Emerald green dates back in popularity to the mid-1800s.
Inexpensive to manufacture and therefore cheap to purchase, emerald green was a popular choice of household paint, and was widely used for patterned wallpaper.
Later is was discovered one of the main components of the paint was arsenic, a chemical element when in an inorganic state proves severe.
Damp spaces promoted the mold living in the wallpaper paste together with the arsenic to turn into a gas, creating a toxic environment.
Some believed Napoleon’s death in exile on St. Helena possibly could have been accelerated by his exposure to the emerald green wallpaper decorating his favorite room.
Copper was used by Ancient Romans in their quest to create green pigment.
Verdigris (green of Greece) was born out of soaking copper plates in wine where oxidation occurred forming a pigment of the beautiful blue-green patina of weathered metal.
Verdigris was used in many different forms of art including painting and mosaics.
Green is the color closely associated with abundant life as it lends a sense of peace to its surroundings.
Bordallo Pinheiro cabbage dinner plates and framed Honest Carrot print appear in a nod to vegetables grown in gardens of Ireland and whimsical kitchen accents and accessories.
In all the madness and sadness I’ve become reacquainted with the beauty of home and its unique way of providing comfort, solace and shelter in the storm.
Regardless of the shape or size, a beautiful life begins at home.
One of Dave the Builder’s favorite songs was “Little Houses” written by Skip Ewing and Mickey Cates and recorded by Doug Stone.
“But you know, love grows best in little houses
With fewer walls to separate
Where you eat and sleep so close together
You can’t help but communicate
Oh, and if we had more room between us, think of all we’d miss
Love grows best, in houses just like this”
Lyrics touch the heart when truth is at the core of the verse.
Wisdom visits the one trying to master the art of being fulfilled in a room full of people or perfectly content in a space perfected for a party of one.
Nature’s renewal from the dark of winter to the warm and bright color palette of spring reveals the necessary presence of faith over fear found through serenity.
Change in seasons, station and situations is an ever constant.
Finding joy in the familiar and comforting beauty of home leads the journey, and memories stand as an old acquaintance on a mission to befriend a broken heart.
Stuck somewhere between blog post subject difficulty and the is it winter or is it spring seesaw, I began to grow bored until the content of one email and the lyrics to a classic Beatles song get the wheels of blog content inspiration turning once again.
Regardless of how many times I listen to a song, the ability to take away something new and fresh confirms why music is such a mainstay in my day to day.
Listening once again to “The Long and Winding Road” by The Beatles brought about a renewed sense of appreciation for the beauty found in the following lyric:
The long and winding road
That leads to your door
Will never disappear
I’ve seen that road before
It always leads me here
If one could amass frequent flyer miles for every Etsy and eBay visit I’ve clocked over the last few weeks, Paris would be on the summer travel itinerary.
When I get a certain something on my gotta have it radar the treasure hunt is on.
Sourcing and searching lead me to several “I didn’t know I needed that, but for the look and the price I’ll take it” pieces so success is on the table and the wall.
Popping out to the garage to take inventory of the big green grass cutting machine otherwise known as the riding lawn mower gifts me with two unwanted intrusions into an otherwise lovely day.
Seems a new lawn mower battery purchase is in my future, and there’s a pressing need to call the plumber.
Cast your eyes on this late winter meets an early Louisiana spring photo showing the newly discovered water leak from the below freezing temps of last week.
Such issues serve as the catalyst to the oh, the joy of home repair headache suddenly developed.
It’s a sign this recipe for Lemon Shortbread Cookies from Oh My Goodness Chocolate Desserts is designed blog content inspiration.
Since the weatherman and the calendar have established spring has sprung, one’s thoughts naturally turn to spring activities, colors on parade, how does your garden grow planning, curb appeal and outdoor living ideas.
Accents and accessories in fresh, lively, and warm colors of spring renews our interiors and exteriors, elevates our moods, and brushes away the heaviness of winter.
Sometimes all it takes to set memories in motion and give ideas for a blog post is a photo putting a fresh spin on the household necessity we call laundry day.
As sunny days and warm breezes become the norm, I look forward to the spring into summer activity of hanging freshly washed clothes out on the clothesline to dry.
Linens especially smell so summer sweet when line dried, and instantly take my thoughts back to summers sleepovers at Dave the Builder’s aunt’s house, where life in a Northern Louisiana town imitated that of your favorite episode of The Andy Griffith Show.
