It's the first Monday in May, and I'll just come right out with it, this is one of my very favorite months! The garden is in bloom, the air is sweet with flowers and fresh mown grass, the birds sing, the sun shines. It is a joy to wake up to singing birds and glimpses of the beautiful sunny day ahead. Let's make a pact, you and I, to “live a beautiful life” by mindfully creating simple moments to elevate the everyday. The Art of Living A Beautiful Life.
Welcome to Monday Morning Blooms!
Mary, Pam and I are so happy to welcome Shannon of Belle Bleu Interiors to celebrate May with us! You will find Shannon's, Mary's and Pam's links at the bottom of this post.
Life is so precious - and in reality it's very short. Let's try to bring as much joy and beauty to our world as we can! At the end of this post, I'll share a few things I'm doing to live a beautiful life here at home. Easy things, that just take me thinking about doing it, and really enjoying our home and surroundings.
In May, here at FrenchGardenHouse, since the garden is coming alive with all its beautiful flowers, we are trying to spend time outdoors. A lot. This small table in front of our Eden rose is the perfect place for coffee and breakfast. When my Mom was still alive, she loved nothing better than to come and sit in our garden, especially in spring. I have so many wonderful memories of her in my heart - I miss her fiercely especially on Mother’s Day.
On this beautiful morning, I covered the table with a quilt in colors that match the antique French pink and white biggin for coffee. Two wicker chairs are pulled close, since it's still a bit chilly earlier in the day, this fern green alpaca throw is at the ready should I get cold.
Two ironstone cups that we brought back from Europe when we moved back 'home' to California after a three year period of living abroad are still a favorite to drink coffee from.
The tall antique French enameled pink coffee pot - or biggin - is great for making drip coffee, although often I make the coffee in the kitchen in our machine and just serve from the pot.
My favorite bee napkins are just right for outside tables, aren't they?
The eggs and herbs are ready for Mr. FGH to make breakfast with. {He'd love to get chickens, me not so much since our garden is small and there are coyotes around so we would need to build them a huge chicken palace.}
This is the time of year when there are the most amazing flowers available for cutting! For this arrangement, I chose pink roses, 'butterfly ranunculus', snowballs and helleboros that I cut from the garden.
After setting the table, I was amazed how quickly the bees arrived! They buzzed all around the flowers, I only managed to capture one on the photo, since after a few minutes of getting their breakfast, they all flew away to the lavender bushes.
I added the antique French tureen with hand painted pansies to the table and hid some grapefruits in there for breakfast.
This beautiful French Marriage soupiere, or tureen, was traditionally offered to a newly married couple in the 19th century to celebrate the occasion of their marriage.
Reading beautiful books with a cup of coffee is one of the pleasures of life in the garden. This one is a favorite, from the editors of Victoria magazine.
Surrounding yourself with beautiful things you love is a great way to begin living a {more} beautiful life.
Setting the table with beautiful table linens and always having fresh flowers, this isn't hard to do, but it does make a wonderful difference. Enjoying the world around you and being grateful for just where you are is a blessing.
The Art of Living a Beautiful Life
Here are a few things that make the art of living a beautiful life a reality {they do so in my life}:
1. Have one beautiful fresh floral arrangement in your home. This could be a large fresh flower arrangement ala Monday Morning Blooms, or a single flower in a vase in your bathroom, on your desk, or on your nightstand. Green cuttings from a bush in a glass with water counts!
2. Have a few candles, either tapers in antique candle holders or other candles, and light one regularly when it gets darker to relax into your evening routine.
3. Buy the best quality tea or coffee {or both!} that you fits your budget and serve it to yourself in a really gorgeous cup. Take time out to drink it and savor it.
4. Try your best to clear up clutter at home, it's really so relaxing to have those piles put away!
5. Surround yourself only with things you love, that you find beautiful.
6. Prepare and serve delicious food, on a beautifully set table. Even if you eat by yourself, use a pretty placemat and a linen napkin to elevate your meal!
