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Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Craving green...



It was a very long and cold winter.  
Spring is just beginning to show her pretty face.  We had snow on the ground for a good five months in a row. So, I think you'll understand when I tell you that I am craving green... anything green!  We are currently in the period affectionately known as "mud season."  This is the period where the snow has melted, but the trees have yet to leaf out and the ground is still soft and mushy and there is mud everywhere.  While out driving this past weekend I saw many roads with a sign nailed at their entrance: 
"MUD.  Travel at your own risk!" 
Thankfully, we eliminated the mud around the house by putting in the gravel drive several years ago, but walking in the meadows is like walking on a sponge.  Let's just say this is not New England's prettiest time of year ;)

During this period, which lasts about a month, green becomes a color I literally crave!  I'm reading through garden notes from the last several years and planning the season's first projects all while planting containers in my mind!  The only flowers at the garden stores right now are pansies, which I know sounds odd to you southern peeps who plant them in the fall. So until the leaves have popped on the trees and new growth has shot up from the ground I surround myself with varying shades of green in the kitchen.




 You might remember last year at this same time I added a green chevron pattern skirt under the sink for spring.  Once green can be seen out the window I want my linen skirt back in place, but for now the skirt brightens the landscape and reminds me that spring is right around the corner, and just makes me happy! 








Yesterday was in the 70's, but today is chilly and raining, so we had a fire for lunch.  And tonight we're expecting a freeze- welcome to spring in New England!




Vintage and antique Chinese ginger jars in varying shades of green line the kitchen mantel. (Lets just say they are but a few of a larger collection!)








Watermelon and green apples on an antique French white ironstone fish platter (you might remember, this is the platter I hand-carried all over France;)








This is the very first sign of spring in the yard- the white lilacs at the corner of the reading room in
I almost caused myself  a whiplash injury yesterday when I first saw the tiny green leaves out the corner of my eye!  They've doubled in size in just one day.
Today it seemed like the grass was literally greening up by the minute with all the rain we are having.  I'm so ready to see leaves on the trees again.  I adore living with four distinct seasons, and I know it will be gorgeous when it gets here, but this year it has felt like spring might never arrive!  
This photo is my visual of " hope!"


Wishing you a happy spring (or fall for my Aussie friends;)

47 comments:

  1. Hi there: Kitchen and dining area is so beautiful and inviting. The ginger jars brought back memories. We lived over 30+ years in the Gold Country of California-Nevada City. Every yard sale, every estate sale, every basement had one of those ginger jars. You could originally pick them up for nothing. Many, many Chinese laborers lived and worked in Gold Country in the mines and working on railroads. Not so cheap now. The color on jars is fabulous, have you thought about painting inside your cabinet next to fireplace with that same"GREEN" that you are loving right now? would make all that other ironstone pieces just pop out. Just a suggestion which you don't need any suggestions as your place is beautiful. I enjoy your blog very much, from Northern California-Paula-Windmill Farm

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    1. Funny you should mention that, as it's actually on a to-do list though not in green;)

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  2. I was really happy today that it was so nice out .. that it was while not sunny , it was light .. with clouds and blue sky and not freezing.
    About half an hour ago, I looked out the window and it was snowing.
    I did not break down completely but this is enough already.
    I want Spring and a Warm one !!
    So there ... harrumph !

    kisses to Ella and you ~

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    1. Oh nooo Candice. Just a few more weeks, just wait and everything will be beautiful. I know its been an unbearable 6 months for you.... I hope spring brings you untold gifts. xxoj.

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  3. :) Today we had a nice wild rain storm complete with crashing thunder. am7chbneeded to wash the pollen from everything that was covered in it's yellow dust. That's spring in North Central Florida for ya!
    Here's to warmer weather for you.
    Hugs, Gee

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    1. Yikes Gee! But I'm sure it was nice to have all that pollen washed off!

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  4. Here's hoping that spring arrives soon for you. Yes, it has been a verrrry long winter, so I know you are craving green. But I like all your green touches in your kitchen. I am in Georgia, and guess what. We are expecting a freeze tonight as well! Goodness knows what it will do to all the dogwoods and azaleas that are in full bloom right now...and I hate to think about the peach trees.

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    1. I saw that on the news tonight Kelly- that is so scary. Hope all the trees and blooms do alright.

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    2. I am in GA too, and worried about my hosta & my snowball viburnum. 28* tonight? :-/

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  5. I share your craving for green... and enthusiasm for lilac buds! Have you shared details on the fireplace screen before? I love its simplicity.

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    1. I don't think I have Julia. It was a very good day when I found both antique iron and mesh screens at an antique shop that just happened to fit the see through fireplaces openings 'almost' perfectly! I have seen new reproductions of this style of screen at fireplace shop, they usually have handles on them (similar to the screen in front of the barn fireplace or the master bedroom fireplace.)

