Spring – Page 5 – Old Things New

A couple of weeks ago I took a long weekend trip to Pasadena to visit my youngest daughter Bethany. It was so great to spend time with her and to soak up some warm southern California sunshine. Bethany had a weekend of “things to do” and “places to eat” planned out for me. One of those things was the L.A. Flower Market. We walked through acres and acres of live flowers and it was fantastic. Are you ready for some floral loveliness?

Orchids.

Hydrangeas.

I don’t know what these are but they look like moss on a stick and they used them in several pre-made arrangements. Loved!

One of the vendors created all of these amazing succulent displays in driftwood and she graciously allowed me to take pictures. What at artist!

Reminders of the Hawaiian Islands.

Ferns.

Can anyone help me with the name of these flowers? I love their lime green color and I bought some artificial swags of this plant to make a wreath for my Spring Chandy (post upcoming).

More succulents.

More hydrangeas. I would love some hydrangeas in this color for my yard.

The blooms were gigantic.

This is my daughter Bethany, prettier than any flower 🙂

Roses, roses and more roses.

The L.A. Flower Market was phenomenal! I’ve shown you pictures of just one shop, the original market, but there are several smaller shops, many with complete arrangements available for immediate purchase. We weren’t allowed to take pictures but I have one arrangement “in my head” that I’d like to try (hydrangeas, roses and moss). Yes, it is because of people like me that pictures aren’t allowed! We walked through several of the artificial flower shops as well where some of the flowers were hard to tell apart from the real thing. I purchased some artificial flowers to bring home with me because the prices made them too hard to pass up!

Our final stop was at a street vendor in the market where we enjoyed grilled, bacon wrapped hot dogs with all the trimmings. Onions, tomatoes, avocado, cilantro, ketchup and mustard. Wowsers! I’m already planning a BBQ at my house where we’ll serve these delicious L.A. Hot Dogs!

What a perfect topper to an already wonderful day and just the beginning of my weekend fun (more posts upcoming).

Blessings,

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!

Sunday:

UnderTheTableAndDreaming, TheDIYShowoff, TheTablescaper,LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, SuburbsMama,

ThreeMangoSeeds

NiftyThriftyThings

Monday:

IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor, ModVintageLife, BetweenNapsOnThePorch, TheGraphicsFairy, TheDedicatedHouse, UncommonDesigns, WestFurnitureRevival, BoogieboardCottage, HuckleberryLove, GiveMeTheGoodsMonday, TwelveOEight,
FrugalCraftyHome, Dwellings

Tuesday:

HomeStoriesAtoZ, AStrollThruLife, Elizabeth&Co, MyUncommonSliceOfSuburbia, CoastalCharm, CozyLittleHouse, NaptimeCreations, CedarHillFarmhouse, BloomingHomestead,KatheWithAnE,NotJustAHousewife,
VMG206, BeBetsy,TuesdaysAtOurHome,

TwirlAndTakeABow,

TheWinthropChronicles

Wednesday:

SavvySouthernStyle, The36thAvenue, IvyAndElephants, DIYByDesign, TheStyleSisters, AdornedFromAbove, Timewashed,

SomedayCrafts, GreenWillowPond, Fishtail Cottage, TheCityFarmhouse

Thursday:

NoMinimalistHere, ImpartingGrace, EmbracingChange, HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson, BeyondThePicketFence, AllThingsWithPurpose, MyRepurposedLife, FromMyFrontPorchToYours, ADelightsomeLife

Friday:

MyRomanticHome, FrenchCountryCottage, MissMustardSeed, ThirtyHandmadeDays, CommonGround, TheShabbyNest, LizMarie, Redoux, JenniferRizzo, TheCharmOfHome, RootedInThyme, TickledPinkTimesTwo, TheDedicatedHouseAnythingBlueFriday,

IHeartNapTime, WeCallItJunkin’,

DIYVintageChic,

FindingFabulous

Saturday:

FunkyJunkInteriors, ClassyClutter, SixSistersStuff, It’sOverflowing, BeDifferentActNormal, TooMuchTimeOnMyHands,

OneMoreTimeEvents

Do rainy days make you happy? Sometimes I like the rain, but not when it continues day-after-day, week-after-week, without a single peek at the sun. One Saturday morning just a few weeks ago, our day began with a shroud of clouds and drizzling rain that seemed to mirror the gray feelings inside me. Enough with the rain already!

On this drizzly day Mr. OTN and I decided to “escape” from home. We escaped our lists, our piles, our things-to-do . . . and spent the day just JUNKING.

As we walked down Main Street of a quaint old town Mr. OTN caught sight of this wonderful vintage strawberry crate all alone on the sidewalk. It caught his eye, not because it was something he’d like for himself, but because he knows me . . . and he knew it was something that would delight me.

I have childhood memories of a strawberry crate much like this one. One week in summer. One long, hot week picking strawberries. In between the strawberry fights and sweet berry juice running down my chin, it was the hardest work I’d ever experienced. In fact, it was probably the only REAL work this city child experienced. But I was motivated to do the work in order to earn spending money for our family trip to California.

And what did I do with my hard earned $14.00? I bought a souvenir gift for each of my friends. I was quite proud of myself . . . but not proud enough to go back to the strawberry fields again the next year. Like I said, it was HARD work!

While Mr. OTN was making the purchase I was already making plans in my head for what I would do with this weathered and rusty old crate.

Once back home I began by laying down tablecloth and table runners, then lined my crate with vintage lace.

I filled it with everything needed for a dinner with the one who knew that this strawberry crate would bring sunshine to my day and warm me from the inside out.

I tucked in a few floral branches to remind me that Spring is right around the corner . . .

. . . and as I prepared to take some pictures, the sun broke through the clouds . . .

. . . turning one gloomy, drizzly day into a day filled with bright happiness!