Just Peachy!

 Peaches are at their peak in the Deep South and we can't get enough!

They are such a beautiful fruit and our whole kitchen smells "peachy" because we bought a ton from Mercier's Orchard in North Georgia. We went to preview a wedding venue with friends - they've asked me to style and coordinate their wedding which is going to be so much fun and so special. The venue was beautiful and not far from the best fruit orchard in North Georgia. Serendipity!

Peaches are a tender fruit so they have to be eaten quickly or you have to do "something" with them. 

The first thing I did was use some slices to garnish sparkling rose. It only takes seconds to add a special little touch to things and it makes all the difference. 

Our absolute favorite way to use peaches is to first grill them. If you haven't been eating grilled peaches on everything and anything you are missing out. It gives them the best taste and texture. 

Simply split your peaches and remove the pit. I use our electric grill on medium heat. I give the grill a light spray of avocado oil and then place the peach skin side down on the grill. Grill for about 6 minutes and then flip the peach and grill for 4-6 more minutes. 

They are delicious on summer salads - we used mixed greens or baby spinach, burrata (just pinch off bite size pieces), toasted pecans and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. You can add grilled chicken for a heartier salad. All those fresh tastes together - so delicious. 

We really like using our grilled peaches Caprese style. Instead of tomatoes with mozzarella we use our grilled peaches. Snip some fresh basil from the herb garden and drizzle with balsamic vinegar.

And grilled peaches make the best summery dessert. 

Just place your grilled peach half in a small bowl, add a dip of creamy vanilla ice cream, a sprig of mint and drizzle with your favorite local honey. So simple but so delicious!

We have so many peaches that we are trying something new! I cut my peaches in half, removed the pits and put them in freezer baggies. Later on when we want grilled peaches with our dinner or some ice cream I'm going to pull them out, thaw them and grill them right up! I think it will work perfectly.

A touch of peachy summer after the growing season is over!

Summer begins...

There is a well known quote by Charles Spurgeon: "Begin as you mean to go on, and go on as you began, and let the Lord be all in all to you." It is usually reserved for New Years greetings and for "big beginnings" but it popped into my mind when I was thinking about the start of Summer this year. 

School is out here and, to me, that signals the beginning of Summer. Some consider it to be Memorial Day weekend and some wait for the "official" Summer Solstice. However you calendar Summer is on everyone's mind. I am always a Summer girl - I love the heat, the beach, working in the garden. All things Summer. This year, and I think the reason that quote has been bopping around in my head, is that I've felt the usual excitement and retrospective as well. 

I want to begin this Summer as I mean to go on. I want to remember to celebrate the ordinary and to not forget the parts of last Summer that were important. It was an out of the ordinary Summer but there were good things about being home and not being "busy."

The pace of last Summer was more Summer-y than I can remember in years. It reminded me of the Summers I spent with my Charleston grandmother and endless days at the beach with cousins. Time had no meaning. I am not romanticizing the Summer of 2020 at all. It was hard, devastating for some, but there were small joys to be found and we gave them importance. I don't want to lose that by going back to busyness in our excitement to get back to "normal."  I also still feel, as many of you do, unsettled, unsure, concerned about so many things in our world but I'm going to go on as I began last year - I will keep the faith.

This is my public reminder to myself to start the summer with time well spent and to continue it through the Summer. To appreciate looking through design books surrounded by backyard blooms. To pour my grapefruit juice in a pretty glass and add a sprig of mint from the herb garden. To burn a candle. To use my great-great grandmothers tatted (and tattered) tablecloth to make the table look pretty even if it is just me (and James Farmer, Bunny Williams, Celerie Kemble and Mark Sikes! And lets not forget Mrs. Whaley!)

I mean to go on as I have begun - looking forward to the Summer and planning to find small joys and celebrate the ordinary.

What are your Summer plans?

SOURCES:

Plastic Wine Glass - World Market (highly recommend)

Beautiful by Mark D. Sikes

Celerie Kemble's new book, Island Whimsy

A House by the Sea by Bunny Williams

A Place to Call Home by James Farmer

Mrs Whaley and Her Charleston Garden which I reread every year. At least once.

Gingham cloth napkin/dishtowel - similar item

Dog statue - Wal Mart garden center this season

Vintage or thrifted items: tatted tablecloth, bamboo tray, scalloped terra cotta pot, blue and white flower pot and small pitcher, pagoda lantern

Variegated zonal geranium - Home Depot

Lavender topiary - Wal Mart

Sweet Mint -f rom my garden but I saw it at Lowe's this season

The iron garden table and chair were purchased over 20 years ago.

