~C & R book winner & the project I wasn't looking for~

There's a gorgeous blue sky today.....

in the middle of a VERY rainy & dreary spring

here in the Pac NW....

it's amazing what a little sunshine can do for

your soul? 

I thought it very fitting to post this picture....

it's from the garden of...

the winner....

of...

Christina Strutt's new book

"At Home With Country"

The lucky winner is Carla

from

CosmoGirl's Emporium

these are all shots from her beautiful garden....

I'm waiting patiently for my lilacs to bloom....

you can almost smell them from here huh?

aren't cherry trees just divine?

their blooms are just beautiful...

It looks like she's quite the gardener....

if you have a minute, go over & check out her

lovely site...

here

Congratulations Carla!

I'm sure you will thoroughly enjoy your new book!

Christina also left a comment for

me on the post!  I thought you would like

to read what she said!

Dearest Shellagh,

thank you for lovely interview and thank you to all the heavenly people who have made such lovely comments.

Kate and I are coming to New York in May and our lovely PR Suzie at Branding inc might be able to organise a book signing - we will keep you posted on our blog.

xx christina

Is she the sweetest? I love how she says

"Dearest Shellagh" ...reminds me of

Emma Thompson in

Sense & Sensibility...

and of course you are ALL the

heavenly people she referred too!

She's right! You guys are the best!

now I know I'm risking

a very lengthy post.....

but you might be wondering

what I'm up to now......

well.....the stairs...

we have gone back & forth on finishing the

stairs ourselves....or hiring it out...

this is similar to what we want

but maybe painting the steps a light grey

all the trimwork is what we think

we will struggle with....not being

finish carpenters ya know....

Oh Yeah....I almost forgot

about another "fall in your lap"

kind of project....

you know, like the free boxwoods off craiglist?

well, our neighbor just told me she wants

to get rid of 14 good sized arborvitae!

and we really need a hedge across our back fence

to block {what once was a horse pasture

& is now a paving company..long story for another day....argh}

an unsightly view....

hence, "the project I wasn't looking for"

am I crazy?  no...... don't answer that! ;)

Mr. T & T wants to do it...

especially after looking at buying a bunch

at Costco @ $17 a piece.....

we will probably be digging (big ol') holes....

and doing some transplanting....

this weekend.....

rent a back hoe?

maybe.....

and

I got to meet up with

 Kathleen from Faded Charm

and Kim from White Whispers 2 u

for a very fun day of shopping at my favorite

antique store in Portland, "Monticello"

Kathleen does the wonderful "white wednesdays"

each week, and what an eye that girl has!!

&

 Kim has a very cute blog & etsy store

and also can spot a 2die4 item 50 yards away! ;)

we had a great time ~ I love meeting new friends

well I could go on & on but I know

you need to keep blog hoppin'

so I will see you next time!

xoxo,

Shellagh