Bountiful Home Edmonds

Forcing Branches

2012-01-20T14:53:00.001-08:00

Here's a wonderful way to recycle all those branches you might have lost in the passing storm. If you know that the branches are from a Spring flowering shrubs or trees, clean up the branches as best you can and bring them inside. Place them in a vase or bucket and keep the water level about 2-3 inches covering the freshly cut...I mean broken, end of the branch. Then be patient.... and as the outside stays gray and stormy, you can enjoy an early Spring inside. Those once broken branches destined for the firebox or compost can now have a second lease on life by forcing them into blossom inside the house. There many great branches to use. In between the coming rain showers, go for a walk in your gardnes and tell me what you find. Pictured is Magnolia branches.

Bass Drum Coffee Table

2012-01-12T14:51:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't love the novelty of things re-purposed....? Here's a great example of a Bass drum...Now coffee table. Slingerland Radio King Bass Drum, 1937-1957 steam bent Maple wood, Vintage and used.... $1000.00

23 Francs Glasses

2012-01-06T10:05:00.001-08:00

One of my favorite things that we sell at Bountiful Home and Nursery is this little cafe wine glass. 23 Francs...that's what we used to pay, (how many years ago) for a glass of wine on the Rue Du Bac. Those days are gone ...but the wine is still there and so are these charming cafe wine glasses. Fill it to the red line with red wine! Retails at $10.00 each

Re-purposed Desk

2012-01-05T14:19:00.000-08:00

It's January, and the tree has come down and suddenly you find yourself reflecting on the New Year. Why not incorporate a desk into your decor?! This 50's style Mission knock off has been re-purposed into black with distressed details. Venting cut outs on the sides add charming detail. Originally $175.00 Now on Sale at $150.00 Measurements are 20 1/2 W, 331/4 L, 52 H to back detail. Bountifulhome1@aol.com or call 425. 775. 3800

The Red Plaid Suitcase, Memories from my childhood.

2011-10-27T16:27:00.000-07:00

As a child, my parents had wonderful friends, that I came to know as Auntie and Uncle. We'd spend many hours together....dining, sharing Holidays, consuming many cups of coffee around a smoldering fireplace...and always surrounded in laughter and love. As the youngest child amongst the growing group of family friends, I often would retreat to Auntie Phyl's breakfast nook, a delightfully warm room of knotty pine walls, large windows trimmed in Priscilla curtains and the constant smell of fresh brewed coffee. The adults always sat in the kitchen and I would climb from lap to lap intrigued with Uncle Ralph's salty pipe smoke, Auntie Phyl's laughter and the gentle way I felt like one of their own. But when my boney knees grew to be annoying, I was directed to a lower cupboard door that held a magical case....There I found the Red Plaid Suitcase.

I welcomed the red plaid suitcase as it was filled with wonderous treasures. Captivating books took me on simple adventures. Well loved teddy bears with faded bow ties still managed to return the love and crayons, jacks and rubber bouncing balls, all filled endless hours of time well spent in Phyl and Ralph's kitchen. The case itself seemed heavy and large but new upon every visit. The shiny latch would snap open and the red plaid gave way to it's interior of faded khaki and cream gingham. I loved that little suitcase and toted it around like it was my own.
With a blink of my eye, I found myself as a young adult and the cupboard that held the red plaid suitcase passed into a memory , unvisited dark and quiet. Time marched on...families grew up...married, started families of their own, and the realities of my childhood grew dusty and distant, like the cupboard that held the red plaid suitcase.
Several weeks ago, I heard the sad news that Auntie Phyllis had suddenly passed away. Silently my heart broke. As my family began to remember her, wonderful memories refreshed my heart as we gathered to celebrate her life and the rich memories once again became clear. Years have past since I last saw the red plaid suitcase but today, I became a child again.
Karen, one of Auntie Phyl's grand children came by for a brief visit to my shop in downtown Edmonds. I was pleased to see her but upon a second glance I could see she was carrying the suitcase. Reaching out to me she said, "We want you to have this..." There it was....the red plaid suitcase...and in that moment I was 5 years old again. The case seemed smaller and lighter then I remembered. The toys inside the suitcase were absent and had given way to generations of love. The latch, now rusting with age still sprang open as I held and breathed in this fond memory.
Today, while I am writing, the tears flow a little less, and the heart strings are being tugged, but I am grateful the child is alive in me today. The suitcase will find a special place in my studio where I create, write and dream. Even now, some 45 years later , when I see the red plaid suitcase, I can feel the legacy Auntie Phyllis left behind, and in a funny little way, I can smell the coffee brewing, hear the crackling fire and I am surrounded in laughter and love.
To Auntie Phyllis..... I love you!

2011-08-25T10:16:00.000-07:00

Just had to share... this little lovely popped up in the garden last year , in short, thanks to the birds. This year, with Springs length of season, the Hollyhock wasn't as tall but was very striking and showy. Known to the Chinese as a savory tasting leaf, I think I will admirer it at a distance, as rust is prone to these NW transplants. These plants speak of love, the rest I'll let you investigate and finish the story of the Hollyhock.

The Light in the Attic

2011-08-18T12:43:00.000-07:00

The light in the attic has drawn a few eyes from the passerby this day.
This attic, studio room upstairs in the shop is a wonderfully bright room overlooking 4th street S. The room was unfinished, so a little tiffany blue paint, a good sweep and then I stopped. Whats up with that light box on the ceiling? Four light bulbs cast a cold haze over the room. This will never do. A few garage sales later I found a cigar box full of keys, a dozen punch cups, some dessert plates, goblets and several hands full of old silverware. A little drilling, some celedon ribbon and wire and POOF, we had made a chandelier. Instantly it created a buzz. Some begged to climb the stairs to view it, while others wanted to buy it. But this little lovely is staying here with me in the studio at Bountiful Home and Nursery, so more folks may enjoy the light in the attic.

