I am not a car person. I really do not care about them, except I adore my heated seat. But now if I had Magnolia Pearl's car, oh this is a car I could love.
Image from Curious Sofa
Signature Creator, Thank you Cassie for the link.
This BBC Woman's Hour, Dales Woman Hannah Hauxwell
Oh my gosh I LOVE this gathering apron, at The Cottage At Frog Creek. Actually I love the blog too.
Puttery post at Broncante Home
I just had to pop in and say how sad I am that Tasha Tudor has died. I should not be sad. She has had a long, happy life. A life on her terms, the way she dreamed it should be. It just sort of seems like the end of an era. I have been soo influenced by Tasha Tudor. Not so much in how she lived. Although I greatly admire how she lived and try to live the simple life she did. But what I really admire about Tasha Tudor is how she decided what she wanted and did it. She was willing to work hard, to stay focused on her dreams and I am sure at times had to deal with those that did not understand. But she listened to her heart and would not be persuaded otherwise. I hope I can be half as brave as Tasha. I think I will go take a moment under my bay tree ( that I growing to match Tasha's) and try to remember and embrace what she has taught all of us xoxox
Thank you for the Mother Day wishes. I had a lovely Mother's day. My girls made me orange, chocolate baked french toast, bacon, greek yogurt with strawberries and tea. Aubern'e gave me a Toby Mac CD with my favorite song right now and Chloe a beautiful purple glass bottle. We went antiquing in Gig Harbor and had an amazing dinner at Molly Ward's. It is an old barn that use to be a yarn shop. Lynn and Sam have taken the land and made some amazing gardens. Which were just magical at sunset. To top off the evening, my dear friend is the pastry chef and I have a praline mouse with hazelnut cookies to die for xoxoxox
Garden photos by my daughter Aubern'e
I have had a very lucky week and won several giveaways. It was Karla's at Karla's Cottage birthday (happy birthday sweetie) and she had a giveaway. Look at all the yummy vintage wallpaper, trims, buttons, ect. She was even kind enough to send my girls come chocolate. Karla has a giveaway every month. I have to say she is one of the most giving bloggers I know xoxoxoxo
This is Queen Bianca who is waiting for a dark and brooding pirate to sweep her off her feet. Isn't she charming. Thank you Heather at Bumblebird, I love her.
I also won at the Pirate soiree this wonderful dexterity game from Melissa Valeriote at Holiday Queen. Thank you Melissa, it was very generous to have a giveaway and the game is a lovely reminder of the soiree.
Things I Love
Well first, my hubby. Not only did he put in this amazing lamppost (we got at Costco) in the front of our home, but he dug a huge ditch and putting in all the wiring. We had no outlets outside. On a gray day (which we have a lot) it looks like the lamppost in The Chronicles Of Narnia.
Second my new print of Monsieur Hedgehog by Miss. Marjorie at Cozy Little Whimsy Nook. I had such a hard time choosing a print, I love all of them in her shop. I think I may have to get her dapper fox for my library next !!! If you have not been to Cozy Little Whimsy Nook, you should check it out. Marjorie is an amazing seamstress and you should the dresses she sews. Thank you Marjorie, I think he will be so charming in my kitchen xoxoxo
Third this fantastic vintage flash card tutorial by Everyday Cookies at Sweet Woodruff Acres !!!!!
Lastly a ribbon toilet paper holder from Harrington House. Very clever Katie.
This week on Gracious Hospital-i-Tea Blog-a-Thon the theme is Stitches-for-Tea, sharing ideas and pictures for the for the tea table.
My post is not exactly what La-Tea-Dah asked for, I hope she does not mind my interpretation of Stitches-for-Tea. I needed a new curtain for my bathroom and found inspiration in tea towels. I had bought a bunch of beautiful linens in OR and got these wonderful towels. I used dotted swiss for the ruffle and added the embroidered linens as a topper. It really picks up the soft grays and pinks in my Victorian bathroom. Every time I see they old towels so beautifully embroidered, I always wonder about who embroidered it. Why they choose this pattern, why these colors, what did they use it for. It is a bridge between now and the past. I think we all need to look forward but also remember the past xoxoxoox
Bella Dia has started a wonderful new blog The Crafty Crow. It is a children's craft blog, which I think is a wonderful idea. There is a lot of fun, interesting ideas. The girls and I made some hot rocks the other day and had a blast. Thank you Cassi for the inspiration xoxoxox
I WANT< CRAVE< COVET her pantry !!!!!!
