Grand Opening

Even though my Etsy Shop has been up and running sincemid January, this is my official announcementto all of blogland.

To celebrate ~ I'm giving a 20% discount to all my wonderfulblog friends on any purchase, effective February 9thto February 19th.  To receive this discount, pleaseenter the code "BLOG1" when you place your order.  Thediscount does not apply to shipping charges.~Many of the items you have seen featured in my posts arefor sale in my Etsy Shop.  This fact may not be mentionedin the post since many parties prohibit linking up for the purpose of selling items.  And although I'm supposedto be a business woman ~ I'd rather party then sell :)Other items may also be for sale, but not listed on myEtsy site due to the fact that Etsy prohibits selling anything nothandmade or vintage.  So if you have any questions about anitem you have seen on my blog, please feel free to contact me viaa blog comment or an Etsy conversation.~You can check out my shop by clicking here orclicking on the cash register on my sidebar.~Here are examples of the type of items you will find there:
Nautical 3-piece place setting for two (2) with matching napkinsas seen in the post Winter Sailing.

This sweet little candle threesome which you can readabout in my post Layering Up.

And pillows made from sweaters which you can readabout in Knit Pillows.

Please stop by and visit when you get a chance ~ the shop is open 24 hours a day.

Garden Party

As I've been sitting here editing my pictures, Ricky Nelson's song "I'm Going to a Garden Party"keeps going through my mind, and I realized how excitedI am to be posting about something other than winter.~Now none of these pictures are from my own garden becauseI wasn't blogging last summer.  But Sarah saidI could share with you the pictures I did take one afternoon at thePark of Roses, which is about five miles from my home. 

  I took about 30 photos that day, and settled on justsix that I though were the best ~  but I think you'll seewhy it is called the "Park of Roses". 

 Unfortunately, I did not get names for any of these rosesbecause I had my grandpuppy with me and it was allI could do to hang on to him and get any decent shots. 

 I think pink roses in any form have always been my favorites, followed closely only by yellow roses, of whichI have no pictures.  They must have already gone over orI'm sure I would not have left them out. 

  I most prefer the old fashioned English roses, shrub roses, and climbing roses ~  and in my yard I like to underplant them with catmint and allow clematis togrow up through them. 

 And another favorite of mine ~ the oak leaf hydrangea. 
 

 Sometimes in the summer we don't notice all the beauty all around usand we take for granted all God's goodness in our lives. I think it takes the winter and the winter experiences of our lives forus to fully see God's grace, goodness and gifts to us.Open my eyes Lord to see all your blessings, even the ones thatwinter brings. Please join me over at Sarah's Modern Country Style for her English Garden Party~Lily-Rose Cottage for A Little Bit of Lace

Castle on the Lake

I found these two small bread and butter plates at Goodwill the other 

night and fell in love with their beauty immediately.

It doesn't happen often, but when it does, I can never quite

believe that I am finding vintage transferware sitting on

the shelves of Goodwill with all the other ordinary dishes.

They are petite plates, so delicate and fine ~ sitting like little

jewels on the shelf ~ sparkling like the gems they are.

"Castle on the Lake" is the name of this Johnson Brothers pattern.

I love the dainty flowers in the foreground and the scalloped 

edge of the plate.

The small treasures of life can be found in the strangest places and

often when you least expect them.  Thrifting has taught me to look for

the jewels of life in ordinary places, to value age, and to realize

that everyone and everything has a story to tell.

 

I love this serene castle on the lake.

~ 
Linking with 

Little Red House for Mosaic Monday 
~
Dittle Dattle for Amaze Me Monday 
~ 
Boogieboard Cottage  for Masterpiece Monday
~
Smiling Sally  for Blue Monday

To Be Loved

I cross-stitched this Valentine sampler all the way back

in February of 1985.  I didn't realize how old it was, but it's words

still ring true today.

I love the message on this sampler and the cheerful colors

promising that spring is just around the corner. 

~

I dressed the table with a pretty vintage linen and my lovely

strand of pearls.