Junk O Rama

2011-08-02T12:00:00.001-07:00

For the second summer, Bountiful Home and Nursery will host Junk O Rama. This fund raising event is an artist gathering of collectors who love to re-purpose, reuse and recycle. From many walks of life this junk tribe will sell treasures that amaze.
In tandem with Junk O Rama is Parasols on Parade, another fund raising event. Five market umbrellas have been given to local artisans to embellish. These amazing and whimsical works of art will be on be on display throughout downtown Edmonds raising awareness for the event and to raise money for the Edmonds City flower fund.
We are passionate about beautifying Edmonds with flowers, so what a better way to get involved, then to give to the one fund that really supports Edmonds beautification. So join us on Saturday August 13th for Junk O Rama in the gardens at Bountiful Home and Nursery.

Yellow Roses

2011-07-12T13:03:00.000-07:00

In Victorian flower language, a yellow rose spoke of jealousy.
In the Western US, the yellow rose spoke of love familiar, humble, native to the land. The yellow rose is the prairie rose, the remote, the extraordinary in the ordinary. It bears a equal to that of other roses, but also speaks of home, of the too-often-overlooked glories of domestic happiness.
The humble yellow rose was immortalized in a popular cowboy song: "The yellow rose of Texas is the only girl for me."

Hollyhocks

2011-07-07T10:26:00.000-07:00

The Hollyhock....'Alcea Rosea', Hollyhocks stand for fertility, for ease of creation and abundance. These plants certain do know abundance when neglected and somewhat forgotten. I can remember my grandmother growing Hollyhocks behind her garage, in a very hot gravely alley in Wapato WA. There wasn't much draw to the alley other then the daily chore of emptying the garbage, but upon a closer look, towering walls of color would overwhelm you. Hers were pink and magenta, and never held onto rust. Originally Hollyhocks were a Chinese flower grown for the savory taste of its leaves. Brought to England in the sixteenth century, these once tastey tid bits now were sought after as fast growing beauties, showing off its stunning and various blooms. Make love a daily habit, the hollyhock seems to say, and something grand and imposing will arise.

Vintage Cards

2011-06-07T13:41:00.000-07:00

Vintage postcards have always intrigued me. As a child, the pretty pictures fascinated me, as an adult the message lures me in. Perhaps, more then the message, is the memories that live on in the script found on the side of these tiny treasures. They were first known as picture postcards when they first swept Europe and then the US. during the first fifteen years of the twentieth century. Picture postcards celebrated landmarks, commemorative celebrations, even natural disasters and postcards were printed for every holiday including Labor Day and Groundhog Day. Postcard groups popped up and enthusiasts would conspire to shower loved ones with hundreds of cards. Like email today, postcards were attractive because they afforded a fast, inexpensive and relatively effortless means of keeping in touch with others. They were a way to send your best while writing the least. Many picture postcards were heavily embossed, sporting a structural relief while others incorporated gold and silver foils and some bits of fabric. A postcard wasn't simply a picture; it was a sensuous thing to touch and treasure, a democratic art. Even when postcards were new they were avidly collected. Most postcards sold in this country were printed in Germany.

Today the postcard inscribed with greetings from far-off, seemingly halcyon time are ever more seductive. But what intrigued me as a child still lures me today....that their message is timeless: It is important to stay connected with one another.

Daffodil Narcissus

2011-04-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

The daffodil stood for chivalry in Victorian England, perhaps because it sometimes stood in the snow, waiting for the rest of the flowers of Spring.
The crisp bloom's name can be traced to Old English affodyle, meaning early arrival. "The sweet o' the year," wrote Shakespheare, "when daffodils begin to peer."
Garden Lore: Pointing a finger at a daffodil was said to prevent it from blooming. Reputedly, it is unlucky to take a daffodil into a henhouse. Never mix your cut daffodils with cut tulips as they do not agree.

Sweet Peas

2011-03-04T10:01:00.000-08:00

This is the time of year we all long for more color in the garden, warmer temps on the lawn and dream of days that are to come. Being the optimist, I love arm chair gardening and sketching the early Spring containers and garden beds. But the one my favorites that speaks Spring loudly are Sweet Peas!
These old fashioned flowers, are once again in vogue. Breaking through the warming soil, these nuggets of sweetness are some of the best bloomers and most fragrant in the garden. Soon the sweet pea starts will be arriving. For those of us who fail to plant near Presidents Day, this is like striking Gold. Once you find them in the Nurseries...Plant Now! Here's a little forecast:
From the large petals of the 'White Diamond Wedding' to the darkest flowers called 'Black Knight' these flowers show off. Fragrant, mixed colors and marbleized blossoms dance atop curly stems. Names like Painted Lady, Old Spice and Knee High, conjure up strong images of flowers from days gone by. I'm especially fond of the Knee High variety as they act as a strong addition to any hanging container. Great color mix with long stems need little support as these beauties climb up the hanging container, but plant a few to hang down out of the container too. Using Sweet Peas as a trailing plant can bring pleasure to the passerby. Picking these flowers regularly for windowsill vases produce more flowers. Always let a few flowers create seed as they will assure your favorites for next year. Stay tuned cause the Sweet peas starts are coming.