My laundry room falls into the category of not ready for prime blog time, but it is the little space that could.
Currently, the space lacks loads of style, but makes up for it in cabinets, countertops, shelves, and storage space that aid in getting the job done.
Back in our antiques shop days, Dave the Builder unearthed a vintage soda display stand from an old store, brought it home, and promptly placed it next to the washing machine as an absolutely perfect storage display for laundry soaps, fresheners, softeners, dryer sheets and the like.
This began an appreciation for display fixtures for home use.
Retail stores going out of business will usually sale display tables, cabinets, and racks for a song.
If this is not a feasible route, check out big box retail and home improvement stores.
Smells like the ocean (a super lovely scented ocean) liquid dish soap is the go-to laundry detergent alternative I use for washing pillowcases.
Several drops added to a medium to high water level load does the trick, and the clean fresh scent is amazing.
Let’s just say getting clothes out of the dryer as soon as the cycle stops is not one of my laundry day strong suits, however, I love the way sheets and pillowcases smell fresh out of the dryer.
A spritz or two of homemade linen spray refreshes, and the light and lovely scent sets the tone for a good night’s slumber.
Linen Spray
Ingredients
1 ½ teaspoon essential oil of your choice
2 Tablespoons witch hazel or vodka
4 cups distilled water
32 oz. spritz bottle
Directions
Mix witch hazel or vodka and desired oils in a bottle. Add the distilled water and shake to combine.
The witch hazel or vodka aids in dispersing the oil evenly throughout the liquid.
As far as adding a touch of spring flair and fragrance goes, decorating with flowers is by far one of the loveliest, easiest, and visually delightful ways to bring the very best of the garden to the spring and summer decorating scheme.
Interior designer and tastemaker Charlotte Moss newest book, Charlotte Moss Flowers, is a delightful grab a cup or glass of tea-curl up with a good book guide to bringing in-full bloom beauty to house and home.
“There are always flowers for those who want to see them.”
—Henri Matisse
Wedgwood Blue Jasperware
With the garden as her muse, Charlotte Moss celebrates the season of fresh and fragrant through inspired ideas for floral arrangements, tablescapes, and containers ideal for every-day living picture perfect placement around the house.
Classic blue and white in two lovely presentations.
I get completely caught up movie set interiors and location choices, so much so I go from writing to capturing scenes for my photo portfolio courtesy of Windows PrtScn.
Of particular design and decorative accents visual interest is the breakfast scene from the movie Giant.
Chippendale, crystal, porcelain, and silver frame the scene, but the bowl of fresh gardenias steal the show.
Gardenias in a bowl will forever be a simple yet elegant decorating with flowers showstopper.
Get to growing garden goodies grow a long way in the beautification process of the spring flower and vegetable garden.
We’re in for an “Easter snap” at the end of the week, but the temps will remain friendly to the tradition of Good Friday gardening.
The tradition of planting cool and warm season crops in the South is common practice with many farmers and gardeners who believe Good Friday to Easter represents a symbol of fertility and rebirth.
Get to growing garden goodies inspiration often comes from a flower or vegetable garden sight to behold.
House & Garden Magazine is a phenomenal source for lawn & garden inspiration, and it is my pleasure to share these enchanting examples.
English cottage gardens visually fascinate me.
Dave the Builder and I designed and planted a small one outside our bedroom at our last house, and although small in size, it commanded a large presence among the total landscape.
Weave unique planters, chippy garden statues, and accents of interest throughout.
Estate and garage sales, antiques markets, and vintage shops are garden supplies treasure troves for finding pots, planters, tools, and decorative garden statues.
Thankfully, the ice storm spared both the flowering quince and azaleas.
Did you know azaleas are classified as an evergreen shrub?
Harsh winter weather was cause for concern with so many of our plants and shrubs; however, these Southern Indica azaleas are rated for down to zero degrees fahrenheit.
Spring’s in full bloom gift graces the vases and tabletop places in the home.
Our Deep South planting soil to temperature zone indicates the essential need for particular plants to be planted in the ground and growing by Easter in order to be strong enough to survive the heat of this region.
Some planting zones, climates, and soils ready for spring gardening quicker than others.
My steadfast rule and suggestion to fellow gardenistas is to first consult a zone map to know the best time for planting vegetables and/or flowers in your part of the world.
Two gardening go-to sources I consult is the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map and the Louisiana Vegetable Planting Guide from the LSU AgCenter.
