Birdhouses in the garden...

Good morning to you! I can't believe that it's August already, can you?

The other morning I shot these photos of some of the birdhouses that we have, and thought I'd share them with you. Considering the name of this blog, how fitting!!

This is the one that we bought at the Garden

Jubilee in Hendersonville, NC earlier this 

summer. 

I think that I shared it with you in an

earlier post.

This craftsman uses all vintage items to 

create his masterpieces.

Hubby made a platform for it and it now sits

on the old TV satellite post that has been

rooted in the ground since we had the

satellite moved to the roof of the house...

...I particularly love the little white cast iron 

bird on the back of it...

I bought this one many years ago to use as an

indoor decoration.

It has been sitting happily in our garden

for about four years now...

This is one that I bought in Ocala, FL 

a couple of years ago.

It sits in our front yard where we can see it

from our porch.

Birds have nested in it since last year,

and we love to hear their chirping.

Up until last week we were watching 

Momma Bird flying in and out of it 

to find food and feed her babies,

but I think that they are gone now...

I hope that you have a sweet day!

A small packet of loveliness and a gift for you...

Good morning everyone!

Last week I received some more antique indigo fabric that I had ordered. I am always amazed that some of the sellers on eBay take such care in packaging their items. This one arrived with a lovely special touch.

I loved the way she placed the fabrics

in this cellophane envelope, 

included a thank you card,

and wrapped it with a bow...

How sweet is this?...

And here were the fabrics,

in such a lovely shade of blue

that can't be matched with

today's modern versions...

So, friends...

since the indigo hails from the

1800's and early 1900's,

I thought it only fitting to gift to

you these two vintage photos

that were from the same time

period.

They are CDVs,

which pre-dated

cabinet cards.

Aren't these possibly the cutest children

that you've ever seen?

I love that I have two photos,

with the children in different

poses...

Click and save to use in your art!

Many thanks for coming by.

In morning's early light...

Good morning friends! 

Yesterday was an absolutely beautiful day...cool and breezy with clear blue skies, so after I finished my morning walk with my neighbor, I took a walk through the yard and shot some photos. Everything looked so pretty in the morning light.

The Limelight Hydrangeas

growing behind the deck 

are at their peak.

I'm amazed that they look so good,

since the other species that we have

didn't bloom very well this year...

And the hostas and ferns

growing in the fountain garden

at the base of the deck

are thriving due to the miracle of

some good recent rains...

What is thriving in your garden 

these days?

In my dreams...

When I dream,

this is where I live.

In a Folk Victorian with a white picket fence...

...and beautiful pink crepe myrtles 

in front...

It has a porch that surrounds much of the house...

...with brick chimneys 

and four fireplaces...

 It has a beautiful yard,

not too large,

and not too small...

...and original stained glass throughout...

When you close your eyes,

where do you live?

Have a wonderful evening.

And if you dream tonight,

dream big!

Christmas in July...

Hello to all!

Have you noticed that "Christmas in July" has become a really big thing lately? I suspect that the real reason is so stores and other vendors can cash in twice, instead of only once, on the Christmas shopping frenzy. When I was in Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago, a bunch of Christmas decorations were already out. And when we were up north last week, I noticed at least one town where the streets were decorated, and you could tell that people had decorated Christmas trees standing in front of their windows.  My dad was telling me yesterday that his town in Florida does the same thing. Each to his own, I guess, but personally, once a year is enough for me. I guess you could decorate your tree, though, in a beach or patriotic theme, and kill two birds with one stone!

While we were away last week we had our mail held at the Post Office. So, having Mr. Perch come home with a box filled with the week's mail was a bonus for me. Some things I ordered on line were all there at once, and this was my own version of Christmas in July.

Some small pieces of antique indigo

print fabric from the 1880's to

the early 1900's. 

This fabric is getting harder to come by,

and lately I've had a thing for indigo...

Three of the most beautifully quilted

indigo and cream quilt squares

I've ever seen.

I dream about what the whole quilt

must have looked like.

I am thinking of making them into a 

table runner, but time will tell...

Here is one up close...

And a sizeable piece of quilt done in

the "ocean waves" pattern...

And last but not least, some vintage photos

to add to my ever-growing photo collection. 

I love the sister with the baby,

and I adore girls on swings.

The tiny photo...

...is one of a few pieces of the photo booth strip shown below.

They were separated like this when I got them, 

but yet, to have this many still together is quite

a find.

Mostly, dealers separate them into singles 

and sell them as one photo to maximize their profits.

Pity. 

I wonder what this beautiful mother and daughter 

were thinking when they had these taken.

Each photo measures only about 1 inch wide

by 1 1/2 inches high.

A copy of one would be lovely in a jewelry pendant...

An added bonus was that the photo booth strips were

in an envelope with these stamps on it.

Aren't they worthy of being incorporated into 

a collage?...

For some inexplicable reason, 

I bought this western belt buckle. 

Well, actually there IS an explanation.

I have amassed a small collection of vintage cowgirl

photos, and am hoping to do some cowgirl art.

Well, maybe...

Collections of stuff. Awesome stuff. I keep saying I will use it, and I will. The question is: when? Perhaps in the winter when yard season and vacations are done with. Hmmmm....

I hope that you're being more creative than I've been lately!