I Bought the Most Fabulous Plant

 I love a variegated plant more than anything.

Last week, in search of something else but trying to satisfy my serious Spring Fever, I wandered through the garden center at Lowe's. 

I spied this plant peeking out of a brown paper wrapper. It looked familiar but I wasn't completely sure what it was. I was trying to find the tag (and price) and an employee stopped to help. I asked if the one I was looking at was the only one and he said it wasn't. They had just unloaded a cart full from the delivery truck. I got my pick of the bunch. 

It is a variegated Elephant Ear (Alocasia adora 'Variegata')

 Here in the Atlanta area they are a Summer tropical but they are hardy in zones 10-11. I knew I still had some cold weather  ahead but I couldn't pass this beauty by!

           I brought it home and it's hanging out in a corner of the Family Room right now.                  

 See it in the corner?

Read about my newly recovered Leopard couch here!

We are having mild days (even hitting 70 degrees here and there) so I can take it out on the screened porch during the day to get some bright light and fresh air. I joke about "taking my plant out for a walk" but keeping this beauty happy until it's safe to move outside for the Summer is worth it. 

I'm hoping I'll be able to winter it over and have it for years to come. I'm doing some reading to learn more about Elephant Ear care. I love how big the leaves get on even the solid varieties. Do you grow Elephant Ears? Any tips?

July Wrap Up

I can't believe it is August. It's amazing to me that with things so different due to Covid19 or whatever they are calling it now and so many regular Summer activities cancelled or altered drastically that time is flying by. (For me anyway!)

Spring seemed to last forever and now Summer is a blur. 

The children in our area are starting back to school over the next two weeks in a variety of different scenarios but it really doesn't feel like back to school time at all. 

I thought I'd share a half dozen or so things

from life in July.

First up. I have only been in a thrift store a handful of times since we locked down in March and then started our reopening phases in May.

I'm very surprised to say that they are pretty empty and I have not found anything very exciting at all. I thought that everyone was cleaning out and donating during lockdown. 

We did (big time) but there is not much to be found in my area.

That being said I saw this over a week ago at GW. 

It was quite large and very sturdy. It would have been easy to replace the black leather (?) if someone wanted to. I thought it would have been fabulous in our black walled Library but it was a bit too large for us. If it had been rattan or faux bamboo I would have snatched it up. It wouldn't have been the first time that I rearranged multiple rooms for a great find :) 

It was $39.00  Quite a deal!

This brings me to my second item. I had a little vent session with Gwen at The Makerista and Thrift With The Makerista about FB Marketplace sellers and etiquette. I have bought and sold on FBM for years and met lots of delightful, helpful, patient sellers. 

BUT, I am seeing this more and more and it irritates me.

 Is it just me?

 Or do you think this "gimmick" to catch buyers eyes is OK? 

The ad on the left said all 11 items listed were priced individually and to DM them for pricing. The ad on the right had prices at the bottom and the planters started at $180.00.

Nothing was free or $1.00.

And the other day I told a seller I wanted an item and later she messaged me to say she had a lot of interest after we chatted and wanted me to know before I picked up the item that she was raising the price!!! 

I don't think this is OK.  Maybe I'm being a stick in the mud...

I say don't be this kind of seller!

Moving right along. I love this IG feed @ikomello for great inspiration photos. 

This is my current favorite:

We had Drive Thru VBS at church this year. 

It was a lot of fun even if it 

was very different. 

We still had VBS shirts...

Speaking of socially distancing. 

This is where I would like to ride out my next pandemic :))))

 

Private island?

#yesplease

And I became obsessed with this beautiful art created by a Bahamian named 

Mr. Amos Ferguson.

He passed away in 2009 but if he were alive

 I'd be tracking him down to purchase one of his happy paintings. 

I could hang them in my house on that private island I mentioned above :)

And now it's August!

Summer 2020

Summer. The true start of the Summer season, the official "start date" is almost here.

I have always, always waited "all year long" for Summer. 

Summer is my favorite season. 

When I was young it always meant long lazy months in the Low Country of South Carolina, staying with my grandmother or aunts and running along the SC beaches with my cousin. We had amazing vegetables out of the garden, ate fresh catch, stayed out too late or too long in the sun and it was perfection. An idyllic childhood.

As an adult Summer has never been that free but it is always my favorite time of year. 

Even with responsibilities there is a different feel to Summer. Meals are eaten on porches , it is sunny and warm, flowers bloom, and there are things that happen in Summer that happen at no other time of year. 