I adore her style.
Pixies and toadstools, what more could you ask for.
I think Robin is one of the most creative, interesting people. She really amazes me.
Again another beautiful, inspiring blog. I love these cupcake flowers.
All yummy vintage !!!
A beautiful home with lots of inspiring ideas.
La-Te-Dah is having a Gracious Hospital-i-Tea Blog-a-Thon. Each week, according to the theme you are invited to share a favorite things about afternoon tea. This weeks theme is Teacup-a-Story. Please check out Gracious Hospitality to read more about it.
Oh I had the hardest time choosing a favorite tea cup and I really do not think I can. But I choose this cup because it makes me think of a dear friend Karen Day, who died of cancer. Karen was the most generous of people with a kind, sweet disposition. She loved herbs, gardening and cooking. She had a small herb store, that was full of beautiful things and inspiration. She also loved homemaking and her family so much. She and I had so many discussions about what an amazing daughter she has and how proud she was of her. Karen always encouraged me as a new mother and was one to tell me what a lovely job I was doing with Aubern'e. Aubern'e (a toddler then) dressed in some fun new hat and I would venture into Karen's shop a lot to see what new and interesting thing we could try. Our favorite was the herb candies she sold. I still have the doll she gave Chloe's as a baby with a dried rose-hip necklace.
This beautiful tea cup is from one of the perfect herb teas she gave with another good friend of ours, who is an amazing pastry chef. I will always remember this tea. It was a lovely spring day (which is so rare in WA) on the porch of an old beautiful home. Karen served my mother I and tea in match cups. Except my mothers was blush pink and mine was aqua blue. We both fell in-love with these cups and asked Karen if she would be willing to sell them. Of course Karen was totally gracious and sold them to us. Which was generous of her since they were from her private collection. I always think of Karen, the beauty of herbs and love of home and family when I use this cup xoxoxox
Hurry and get your own free John Adams card mailed to you !!!!!!
Do you ever stumble upon a blog and immediately you know you are at home, you know you have meet a kindred spirit. You see all that you love and adore wrapped up in a blog. Well that is The ButtonWillow Chronicles. It is new blog filled with all things I love. England, tea, Jane Austen, Beatrix Potter, Little Woman, Anne Of Green Gables, Molly Brett, ect.
The interesting thing about this wonderful new blog, is it turned out to be by my friend Lauren at Alice Land. Isn't it funny, how we make kindred friends and we still find each other without even knowing it. Lauren is wanting ButtonWillow Chronicles to be
"It's not "Alice Lands". It's not real life. It's life "sweetened". It's daydreams, and wishes, and hopes. It's the things I love, the things I wish for. It's charming and shy. Quiet and demure. It's Anne and it's Beatrix, Emma, and Jane. And, it's those "in the small dwellings". It's who I try to be. It's my life, just through rose colored glasses.
And, it's quiet."
So you will see most posts do not have a place to comment. The blog is just a gift from Lauren for us to enjoy. Thank you sweetie xoxoxo
Thanks to Pleasant View Schoolhouse I found Frills, Frocks and Fancies her clothes are so beautiful and inspiring.
Did you know Sharon Lovejoy has a blog, thanks to By Sun and Candlelight I now know. I have almost all of Sharon's books, my copy of Hollyhock Days is so dogeared. We have used her books many times over the years. I look forward Sharon to getting to know you more through your blog.
Also thanks to Junie Moon I found The Graphic Fairy If you are on the lookout for wonderful vintage graphics, check out the Graphic Fairy.
Also thank you Manuela for the great tip award !!!! I would like to pass it on to Homespun Living xoxoxox
I have something fun for all of you. One of my long time, dear friends, Christy is having a giving-away. Christy is a wonderful seamstress. She has such a perfect eye for charming fabrics and style. She has been sewing clothes for many years (my girls wore her wonderful outfits) and has a business "Remember Your Childhood" She now has started an on-line store and is celebrating with a give-away. Christy has a pair of pants and a skirt to give-away. So please leave your name and if you have a preference here on my blog. On Sunday the 13th I will draw a name for each. You can also double your chance to win, if you post on your blog about the give-away I will enter your name twice (Just let me know and feel free to use the image above, if you like) Good luck and feel free to let your friends know. Remember even if you do not have a child I am sure you know someone who does and would be thrilled with one of Remember Your Childhood creation.
