Sometimes I dream...

 Sometimes I dream of running away... to be a humble gardener and grounds keeper for a grand house or hotel such as the Hotel Endsleigh (Devon, England: 3,920 miles away!). 




Braving the cold, rain and/or heat (hmm, how different is their climate from MN?) to ensure that structures such as the rose trellis are strong and secure.  Making sure they are ready to support thousands of blooms and beckon to guests, "Come loose yourself in my tunnel of roses and soft scents."

Or keep a vigilant eye out for anything that might detract from a serene setting.  Fallen branches, oh no!  They must be picked up and moved a less visible location.  Soft heart that I am, I would make a pile which would shelter God's small creatures and attract birds for winter viewing pleasure. 

Perhaps after a long morning of work, the inn keeper would allow me to remove my muddy boots and sneak a cuppa & piece of cake.  Not one to be lazy on the job, I'd be right back out there adding soft touches of nature and creativity. 

Sigh.......Maybe someday, I'll be able to visit.  How delightful it would be to visit with the gardener and persuade them to give me a an insider's tour. 

cross stitch display

I was enamored with this cute cross stitch display at the A G Thompson House.  The contrast of black and white samples on white shelves and burgundy walls made me want to pick up a thread & needle to create something similar for my own home.  Wouldn't this be a great way of re purposing  dish towels that have seen better days? 

I Spy...another barn quilt!

How delighted I was at catching glimpse of another barn quilt while driving home from work last Friday!  I suspect this barn was just repainted.  It seemed brighter than usual and that's what initially caught my eye.  Love the design!!!

This is becoming bit of a hunt for the bubby & I.  Whether we are driving or biking, we always keep an eye out for more quilts!
Enjoy what remains of your summer my friends.

Thanks Honey!

We retrieved the pictures I thought I had lost!  I had dropped my camera which dislodged the card and therefore they did not download until we slide the card back in place.  Thank goodness there is one tech. savvy person in our house (it isn't me).
Anyhow, the A G Thompson house was a delight to stay at.  We don't usually go on week long vacations like most, so this one weekend was our vacation and we decided to do it right.

We entered the house into this soothing blue and cream foyer.

To the left is this stunning living room.  There were so many colors, textures, patterns and pieces to look at!  It really did take our breath away.

To the right, a dinning room, complete with upholsters wall panels.

 The sunroom was a great place to tuck away with a book or two while my hubby rested after a long afternoon.

Our room had a balcony which overlooked the entry patio. 
What a weekend!  It went way too fast.  We thouroughly enjoyed the gardening tour, visiting quaint shops in canal park and of course enjoying lunch on the shore of lake superior.  There will be more pictures to come.

Oh No!

Hubby & I went to Duluth for a little get away last weekend.  We stayed at the beautiful A G Thompson house and attended the annual DGFS Secret Garden Tour.  I had some really great pictures to share but to my horror, found they were no longer on my camera!  Only a few remain and I have no idea what happened.    Can you hear me whimpering like a child?  Well, I'll share what I have which isn't much.  Above is the hall at the A G Thompson House.  Creamy whites and blues make for a soothing color combo.

A cute picture from our suite.

An ornate entrance to the house from across the street.
Well that's it...I'm off to try and figure out what happened to my pics.

 Warm sunshine and butterflies floating on the breeze.  These are the gentle signs of summer.

Happy Birthday America

It's time again for our local residents to hang bunting and old glory, as we celebrate independence day.  Here are my favorites.