On to the next idea.

I went to Jo-Ann's to grovel, groveling is my expression for methodically walking up and down the aisles looking for inspiration and treasures.   I needed to come up with a new plan  for the front door, now that I no longer wanted to create "THE" umbrella of flowers.  

After hours of visual thinking, looking at this with this, that with this, that with that, a trip to Hobby Lobby to repeat the process, and strong ideas about what I really didn't want, Tulips or Forsythia, I finally settled on two shades of Lilacs and some little white flowers.  I said settled, but it was more akin to "I really like these together!" 

At any rate, here's my wreath.  

I'm about 90% thrilled with it.  It's not exactly what I first imagined it would look like because . . .

1. My original plan was to only put flowers on the wreath between the 10 and 6 o'clock position, but the twig wreath vanished into the doors black abyss from a distance, so I had to purchase more flowers and do full coverage.  
2. It's difficult to wire flowers to those weak twigs without breaking them.  I usually just poke the flowers into the gaps of the wreath, and cross my fingers that the wind doesn't take it apart.
3. It's even more difficult to get the balance of color and weight distributed precisely when the branches are hit or miss like they are on this type of wreath base.  My OCD really likes things precise.  

As it turns out, I ended up taking the entire wreath apart after my first attempt and reconstructing it. Originally, I had cut the flowers too long and they laid oddly on the wreath with that much stem, which left me about 20% satisfied with how it looked.  So now that I am at 90% it seems like I should force my OCD to stop looking at the problems and just be happy with it, which I am.

April Showers Bring May Flowers, UNLESS You're Me!

Three years ago, I pinned this umbrella of flowers to my Pinterest board Wreaths Welcome, I'm sure you've already seen it on Pinterest.

This year was going to be my year to create my own, somehow I believed that I would be the only person in my neighborhood, maybe even my village, with one on their door. However, prior to gathering the supplies needed I joined the "HGTV Fixer Upper Show Followers" Facebook group.  The group looks like a forum for members to post pictures of their home projects in exchange for advice and/or admiration.  

Since joining, I've seen one person after another create their version of this umbrella.  Here's a sampling...

Which led me back to Pinterest, to look for more examples.  

After seeing so, so, soooooooo many umbrellas with flowers on Facebook as well as Pinterest, it began to feel like everyone had one on their front door, so I lost all interest in creating my own.   Thanks Internet :| 

Something New

 I assumed my first blog entry would be about vintage dishes(not the kind you eat).  In fact, I had written and re-written it in my mind multiple times.  However, this mystery pattern revealed itself this week, and I found it more interesting.  


Like most of the country, we finally had a run of spring-like temperatures and all the snow melted, leaving us with this odd patch of grass.  I, of course, immediately assumed the foundation upon which my home is built was deteriorating at break neck speeds, and I would need to pack up all my belongings and move.  Don't ask me why I think such crazy thoughts, I have no answer for that, but it's probably an age related thing. Or perhaps it's because this looks like a miniature fault line. 


In an effort to calm my irrational fears, I convinced my daughter, and then John, to take a look.   With our collective world experience and a little help from Google, we have unanimously concluded it was created by a Meadow Vole.  Prior to this, we thought we had field mice, what a surprise to learn we were wrong.  

Considering Options

Trying something new...