The simple pleasures of home shine brighter
when the spirit of God intertwines our hearts
with His gentle Joy.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Week~Day Get~Away. . .Part I

Ah~h~h. . .
finally the arrival of gorgeous Spring weather!!!
Perfect for a week~day get~away to Weston, Missouri!


"Mr. Ed's" handiwork
at the edge of the Herb Garden
On Crooked Creek!

"Mr. Ed" and I recently took a Road Trip,
staying three days at Tuck U Inn @ Glick Mansion 
in Atchison, Kansas.

Today, we will begin with a Walking Tour 
of Historic Homes in Weston, Missouri.

Our first stop. . .


708 Spring Street
"The Old Methodist Parsonage"

This Federal Style construction built in 1847,
is constructed with three brick thick walls.
Two flanking chimneys accommodate four fireplaces.



"Andy and Susan" slaves, were included in the 
purchase of the property when acquired 
by Dr. Thomas Beaumont and his wife in 1855.

Next on the tour. . . 
is the home that intrigued me most!


517 Walnut Street
"Josepha's House
"

Built in 1860, this "dog~trot" style cottage
has a center hall running from the front door to the back.
The home consists of four small rooms.



The entire back yard once held 
a famously known vegetable garden 
planted entirely by Josepha.



This property was purchased in the early 1950's 
by a Polish immigrant, Josepha Grazik, 
who suffered the cruelty of a German concentration camp
during World War II.



Here's the intriguing part ~
At the end of the war, the Bless family of Weston, 
believing Josepha to be a man because of her name,
provided sponsorship for her to come to the United States.

Our last home, on this walking tour,
is most often referred to
as "the home with the wrap~around porch".


Wealthy business leader James W. Cox
built his elegant ten~room home 
for his wife "Lizzie"Noble Cox in 1908.



A socialite, "Lizzie" was once described
as a "lady of uncommon loveliness"
with superior culture and refinement.



Leaded windows, large fluted wood columns
and ornate woodwork are all part of the original structure.



This home was widely known 
for elaborate parties and social activities.
Inspired by the romantic setting,
the new owners were married on the front porch
on October 24, 1998.

All that "walking about" on this beautiful Spring day
with the most amazing fresh, cool air 
gave "Mr. Ed" and I quite an appetite!




Our final destination. . .

Built in 1843, this home was and slave quarters
are constructed of hand~made brick.

In the mid~to~1800’s,
the home was owned by local retailer, Roscoe How.
Sometime later , the home was purchased
by county corner W.L. Stephens.

608 Main Street
"White Lace" Avalon Cafe

In the late 1980’s the home was renovated.
The original floors, woodwork, fireplaces and
exposed brick walls remain in now what is
Avalon Café.



“Mr. Ed” and I both ordered pasta dishes.
His had Italian peppers on Alfredo pasta,
mine had a grilled Chicken breast topped with eggplant
and steamed garden vegetables with basil!
Our table was similar to the one
shown here in the corner of the dining room.



After lunch, “Mr. Ed” and I did some shopping
along the Main Street of Weston, Missouri.
They have some of the most adorable,
quaint specialty shops!

Yes, I made a few purchases. . .
But we’ll save those for another time.

502 Spring Street
Pirtle Winery

Weston, Missouri,
a perfect time and place for a week~day get~away!



Until next time. . .


Wednesday, May 15, 2013

An Inspirational Arrangement. . .

Blessings and inspirations 
continually abound in the Land of Blog!



My blog friend, 
Pat @ Back Porch Musings greatly inspired me
with a wreath she recently designed for her Back Porch (here).


This past weekend was absolutely gorgeous
On Crooked Creek!
Time to finish the Spring decor on the Front porch!!!




* * * * * * * Tutorial * * * * * **
Using only what I already had,
I was able to create this cala lily floral arrangement.

Switching out the baskets,
I used my flat rectangular basket and began with some
faux branches with green leaves combined with airy fern.



Next, came the cala lilies!
I began with two and then kept adding,
filling the basket until I reached the look I desired.






Then, I filled in with soft buttery yellow Prairie flowers. . .






Finally, I finished by 
filling the void space in the back with an ivy sprig.

I adore the freshness it gives to our front porch!
Viewed from the driveway. . .



or viewed from the front entrance On Crooked Creek. . .



it is just the right balance for our color palette!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *





This, dear ones, 
is the view I admire each time I open our front door!!!

