Peonies are everywhere on Pinterest, including my boards. And as with many other Pinterest fads, I tried to resist getting on this bandwagon for a little while (also because they are insanely expensive: $12.99 for a few stems... really? I bet all these pinners are flower-poor).
But, I have to say, peonies make quite a splash at home (and they photograph rather nicely). And, as always, Trader Joe's came to the rescue with the $6.99 for 5 stems price tag which does not bust my grocery budget. What I like about these guys? First, they smell divinely (even though not all colors did so I made sure I smelled each bunch before buying it). Second, if you buy them while they are still buds, they last a very long time (mine are at a week now and they still look as fresh as ever). Third, they are insanely easy to make look great (I just added some eucalyptus - my go-to greenery - and they looked as if I labored over them for hours).
Verdict? I think I like peonies. A lot.
PS: Thanks to a good 8" - 11" of rain, Houston has been under water this past week. This, in turn, brought some interesting creatures out from lurking in the water. Here's what I found in my yard (not at all 6 feet long but still super cool!):
Hoping everyone stayed as dry as possible and safe! Other than our casually leaking windows, I have to report Chew, Rebel and myself were spared from any damage. Here's to hoping for an upcoming week marked by dry skies and just regular 98% Houston humidity.
A few months back, a co-worker of mine convinced me to join my company's Spartan Race team. He didn't talk it up much: he mentioned it's a long-ish run with a few fun obstacles. You know, no big deal. Something someone who runs as much as me should complete more than easily (read, you don't really need to train for it). Ha ha ha.