Critters on My Feet, Part II

Recently I shared a photo of some adorable scuffs I had purchased for my daughter-in-law and for myself. I got the raccoon version for myself and the kitty version for her.   I've enjoyed these scuffs so much, I couldn't resist buying one more pair. This time I went for the moose! I took this photo outside because they are a subtle forest green that's hard to capture inside. I love wearing … [Read more...]




Valentine, You Make the Earth Move Under My Feet

It was Valentine's Day. I was sitting here at my desk, minding my own business and working on a future post when my desk and chair began vibrating. As the desk and chair vibrated, something began rattling. I'm not sure if it was something on my desk or the glass in the windows above the desk. It may have been the glass because it sounded a bit like dishes or glasses rattling in a cupboard. Here were my … [Read more...]




A Backyard Visitor: Red-Shouldered Hawk

I had a visitor to my yard recently.   He was having his dinner on a tree branch in the backyard. I think a squirrel may have met with an untimely demise.   This was one of those insanely cold days when the high for the day was around 10 degrees. I didn't have on a coat, just ran out onto the porch and peeked my head through the screened door to capture these pics. I couldn't … [Read more...]




A Tabletop Greenhouse for Growing Herbs

Welcome to the 227th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Monday! Hope your weekend was wonderful! Today for Met Monday, I'm sharing a small update out on the porch.  I don't often change things out here since I'm pretty happy with it, as is.  If I make a change something else usually has to leave. A while back I made an update to the small oval table under the Summer Breeze sign.  You may remember, it got … [Read more...]




Fill Those Summer Pots and Planters Without Blowing the Budget

This past Sunday I managed to get a little planting done before the rain started back.  Most of the planting took place on the deck off to the right of the porch, the one with the bottle tree. Come spring, I'm always looking for ways to spruce up and add color and life to the deck without spending a whole bunch.  Bottle trees are a great way to add color and liven things up and they require no … [Read more...]




8 Months of Procrastination Finally Ends

Welcome to the 224th Metamorphosis Monday! Hope you had a wonderful weekend.  This was one of those weekends where I had a long list of things I really wanted to get done but Mother Nature had other plans.  It rained "monsoon style" all day long on Saturday, but being the determined, crazy woman that I am, I dragged the tall urns from the deck onto the porch and replanted those as I had planned. … [Read more...]




The Rescue

Each week when I take Max to Georgia Veterinary Specialist for his chemo treatment, I pass by a wonderful sculpture just outside their front entrance.  I've been meaning to take my camera to capture some pics for you but unfortunately, I keep forgetting it.  While there today I took a few pictures with my cellphone. They aren't the greatest but I hope you'll enjoy them. The sculpture is called, The … [Read more...]




Water Plants While Away on Vacation

I spent this past weekend in Highlands, North Carolina.  It was a fun getaway and the weather graciously cooperated giving us unseasonably warm temps.  I'll share a few pics from the trip including the home where we stayed real soon. While there, we had to do a little shopping.  That's pretty much mandatory when you're visiting Highlands.  There are lots of cute shops, some filled with antiques and … [Read more...]




Birdwatching Fun for Your Weekend

Have you heard about Phoebe?  She's a Channel Island Allen hummingbird living in Orange County, California.  She lays 4-5 clutches a year and a gentleman in CA has a web cam set up to capture it all. When I was last watching, she had a baby in the nest and an egg about to hatch. You can see both the baby and the egg in these pics. Here's Phoebe, returning back to the nest to feed the … [Read more...]




Carbon Monoxide Detectors and a Masked Visitor

How is that for a crazy post name?  I often have  things I want to share or blog about, but sometimes it's just not enough to warrant a full post.  So today I'm lumping a few things together, thus the wacky title. Recently, I've been feeling sooo tired...just want to sleep, sleep and sleep.   I can't make it through the day without taking a nap and even after a nap I'm still tired.  Very strange and … [Read more...]




