Northwest Flower and Garden Show 2019: Gardens of the World

The 2019 Northwest Flower & Garden Festival in Seattle was a whirl of inspiration. This a driftwood sculpture of a dragon by Jeffro Uitto (@jeffro_art). It was a stunning addition to the award winning show garden "Mystic Garden" designed by Nature Perfect Landscaping.

I loved the use of forced perspective to highlight the stone shards in the distance, could they represent the city of Seattle? The moon gate entrance and circular vignette in the distance captivated all who stood in front of it.

This beautiful example of tranquility and harmony in a stylized Chinese garden won the coveted Founder's Cup (Best in Show) award. Congratulations! 

#nwfgs #seattleblogger #gardendesign #landscapedesign #showgarden #inspiration #driftwoodsculpture

Krispy Kreme Salutes Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! Join me in thanking Krispy Kreme doughnuts for being so darn whimsical and cute. They made heart-shaped doughnuts in honor of Valentine's Day and are selling them for the 2 weeks leading up to the big day. We went on Feb 13th when the store was just about to close. The staff must not have had the energy to pipe Sweet Thing or Kiss Me onto their conversation heart doughnuts before they closed for the night. We didn't mind! We ate one on site and had the second one with coffee in the morning. Remember when I got these darling plates?

#happyvalentinesday #12daysofvalentinesday #krispykreme #doughnuts #seattleblogger #valentinesday #conversationhearts #sweethearts 

Northwest Flower & Garden Festival: Come With Me

For those of you who are new to my blog, I'd like to answer the question: Who am I and why am I writing so extensively on the Northwest Floral and Garden Festival? 

I am a blogger who writes about things that bring delight - food, design, travel, garden, crafts, sugar, ribbon etc. I've publish over 2,500 posts these last 12 years, all with my original photography. I have also written 3 books on Moments of Delight, Finding Delight and Paris: Delight in the City of Light

In terms of gardening, I love it all. My mission is to dissolve the barrier between busy American women, who get their information and inspiration through their phones, and the “you-need-to-know-a-lot” world of horticulture.

Some facts about me:

• My rose garden in Michigan boasted 19 hybrid tea and English roses. I'm starting over in a new zone and so far so good! I have 11 magnificent roses that will be featured here this spring.
• I made a pilgrimage to England and met the Davids Austin in their rose garden. I wept and they thought it was charming.
• I've eaten more nasturtiums than kale.
• I love gardening and my Dad and I used to plant strawberry pots full of herbs -  we would tuck herbs like Pineapple Sage or Chocolate Mint into each opening. 
• I make business card cases out of beautiful seed packets.
• I regularly visit lavender farms, dahlia barns and the American Orchid Society.
• I eat grow, buy and decorate my baked goods with edible flowers and buy candied violet petals whenever I see them.
• I have an imaginary magazine called Delight that often features my floral portraits on the cover. I turn these magazine covers into modern day bags.
• I love every flower from hydrangeas to lily of the valley and back - flower arranging in unusual vases is my strength. 

I am a suburban gardener from Southeastern Michigan who suddenly moved to Seattle and started a new life with my husband in the Pacific Northwest.

I probably love a lot of things that you love and after years of hearing about the Northwest Flower and Garden Festival, I finally had the chance to attend when we were shopping for an apartment near Seattle in 2014. I was so impressed by the sheer scale of the gardens, the volume of vendors selling not only garden tools and implements, but also plants, indoor/outdoor artwork, garden design elements, water features as well as clothing, hats and clogs that make a day outdoors more pleasant. I have returned to the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival every year, covered it in my blog and I am thrilled to lend them my support. 

Fast forward 5 years and I am now a Regional Director of GardenComm, formerly GWA: Association of Garden Writers and I've been asked to judge a new award to be given at the show!

Next week, when the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival opens on February 20th, I'll be there. 


#NWFGS #NWFGF #springinfeb #gardener #gardenlover #gardening #gardenshow #seattle #seattleblogger #finddelight #youbeyou #finddelight #springiscoming #garden #delight #lovewhatyoudo

Hummingbird Hack: A Maker Makes

Welcome to Snopocalypse 2019. We have gotten 3 feet of snow in the foothills east of Seattle in the past week. 3 feet! 

