Why is *that* in your garden?

I know its several months before Spring, but as the 

Seed and Garden Catalogs start rolling in, I get these 

itches and tinglings to get my hands dirty.  

I also have a little secret when it comes to my garden.

I have always longed to add unexpected 

and whimsical elements to my garden.  The garden 

is the one place where I love to add items that 

you would not generally think of, 

but upon seeing them - you think "I want that, too."

Here are a few items I hope to add this year:

1) A Vintage Bicycle.

A bicycle you say?  Yep....

I imagine it nestled amongst the flowers and herbs, its basket overflowing with ivy and geraniums and vinca.

Don't ask me why.  Even Mr. Grits is a bit confused.

After all....a bicycle is meant for...well....bicycling, right?

I haven't been able to find a vintage bike that doesn't

 cost a fortune.  So here is my plan...

Wire moss to the frame of an older bike, and use it as a 

"topiary base" for growing and training ivy. 

 Can't you just imagine that?

An ivy-covered bicycle with a wicker basket filled 

to the brim with brightly-blooming flowers.

2) An Old Wheelbarrow.

(I know, I know....another unusual addition, huh?)

I just adore the look....

The best part about adding a wheelbarrow is that they 

don't even need to be vintage to look good.

I have one saved up in the shed which will soon be 

added under our large Crepe Myrtle tree in the front yard.

Its a huge shade tree, so I want to fill it with 

hostas, ivy and impatiens. 

You can plant just about anything in a wheelbarrow.  

Look at this beautiful selection of succulents.

I am dying to do this with my Grandloves.  

I love to get them in the garden, too.

This is a lettuce garden, above, but you could do a 

"salsa" garden with tomatoes, jalapenos and cilantro.

I am thinking a "miniature" garden for little hands.

Cherry tomatoes, miniature carrots, radishes....

I think they would also love this Fairy Garden.

I can just imagine their little faces as they watched it grow.

Speaking of Fairy Gardens, look at this Vintage 
Galvanized Tub.  Just precious.

3) Vintage Wood Ladder

Another element where vintage is good, but even an older wooden ladder looks beautiful.

Ladders can be used almost anywhere as plant stands.

 Ladders are perfect for training vines.

Wood ladders can be painted to 
add pops of color to a garden.

Perfect in a vegetable garden.  Pole beans, cucumbers, squash...
anything that needs a little support.

Love the pop of purple against the sea of green.

Perfect for climbing roses!


So that is some of my gardening secrets.  As I make my rounds to my favorite thrift stores, I will be on the lookout for some of these unusual elements for my garden. 


What are some of your favorite additions to a garden?

I am asking you a favor....

I am asking for everyone on my follower's list 

to join me in prayer for two special Bloggers.

Out of respect for them and their privacy,

I will only say what their prayer needs are...

Please pray for a special lady who just found out her

cancer has returned and is spreading.  She is a very 

talented lady, and a loving wife with young children.  

She needs God's love more than ever right now.

Also, please pray for a dear friend of mine, whom

 I care for deeply.  She and her family have been

going through a very rough time lately.

She has been helping her daughter through some

difficult health issues, taking care of her

Grandloves.  Her daughter has another health test today, 

and she is very worried.

Please join me in prayer as we ask God to watch 

over these two special friends.  May they each find

Strength and Courage in His enduring Love.

We are with you, my Bloggy friends!

We send you Blessings, Barb

My name is Barb, and I am addicted to Chairs!

Chair:  (Noun) 

A piece of furniture consisting of a seat, legs, back, and often arms, designed to accommodate one person. Or, here is my version of the definition: Chair: (yummy) A piece of furniture which drives Barb absolutely nutty and which she has a secret fetish for.

I have a personal mission this year.  

(Well, in terms of "Chairs" that is.)

It's to add one or more of these, 
my favorite kind of chair....

The French Bergère

 Bergère, meaning "shepardess" became popular among French nobility in the 1700's.

Originally inspired by King Louis XIV, their main 
purpose was to allow guests to lounge around in ease, and 
were often moved from room to room.  The oversized 
seat was created to accommodate the

"oversized" dresses and fashions of the times. 

And though the modern-day Bergere chair has taken on a 

simpler and less formal feel....

The classic lines of this beautifully-designed chair

 remain the same. 

Do you have a passion for a particular piece of furniture?

(I am pretty sure Mr Grits' is recliners.) 

I know right?

I would love to hear what your favorite piece 

of furniture is.

Have a wonderful week.....

What Magazine Reveals Your Style the Most?

If I had to choose two publications which portrayed 

the essence of personal my style, there would be two.

Like many design enthusiasts, I love catalogs and 

magazines and coffee table books, and well...

anything about design!

I have my favorites, that's for sure.

One is a popular magazine, and I'm sure will come 

as no surprise to anyone...

The other is not so much a magazine, but a catalog.

