flowers for your weekend and the giveaway winner

by Sharon Santoni

flowers in vase

I hope you have had a lovely week, here it has been cold and grey and good weather for staying inside near the fire.

Of course the ideal remedy for all the grey outside is to bring in some flowers, and today I treated myself to a selection in preparation for the weekend … and just because.

flowers in vase

I also have to announce the winner of my giveaway.  Thank you for your enthusiastic response to my giveaway, and for all the new subscriptions to the MFCH YouTube Channel.   A new video is soon to be released, and I am so happy to share it with you.

In the meantime, I am excited to announce the winner of my giveaway:

Paula, who writes the lovely blog Hill House Diairies.

Paula, we need to talk!  🙂

This weekend I’ll be celebrating the 6th birthday of this blog, with a reader’s tale of re-invention, so stay tuned for that one.   And have a lovely weekend, wherever you may be.

flowers in vase

32 comments

Brenda Flanigan January 22, 2016 - 9:01 pm

Your website is always a breath of fresh air. Love the French designs. Your home and surroundings look so peaceful. Be blessed!

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LadyL January 22, 2016 - 9:21 pm

These bouquets are especially beautiful.

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Paula January 22, 2016 - 9:29 pm

OH MY GOODNESS SHARON! I am overwhelmed! Thank you SO much, this is the most wonderful surprise. I am actually quite speechless to have won, so I will now have a large glass of wine to let it sink in and then I will e-mail you to gush all over again!

It will be an absolute delight to finally meet you – i simply cannot wait.
Much love,
Paula xxx

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Paula January 23, 2016 - 12:56 am

Congrats to you !! what a thrill for you . Are you taking along all Paulas , hehe!

I hope you have a wonderful trip and stay !!

Paula

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Sandra January 22, 2016 - 9:31 pm

Sharon:
Just beautiful and this lovely treat came at a perfect time. Needed to see flowers, as we are in the middle of snow that is to last until Saturday evening, leaving 18-24 inches of white. Thanks so much!

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Stacy January 22, 2016 - 9:39 pm

I can’t wait to see more lovely photos and perhaps a few from Paula’s visit. Congratulations!

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Margot January 22, 2016 - 9:45 pm

As beautiful as the flowers are, and they really are, I think the most charming thing in the pic is Ghetto. He is scene stealer and looks so cozy on the bench.

Congratulations to Paula!

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Karena January 22, 2016 - 9:52 pm

Have a wonderful weekend Sharon! Congratulations to Paula!
Thank you for all of the beauty you bring us!

xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
Dream of Spring

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Jeanie January 22, 2016 - 10:42 pm

Congratulations to Paula! You’re one lucky lady! Enjoy!

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Jamie from Kentucky January 22, 2016 - 10:57 pm

Congratulations Paula… I must start following your blog so I can learn more of the beauties of France and see your photos of Sharon’s French country home..

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Susan January 22, 2016 - 11:00 pm

Congratulations to Paula…I will be glad to accompany her, carry her suitcases, tend to her needs. I promise not to get in the way!

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Tasha January 22, 2016 - 11:21 pm

Congratulations to Paula!

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Lou January 22, 2016 - 11:47 pm

Dear Sharon, I find it difficult to give feedback on any and all of your post…… Reason being that I find them all extremely WONDERFUL!!!!! They brighten my day no matter what type I’m having. I thank you for your time and thoughts that you share.

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Kathy Forehand January 23, 2016 - 12:20 am

Oh, how I wish I had a garden from which I could bring in…and arrange…such beautiful flowers! But then…I can simply delight in yours! Thank you for sharing, Sharon! And many congratulations to Paula!

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Esther George January 23, 2016 - 12:20 am

Congratulations….Paula. Hi Sharon, your flower arrangement is just beautiful and Ghetto looks so cozy. It’s that time of the year over on this side of the world when you receive all the spring catalogues and I was thinking about your beautiful garden and wondering what you would pick to add to your repertoire. Thank you for sharing beauty. Have a lovely weekend, till next time, regards Esther from Sydney. PS we just had a flock of Cockatoos screaming past, the noise…you can’t hear yourself think and the other morning we were treated to a Kookaburra call which is very rare here in the suburbs, it sounds like human laughter, it is a beautiful bird.

