~Pink Awareness~

Thank you, Beverly, for hosting Pink Saturday! Visit Beverly at http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com to see other sweet pinks!

Recently, while looky-loo-ing at a gift shop, this beautiful face caught my eye. She is the Byers' Choice Carolers Cancer Awareness Pink Ribbon doll. I could just see men and women everywhere, humbly and softly, singing their prayers up to Heaven.

How sweet the sound!

Pink Ribbons, to show we care!

I purchased this box of note cards to use for invitations, birthday greetings, or just to say hello. I love the soft pinks in the teacup, filled with pretty white flowers. I might even frame this one!

"Pretty in pink" granddaughter having a spot o'tea!

Remember to keep "living in the PINK"! God bless you!

Mary

Chipped and Beautiful!

Welcome to Chippy Paint Friday, hosted by the ever so friendly and vivacious Janice at http://www.thefadedcottage.blogspot.com/! Be sure to click on the shabby dog to visit her today and see what she has to show you, and be sure to look at her previous blogs. You will see some beautiful china and some fabulous finds that Janice has cleverly displayed in her darling cottage home!

I thought I didn't have much to show, but as I look around my house, I've discovered that I do have a few pieces, and I like the chipped paint, distressed look more and more all the time! I still love the freshly painted furniture, pictures frames, and whatever else I can find to paint, but there's something really cozy about pieces that have had been lovingly used to the point that the paint is just wearing off!

This little french country buffet has been used a lot. I got it at a thrift store about 15 years ago, and it was already about 30 years old. It was also in excellent condition, except I didn't really care for the maple stain. Ordinarily I like maple furniture, but this had too much of an orange cast to it. All these years, I thought about what to do with it...should I paint it black, and hand paint some flowers, or maybe roosters, on it? Or should I paint it sage green, or refinish it with stain in a warmer tone of brown? I thought, and thought, and thought, but I never thought about painting it white...til now. Once I started seeing all the beautiful white cottage decor and painted furniture in blogland, there was no longer a question...it would be white!

First step - sanding. Second step - priming. What a job!






































Two coats of primer later.




















After























.

I didn't know whether to paint the drawer pulls or not, but decided I would, and then sand them to look distressed, too.











































Now, even though it's an older piece that has been used alot, I haven't used it enough to wear the paint off yet, seeing as how I just painted it last month! So I decided to distress it a little, so it would look worn. I haven't done as much as I'd like to, because I got busy with other decorating projects, and didn't go back to sand any more.















I will...someday...but for now, I'm happy with it. I have another china hutch and buffet that I painted at the same time. Waaaaaaay too much to do at one time! I'll be posting pictures of that one in the future, but for now, it's on my sidebar, though you can't see either of them too well.

Have a wonderful week-end, everyone, and may God bless you all. Don't forget to keep "living in the pink!"



Mary

A Rosey Afternoon Tea

Thanks to Susan at www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com , our hostess  for Tablescape Thursday!  Be sure to visit her to see some beautiful table settings that will inspire you!

I have family visiting from Arizona for a couple of days, so didn’t have time to play with my dishes this week.  My pictures are from a tea that I gave for some friends last February.  I wasn’t blogging at the time, so I was just taking pictures for my scrapbook, and didn’t pay too much attention to proper “tablescaping”!

  I have one teacup and salad plate from the different series that Royal Albert produced, all of which are compatible with the Old Country Roses teapots.  I only took close ups of two of the teacups, so I could show the teapot place card holders and the menus.  I found some clip art that had long stem red roses, with the saying “A rose a day keeps the blues away”, and thought it was perfect, so I did the place cards and the menus to match.

Ordinarily, I would have had two Old Country Roses three tiered trays on the table, but  they were in the kitchen, waiting to be served, when I was taking  these pictures.   I ALWAYS forget to take pictures of the food!

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m so glad you stopped by today, and hope you will come back soon!   Remember to visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for more tablescapes, and don’t forget to stop and smell the roses every day. They’ll keep those blues away! 

AND…don’t forget to keep “living in the pink”!  God bless you all!

