Springtime is Around the Corner

Today was Ash Wednesday- the first day of Lent. The word “Lent” comes from the Middle English word ‘lenten” meaning Springtime.  These flowers were blooming in my Connecticut garden at the end of last Spring. Do they make you feel warmer? Yes! Like many people in the NE, we’ve been inside a lot. The wood stove’s been acting up so we shut it down until we can get it looked at -which means no more wood gathering. (Not all bad..) The stove guy is busy rescuing people with no other heat source (we have oil back-up) whose pipes have frozen.
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A Ray of Sunshine

Paola pillows are soft feather and cotton sateen- and NOT outdoor pillows. This Ancient Hosta pillow just seemed to warm the yard. We were feeling pretty heroic in Litchfield after weathering a four-inch snowfall last week. Related Images:
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Heavenly Hostas

In the world of flowers and colors hostas do well as a faithful border plant, returning each spring and spreading as required, blooming innocuously in the shade. Nothing much to write home about. Then I discovered the hosta plant that I feature on several Paola Pillows and Related Images:
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White Christmas

This flower reminds me of fire rather than late summer…which it was. There was snow on the ground in Litchfield this morning and we’ve got the stoves stoked with wood and pellets. It’s feeling cozy inside as the world outside rushes to Christmas. Related Images:
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Hello Dahlias

This summer I discovered dahlias in all their glory –at a family farm in Cornwall CT. Their size, varieties and colors are obscenely extravagant. If you haven’t been there, you can learn more here- http://www.somethingtocrowaboutdahlias.com and, if you’re lucky, you’ll be able to buy some tubers of your own. I plant VERY few summer bulbs because they have to be pretty special for me to dig them up in fall, then store, plant and stake them again come spring. For these babies, I will make an exception. Related Images:
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Pillow Comfort

Sometimes life feels like a race against time. Rush here, do that, finish up, start another project, can I do three things at once? My husband and I escaped to Maine for a couple days and were sitting at dinner doing some people watching. Almost everyone around us was older. After a few minutes I inadvertently caught someone’s eye. She smiled at me. The race in my head stopped. I squeaked out a half smile…and continued on with dinner. Then I thought. This feels good. Comfortable to just be in one place and not stretching for the next. Comfort is
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