Too Early for Flowers in CO? Go to CA!!

I used to live in California....it's a really long story but it does feel like a second home and even though I've been in Colorado for almost twenty years, I find it comforting to go to California several times a year.  Recently, my sweetheart and I made a trip there for 4 days and we went to one of my favorite locations, Roger's Gardens.  I used to watch it on television years ago.  They would have gardening tips and tricks and one day, I realized.....there it is!!  That one day was LAST YEAR.  So, this is my second trip to Roger's Gardens and Mr. Sweetheart had never been since my first trip was with my middle daughter.  Back in Colorado, it was still snowing and cold, so this was delightful to get a glimpse of summer and the colors that abound in that season!  If you don't have flowers yet where YOU are, just enjoy our little trip.  There were TONS more pictures, but I didn't want to bore you with them!

There were orchids in every color as well!!

Yes, the trees were HEAVY with citrus fruits!

Even a tiny tree will bear large fruit

cyclamens

Ranunculus in every color!

they had hydrangeas in every color

They had so many vegetables!!  I wanted to take them ALL home with me!

loved their little lemon wreaths

we were fortunate to have sunshine!

this location is a turn-a-bout near Pacific Coast HWY in Newport

My oldest daughter and her husband and two children are there right now.  It is their Spring Break and they are visiting southern CA for a trip to Knotts Berry Farm then driving up the coast through Santa Barbara then on to San Francisco, Monterey to take the kids to the aquarium there....then on to Mendocino where her husband's aunt is a forest ranger in the redwood forest and has a house there.  After that, they plan to drive home through Sacramento and then to Utah....stay overnight in Salt Lake....then home.  It's an ambitious trip with two little girls in the car.....but they're excited and I'm hoping they have a bit of sunshine as rain is predicted along the way AND Hwy 1 is closed north of San Francisco due to mud slides and they are predicting the road closure to be about a month, so it must be a big one!

I hope you enjoyed the plants and flowers.  I purchased some organic potting soil, some soil amendments and some new garden gloves yesterday...so I'm ready and waiting!! 

Love you All

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!

I love Christmas!!! I love the colors, the flavors, the smiles, the songs, the grocery stores stocked with special goodies.  I love baking, fireplaces, the color RED, believing in the magic, giving to others, surprising people, catching up with old friends, watching children's faces in line to see Santa....

I love a wreath on an old barn, ornaments from long ago....

time with family

If you're needing a Christmas fix, I've gathered together some scenes from recent visits to Christmas-y places

Roger's Gardens in September was just beginning to get their Christmas things out

Hand-made glass ornaments

Unusual things for the 'eclectic' Christmas

'Lantern' ornaments....open on the top for a candle

During a recent visit to the Yankee Candle store in New England, I saw some amazing ornaments!  Here, little wedding cakes!

an almost life-sized Santa with a lab puppy

a rather inviting chair

and yes, it snows every 4 minutes at Yankee Candle

little villages with skaters

cupcake ornaments

Glass ornaments that have been painted from the inside!

a Bavarian village with 'snow' for indoors!

the village 'clock' where figurines come out and play music

trees of all shapes and sizes

German nutcrackers

love this little fellow with the glasses

a german figurine---I think this one was over $300.00!

need a Santa?

maybe some Irish ornaments?

donut ornaments, hamburger ornaments.....you name it!

and cuckoo clocks....I love these!

The ruby slipper ornaments

This place is 'mobbed' with people!

Love the intricate paintings of the Russian dolls

Wreaths with fruits, berries, holly, pinecones

This was a FABULOUS German clock, hand-carved in the Black Forest

Of course, Christmas is always fun with my little people!

My tree skirt....Moose Lodge

A few musical ornaments on my own tree

And Santa coming to town in an old truck

My own tree is 'laden' with Moose

and a few little teeny sweaters on hangers

Our downtown area is full of twinkling lights

and the local candy store is humming with candy making

No snow yet.....but this horse is probably happy about that....

If you're as busy as I am right now, you don't have a lot of time to read a lot of blogs.....so I'll skip the words and just wish you all a Very Merry Christmas.....may you savor the Season.....and enjoy every wonderful minute of it!!  Let the child in you awaken again!  xx