Happy Anniversary

2011-02-10T10:58:00.000-08:00

Four years ago this past week, Bountiful Home opened.... and what a ride it has been. Recreated in what was The Weed Lady house, Bountiful Home has found it's place...a modest and cozy shop filled with Old World Home Decor and Nursery. Throughout the past few years the shop has had some huge successes and a few failures along the way....but I'd rather rest on the good things which spur me on each day. Garden festivals and Junk Markets have exploded across the Nursery and scattered the front lawn. Classes up stairs in the attic have warmed the house with laughter and movement and exposes many to the shop. Vintage Markets, away from the shop continued to grow the shop with new friends and more opportunities.
The leaning back porch of the shop is my makeshift office with an incredible inspiration wall. Upon this wall sits business cards and ads, Thank yous and Invites, pages from torn magazines, badges, gift tags, awards and posters. These are all great reminders of where I have come from and ideas to spur me on to where I will go. As I write, the preparations for this weekends 4th Anniversary of Bountiful Home are under way. I'm excited. So drop in on Friday and Saturday and enjoy some tea and cookies and help me celebrate this wonderful weekend.
A dear friend wrote to me in a card the day four years ago, on the eve of Bountiful Home's opening.... "Its twilight outside....and its sparkling inside. As I turned off the lights and walked through for the last time ( before the hoards of people come running in ) I paused and realized I had just walked through YOUR dream come true. Its true I'm living my Dream....please come by and enjoy it with me. Best, Todd

A little Shakespeare

2011-01-12T14:39:00.000-08:00

Blow Blow Thy Winter Wind
Thou art not so unkind
As man's ingratitude;
Thy tooth is not so keen
Because thou art not seen,
Although thy breath be rude.

Heigh-ho, sing, heigh-ho, Unto the green holly:
Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then heigh-ho the holly,
This life is most jolly.

Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,
Thou dost not bite so nigh
As benefits forgot:
Though thou the waters warp,
Thy sting is not so sharp
As friend remembered not.

Then heigh-ho the holly
This life is most jolly. William Shakespeare

A Christmas Jar of Twigs

2010-12-19T13:37:00.000-08:00

After a lovely day off, I returned to the shop in the stillness of the morning to find a dear friend had dropped off a wonderful bags filled with treasures. Nestled proudly into a brown bag was a trove of eyes delight. Savoring the moment, I pulled the polka dot glittered tissue aside.... my eyes smiled. I lifted a well loved Kerr jar from the bag to rest on my desk. Filling the jar were Hollyhocks stems dried lovingly by the sun. Their creamy fuzzy pods cracking open while still holding the desired seeds of one of my favorite flower. Birch twigs held tiny images of blue birds and smaller wires wrapped tightly around branches held miniature silver snowflakes, now dancing in my vision. Old ephemera books laid under the treasures. My eyes focused on the many findings entrapped with in the jar....shells, leaves, more seeds and small terracotta pots began to blur as my eyes, now swollen with tears, blended them back to their watering home.
I was taken back by my response to the little jar filled with the promise of Spring....but moreover the thought and action from which it came. I have been blessed by some truly lovely friends.... I added a few tiny rose hips and some stray pheasant feathers to the already brimming jar of Christmas cheer. Bits of drift wood and shells, pods and leaves took my thoughts back to where they came from...the garden now at rest! The sender knows me well and she captured the art of giving more then she knows. This simple jar....what a JOY! Bound with a sumptuous striped ribbon, I will enjoy and await the moment this Spring when I can once again return the gift from the Christmas Jar of Twigs.

Traditions....Simply Abundant

2010-11-18T10:30:00.000-08:00

The Thanksgiving cornucopia, spilling over with the fruits of the harvest, reigns an icon of autumn. Derived from the Latin for "horn of plenty," this basket is the most traditional of Thanksgiving centerpieces. Classically, it overflows with fruits, vegetables, gourds and Indian corn. But don't confine this iconic embellishment to the dining table. Cornucopias are warm, welcoming arrangements in a front hall or guest room or on a broad kitcken window sill. Smaller versions.... loaded perhaps with cookies, jams, chocolates, teas or coffees....make a much appreciated gifts.
Although the tradition of the cornucopia is ancient, it's meaning is still relevant today. Because it symbolizes the bounty of life, it can help remind us of the bounty of blessings we've received throughout the year.
I am blessed to be able to do what I love.
Blessings find you this coming season of Thanks. Todd @ Bountiful Home

Thanksgiving

2010-11-09T14:12:00.000-08:00

Although the calendar still says it's fall, by the time Thanksgiving arrives the chill of winter has usually settled in. And we have done the same. Thanksgiving always draws us close to home and family. The day itself finds our homes dressed in full finery. Candles lit. Silver polished. Center piece built. Linens pressed to crisp perfection. Amid the fall splendor, there's also a nod to winters pending appearance. We draw the drapes at night to fight the evening chill. There's a quilt on every bed and a warming fire crackling in the hearth.
Sandwiched between two spirited holidays, Thanksgiving is the quiet reflective one. Ideally it involves no major agendas or grand performances, save that of the cook. Rather it gives us that rare relaxed moment to focus on the blessings we've received in the past year and to welcome family and close friends for the sheer pleasure of their company. Before time consumes me again....Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Beautiful Hydrangeas

2010-11-05T15:05:00.000-07:00

Well, its been some time since my last post. Life here at Bountiful Home is moving forward with many new prospects and events that have carried me to this Fall. After a very successful retail show at Ruffles and Rust in Monroe, I returned to the shop to begin the Holiday Decor set up. But it is this season of repose, one of rest and change that I really crave. Autumn is truly my favorite of all seasons. Rich color floats under foot and the rustle of the leaves make the walks in the park more desirable. In my garden, it is the hydrangeas that were spectacular this year. Today before the rain set in I clipped and bundled the beauties so to share them with those who desire the same. Grab a cup of tea and go for a stroll in your own garden....You'll be amazed at what beatiful treasures you will find...perhaps even some Hydrangeas.

Silent Beauties

2010-09-15T16:33:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure how often we really slow down during our days, and recognize that we are people with great passions and loves. What are your favorite things? Some will acknowledge foods or sports but I will always tell you that my favorite things lie in the garden, the earth, surrounded by growing plants and flowering trees and vines... These are my silent beauties!

