My Paperwhite Tale

For several years I have wanted to try my hand at forcing paperwhite bulbs.

They're so pretty and I love the idea of watching something grow in the stark winter days, weeks, months...

I bought a Smith & Hawken kit from Target, followed the directions, crossed my fingers and hoped for the best.

And it worked! I was so excited to see those initial, beautiful green shoots! And then when I saw the flower buds I was beside myself!! I started thinking how next year I am going to force gobs of bulbs! I'll be surrounded by living plants all winter long...

...and then I caught a whiff of the paperwhite flower essence. Its fragrance. Its perfume. It stinks....at least to everyone in my family! I was SO disappointed! I thought they were supposed to smell spring-y and wonderful! So here I am loving the look of my paperwhites but resort to plugging my nose when I walk past them.

Do you force bulbs during the winter?

What are your favorites? What other bulbs should I try?

Honeysuckle Cottage

I absolutely love watching Netflix Instant!

Every so often I steal away for 30 minutes and watch an episode of the British comedy Keeping Up Appearances. The other evening, after tucking the kiddos in bed and while DK was at a meeting, I sat down to watch the Rural Retreat episode. I absolutely fell in love with Honeysuckle Cottage. Just look at that fabulous green door!

I love how it looks against the stark white of the cottage!

I know it is hard to tell in the picture but even the diagonal window panes are painted in that fabulous green! Love!!

The black detail on the door is stunning!

I would absolutely be in my glory living in this quaint cottage!

I hope you all would feel free to come for a visit!

My green door would always be open to you!

I Heart Green Houses

I love this little green cape cod.

I pass it on my way home from JK's orthopedist and my, um....plastic surgeon's office.

Every time I see it I smile.

It's a happy house.

It's a small nest but it's a wonderful one!

In fact it reminds me of my green nest.

I love green!

Budding Artists

Last night the family went to the girl's school to view their Annual Art Show. It was super fun seeing all of the student's creativity and hunting for the girl's masterpieces.

In true Kenners form she has skulls sprinkled throughout her chalkboard-esque work of art.

Rand shyly grinning next to her amazing pastel drawing.

Can't wait to get it home and add this funky piece to her framed gallery!!

And isn't she the sweetest...using her mama's favorite color, GrEeN?!?

My Special Day

Today is my birthday!

I have always loved having a birthday two days before Christmas.

The festive spirit of the season adds an extra dose of specialness to my day.

This year I plan on being home with my darling family and enjoying a quiet, low key day. It's amazing how things change as you get older! No big party or bash. I'm just looking forward to being with the ones I love....and the UPS man who will be delivering a little something, a very thin something! My hubby spoils me so!

Green & Black

I am not a fancy gift wrapper. I don't have the knack for beautiful bows and intricate ribbons. But I can definitely handle the stick on kind! This year we are going green and black with bright sparkly bows. Simple and stress-free!

Rainbow House

I am finally learning how to use Adobe Photoshop! I've had it since last Christmas and just started playing around with it. Last week JK and I went to a historic part of a neighboring town and took lots of great fall pictures. I had fun goofing around and making this house into all the colors of the rainbow.

Now I just need to learn how to make a mosaic and put all of these images together!

This is the true color of the house. I love that hydrangea tree!

I personally like green houses!

Green Boy

JK on Earth Day

His shirt says "Protect Our Planet"

This weekend I will be knee deep in manure prepping my

vegetable gardens.

The forecast here on the East Coast is GorGEoUs!!

Can't wait!!

Packing for Vacation

I absolutely detest packing for vacation. Not only do I have to pack for myself but I also have to remember everything for three other people!

Maybe if I had a cute GREEN suitcase like this, packing wouldn't be such a drag!

Put The Lime in The Coconut

Coconut Lime Echinacea

Looky what I found! Oh how I would love to add this GREEN beauty to my garden!

Thinking the Green Way

Lovin' this little GREEN guy!

"Back to my Siesta"

New Green Things

In case you didn't know, I love the color GREEN. A friend of mine, Andie, loves the color RED. She frequently blogs about the new red things in her life and I would like to share with you my latest green acquisition. 

My mom and I ran to a local consignment store this afternoon and I spotted these bright green beauties up high on a shelf. They were only $4! I already have a salt and pepper mill and have no intention of actually using these for their intended purpose. Their sole responsibility will be to add a whimsical pop of green to my kitchen.

Good GREEN Mail

Since Saturday morning I have been dealing with a very difficult situation. It has been on my mind non-stop since then and I cannot begin to tell you how nice it was to receive this wonderful GREEN distraction in the mail today!

THANKS to you, Andie, for thinking of me on this GREENEST of GREEN holidays!! My spirits have been boosted by this GOOD MAIL!! I definitely think this is something I'm going to have to start doing. So much fun for the giver and the receiver!!

I also received  O at Home in today's mail. I can't wait to find a quiet minute to sit and flip through its pages!

I Like Green...and the Winner Is!!

I like the color GREEN. I always have but it has recently come to my attention that I have quite a bit of GREEN in my life. Take a quick look:

I live in a GREEN house

My GREEN chair, rug & TV unit

My feathery GREEN lampshade - I have two of these babies!

My GREEN venetian plaster

My GREEN table runner and cupboard

My new GREEN dress

My new GREEN skirt

Me in my "Think Global ~ Act Local" GREEN shirt

So, it should come as no surprise that the winner of my "1,000th Visitor" drawing wins a.....

GREEN Retro-Wave Pendant from Art Salad Studio!!

And the winner is.........NATALIE A.!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!