7. Play uplifting music at home, whether you love classical, jazz or contemporary. Music always lifts our soul.
8. Copy our European sisters and create a wardrobe filled with things you know you look stunning in. Quality over quantity is their motto.
I hope that you enjoy your home as your sanctuary that brings you and all those who visit it comfort and great joy. Your home should be your haven, filled with the things you love, a home that rejuvenates your spirit and shelters you from the world to enjoy time by yourself, and with the people you love.
I wanted to share this spot of our garden that is giving me so much joy this spring. Those crazy painted birdhouse were painted by our little people at Easter, they took some home and left some here. Looking at them reminds me of the fun time we had at Easter, and I'm determined to keep them there for a little bit. {Mr. FGH isn't a real fan, he thinks it detracts from his carefully tended plot of spring flowers.}
Thank you so very much for joining me today. I wish you a very Happy Mother’s Day!
Be sure to visit my dear friends by clicking on their links below!
21 comments
Lidy, your garden setting is tuly calling my name. Like your mother, sitting in the garden among the flowers, bees, and fresh air fills the senses. It’s the perfect spot for tea, lunch, or just relaxing with a book or conversation with someone special. i know you have fond memories of your mom, doing just that. I know I do! The churn dash quilt certainly sets the stage for a comfy spot. I have always loved this pattern and your vintage quilt is perfection. Love all the pink details. Yes, living with beautiful things or relaxing with a beautiful book certainly make my heart sing. Your beautiful posts makes my heart sing, Lidy. Happy Mother’s Day to you.
Thank you so much Linda! We love our garden, and love sitting under the Eden rose in the sun. Wishing you a beautiful and blessed week!
I’d love for you to be here chatting with me too, Bonnie! Thanks so much for your visit, and for always being such an encourager. I’m happy you will cut hydrangeas..how exciting to have your grandson and his girlfriend come over for a visit! Happy Mother’s Day, Bonnie!
Thank you Mary. I love that about a quilt, too, no ironing! Especially if the quilt isn’t too precious, it makes for such a wonderful foundation for a table setting. Wishing you a beautiful week ahead and a very Happy Mother’s Day!
I’d love to have you join me here, Pam! Today it’s a little more chilly, but we could wear sweaters and wrap up in the alpaca throws. It really is the little things, noticing what God is blessing us with, that make each day a wonder – isn’t it? Wishing you a very Happy Mother’s Day! xo
Thank you so much Cindy! I hope you have a beautiful week ahead and a Happy Mother’s Day!
Shannon thank you so much! It’s such a pleasure to have you join us today. Happy Mother’s Day!!
Thank you so much Jenna! Pink is perfect for Mother’s Day, isn’t it? I always think of my Mom and her love of flowers…she really loved our garden. I agree about those cute bird houses..they have fun memories and are a bright spot on our rose of sharon, aren’t they? Wishing you a lovely Mother’s Day too! xo
This is just beautiful Lidy! What a wonderful cozy spot, and the pink coffee pot grabbed my attention immediately, so unique and pretty! Love the quilt table topper and your always signature casual elegant flower arrangement. All the pink is perfect for Mother’s Day! I love the tureen and ceramic mugs too, and yes the bee napkins are perfect! I always enjoy visiting your beautiful garden and tell Mr FGH that I think you should leave the birdhouses, I think they draw in the eye and notice his beautiful garden! You are so right, it’s the simple things that should be treasured and enjoyed~ I hope you have a very wonderful Mother’s Day!
Good morning, Lidy! Your gardens are gorgeous, and I think the birdhouses are precious. Your floral arrangement gathered from your own garden makes such a stunning centerpiece. The pink quilt is such a lovely foundation for your pretty setting. I adore pink so much! You have given us so many wonderful tips for living life beautifully. I agree life is too short, and we should enjoy every moment we can. It has been such a joy to join you today, sweet friend. I wish you a most blessed week and happy Mother’s Day!