Gardening as Outdoor Theater

2010-09-07T11:50:00.000-07:00

Some gardeners, I believe, use gardening as outdoor theater, with themselves as directors. Some prefer the security of repeating a similar production year after year. Others prefer the challenge of new tableaux each year: the thrill of learning about new plants and how to fit them into the gardening environment is what gives them satisfaction. Some in order to understand the plants who are the players imbue them with human characteristics. They talk to them, praise them, interact with them, move them around the stage, changing the lighting....but, ultimately, if they fail to perform, they reach for the stage hook. I love this idea of gardening and I find myself very much in the midst of this thought. This is a wonderful season we are approaching, Fall. Embrace the season of change.

Re-purposing Furniture

2010-08-04T13:14:00.000-07:00

For several years now, I have watched and marveled at my dear friend CoCo, as she loved on cast off furniture. Schlepping old chairs and tables into her garage, only to emerge from an ugly duckling as a swan, these new found pieces would sing. Hundreds of objects would enter her sanctuary, disappear for a time and then debut as wonderful old world treasures. Book shelves, Hutches, Tables, Chairs, frames, to name a few, have been given a second chance at dwelling in someones home as a loved object. Soon, I became infatuated with the process and time that goes into these pieces. I was bitten! I now have become someone who sees things, not for what they are, but what they can be. And oh the joy that comes from watching these forgotten loved ones, transform before my eyes. Such joy that comes to the finder of these newly refurbished pieces of furniture. So let the art of re-purposing begin, continue and live on. Happy hunting

Lavender, Lavender Lavender!

2010-07-14T13:49:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite times in the gardens at Bountiful Home. 54 steps off Main street, this is Garden and Nursery is known to some as Edmonds 'Best Kept Secret.' Greeted by a rose-line walk and arbor heavy in rose petals the sweet scent of the day follows your footprints. Passing through the second arbor covered by Cecil Brunner roses, you'll brush a hydrangea that will take your breath away. Pure White blossoms with a tiny azure blue eye, smile back as you pass this old growth wonder. Previously formal gardens have fallen into a more 'informal' setting as your view widens into the Nursery behind the shop. It's a confetti of color everywhere! And the voices who see it speak, "Look at the Lavender." Huge mounds of Hidcote and Grosso lavender flank the entry of the side gardens which house numerous types of Succulents, Sempervirens and Sedums. The white bells of the Kiwi vine dangle freely over a newer plot of gardens boasting a study of Lime green, blue-green and Burgundy. Then the row of hydrangeas under the apple tree, scream out in shades of blue to whitish-green. It's Stunning.... if you slow long enough to take it all in. Perch yourself on a bench or step in the garden and breathe deep, and watch for the bevy of dragonflies that sporadically fly through the Nursery darting after bugs and each other. Its Lavender time..... and I'll see you in the garden.

The Rose on the arbor!

2010-07-08T10:39:00.000-07:00

  So many passerby's have slowed their walks to admire this great beauty. Flourishing in blush pink roses, this nameless rose speaks volumes of her time here on the property of Bountiful Home. Planted by the former tenant, lovingly known as The Weed Lady, this rose has been moved, chopped, hacked, picked and neglected. Planted some 30 years ago, she has seen customers grow and bring their children back to admire. Drought tolerant, this rose rambles up from the soil to be seen. Over night this rambler springs forth with smaller canes, then over night rockets higher and higher setting bud and getting ready to show off. Then as the summer heat sets in, utter joy is spoken to those who walk by and bend long enough to smell her lovely scent. What a welcome! What a rose! the sweet remembrance rose on the arbor.

The French Dress Form

2010-06-22T10:15:00.000-07:00

I hit this great estate sale last weekend and found this wonderful young lady standing on the grass. I had received a tip from a great customer and friend of Bountiful Home, so I hurried to the address and found a treasure. Elegant and stately, this dress form from the 1920's has everything going right for it. Her gears that moved the bodies form worked.... her metal skirt was working and her cloth covered body was well aged but lovely. Cloaked in a bit of rust, she sparkled!! I had to have her. Among some other goodies, she rode back to the shop in my truck, then proudly perched in the entryway, greeting customers with delight and surprise. I felt like she'd be a great addition to the shop for the coming seasons. Then only a day later this beauty found a new home. Loading her into the car, I told the new owner that I had named her Cozette, a fitting French girls name. So thanks for the visit Cozette, It was nice to meet you!

Joanies Cecil Brunner Rose

2010-05-21T10:48:00.000-07:00

Approaching this glorious climbing rose, one might view it as a thug, a tangled bevy of thorns, or simply spectacular! I am of the latter thought. When I started my biz here in Edmonds this climbing rose was swallowing the back porch with its layers of greens. Its companion in the knot garden was closing in on the bathroom window, perched on the second story of the house. Joan, the Weed Lady, who planted this rose, would pick these precious flowers in bud form and string them into garlands, make potpourri, and shared them willingly with those who stood long enough to admire it. The rose is scented unlike any other....Some mornings, it's scent captures my thoughts before I am even through the gate. Sweet yet peppery, this tiny, thumb-nail sized pink rose will steal your heart. Perfect in bud, smashing in mid blossom, and even wonderful in repose, Cecil Brunner is a rose to complete any garden. But I will warn to respect this beauty. Cecil is a harsh mistress. Today I enjoy the tales told about this rose and giving her away to those who pause long enough to enjoy!

Meet "Quiz"..........

2010-05-20T16:50:00.000-07:00

Meet "Quiz", our new shop cat. This little tommy arrived on the property with sad green eyes and a cry to melt the coldest heart. He quickly liked to torment me but not letting me touch him. But I quickly realized that maybe not touching this little guy was for the best. As the days slipped into weeks, I saw signs of malnutrition and loneliness. Customers would try to catch him and his little back legs weren't working well with his front legs. I had had enough. I stopped by the store and picked up good soft cat food and grabbed a blanket to make him a bed. Soon this little cracker with waiting for me in the mornings as I'd drive into the Nursery. He's a good little eater and his little body is slowly filling out. I'm not sure where he came from or where he is going....he is a riddle, a puzzle or a Quiz.... our new addition to the shop.

