Beach Cottage Hydrangeas & How to Lose a Customer in One Day

G'day sweet bloggers, how you doing?   

Wow, thanks for all the Powder Room love, so glad you liked it, I didn't expect that...

Today I've been gardening, I kinda half-heartedly planned to get started on those old vintage doors we found (just realised haven't even shown you them yet...divine) but truly after I had got all the chores done I didn't really fancy it.  One of the perks of being a SAHM, the luxury of doing what you fancy...

So instead I did some gardening and planted out some more hydrangeas - these are pink and as I was busying around in the dirt, I thought how much I'm loving hydrangeas here - so vibrant and full of life, I know not why they seem to grow like wildfire in this climate, but I can tell you it works for me.

I got a bunch of these from a garage sale, a great price - an old Italian guy who certainly had a green thumb by the looks of what he had on offer.  I would like to tell you that he was the sweetest old guy, wowing us with his immigration stories from the 50's and throwing us a good deal on our finds.  

Alas, he actually knowingly sold us a dud garden hose, one of those twirly ones, you know?  We saw it there and assuming that, as an avid gardener, he probably had a whole heap of twirly garden hoses (thought, you know, he was like me and old neglected pieces of furniture) and was just getting shot of a few of his stash.  So, we asked him if it worked ok.  

Well his body language told us no, I nudged Mr BC and we sorta giggled, but we took it anyway, along with our flowers and a couple of books...

A couple of days later we went to water and Mr BC popped the swirly hose on the tap, turned it on, it popped right off and in the process soaked him in water. 

The moral of the story:  

never trust a dodgy old guy at a garage sale, even if he does have a green thumb

never sell a dodgy hose at a garage sale...first they know where you live, second, you'll lose a hydrangea obsessed customer for life!

See ya

 

p.s. I've been experimenting with my photography skills and wanted a vintage soft look to this photo, have you seen that sort of look everywhere?  I have, love it and decided to have a go...turned out like this, I think I might print this shot off as a notecard...

Anyone know a good place to get nice blank cards?  

Comments

[Jennifer]

Shame about the hose, but beautiful hydrangeas. I love the table they are sitting on, it's gorgeous.

[Wendy McDonagh-Valentine]

Absolutely gorgeous hydrangea!! I have more than 20 hydrangea bushes that line our property and they have the most gorgeous blooms every year. I was able to give away so many this year. Last year, I forgot to keep some for myself but I remember this year!! : )

~ Wendy
http://Crickleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

[Gretchen Schaumann]

What a fun story! Love your blogging style and humor. Gorgeous hydrangeas as well as photos.

[Lane]

The candle holders are adorable as always!! : )

[Susan Cole]

love the flowers... gorgeous. I had to comment because you asked about where to get blank cards. There is a website called Redbubble.... join up {free}, upload your photo/s and buy your own cards/prints/canvases etc. The quality is second to none.... I'm very amateur with my photography and joined for fun, my children & I made calanders/cards/t-shirts.... great fun & VERY professionally done. There is NO cost but for the actual purchasing of your card... you can sell on there too btw
good luck, let me know how it goes. Susan ~ :)

[prettythings]

Don't know about card stock in wholesale, but hope you find something worthy to affix your photos to. I'd totally buy them - even as 5x8 or 8x10 mounts to hang in my hall. I love your use of light!

PS - duct tape works wonders on shoddy old garden hoses.

Amy.

[Kerryanne English]

I love dried hydrangea for the winter when there is nothng much else about..... especially the blue/mauve shade. Pity about your hose!!

Make sure you pop on over this week Sarah, I'm having a GIVEAWAY.

Hugs ~ Kerryanne

[Vicki K]

Eventually I plan to have an entire garden of hydrangeas! What are those lantern-like things? I really really like them!

[Gina @ The Shabby Chic Cottage]

Good lesson to learn about dodgy old green thumbed gardeners!

