How to Arrange Flowers at Home

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizG3U7sAqsvQXwsYSm6LtJ-lyathVB7fmvcFrWCgJhLKz3ninoYWE5jEZh8QiRE61CH0ujjRvJIM2p-RQLsdr1uOM6JfutCsy8Jdf69_fs1S9LdhWCyVHTH6c5hu6oDNxTPVMckgF5hWmg/s1600/IMG_5616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizG3U7sAqsvQXwsYSm6LtJ-lyathVB7fmvcFrWCgJhLKz3ninoYWE5jEZh8QiRE61CH0ujjRvJIM2p-RQLsdr1uOM6JfutCsy8Jdf69_fs1S9LdhWCyVHTH6c5hu6oDNxTPVMckgF5hWmg/s1600/IMG_5616.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />The following is an excerpt from my monthly column on My Well-Being.com.  Read the entire article with step-by-step photos, <a href="http://www.mywell-being.com/pursue/step-step-guide-arrange-flowers-pro">here</a>. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7A0rjS27MWMoC9Hrn-vV6V2ChynKVxlgRqXI0JLFTmkodM3hxlazj98SOE157tXhRR2IxkYzNy0TdmWOlgnqcdNpcggPkGsgu9iicjkC7v4LQJjj9BRAAPP8fKrf0Ki0xmq4RENdASvVJ/s1600/IMG_5642.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7A0rjS27MWMoC9Hrn-vV6V2ChynKVxlgRqXI0JLFTmkodM3hxlazj98SOE157tXhRR2IxkYzNy0TdmWOlgnqcdNpcggPkGsgu9iicjkC7v4LQJjj9BRAAPP8fKrf0Ki0xmq4RENdASvVJ/s1600/IMG_5642.jpg" width="285" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Step-by-Step Guide: Arrange Flowers Like a Pro</i></span><br /><a data-pin-config="beside" data-pin-do="buttonPin" href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fjennysteffens.blogspot.com%2F2014%2F02%2Fhow-to-arrange-flowers-at-home.html&media=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-s9FearKbAu0%2FUvpKK-KH4bI%2FAAAAAAAAVvg%2F9dkNh-J1oYo%2Fs1600%2FIMG_5642.jpg&description=Step-by-Step%20How%20to%20arrange%20flowers%20at%20home%20%40mwbforme"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pinit_fg_en_rect_gray_20.png" /></a><!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --><script async="" src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;">We all think about setting the table with fresh flowers when we're hosting a party, but one of my resolutions that I'm trying to keep this year is to keep fresh flowers in our home at all times. It is such an easy and simple way to bring life and beauty into our homes, especially during long winter months.  Not only does it make the house feel alive, but I get great pleasure out of making the arrangements myself.  </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;">I love to pick up seasonal flowers from the grocery store and make simple arrangements myself.  Usually, I make a small arrangement for the kitchen table, then I will put a single bud in a small vase by my kitchen sink, on the bedside table and on the side table in the living room.  </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;">Flower arranging can be a fabulous hobby to begin - the supplies investment is minimal (fresh flowers, scissors & a vase!) and you can start small.  For some reason, most of us believe that only professional florist can make a flower arrangement.  It is true that they know many tricks and techniques that help them make beautiful arrangements, so today, I'm sharing floral design tips that I use at home that I learned from my years planning events and weddings.</span><br /><br />Read the entire article with step-by-step photos, <a href="http://www.mywell-being.com/pursue/step-step-guide-arrange-flowers-pro">here</a> ><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGYElzEaZyClZDImnzXLj0fk7MUsn82ZcFiVpJZggf0WukwsVIYDPcXoOASE7P89PhWNlwh56Hd_22K1xYUUmPaQlEo5jNJYAM3CL1otRPDt1BQKLSZQTUpithrZqn507FsQrSUp5DF0mN/s1600/IMG_5624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGYElzEaZyClZDImnzXLj0fk7MUsn82ZcFiVpJZggf0WukwsVIYDPcXoOASE7P89PhWNlwh56Hd_22K1xYUUmPaQlEo5jNJYAM3CL1otRPDt1BQKLSZQTUpithrZqn507FsQrSUp5DF0mN/s1600/IMG_5624.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcvyq9b8wYM64VfekMIm3r3xCq683i2z9Pjza2Ig08Aa_v-PfvimJEmIwdpzT73c6vyKZ0bfxqFh9FIFVVwE9NDVZX0ONX_AvAGf6Xcv46IAwZAXfLvjWCOeNYwhuDdWZTH59ejEyBReC/s1600/IMG_5648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcvyq9b8wYM64VfekMIm3r3xCq683i2z9Pjza2Ig08Aa_v-PfvimJEmIwdpzT73c6vyKZ0bfxqFh9FIFVVwE9NDVZX0ONX_AvAGf6Xcv46IAwZAXfLvjWCOeNYwhuDdWZTH59ejEyBReC/s1600/IMG_5648.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Read the entire article with step-by-step photos, <a href="http://www.mywell-being.com/pursue/step-step-guide-arrange-flowers-pro">here</a> ></div><br />

How to Arrange Flowers at Home

The following is an excerpt from my monthly column on My Well-Being.com.  Read the entire article with step-by-step photos, here . Step-by-S...

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Flower Arranging... For Toddlers

