What every Southern woman knows about gardening....

What every Southern woman knows about gardening, and what every woman ought to know....

 Every Southern woman likes to fancy herself a gardener. Whether she is just an expert on the subject and tends no garden at home (but to hear her talk, you would think differently), or if it is actually her husband that makes the gardens grow (but she takes all the credit when someone comes to visit), or if she is the president of the garden club and the envy of every member, the bottom line is that Southern women love to garden.

Now as we all know, Southern ladies have a certain way of doing just about everything. Gardening is no exception. Luckily, I have been given permission by the Southern Ladies Garden Society of KIA (know it all) to divulge some of the secrets.

First of all, as with absolutely everything in a southern woman's life, it all comes back to a wedding.
Think of the old tradition: Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.

The something old: Every garden must have a "start" from a plant that has been around for ages. It could be a plant that came from where you grew up or a seedling from a beautiful plantation. Just as long as you have something old that you can tell the history.

The something new: A garden is always in a state of change. A gardener is constantly adding new to the beauty and bounty of her land. Sometimes it is a new bush and sometimes it is an architectural element, but new change is always a constant.

The something borrowed: Now this is that part that most of you will not know about, as it is not openly talked about. However, it is an intricate part of the Southern garden. You must have at least one plant that you attained through "questionable measures". If you see a lady's back side stuck in the air, once the sun has completely set, at a home that is not her own, you can be sure that she is "acquiring by questionable measures" the gardenias that she has been eying. Or if you come home from vacation and your neighbor tells you she has been looking after your gardens for you while you were gone (even though you didn't ask her to), check your peonies, its a sure bet some is missing.

The something blue: Last but not least, the you must have some lavender for good health, lilacs for peace of mind, and hydrangeas for bouquets to take inside.

So there you have it, a Southern gardeners guide to a proper garden. Go forth and create a garden to rival any other. You are, after all, now equipped with with the insider information. Happy Gardening escapades!

4th of July entertaining....

I was in the process of talking hubby into

having a 4th of July party,

just when my sister saved HIS day by throwing one on their farm.

However, I already had loads of inspiration

that I will use for next years party that I want to share with you.

Our invitations...

 The table...

 some grub...

 flour stars on the lawn....

 snap favors...

watermelon on a stick.... 

 the supplies...

and finally some favors for both the kids and the adults....

 Next year is going to be fun! 

And, I have a whole year to convince hubby

that it is a good idea!

bringing the indoors outside....

I thought I would share with you all one of this month's TV segments.

It was all about bringing the indoors outside... 

and making your square footage larger

by creating rooms outside

 for your family and for entertaining.

My favorite times to entertain are the

months that allow us to have our guests outside,

So, an out door dining area is just as important as

an outdoor lounging area to us...

Hope you enjoy the video....

click here to watch the video

4th of July inspiration...

I have pulled all the Independence day decorations down from

storage, and I am getting ready to turn the cottage into a patriotic paradise.

I wanted a little inspiration,

so I got online, and

I thought I would share with you what I found...

Old homes draped in flags and bunting

scream 4th of July to me....

I adore this paper banner above.

and this outdoor farm setting

with the American flag as a back drop is priceless...

And finally, all the lanterns with the American flag, perfection.

I am feeling the inspiration!

Off I go, to get busy...

A buffet for outside...

As I said in my last post,

the Hubby and I have been working on the outside lately...

One of the new additions to the outdoor living area is

this buffet...

I just love it,

and it will make a great area to serve from.

I am going to put a dining table near it...

I just love it!

Back yard is almost completely done!

Actually, it's never done...

...but it looks good for now!

what I drug home...

Remember when I posted about

what I drug home in this post?

well, here it is...

a huge 12' ladder!

It was sitting out on the side of the road....

Someone was actually getting rid of it!

SHOCKING, I know....

I thought I would clean it up and take it in to the shop to sell,

but it looks sooooo good leaned up against this old tree

that I think it will be staying as long as I can keep hubby talked into it.



You should have seen hubby's face on this one.

He could NOT believe that this had found its way to the cottage,

but once I propped it up,

I think he actually liked it.

So, hopefully it can stay.

If not, it will be at LuLu's for sale!

Photo Envy

Ok, let me begin by saying that I have total photography talent envy.

I have one of those fancy-smancy cameras that makes me look like I really know how to take some rockin' pictures,

but as with all technology, I refuse to read the manual...

Therefore, I really only know how to point and shoot, and what is captured is left up to chance.

I was actually quite proud when I learned how to

zoom in and out after a month of use.

Yeah, it is that fancy-smancy that even zoom took figuring out.

So, even with me lugging my bells and whistles around my pictures come out looking like the ones my hubby takes with his phone.

Well, I can tell you with all certainty that this guy HAS read the manual to his fancy-smancy camera and he DOES know how to use his bells and whistles. I mean REALLY knows how to use them. These are pictures of my girly-girls playing and jumping and just being themselves at home. I love the idea of lifestyle photography.... It is so laid back and relaxed. It is real. I mean, when you look at the posed, professional photo of the whole fan-dam dressed alike with the pasted on perma-grin if you are the mother in the group all you can think about is ... all the time it took to pick out the matching clothes in a color that would look good on everyone, and that everyone would be willing to wear without pulling too many teeth. (some teeth are ok) The stress of making it to the studio on time with teeth brushed, hair combed, wrinkle free, trying to hide the tears that have run down the toddlers face because it just happens to be the one day that she missed her nap in three weeks and everything is causing a melt down. Trying to remain calm when the photographer tells you to "act like you like each other!" When you know that hubby left you inside the house to fin for yourself with the curling iron that just happens to have a long cord, a 6 year old, a toddler and two dogs while he patiently waited in the car all while honking in two minute intervals. Oh, and you had to apply your make up in the car on the ride to the studio, so you did not notice the foundation was not all the way rubbed in on the left cheek, until you went to look at the proofs. Fuming that no one bothered to tell you. And even if the only other two adults at the shoot were men, you are quite certain that it was noticeable if it showed up in the proofs! Well, no more for me thank you..... I am taking the easier road of my own back yard, a chair from my own bedroom pulled outside last minute, uncoiffed hair, and shoeless sister love. This guy, Jonathon Campbell has shown me the light, and I am never going to the dark side again. Best photo shoot ever.

Heck, I wouldn't even call it a shoot, more like a photo hug.

Ok, Ok, enough of that. I know.

I mean look at these pictures.....

Would you rather have these memories,

or the memories of the afore mentioned story?These pictures made me consider reading fancy's manual....

(I said consider)

Yep, photo talent envy! And photo talent LOVE!

Check Jonathan out at his website

http://www.jonathoncampbell.com/