Interesting, I save my Ballard catalogs just as I do 

my Southern Living magazines.

These two publications are both different in elements 

of style, yet have similar characteristics at the same time.

The one characteristic they have in common is...

Timeless Designs.

With Southern Living.... my love of Traditional style

 is portrayed in true "Southern" style.  

Classic Southern colors, antiques, elegance and 

warm and inviting style. 

The reason I am such a Ballard fan is its 

unique design features ....

When you see something that is distinctly Ballard...

you know it immediately.

To me, Ballard encompasses a touch of Traditional but 

with an acknowledgment to Urban Flair.

So is there a particular magazine or catalog that 

embodies your style?

I'd love to hear what it is and why.  

Big changes happened last week in The Grits House.

I have taken pictures of what it looks like now.

"OMG" is the best way to describe it.

All the furniture pushed to the center, every surface 

covered with something....

utter CHAOS!

(why did I have the WHOLE house painted

instead of one room at a time? aaagh)

But I am loving it so far and can't wait to share it 

with you in the coming days.

Have a beautiful and inspiring week everyone!

Our Trip to England: Cambridge Pt 3

We did not have a lot of time to spend in Cambridge.  
We basically had one evening and then we spent the 
following morning touring the town by both 
double-decker bus and on foot.

It was just what I expected for an English University town,
 as we had been to Oxford years ago.

There are actually 31 Colleges within Cambridge.  
Some as as small as a single building....and then

 there's is the famous and stately King's College.

Before I start sharing pics, I need to apologize for the 
quality of some of these shots.  I only had my phone 
camera during this day.

King's College was started in 1441 by Henry V1. 

Yes, that's me standing in front of the King's College Chapel.

The Chapel was also started by Henry VI in 1446 
and took over a century to complete.  It is the 
largest fan built ceiling in the world and features 
original medieval stained glass. 

The Chapel is also the venue for the Christmas Eve 
service, A Festival of Nine Lessons, 

which is broadcast to millions around the world.

Henry VI was only 19 when he laid the first stone 
of the 

'College Roial of Oure Lady and Seynt Nicholas' 

in Cambridge on Passion Sunday, 1441.

Each choir member's seat featured one of these.  
Can you imagine how beautiful it must be when 
all of these are lit?

This painting, called "The Adoration of the Magi" 
is by Rubens, and hangs at the altarpiece of the Chapel.

Henry was murdered in the Tower of London on 
21 May 1471.   He had inherited two great 
kingdoms (England and France) from his father, 
and lost them both. 

He had, however, founded two of England's 
greatest colleges.

It was left to the Tudor kings, Henry VII and 
Henry VIII, to achieve the final, 
spectacular completion to the Chapel.

Now, let's head out into the town and take a look around...

I just adore architecture.  I found myself taking 
pictures of unique rooflines or buildings which 
stood out from the others. 

I love the corner turret of this building.

 I share this picture, because if you have 
ever heard of the expression "pub crawl" this 
is the street that that term originated,

King's Street.

A traditional event called The King's Street Pub Run 
used to feature a race, where one had to visit 
all 19 pubs along this street, down a pint of beer - 
and continue on until the end without going to the 
bathroom.  Some said that participants would 
literally be "crawling" to the finish line.

It was outlawed in 1964, but saw a new 
rejuvenation in 1982.

The record is 14 minutes and 5 seconds.  

And now you know....   :)

I was just fascinated with the streets.  
These small cobblestoned streets were the norm. 
 Good thing I didn't have on my high-heeled boots.  

Bill getting ready to start his "pub crawl" 
at the end of King's Street.  LOL

This bridge is known as Mathematical Bridge.  
Built in 1746 by the Mathematical Department.  
It is constructed in complete without the use of 
nails or other hardware.

There are over 25 bridges in Cambridge. 
The above, Clair Bridge, is the oldest - built in 1640.

One of the reasons why Cambridge was on 
our list of "Must See" stops was not so much the 
town, the college or the Cathedral - 
although they were very enjoyable.

Rather, we felt is was our American duty to pay 
our respects at the Cambridge American Cemetery 
a few miles outside of City.

It is one of two European American 
cemeteries, which features the remains of 
3,812 fallen Americans heroes who 
died during WWII.

There are another 5,127 names listed on 
the Tablets of the Missing.

Pictures nor words cannot put into words the 
feelings that pass through you when you take 
in the 30.5 pristine acres.

My husband, prior military, was especially solemn, 
as he walked around the cemetary.  

It was a very moving experience.

So I hope you have enjoyed our tour of Cambridge.  
Next time, we'll head over to Hampton Court. 


If you have missed the other posts on our England trip,
you can tour Hever Castle (Anne Boleyn's Home) 
HERE 


and also, our trip to Tonbridge, England HERE.


Don't forget....


FEB 7th - Get your Nature on!