The Spanish Dahlia

Feeling Quite Present As Summer Comes To An End...

 

As you can see, my Nikko Blue's were amazing this past summer.  I've had these two plants for 3 years and this was the first time they bloomed!  However, I realized that they needed to be pruned in early spring, fertilized with Jack's Bloom Booster, and watered very well.  I have to give some credit to the manager across the street at Hewitt's .  He is the nice guy who suggested the Bloom Booster.  

Our summer has been very productive, as usual.  My husband is incredible, what can I say.  He's remodeling the kitchen, redoing the exterior siding, and about to build a back deck next to our jacuzzi. 

Last weekend was so much fun.  My husband,  his mom, and I attend the annual Madison Bouckville Antique Show every August and I came away with some cheap little treasures. 

I also commissioned the very talented Ronda Juniper Ray to create something for me on a stained glass window.  I can't wait to show you the pics on my next post!  Let's just say, I am one happy customer and I'm extremely proud to be previleged to own a piece of her heart! 

Til the next time,

Steph

Pretty Little Something's

"Little Marie Antoinnette" Print  I aquired and have hung up in my dining room.

 

Ah, vintage Barbola picture frames in just excellent condition.  Found them both at an estate sale for just twenty-five dollars!

 

 

 

Found this oil on canvas at another estate sale, called " The Nymph's".

 

Found this today with my husband at a consignment store while looking for a bedroom set for our daughter.  Just was calling my name out!  You know how it is!

 

Anyway, it's been awhile since I last posted and I definately had to catch up with you!  It's been very HOT and humid here in New York this past July and we're still trying to do the finishing work on the kitchen, and then there's the exterior of the house that my husbands's been working on as well!  The honey-do list is endless!   

Personally, I am on a spirit journey that will eventually give me the peace and insight that I am searching for.  With Our Creator's help, I will be transformed.  It's just going to take alot of prayer and commitment on my part.    Overall, I am one lucky and blessed woman to have my life and I wouldn't trade it for anyone else's!

I hope that you are well, in every sense of the word, and if your not, I pray that you will let Our Lord restore you as I am asking from him. 

Peace be with you,

Steph   

My Bellisima Garden Fairy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi, thank you so much for paying me a visit!  Just wanted to let you know that I have decided to enter my very first online photography contest because it seems like alot of fun to do!  The name of the site is: iheartfaces.com.  The theme is purple, so I encourage you to enter if you have something real special!

Thanks again and have a wonderful week!

 

Steph 

 
 
 
 
 
  

 

 

 

My Bellisima Garden Fairy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
  

 

 

 

My Love Affair With The Twilight Saga

    

 

Hi there, I know it's been somtime since I've posted.  Summer is here and I've been quite busy with the little ones, the gardening, the family, and just trying to enjoy precious moments as much as possible.  One hobby that has entered  my life is my love affair with the Twilight Saga.  I've read all the books, although I'm reluctant to finish reading the last one- hundred pages of Breaking Dawn right now.    I just don't want the magic to end.....  My daughter is the one responsible for telling me about the series back when New Moon came out onto DVD.   Anyway, if you are a Twilight fan, I'd love to hear any comments you'd like to share.  Til the next time, have a lovely week!

 

~ Steph
 
 

 

Life's Lesson's...

 

Hi there,  I know it's a been awhile since I've last posted.  I'm still here and very much alive!  My family and I are going through something of  major proportions and are being challenged in every way possible.  I am unable to divulge the details, however I am very aware of every aspect and every feeling in my life.  I have to remember who is really commanding my ship and be ok with that with all of my being.   I don't believe I've ever prayed more to God than any other time in my 43 years of life.    Although , my spirit is not at complete peace, I am working on it.  I must keep all of the beautiful people in my life and tell them more how much they mean to me more regularly.  Yes, as Rachel Ashwell once said, " I am tattered at this time", I can  really relate at the moment.   I may be tattered right now, but I'm far from over, that's certain.    Someone is looking over us and has  a knowledge that I cannot possibly fathom. 

So, I leave you with these red roses that beautifully have graced themselves in front of my dining room window for over three weeks now.  As well as a settee bench my husband so lovingly built for me recently. 

Have a great day,

~ Steph

What's Gorgeous In The Garden Now...

Not only do I enjoy my roses outside, they're always gracing some part of my casa as well inside.

 

 

 

Hope you had a peaceful weekend,

Steph

My Romance With Roses

 

Ah, let me first share with you my yummilicious Sarah Bernhardt peonies...

One of several rose gardens that bring me so much joy!  The Angel was a gift from friends of mine that are very dear to me.  I am dying to give her a name, but haven't decided yet...

 

 

 

The Rugosa's hit their stride this year!

 

Eden Climbing just opened up a day ago, the picture does not do justice to her unbelieveable beauty!

My romance with roses  is and always will be a big part of my life, and I wouldn't have it any other way.  I spend a great deal of time tending to them, and sometimes I come away with several thorn scratcthes on my hands or arms, but it's ok because the amount of joy and fullfillment I receive is all worth it to me.  The way I see it, God is sharing one of his most precious gifts, and I will never take it for granted...

Enjoy! 

 

 

 

The First Roses Of Early Spring

 

 

 

 

 

It's so exciting watching the English roses unfurl their absolute lovliness to me and others each and everyday.  I spend most of my days in or around them as I know their time is quite short.  Anyway, as for the update on mama robin and her babies, looks like at least three were born over the weekend, still waiting to see if the fourth was born as well.  She's a wonderful mother no doubt, and quite tolerant of the hustle and bustle of all the early summer activity with my family and all the children. 

May you all have a rosie kinda day!

~ Steph  

Mama Robin And Her Nest

Don't ask me why, but it seems that our mama robin decided to make her babies a nice little nest on the lower branches of my Carefree Delight giant rose climber.  We discovered her nest last weekend as we were carefully adding a large trellis to the unfinished house.    Fortunately we were aware that there was a nest, otherwise, well I don't even want to think about that...

 

Looks like she has four robin's eggs in the nest.  We will be looking out for mama, and especially her babies as we look forward to their arrival!  Should anything should happen with mama, we will be the surrogate mother and see that these babies are well nourished with worms!  We feel very honored that mama robin chose my rosebush, but we're still baffled by her choice in location?  Oh well, that's just the way mother nature intended it! 

I'll keep you posted as the big hatching day arrives, and will show more pictures on that special day, as well as the day they take flight.

Have a lovely week,

~ Steph