Birdwatching: Cardinals, Bluebirds and Woodpeckers Came Calling

A few minutes after I put up this mornings post, a male Eastern Bluebird stopped by...sooo cute!  The following photos were taken through the glass of my bay window with a Nikon D7000 and my 18-200mm zoom lens.  Hope you enjoy. Then along came Mr. Cardinal which didn't please a little Nuthatch who waited patiently for him to leave. Mrs. Cardinal came by to check out the new … [Read more...]




Atlanta Botanical Garden: Garden Lights, Holiday Nights

Welcome to the 203rd Metamorphosis Monday! Recently the Atlanta Botanical Garden went through an amazing metamorphosis.  Each year during the Christmas season, the gardens become a magical fairyland.  A lovely friend of mine works there as a volunteer and she invited me along for the opening night this year.  It truly was awe-inspiring and I'm taking you along, too! Can you just imagine all the … [Read more...]




Squirrel Wars: The Latest Trick Up My Sleeve

Welcome to the 191st Metamorphosis Monday! I spent mine running lots of errands and trying to get a few things done around the house.  A long while back I shared this view of my screened-in porch.  As you can see it is a full story up and I have bird feeders hanging from shepherd's hooks off the decks on either side of the porch.   The feeder on the left is hanging from the deck that holds a table with … [Read more...]




Dining in the Garden at Greenwood’s on Green Street

A friend and I recently had dinner at one of my fave restaurants, Greenwood's in Roswell, Georgia.  When you visit Greenwood's, not only do you enjoy a great home-cooked meal, but you get a wonderful garden tour, too.  Here's a view of one section of the sidewalk out front of  the restaurant.  On the other side of the brick wall is a large courtyard where folks either dine or wait for a table to become … [Read more...]




Garden Seat, So Versatile for the Home or Garden

As the years pass things wear out, my ideas for a room in my home may change, or I find something better for a space than what's currently there.  Does that happen in your home, too?  It gives us an opportunity to "freshen up" and revive our rooms, giving them new life. A while back, just for fun, I created a "wish list" board at Pinterest.   It's a virtual pin board where I can store a picture or idea … [Read more...]




Wake Up the Porch & Decks for Spring

Welcome to the 168th Metamorphosis Monday! Preparing the Porch and Decks for Spring: Cleaning and Planting At the start of this past winter, I decided to try something new.  Instead of tossing the big geranium that lives all summer on the porch, and the three smaller ones visible behind this summer table setting below, I tucked them all away in my garage for the winter. Amazingly, they lived.  They … [Read more...]




Make a Wind Chime from Old Spoons and Forks

Welcome to the 143rd Metamorphosis Monday! For Met Monday, I'm sharing a fun Before and After you can make at home.  Recently, I posted a movie house tour of the amazing house in the movie, Practical Magic.  While watching the movie, there was a scene that reminded me of  something I had seen recently while out antiquing.  In the movie, the Aunts (Aunt Jet and Aunt Frances) have a fun wind chime hanging … [Read more...]




Green Card

Take a Tour of the Beautiful, Historic Apartment in the movie, Green Card While putting together a recent post listing a whole bunch of my fave decorating and design books, I came across my copy of The Conservatory Book by Peter Marston.  This book is filled with pictures of beautiful greenhouses. The book reminded me of another beautiful greenhouse, the one in one of my favorite movies, Green … [Read more...]




Bottle Tree Dreams in Abundance

When I last shared a few pics of my bottle tree, it was looking pretty puny.   (If you're wondering what in tarnation a bottle tree is, check out this previous post: Bottle Tree: The Poor Man's Stained Glass   I've been waiting for Hobby Lobby to have another "glass" sale.  In the meantime, I've collected 3-4 more, via consumption.  Plus, my BFF, Jan, dropped a couple by recently, too.  I think she took … [Read more...]




Jan’s Beautiful Bottle Tree

A while back I shared some images of a bottle tree I had purchased at the Ballard Designs store in Atlanta.  It was on sale, marked down from $349 to $60.   I've gradually been adding a few bottles to it, including the glass float ball you see on the top. It's still a bit naked...a work in progress.   While in Savannah on vacation a couple of months back, I told my friend, Jan, all … [Read more...]




