Saturday, May 26, 2012

Free, easy, spectacular centerpieces

During one of the busiest weeks of my year, I volunteered to host a dinner party.  I may be crazy, but not completely--right now is peak hydrangea season in the South, so flowers for the party were a simple matter.

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It couldn't be easier to create a beautiful arrangement of hydrangeas.  Cut your flowers in the morning before the sun gets too hot.  Then just cut the stems to fit into whatever vessel you choose, strip off most of the lower foliage, add a few drops of Clorox bleach to your water, and poke flowers into the water until you like the look.  You may choose to leave them rather loose and droopy, or do as I've done here and mass the flowers.  You can't go wrong!

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f you're unsure about what kind of vessel to arrange your hydrangeas in, use your imagination.  I've put them in pitchers, bowls, mason jars, milk bottles, water bottles, empty sauce jars wrapped with burlap--if it'll hold water, it'll hold hydrangeas.  And if it won't hold water (like my porcelain footbath above), simply place a plastic cup or cups inside it.  Let the plastic cup hold the water and the pretty vessel just look nice. 

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And just look at this variety of color!  I'm more partial to the blue flowers that result from a more acidic soil, but it surely is fun to have lots of different blooms.

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Beautiful, free centerpieces that take only minutes to create.  That's my kind of decorating!


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 Do you grow hydrangeas?  Or is there another flower you use to create centerpieces?  Please share!

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Thursday, May 24, 2012

Grace at Home No. 10

Welcome to this week's Grace at Home party!

Last week's party included some lovely links.  Thanks to everyone who joined!  Here are just a few of my favorites.

Vanessa from At the Picket Fence wrote an absolutely beautiful post about becoming a mother.  If you haven't already read her post, you should.  But have Kleenex handy!

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Courtney from The Creek Line House wrote an honest account of why it's a privilege to stay at home--but it's hard.

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Cathy from Miss Grace-Filled Life wrote a wonderful, encouraging post about having a child when you're in your 40's.  Such wisdom!

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Paula of Sweet Pea shared a delicious-looking recipe for Spinach and Couscous.  And Paula should get an award for being the best party participant.  She's a great example!

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Now for this week's party!  Grace at Home is a party is a celebration about all the things we do to make our homes places of grace. You can link a post about
  • DIY projects
  • decorating
  • recipes
  • hospitality
  • homemaking tips
  • parenting
  • marriage
  • faith
  • self-care
Whatever you do to make your home a place of grace, I'd like to hear about it. Please link up the permalink for your post, not your blog's home page. Please include a link back to the party and visit with some of the other links.  If you can help me spread the word about the party, I'd surely appreciate it.  And if you could, will you please take the time to visit at least one link just besides yours?  It's not really a party if no one visits with others.  Thank you!

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