Garden Design No. 10 - Moss Gardens

My Dad was big on Sunday afternoon drives. Some times planned, some times spontaneous. One of my favorites was the planned drive when we would head to a particular State Park that we frequented often. So often that we knew most of the trails like the back of our hand.

It was a delight to experience nature's gifts, along with Mom's picnic lunch. How amazing it was to us that the Park was 20 degrees cooler then the hot Summer day outside it. Seriously, we would build a fire  in the massive stone fireplaces built by hand that still exist today in this park, to keep warm while eating lunch. And the water from the natural spring was the freshest you will ever taste.

But one of the most memorable "finds" was what I like to call "nature's carpet". Finding those massive patches of moss to go barefoot in was so much fun. This was our equivalent to a kid's bouncy house.

To this day I find Moss Gardens to be so soothing and relaxing and invitingly tranquil.

Image Sources: Flicker, Daily Venture, Serenity in the Garden, TLC, Water Daily

Garden Design No. 9 - Play It Cool Outdoors

In the warm summer days, I like the simple life. Slowing down a bit and actually feeling the warm summer sun, the cool breezes, the smells of flowers, suntan lotion, minted iced tea, fresh melons...you get the picture.

So for this Garden Design post I wanted to say yippie to playing it cool outdoors.

PLAYING IT COOL IDEA #1 - The outdoor chalkboard

Okay, so this first idea is supposed to be for kids, but I think it would be cool for playing a game of Hangman or keeping score during a game of horseshoes or an epic game of Pictionary.

Now ordinary chalkboard paint probably won't hold up outdoors so here is a "recipe" I found on Pinterest for chalkboard paint for use outdoors.

Random leftover non-VOC paint in black {one cup}

2 Tbs of unsanded grout

Use any scrap of wood you have and ta da!

PLAYING IT COOL IDEA #2 - Outdoor Movie Night

Setting Up Your Outdoor Screen

What you need:
2 thick, white queen–size ironed flat sheets
Top pole 1.5" diameter x 10' long
Bottom pole 3" diameter x 10' long
Rope — 2 different thicknesses

Step 1. Start with two queen–size ironed flat sheets. Sew them together with white thread so the long sides are joined creating a tube.
Step 2. Insert the 1.5–inch diameter pole and let the fabric hang down.
Step 3. Attach thicker rope to the ends of the top pole so that it can be attached to a tree.
Step 4. Once attached to a tree, slide the thicker pole through the tube created by the sewn sheets so that it creates a weight at the bottom of the screen.
Step 5. Attach thinner rope to the ends of the bottom pole.
Step 6. Insert two tent stakes directly beneath the bottom corners of the screen, tie the thinner rope to both of the tent stakes and pull taught. This will insure that the screen doesn't sway in the wind.

PLAYING IT COOL IDEA #3 - Stargazing

The Summer sky has some of the most amazing stargazing. Take the time to marvel. And if you need a bit of help check out this book for the recreational astronomer.

PLAYING IT COOL IDEA #4 - Outdoor Scrabble

This has got to be the ultimate in outdoor fun. The tiles are made from wood trim and vinyl lettering. And the board is stamped concrete. Ahem...score keeping on the outdoor chalkboard.  A really cool handled woven basket for the letter "bag", a good bottle of wine, paperback dictionary for those challenges, and a few good friends. 

Image Sources: Sunset, Pottery Barn, Amazon, Pinterest

Be Inspired No. 32 - Life.

Source: Paloma81

RSVP Collection No. 33 - The Easter Egg

Yup, chalkboard paint.

No pressure here, just some "blow your mind" decorated Easter eggs. So if you haven't colored your eggs yet, have at it. But be warned, this is not the Q-tip, food coloring, newspaper down on the table coloring of eggs, oh no....these eggs even have Martha Stewart pouting.

Someone has a very delicate hand.

Loving the luster!

Leave it to Roberto Cavallini

It's fabric!

With a Sharpie pen, really?

(who are these people?)

Truly tie-dyed.

And after the Easter egg hunt, here is the best egg salad recipe.

Bella Cucina Egg Salad Sandwich

• Boil the eggs just until the centers are still wet. I put my eggs in boiling water and cook for nine minutes.   The eggs continue cooking once you take the pot off the heat, so by the time they cool off for peeling, they have the perfect golden sun yellow yolk. 
• Chop the eggs with a pastry cutter.  I love the chunky texture. Is this the secret? 
• Mix mayonnaise {homemade best, of course, but Hellman's is my choice} with basil pesto. About 1 cup mayo to 1 Tablespoon pesto.  The "secret" ingredient revealed.  
• While the eggs are still warm, gently fold in the pesto mayo into the chopped eggs. 
• Slather  slices olive bread or Italian country loaf lightly on both sides with olive pesto. 
• Generously spread the egg salad onto the dressed bread. Top with washed baby arugula leaves. 
• Cut in half and enjoy immensely.  

Image Sources: Sharpie, Italia Living, Scribbet, Notcot, La Scala, Tutorial Lounge, Dumage, Bella Cucina

Gotta Love No. 21 - Louis Vuitton Paris 2012

I have no words. Just oohs, aahs, sighs, gasps, omg's....

The fashions were to die for. But I couldn't stop looking at the bags!

 Image Sources: Madison Muse, YouTube

Garden Design No. 7 - Birdhouses

There is nothing like those birdhouses your children built as a project and paint with their own little hands that hang proudly in our trees. Those birds don't know just how special they are when we allow them to take residence in these "memory" houses.

And we have all rolled pine cones in peanut butter and bird seed a few times when we needed a Winter project for those little hands. These were great lessons of showing just how wonderful nature is and how we are responsible for taking care of this gift as much as we can.

But life moves forward, the memories stay alive and bring smiles to our faces, and we look to feed those birds with a more artistic approach.

You can't beat the color of a Robin's egg, but how cool is this take on it!

Love these!

For the architectural lover!

Seriously creative - a take on the Chrysler Building.

And if you want to bring back the joys of building your own birdhouses - check out this book!

Image Sources: MoMa, Neiman Marcus, Twin Pines Studio, Etsy, Amazon, Lowes, Sing Snap, Apartment Therapy

Paper Obsessed No. 9 -Vintage Botanical Prints

There is artwork and then there are works of art. Botanical prints are works of art. 

Some of the most beautiful botanical prints date to the 1890s.  There is an art to framing and matting these prints, as well as how they are hung.

Image Sources: Etsy, Velvet and Linen, Houzz, House Beautiful, Veranda, Domino, Bella Casa, Traditional Home