PS. I am hoping you enjoy the new music, Hello Dolly by Louis Armstrong. Hello Dolly is one of my favorite movies. I loved the clothes and ooh I wanted that hat shop soooo bad. But when Louis Armstrong and Babara Streisand sing together, I always get teary-eyed.
Port Townsend is one of those towns with some really wonderful restaurant. They have just started a slow-food chapter there. Here is two favorites of ours. For breakfast I love Sweet Laurett. I have to tell you the brioche fill with raspberries and lemon curd I had was to die for. Also next door is the charming Petals shop. I always want everything when I go there.
Sadly there are not very many tea rooms in the area but there is a new one. Dame Agatha Twigs (she does not have a site and is new, so I am going to post her phone number # 360-379-0301. Tell her storybook woods sent you). It is a very British tea room. Lots of antiques and imports from Britain. She has a yummy high tea and her cheese selection was quite wonderful. But my favorite was her Cornish pastie. It was a lovely flaky crust filled with tender beef, potatoes, carrots. Perfect with a pot of tea on a blustery day.
Bliss, my Victoria came today. Without trying to sounds too mushy, it was like seeing an old friend you had not seen in years but time had not really passed. I will admit that I was doubtful they could really recreate the luscious magazine from the past, but I feel they did it. They kept with what Victoria was and did a beautiful job. There was so much I loved but I picked these pictures from the article about Tasha Tudor's dress collection. Not just because I love Tasha but because to me it is what Victoria magazine does so well. It is creative, interesting touches but not so over the top. Still Victorian but a detail richness that I will come back to again and again and see something new. A new inspiration.
Now I do not like to be someone who focuses on the negative but for honestly sake (and in case someone from the magazine sees this post) there were two areas were I was disappointed. First the fashion page. After all the richness I saw on the article about Tasha, it was so disappointing and quick frankly (in my opinion) boring. Victoria's fashion has always be a favorite part of the magazine for me. I always took away a little something, a touch to add to my wardrobe. But these outfits were fairly uninteresting.
Second being the foodie I am I was not impressed with the majority of the recipes. There were some really smashing ones. I am dying to try the Grand Marnier Buttermilk Panna Cotta. But herb rolls and eggnog cheesecake, well (sorry) kind of boring. So dear Victoria, you have my heart and subscription. But please step it up just a notch in the fashion and recipe department. And readers if you do not have a copy on October 30th run to the store and get one. Also a good piece of chocolate to have as you savor the magazine. xoxoxox
I do not know if you remember this beautiful pillow case I got and how her face and arms were not finished. Well La-Te-Dah (who I had never meet at the time, but we are good friends now) offered to finish her for me. Isn't she just beautiful. I could never have done such a lovely job. Actually I never would have even attempted it. So thank you soo much for taking the time for someone you did not even know and doing all that work to finish her. Isn't blog-land full of the kindest people xoxoxoxo
I wanted to thank Ohio Farm Girl for my blogging star award. Thank you so much, you have always be such a good friend and a shinning star to me.
Also The Wine Makers Wife gave me the Break Out Blogger award which is very sweet but I think it is the perfect award for you Winemaker. I love that you get my foodie obsession and if I am not in CA eating all that amazing food and drinking all that perfect wine, you can do it for me !!
Well it is a party. Our dear Karla's home is featured in the latest issue of romantic country. I still need to get my copy. But seeing all the amazing pictures of Karla's home I can only imagine. Karla's home is full of creative, inspiring ideas. I always walk away with some new to try for my home.
She is having a "what you love about your home" party. Thank you Karla. I always love a party and am excitedly off to see everybody's lovely homes.
