Springtime in November

Yes, I'm going to rub it in to those people who live in really cold places where sweaters, heavy coats and ice scraping are now, or soon to be, part of your daily rituals.
I might complain in the summertime about the heat here in South Florida, but wow is the weather spectacular now. It's hard to get too wound up about Christmas and turkey yet while I'm humming around being inspired by all the glorious color in the plants and blue skies...

So, I offer my collage of colorful happies.
In numerical order, here are some of my recent moments of creativity or inspirations:

1. My first ever mosaic. As long as you don't look too closely at it where the grout has cracked a bit, I'm pretty damn pleased with myself! It will be hung proudly outside of our purple door home to hopefully let any strangers who come to the doorstep understand that 401 is a happy, colorful little home.

2. Two items in this photo are pleasing. First is the purple wreath I got at Target this week on sale for under $7. I guess it's out of season.. (sarcastic snicker.. ), and tucked in the middle is a little glass "screen bug" that I picked up from a craft fair in Key West last January. I can't remember the name of the artist I got it from. She was a real sweet lady.

3. Who says planters have to be really expensive? I bought that plastic planter at Home Depot last week and spray painted it purple and paprika to match our house. I think it turned out pretty nifty. And for about $5, plus the cost of paint, it was a custom-made bargain!

4. This is a close up of Ixora -- a hardy and native shrub that I hope will do well in the finicky area of our front porch. For more on this beautiful flower, click here.


5. This is a tiny little purple and pink-roof birdhouse I got on Etsy from seller Birdhouse Accents. It is adorable, and although no birds actually live there (very similar to all the empty swanky condos around here!), I'm happy to offer up a cheerful spot for them to visit someday.

6. Not a postcard, folks! Just a quick snapshot my hubby took today during our Sunday morning stroll on the broadwalk of Hollywood Beach. I LOVE palm trees!

7. Almost Martha Stewart-like overspilling pot of bright pink Impatiens. These flowers are pretty common, but are beautiful and generally pretty easy to keep up with. For more on impatiens, visit here.