So Much for Hot Seed

Apparently, Mr. Squirrel likes his seed on the spicy side. He keeps coming back for more and he brings his friends!  Can you see where he's chewed on the window feeder?  He gets mad after he's twisted it so much the seed quits coming,  Yep, he's got quite the temper.  The chewed up spots are really bad in some places. Grrrrrr... Don't let that cute face fool you.  You won't believe all the damage he's … [Read more...]




Bottle Tree Shopping

Has anyone seen my computer mouse? I was planning on posting again today, but I can't seem to find the mouse. ;)   Bottle Tree Shopping: Not to beat the bottle tree "horse" to death, but I do want to share a resource I found recently in case you have a bottle tree and are looking for hard-to-find colors and unusual shaped bottles. Turns out Hobby Lobby carries bottles of all sizes and in … [Read more...]




Bottle Tree Dreams and Yard Art Fantasies

Help! I'm becoming one of those people! You know the one...the crazy neighbor down the street who has so much yard art, the addition of just one more tchotchke will take his yard from tasteful to tacky, from whimsical to wacky. Okay, I'm not that bad. Yet. But I'm working on it. ;) If you've been reading BNOTP for a while, you may remember I started saving bottles about a year ago for a future bottle … [Read more...]




Wormsloe

I've been to Savannah, Georgia many times over the years. Each time I've visited this historic city, when it came time to leave and head back home, I always thought, "Fiddlesticks! I did it again!" I came all the way to Savannah and didn't find that awesome road...the one with the arching trees overhead. I was always so disappointed and mad at myself that I kept forgetting to ask where it was and how to get … [Read more...]




Cat TV

Office Window Feeder Day 1: A Brief Visit Day 2: A Skirmish Day Three: Accceptance. Friends? … [Read more...]




Squirrel Outwits Bird Feeder: The Story of Leon and Pearl

Once upon a time there was a squirrel named Pearl and she lived on a Leon's deck. Whenever Leon wasn't looking, Pearl would creep over to Leon's bird feeder and throw it off the table and onto the deck. The poor bird feeder became badly bent and broken. Leon was not pleased and he chased Pearl away whenever he saw her. "How can I keep Pearl from totally ruining my feeder?" mused Leon. "I know, I'll tie it … [Read more...]




Two Mysteries: Houdini Squirrel and Every Word

Mystery 1: Today was car-tire(s)-buying day. Yuck. So, as I'm talking on the phone with the guy at the tire store, I opened the kitchen door that leads to the screened in porch. A gray blur ran by. Ummm, not good. I walked gingerly out onto the porch and I saw it. And, it saw me. A squirrel. Mr. Squirrel began frantically running around my porch, scaling the screens and in general, FREAKING OUT! I … [Read more...]




A Behind the Scenes Tour

Sometimes the most fun stuff to see in a room redo are the things that are hidden from sight. So though I haven't hung this bulletin board, yet... Or, this cute shelf... Or, this wrapping center I shared HERE, I have been busy with a few other little things in the office. Come take a peek. Remember the steps I found for Max for only $10 at an indoor flea market HERE? I had Home … [Read more...]




A Dovecote in the Garden

A Dovecote in the Garden Landscape Recently, I posted about a kind soul who came to my "rescue." That post contained lots of photos of the large dovecote in my perennial garden that runs along my driveway. I received several e-mails from readers asking for more information about this bird house and where I found it. My interest in a dovecote for my garden came from years of going on garden tours. Often, … [Read more...]




Knights in Shining Armor…They Do Still Exist

The ground had been covered with snow and ice for four long days. At last it had melted...just enough for her to leave her home for a quick trip out. Upon returning, as she pulled into the driveway, she noticed a little fluff of orange feathers protruding from one of the entrances to the dove cote, the same cavity where the bluebirds had nested every year for the past three years. The thought came to … [Read more...]




Growing Orchids

My sweet son sent me this beautiful orchid for my birthday last week. The enclosed card said he thought I would enjoy having it near my computer during the day while I work. He knows me well. I've never had much luck keeping orchids alive. All you fabulous orchid growers out there...anything special I should know? I'm a little worried about it being inside a container that doesn't have a drainage … [Read more...]




