A Sunday Afternoon at Jenkins Arboretum

Sunday afternoon the sun came out and we decided to visit the Jenkins Arboretum, just Bo and I.  We knew that we were probably a week late in seeing the azaleas at their best and with all the rain their little heads would be bowing.  But the rhododendrons were out and they were lovely.

The garden was full of garden sculpture and artwork interspersed among the trees, which added fun to the pathways and sights.  So here are a few photos of our peaceful walk.  Plus what's so nice about the Jenkins' is that it is free.

I had wanted to buy a Jack in the Pulpit, which just the day before Candyce and I had spoken about, but unfortunately the shop was closed by the time we got back.  So maybe another time I will get one.  I would like to plant one on my burial mound, which I'd like to make a quasi woodland garden.  My grandmother had a whole dinner service with Jack in the Pulpit in the center of the plates, a deep green edging, trimmed in gold.  That special dinner service always intrigued me with that pattern, it was so unusual, I've never seen another like it.

I love the Lady Slippers, what a gossamer name for those beautiful orchids.

Christy

Rob is Driving

Rob has been driving for a couple of months now.  Here he is in my PT Cruiser, but he prefers to drive his dad's SUV, the Nissan Pathfinder.  Either way he has borrowed wheels.

His part time job gives him money to pay for his own insurance, as it's expensive, $90.00 per month.

Life flies by.

Christy

Hedge Down, Fence Up and a New Hummingbird Feeder

The hedge has been ripped out and the ground pounded to put in the posts.  We agonized over which fencing to get.  There's lots of beautiful fencing, but not what one can afford.  We thought about lattice but that would need all channel edgings, and the lattice was not too strong. We also thought about a privacy fence, but we thought that would be too enclosing.  So we decided on the six foot Gothic posts, and the four foot dog ear fencing. 

Bob worked on putting the post footers in.  He bought them on the internet, they are galvanized steel and once pounded into the ground the posts are slotted in and screwed into place.  Bob put a plumb line in to get everything straight and level.


Last Sunday Bob and I put the fence up.  A job well done.

If in the future we want privacy fencing up, we thought we might just add that roll out bamboo fencing.  We would only consider doing that if there was a change of neighbour, as we like George.


I may string some lanterns up, or some lights.  It all looks so much tidier with the fencing up.

As you can see I have also got my vegetable garden planted. 

My hummingbird feeder is up, a friend gave it to me.  Bo already saw a hummingbird at the feeder.  Plus the little dear moved onto my columbines.  I am so happy and will keep the sugar water in there.  I thought it might not come so close to the house by the kitchen window, but I was wrong.


Christy

Saturday, A Day Spent With Candyce

Candyce and I spent the whole day together, it was great, just chatting having lunch and doing girl things.


Candyce with her son Joe.  Plus the lovely cards, which are in very sixties colours of pinks and oranges, with bright orange envelopes, the intricate stamp and sweet glass heart she gave me.


Then after we had a great lunch at Panero's, we had a Mediterranean sandwich, soup, coffee and desserts, yummy, we decided to go thrifting.  


These were my finds.  A set of four dinner and four side plates from Langley which is Denby, a gift from Candyce. I brought them home and Rob, Rob thought they were great.  An old Wedgwood plate which on a little research turned out to be from the Ivanhoe collection and this plate was probably dated late 1800's,.  I loved all the little wild animals around the edge, it's a blue transfer ware plate.  Plus a brass plant pot, made in India, sold through a company that specifically supplies upscale museum shops.  Now I have to clean it.


So a haul of shared friendship to bunch up and hold and goodies too.


Christy

Royal Weddings Around The World

Japan

Denmark

Netherlands

Jordan

Greece

Denmark

Spain

Norway

Norway

Belgium

A Few Royal Weddings of the British Royal Family

Prince Albert and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyons

Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark

Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones

Princess Anne and Mark Philips

Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson

Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones

Peter Phillips son of Princess Anne and Autumn Kelly

Christy

Wills & Kate, a Royal Wedding, April 29th, 2011

How could I not mention the Royal Wedding Wills & Kate.  Yes I did watch it.  I happened to wake up at 5:45 AM EST and just caught the Rolls Royce coming out from under the arches.  So saw the entire event, before I left the house at 7:45 AM to get to the State Hospital Yard sale with Maria.


Her dress was lovely, simple and elegant and as everyone has said reminiscent of Grace Kelly's elegance.  Although I do think Grace Kelly tops them all.  I am so hoping that this will put on end to strapless wedding dresses; which I have never been a fan of.  So much beauty of a wedding dress I think is in the neckline and sleeves.


I was a little disappointed in the bouquet, I think it could have been more spectacular, with such a simple dress.


I got married the same year as Diana, it was the era of frills, bows and lots of lace.  I opted for a beautiful 1940s satin dress, with very little decoration and beautiful simple lines.  I think these classic styles become far less dated and stand the test of time.


I was asked a question about the bridesmaids dresses.  Quite often in Royal Weddings the bridesmaids also wear white.  Usually only one older bridesmaid with the little bridesmaids and page boys.

Well it was still lovely to watch.


Christy