I don't mind any of the things that people complain about during 

the Summer- bugs, heat, you name it. 

I can handle it because it's Summer.

But the Summer of 2020 has been long awaited in ways I could have never imagined.

We have struggled as a nation. The whole world has struggled. Human kind has struggled. 

We have been isolated in our homes watching one terrible thing after another unfold. 

I'm not going to dissect them. 

We all know what they are and we have each of us responded

 in the way that our hearts have dictated. 

I don't think a single person on earth could honestly say they haven't been touched by the things that have happened so far this year. We haven't. We have lost more than one loved one in 2020, we have watched friends and family struggle financially, medically, mentally and spiritually. We have watched good people be harmed. We have examined our personal thoughts and beliefs on equality and caring for our fellow man. 

And it has been overwhelming. And hard. 

But the thought, the belief, that keeps me going is that we CAN do hard things. And we will do them. We will make changes, we will find ways to seek joy. We will heal financially, medically, mentally and spiritually.

We will grow. We will work at these changes and I think we will be better for it. 

I have faith that this is true. I have hope. And I'm seeking joy. 

In any little way, in any place I can find it. 

And I am going to celebrate that it is Summer. 

I have always thought that everything is better in the Summer and I'm setting out to make that true for myself and my family. And for you, hopefully, if you follow along here or on Instagram. I'm going to post the pretty flowers, the perfect watermelon, sparklers, fresh shrimp, sunsets, a quote or a verse, and anything else (even if it only last for a few seconds or it's just the littlest thing ) that brings me joy. That makes my heart feel hope. I think finding hopefulness is what is going to get us all through. Hopefulness and kindness. (Feel free to disagree. As I've said before - you do you through all of this but I'm keeping the faith! And I won't be participating in negative or unkind comments toward others on social media.)

So I am hoping, wishing, praying that the Summer of 2020 is our season!

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!

Where did that saying even come from? 

But this is easy, peasy!

I love lemons and they are everywhere in decor right now. 

I've always loved lemons as a favorite flavor. Lemon Meringue Pie, Chic Fil A lemonade, I drink my tea with lemon (always!) and lemon squeezed on my favorite fresh seafood. A dash of fresh squeezed lemon in homemade vinaigrette, Citrus Sangria, and a must have when we prepare asparagus. The list goes on.

In decor my hands down favorite lemon-y item is this Schumacher design:

Citrus Garden.

Created in 1947 but absolutely a classic and timeless!

Faux lemon topiaries and wreaths are popping up everywhere for Spring and Summer decorating.

I love a good deal on a "trendy" item that won't be around forever 
and I found the lemon wreath above at Wal Mart for under $20.00.

What a great way to add a touch of Summery, sunny yellow 
to my kitchen without spending a fortune.

Yes, some of the more expensive wreaths (and topiaries) are a bit more realistic but they are 3 and 4 times the price. 

I think the quality of the Wal Mart wreath is just fine for a short term burst of yellow fun. 

I tried it with a navy gingham bow too!

Which do you like best? Plain or with a bow?

This post is not sponsored by Wal Mart. I'm just sharing a good deal!

If you can't find this one here are a couple of great looking 
faux lemon wreaths from Amazon. 
With Prime you could have it on your door in no time flat!

Click on the images if you want the details.

This wreath has a TON of lemons!

This one has a bit more greenery.

And I might have to order this cute lemon topiary for my porch.

It would be perfect in a blue and white cache pot!

So, what's your favorite citrus?

Chinoiserie Watering Can

April Showers Bring May Flowers...

and if not, then I'll just water my flowers using my newly painted Chinioiserie watering can.

I was inspired by a post from Ashley Brooke's Instagram

where she posted a picture of her gorgeous porch. The picture sparked a flurry of questions about her blue and white floral watering can.

It made me wonder... I had a beat up old watering can I could do a "test run" with.

Pretty cute, huh?

I washed my beat up old can off and started to spray paint it. I was so into the project that I didn't even take a "right side up" before picture!

It has a couple of holes on the side where the top handle came off years ago but it looks great glossy and white and this is a "test" anyway.

I grabbed two shades of blue and started freehand painting my design.

A few painted embellishments and a coat of clear spray paint 

and watering has just become a lot more fun!

I'm supposed to be hard at work on my One Room Challenge but I'm a bit bogged down so I am doing what I usually do during the ORC process... I'm off doing unrelated projects. :)

I do it every. single. time.