Monday, November 29, 2010

"Parsley, Sage, (a whole lot of) Rosemary and Thyme"

It never fails that when I think about herbs, this song by Simon and Garfunkel pops into my head. I don't know why! My parents didn't listen to it and I only know the first line of the song, but that is just how my weird mind works! And, of course I have to sing it at the top of my lungs when it comes to mind just to annoy entertain my family. I know they love it!
I love the smell of the beautiful potted Rosemary plants that pop up in the stores this time of year, don't you?
Gorgeous topiaries in all shapes and sizes that call out for me to come buy them.

But, I simply cannot justify it when I have something in my yard that looks like this...
Nope, you are not seeing things...that is our Rosemary bush....err...tree...err...monstrosity?
I think it has almost reached the point of needing it's own zip code!
You can see why there is no way I can ever spend money on a Rosemary topiary when this sits in my yard!
So, I decided I would try and take advantage of it and get creative.
The first thing I did was find these vases at TJ Maxx for a grand total of $14 for all three!

I also picked up some of those little foamy, beady things at the craft store. I'm pretty sure that "little foamy beady things" is the technical term for them!
I went out and snipped some of my Rosemary and barely made a dent in the bush, but it was just what I needed to create this centerpiece for our kitchen table.


Here's another look!


The whole house smelled amazing. So much so that my hubby walked in and said "Holy Rosemary!"
I added some Wal-Mart ornaments hanging by ribbons tied to my chandelier, but still felt like something was missing.

Then I found the perfect table runner!

In case you can't tell, it has "The Twelve Days of Christmas" printed on it in colors that could not be more perfect for my house!
Here is a closer look at the details.


And one more look for good measure.



I think it looks so fun and festive!

And, until I get my large Evergreen Wreath this week, I wanted to find one more way to use my Rosemary.

I simply snipped the longest branches, tied them with a wide, red velvet ribbon and hung them from my wreath hook on the front door.




It was the perfect way to welcome my parents this past week!

I can't wait to show you more of my Rosemary creations and take you on a tour of my home all "Decked" out for Christmas!

Blessings to you from this
Southern Girl at Heart,
Vanessa

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53 comments:

DanielleisNesting said...

I'm trying not to covet your Rosemary bush! That's so great. I love the runner too.

Pam - @diy Design Fanatic said...

Pretty! When I was growing up, there was a huge(for a kid) Rosemary bush on the side of our house. It must have been 5 feet tall and wide. (This was back in Southern California). Your Rosemary bush is really pretty! Love the decorations, too!

Melanie said...

I love the idea! I know that it smells divine!

The Decorative Dreamer said...

I love it! I still have a large rosemary bush in the front yard that I brought with me from our old house over 7 years ago. I finally killed off the other large one in the back yard by cutting it down, but have two new smaller ones growing back there now also. I love rosemary like no other smell, I don't why, but I do! I've even given these bushes for housewarming gifts too. I love that song too, but was not raised by hippies either..haha! We must be hippie wanna bees. But only the good sincere side of being a hippie right, if there was one. LOL! Yup, I am gullable (at times) and hopelessly optimistic too! Very nice arrangements with yours, I hope to see more ideas, these are great!

Courtney ~ French Country Cottage said...

Love what you did with your rosemary Vanessa!! We too have a humongo bush...but ours is more tree trunk than rosemary at this point!! lol! Your rosemary looks fantastic in your vases-love it with the red! Hope your Thanksgiving was full of love and fun!! :)

Sue said...

I can't believe you still have an herb plant growing- it's winter! LOL Your vases look cute w/your sprigs and those thingamajiggies (my term for your little foamy beady things)
I love the smell of rosemary. I buy a little plant every Christmas but it is pretty much dead by New Year's. I don't know what I do! :-(
I was tempted to buy one again this year, but decided against it; but who knows- I may run back to the store.... But first I gotta get going on this whole decorating thing. I am so slow this year!
hugs, Sue

NanaDiana said...

