Tag: first day of Spring 2012
March is almost here – Think Irish!
by admin on Feb.23, 2012, under Favorites
March is a busy month:
- Daylight Savings Time begins March 11, 2012
- St. Patrick’s Day is March 17, 2012
- First day of Spring is March 20, 2012
I posted some pithy Irish saying plaques, etc. in a post last year – most of which are still available from ShopIrish.com.
Here are a few new items for gardeners who like a bit of Irish flair, and also some Irish-oriented gift ideas for anyone on your shopping list with a St. Patrick’s Day birthday. I have one on mine, so always keep an eye out for things uniquely Irish.
This guy is still one of my favorites!
This Garden leprechaun has an empty pot of gold that’s just the right size to hold your favorite plant.
Richly detailed weather resistant resin.
Size: 7.5″D x 12″W x 17″H
And here’s his friend!
This delightful character is at home in the garden, patio or porch.
Perched on his pot of gold this wee fellow captures the essence of Irish charm.
Weather resistant resin.
14 inches tall.
Perfect for those cool Spring evenings and a great personalized gift!
Subtle shamrocks have been woven into this 100% cotton throw. 48″ x 68″ made and embroidered in the USA.
Don’t forget to include name requested for this personalized item. Allow 3-4 weeks so you may not get this there right on the day – but the thought will be appreciated nonetheless!
If you’re looking for a great St. Patrick’s Day gift and know someone who loves silver jewelry, this Trinity Knot ring will certainly be a big hit!
Uniquely fashioned design where the Trinity knot and the band are interwoven to form this contemporary ring.
Made in the USA.
Whole sizes only 6 – 10.
Hundreds of other items available for home and garden, jewelry, glassware, gourmet food products and more – all from Shop Irish – a great online resource for quality Irish gifts! Check out their shipping deals for order placed by March 1st…
Creating Your Outdoor Spaces
by admin on Jan.18, 2012, under Images, Real Estate
There isn’t a better time to plan improvements to your outdoor living spaces than on a chilly (and for me, rainy) morning in January. When I’m having a really dreary winter week, I’ll sometimes pretend that I have a overabundance of funds and have a look at some very high-end design ideas. It costs nothing to dream a bit and sometimes I still find ideas I can downsize for my actual yard and budget.
I thought I’d share my meanderings with you through some very cool outdoor living designs I found online. If the image was provided by vendors that actually supply the good or service shown, you can find their URL in the “alt” tag for further review and research. Will start with simple and move on up to “spectacular.”
I like the peaceful attitude of this simple deck, swing, and table. It makes a inviting place to sit and read or spend some time with a friend or two.
Anyone already lucky enough to have a wide porch can also take advantage of this simple addition. Add some colorful plants and you’re done!
This outdoor area looks like a good place to go to get away for awhile. There is a fairly simple stone base for the table, chairs, and other outdoor furniture. This is truly an outdoor living space!
Although the design is “country” you could carve this space out of any small suburban environment and enclose the area to your preference – or not.
I like the use of the old door to create a backdrop – where no wall or door actually exists. Good idea!
Now on to a couple larger-scale designs – not for the faint-of-heart from a budgetary standpoint but after all – we’re just looking!
Plenty of “WOW” factor going on here!
What I like about this design is that even though there is a lot going on – it doesn’t look cluttered. Too many outdoor spaces end up “noisy” with “stuff” that doesn’t really add to the overall use of the space.
The outdoor fireplace has a throne-area all its own – with the seating planned far enough away to keep guests from getting hammered by the smoke – something some designs do not take into consideration.
And then there are the water features…these need a post all their own but here’s a design as example:
Any time you add water where there was none before expect it to not come cheap. The inexpensive approaches would be to build your own small Koi-type pond or to add a fountain.
The design shown above looks like there may have been a pond on the property – and the designer customized it to make the area more inviting and useful. For those without a current water point on their property, fountains are probably the quickest and often the least expensive way to go. I recommend Garden Fountains.com for a wide choice of fountains – from estate-sized to those more appropriate for a small garden space.
The first day of Spring is March 20, 2012…no time like now to start planning your outdoor living space improvements for this year’s enjoyment!
Winter Doldrums
by admin on Jan.04, 2012, under Images, Real Estate
Is there any more potentially depressing time of year than right after the holidays? Whether good, bad, or indifferent – the after-Christmas and after-New Year’s time frame can sometimes leave you just feeling exhausted.
In many areas, cold weather first hits hard during this same time – as does the flu. It’s 15 degrees here this morning in Central North Carolina – after a high temperature one day last weekend of 73 degrees. I can’t work outside because it’s too cold – although I am working rather diligently to keep that wood stove fed! The lack of physical activity during cold winter months can have a negative impact on a person’s mental and emotional health. Lack of sunlight and Vitamin D are also often cited as main culprits in seasonal depression.
Add to this that if my father was still alive, today would have been his 77th birthday – and January seems to me a less than stellar way to start a new year.
Time to Re-boot!
Seed catalogs for Spring planting will soon be arriving in the mailbox!
Since it is dark by 5:30pm, I have more time now in the evening to read books or watch movies I don’t have time for on long, outdoor summer evenings. I am always looking for ways to improve my outdoor living environment and now is a great time to do some research and get some new design ideas – instead of trying to find time to do this while the grass is waiting to be watered or mowed.
If I get too bored, I can start planning my defense on the coming assault of tax season in April. Or in a more pleasant light – I can start planning a summer vacation. This winter “downtime” is also a great time to get your inside life organized. A good old-fashioned “throw-away” can be uplifting. Go through a room, or a closet, or a file cabinet that needs a clean-out and get it done.
Don’t be too tied to New Year’s resolutions. Too many people set themselves up for failure the very first day of the year – and then get discouraged. Instead, know that if you are alive and breathing this morning, you have a shot at 361 more days this year to change what you want to change and make any improvements you can as you go along.
If all else fails, maybe these Hyacinth images will help – and the fact that they bloomed before the end of February 2011 – not that long to wait for this season’s color. There’s also the clarity of a winter sky – which can not be seen in the more humid months of summer.
The first day of Spring is March 20, 2012…you can make it!