I have lots of favorite corners of my home but since it is autumn my favorite corner is my library. It is very British with lots of black, red and caramel colored walls. This is my sitting nook, were I have my fall tradition every year. In the beginning of fall on a cool gray day (which is easy to have here in the NW) I pull out my copy Susan Branch's Autumn book. I savor each page like an old friend. Even though I adore tea, in my library I have a glass of port. I have a little bar my husand made me to hold my port decanters. The small etched glass is from my fathers collection of glasses he got when I was a child. I am not sure which country this glass comes from but it is my favorite. So Karla as sit in my fall corner, I raise a toast to you dear friend xoxoxox
I have several thank yous. Dear Carolyn at Laughing Duck knows how much I love lavender and tea. She sent me some of the yummiest citrus-ginger-lavender tea. It is made by her son-in-law's family Mountain Farm. It is very delicious and we all love it. Thank you Carolyn for even thinking of me. I would love to bake you something yummy as a thank you. But the stress would kill me xoxoxo
Also to Jody at Gumbo Lily for her gingerbread recipe. Chloe was bit unsure when she saw me put mustard in it ;-) but we loved it. And I hardly changed at all. I add a TBL. of vanilla, half whole wheat pastry flour and some chopped candied ginger. I served it with caramelized maple apples and whipped cream. It is a very moist, intense, rich cake. It was a hit, thank you. By the way you just keep a running list of what you want me to cook for you and when you come visit someday, I will make it.
Also to Zee at Pixie Blossoms, who sent me this wonderful little house pot-holder. Isn't it the sweetest. I love it. Thank you Zee, you are so kind !!!
Just As I Am 5-minute note cards what a simple, great idea Debi !!!
This I-am-going-to-die-with-love Pink chair at Chez Fifi
Right now I am addicted to Nates artichoke, cream cheese tacos
Dear Kelli has created a quarterly magazine called Seasonal Delights
It is beautiful, full of fun creative fall ideas and it is free!! Kelli, you and your hubby did an amazing job, I am soo proud of you xoxoxox
Pattern for Tasha Tudor shawl
Laura Berch has a new blog with wonderful tutorial. I love the one about antiquing paper
Lastly Isabella In The 21st Century has the most amazing post about womens work and simple living
I really love how she talked about how long ago the family worked for themselves. They were an economic model that include the whole family, women as well as men. It is a fascinating look into history but as with most history really relevant today. I wish I could write so much more. Sometimes when I read something that has a lot of meat for me, I have so many thought and feeling running around in my head I can not get them out. But thank you Isabella for this post, I have been thinking and thinking about it. So much of it speaks to my heart.
Thank you for all the encouraging notes. David is doing better and hopefully will go back to work this weekend, fingers crossed. I am slowly trying to pull my home back together. Even though I hate cleaning, I really hate it when my house is falling apart all around me. So slowly life is getting back to normal.
Thanks to Alice at A Number Of Things I found this wonderful shop and blog Wee Garden. Oh what fun inspiration. What I loved about her ideas, is a lot were small and doable. Sometimes the fairy house ideas I see are amazing but quite ambitious. I like the idea of just a small simple chair in a tiny pot. Her gardens, well you could spends days there. She sells all the little chairs, arbors, fences, ect. Her book is on my want list. Check it out and be inspired. Her blog is set up a bit different then most blogs. To read her entries, go to blog archives.
Also Echoes Of A Dream has posted an amazing fairy house. Look at the end of the post !!!!
Thank you ladies for all the creative and cleaver names, much better then anything I would have come up with. I had the hardest time picking a name. I really did love Carol's suggestion of Flora and Fauna but I also agreed with Abby that they should have storybook names. Chloe then reminded me that Sleeping Beauty's two fairy godmothers were called Flora and Fauna. So that settled that. I also loved MizSmoochie's idea of party hats. I was going to make them each their own (I did glitter the hats Ms. Glitter Fairy but you can not see it in the picture) but then I realized Mayra our bunny is into eating any paper she can get her hands on (she also love to kiss Fauna), so sadly only Flora can wear a hat. But as a good mother, she is only holding it for her baby Fauna till she is bigger or Mayra stops eating paper !!!
I received my yummy and amazing goodies from One Hundred Wishes. I loved everything Andrea and it was all wrapped so wonderfully. We loved the lollipop. Thank you and I look forward to my next purchase !!!
