Water for everyone

When it’s this hot and dry, the birds need fresh water too. Filling the bird baths is a daily activity that Archie loves. Yum! Bird-flavored water!

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Garden art roadkill

Well. We stopped at the ATM and mom checked a couple items I just sprayed this morning to make sure they were nestled safely (we packed the vehicle last night so these were new additions). We heard a clickity clunk and mom said “I didn’t like the sound of that” but we kept rolling (things always shift while driving). About a quarter mile later we realized the hatch was open and stopped immediately. One must love automation–the super helpful rear cargo door closing mechanism failed us. We only lost one item and figured we knew where it was…

How does your yard inspire you?

Sharing a few photos of my backyard inspiration. #iloveflowers

Rustic Christmas front porch 2014

I didn’t really feel like decorating that day but the next day was going to be December 1 already!  I had to do it AND it was nearly 50 degrees outside.  It would really have been the wrong move to put it off…so this is what I came up with that afternoon.  I went rustic Christmas with items I bought (very few), collected or was given.  (My basement is FULL of stuff!)  Knowing I wanted to go this style, I had already purchased the ribbon so I was in pretty good shape.

Thanks to my mom for bringing home the fresh greens from her house in Missouri.  I always use fresh greens to fill my flower boxes each winter.  It’s good to have a source that barters in wine and conversation!

Merry Christmas!

Garden Cat

What happened?

Remember my post not too long ago “So pretty!” …  My anemone is looking really weak all of the sudden.  It went from six blooms to no blooms and is very pale.  Any idea what is happening?

Looking forward to the weekend

Last weekend we had a great time visiting in Missouri.  My nephew Ely graduated from Plattsburg High School.  It was a really nice ceremony and it was so good to see him SO happy!

Visiting after the graduation with Ely and his brother Sammy, and seeing people I haven’t seen in a long time was just as good as I expected.  An important note:  John got to meet Sam’s mom which is something Sam was very excited to have happen.  I just love that the two of them have become such good friends.

Here’s a picture from the day before when John and I were out roaming the countryside.

Having fun in the country!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking forward to the long weekend at home to paint for the show at the Growing Place on June 21, and to work in the yard!

Hope the weather is as beautiful by you as it is here.  Happy Memorial Day weekend all!

Cheers!

jen (by jennifer)

My first spring flowers 2014

These are under the tree by the porch that we use as our main access to the house.  Makes me happy every time I walk by them.  Finally!  I think spring is here…

Cheers!  Have a fabulous weekend!

 

There’s always more to do …

Well – I didn’t do too badly yesterday on the productivity front and considering I was up at 3:45 a.m. and stayed up until around midnight, I was able to relax and spend some quality time with my honey too.  I did the yard work I wanted for the most part although I have a few other things I want to do this morning before we head out with friends who are meeting here around 2 p.m.  I did the dishes, organized the kitchen a little, picked up all the clothes in my dressing room, the laundry is finished … still more to do so I’ve got to run.

It’s a BEAUtiful day!!  More tomorrow.

Cheers!

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. I must admit I’m not a holiday person; I actually find the season a bit depressing. Nonetheless, it’s always nice and John, the Arch and I had a merry Christmas and are into a happy New Year with family and friends.

Part of my time out of the office was filled with our home office project. I decided I wanted to make one of the walls a magnetic chalkboard. Remember now, the house was built in 1860 and I’m not working with fresh drywall here. Well, John got two coats of magnetic primer on and when I came home we had to leave the house. We took Archie with. Word of caution – if you are going to do magnetic primer be prepared that the smell is outrageous! I applied a third coat while John was gone the next day and was able to keep a window cracked, air moving and candles burning, keeping the toxic fumes at bay.

After a break (and dry time per instructions) I decided it was time to start applying the tinted latex chalkboard paint. I opened the can to find what is supposed to be “garnet” looked like fuschia. Not wanting to make a mistake considering the cost and the time it took to do the magnetic primer, and not wanting to apply too many coats over it to render it magnetic-less, I headed to Home Depot. Well, the color is right and one coat is on the wall. Thankfully I didn’t select a lighter color because trying to cover black primer is difficult and I will have to visit the Depot for another quart of tinted chalkboard. I’ll keep you posted on the outcome.

Meanwhile, HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!

jen (by Jennifer)

Wall in progress

A beautiful fall day on Lockport Street

What a beautiful weekend in Plainfield, Ill.  Although I was out in the back yard most of the time, I had to pause to take a few pictures of the front of the house. Thanks to my awesome girlfriends for their gifts that help to make the front porch fall-festive.

The pumpkins are from Teri and the beautiful white mums are from Sue.

Love you girls!

I hope you all have been enjoying this great time of year too.

Peace and pumpkins!

jen

Sharing Flowers

My black-eyed susans are amazing!  And abundant.  To think they came in a shopping bag, dried up and dead-looking about 12 years ago from my friend P… crazy.

Happy Tuesday All!

Leave it to a Cat…

Leave it to Archie to cancel his appearance right after I advertise for him.  What a cat!

BUT… I hope you marked your calendars because the Gardener’s Art Festival is the real deal.  I’ve participated in this show for the past five or six years.  The gardens are worth the trip alone.  It’s a fantastic nursery and a gardener’s delight.  It’s more than a nursery – the planters and garden accessories are fantastic.  Can’t say enough about it.  Check out The Growing Place for more information.

Today’s featured item from Jen by Jennifer is a 9-inch beige ceramic pitcher.

This is one of the items I will have for sale at the show.  Watch for additional featured items between now and Saturday, June 25, when I’ll be at the Growing Place – Naperville from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.  Stop by and visit – I’d love to see you!  And maybe you’ll also find a treasure you just have to take home.

Enjoy the beautiful day!

jen (by jennifer)

Enough already!

I know that April showers are supposed to bring May flowers, but hey!  My tulips and daffodils have already been beautiful.  We need sunshine!

You just Never know

If you know me at all, you know I can rationalize anything.  You also know I believe everything happens for a reason. 

I am extremely grateful to be from a family of creative individuals.

Tell someone today that you learned something from them.  Doesn’t matter whether it was positive or negative.

Updated Gallery

Hello all!

It’s certainly been a bit too long since I last added a post considering this is where I direct people to follow what’s up with the opening of the shop.  Sorry folks.  Well, as a continued effort to follow the path of generating interest in jen by Jennifer I have updated my gallery on www.jenbyjennifer.com over the past couple of days.  Take a peek!  Here is a snapshot of the gallery page.

Archie and I are still working around the house and out in the backyard.  He goes “on safari” now with me and it seems to be working out well for the most part.  I’m still challenged with the garden area but everything else is looking quite nice if I say so myself.  Another thing I have been intending to do… add some photos of how the yard is coming along.  I’ll get to it!

There has been a delay in having the windows and porch painted, but meanwhile I have many other projects to lead me toward my goal.  I know it’s almost not worth throwing out there at this point, but I’m thinking of an event for mid-October.  I’ll keep you posted. 

Hope all is well for each of you!

Enjoy – this season will soon be the next before we realize.

jen