Rosehill Cottage from "The Holiday" Movie Comes to Life Once More

Hi Everyone! Are you busy, busy, busy preparing for the holidays? Are you making grocery lists, doing last minute shopping and wrapping gifts? I hope you are having fun and enjoying these last minute preparations for family and friends. Recently, I took you on a tour of wonderful Rosehill Cottage in the movie, The Holiday. If you missed it, you'll find it HERE. This is a view of Rosehill Cottage … [Read more...]




Natural Greenery Christmas Mantel in Southern Living Idea House

Recently a friend and I toured the Southern Living Idea House in Senoia, Georgia. Senoia is a very small town about an hours drive from Atlanta. We were allowed to take pics inside since the home had already been published. :) I took a bunch of pics but I wasn't able to get full views of many rooms because there were always a gazillion people around. I have too many pics to share them all in one post … [Read more...]




When Life Gives You Lemons…

What do you do? I'm a firm believer in just digging in my heels and pushing forward. Don't waste time asking why... Or, why me? Listen to your heart and find your strength from within... How's that old saying go? "If you don't like something, change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it." Be sure to visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for … [Read more...]




A Backyard Renovation

Welcome to the 82nd Metamorphosis Monday! Hope you had a wonderful weekend! I spent my Saturday at Vision Computers in Norcross, Georgia...drooling over their awesome computers. I have computer fever something terrible.   Next, a friend and I headed to dinner at Six Feet Under in the Grant Park area of Atlanta. Six Feet Under is located across the street from Historic Oakland Cemetery, thus its … [Read more...]




Knockout Rose Trees Knock Out Squirrels

In early spring, April to be exact, I went in search of "something" to fill the two tall urns that stand on one of my decks. The past two springs I had purchased tall hibiscus, but Mr. Squirrel, who lives in my backyard, tip-toed onto my deck every. single. day. and stole almost all the leaves off the two hibiscus, one leaf at the time.   I was not amused!   So, this year I … [Read more...]




A Shade Garden with Waterfalls and Ponds

Hi Everyone! I've been enjoying all the wonderful "Before and Afters" linked for Met Monday! Did you get a chance to check some of them out? There are lots of amazingly creative and talented bloggers in Blogland who are making their homes more beautiful by the minute! How is your summer going? Is it as hot where you are as it's been here in Georgia? We've been having August temps all month long. Wonder … [Read more...]




Foxgloves in the Garden

A few days ago, I shared some pics of the beautiful gardens around the home of Arthur Blank, a co-founder of The Home Depot and the owner of the Atlanta Falcons. One of the things I especially love about this tour, Gardens for the Connoisseur, is it always takes place on Mother's Day weekend and the foxgloves, my very favorite flower, are always in bloom. These pics were taken in another garden on the … [Read more...]




Arthur Blank’s Garden, Gardens for Connoisseurs Tour

Almost every year, I go on a garden tour sponsored by The Atlanta Botanical Gardens. The tour is called, Gardens for Connoisseurs Tour, and this was it's 26th year. The tour always includes around 12 gardens, and occasionally, a well-known/famous person's garden will be on the tour. This year, we had the pleasure of touring the garden of Arthur Blank, co-founder of The Home Depot and the current owner of … [Read more...]




Barnsley Gardens, A Bittersweet Love Story

A few weeks ago, I traveled to Adairsville, Georgia and toured the hauntingly beautiful, Barnsley Gardens with two good friends. I'd been there before, but it was many, years ago. The story of Barnsley Gardens is a bittersweet one. From the Barnsley website online: "Behind Barnsley Gardens Resort's storybook setting is a true story filled with as many twists and turns as a work of fiction. The original … [Read more...]




A Whimsical Idea for a Garden Bench

This was just outside a shop I was in recently...isn't it a hoot?! Someone has cut holes in the seat and sunk the pots down into it. So, don't throw out that old piece of furniture...just paint it with an outdoor grade paint and you'll have a delightful planter for your garden.  Love it! Visit How Sweet the Sound for more Pink Saturday fun! A Classy Flea: A few weeks ago, my all time favorite … [Read more...]




