a walk in the woods...

go outside and play!

before it's too late.

these photos were taken at radnor lake in brentwood, tn.

please join other outdoor wednesday participents at

http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/search?q=

natural beauty and thrifty finds...

i photographed this beautiful scene on the way to a barn sale last week in a nearby village.

the equestrian reflections stopped me in my tracks.

i sensed this was going to be a good day for thrifting...

and it was. a friendly country couple had two dirty beat-up old chairs for sale. the old farmer was embarrassed that he hadn't yet refinished them. no problem. the bigger dark green chair had just the right amount of natural cracking of its old paint. $10=sold!

the smaller turquoise rocker with its missing rockers, perfectly time worn. $5=sold!

my initial thought was to paint them white, but after i scrubbed these babies with bleach and dish liq, they revealed themselves as the beauties that i new lie beneath! i stacked one on top of the other to bring them in the house and realized immediately they belonged that way. one on top of another.


together forever.


and how delighted i was to discover the colors were perfect for my entry, below one of my paintings and next to the robin's egg blue stairway that no one cares for (the color that is. too intense, i actually took a real robin's egg to be color matched, one inspired spring day, but that is another story.)

i love these little chairs and i'm glad to give them a home.

it was a good day!

and..........

as i was leaving the sale...over the old farmers shoulder i spotted this gorgeous color on the side of the barn and of course just had to take a snap of it.

the old farmer had no idea my interest in this...he'd probably never noticed the beauty here before. sometimes if you look at something for too long, you no longer see it.

yummee!

if you'd like to see other thrifty finds ...join the party at

http://fleamarketstylemag.blogspot.com/

oktoberfest

please enjoy some photos taken in Historic Germantown (downtown Nashville area) on

Oktoberfest 2009

this area has wonderful old bungalows mixed with hip new made to look old structures.

i have attended this fun festival for years and it has grown immensely.

the people watching (one of my fave sports) is incredible.

nothing says Oktoberfest better than studs in leiderhosen! (sp?!)

this really colorful neighborhood usually has a tour of homes on this date,

but this year the tour will be in December showcasing holiday decorating.

of course i'll be there for that!

this particular home was on a recent tour and these guys were featured on an h.g.t.v. show.

check out the staircase inside this home + reflection!

the season is slowly changing here.

i'll try to give you an up to date fall foliage forecast.

please join susan and other Outdoor Wednesday bloggers over at

http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/2009/10/1014-outdoor-wednesday-40.html

sage love...

one of my favorite fall blooming flowers...Mexican sage.

i have just gathered this beauty TODAY!

and only because my hubby complained that it was hard to mow around.

sorry dear.

so i thought i'd bring it in the house when i realized HE had actually MOWED it DOWN.

sheesh!

it was my fault...i mentioned the other day that i rarely stake my plants.

i'm too lazy and quite frankly, you never see stakes holding plants up "in nature".

most times i don't like how they look.

Mexican sage is a super easy to grow herb.

the hard part is remembering to plant it in the spring, knowing that it's going to be good. really good when fall comes.

it can also be hard to find, as nurseries tend to sell flowers that are in bloom for instant gratification. and these babies don't bloom until it cools off. as does the equally stunning Pineapple sage growing in the background there.

in the spring these plants, well ,they just don't show well. but in the fall...

come to mama!

i have major love for Pineapple sage as well!

although, red is not my favorite color...but the hummingbirds...well they LOVE IT and are still visiting this baby as they have been migrating through.

Mexican sage dries very well too and keeps its color for years!

i promise.

i know, cause i hold on to stuff.

guess i'll keep the hubby too.

somebody has to mow the lawn.