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVh6DWQ17i9UM93HJYG5ex41bN7PnwAPjY-_NTEJSZl5XZrG5vaZ_R_EePdk9kP7ImAoF5E6wVlLbANybVVmZVNQZd667oEc-SUX4E2gFxcrAo-emGi4RxeH38nKQDdDAVnUbXYccTXZx/s1600/IMG_5703.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVh6DWQ17i9UM93HJYG5ex41bN7PnwAPjY-_NTEJSZl5XZrG5vaZ_R_EePdk9kP7ImAoF5E6wVlLbANybVVmZVNQZd667oEc-SUX4E2gFxcrAo-emGi4RxeH38nKQDdDAVnUbXYccTXZx/s1600/IMG_5703.jpg" width="425" /></a>It is probably no surprise to any of you - Emma and I do a lot of crafts.  She'll say, "Art Project, Mommy?" which typically involves paint, glitter = mess.  I've just gotten very used to cleaning floors (and walls) daily (hourly?).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFokSPad0GG3KZmOjDVFGTqQQDy4L1E5fof-YpR0c5uAis4UyjKvPrqMHfuuQSVUgIFV-A18X-U-u3uww24vdUeM-KlyVLkdZt4H3z1CRNQSYFaC9Cguuuf2W90W3GGls_aWG6y0fS5oaY/s1600/IMG_5706.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFokSPad0GG3KZmOjDVFGTqQQDy4L1E5fof-YpR0c5uAis4UyjKvPrqMHfuuQSVUgIFV-A18X-U-u3uww24vdUeM-KlyVLkdZt4H3z1CRNQSYFaC9Cguuuf2W90W3GGls_aWG6y0fS5oaY/s1600/IMG_5706.JPG" width="640" /></a> <br /><br />This week as I've been preparing my Valentine's Day products (coming Friday!) we discovered a new and very easy project for Emma that kept her entertained for at least 45 minutes and didn't require any glitter or glue.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-YLMSmwivCEHYyY1qH8pBCgP00gmkMgwrpKZiv02tj_0IpXryMrCBms3OnOVpuwSbacILyQWYdiws-YNtaVRxyyNc1fUqa_2tMplP1HIZqfxizhqOfbChhiWULWLDlyBFY0W7Rexkw1JH/s1600/IMG_5695.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-YLMSmwivCEHYyY1qH8pBCgP00gmkMgwrpKZiv02tj_0IpXryMrCBms3OnOVpuwSbacILyQWYdiws-YNtaVRxyyNc1fUqa_2tMplP1HIZqfxizhqOfbChhiWULWLDlyBFY0W7Rexkw1JH/s1600/IMG_5695.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><br />I love her little creations and since one of my resolutions is to keep more fresh flowers in the house, I love the idea of having her arrangements scattered around.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKerTyBPjE2zba5SlsbINBfgQncHROMc2nXZ4F4a_vUPd1vnt_1w1vlg3rJy6fdxrhnvvEVpxUOfdid9E58xI7XkHtWc0fXZWhzwvYIf0PAb0wSQqONmxalOZ0uo6SwCgfIme4XX4xTxW/s1600/IMG_5699.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKerTyBPjE2zba5SlsbINBfgQncHROMc2nXZ4F4a_vUPd1vnt_1w1vlg3rJy6fdxrhnvvEVpxUOfdid9E58xI7XkHtWc0fXZWhzwvYIf0PAb0wSQqONmxalOZ0uo6SwCgfIme4XX4xTxW/s1600/IMG_5699.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />"Emma made it.  All by myself."<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdMVBeQhYk4mMe3KRRYtAzisiAgPvWeLmS9zhIUOlVOz-KLxa1yNo9whqTNEF0KGy1Hz_ymKfIl_TACumDz5xT84ofQKG9Yvzbu1omWYVvbS751N1TQwLzT43T0KL-It4SjyexXWwMKQY/s1600/IMG_5718.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdMVBeQhYk4mMe3KRRYtAzisiAgPvWeLmS9zhIUOlVOz-KLxa1yNo9whqTNEF0KGy1Hz_ymKfIl_TACumDz5xT84ofQKG9Yvzbu1omWYVvbS751N1TQwLzT43T0KL-It4SjyexXWwMKQY/s1600/IMG_5718.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />  <br />Ok, so there was a little water on the floor... but that just made the mopping easier.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4N4kz6kCgdWakDkULsaiDuOn_wqgeZDEoj68C2lPuVkDuMIWoSow9KxcuGp6iF7cvLYoJga3aD9RdEAusv24mLPisPoVXf5EAF9v4jhGV8YPqPGl8usxG4RhEQ302yQpkkseOD0ucGar/s1600/IMG_5712.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4N4kz6kCgdWakDkULsaiDuOn_wqgeZDEoj68C2lPuVkDuMIWoSow9KxcuGp6iF7cvLYoJga3aD9RdEAusv24mLPisPoVXf5EAF9v4jhGV8YPqPGl8usxG4RhEQ302yQpkkseOD0ucGar/s1600/IMG_5712.jpg" width="426" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />"Look Darcy, look at my frowers!"<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcaRxDjFyp7oEJI-oeGLrc85MReuLVb2z8TjzRVq1cIWt0SviH5JiybcR2TmzxGMqQCsVK0VVS2c_7-Pwl1AKl7VyBg6p6vRkqcbVOT_PR2713G0DxmFNiGydwt6CTbST6BRjsqurproe/s1600/IMG_5716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcaRxDjFyp7oEJI-oeGLrc85MReuLVb2z8TjzRVq1cIWt0SviH5JiybcR2TmzxGMqQCsVK0VVS2c_7-Pwl1AKl7VyBg6p6vRkqcbVOT_PR2713G0DxmFNiGydwt6CTbST6BRjsqurproe/s1600/IMG_5716.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP1hfXlVsUJ1eF79unxxdPQjvxo6ePQAzq2oJsVHVn0uJkSfUJECprFWBSq_IFaQRj0iw-mS42WUcwoUtkTFLt1qvd69voYMAsFJyehW-nTwehWg_5VVE255d_FXqtWwvG9UUKHxr-s-Sd/s1600/IMG_5689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP1hfXlVsUJ1eF79unxxdPQjvxo6ePQAzq2oJsVHVn0uJkSfUJECprFWBSq_IFaQRj0iw-mS42WUcwoUtkTFLt1qvd69voYMAsFJyehW-nTwehWg_5VVE255d_FXqtWwvG9UUKHxr-s-Sd/s1600/IMG_5689.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><br />And, in case you were wondering, these little spray roses (Trader Joes) don't have giant thorns : )<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8b0KyxLCA5pSpVqK1nrkbmCJkPthdRduEwV_VtUuVa4zINihU8fI-as5AH803vCdGR3eJ0qAsRxIt4xTbXCaca_sbX95Tz1JLg24xKWgtsma8iW0FTf6kQcZuuuRMiNL4hmE8qX0Vm59/s1600/IMG_5720.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8b0KyxLCA5pSpVqK1nrkbmCJkPthdRduEwV_VtUuVa4zINihU8fI-as5AH803vCdGR3eJ0qAsRxIt4xTbXCaca_sbX95Tz1JLg24xKWgtsma8iW0FTf6kQcZuuuRMiNL4hmE8qX0Vm59/s1600/IMG_5720.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br />And, while I love her painted works of art, displaying these bouquets are a little more subtle way to share her creativity in our home - and she loves them, too.<br /><br />We'll be decorating Valentine's sugar cookies today, so I'm glad we had a relatively mess-free project yesterday, because today will be a doozy for sure.

Flower Arranging... For Toddlers

It is probably no surprise to any of you - Emma and I do a lot of crafts.  She'll say, "Art Project, Mommy?" which typically i...