Romantic Table for Two on the Deck

Welcome the 91st Tablescape Thursday! She Walks in Beauty Like the Night by Lord Byron She walks in beauty, like the night   Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that's best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes: Thus mellowed to that tender light Which heaven to gaudy day denies. One shade the more, one ray the … [Read more...]




Bottle Tree Shopping at Trader Joe’s

So, here I am on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon, and I'm bumping around inside of one of my most favorite stores ever, Trader Joe's. If you've never been in Trader Joe's you HAVE to go. It's that good! I was on a mission this day. I'm cruising the "beverage" isles, checking out all the goodies that come in colored bottles. If you are regular reader of BNOTP, you know where this is going.  I'm determined … [Read more...]




Bottle Tree Dreams

Hi Everyone! Bottle Trees...Give me some bottle suggestions! :-) A couple of weeks ago I shared these fab pics and the history behind bottle trees, HERE. (Image from Southern Style by Mark Mayfield) Several folks left comments naming some of the drinks you can purchase that just happen to come in nice, big, colorful bottles, perfect for creating your own bottle tree. The suggestions were … [Read more...]




Make a Greenhouse from Old Windows for Holiday Displays

Remember back around Christmas time when I took you shopping at the Queen of Hearts in Alpharetta, Georgia? C'mon...sure you do. Remember, you kept begging on the drive over to stop by the Dairy Queen to get a milkshake and I told you that we had to hurry and get to the Queen of Hearts before all the good stuff was gone. Ahhh, now you remember! Well, while we were there, we saw this: Yep, it's … [Read more...]




Bottle Trees: The Poor Man’s Stained Glass

Love this book...it's one of my favs. I look through it time and time again. Inside, I found this. Know what it is? (Image from Southern Style by Mark Mayfield) It's a bottle tree!  Most often you see them in gardens, although this one looks pretty awesome on this veranda. Bottle trees go way, way, way back. Some folks think the first bottle trees were created in Africa in the 9th … [Read more...]




A Birding and Nature Themed Table Setting

Welcome to the 79th Tablescape Thursday! Hi Everyone! Hope your day was awesome! I had plans to share a new tablescape with you this evening, took pics this past weekend. But there were a few more things I wanted to include in the post, and unfortunately, I just don't have it quite ready. So, I've been perusing the archives this evening and found a tablescape I put together right after I started … [Read more...]




Mother Swan Transporting her Babies

Something to make you smile this gorgeous Sunday afternoon...a Mama swan transporting her little ones to the other side of a pond.   I love the little guy who is trying to peek out...precious! You can read the full article HERE. … [Read more...]




The Tree That Owns Itself

Several years ago, when my son was attending the University of Georgia, I drove over for an afternoon visit and a little shopping. As we were driving around Athens, doing a little sightseeing in the historic neighborhoods, my son turns to me and says, "Do you want to see the tree that owns itself?" Huh? "What did you just say?" He looks at me and repeats, "Do you want to see the tree that owns itself?" … [Read more...]




Roses for Mother’s Day

The beauty of that color, pink...it can take your breath away... It can make your heart sing... Especially, on your birthday...when a wonderful son sends his love. … [Read more...]




Owls, Beautiful Owls

Wow, you guys are amazing! I'm soooo inspired after seeing so many creative "Before and Afters" this past Metamorphosis Monday! We had over 150 participants! If you haven't had a chance to check them all out, just scroll down to the post below this one and start clicking. There is so much talent and creativity in … [Read more...]




Make a Greenhouse from Old Discarded Windows

Welcome to the 46th Metamorphosis Monday! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I've been out of state visiting my son and his sweetie. It was a whirlwind trip and so much fun. My son gave me a tour of the law school he's attending, as well as a tour of the wonderful historic building where he works with a local firm. We did a little shopping on Black Friday and went to see A Christmas Carol on … [Read more...]




