Garden Cleanup!

I am so surprised how little I've been in the garden these past couple of months! Perhaps it's because I know how much work I have to do, or perhaps it's because there are a few things I want to change in my garden and have been putting it off. Now it's too late to make those changes so it's better I just get in there and at least clean it up, and that's what I intend to do today. 

Do you keep a journal of your garden? I do. I have to! I can't always remember where I put plants especially if you're like me and change things up frequently! In fact this year I actually took a side garden that I had planted a few years back and dug every plant out of it, amended the soil, which was still pretty good, and replanted the plants but differently. Overtime I noticed that some plants grew faster than others, or taller than I thought or didn't do as well, so the planting arangement had to be changed to encourage better growth and the overall look of the garden.

It was a lot of work, and I won't see the change until next year, but I think it was worth the effort. 

I also keep a journal so I can go back to last year and monitor how well a plant is doing! Are we late blooming? Was the weather this damp last year? It really does help to have those references. I'm actually glad I have this blog, because I'll be able to document my garden in real time. Woohoo, this might be better than the journal I currently have because it's handwritten! Who writes by hand these days! 

Anyway, here are some pictures of what my garden looks like today! 

 I'm almost embarrassed because there is so much work to be done to this garden in general. I wish I could do so much more to it than I have but I find my back yard garden to be full of challenges. We have a very big deck, south facing with lots of sun, which I love and those stairs go up a hill . There are tons of trees in the back, which provide a lot of privacy from neighbors, but also a lot of shade. Disappointing for a gardener that loves flowers! So my selection of plants has to be not only shade tolerant but has to fulfill some of my need for blooms. Very challenging indeed. 

Here is my side garden. The garden I completely replanted in early September.

Just a total mess!! 

I hope it will look a hell of a lot better once it's cleaned up. 

I'll show you the pictures when I'm done. See if it makes a difference. 

And feel free to offer suggestions! I welcome any thoughts you might have! And I would love to hear how you over came your own garden challenges. Share please. We could all learn from each other!!

Cheers!

Change Creates More Change!

Like many of us you have to work with what you have. It's nearly impossible sometimes to always go out and purchase what we want. So we recycle constantly. 

Remember this picture of my breakfast nook?

Well I used some of those things I had in the breakfast nook for my new arrangement in my living room.

So now I had to change the breakfast nook ! See what I did.

What do you think? I think it needs something to balance on the otherside or maybe the leaves hanging from the ladder is too much!  Although those leaves look a lot brighter in the pic than they seem to do in real life. Anyway, it's a work in progress!! 

It's Rainy Outside, But It's Toasty Inside!

I have to admit I love rainy and windy autumn days. And in Nova Scotia, when the weather is over cast, the autumn colors always seem so much more vibrant. Although it's not cold outside , a balmy 14 degrees, I want to put on a fire anyway! here are a few pictures of what my home looks like today!

I just love a roaring fire and lighted candles. I think I'll just sit awhile and enjoy the ambience!!
I hope you're enjoying your day today! 

There are just some rooms that take my breath away!

I recently stumbled upon these pictures and immediately fell in love. I found them at Vicky's Home http://vickys-home.blogspot.ca/ and also saw them posted at Houzz http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/18848432/list/My-Houzz--Dreamy--Organic-Style-in-a-Tampa-Cottage where I actually found who owned the home Shaun and Shona Carcary. These are simple inspiring! Take a look!

 



 



It took them 17 years to get the home to where they wanted it. And my my, how lovely it is! It has a alot of rustic natural components to it but overall very sophisticated and well thought out! It's shame to only show you what I found but Houzz has the completed home. It's stunning!!

So How Spooky are You?

I love having parties! And I love hosting themed parties, with games and good food for all my friends! So with Halloween just around the corner, and the weekend ripe for a party, let's start planning!

 

So I found some great examples to draw from!!

 

Some exterior ideas!! 

 

 

 

Add a few games from

http://www.ghoulfriday.com/halloween_party_games
 

 

 And don't forget sharing a great laugh courtesy of Ellen Degeneres!

And all the scary halloween sounds!

 

And now, my beauties, something with poison in it, I think. With poison in it, but attractive to the eye, and soothing to the smell. 

 



Giant George Dead: Former Guinness World's Tallest Dog, Has Died

It's always a sad day when you have to say goodbye to your beloved pet. It fact it can be sad for quite some time. But what happens when you're the owner of a world famous dog?