We recently bought a hummingbird feeder and were able to hang it outside our kitchen window. While most hummingbird varieties fly south for the winter, the Anna's hummingbird stays around all year. 

I had read that a string of electric lights (not LED) could provide enough warmth to keep the hummingbird nectar from freezing. It works! What I didn't realize is that the hummingbirds would sit on the bulbs for warmth, like little heating pads. So sweet! 

The snow was coming down so hard I couldn't stand seeing the hummingbirds getting snowed upon. I thought, I am a maker and I can solve this! I took an empty large clear plastic egg carton from Costco, cut a slit down the center and slid it around so it would rest on the top of the feeder. I used some clear packing tape to close the slit and keep the plastic shield resting around the top of the feeder. As it snowed, the egg carton closed a bit under the weight of the snow, so I propped it open with a wire bottle cleaning brush. Success! 

Our little lady has shelter, warmth and food during this unusual weather in the Pacific Northwest.  

#hummingbirdhack #hummingbird #momentsofdelight #finddelight #birdwatching #birder #birdlover #mamabird #snopocalypse #snopocalypse2019 #seattleblogger #seattle #foothills #pnw #snowevent #costco #costcohack #birdfeederhack #birdfeeder

Cigar Box Purses: The Intersection of Beautiful and Interesting

I have a creative life and I am grateful for the flexibility. Did you know that I can't seem to stop turning cigar boxes into high end handbags? I line them with fabric and sew the lining, gussets, Velcro closure and add my ceramic logo tag to distinguish it as an ANA cigar box purse. Most of my sales are direct to customer, but my online business is sure to grow on Etsy. A new customer just raved about my work and I had to share. 

"OK. Let me say what an AMAZING creative high quality purse was designed for my wife's valentines day present. Coincidentally we were at a restaurant and this unusual cigar shaped purse grabbed my wife's attention. She talked with the owner who indicated it was uniquely designed in Carribeans and not likely to have any in United States. So I searched up and found Anna Reeve's distinctive design and character. I could not believe the great price; a fraction of what the lady shared with my wife. Anyway, it arrived quickly and just to add a personal touch, Anna wrapped it perfectly in a pink laden package so right out of the box I hit a home run !. thank you Anna"

#makersgonnamake #momentsofdelight #thiscreativelife #seattleblogger #purses #uniquehandbags #cigarboxpurse #cigarbox

Snopocalypse 2019: Let Them Eat Cake

We are in the middle of a snow event in Seattle. We live in the foothills of the Cascades, just east of Seattle and we have gotten 3 feet of snow in a week. It is unusual and beautiful and it won't last. Unlike the Midwest, this snow is temporary and it will be gone in a week when temperatures rise back toward the 40s.

In the meantime, we are snowed in! We all had plenty of warning before these back to back storms and the larder is full. In fact, one of our neighbors announced she was hosting a potluck and that we should walk over to her house to share a meal. Fun!

I thought that a homemade cake would be a welcome addition to the party. And I had plastic deer and Evergreen trees to decorate it. I made Dan's favorite chocolate cake by Hershey. I made a video of me shaking the powdered sugar on the cake, posted it on Instagram (@FindDelight) and labelled it "Snow Comes to Snoqualmie."

#snopacolypse2019 #snopocalypse #seattleblogger #cake #hershey #chocolatecake #neighborhoodparty #snowevent #seattle #finddelight #bakersgonnabake

DIY: Spring Bulbs in Teacups

I love everything about this photograph and the items in it. I have collected pieces of Spode: The Blue Room for years. When I found blue "Big Smile" Muscari bulbs in a pot at the grocery store ($3 pot had enough to plant 3 teacups), my mind sprung into action and I was giddy. I could replant these bulbs in teacups!

In my kitchen sink, I gently broke apart the potted bulbs, roots and dirt and divided them between 3 teacups. I placed dried moss over the dirt and gave each a little water. Aren't they darling? 

