On the day after Christmas last year my sister and I went bargain shopping. Neither one of us had ever gone shopping the day after Christmas so we thought it would be fun. We did not have any items to return, nor did we have a shopping list of things that we needed to get. I was hoping I would find the discount Christmas decoration bins that I had heard so much about from other shoppers. My daughter and son are both just starting out on their own so I thought I could find some decorations to get them stated for next year. We agreed to meet late in the morning and we planned to shop for a few hours and then meet our husbands for drinks and lunch at my sister’s house. We were going to bring home a pizza and watch professional football for the afternoon.
I could not believe the number of people at the mall. It took me a long time to find a parking place and I was certain that my sister would be waiting for me. I arrived at our arranged meeting place, but my sister was not there. As I was waiting for her I saw a woman walk past with a huge bag of decorations. I heard her mention that the discount Christmas decoration selection was really good this year. My sister arrived. She had a hard time finding a parking space and had to walk through most of the mall to meet me. She was excited and wanted to go back the way she came because she had seen large discount Christmas decoration bins in front of one of the higher quality department stores. She said the sign on the bins stated that the items were eighty percent off.
We made our way back to the department store. We could see the discount Christmas decoration bins and the signs, but there were so many people that we could not actually see what was in the bins. Eventually we were able to make our way to the bins. The discount Christmas decoration bins and tables still had many items on them. Most of the items were dated collectables. Neither my sister nor I collect this line of decorations, but I thought I would buy two, one for my daughter and one for my son. Maybe they would choose to start collecting the ornaments.
We spent the next hour looking at sale items and decided that we had enough shopping. We went to the grocery store and picked up snacks and a deli pizza and went to watch the football game. We decided that the discount Christmas decoration that I bought was not worth the hassle of fighting the large crowds. I doubt that we will go shopping the day after Christmas this year.
Showing posts with label Home and Garden Decor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Home and Garden Decor. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Decorating For Christmas
Our daughter recently started a job with a finance company. After five years in college she had finally decided on a major and completed her degree. She and a friend moved into a two bedroom apartment. They are both just starting out, but they want to be independent in purchasing things for their apartment. My daughter feels that we supported her enough getting her through the five years of college.
The girls have gone to second hand stores and discount stores to decorate their apartment. It looks nice and they will buy new pieces once they are able to afford them. My daughter asked us over for dinner early in December. She said they had been decorating for Christmas and they wanted us to see the apartment. My daughter has always loved Christmas as much as I do. She and I would spend hours decorating for Christmas when she was still living at home. My husband commented on our way over to her apartment that he hoped she did not spend a lot of money on decorating for Christmas because her car needed replacing very soon.
I asked him not to nag her about spending money. She is pleased with her salary and she is quite responsible. I reminded him that when we were her age we did not always buy the most practical things. He promised not to bring up the issue of her car.
When we arrived at their apartment you could see some of their decorations from the parking lot. They live on the second floor of a three story building. They have a deck that faces the parking lot. On the deck they had wrapped Christmas lights around the rail along with evergreen garland. They had red bows attached to the garland. Our family had always included the outside of our home in decorating for Christmas, so I was pleased to see that she was carrying on that tradition.
Inside the apartment the girls had bought a nice Christmas tree and had decorated it with lights and colored bulbs and tinsel. My daughter had also placed her assortment of ornaments on the tree that I had given her through the years. They also gift wrapped their apartment door. They had candles on the table and a nice center piece on the coffee table. My daughter’s first attempt at decorating for Christmas was a great success. They bought inexpensive things, but they grouped them together well and the over all look was very festive. I know she will add to her collection of decorations as the years go by.
The girls have gone to second hand stores and discount stores to decorate their apartment. It looks nice and they will buy new pieces once they are able to afford them. My daughter asked us over for dinner early in December. She said they had been decorating for Christmas and they wanted us to see the apartment. My daughter has always loved Christmas as much as I do. She and I would spend hours decorating for Christmas when she was still living at home. My husband commented on our way over to her apartment that he hoped she did not spend a lot of money on decorating for Christmas because her car needed replacing very soon.
I asked him not to nag her about spending money. She is pleased with her salary and she is quite responsible. I reminded him that when we were her age we did not always buy the most practical things. He promised not to bring up the issue of her car.
When we arrived at their apartment you could see some of their decorations from the parking lot. They live on the second floor of a three story building. They have a deck that faces the parking lot. On the deck they had wrapped Christmas lights around the rail along with evergreen garland. They had red bows attached to the garland. Our family had always included the outside of our home in decorating for Christmas, so I was pleased to see that she was carrying on that tradition.
Inside the apartment the girls had bought a nice Christmas tree and had decorated it with lights and colored bulbs and tinsel. My daughter had also placed her assortment of ornaments on the tree that I had given her through the years. They also gift wrapped their apartment door. They had candles on the table and a nice center piece on the coffee table. My daughter’s first attempt at decorating for Christmas was a great success. They bought inexpensive things, but they grouped them together well and the over all look was very festive. I know she will add to her collection of decorations as the years go by.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Garden Decor
Garden decor refers to the decoration of a garden area using different accessories, bird feeders, ornaments, yard benches and chairs, artificial fountains and vases as well as plants that can help make gardens look beautiful and attractive. The more unusual and unique these knick knacks, the more appealing the garden turns out to be. Tasteful knick knacks arranged thoughtfully in a garden accentuate the beauty of the plants and flowers. As a result, there are many garden accessories that can bring out different decorating styles and provide a reflection of the owner’s personality. Just about any accessory can be added to give a garden a unique identity. Antique compotes, garden thermometers, table top urns, French wire decor, sun catchers, indoor plant holders, decorative weathervanes, unusual pottery, ethnic objects, and outdoor antiques--the choices available are endless. Whether using a professional gardener’s know-how or a beginner’s enthusiasm, accessories for the garden can result in an immensely pleasing garden.