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Simple Micro Flower Arrangement | Oak Leaves, Paperwhite Bulb & Cabbage

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6_DiRct2IdpLs5DNYSmxFlrSdycF1lylRHhmUgm1vck4EzO8yDT2po1R69YRr0PbGU14zdgKH1MZ3CBGMXDHAqXDb1y4CbhM-w8AGK9jrBC6GeZ3A1WnBDa6l-YC81Ais1kkjwHyzPMy/s1600/IMG_3890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6_DiRct2IdpLs5DNYSmxFlrSdycF1lylRHhmUgm1vck4EzO8yDT2po1R69YRr0PbGU14zdgKH1MZ3CBGMXDHAqXDb1y4CbhM-w8AGK9jrBC6GeZ3A1WnBDa6l-YC81Ais1kkjwHyzPMy/s1600/IMG_3890.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>  <br />Last weekend Emma and I tagged along with Mike back to the Boston area for a work trip.  He travels there often, but we haven't been back since we moved back "home" last year.  We had a fabulous time visiting some of our friends and old favorites - Concord, Beacon Hill and Back Bay.  We also took a little trip out to Nantucket for the night - the one place we never got to go that was on my list.  I'll be sharing more (a lot more...) photos later this week, but first I wanted to share this little tiny arrangement inspired by our trip.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGEnvM0KUg5qxxCn-URmcZ8WSws7b_31QFCDxgLpl8-psBHeRUJp-7ccKLgSScBWxxQxGzruM4akoK2bo6oWw5YcVYRpTN9ME1NZJ9tAqrKoLLWPyaEXTT4vIUsesQGQFvveytAf7nUyP7/s1600/IMG_3893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGEnvM0KUg5qxxCn-URmcZ8WSws7b_31QFCDxgLpl8-psBHeRUJp-7ccKLgSScBWxxQxGzruM4akoK2bo6oWw5YcVYRpTN9ME1NZJ9tAqrKoLLWPyaEXTT4vIUsesQGQFvveytAf7nUyP7/s1600/IMG_3893.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGEnvM0KUg5qxxCn-URmcZ8WSws7b_31QFCDxgLpl8-psBHeRUJp-7ccKLgSScBWxxQxGzruM4akoK2bo6oWw5YcVYRpTN9ME1NZJ9tAqrKoLLWPyaEXTT4vIUsesQGQFvveytAf7nUyP7/s1600/IMG_3893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a>My Mother-in-Law is a fabulous traveler and always does a ton of shopping on their trips.  Their house is filled with pieces of art, blankets, pottery, china, etc. that all have special meaning and were collected along the way - not gift shop type souvenirs, but beautiful things that they love from specialty boutiques, inns and farms.  I recently noticed a new engraved pewter champagne bucket at their house - apparently, they ordered it while at Blackberry Farm this last Fall on a trip for their anniversary.  Now every time she walks by it she's reminded of their special weekend.  <br /><br />In the past I'd never been one to stock up while away, but I have found that the "souvenirs" we buy always bring such great memories back to us when we get home.  So, I started taking cues from Joy and buying treats on our trips we can use in our home that will take us back to those special moments. <br /><br />One afternoon, Emma and I went out to our old town, Concord, Ma, for a visit.  We had coffee with an old friend and stopped by all of my favorite shops.  The first on my list was <a href="http://jennysteffens.blogspot.com/2012/03/around-our-town-winston-flowers-in.html">Winston Flowers</a>.  You might remember my <a href="http://jennysteffens.blogspot.com/2012/03/around-our-town-winston-flowers-in.html">posts about Winston's</a> when we lived there.  It is in the middle of the quaint town center and filled with really inspired, lovely flowers.  Once a week I used to stroll Emma there to pick out flowers.  They have the most beautiful things - and most are very simple and common items, but are designed in special ways.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2dspexIADBdW7r551p0K0RUNRFmGW-3cXhhbl6XHJ3aq61s2z6g0YcZy-7VafHh39t5D6DmnEPK33kJ2R93yt2WcNB-8dzVCUkgtLI8q8DqYhpdRBOZTbC8-PyBS0vqpxC6eV5NmmVSj/s1600/IMG_3912.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2dspexIADBdW7r551p0K0RUNRFmGW-3cXhhbl6XHJ3aq61s2z6g0YcZy-7VafHh39t5D6DmnEPK33kJ2R93yt2WcNB-8dzVCUkgtLI8q8DqYhpdRBOZTbC8-PyBS0vqpxC6eV5NmmVSj/s1600/IMG_3912.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br />When I saw this arrangement I knew it would be the perfect "Joy-style" souvenir to take home with us.  It is a cabbage rosette (the center of a cabbage, stripped of most of the big leaves), mini preserved oak leaves, rosemary sprigs, white hydrangea and a paperwhite bulb.  I love that all of the elements are so seasonal, but presented in a unique and modern style.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiQi5fALlFxI0etwFaK4TO9P2IIC7H68HqbQNV8aBoapT6iX32Q59rP3ppQWhIrO9tgYC1QLC5vg7ik32uB6JWpWTytS6PlZJRsdQcOy67arO82swjuIe6qpiuAJZMXPPS9tAZKJNEDM6/s1600/IMG_3913.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiQi5fALlFxI0etwFaK4TO9P2IIC7H68HqbQNV8aBoapT6iX32Q59rP3ppQWhIrO9tgYC1QLC5vg7ik32uB6JWpWTytS6PlZJRsdQcOy67arO82swjuIe6qpiuAJZMXPPS9tAZKJNEDM6/s1600/IMG_3913.JPG" width="640" /></a> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I asked them to deconstruct two arrangements for me so I could carry them on the plane, then reassemble them when I got home. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabqKY1GpeYk_GDwHwCs9I6gelqYcG-4f25ZMZkeGr3btGXxRhUgwvp0T64HuEOvlo4_4z7zEIFZmJcm9BcdvBG-S8xR3fDGOvtZKb6LjzwoRMiymnF5LJPNi8XUa_Sg7pMC0Tvuf6GbWC/s1600/IMG_3917.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabqKY1GpeYk_GDwHwCs9I6gelqYcG-4f25ZMZkeGr3btGXxRhUgwvp0T64HuEOvlo4_4z7zEIFZmJcm9BcdvBG-S8xR3fDGOvtZKb6LjzwoRMiymnF5LJPNi8XUa_Sg7pMC0Tvuf6GbWC/s1600/IMG_3917.JPG" width="640" /></a> <br /><br />It starts with a small sprig of hydrangea broken off from a larger bloom.