Tuesday, March 23, 2010

The sweet scent of lilacs...

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This is one of the bouquets of lilacs I picked last weekend...I took another one about this same size to work. When I got to work I sat it on my counter and when I heard my friend Natasha at her desk I went to pick up the vase to show her the flowers and I knocked over a candy dish and as I tried to catch the candy dish I knocked over the lilacs. I knocked the whole vase right on top of the back of my computer. It looked like my computer was sitting in a lake! Luckily nothing was broken, not even my computer! Gotta love Mondays!!!
Can you believe those chocolate eggs have ZERO calories? Unfortunately, (or should I say fortunately?) I can't eat them because they are fake. I bought a pack of them at Vintage and Vogue last year and then I bought another pack this year. They look so good but I crave chocolate every time I walk by them!
Growing Lilacs in Mild Climates: A lot of people are surprised that I can grow lilacs in California because lilacs usually require cold winters which we do not get here. Luckily there are now low-chill varieties of lilacs available for those of us that live in mild climates. You can read more about them, just click here.


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58 comments:

Kelly said...

I discovered your wonderful blog recently and just had to say how much I love reading it and looking at the photo's from your lovely home! your lilacs/table are simply beautiful.

Marla said...

Oh I can just smell those lilacs through the computer. I love lilacs and miss them. In Oregon we had them everywhere, but Florida, ahh never see them, wrong climate. Yours are fabulous. Oh I have the same eggs from Pier 1 after Easter sale. Love em, they look so elegant on that stand, I my have to look for something similar to display them. Thanks for sharing and I hope your week has gotten better. Smiles, Marla

Kimberly said...

lilacs are my favorite! When you said 0 calories I was like WHAT? where can I get some?

Have a good day!

Betty Jo said...

Lilacs and chocolate! What could be better? Oops! No way those are faux chocolates. They are beautiful and would make me hungry too. In fact, they have!! Gorgeous photos Cindy. ♥

Unknown said...

That bouquet is just gorgeous and I love the vase you have it in! Just beautiful. Glad your computer at work was alright ;)

Crystal Rose Cottage said...

Cindy....Sounds like the "domino effect"...your lilacs are so pretty and I think I can smell them! I can see why you crave chocolate because they look so real! Have a great day! ~Patti

The Sewing and Knitting Loft said...

Very beautiful table you have set. The Lilacs are wonderful and a perfect addition to your lovely home.

Sweet Old Vintage said...

Very Lovely Ideed....

Sunnysidesue said...

Oh Cindy, those lilacs are simply gorgeous. I can practically smell them from here. Love all your photos today!

House and Garden Boutique said...

Now that's what I call a bouquet of flowers! Just gorgeous! They are spectacular! So enjoy seeing happy posts like yours.

Susimac said...

How beautiful they are, perfect on your table and I do love the jug that you have them in.

Susan of Pink Portuguese Roses said...

I adore lilacs! My neighbor had a lovely bush right next to our a joining fence. But they just took it out...like two days ago!!! I was so sad. I wished I had known. I would have asked for it and planted it in my backyard.

Your lilacs look so amazing. Blessings to you!

Unknown said...

I'm drooling Cindy... not over your faux chocolate, but your lilacs! I commented before that I had found a lilac bush at my local Arizona nursery and bought it on the spot but mine isn't doing much of anything... perhaps it will bloom next year? It just budded out with leaves and thats it.
Oh my gosh... so incredibly beautiful!
~Rainey~

Komali Nunna said...

You are inspired me to grow lilacs in my garden. I bought the lilac plant last year, but didn't have courage to plant it in the soil. This is year I will plant and see what happens. I just love the sweet scent of lilacs.Love your table.

Denise said...

Your lilacs are beautiful!

It's a bit early here for lilacs.
This morning we are getting a few snow flurries. boo-hoo:(

I can't wait for spring and warmer weather.

Thanks for letting us enjoy a touch of spring on your blog!

Have a sunny day,

Denise

tarrah said...

They look absolutely beautiful, and the chocolate looks just as great! :)
My lilacs are all budding, can't wait to start cutting mine in a few weeks.

BellaRosa said...

Cindy amor, your lilacs look gorgeous! I excitedly showed them to my husband this morning, he said that what might also help mine is to plant them in the ground so that they have a chance to grow big and spread out...ahh but I liked the pretty lil pot they came in :) But if it will mean a chance at beautiful lilacs, it is well worth the work! Have a great day and I'm so glad that your computer didn't get ruined in that lil flood :) Besos, Rose

Jan ~ BellaCasa said...

Boy, I thought I had a bad Monday. Glad your computer didn't get fried.

The flowers are awesome. Never tried to grow them here in Texas though.

And I just love, love, love the fake chocolate eggs. I sure wish that I could order them online, but sadly the shop doesn't have a website :(

Hope you have a wonderful day...I'm off to the Arboretum for more pics of beautiful flowers to share on my blog.

