Since beginning our painting in our home I feel like my regular life is on hold. Whatever that is! I guess I live in a dream world thinking having our home painted by painters would be easy. Yes, I am very happy that I am not the one on the floor or up a ladder with a paint brush. It's been disruptive to our regular life. The painters come to the door at 7:30 am and stay until 3:30 pm. While they are here we are trying to get curtains washed, pictures rehung and rooms put back in order. Since the kitchen is involved meals have taken on a new look. We have eaten out more than I care to. In other words, I'm ready to have this finished!
Everything in all of the china cabinets have gotten a bath.
On top of this job, Grayden became sick. This man is never ill. Yes, we are so blessed with good health. Thank you, God. He's had several doctor appointments and is doing much better.
We've had problems with a couple of the colors that I had chosen. I'll share more of that later when I show how everything is like we want. Hopefully!
“The best way out is always through.”
― Robert Frost
Meanwhile outside in the garden the season is progressing into warmer days. The flowers would certainly love a drink of water from the heavens. Our rain totals are quite shy as we begin to have warmer days. I typically don't do a lot of supplemental watering. I may have to reconsider that this year if we don't get some rain.
The red and white azaleas are blooming quite nicely now. It's so nice to look out the window and see their blossoms.
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| Viburnum |
The Columbine Aguilegia are blooming.
Lily of the Valley, Convallaria majalis, is blooming and providing a lovely fragrance to the garden.
The Bridalwreath spirea is blooming as well. This shrub came from my childhood home and is special to have in our garden. My Mama planted this shrub when I was a little girl.
The peonies are starting to bud.
This volunteer Honesty money plant decided to grow in an old strawberry pot.
The Painted ferns are now fully out of their winter sleep.
"Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience." Ralph Waldo Emerson
My garden continues to bring me great joy! I hope your garden is awakening and bringing joy to your life. ♥
Very glad that Grayden is on the mend.
ReplyDeleteHaving the house upside down can be stressful, but oh how lovely it will be. Will be interested in the paint color story. I have never believed the calming, "It's only paint."
Weather just looks foul across the country tonight. It snowed here today...four inches! That wouldn't mean much in rain, but I prefer snow to hail, tornados or flooding. Yikes!
Hope that you get some gentle rain to water all those beautiful flowers you have blooming. (I think all your pretty dishes look beautiful all set out on the table getting ready to go back into their china cupboards.)
Thank you, dear Vee. I'm so thankful that Grayden is doing better. With all the upheaval in our home, nothing compares to good health.
DeleteYou have four inches of snow! Oh my goodness. Hopefully the snow will give your spring flowers much needed moisture when they emerge from their sleep.♥
Martha, dear, you certainly have a lot going on.
ReplyDeleteTake this to heart ... enjoy the Money Plant, then yank it out before it sets seed. A previous owner of our house allowed this to reseed with abandon, and I am still fighting its invasion 13 years later. I may be FINALLY gaining the upper hand, by pulling all of it whenever I see that it has sprouted. Pretty in flower, evil afterward.
Connie, I will take your advice under advisement. I have some snow on the mountain that I can't get rid of as much as I try. A friend gave it to me years ago. ♥
DeleteI know what you mean about getting ready for the painters. Lots of shuffling and emptying things out. I enjoy seeing your blooming shrubs and plants. You're so far ahead of our area. I won't see any columbine blooming until June. Sorry Grayden became ill- sounds like he's going much better. I love that you have the spirea that your mom planted years ago- how precious.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Liz. I know you are anxious to see what pops up in your garden. Spring is such an exciting time. Having plants that were passed on to me adds another layer to my beloved garden. I hope today brings you the joy of time in your garden. ♥
DeleteEven though it is rather a pain to have painters in the house, you will be so very happy when it's completed! Oh how I love your depression glass and beautiful china!!!Your garden is alive with spring blooms..just lovely Martha Ellen!
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear Betsy for your sweet comments. I hate to sound all whiny and spoiled, but I do believe I'm tired. Yes, it will be wonderful when it's all finished. Now, I'm back to cleaning windows! ♥
DeleteWe are getting ready to do some painting, and for once it won't be me (does that mean I'm getting old or tired?) but your post gives me a heads up about how it might be. But once you are done you will really enjoy it. The colors are hard to choose aren't they? We have a "paint color whisperer" in town that has helped me before and I'll find him again. Your flowers are lovely and the hydrangeas especially caught my eye.
ReplyDeleteDotsie, the paint whisperer sounds interesting! I definitely don't have the energy and stamina I once enjoyed. This is the first time we have paid to have the interior of our home painted. I think because it's the whole house done at once it's a little overwhelming. Good luck with your painting! ♥
DeleteCourage. The dust will soon be a distant memory and you will enjoy your sparkling new home.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Thank you for that word Courage, Amalia! xo ♥
DeleteFirst off, love the William Morris background,one of my art heros. I would love to have that wallpaper, just don't know where to place it. Gorgeous collection of cranberry glass? Just lovely. So, I have been away, is it the inside or outside you are having painted by pros? I assume the inside, since you had to remove all your china and glassware. Our garden is growing by leaps!
ReplyDeleteJeri, William Morris was a genius! I loved seeing his beautiful wallpaper and furnishings in England. We're having the inside and outside painted, including the staining of the fence. It's a huge undertaking and I can't wait for it to be done! That is pink depression glass that was washed and is now in the china cabinet. I hope to see your garden soon! ♥
DeleteYour flowers and blooms look so lovely.