Vanessa- It looks beautiful! Wonderful. I loved that old song by Simon & Garfunkle. I think I played their record til I wore it out!

I suppose you don't want to know that MyHero pulled out my huge rosemary plant because he thought it was a weed? Yeah..I wanted to do murder but was stopped by the fear of the law! hugs- Diana

DIYbyDesign said...

That's quite an impressive rosemary bush/tree. I love what you have done with it and I bet your home smells amazing. The rosemary combined with the red is gorgeous. Very creative...as always.

Anonymous said...

I love the simplicity of this...Just beautiful.....

Take care,
Lisa

Debbiedoos said...

I love the smell of Rosemary and what a great idea. My Mom had that album, to be honest I thought it was depressing, I still do...however it is a good album vocally! Great inspiration here Vanessa.

The Inspired Nest said...

I am so jealous that you have such a great rosemary plant! The arrangements are gorgeous!
Lacy

Ashley said...

Love your table arrangement! That table runner is beautiful. And what a great rosemary bush. I bet it smells wonderful.

michelle said...

Those are perfect!! You always have such wonderful ideas and place things just right! You are inspirational to me and I love your technical terms too! ;) Your rosemary wreath is beautiful and looks so beautiful with the red ribbon against the door! I can see your tree in the back ground and it looks so pretty! I can't wait to take the tour!!
So glad that you had a wonderful weekend!

Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door said...

Vanessa, I really like this idea! We have a rosemary bush, very small compared to yours! I've seen where they can grown up to 6'x6'! That's HUGE!
But this is such a great simple idea! And I can just smell the rosemary! Thanks for showing us this idea. Oh, and I love the 12 Days table scarf!

Kansas Amy said...

What a great use of your rosemary.. I am going to try it out as well!

Tricia said...

Wow, that is one huge plant! I love how you used it on your front door. I just got a little rosemary Christmas tree...love it :)

Jemsmom said...

Now that is just beautiful! I love the rosemary! Jemma asked for one of the little rosemary trees in her room this year! I don't know if I would do a wreath on the front door. That looks perfect and just think of how wonderful it will smell every time someone comes in! Gorgeous!

Amanda Dale said...

Beautiful, fresh, and lovely idea! Thanks for sharing!
www.theivycottageblog.blogspot.com
-Amanda

Modern Country Lady said...

Brilliant !! Looks great , smells great!!What more do you want!!

Carrie @ Dittle Dattle said...

This great! I could never get a rosemary plant to ever live for me :( I bet your house smells wonderful!

I would be honored to have you add it to my blog party

Amaze Me Monday Blog Party

Anonymous said...

Beautiful and creative on a budget. Just my kind of decorating. Love everything you've put together.

Atticmag said...

Rosemary is one of my favorites for decorating and cooking. You've got a fabulous bush growing there -- I've even seen it trained into a hedge. Hope you'll drop by and see our Christmas mantels. We're early this year. Jane

Lisa ~Suburban Retreat~ said...

Rosemary is such a great addition to your holiday decor ... it provides visual interest as well as the beautiful scent! Looks fabulous in your various applications!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Oh I love it. So simple and elegant looking. All of your decor in the background looks fabulous. What a great idea and I know the smell is wonderful too. Hugs, Marty

Bonnie@Creative Decorating said...

Great idea, Vanessa!! I don't have rosemary but I think I will go out and chop up the boxwood bushes that are overgrown in front of the house!! We'll see how long they will last!

An Oasis in the Desert said...

Great use of Rosemary, because I don't care how much you cook with it, you just can't make a dent in it. My larger one succumbed to heat stroke this past summer, but my neighbor has one in a more protected area & has offered its services any time I need it. This may be the time. Thanks for the inspiration.
CAS

Carrie @ Dittle Dattle said...

You proved that elegance and beauty doesn't have to cost a lot!

You're the best :D

Thank you for linking up to the first ever "Amaze Me Monday" blog party.

Unknown said...