Jan
BellaCasa

Susan said...

Cindy I don't know what you do to make your living. But your talent is definitely in photograpy and decorating. Your pictures, are just awesome and your style of decorating is to die for!!
I don't know why your not married, but lady some guy is missing out!! On second thought don't get married, some guys can be picky about decorating!! LOL

Rhianna said...

Hello Cindy, I have been following your blog for quite awhile now. It has inspired to start my own recently. I have to say I was so excited when I saw the chocolate eggs and was so sure there would be a tutorial on how to make them . Imagine my disappointment when I found out they weren't real! They are beautiful anyway. I can't wait till we have lilacs blooming here, one of my favorite plants. I think I might have to look into chocolate making and see if I can't create those eggs for real :)

The Vintage Vagablonde said...

Cindy...
I do not always comment but I follow and read you,all the time.

Thank you so much for doing this post...I almost asked you about your lilacs because the nursery told me they would not do well here. I am in Central Ca~Fresno....it is very hot. Reading the article that you linked to about the hybrids...the man who introduced most of the new variations is located in Visalia...not to far from me :)

If my nursery says this again...I will just head to Visalia and get my lilacs!

Sheri

Happy@Home said...

Oh, how beautiful your lilacs are. At times like this I wish our monitors were scratch n sniff.
Years ago my cousin got married in Michigan. The reception was outside and the grounds were surrounded by lilacs which were in bloom. I will never forget it. Heavenly!!
They don't do well here in NC, but I am going to check out that link you mention. Thanks for sharing.

Florence said...

I just love those lilac and their sweet smell, um! Florence

Linda (More Fun Less Laundry) said...

Oh Cindy--I love lilacs and I went back to your other posts to see them all. I love seeing your home. It's the opposite of mine which is more formal, but I can see I am heading for a new look when we retire. Love visiting your pages.
Linda

Vickie Ramos said...

Ugh! I don't know how you can stand walking by those fake eggs and not want to take a bit out of them ... they look sooo real! I love lilacs!!!

Marilyn said...

OMG, Cindy!

Lilacs and chocolates. I think I may have died and gone to heaven. :-)

These pictures are beyond beautiful! Thank you so much for brightening up my day, today and everyday.

Marilyn (in Dallas)

Carolyn said...

Beautiful!!!

Nancy's Notes said...

Your lilacs are just so beautiful, truly stunning!

Elizabeth and Gary said...

Hi Cindy,
Your lilacs are beautiful, and I can smell them! they are blooming here in the valley too. Very pretty!!!
You are so funny, I would have a problem too walking past chocolate eggs everyday and wanting to pick one up to take a bite. LOL.
Enjoy your day, Elizabeth

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

How pretty, Cindy! I adore lilacs!

Rhondi said...

Hi Cindy
I think I can smell the lilacs. I just love their scent! and they remind me so much of when I was young. Those chocolate eggs are too cute, they look so real.
I'm glad that your computer didn't get ruined when the lilacs fell over!

Becky from Tennessee said...

Oh Cindy, your lilacs are
beautiful! Don't they smell
wonderful??? Here in Tennessee
mine haven't started blooming.
Can't wait until they do so I
can cut some, too. The candy
looks sooo yummy! Can't believe
they aren't real.

We must be related, Cindy. Your
day at work sounds like one of
my typical days! LOL!

Hope you are having a nice day!
Becky

Decor To Adore said...

Oh sweet purple heaven. Wish that there was a scatch and sniff button on the computer. :)

Esther Sunday said...

Looking forward to bloom lilacs - they are in full bloom by mid May in the Northwest!!!

Anonymous said...

So lovely! I'm longing for a bit of spring! Out my window I see snow and fog.

My Cottage Charm said...

I'm going to look for chocolate now...thanks! LOL :-D
I love lilacs...their smell is so intoxicating! I haven't been able to plant a lot since we moved into this house because there's no fence, but hallelujah we're getting a fence in about a week! One of the first things I want is a lilac bush! I can't wait. :) Thanks for giving me a sneak peek at what I'm going to get. :)

Elsie said...

OH MY GOSH CINDY that is the most
gorgeous table yet. Those lilacs
are beautiful and it just seems
like I can smell them,or maybe I
am wishing. Beautiful mosaic too.
:O)

sjmcdowell said...

Hi Cindy,

I have adored Lilacs since I was a little girl and so does my Mom,
and we both love chocolate so your post today is just perfect!!
Thanks so much!!
Happiness and bright Smiles,
Susan

Betty said...

I love lilac and how they fill the whole room with their sweet fresh scent...mmm!

Dawn said...

So beautiful Cindy. I would never had imagined the chocolate eggs weren't real. Our lilacs are just starting to bloom. I never knew they need colder weather. Maybe that's why our blooms will be gone within a few weeks.
Hugs,
Dawn

Dream Mom said...