And of course there has to be candy in some shape or form. . .

and candlelight . . . 

and cupids.  It wouldn't be Valentine's without cupids ~ one

of the cherished symbols of love.

So in this month and season that we associate with love,

let us remember all the year through, that 

"to be loved ~ be lovable".

Linking with

The Brambleberry Cottage  for Time Travel Thursday

French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

~
A Little Knick Knack  for Everything But the Kitchen Sink
~
Common Ground  for Vintage Inspiration Friday
~ 
My Romantic Home  for Show and Tell Friday
~
How Sweet the Sound  for Pink Saturday
~
Bargain Hunting with Laurie for A Few of My Favorite Things

One More Time

Just one more time ~ one more snowman tablescape ~and then I'm moving on to something other than snow andsnowmen and winter.So ~ how do you like this little guy? 

 He's the star of this week's table and family gathering.Since becoming addicted to dishes and setting pretty tables, I have found the secret to enjoying my dishes (and justifyingmy guilt), is to share them with others.  Out of this discovery has come our every other month dinners with my Mother andfour sisters who live nearby.We gather at someone's home, make great food and I bringmy dishes.   So here's our fun table for January. 

  I can tell you all about the frilly ruffled place mats . . . 

 my white dinner plates and double-print napkins . . . 

 and the pretty stemware. 

 But what I really want to tell you about is the wonderful timewe have together reconnecting after busy days and hectic lives. The age difference between my oldest and youngest sisters is20 years, but on this night, at this table, we are more than just mother and daughters ~ we are friends enjoying quality time together.  And I have found more important than anypretty table ~  are the people at the table. ~Linking withBetween Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday 

Fury or Glory

Mother Nature is blasting a great majority of the country tonight

with everything from freezing rain to piles of snow.

I cautiously proceeded outside this evening to snap a few

pictures of our current version of winter ~ ice everywhere.

 

It is a virtual winter wonderland.  Unless of course you have to

venture outside.  Surprisingly, the roads were quite good today.  It was the 

sidewalks and parking lots that were treacherous.

I took a little embarrassing spill myself this morning, as did

many others.

The question is ~ is this winter's fury or glory?

One can't deny, the ice is dangerous, and more than just a nuisance.

But on the other hand ~ the bright side ~ or as I'm trying to

give it a positive spin ~ it is nature with all it's bling on.

My little garden shed in the background tucked away admidst

the ice-covered branches.

They're calling for pouring rain tonight turning to snow and 

an additional 1/4 inch of bling.

If we lose our electricity tonight, my positive attitude is most

likely to go with it :)

Linking with

A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday

I Just Couldn't Help Myself

What's a woman to do when you're standing in line at the grocery

store and these daffodils on clearance are staring you down?

At first, I just leaned over to smell them, and then stepped back

in line.  But ~ they kept calling my name.

Besides ~ there's a nasty snow and ice storm coming in tonight

and I needed a little "fix" to get me through the next

onslaught of nasty weather.

So ~ with my daffodils in one hand and a bag of Hershey's kisses

in the other, I went through the self check-out line.

Now I know you're laughing at me, but over the weekend while

I was out, my daughter's dog somehow got up on my desk

and ate half my stash of kisses.  

  

  While everyone else is stocking up before the storm on the necessities of milk 

and bread, I'm buying flowers and candy.  A person has to do what they 

need to survive.  And oh yeah ~ the

dog is just fine ~ he has a stomach of steel.

~ 

But doesn't my desk look so much cheerier?

Isn't this yellow and white striped pitcher sweet?  I just

love it's cheerfulness.  It's not vintage and it's not handmade, so

I can't sell it in my Etsy shop, but it will go up for sale at

my next open house in May.  I found both the pitcher and bowl at
 Goodwill  on one of my treasure hunts and I love how they brighten

 my desk with sunshine.

I don't think I've ever had such a good time posting  pictures.

It's amazing how a splash of yellow can lift your spirits.

I hope they've lifted your spirits too!

 I'm linking withA Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday~Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday~Tracy's Trinkets and Treasures for Macro Party~My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday's Treasures~Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays