Happy Father's Day

For all of the very special Dads out there~

Loved and missed.

Thank you~

~Thank you my dear, dear friends~

Looking forward to a return soon.

Love to all of you

Debra

friends

This award is bestowed on to blogs that are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

Pass along to 8 other friendly bloggers! I would love to put all of you guys down, but yall know how these work! You all are friendly and sweet to me on a daily basis. My giveaways are my way of showing you just how thankful I am to have the great, friendly, readers that I have!

If you find that you need an award, please be my guest and award yourself...you deserve a break today!

Happy Friday!

coffee, tea or wine

Coffee, tea or wine?

Sugar, one lump or two?

Honey?

Milk, Cream or 2 percent?

Need something a little stronger, perhaps a nice soothing glass of wine.

Swirl, Smell and sip-

"There are times in every woman's life - when the only thing that helps is a cup of coffee, tea or wine."  Then there are times when friends just need friends.   We are all missing "Deb" here and I volunteered to post and just help out - that is what blog friends do when Life happens.    We have all been there or here, when things happen that pull us away from posting, commenting and being "plugged in!"  So have a cup of coffee, tea or wine until Deb returns.

In the meantime, leave her a "boost" - an encouraging comment.  You know how blog buddies help you through little challenges.  No need to ask all the details, but just to know that one of us is missed, and one of us needs a hug, or a comment.  Leave something funny, something nice in the form of a comment.  We know she will be back soon.  We all need time for a coffee break.

Grand Tudor-Final Phase

~East Wing~

Well, here is the final phase of the small illustration. This was one of my favorite views of the home, just this one end. I drew this by memory and sent it along to one special guest.

Recently many parcels of this fabulous property have been sold. I took a ride to the estate on Easter Sunday and found is so different from my years spent there .

There are a couple of new owners and the main house is under a massive renovation. I may try to sneak down there this fall and snap a few more pictures.

I do hope they are all well loved, because they have given much happiness to so many.

Grand Tudor~ Phase Two

~One of many window boxes~

The grand Tudor had several window boxes! The truth is, there were about 18 for this one home!

There were approximately 24 for the main house and 14 for one of the other homes. Then there were stone walls that were planted with more impatiens and bright geraniums.

During the winter months I spent days pouring over seed catalogs, ordering all of the seed for the annuals. Then there were the bulbs and perennials. I grew all of the seed at the gorgeous glass greenhouse and conservatory that had been shipped in pieces from England many, many years ago. It was a haven during the fall and winter. Once spring arrived it was tending thousands and thousands of seedlings.

There was a huge rock garden, a formal fenced garden, a formal rose garden, a cutting garden and many other smaller gardens. It was a huge job. I arranged flowers for the main house three times a week, watered, fertilized, dead-headed, clipped, picked, sprayed, weeded and always kept the greenhouse and conservatory in good order for visitors. There was one room in the greenhouse that was just orchids... no wonder I was in such terrific shape back then. Such worthwhile and satisfying work.

My son and I lived in one of the houses on the estate. During the quiet times of the year we would head to the bowling alley on the property and during warm weather there was a beach for us to use.
When I married my husband, we all lived there. It was an adventure- a wonderful atmosphere in which to raise my son and to start a new life.

~Stay tuned for the final phase...

Grand Tudor~Phase One

~Click to enlarge~

This is the first phase of a very special home illustration. Actually it is one of several homes on a private estate on a nearby lake.

The lady of the house was a refined, sophisticated and very chic woman that had homes all over the world. She raised sons and daughters and was a world class cook. She always opened her homes to family and friends. I was the gardener at this magical property for six years.

Each summer guests would arrive to enjoy tennis, swimming, fabulous meals, boating, walking in the formal rose garden, and cocktails served at the main house before dinner

It amazes me how small our world seems at times. Who would guess that so many years later I would cross paths with one of those special guests via our blogs. She and her husband traveled to Maine for summer holidays and stayed right here in this home.

Watch as I try to bring this gorgeous old Tudor back to the grande dame that I remember.

There were thousands of bright pink Impatiens planted among the stone paths and in her many window boxes.

Do you know of a special place that evokes all kinds of wonderful memories of experiences past?

~To be continued...

Last fire of the season~

~The Last Fire- 'til Fall~

We love our fireplace and we use it- a lot! This past Sunday, the house quiet, the windows open and with a gentle rain falling, we decided to have our last fire of the season.

Some left-over white birch logs from a fallen tree gave us a warm, crackling fire. It's bittersweet to see this season come to a close. Warmer days and more time spent outside will take the place of sporting a warm sweater and sitting near the fire with a glass of wine.

Do you have any end-of-season rituals that bring back memories of seasons past- looking forward to what's ahead and lingering over thoughts of happy times spent?

Fabulous Weekend~

~Tropicana Roses from Erin and Jack~

~Luncheon of the Boating Party~

Renoir

1881

This past weekend was filled with fun and frivolity. We played games, did art, walked down by the lake, ate cake, made wishes, drank wine, played wii and ate good food. Of course the men did wear shirts. It was a memorable weekend spent with my family.

How was your weekend? Did you play games, take walks, spend it with your loved ones, play wii...and did the men all wear shirts?