Two Weeks in March

This is a special time of year!  There are about two weeks in March when two of my favorite bushes with flowers bloom.  Lots of people cut the branches and force them inside, but we have pretty days in March in South Carolina where the blooms are beautiful outside.

First, I love a Flowering Quince!  They bloom on branches without leaves, but with thorns.  I have a pink Flowering Quince planted by my sidewalk from the driveway to the side door.  So, I "skip a beat" of my heart every time I walk by. 

Second, the picture below is of a Forsythia, often called Yellow Bells.  For years I would cut long branches and put them in a big vase in the living room.  But, my neighbors have these planted all along their fence so that we can just look out the bay window and see a golden show!

Of course,  I love the trees in winter because I can see the sky.  These big boys below are threatening each day to burst out in new baby leaves.  I watch them, too, during these special two weeks before spring in March.  Soon, the trees will become a canopy of shade.  The world will change. Wish I could hit a "pause" button sometimes!.

Hope you are having a happy day!  If you are, hit the pause button for a minute before the world changes again!

Love,
Lottie

Home Is a Place in the Mind

Oh, why does my heart break when I see a vacant old house?  Especially this one.  It was built in 1906 and since this part of South Main Street was zoned commercial, thirty years ago it was turned into a fancy restaurant appropriately called 1109 South Main.  It had a Swiss chef and many of my friends went there for anniversary dinners and Valentine's Day dinners and paid for private cooking lessons!  I was going to do that one day, as soon as I paid all the bills and saved up enough money for a down payment on a house.  But I forgot to "someday" make the reservation and now it is too late.  1109 South Main has been closed for a long time.

It's funny how zoning an area commercial seems to change a house.  It ceases to be a home. 

 

1109 South Main is on the National Register of Historic places. Beautiful stairs! 

Next door is 1103.  It used to be called Evergreen and was turned into a health spa and beauty salon years ago.  So many beautiful old homes are turned into beauty salons when the area is zoned commercial.

Evergreen is also on the National Historic Register and has six bedrooms and six baths.

The house below was a used furniture store at one time.  I can remember that beautiful porch full of used washing machines and dryers and stoves and refrigerators. 

The business now has taken very good care of this house..

As with this one across the street that is now a restoration business.

Now I have to be honest. I think I sometimes confuse a beautiful old house with a happy home.   I tried explaining the difference between a house and a home to a male friend once who told me that whether it was a house or a home, it was still just wood and bricks and glass.  I had to think on that awhile (for years) but in a strange way, he was right.

A business can change just like a family and a super storm named Sandy can take it all away!

Hope you have a happy day in your house called home! "-D

Love,
Lottie

Searching for Inspiration, Finding Beauty

I love to read your bogs!  I really do!  Sometimes I spend way too much time reading your blogs and stories.  I admit, sometimes I'm procrastinating, but most of time, I'm searching for inspiration.  You see, my husband is an artist and can do anything he sets his mind to.  I can do almost nothing.

I'm surrounded by his art at our home.  He made the Raku pottery pieces on the mantle and he painted the watercolor also above the mantle.

But I cut the nandina berries and put them in the vase!  It was an inspiration picture from Keeping It Cozy that reminded me I have nandinas in the yard.  Within 5 minutes,  I  put the berries in a vase and contributed my part to art!  Oh, how I feel inspired and surrounded by beauty.  That is the best I can do right now and get the laundry done, too.

I always find inspiration and beauty in your blogs.  They are so warm and welcoming and even invite me to be a part of your community via comments. Thank you for visiting and I hope you find your inspiration today!

Love,
Lottie