The Herb Lovage.

2010-05-19T15:05:00.000-07:00

A tall harvest for the timid gardener. To be known as the grower of the "love parsley" might give you an interesting reputation. It is not a common herb. Grow Lovage as an extra herb and to prove that you can really grow something BIG. Giant sized Lovage is a native to the Mediterranean. In Britain it grows wild in the country sides. Greeks and Romans considered it a pleasant medicinal herb. When herbal perfumes were the rage, it was an enjoyable bath cologne. Lovage has beneficial effects and soothing qualities during intestinal upset. But I like it best plucked from the plant and popped into my mouth. It has a celery flavor with a peppery back. Mature leaves are best on a pastrami sandwich and can reach the size of a small leaf lettuce. Its a back of the border perennial reaching 6 feet tall. Available in 4 inch containers. $3.95 each

The Antique Rose 'La Marne"

2010-05-18T12:30:00.000-07:00

The rose that greets every customer entering the shop is known to few as La Marne. This antique cultivar is one of those heirlooms that is lost to many but found by those seeking it's beauty and hardiness. A transplant from Europe in 1915 is the perfect hedge rose. It has a neat and erect bush habit, heavily covered in healthy, shiny foliage. It's a constant bloomer. Not a technical term by any means, but the truth! This little cracker has bloomed well into the first snow and photographed by Joannie the Weed Lady who loved and sold this rose and its buds for years. La Marne flowers are born on loose cluster and its color shows best in morning light. The shrub responds best in open, sunny areas vs shade. I defoliate this shrub in early winter on one of those incredibly sunny winter days in Seattle/Edmonds. Then early Spring I prune it to a stout "V" shape and sit back for the show. Blooming now along the walk up to the shop, I'd challenge anyone to resist this little charmer. Cuttings of this rose will arrive at Bountiful Home this Summer for purchase. Get one!

The Junk Fence

2010-05-15T11:59:00.000-07:00

A little more then three years ago, as I was dreaming of opening Bountiful Home, I had many sleepless nights. Tossing and turning, I'd wake to rethink the dreams I was actively dreaming. On one of those crazy sleepless nights I woke up to see the image of a fence made of other folks cast offs. I saw old bed springs as arbor roofs, glass doors, windows and screen doors as fence sections. Light fixtures turned up on end became planted containers, now adorning the fence, boasting sedums of many sorts. Pickets, lattice, drip pans and mirrors found new homes on the fence. The found objects have become signature in the shop as well as around the gardens. So one man's junk can be an other's treasure. Looking to make something wonderful out of the ordinary, can be an art and a joy. The experience of building it was wonderful and the garden that sits in front of the junk fence is a treat. Wine bottle borders, rusty bolts bouquets and metal rings from broken down whiskey barrels find themselves nestled into a hardy bunch of my favorite plants. The junk fence offers inspiration for all who seek greater joys to live by.

My May Day ....

2010-05-04T11:24:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning I got to the shop a bit earlier then usual to find a timeless greeting hanging from the front door knob of the shop. It stopped me in my tracks and then I smiled knowing exactly who it had come from.

A May Day basket is a .... simple gesture of "Hello," or "I love you"...."I'm thinking of you!" This tradition of greeting Spring, adorning someones door knob, and passing on good wishes is a fleeting art. Growing up I remember my great Aunt lived next door to us and every May Day I made a construction paper basket, and then race home to fill it from Mothers rockery now blooming with endless color. Forget Me Nots, Scillia, and Basket of Gold would fill the flimsy paper basket now drooping with wet stems. I'd race thru the garden gate and sneak towards Auntie Cecil's door. Sliding back her screen door I would proudly hang this funny little basket of love on her door.

Saturday, as the day went on, several customers who I have come to know from the shop entered bearing small gift from their gardens or sharing seeds of joy. "Love in a mist" seeds and "sweet pea" seeds accompanied warm thoughts of kindness. And if you think you missed it?.... Think again. You still have time to adorn and surprise an unsuspecting friend or neighbors door with flowers and thoughts of Spring.....and Oh, by the way! Thank you Joannie the Weed Lady for the May Day Basket!

New Stuff

2010-04-08T14:49:00.000-07:00

This past week new merchandise came pouring in as the furniture went flying out. So a trip to one of my favorite antique haunts and BAM... shops full again. With a bit of shuffling and finessing, the shop filled up with a wonderful garden feeling followed by PARIS. Not sure where that came from but there it is... Here's a picture.

Oh My...Look whose on Face Book!!

2010-03-28T11:48:00.000-07:00

Just to let you know that I am getting more connected. You can find Bountiful Home on Face Book at Bountiful Home and Nursery...stop by and become a fan. T

Spring Indeed

2010-03-20T14:25:00.000-07:00

Coming this week is one of my favorite perennials, Dicentra spectaballis Alba, White Bleeding Heart. Truly, the first promise of Spring. This woodland wonder is a sight to behold. Dangling delicately from long pendulous, leafless stems are small white hearts that open. The pink is equally as beautiful yet a smidge more common. These silent beauties seek shade and rich moist soils, but not soggy. Available in gallons this week, this special perennial will please and delight you for years to come. $8.95 a 6" container

Yellow Lavender

2010-03-19T09:17:00.000-07:00

The name itself seems to be a dichotomy, a yellow lavender? How can this be? Welcome Lavadula viridis, Yellow Flowered Lavender. This little charmer can grow into a monster if left to ramble. Short, dense flower spikes with creamy yellow to greenish top bracts and pine scented green foliage and attracts butterflies and bees. For the gardener who wants the unusual, or the weird and the wonderful, Bountiful Home's Nursery is starting to fill up with hard to find plant material and unusual specimens. Visit soon before this Ornamental Herb/ Tender Perennial sells out for the season. Great in containers...Full sun, avoid over watering and protect from hard winters. $4.95 4"pot. Welcome Spring!

