~Shabby Chic Rooster Party~

 

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Happy Friday, everyone!  Its time for Barb’s Rooster Party, at www.bellavista.blogspot.com,

AND  time for Janice’s Chippy Paint Friday, at www.thefadedcottage.blogspot.com! 

I have the perfect roosters for both occasions…and they are so anxious to meet you!

This shabby rooster usually sits on top of the refrigerator, as he stand guard over the kitchen.  I let him down for pictures, since he was a little difficult to photograph way up there!

 

I bought this lamp at T.J. Maxx on clearance for only $20!  I really like the crackle finish.

 

I bought this rooster lamp at Home Goods about 4 years ago for $100.  I was feeling pretty guilty til I saw it in a decorating magazine, selling for about $300!

One of my favorite roosters is this green guy…he’s all wood and has an aged look about him.  He seems to be very intent on that speck on the table…mmm…a crumb!

Hey, you looking at me? 

 

Another great Home Goods buy, a little candy dish, adorned with another white shabby rooster!  My granddaughter has a habit of hiding my jewelry in it…when I can’t find a pendant or chain, this is the first place I look!

I hope you have a great time seeing all the roosters and chippy paints…there’s always so many wonderful home accessories to delight our eyes here in blogland, and today should be a lot of fun.

Please don’t forget that we have people in our blogging community that need our prayers…Amy, Andrew, Rachel, Ceekay, and more.  You can find some of them on my sidebar…please visit them to get more information on the specific needs and let them know you are praying for them.  Please remember to pray for our troops and their families. Keep our country in yours prayers, that our leaders are wise and cautious in making serious decisions for our nation.

God bless you all!  My tea cottage is always open, and you are always welcome…I always have the tea kettle on and scones in the oven. Come back and visit soon!

Mary

~White Wednesday Lights~

  Welcome to White Wednesday, with our lovely hostess Kathleen at www.fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com.  Visit her and other white lovers to see how beautiful and versatile white can be.  Just click on the lovely lady to the right, and you’ll be there in no time!

I was so busy the last couple of days, I was barely able to get this post together.  I had hoped to get some better pictures of these darling lamp shades…I took several, but for some reason, it just wasn’t that easy to capture how pretty they are.  I found them at Lowe’s, and thought they would look good when I had my Shabby Chic tea in June.  Along with the white slipcovers on the dining chairs, it was a very nice look.

With the lights on in the evening.

I’ve been racking my brain trying to remember what these are called…as soon as I go to sleep, it will hit me!  I saw this at Home Depot, and knew I had to have it!  I was going to paint an outline around the roses in a soft pink, because I thought they wouldn’t be noticed, way up there on the ceiling, but decided to do it in all white anyway, and think it was the right choice.  Besides, it would have taken hours to paint all that!

 

I usually don’t have any lamp shades on the chandelier, but there are times I like to have them, so I have 2 sets; this white set, and a  raspberry pink toile set…I use those during the winter months to lend a cozier feel to the room.

That’s just another little peek inside my home…I hope to show more in future posts, and hopefully, I’ll continue to get just a little better with the camera.  I didn’t realize how difficult it is.   I’ve been trying to tinker with different online editing programs, and should soon be much better at it…I hope, anyway!

Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone.  I’m continuing to pray for Amy and Rachel and Barry and Ceekay…please keep them in your prayers and thoughts. Please continue praying for our country as it goes through serious changes, and pray for our troops and their families. 

God bless you all, and God bless America, the land of the free and the home of the brave. 

Now just click on that lovely lady in white, and visit Kathleen and the other participants for more of White Wednesday!

Mary

~Teacups, Teacups, Teacups~

It’s time once again for Teacup Tuesday, brought to you by our lovely hostess, Kim, at www.shabbypinkandpretty.blogspot.com  Just click on the teacup to the right to visit Kim’s wonderful blog and the other participants that are bringing you their beautiful teacups or other tea related treasures!

I went to tea  last Saturday with the ladies from my tea club. We are in our fifth year since forming our club, which we named The Rose Petal Tea Society, and we address each other as “Rose Petal Mary, or Bev, or whatever our name is.  Each month, the hostess chooses the color or theme for the tea.  In June, our tea was at my home, and I decided on a Shabby Chic theme…I posted pictures of it in July.  This month, our colors were black and white, in case you couldn’t tell.  We went to Niles Canyon, about an hour’s drive from my house, to have tea at “Thyme For Tea”, and they have a very large gift shop as well as delicious food. They also carry their own house blend by the same name that is sooooo good!   I took my camera and got some great pictures of many beautiful teacups for you to see.  We were in teacup heaven!

