Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Meet Me Under the Apple Tree


Hello, sweet friends, I hope all is well!

I have been busy in the gardens, so I thought
I would share a few lovely moments. 


I set up a little picnic under the blooming apple trees,
 one beautiful sunny day. 


A dear, new blogger friend, Michele, sent me these sweet tokens
of friendship as a thank-you for the gifts I sent her 
in the tea-cup exchange I participated in through
Stephanie's blog, The Enchanting Rose

I took them out with me for my picnic. 


I hung the charming, hand-made birdhouse...


And the sweet, tiny teacup ornament.....


I added a basket of speckled eggs. 
Just because....


I snipped a few forget-me-nots for my hand-painted vase.


The 'Geisha' bamboo plate and tea mug
were recent thrifty finds.

One of my favorite books is 'Memoirs of a Geisha'.


The tea cup has a handy lid for keeping unwanted sippers out :)


I brought along my flower press to
preserve sweet memories of spring.


Apple tree blossoms......


Wildflowers and azalea.



Wild bleeding heart and vinca blossoms.


Forget-me-not, buttercup and dandelion.
These will be used for creating lovely cards
when pressed and dry.


The rock garden full of forget-me-not.
(And a few dandelions :)
Whitey Bear sits by the holly tree.

That is where Ramblin' Man told me to
turn around the first time he brought
me to see the property.

When I turned around, there was Mt. Rainier.

Little did I know that I would be roughing it
for the next 3 years in a 32 ft. vintage trailer,
with 3 little ones and 1 on the way,
 while we built our home.

We were so young, with so many dreams.....


Delicate blooms protected from
4-footed friends with wire fencing.


Who would that be, I wonder?


Salmon berry blossoms.


Wearing my 1930's vintage apron with the flower
brooch Michele sent me.

This little apron needs to be pinned
to stay in place.


Looking up to see the shy Band-Tailed Pigeons.


They were courting and cooing to each other.
These wild pigeons are 14 and 1/2 inches long,
with overall gray coloring and a narrow white band on the
nape of the neck, black-tipped yellow bill and yellow legs.

They love the black oil sunflower seeds I put out for them.

The guide book says they are non-migrators,
but they are nomads,
disappearing for the winter and reappearing in spring
despite a steady supply of seed.


Late afternoon shadows as my picnic comes to an end.


It was a wonderful day
under the apple trees.


The flower press is now full of sweet spring memories.


Memories of apple blossoms, wildflowers,
and dear, sweet friendship.


xoxo


A lovely day.


Thank you for joining me, dear friends!

xoxo

Then flash the wings returning summer calls
Through the deep arches of her forest halls.
- Oliver Wendell Holmes -

xoxo

Today I am linking with:
Flower Wednesday

Click!

Won't you join the fun?

Sending thoughts and prayers to all those
affected by the recent storms and flooding
across the South and in Europe. 

47 comments:

  1. Oh my, now isn't that just the sweetest time outdoors?

    Your beautiful furry friends made the day extra special.

    Your home - flowers - feathered friends - all made your "picnic" very special. Big hugs! ♥



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  2. What a beautiful spot for a lovely tea picnic kind of day. I bet it smelled heavenly too! I love the idea of pressing some flowers to use to make cards - I may need to get out pressing a few of my own. Just love that!

    Thank you for sharing your sweet gifts, beautiful spot, sunny smile, pretty birds, and precious poochies.

    Blessings. xoxo

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  3. I enjoyed your picnic Karen in such a beautiful place. Lovely to share your memories. You have reminded me to look out my flower press. Now where did I put it? Enjoy the rest of your week. B xx

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  4. You have such a gorgeous property. It's lovely that you appreciate it's beauty so much.That little birdhouse is so sweet. I hope it is soon occupied by a new momma-to-be. :) Pretty picture of you. Deb

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  5. Picnic fun hurray to be outside enjoying the day. x

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  6. Oh how lovely, a picnic under your gorgeous apple tree. You do live in paradise, Karen. I can't imagine living in a 32' trailer for 3 years with little children, but it was worth it, with the beautiful home and garden you have created. Everything is just sublime!

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  7. Lovely to hear from you and to catch up with you! Hope you are having fun in the garden!

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  8. What a glorious day ...
    What a glorious post ...

    So lovely to be able to 'spend time' with you as you take us on a wonderful photographic tour of a rather lovely day.

    May the week ahead be a good one.

    All the best Jan

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  9. I love your Geisha plate. Your gardens are so lovely.

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  10. I certainly enjoyed my visit to your beautiful yard and gardens today Karen. Thank you. It was all so lovely.

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  11. You have such a lovely place and it is obvious that you enjoy it to its fullest!

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  12. What an absolutely gorgeous post! So many good things to look at here! What a lovely day it looked like to. Your gardens are just beautiful, I always enjoy your posts so much! :-) Enjoy your evening!

    Blessings,
    Jill

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  13. What a beautiful picnic in such beautiful surroundings!

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  14. Hi dear Karem ,, que entretenido pi nos en un bello paisaje ,,espero que tengas un buen día
    Cariños

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  15. What a lovely post Karen. You surely know how to lead a garden life with a style :) Blooming apple trees are maybe the prettiest sight in late May / beginning of June. Your dogs are happy in the garden too, it shows on their faces.

    Thank you so much for joining in my link party! Continue to enjoy the garden, it is the best time of the year! Hugs ♥

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  16. Dearest Karen,
    it was so lovely to meet you under the appletree!
    Such a wonderful post, my dear !
    Have a wonderful week and enjoy sitting in your beautiful garden!
    Love and hugs and blessings,
    Claudia xo

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  17. Dear Karen,

    How beautiful to see your beautiful table set up under the apple tree and all the gorgeous blossom. The little birdhouse and the lovely apron are all so sweet.
    Hope you are having a happy week
    hugs
    Carolyn

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  18. What a beautiful place for a picnic, you are certainly blessed with a beautiful home and garden. Such a good idea to make cards from pressed flowers, I have just made some book marks. The apron was stunning.

