Teena Flanner

mermaids, gardens and grandbabies!Mary Englebreit!

    
 
 
 
 
 
 
just photos of the last 2 days!    
 
 
 

Babies, lilacs, life!

My life has been rich and bountiful, joyful and like any life well or otherwise lived, has had sadness. My mom died in March and we all memorialized Elnora Marjorie in Colorado.  My son-in-law, Joe , drove his very pregnant wife Katie, 2 year old Jack, sister-in-law Susannah and me ( his mother-in-law, yikes!) across many, many hours of black ice in Iowa. I thought it was a wonderful tribute to a grandma who has not recognized any of us for years , for all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren to assemble as family. My son Chris chose to drive  instead of  fly, from Nevada , so we could all meet his "newish" 12 year old german shepard Miranda. Color group photo is "us" in Colorado at one of our favorite, corny,  fun places.

On April 9 our newest and still sleepiest ,little person arrived, Abbey Jane. A doll of course!

My shops have been patient because at this stage of my life and career, I shut down my studio for long periods to enjoy and experience life. After my long ago divorce in 1991, I did nothing but work and take care of my children , as their sole support. Now I work when I wish, plant and garden, travel a little bit, get up in the morning and walk my dogs or today, pick huge fresh bunches of lilacs, tulips, iris, some transplanted from my home in Virginia. What I am trying to say is that during the long, cold days of winter I may work all night, when my grandbabies are busy I put in long hours . I love my papier mache and will probably never stop creating new and old pieces.

My largest order for this month came from a lovely shop in Stone Harbor, New Jersey, Christina's of Stone Harbor. It was great fun, all mermaids and patriotic children and fun, summery stuff. Christine's in Mountain Brook Alabama ordered some lovely wedding pieces, the flower basket from my book and the beach children.

so now some photos to accompany the words above!!!!

This season is so beautiful that I can hardly stand it....

Mermaids and hydrangeas

Mermaids and hydrangeas. Okay, I no longer live near the coast unless you count 17 miles from Lake Michigan but I  love all things coastal.

Not the sexy sirens but the magical mermaids are in my mind this month. I kept my Norfolk house so perhaps I can still be coastal!

  she is a bit seductive I   will admit!

Many of my shells come from estate sales so perhaps the damage is already done. does anyone know how to tell which seashells are being harvested and in a sad way?

Teena

Rain, mermaids and hydrangeas

I just returned from a birthday party, the 70th, for a dear friend and former neighbor. Rain drenched, I rushed into the party and exclaimed "what a cozy day for a party!" everyone stared. It really was a cozy party day. The hostess had planned and hoped for another gorgeous sunny picnic but it just wasn't in the cards. People mingle differently indoors and it was absolutely charming.

As I reminded the birthday girl's daughter (and the hostess) she had made a deal with the devil when her outdoor wedding day dawned totally perfect. It was out in the country with horseback rides, field flowers and the day was incredibly luscious!Yes, she mumbled, she had promised to never again complain about the weather. We feasted on tomato caprese, salmon, brats(this is Milwaukee!) lovely home made cakes, shrimp and seasonal fruits of all sorts.

Now about the mermaids. While I am dutifully and joyfully creating pilgrims, turkeys, pumpkin heads and other fall delights, I am having fun designing the beginnings of a mermaid collection, more later! Kind of an east coast thing, along with hydrangeas and weathered cottages.

random dog picture, Will on the left, Norman with ears up!

My late July garden

I think that I can name the things I am really good at doing on one hand. Gardening is one. It definitely shows that I need to be passionate to succeed. When my grandmother in Texas was 109, she still gardened. I am certain that she did it on a tight budget. I can picture her as clear as day. Always wearing a cotton print dress, her long hair up in a loosely formed bun. I grew a rose in cold WI for years that i had taken from her Sequin, TX garden. Virginia garden is pictured too, the brick courtyard.

My gardens are a great joy to me. I buy my plants on sale and randomly work on it. I am not strong enough to haul enough mulch actually I am strong enough but being single I get so tired of carrying heavy things! My dogs roll in natural fertilizer, still they are gorgeous. If I had extra money I would hire clean up help in spring and fall but would always find joy in the actual maintenance and placement, myself.My gardens are a bit shaggy and I leave the tall stems , for the birds, finches in July and whoever stops by in winter.

In early July, it was all overgrown perennial bachelor buttons, a somewhat messy wave of true blue. I let them take over and then just pull them out. They will return soon enough. Now it is several varieties of phlox, daisies, hydrangeas and rubedekia and other fun stuff.

Photos are from a few minutes ago. I rarely take the time to coil the hose and the walk is usually unswept, but well, whatever!

May

  In Elm Grove Wisconsin, Memorial Day is classic. We have a wonderful parade down the main street, Watertown Plank Rd.The road is named this because it was a road of wooden planks to Watertown in the 1800's. Rose, from Little House on the Prairie  was born near here. I live a few blocks from the route so we gather in the morning. We have often worn our ski jackets as May in Wisconsin can be chilly. I have marched as a girl scout leader, a cub scout leader and my children have both walked and biked the route. We have distinguished soldiers of all ages in our parade. I have been amazed that there are so many people to watch the parade as everyone seems to be a participant. Afterwards there is free ice cream and hot dogs.

Norfolk and Mermaids

I went to Norfolk to visit my cotswold cottage.I had lived in both Virginia and Wisconsin for many years but now lease this home to a wonderful man who loves and maintains my gardens.        sorry girls, this is how mermaids in Wisconsin spend the winter!

             

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