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Sherry Hawkins January 23, 2016 - 12:48 am

Here in Virginia we are hunkered down for a record breaking blizzard….hope we have
enough hot chocolate, wine, coffee, books, etc. Metro has closed for the first time
In forty years! So your blog is a lifeline to another world where
flowers and beauty are available and there must be signs of spring. Thank you once again
for sharing…..

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Irene Peterson January 23, 2016 - 12:57 am

I always feel so refreshed when I finish reading your posts. Do keep your lovely flower arrangements coming!

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JaneEllen January 23, 2016 - 1:24 am

Even if I didn’t win, big congrats to Paula. How wonderful for her to win. I love your blog, am always so happy to see a post from you. Gives me little taste of travel anyway and hearing about your beautiful country. Thank you so much for sharing your life with us. I”m pretty darned sure you have many readers that are happy you have a blog also.
Happy weekend

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dottie monta January 23, 2016 - 2:23 am

Perfectly lovely and utterly welcome during a downpour of snow here in Pennsylvania! Must ask, is that one leafy green Italian ruskus? How very valuable and entertaining your past posts (some of which I’ve not seen) will be during our cocooning! Thank you for sending such beauty my way (love France; stop there every trip to Europe), and thank you for such inspiration! Love to you from across the Atlantic, Dottie

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D. A. Wolf January 23, 2016 - 3:32 am

6 years. Fantastic! And congratulations to Paula.

By the way, these flowers are the perfect antidote to the gray wet skies winter.

xo

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Carolyn Hall January 23, 2016 - 4:30 am

Congratulations Paula on your win. I just know it will be wonderful. Be sure to share your story with us all when you go.

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Pamela January 23, 2016 - 5:38 am

Ccngrats !! Paula

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Sue Fogarty January 23, 2016 - 6:44 am

Love Leucadendrons, they last for ages, happy weekend and a special pat to Gibson zany Ghetto

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Vicky January 23, 2016 - 10:03 am

Pleased to see you have a little bit of South Africa in your home(Leucodendrons)! They are just about the only plants that are surviving the terrible drought in Cape Town at the moment

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Heather in Arles January 23, 2016 - 2:01 pm

Hooray for Paula!! 🙂

And a huge congratulations to you for six wonderful years of blogging. Thank you for being so inspiring, always.

I had to do a double take on the photography too! It looks like you are using studio lighting…? Woohoo! Go for it!

Gros Bisous,
H

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Nancy January 23, 2016 - 2:19 pm

Well, your blog is the start of my day, each and every day…
Love your flowers….reminds me to bring some in for us…
Hope you have a delightful weekend…
Nancy

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Jeanne January 23, 2016 - 2:41 pm

Congratulations Paula! What a wonderful way to start the New Year.

Thanks Sharon for the beautiful flowers. I wanted you to know that I am really enjoying your book. What a tribute to these beautiful woman and an inspiration to me to be able to read about and learn what motivated their success in doing what they love. The photography is beautiful!

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Roxane Lacroix January 23, 2016 - 3:47 pm

Congratulations Paula! Speaking from experience, I think you will absolutely love Sharon’s cottage and her beautiful gardens and home. How I wish to go back soon! Such gorgeous flowers Sharon! I see Ghetto has once again picked the coziest spot to relax. Tulips have started appearing at our markets and I promptly snapped up two bouquets of white to brighten my home. I’m looking forward to more lifestyle videos, the reinvention series and more of your short stories.

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pam January 23, 2016 - 4:10 pm

Beautiful arrangement, I see snapdragons.

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franki January 23, 2016 - 6:27 pm

And..many more!!! franki

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Deborah January 24, 2016 - 5:32 am

Congratulations on 6 years for your wonderful blog, which I eagerly look forward to each day and makes me feel so connected to your little slice of heaven! But also to congratulate Paula for winning the stay in your lovely little cottage which, by the way sounds just lovely! You never let us girls down and always post something very beautiful and interesting! Just love your blog and have been a long time follower of you and “the girls club”!

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Kristianna January 25, 2016 - 6:51 pm

I just happened upon your blog and read your blog anniversary post. I am so glad you just did it (buying, renovating, and opening the B&B). You have obviously worked too long and too hard to be where you are. Life is not supposed to be all work and bills and work.

We already have a second home and plan to move there in approximately 5 years. I am trying to convince my husband that we need to do it sooner.

I will keep reading your blog.

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