Full Bloom Cottage

Many of you know Loretta from Full Bloom Cottage. She also has a beautiful window space here at Country Roads. She's been working on a makeover the past couple of days and it all turned out so beautiful. Here are a few pictures to show you what I mean. . .

I remind myself daily of how fortunate I am to have a store, Country Roads, that is filled with such incredible talent!

Fall at Country Roads

Fall is one of our very favorite times of the year at Country Roads. We have "only" just begun to get the store decorated for Fall. Yesterday,  Brande started with the area by the front door. Here are a few of my favorite vignettes. . . 

We've still got the front window to decorate, the inside of the rest of the store, and of course, our favorite. . .  Johnnye Merle's Gardens and Nursery. And speaking of our gardens, we will be having another little "Garden Party" in late October. Please check the store for details. And I know that Fall doesn't officially arrive until Sunday the 22nd, but I do want to wish you a "Happy Fall". And come on down and see us! We have everything you need for your Fall decorating, including your gardens as well!!

A Garden

I don't know what it is about having a garden, but for me it just makes me happy. I so appreciate the different colors of nature, and also the brilliant colors of some of the bugs that also love my flowers!

I can never remember the name of this plant, but I so love it. And the colors of this bug are so pretty! My son has the same plant at his house and it is now taller than his roof! One of the reasons love my garden so much is because it doesn't ask a lot of me. It only wants to be watered when needed and the rewards from that watering are wonderful! I'm linking up this week with Tracie for her "Garden Party". Now if you want to talk about a beautiful garden, stop by and pay her a visit!

"To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves"

Gandhi

My Garden Away From Home

Many of you know that Country Roads has a really big garden & nursery outside behind the store. It's called "Johnnye Merle's Gardens & Nursery".  JM belongs to my oldest daughter and she named it after my Mom and her Grandma Johnnye.  We've got such a great selection of plants out there, and a couple of other wonderful gardeners, Cathy Jarrell and Debbie Watts, have joined us along with some of the "boys" as well.  I had my camera with me earlier this week while I was looking around our gardens. I love some of our backdrops. . .

And speaking of Country Roads. . . the store will be having a really BIG sale on Monday, Labor Day Monday, September 1st from 10am to 5pm.  The Street Faire is gone, there is lots of parking and some great stuff on sale. Also, Johnnye Merle Gardens is having her sale start a big earlier (beginning on Saturday) just to say "thanks" for shopping at JM's!  Also, please if you get a chance, stop by my friend Tracie's blog! She has an absolutely beautiful gardens and also is hosting a little garden party on her blog with other great gardens!! I hope to see many of you over our long holiday week-end! Take care. . .

Happy Birthday Riley!

My world changed when this little girl was born, seven years ago today! That is when I always thought being a Mom was great. But I soon found out being a Gramma was even better!

 

Being there, in the room during delivery, and seeing your first grandchild being born, well, there are no words to describe that experience. Your life changes in ways you never could imagine before.

Then they begin to grow. And there even more special moments, even if they are messy ones.

Riley started enjoying the water when she was little. And now she swims like a little fish!

Her buddy Leonard. He was my old tomcat and Riley could do anything to him and he would let her. And when Leonard died a few years ago, we just told Riley he went to live with my sister. Who wants to break her little heart, not me!

She still has that magical smile today. . .

And when Morgan, her cousin, was born, I think Riley knew in her heart that they would be close, like sisters!

Then, in the blink of an eye, that little baby girl of mine starts to grow up. Her first day of pre-school and she is off and running. And since then the time hasn't stopped.

And here she is now, seven years old! And I couldn't be prouder of the wonderful little girl she is growing up to be . I think her compassion for others is what warms my heart the most! Happy Birthday. . . you know how much your Gramma loves you ;0)

My Garden

We've had such a mild Summer here in sunny southern CA! It made me love working in my garden even more than I usually do. Here are a few of my favorite flowers that smile at me daily when I spend some time taking care my garden. . .

I so love my yellow roses. My Mom was born and raised in Texas and she loved her beloved "yellow rose of Texas". When I'm out watering my garden, there are times when I see my yellow roses that it reminds me of my Mom! There is so much pleasure in having a garden. It gives you so much more than you have to give "it", if that makes sense. All my garden asks for is a little sunshine, some water, and in my heart, I believe a little "love" thrown into the mix makes it all turn out so sweet! This week I'm linking up with Tracie over at "FishTale Cottage"! I'm always running in a thousand directions at once, that it was just "nice" to have the time to take some pictures of my garden and share my pictures.

"Adopt the Pace of Nature. . . her secret is patience"