Looking Through The Window

Looking through my sun room window I see that the creek has overflowed a bit.  You can see the shimmer of the water in the sunlight.

It reminds me of how nature can alter things, change the landscape, change lives.  The tornadoes that ripped through the South left so many people devastated; my heart and prayers go out to them.  looking at this little overflow of water, I realize that it could be so much more than that, but as you can see in the photos below, Thistle Creek returned to normal without any help from anyone.

 Each day the trees get fuller and the woodland plantings that were so tiny when we installed them, they sprawl and thrive with very little care.  They provide a home for the birds and visual enjoyment for us.

I carried that viburnum in one hand when I brought it home.  I think it likes it here.

There are two extremely large butterfly bushes on each side of the virburnum.  I look forward to their blossoms.  They attract humming birds, and of course, butterflies.  I'm just about finished with my tea and it's time for me to get back to working on my slipcovers.  I hope to be able to show them to you soon.  They are turning out to be more work than I thought but that's ok, I'm enjoying the journey.

Have a great week.  Thanks so much for sharing tea with me today.




This post is linked to:
Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday
Tea Time Tueday
Wow us Wednesday
Open House Party Thursday

Shades of White

I have many books that provide a wealth of decorating inspiration.  Here's one of my favorites.

In true Victoria style, this book offers many stunningly beautiful photos of rooms and vignettes that display elements of white.  The photos depict a more casual decor which makes achieving a similar look in my home more doable. If you love natural linens, lace, and white ironstone, as I do, you'll enjoy this book.

I'd like to share the latest additions to my collection of white.

Milk glass bud vases, thrifted.

Westmoreland milk glass planter gifted to me by my dearest friend Faye.

Lovely Tiffin milk glass candle holders, ebay.

Ironstone water pitcher, thrifted.

Pretty embossed porcelain teapot, Homegoods.

Porcelain appliqued floral planter, Homegoods.

Thanks so much for visiting me today.  I appreciate your time and your comments.  Have a great week with many blessings.

I'm sharing this post with Faded Charm Cottage, Home Sweet Home Friday, Show and Tell Friday, and Feathered Nest Friday

A Slow Morning

I woke up earlier than usual this morning.  My son is going on his Senior trip and I have a lot on my mind. I have to make sure he dosen't oversleep (he's usually good about getting up on time but he had to get out extra early) I have to ask all of the usual questions...Is your cell phone charged?  Do you have enough money? There's a chance of rain, did you pack your slicker? A few other questions were asked and of course I got the expected response of  "yes mom" to all of them.  He knows the drill, I'm just double checking.  After he left, my thoughts immediately turned to all of the things that I had to do today.  Afterall, I was up extra early.  I decided to not waste a moment and jump right into my day.  That's when it hit me...The question that I asked myself -- Why am I doing all of this now?  I decided at that moment to slow my morning down.  I put the kettle on, prepared my favorite tea, pulled out some favorite magazines, took my tea to my bedroom, and had a lovely morning browsing my mags, listening to the birds sing, and watching the morning sunlight filter through the window.

So calming.   I'm glad I listened to my inner voice in this instance because so often I do not; there's so much to do each day. 

Thanks for taking a moment out of your day to visit with me and if you can, make time to have a Slow Morning.

Sharing this post with  Tea Time Tuesday, and Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday.  There's lots of tea time inspiration to share.

Bunnies and Brookhollow

As I prepare for Easter I am reminded of all the blessings that we have in our lives.  It is often the simple things that bring the most joy.  There's so much to be thankful for.

I am happy to be able to share my Easter table with you. 

The bunnies add a bit of whimsy.  Warms the heart.

The colours of Spring are so uplifting.  I love the pale green and silver accent pieces.

A touch of  lavender in the handpainted stemware complements the floral design in the china.

Couldn't pass up an opportunity to bring out the daisy napkin rings

How about a closer look

Here's a full view of the centerpiece.  No fresh flowers in time for the photos but I will most definitely have some for Sunday's celebration.

Now for the particulars:
China - Noritake Brookhollow
Chargers - Home Goods
Flatware - Napoleon Bee (Nieman Marcus/Horchow)
Stemware - Thrifted
Bunny Teapot - Tuesday Morning
Napkin rings - Crate and Barrel
Napkins - Home Goods
Tablecloth - Williams Sonoma (e-bay)
Candleholders - Sterling (a gift)
Centerpiece - Tuesday Morning
Ceramic Bunnies - Tuesday Morning
Silver Bunnies - Pottery Barn (they're salt/pepper shakers)

A closeup of the tablecloth and a prayer.

Have a wonderful and blessed Easter.  Thanks so much for visiting with me today.

I'm joining Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.

