Sweet Surprises

My sweetie is a wonderful man. He's kind, sweet, generous, cuddly, loving, handsome....and smells like pine trees. Everything I ever wanted in a man. 

Creating an Outdoor Entertaining Space

Our weather is all over the place these days with sunshine and blue skies one day followed by freezing rain and snow the next. 

Thankfully, we know it won't last forever and I'm really excited to get my deck ready for another great summer season in the mountains. 

It's All Worth It At The End of The Day

Dinner parties are wonderful. 

The candles are lit....the music is playing in the background....and the stage is set for another wonderful evening filled with loved ones, laughter, and a fabulous feast.

A Very Happy Day

Today is my Houseaversary,! One year ago today I closed on my home. It was a wonderful, fabulous, beautiful, incredible day. 

Almost as good as when I gave birth to my daughters. 

Spring Project Update

There is a gentle, sweet spring rain falling as I write this. The air smells fresh and clean and the morning is quite warm for March in the mountains. 

The bedroom windows are open and the cool spring breeze is cleansing the room of the remaining stale winter air. 

Progress Continues on my She-Shed Dreams

It's possible I may be the most lame person on the planet. 

If I am, I apologize for that. 

But I can't help it....I get easily excited, especially in Spring. 

Whispers of Spring

First of all, I want to thank all my dear readers for your sweet birthday wishes - your comments made me smile and warmed my heart and soul!

Oh What a Wonderful Birthday!

I must be the luckiest girl out there....I had the most wonderful birthday and wanted to share some snippets of my special day with all my friends out there in blogland!

How to Save Big Money Each Spring

It was a frigid 12 degrees when I woke this morning and I'm so glad I put my little pansies and strawberries indoors! They would not have been happy in that serious cold - brrrrrrrrr!!!

Seed Starting in the Snow

Winter has returned to the mountain top after Mother Nature decided she was mad at me. 

It is what it is. I can't change it so I just have to continue on with my spring dreams. 

Counting My Blessings

We had a crazy thunderstorm yesterday evening which is not common for us at this time of year. Normally our thunderstorms are in late spring and summer. 

It all goes hand in hand with this bizarre weather we've been having.

Waiting Ever So Impatiently

Here we are just days away from the official start of spring and the weather has gone from spring to winter back to spring so many times I feel like a yo-yo. 

I bet that's how all the trees and animals feel also. 

A Fabulous St. Patrick's Day Menu

Did you know I was supposed to be born on St. Patrick's Day?

Surprisingly, I was two days late.

Which is weird, because I am NEVER late.

Sweetie, stop laughing. I can see you. 

Me vs Mother Nature

It's a cold, blustery, damp, miserable day today...nothing like the unseasonably balmy temps we enjoyed this weekend. 

And it's my fault. 

I did this. 

I angered Mother Nature. 

I tried to rush Spring. 

In my defense, it's not really my fault. 

After all, so many of the spring birds have returned - even the grackles. 

My blueberry bush is budding. 

My garlic is growing again. 

The spring bulbs are coming up all over the place. I found so many that I thought had been eaten by the critters when I cleaned out the perennial beds on either side of the garden steps this weekend. A very welcome discovery, indeed!

The roses I am training up the new obelisks are starting to bud. 

So how is it that our nighttime temps are going to be back in the teens next week?

That's not good. 

What will this do to the awakening gardens? 

And the budding trees? They are just starting to bloom on our road. 

And what will happen to these: 

I cheated. 

I brought pansies and violas back from New Jersey, which is 2 hours south of here. 

And obviously in a warmer gardening zone. 

We're not quite ready for pansies up here yet. 

But I couldn't wait. 

I just had to. 

And now Mother Nature is mad at me. 

She's going to punish me by pushing spring off just a little bit longer. 

But I can outsmart her!

I put my pansies in pots. 

Which means I can put them in my trusty wheelbarrow and push them into my little garden cottage if things get rough around here. 

And I've got my trusty little helper to lend a hand....or a paw. 

Bring it on, Mother Nature!

You will not win. 

Spring is coming....no matter what you do!

The Most Amazing Quiche Recipe

I had a number of folks email me asking for my quiche recipe after the photo appeared in my post about coming home. 

I didn't have as many regular readers back then which means I'm sure many of you haven't seen this recipe....so I've decided to share it again here. 

Progress on My She-Shed Dreams

I'm so excited to get going with my dream she-shed! 

I've been shopping around online, getting some things on order to really start to create the garden space I can visualize in my head. 

I purchased what I think will be the perfect swing:

Lasagna Bolognese

It's a glorious morning in the mountains and I'm so excited to share one of my favorite recipes with you. 

What I'm Loving

The Robins are back! The Robins are back! I'm so excited!

Dreaming of a She-Shed

I have shared a few posts in the past about my little garden cottage.

Ok, maybe more than a few. 

I can't help it...I'm a little obsessed. 

Spring is in the Air!

You wouldn't know it by the creek at the edge of my property but spring is most definitely coming to the mountains!

The inlets leading through the woods to the creek are almost completely frozen....but not for long. 

Early Spring Container Gardens

Many of us are itching for spring at this point and can't wait to get a jump on gardening season. 

I'm anxious to get planting, without a doubt. But I know our last frost is a long way off. Typically in my Zone 5A garden the last frost date is somewhere around Mothers' Day. 

That's like....a million weeks away!

Spring Reading

I love to read. It's one of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon....when I have time to do so. 

A good book, a cup of tea, a roaring fire, a pup on my lap. Perfect winter's afternoon. 

Simple Spring Decorating Ideas

We're in the first week of March and this morning the snow and sleet were swirling around in the high winds. The March winds. In like a lion, out like a lamb. 

Via

Tonight we're going down to 9 degrees. 

It's still winter here....despite all my yearning for spring. 

But there are simple and inexpensive ways to bring a little spring into my world even though the calendar...and the weather report...are fighting against me. 

Blogging from the Heart

My dear friend Rue recently wrote on her wonderful blog, An Old Fashioned World, a heartfelt post that struck a chord with me. 

It's been resonating in my brain every since I read it and I feel I have to chat with all my lovely readers about it. 

Via

I haven't been blogging very long but in the short time I've been a blogger this online world of new friendships has stolen my heart. 

It's incredible to me the number of people who visit me daily just to read about my little life.