why I  haven't found it yet,  but I am determined. 
For shade an umbrella will have to do for now.

All planted yesterday....finally!  Yes...this is my garden..or some of it.  Zucchini, and two kinds of squash!! :)

 PH won't let me dig up the lawn...I wonder why??? 

Wha.....a YELLOW leaf?  What, oh what have I done wrong?!

 I can spend all morning out here...and still have things to do...When I get my new camera...blah, blah, blah!!

OK!  This camera hates me!  I just know it!  It must know it's on it's way out, because these photo's are not half as bad as what it's been turning out~!  GRRRRR!
Can you kill a camera?

Love and hugs and a Happy Mothers Day to all you wonderful Mother's out there! 
Love,
Mona

~rather blurry STRAWBERRIES..~

For the better part of my life I thought I was allergic to strawberries.  I was told I would get hives if I ate them.  You know, those large lumps that can come up and itch like crazy when you eat something you are allergic to. 

So...I didn't eat them.  I remember I would sit so close to a bowl of them...or linger over them in the market...taking in their lovely aroma.

..and then one day I broke down and wolfed down a strawberry! 

Nothing.  Hours went by, nothing.  So..I ate another..and another..

and I have been gorging on them as often as I can ever since.

 Patient Husband came home yesterday with this huge box of strawberries..

 ...and in nothing flat I had them washed..WOULD YOU LOOK AT THE SIZE?? 

Huge berries..and so tasty!

Not easy taking a picture with one hand..at least not for me, so....

s'cuse the blur.  Kinda hard on the eyes, I know!

...sliced

(not excuse for the blur here!)

 and all ready to eat.

We had big bowls of them last night after dinner and this morning I had them on my cream of wheat!

 And I still have enough left for a pie..so I am going to just hop right over to see Joyce @

October Farm and look through her wonderful file of recipes on her sidebar! 

Lots of wonderful cooks on blogs..but when I want a killer recipe I run to Joyce!

 These strawberries were so sweet!  I have to do the pie soon or there won't be any left!

Have a strawberry filled day!

Love,

Mona :)

Ok, ok..so they were VERY blurry!!  :(  If you think these are bad, you should see the ones I deleted.

Stupid camera!  I know, you're right..it's never my fault! :)

~FOR THE LOVE OF HOME~

Thank you so much for the "shout out" Marty, and thank you for being such a gracious hostess!!A Stroll Thru Life

I have shown my new tray before, but I wanted to jump in, if a bit late, and show you what Thrift Shopping..ie. Garage Sales, has done for me. 
Every single thing but the topairies on this table is second hand.

The hand painted lamp in the background is by Rebecca at A Gathering Place!

(oops, forgot to remove my birdie seed from the table... :)

I  bought these on Saturday for just a quarter each!!  So sweet.

They are German and I cannot understand the words.  Kinigt pn Tettau,

Germany US Zone, whatever that means.  And there is some sort of symbol.  There is a tiny rose inside each cup. 

Both table clothes..garage sales.  NO STAINS! 
I've gotten very good at removing stains... :)

Remember my silverware find?  Prelude.  Yep.  $10 is what I paid and when I looked it up?

$4100.00 which doesn't include the soup spoons or the tiny butter knives.

Nor does it include all the additional silverware found in the silverware box.  Yep, it came in one of those lovely silverware boxes.  Deal?  I think so!

 

My blue and white china...the entire set for $30.

Set of  Nortaki china ..$35.00!  Discontinued in 1939.

I love this set.  Friendly Village..I've found some at garage sales, some on ebay and inherited some.

All my crocheted doilies, wall paper even the shelves...garage sales.  We had one..and matched it up with another at a garage sale.  $20.00!

Every single thing on these shelves are garage sale items.  the entire shelf of silve bottom right, came to no more than $15.00.  It was $8 but I added a couple more items.  The tea caddy was one. 

Yes...every single thing you see, garage sales..even my favorite rooster lamp!