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapfnw7b3HXUDCU9Kx3fnlfBYBirJaklOMQGXYOThhr7hMIhIWUo9BdXUGJRuAFWE2kQa0iTpjDSbaOC7hJXwCL18-y7vEZVSccrdkvup_AeUMFbeMA6EcPHh9OnRfaspYfCzWQMk_I09f/s1600/IMG_3918.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapfnw7b3HXUDCU9Kx3fnlfBYBirJaklOMQGXYOThhr7hMIhIWUo9BdXUGJRuAFWE2kQa0iTpjDSbaOC7hJXwCL18-y7vEZVSccrdkvup_AeUMFbeMA6EcPHh9OnRfaspYfCzWQMk_I09f/s1600/IMG_3918.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Then I added the cabbage. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJ2Db-8NPKximn6pHnq-2Rjv6EU6u4fVRaznaNoU6-e1tqgBG7WYm8i_F2_fC-kp8nva5SJEgjspO7h1e4si7YeZImfjDHVb612MF1W1lLgZvYJaoCx1VVDIg2FlsIXWey2gNmvyXpGJ2/s1600/IMG_3924.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJ2Db-8NPKximn6pHnq-2Rjv6EU6u4fVRaznaNoU6-e1tqgBG7WYm8i_F2_fC-kp8nva5SJEgjspO7h1e4si7YeZImfjDHVb612MF1W1lLgZvYJaoCx1VVDIg2FlsIXWey2gNmvyXpGJ2/s1600/IMG_3924.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br />Next, I tucked in the oak leaves on one side, then added the paperwhite.  Keeping the colors together makes it very natural and gathered looking. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWggQBhaGV8kICJEKUIw_dPLANo78dBjyTzX3Lx_EQVIaYN4ivmp6pl-CC-i6HOtnGM38nHFtcua7ycTBkuillMpZeIDmbxidYqZmOIDS6fYDUfrk6a5aUQSATe7YGkBK8L0XAnWyC3DZj/s1600/IMG_3922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWggQBhaGV8kICJEKUIw_dPLANo78dBjyTzX3Lx_EQVIaYN4ivmp6pl-CC-i6HOtnGM38nHFtcua7ycTBkuillMpZeIDmbxidYqZmOIDS6fYDUfrk6a5aUQSATe7YGkBK8L0XAnWyC3DZj/s1600/IMG_3922.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkD7wOV-v80_8wWeB7m7UoXtnoT0yel3iL6yMMAAe7MD1LbL2KR1BnBeiC6IkW_nU5CD3jIQ9iv0-VVUiguEt7USh12Lc49EXcYHEwznj4V74j-B_hUdNn98osgTs41yIzjX7PaVgiwswY/s1600/IMG_3921.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkD7wOV-v80_8wWeB7m7UoXtnoT0yel3iL6yMMAAe7MD1LbL2KR1BnBeiC6IkW_nU5CD3jIQ9iv0-VVUiguEt7USh12Lc49EXcYHEwznj4V74j-B_hUdNn98osgTs41yIzjX7PaVgiwswY/s1600/IMG_3921.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>I just love this arrangement.  My rosemary plant isn't looking as good as it was when we left, so I still need to add some of that when I make it to the store later today.<br /><br />The best part of this arrangement is that it will keep for weeks, all I have to do is replenish the hydrangea after it wilts with a new one - the other elements are really long lasting.<br /><br /><br />I've included other photos of Winston's below - enjoy!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3dGsBJNPKbTz5_9HrR1VjZYJmeVrP3piNfXg_P1YkGA6waQAG4CC3igZVwXaQL6I4flxW1V4weiuFN8KDHS8UCYsWyGLTbgaBzWoCTw3HpHLGrWeL6jmZvgpAtBDyGXTdaf1G0wjk1fX/s1600/IMG_3887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3dGsBJNPKbTz5_9HrR1VjZYJmeVrP3piNfXg_P1YkGA6waQAG4CC3igZVwXaQL6I4flxW1V4weiuFN8KDHS8UCYsWyGLTbgaBzWoCTw3HpHLGrWeL6jmZvgpAtBDyGXTdaf1G0wjk1fX/s1600/IMG_3887.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqShznL6WJRD3VS0syW27GIGcKRBL1nBcKC3c9XTFqIFF4KwpbCAiqTM02CaRElXg21fNc8qttQUuL2ej3JPxVt6vMjpHyVgM1sJQOyCSl75zYRrQCumTmURpdZD8_piF7MDl7z3yXvlle/s1600/IMG_3895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqShznL6WJRD3VS0syW27GIGcKRBL1nBcKC3c9XTFqIFF4KwpbCAiqTM02CaRElXg21fNc8qttQUuL2ej3JPxVt6vMjpHyVgM1sJQOyCSl75zYRrQCumTmURpdZD8_piF7MDl7z3yXvlle/s1600/IMG_3895.JPG" width="640" /></a> <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLiOS0GRdZb3KS06-mIyb0nVvBoBkxPhE88VhSOLyNSHCD1AMa8rS0R6c2ymNK3pyupLruj24n5GlXElWd6eLLGPvtNANefMj_T7k0IR8SZKg_VsglabC0mjMSWDDPs4uMJUeeLrTFwYBQ/s1600/IMG_3889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLiOS0GRdZb3KS06-mIyb0nVvBoBkxPhE88VhSOLyNSHCD1AMa8rS0R6c2ymNK3pyupLruj24n5GlXElWd6eLLGPvtNANefMj_T7k0IR8SZKg_VsglabC0mjMSWDDPs4uMJUeeLrTFwYBQ/s1600/IMG_3889.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizUs3Aof64T-tLMmGvQpE68G80UQsDB-d0cxjwyIaAmn1_iCbGWoewIcMxeGq-i_C72o6ex0OVHKejWknKeYo7lWM95qVSB13U5ywxAQlHvELvkzGk1s-BaVLBo927Wx69vMIxjIOgybMv/s1600/IMG_3888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizUs3Aof64T-tLMmGvQpE68G80UQsDB-d0cxjwyIaAmn1_iCbGWoewIcMxeGq-i_C72o6ex0OVHKejWknKeYo7lWM95qVSB13U5ywxAQlHvELvkzGk1s-BaVLBo927Wx69vMIxjIOgybMv/s1600/IMG_3888.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0_tgC3YJ3C0XfynbRpBID_am5R1gI5iExqVWuUrpjJ6p94Xz9rbseflN3t72G11pX25tq61qb5Y52AC10zO8ZqeZwtxpcwAbVlmF3cLzD47SefQAGeyZkjMFiZy5cUQ4LcX7vkP1ZqB8/s1600/IMG_3896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0_tgC3YJ3C0XfynbRpBID_am5R1gI5iExqVWuUrpjJ6p94Xz9rbseflN3t72G11pX25tq61qb5Y52AC10zO8ZqeZwtxpcwAbVlmF3cLzD47SefQAGeyZkjMFiZy5cUQ4LcX7vkP1ZqB8/s1600/IMG_3896.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51iZwmOX0j91mK1pq3Zxyl0FeZKw8lddaVXJm_si1TpSFru1_a6F74KnfnH7sqetrPLyfLWVxIMaSM-PeG09zhDiIJxjYNUqpfadwHiVl8MRxsYnGyqVhjPfmTVEqCjanJYhuN0BPusRA/s1600/IMG_3908.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51iZwmOX0j91mK1pq3Zxyl0FeZKw8lddaVXJm_si1TpSFru1_a6F74KnfnH7sqetrPLyfLWVxIMaSM-PeG09zhDiIJxjYNUqpfadwHiVl8MRxsYnGyqVhjPfmTVEqCjanJYhuN0BPusRA/s1600/IMG_3908.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Here is the Concord Town Center - the most charming little New England town.  <a href="http://jennysteffens.blogspot.com/2011/10/fall-foliage-in-concord-mass-new.html">Here is a link to my Fall Foliage post in Concord from two years ago with lots of photos of the town.</a>  I'll be sharing the rest of my photos from our trip this week and some new hostess ideas for Thanksgiving.<br /><br />I hope everyone had a relaxing and rejuvenating weekend!