In this area April is the time for planting eggplant, okra, squash, cucumbers, peppers, snap and lima beans.
Based on information gleaned from a host of gardeners in the know, azaleas, jasmine, viburnum, camellias, and flowering quince are prime for pruning as soon as they finish flowering.
I shared this picture of the viburnum that did not fare so well during during and after the ice storm.
What, how, and when to cut back to promote new growth is the question I called the extension service with.
Our local extension service is a get it growing source of valuable lawn & garden information and get it growing tips.
Beauty and the bee is all the buzz, and you know I’m all about the theme.
I ordered this hand-blown glass hummingbird feeder today for a friend who is an avid hummingbird watcher.
Hummingbird Nectar
Ingredients
granulated white table sugar
Water (tap is fine)
Directions
Mix 1 part sugar with 4 parts water (for example, 1 cup of sugar with 4 cups of water) until sugar is dissolved.
Do not add red dye.
Fill hummingbird feeder with the sugar water mixture and place outside.
Any extra sugar water can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Change feeders every other day and thoroughly clean them each time to prevent harmful mold growth
To prevent the growth of mold, a hummingbird feeder should be cleaned and refilled at least twice a week in hot weather and at least once a week in cooler weather.
Spring blooms, seasonal snaps, and a heavy dose of Easter tradition ushers in Easter week at Places In The Home.
What’s hoppin’ around your house this Easter week?
Red and pink beauties are beginning to bloom offsetting the brown and greenish gray color holdovers from winter’s grip.
From the I ♥ garden roses collection.
I’ll enjoy the arrangements for another day or two, and then use the petals for rose petal ice cubes.
My brother dropped by yesterday bearing gifts of gardenias.
The spring beautification process is a slowly but surely operation, but we’re getting there.
Dave the Builder’s latest pet project, the taming of the squirrel, is proving successful.
Maybe too successful.
This crazy thing perches itself on the main branch of the crepe myrtle tree right outside the kitchen window and peers through the window.
Evidently watching me washing dishes is wildly entertaining.
We are one wild and crazy crew, animals included.
I dug this photo of Dave, the Canadian snowbird and Cottontail the rabbit out of the Places In The Home archives. If you think the photo quality is horrible in black and white, you should see the color version.
Mama Places In The Home snapped this circa 2005 pic with a throwaway camera.
Annie Leibovitz she is not.
Here’s the Reader’s Digest version of the bunny backstory:
Dave and I were checking out the newly planted flower beds late one spring afternoon. I was in the color in bloom zone, laser focused on the budding design features detailing my mad lawn and garden skills.
Dave on the other hand was channeling his inner Dr. Doolittle with the just discovered addition to our flower garden menagerie.
Cottontail the baby rabbit hopped right up to Dave in are you my father fashion. We brought him inside that evening and set him up in a toilet paper box direct from the discard bin at the local Kroger.
We lined the box with newspaper and grass clippings hoping to emulate a natural surrounding, and placed a water bowl and rabbit food over to one corner.
Cottontail was in high cotton for the evening.
The next morning it was back to the outdoors where he thrived and frolicked, nested in our yard and flower garden, adapted to the daily comings and goings of our schedules, and waited in the driveway each afternoon to greet Dave.
As mysteriously as he appeared he disappeared, leaving a hole in our hearts.
We got so attached to that silly rabbit, so much so that I cried for three days when he went away.
Dave stills tears up when he talks about that silly rabbit.
My Easter Eggstravaganza centerpiece is a build upon canvas.
Deconstructing the Mardi Gras King Cake centerpiece, it dawned on me that by adding to instead of taking away from the existing tulle a shimmering color rich nest effect would be created.
What nature does not provide, the Walmart-Michaels-Hobby Lobby floral department will.
Faux flowers serve the purpose in certain decorating for the holiday situations, and when quality stems are selected the finished result can be faux fabulous.
The incredible, dyeable, edible egg.
Fresh mint.
Fresh lemon.
Fresh orange.
Fresh parsley.
Fresh carrots.
Easter!
Easter week sets spring into motion.
Another season, another wonderful reason for decorating, planting, entertaining, and gathering round dining and picnic tables of stylish tablescapes and delicious dishes with dear loved ones and great friends.
Dave and I hope your Easter week, weekend and Sunday is one of blessings, love, laughter, and making wonderful traditions and memories time spent with family and friends who are like family.
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