Springing Up All Over!!

I waffle between spring and fall as my favorite season, but right about now it's spring!  The air is fresh.  The sky is cerulean blue, and spring's green shoots are sprouting up everywhere.

Around here you'll find spring both outside and--because you know I can't miss a seasonal decorating opportunity--inside!

Outside, our cherry tree is in blossom ...

The azalea buds are about to burst ...

The rhododendron buds are just starting ...

The wild dogwood are blooming in the woods ...

And the bleeding heart bush is already huge!

Inside, in addition to the spring mantel and foyer vignette I've already shown you, I've done some spring sprucing in the dining room:

On the side table I added egg cup candle holders and my put some hosta leaves in my milk glass bud vases.

I kept the dining table centerpiece simple with an egg candle wreath and a couple of daffodils in purple bottle vases.

On the other side of the room I just put another daffodil in a purple vase and a faux orchid plant (since there's not enough light there to keep my real one happy!) on the cabinet with my weather vane horse.

More flowers in the foyer -- a combo of cherry "sticks" as my husband calls them from Trader Joes (they don't look like they are ever going to actually bloom), and some clippings from our tree.

They are in one of the white art pottery vases from the '30s & '40s that I collect. 

Mostly simple touches in the living room.  Just some flowers on the coffee table, and I changed out the brown throw pillows for some green ones.

But in the corner of the living room I have my annual "Easter Tree."  I used to do a much more basic version when the boys were younger, but now I go a bit more elegant with spray painted white branches (left over from Christmas), a couple of eggs that could actually break (wouldn't chance that when they were horsing around!) and a silver urn.

This year I also added some lighted eggs inside the urn for a bit of glow.

There's a reason I'm not showing the family room or kitchen area -- there are painted pieces that are waiting for Lucketts shoved in the family room--and I'm not going to lie--the kitchen isn't exactly "spring fresh" looking at the moment!



Other than changing out the fresh flowers and taking down anything that says "Easter" after the holiday (not the bunnies though--they stay 'til the summer decor change!), this will probably be it for my spring decor.  I'd much rather be working outside than putzing around inside!

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French Country Cottage: Spring Link Party Blog Hop

My Romantic Home: Show & Tell Friday

You're Talking Too Much: Meet Me Monday

My Repurposed Life: Catch as Catch Can

Happy First Day of Spring!!!!

It's officially here!  Woohoo!

We've been having 70 degree weather here in Northern Virginia--much warmer than normal.  Not that I'm complaining!  I've been taking advantage of it to get the garden beds cleaned up before the humidity hits and the mosquitoes come out to use me as their personal banquet table. Although I've mostly been working outside, I have done some spring sprucing inside, and today I'm showing you the latest vignette on the foyer table.

Okay, I can hear some of you now: "It's spring!  What's with the white?"  Because I love white.  I find it soothing and beautiful. And I have spring pastels in other places throughout the house, like the mantel that I've already shown you.  So don't have a conniption--I've got color, don't worry!

But white is seasonless.  It's peaceful.  Having it in the foyer sets a mood as soon as you walk in the front door.

White tulips are one of my favorite flowers.

The tin is a find from Home Goods.

I love all the different textures.

And of course I must have bunnies in any spring vignette--white or not!

I needed some peace and calm after the day I had yesterday.  I had to take two vet-phobic dogs in for check-ups. Actually Mosby's the really phobic one, but Angel picks up on his fear and decides she's afraid too.  So both of them decide they have to crawl in my lap while we're waiting for the doctor. Mosby weighs 40lbs. and Angel weighs 65. That's over 100lbs. of furry, quivering dogness fighting to get on my lap.  Did I mention they're overdue for their baths? Furry, quivering, smelly dogness. Panting and whining. It's really quite ridiculous.

Then when the vet comes in, Mosby turns into
a barking, growling vicious-sounding beast.  We've tried everything with him, including switching vets and locations.  He's actually fine during the exam (once I put a muzzle on him, just in case), but we go through this every time.  It's really stressful for all of us (luckily we have a great vet who deals with him very well).

Once we made it home after that ordeal I sat in front of my white vignette, focused on the beautiful white tulips and did some deep breathing exercises to bring myself to a state of serene well-being again ...

Okay, I totally didn't do that.  But I did glance at the vignette on my way to do something else, and I swear it made me calmer!

Happy Spring!


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My Repurposed Life: Catch as Catch Can
My Romantic Home: Show & Tell Friday
It's Overflowing: Overflowing with Creativity

Spring Mantel

It's confirmed. I officially have spring fever.  The weather here in Northern VA has been incredible this week -- high 70's!  It's amazing what a little sunshine does for one's attitude!  Outside I've been doing garden clean-up; inside I pulled out my spring decor bin and have been doing some spring spiffing.

I usually start with my mantel, and today I'm showing you what I've done so far.  I decided to keep it pretty simple this year, and keep the color scheme natural.  I went with greens, neutrals, and pale pastels.

When I think of spring, I think of birds, flowers -- and of course, bunnies!  So those are the elements I added into the mantel.  I filled my big glass ginger jar with apples and eggs in greens and taupes, and plopped my green bunny next to it.

I love this little guy.

I buy something new every year for the season (just can't help myself, and hey, at least I limited it to one thing this year!), and this year it was this vintage-looking  Happy Easter sign.  It went in the middle in front of the mirrors.

In both corners of one of the mirrors I tucked in an old Easter postcard, each with a hand-crafted little pin.

I bought them at a flea market in California years ago.  One pin is a little angel, and one is a bunny.  The bunny's my favorite. The postcards were mailed, and have writing on the otherside.  I have a bunch of old sent postcards--I love the glimpses into the lives of people who received them.  I don't know what to do with them though, and I thought the way the flea market vendor used them to display her pins was really creative--so I just never took them off!

I added a couple of birds and birdhouses, and a little bottle I picked up from Michaels last year. 



Pretty cute for something like $2.99.  I saw they have them again this year -- I just might need another!

And of course, it isn't spring without tulips ...

I tucked in a strip of moss, and I need to add some more in the front, but this is it for now. 

I'm working on the rest of my spring spiffing, and I'll show you that soon! 

Sharing at:

You're Talking Too Much:  Meet Me Mondays
No Minimalist Here: Open House
Not Just a Housewife: Show Me What Ya Got
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday
My Romantic Home: Show & Tell Friday
It's Overflowing: Overflowing with Creativity
French Country Cottage: Spring Link Party Blog Hop

Spring Eye Candy

It's been one of those weeks, and the view outside my window is about as grey and bleak as my attitude.  This time of year it can be hard to remember that spring is just around the corner.  So for a 'tude turn-around I decided to share some spring eye candy. 

These first photos are early spring shots taken in our front area.  At first there is a lot of white and pink, then the blues, corals and purples come in a bit later.

Next are some inspirational photos.  I'm always a sucker for cottage gardens ...

BHG.com

Love this photo-- for some reason it reminds me of the Wizard of Oz.

 BHG.com

BHG.com

Southern Living

Southern Living

My favorite -- hydrangea. Madonna doesn't know what she's missing!

Southern Living

Pretty, huh?

Actually, these photos have inspired me--since the weather is going to be pretty moderate this weekend, I'm going to get off my duff and go plant some bulbs!

If you haven't entered the giveaway for Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic Inspirations yet, you still have time -- the drawing is Tuesday!