TODAY I BOUGHT A SMALL BOUQUET OF FRESH SUNFLOWERS...

to replace the ones (or one) I shared with you yesterday. I could probably have done with a couple of extra sunflowers, but these were the only ones that still looked fresh and would last longer than a day or two. But first of all, I wanted to share the gnomes, one of which I also shared yesterday. They are about three inches high.

I took a photo after each step. It was fun putting them all together. Here's the sunflower gnome again and also a pewter rabbit I have had for a few years. It's actually a candle snuffer. I picked it up on a whim several years ago. 

Its body is hollow which you place over the lit candle. The handle is in the shape of a bunch of carrots. Again, nothing to do with Fall but I keep it out all year round just because it's one of my little animal treasures. We don't use it very often.  

The bird is dressed like a Pilgrim and more for Thanksgiving (next month), but it's nice to keep him out for a while... 

the same for the lady Pilgrim. Both have been around for a few years now. I picked up the salt and pepper shakers the same time as the gnomes not so long ago.

The container in the shape of a pumpkin I used as a vase for the sunflowers and baby's breathe. That's the lid you can see with the golden stem. Years ago it came with a bouquet of flowers. Not wanting to throw it out, it is carefully tucked away until needed.

The table is newish. We bought it just before our visitors arrived earlier on in the year and happily was on sale. We had a round table and the lazy suzan fit better on it. It twirls around when you need to reach for certain items after the table is set for a meal. The old round table had been with us for just over 30 years, the same for the chairs, and all were decidedly worse for ware, so it was time to get something new. It's a bit too big for just the two of us but it will come in useful when we have a get together. We were glad for it when our family were here. I am missing the napkins and cutlery but you get a good idea of the flowers at least.

Anyhow, that's the centerpiece I put together and I'm hoping the sunflowers will stay in the stores until Thanksgiving is over next month. Something new, I've discovered how much I like baby breath again. It's been a long time since I bought any.

Last one, a collage and that’s all for today’s post.

Thanks for stopping by. 

A happy Friday and weekend to you all!

MY POOR DROOPY SUNFLOWER…

 but they have put on quite a lovely show this week. I bought Baby’s breath too. Not exactly Fall-like but they appealed. Years ago I found small glass vases, and I put a few sprigs in each. They are all a bit past it, but I like them as they still look cheery on the kitchen table. The petals on the sunflowers have started falling off but later I am going out and will look for more.

I don’t have many Fall decorations, so decided to add Mr. Gnome this year. He was holding a sunflower, and could not resist. I will share more of him and his two companions in later posts. In the meantime I have more sunflowers on the shopping list. 

"Happy Leaf Falling Time Everyone!"

THE FAIRY GARDEN AT MEADOWLARK GARDENS

I haven't shared any photos from the fairy garden in quite a while.  We were there on the 14th and there were old pieces as well as new ones.  I don't have a fairy garden at home, but I enjoy the one at Meadowlark, as do several other adults I have noticed these past several years, some with small children but often on their own.  You will recognize this photo from yesterday's post.  This is its original setting.

 I was thinking that if we wanted children to develop a hobby in their young lives, this would be a good place to start.   A fairy garden would be a good way to encourage them in a positive direction.  

I know of at least one garden we go to that offer classes for the young ones, usually in the summer months when school is out.  

In the meantime, you'll find me here still taking photos.

According to this article, there are a lot of flowers that fairies like in their garden.   A bit too late for the planting season, but maybe for the next one.  Pansies, Bee Balm, Foxglove, Sunflowers, Daisies, Nasturtium, Violents, St. John's Wort, Heather, Thyme and Rosemary.  Apparently they also have pet dragons!

We could always have a miniature fairy garden in a planter on our deck.  This lady has a lot of tips.  I don't see it happening but you never know, maybe next summer.

Another link here where there are all kinds of fairy garden items for sale.

A poem for you.

The fairy beam upon you,

The stars to glisten on you,

A moon of light

In the noon of night,

Till the firedrake hath o'er-gone you.

The wheel of fortune guide you,

The boy with the bow beside you.

Run aye in the way

Till the bird of the day

And the luckier lote betide you.

"The Fairy Beam Upon you." 

from "The Gypsies Metamorphose."

by Ben Jonson.

If you would like to know about fairies, you can click on this link.  It tells you all about them. 

