Spring Fever?

Illinois Snow - March 12 - ©CindyRippe2014

I'm warm and cozy in the studio today working on new designs but thought I'd share a few pictures of one of our snow storms.  I am SO grateful for our neighbor, Adolph, On days like this he clears our sidewalks with the snow plow.  This is one of those really wet and heavy snows.  It's pretty but not easy to clean up!  Also thankful for all the times that Lee cuts Adolph's grass in the summer.  Lee likes the heat and Adolph doesn't mind the cold so it works out for all of us.  Speaking of work.  It's back to work for me as I long for some beautiful Spring weather for the garden.

It's spring fever.  That is what the name of it is.  And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!  Mark Twain

Starting the Countdown to Spring -

Record cold temperatures and snow this year ©CindyRippe2014

I just checked the Spring Countdown widget.  I'm ready for this stuff to ease up a little!  At the same time I have to admit that it's made me extremely grateful for my cozy little house, warm coat, a car that works and has heated seats and that the snow has been (most of the time) easier to shovel.

All seasons are beautiful for the person who carries happiness within.  Horace Friess

Winter Snow - Blessings and Exhaustion

Snow on the Garden Shed - photo ©CindyRippe2014 - quote by Aristotle

Last night I was in awe as I watched the snow fall in the back yard at midnight.  I knew it would lead to work today, and boy oh boy, was I right!  After 3 hours of shoveling out cars and clearing paths for two houses we decided to shop for groceries too!  You know how it goes, "while we are out we might as well do it"....

As we pulled up to the front of the house we realized that we needed to start all over again because the snow just hasn't stopped yet.  We did the work, then I dealt with all the wet clothes while Lee put groceries away and both grumbled about being exhausted.

By the time I made it from the front of the house to the back door with the clothes my mood changed in an instant.  There I was again ... marveling at the beauty just outside my own back door!  I love how the snow is piled high on the bird feeder and twig wreath.  It's even hanging on to the edge of the little trowels that we used to make the door handles.  So.. right now I'm feeling blessed with this pretty view of my garden shed, and lucky to be inside our cozy little house drying out those boots and coats.

In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.  Aristotle

Snow Falling Soundlessly in the Middle of the Night

Snow Falling Tonight - ©CindyRippe 2014  Quote from Missin' by ― Novala Takemoto

It's been snowing .... again... since this afternoon.  Sounds like it will continue for several more days but that's not unusual for January in Northern Illinois.  Now that my kids have made it safely home after a long day of travel I can enjoy the beauty.  I probably won't enjoy shoveling, or driving in it, so much tomorrow though!

It's almost midnight and for this moment, this quiet and peaceful moment looking out of my back door, I can enjoy this "Snow falling soundlessly in the middle of the night".

I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields...  It covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, 'Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.  Lewis Carroll

Lighting our Way to a Happy New Year - 2014

Illuminations Display at Morton Arboretum - The perfect backdrop for a bright new year!  ©CindyRippe2013

We're having a quiet evening at home as we say goodbye to 2013 and welcome 2014.  It's snowing and really cold outside tonight so we are feeling blessed inside our warm little house, thinking of our loving family and grateful for our health and faith.  Lee is building a Lego kit and I'm gathering the names for the Name the Mannequin contest while we watch old movies on Netflix.

I took this photo at the Morton Arboretum Illuminations display this month. I hope you were able to enjoy some beauty and spend happy times with your friends and family this holiday season.  Best Wishes to you and yours for a wonderful and blessed 2014!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11

Snowmen and Noah's Ark - Memories and Life Lessons

Snowa's Art ©CindyRippe'97-2013

This little snowman couple decorates my kitchen from Christmas to Valentine's Day.  Actually there are snowmen and snowflakes throughout the entire house.  I used to go crazy with Christmas decorations each year. (emptying the china cabinet to make room for the Santa collection, several trees, garlands over every door and window....you get the picture!)  Once I packed up the Christmas decor the house seemed so plain so that's when the snowmen/snowflakes theme started.  I don't put out as many decorations as I did before but they can be found tucked here and there in each room.

