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a slice of life

a slice of life

bird bath happenings

I don’t have a lot of garden memories since I spent the majority of my childhood in military housing apartments overseas, but as I’ve shared before, the garden memories I do have are from my Oma and Opa’s garden.  We lived with them when I was very little and my dad was on a hardship tour in Korea for the Army and during some summers when I was older.  My Opa loved gardening and birdwatching.  He loved animals in general and we often referred to him as Dr. Doolittle.  I don’t know if I’ve shared this before, but my mom had a menagerie of unusual pets growing up like a pony (they paid $25 for it and drove it around in the back of the station wagon), squirrels, a goose, a raccoon, turtles, birds, a goat, snakes, a white rat named Pedro, and dogs and cats, of course.  My mom

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a slice of life

April 2024 Creative Retreat Takeaways

I’m so glad I was finally able to get away for a Creative Retreat last week.  It’s been over four years since the last one, so it was way overdue!  I had my first Creative Retreat in 2018 and it was a special experience.  Other than blog conferences, I had never taken time away from home and work specifically for creative and professional growth, study, rest, and rejuvenation.   In early 2018, we had just moved to Minnesota, I was transitioning my business from furniture refinishing and selling antiques to whatever was next, and I had some big things to think about and questions about the future of my creative work to answer.  I came home with clarity and a renewed enthusiasm for my work.  Since then, I’ve taken a few Creative Retreats and learned that I need about one a year to clear the cobwebs, brainstorm, and gain a bit

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a slice of life

Isle of Palms & Wild Dunes Shelling Guide

Back in 2022, I wrote a post sharing Shelling Tips on Isle of Palms, and a year prior to that, I wrote a post with general Tips on Shelling.  I’ve since been back to Isle of Palms two more times and have stayed in another location further up the island in the Wild Dunes resort area, so I thought I would share an updated post sharing more specific tips as well as some favorite shelling locations. In my 2022 post on shelling on Isle of Palms, I divulged our favorite beach access for shelling – Access 42.  We usually stay on 41st Street, so it’s an easy walk or golf cart ride to hit the beach.  We rented a larger house closer to the heart of town in 2022 and used Beach Access 9 but didn’t find it to be a good area for shelling.  We ended up driving down

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Favorite Things

beautiful tools | copper watering can & mister

As I have shared many times over the years, I believe in having the tools you use every day be beautiful from dish brushes and bars of soap to brooms and scissors to pencils and grocery bags.  Functional items can, in most cases, also be lovely, aesthetically pleasing, and a delight to use.  They don’t have to be made of brightly-colored plastic that you want to hide in your cabinets.  Even the humblest of sponges or a pair of gardening clogs can be something you enjoy having in plain view.  For years, I have been using a plastic water bottle or whatever else I could find on hand to water my houseplants.  I finally decided to treat myself to a beautiful watering can that I wouldn’t mind sitting out on the counter or the shelf by the kitchen door.  After looking around at my options and thinking about it, I

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encouragement

a million chances | encouragement

We have six large maples that are half a century old framing our house.  I love the dappled light they make on the house in the morning and evening and the shade they provide in the summer.  They put on quite a show in the fall as well. There are a few downsides to having six large maple trees on your property, though.  They shed a lot of leaves in the fall.  A lot.  We have to pick up twigs and branches regularly in the yard to keep it tidy and save the mower blades.  Despite having the trees professionally crowned and cleaned last year, they still lose large branches when it’s really windy.  The other downside is those trees make a mess in the spring.  I didn’t really notice it last year, but I was pretty preoccupied with the kitchen renovation.  Since I’ve been outside a lot more this

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a slice of life

what’s in my gardening books stack

I’m a book-stacker.  When I am interesting in a subject, I’ll pull books on that topic and make a stack on my studio counter.  If I feel like there are holes in my collection or some tempting new books are available, I’ll buy a few more to add to the stack.  I’ll then grab books from that stack to read when I have some free time or when I’m headed to an appointment or another place where I might be waiting.  The current stack on my studio counter follows a clear theme – gardening.  It’s full of some of my favorite gardening books that I’ve had for years along with some that I just opened a few days ago. If you know me, you know I like big books.  Helping me move isn’t fun because not only do I have lots of boxes of books, but I have lots of

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a slice of life

back to IOP for a creative retreat

The last time I met up with Shaunna for a creative retreat was in February 2020.  We met up in Panama City Beach, Florida to spend a few days at her parent’s amazing condo that overlooked the ocean.  We ate charcuterie boards and ordered DoorDash.  We painted, played, talked, took notes, dreamed, asked questions, listened to music, and rested.  It was such a wonderful time and I couldn’t wait to do it again. (You can read more about my past creative retreats HERE.) Well, we all know what was around the corner in March of that year.  We have talked about doing a creative retreat for years but the timing was always off for one or both of us.  In addition, her parents were weary of repairing the property after the hurricanes (including a contractor who started squatting in the place) and sold their condo.  We would look at the

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Decorating

an ode to linen & Brooklinen’s 10th anniversary sale

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Brooklinen.  As always, all words and opinions shared are honest and my own.  Brooklinen is currently having its 10th-anniversary sale, so check out the bottom of the post for more details. An Ode to Linen by Marian Parsons *Ahem* Oh, linen, how I love thee.  Let me count the ways.  I have ten. Number one.  I love that you are a natural fabric.  I enjoy cotton and wool, but you are my favorite. Number two.  Instead of being worse for wear, you get better with age.  You get softer and more comfortable with each wash.  You age like a fine wine or a prize-winning cheese. Number three.  You never, ever pill. You just don’t.  Anyone who has ever slept on pilly sheets understands and respects this about you. Number four.  You feel cool and cozy simultaneously.  You are a wonder. Number five. You are

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I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

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May 20th, 2026 at 1pm EST

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