Vintage Style Lamp for the Cottage

I'm excited to show to you my new lamp--

Isn't it lovely?  Now here's the part that really makes this special.  It cost only $10!  I found it in an antique store sitting among other lamps with higher price tags.  I thought that maybe something was wrong with it so I inspected it closely.  It works perfectly.  It's just the look that I wanted for the sideboard in my kitchen.  I'm happy.

The bird embossed pitcher is a Home Goods purchase and the teapot is one I've had for a long time, Blue Peony by Nikko.  I placed them there so that you can get an idea of the size of the lamp.  Such a sweet vignette, it looks so cheery when the sun shines through the window.  Speaking of sun, we're expecting warm, sunny weather for this week.  The garden beckons.

This was a short post for me today, I'm in the process of making slipcovers for my wingback chairs (YIKES!)- We'll save those particulars for another post :-)

I'm linking to Show Off Your Cottage Monday and Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

Thanks for visiting me today, I hope you have a great day.  Many blessings.

Grandmother's Flower Garden

I have always admired and longed to make a quilt or throw in the Grandmother's Flower Garden pattern.  I have never attempted to make one because of all of those intimidating (at least to me) hexagons.  Those colourful, perfectly shaped, perfectly placed hexagons that result in such a beautiful, heirloom quality quilt.
I did, however, think that it would be great if I could find a small project where I could test my skill at creating one of these beauties without investing to much time.  I wanted the project to be one that I could actually use and not just store away as an example of my endeavor.  I found that project in this most delightful book --

Country Inn by Barb Adams and Alma Allen of Blackbird Designs.

Country Inn has quilt patterns, recipes, craft patterns, and stitchery patterns.  What excited me most of all, was that it has a pincushion using pieced hexagons for the top. The name of it is Flea Market Pincushion. This was perfect!  I had just recently agreed to a pincushion stitch-a-long with my friend Kathy, where we would each make one pin cushion per month over a six month period of time.  Imagine how excited I was when I came across this book and there on page 74 was a hexagon pincushion.  I started on it immediately and it resulted in the pincushion above.  Here's a look at the back of the cushion which uses a solid piece of fabric.

The center hexagon is appliqued to the fabric.  I like both sides.  I stuffed the pincushion with walnut hulls which gives it weight and a nice old-fashioned quality.  It has become one of my favorite pincushions.

By now you're probably wondering if the success of this project brought me any closer to making a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt.  The answer is NO.  This project convinced me that I am at capacity with projects that require many hours of piecework.  I cannot add another.  I will enjoy my little pincushion and continue to admire the work of others who produce those beautiful Grandmother's Flower Garden quilts.  I now have an even greater appreciation for them.

Thanks for taking time to visit with me.  I hope all is well and many blessings to you.

 

Sunny and Bright!

April's weather in my neck of the woods is proving to be a tad fickle.  A couple of warm days that make you think that Spring is in full force.  A few chilly, rainy days that remind you that it's not time to put the heavy quilt away just yet.  Then there's a day thrown in the mix that seems to catapult one right into Summer, and the mercury reaches 83 degrees...Can you feel that warm breeze wafting through the kitchen window?

It put me in the mood to set the kitchen table with a yellow colour scheme --

Not so much a bright primary yellow but a mustard yellow (dijon maybe)

I added hand painted stemware for a punch of bright colour and for the centerpiece, I kept the blue vase filled with the deeply coloured ranunculus and a few daffodils.

Mikasa's Rennaisance Pamela coordinates well with the tablecloth.  I love the basket weave texture on the rim...Speaks to the needleworker and weaver in me :-)

We can't have flowers without the bees.

Speaking of flowers, I found these napkin rings that echo the colours of the napkin beautifully.  I love the tiny little touch of blue in the center.

My table would not be complete without bunny and angel. They will be joining us for dinner.  May I present them to you?

Now to plan the menu.  That's always the most difficult part for me.  Something to satisfy a 21 year old young lady who counts every calorie, an 18 year old young man who's athletic and eats constantly, and then there's me and hubby who would be satisfied with soup and salad (and dessert).

Here are the particulars for this tablescape:

China -- Mikasa Rennaisance Pamela, thrifted

Flatware -- Napoleon Bee

Stemware -- Hand-painted, thrifted

Tablecloth/Napkins -- Williams-Sonoma

Napkin Rings -- Pier 1

Candle Holders -- Michaels Craft

Bunny and Angel -- thrifted (Angel is an August Moon figurine that reads "Welcome Friends")

Thanks for stopping by to spend time with me.  I appreciate your visits and your comments make my day.  I'm linking to the following blog parties:

Susan's Tablescape Thursday,

Kathy's , A Return to Loveliness,

Sherry's Home Sweet Home Friday

Please take a moment to visit these lovely ladies and all the amazingly creative people at their parties.

Mr. Bunny wishes you to have a great day.