My Friend the Weed Lady

2010-03-12T09:21:00.000-08:00

Many of you know the story and the iconic woman behind the business and the house. Thirty five years ago, Joan Searle was ahead of her time, making a business off gleaning and gathering weeds then spinning them into wondrous wares to sell and to be cherished for decades to come. Daily I am reminded that Bountiful Home and Nursery exists in the shadow of this creative woman. It was here, at the shop, when I was 14 yrs. old that I learned to appreciate the beauties of nature, the sound of trickling water and the flicker of crickets legs on the porch. This shop was a delight to the eyes and senses.

Joanie, as I call her today, is still a favorite in the shop, proudly perched on the window seat sipping tea or dispensing kind words to the shoppers who are surprised to see her. To me she is a friend and teacher, a creative mind and heart, an artist, decorator, gardener and lover of birds. She is an example I enjoy on a regular basis...Lucky me! So today, before the shop opens and I get wrapped into the business of the day.....I'd like to say, " Thank you" to Joanie.... my friend. Isn't she lovely?

Marshmallows are Here

2010-03-11T14:38:00.000-08:00

Last year "Swallow" Vintage Pantry and Gourmet Foods opened in the kitchen of the Bountiful Home. Happy Birthday Girls! But what you might not know is that the girls have cultivated quite a following of certain foodie items. So if you are reading this and are hungry....you might want to leave the room...hahahaha but better yet...read on!! Returning this Spring for its second Oscar nod is Butter Baked Goods Flavored Marshmallows. 4 flavors arrived and are selling fast for Easter and to those who love a good s'more! Raspberry, Passion Fruit, Chocolate and Toasted Coconut are here to tempt you. $8.95 a bag. More vintage inspired kitchen products and yummy foods, jams and honeys arrive this month. Stop by for a taste!

Spring is Coming

2010-03-11T14:06:00.000-08:00

After a brief hiatus, of inventory and painting, cleaning and dreaming, I'm back and ready to keep you posted on all the happenings with Bountiful Home and Swallow Gourmet Foods. The days will grow longer this Sunday and the Spring light will fall harder upon us. Soon the Nursery will spring open and the unique and hard to find plants will start trickling in....So stay tuned. In the mean time there lots of eye candy inside the shop. This sweet little Sparrow Time Piece is cast iron with roman numerals and retails at $24.95 .

Dr. Dandelion Soap in Lavender and Peppermint Scents ($5.95) have just arrived and Mistral French Milled Soaps have returned with some new scents for Spring. South Seas, Grapefruit/ Red Currant, Blackberry, Lilac of May and Verbena are among the favorites for me. Bars are retailing at 7.95.

A Winter Morning Walk

2010-01-23T11:52:00.000-08:00

I entered the shop this morning to find several new nose prints smudged onto the window of the doorway. I smiled, thinking, "I hope they enjoyed the simple and quiet view" that is now in the entry way of the shop. This curious space is a delight and a thorn in my side at the same time. The foyer sets the scene, the face and the feeling for the shop.
But it was the garden that I experienced as I approached the front door that stopped me. Talk about a mood setter! Tender green shoots were forcing their little heads surface side to glance back at me. Towering over them were the remnents of the Mother plant from last season, now needing a strong and swift pruning. I pinched myself to think that this is Winter and not a Spring blast! I dropped my bag inside and headed into the garden with a steamy cup of joe and my thoughts. Wandering down into the side garden I was encounraged at the specimens that wintered and looked great. The shockingly bright orange Heuchera Marmalde paired with the leafless branches of the Barberry now hanging heavy with little red berries stopped me. There is color all around me. The lime green trumpets of the Daphe boast bright yellow centers. Old Hydrangeas planted years before now weather any type of sun or shade are forceing brilliant new growth and promise a bumper crop of blossoms this season. And yes, even the weeds that visit my garden are showing color.
In these short winter days, as the light falls low in your garden, get out into your plot of soil and look.....listen....even sit still and enjoy it. You will find life stretching forth. A little clean up and weed pulling and you'll be ahead of the game once the Nurseries start to fill up. Do some arm chair gardening and dream! Dream about setting the mood.... a simple, quiet view, or a brave new face to the world.

The 3/50 Project

2009-11-28T12:48:00.000-08:00

Hi All, Its been a while since I last wrote.... The shop has been brisk with shoppers and keeping up with it all is consuming. Recently, Its come to my attention that theres a movement to save the Brick and Mortars our Nation is built on. Its called the 3/50 project. Basically what you do is choose (3) independently owned businesses you would miss if they disappeared. Stop in and say Hello. Pick up something that brings you a smile. Your purchases keep those businesses around. (50) If half the employed population spent $50 each month in locally owned independent businesses, it would generate more then $42.6 billion in revenue. * Imagine the positive impact if 3/4 of the employed population did that!! (68) For every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, only $43 stays local. Spend it online and Nothing....absolutely Nothing, comes home! (1) The number of people it takes to start a trend....YOU! Pick 3. Spend 50. Save your local economy. For more detail info check out http://www.the350project.net/

Look to the Rainbow

2009-10-29T12:56:00.000-07:00

A good friend shared a CD with me this past weekend. Its Deborah Cox, Destination Moon. Shes singing wonderful standards and ballads with her personal jazz twist. But I was completely taken back when track 4 cued up. "Look to the Rainbow" began to play in the shop and tugging strongly at my heart. Tears swelled and I had to excuse myself to wipe back the tears that seemed to flow rather freely. Now those who know me well, will admit that this is my kind of music, but it was the message that really nailed me. In a time when things are so uncertain and we stare down the barrel at the Holidays....Lets be Optimists! The words of this old ballad haunt my heart. "....tis wine for your lips and a song for your heart. To sing it whenever the world falls apart. Look! look! Look to the Rainbow, follow it over the hills and the stream. Look to the Rainbow, follow the fellow who follows a dream. So I bundled my heart and I roamed the world free. To the East with the Lark, to the West with the sea. And I search all the earth and I scanned all the skies and I found it at last in my own true loves eyes. Look! Look! Look to the Rainbow.........follow the fellow who follows a dream....!" I am blessed to be in the company of many creative folks and friends alike. It is YOU who spur me on! .... who GROW me! As a community of creative people, lets lead those who seek us for inspiration and ideas and be the light...be the joy and be optimistic. It takes so little to create a smile for someone. As the season of Thanks approaches us....lets look to the Rainbow, knowing we have the ability to create joy and "be joy" to someone else. Thanks for your distinctness! Following my dream, Todd

