Wildcard Wednesday: Signs of Spring......In the Garden

WE HAVE BLOOMS!

The last few weeks I've been sharing some of the signs of spring throughout my house....little touches here & there.....mostly decorations.....but this week we have the first TRUE signs of spring........

the first blooms of the season!


If you remember, a few weeks ago, I shared about the knockout roses & my anticipation of them blooming again soon.

Well, guess what?  They're here! 

Not only did they start blooming this past week, but they took off with a vengeance.....

 There's something about the first blooms that just makes me giddy!  I love coming home after a hard day at work & pulling in the driveway to be greeted by all the colorful flowers!

We have a few other blooms in our front yard as well:







 And see that iron archway leading to our backyard?

Well, slowly we have some roses blooming on it as well......


.....and a couple more close by....


To give you a better idea, here's a few more pics of the yard:

{That's a globe blue spruce, but for some reason, in all the pics, it looks white!}

{You'll have to forgive the bags of mulch laying around....always a work in progress!}

And before I go, here's a few flowers my hubby brought home this week. 

{Okay, I admit, I'm cheating a little because they're not actually planted yet, but I just couldn't wait.  Plus, I had to show off the new turquoise pot I recently purchased at TJ Maxx!  Have I mentioned how much I love turquoise?}

Happy Spring!

{I'm linking with Wow Us Wednesday from Savvy Southern Style, Show & Tell Friday at Romantic Home, Home Sweet Home Friday at The Charm of Home, Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound, Seasonal Sunday at The Tablescaper, Mosaic Monday at The Little Red House, Fresh Cut Friday at Rose Vignettes, This Week in My Garden at Little Round Table, Bloomin Tuesday at Ms. Green Thumb Jean, Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer, & Open House at No Minimalist Here.  Check 'em out!}

Tutorial Tuesday: Easy Easter Place Cards

The main purpose of place cards is obviously to help guests know where to sit without much confusion, but for me, I think they can do much more than that. 

For one, personalizing each guest's place, can make them feel welcome, like that spot was created just for them. 

If used strategically, especially when guests may not know each other, they can help also help with the guests' comfort level, socializing, and the flow of conversation.

Finally, place cards don't have to simply be a little piece of paper with a name, they can be a work of art.....an outlet for creativity.  In fact, who says they even have to be made out of paper?  Depending on the occasion, they can be written on a piece of fruit or a hard-boiled egg.  They can also serve as party favors if attached to a little gift, maybe a small plant or little bag of candy or cookies or a Christmas ornament.  Another idea is use picture frames.....you could even put a picture of the guest in it, rather than writing the names.  And I could go on & on.  The possibilities are endless.  But I'll save that for a later post. 

Since Easter is this week, I thought I'd share this super easy tidbit on how I dressed up my place cards last Easter. 

(Of course, it can be used for other occasions, too!)

 First, using my computer, I found a fun font that I liked & typed each guest's name in brown, allowing a little space in between  & on either side of each name.  Then I printed it on cream-colored cardstock.

Then, using a brown ink pad & a rubber stamp (from Hobby Lobby), I stamped the little bird's nest by each name.

Using a paper cutter, I cut each place card to the desired size, leaving a little room on the left to punch a hole.

Using the same brown ink pad, I simply rubbed it here & there along the edges to give it a worn, distressed look.   

I used colored chalk to color the eggs, & then simply tied some green ribbon through the hole.

And voila!  In about 10 minutes, I had completely dressed up the place cards!

As you can see in the above photos, at one table, I chose to place them in a goblet filled with faux eggs.

At the other table, I left off the ribbon, & simply tucked them into some raffia tied around the napkin.

Now that you've seen a little sneak peek of my upcoming tablescape(s), check back on Thursday to see the whole thing!

{I'll be linking to The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays.}

Scripture Sunday: A LOT of Salt

But Lot's wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt.

Genesis 19:26 (The Message)

If you're not familiar with this story, here's a little background for you:

  Due to the horrific sin in Sodom & Gomorrah, God planned to destroy both cities.  God had earlier revealed His plan of destruction to Abraham, who pleaded with God to save Lot & his family.  So shortly before the cities were to be destroyed, God sent angels to warn Lot & his family & to help them get out.  As these angels were helping them out of the city, they warned them to run for their lives & not look back, or they'd be swept away.  But as you read in the verse above, Lot's wife, whose name isn't even revealed, looked back and inevitably turned into a pillar of salt.