. . .and 



this is the view our family and friends see
as they come for visits On Crooked Creek!





A freshly misted airy, Boston Fern. . .




and our doorman Froggy keeping watch 
over the two~tier plant stand 
with its continuing subtle color palette of plants.



Arriving On Crooked Creek,
as you ascend the front steps,
the first glimpse of Spring that awaits you
is this three~tier planter.



Inspiration comes from a vast variety of sources,
but the Ladies of the Land of Blog 
are the greatest resource of all!!!



Thank you, dear friend, Pat @ Back Porch Musings
for inspiring me to use the resources of my own
to create a front porch Spring arrangement!

Until next time. . .


On Crooked Creek will be joining

www.stonegable.blogspot.com


Yvonne @ StoneGable for
Tutorials Tips and Tidbits!

Be sure to visit
for you’ll come away
filled with amazing inspirations
for use in your own home décor!


Scent In Love. . .

Ah~h~h, the scent of roses. . .
scent in love!



It's the Third Wednesday of the month of May
and time for Vee's Note Card Party!!!



On Crooked Creek,
I'm continually blessed with the gift of Roses for Mother's Day
from my son and daughter~in~law each year.




Note Card #1.

Next to Sunflowers,
Roses are my favorite flower!




Note Card #2.

Five Pink Sweetheart Roses 
adorned my Wedding Gown in 1969!




Note Card #3.

A dozen long~stemmed Red Roses 
were delivered to my hospital room
after our son was born in 1973!




Note Card #4.

This Fuchsia Pink Tea Rose
was my Mother's Day gift in 2010!




On Crooked Creek. . .
sent in love ~
from me, to you!


Until next time. . .

On Crooked Creek will be joining
A Haven for Vee


Be sure to visit
for you’ll come away
filled with amazing inspirations
for use in your own personal correspondence!

Monday, May 13, 2013

Bicycle Basket Planter. . .

Come gaze with me
upon one of the themed Gardens On Crooked Creek!
"Mr. Ed" and I, affectionately, named this Garden. . .
The Children's Garden!



For our children have filled this Garden
with petite Tea Garden Rose Bushes 
as my Mother's Day gifts throughout the years.



This petite Red Tea Rose. . . 



and this petite Pink Tea Rose
came in a double white wrought iron planter
three years ago for Mother's Day.



Two years ago, 
I received this miniature Pink Knock Out Rose 
in a beautiful shade of bright pink!




Then, last year 
as our children arrived with yet another Double Knock Out Rose,
I had to confess that I had little room left 
for rose bushes in the Garden.



So~o~o. . .
this year, I decided to fill our son's bicycle basket 
with a variety of subtle hued plants, 
thus the Bicycle Basket Planter!




Each morning, as I gaze out our Northernmost window,
this is my view of the Children's Garden!

After two years of dry, arid, drought conditions 
here On Crooked Creek, I have been craving the color green!
Filling the empty bicycle basket with plants
is another way to bring more subtle color into our Gardens.


"Mr. Ed", the Master Gardener, and I 
first lined the basket with a Coco Liner.




The only rectangular liner we could find was 30 inches long!



So~o~o. . .we cut it in half!!!


Once we had the desired size,
we moved the basket to the ground for filling with plants.



I chose a purple hued Callie Calibrachoa
with bold, colorful blooms all season long
that thrives in summer sun and heat.

Then, we tucked in Creeping Jenny 
a low growing spreader idea for mixed baskets and planters
on either side of the trailing petunia.




Now, when I gaze at The Children's Garden,
this is the view I'll be enjoying from my Northernmost window!!!



All of The Children's Gardens rose bushes 
are filled with buds waiting to blossom 
with a profusion of fuchsias, pinks, and reds!

A simple, low~budget change
that makes a splendid array of color. . .On Crooked Creek!!!

From a child's bicycle with an empty basket ~





to ~



a bicycle basket planter!!!


Until next time. . .


* * * * * * * FYI * * * * * * *
If you don't hear from me for a few days,
I just wanted my faithful followers to know that
"Mr. Ed" and I will be taking a Road Trip!
I promise to visit just as soon as we return!!!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

On Crooked Creek will be joining

www.betweennapsontheporch.net

                              
for you’ll come away
filled with amazing inspirations
for use in your own home décor!