...a home for every bloom...

“Happiness is to hold flowers in both hands.”

~ Japanese Proverb

It’s Virginia Garden Week and as I mentioned yesterday, I traipsed around downtown Ashland. After visiting the gardens and homes on the tour, I headed to the Ashland Cultural Arts Center to (use the restroom) visit the local vendors. I *almost* bought a blueberry bush. In fact, I probably should have asked the vendor to set it aside so that I could run to the bathroom. By the time I returned, the last blueberry bush had sold. I probably do not have the room anyway but still... and I wasn't wasting time in the bathroom. This was me waiting in line. 

I have a ridiculous Facebook photo album titled, “Pictures Taken In Bathrooms” because I have this long (weird) history of taking silly pictures with friends and alone in various bathrooms.

After the blueberry bush was gone, I poked around the table with cut flowers. As I mentioned yesterday, the Ashland Garden Club made these amazing arrangements out of flowers from their own gardens for the houses on the tour. They were stunning. Well, I learned that this table was the leftover flowers that did not get used in the arrangements e.g. oh no! These were the unwanted ones (insert sad face). Each Mason jar filled with flowers was $3. There was only an hour left so the club member was pushing the flowers/encouraging us to buy. I paid for three jars and she tossed in a fourth… which I should point out how challenging it was carrying four full jars of flowers with water a good quarter mile to my car, especially when my nose started to itch. And in true flower style, my black jacket was covered in pollen by the time that I reached my car. I tossed the water for the short trip home, and tucked the jars in a basket in my trunk.

 As soon as I arrived home, I tried my hand at making some floral arrangements using my bat pitcher and red glass vase. I think they turned out great! 

I think these Hellebore/ Lenten Roses might be one of my new favorites. They’re absolutely gorgeous. Also, considering I have four colors of azaleas in my yard, I never once considered cutting them and using them as a cut flower. I asked how the azalea blooms were so large and how each was open. Easy, apparently you have to treat them before displaying them. Simply cut a long stem. Once inside, cut the stem again while holding it under running water. Then place the stem in warm to hot water and leave it overnight. By the next day, the stem will be ready to be placed in a vase with other flowers.

...how can you not love a unicorn...

"The last unicorn wasn't really the last.

And maybe she still isn't.

~Laura Alden

It’s Virginia Garden Week and I traipsed around downtown Ashland. This was my very first Garden Week adventure (ever). I’m not sure why because it is so very me (i.e. looking at flowers and nosying my way into fancy homes). I walk around Ashland all the time. In fact, one lady on the tour recognized me from walking. Uh oh! It’s not like I peep in windows but sometimes I linger a bit too long at that which I consider beautiful.   

When the tour announced that one of the most colorful homes I’ve ever seen, even colorful by Victorian Queen Anne standards, was being opened to the public for the first time I knew that I would be purchasing a ticket. The Queen Anne to which I am referring is at 402 Duncan Street. Built in 1891, it was the boyhood home of Christopher Chenery, the owner of the famous racehorse Secretariat. Currently, the house is owned by Charles Sthreshley, an artist who specializes in furniture made out of concrete. 

On my walks, it’s always been obvious that it’s an artist’s home since there are sculptures throughout the lawn. I think most people in Ashland use this Duncan Street house as a landmark. I always noted that it was across from the dreamy albeit dilapidated haunted house that was torn down. It makes me so sad that a contemporary house has been built in its place but that’s a story for another day. I’m sure everyone thought that old house was an eyesore but I loved it.

Something about the dreamy haunted house being removed made me loathe this colorful gingerbread home. If folks mentioned it, I would roll my eyes. It didn’t make any sense. It wasn’t *this* home’s fault that the other was destroyed. Maybe I felt it was too showy, too colorful, too look-at-me? Today I learned how wrong I was. I sent a text to my fella that reads, “That gingerbread house is F*cking Amazing!”

Sthreshley’s art is displayed all around the house. The Garden tours do not allow any indoor photography which really was a shame because the Ashland Garden Club created the most amazing arrangements that were displayed throughout the homes. My absolute favorite arrangement mixed Sthreshley’s artwork with flowers. The piece resembles an orb with ragged wings. In the hole in the orb, the Garden Club members added a Bird of Paradise along with some other flowers which I cannot quite remember (proving another reason that I take pictures so often… memory fades).

The colors inside are bright but something about the design of his furniture brings life to this old house. It’s different, quirky, and fun! Would I want to live there? Absolutely not! It’s way too bright and it’s much too modern for me…even with my new found appreciation for the home.

See the windows! That's the *plant* room.

Two of my favorite parts include a room that is basically for plants. A wall blocks the living space from numerous large windows that is perhaps for privacy. Sthreshley holds orchids and other plants in the location. There is just enough place to walk in to water them but I doubt one could actually fit a chair comfortable. I could use a place for just my orchids for sure.

My second favorite place, and my favorite human livable space, is the balcony nook on the back of the house. What an amazing place to have coffee or wine.

Balcony nook

The yard is open with plants dotting the property along with Sthreshley’s original artwork. 

While the colors and style are not to my personal taste, it's nice to see someone take an old house and make it his completely. The house and yard appear loved and livable. It has not be renovated in a way that makes it appear like it is stuck in time nor has it been renovated in a way that makes it appear that it only belongs as a model home. Heck, in a world of box-houses when each of the houses in the neighborhood look exactly the same and in my own Homeowners Association forbidding hot pinks doors (or any colors for that matter), this place is like a unicorn. It's magical and rare.

...a little bit of spirit & a case of the in-betweens...

The best Christmas trees

come very close to exceeding nature.

~Andy Rooney

This evening I went for a stroll around my town. While in many ways I’m holding on to Halloween (and will carry it in my heart all year long), I’m starting to get a little ting of the Christmas Spirit and my town isn’t discouraging it at all! 

Look at us with our Christmas tree already up and lit; look at the promises that the town is going to look like a postcard (not sure where they’re going to find the snow :p). 

Tonight many of the houses in town appeared to be giving their lights and Christmas decorations a test drive. 
 

Look…we really can’t judge. We were shopping for Halloween in July and our hearts are big enough for multiple holidays. Plus, for many of us Halloween is a lifestyle choice. Christmas, to me, is the most magical time of year.

I’m obsessed with Christmas movies. I watched two Hallmark Channel Christmas movies last night.

My very favorite movie is It’s a Wonderful Life. Those who know me know that I cry even talking about it. I lovelovelove all things Bing Crosby! White Christmas! Holiday Inn! I own them; I go to the classic movie showings at the local theaters; I go to see the play versions when they’re available. Swoon!

Last Saturday night, I was at the mall and ended up meeting one of my friends who adores Christmas. In Crate & Barrel and in Pottery Barn, he bought Christmas ornaments; I bought the leftover Halloween items.  

My love for Peppermint Mochas even surpasses my love for Pumpkin Spice lattes. But, of course, I write this while I’m eating a pumpkin spice cookie, a batch that I made for my fella tonight.  I've got a case of the in-betweens!

Kids, we gotta keep Halloween in our hearts all year long!

Merry Everything! I’m ready :)