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Friday, March 27, 2015

A Designer Spring

Day1 of this blog entry:

We have officially hit the magical number on the calendar this past week that says spring is here but looking out my windows and door you would not know it. Just Monday  the temperatures  were 30 degrees with a wind chill factor. The news reports are calling for rain tonight. There is still a measurable amount of snow on the ground from the "most snowfall ever recorded" winter. I can see the grass in some areas, like over the septic tank. While it is not an ideal location I will take what I can get at this point.

Easter is a week away and not one crocus has popped. Not one tulip has forced its head above the dirt. The forsythia bushes that line the back wall have no buds readying to burst open at the first warm day. My lilac bush looks cold and dead.

It has been a hard winter and I am ready for the springtime so I prepared my home for it and will wait for it to show up.

I started in the dining room. It is the first room you see when walking into our home and it is the first room I walk into in the morning. I want it to greet me with the excitement life and of spring!






Next into the kitchen I go. Still love my ever-changing chalkboard.

Before last week....

...and today!


Then into the living room; there is not much to do here. I replaced certain pictures and changed the hutch shelves a bit. Arranging them always proves a challenge for me. I have learned to take pictures and then adjust based on what I see in the photos. I changed the pillows and put away the winter throw though it is still in reach to grab on rainy days.

Christmas in the living room

Ha-ha out the windows there was no snow yet! This was in December-the only month of the year that I like snow.
Spring shelves, cleaned up and edited. Still not liking the arrangement.
Better, for now....

My favorite painting from my grandmother....

I had the pitcher and flowers long before I received the painting. 

I made a wreath for my front door following this blog post from Polka Dot Chair.





Day2:

It rained last night and the temperature stayed above freezing! Today’s temps are to be in the low 50’s and more rain is on the way in. That means more snow is on the way out! Yay! My gardens and shrubs have taken a beating this winter and I can’t wait to get out there and tend to them. Maybe a crocus or two will finally emerge.

The tulips are another story because the rabbits usually get to them just as they are ready to open. Cute as bunnies can be I have no love for them in the spring. My vegetable gardens are now all raised and fenced in because of said bunnies. Bunnies represent springtime for me because that is when I see them (or evidences of them) in my gardens most. I prefer my bunnies in the ceramic form with a bow around their neck.



What am I saying! Silly me! I prefer my bunnies in the chocolate form! Some of you are not surprised at that, I know.

That being said, we don’t do The Easter Bunny and egg hunts anymore. In our home, we celebrate Resurrection Day. As Christians, this day we celebrate is the very reason and assurance of our faith. I used to make resurrection cookies with the girls when they were little-not so much now that they are older . They always got new outfits-usually matching- (and accessories) to wear to church. 

2009

As they get older many things changed. They still get new outfits but shopping for them requires their input and is thus a bit more challenging at times. I will add a picture to this post later from Easter Morning 2015.



 As our younger girls enter the “springtime” of their lives I watch with a similar anticipation to that of my gardens. What will they bloom into?  I don't know what that will be for either of them but for now they bring a beautiful array of color to our lives that cannot be achieved with even the best crafters and designers on this earth. Their Designer is unmatched.

Horray for the promise of Spring! Horray for the shadows in this life that excite my anticipation of a day in the future when Christ will make all things perfect and new.

Link Parties:
frenchcountrycottage.net
shabbynest.blogspot.co
chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com
justusfour.com
http://romantichome.blogspot.com/
http://thecottagemarket.com/
http://www.thediyvillage.com/
piecedpastimes.blogspot.com
niftythriftythings.com
diyshowoff.com
http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2015/03/the-sunday-showcase-party-no-279.html
http://www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com/2015/03/amaze-me-monday-104.html
http://www.cedarhillfarmhouse.com/2015/03/the-scoop-164.html
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/2015/03/show-and-share-no255.html
http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/
http://www.huckleberrylove.com/
http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/inspire-me-monday-53/
http://cupcakesandcrinoline.com/2015/03/30/project-inspired-112/
http://www.skiptomylou.org/2015/03/30/made-by-you-monday-232/
http://www.abrightandbeautifullife.com/making-monday-82-2/
http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/2015/03/a-very-special-palm-sunday-and-linky.html
http://www.creativelylivingblog.com/2015/03/monday-funday-97.html
http://www.karensuponthehill.com/something-to-talk-about-link-party-10/
http://thediydreamer.com/from-dream-to-reality/spring-drinks-treats-and-food-fdtr-161/
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/2015/03/262nd-inspire-me-tuesday.html
elizabethandcovintage.com
abowlfulloflemons.net
lifewiththecrustcutoff.com
mariaelenasdecor.blogspot.com/
cozylittlehouse.com
bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com
savvysouthernstyle.net
lambertslately.com
theturquoisehome.com
thededicatedhouse.com
livelaughrowe.com
diybydesign.blogspot.com
impartinggrace.com
thecharmofhome.com
commonground
frommyfrontporchtoyours.co
snazzylittlethings.com
craftberrybush.com



This post was featured on The Dedicated House!

13 comments:

  1. Beautiful! I love the chalkboard pieces! I've been wanting to make a few for the seasons! Your home is lovely!
    Miss Bloomers

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    1. Thank you! So glad you stopped by. I love my chalkboards. I always start out thinking it will be a great place for notes and grocery lists but I end up not wanting to use them for that. :)

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  2. I love your wreath and the flower arrangement on the dining room table.

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    1. Thanks, Alyssa. Wish I could take creative credit for the table flowers but the truth is I just bought three bunches of flowers, each a different color, from AC Moore. I cut off what I needed for the wreath and threw what remained into the pitcher. Ta-da!

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  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  4. Such a beautiful Spring Tour of your lovely home! Thank you so much for sharing at Project Inspire{d} ~ pinning!

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  5. I love the colors of your dining room!!!! Thanks for sharing. Love all the spring home decor. I popped over from the Saturday spark link party.

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  6. You are so ready for spring and totally get that Jolena. Our daffodils are usually up for Easter, but not this year.Your dining room looks so pretty and inviting. Love the wall treatment. Your family is adorable too. Thank you so much for sharing at SYS and wishing you a very blessed Resurrection Day.
    XO Barbara

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  7. You are so ready for spring and totally get that Jolena. Our daffodils are usually up for Easter, but not this year.Your dining room looks so pretty and inviting. Love the wall treatment. Your family is adorable too. Thank you so much for sharing at SYS and wishing you a very blessed Resurrection Day.
    XO Barbara

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for dropping by, Barbara. Wishing you a blessed Resurrection Day, as well!

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  8. Love your chalkboards! Thanks for joining Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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