Simple Micro Flower Arrangement | Oak Leaves, Paperwhite Bulb & Cabbage

  Last weekend Emma and I tagged along with Mike back to the Boston area for a work trip.  He travels there often, but we haven't been b...

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Simple Summer Table Setting

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9QOUVR-dtYTuuGNDFEf_67M_jCJXvF6C4ufmNTZQ_cQDi-4S8FVZCGMBtp7MjZfuy38_M6UeuC1OvdHP7W7FFjMkBSga7p9Pa_LkhOE2U9XSZkYwFllhPpbJP1DQFHmI2-HyldP-QiQ/s1600/IMG_9774.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9QOUVR-dtYTuuGNDFEf_67M_jCJXvF6C4ufmNTZQ_cQDi-4S8FVZCGMBtp7MjZfuy38_M6UeuC1OvdHP7W7FFjMkBSga7p9Pa_LkhOE2U9XSZkYwFllhPpbJP1DQFHmI2-HyldP-QiQ/s640/IMG_9774.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />A few weeks ago we had our friends + new baby over for brunch on a Saturday morning.   <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGQE77RLCaFpUzFPCc_QMk8CyaUbVpeUIcqloLO8sir_rKA2MR9N3GXMxp3QDGVhS9PusyHKRQaawhfyQMzc0viX9VFN4nZb3AxO4OVTHFxnTWK6zigkUs3zl36XRYrXgOQveQIbVUuE/s1600/IMG_9766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGQE77RLCaFpUzFPCc_QMk8CyaUbVpeUIcqloLO8sir_rKA2MR9N3GXMxp3QDGVhS9PusyHKRQaawhfyQMzc0viX9VFN4nZb3AxO4OVTHFxnTWK6zigkUs3zl36XRYrXgOQveQIbVUuE/s640/IMG_9766.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Normally, I wouldn't really worry about having a floral 'arrangement' for a casual brunch with this group of friends, but Mike had taken Emma on a long walk that morning so I could get everything ready.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtv_ehNG6W9wXVMxKwleWU09bZ2nYLjJvJKtFd3Xkoidnz2plLoL9WlKsjcjLk0Y5Vids6AQrAeVzIPVklQEshRn9VjeZ6Za6rj-69FIxZoAo7zEJ1EiUxylfxaOtGtlk2zl0TOz44Us/s1600/IMG_9756.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtv_ehNG6W9wXVMxKwleWU09bZ2nYLjJvJKtFd3Xkoidnz2plLoL9WlKsjcjLk0Y5Vids6AQrAeVzIPVklQEshRn9VjeZ6Za6rj-69FIxZoAo7zEJ1EiUxylfxaOtGtlk2zl0TOz44Us/s640/IMG_9756.JPG" width="640" /></a> <br /><br />It is a rare treat for me to be in the kitchen all by myself!    I had just enough time to walk around our yard to gather some herbs, flowers and vines to make this casual, organic-y, non-arrangement.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieiOnSo9xW2JXcwRe5E9oxzInblMfh8LQSozz5lxZDDPJQ78bbCKirkfA16bbxtGcElTZqnfrer5f-vcxG-n3jUHOCk1WOXkwP03Q8lboKsNvtUX38WqY3k3z0LQ59lJ6yzIdTBBk-NMw/s1600/IMG_9775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieiOnSo9xW2JXcwRe5E9oxzInblMfh8LQSozz5lxZDDPJQ78bbCKirkfA16bbxtGcElTZqnfrer5f-vcxG-n3jUHOCk1WOXkwP03Q8lboKsNvtUX38WqY3k3z0LQ59lJ6yzIdTBBk-NMw/s640/IMG_9775.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />A closeup of fresh oregano and pansies. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-yo6qBD3q5_8d7Edlsc1_Zx_zT-ds-uVnk2vVhv1kva_6ravkAAWTWqFIjVMgsAFgEOiEePTTn4PyIrnguaPWGFnbghf3wcMB2XREFoC3Kz8Tg2PxOpzzjTHtl0D-wGTBQOTWjS0jIs/s1600/IMG_9776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-yo6qBD3q5_8d7Edlsc1_Zx_zT-ds-uVnk2vVhv1kva_6ravkAAWTWqFIjVMgsAFgEOiEePTTn4PyIrnguaPWGFnbghf3wcMB2XREFoC3Kz8Tg2PxOpzzjTHtl0D-wGTBQOTWjS0jIs/s640/IMG_9776.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Can you believe I actually still have some pansies?  These are the last of them - made perfect accents to the blue hydrangea from my urns.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_LtIsJzzoJLlJ6CWQOyDNbJzZxSgelayrDWwgBLNjq8mPTob10bEUxSlFVnTXil2wTasq81HuTO0j8279V9OBLxNkWdiZV3MhOrK5iDKNBIxnphWeGzXoR_UfxoT_dhj7J6ffzv-uxI/s1600/IMG_9767.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_LtIsJzzoJLlJ6CWQOyDNbJzZxSgelayrDWwgBLNjq8mPTob10bEUxSlFVnTXil2wTasq81HuTO0j8279V9OBLxNkWdiZV3MhOrK5iDKNBIxnphWeGzXoR_UfxoT_dhj7J6ffzv-uxI/s640/IMG_9767.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />I'll be back with more brunch details tomorrow - I just finished up my Outdoor Entertaining Workshop tonight... ready for bed!<br /><br />

Simple Summer Table Setting

  A few weeks ago we had our friends + new baby over for brunch on a Saturday morning.   Normally, I wouldn't really worry about having ...