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  19. Karen what a divine picture you paint with your images and words today Karen. I feel like I am there. Mimi xxx

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  20. What a beautiful picnic you had and so lovely to have those pressed flower mementoes of the day:)

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  21. What a dear, sweet picnic, Karen, on your dreamy property, which must be like heaven on earth! Michele is such a sweetheart to thank you with such precious treasures.

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  22. Oh my goodness...my goodness. Where do I begin. First, loved being with you in your garden, at the table, under the apple blossoms!! How fun and relaxing it all was. Loved the broach on your vintage apron, and the charming birdhouse. You've certainly made my day with so much sweetness and delight.

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  23. What wonderful gifts! Blog friends always know just what we love. And the flower press is so nice. I've never seen one of those but now I'll be on the lookout. Love the place you live...just beautiful! Enjoy your day! Hugs, Diane

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  24. This is my kind of fun - a mix of nature and crafting and so many pretty things.
    Amalia
    xo

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  25. Karen, your days sharing with us are great and your picnic looks beautiful too.
    Have a nice day

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  26. What a sweetly pretty little picnic. Very relaxing. Thanks for inviting us along.

    FlowerLady

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  27. I would want to lounge in a hammock to enjoy the views every day.

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  28. What a lovely walk through your yard! Your doggies are just so sweet. I love the idea of a flower press. I must look for one. This post was idyllic and sublime....two words I just love!!

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  29. What a lovely picnic, I loved everything about it! The tiny tea cup ornament is sweet along with your birdhouse. There are so many different flowers growing around you, but those forget-me-nots are so pretty to me because they are a bluish-purplish color. Your dogs always make me smile, and I especially loved the picture of you looking up at the pigeons. That's a sweet picture. I always enjoy seeing the happenings going on around your home, Karen. You live in a lovely area, which is truly a gift.

    ~Sheri

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  30. Oh, how much I'd love to, my wonderful Karen, if only the miles separating us were less, alas... anyway, I love everything, just everything in this amazing post of yours, dearest friend !

    Hope your week is off to a good start I wish you most wonderful days to come, sending hugs and more hugs to you

    Xx Dany

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  31. All my favorites in 1 post: friends, flowers, tea, beautiful scenery, a sunny day and dogs. It doesn't get much better than that.

    Thank you for showing us such wonderful hospitality!

    Marilyn (in Dallas)

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  32. Oh. I'm in love with your blog :) Pic's are so pretty and the text is from heart...and my flower bench are protected too with wire fencing 'cos my dogs and bunny ;)
    Love, Satu Xx

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  33. Oh how I love your vignettes outdoors, especially under the blooming apple tree. Pressing the flowers is so special too. What a lovely place to sit with a cup of tea.

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  34. What a blessing to visit you and have such a charming time. Love your beautiful outdoor space. Drinking tea from the gorgeous cup while pressing floral memories of springtime. Simply special moments. Your fur babies are so sweet. Thanks for sharing and passing on your joy!! Blessings to you sweet friend. xo

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  35. Oh, everything is just beautiful Karen! Isn't Michele a dear? Your flowers are so lovely, and your dogs so sweet. Speaking of sweet, that's a sweet picture of you looking up! You look so happy, and how could you not be, in such a gorgeous setting? What a nice visit, xo Deborah

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  36. what a special, beautiful day, filled with many treats to make one smile!!! this is a really nice entry, you always present things so soft and beautifully!!!

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  37. Lovely to visit for a afternoon under the apple trees in your garden.
    merle...............

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  38. Thank you for sharing your time under the apple tree with us. Lovely apron and brooch...

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  39. This is such a lovely place to stop, always a great post. Never saw those pigeons.Love this time of year with Lilac, Rhododendrons and azaleas and
    Hydrangeas, Pear and Cherry trees in bloom. You have a beautiful spot. yvonne

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  40. Hi Karen...
    That was lovely♥️...thanks!
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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  41. Hi Karen!
    It was nice to spend some time under your apple trees. You have a lovely piece of property. Glad you persevered the 3 years in that vintage trailer with little ones. Oh my. It's amazing what we can accomplish if we just forge ahead. Hope you have a lovely weekend. We are headed to Leavenworth. Blessings! ~The Happy Wonderer.

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  42. I enjoyed joining you for your picnic under the apple tree. Everywhere in your garden is looking lovely. Enjoy your summer.

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  43. a most beautiful setting of dreams come true.

    thank you for your kindness regarding zim...

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  44. Beautiful post, such a pretty picnic spot with such lovely things all around. I am excited to see the cards you make with those beautiful blooms, we have some flowers that are blooming so pretty and I have thought I should cut them and see if I can dry them, I usually do mine in an old phone book. I can only imagine how hard it was on you while you were building your home, but now that you can enjoy it all now I imagine it feels like it was worth it. So good to see your beautiful smiling face too :) Have a wonderful weekend!

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  45. You and Ramblin' picked perfect spot for a picnic and a forever home.
    Loving your garden and pressed flowers, haven't done that for years!

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  46. Hi Karen, I love your gifts from the exchange! Your property is so peaceful and beautiful! I'm sure it's a lot of work to keep so nice. I love your flower press!
    Sounds like you are enjoying yourself. Take care. Julie

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Thank you for stopping by! Your comments are important to me and are very much appreciated. xx Karen

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