The Snowa's Ark design came about one year when my Creative mind was in overdrive.  I might have even been at Mary Jo Leisure's Design Seminar... not sure.  I was wondering if there was a market for Bible story themed projects.  I painted them in 1997 and have the exact inspiration saved in my original design file but I'm sure you can see the connection.  Noah - Snowa.  Just a little something to make you smile today.

Everything I Need To Know About Life, I Learned From Noah's Ark...

One: Don't miss the boat.

Two: Remember that we are all in the same boat.

Three: Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.

Four: Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.

Five: Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.

Six: Build your future on high ground.

Seven: For safety's sake, travel in pairs.

Eight: Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.

Nine: When you're stressed, float a while.

Ten: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.

Eleven: No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting!

David Gonzalez

Poinsettia's Spring Surprise

The 4 foot tall poinsettia from the basement - ©CindyRippe2013

Mom and I set up an area with grow lights in her basement over 10 years ago.  We used it to save geraniums and a few other annuals each year before they were killed by frost.  It allowed us to enjoy flowers for most of the winter.  It's an old unfinished basement, always slightly damp with a consistent cool temperature. If we brought the plants up into the heated area of the house they would dry out, so we left them down there and just enjoyed the flowers on laundry days.  We also used the area to force Spring bulbs and enjoy their blooms in the house during the most depressing winter days.

Several years ago I saved this poinsettia for my Mom-in-Law, Alice, at the end of summer.  She didn't want it back so it's spent every year on my deck.  I never did the work timing the lights to get it to re-bloom but I couldn't just let it die.   For more information on the correct way to care for poinsettias CLICK HERE. 

This year all of the plants were ignored.  I saved a few, but  they'll need some work when I replant them outdoors.  I guess the poinsettia liked being left alone.  I found it covered in red "flowers" and brought it up to join the rest of the Spring plants. It was a nice surprise.

The only thing that should surprise us is that there are still some things that can surprise us.  Francois de La Rochefoucauld

The Last Amaryllis Flower and Hope for Blooms next year

My last Amaryllis flower this year - quote by Ladybird Johnson - photo ©CindyRippe2013

This was the Amaryllis plant that I bought at the Antiques and Garden Fair last month.  It ended up being the last one that bloomed for me this year.  I had 6 bulbs, 4 saved from previous years and I staggered the bloom time for several months.  It was the best year ever for them.  I think they helped me to get through the long winter and reeeaallly late spring!

I'll start preparing them for growing outside soon.  If I can stand the wilting old leaves, and remember to feed them often, they grow stronger and the bulbs with be restored.  I can hope for another year of blooms next winter.  I think it's worth the work and I'm lucky to have the space to store them in our cool basement until I bring them out "into the light" and they'll start their blooming party all over again.

If you'd like to make your Amaryllis bloom again there are great instructions HERE at the United States National Arboretum website.  I've always left them in the pots in the shade during the summer but this year I'll try the instructions that they recommend.  Good Luck!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.  Romans 15:13

Surprise Lilies - So many names, so many surprises, and then again...not!

A few surprises and then again ... not. - Lycoris squamigera - ©CindyRippe2013

I posted yesterday's picture of leaves peeking up through a late winter puddle as I headed out the door to pick up my Granddaughter for a surprise visit. (Her Mom called with a last minute request for babysitting help which was a nice surprise for me!)  On my way to get her I had lots of time to think about those leaves that I saw.  I felt sure they must be the Surprise Lilies but it seemed way to early for them.  You just know I love to figure things out .... and lucky for me I have tons of pictures of our garden to search through.  Found it!

They ARE Surprise Lilies. The leaves emerge in late winter or early spring and then wither and die away. The plants go dormant (and need no water) until the flowers emerge in mid-summer (hence the 'surprise'), which allows them to survive prolonged periods of summer drought. (source)  The leaves above were photographed on March 12th and the flowers on July 29th of 2012.  That reminded me of our early spring last year.  Several of the flowering bulbs came up early but then wilted away quickly due to the heat.  Maybe this year will be better for them.