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  6. Love the touches of green in your kitchen! Just lovely! Isn't it such an exciting time of year when the very first green starts appearing outside? xo

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  7. Green is my favorite color, and I love shades of it in the rooms that overlook my courtyard. I absolutely love the greens in your home. xo

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  8. We are on the road now TRYING to finally get home. In Charleston right now, car should be done tomorrow. I have had my green fix as we were in Fl. this is the 32 day we have been aay....NOT by choice! It is supposed to get cool again in Pa. and I am craving decorating and gardening!!!! I SO get your green craving, I usually have it too!!!!

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  9. I almost feel guilty that NC is so beautiful right now. Azaleas and dogwood in full bloom, jasmine ready to open. Y'all come south!

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  10. I am with you this year as it seems winter will never end! As I type we are getting a dusting of snow in Pittsburgh! Now I'm hoping April showers will bring May flowers for the last two weeks of May as I don't want to spend my entire trip indoors at antique shops. :)

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  11. Joan, as always you are an inspiration. You have come to mind frequently this winter. I have imagined you next to that cozy fire on cold, snowy day after day after day....with a glass of wine of course ;)
    Your home is lovely and I love your touches of green. So springy. We had a deep freeze and snow here in Oklahoma yesterday. I had to cover all of my peonies, hostas, hydrandreas, viburnum, fruit trees.... My yard looked like the Clampetts this morning! Hoping no freeze for you tonight. Cheers! Emily

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  12. Hi Joan, I love all your touches of green in your kitchen! It's been quite warm in SC for a few weeks. All the trees have leafed out and we've planted 75 tomato plants. And it may freeze here tomorrow night! Your fire in the kitchen looks so cozy! Here's hoping for warmer weather for all of us.

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  13. Hi Joan! How I want spring, too!! Your kitchen greens are lovely, as usual ;-)

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  14. Your home looks lovely! Those green accents are a welcome sight. I've been doing the same thing...and it's sort of working. I just need to see buds on the trees...then I'll really know spring has arrived! ;)

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  15. I live in Southern California and have been collecting ginger jars for years! They got packed away in my garage during my last move and you've inspired me to dig them out and display them once again. Your home is just lovely!

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  16. We, too, had a surprise freeze down here in Texas. I found myself outside, in the dark (and in my pjs) covering my latest plantings (lady banks roses, plumbago, phlox) to stave off the sudden chill. Worth it to ensure coaxing some GREEN in the garden. May more green come your way soon. Oh, and your breakfast nook is divine. I imagine sitting there, chatting, enjoying the fire and good conversation. A LOVELY setting!

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  17. HI Joan:

    I am feeling the same as you. Here in Burlington, it was 76 on Monday, and today, Wednesday, we have snow. When I woke up and saw it, I felt my mood start to sour, and I was becoming...let's just say less than chipper! But, after reading your note and everyone else's, I see I am not alone, so I feel better already. I will work on my mood, find some green around the house, and continue to plow through mud season. Looking at your home gives me that "shot in the arm" that I needed today. Take care!

    Bev

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  18. Hello Joan, Your house is so light and airy, and the green accents are perfect for anticipating Spring. The green jars on the mantle make a wonderful composition--the unglazed bases exactly match the wooden mantle, the green in the jars picks up the greens in the painting, and the shininess of the glaze corresponds to that in the gilding.
    --Jim

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  19. Your kitchen looks so warm and cozy! You must love that fireplace. The touches of green are perfect, I always have a bowl of Granny Smith's out, my daughter can eat three a day!

    We had snow the other night here in the Upper Midwest. I don't know why we were surprised by it! lol!

    Happy Easter, my friend!

    XO,
    Jane

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  20. This winter of our discontent made glorious by the sun is why I moved from the Hudson Valley to SW Florida...no regrets.
    XO, Victoria

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  21. I love the touches of green and can SO relate! I have never had so many indoor plants as I have now...my second year in Minnesota....and green ceramic pots and vases seem to find their way into my hands at antique stores, Junk Bonanza and Target! :) Anywhere I can find them! We are getting snow today, and there are very few signs of Spring... a little green here and there, but most trees and shrubs have barely swelling buds....sigh....maybe an orchid will cheer me up! Rose

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  22. Dear Joan, The house is beautiful as always. We are craving green too - it's so close! We woke to snow this morning but sunshine is due later today. xoxoCatherine

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  23. I hear you ! Here in Cleveland the winter has been long, hard, and gray....but I know that you New Englanders have had it even harder ! Your home is lovely, and the pops of green are a great idea that I'm going to copy today ! We have a few daffodils just pushing their heads up out of the ground - nothing else so far. I'm amazed when I see the lovely flowers in the south on some of the blogs I read - sigh......our day will come !