Also dear Jill is having a giveaway every month till December for products from her amazing Bittersweet shop. I have been a lucky recipient of Bittersweets soaps and products, not only are they yummy but perfectly packaged and beautifully presented. Thank you Jill, you are one of the most generous and giving (not to mention energetic ;-) person I have ever meet. I know all this blessings you are sending out will come back to you in three fold.
Well the smelly sponge issue, it very interesting. I plan on trying everyones ideas. I did trying microwaving it but it was still smelly. I also tried throwing it in the dishwasher and that worked. But I will try the other ideas. I can tell I do not know much about bacteria, because I am getting the ideas from you ladies that a wet sponge, leads to bacteria and bacteria leads to a stinky sponge. Well I did not know that, I am so clueless. It is amazing my family is still alive. I live in constant dampness. So I am still thinking of what will work best for me. I might knitting some cotton wash clothes and then have a scrubby pad when I need it. But thank you again for all the ideas and input. I will try them all xoxoxo
My good friend Angie has finally gotten sick of listen to all of us ladies talk about our blogs and decided to start one of her own Island Hearth & Handicrafts. She is a very gifted doll maker, as you can see from the elf she needle-felted above. I have posted one of her dolls before. She is also my foodie friend. She is the one I can call when I get all exited about a certain type of whole wheat flour or want to discuss leaf lard. She puts up with me and she is an amazing cook. Both her and I are brutally honest (especially me, see I told you she puts up with a lot) and we know when one of us says something is yummy, we mean it. Also she has her own outdoor wood-burning oven were she makes unbelievable bread. I am sure she will post more of her charming farm and old farmhouse that was her husband grandmother and now they raise their sweet children on this little slice of heaven on Bainbridge Island. ( the girls I and I want to move in or at lest live next door)
Well this week I have been awarded the Rocking Girl Blogger by Heart Of The Prairie and the Blogger Reflection Award by LaTe Dah. Why thank you ladies, you are both so kind.
Michele I am so glad my blog is like a magazine for you, this is what I am hoping for.
LaTeDah you are soo inspiring to me, it means a lot to me that you would pick me xoxoxo
The Lovely thing about being picked for two awards, is I get to pick twice as many blogs (Although I have a 172 blogs in my blogfeeder, so choosing is almost impossible) and it is a great way to celebrate my birthday !!!!
Girls who I think are rockin'
1. Mrs. Staggs at Happy Miscellany my not seem like a rockin' girl but I know in her heart she is xoxoxo
2. Miz. Smoochie Lips she is a Harley chick after all !!
3. Ms. Jennifer at Sis boom, one could not make all those yummy fabrics and not be rockin'
4. Andrea at Velvet Strawberries she is girly rockin'. This is why we are kindred spirits.
5. Gina who live a life full of creativity and rockin' love for her family
The Blogger Reflection Award originated from the lovely blog owned by a sixteen-year-old, home schooled girl at Lothlorien, Realm of the Lady of Light! This was the description of who should be recipients:
"As for my award, it is called The Blogger Reflection Award. Why? The reason for the title is because this award should make you reflect on five bloggers who have been an encouragement, a source of love, impacted you in some way, and have been a Godly example to you. Five Bloggers who when you reflect on them you get a sense of pride and joy... of knowing them and being blessed by them."
Ladies who encourage me to keep going and serve my family xoxxo
1.Kelli the most creative and fun mother xoxox
2. Isabella of the 21st Century who makes homemaking soo interesting, it actually makes me want to do it ;-)
3. Susan who brings heart to homemaking xoxox
4. Jill who brings energy and creativity to homemaking. I wish you could bottle some of that up for me !!!!
5. Debbie who has such a gentle spirit which I need more of. Thank you for teaching me xoxo
I am off to be a birthday Diva for the weekend
Now that we are finally sunny and having summer like weather, I am busy setting up my outdoor living spaces. I have been going over my summer corners for inspiration (it is fun to go to your own blog and read your own ideas to get inspiration). I am setting up our new "living-room" and reading my past posts reminds me to pull the fondue pot and the giant pick up stick. We had such a blast with those last year. I hope you are inspired to make the most of your space this summer. I am also glad that everyone loves "unforgettable" it is one of my favorite songs.