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Day Trip to the Arboretum | A Hunt for Peonies

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7WQD_K5NCkjMCjcPdw2HeEVBtXAe1ZaiJ8qpz3_NOZTm3N5Ym7TeuPVS-MowuzbPSHGTaQLp6LPo_0DDO450Tm3QDD3RHkAKi8td2vFvuwD7_60L0LQaFz_1hR5IbnaqYM9WFOMqqYk/s1600/IMG_1048.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7WQD_K5NCkjMCjcPdw2HeEVBtXAe1ZaiJ8qpz3_NOZTm3N5Ym7TeuPVS-MowuzbPSHGTaQLp6LPo_0DDO450Tm3QDD3RHkAKi8td2vFvuwD7_60L0LQaFz_1hR5IbnaqYM9WFOMqqYk/s640/IMG_1048.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Emma was on Summer break last week, so we filled the week with local explorations and little day trips.   Peony season is one of my most favorite times of the year - the blooms are just so unbelievably majestic and heavenly scented, I just can't get enough.  So our first trip was to the local (as in 45 minutes south...) <a href="http://www.opkansas.org/things-to-see-and-do/arboretum-and-botanical-gardens/">Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens</a> (Overland Park, KS) on a hunt for peonies - I wanted Emma to be able to experience them in a huge bounty.   <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq27JuBCqWF1gWr8GtJ5V7S0dPdgzoLtX8YigRRRC2vbzYwu_az40oznokieRlrdZLGZkYmlP8_lr9lje2cMhHgDbJnXDurfelwFyVfyttvzwP5IlMHdJOedkT8fAufejFuW2Z-LG-JvI/s1600/IMG_1036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq27JuBCqWF1gWr8GtJ5V7S0dPdgzoLtX8YigRRRC2vbzYwu_az40oznokieRlrdZLGZkYmlP8_lr9lje2cMhHgDbJnXDurfelwFyVfyttvzwP5IlMHdJOedkT8fAufejFuW2Z-LG-JvI/s640/IMG_1036.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />We packed a picnic lunch, put on Emma's most peony appropriate dress, drove alllll they way out there to discover... I had forgotten my wallet.  It was in the swim bag from the day before.  Admission was only $3 (for me, free for Emma) and all I could scrounge up was $1.25 in quarters from my car.  <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUad59zgdcjFJ0HwZKhWo-KLGkoB29oiRbvkTpdnxJTSmxtnBLEnIOO1NHocdtRf_TfGwEeHxNlXCMpPC042Js_2L0qDK1szyHvLCs8gSAguwjj0NKY0nnb-r7wepqQIiRu1xHoJPt-0o/s1600/IMG_1054.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUad59zgdcjFJ0HwZKhWo-KLGkoB29oiRbvkTpdnxJTSmxtnBLEnIOO1NHocdtRf_TfGwEeHxNlXCMpPC042Js_2L0qDK1szyHvLCs8gSAguwjj0NKY0nnb-r7wepqQIiRu1xHoJPt-0o/s640/IMG_1054.JPG" width="640" /></a> <br /><br />I asked the admissions lady if they would allow me to mail a check for the remaining fee (I even offered to include an extra donation...) if they would allow us to come in.  A woman near by that seemed to be in charge (she was on a golf cart and sporting gardening gear) come over and said not to worry - she would pay the rest of my fee.  I realize that a $2 handout is tiny by most comparison, but it seemed huge at the moment... the difference between putting my 1-year-old back in the car for 45 minutes after talking about all of the pretty flowers we'd be seeing on the way there!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAozVA4hUltlKZXlE4LdC3IMN0BhU_utbntag9s7ATr6-_M-eUZRISmtDgNTkkQpTdDJKGYE4H1acpjY4iU3bEZKzc97-ccho8CmNe7gEZ9ybgDZ5S9HRtwELW7EUineDayl0lVdW-bUM/s1600/IMG_1038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAozVA4hUltlKZXlE4LdC3IMN0BhU_utbntag9s7ATr6-_M-eUZRISmtDgNTkkQpTdDJKGYE4H1acpjY4iU3bEZKzc97-ccho8CmNe7gEZ9ybgDZ5S9HRtwELW7EUineDayl0lVdW-bUM/s640/IMG_1038.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6wz_HDS5LpIxbaeIdMHAfRkleIUrauf-f_tSSajA4nqkkGVlccvr3gaq8bxSWUsqF8GUIML_42lHq_trVIddVK7xjtVW0fgnt8dkx5QtEBns-P__8XW9Qje71MgDZ1QdhhmBSyupNGE/s1600/IMG_1040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6wz_HDS5LpIxbaeIdMHAfRkleIUrauf-f_tSSajA4nqkkGVlccvr3gaq8bxSWUsqF8GUIML_42lHq_trVIddVK7xjtVW0fgnt8dkx5QtEBns-P__8XW9Qje71MgDZ1QdhhmBSyupNGE/s640/IMG_1040.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>I never mentioned "who I am" (not that it would've meant anything!) or that I would be sharing our day in the gardens on my blog, but I promised her that I would pay it forward.<br /><br /><br />We spent a fabulous morning there - I let Emma lead the way, which she loves, of course.  She ran and roamed all over the gardens smelling flowers, looking at fish and testing the boundaries.  <br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyBZy73bXnur61Clp7kwfgWaI2-O-oNM-YJJB8rVlRloP-wR0B5JRYluVUCEvdIp85A4kvZ8dOMuzz6DDmdzT2XfXCANx3GQZil-DvzqrNLdAsPySSEMEbvsSaBqTmZpvuVko_HJXPDA/s1600/IMG_1043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyBZy73bXnur61Clp7kwfgWaI2-O-oNM-YJJB8rVlRloP-wR0B5JRYluVUCEvdIp85A4kvZ8dOMuzz6DDmdzT2XfXCANx3GQZil-DvzqrNLdAsPySSEMEbvsSaBqTmZpvuVko_HJXPDA/s640/IMG_1043.