Great ideas, Vanessa! We have rosemary (5plants) growing over our wall, so I am never, ever in need of it!!!
Where did you get the sweet table runner? That is my sister's favorite Christmas song of all time!
xo
lynn

claire said...

i am very impressed with all of your decorations! i am having a hard time recovering from Thanksgiving still...

Debbie said...

Now, I'll be singing the song too. I guess I do a tad better than you do. I know TWO whole lines.

Ha!

I am crazy about your rosemary decorations and wish that I had a big old bush from which to make my own.

I love the smell AND look of rosemary.

Val said...

Super cute. I can smell it from here. Ahh

DANA said...

What a great post! I would love for you to link this up to my linky party! http://danajeanward.blogspot.com/2010/11/link-up-giveaway-and-winner.html

Traci said...

How pretty! I can only imagine how wonderful it smells!

Olive said...

The rosemary looks wonderful with the red berries. I think pork roast and grilled chicken would be a fab use for it also. ♥O

Niki Jolene said...

I don't know which I like better---the door swag, the hurricanes, or the balls hanging over the table! And i cannot believe that you used rosemary instead of pine...what a fab idea!

I made a PB knockoff Christmas wreath..come check it out.

http://www.free2befrugal.com/2010/11/very-dollar-store-pottery-bar-christmas.html

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a great looking Rosemary plant! I love all your arrangements. Beautiful!

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Your rosemary filled jars look great and I bet they smell oh so good. Love that runner with the twelve days of Christmas.

Gail said...

Oh how I wish I had a rosemary bush like that! Love your rosemary filled jars. Everything looks so festive. Thanks for sharing.

Enjoy your evening,
Gail

Lynn said...

Your centerpiece is beautiful! I love rosemary and have two great plants in the garden. Often I'll tuck a couple sprigs into fresh flowers for the fragrance-enjoy:@)

Kathy said...

Love the runner, Wal-mart, wow! I have 2 huge rosemary bushes and never thought of that..thank you!

sheri said...

ok, just so you know - i have that same bush/tree/mountain in our backyard. Now you have given me some inspiration to go pilfer it and do something awesome. LOVE the ideas!

Unknown said...

What wonderful ideas and so lovely!

Pamela said...

How long does it take to grow a bush like that? Oh the things you can do with a rosemary bush. And you did some mighty beautiful things.

KimMalk said...

How fun, Vanessa. That is an amazing rosemary plant - the trimmings looks so pretty with those foamy decorative ball things ;). What a bonus you get a nice smell.

Kelly said...

I love how you used your rosemary! (Especially the branches on your front door) And yeah, what ARE those little craft foam beads called??

Kelly

Unknown said...

So elegant, yet simple, Vanessa. I LOVE it.
Have a beautiful day ~
TTFN ~ Christmas joys ~
Marydon

Anonymous said...

Hi Vanessa! Just popping over to tell you how festive and beautiful your dining room feels. Love your little red foam beady things...lol! I like how you thought out of the box and used Rosemary. I bet your house smells amazing. The twelve days of Christmas runner is my favorite!

Hope your having a great week!

Sherri said...

Wish I had that Rosemary!! LOVE that you used it in the house to decorate and on the door. I cut some springs off Leland cypress this weekend and did the same. And that table runner is adorable.

Becca Bertotti said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Becca Bertotti said...

Vanessa ... this is beautiful! I love your use of fresh rosemary! And, your table runner is fabulous! I want it! The ornaments hanging above are the perfect touch! And, how classy your front door is ... so inspiring! Girl, I've said it before ... you got skeelz! Thanks for sharing with the rest of us! Hugs, Becca

Bonnie@Creative Decorating said...

Okay, I just posted my version of your projects!!! I linked back to your post because I just thought it was a great idea!!

Kristen said...

Beautiful. Elegant and simple and I bet your house smells heavenly - I love rosemary. Your table runner is perfect!

Karen Sabrsula said...

Rosemary is my FAVORITE scent as well!! If you put those cuttings in a bit of water, they are very likely to root! My bush is bigger! LOL!!