A Walk through the Garden, some cleaning and new arrangements for 2009!

Happy New Year Everyone! I decided to post some pictures from my garden as I walked along with Teddy outside. This is a good way to start the new year. I decided to polish some silver, wash some crystal and glass bowls. I also decided to change some of the guest rooms around. I thought I'd show all of you the results! I wish everyone a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year! I would also like to thank each and everyone of you for being you!



My first thing for the new year was to wash some of my glass and crystal bowls around the house that are filled with some of the treasures I have collected. This glass bowl was given to me for Christmas about 4 years ago by Jenny, our youngest daughter. The sea glass was all collected by me when I was pregnant with our oldest daughter, Megan. I just love all the colors and hues.



I guess I was in the cleaning, polishing mode. I got out the silver polish and polished up this silver tray. This tray is in my room on my dresser and holds all my favorite perfumes. I started this trend when we lived in a Victorian in NJ and have kept that idea ever since.



I washed the beautiful paperweight John and I bought in Ireland, when we visited there for our 25th wedding anniversary 5 years ago. I love the swirls and many colors. It is called the Irish Sea, if I remember correctly. When the sun hits it is absolutely beautiful!

Now Outside to the Garden!



This is my 15 year old Garden Angel. I had this little cherub in NJ when I lived there and then I moved it to NC with us.



This is our red camellia just getting ready to burst open. I love Camellias!!



This is the red camellia that just started blooming in our backyard. It looks like a shrub with about 15 little red cardinals on it! I love it!!



The Carolina Jasmine next to the brick wall on the patio seems to be thriving. If you all remember this is the Jasmine that took over the brick column and the lantern that sits on it during the summer.



I've had this ivy for 2 years. When the cold comes it turns all these marvelous colors. Just thought I'd share!

It was chilly outside, so I decided to move back inside and rearrange some things in the guest rooms!



In the front guest room I just moved a picture and put a different vase of flowers on the dresser. This dresser holds a special place in our hearts. My dear friend's father (whom we lovingly called "Grand Dad) gave us this dresser when he moved. It fits quite nicely in this guest room and every time I look at it I think of Grand Dad. Grand Dad passed away 2 years ago so it holds even more sentiment to us all.



I rearranged the corner in the yellow guest room. There is kind of a French Country theme in this room. The dresser with a built in bonnet storage area was an antique John and I bought in NJ at a little antique store called Rebecca's Antiques. Rebecca thought of me when it came in and I had to have it when I went to see it. I had never seen a dresser with a bonnet storage area in it before. The rocking chair I bought at an auction for $4.00. I found out it is a nursing rocker (hence no arms so you can nurse your baby easily). The throw on the rocking chair is one I wove on my own loom. It is made out of mohair and I love it. It is very gauzy looking but very warm. Often I will sit in that chair and read. Very comfy!



I decided after I took down Christmas I needed to dress the Dining Room table back up for Spring. I know it is still winter, but with the house on the market I wanted to brighten up the Dining Room so Spring it is!!

Well the tour has now come to an end. I hope you enjoyed walking through the garden and house with me. Now it's time for some vanilla tea and my book!