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />These are my favorite peony -  the palest pink with bright yellow centers.  Very chic.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEJoN9kAo1jl-cQziIDNW7fs1TyeomqFbFdrWtNOFvm9GUKoAb7fr0WmOaLBT6ojRJ8nc35HRwA8_T7Yo7PX029RlSjTWRV7t45ONPeG_hd1ykvQLTWu5lZU0-9VTaGO3NYRWGRqxfN8/s1600/IMG_1062.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEJoN9kAo1jl-cQziIDNW7fs1TyeomqFbFdrWtNOFvm9GUKoAb7fr0WmOaLBT6ojRJ8nc35HRwA8_T7Yo7PX029RlSjTWRV7t45ONPeG_hd1ykvQLTWu5lZU0-9VTaGO3NYRWGRqxfN8/s640/IMG_1062.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />My favorite area, was of course the peonies... <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQTDsbu6cet7qbaNflI6Rys3xy8Ck-9qwYGpGniBva6OvvoZe6DN4TMn7AWLA4U3xKwuSPupstoba_0YTtiVi2OiVHq9zGZg_evooERpgFYQKHbJXl3zaERK1lRBYkU3aJdQ5zO_HFos/s1600/IMG_1031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQTDsbu6cet7qbaNflI6Rys3xy8Ck-9qwYGpGniBva6OvvoZe6DN4TMn7AWLA4U3xKwuSPupstoba_0YTtiVi2OiVHq9zGZg_evooERpgFYQKHbJXl3zaERK1lRBYkU3aJdQ5zO_HFos/s640/IMG_1031.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />But the "fishies" were her favorite part. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqeJlsRsplN9oY7nSGU2NSNvQ0axZwFHt2yZSiee6Mcz2nne-2pd0JAt4HAfOnd2YmTt0bpho64_HPwkXZ5bcJF0oB8QXm_eN8vA3QrDxnB9E9VoFGr8sA5BMynJXXgdI3iqk3shJHWE/s1600/IMG_0964.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqeJlsRsplN9oY7nSGU2NSNvQ0axZwFHt2yZSiee6Mcz2nne-2pd0JAt4HAfOnd2YmTt0bpho64_HPwkXZ5bcJF0oB8QXm_eN8vA3QrDxnB9E9VoFGr8sA5BMynJXXgdI3iqk3shJHWE/s640/IMG_0964.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />The gardens are all maintained by volunteers.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0jQRjyPkSotqTpqIwwlW5oIG0jbzVUhxEBFHVBmXguECWlRfZ87GJ_9Fmr4NsV0xnl5aqL9dCvOxgKtfa7mDXikVy8vIxG3EdHKoscL2FOEl7YQdgatKUIEPJCUMiwf8-ef66kXVsH4/s1600/IMG_1065.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0jQRjyPkSotqTpqIwwlW5oIG0jbzVUhxEBFHVBmXguECWlRfZ87GJ_9Fmr4NsV0xnl5aqL9dCvOxgKtfa7mDXikVy8vIxG3EdHKoscL2FOEl7YQdgatKUIEPJCUMiwf8-ef66kXVsH4/s640/IMG_1065.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> The "Monet Garden" was unbelievable. </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtE85sJXFT0kR4_zFppFNM7maJbthES64DA_mfRi7evBj4EUv9cnRYE2vpKQdrdkOphexpOCJgTMyVKDBOrtqMfm0PgMHi0RSR7Xz-sMUPChfJnoB5OGGNcCYRafNv4L2CA-npd3p6djY/s1600/IMG_0992.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtE85sJXFT0kR4_zFppFNM7maJbthES64DA_mfRi7evBj4EUv9cnRYE2vpKQdrdkOphexpOCJgTMyVKDBOrtqMfm0PgMHi0RSR7Xz-sMUPChfJnoB5OGGNcCYRafNv4L2CA-npd3p6djY/s640/IMG_0992.JPG" width="640" /></a> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We wondered on the mulched paths in the woods to find our picnic spot.  While I enjoy the manicured flowerbeds, I felt most at peace in the rustic areas like this one by a stream. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cBTiDoKIjvE2COaJ1RlwGmaN1461W1QXvUpTc1KW-kg3cb2TRqA6XG-8By_69GWzFvFvsofenbi4fMazrW8g-JivMlc8DHu76TN6pW5Ssm6VpZYCKQH3wREY7Hw3bj6ydX-5u2PPc5M/s1600/IMG_0995.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cBTiDoKIjvE2COaJ1RlwGmaN1461W1QXvUpTc1KW-kg3cb2TRqA6XG-8By_69GWzFvFvsofenbi4fMazrW8g-JivMlc8DHu76TN6pW5Ssm6VpZYCKQH3wREY7Hw3bj6ydX-5u2PPc5M/s640/IMG_0995.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />Emma wondering around with her brownie.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpqNhw-Ove2awprZu34C7_zT4DKpmkMGEcIO7ErVMC5E0guYEHxrJp85e_fkWP0yj7d2Vbs2zNtTDa4TOF55JVbWAOP32SNFfIBlsUHnxbuq0-eFkbKSFq1YDRkk49kZBapdLJ_CVN94/s1600/IMG_0966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpqNhw-Ove2awprZu34C7_zT4DKpmkMGEcIO7ErVMC5E0guYEHxrJp85e_fkWP0yj7d2Vbs2zNtTDa4TOF55JVbWAOP32SNFfIBlsUHnxbuq0-eFkbKSFq1YDRkk49kZBapdLJ_CVN94/s640/IMG_0966.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Many artists enjoying the blooms. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurlDaYAtqLty9T0l4WAhTxRrGFLqOyJcevFGWR3YwPFF-_feAuJCxdC6YiATlhFu6C0vrVVfeZvEAJzDam_DYRcrf_qiaA75DYGwKxoTXMedJLdHcBwwSqaW2w_-F418ld8Pa0tPSgRA/s1600/IMG_1006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurlDaYAtqLty9T0l4WAhTxRrGFLqOyJcevFGWR3YwPFF-_feAuJCxdC6YiATlhFu6C0vrVVfeZvEAJzDam_DYRcrf_qiaA75DYGwKxoTXMedJLdHcBwwSqaW2w_-F418ld8Pa0tPSgRA/s640/IMG_1006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Starting to wind down... <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Te3myuxoJrf-22tCOYv0-2ddFjntseEkyz17Ncfa4RRo1QSZdLzBMdnq73mklDdZPSHJERE9vMPSyl1XijLNljYjtpaGCC-ZeRcpPfdxp4HGbSQ7ElCaCJTUuHlXtkB9FAl2jEzAcWI/s1600/IMG_1022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Te3myuxoJrf-22tCOYv0-2ddFjntseEkyz17Ncfa4RRo1QSZdLzBMdnq73mklDdZPSHJERE9vMPSyl1XijLNljYjtpaGCC-ZeRcpPfdxp4HGbSQ7ElCaCJTUuHlXtkB9FAl2jEzAcWI/s640/IMG_1022.JPG" width="640" /></a> <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnA21v4I2-oxqSKvoE2eel7LRfDQgU89ko5TsvC4yi_FZSLYjacwm9LFyDaqhKM6CLvgQXkIBAkokUnt2fYCgtKb0ZirzzFE02GW7k-gLbj-AiF84eoZsnLVBen9_C6PGd6KzTzt_KBJc/s1600/IMG_1018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnA21v4I2-oxqSKvoE2eel7LRfDQgU89ko5TsvC4yi_FZSLYjacwm9LFyDaqhKM6CLvgQXkIBAkokUnt2fYCgtKb0ZirzzFE02GW7k-gLbj-AiF84eoZsnLVBen9_C6PGd6KzTzt_KBJc/s640/IMG_1018.