I'm Back!

 I'm back sooner than I expected. I thought I would be having a rather slow, quiet week and had really planned to get out and do some leisurely gardening but, as often happens, the week filled up quickly and now there is no time for leisurely anything! We have a lacrosse game in Gainesville tonight and then I'm going to daughter #3's for dinner on Friday before another lacrosse game. Add to that daughter #2 and her hubby coming to install the new computer, my car needing to get back in to see if they can pinpoint the oil leak, the handyman coming (finally!) to get some much needed things done and me needing to get out to find some clothes for my granddaughter's graduation, party and 10 days out of town. Wow! And, I still have that "gardening" urge that always hits at this time of year so I spent a few hours yesterday and a few more today cleaning fountains, digging out the dreaded border grass and transplanting day lilies. I seriously could be out there the rest of the day but then I might not be able to move the rest of the night and I need to be ready to head by 6 p.m. And so, I found my way here and thought I might get another blog up while I have a few free minutes. These are the times when I am happy no one is around to see me because once I get going, I am knee deep in dirt and I don't mind at all! Lol

I think we're off to the sunroom which really has even less seasonal decor than usual.

I just put the spring blossoms and the lamb's ear in one of my favorite PB vases and then the chair sports a small pillow with a spring postcard image that I love.

 The colors from the pillow are sort of repeated in these plates.

And that is about my only nod to spring in the sunroom. The TV armoire is filled with pictures I love that don't fit into any of my other seasonal/holiday themes.

 

So that is the sunroom for this spring. I'm off to start getting ready for tonight. As I have said all week long, fingers crossed this posts-so far, so good-and I'll be back as long as I can until the new computer arrives. Then, you will probably need to give me a bit of a "learning curve"...as you know, I'm not great with change. Lol Stay safe and stay tuned.

Is That Your Final Answer?

 So, after over twelve hours of very concentrated effort on many people's part, the answer is in! I need a new computer. Everyone knew my computer was old and no longer supported in some places but I think the hope was still that maybe it could be helped along with some updates...and, again, let me remind you that I really have NO knowledge of technology! I can do what I can do and what I have been taught...and that is it! I don't understand any of the workings and so I may not even be using the correct words to explain my last few weeks to you but, suffice it to say, when I finally heard the diagnosis from four people that know their stuff but who are also thinking of what is best for me, I know this is the answer.

Do I wish the answer was different? You bet. But, that is only because I don't like change and I am already worried about how different things will be and whether I will be able to navigate said changes easily or not but, I have had changes along the way and so far, I have figured it out, so I know I will be fine.

My son-in-law is choosing and ordering the computer he thinks will be the best fit for me. It seems like you don't just walk into a store and buy a computer. I guess just like clothes shopping, you have to know what size you need. I'm told there are all sorts of things to take into consideration-none of which I can answer-and so, after looking at EVERY function my machine ever used, he knows what I will need. And then, thankfully, he knows how to get rid of my old one and install the new. I'm actually posting this today because we're not sure when the transition will happen or how long it will take and I will be in Tallahassee for my grand daughter's college graduation and then down to St. Pete for over 10 days and my daughter and son-in-law are off to Hawaii for their 30th anniversary somewhere in there so, the bottom line is we don't really know when I will be MIA or for how long. But, fingers crossed, I WILL be back. I can use my browser while I wait so I may be able to do a few more posts but we shall see.

Since we're here, why don't we head to the dining room?

I did change up the niche a bit. Again, after wanting this area for so long, I am still having trouble when it comes to decorating it in a way that I like. I ended up bringing in a very old soup terrine and then the herb pots that usually sit on the kitchen window sill. Not sure I like that here but it is staying there for now as I have no other bright ideas. Actually, I'm already looking forward to getting out the 4th of July and being done with spring-that's kind of sad because I really love the season-I just don't love my decor for it! Lol

So, once again, fingers crossed this will publish! And, fingers crossed that I can get back. I know my new computer will be capable of it-just not sure I will. Lol Stay safe and stay tuned...it's bound to be an interesting story!!

