a little rain...

It rained a little here yesterday.  Not as much as I'd hoped it would, but just enough to give everything a good soaking and keep the skies cloudy, dark and fallish looking all day.  After a long dry summer it was wonderful...

I spent the morning doing a bit of cleaning that I'd been neglecting and tweaking the pumpkin festival that my grandson had going on in my houseplants.  He will be coming over after school today so I'll let you know how successful my sneaky switcheroo was.

It feels so good to be nesting again.  I have been in a bit of a decorating funk which for me translates into not a whole lot of real cleaning going on as well.  I took a quick trip with a couple of girlfriends last weekend that provided just the inspiration and rejuvenation I needed.

These pictures are from my getaway.  They were taken at the Apple Farm in San Louis Obispo, CA.  It was our first stop on the way up the coast to the beautiful beach town of Cambria. 

I have more pictures and stories to share with you but for now I just wanted to thank my travelling buddies, Elaine and Shelly for listening and talking and eating and talking some more.  It was just what the doctor ordered.  Can't wait to climb into the car again with you ladies.

Have a wonderful Thursday.

xo, Patty

taking the indoors outside - the garden tour continued

One of the things that impressed me most last weekend on the garden tour was all the little (and not so little) indoor touches that these gardeners used outside.

The chicken coop at Boho Farm is just beautiful.  If I were inclined to lay an egg, this is where I would want to come home to roost.  It is charming, from the cute burlap bunting banner...

to this adorable screen door.  I have seen pictures of the pretty chandelier that hangs inside the coop but unfortunately the girls laying quarters were off limits to the crowds and I can understand why.  It might take a little while to get back to a laying routine after having several hundred people trample through during the day.

I love this little shelf with practical  gardening tools collected in unusual containers.

I took a couple of pictures of this rustic chandelier and am busily trying to figure out how I can duplicate it for my own patio.  Some people are just so clever!

A pair of Adirondack chairs and ottomans are on our list for this summer.  I would love my morning coffee reclining on one of these before the heat of the day rolls in, wouldn't you?  Just to relax for a minute or two and take in the view of these gardens would be heavenly.  (I wish I could give credit to this particular gardener but I took so many pictures that I am not sure what garden goes with what gardener.)

Isn't that lamp with it's striped shade adorable?  This whole corner is overflowing with charm...

And finally these metal baskets turned upside down as lampshades hanging over this metal dining room table and wire chairs...genius. 

The little touches of indoors tweaked for outside have me itching to do a bit of outdoor decorating in our backyard.  I have a whole new list of things to be on the look out for next time I hit the flea market.  Don't you love being inspired to try something just a little different?  I sure do.

The clouds have rolled in here again so I think I will take advantage of the cooler weather and go outside, pull some weeds, and do a little dreaming and planning of my own.

xo, Patty

you know your a gardener when...

You know you're a gardener when you are willing to travel over five hours in scorching heat across miles of sandy desert during record breaking temperatures just to go on a garden tour.

Crazy, I know but that is exactly what I did this weekend with my good buddy and blogging friend Elaine from Sunny Simple Life. 

When we found out that Caroline from Boho Farms home was going to be on the Arcadia Edible Garden tour in Phoenix, Arizona we knew a road trip was in order so we packed an ice chest and hit the road.

After a few hours we realized how out of our minds crazy we are...the California desert goes on...and on...and on...

And then you hit the Arizona desert and yep, you guessed it, it goes on...and on...and on...

I cannot tell you how much fun it was!  I think somewhere around mile marker 199 we got a little punchy and really started cracking ourselves up.  The desert can do that you know.

Luckily the gardens were gorgeous.  I came away so impressed and inspired.  How these gardeners achieved these lush, green gardens with such amazing character in the middle of the desert is beyond me.

Needless to say, I wouldn't have missed it for the world.  Elaine was such a fun and easy travelling companion.  We have already started planning our next road trip and while it will also include miles of sand, this time it will also include the oceanfront to go with it. 

If you haven't been on any road trips with your girlfriends in a while, I say start planning.  The destination is not nearly as important as the ride!

xo, Patty

Come back tomorrow and I will share a few pictures of the working gardens, tool keeping and patio areas...