Saturday, July 17, 2010

Beautiful Decor, Accessories, and Statuary

Outside Joplin, Missouri is a wonderful place called Sandstone Gardens. My daughter and I took a little day trip to there to have lunch and look around. There is a tasty bistro restaurant inside, with reasonable prices, and sinful desserts! Or have a glass of wine and relax while looking around. This store is huge! Store isn't even the right word, it is an experience.

The landscaping is so impressive, weddings are held outside here.







The side entrances have many pieces of statuary for any taste.





Rabbits, anyone?


    






She looks a little perturbed, doesn't she?


This is the view from the second floor, but it isn't even 1/4 of the store.



Beautiful sunshine yellow, and cute little beeskeep up in the corner.





I saw lots of blackboards in this paddle shape.




I love this lamp!



I love this crisp green and yellow with the blue and white porcelain.


Some nice Godinger china.


Cute little graduated pails.





And Daughter # 1



Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Tour Lilywood Farms

I had the privilege to travel to Lilywood Farms before they closed to the public, after 9 years of tours, although they still sell online.  Lilywood Farms is located in north central Missouri, is set in beautiful farm country. The farm has been in the current family since 1871. The land is still being farmed, with 3 acres devoted to daylilies. The house, outbuildings and grounds are immaculate.







You can see the date the house was built.


This had been the smoke house. The grandchildren were playing in the wading pool the day we were there.


This building was the slave quarters. Missouri was a slave state.



                                           Some of the daylily fields up close to the house.


View from the front porch of the house. Notice the cornfields and then the cut wheat fields in the background.





That happy girl is me, with my big clump of daylilies!



 

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

What I am reading right now.......

I am a coffee table book fanatic. Beautiful books are prized possessions.



I love Anne Rivers Siddons books. Most of them are set in the South, this one in South Carolina, a modern day novel.


Christi Carter's Art of Accessorizing

Accessorizing done right shows one's personality by what they like to collect and display. A true feast for the eyes.

Relaxing on the Porch
by
Megan Fulweiler

A luxurious book to dream about your personal paradise!


The Butterfly Bush is Open for Visitors!




And the wrens are working on their second hatching.

Daylily: Everyday a new one

Every morning brings a new surprise as daylily season peaks. Daylilies are literally that. A new blossom each day, and each scape (stem) can put out 8-24 or more buds.  So every morning I head for the yard with my camera to capture the best moments.


                                                             Chicago Apache clump




                                                                     Strutter's Ball





                                                            Calgary Stampede clump





                                                                       No ID seedling


                                                                               

                                                                         Final Touch

                                                                               
                                                             

                                                          Beautiful Edgings
                    
                                              

    Daylilies are easy to grow, try some!