Almost There!

 The sun is shining brightly today so I was able to finish up the pictures in the family room. We'll see that today and then finish the tour the next time we get together.

I can't tell you how many times I tried this photo but just couldn't get it any better-sorry- but, hopefully you can see the sequin canvas that has been one of my all-time favorite crafts with my grandchildren.

I found this one from last year for you so you can be sure to see. We also made a heart like this for Valentine's Day and I love them both.

I simplified the coffee table this year and I think I like it.

I also left a few things off of the mantle and it too looks better in my opinion.

I have become a bit addicted to the small lights from Walmart. I like the way they brighten dark areas without having to worry about electrical plugs. 

So that is the family room for this year. Again, I love this room at night when all of the lights and candles come on.

Thought I would share just a few other things before signing off. I don't know if I have ever told you, but I kind of pride myself in the fact that I am not one usually swayed by commercials. I won't buy something just because someone tells me to. That being said, I guess I will have to start eating those words because I will admit to watching decorating posts by influencers and when I see them using something I like and think that I probably won't be able to find locally, I will check their links.

That happened recently when I saw someone using "coffee" colored real-feel tulips. I know for a fact that the only place I have found those things locally is at HL and as of right now, they still only have them in pink or white. These silly things totally spoke to me and, even though the price was actually way better than HL, I still didn't get them. I finally-only a day later-decided to order them. I wanted two bundles but when I got on there, there was only one bundle left due to popularity from an Amazon influencer! Lol I was mad at myself but decided that it might be for the best since I haven't seen them in person-maybe they're not all they're cracked up to be. Except, they ARE!

These things are beautiful. I don't have any others that have the buds and blooms in different stages of opening. I literally just got these at my front door and threw them into this vase. At this point, I'm not sure where they are going or what vessel they will be in but I am sure that I love them...so much so that I went right back to see if I could order more and apparently I really did get the very last one available. They are still out of stock!

And then, talking about getting things off of my porch...daughter #3 texted and said to be on the lookout for a birthday surprise delivery and before I knew it, this had arrived.

It is a 6' ficus tree and just what this corner needed after the removal of the corner cupboard. I went out yesterday to find a basket for it but none were to be found so, until I find just what I want, I bought an inexpensive substitute. It is dark green so it will work for a few decor swaps and if I still haven't found what I want, I think I will try doing a faux finish of some sort on it so, we shall see.

This corner needed something because of this...

This room is so hard to decorate because it is not symmetrical...and we all know how I feel about that. Lol The difference between the chairs and the corners of the room are not the same and that drove me crazy-hence the reason I had originally put in the corner cupboard. I now see where that was the wrong choice-after oh so many years-but something had to go there and my designer daughter says that she uses these trees often. It is a really nice faux tree and on quick perusal, you might think it is real. The only problem with real ficus trees-which I have had in the past-is that if they are not 100% happy where they are, they can lose every leaf they have overnight-ask me how I know. Lol

It is doing its job and I love it...and my continuing birthday surprises as my birthday month goes on. Lol

I am off to grab a quick lunch before getting ready for my brother and sister-in-law. They will arrive and we will head to my grandson's lacrosse game and then out to dinner. Tomorrow my brother has an early race and then we're off to my granddaughter's lacrosse game and then on to the Master Gardener's Show and Sale. Should be a busy few days but I'll be back to wrap up this tour before we're having corned beef and cabbage and drinking green beer. LOL Stay safe and stay tuned.

On To the SUN!

 I'm back as promised and today we are heading into the sunroom-the much aptly named SUNROOM because today the sun is shining into this room so brightly, photos were almost impossible-but, never-the-less here we go! Welcome.

As I look at these pictures, they strike me as really sparse in decor but, I am trying to abide by my goal of simplifying so I didn't hang much this time and this is always the one area I try to keep minimal so we can function in here without having to move a thousand things so...it is what it is. If you look closely, it does "whisper" St. Patrick's Day. Lol

I'm happy I can use this bargain candle that I found in Michaels again. Between it and the other candle on the console, this room glitters so nicely at night. And, next to the candle is a beautiful sun catcher that granddaughter #3 made for me. I think this is the best room for it because the reflections will be spectacular-I just need to find just the right place where it can hang.

And I thought I'd share the one little spot in my bedroom. I seem to keep moving this bench between here and the foot of the bed but I think I'm leaning towards leaving it here because it gives me one more spot for decor. I don't know why but this makes me happy.

My plan after returning home was to get caught up on things and those things included getting out into the yard and cutting off everything that didn't make it over our winter weather. It actually took more time than I thought for my back to recover enough for me to attempt this project but, today was to be the day. 

