~Tablescape Thursday in Green~

Welcome to Tablescape Thursday, brought to you by our lovely and talented hostess, Susan, at www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com.  There are so many beautiful tables set just for your visit today…Susan’s blog is just a click away, and there are many participants just waiting for you to come by and say Hi!

I found these beautiful carnations in pink, white, and green.  I pictured them in one of my previous posts…the colors go with so many of my dishes, and I can place them in any room in the house…they look good everywhere.  I thought they were perfect with the quilt, purchased from Home Goods of course, being used here as a tablecloth.  I really like the look…it’s colorful, cozy, and really protects the table!

 

I remembered that I had a green and pink pitcher in the shed, so went to dig it out…then replaced it for the cut glass vase.  I’m not sure which I prefer…they each have their own look, but it seems that the pitcher is perkier for this color scheme…but then, I do love cut glass!

 

  

     

       

 

I found 4 of these gorgeous goblets at Home Goods on clearance…lucky me!

 

A set of 4 napkins in the perfect colors!  Where, you ask?  Why, Home Goods, where else?

 

 

This pretty shade of green is everywhere right now, and I happen to love green.  The plate is bordered by this sweet floral pattern.

 

Evening has come…

 

time for candlelight…

 

and roses.

 

A little pot with flowers and bird eggs, covered by a little glass dome.

   

This is my silverplate flatware that I use for semi-formal/casual.  I only use stainless steel for breakfast.   Not that I don’t like it, but I’ve had this flatware for over 20 years, and it’s still like new, so I decided it’s time to wear it out a little, before I’m no longer able to feed myself!  It’s made by International, and the pattern is Orleans.

I bought this little white teapot at an antique store several years ago, and just found the cream jug and sugar bowl at…drum roll, please…Home Goods!

I’m showing the teapot last because we will serve tea after the meal, along with some pie and ice cream!  I will show you the dessert cups and underplates on another Tablescape Thursday…they’re PINK! 

 

 

Please keep our Amy in your prayers…she still desperately needs a miracle.  Keep our troops in your prayers too.  We want them all to come home safe and sound, and soon!  May God bless our great nation, the land that we love, the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Have a wonderful Thursday, everyone, and may God bless you all!

 

Mary

~White Wednesday at Home~

Welcome to  White Wednesday, brought to you by our lovely hostess Kathleen at www.fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com.  Kathleen loves white, as you will see when you visit her blog, and you will find a list of other participants that enjoy the “color” white… so versatile, fresh, and loves to reflect the light of sunshine in the summer, which is my favorite season. 

I know that for some of you, summer is incredibly hot and humid, so you’re ready for fall, but I am so blessed to live in sunny California, where summers are mild, yet warm enough for swimming, shorts, tank tops, and sandals… some of my favorite clothes!  I love to take walks in the warmth of a summer evening, when all the neighbors are out chatting, or walking their dogs…the smell of a barbeque…oh, yes, give me summer any day!  

Another thing I love about summer?  That’s the season that my house looks it’s prettiest.  Most of our plants are in full sun, so we have a lot of roses…I LOVE roses!  But if you know roses, you know they are summer bloomers…well, here, they begin to bloom in late April or May, and continue blooming throughout September, unless we get an early fall. So for this White Wednesday, I want to show you a little of the outside of my home.  It is painted white, but I will have to show you some color in order to show  you the white house, so I hope you don’t mind my throwing a little pink in here and there.

Walking up to my tea cottage!  When having a tea, I hang my “Mary’s Tea Cottage” sign on the left of the door.  I didn’t have it there when taking this picture, but you can see it on my sidebar.  I’m thinking of making another one, though, with a little more pizzazz. 

 

You’re almost here!

 

  Two little birds I found at a craft store last year.  Quite often, I will see a real bird  flying close by, trying to visit with them!

 

  Geraniums peeking over the railing, saying hello to the double delight rose bush.

My husband built these railings several years ago, before he lost his eyesight.  He always liked working on cars, preferably race cars – LOL! – and never liked working with wood, but when I said I would love to have a railing on the porch, he wasted no time building it for me.  I’m very proud of him.

 

Our house was built in 1951.  We’ve lived here for 35 years.  We’ve grown old together.