Save The Date

2009-10-29T12:21:00.000-07:00

Holiday Open House Weekend is coming fast. Save some time the weekend of November 13-14-15th and stop in for some Holiday Cheer. We'll be opening Sundays, starting November 15th from 12-5 through the Christmas Holiday. The shop will be brimming with good old fashioned Holiday Cheer and many delights of the season. Find unique gifts to share and treasures to give. But come early for the best selection. See you soon, Todd

The art of SAYING THANKYOU

2009-10-08T15:18:00.000-07:00

Thank you is undoubtedly one of the most important phrases in the English language. To allow a favour, some hospitality or a present to go unacknowledged is both selfish and uncivilised. But it is not just saying thank you that matters, it is how one does it. While today it is perfectly acceptable to send thanks for an informal supper in an email it is important to ensure that the message does not get lost in the medium. One should never resort to abbreviations that require teenage translations. A text that says " Thx it woz gr8 " is wholly inappropriate. A message saying "Thank you so much for supper last night - everyone had such fun and the pudding was to die for" is far more befitting. Thank you letters seem to be getting rarer by the day. It is such a joy to receive something hand-written and heartfelt in the mail, a tangible confirmation thats one's present, effort or good turn was appreciated. Writing promptly is also important; unlike revenge, appreciation is most certainly not best served cold. What one says is, of course, as important as how one says it. If you have been to a large gathering, your host is bound to receive scores of letters and notes, so you would be wise to ensure yours is not dull. This is one occassion when focusing on truth is much less important than writing something warm, amusing and generous to give the recipient a warming glow. So, if the soup was cold, the fish underdone and the company frightful, then concentrate on saying how beautiful the table looked and how delicious the pudding was. The same is true for presents. No matter how hideous, useless or plain insulting, one must still acknowledge them in the same way as something truly delightful. I should finish with a note of warning. Gratitude should always be kept in discreet proportion to the act in question. So , should you find yourself sitting quiet, grab a good pen and some special note cards and make someone's day by cultivating the Art of Saying Thank You.

Be Brutal and Imaginative

2009-10-06T11:26:00.000-07:00

Several years ago I was fortunate enough to spend a week in London and tour some amazing site and events. Chelsea Flower and Garden Show was high on the list as was Vita Sackville-West's personal garden known to us as Sissinghurst! And what a day it was. Gorgeous sunshine and endless rows of boxwoods surrounded this old castle, which was her personal home and study. After roaming for several hours and journally my experience, I asked a gardener who was "knees stained" and sunburn if he had some advice that Vita might have freely given to a traveling gardener like myself. "Be brutal and imaginative," he mumble with that thrillingly exciting accent. Years later I came across a chapter in Vita Sackville-Wests' book, A Joy of Gardening, where she wrote those very words..... Here's a taste. "Gardening is largely a question of mixing one sort of plant with another sort of plant, and of seeing how they marry happily together; and if you see that they don't marry happily, then you must "HOICK" (such a fun word) one of them out and be quite ruthless about it." That is the only way to garden; and that is why I advise every gardener to walk around his own garden NOW....and make note of what he thinks he ought to remove and what he wants to plant later on. I have enjoyed the thoughts and ideas of these great gardeners who have gardened before us so in the words of Vita herself, "The true gardener must be brutal and imaginative." VSW

A Poem

2009-08-18T14:13:00.001-07:00

Our days are so busy and our hours are so few.....And theres so little time and so much to do.....And the days fly by and are over and done before we have even half begun to do the things that we meant to do..... Yet never had time to carry them through......And how nice it would be if we stopped to say the things we feel in our hearts each day! Todd

French Inspired Pied-a terre

2009-08-18T12:14:00.000-07:00

Nestled into the greater Edmonds area is a dear lady friend of mine who I have come to know and love deeply. She shares many of the same passions as I do. A year ago, she invited a few of us to her home to share a light supper and have an old fashioned Ice Cream Social. Upon entering her home I was amazed at the collections that stood before me. Over the past year, she's called upon me to help her redesign and renew her home, using the wonderful, found, salvaged decor pieces she has collected. Yesterday, I stopped by to drop off some borrowed goodies. She was preparing for a rummage sale for the coming weekend. (oh Yes! I'll keep you posted.) We chatted briefly and then she asked me to step out onto her covered porch to give her a little advise on what she should sell at her event. Now I have been on the porch and in her garden a hundred times but this time I was seeing it for the first time. The long covered porch has always been an interesting place to view and store items that wouldn't fit into her home or garage, but today I saw two rooms. We sprang into action and removed the furniture she wanted to peddle and began rearranging this fantastic space into a cozy French Inspired Pied-a terre. Literal translation is small dwelling for occasional use, or foot on the ground! Suddenly the dust was flying and the transformation was underway. Outdoor mirrors enlarged the porch and gave it the sparkle she was looking for. Rearranged white furniture gave way to mirrored-topped tables with chairs stamped with french symbols.
Iron cherubs, and building corbels decorated the walls and tables. Plants softened the entire look and old glass bottles and jars were lovingly filled with blue hydrangeas and white star-gazer lilies. The proverbial chandelier....or two.... were hung and wha-la! French Inspired Pied-a terre. We had so much fun together recreating and renewing her porch. SO I think a new business could have easily been born yesterday..... RENEWAL DESIGN. ;-) Using Colleens furnishings, loved items, found art and a few new pieces, I recreated her dusty porch into a space where she can entertain, enjoy coffee and conversation, or slip into a daydream. Nestled into her big arm chair, she called this morning saying she was taking coffee on her new French Inspired pied-a terre. And yes the pictures are coming! Todd

