Project Genesis

                            About two weeks ago I watched the Sunday Morning Show.                      

One of my favorite shows by the way.

Love the guy with the bow tie. 

Charles Osgood

Many of us have taken steps in small ways in

reducing waste and keeping our energy consumption down.
I applaude all these efforts because they all make a difference when
we ALL do it.
What is really going to make a BIG difference is when
it's done a large
scale and hopeful we are finally on the right path when car manufacturers, power companies and alike start to listen to us
...the consumers.
It's by buying the products that are energy efficient
that we are sending the message to 
companies.
We want you to get these products
on the shelves.
The companies don't care what you buy they just 
want to make money
so show them with your dollars
what you want!!!

I hadn't planned on talking too much on this post
...I just get so excited I can't shut up sometimes:))

 just wanted you to watch this
video.  

It gave me a lot of HOPE,

and isn't that what we need

 NOW?

forgive the short 15 sec. commercial.
I couldn't find my way around it.
please click on

     HERE
and watch

I'm joining Project Genesis
with my eco- conscious friend Suzan
at oldgreymare
please go visit her and the other participants.

make a difference today!!!

Falling for Berries

I think we've all been waiting for Fall this year.

It's what I've been hearing all over Blogland.

This Summer had been brutal in some parts and we're all

wanting some relief.

Here in the Northeast we've started getting some cooler weather

and it couldn't have come soon enough.

Remember, I work outside everyday and though

I try not to complain about the heat

I

Don't

Love

it!

Besides the cooler weather the Fall is my favorite and mostly

for what happens in the garden.

The

Berries

You might be shocked but I did no altering to these pictures.

Not that they look it, but I just wanted to see if I could refrain.

Plus it takes more time.

and I rather like the contrast.

I said I tried

Bayberry that we found at the old dump which I have to

'clarify to everyone from my previous post about this place.

I must have given the impression that it was still the town dump.

It's been turned into a park but they still use the back part

for dumping leaves and turning into compost.

So don't be too jealous!!!

our dump, or should I say transfer station is just as unattractive

as everyone elses.

I was thinking I would like to take pictures of

our actual town dump

and maybe try to show the beauty there

...now there's a challenge!!!!

the problem is that the hours have been cut (due to budget tightening) 

and

I'm working when their open so it's been

 hard to get there but it's something I'm determined to do

this Fall.

DUMP PICTURES!!! woo hoo!

While we were relaxing on the bench I noticed these berries

and I hate to admit this but I don't know what they are???

I just loved the color of them.

I also found this guy there.

kinda cute!!!

I'm meeting him tonight.

So I've got to run.

I call him cowboy!!!

Counting Sheep

A few months back I ordered some of the cutest sheep from

my friend Susie of

From My Home to Yours

she had just opened her Esty shop and I just couldn't resist them.

Have I ever told you how much I love sheep?

oh maybe I have.

She sent it along with the cutest card

of what else??

Sheep... of course!

I was so excited when I got them that I immediately

took pictures of them (under the harsh

lights of the shop).

I wasn't thrilled how they turned out.

I guess I'm fussy so I wanted to reshoot them.

By the way I also bought these knobs.

 I didn't have a particular dresser to

 use them on but I liked them and they were well priced.

I figured I'd find a use for them sometime.

Well after all these months I finally got around

to taking my sheep home.

I found a place for them in the upstairs foyer

on our printers cabinet. Don't you think I should paint this??

I think I just need a push to do it. I'm not a fan of Oak!

I used to use this piece to put my plant tags in

at work but it seemed too good for that purpose

and plus the drawers were too small.

I stash jewelry parts in there now.

It becomes sort of the catch all. This gave me a reason of finally

straighten it out.

 I set it up to show you the things Susie had lovingly wrapped

 my goodies in.

Wasn't that sweet of her???

Thanks Susie.

My initials on the card

from metal stencils.

I noticed Susie had just added some new items in the

her Etsy shop so you might want to go take a look.

****

Joining  White Wednesday this week

with Kathleen of Faded Charm

Thanks Kathleen for being there every week!!!

You're amazing!

Oh Jeanne

I looked back at when I first started this post.... 3rd of August!!!

with all intentions of putting it up before the next magazine arrived.

So now almost 3 weeks later I'm finally finishing it,

The magazine came a few days ago and for those of you

that preordered they should be arriving at your

door any minute now.

I had to order more and as of today all orders have gone out.

Thank you!!!

You may have seen these "teasers"

that we all get before the release but now

I can share a few more with you.

Charming outdoor spaces.

( Shrimp and Salmon with dill dressing)

And delicious recipes

This issue is more about kitchens this time.

Organizing is the key to a happy kitchen or should I say happy cook.

Every issue is packed with easy ideas and craft projects.

One that intrigued me was one that allowed me to use my

ever growing eucalyptus plant.

It long ago lost it's tag. It maybe around 10 years old.

I believe it's spiral eucalyptus and only a tender perennial

.....meaning simply it's not hardy enough to be grown outside.

For the longest time it struggled to live in the
too small a pot I had it in but once

it's roots made it thru the

bottom drainage hole it was a happy camper.

At this point I'm afraid to move it.

George calls it wasted space.

I don't agree because when I make bouquets to bring to friends

I often like to include a few branches.

Yes, I know I could buy them at the florist but it makes it more special(I think)

that it was grown by me!

Just wrapped around a basket for a simple decorative touch.