A little girl and a little boy, holding an umbrella, while reading a book, with kitty looking on.

 

I should know the name of this plant, but I don’t remember.  I am trying to create an English garden, and this one was listed in that category.  Is it phlox, or maybe stock…do  you gardeners know?

 

I absolutely love a flower garden, and have several magazines and books about how to garden, but it’s still a challenge for me to remember it all, like which plant needs which soil ... but you will find me haunting the local nurseries every spring, buying up more colorful plants, some perennials and some annuals.  I usually have lots of pots filled with flowers on the deck, but my hubby is always running into them, so I had to cut back a bit.  So far, he hasn’t complained too much about the geraniums on the front porch…knock wood!

Just to prove that I’m not a gardener, do you see those pretty pink flowers behind the white ones…you know, that you can barely see?  I planted the taller ones in front of the shorter ones.  It’s not my fault…they were all the same size when I bought them in those 4” containers!   I wonder if I can dig them up and replant them…hmmm…gardeners?

 

This is actually a picture of the double delight next to the railing, which has a very light creamy center, bordered by a soft pink.  I think the sun shining on it just reflected into the camera, making it look more white than it is, so I snuck it in as a “white'” picture!  

This is a white wrought iron stake that I bought new…there’s another one on the other side of the walkway.  A couple of old, rusty, vintage stakes would have been  my preference, but I couldn’t find any. I’m still looking and when  I do,  these will go in the back yard…I already have a spot for them.

 

  I have to brag about my photo editing…I just learned how to add text to my pictures!  I always wonder how other bloggers do such amazing things with their photos…well, I haven’t conquered it all yet, but this is one feather in my cap!

I hope you enjoyed your visit, and will come back next week.  I’ll take you   to see a few more white goodies  that I enjoy out in the back yard and deck.  Don’t forget to visit Kathleen and the other white lovers…I’m heading over there right now.

Please don’t forget to pray for sweet Amy, doing better, but still critical, and her family.  They need our prayers.  And please don’t forget to pray for our military and their families.  So many young men and woman  are in the desert heat that would make us think we’re having a cold spell.  Please pray with me for their safety while serving, and a quick and safe return home to this wonderful country of ours.  Also the men and women from other countries that are fighting along side our troops…they also want to go home soon…pray for them.  Keep our leaders in your prayers, that they will seek wise counsel and make sound decisions for our nation. 

God bless you all.  Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Mary

~Tuesday is for Teacups and Prayer~

It’s Teacup Tuesday,  thanks to our lovely hostess Kim, at http://shabbypinkandpretty.blogspot.com/.  Just click on the teacup on my sidebar and you’ll be instantly escorted to her beautiful blog where you will find some beautiful teacups!  I promise to show you my teacup, but  first…

If you notice the picture to the right, you’ll see that it says Prayer Warriors.  That is what we are when we pray, because we are fighting a battle against illness and disease, and prayer is our weapon.  It isn’t loud or angry, like on a battlefield…it is quiet and humble, urgent and sincere.  A request for prayer has been sent by Sherry at www.countrywingsinphoenix.blogspot.com for her sweet niece, Amy, who is in critical condition,  fighting for her life in ICU.  She is barely holding on, but she’s not giving up.  Her mom, Debbie, is struggling to see her child suffering this much…it’s a heart wrenching situation for them... please pray for sweet Amy, and click on the angel to visit Sherry to let her know you are praying…she needs to know we are there for her and her family.

Amy, these roses are for you. 

 

 I know if it were my loved one, or your loved one, we would ask everyone we could to pray , so we can do no less for them.

Here is a darling mini tea set that I bought at an antique store a few years ago.  I paid $30, and thought I got a good deal…until I saw the same set go on ebay  for $15!   I’m not disappointed, though…I’ve enjoyed it $30 worth!

  

I love the pink roses and the scalloped edges.

 

Doesn’t she look like she’s wearing a pretty dress?

