Saturday, March 21, 2015

Spring Scented Garden

While I was out in the back garden watering all my potted plants I noticed that it was a riot of scents. It is spring here in California and we seem to have an abundance of lovely plants.
The orange tree is blooming by the pool.
 
 

 
We also have a wonderful lemon tree.  Its blossoms smell similar to the orange, but ever so slightly different.

 

 
There is also a little bit of a honeysuckle vine attempting a rebirth near the pool.  I'm afraid it got chopped way back last summer when we worked hard at eradicating the wisteria. Of course it also has managed a few blossoms as well.
 
 


 
I hope you are enjoying some of the amazing scents of our early spring.
Blessings,
Jeannine

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Alice in Wonderland Bridal Shower

Welcome to the Bridal Shower! The theme was Allison in Wonderland!
My daughter is the "matron of honor" for her best friend who is marrying Daughter's brother, my son.
Daughter wanted to have the shower at our house because we are more on the crossroads of both families involved.
The sign post points to the garden. (if you look closely you will notice some of the bride and groom's favorite real and literary places.)
 
 
 
 
The "Down the Rabbit Hole" sign is an old window with chalkboard paint on the glass.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
Advice, both best and worst, for the bride.

 
Goodies for the guests to take home.

 

 
 

 
 

 
(left to right) Groomswoman, Mother of the Bride, Bride, Me, and Daughter (Matron of Honor). I made all the aprons and Daughter painted the white rabbit apron and embroidered the names on our Tweedledee and Tweedledum aprons.  She has been getting more and more clever and crafty since being married.

 
Scones and quiches and tarts.  The groomswoman made super cute cupcakes with fondant toppers depicting the characters from Alice in Wonderland.
 


 
 Daughter putting the final touches on everything.
 


 
Obligatory party games.  Two teams used toilet paper to create "Wedding" dresses and the bride had to pick a winning team.

 

 
Gorgeous floral bouquets from the local Safeway.

 

 

 
Thank you for joining me down the rabbit hole.
Blessings,
Jeannine

Garden Ready For Spring

Husband and I worked tirelessly (not, we were exhausted every day) on our front and back yards to get them in spring ready.  And ready for the bridal shower for our future daughter in law.
We started in mid February and continued on through spring break, now concluding. We planted 100s of annuals and perennials in pots and mowed the lawn and planted olive trees and climbing vines. We power washed the checkerboard patio.
 
 
 

 

 
We washed down the patio set and got the pads out of storage.  Then we decided it would be way too hot to have the shower here and moved all the patio furniture back under the patio cover.

 
 

 
 

 
The theme of the garden is "Alice in Wonderland".
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 
I hope you enjoyed this little tour of our back yard.  Husband and I plan to enjoy much of the spring and the summer sitting by the pool and only having to worry about basic watering and mowing. the hard work is done--for now.
Blessings,
Jeannine