Pastel Dreams

Sometimes I dream of the softer colors of summer.
                                                   
* They remind me a cool breeze on a warm muggy day.

* Fresh fruit dripping with juice.

* Cotton candy and little children giggling.

* A sip of pink lemonade to quench a thirst.

* Clouds whisping across the  jetstream.

* Wading along a beachfront with the wind tossling my hair.

* Curtains gently blowing through an opened window.

* The sound of waves gently hitting the shoreline. 

*The scent of a freshly bathed baby.

* Slipping into a bubble bath.                       

* Easter Peeps                                     

* Prayer and God's grace.
* I hope to never outgrow dreaming!
Photos found on the internet.

Button, Button, Who's got the Button?

I've got the button(s)!!

At least once a month I try to stop in to "treasure hunt" at our local Good Will store.  So yesterday I spy this tin of buttons. The tag reads 99 cents so I ask the lady behind the desk to retrieve it from its glass casing.  She looks at me mysteriously and says "that can't be right!" The buttons are sellng for a dime a piece. I did notice some additional buttons marked as such ~ however; this particular container was marked 99 cents. She called another assistant to question her on the price and she  responded "it's marked .99 so sell it for .99"  

Now I'm not a so called "button collector" but when I saw such a variety of buttons it caught my eye right away.  I do have some crafting ideas in mind. 

So that's my "deal of the day!"

My Cup Runneth Over!

Okay I'll admit I borrowed this from a friend but I found it to be so true ~

…With time, people gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies. So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy. Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think....... ... Good grief, look how smart I am! Must be where the expression 'Smart Ass' comes from!

Personal note: I am oh so wise ~ My cup runneth over!

Show Off Your Cottage Monday

I've discovered a lovely site where you can "Show Off Your Cottage Monday." The link can be found in my right sidebar. 

I'm always up for something new so I decided to do my first posting on their site.  I have such an eclectic home, but I love the little things that make it all seem to come together ~ well at least well enough for my liking.

At first I just hung three little pictures ~ then I came across an empty frame. Of course I had to find the perfect place for it ~ and walla ~ oops, there it is. I love how it made the small grouping transform to a collective picture. 

What once was a simple cup and saucer soon became a collection after my sister's visit. Upon her return visit she presented me with a little box holding matching cups, saucers and dessert plates that she said were just taking up space in her attic.  I wanted to show them off so I put them in a huge fruit bowl with a few cloth napkins and grapes. They now grace my dining room table for all to enjoy.

It really is worth clicking on the picture to enlarge it. The cups are just beautiful.

Spring's Here ~ or so they say!

Scrapped by CherShots

Well they say Spring is here!

~ and a week ago I would

have believed you ~

we had unseasonably WARM weather

BUT now that SPRING is

officially here

we are ""Chill'n'"" in the 20's again 

with a whisp of snow

wafting in the air.

Brrr...

Strolling the Boardwalk

Yesterday we took a stroll down to the

river board walk.

As you can see the boardwalk is slightly tipping

due to the frost heaves as the
ground is warming up.

 

The ice is almost gone!

I just love our old bridge and the old fashioned

lamposts that line the bridge and streets.

God's Lemon Drop

Roses remind me of blessings in disguise!
~ God's little treat ~

like reaching into a candy jar and finding a sweet little lemon drop

scrapped by CherShots in 2009

Change of Seasons

Time Flies

whether you're having FUN or NOT!

My complaining about the snow is paying off...

we've graduated to MUD ~ YIPPEE!!

OH ~ we can't forget the FOG !

I did this scrap page last year

the sad thing is ... the seasons are changing once again and I still haven't accomplished half of my "so-called' WINTER projects

Hosta Mania

I love hostas! If it were up to me, I'd have them placed in various spots around my yard, however the deer like them too!  But regardless of my ongoing battle for a beautiful lawn to magically appear, I keep on drifting back to the mound of seed catalogs and internet landscaping sites as if I were rich enough to actually someday have a magazine setting.  Plants are expensive and I'm too thrifty!
This is a plea to my sisters ~ I will be eyeing over your plants this spring in hopes that when you see my sad puppy eyes you will take pity on me and share some of yours.  How's that for begging?? Come to think of it I should go go see the brothers too ~ they have big green thumbs . lol
My thanks to http://www.dutchbulbs.com/ for these great pics.

I am especially intiqued by this white hosta ~

but all of them are beautiful.

Now I'm wondering if it would be wise of me to buy stock in "Liquid Fence" before I start planting this spring!  As my Dad used to say "hm..  now that's something to ponder!"  

Memories and Escapes

 I woke up with such a headache this morning which I attribute to a bad nights sleep and a "kink" in my neck. My head and shoulders carried a lot of weight today. Oh to have "special powers."  I would have given most anything if a "blink of an eye" or a "twitch of the nose" could set me into one of my favorite places in the world.  Laird's Hot Springs in British Columbia, Canada.  We would stop on our Al-Can trips as we traveled to and fro for visists to the lower 48 while living in Alaska. I can't begin to tell you how theraputic those stops were after hours on the road.