I want to share another book I received from my sweet sister for my birthday, “You’re Just My Cup of Tea”.   It reminds me of  a few years ago when my son was in high school.  I was in a group of five moms that got together weekly to pray for our kids.  We always had tea…scones, jam, clotted cream, sandwiches…the works, on a small scale.  We talked about our kids’ needs, ate, sipped our choice of tea from our own individual teapot, and then we prayed. That was twenty years ago.  Today, I still invite friends over for tea…we eat and we sip tea from our china teacups, and sometimes we pray…other times, we talk…and we laugh alot!  Even in the midst of trouble, God has given us the gift of humor, and perspective…sometimes things just aren’t as bad as we think.  Talking about it over tea really, really helps.  There is something very soothing about tea.

I happen to have a stressful life, so I drink about 3 pots a day!

 

To all my blogging friends…I really appreciate each and every comment…sometimes I can’t believe how many people are actually interested in my home or my teacups.  I’m amazed that there are actually people following me!   I have to tell you, dear friends, I don’t know where I’m going, but I love the company!  There are so many wonderful bloggers out there, with so much to offer, that I so want to make visiting here a good experience for you.  I would love to invite each and every one of you to my tea cottage…there’s nothing I like more than company, especially over tea.   I love cottage style, and I love tea, and I invite you to join me,  anytime, day or night.  I always seem to be here at this computer, but I wouldn’t mind at all getting up and putting the kettle on!

Thank you so much for the visit today…I hope it wasn’t too long for you…I’m not always this gabby!  Well, there may be some that would disagree with that.  Sometimes, though, when there’s something to say, you just have to say it, or the opportunity slips away. 

God bless each and every one.  I hope all your projects,  your hopes and your dreams are all that you desire them to be.   

Mary

Pink Saturday Sunbonnet Sue

It’s time for another Pink Saturday, brought to you by our lovely hostess, Beverly, at http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com . Please visit Beverly to see all the pretty pinks that are on display for you to see today.

This darling pillow was given to me for my birthday last week by one of my tea club friends. I have often admired her beautiful embroidery work, whether it' was on a pillow or on a garment of her clothing. I was so delighted to receive this pillow…Sunbonnet Sue is one of my favorite patterns…she’s a classic and always in style...and because I have a lot of pink in my home, my friend chose this lovely shade of pink for my pillow, which goes so well in my living room!

A close up of the intricate detail of her work. She doesn’t miss a stitch! If only I could do that!

I actually did begin embroidering again, and enjoy it so much…when I can find the time. I bought several patterns and took a class, in which I actually finished a project. Now I need to put it together in either a pillow or a frame. In the meantime, I’m so happy with my little Sunbonnet Sue in pink!

Have a wonderful Pink Saturday, and don’t forget to keep “living in the pink!”

Mary

~Chippy Paint Friday Finds~

My friend, Janice, over at www.thefadedcottage.blogspot.com is our lovely hostess for Chippy Paint Friday.  Just click on the shabby dog to the right, and she will take you to  see what fabulous treasures Janice has for us today.

Friday is here, and the week-end is just around the corner…time to get ready for rest, relaxation, or two days of traveling, entertaining, going to the beach…oh, so many things to do and only two days to do them in!  Recreation is so important for all of us.   It isn’t “spending” two days…it’s “investing” two days in yourself!  So get the map out, or the Bed and Breakfast guide book, and make those plans!

Tonight, I went to one of my favorite stores,  Room With A Past.  It is operated by great gals that go out to garage and estate sales, or thrift stores, or wherever they can find things, they clean, repair or paint them, and bring them to their store to resell.  I always find something I love, and tonight was no exception.  I found some  great treasures, three of which are beautifully chipped paint!

This pair of candlesticks only cost $12.00!  I thought that was the price for each piece, but no, it was for both!  Have you seen that IKEA commercial where the gal runs to the car with her packages, and tells her husband to take off quick? She thinks she “stole” the things because they were so cheap. Well, that’s the way I felt!  Let me pay for them quick and get out of here before someone realizes they made a mistake!    

 

 

 

Then I found these matching picture frames.  They were $11.00 apiece, and well worth it.  I have so many pictures that need frames, I could have used 10 of them!  At least now I have a start!

 

 

And last but not least, is this great rose picture I grabbed up  for only $10.00!  It looks like painted wood, but it’s actually  painted on canvas.  The colors are perfect. The only dilemma I’ll have is to decide where to hang it because it can easily go in any room in my house.  Oh, those decisions again! 