In part it says: "fairy (also fay, fae, fey, fair folk, or faerie) is a type of mythical being or legendary creature found in the folklore of multiple European cultures (including Celtic, Slavic, Germanic and French folklore), a form of spirit often described as metaphysical, supernatural or preternatural.  (Might as well slip in a Word of the Day:  
"pre·ter·nat·u·ral - beyond what is normal or natural.  As in "Autumn had arrived with preternatural speed"

This little flying pig has been there as far back as I can remember.  It has moved around but always in the fairy garden.  The fairy with the goose, it looks old but I don't remember it at all.  I will have to check my previous photos.

I don't remember this little bluebird either.

The bridge is new, to us at least.  We found it on the other side of the path.

You can see the gnome in the photo above, his red hat showing.

And this one wasn't too far away.  They only started adding gnomes last year.

Anyway, that's all from The Fairy Garden.  I will have more photos from our walk next week sometime.

TAKEN AT THE MERRIFIELD GARDEN CENTER - 6-29-23 - PART 1

I hope those of you who were celebrating had a Happy 4th of July yesterday.  Our neighbors put on quite a firework display in their yard at the back of us.   It was fun to watch from our deck.

A few days ago we went to a garden center to look around. As you can see, Mrs. Gnome gave us a lovely welcome. 

 Okay, I added her thanks to paint shop pro.  She was for sale inside the building.  Unfortunately, she did not come home with us. We were there to find potted plants for the deck at the back of our house.  We were impressed with the staff who were very friendly and helpful.

We were also greeted with this beauty!  I checked online and the one I saw identical to this said it was a 1930 Ford Model A Pickup.  For the classic vehicle enthusiast there is a very interesting page here.  I fell in love with it.  I am by no means a car enthusiast, hence my first rust bucket (Morris Mini Cooper) very similar to this one. 

 It got me from A to B, and I saved every penny for three years, finally purchasing my old car second hand when I was 21. I said goodbye to it when I got married and moved across the pond.  I loved it dearly and traveled many miles along those narrow, country lanes, back and forth to work, a night out with friends, and further north to visit my sister and her family on the occasional weekend.  I sold it to a good friend who needed a second car.  She and her husband drove it for several years.  It was a good little car to them also.  However, getting back to that gorgeous old pickup truck, these old classics are the kind that I have always coveted, even before my old rust bucket.  I say this realizing that it is never going to happen.  Maybe in my next lifetime.

We started off inside the store and I took photos of things I might want to purchase in the future.  For instance, cute hummingbird feeders.

Here she is, Mrs. Gnome

A pretty little angel birdfeeder.

Lots of items that I didn't get a chance to look at, but there's always next time.

Beautiful orchids!

The last three photos were items we found outside, with a 4th of July theme for Independance Day. 

People are celebrating this weekend also, though the actual 4th isn't until Tuesday this year  (which will have been yesterday when you read this).

This patriotic wind spinner was very colorful.  I expect it would have been a pretty sight on a windy day.  

I have photos from the outside also, which I will share soon.

FAVORITES FROM MAY

 Today I am sharing a collage from last month's favorite photos.  There were many and not all are here.  It is so hard to choose a few.

"Instructions for life: pay attention.  

Be astonished.  Tell about it."

~Mary Oliver~

THE FAIRY GARDEN AT MEADOWLARK GARDENS 5-5-22 - AND A WHIMSICAL TALE

There were a few old friends here, and a few new ones.  It was good to see the Fairies back after their winter sleep.

"A rustle in the wind reminds us, a fairy is near."  I don't know who the author is of this quote, but there's been a lot of rustling lately.

The three Graces were out in front of their tiny houses, chatting away.

Mommy Fairy was listening to her son about his day in Fairy School, while waiting for dinner to finish cooking.

The frogs had gone back to the lily pads for a rest, but other help had arrived to take care of things. 

 A Little Brown Skink was on guard.   

The Fairies appreciated it taking care of them while the frogs were away.

The Dragon also made an excellent guard.

He looked fearsome and could be if needed but, was also gentle and kind.

He had adopted the Fairies and they were his family. 

The Queen of the Fairies could also be fearsome to protect her young...don't mess with that fairy stick!

The Flying Pig and other Piggies were standing guard...

 also the Jolly Gnomes.  

And listen carefully...

soft, musical notes are coming from the pansies...

These pansies were singing a different tune.  Yes, different but all flowers grow in the same soil, where music is One...

and when combined, their notes sing the promise of peace all throughout the Fairy Kingdom.

And so it goes in the Fairy Garden.