Season's...

By all these lovely tokens

September days are here,

with summer's best of weather

and autumn's best of cheer.

- Helen Hunt Jackson

It's nearing those moments of harvest... 
the loading up of nature's BOUNTY,
another season has arrived & the one has gone!

YOU know... if you REALLY stop
& ponder on the word... seasons, 
you will find it brings a BOUNTY to the table!
It offers the division of the months, 
the flavor to food OR a time that's
characterized by a particular 
circumstance/situation in life!

NOW... that's some work for 
SUCH a simple word... seasons!

As in the days & weeks to follow... 

there's anticipation for more time to sit

quietly, to ponder & to be devoted on what lays near!

It looks to be another... season of life, up ahead,

one that will be saturated with ALL new things!

With the BOUNTY of autumn... & ALL

of God's promises, I'm grasping &

embracing ALL the newness of His will!

  JUST as in the labor of 

harvesting... there is sweat, blood & tears 

shed throughout certain... seasons of one's life!

I'm claiming the VICTORY over

all that happens to be coming... 

JUST as a farmer hopes for a PLENTIFUL

gathering come harvest time!

Well... friends, it's harvest time...
no matter the... season!

BLESSED evening... from my heart to YOURS!

A Deep LOVE For Worn Picks...

It will not

always be summer;

build barns.

- Hesiod

Good GRACIOUS... time surely doesn't
wait for anyone, even in the garden... it
seems to be in a ZIPPY hurry!
Especially when YOU have creative
projects JUST sitting about...
waiting for that PERFECT timing!

Well... honey, I'm a gardener's testimony, you've
gotta take hold & JUST create!
Those WEEDS will wait, they'll STILL
be there, don't you worry your PRETTY,
little apron to shreds about that one!

Oh, garden goodness...
do I create NOW, yes... it's pleasing to
the soul, to release... ALL these originals!

Sharing the DEEP love for ole' worn picks,
that have been transformed into garden
decor, NOT only for sight, BUT functional as well!

For several years now...
old, cake carriers have been my DEEP love!
And here recently... VINTAGE, metal/tin
bread boxes have wiggled into the
collection of goods, ALL for the
same purpose OR re-purpose project!

In EACH photo you can gain an
idea of what's being created to
result in one, TRULY delightful piece!

The possibilities are BEYOND
imaginable with THESE beauties!

THIS particular one, stole my heart...
with the color & patina it offered from
the get-go! BUT... I'm happy to announce,
it went to a LOVING home for a
farm table centerpiece... throughout
the summer months!

ANYTHING goes when it
comes to planting... I prefer to nestle & tuck
in annuals among perennials & herbs!

And for the LOVE of Succulents...
adding these will JUST enhance the
over-all, finished piece!
Oh... JUST a moment, Sedum was
almost forgotten... these are
known as 'Spillers' & add a WHIMSICAL
interest along the edge as they tumble
out along the container/planter!

NOW... unless you have some stashed
away OR happen to have Aunt Susie's, which
has seen it's better days... I suggest YOU get to
plundering about the JUNK shops,
THRIFT stores & swap meets... in order
to find that prized... cake carrier/bread box
for some time WELL SPENT in the garden!



Sunday BLESSINGS... from the farmhouse!

Last Days Of August...

August Is Like

The Sunday

Of Summer!

- Unknown

Today has dawned a cool, August
morning here in Kentucky!

There is NO doubt that the weather
is shifting gears...

And I'm TRULY ready for that
warm comfort of Fall, how about YOU???

BLESSED day... lovely friends!

The GROWING Gift We LOVE...

'Fairest of months; 

ripe Summer's Queen

The hey-day of the year

With robes that gleam with sunny sheen,

Sweet August doth appear.'

- R. Combe Miller

The signs of August lie near...

the dog days of summer are here!

AND with that... brings an abundance

of bounty among the hydrangeas, 

zinnia's & the STRONG, 

towering sunflowers!

Throughout the past weeks, 

there have been days here in Kentucky

 JUST too hot for outdoor duties!

Therefore... my thoughts & hands

 have turned to sketching 

with NEW designs being spit out two-fold!

Sunflowers being a staple

for years here at the farm... I couldn't

pass up the desire to add one OR two

to this season's series!

Look for HAND-PAINTED...

sunflower, home decor at 

ALL the up-coming... 

autumn/fall shows & events!

NOW... back to these DELIGHTFUL
variety of hydrangeas, 'Limelight'!

There's OFTEN the question...
'When is the right time to harvest
hydrangeas to obtain the BEST
finished product'?

Well... even though I've grown hydrangeas
for years offering them as potted goods,
fresh cuts & dried bundles... I STILL
find myself guessing myself!
When harvesting this one
particular hydrangea... 'Limelight', 
you are looking for a couple of things!
FIRST... timing is the ultimate key, it's

better to allow the blossom to dry slightly

while still on the shrub.

Depending on what state/garden zone

experiment on harvesting from 

August through October!

The blossoms will sometimes

pick up a beautiful shade of pink

when left on, especially in the south region!

PER: Phyllis Harris, a phenomenal, 

floral designer in the Nashville area...

states, 'If 'Limelight' Hydrangeas are still 

white, they will collapse into almost

nothing, they have to remain green,

for several weeks before harvesting!

Dry them in a cool place to prevent

discoloration... 

I, personally like to strip my leaves as 
I harvest to save on a shredded mess later! 

BUT, I have been known to leave the 

leaves for MORE interest & fullness! 

The time to harvest is AFTER

the morning dew has resided,

trying your best NOT to harvest during

the hottest hours of the day!

Here... you'll notice I harvest
them by the box full, it JUST helps
me on saving time, by placing them heads-up
as I go from hydrangea to hydrangea!
They will remain in the box
as positioned for at least 5-7 days,
 until dried to a ruffle feel!

And JUST one more tip...
REALLY a personal one for me!
I absolutely LOVE harvesting them
leaving long stems attached,
 that way the possibilities are
ENDLESS in decorating!

Hoping this gives YOU an insight
of how to harvest THOSE
magnificent blossoms, in order
to ENJOY a growing
gift that JUST keeps on giving!

BLESSED evening... & Happy Harvesting...
from my garden to YOURS!

The HARVEST...

A garden 

it feeds more 

than the table,

it feeds the soul.

- Unknown

The TRUE gardener
takes pride in EACH season given
beneath the sun!

The harvest
brings BEAUTY that will last.
Her hands carefully
place the petals in a preservative,
in order to offer the flower
another life, once more!

A life spent...
creating a house
into a HOME!

BLESSED 'Sunday' Evening...
from the drying shed!