Woohoo, It's Spring. I have finally finished with grad school so my sweet hubby bought me a graduation present! 

I have always wanted a white picket fence around my garden!

It's early Spring so it is definitely a work in progress. Soon it will be filled with veggies and flowers for cutting. ( sunflowers, zinnias, and dahlias)

This summer I am so looking forward to spending many relaxing hours in my gardens!

There is a lot of work and preparation. The first signs of Spring are here!

Nasturtium is growing nicely indoors!

In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.

~Margaret Atwood

Happy Spring to All! Now get out there and get busy!

"Imagination only comes when you privilege the subconscious, when you make delay and procrastination work for you." 

~Well that was my theory anyway! I needed a project that had the illusion of green because there doesn't seem to be any sign of spring, Sigh...

I needed a huge temporary stress reliever from this crazy month of March. I am about to give my orals to earn my masters degree and there is still so much to be done to prepare!

Sometimes you just need a break to create something. Refresh the soul! To make something like you used to when you were a kid!

Except with a delicious cup of tea and some moss of course!

To appreciate a final product that took time but not a whole bunch of energy! Ahhh, the benefits of art therapy! Now it's time to get back to work!

Garden Tea

I has so much fun yesterday with my boys. They actually tagged along with me on a treasure hunt. I needed a short break 
from finishing my masters work and I didn't want to really spend a lot of money either...

It was snowing, barely 20 degrees and I had an urge to flea market shop. Where can you do that in the middle of the winter? Well....
these goodies came from...

GOODWILL! Yes, sometimes there are fun goodies there! I was looking for mixed matched china longing for tea in my garden in the middle of the winter! Luckily, I found some beautiful english pieces! 
And a beautiful framed garden print for my bathroom.

To conclude the treasure hunt, I had a nice lunch with my sons. My oldest had a blast and bought a lava lamp. Too funny!
Hopefully soon enough the winter will subside and there will be tea in the garden!

Today on this February 1st. I bought a pumpkin. Not just any ordinary pumpkin, it was a large grapevine lighted pumpkin from my favorite store in the world! Yes, Pottery Barn!

Why you ask? Ha! Well it was originally $89.99 and marked down to $21.99, so I knew I would most definitely appreciate it come this fall! My shopping buddy, my son Riley convinced me! Although... it wasn't too difficult. Riley and I share a love for the Fall. ~And it's Pottery Barn after all! Can you ever go wrong?

Well sometimes you can... I love their stuff but sometimes I look at the prices and say, Really? Riley noticed that some flowers on a stick cost $50.00 today. He thought that was hysterical. Soooo,  sometimes I may, just may steal there ideas and attempt to duplicate for a little cheaper.

Fact: You can never have enough creamed colored large candles, glass hurricanes, big glass vases, and of course pottery. Well,  I guess you can sort of when you run out of space because I keep buying them and bringing them home!

The other reason for the visit? WINTER THERAPY! I usually pair Pottery Barn with Gardeners supply to treat myself! My shopping partner Riley prefers Yogurt City first, which is fine by me. 

Bringing home greenery and pretty Pottery Barn like things is so fun! 

Just like glass hurricanes and candles, you can never have too many begonias either...

and don't forget glass vases...

Inside is starting to look Spring like, but I have to appreciate the moment too! A toast to Old Man Winter and trying to appreciate the moment!

Wine and Pottery Barn Helps! :) PS it's snowing! And I guess it is pretty :/ 

I had an interesting conversation with my students this week. We talked about how there are some days in Vermont that are so oppressively hot and other days that are so bitterly cold. We calculated that within a year, we experience about a 110 degree range! Wow!

I must admit that while drinking my tea and thumbing through my favorite magazines I am longing for those warm sunny days! I look out the window and I am reminded that it is only January and it is indeed snowing and bitterly cold!

While I wait for Spring to take it's turn, I will try to bring some cheeriness indoors to combat the winter chill.

The indoor plants, the Burpee seed catalog, and garden magazines will have to fill the void.

Waiting for Spring to arrive once again...

and my gardens to begin!

I feel like I keep saying it has been so long since my last post! Well it just plain has been a long time. This year has been a busy one. I am 5 months away from finishing my action research and graduating with my masters. Phew, there are times when I wonder if I will make it, so this post is dedicated to being thankful.

As I deck the halls during this favorite time of year I feel so blessed to have such a supportive husband. He has helped me believe in  myself again.

 My parents and my sons have also been 100% supportive along the way!

My students and co workers are amazing and I love them dearly!

  When I walk in my door at the end of the day I am truly at peace. 

I am looking so forward to the holidays when friends and family walk through my door.

~And I am looking forward to Christmas day!

 Merry Christmas everyone! And always remember that 
Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.  ~Norman Vincent Peale

Enjoy one of my favorite songs from a favorite movie!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH2KGboA35c

Thank goodness Autumn is such a beautiful and cozy time of year.

Part of me has a difficult time saying goodbye to Summer.

It reminds me of one of my favorite Nat King Cole songs, Autumn Leaves....

The autumn leaves drift by my window....

The autumn leaves of red and gold...

A time to say goodbye to summer fun. 

Long warm days, beaches, lakes, gardens, festivals and markets...

Summer kisses, sun-burnt hands I used to hold,

And soon I'll hear old Winter's song.... But I'll miss you most my Darling Summer, when Autumn leaves begin to fall.