This little green sweetie was my favorite, along with it’s matching teapot and cake stand.  It is made by Ashdene, in Australia.  I can’t remember the name, but the word “mint” was in it.  And look at the pretty green one next to it…I do love green!

 

Aren’t these lovely?  Puppy seems to be quite content sitting in the middle of these beauties!

Pretty yellow bumblebee teacups and teapot.  Notice that the body resembles a beehive…so adorable!  I especially like this set because I use honey in my tea…a LOT of honey!  There were 3 of us at our table that use honey, so we told our server to keep her little dishes and bring a creamer full of honey…one for each of us!

This is a two tiered plate stand with the pretty birds singing to us!  I thought it was just a garland sitting on top, but it’s actually attached and part of the stand.  Too cute!  The teacup sitting there is adorable as well.

Oh, be still my heart…aren’t these gorgeous?

 

 

As you enter the tea parlor, this beautiful china hutch greeted us with beautiful teacups!

 

Oh, how elegant these are!  Another beautiful shade of green!

  

Being silly…this little hat is adorned with cherries…it goes so well with her  outfit…I think she should buy it, don’t you?

 

No, she should buy it!  Sue, it’s you!

 

 

I think I’m going back for this one!

Isn’t this gorgeous?  What a beautiful shade of pink!  Why don’t I buy these, too?

 

One of the girls bought this one…so pretty!

For anyone that loves pretty note cards, this is the place to come!

 

I do wish I had a tablet and pen to write down the names of all of these beautiful teacups, but my hands were full…camera, purse, shopping bags…you know how it is.

I think these are exquisite…the shape of the teacups and teapot, with their pretty scalloped edges, the butterflies and dragonflies…my granddaughter would love this set, but it was quite expensive, at least for a 10 yr. old!

Rose Petals caught shopping.  We had one lone Rose Petal that forgot to wear her black and white, but she’s pretty in pink, anyway!

 

Having a little laugh!  These two are sisters that I have known since the summer before starting high school. 

Soooooo  much to see!

Singing Happy Birthday to Margaret, only 70 yrs. young!

I hope you enjoyed this little tour and meeting a few of my Rose Petal friends.  We have such a good time at tea …I recommend a tea club to all of you. If you don’t know of one, start your own, like we did. 

Of course, this is just a small sample of all the teacups, teapots, linens, china and accessories that we saw.  I will show you a few more in coming weeks, so if you enjoyed these, be sure to come back for another visit.  I always have the tea kettle on, scones in the oven,pretty china teacups on the table…you are always welcome at my cottage!

Please, before you go, remember to pray for sweet Amy Dawn and all others that you know in blogland that need our prayers.  Pray for our courageous troops that are far from home and missing their families…they need a blanket of prayer to cover them.  Pray for our country, that our leaders will listen to wise counsel and make wise decisions for our nation.  and that it will always remain one nation under God.

Now, click on over to Kim’s to see even more beautiful teacups!

Met Monday Hutch Makeover

This is my first participation in Metamorphis Monday, brought to you by the very creative Susan at www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com.  Just click on the yellow butterfly to the right, and you’ll join Susan and the other bloggers that have some wonderful transformations that will inspire you to create more beauty in your home or yard.

As I continued to collect teacups, teapots, china, collectibles and everything else to do with tea, I found that I had literally run out of room for storage.  So for months, I looked for a china cabinet that would work in my home.  After looking high and low in antique stores, thrift stores, flea markets, garage sales, I told hubby that I was just going to give it up, and find other nooks and crannies for my goodies. Then one day, I was browsing through a cottage decorating magazine, and saw a china hutch that I really liked.  It had an open hutch top, and I thought that would be the perfect style for me.  I hastily went to my trust dusty computer and googled Craigslist.  The very first hutch to appear, being listed that very day, was this china hutch and buffet…for…$75!  The young woman selling it told me it belonged to her grandmother, and she tried to keep it, but it was just too big and it really wasn’t her style.  She also said it was big and heavy, so I had to wait for my son to get off work so he could go with us to help hubby load it on the truck.  Well, when we got there, I took one look and knew I had a winner.  It was solid knotty pine, and the entire buffet bottom was all drawers!  That’s exactly what I needed for all my linens, that were in stuffed in drawers all over the house.  I couldn’t wait to get it home and begin the transformation…Here it is!

