A POX ON WATER DAMAGE!

I always try to take in the big Spring Celebration at Rogers Gardens -
(a lovely garden nursery/gift shop in Corona Del Mar, CA)

Fuzzy chicks make me happy...

as do bunnies

Cute bunnies aside, I come to see the flower arrangements their floral department create to FILL the gift shop.

We took a little Coastal train ride with friends to Carlsbad

Great views all the way on the Surfliner.

Shopping Carlsbad - fun in spite of a little rain...

My son braved the weather of Winter in Yosemite to capture the fire falls.
Only ONE time each year - in February, and providing the weather permits,
is this particular waterfall lit by the setting sun which turns it to 'fire'.
At just the right moment, it pours molten sunset down the face of El Capitan.
He had been defeated by the weather two previous years.  It was well worth the wait.

 View his photography here and here

And then we lost our baby.
OUR BAILEY - RIP SWEET GIRL

she left a big giant hole in our hearts

And the ugly kept coming in the form of

THE VERY BAD, VERY UGLY

SLAB LEAK

I actually felt we caught it in time, but the insurance company still ripped up over 1/2 our floor

and a lot of walls, took down the built-in cabinets and removed moldings and packed our belongings and furniture into a pod on the driveway.

Once again, we were without a kitchen.

SPRING FLOWERS - Chasing the blues away

It was time for a break.

I could tell by the way I had to drag myself out of bed on a Saturday

and how I was not looking forward to the dust and the disarray that has become my home...

Yup.  I had the remodeling blues.

I had planned a little outing with the girls..

and all our plans fell through, one by one.

So Mr. B came through for me and whisked me away to Rogers Gardens

and their annual spring floral displays...

I just had to share some Spring beauty with you.

Rogers Gardens in Corona Del Mar, CA is a hardworking, plant filled nursery

that just happens to have this amazing gift shop

and it was filled with fresh floral arrangements for their Spring event... 

it was exactly what I needed to abolish the blues

you just can't feel glum when surrounded by fresh flowers...

I think containers can really make an arrangement..

and RG has the best..

 In the indoor plant area, where their floral department is housed,

 

there were some pretty amazing hanging containers

filled with moss and orchids

 The flowers were so wonderful,

I almost forgot to look at the rest of the stuff...

 The displays are always beautiful...

I especially loved this glowing orb in the urn...

great idea for a wedding..

Happy Spring!

For some of you, it is long awaited!

 QUESTION FROM A READER:

Hi, I have painted my basement with Muslin OC-12 BM as the main color with accent walls in two rooms of Boothbay Gray HC-165, you can see both colors from the main entrance. 

Boothbay Gray (Benjamin Moore)

Muslin (Benjamin Moore)

I now have to bring the color up the stairs (narrow stairway) which opens in to the entrance way and the main floor.  White Dove OC-17 is the ceiling color.  What color would you suggest I paint the stairway  and entrance way in?
Also can you suggest complementary colors that go with these colors as accents in the rooms?
Another question I have two bedrooms that I have painted with Muslin and an accent wall of Carolina Gull 2138-40 in both rooms, what colors can I use for accents for pillows, wall hangings to add some nice warm colors?

Thanks for any help you can give me.
Michele

Michelle, I would refrain from changing your paint color for each new area as it tends to chop up your space and make it feel disjointed and disconnected.  I would simply take the Muslin up the stairs and into the entryway, keeping the ceiling the same color.

As for accents with Carolina Gull, Boothbay Gray and Muslin - Both are quite neutral but Carolina Gull and Boothbay are the stronger of the three colors.  As they are neutrals, there are many colors that will go well as accents.  Metals - you name it, it will go.  Gold, Silver, Black or Bronze - all work well.

Colors:  Light soft grey, mustard, orange, gold, reds, turquoise, aqua, cream, beige, tan, white and all the wonderful wood tones.  That's the beauty of neutrals - they go with just about anything!  You just have to pick your favorite!

Good luck!