IRELAND

CALEDONIA

I don't know if you can see
The changes that have come over me
In these last few days I've been afraid
That I might drift away
So I've been telling old stories, singing songs
That make me think about where I came from
And that's the reason why I seem
So far away today

Oh, but let me tell you that I love you
That I think about you all the time
Caledonia you're calling me
And now I'm going home
If I should become a stranger
You know that it would make me more than sad
Caledonia's been everything
I've ever had

Now I have moved and I've kept on moving
Proved the points that I needed proving
Lost the friends that I needed losing
Found others on the way
I have kissed the ladies and left them crying
Stolen dreams, yes there's no denying
I have traveled hard with coattails flying
Somewhere in the wind

Now I'm sitting here before the fire
The empty room, the forest choir
The flames that could not get any higher
They've withered now they've gone
But I'm steady thinking my way is clear
And I know what I will do tomorrow
When the hands are shaken and the kisses flow
Then I will disappear

Roses and Death

ROSES LATE SUMMER

What happens
to the leaves after
they turn red and golden and fall
away? What happens

to the singing birds
when they can't sing
any longer? What happens
to their quick wings?

Do you think there is any
personal heaven
for any of us?
Do you think anyone,

the other side of that darkness,
will call to us, meaning us?
Beyond the trees
the foxes keep teaching their children

to live in the valley.
So they never seem to vanish, they are always there
in the blossom of the light
that stands up every morning

in the dark sky.
And over one more set of hills,
along the sea,
the last roses have opened their factories of sweetness

and are giving it back to the world.
If I had another life
I would want to spend it all on some
unstinting happiness.

I would be a fox, or a tree
full of waving branches.
I wouldn't mind being a rose
in a field full of roses.

Fear has not yet occurred to them, nor ambition.
Reason they have not yet thought of.
Neither do they ask how long they must be roses, and then what.
Or any other foolish question.
Mary Oliver


Dedicated to Arthur Remanjon Feb. 3 1955 - Sep.2 2009

Thank you for all that you have given all of us who have had the privilege to have known you. Our lives have been enriched by your unbounding joy, exuberance, wit, amazing talent and endless love and compassion.
Your life will remain a fine example of a life well lived.

Rest in peace

THE VIEW FROM THE DECK ON A SUMMER EVENING

Flamenco Recital

Last Sunday was the Arteflamenco annual recital. Seeing as how I could not participate (due to my knee problem) I was able to take a few photos of the performance.

My classmates preparing for their "Tango"

Several of my classmates in the midst of a "Sevillana".

Our fabulous instructors.

The Advanced Class performing a classical dance inspired by Bizet's Carmen.


I will begin 2 classes this week (if the knee cooperates)so maybe next year I will be among the ranks. Who knows?

Days of Wine and Dogs and Horses

This past Friday night we hosted a fabulous event at The Wine Bin- our first annual Yappy Hour.
A portion of our sales that evening was donated to Spay Maryland and the Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue.
What an amazing turn-out. We provided beer and wine tastings and a chocolate and dog treat tasting by Parfections Chocolates. The Rumour Mill (a local restaurant) provided goodies for the humans to chow down on. And entertainment by Crystal Sands (a wonderful up and coming country singer) rounded out the evening.
I am a huge dog (and horse) lover but people are CRAZY when it comes to their dogs. Who would have thought that a yappy hour would draw so many attendees.


Some of the crowd of our well-behaved owners (and their dogs)
Our youngest dog-loving customer
Music by a fabulous young country singer- Crystal Sands
Chloe and Louie


The Gentle Giant Draft Horses and volunteers



We're looking forward to supporting many more good causes.

I care not much for a man's religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it. ~Abraham Lincoln

SHOWERS AND FLOWERS IN GEWELS' GARDEN

My pansies love this gray,cold and dreary weather....

...But my peonies don't. One bloom has managed to survive the storms.


My trusty and heady scented lilac

And how happy was I when I spotted my Scotch broom blooming. The scent is heaven!


Observe this dew-drenched rose of Tyrian gardens
A rose today. But you will ask in vain
Tomorrow what it is; and yesterday
It was the dust, the sunshine, and the rains.
- Christina Rosetti

SO BUSY!!!!

The last 4 months have been incredibly busy for me. Not with anything that is making any money you see. But, with some amazing events which I have had a hand in producing.
January thru March are wedding show months. So, to entice new clients over the top vignettes must be produced. It's all about SELLING YOURSELF.
Here are a few photos of some of the displays which I've had a hand in designing.

The first is a sort of Moroccan inspired theme. This was done under a canopy of all pink, orange and lime green. I LOVE the combo of orange and hot pink.


One vignette was more contemporary in a black and red scheme.

This next photo was not my design but the linens used were mine. I adore how they put the whole tablescape together using very elegant french tulips and river rocks.


The next set of photos were from a Bridal show that we did the beginning of April. Each designer was given a separate room at The Tremont Hotel here in Baltimore. Each room was a different color-scheme or theme. My room was done in all shades of silver, purple and periwinkle blue. I was trying to create a very moody, but elegant space. The only thing missing was the smoke machine (the higher ups nixed the idea but later wished we had done it- go figure).


This last set of photos was for a fundraiser called UNCORKED- A five course wine dinner with proceeds going to the Maryland Food Bank. The theme of the affair was "A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES" and each table was designed by different florists, event planners or designers.
My movie was OUT OF AFRICA- and this is the result. I made a coffee tree for the center (since it was set on a coffee farm)surrounded by huge King Protea (the national flower of South Africa) and 3 foot tall giraffes that I was fortunate enough to find the day before the event.
I chose linens to evoke an elegant british safari feel. The base linen was a beautiful ecru lace topped with a natural burlap (much like you would find a coffee bean bag made from). Lace napkins, silver candlesticks and animal print covered bamboo chairs finished the design. Favors were bottles of South African wines wrapped in burlap and finished with raffia ties.


Other movies represented were Breakfast at Tiffanys, La Cage Au Folle, The Birds, The Dark Knight, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest (that was wild), Saturday Night Fever and many more. The creativity constantly amazes me!!!

The world is but a canvas to the imagination.
Henry David Thoreau


Unfortunately now I'm brain dead and have not one creative thought in my mind.

MOTHER EARTH

Celebrate Earth Day with me....with photos and native american poetry.


Coming onto the golden belly
of this mother the earth
where the winds talk
and the stones cast no shadows

i was dreaming
my face in the ground
belly to belly
i wept into the earth

a dreaming
but when it was there
it was a singing

my mouth as wide
as the heart of the earth
into the ground I was dreaming
all dressed in hair

Tobacco Indian




The care of the Earth is our most ancient and most worthy, and after all our most pleasing responsibility. To cherish what remains of it and to foster its renewal is our only hope.”
Wendell Berry