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here knees look just like mine always do!  We're tough girls.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OoRmKdUEOlMSy7GW6GWB0CgIDDiOLQCuxv1OuyX9-qc10j-oFRpRF_w9AdTQweIotLJ_O_dKTyP-tWZRilpVewoZtglPPV3Xe5tOlzOLS-TTyLI-0KZgx_lZYoGO8kOUDX2jwhRY_vw/s1600/IMG_0932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OoRmKdUEOlMSy7GW6GWB0CgIDDiOLQCuxv1OuyX9-qc10j-oFRpRF_w9AdTQweIotLJ_O_dKTyP-tWZRilpVewoZtglPPV3Xe5tOlzOLS-TTyLI-0KZgx_lZYoGO8kOUDX2jwhRY_vw/s640/IMG_0932.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />More gardeners. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMKUtSUMO-QScki2M2ZKdxDswwkV1c8IkTZl7S3aY61ZsFJfG5tBQdz2HzrfSyrCba9wP9PuEwxRbA3vkW5L2qn0d-rQk4b_50zPQjomR4VFRM7b50r7Rhzs0KvHCzDuXBh_OWTun8co/s1600/IMG_0967.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMKUtSUMO-QScki2M2ZKdxDswwkV1c8IkTZl7S3aY61ZsFJfG5tBQdz2HzrfSyrCba9wP9PuEwxRbA3vkW5L2qn0d-rQk4b_50zPQjomR4VFRM7b50r7Rhzs0KvHCzDuXBh_OWTun8co/s640/IMG_0967.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Irises in bloom.   <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthvwzhXjL5FiDlBUK6zjF1KN2iiqbHrFavDuGGepRMbEHgXROjdxv3JFa-Rv4dOIi53hhAQC6urQFKwo85pPVUbIMk6qroKxqgwGFLrMAOsnT0nhrB_EA-V3YZ_InVOImQmrtjyaV94M/s1600/IMG_0938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthvwzhXjL5FiDlBUK6zjF1KN2iiqbHrFavDuGGepRMbEHgXROjdxv3JFa-Rv4dOIi53hhAQC6urQFKwo85pPVUbIMk6qroKxqgwGFLrMAOsnT0nhrB_EA-V3YZ_InVOImQmrtjyaV94M/s640/IMG_0938.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Love how she closes here eyes when she smells the flowers. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOu1wvMYrs3AHd91TRF78ym70udzu3OCBCvJyeMKp7l53VHccc3pSjenIC5H9fDq5Dwi_Nm2ORDL69CZYEBdO2J6POcmu86WOpK8TYaWbN14R9xXShskD4B1vL_TF82dajRCGnoN-p0bU/s1600/IMG_0939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOu1wvMYrs3AHd91TRF78ym70udzu3OCBCvJyeMKp7l53VHccc3pSjenIC5H9fDq5Dwi_Nm2ORDL69CZYEBdO2J6POcmu86WOpK8TYaWbN14R9xXShskD4B1vL_TF82dajRCGnoN-p0bU/s640/IMG_0939.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can't wait to go back and visit mid-summer when everything is in its full glory!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here are some Emma Outtakes from the day...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIU7eohOvYU2ocE9PhU5ne_6p4H0jT3gXC-HMT1XbiBWSUbsE-QCvcKUapPPLV-q34Bq-ItxOD2vclE7V7SLRqbCv02F0404H-MW1V8WYwQOflswbOJna3-EpPRH_XVd2EWkTTMriipc/s1600/IMG_0963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIU7eohOvYU2ocE9PhU5ne_6p4H0jT3gXC-HMT1XbiBWSUbsE-QCvcKUapPPLV-q34Bq-ItxOD2vclE7V7SLRqbCv02F0404H-MW1V8WYwQOflswbOJna3-EpPRH_XVd2EWkTTMriipc/s640/IMG_0963.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />Dancing on the deck. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxy9iSZehNnAUw-4EC9TB6wm58K1twplQlwHpB_KWFf0hKPezn-amkmkVL0vQqA91i9cdJo3LUNa1lrAOS9xQvM7jinDxrT4pGd3LWE7PCrgOgw3zt7jU7sZDaJuhyphenhyphenyTf_peuP-agBH4/s1600/IMG_0962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxy9iSZehNnAUw-4EC9TB6wm58K1twplQlwHpB_KWFf0hKPezn-amkmkVL0vQqA91i9cdJo3LUNa1lrAOS9xQvM7jinDxrT4pGd3LWE7PCrgOgw3zt7jU7sZDaJuhyphenhyphenyTf_peuP-agBH4/s640/IMG_0962.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />The funniest joke. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUREA754gEq5_2gQZzQVEqrJpaiSuC8uHJJrBmr6CsMacTmfO3bXBGnAozOW4_ZrA5yUgCsr6ELtyrb4l8SKq4nhUq0X2qZ3qc08NDsgVGCQWosNKX6X3kRuO1rq901wG77v7neMHE7g8/s1600/IMG_0934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUREA754gEq5_2gQZzQVEqrJpaiSuC8uHJJrBmr6CsMacTmfO3bXBGnAozOW4_ZrA5yUgCsr6ELtyrb4l8SKq4nhUq0X2qZ3qc08NDsgVGCQWosNKX6X3kRuO1rq901wG77v7neMHE7g8/s640/IMG_0934.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />More groovin'!

Day Trip to the Arboretum | A Hunt for Peonies

Emma was on Summer break last week, so we filled the week with local explorations and little day trips.   Peony season is one of my most fav...

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