While small plots can be do-it-yourself projects, larger gardens may call for more professional attention. Experienced gardeners can be hired professionals to administer to a larger plot that could use a little bit of landscaping. Landscaping adds levels to a garden making it more interesting. Depending on the available space, choosing and planting certain plants is important so that the garden always has some blooms. Large gardens need more physical labor in the form of soil additives for maintenance, lawn mowing, pruning of plants, spraying of pesticides, etc. Making use of professional services in such instances can ensure a healthy and neat garden all year.
While small plots can be do-it-yourself projects, larger gardens may call for more professional attention. Experienced gardeners can be hired professionals to administer to a larger plot that could use a little bit of landscaping. Landscaping adds levels to a garden making it more interesting. Depending on the available space, choosing and planting certain plants is important so that the garden always has some blooms. Large gardens need more physical labor in the form of soil additives for maintenance, lawn mowing, pruning of plants, spraying of pesticides, etc. Making use of professional services in such instances can ensure a healthy and neat garden all year.
French Garden
French Garden
When one speaks of the French style in garden design, one is normally talking about the formal gardens that were so popular in European society in previous centuries. Formally arranged gardens began in 16th century Italy but it was French gardeners who developed the style and popularized it across the continent. Some of the best examples of symmetrical and geometrically laid out trees, hedges, lawns and shrubs can be found at grand houses with a French garden.
The garden designer, Claude Mollet promoted the concept of parterre, a formal garden with flowerbeds. This type of French garden remained common throughout the 18th century. An influential book on garden design was published in 1709. Written by Dezallier d'Argenville, it translated as The Theory of the Practical Garden. English and German editions came out and it became the blueprint of the French garden style of formal garden for some time to come.
Most people agree that the crowning glory of the formally arranged garden is to be found at the Palace of Versailles in France. It is a series of gardens, planned by Andre Le Notre and is one of the most ambitious landscaped gardens ever commissioned. It incorporates greenery, sculpture, several water fountains, gravel, stone and parterres. The jewel in this crown is the central Grand Canal.
The grand opulence of such gardens is of course, prohibitively expensive for most establishments and they went out of fashion anyway as other ideas gained favor. However, there was a resurgence of interest at the start of the 20th century. The landscape architect Beatrice Farrand designed formal terrace gardens for the grounds at Dunbarton Oaks, an historically important 19th century mansion in Washington DC. The work was done between 1922-1947 and the ten acres of garden, which are open to the public, has been universally praised.
Another example is the Conservatory Garden within Central Park in New York City. The six acres of landscaping is the only formal garden in the park. It attracts a lot of visitors and wedding ceremonies have been performed there. This part of the park opened to the public in 1937 and it was designed in three different sections, each one in a distinct style. The divide is between French, Italian and English style layout. The French garden part has a focal point at the center of a sculpture and fountain called Three Dancing Maidens. A parterre bed surrounds the fountain where tulips bloom in the spring and chrysanthemums come out in the fall.
When one speaks of the French style in garden design, one is normally talking about the formal gardens that were so popular in European society in previous centuries. Formally arranged gardens began in 16th century Italy but it was French gardeners who developed the style and popularized it across the continent. Some of the best examples of symmetrical and geometrically laid out trees, hedges, lawns and shrubs can be found at grand houses with a French garden.
The garden designer, Claude Mollet promoted the concept of parterre, a formal garden with flowerbeds. This type of French garden remained common throughout the 18th century. An influential book on garden design was published in 1709. Written by Dezallier d'Argenville, it translated as The Theory of the Practical Garden. English and German editions came out and it became the blueprint of the French garden style of formal garden for some time to come.
Most people agree that the crowning glory of the formally arranged garden is to be found at the Palace of Versailles in France. It is a series of gardens, planned by Andre Le Notre and is one of the most ambitious landscaped gardens ever commissioned. It incorporates greenery, sculpture, several water fountains, gravel, stone and parterres. The jewel in this crown is the central Grand Canal.
The grand opulence of such gardens is of course, prohibitively expensive for most establishments and they went out of fashion anyway as other ideas gained favor. However, there was a resurgence of interest at the start of the 20th century. The landscape architect Beatrice Farrand designed formal terrace gardens for the grounds at Dunbarton Oaks, an historically important 19th century mansion in Washington DC. The work was done between 1922-1947 and the ten acres of garden, which are open to the public, has been universally praised.
Another example is the Conservatory Garden within Central Park in New York City. The six acres of landscaping is the only formal garden in the park. It attracts a lot of visitors and wedding ceremonies have been performed there. This part of the park opened to the public in 1937 and it was designed in three different sections, each one in a distinct style. The divide is between French, Italian and English style layout. The French garden part has a focal point at the center of a sculpture and fountain called Three Dancing Maidens. A parterre bed surrounds the fountain where tulips bloom in the spring and chrysanthemums come out in the fall.
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