I know the thoughts of my sister's passing away one year ago today and the passing of my Dad a few years back  - with today being what would have been Mom and Dad's anniversary - also played heavy on my mind.  Oh how I longed for that beautiful natural setting as a wonderful escape to ease my mind and ward off body aches!!

Tulip Time

Spring is coming and I'm so excited!!

Of course, we're still under snow ~

but listen folks,
I'm trying to be optimistic here!

Shadow Dancing!

I don't really know what it is about shadows that intrique me, but they do.  I like the way they change the appearance of whatever they are shadowing. Mom once told my husband "she doesn't need music to dance" and in a way that's what I see happening when I see shadows. Objects can be at a standstill but the surroundings change. The light plays with it, just like dancing without music. Who cares if no one else hears the music that makes you dance or whether or not they can appreciate the simple changes occuring simply by the light. I find it refreshing!

Dance and enjoy simple changes!

Winter Woods Walk

Although the North winds blew a little cool, we bundled up and wandered off along the woods trails.

Over the fields and through the woods back to Grandmothers house we go... after our loop de loop!

 This little stand of white birch trees always reminds me of
Bev Doolittle's paintings.

You know, the ones where "she hides animals" in her work.

Can you spot the hidden animal in the picture below?

Can you see it now?

How about now?

Perfect ~ Photographic Profoundly Pink Peonies

Photographic Profoundly Pink Peonies

I took this picture last summer of my daughters beautiful peonies. She had planted them the year before and was so excited to see how nicely they blossomed.  I wish I had that kind of luck with my plants. I'll just keep trying, just keep trying!

Blessings Surround Me

I got up early this morning and as I walked from room to room, I caught myself smiling.  I realized it's the little things in life that make me smile on a daily basis.


I started the day off by baking a rhubarb custard pie with steusel topping. I was pulling it out of the oven just before 8:00 a.m.  Now mind you, that is quite ambitious for the likes of me.

I spotted a deer right out the kitchen window.

I love my collections of glass bottles and cookbooks.

I adore this little teapot my Aunt Gerry snuck into my suitcase when we last visited her, just because she knew I loved it so.

And as you know from prior postings, we like wine. So I displayed a wine bottle surrounded by an ivy draping from a birchbark basket, setting alongside a grape motif plate box.

I recognize my blessings, large and small and will never take them for granted.

Give me Colors

As much as I love the change of seasons, after several months of snow covered ground, I begin to long for color.  White is beautiful for a while, but give me some green.  Give me pinks, reds, yellows, oranges, etc. etc. Give me colors!! I'm really not complaining, after all, it's my choice to live here,  it's just that I appreciate color. 

Fortune Cookie

We went out to eat at a wonderful Chinese restaurant last night. My fortune cookie said "Tomorrow you will shine in creativity." 

Well tomorrow is here and I have to believe whomever that cookie was intended for ~ it most certainly was not intended for me.  To even attempt being creative, I would first have to clean. I can't even find the countertop of my crafting area.  I hate to tell you but that is just not going to happen ~ at least not today.


Ah, but here's a thought... I could take one project into the family room, there's a bare tabletop in there.  I might have to pull out something to tinker with just so my fortune comes true.  lol

Now where's my crystal ball to see what I should do ~

Wine: The Nectar of the Gods

I did this 'WINE' scrapbook page a couple of years ago and seeing it again inspired some thoughts.

I have to admit, my husband is not a God ~ but he does like his wine! But who doesn't like wine? I just prefer mine a little sweeter than what he prefers his.  I know, it has something to do with that huge sweet tooth I've inherited from my father. 

As I was looking at the snow surrounding the arbor we built last summer, I was daydreaming (actually hoping) that the grapes we planted last year will survive our winter and crawl up and over the arbor within a few years, producing an abundance of fruit.

The leaves canopying the arbor like a little sanctuary, providing privacy from the outside world. Long white sheer panels swagged to the side lofting gently in the breeze, a bench, flowers, candles and wine glasses toasting last years harvest, while setting there gazing at those Concord grapes, hanging in mass, ripening for the present season.  My bottles are ready and waiting. Mmm ...  the scene, the scents, the ambiance.

Sigh...Ok, I'm back now.   

Is Hibernating an Option?

Today is just one of those dark gray days, when I wish hibernation were an option. Sometimes I think the bear has the right idea, it would be nice to just sleep away these kind of days and not wake up until the sun comes out and the air is fresh but warm. The older I get the less I like winter.  I loved it as a child. My brothers and sisters and I spent hours and hours playing in the snow. Digging tunnels, making snowmen, snow forts, snowball fights and snow angels.  But today I'm just wishing I were a hibernating bear! Too bad I'm not tired enough to sleep. Yawn!!

Here's Looking at You!

A couple of days ago I posted pictures of moose looking in at me from when we lived in Alaska. These pictures were taken that same day from my dining room window here in Michigan.

 

I just love everything about nature!!