Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Blooms and Paris Cafes

My chives are in bloom! Don't you love their color?

I've been busy the past few days working diligently in my garden. I usually wait until the weekend after Mother's Day to buy my annual vegetables and flowers and herbs, as I then feel confident that my Mid-Atlantic gardening zone will not experience any episodes of frost. Now my tomatoes, peppers, annual herbs and flowers are finally all planted, and I can relax and rest my sore knees and visit every one's blogs to see what I've missed!

I received this wonderful surprise today -- I won a give away on the Fifi Flowers Blog -- a full set of eight of her beautiful French Cafe Note Cards!

They are romantic outdoor scenes, so I thought I'd display them outside under my pink azalea shrub that also finally bloomed a few days ago.

Here they are again in front of one of the flower boxes I just planted.


Thank you so much Fifi! I love them! I felt as if I could step inside the paintings and be a part of the Paris scenery.... perhaps to sit on the balcony of Cafe De France to sip my latte and look down at the beautiful flowers that line the boulevard? Ou la la!

These beautiful Paris Cafe scenes were hand painted by Fifi in her signature style, using fun, vibrant colors and charming attention to detail. They are also available for sale in her ETSY Store! Fifi also takes painting commissions, and is presently busy painting beautiful scenes for some lucky customers. I hope you'll visit Fifi's blog and see more of her wonderful artwork and allow her take you on one of her virtual trips to Paris -- her favorite place to escape from everyday life!


And speaking of Paris, I am going to a very French event with my daughter in a few days. It's a little reward for all her hard work in going to graduate school part time, after her full time, demanding job! She'll be graduating soon and I was so excited to see this activity advertised in the New York Times as a way to celebrate with her a little bit before hand.


Be sure to check back to see what fun event we went to! Can you guess what it will be?

21 comments:

dana said...

Hello!!

I've been planting, too! I was so eager to get some color in pots and around shrubs that I bought my plants some time ago. The weather was warm then. BUT it turned cold again, so I just kept my little plants watered until our temps finally settled into a consistently warm pattern. I, too, am sore from crawling around and lifting bags of dirt and hauling the hose around---I am really glad I scaled back this year. I don't think my back would handle one more plant!

Congrats on your wonderful win!! That Fifi is a talent!

Dana

Nola said...

What lovely cards, and you displayed them so well with your azaleas as a backdrop!
Can't wait to see what event you're attending.

Vee said...

No, I can't guess...clueless as per usual. ;D

Love those notecards...such a sweet win from Fifi. I just visited her blog last week and was in total awe...oh my, so lovely!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Oh, Pat! The color of those chives is amazing! And I love, love, love your notecards from Fifi! She's so talented, but so are YOU!

You should hook up to Outdoor Wednesday with your pretty plants and notes!

XO,

Sheila :-)

Pat@Back Porch Musings said...

Gorgeous flowers!! I love blooming chives. So pretty.

Fifi is fabulous! Beautiful notecards.

Judy said...

I am just beginning most of my planting this week...I've learned from past experience not to be too eager! I'll think of you when I plant my garden.

What beautiful French Cafe cards...a real neat win!

I have no guesses as to what French event you are attending...but I'll be back for the answer.

Junie Moon said...

I love your photos. The one you took of the chives is perfect and really celebrates their beauty. The cards you won are fabulous and I'm tickled for you. Enjoy your mystery outing with your daughter. I look forward to hearing the tale of your adventure.

Ciao Chow Linda said...

Now you've really picqued my curiosity. I'll be back to check. The cards are very pretty and so are your flowers. I'm headed to do some yard tinkering right now too.

Kathy said...

Hello Pat, your blog looks beautiful, your chives photo is stunning, I am glad you got all your planting done, our (new) herb and veg garden is coming along nicely and I am eager to start trying all the deliciousness. Fifi's paintings are so gorgeous arent they, lucky you (me too, as I have a set too). I'm now wondering what wonderful french related plans you have for you and your daughter, I shall return to find out, have fun and congrats on her graduation, hugs, Kathy.

steviewren said...

I'm envious of your garden. I love a fresh tomato and bacon sandwich in the summer. yummy

My kids gave me some plants for Mother's day but I haven't had the chance to plant them yet. It has poured down every weekend it seems. I did put out some flower seeds in a small bed. I hope they do well.

I love the cards. What a great give away.

Willow said...

Planting is so much fun!

The cards are beautiful. You could frame them and put them up somewhere and look at them every day!

Congratulations to your daughter!

Unknown said...

Hi Pat,
Your flowers look great! Those chives are very pretty. I haven't grown herbs before...may have to give it a try!

I have no idea about your surprise. I look forward to finding out!
:) Diane

Anonymous said...

The chive blooms are beautiful. I have them every year. They just keep coming back. I love the note cards. I am working on some myself. Since I started classes I am painting all my cards.
QMM

Beverly said...

I won some of Fifi's wonderful cards, too. She has a wonderful gift and interpretation.

You've been so busy and smart. I can't wait until fresh tomatoes are available.

Sue said...

Hi Pat, Congrats on winning
Fifi's cute cards! Your chive blossoms are such a pretty color and placing the cards in front of your window boxes and the azalea plant was a good idea to feature the cards for us! :-) Sue

Buzzings of a Queen Bee! said...

Those little scenes of Paris are so charming, as are your chives in bloom! Out here in Denver I have waited until Memorial Day weekend to plant my flowers...never sure about snow out here!

As for the thrift stores I frequent, I will be happy to post about those...I will do it on today's blog post so others can check them out as well! :)
Carrie

Proud Italian Cook said...

Everything looks beautiful Pat. Don't you just love Spring?

Lisa's RetroStyle said...

I have no idea....can't wait to find out:D The cards and your flowers are lovely!

Anonymous said...

Those cards are lovely!

I still have seedlings to plant out, but following a trip to the garden centre this week I have a new supply of potting on compost. I couldn't resist 4 packets of poppy seed, so while it was still raining, I sprinkled them round the garden. :-) Fun!

Your azalea looks wonderful. Have a wonderful time sipping coffee with your Parisian views. Salut!

Claudia said...

What lovely notecards. You ahve a Paris-Brooklyn garden! I plant this week )two weeks after Mother's Day. We started the process. Sore but worth it. So, have planted Paris and Italy and the US. Isn't life grand?

Paz said...

Love your garden products and the cards you received.

Paz