Darn Those "New Eyes"

 I often write about how we get so used to looking at our surroundings that we often fail to see them as others do. This happens to me all of the time. But then, occasionally, I look at something and suddenly I am seeing it with "new eyes"-or, as others who are not looking at it every day may see it. That happened with my spring flag-that also flies for Easter. The Florida sun is strong and I have had to repaint a number of my flags but I didn't realize this one was so bad until someone commented on a craft blog I had posted it on. She didn't comment about how faded it was because she had nothing to compare it to but once I really looked at the picture I knew it was TIME.

I actually enjoy doing these things. I can't ever totally reproduce the original because most of them look like water color and are, of course, printed on. I can't get the same effect with acrylics but, I don't really care. So here's how we started out. It actually doesn't look that bad here but trust me, some of the colors were almost non-existent when it hung in the sun.

I knew I would need to mix paints to get just the right colors so I brought out my pinks, purples and greens. I amazed even myself when I realized just how many purple and greens I have compared to all of my other colors. I guess I am nothing if not consistent.

I started out and then suddenly realized that this was going to be a long project because not only are there a lot of flowers and leaves to paint but also a lot of color variations.

I may never stand straight again as I needed to do this standing up but also bending down closer to the flag. Ouch! But, I got it done and I'm happy.

Here's what it looked like before.

And here's what it looks like now.

 And you may have missed it but the old, stained dowel that the flag hangs on has now gotten a quick coat of stain so it doesn't look as bad either.

I wish I could tell you all of the other things I accomplished today but short of a nice phone call from an old friend, you're pretty much looking at it...and I don't even have all of the mess cleaned up yet. Daughter #2 and her hubby will be here early on Sunday so I am hoping I am back to you with good news about the computer on Monday. Until then, stay safe and stay tuned.

Good News...

You know the old saying-"I've got good news and bad news"? So for the good news first. After many, many hours of computer work and research, my sister-in-law was able to move the pictures I had recently been able to download into my Picassa editing program. That means for the next few blogs, the pictures will be better. Yay! Now for the bad news-we still can't figure out why it won't let me download any new pictures. But, daughter #2 and her hubby are coming one day this weekend and we have high hopes that they may be able to decipher more of the conundrum! Every time we thought we had one thing figured out, something else would stop working. It was a long day but I am enjoying today and the fact that I can take you into the kitchen and share its spring decor with you-fingers crossed. Lol

Please ignore the empty magnets on the fridge-apparently I forgot to put them away after taking down some of the Easter photos.

As I'm looking at the bottom shelves of the baker's rack, I think it needs something taller behind the white metal bird seed tray-if my printer was working, I would download something and decoupage it onto a canvas. I think I'll add that to my to-do list. Lol

I needed something next to the sign and I had the French flower pot, the greenery and the flowers so I kind of just threw them together to fill a void. It truly wasn't until I looked at this picture that I realized how closely they resemble the flowers in the picture hanging below the shelf. Definitely thought I could take credit for being a "genius" but it's truly just luck-or maybe serendipity!

And, that's the kitchen! I'll be back with more pictures-and hopefully more good news-soon. Stay safe and stay tuned.

Spring Has Sprung!

 The plants in the gardens and yard are beginning to make their comeback. I won't say that anything is in its full glory just yet but color is starting to emerge once again and both the jasmine and tea olives are blooming so the scents are wafting around the entire yard! Since I am a creature of habit, I grabbed my camera and headed out before remembering that even if I took perfect pictures, I have no way to download them to my computer. But then I thought about my phone. My phone doesn't take fabulous pictures and the amount of editing I know how to do on it is very limited but, some editing is more than no editing so I went ahead and took some pictures.

I have an Android phone and it is not a new model so the only way I know how to get them to the computer is to email them all to myself and then open and save the picture to a file. Since I can't make any new files, I figured I would just try to add them to an already existing file and....it worked! Of course, it takes forever to do and I'm not sure how long it will continue to work because other solutions have worked one day and then not the next but, for today, I have some garden flower photos to share.

Many of the perennials in the terraced garden by the pool are coming back-and some need to have some of their frost bitten stems pruned off. 