 

The chippy painted style  of furniture and home accessories is becoming a favorite in my home, especially when they look as pretty as these.    I hope you are inspired by these beauties, and find some for your own home…I know the chippy paint look will grow on you, too! 

God bless you all, and God bless America.   Don’t forget to keep “living in the pink!”

Mary

~Prayers for Amy~

Please join me in praying for Amy, daughter of Debbie at http://debbie-jeremiah3017.blogspot.com/ and niece of Sherry at www.countrywingsinphoenix.blogspot.com . Amy is in the hospital tonight, very ill and very weak, fighting for her life. Amy and her family need your prayers.

"For where two or three are gathered

together in my name, there am I in the midst of them"

Thank you and God bless you.

~White Wednesday With Feathered Friends~

Happy Wednesday, everyone. I hope your week is going great so far, and that it continues right into the week-end. If you're like me, and I know some of you are, you're in the middle of redecorating a room, finishing a project for posting next week, and trying to make sure there's a meal on the table for the family, all at the same time. But here you are, ready for another fun day of blog- hopping to see what has been made, purchased, or transformed since you were last here. I hope you find many new ideas and set your sights on another wonderful goal that will make your home and your heart sing!


Today, I was torn between two "parties", White Wednesday, and Featherd Friends, so decided that I would join in on both, since my contribution to the party is not only birds , but WHITE birds!


White Wednesday, brought to you by our lovely hostess Kathleen at http://www.fadedcharm.blogspot.com/ , where you will find a long list of WHITE lovers, and isn't that everybody? Those of us that love cottage style decor have scads of white to share with you. Even though it isn't considered a color, per se, white is always a winner in any room of the home, whether in upholstery or in accessories. You will always find a place for white!

The creative and industrious Gina at http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/ is bringing us Feathered Friends, for those of us that love birds...isn't that everybody, as well? She also has long list of participants, so you won't want to miss any of their beautiful birds! Do any of you have a hummingbird feeder? My sister has about 6 on her deck. When I was there last week, we sat outside and watched them flutter furiously as they gobbled the nectar. I didn't know that there were so many species, with different colors and markings. One particular bird made me laugh...he was "gargling"! He would get a beak full of nectar, and hold his back for a few seconds, as if garling...I couldn't believe it! They are so cute!


You won't want to miss either of these great parties. There are so many beautiful and unique things to see, you won't want to leave early!


I only have two birds to share with you today, as I was a little unprepared, but I hope you like them.

Now, I know at least two other bloggers have this teapot, and I'm not surprised, since so many of us are Home Goods shoppers. I'm pretty sure that this adorable teapot is sold elsewhere as well, but I don't shop any place else...except maybe Marshall's and T.J. Maxx! Their prices are so good, and they're always getting new things in almost daily, it's just fun to go look, even if I don't buy anything...and that hardly ever happens!

I don't know why, but for some reason, if I try to enlarge my pictures, they become blurry, but if you click on them for a full screen view, they become clear again...very strange. So, I'm leaving them in the smaller size so they won't hurt anybody's eyes, but if you want a close up, just click!



























I don't know if this pretty little bowl was supposed to be part of the set, but it looks just like the teapot, with the basket weave styling. I did see a two-handles covered bowl as well, but it had a small chip on the bird's beak, and there wasn't another one. No problem...I'm perfectly happy with two of these sweet birds.


















I really don't know what I'm going to put in this bowl. I had some little cards in it, but they looked so lost in there. So I put a few lemons in it, but they looked too big and bulky, so I took two out and put some clippings from a potted plant I have, just to see if I liked greenery in it.

No...I don't think so. Any ideas?
















I hope you found these pretty white birds as pleasant to look at as I do. Now I'm off to visit Gina and Kathleen for more inspiration and eye candy. Won't you join me on my adventure?

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


And don't forget to continue praying for our country and our troops. We can't forget that our sons and daughters, brothers, dads, and uncles, are there and they still need our prayers. Every now and then I visit a blog that has a young man's picture posted on the sidebar...I believe his name is Jordan...who entered Heaven this year... every time I see his picture, my heart breaks...for him and his mom. I will always remember Jordan...I want to remember them all. Hold them in your hearts, dear blogging friends...I think they can feel it.


Mary