Today is Earth day, and a reverence for our blue planet is something I try to be cultivate all year long, not just once annually. In honor of the day, I spent some time in my garden after coming home from work. I took my dogs out into our woods for a romp. I made a dinner with fresh produce. All these things tie me to the rhythms and cycles of nature. The perennials in my garden come back as if on cue, heralding the arrival of spring and the progression of seasons. The trees in the woods are leafing out now, their barren silouhettes just a faded memory. Each year I spend a few weeks in awe of all the green around me. It is so thick it permeates my entire being. I am lucky to live in a part of the world that is so lush with plant life, and thus animal life. Every evening the barred owls in our woods call to one another in a warbly tongue. Tonight a gentle rain is falling, nourishing all life. As darkness falls, my thoughts become still. This poem from Mary Oliver strikes a chord:
Sleeping in the Forest
I thought the earth
remembered me, she
took me back so tenderly, arranging
her dark skirts, her pockets
full of lichens and seeds. I slept
as never before, a stone
on the riverbed, nothing
between me and the white fire of the stars
but my thoughts, and they floated
light as moths among branches
of the perfect trees. All night
I heard the small kingdoms breathing
around me, the insects, and the birds
who do their work in the darkness. All night
I rose and fell, as if in water, grappling
with a luminous doom. By morning
I had vanished at least a dozen times
into something better.
Happy Earth Day, Everyone.
Until next time...
Anne
White geraniums in terra cotta pots are classic garden pairings. The white bowl they are sitting in is a no-longer-functional fountain that provides some vetical structure. 
A piece of Victorian salvage becomes a wall shelf for pretty storage and display. Black and white architectural photos add decorative punch.
Here is the beadboard I adore. That was a must. I strongly dislike the faucet, and can't wait to replace it!
A parting shot reveals the dents and wear marks on the door. The knob and plate are original and fit the room perfectly. 
Phlox make wonderful cut flowers. They are long lasting and smell heavenly. I love how they look against a white backdrop.
My tray of found jars now plays host to a smattering of phlox. I plan to fill it with whatever is in season each week this year. You will see it many times over with different blooms to add life and color. 
The room is simply furnished. It is really all about the the beams, the windows and the garden views. An antique door leans in the corner behind the white wicker chair that serves as plant stand. 
A view from the stairs looking down at the seating area.
The south wall of windows, seen from the loft. A wildflower garden lies just beyond the windows.
Looking up at the beams as the rise toward the ridge. So does the asparagus fern.
Close up of the stacked box table.
The tray of flowers and found jars (from yesterday's post) travels well and took its place on my dresser for a few moments. The antique dresser is painted the same shade as the walls, so it remains unobtrusive. The dresser's curves have always charmed me.
Detail of a crochet section. These lenghts of needlework give the piece some weight, which I love.
This is a photo taken by my daughter of an abandonned house. It hangs prominently in my bedroom. I clipped the photo to a wire that is attached on the back of the frame. The frame was originally bright gold, but as you can see, white paint was the way to go. I like the spookiness of the photo with the whimsical presentation. 
