A Doggie Birthday

In our house, pets are parts of our family ~ and as family members, special occasions are marked for them just as they would for any of their human counterparts! They get Christmas presents, have their own stockings, and we give them presents for their birthdays!

I always try to do something special for each of them just to celebrate the joy that they bring to our home and family.

For my dog Oliver's 12th Birthday in 2008, I made a memorable doggie-shaped cake!  Using frozen pound cakes that I simply cut and stacked into the shape of a West Highland White terrier and matching doggie bone. 

The doggie cake was frosted with white buttercream frosting (black frosting accents on the nose and the eyes), and the bone was coated in melted chocolate (Please note: chocolate is not safe for dogs!  We ate the bone cake - not the dogs!!!)  Although it's not doggie-recommended, our dogs were each given small, doggie bite-size pieces of the Westie cake.  I wouldn't recommend any pet devouring a sugary confection made for people, but we made an exception for this special occasion with no dire consequences (thankfully!) 

I tied a simple plaid ribbon around the neck for added cuteness!

Ollie and his sister, Angel loved it - and so did we!

It took only about an hour and a half to put together from start to finish,
and that was with my toddler son underfoot, trying to "help." :)

People get such a kick out of this, 
and I think it would be adorable even for a child's birthday party!

Planting season is here!

With Memorial Day just around the corner, it's planting time in my neck of the woods!  This is the time of year when I hit the garden centers and greenhouses in full force for all of our summer annuals and veggie bedding plants. 

Unlike previous years, I've been going for the past few weeks to slowly get what I want for two reasons: 1.) so I can space out the cost over several weeks and 2.) so I don't get overwhelmed having to plant it all at once!  

Whether you live in a small house, or even an apartment, there's always a little room to grow something!  The joy of growing flowers, herbs and veggies is worth the expense and work. Now to just keep the rabbits from devouring it all!  Ugh!

Happy Planting! 

It's good to be loved :)

My 9th wedding anniversary to my best friend quietly came and went last month.  We've been together as a couple for well over a decade now ~ sharing life's ups and downs, and all the while still growing in love for one another.

He's my best friend, confidante, and still can make me double over in side-splitting laughter!  And becoming parents to the sweetest little boy {yes, I'm a little biased!} has brought us even closer.  

And for our anniversary, he gave me roses, an adorable card {above}

and...

the prettiest ring {I have a weakness for bling!}  

It's a beautiful, dazzling {and GINORMOUS} aquamarine solitaire

with tiny little diamonds set in the mounting...

I love how the blue sparkles and dances in the light like the sun on the ocean.  

(I had to put it on my left hand to photograph it!)

In general, I'm not a huge fan of most jewelry, 

but like any girly-girl, I do love a little sparkle ;)  

I just adore this ring's simple, understated style! 

And for Mother's Day, my sweet baby boy showered me in hand-made {the VERY best kind in my opinion!} presents!  Beautiful, Mother's Day arts & crafts made at school and daycare.

Seeing his little face as he carried them out to present to me like the finest of treasures was one of those 'mommy moments' that will stick with me forever! 

I love my guys!

And I thank my lucky stars each and every day

to have been so blessed 

to be surrounded in love :)

Window Boxes

It's chancy, but I went ahead a little early and started planting annuals.  I usually wait until Memorial Day here in PA, but I plant quite a bit between flower beds and our vegetable garden so I wanted to divide it up over the next few weeks to make it more manageable. 

I started this weekend with some window boxes.  It was my son's decision to choose which flowers he wanted ~ and quite honestly, I think he did a fantastic job!  He chose gorgeous, tri-colored begonias that look lit from within.  They complement the cascading petunias, lobelia and the torenia perfectly.  

Didn't they turn out so pretty? 

Redolent Lilacs

They say that the sense most closely linked to memory is scent.  Then for me, lilacs above all other flowers most closely remind me of my mom :)  I'm fortunate to have the beautiful lilacs that she planted many years ago still blooming in my spring garden.  

Every year without fail, their beauty and uniquely graceful fragrance surround my home, reminding me of my mom ~ working in her garden.  She passed away when I was a teenager after a long battle with cancer.  The return each spring of her lilacs is like a sweet reminder of her.  I proudly explain to my son that they're his grandma's lilacs, as he buries his nose in the blossoms.  And he smiles and says, "I can almost smell her, Mommy...so beautiful."  :)

Documenting the Joy

 

Happy Mother's Day 

to all all of us

who are...

moms

stepmoms

future moms

new moms
angel baby moms

grandmoms

& 

fur-kid moms

Love to you all :)

Happy May Day

: Happy May Day :

How to celebrate:

Step 1.

Make a pretty flower basket

Step 2.

Leave it on the doorstep of a friend

(particularly nice for one that hasn't been feeling well)

to wish them a

Happy May Day!