Before

Sanding stage…these sanding blocks (there is another name for them, but I can’t remember it off hand) are great…they made the job easier for me, since I have a hard time controlling the electric sander…it always runs away from me. 

 

 

I tried to get a better shot of the drawer pulls…they are adorable!

     

 

The priming stage…a lot of drawers…I hated this part.  After I got it all taped papered and taped, I realized that it wouldn’t work and took it all off! 

 

First coat of paint

     

 

And after…I really like it.  I had planned on embellishing the curves on the top, but I just got impatient and wanted it done!

 

You can see the little French Country buffet that I posted previously…it’s over against the wall…see it?

 

Last month, I posted the little French country buffet that I purchased at Teen challenge Thrift Store many years ago…I always planned on redoing it, but never knew quite what to do…so when I brought this home, it became clear that it should be painted white right along with my “new” china hutch.  We did them at the same time…what a job! Not sure I would do that again, but it get done and we brought them both in the house at the same time… I loved them both!

I have to give a lot of credit to  Shari at www.mycottageofbliss.blogspot.com . She has a wonderful tutorial on painting furniture that I found to be very helpful.  Shari is so sweet friendly…she way beyond the call of duty to answer my questions and research products for me, and she encouraged me along the way.  I did have some problems with the paint, so I really needed that encouragement!  I also got some great information from Cindy at www.myromantichome.blogspot.com .  She has another great paint tutorial on her website, so if you’re thinking about painting any furniture, they will be there to help you!

I think that at first, painting a piece of furniture can go against all reason, but what I found to be so great about it is that it unified my hodge podge pieces into a cohesive cottage style look, which I have always admired, but was always afraid to try for myself.  Once you dive into that paint can, all fear is gone…go ahead…you can do it!

Thank you so much for visiting me today, and taking a peek inside my home.  I hope to participate in this event again and again…I gain a great deal of joy from finding wonderful things to add charm and character to my home, always with the desire to make it inviting and comfortable…and always have it ready to serve guests a cup of tea and a scone…cottage style does that for me, but it can be done with any style in mind, with an imagination and a can of paint!

Please continue to pray for Amy, Rachel, Wanda’s mom, and the others that you know  in blogland that need our prayers.  And please continue to pray for our troops, the troops from other countries, and our own United States of America.

God bless everyone!  May Monday be the beginning of a wonderful week for you!

 

Mary

~Spiritual Sundays and Journaling~

Thanks to Charlotte and Ginger, wonderful hostesses of Spiritual Sundays.  Click on the SS button to the right to visit them and other wonderful friends that have something to share with you.

 I began jouraling when I was only 8 yrs. old, when I received my first diary.  I wasn’t talking to God at that time, only to myself, or so I thought.  As the years went by, it became apparent to me that someone was hearing my heart and  dreams, my hurts and my anger.  If you don’t already journal, I hope you will consider doing so…you will be blessed.

I once was Women’s Ministries Director for our church, and during that time, we had a monthly meeting for all the ladies, usually a brunch.    Each month, I brought a “lesson” and this is a portion of one of them.  I actually do not remember from what source this came, but I kept this on my computer, and wanted to share it with you.

JOURNAL WRITING: A TOOL FOR PERSONAL GROWTH

Establishing a closer communion with God is the very reason for fasting, so constantly seeking Him in prayer is absolutely vital. Prayer is expressing our devotion to our heavenly Father, inviting Him to talk to us as we talk to Him. Following are just some of the benefits of the spiritual exercise of journaling as we fast and pray

1. Over a period of several weeks or months, daily entries provide a means or reviewing God’s work in our lives.

2. Record the progress of a particular goal or the application and benefit of a new discipline or biblical truth.

3. Journals can serve as personal history books; leaving a legacy of your life is a wonderful gift for your family. Record daily prayers, and get in touch with and record personal feelings.