Mary

 

White Wednesday Treasures

It’s White Wednesday, hosted by KATHLEEN at www.fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com .  Just click on the White Wednesday button, to the right, to visit Kathleen and friends who are sharing their whites with us today!  It was difficult for me to decide what to take pictures of for today’s post, so I just took pictures of a lot of things and chose the ones that turned out best!  I hope you enjoy them.

Like so many of you,   I love the hunt for shabby chic, cottage style, or tea related items, and especially things in white.  Today we went on our weekly visit to a local antique store that always seems to have something waiting for me, this sweet blue and white rose handkerchief caught my eye immediately.  It was $4.  Ordinarily, I prefer things with ruffles or lace, but the roses won me over.  As often is the case, I have no idea where I will use it, but with one bathroom and one bedroom done in blue and white, I’m sure it will find the perfect place!

 

Roses and butterflies…ahhhhhh. 

 

Now, this sweet jewelry dolly came from Marshall’s, but I’ve seen it at T.J. Maxx and Home Goods as well, although I think they may have been a little bit smaller.  As you can see, it does not hold any jewelry, oh no.  I want it to take center stage and let nothing detract from it’s pretty curves.  If only mine were as…well, you know.

     

 

My little green wooden pot with the white  paper roses came from T.J. Maxx at least 8 years ago – I lose track of time – but it’s been awhile.  There are numerous places in my house that this rose bush looks good, I just have to move it from time to time, so I can enjoy it, no matter what room I’m in.  The “ribbon”, what is that stuff called, anyway? ahem, the ribbon on it is getting a little shabby, but hey, all the better!

  

 

When hubby and I went to the thrift store a few days ago, I spotted this white heart-shaped plate encircled with roses – it was love at first sight.  I think I paid about $2 for it.  How could anyone part with this sweet thing? It looks bigger in the picture that it is, which is about the size of a salad plate – perfect for holding a few cookies to eat while having a cup of tea!

!  

 

 

There was a picture of these three white pitchers on my Tablescape Thursday  post last week, but I wanted to show you how pretty they are in their new location on the mantle.  The mirror is a T.J. Maxx find that is sitting there temporarily, until I decide if that is where it will stay, before I put a big hole in the paneling behind it!  I do like the way it reflects the pitchers and crystal, or are they glass?, candlesticks.

 

Sometimes when I’m out scouring the shops for lovely and affordable additions to my earthly treasures, I think of the book, Simple Abundance, as I mentioned in a previous post.   Small, inexpensive items that make a house a home, that make a heart sing, or that just make us smile, and that add charm and personality to your surroundings can give us the sense of  well being.  We all know, of course, that true wealth can only be measured by our relationships and the people we love.  I hope all of you are wealthy with loved ones at your side, friends at your dinner table, and the peace of God that surpasses all  understanding!

Til next week, may God bless you, and remember to keep “living in the pink”!

Mary

~The Teacup~

 Good morning, everyone!  For today’s Teacup Tuesday, brought to you by our lovely hostess, Kim, I would like to introduce you to my yellow teacups.  I only have one of each of them, along with their matching salad plate, which is the perfect serving size for a tea.    After you’ve visited with my sweet yellow teacups for a while, be sure to click on the teacup to your right to visit Kim at www.shabbypinkandpretty.blogspot.com to see more pretty teacups!

But first, I would love to share this darling story that has been around for many years.  I would tell you who wrote it, but it slips my mind…I do think I knew once upon a time!  It has a powerful message for you and for me. 

 THE TEACUP

There was a couple who used to go to England to shop in the beautiful stores. They both liked antiques and pottery and especially teacups. This was their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.

One day in this beautiful shop they saw a beautiful teacup. They said, "May we see that? We've never seen one quite so beautiful." As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke.

"You don't understand," it said. "I haven't always been a teacup. There was a time when I was red and I was clay." My master took me and rolled me and patted me over and over and I yelled out, "let me alone", but he only smiled, "Not yet."

"Then I was placed on a spinning wheel," the teacup said, "and suddenly I was spun around and around and around. Stop it! I'm getting dizzy!" I screamed. But the master only nodded and said, 'Not yet."

