Rebirth!

Happy Easter, All!
Spring has come and my garden is putting on a brand new dress!
My camera is bursting with excitement and so am I....
ox
AJ

All photos by AJ - MNA Photography

It's Spring Again Giveaway...

It's Springtime again, soooooooo glad!

I am bouncing off walls and digging in my closet and drawers for daffodil, hyacinth and crocus coloured clothing and accessories!

Vintage baubles in spring pastels are a super way to accessorize this time of the year....move from the flash and brash of winter holiday sparkle to soft pinks, grays, purples and aquas...

This vintage brooch is a Spring darling and I want YOU to have it!

All you have to do is become a follower of this blog and leave a post below!

It's THAT simple!

The brooch is approx. 1 1/4 wide by 2 1/4 long

Giveaway open for entry until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 9, 2010.
Winner will be selected at randon.
And if you win, wouldn't this be THE perfect Mother's Day gift?
Best of luck to ALL!


WE HAVE A WINNER - the lovely Maire Dodd! (the draw was completely random, I assure you all!)
Congrats, Maire, and thanks for all of you for participating!!
xoxo
AJ

All photos by AJ

Private little Spring...

Each year, I grow garlic chives in my garden. I start off by "playing Spring" inside my home..I give these little garlics a chance to nurse in here, in the warmth of the home, while waiting for the warmth of the sun and the chirping of the birds outside....

The weather has improved considerably and on yesterday's walk, I was thrilled to see signs of the approaching Spring but we are not quite there yet, including because the lake is right here and has a huge effect on the climate of the shore..it's still frozen solid and keeping a lot of the plants asleep for a little while longer...

...but I already have my own little Spring, inside....

Try using garlic chives exactly the same way you would use other chives....they are super!

I use them in salads, in sandwiches and on barbaque'd chicken breast and even burgers and fish...if you are using them with heated food, just wait until last minute to put them on!

 

This one is still just a baby but he will grow tall and strong....when the weather is warm and sunny, he will live outside for the rest of the season...

all photos by AJJ

Word association.......

I love words and word games..
I play with words ~ a lot ~ they are like chess pieces to me....
Words are important symbols in my life - for me, they have not just meaning but form as well
(but more about that in another post).....

I am particularly fond of word association games...
What do you associate with the word "spring"?...here is my string of associations...

Spring = spring cleaning...

Spring cleaning = windows....
(I see her spring cleaning took a few days unless she did a costume change for each chore!)

Windows = Dutch windows, which I adore...

Stunning Dutch windows at Zaanze Schans .............

Holland = tulips! = Spring!!!

A field of tulips in Alkmaar, Holland...

Spring = JOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

credits:
Flickr: Siebe, Allard One, cannong2fan, mobilohm, Zamm, robokow
thedayaftertheinconvenienttruth.com
pecorare

Anglomania

Vivienne Westwood's Anglomania Spring/Summer 2010 Collection....

..presented at Selfrigdes in November, 2009

Inventive...feminine and yet definitive....

 

When I grow up, I want to be like Dame Vivienne....

via style.com

He said "and it feels like minus 20"....

..that's -4F for my American friends...and it was the radio guy who said so this morning, as I was getting out of my bath...yikes!!!!!!!!!!!!
So for now...I just dream of flowers...daffodils...they are taking their winter's rest and storing up energy to POP OUT come Spring!!

Feeling Mellow Yellow..

..missing sunshine ~ we have had less of it in Ontario, in January, than recorded in a looong time...

~dying to dress my feet in something other than boots~
~they are fun when I don't have to wear them but not when I have to~

....

~longing for Spring's freshness in design and hue~

 

~dreaming of taking a drive with the windows wide open~

credits:
craftypeople.files.wordpress.com
lenj.com
hollyfarrell.com