Never have enough bowls

My dishwasher is always full of bowls.

It's the one item in my kitchen I never have enough of.

I paint them fancy and I paint them plain.

I paint the inside. 

And I paint the outside.

I paint them bold.

And I paint them colorful.

I paint them sweet and simple.

Even just in blue and white.

I can paint them so you can show off your family crest.

Or we can design one for you.

Most often I paint bowls just for the fun of it. 
No matter how many bowls I paint I end up with only rejects in my house.

Have a wonderful week my dear
Blogging Friends.

Gina

Piano Nobile

No, not a noble Piano

Piano Nobile (Italian, Noble Floor)

The Piano Nobile is an elevated storey immediately above the basement  (as it is in our case) or above the ground floor. Many country Villas in the Italian Veneto were designed by Andrea Palladio (16th c. Architect) featuring  a Piano Nobile to avoid dampness from the low lying Po Valley and the watery lagoons of the Venice region. 

Our house is built on a Podium with steps leading up to the terrace  and elevated above water level of our spring. The spring which provides us with  ever changing vistas,  natural beauty and a very important water source during the summer months. 

Historians have suggested that Land Owners could observe their workers from the elevated terrace.  Barchese or arcaded side wings were part of the design scheme which provided sleeping areas for farm laborers during the growing season.

Note:  We have terraces, we have arcaded side wings, but we have no laborers.

While we were building our house it occurred to me that it would be wonderful to have the elevated base broken up with flower boxes,

Every year the flower boxes look different.  Each exposure presents a different challenge.   But all of them are at perfect height.  No back breaking planting and weeding. 

My plantings always include Salpiglossis.

 These are last years' flowers.  Up and until a few days ago we had frost every night, my flowers are barely showing right now, but they will shine in a few weeks just as they have in years past.

Hopefully, the seeds I planted only yesterday,  in the front of the barn,  will hurry and grow just as they did last year.

Last years' vegetable garden.

My vegetable garden does not look like this yet, but it will soon.

Better head outside and get busy.

Have a great weekend my dear

Blogging Friends.


Gina

Birds, Birds, Birds.

So many birds keeping me company...

while I work in my Garden.

Instead of working so hard in my garden I should be rowing my boat, shaded from the sun by an umbrella, with champagne on ice and a few tasties to keep up my strength.

 It's time to call it a day.

Have a great remainder of the week my dear

Blogging Friends.

Gina





Plastic turning into stone

It's true,
 Trompe l'oeil it.

What a difference a little paint makes.

These little plastic urns were a plain brown color.

The urns were painted a solid green first.

On an old plate add several of your favorite acrylic paint colors.

With a flat, two inch wide brush and working sideways, apply paint in streaks.

In places stipple on a little white paint.

When completely dry spray with high gloss sealer.

You can improve so many different surfaces with just a little paint.

It is the paint treatment that separates the ordinary from the  special.

Have a great weekend my dear Blogging Friends.

Gina

Just a quick hello

My garden is looking better

Still, much more to do.

I don't know why we work so hard in our garden.  Every night we have frost,  it is not very kind to our plants...the chickens keep escaping, I didn't know that Arugula was on their menu.

My daisies don't mind the cold and the chickens are happy eating the rest of my new garden.

Thank you my dear Blogging Friends  for being such loyal readers. 

Have a great remainder of the week.

Gina

Taking a short break

From Blogging

My garden needs me.

See you soon.

Warmest wishes to you my dear

Blogging Friends,

Gina