Back to the Lilies...  I knew they had lots of names but I was surprised to find so many!  The botanical name is Lycoris squamigera and they are a part of the Amaryllis or Amaryllidaceae family (that shouldn't be a surprise - they look alike).  The list of names include: Autumn Lycoris, Guernsey Lily, Hardy Amaryllis, Hurricane Lily, Magic Lily, Mystery Lily, Naked Lily, Nekkid Lady, Pink Flamingo Flower, Pink Lady, Resurrection Lily, Spider Lily, and Surprise Lily.  Do you know any other names for them?

So the surprises are many: Finding the leaves in a deep puddle, not recognizing them, finding so many different names, the last minute opportunity to visit Bella and the surprise the plants got today with our snow storm!

Not a surprise???  The flowers are PINK!  My favorite as well as the dominant color in my garden. Why wouldn't I plant them?

Surprise us with love at daybreak; then we'll skip and dance all the day long. Psalm 90:14

A Peek at Spring through the melting Snow.

Quote by Virgil A. Kraft - Hope for Spring photo ©CindyRippe2013

It's warmer today and the snow is melting so I took a walk through the back yard. About this time I gather pussy willow branches to share.  There aren't many this year and I counted only 5 little "fluffs" peeking out.  They're not ready yet.  As I turned around I looked at the puddles of melting snow and saw these leaves peeking out.  I'm not even sure what they are; could be daffodils, surprise lilies, day lilies....there are so many things planted back there.  But whatever they are, they made me smile.  Even with the forecast of more snow in the next few days I know that they are waiting to reach out for the warm sun!

I've added a "Countdown to Spring" clock on the right side of the blog - are you as anxious as I am?

The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created Spring. Bern Williams

Note: Wow!  That's a lot of blue in the photo!  Reminds me of the other night when Jon and Tawn took us to see Blue Man Group :)

Late Winter Snow Day

This quote by George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones, seems perfect for the storm  ©CindyRippe2012

The late winter storm we've been promised is finally here.  Cold winds, stocking up on groceries and preparing for a snow day.  It's one of those times I'm so grateful I can work from home (or in this case, from Mom's home).  I'll worry about Lee as he drives in to the office.  Not about his driving but about those that don't seem to know how to drive when it snows (or rains, or is too sunny, or have their own set of road rules...) and will glad to have him safely home again!

He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.' Job 37:6

White Winter Tulips

It icy cold and windy outside today so I'm staying inside as long as I can!  As I was packing the snowflakes and snowmen away I thought of my January centerpiece. It was the perfect transition from Winter to Spring decor.  Enjoy this "flashback" post from my Art in Entertaining blog a few years ago.

I often buy a bunch of white tulips and display them in my favorite blown glass pitcher from Garrity’s in Kansas. The glass is a soft blue with bubbles and looks so pretty with the white tulips.

This year I added a few artificial Juniper branches and rested the large acrylic snowflake against the pitcher for a wintery feel.  The juniper branches have blue berries and a powdery coating so they match the vase and my tablecloth. The tulips in this picture are about 5 days old.

Winter Tulips - ©CindyRippe2010

To prepare tulips just cut an inch or two from the stems, strip any extra lower leaves and drop a penny in the vase. My friend Larry, the wholesale florist extraordinaire, told me to do this a few years ago and it works for me. I think the minerals in the coin help the stems to stay straighter and they don’t droop as much. It also helps to keep them out of direct sunlight and in a cool location. I change the water and trim about ½ inch from the stems every two or three days. My flowers last at least 10 days. Of course, the temperature in my house is cool, so I'm sure that makes a difference.


The tulips will continue to grow after they are in the vase. Every day is a new look!