Then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me, and I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips as He shook his head, "Not yet."

Finally the door opened, he put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. "There, that's better," I said. And he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. "Stop it, stop it!" I cried. He only nodded, "Not yet."

Then suddenly he put me back into the oven, not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening nodding his head saying, "Not yet."

Then I knew there wasn't any hope. I would never make it. I was ready to give up. But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on the shelf. One hour later he handed me a mirror and said, "Look at yourself." And I did. I said, "That's not me; that couldn't be me. It's beautiful. I'm beautiful."

"I want you to remember, then," he said, "I know it hurts to be rolled and patted, but if I had left you alone, you'd have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I knew it hurt and was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn't done that, you never would have hardened; you would not have had any color in your life. And if I hadn't put you back in that second oven, you wouldn't survive for very long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began with you."

MORAL:

God knows what He's doing (for all of us).
He is the Potter, and we are His clay.
He will mold us and make us,
So that we may be made into a flawless piece of work
To fulfill His good, pleasing, and perfect will.
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.
And God is faithful; he will not tempt you beyond what you can bear.
(1 Corinthians 10:13)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This morning, after I set the table for pictures, and made a pot of tea, I invited two of my neighbors over for tea and scones.  Why let a pretty table setting go to waste? 

 

All of these teacups were made by Royal Albert, and you may notice that  all have the same floral pattern  as  the ageless Old Country Roses pattern, but are  variation in design.  They each have their own matching salad plate, but go beautifully with the original Old Country Roses plates, as well.

  This one is Ruby Celebration Gold Damask,  from the Ruby Celebration series. 

 

 

This one is Cameo Peach,  from the Cameo series -one of my favorites.

 

 

 This one is Ruby Celebration Yellow Rosebud, also from the Ruby Celebration series.  I use these teacups, along with the others from this series, at Christmas, because of the pretty ribbon running through the flowers.

 

 By the way, I have a secret to a quick and easy scone recipe that can be made in a jiffy.  It’s Krustez Scone Mix.  I have used several scone recipes over the years, all of them very good, but this mix can’t be beat for FAST, FAST, FAST, and it can stand up against any homemade scone recipe I’ve tried.  All you add is MILK!  No cutting in the butter, etc., just add your milk – I use whipping cream – and knead only 2 times, not 3 or 4.  The less you handle the dough, the flakier your scones will be.   I know it’s tempting to knead them more, but don’t!  They’ll be tough.     I added dried cranberries to the scones pictured here today, but you can add any dried fruit, chocolate chips, or nothing at all. Either way, you’ll be proud to serve these to your guests or family.

Morning, noon, or night, tea is a delight!  I hope you’ve enjoyed “tea” today with my teacups and me, as much as we’ve enjoyed having tea with you!   Don’t forget to visit Kim for Teacup Tuesday.  Just click the teacup to the right!

Have a wonderful Tuesday, everyone. God bless you all, and don’t forget to keep “living in the pink!”

Thoughts for Spiritual Sunday

It's Sunday morning, and I'm not going to say anything that you would hear in church today. It isn't a prayer, not really, but it could become a prayer. The God that has blessed this nation, the God that inspired the writing of the Holy Bible, and the God that influenced the founding fathers to give us the Constitution of this great nation, is slowly being eliminated from our lives as a country. Falling on our knees in prayer may move the heart of God to shed His grace on us.

On July 4th, when our pastor quoted part of a speech made by President Ronald Reagan, I wrote it down so I could post it for the holiday. Then I decided to look deeper for more of what this man had to say about our country, and what I found surprised me to some degree, partly because at the time, I was a young mom not too concerned about politics, so I wasn't paying attention. I learned that his heart dictated what came out of his mouth, and he wasn't shy about telling the world that his heart belonged to the Lord.

I really hope you will take a few minutes to read all the way through, and I hope that your heart is touched by the truth of Mr. Reagan's message, and the last message of this post, which explains it all. I've added a wonderful Youtube video of the Gaither Vocal Band singing "America the Beautiful" at the bottom, for you to enjoy this Sunday.


