After a nearly three-week-long hiatus, Frodo showed up on our deck at around 1:00 am this morning. And this time he brought along a friend.
BFFs forever.
Frodo is Back!
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The Painted Ladies of Remmington, Virginia
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Just one block over from Main Street in Remmington, Virginia there is a small collection of lovingly restored Victorian homes–or painted ladies as they’re affectionately known. How fabulous is this color scheme? This homeowner has absolutely no fear of color. I like him or her already.
Here’s a side view of the same house. If this were my house, I’d prune the trees and bushes for a more “in-your-face” view of the home. I’d want everybody to notice the fabulous colors without having to discover it in bits and pieces.
A view of the side porch. It has two doors, for those who require variety 🙂
And look at the lovely fretwork on this porch and the white picket fence. What’s not to like?
This one is not a painted lady, but I thought it had old-fashioned charm nonetheless.
Talk about a color lover’s dream home. Check out the rainbow colored shingles on the eaves. I love the green and purple paint scheme. The whole block is shouting “no beize zone.”
How about a rainbow arbor to go along with those rainbow shingles? Brilliant!
A close up view of the porch.
Check out that gargoyle. I hope it has been properly secured up there.
The house next door is also being restored. The restoration work is beautiful, but apparently the owners didn’t read the “no beige zone” sign. Hopefully, they will turn this beauty into another grand painted lady. These homes were never meant for folks who are color shy. Come on, guys, get with the program! Pick a color, any color–except beige.
Frodo Ready for Dinner
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Frodo showed up on my deck again today just in time for dinner, but apparently now he wants to eat at the table with the rest of the family. He’s getting a bit demanding. However, he was quite cooperative while we posed him for his photo shoot.
While we were snapping pictures, my daughter and I wondered if there was an online forum for toad lovers, and sure enough there is. Check out FrogForum.net. There were 200 members online when we visited the forum.
We had so much fun during our photo session. I think Frodo is quite toado-genic.
Toadstool
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I was setting the deck table for lunch today and my little pal, Frodo, decided to keep me company while I worked. I placed him on a kitchen step stool for a little photo-op, and he happily obliged–and stayed in place while I snapped a dozen or so photos.
Since I’ve become so fond of him, and he’s been making an appearance on our deck each summer for at least the last five years, I decided to go online to determine what type of frog he is and how long he might live. Apparently, he’s an Eastern American toad which likes to live in swampy areas, near bodies of water, or even under an air conditioning unit (where the condensation helps keeps them wet), they hibernate in winter in underground burrows, and they can live up to 30 years.
I have no idea how old Frodo is, but hopefully he’ll continue his annual summertime visits to our deck for years to come. I think it’s about time that I bling out his favorite corner of the deck to make it more toad friendly. Wait until you see all the toad houses that are available for purchase online. The only difficulty will be deciding which house to build or purchase. I’ll probably ask for your help on that one. I’ll post a variety of options to choose from and let my readers help me pick his new home. What do you think?
Frodo’s Pool
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So our little friend, Frodo, survived Friday’s monster storm (called a Derecho) and instead of spending the day chillin’ in his underground home (toads are nocturnal), he spent the afternoon hanging out in the corner of our deck in 104 degree heat. To help him beat the heat, we set up a little pool for him. Next time, I’ll add a mini beach ball and perhaps a lounge chair with an umbrella.
And here he is about to step inside to hang out in the air conditioning. I guess the shallow pool water got too warm.
The next thing you know, he’ll want his own TV.
Blooming in My Garden Today
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Giant red hibiscus. Hummingbirds can’t resist these enormous blooms that I planted outside my studio windows. That way I can enjoy the flowers and the fleeting beauty of hummingbirds feeding on them while I paint.
Velvety red calla lilies. These bulbs proved to be too tempting for the rabbits living in my garden. They dug many of them up last fall and ate them for dinner. This fall I’ll plant them in greater numbers so hopefully there will be plenty for the rabbits and for me.
Purple pansies. I planted pansies three years ago and haven’t planted them since. They keep reseeding themselves, often times in places that I wouldn’t necessarily choose, but I’ll take them wherever they grow.
My purple crepe myrtle trees are almost ready to bloom. I have three of them and definitely need more. I’ll post photos when the show begins. I see some potential watercolor paintings in my future. I don’t enjoy the physical act of gardening, but I so enjoy the fruits of my labor. Happy gardening.
Meet Frodo
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This adorable little guy or gal has been living in my garden for the past several years. I’ve become so accustomed to his nightly deck visits where he dines for hours on bugs that I’ve named him Frodo. My five dogs walk right past him and don’t even give him a second glance any more. I’ve really become fond of him. It must be quite a feat for such a chunky old man to climb the deck stairs every night, but he manages to do it. How adorable is he?
Caitlin Wilson Pillow Cover Giveaway
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I’ve featured Caitlin Wilson pillow covers on my recent spring living room mini-makeover post, now you can win one of her 16×26 Signature Border Pillows in the color of your choice.
To enter visit Caitlin’s blog, leave a comment, and tell her what color you’d choose. But you need to hurry; the giveaway ends on Monday, May 7th at midnight. Good luck.
Come On, Everyone, Let’s Do the Tangerine Tango!
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I’ve introduced you to Tangerine Tango, Pantone’s 2012 color of the year, I’ve highlighted previous colors of the year, and I’ve shown you how you can replicate this color at your favorite paint store. Now, let’s get down to some serious business. Seriously fun, that is. I’ve begun to assemble some items that I plan to feature in various rooms of my house as I dance around with this color and splash it from room to room. Here’s a sneak preview of some of the items that I’ll be featuring on my Tangerine Tango tour. Over the coming weeks I’ll provide you with photos of the completed rooms as well as purchasing information. I’m going to be quite busy; and I’ve definitely got some painting to do!
Retro Kitchen Accessories
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I just purchased these delightful kitchen accessories at Target. I love the simplicity of the white stoneware and the bit of retro flare thrown in for good measure. These pieces remind me of items I used to see in my grandmother, Viv’s, kitchen. Imagine this stoneware egg carton filled with colorful hard boiled eggs–or Cadbury cream eggs (yum)–on an Easter buffet or used as a planter and filled with a collection of tiny cactus plants. It would also make a great catch-all for earrings or rings. You can purchase these items at your local Target store or view additional items in the collection here. The adorable cow creamer is on clearance in stores this week. I think it’s calling my name….