A Great Weekend

2009-08-18T11:46:00.000-07:00

This past weekend some good friends snatched me away from the shop mid day Saturday and we boated to Everett for the weekend. The waterfront in Everett was bustling with the art show, FRESH PAINT. I'd guess there were close to 50 artists sprinkled along the marina and waterfront. Glass blowers, wood workers, water colorists were all present. Sunday morning a fantastic Farmer's Market sprang up along the street side of the Port of Everett. Fresh Corn cukes and Kettle corn needed to come home with us. It was a great show with many diverse styles of art and artists in action. We dingyed over to Jetty Island which is a man made spit in front of the Port that is kept natural and clean. The sun warmed our skin and slowed down the day as we roamed barefoot along the shore. Toes in the sand feels sooooo good. Reminds me of the summers we spent on the Washington coast in Tokeland WA. Good Memories! It felt great to get away and gave me a fresh perspective on the shop and gardens. I took pics but need to find the cord for my camera so I can load them.... and the Internet has been giving me some trouble so hang tight.... I'll shoot you some pics. Todd

Poems

2009-08-13T10:24:00.000-07:00

The man who follows the crowd is likely to get no further then the crowd... The man who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no one has been before. Creativity in living is not without it's attendant difficulties, for peculiarity breeds contempt. And the unfortunate thing about being ahead of your time is when people finally realize you were right, they'll say it was obvious all along. You have two choices in life. You can dissolve into the mainstream or you can be distinct. To be distinct you must be what no one else can be. Thanks for your distinctness. Todd @ Bountiful Home

Leading the season

2009-07-31T13:30:00.000-07:00

I love to change up the shop so it reflects the coming season...and despite the HOT week we have endured, I can't resist the warm colors and earthy feeling that Autumn brings. Richness abounds everywhere and I can't get enough of it. SO yesterday, I started to flip the shop into the late Summer colors and early Fall goodness. Vessels that once held stems of pink and blue Hydrangeas now boast golden pears and chestnuts. A large wooden gear, and rustic canvas print of St. John and his lamb, rests a top the mantle, while rusty iron candle sticks layer the scene. A very rusty old chandelier now hangs in the shop, while it waits for the right customer to take it home and hang it from their apple tree. Elements from nature take center stage, and rust stands tall. In the next week, the walls will be covered with a warmer color and the complexion of the shop as I know it today will recline into a Fall daydream. Brighten a dark corner with a new lamp, or reflect some lingering light with mirrors, better yet... let both elements share the same space. Layering is important in this approaching season, and for a good dose of what layering means, drop by the shop and I'll be happy to show you. Creativity is inventing, experimenting, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes and always having fun. To the Customer, change is welcomed and rarely ill advised. So while the light is strong and the days grow slower, enter your shop, your home, your room with a fresh eye...a new approach and dare yourself to "Lead the Season."

Dahlia's Dahlia's Dahlia's

2009-07-28T12:56:00.000-07:00

The Summer heat is upon us and if you are like me.....your'e hankering for a good down pour...24 hrs worth...a good soaking! With the heat comes some tired looking containers and Spring flowers that should be dealt with. My answer!!! DAHLIA'S. These tuberous perennials grow in most zones are a delight to the eye... Hot colors of Reds and Oranges, the Cool Magentas and Pinks paired with soft azure blue can make any neighbor slow long enough to stare and yell across the fence, " What are those flowers you have planted in those containers," which I would kindly wave back and smile saying, Lovely aren't they? Thanks I know! ;-) Dahlia's are water hogs and after you think you have watered them enough....return to it in the morning light and water them some more. They will thank you with many more blooms. Keep these bushes "dead headed", meaning pick off the old spent and faded flowers at the base of the stem. Dahlias can be found in many varieties, bush and bedding in heights of 15 inches to 6 feet high. All Dahlias have strong stems and are great cutting flowers but be aware you might want to shake off the earwigs before bringing them into your home.....those little snappers can live in the blossoms in more rural settings. For some reason, I favor the single varieties with their usual yellow eyes smiling back, letting you know Summer's grip will soon fade to Autumns glory. Enjoy Dahlia's.

A Long Time Coming

2009-07-27T15:45:00.000-07:00

After much consideration and prompting from good friends, heres the long awaited blog. I'm really rather looking forward to connecting with many of you and those who have grown me over the past few years. Sitting with my good friend Patricia today...aka Tippy Stockton in this insane HOT weather we are experiencing, we have laughed and reminisced about future plans and good times we have shared. Basically always solving world issues as we sip our ice water and laugh, knowing it feels so good to laugh. Coming off this past weekend Bountiful Home hosted 5 wonderful vendors in the gardens at Bountiful Home. Unique antique button jewelry, by Melinda Catalano, repurposed junk with The Salvage Studio, Lisa and Beth, and Chic Jewels for Urban Chicks by Patricia of Tippy Stockton. Debuting for the first Edmonds visit, was Talking Brush Stuido with Meagan and Brad Stockman original Fine Art Oil Paintings and good friends, Sandy and Kimi Hansen with a pethera of art work. These girls can create anything! Shoppers enjoyed it all and I was honored with a visit from Bob and Debi Kennedy of RETREAT and Deco Diva Debi....guru's in the design world. We had a tons of fun and all took home a healthy dose of Vitamin D . Chatter has begun to stage another event like the Vintage Summer Garden Market this September...so if you missed this one.... you'll have another chance to join us in the garden with many new friends.