The color of springtime is in the flowers; the color of winter is in the imagination. Terri Guillemets

The Amaryllis and Primrose - Friends in the Winter Window

February - Amaryllis and Primrose in my kitchen window ©CindyRippe2013

This is the little primrose plant that I photographed yesterday for February's Flower of the Month.  Purchased at the grocery store, it shares the windowsill with my amaryllis plant, "Blossom Peacock".  I'm partial to white and pink flowers, just in case you haven't figured that out yet, and the little white primrose plant is a perfect fit for one of my cereal bowls.

 

I'm pretty sure this amaryllis bulb was mislabeled, which seems to be my luck with them lately.  Last year it was the Surprise Red Amaryllis.  The Blossom Peacock flower is supposed to be have multiple petals and looks more pink in the photos on the tag and on a website that I found. 

Blossom Peacock Amaryllis - source: Park Seed

"Like a magnficent peacock's tail unfolding, these huge, petal-packed double blooms are astounding in both size and color! Boasting 15 to 18 petals, they offer layer after layer -- bloom within bloom -- of stunning color.....Each petal has a white background richly overlaid with red and rose tones. The red outlines the eges, shading to rose toward the center. A large white stripe bisects each petal right down the middle, for a symmetrical, neat effect you will just love."

The universe knows that I'm in need of more color I think.  It's sneaking it into my life a little at a time!  No matter what the color is I really enjoy the changing beauty each day. What color flower is your favorite?

I hope some day to meet God, because I want to thank Him for the flowers. Robert Brault.com

Life is about not knowing - Sweet Ambiguity

Our tree before the changes - Delicious Ambiguity - ©CindyRippe2013Life is about not knowing - Sweet Ambiguity - ©CindyRippe2013

Today's the day we are getting a tree trimmed.  It's a huge maple tree.  The leaves give the perfect amount of shade on the deck and keep the house cool in the summer, the birds love it and we are entertained by their antics while feeding on the seeds we provide.  There is a pair of squirrels that race around the trunk all year long and the ivy bed below provides a perfect frame for one of my cement angels (and a hiding spot for a garden snake once in a while).  It's always the last tree to change color in the fall, but then again, it's the last to drop it's leaves which adds another day of raking just when you think you're almost done!

As with any plant in the garden it has it's issues.  It's probably too close to the houses (ours as well as our neighbors) and there is worry about storm damage some day.  Well, today is the day that we hope to make that better.  Lee and the neighbor have made the decisions about which limbs need to go, who's going to do that, when they'll arrive and all the rest of the details.  I've been given the job to work from home today so that if there are any questions I can answer them.   Whaaaat????  I don't even know what you guys have agreed on.  I don't know anything about trimming trees, how much it should cost, or what to do if something goes wrong. Thanks!

I'm also wondering what the tree will look like or how things will change in the garden.  I'm the type of person that just needs to know. The plans, the times, the details.  I can usually handle and adapt if I just know what's going on.  I don't like to be "hanging in limbo" (hey....tree limbs....limbo....lol).   Well, I finally realized that I'm NOT going to know so just go with it.  Life is about not knowing and can be a delicious discovery.  I went outside, took pictures of the tree and will stay out of the way unless they need me.  Feels pretty good.  "Delicious Ambiguity" as Gilda Radner once said.

“I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious Ambiguity.”            Gilda Radner

Snowfall and Kindness - Lake Katherine

Snowfall at Lake Katherine ©CindyRippe2013

We had the first measurable snowfall since last winter today.  Lucky for me, since I got to clean off the car, it was light and fluffy. Not so lucky, the roads were a mess and people forgot how to drive in it. I made it to my meeting safely and spent a really productive 5 hours planning future design projects with my Creative Team.  We are really looking forward to new and exciting adventures this year.  I am personally grateful for the kindness of a great friend as we shared knowledge and encouraged each other to move forward with our plans.

The snow really did make things look nicer outside today. It's been so cold, grey and dry.  The white fluff seems clean things up for now.  Hope this good feeling lasts for a while!


Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!… He gives snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes. He casts forth His ice as fragments, Who can stand before His cold? He sends forth His word and melts them He causes His wind to blow and the waters to flow. Psalm 147:12-18