I also have this elongated type growing but nothing as large as the one in the picture.

In JDLiving they mention the species that can be grown in

Denmark.....Eucalyptus archeri, gunnii, pauiflora, and perriniana.

That got me to wonder if they can grow there maybe they can grow

in our cold climate ( Z-6)

The information online was a bit confusing which it often came be when you

try to research the hardiness of a plant.

The best source I found was

HERE

there you can find most varieties that can grow in

zone 8 (10-20 F) and colder.

The hard part maybe to find the plants.

Many are not grown in the US and too many are mislabeled.

Maybe you might know of places that sell hardy species.

If so, let me know!!!

Well, meanwhile until I can get my Eucalyptus grove growing:))

I think I'll try making some of these projects.

A notebook can easily be decorated and become quite personal

if you dress it with layered eucalyptus leaves. Make it while the leaves are fresh

and glue them on the book using arts and craft glue.

You can add a little card for explaining what the book is meant for.

Write by hand and make it look extra decorative be using a complimentary color.

A large heart

Craft a large heart from fencing wire and tie the ends using steel wire.

Using a glue gun fasten leaves directly onto the wire. You can

decorate the heart with a card, a little cross, a bit of lace or whatever

you like.

A wonderful wreath

Grab a length of steel wire, string pearls and leaves.

Alternate the fresh leaves and pearls.

Once you get the length you want, finish it up by tying the

two ends together. It looks wonderful when

left lying on a table.

The hostess gifts I often like to bring!

Flowers picked from my garden using eucalyptus as

a graceful filler.

What do you like to bring your hostess????

or better yet what do like to receive???

***

Hope you had a good weekend!

we finally received some long awaited RAIN today!!!

YAY

Essex continued

Essex is mostly known for it's nautical ties,

old New England charm, shipyards dating back to the Revolutionary War

and it's shops.

Essex was once originally part of the colony of Old Saybrook as well as other towns.

If you'd like to read more about the history of

Essex go HERE

I love the history of our area but I don't want to assume it holds

any interest to anyone else so I'll keep the history lesson to a minimum.

I'll keep it light and breezy!!!!!

The Griswold Inn
or the "Gris" as the locals call it has been in operation since

1776 and is the oldest contiguous running Inn in Connecticut.

As a youngen I worked at the Gris and have fond memories

of the place. It was one of the most fun places I've ever worked.

People I run into, that I worked with all say the same thing.

It just had that kind of atmosphere that just brought out the fun in all of us.

Maybe it's the ghosts of sailors past.

I recall a few people saying they saw ghosts....

more likely it was from a few too many pints of beer

that made their eyes play tricks on them.

I'm not sure I believe in ghosts.

Do you???

( picture from internet)

This is the Covered Bridge room named for the fact that the walls and ceiling are

made from a covered bridge.

The room looks exactly like it did when I worked there

in 1776.

Just seeing if you're paying attention.

Shop across the street that is owned by the Gris

and serves coffee and pastries

The new Griswold Inn Gift Shop that just opened this Spring.

I didn't get a chance to go in since they were closed by the time we got here.

Before that a wonderful clothing shop was there for almost 20yrs.

Paula's favorite shop

The Red Pepper which is now in

Old Saybrook.

From some of your comments about Paula's outfits well

this is the shop she finds them in.

Most of them from Designer Cynthia Ashby which seems to have

been made just for her.

oh right back to Essex!!
we're still across the street from the Gris.

The Christmas Barn tucked away in the back.
It's been there for years.

Fun shop with every kind of Christmas decoration you can think of.

The window display of the Griswold Inn shop

You know me by now I can't go anywhere without photographing

COLEUS

I started buying these glass spheres a few years ago from various

places and they now don't really

go in my house anymore

but I'm still drawn to them. I love watching the light

hit them and bounce onto the walls.

I played with the photo a little to change the color.

I wish I could Photoshop my life??

Tired of the color of my shoes...Photoshop it.

If only it were that easy.

I always look forward to seeing what this house plants in their urn.

I think it's the best I've ever seen it.

It's this clever.

This is the French Hen. It reminds me a little of the kind of window display

you'd see at Anthropology.

Just unexpected and makes you want to see more inside.

This bench was in front of a new antique store.

It was a "fancy" antique store from what I could see from the window.

No chippy paint there I imagine.

The bench was a little chippy though.

The Essex Book store at the top of Main Street

The front of this place was a riot of color and they really did a great job

with the colors they chose. The black potato vine played off the

black and white awnings so well.

Every preppy town has to have a Talbots!!!

It's really not as preppy anymore. I looked at the website and it's more business wear.

There used to be a Lilly Pulitzer in town too.

Yes Renee!

Preppy Central!!!!

I shouldn't judge........... I wore that kind of thing in my 20's.

My boyfriend at the time was an Essex prep and somehow I thought I needed to

play the part....at least with my clothes.

A Pocket Full of Posies

Isn't that a cute name?

The front facade is adorable and so well kept up.

You know me I had to take pictures of the flowers that were

spilling out over the stonewalls.

****

I hope you enjoyed the Essex tour.

Sorry it took me so long to show you this last post.

Time just seems to be escaping me lately.

I always think that after the Spring rush that things will all fall into place

and I'll have all this free time but that never seems to happen.

We have been trying to catch up with friends that we've been neglecting for months.

We have some pretty patient friends that know we have limited time....

well, like most of us I'm sure.

Hope you've all been enjoying the Summer!!!!