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  24. Hello Joan,When I woke to snow this morning,I just sighed and thought "crazy New England weather."I know it is not going to last and it looked so pretty against the sprouting green grass in the field.My husband is always talking about moving somewhere warm,but I could never leave.Although after the winter we just experienced,I too was ready to pack.Mud season is not fun but what comes after makes it all worth it! Your home is so beautiful thanks for sharing. Christine

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  25. Hi Joan
    Yes Autumn on it's way here in Aus.
    But the weather here is absolutely beautiful.
    Our best growing season.
    Kind Regards
    Karen

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  26. I love the pops of spring in your kitchen. I love your kitchen in general, lol. It was one of my inspiration pics when I gave mine a facelift. :)

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  27. Hi Joan,
    Everything is beautiful as always! I'm a "green" person, it's my favorite color! Your green touches are gorgeous! There's nothing prettier than the intense green of spring! I live in Mississippi and we even had a freeze scare last night! I'm trying not to complain about the cooler than normal temperatures because I know it will be hot and humid soon enough! Happy Spring!
    Stacy

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  28. We're showing lots of green now here in central NC - the trees have seemingly leafed out overnight, and the azaleas have started blooming. But we did get down to freezing this morning. Can't see any damage done - that happened during the winter - much colder than usual. Don't think my Nikko Blue hydrangeas will have any flowers this year - the only growth is coming out at the base and the rest are dead sticks. Star jasmine vine was decimated. And then there was an entire hedge mangled in the March ice storm (and we count ourselves fortunate we didn't lose any trees). Rough winter. Still no green on top of the mountain, though, and we had snow yesterday. This is a much anticipated and longed for spring.

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  29. It was the longest winter! Here in Virginia we are greening up really nicely, though last night we dipped down to freezing, come on Mother Nature, enough! I mowed for the first time last weekend, I was so very happy! And the mud season is just about over, not sure about Ella, but my Maggie (golden retriever) just has to walk through it, lay in it, therefore track it into my old house...but the cushions on my outdoor furniture is out! donna :)

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  30. Yesterday here in the mideast we had snow but the day before I was commenting on the days' warm temps, and how nice it was to have some windows open! It indeed was a very long and cold winter! I'm with you, so ready for spring and green and all that goes with it :)

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  31. The first time I visited Maine was in April 1990, during a cold, rainy mud season. I fell in love with the place anyway, and moved here ten years later. I still remember the wonder of seeing crocus blooming through snow, and I marvel every year at how, when winter finally ends, everything seems to turn green and burst into bloom almost at once. It's worth waiting for!

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  32. I grew up in agricultural country in California but lived in Alaska for a while as an adult and I understand your "craving for green". I would go into the greenhouses and florists just to inhale the chlorophyll during the Alaskan Break-up (their version of Spring Mud season)!

    Now I am back in California and we are zooming through spring right into summer with high temps and the awful drought. West coasters are envying your east coast precipitation.

    Best wishes,
    Karla in CA.

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  33. We have an old brick fireplace in our old farmhouse that people keep telling us to cover up with tile. I love the old brick! & I love seeing how you worked with yours. It looks great. The wooden chandelier is absolutely gorgeous. Ive been struggling with choosing light fixtures and that is a great idea! Wonderful blog! - Kristi

    thelittleislandfarmhouse.blogspot.com

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  34. We had below freezing temps last night here also! But it is in the 60's with sunshine today. I get so excited when you have a post; your home is so beautiful and so "homey".
    Greetings from Mississippi

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  35. I, too, am craving green. I live in Minnesota and we have no signs of it yet. In fact, we just got 4 inches of the white stuff. I am doing my best to bring in color to the house. One can hope for warmer days and leaves on the trees. Winter, it is time to leave and let spring do its thing.

    Happy Spring-
    Amy

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  36. Lovely home you have and yes I crave green just as much(: what do we do but buy green for indoors... Lol

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  37. Joan,
    I like the way you've brought green indoors, even if it's not quite in full bloom outdoors. We've had an opposite winter from the east coast...overly warm and dry. Droughts are not good.
    I do love spring, once it arrives.
    Karen

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  38. No comprende....says the girl surrounded by jungle green ALL year....

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  39. Joan,
    Green does appear overnight...bare branches when the sun goes down and green buds when the sun rises...

    I just found your blog via Lilacs and Longhorns and am enjoying reading older posts. I live in the greater DFW area, attended graduate school at University of New Hampshire at Durham, and live in a post and beam house we built after being inspired by New England architecture.

    I am now following via GFC and look forward to reading more about your home in New Hampshire.

    Judith

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Welcome! Thank you for leaving a comment; you have no idea how much your comments inspire me to keep writing- I appreciate each and every one. Comments are moderated by me prior to publishing on the blog, so if you don't see your comment post immediately it will be posted as soon as I receive and read it. joan