Snow and lilacs...

...those two things don't go well together.

I guess I could say we were lucky as compared to others of you out there.

Lot's of precipitation, but no accumulation.

Where we are in SW Missouri, it snowed and sleeted all day yesterday but didn't stick much. At one point yesterday evening the flakes were HUGE. It was really beautiful... just not for May. So I decided since I wasn't getting out, that I'd redo the faux florals in my urn here in the entry. I'd had daffodils and forsythia in this for early Spring and Easter.

Easter

I have a teensy pet peeve...

I like to keep my faux flowers seasonal.

I can't have geraniums at Christmas

or tulips in the Fall.

They have to stay seasonal and current.

I'm sure these will be changed out again by the end of the month...

maybe daisies by then.

(I'm hoping I'll have daisies by the end of the month...)

Here's a snow pic from the deck and my kitchen window.

Can you see the lilac bush on the other side of the fence?

(bad photo, I know. I don't have a zoom lens for distance.)

yes...it's not mine, 

and it's in my neighbor's yard.

a bachelor...

and it drives me crazy. 

But my arms aren't long enough to grab a branch

and harvest a bouquet.

I have to admit I've had fleeting thoughts of sneaking over the fence by cover of darkness. We watched Zero Dark Thirty last night and I think that those high tech night vision goggles and other gear might work for this kind of mission. (just kidding...I wouldn't do that...just a little temptation of the blooming kind). What can I say...I was spoiled when I was young. We had two massive bushes of lilacs and we had fresh bouquets all over the house, this time of year.

So I just have to look at it and imagine a wonderful fragrant lilac bouquet

filling an ironstone pitcher or a large crystal vase.

I've thought of planting my own bush, 

but I haven't found a good spot for one.

excuses...excuses.

so I'll try to enjoy some silk ones and maybe find a room spray 

or candle that will make me think they're real.

and while we're here,

you can see that some of my birdies are back here in the Entry.

This is what you do if it's too cold for the sunporch...

...and you're really lazy.

good thing there are two sofas...

one for each lazy kit kat.

joining in with these parties this week:

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life
Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Wow us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Hope you're having a great weekend,

I'll try to behave...

xoxo,

Be Inspired #138: May Days

Hi Everyone...

and Welcome to Be Inspired!

what a week it's been!

You all really outdid yourself last week with so many great links. I could have featured dozens more of you. Hope you'll join in on the party. Any inspirational posts are welcome. Here are a few that I really enjoyed...

Pam from House of Hawthornes 

shared some images of vintage book pages that you'll love!

yep, we all love a good cow...and I'm crazy for old children's books.

Cherry Blossoms and a Spring Mantel

from Vanessa at the Picket Fence

(if you haven't read this please go by)

Love the typewriter art made from paint can lids,

that Sue from Sullivan and Murphy shared

 in her post about the High Point Showrooms.

Bird House Condo from a recycled Chandelier

from Lynn at The Vintage Nest

Joy from Savvy City Farmer

traded out a chandy for this incredible silver meat dome

in her kitchen. Joy is a super talented gal with some wonderful events.
If you don't know her, please go visit for some fabulous inspiration.

and Bethany from This Little Estate

shared a yummy recipe for Best Barbecue Chicken

in a slow cooker...I'm hungry now...

Today's Be Inspired Sponsor is Michele from Glass Bead Treasures. She has some wonderful pieces of remastered jewelry and vintage goodies. Great for Mother's Day gifts. Hope you'll run by her Etsy Shop for a peek.

Thanks Michele!

Time to party!

Please have a back link to Common Ground 

within your post to be featured.

and please check out my other Friday Party Gal Pals.

Thank you for checking in to see how my hubby is doing after his surgery.

It's been a looooooonng week, but he's doing better.

I know that I haven't been able to visit with each of you;

please know that I appreciate each one of you for coming by

and sharing your day over here.

Love you guys, you're the best!

Be Inspired Wednesday Showcase

I'm going to try to refrain from screaming, but for some crazy reason they are predicting cold weather again for the remaining of the week, with a chance of snow on Friday. Can you believe it? I guess there will be some of you out there trying to hold back with me. what's up with this? Glad I haven't invested in tons of flowers yet...evidently being behind this year may work in my favor!

OK, enough of the mini-rant...

and on to some fun links from last week.

Kristen from Sophia's shared her group trip to North Carolina with the

Highlights from High Point

Love this Chippendale Chair Cushion Redo

from Cristina from Remodelando la Casa

Inspire Me Heather

took us through the color wheel for the science 

of how to pick a colour scheme.

and Poppy from Poppy's View

 shared her love affair with RED

Thanks for coming by to party each week!

Be sure and come back to link up all your inspiring posts

tomorrow morning at

xoxo,

Perfect Patina...

On our trips to St. Louis we always try to make it to at least one antique store, flea, or mall before coming home. The trip before this last one we visited two of our fave places, Big Bend Antiques and Treasure Aisle, both in Maplewood.