 

The world grieves!

 

"Giant George was formerly the world's tallest dog, according to Guinness World Records. With a staggering height of 43 inches, Giant George towered above most living things he came into contact with." wrote Sebastian Murdoch

 

He was one month away from his eighth birthday!

 

RIP Giant George!

It's a Dog's World!

I have 2 dogs! 

Meet Jurel and Bailey

They are both 7 years of age!

 

 

Two very large dogs which makes keeping house a challenge. Bailey the Golden sheds constantly. I have hair the size of tumbleweeds scattered everywhere, and I sweep every day!!

Anyway, in my dream home I would love a space just for dogs. A perfect mudroom! A place where I could bath them, store all their "stuff" like their toys, and bedding, and sometimes just say go to your room, so I can enjoy mine!!

 

So here are some pics of my favorite spaces for dogs!!

 

 

My dogs are so spoiled that I have a chair in my living room that has to stay right where it is because it's become "Bailey's Chair"! It's right by the window and he sits in it every day and watches the other dogs walk by the house! And I'm ok with that! Becaue I know if I move that chair, he'll just find another one, whichever is by the window. So I concede for the sake of my other furniture!!! LOL

How do you love your dogs?

 



Renovation Continued!

 When I opened up the foyer I created a dining room in that 3rd bedroom. Consequently now I had a space across from the kitchen that I wondered what I would do with it. 

So here is what I did!

From my kitchen I created  a space where, when cooking, folks could sit awhile and talk to me without standing around. I might even in the future change that tiny table to something slightly bigger so I could use it for a breakfast table! Not sure. Notice how I used the same quality vinyl in the kitchen as I did in the foyer? I would have desired hard wood floors but I couldn't afford it. I'll show you a picture of the kitchen as soon as I get it cleaned up!!!!

Comments are always welcomed!

cheers!

My Renovation!

I love renovating! Would love it more if I had all the money in the world and could do what I want. But sadly, I have to make every dollar count. So I have had to start with the basics. Because I have serious committment issues, I have to buy furniture and make decorating decisions that transfer easily from one design decision to the next.

So when I bought a 1956 Bungalow about 9 years ago it had all the basics that I was looking for. A fireplace, south facing backyard, a kitchen I could live with because it worked for me. A updated bathroom, and a host of other necessary upgrades to keep the energy costs down.

However, I hated my front entry way! When you walked into my home you walked in to a closet. I detested it because it was small, unattractive and my guests would have to wait outdoors until it was their turn to enter the home. So frustrating. So I renovated it!

Here is the before.

Now here is the after!

I opened the entry way all the way back to a closet that existed in the small bedroom. That has become the coat closet. I removed the wall in the third bedroom, a risk reducing a home from a 3 bedroom to a 2 bedroom on the main floor to create a dining room. I not only wanted a dining room but to be able to see the sunlight from the adjoining room. Give it an open feel.

I choose A neutral pallet of soft browns. Stonehearth from BM for the walls:

And Buckhorn, also from BM for the door and fireplace, and center island in the kitchen!
(I tried to download a pic of the color but suffered some difficulties)
I choose to use the color scheme throughout the main floor, because the bungalow is quite small, and the living room, breakfast nook and kitchen and hallway flow into one another. I couldn't chop it up with too many different colors.

Introduction

Welcome to Dorothy Newcomb's Inspiring Arrangements for Home and Garden! I've had an interest in interior design since I was 16 years of age when I first stumbled upon the beauty of antiques. I loved the patina of old woods, the musty smell of antique shops, and the thrill of finding something that had so much history, that it was an immediate must have. 

I had studied material history in university so was smitten by owning something of true value. Not that I could afford it, but I did my best. I saved every penny I had to buy that perfect piece.

Fast forward in life and I am 56, I've decided to take all the lessons I've learned in decorating and share them with you! I hope you will enjoy my blog as I navigate through the murky world of blogging!

Over the past few years I have stumbled upon some true mavericks in blogging. I have some real favorites and hope to be able to connect with them as I start my own.

I want to make sure that each and every picture I post reflects the person who created it and will do my best to ensure they get credit. So if I miss something feel free to ermail me or contact me to set the record straight! 

Here in Nova Scotia Autumn is just really beginning. We just celebrated our Thanskgiving! Here are a few pictures that I have collected that inspired me! Hope you like them too!