You see, Lot & his family had accumulated a LOT of possessions & were quite weathly.  Earlier scripture shares that they chose to live in Sodom because the land was so amazing, despite the fact that they were aware of the horrific sinfulness of those living there.  They were caught up in the things of this world, their "stuff."  So when they were told to flee & leave everything behind, Lot's wife was still focused on her "stuff."  Her heart was still with the pleasures & possessions she was leaving behind, to the point that she lost her life.

Let me share one more passage with you.

It was the same in the time of Lot - the people carrying on, having a good time, business as usual right up to the day Lot walked out of Sodom and a firestorm swept down and burned everything to a crisp.  That's how it will be - sudden, total - when the Son of Man (Jesus) is revealed.  When the Day arrives and you're out working in the yard, don't run into the house to get anything.  And if you're out in the field, don't go back and get your coat.  Remember what happened to Lot's wife!  If you grasp and cling to life on your terms, you'll lose it, but if you let that life go, you'll get life on God's terms.

Luke 17: 28-33 (The Message)

I don't know about you, but I have a LOT of stuff........only a small fraction of which you've seen on my blog.  It's easy sometimes to get caught up in all of the "stuff"........whether it be possessions or just life itself.  I spend a LOT of time, energy, & resources on this "stuff"......shopping, buying, decorating, organizing, & re-organizing to make it all fit, getting rid of a few things to free up space, just so I can fill it up with more "stuff" in the future, and then once again organizing it (and the cycle continues).  Can any of you relate?

In the midst of all it, I often have to remind myself what the real purpose of life is, why we are here, what's really important. 

"Stuff" is fine, but it's a little like salt: it can add a little flavor to your life, but doesn't have much substance to it, and too much of it can be bad for your health! 

So today I'm reminded that the only thing that truly matters in this life is my relationship with God........everything else is just "salt."  I pray that I never let my stuff become more important than my God.  I would much prefer to get life on God's terms, than on my own!  And at the end of the day, I want to have a life of substance, a life built on my relationship with God, not simply a pillar of salt.

Tablescape Thursday: Garden of Eatin'

Then God planted a garden in Eden, in the east.  He put the man he had just made in it.  God made all kinds of trees grow from the ground, trees beautiful to look at and good to eat.......

Genesis 2: 8-9 (The Message)

A few weeks ago, when I got the idea to do this "Garden of Eatin' " tablescape, I began imagining what the Garden of Eden must have looked like...........with trees, flowers, fruit, & other plants in abundance, in every color possible, with a beautiful river flowing nearby, with birds chirping in the air and animals frolicking. 
As many times as I've seen breathtaking gardens & landscapes, I'm sure they can't possibly have measured up to the Garden of Eden.  After all, this garden was created by God Himself, while the world was yet perfect.  (It wasn't 'til after man sinned that God stated that there would be thistles & thorns.)  It was perfect....a true paradise!

So while I knew my tablescape couldn't possibly measure up to the beauty of the real thing, I still wanted to attempt to make my version of the Garden of Eden using dishes & accessories.

Of course, the table had to be outdoors, with trees & birds all around.

First, I wanted something light & breezy as the bottom layer, so I chose this sheer yellow-green overlay.  Then, to add a little texture & color, I topped it with this fun, colorful table runner, just casually layed across the table. 

Here's a closer look at the colorful birds on the runner.
{I didn't realize until I was putting this post together that the edge was folded over!}

For each place setting, I began with a green leaf charger, followed by a dark royal blue plate with a tropical fruit design.  Then I added a flower plate & small bowl.   

An orange napkin rests casually nearby. 

While this all-fruit breakfast in the garden doesn't really require any flatware, a clear acrylic fork sits close by just in case.  (Plus, a tablescape just doesn't seem complete with some flatware!)

Because there was already so much color, I chose these clear glass goblets.

Here's a closer look at all those layers:

A sweet little bird creamer, used as a bud vase, sits in each bowl.

{Those flowers just keep appearing in all my posts!  But, I have to admit, I'm thinking they don't have much life left in them at this point!}

Here's a better view of the little bird creamer bud vase:

And speaking of birds, here's a "bird's eye view" of the table:

A bright red colander, filled with a variety of fruit, is ready to be eaten.

A small pitcher of orange juice rests on a stack of flower plates.

 Breakfast is served in the "Garden of Eatin' ". 

 Who wants to join me?

I'll be linking with BNOTP for Tablescape Thursday, Romantic Home for Show & Tell Friday, & A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday.

Table Runner/Flower Plates & Bowls/Orange Napkins - Pier 1

Leaf Charger - by Tracy Porter/Horchow

Tropical Fruit Plate - Target (years ago)

Bird Creamers - The Market

Clear Acrylic Flatware - Walmart (years ago)

Glass Goblets - Walmart or Dollar Tree

Thanks for stopping by.