This sky vine didn't take anywhere the hit this year that it did last so I'm hoping the whole pergola will be covered soon. I have three sky vines-two of them are a different variety but this one has blooms that resemble orchids.

These beauties-I have two here and one on the other side of the pool-are mock oranges. After growing up down by the Indian River area which was full of orange groves, I truly wish these trees smelled like the original orange blossom but, even though they look just like the real orange bloom, there is not one bit of scent.

Of course, I have many, many weeds to tackle plus edging, mulching, raking, pruning and pressure cleaning still to go before I will be ready relax out there...but the blooms and scents will make it a more beautiful work place! Lol

I've been slacking on my lacrosse pictures. Both of my grand children's teams are now in playoffs and we have done more celebrating than picture taking as they continue to win. But, I think I have one or two to share.

Our local newspaper did a nice article about our TC team.

Guess I don't have any new ones with Presley but, I have been watching grandson #1 play for the Coast Guard. They're having a rough go of it this year so I actually thought he might not get any play time but he's made it into three or four (can't remember) games so far and it is so exciting for me to see him there and know he is living his best life! He loves everything about the Academy and playing both football and lacrosse for them. Yay #1!!

And, we've had another Grandparents' Day at our High School. It is such a wonderful event and one that I look forward to every year. This year I was there with Hudson and Presley. We always start with a school-wide mass and the message is always something about what an important part grandparents play in the life of a child. Then we are off to the courtyard to mingle and visit and get pictures made before heading in to a wonderful breakfast.

So that is some of the fun stuff I have been up to. Daughter #1 was here for a night as she and daughter #3 were headed to High Point Market early the next morning. We squeezed in a nice catch-up visit and a delicious Chinese dinner! The rest of my time has been dealing with my still not usable car, my almost not usable computer and an insurance snafu that had me thinking my auto insurance was being cancelled. It took FOREVER until my son-in-law and I could find someone who actually knew the answer to why my premium was continuously being sent back to me. I knew I hadn't had any tickets, accidents or claims so I was a bit puzzled but the answer was that they actually owe me money and they're applying it to my premiums until they're paid up. It sure would have saved me a few sleepless nights if that had been conveyed but, oh well. I guess all's well that ends well.

So let's see if these pictures actually publish. Fingers crossed. Stay safe and stay tuned.

Spring Tour

 My last post posted although the pictures definitely left much to be desired-even more than usual. But, at this point, my goal is to at least get all of the pictures I have been able to download posted even if they can not be edited. Let's see how the living room turned out. If I had known this would happen, I would have taken a bit more care when snapping the pictures but, it is what it is!

As much of a problem that I have in decorating for Easter, spring is even harder for me. Again, I think it is the pastel colors that speak spring...and, I love them so much outdoors. But, not so much in my house. Of course, there are places where they can't be denied-like my favorite wreath from a favorite shop down in Lake Alfred. And so, I had to let a little bit of the those colors sneak in but, in the end, I realized that I am still mostly using greens and purples-I guess you can't teach an old dog...Lol This is also where I bring out all of my garden features-lots of old and chippy things that make me happy.

I also realized after decorating for spring that I don't have a lot of "spring crafts". I actually had some new ones lined up but, alas, my printer is also down for the count so any printing isn't happening for awhile either!

I made this "spring" sign last year and I kind of like how it matches the flower arrangement.

It is really hard to get a good picture-especially when you can't edit-of this cloche but I love that the image inside is almost an exact duplicate of the nest beside it.

So that is it for the living room. Again, I'm not sure these posts are anything anyone wants to see, but with all of the computer issues, it just feels even more urgent for me to get these pictures on. My next decor doesn't come until about the third week of May so fingers crossed something will be figured out by then. The next in line is "patriotic" and one of my favorites-even if it does feature a lot of red. Lol

Grandson #2 is coming over this afternoon to see if he can help at all. He is quite versed in computers but not necessarily dinosaur computers like mine. I think the aim is to not have to buy a new computer because I don't even have any idea of what I would need to buy. It's going to be an interesting afternoon because I know he wants so much to be able to help but....you'll be the first to know. Lol Fingers crossed I'll be back. Stay safe and stay tuned.