I was going to start with the places that I see the most often like the terraced garden by the pool and the vine over the pergola that I'm sure you saw out the sunroom photo until....my favorite weatherman posted that we may be in store for one more really cold hit. I don't think we will get down to freezing again but, after killing so much last year by being too premature in my efforts, I have decided to wait and see if things change before starting the overhaul.

But, while I was out there I found two things that although you wouldn't think so, actually make me very happy. The first is this bush I bought two or three years ago.

It was absolutely beautiful when I bought it-full of dark green leaves and blooms that remind me of the lily of the valley that my dad used to grow. And, for once, I read the planting details and did just what it said but, although it has hung on, it has been anything but beautiful the last few years. I am happy to finally see some new leaves coming and some more blooms.

And, my Meyer lemon that I covered during our freezes only to have the cover blow off during heavy winds might not be as dead as I thought. You can still see some of the many baby lemons that are now frozen solid hanging on plus a few yellow leaves but you can also see new growth on some of the branches. Of course, it will probably be a bit of time before I see more lemons again but I am just happy to see this and optimistic to see what comes.

So that is where I will leave you today. Believe it or not, I still have more to catch up on from being gone only four days so I am off to do that. I'll be back and maybe we can finish up our tour. Until then, stay safe and stay tuned.

Day 2!

 We were off again on Saturday morning with a full day in Summerville ahead of us. Granddaughter #2 is in the Summerville Junior League and they were hosting a Home and Garden Tour in the historic part of the city. Once again, we knew that parking would be at a premium so we Ubered to the church where we were starting off, got all of our goodies and boarded the trolley to the first house.

There were four beautiful, historic homes on the tour. No pictures were allowed inside but we got lots of the gardens. I made it through the first house-inside and out-and then my back started arguing with me. Standing still in one place for any length of time is no longer comfortable for me and there was much to be shared about each room so after house #1, I found comfy places in the gardens and let the others enjoy the tour. Granddaughter #3 joined me for much of the time so we had an extra special visit and she got to hear lots of "never before revealed" stories about her Nana's life. Lol Again, pictures from everyone so not necessarily in any order.

Since we really didn't have breakfast, we had worked up quite an appetite by this time so we walked to downtown and found a charming old house turned boutique coffee house/lunch spot. I think by this time we were all too tired and hungry to take pictures but it was a spot full of ambiance and good food.

From there we headed to the main street and could not miss a photo with the "World's Largest Sweet Tea" jar. Summerville is known as the "Birthplace of Sweet Tea" because it was the home to the first successful U.S. tea plantation in the late 1800s. The town actually broke the Guinness World Record for sweet tea in 2016 with its 15' tall container named "Mason" that held 2524 gallons of tea!

Then we were off to browse the shops and visit the park in the square.

These crazy girls couldn't believe that this square spelled its name incorrectly-theirs is Hutchison. Lol

One last stop in town before heading home was at the Azalea Bar and Garden. Caitlin wanted us to see this place because of its ambiance and unique drinks. After looking at the menu, I will admit that I had NO idea there were so many cocktails and mixed drinks available. Being the "purist" that I am, I stuck to a glass of white wine but several others tried some fancy concoctions including one full of edible glitter and a rock candy stirrer.

And then we were headed home for a dinner of everything we hadn't finished eating before-LOL- and another round of Yahtzee and more kitten time.

And in what seemed like an instant, we were in the car and headed back to Florida. Along the way, we needed gas and everyone thought a stop at Buckee's was in order as I was the only one who had never been there. After seeing the HUGE amount of cars and people, I was ready to stay in the car as I am NOT a fan of crowds and waiting in the lines that I assumed would be backed up in there .

I was right, it was crowded but I will also have to admit that the lines-at least the ones we needed- weren't an issue at all. I'm glad I went because now I can say that I have been there and I was kind of amazed at the scope of products they carry but I think I am probably good and will not ever need to go back. I think if it wasn't a stop on a trip-where I just want to get where I am going or home from where I have been-I might enjoy poking around a bit. We are getting one here in a year or so so maybe I will get a chance to do just that.

In any case, it was a wonderful trip and so many new memories were made. I am still trying to catch up on "all of the things" from being gone but I will try to get our St. Pat's Tour finished up soon as "the day" is only a week away! My brother and sister-in-law are coming for the weekend and I think I heard my brother has a race and then we're going to try to get to the Master Gardener's show here in Ocala. Should be a fun weekend. Stay safe and stay tuned.