"We stand together as we did two centuries ago… One people under God determined that our future shall be worthy of our past." President Ronald Reagan, Jan. 21, 1985

“Whatever else history may say about me when I’m gone, I hope it will record that I appealed to your best hopes, not your worst fears, to your confidence rather than your doubts. My dream is that you will travel the road ahead with liberty’s lamp guiding your steps and opportunity’s arm steadying your way. My fondest hope for each one of you—and especially for the young people here—is that you will love your country, not for her power or wealth, but for her selflessness and her idealism. May each of you have the heart to conceive, the understanding to direct, and the hand to execute works that will make the world a little better for your having been here. May all of you as Americans never forget your heroic origins, never fail to seek divine guidance and never lose your natural, God-given optimism. And finally, my fellow Americans, may every dawn be a great new beginning for America and every evening bring us closer to that shining city upon a hill.” Ronald Reagan (1992)

"We've got to do a better job of getting across that America is freedom -- freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of enterprise. And freedom is special and rare. ... I'm warning of an eradication of the American memory that could result, ultimately, in an erosion of the American spirit." 1989 farewell address.

"Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. Those who have known freedom, and then lost it, have never known it again."

"America was born in the midst of a great revolution sparked by oppressive taxation. There was something about the American character—open, hard-working, and honest—that rebelled at the very thought of taxes that were not only heavy but unfair. Today the proud American character remains unchanged. But slowly and subtly, surrendering first to this political pressure and then to that, our system of taxation has turned into something completely foreign to our nature—something complicated, unfair, and, in a fundamental sense, un-American. Well, my friends, the time has come for a second American revolution."

At a 1984 prayer breakfast, Mr. Reagan stated: "Without God, there is no virtue, because there's no prompting of the conscience. Without God, we're mired in the material, that flat world that tells us only what the senses perceive. Without God, there is a coarsening of the society. And without God, democracy will not and cannot long endure. If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."

"A young man whose father is a carpenter grows up working in his father's shop. He has no formal education. He owns no property of any kind. One day he puts down his tools and walks out of his father's shop. He starts preaching on street corners and in the nearby countryside. Walking from place to place preaching all the while even though he is in no way an ordained minister he never gets farther than an area perhaps 100 miles wide at the most. He does this for three years. Then he is arrested, tried and convicted. There is no court of appeal so he is executed at age 33 along with two common thieves. Those in charge of his execution roll dice to see who gets his clothing -- the only possessions he has. His family cannot afford a burial place so he is interred in a borrowed tomb. End of story? No, this uneducated, property less young man who preached on street corners for only three years who left no written word has for 2000 years had a greater effect on the entire world than all the rulers, kings and emperors, all the conquerors, the generals and admirals, all the scholars, scientists and philosophers who ever lived -- all put together. How do we explain that? ...Unless he really was what he said he was." Ronald Reagan

"[W]e've got to teach history based not on what's in fashion but what's important—why the Pilgrims came here, who Jimmy Doolittle was, and what those 30 seconds over Tokyo meant. You know...on the 40th anniversary of D-day, I read a letter from a young woman writing to her late father, who'd fought on Omaha Beach. Her name was Lisa Zanatta Henn, and she said, 'we will always remember, we will never forget what the boys of Normandy did.' Well, let's help her keep her word. If we forget what we did, we won't know who we are. I'm warning of an eradication of the American memory that could result, ultimately, in an erosion of the American spirit. Let's start with some basics: more attention to American history and a greater emphasis on civic ritual. And let me offer lesson number one about America: All great change in America begins at the dinner table. So, tomorrow night in the kitchen I hope the talking begins. And children, if your parents haven't been teaching you what it means to be an American, let 'em know and nail 'em on it. That would be a very American thing to do." Ronald Reagan


Reagan's favorite verse was John 10:10 where Jesus said: The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.


