Thursday, August 6, 2009

Not out of my gourd yet

I feel much better than I did an hour ago. I went outside after dinner to water the container gardens, deadheading all the petunia plants while I was at it. It’s a very time-consuming and sticky job but they look so better when you remove the dead bits and besides, it helps them to produce more flowers.

Then I took George for a big walk.

And when I say big, I really mean small. Really small. I was just so dang tired and hot and couldn’t stand the stickiness of it all.

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While I was outside, I noticed how beautiful my husband’s new gourd birdhouse looks hanging in the dogwood tree. I gave this to him for his birthday a couple of weeks ago and I love the little wood burnings that are on it.

I took these photos of it over the weekend.

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This birdhouse was made by a retired postman who had moved to Mathews, VA. He found that a section of his newly acquired property was covered with gourd vines and decided he’d like to do something artistic with them. It turned out that he was pretty good at this new-found skill of his and now sells his beautiful birdhouses at Sibley’s General Store on Main Street in Mathews.

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The store also serves as the Welcome Center for the area and has an abundance of other local artists’ wares for sale. They also carry maps and souvenirs. I was especially enamored with the claw-foot bathtub on the front porch.

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You know, for all those plants who just may happen to need a bath.

And speaking of baths, they really do make you feel so much better. The fans help, too.

Until tomorrow, my friends . . .

34 comments:

Shelley said...

That gourd birdhouse is absolutely beautiful! Any birdy would be lucky to have that for a home! :-)

Meg McCormick said...

Oh, I remember seeing and falling in love with that claw-foot tub! Now you've done it - you make me want to jump in the car and drive over that gawdawful bridge and head straight to Mathews!!

Sarah said...

Beautiful birdhouse! I'd like to have a clawfoot tub in my house. Someday, maybe...

Mary said...

Yeah, it was pretty hot and icky here, too. Love the gourd birdhouse -- it's wonderful!

Leif: A Voyage said...

OMG, Kate
I am still chuckling at the comment you made earlier in the week about how you keep forgetting that you don't have a pool....

I feel rested, humid, refreshed by a cool drink, napped, and surrounded by lovely flowers....

Thanks for the interludes. I am happily drenched in work, albeit unpaid so far, and with no vacation plans, I love the mini-rests I get at your blog.

hug,
Katie

tj said...

...Oh I feel your pain girl... It's been hot here for the past few days and humid too and for the weekend here they're talking triple digits on the temperature and high humidity - ACK! `:o/ Annnd, we're hosting a family reunion at our place this weekend - double ACK!...*giggle*

...I too love that gourd - you have good taste Kate! :o)

...And now I so wanna go to Mathews! *sigh*

...Hope all is well with dear hubby and stay cool!

...Blessings... :o)

Darlene said...

Love the photos of the gourd!, I also grow them to make into birdhouses, I only paint them. The wood burnings are a nice idea, maybe on this years batch I will try it. Thanx for the idea, ps. love your blog give mine a visit. http://rusticranch.blogspot.com

Reddirt Woman said...

I love the birdhouse. I've been wanting to do some gourd art and for the first time we finally have some gourds that are showing up on the plant that Carol planted in one of her tubs. I'll get the photos up one of these days.

I prefer a bath and I've found if I don't run a hot bath but rather a lukewarm one when I'm really hot from working outside it cools me down much faster than the very hot baths that I love.

I want an old clawfoot tub to plant. I keep watching out for one.

Thanks for sharing...

Helen

Anonymous said...

The birdhouse is awesome. I have never seen any bird house like that before.

Unknown said...

I just love hand crafted items to give and receive as gifts. They have so much soul in them.

That gourd is really beautiful and speaks of that beautiful place.

Anonymous said...

You have been tagged! Because this tag involves your pictures, I thought of you right away. Have fun. (The rules are on my blog.)

Cloudia said...

Nice ipu! (gourd)
Let's hula!

Aloha-

Comfort Spiral

ELK said...

gourds and a bathtub with plants ~this post rocks Kate!

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

The veins of the gourd birdhouse mirror the branches of the tree in the background....that must be a spectacular tree. I already know the birdhouse is spectacular.

That store is bursting with history and stories and character. I used to follow my mother in there to buy seeds for the garden, or a curry comb for the pony. It smelled like good, old wood seasoned with seeds and with life.

Thank you for capturing it so wonderfully.

Char said...

I love that birdhouse too - great shots

cottage farm villa said...

Kate, what an interesting birdhouse. I wish my hubby enjoyed things like that...his birthday is Friday...and I am at a loss. Great gift! Great pics!

Caroline said...

Such a cute birdhouse! And the General store is darling! Good luck with the flowers!

Jill of All Trades said...

The gourd birdhouse is wonderful. My Daddy used to grow them and hang for the wrens many years ago. Love to watch them shake-rattle and roll when the babies are in them.

Mental P Mama said...

sigh Happy Belated Birthday to Mr. A!

Deb said...

I've always loved gord bird houses but this one is far more interesting with the wood burning accents.

Daryl said...

Love the gourd ... and the angle you shot the General Store from ...

Tess Kincaid said...

I want a deep old tub like that!

Lisa A. said...

I LOVE that gourd! It's gourd-geous. Okay, sorry about that one, but I just couldn't help myself.

Linda said...

This is the nicest gourd house I have ever seen! I love the burn scroll marks he made. Almost looks like insects made it. Very nice.

noble pig said...

Ah, a bath on the porch!

Doris said...

I love the gourd birdhouses! My late husband use to grow gourds and make birdhouses from them and hang them in trees around the house. Some of them had birds raising their young year after year until they literally rotted and fell apart. They lasted maybe 15 years or so. Mostly what they attracted was bluebirds. Yours brings back fond memories.

Noe Noe Girl...A Queen of all Trades. said...

Love the gourd.
And the store.
And the tub.
And the memories!

Little Ms Blogger said...

That is a beautiful birdhouse and I can't believe you know the artisan that made it.

Usually, they are shipped to you without a clue.

What a great gift.

Skogkjerring said...

You just gave me a great idea of what to do with my claw foot bathtub when we remodel our bathroom someday!!! And I love the gourd birdhouse!!!

Audrey at Barking Mad said...

It's a blessing that today is no where near as humid as yesterday was, or hot! Had it been, I would have spent the day in my car, with the AC on!

Lovely photos...as always. And I'm doubly regretting not getting into Sibley's. Seemed a nap was more important after that stellar lunch at Chef Tood's.

Unknown said...

I agree with you about the wood burnings. Trés kewl.

And I always enjoy hearing about unique occupations, as this retired postman has invented.

Thanks for posting.
-TimK

Tyra said...

I was happy to see the name of the store -- Sibley's. My daughter's middle name is Sibley, named for my grandmother's maiden name. She was raised in Alabama and moved to Texas in the 1940s.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

I was happy to see the name of the store -- Sibley's. My last name just happens to be Sibley