You must hurry over to Merryville before the parade starts. There is to be quite a picnic afterwards, before the fireworks. It is to be a very hot day, I have made lemonade and am ready to leave. Hmmm I have just noticed the my bottle of homemade limoncello is missing. Ohhh noooo !! Well it should be quite a 4th xoxoxoxo
Teresa-did a list of good things and I thought I would jump on the bandwagon and do one to. I hope you do not mind Teresa xoxoxox
Greek Gods-I can not tell you how utterly yummy this honey yogurt is. It makes cream-at-the-top yogurt boring.I have only tried the honey and the fig. I did not like the fig. Which surprises me because I adore figs, but this did not work for me. The honey was heavenly. It is slightly sweet and very thick. It reminded me of a yummy panna-cotta with a slightly (very slightly) tang to it. This yogurt with fresh fruit, will be a regular summer dessert !!!
I have been having so much fun watching free movies on-line at Netflix. I just watched North and South and loving it.
"North & South is a splendid, four-hour adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell's 19th century novel about an unlikely, and somewhat star-crossed, love between a middle-class young woman from England's cultivated south and an intemperate if misunderstood industrialist in a hardscrabble, northern city. Daniela Denby-Ashe plays Margaret Hale, forthright and strong-willed daughter of a former vicar (Tim Pigott-Smith) who relocates his family from a pastoral village outside London to unforgiving, largely illiterate Milton, a factory town where John Thornton (Richard Armitage) and his mother (Sinead Cusack), survivors of poverty, rule their cotton mill with an iron hand. Thornton befriends Margaret's father but incurs her wrath for his severity with his workers. What she doesn't notice is Thornton's core sense of responsibility for his employees' welfare. On the other hand, he misinterprets some of Margaret's own actions and intentions. Equally stubborn, the two drag out their obvious attraction over many painful months and events."
I have been so enjoying your blog Natalie's based off of Mrs. Beatons book of household managment. Now thanks to Natalie I want a still room ;-)
" Welcome Friends,
Hello and welcome to my site. In her biography of Mrs Beeton Kathryn Hughes says that Beeton's Book of Household Management holds up a mirror to our most intimate needs and desires. By representing "Home" - the place where we go to be loved and to be fed - Mrs Beeton has become part of the fabric of who we feel ourselves to be. This site is dedicated to those of us who choose to be home and is intended to be a virtual meeting place for women who do the feeding and loving in homes around the world"
I have been looking for a hand painted teapot (since I broke mine). I just love the hand painted china at shabbyfufu and check out the amazing Debfordshire Damsels
I love dry soda and lavender is my favorite. I do not drink soda, it is too sweet for me. But this is light and barely sweet. Just perfect.
"Seattle-based DRY Soda Co. offers the first culinary soda, a line of all-natural, lightly sweet beverages designed for those wanting a sophisticated non-alcoholic option to accompany a great meal or simply a night out with friends. DRY combines the subtle essence of nature and the kitchen in its four cuisine inspired flavors: kumquat, rhubarb, lemongrass and lavender.
In a fashion similar to fine wines, DRY was developed to be paired with great foods, and when poured, each flavor teases the senses with an effervescent mix of fragrance and flavor. DRY is all-natural, non-caffeinated, flavored with fruit and herb extracts, and sweetened with a small amount of pure cane sugar. In addition, each bottle of DRY Soda contains only 50-70 calories — far fewer than conventional sodas. Drink DRY and inspire the table"
Well my daughter Aubern'e has decided to give blogging a try. Her blog is Aubern'e Ancalimon. If you love pirates, knights, sword fighting, cooking, crafting and Shakespeare then you should enjoy Aubern'es blog. Love you sweetie :-P xoxoxoxoxo
I was lucky enough to win a Rose-y friendship package from Paula On A Rainy Night. You all know how I love pink and was thrilled to win. Such lovely rose-y things. Chloe is eying the hankie and Aubern'e the rose buttons. I love the journal and mary bear card. Thank you Paula it was very sweet of you.
Speaking of lucky, I was lucky to be one of the first ten to purchase wallpaper parcels from Andrea at Everyday Beauty. Ohh my gosh it was soo pretty I did not even want to open it. But of course I had to. Such a lovley assortment. Actually it is soo pretty I am not even sure I want to cut into it. I am just admiring it all right now. Thank you Andrea, I love it.