Again...garage sales...but the shelf was made by an old man and I found it in Temecula CA at a little Thrift shop.  (Needs a bit of new paint I think..) The little Rooster and Hen are Copley's.  (Whatever that means!) :)

 

Once I discovered that I didn't have to pay so much to have nice things...and that it was and adventure to meet folks, make new friends and bargain...well...I've had such fun findng things for our home. 

It's become a hobby and it spills over to my children.  I love to let my girls share in my finds.

 

Thanks again, Marty!

 

Love n' hugs,

Mona 

~A STRESSFUL WEEK..BUT ENDING IN FUN..~

On a day to day basis  I don't think there is much that makes one suddenly sit up straight and feel the blood run from their face!  Something in my brain screamed "OH NO!  This CANNOT happen!" ..but it had! 

I could not sign on to...anything!  No Internet Explorer, no AOL, no Google Chrome, no ANYTHING! 

I could see three years..or something like that, gone! Lost!  All my pictures..my blog..my cyber life..gone!!

Thank heavens for phones..that worked!

What a hopeless feeling.  Of course after trying all sorts of things like calling AOL, calling our provider and  I called on Patient Husband for advice.  He said, "just wait until tomorrow and I'll think of something." 

Had the man gone MAD?!  I had no computer!  I couldn't blog, I couldn't read my email, I couldn't do...anything!  And it was only 5pm!  I wanted help and I wanted it NOW! 

To make a LONG story short, we finely bought a program from our provider that fixes computers.  It would cost $49.00 for a one time fix or 15.00 per month for a year.. After that, who knows!

I bought it!!

It took four hours on the phone..it seemed fixed for a few hours and then BLAM, it crashed once again.

The following morning I was up very early calling the provider and signing up for the service.

It still took two MORE days but ...I am was back on line... down again, another day gone..and finally by late Thursday, it had finally been ...so they say...fixed. 

We'll see! :)

So for nearly five days I was without my computer.  Intermittent service.  It seems alright now but I am insecure.  A bright spot?  Roses for our little red mailbox.  I found these today at my favorite thrift store!

Would you believe I've had this same plant for...about 8 or 9 years??  It has struggled..and at times I've thought it dead..but then a little spark of life and back it comes.  Now that's love!  It wants to stay with me I think.  :)

Here is another sweet little pale pink Geranium that I love.  I thought it was dead also..but..it just began to bloom and grow once again.  Bless it's little heart!

So...the point is that I've been able to get around to visit a bit here and there but I could not stay online long enough to post...I am sooooo far behind in just everything.

And of course, in the meantime, life is happening. 

But... I have some cute things to show you.  Well, at least to me... :)

At a garge sale I spied these little dutch shoes in one of my favorite colors..

And...they matched my newly painted patio table EXACTLY!  I am not usually a fan of "Dutch shoes" but..

:):):)  Price was three dollars..but..I WANTED THEM!  Someone else was looking over my shoulder..just waiting for me to put them down..I didn't haggle! 

Won't they be cute with maybe a delicate little plant in each one ...just sitting there ...on my patio table.  Excuse me.  OUR patio table! 

Yep..

I made up for it at the next sale..now this was on Friday..which is not our usual garage sale day..but..when you go for a ride..and there are signs...you stop.  Right?

25 cents!!  It's lovely!  The green is the reflection of the plant on my table.  It has numbers engraved on the back.  Looks like by hand...and Los Angeles..in someone's handwriting.

Then I found these little Gerber spoons.  NO idea why I buy these when I run across them..

Well...actually I do.  There will always be babies being born in my family.  A little Great Grandson is due July 4th and he will need something to eat with!  (after a fashion of course..)

I have more I will show you later..  What a neat day today was..and after a stressful week..it was so nice..

More later...I have to spend Sunday catching up on visits to y'all.  If you don't see me...give me a hollar and I'll hop over quick as a bunny..  :)

Have a wonderful and blessed Sunday!

Love,

Mona