You probably already know this, but, the color of hydrangeas changes with the acidity of the soil. They can range from purple to blue to pink, depending on the fertilizer that you use. I'm not sure which does what, but I know it's a factor. Sorry if I just told you something you already knew.

That will be a GORGEOUS card!

[Ruby]

thought i would check your blog for a new post before going to bed so i was pleased to see the beautiful hydrangea & beautiful photos! funny water hose story & love the lanterns! i hope you start a notecard line - i would definitely buy them! good night from the usa. ruby

[Clare]

My mother-in-law brought me round a bunch of beautiful hydrangeas from her garden yesterday and I have fallen in love with them all over again. I think I will need to get to a garden centre this weekend and plant a few at my place - I just hope I have the right conditions to grow them in.
Beautiful photos as always.

[Courtney @ Nesting Instincts]

you could try the Paper Source...I think it's papersource.com Lovely photos!!

[Cindy S]

I loved your story about the dodgy old guy. Sorry your hubby got soaked, but...;o) I love the look of your last photo, it would make a great note card. Hugs, Cindy S.

[Marcia]

Beautiful photos, and I loved the story of the old guy!
Blessings,
Marcia

[Gail McCormack]

Hi Sarah
Yell out if you want me to send you some stock card up, I buy it in bulk for my cards, it's 8 x 10" so you need to slice it down the middle, it's a lovely linen texture
I love hydrangeas, we used to have loads growing, but with the water restrictions, they sadly shriveled up one summer, I used to love drying them, I found the best way was to leave them in the container of water, the water eventualy evaporates and the hydrangea naturally dries

[Pearl Maple]

Cute post cute story.
Got to ask any gardner why he's be selling his hose. Like what you did with the photo touch up adds a pretty touch.

Fab make over for the powder room, think that proves again, paint everything white and it looks prettier and cleaner.

[Mary]

Beware of sly old Italians - this sounded like a movie scene, so cute!! Love them pics - cards would be great, even large prints to frame and hang!

I have several hydrangea bushes - some survive for years here, others hit the dust during periods of drought as they must have loads of water when it's hot, as it is here in Summer. I dry bunches - the different muted shades are so beautiful with vintage/chippy decor. Looking out the window I have two huge bushes in front of my porch - still loaded with fading flower heads - after this rain lets up I'll cut and dry more for friends who don't have any. Hope your plants flourish.

Hey Sarah - stop by my blog and see the fabulous things I found over the weekend at Artsy Fartsy's booth at an antiques mall. So many things made me think of YOU!

[beth]

Your photo turned out beautifully! LOVE pink Hydrangeas! Hope you have a great day! Beth.

[DesignTies]

Hydrangeas are my favourite flower :-) I love the blue ones the most :-)

Love your close-up of the hydrangeas in the vase. And the vintage effect is so pretty :-)

Sorry to hear your hubby got soaked by the bum hose!!

Kelly

[Mel (Shabby Chick)]

That's really pretty! I guess there are always risks when you buy something second hand but when you think how much you've saved on other things I think it's worth it! Just off to look at your powder room now...

Mel x

[Sarah]

Hey Sarah,
Those hydrangeas are so pretty.
Loved your powder room makeover too, that mirror is just beautiful.
Sarah
P.S: Loved your article in Country Home Ideas, How to Renovate & Decorate as well!

[Rachel]

Lovely as always Sarah! You have indeed captured the perfect vintagey soft look. Mmmm...I just love your cottage. The lanterns are fab!!!

Smiles,
Rachel

[Amanda]

I love Hydrangeas as well and I have them growing all down both sides of my house they are beautiful! Can you believe my Aunt had them growing all out the front of her house and they were probably 15 years old and huge and fully established and she pulled them all out and put in a boring hedge....criminal!!!

[Alison Gibbs]

Beautiful hydrangeas and what a sneaky old guy. Gift of the gab and conned you to buy his old hose!!LOL
Alison

[Toni]

Just discovered your beautiful blog! So refreshing. I do love these photos, and have tried many times to duplicate that soft look. Not much luck though.