This tole basket had some heavily rusted areas,

 but it's perfect chippy patina made it impossible to leave behind.

It was really dirty, and even after a soft toothbrush cleaning,

it still had some grungy spots.

And this next piece was love at first sight.

I'm not sure exactly what it came from,

but I think it may have been from some sort of small stove.

any ideas?

It originally had a knob at the bottom too.

It's iron, and super heavy.

Maybe a small wood burning or coal, parlor stove...?

It's on the hearth for these pics.

I'm not sure what I'll do with it,

but it's here for now.

I'm buying much less these days. Being on overload for the last 7 or 8 years selling, I've become much pickier about what I bring home. It really has to be different and definitely call my name. These two patinaed sweethearts really knew how to get my attention. And I've learned if there's something that won't leave me alone, I better get it, otherwise I end up regretting it.
The weather has been amazing the last few days; short sleeve and flip flop weather. Hopefully I can get some plants potted for the deck soon, gosh, I'm so behind on everything. Oh, but I DID see my first hummingbird yesterday morning. YAY!! Hope you're having a great week! See ya Thursday morning for...

I'm sharing this week at these parties:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Blissful Whites at Timewashed

TTT at Stone Gable
Treasure Hunt from My Front Porch to Yours
A Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
French Country Cottage
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Jennifer Rizzo

xoxo,

The Marketplace; Etsy and Online Boutique Showcase

Hi Everyone, it's Tuesday, and time for

 The Marketplace!

Seriously, I love putting this post together and picking some of the great links to highlight. This bright and eclectic refurbished jewelry box just grabbed my attention. What a fun vignette!

Vintage Painted Jewelry Box

from ScroungeLounge

Take a peek at this beautiful and handmade one-of-a-kind
Vintage Inspired Wedding Headpiece

from FancieStrands.

Corral all your perfume bottles, make up, and dresser pretties
in this Vintage Mirrored Vanity Tray

from CottonridgeVintage.

Adorable and Spring-y
Floral Cottage Tablerunner

by DebbieCalif

LOVE old canisters for the kitchen with this
Green Coffee Canister

by Vintage541.

Today's Sponsor Spotlight is on EpicLinen. A family owned business from Provence, 

that brings us wonderful Linen treasures for our home.

Here are a just a few of the items that I love...

Luxury Azure Striped Linen Tea Towel

Luxury Raspberry Striped Linen Tea Towel

White Striped Linen Curtains

Linen  Ladies Scarves

Hope you'll run by the online shop and check out all the wonderful linen products. From curtains to kitchen linens to bed linens; something for everyone. Also, check out their Etsy Shop for more great items. Thanks so much, Ieva!

Do you have an Etsy Shop or Online Boutique? If so, come join in by linking up to three of your individual items here. You don't have to have a blog to join in. If you do, I'd love you to be a follower of Common Ground and grab this button for somewhere on your blog. Just to let others know about the party.

Thanks so much for coming by.

Remember, this link is open all week for your shopping fun!

In sheep's clothing...

If you know me, then you know my love for lambs and sheep. Combine that with my love for clothing and you can guess where this photo might have been taken. I just had to share this amazing life size sheep "stuffed toy animal" from my recent visit to Brooks Brothers at the Galleria in St. Louis. We were in St. Louis all last week for my husband's ear surgery (details in a moment), but after we had him home and settled in, our daughter and I did what we enjoy most...shopping.

The Golden Fleece has been the logo for Brooks Brothers since the 1850's when they first opened their doors in Manhattan.

When I asked for permission to take a photo, the saleslady said this was from a famous German toy maker. I cannot even imagine how much he might cost...and didn't ask. I just fell in love!

These photos were taken with my I phone, so they're not as clear as I'd like, but you can see how lifelike this fella really is. 

Brooks Brothers is the licensed franchisee for the men's clothing for the movie, The Great Gatsby. I can't wait to see this, it opens next month. I hear it's on a much grander scale than the 70's Robert Redford / Mia Farrow film. If you get a chance, pick up this month's Vogue Magazine for a fabulous spread on the jewelry inspired for the movie from Tiffany's...just breathtaking!

So now for an update on the week. Hubbs inner ear surgery went well, but not without a few glitches. If I had known in advance, I would have been more anxious, but I knew God was in control of this surgery, so I wasn't worried. (The proximity to the brain and brain stem for this surgery cause it to be exacting and somewhat complicated.) Having the prayers of all of you and my family, gave me so much comfort. We're home now and he's taking it easy, but his ear looks a little "worse for wear". We go back for a check up in a month. Hopefully at that point we will have begun to see improvement in his Meniere's symptoms. This has been a long road, but we feel we're in the home stretch. Thank you again so much, for remembering us in your prayers.

I'm sharing this at:

Cedar Hill Ranch for The Scoop
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
French Country Cottage
The Charm of Home

love ya,