Please ponder this beautiful rendition of "America the Beautiful" by the Bill Gaither Vocal Band http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JXWXhteJ30&feature=PlayList&p=178F8F6D24251662&index=0&playnext=1

Thank you so much to our wonderful co-hostesses, Charlotte and Ginger. Visit them at http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/.

God bless you all, and please, God, bless America!

Mary

We’re In the Pink!

Happy Pink Saturday, everyone!  I’m a little late  today, so if anyone stopped by this morning already  and didn’t find me “in the pink”, please come on back by, and I’ll have the teapot on!    Thank you,  Beverly, for being our gracious hostess today.  After you visit here for a while, go on over to Beverly’s blog  at http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com  and see who else is “in the pink”! 

As you might know by now, I love Home Goods!  I like the quality of the items that they sell for such wonderful prices.  I don’t even remember where I shopped before they opened!  Oh, yes, it was T.J. Maxx!  Before then…hmmm…did I shop?  Probably not!  And then, lo and behold, the Dollar Tree came along.    I was in hog heaven!  So come on and take a look at some of my recent finds!

This metal container – what do you call it? – fits a little corner of our entry way, where nothing else seems to look good.  I bought some silk flowers at JoAnn Fabric to fill in the space, but I suppose I could use it for an umbrella stand as well.  Well, maybe not!

This picture of a pink rose, surrounded by a few buds, was a thrift store buy for only $7.20!  I’m thinking about painting the frame, because I’m not crazy about it’s drab color, but don’t really think white would look right.  Any ideas?

 

 

And these darling little votive candle holders  with pink roses were in a package of 2 for – get this – $1.00!  I bought 8 packages, which gave me 16, and gave one, filled with a vanilla scented candle, to each of my tea club ladies at the last tea I had in June.  You can scroll down to see more of that event.  I’m going to be posting more tea related stories and pictures next month, when we go to a fabulous place that is surrounded by antique stores!

Have a wonderful Pink Saturday, everyone.  See you next week!  Be sure to drop by Beverly’s and check out the other blogs for more beautiful pinks!Don’t forget to keep “living in the pink”!

 

~Chippy Paint Friday in White~

I’m so excited to see what everyone will have today for  Chippy Paint Friday, especially our hostess, Janice, at http://thefadedcottage.blogspot.com!  Be sure to visit her website and  all the other chipped paint lovers there.  You’ll find some great,  flaky and chipped, old, or new, and faded treasures that bring charm and character to our homes and yards!

This little side chair was a  Salvation Army purchase.   I had every intention of painting it when I got it, but that’s been about 5 years, and for some reason, I can’t bring myself to do it.  The original seat cushion fabric was horrible, though.  This lavender toile was a piece of quilting fabric  I had left over, so I threw it on there, thinking I would replace it soon.  Not. 

I love older, quality pieces that are painted.  I think they bring a sense of  personality to a room.

 

I bought several of these big pots at Costco many years ago,but didn’t like the red clay color – it  was begging to be painted.  So I used a bottle of white craft paint,  wet a sponge, then just rubbed it on around the pot til it was covered, then dabbed a darker shade of white over that.   The paint at the top has come off, exposing the red clay color , which matches the brick coping we added around the pool a couple of years ago, so now it looks great, especially with the old, aged look of the chipped paint.  I especially like the pink rose that grows so sweetly here!

 

BTW, pretend that you don’t see those weeds growing under the windows.  Honestly, though, I have planted that area so many times, and nothing, but nothing will grow there!  It’s total shade, and even impatients won’t grow.  Maybe some fake flowers will make it.  Maybe.

 

 I bought this plant holder at Home Goods about 3 years ago.  It wasn’t very chipped when I bought it, but it’s been outside and has naturally aged, so it looks better than before.  I haven’t decided where to put it, though, or what to put in it.  It just sits on the deck, here and there, looking  kinda lost – but I enjoy it anyway! 

Thanks for stopping by to see my first  contribution to Chippy Paint Friday  Now I’m going to click on over to Janice’s place and see what she and the others have to show us.  Come join me there! 

I hope you all have a blessed week. Be safe, enjoy your family, and don’t forget to keep “living in the Pink”!  

Mary