Cultivating Wonder~Sharon Lovejoy

A few weeks ago, I won not one, but three books written by Sharon Lovejoy! She had this marvelous giveaway at her blog. Blessed me!

Now Sharon has been cultivating plants and flowers since childhood so it did not surprise me that she also cultivates wonder.

the sweetest bookmark

The books arrived yesterday...

Sunflower Houses, Hollyhock Days, Toad Cottages & Shooting Stars

Sharon had asked, "Shall I inscribe them?"

I assured her that that would be wonderful and so she has...a unique message in each one!

Thank you, Sharon!♥

And so I enjoyed the most blissful of afternoons on the sofa surrounded by everything from the dog to the laundry reading Hollyhock Days from cover to cover. Such a delightful book!

As it happens, I have been gifted with Toad Cottages & Shooting Stars twice. I am keeping them both. One I shall allow the grands to read with their mom and dad. But wouldn't it be lovely to have a giveaway right here of Sharon's latest, Toad Cottages & Shooting Stars? Yes! I thought so, too. If you have children or grandchildren, a grandbaby or four on the way, you will so enjoy this wonderful book of ideas and activities. No hoops to jump through, no following, no need to share (unless you'd like), just leave a comment. One will suffice. This giveaway will be over by Saturday at 7 pm. Yes, I do work fast. 

A wonderful Thursday to you!

Thank you for participating. Comments are now closed. Winner to be announced later this evening.


The winner: Diane at Lavender Dreams! 

Dandelion Dreams Become a Dandelion Wishes Jar

Yesterday was a tease! I'm so bad and how well I know it. I got caught up in the busyness of afternoon company and never got back to my project even after permission had come in. My apologies, truly.

This Dandelion Wishes Jar is a fun and simple project found in Sharon Lovejoy's book Toad Cottages & Shooting Stars on page 6. I've been thinking about it as I've watched the dandelions sprouting up all over the lawn. This may be the one year that I don't wage war against them.

Sharon describes the jar this way:

When your visiting grandchild feels homesick or unhappy, open the lid and offer him one big wish, then let him blow.

Doesn't that sound like just the thing? I'm going to collect a lot and I may blow them all over the neighborhood. And why exactly is it that we get our knickers into such a knot over dandelions anyway?

I decided to attempt a simple little tag that turned into a four-hour project. Don't ask and I'll not tell. It involved learning some new tricks on Photoshop and playing with the camera so that's not time wasted, right?



Next time the grands arrive, I'll have a handy little diversion ready for them when they grow weary or bored. This nonni is going to need a whole truckload of tricks for those precious boys!

Please visit Sharon Lovejoy and thank her for allowing me to spotlight this nifty idea on my blog. (Yes, I requested and received permission to feature this idea on my blog.) Thanks so much, Sharon! You won't want to miss Sharon's California garden and her Maine cottage while you're there. Lovely!

Enjoy this wonderful day...