4. Journaling helps us slow down and refocus in a fast paced world.

5. Journaling provides a means of recording important lessons God is teaching us daily.

6. Journals provide records of God’s answers to prayers and other gifts received from Him.

7. Journaling give permanence to your life, rather than fleeting thoughts or memories that can be lost by passing time.

8. Journaling is a written dialogue with God, as you write with your heart, and write as He shares His with you.

9. Journaling lets you listen to God, and to communicate with each other.

The first step: DECIDE to keep a journal; purchase a special notebook especially for journaling

Next, if you have difficulty finding things to record in your journal, you may use this list as a guide:

1. What has God revealed to you about Himself?

2. What has God revealed to you about His purposes?

3. What has God revealed to you about His ways?

4. What has God done in your life or through your life that has caused you to experience His presence?

5. What scripture has God used to speak to you about Himself, His purposes or His ways?

6. What particular person or concern has God given you a burden to pray for? What has He guided you to pray for in this situation?

7. What has God done through circumstances that have given you a sense of His timing or direction concerning any aspect of His will?

8. What word of guidance or truth do you sense God has spoken to you through another believer?

9. What adjustment is God leading you to make in your life?

10. What acts of obedience have you accomplished this week? What further steps of obedience do you know God wants you to take?

Well known journalers: King David, King Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, the apostle Paul, the apostle John,

Without journalers, we wouldn’t have a Bible!!!

God bless you all.  Have a wonderful Spiritual Sunday!

Mary

~What’s Your Home Goods Style?~

Before I get tell you about Home Goods,  if you aren’t familiar with Jennifer at The Old Painted Cottage, do yourself a huge favor and visit her website!  I started my decorating search there, and it has inspired me so very much.  I know of a few bloggers that have had their homes featured on Jennifer’s site…now she is about to unveil her own home that she has been working on for oh, so long!  Jennifer is a sweetheart and is so encouraging…just click on the link and add her to your favorites, because you won’t want to miss anything!

http://theoldpaintedcottage.blogspot.com/2009/08/save-date-cottage8.html

 

A sweet gal by the name of Jo emailed me after looking at my blog, and seeing my frequent mention of Home Goods.   Jo works with Home Goods, and she told me about a  great website where shoppers can submit their great finds and spread the word. 

Honestly, at first, I thought, “spread the word?”  Oh, no, everyone will get there before I do, and everything will be gone!!”  But because you are so wonderful, dear bloggers,  I  am happy to share with you!  Here’s the link:

 http://openhouse.homegoods.com/index.php/finds/

That’s the first part.  The second part is even better.  I got a second email from Jo, and she told me about Home Goods’ new online tool, the  HomeGoods StyleScope   AND  a weekly chance to win $5,000, and daily chance to win a gift card to Home Goods!!!!   Here it is:

http://www.homegoods.com/hghq_quiz.asp 

The best part of all this to me, and I think you’ll agree, is that when you visit this site, you will find a  quiz that is designed to help you discover your own style, pointing you in the direction personal style and   finding specific items that will make your home “YOU” and not “cookie cutter”.

I took the quiz, and not to my surprise, I am Country Classic!  Who would have known?  I know you’ll enjoy this, not to mention a chance to win money or a gift card to Home Goods…well, what are you waiting for…start clicking!   After you take the quiz, I would love to know your style!

Good luck to everyone, and I hope each of you win…you’re already winners in my book!

I leave you with a few pictures of  some of our roses and  back yard.  If I’ve posted these already, I do apologize…I don’t mean to bore you.  These were taken at the beginning of summer, and I can’t remember that far back!

    

 

 

Looking from the yard onto the deck off the family room

Looking from the family room deck out into the yard

 

 

 

 

This was my granddaughter’s first attempt at gardening by herself…great job!

There once was an apricot tree here, which bore delicious apricots for many years.  There was enough produce for us, our neighbors, the squirrels and the birds!  When it became ill, we decided to put this shed in it’s place, rather than another fruit tree.  Before we stuffed it full, our granddaughter thought it was her playhouse…I felt so bad, telling her that it was MY playhouse!  LOL!  This wonderful shed is 8 X 15, and holds, among other things, my extra dishes, goblets, china, roosters – yes, I’ll have to dig them out for Barb’s party – fabric, bedding, picture frames…it’s hard to believe all that was once stuffed inside the house!  We’re planning on creating a little patio and garden, where I can put a bench along side a bistro table and chairs.  I’m also going to make some curtains for the windows, and add some other pretty elements wherever I can.

 

Thank you so much for visiting…I hope you enjoyed the tour, and I really hope you enjoy visiting the Home Goods websites.   Are you Country Classic…or…?

God bless each and every one of you!  Please continue your prayers for Amy, our troops and our wonderful country, one nation, under God! 

Mary