Sunday Sharing From the She-Shed

Good morning from Austin, Texas. My husband and I have been visiting friends and family this past week.

First, we flew to Denver, Colorado, to visit our dear friends who moved there almost three years ago from Southern California. It was so lovely to see them and their beautiful new home. We ate, chatted, watched movies and laughed together. It was a great reminder to take the time to spend time with those you love. Life is short.

We took a day trip to a beautiful hotel in Colorado Springs, the Broadmoor Hotel, which opened on June 29, 1918. The lobby, halls, restaurants, and 350 guest rooms are exquisitely decorated and furnished by Julie Penrose, wife of Broadmoor founder Spencer Penrose.

Spending the day at this beautiful Colorado landmark was such a treat.

We left Denver on Friday to arrive in Austin for our 5th granddaughter’s 1st birthday, which we celebrated on Saturday. It was so good to see our kids and grandkids, the littles are growing up way too fast.

Our daughter-in-law baked a charming cake, and we gathered Texas wildflowers for the celebration. Are you familiar with Bluebonnets, they are the sweetest wildflowers you will find in Texas and they smell so good.

Back home, I have continued to be very busy in the garden preparing for our home tour in April. Wait until you see what we built ? (the post is coming soon). I’ll give you a hint: It is made of these.

Thankfully, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The garden looks clean and tidy, but not many plants will be blooming yet. I wish this tour were a month or two later, and everything would be in bloom.

Mulching the garden

Do you add much to your garden every year? I love mulch, especially when it is fresh in the Springtime. It looks so good, and the smell of the redwood is fabulous. We order it in bulk, and they deliver it to the driveway. Distributing the mulch throughout the yard takes days and lots of help.

There are so many benefits to adding mulch to your garden, not only does it look amazing, but there are so many other benefits.

Here are just a few.

1. Moisture Retention: Mulch helps to retain soil moisture by reducing evaporation. This is crucial for the health of your plants, especially during hot or dry periods. By maintaining a more consistent level of moisture, plants can grow more vigorously and are less stressed by fluctuating water availability.
2. Weed Control: A layer of mulch can effectively suppress weeds by blocking sunlight from reaching the soil surface, preventing weed germination and growth. This not only saves you time and effort in weeding but also reduces competition for nutrients and water between your plants and unwanted weeds.
3. Soil Temperature Regulation: Mulch acts as an insulating layer for the soil, keeping it cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. This temperature moderation can protect plant roots from extreme temperatures, promoting healthier root systems and plant growth. Additionally, this insulation can extend the growing season for certain plants by protecting them from early frosts or allowing for earlier planting in spring.

Other Happenings at WM Design House

As you know, I have been suffering from foot pain, and it seems I have a nerve issue called Morton’s Neuroma. Unfortunately the answers are not so easy. They tried t o give me another injection, but again it was not effective. I will see the doctor again on April 2nd and we will determine the next step.

But, you know me, I keep on going; it takes a lot to stop me.

Madison, our oldest granddaughter, had her first dance competition on Saturday. I am sorry we were not able to be there, but her mom sent us some great pictures.

We are so proud of her accomplishments at the tender age of 9.

Maddy and her partner placed third in their duo dance. Fantastic for their very first competition. Way to go girls.

The Latest on the Blog

Knowing I would be gone, I decorated my Easter table and covered it with a tablecloth. Have you ever done that?

Easter DIY’s are happening:

What I Found Inspiring This Week

With Easter right around the corner, I wanted to give you a few posts to inspire you.

Here are a few of my favorites from this past week.

Rachel @thepondsarmhouse always comes up with some of my favorite ideas.

This week, she made this beautiful arrangement with dried hydrangeas.

Summer from Hammon’s Nest teaches us how to print on fabric. Isn’t this adorable?

Chloe from Celebrate and Decorate made the cutest Easter Centerpiece with vegetables.

My friend Jen @midwestlifeand style has great ideas for filling your Easter baskets.

As I wrap up today. I hope you’ve enjoyed the highlights from the past week.

I look forward to sharing more fun ideas with you this next week.