This is the kind of easy DIY that makes sense to me. I love these teacups. I love the color blue.  I love gardening & having flowers in the house. And at this price, I can recommend this easy project to everyone. 

I know that most of the country doesn't have potted bulbs for sale at the grocery store or home improvement stores...yet. This post is to get you working on your Master Plan for spring fun.

#DIY #gardenindoors #springbulbs #teacupbouquet #teacup #collectingteacups #bloomingbulbs #springishere #miniarrangement #momentsofdelight #makersgonnamake #easyproject #seattleblogger

Sidebar Content

 

Vintage Valentines: 12 Days of Valentine's Day

I have a wonderful memory of when my dear friend Dana sent me a vintage Valentine. It came in the mail and was so unexpected and so wonderful that I've never forgotten it. 

We didn't exchange Valentines or letters, really, but she came across an old fashioned Valentine and knew it would make my day.

Have you mailed something to a friend lately? A note can go a long way to lift someone's spirits and tell them that you think of them fondly. 

#12daysofvalentinesday #valentinesday #friendship #gettingmail #sentimental #oldfriends #shareyourheart

Vanilla Pudding & Grandmother's Bowl: A Sentimental Weekday

On this second day of the 12 Days of Valentine's Day, I propose you make one of your grandmother's recipes and serve it in a vintage vessel. Vanilla pudding? Orange pie? Shrimp dip? What was something she was known for? I can think of nothing more wonderful than honoring her with a whirl in the kitchen.

Does this Pyrex display bring back memories? I spent a few hours at "America's Largest Antique & Collectible Show" at the Washington State Fairgrounds in Puyallup, WA last weekend. This beautiful collection of vintage Pyrex caught my eye. Are you a collector? I consider Pyrex a salute to the American kitchen and I love it all. I have a small collection and I regularly fight the urge to make it a bigger. (wink)

When I shared this photo on Instagram, several people chimed in that they treasure their grandmother's Pyrex bowl. Or pointed out in this picture, which one she had. I am sentimental and nothing makes me happier.

Today I am sharing my maternal grandmother's recipe for vanilla pudding and serving it in my solid aqua Pyrex bowl with lid (just like the one in this picture!). I make this pudding all the time (usually doubling the recipe) and it is a family favorite.

Vanilla Pudding 

2 egg yolks
1/4 c. sugar
2 T. cornstarch
2 c. milk
1 T butter (though it was written "a walnut size piece of butter)
1 t. vanilla

Put egg yolks, sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan. Stir together with a fork until well mixed. Pour in milk and stir. Turn on burner and cook, continuing to stir. When the mixture has thickened quite a bit, remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla. Fill 4 small ramekins with pudding and refrigerate. 

#grandmothersknowbest #grandmasrecipe #recipe #vanillapudding #vintagepyrex #collectingpyrex #momentsofdelight #antiquelover

12 Days of Valentine's Day starts today!

I think you should have fun for 12 days straight. I know, we don't always look at things that way, but that is the beauty of celebrating the "12 Days of Valentine's Day". You decide what fun little thing you want to do each day in honor of Valentine's Day and the people that you love in your life.

Celebrating the 12 Days of Valentine's Day helps make lovely gestures a habit. It's a time when you do little things to show love for family, friends and yourself. Wear a pink sweater one day, put red food coloring in your cake batter, set the table with red place mats - everything counts when you are celebrating the fact that you love a lot of people.

There is no set schedule. There isn't a "number" relationship between the days (meaning you don't have to sneak 10 Hershey kisses into a loved one's pocket just because it is Day 10).  Nope, you just do what feels right and fits into your schedule on any particular day leading up to Valentine's Day.  

When someone compliments your pink scarf, just smile and say that its in honor of the 12 Days of Valentine's Day.  If your neighbor questions your sudden gift of 6 muffins, tell her it's The 12 Days of Valentine's Day.  Have fun with it. And let me know how your coworkers and friends respond.

My suggestion for today is order a rose bush for your garden. You will never regret the day-after-day beauty you will enjoy this summer.

#12daysofvalentinesday #valentinesday #celebratelove #beautyofeverydaylife #momentsofdelight #finddelight #valentine #bemyvalentine #bemine