ReplyDeleteKeep going it will soon be finished ...
All the best Jan
Thank you, Jan. As each day passes we are getting closer. The best to you as well! ♥
DeleteYour flower photos are beautiful, Martha Ellen. I have thought of you so often with that huge project you're undertaking. The worst part is not the painting, but the part you two are having to do. When we put our hardwood into the newer part of our upstairs (the old part already has hardwood floors), it will be a project just getting everything moved out of the rooms first. I'm not looking forward to it. At least now I hope you're starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel...opening onto a beautiful view.
ReplyDeleteJudy, I'm seeing the light and the project is getting closer to being finished. It has been a good way to get everything all cleaned and fresh. Moving just about everything that we own has been a challenge and I'm looking forward to having a "normal" day. Enjoy your day, dear one. ♥
DeleteI am playing blog catchup today! I hope your home will be back to normal very soonest! I hate upheaval, even when you are in your own home. Such lovely flower photographs, and I hope you don't get an Arctic cold snap, as we have had, to upset everything as it comes along.
ReplyDeleteHoping Grayden is feeling more himself now to.
Deb xoxo
Thank you dear Deb. It's all coming together and I can't wait to have my home back. So much work, but it definitely needed freshening up. We have the heat back on so it's not good weather for painting the exterior.
DeleteGrayden is feeling much better and is up to his usual foolishness.
Have a lovely, restful weekend, dear one. xoxo ♥
Hang in there, Martha Ellen. Everything will be done and put back in place in its own time. I was wondering if I should plant some Peonies in my garden. Are they sturdy flowers? The bridalwreath is so sweet. Such a cheerful flower, and how nice that it goes back to your childhood. You have one of my favorite quotes on here by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Oh RED CARDINAL........you are so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteAll the stuff from your china cabinet looks clean and sparkly. Have a nice weekend, Martha Ellen.
~Sheri
Sheri, it is getting better. Today I finally was able to move a lot of my things back into the kitchen. I'm so happy about that.
DeletePeonies are wonderful perennials to grow in VA. They do need sun and support. There are so many different colors. Check with your garden center to see if they grow well in California.
Enjoy your weekend, Sheri! ♥
Hi Martha Ellen.. Having work done on the house is so stressful, but you will see the light at the end of the tunnel soon.. Beautiful china! And your flowers are breathtaking..
ReplyDeleteWishing Grayden well wishes..
Thank you so much for taking time to visit.. I am so happy you enjoyed Bebe's adventures.
blessings,
Penny
Thank you, Penny! It's already looking a little more like my home. Just a few boxes to unpack and place in the kitchen. It's been a lot of work, but it's so worth the trouble.
DeleteThank you for the well wishes to Grayden. He's doing so much better.
Have a lovely weekend. ♥
In no time at all, everything will be good and back to where you love it. It is always difficult to live among chaos. The garden pictures are so delightful. I hope your weekend is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteIt's not going to be long now, Linda. Thank you for you for stopping by. I hope your weekend is enjoyed in your lovely garden! ♥
DeleteAll the blooms are so beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteHope things are coming together well inside!! :-)
And I pray that Grayden is well and feeling himself again!!
Joy, warmth, love and Blessings,xx oo Linnie
Grayden is doing much better, Linnie. My kitchen is almost all ready. Just a few more tweaks. The interior is almost finished and then the exterior will be done, but this week we are in for some rain so that will not happen. We need rain so much, I can't complain.
DeleteI hope your garden is awakening and bringing you joy, dear one! xoxo ♥
Happy May, Martha!
ReplyDeleteI know I will feel your pain soon. We will be getting new windows and then we want to have our kitchen and family room walls and ceiling painted. I'm sure it will all look wonderful when done ---we have to keep our eyes on the goal!
I love lily of the valley! I've planted a few times since I moved here but it does not regrow so i guess my climate isn;'t good for it. My mother had a bridal wreath shrub in her front garden that bloomed every May. I wonder if that would grow here? I'll ahve to check
Hope Grayden is feeling better!
Thank you, Pat! Grayden is doing well now.
DeleteWe are so happy that our big project is coming to a close. The interior is almost done and the exterior is left to be finished. Our rainy weather is slowing that down, but pretty soon it will all be fresh. Your projects sound exciting. We had new windows put in our Florida room a couple of years ago and it has made such a difference in our home.
Happy May to you! ♥
Hi Martha,
ReplyDeleteGood luck on completing the paint job! I bet it will be so worth it when everything is back in place again and your home is sparkling. I loved seeing your east coast flowers blooming. I can't believe you've had that shrub since you were a little girl. That is so special.
I'm glad you asked me about the yellow flowers because I am terrible with flower names! So, I looked them up, and I believe they are Bermuda Buttercups. They bloom along the central CA coast in late winter, and they are SO vibrant (in person too!)
I hope you are having a lovely week. :-)
~Jess
Hi Jess, thank you for looking up the name of those lovely flowers! I love to garden, and am familiar with most east coast bloomers, but when I go to California, I'm in the dark. Bermuda buttercups---so lovely! I think they may have been in bloom when we were in San Diego.
DeleteThe interior is finished and we are so happy with it! Spring cleaning never went this far in our home.
Enjoy your week! ♥
I hope your painting is finish soon, so you can enjoy your lovely home. Have a happy weekend and yes, try the enchiladas. Happy Cinco de Mayo.
ReplyDeleteLinda, the interior is finished!!! Now for a sunny day so I can share some photos. Enjoy your afternoon. ♥
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