My Ugly Crepe Myrtle

I love Crepe Myrtles. This is how a crepe myrtle is SUPPOSED to look! WARNING: The following picture is frightening. :O

Now here is MY crepe myrtle! Agggggh! Ugly isn't it? When I bought this house back in February, the first thing I noticed in the real estate picture was these trees in front of the house. I called them "hand" trees, because that's what they are shaped like to me. hehehehe


Again...............beautiful crepe myrtle.........................


Ugly crepe myrtle.

Don't they look like "hands" to you, too? I did some research, and it seems my trees have been subjected to what is called "crepe murder". In other words, they have been pruned way down to the bare minimum. Lots of people do it, it seems. Anyway, one way to solve the problem is to cut the tree down to the ground and start all over, and that's what I plan to do.

Any advice? or comments?

Beach Day

Hi! "Beach Day" is what I'm gonna be having tomorrow and for the next few days. Hooray! :):):)

The pic is a sneek peek at my next "beachy" tablescape. See you all when I get back.

Three Candleholders

Today is Three or More Tuesday at Tam's at The Gypsy's Corner.

Here are my three, new candle holders I found at the flea market today.

They were marked $12, but I got them for 25% off! :) I think they will be useful in future tablescapes. I love their tulip shape.

The Morning Room

I've always been fascinated with "morning rooms" Isn't this one pretty?



I remember first hearing about morning rooms in the movie "Rebecca" from the novel by Daphne DuMaurier. In the movie, Fritz the butler tells the new lady of the house:

"The late Mrs. DeWinter always did her corresponding and telephoning in the morning room after breakfast. The morning room in that movie had a cozy fire going in the huge fireplace, and there was a pretty writing desk right in front of the ceiling to floor windows.





Here's the morning room at Hearst Castle in California. (This ones a bit too rich for my blood :)
I did some research and found that the Morning Room was always on the East side of the house to catch the morning sun.

In pre-electricity times, the eastern light in the morning room not only saved candles/gas/whale oil, but cut down on the soot produced by candles/gas/whale oil. (Never thought about the soot)
Quote:
A morning room is small and informal- the lady of the house might write her letters there; guests might read the morning papers there after breakfast. If it's a really large house, the upper servants (butler, housekeeper) would come there for their instructions for the day.

Quote:
Ladies' Parlor or "Morning Room"so named for the 19th Century custom of calling on neighbors early in the morning. Such was life before telephones

Here's some modern day morning rooms. I'm not a morning person, but who wouldn't want to get up early for that beautiful sunrise?

This one looks more like a sun room to me.

Warm and cozy!

Here's a new house listing with a morning room. How would you decorate it?

Here's my favorite one! It looks so "40's, and it's cozy. Now if you will excuse me, I have letters to write, phone calls to make, and instructions to give to the servants. :)

Next week: The Drawing Room hehehe

Crepe Myrtle Tablescape

Hooray! It Tablescape Thursday again over at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch.

Rush over there to see all the goodies.

Today, the table is set in the dining room.
I used my white Walmart dishes, white napkins and my new green napkin rings.



For the tablecloth, I actually used a curtain panel from the Shabby Chic collection at Target. It was the perfect size!

For the centerpiece, I turned a cake stand upside down and put some crepe myrtle blooms in the top. The bottom forms a little area that holds water for the blooms. (Don't look at the "stray" blossoms on the table. :)

I love these vintage Hazel Atlas glasses. These are some of my mom's stuff. I only had three, but was lucky enough to find one on Ebay. (I love Ebay.)

I added some pink touches to the hutch to match the tablescape. I think I've decided to leave it green instead of painting it red.

Bird's Eye View.

Thanks for stopping by. I loved havin' you! :)

Lookalikes

GINNY SIMMS

Regis and Kelly are doing a "Look-A-Like" show this week, so I thought I'd do one, too.

Ginny Simms was a big band singer/movie star of the 1940's.(That's her singing now:) I had never heard of her, but the first time I saw her in a movie, I couldn't believe it, because she looks exactly like MY mom at that age. See if you agree.

Here's my mom in her twenties. Same color hair, same smile, same nose, same eyes. I think they could have been twins. I did some research on Ginny, and she was born just one year before Mom.

Here's a pic of Mom and Dad on their wedding day. I love this picture. Mom's dress was blue, and so was the flower in her hair. I remember playing "dressup" with this dress when I was little. What?????? Why did Mom let me do that? hehehehehehe Look at that chintzy looking chair and Mom's shoes. So Forties!!!!! I loved the way they dressed by then.

On their 48th wedding anniversary I surprised them by putting this picture in the paper, and wishing them a happy anniversary. Seems like after that, everybody started posting their original wedding picture along with their present day one. It's fun to see how they looked then, and how they look now.
Thanks for stopping by, I loved havin' ya!!! :)

Sculptured Grape

Hooray! It's Tablescape Thursday time again, and today, the table is set very simply in the sunroom .

The pattern is Sculptured Grape from Poppytrail, which I chose for my every day dishes in 1974(eek!) when I got married. :)

The glasses are vintage Hazel Atlas, which luckily mimics the grape pattern in the dishes. :)


These goblets were a wedding gift. I didn't like them much at the time, but now I see them every where in antique shops. Indiana Blue Carnival Harvest Grape.

The sugar and creamer were a wedding gift from my sweet Aunt Ola. I think of her every time I use them. The napkins are some more "good stuff" I got from a friend when she sold her B&B.

(Yawn!)Hmmm......... Looks like a it's gonna be a nice, sunny day out there.




Time to relax with a good magazine. :)


Please see Between Naps on the Porch with Susan to see more beautiful tables.
Thanks for stopping by. I loved having ya! :)

The Pink Negligee

Today is Pink Saturday over at Beverly's at How Sweet the Sound, and I'd like to show you my pink negligee. Isn't it pretty? I found it at a local flea market for a steal.
Here's a closeup of the lace. I love it.
It's so "girly girl".
I feel just like "Annette" when I'm wearing it.

Thanks for stopping by. I loved havin ya!

Red Waverly Tablescape

The table is set in the dining room.

Hooray! It's Tablescape Thursday over at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch. Join her for more fabulous tablescapes.








The tablecloth is from Waverly "Vintage Rose"



The dinnerware is from Walmart, but I still love it.







I used geraniums(fake) for the centerpiece.







For dessert, we are having homemade vanilla pudding with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.

I added wisteria(also fake) and lace to the shelf on the hutch.

Seems I should have used this for last week, since it's red, white, and blue. :)

I love this little platter from Fritz and Floyd. It seemed to go well with the decor.

Sunlight on the table. :)







psst...............

Here's a little secret. I used this picture for my inspiration. I had downloaded it several years ago because I liked it. I called it "cute table" I was able to find the tablecloth on Ebay, and I already had the red and white napkins. I used red chargers instead of gold and I used different flowers, but all in all, I think it turned out pretty good...........even down to the pudding dessert.

Thanks for stopping by. I loved havin' ya!!!