Coffee Table Makeover

          Happy Monday!

                 Hope you had a lovely weekend.

                       Last week I found this pedestal table

                         at a thrift shop. I had been looking for

                       for awhile and although this one isn't

                     fancy I was happy to get it for $20.

                         It was a kitchen table but my husband

                    cut down the pedestal for me and I

                      gave it a couple of coats of Rockport

                       Grey paint that was leftover from the

                            walls in our family room where the table

                            is. This room is still a work in progress.

                           We did get the two new grey chairs that

                               you see in the photo. I am keeping my eye

                             out next for a fireplace surround/mantel.

                                                                       A pretty bouquet of red tulips
                                                                       give some cheerful color to the room.

It is cold here today so tea by

the fire is lovely.

                        Black and white transferware

                                       tea cup....a souvenir from Kings Landing

                              New Brunswick several years ago.

                                                                   I plan to distress the edges a little on the
                                                                   table and give it a coat of clear wax.

                               A few more pieces of transferware.

                                                                    I forgot to take a photo of the
                                                                    table before my husband cut off the
                                                                    leg but you can see the color it was.

               So, that was our little project for the day.

Today I am joining Metamorphosis Monday

at Between Naps on the Porch.

Thank you for stopping by,

Carolyn

The Indoor Over-Seeding Method for Planting Herbs (Oregano, Thyme Chives): Examples of Planting, Growth, Division and Transplanting

The Indoor Over-Seeding Method for Planting Herbs 

(Oregano, Thyme Chives): 

Examples of Planting, Growth, Division and Transplanting

Many perennial herbs are quite hardy. They don't need to be started indoors one single seed at a time. I follow Nature's practice of pods popping open and dropping thousands of herb seeds onto a small space. Oregano and Thyme have tiny seeds. I put 30 plus seeds easily into a single starting cell. I over seed them. You can do the same with Chives at about 15 seeds per cell, even with them having large seeds. As you get to even larger seed sizes like Parsley or Sage, you can over-seed at 8-10 seeds per cell.

Oregano:

Thyme:

Chives:

They are hardy strong plants and can take having their roots torn and handled when you split them and transplant them into transplant cups. Once they grow in the transplant cups, you can divide them again when they are put into the ground or outdoor containers. One over-seeded starting cell will get you four herb transplant plugs in the end.

Transplanting to Cups:

I start my herbs indoors 10-12 weeks before the would go outside. I live in Maryland Zone 7 and look to plant in March. The above herbs can take light frost and don't mind the cold. You can do this with most perennial herbs.

Good Luck with Your Garden,
Gary (The Rusted Garden)

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A Winter Day Tea

                                                                        Hello everyone,

                                                                  I hope your weekend is going
                                                                  well. It seems we went from spring
                                                                  to winter overnight here as we had a lot
                                                                  of snow fall yesterday and last night.

                                                                  I made one of my favorite
                                                                  muffins to go with our tea ~
                                                                  apple cranberry crumble muffins.
                                                                  I think you would like them too.

                                                           

They are nice and moist.

                                                                   The muffin recipe is from my
                                                                   Robin Hood Baking Festival
                                                                  cookbook that has lots of delicious
                                                                   recipes. Hope you can read the recipe.
                                                                    I cut back on the sugar as I don't like
                                                                    my muffins too sweet.

                                                                This handmade smocked dress
                                                                has been on display in my kitchen
                                                                since it was given to me. I love it
                                                                and my kitchen/dining room has
                                                                all my red and white transferware
                                                                 on display so the dress fits right in.

                                                                  Since, we ate all the muffins,it
                                                                  is scones and tea now.

                                                                     Love having a fresh bouquet
                                                                    of tulips and these match my
                                                                     red and white transferware nicely.

                                                                          Tea time.

                                                      I took these shots through windows this
                                                                morning......so pretty with the sun shining
                                                                on fresh white snow.

                                                                        Hope you enjoy a lovely
                                                                        tea time this weekend.

                                                                                     Carolyn

Clematis in the Garden

           Hello everyone,

                  We have had some mild days lately that

               have me thinking of our garden again.

                      Clematis is my favorite vine in our garden

                  so I thought I would share some photos

of our garden clematis.

                    The clematis above is jackmani and it 

                        softens the fence as well as adding height

                       to the garden. Roses and daylillies are a

pretty combo with it.

                                                                Ville de Lyon clematis growing
                                                                over an old birdhouse.

                                                                 Jackimani Superbra growing up a post.

                                                                Clematis growing up either side
                                                                of the arbor add color and interest.

                                                                 Jackmani superbra grows in
                                                                 several places in our garden
                                                                 as it blooms prolifically.

                                                                    I think this one is multi blue.

                                                               This one still blooms late in summer,
                                                               It is called General Sikoroski.

`                                                                Clematis and roses are a
                                                                 favorite combo.

                                                              The clematis Rosemoor in the background~
                                                              sadly one cold winter recently was the death
                                                              of this one and I haven't been able to find another.

                                                                     Nelly Noser ~ pink with rose stripes.

                                                                Clematis Josephine is a double for
                                                                most of the season but later on it has
                                                                single blooms.

                                        There are hundreds of different varieties of
                                                  clematis and most of them are easy to grow.
                                                  They like full to part sun and rich well drained soil,
                                                   neutral to slightly alkaline so here a bit of lime
                                                   may be necessary here as well.They have different
                                                   pruning needs so keep your tags to see when to
                                                   prune.
                                                   My advise is you can never have too many in your
                                                   garden so check them out this spring and see what you
                                                   can find.They do need to be tied up to get them started
                                                   on a trellis or other support but well worth the effort.
                                                   I also love them growing through a shrub or rosebush.

                                                    Word on the street is our rain is over a good snowfall
                                                    is on the way so spring is on the way but just not quite
                                                    yet.

                                                    Do you have a favorite clematis......let me know what you
                                                    would recommend.

                                                                                 Take care,
                                                                                            Carolyn 

Romantic Pinks

                                                                       Hello everyone,

                                                             Hope you had a lovely weekend.

                                                             Can you believe it is already February?
                                                             It was almost like spring here today and
                                                             as we went for our walk I could feel some
                                                             heat in the sun again and of course we are
                                                             enjoying the longer daylight hours.

The warm sunny day made me want to do

a few changes in the entry/porch.

Since, it will soon be Valentine's Day,

I gathered up some romantic pinks.

                                                           
                                                             

                                                                   Then, I gathered up a few
                                                                   romantic pink vignettes to
                                                                   share. This teapot above is one
                                                                   of my favorites especially in
                                                                  February as my husband gave it
                                                                  to me for Valentine's Day a few
                                                                  years ago.

                     Some dainty pink linens.

                                                                          Faded beauty.

                                                           Did you notice the heart shaped plate
                                                           also from my husband.

                                                                 Pink tulips are usually my
                                                                  favorite...but I love them all.

                                                                      Pink peonies make such
                                                                      a beautiful bouquet.

Can you tell I love this

            teapot. It was bought locally but

            I have never seen it around here

since.

                                                            Soft and sweet romantic shades
                                                            of pink.

                                                          I am going to see the movie Brooklyn
                                                          with a friend tonight but I have already seen it
                                                          and really enjoyed it. It brings back memories
                                                          of stories my Mom shared of coming from Holland
                                                           to Canada on a big ship and being seasick the whole
                                                           trip and being so lonesome the first few years.
                                                           Have you seen it......I think Saoirce Rowan did
                                                           an amazing job in her leading role.
                                                                                       Take care,
                                                                                             Carolyn