Oh, your pictues are beautiful. I love the lilacs and the eggs. I can just imagine the fragrance too. I just love flowers and it's wonderful to see yours now since in the Midwest, the tulips are just starting to break ground.

One of my friends has a 6000 sqaure foot home on 10 acres and had a bunch of lilac bushes. One day I was there and she cut enough blooms to fill my entire home. I had lilacs for the bedroom, the kitchen, the dining room, living room, bath, etc. It was wonderful.

Pieces of Dreams said...

Hi Cindy! Oh I can just smell those lilacs....Actually, I can just smell the chocolate eggs too, but I don't want to think about that, because I am liable to go out into Wayne's shop and raid the bowl of mini chocolates that he keeps for customers! When I was little, my room had a lilac bush right outside my window. I love that smell and I love those memories! Everything is beautiful as always! Cheers, Karen

Mari said...

OHHHH MY GOOSH THERE BREATHTAKING!!! WOW I COULD ALMOST SMELL THEM OVER HERE AT MY HOME....LOL

Jen Beaudet said...

Your lilacs are so lovely and I bet they smell as good as they look! That's amazing that your computer made it through that mess! I hope the rest of you day was better! Jennifer:)

Carolyn said...

Lilacs are one of my favorites fragances and flowers (bush)...thank you for sharing! Your home is BEAUTIFUL!
~ Carolyn

Marilyn said...

Hi Cindy, I think you live a charmed life--I spilled a glass of water on my computer and it died, DEAD, no life at all. And, now the lilacs you have are making me a little green. They are so pretty.

I just bought some paper mache eggs that I'm going to paint chocolate brown, so we can be wishing for the real thing together. ♥♪

Seawashed said...

Your lilacs are amazing. They look so pretty in your home with that dish of fake chocolates! Those would make me crave chocolate too!!! they look so real.

Now I'm gonna have to go read about these Cali Lilacs so I can grow some.

Beth said...

Your lilacs are beautiful! I can almost smell them if I close my eyes...love your chocolate eggs - what a beautiful vignette.
Hugs, ~ Beth

Anonymous said...

i absolutely enjoy all your posting taste, very attractive.
don't quit and keep writing mainly because it just truly worth to read it.
looking forward to see alot more of your own posts, thankx :)

Junkie Junkeldorf said...

Wow! I may have to re-think my favorite flower after seeing these.

Necel from the Old House in Texas

Burlap Luxe said...

Hello Cindy,
I knew it would be a treat if I came to visit you... In southern California we also have lilac's in my parents yard, everyone admires them as well, they do great growing for them as well.

Love the candy, why did you do this to me, now I want chocolates.

Spring looks beautiful in your home, it is breath taking and now I need a lung transplant due to the lack of oxygen, breath Dore, just breath I tell myself.

Come visit soon.
Inspiring
"Dore"

Lori said...

Oh Cindy, I can almost smell them trough my screen. Such a fresh and lovely post! Lori

Burlap Luxe said...

Thank you Cindy for stopping by, your sweet comments meant a lot to me coming from you.

I'm with your daughter on taking the screen off to let the bird in...I told my daughter and she said, Awwwww!!! tell Cindy to tell her daughter to let it perch on the window sill and come in for a visit :)

Can not wait to see the pictures of S.F weekend trip, miss it and wish I were there, "Home sick"

Keep inspiring all of us.
"Dore"

Shauna D. Taylor said...

What a wonderful Monday it is., Great amidst the scene you have created with the lilacs and chocolates and computer, nothing serious came about other than making your Monday more interesting...by the way i also love the chocolates :>

Barbara said...

Just wanted todrop and say I could smell the Lilacs way down here in Texas. They are beautiful, Cindy.

Barbara

Elaine said...

Thanks so much for the information about the warm-weather lilacs. I love them and have wanted to grow them but did not know it was possible in our mild climate! Yours are lovely! :)

deb said...

Oh how I love Lilacs! There scent brings back so many memories...geesh, just flowing with the memories here today, huh?!
Mom grew them and I laways loved their scent. I grow them here now. She had white,dark & light purple, then purple with white edges. That was in Livermore. I'm in Newman (Central Valley) and last year I planted about 8 of them, all different colors. Luckily they bloom like crazy for me!!
Your bouquet is gorgeous!
Those eggs would drive me crazy!! and I'm sure someone here would eat them real or not!! LOL
*hugs*Deb

Rhianna said...

Hi Cindy, I hope you don't mind, I loved those eggs so much, I decided to try and make my own. I did a tutorial and I posted your pic of them to illustrate what I was trying to accomplish. What do you think, did I come close?
http://wyldestonecottage.blogspot.com/2010/04/happy-easter-egg-tutorial.html
Rhianna- Wyldestone Cottage