Biltmore Estate

A while back, I had an opportunity to tour Biltmore in Asheville, NC. I'd been there many years before and really enjoyed the tour, but I remembered having been a little disappointed that so little of the upstairs was open for viewing. Well, all that's changed now and it's an awesome experience! They continue to restore more rooms each year, so more and more are opened up for tours. The tour took us 1 … [Read more...]




Creating a Planter from a Chair

Welcome to the 29th Metamorphosis Monday! I don't have a before pic of this chair I found recently at A Classy Flea, but I was told the seat was in very bad condition and was not salvageable. So...what to do? Turn it into a lovely planter! The seller at A Classy Flea, attached a square wire planter container to the chair. I'm sorry, but I've forgotten where she said she found the … [Read more...]




Beautiful Topiaries

A few weeks ago, I spent the weekend in Greenwood, South Carolina attending the Festival of Flowers...a yearly event in Greenwood. You may remember the post I did last Wednesday about Park Seed, which is located in Greenwood. Park Seed also owns Wayside Gardens...and recently, Jackson & Perkins. If you are a gardener, you well know these companies. If you missed that post you may read all about it, … [Read more...]




House Finches Nest in Door Basket

Welcome to the 26th Metamorphosis Monday! I am also participating this Monday in Price My Space, a blog party hosted by Nesting Place...that post immediately follows this Met Monday post. I have a special metamorphosis going on at my house this week...right here on the front porch. It's a little hard to see from there, so come on over here near the front door. You're getting warmer, just a little … [Read more...]




Festival of Flowers: Historic Home and Garden Tour

This post is picture intensive, but light on wording...so enjoy! I've been traveling a good bit this summer, so I'm sharing some pics from one of those trips. This post has something in it for everyone...gardening, a tablescape and even an historic home tour! How many of you gardeners out there have heard of Park Seed? Yep, I see all those heads nodding! If you garden, you know Park Seed. Did you know … [Read more...]




The Silver Comet Trail

The web site for The Silver Comet Trail describes it this way: Imagine gliding along on your bike through the north Georgia countryside, crossing a 500-foot-long trestle over a rushing river below, winding between rock cliffs and weaving among tall stately pines. Imagine doing this without having to worry about cars and trucks. Now imagine doing this for 60 miles on one trail! No, that's not a dream, it's … [Read more...]




Flower Cubes For a Summer Party

Summer is waning and fall is just around the corner. I can feel it the air when I'm out on the porch during these late summer evenings. Before long, at least here in the south, gardeners will be pouring into the nurseries in search of pansies for their annual beds. Pansies enjoy the cooler weather and if planted in early fall, they will put down good roots that will carry them through the colder temps we … [Read more...]




St. Patrick’s Day Tea Party

Welcome to the 29th Tablescape Thursday! St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner...let's celebrate with some tea out on the porch!   And of course, we must have green tea, since we are celebrating St. Paddy's Day. (The green tole tray was a wedding gift 30 years ago.)   I picked fresh flowers from the garden..  Ahhh...their sweet, sweet fragrance is … [Read more...]




Creating a Perennial Garden

Welcome to the 6th Metamorphosis Monday! My Metamorphosis for this Met Monday is a perennial garden I "built" many years ago.  I want to apologize in advance for the quality of these pics. They were taken many years ago, long before I'd ever heard of this thing called blogging. Plus, I had to take pictures of pictures to show you this transformation...but I think you will still be able to appreciate the … [Read more...]




Herend, Rothschild Bird…My New Obsession

So, there I was, on yet another historic home tour, minding my own business when Herend's, Rothschild Bird bit me in the nether regions! It all started out innocently enough.  We (me and two friends) had made the trek to Newnan, Georgia for what The Georgia Trust calls a "Ramble." And ramble we did...in and out of some of the most beautiful historic homes and buildings you've ever seen, not to mention a … [Read more...]




Dreaming of the Outdoors

Ok, I know it's cold and you don't really want to venture outdoors a whole lot right now. After all, it's still January...or is it?  In Blogland it can be summer anytime we want. Just think of Blogland as a magical time machine. Ok, get your garden clogs or tennis shoes on...whatever you like to wear when you're out puttering around in the yard. Let's go see what's blooming in my garden on this Outdoor … [Read more...]