Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Rose Garden Tea Set



Hard to believe January is almost over.
Valentine's Day is right around the corner.
This year I added this friendly Owl to my Valentine decorations.

I thought I'd invite him to tea! 



Rose Garden Tea Set


I found this trio before Christmas at Marshalls.
It is called Rose Garden - Fine China Afternoon Tea Set by
the English Table.


Rose Garden Tea Set


Lovely roses, a beautiful bird on one side of the cup and roses on the other.


Rose Garden Tea Set


It is quiet around here.
Cloudy again.
And warm -- high today in low 80s.
Bodes ill for Ughust! 
I'd like some more cool! 

Thank you to our tea party hosts:

Wishing you well, much joy and a lovely cup of tea!




Friday, January 25, 2013

This and That

Foggy Morning


I've been waking up to foggy mornings.
Once the fog burns off the bird bath and fountain gets busy.
The robins have really enjoyed the fountain.


Robin


I added a pop of color to Musashi's Garden with a couple of geraniums.


Geraniums


The crochet baby blanket is finished.
This was a kit from Herrschner's called: Lil' Lullabies Baby Blanket.


Crochet Baby Afghan

The crochet group meets Saturday and I think I'm going to use this pattern
to use up some stash yarn ... with a few changes.
I have a thing for lapghans and think this pattern will make a very good one.

*

I had a lovely lunch with some museum friends this week 
and while I was there I visited the Portrait of Spain: Masterpieces From The Prado.
The exhibitions closes March 31 and then is off to Brisbane, Australia. 


Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia

The Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia by Alonso Sanchez Coello
greets you as you enter the exhibition.

*

Lastly, I have another postcard for you from the kiss box.
Just in time for Valentine's Day!


A Small Bridge Party

Thank you to the lovely Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday.

Wishing all of you well and much joy!




Monday, January 21, 2013

A Rose Tea Celebration



Today is a special day.
Sandi is celebrating the third birthday of her Tea Time Tuesday Party
with a special rose party.

I have shared both of these teacups and roses with you before,
but I thought they were perfect for Sandi's celebration.


The first is an Elizabethan Fine Bone china tea cup with a rose from the balcony garden.

Tea and Roses


This is a Paragon teacup with a rose from Musashi's Garden.

Tea and Roses


One of my favorite rose quotes:
"I once had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalogue: no good in a bed, but fine up against a wall."
Eleanor Roosevelt 


And, this quote for Sandi:
"But friendship is the breathing rose, with sweets in every fold."
Oliver Wendell Holmes 

Sandi, thank you for being our tea friend!

Thank you to our tea party hosts:


Wishing you well, much joy and a fine cup of tea!

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Blooming In Musashi's Garden




Early last week it was rainy, dark, dreary and finally the sun appeared
bringing the first morning that the city saw a freeze.
I dashed out the door in the early morning to feed the birds
and caught the sun spotlighting the Bill Warriner roses.


Rose Collage


I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck. 
 ~Emma Goldman


Amaryllis Collage


Inside the house, the sun was shining on the Minerva Amaryllis.


Flowers Mosaic


When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other.  ~Chinese Proverb



Flowers Collage

People from a planet without flowers would think we must be mad with joy the whole time to have such things about us.  ~Iris Murdoch, A Fairly Honourable Defeat


I'm joining Sunlit Sunday and Mosaic Monday.
A big thank you to our hosts.

Wishing you well and much joy!


Friday, January 18, 2013

This and That




It's Friday and the sun is shining!
YeeHaw!
After a week of dark, dreary, cold (for us) days it is nice to see the sun.


This and That


So, what am I going to do today to celebrate the sun?

I'm going to sneak a quick walk into the village and perhaps have some ice cream!

I'm working on a baby blanket. It's a little different in that the edge is made first
(the granny squares) and then the body is crocheted (easy, peasy chain and single crochet).
I like the pattern and think it would be a good stash buster lapghan.

This series set in Tibet is one of my favorites.
I've been saving two books in the series waiting (and hoping) for another in the series.
YES!

I've been looking around the house (closet searching)
for decorations for Valentine's Day. 
The snowmen from Christmas are still out.
It is still winter!

But, I did come across my "Box of Kisses" published by Chronicle.
40 reproduction vintage postcards that are perfect for Valentine's Day.


For He Was a Jolly Good Fellow


He looks like a very happy fellow!
I love the fashions on these cards.
Look at the gloves and beaded bag!


Thank you to the lovely Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday.


Wishing you well, much joy and a little sunshine!


Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Notecard Party!


Oh my.

Decisions, decisions!

It's time for one of my favorite Blog Land Parties:
Vee's Notecard Party.

We need to pick 4 photos that have been shown previously on our blog
that we think would make good notecards.

I looked and looked.
Finally, I decided to pick some ICADs (Index Card A Day) I made during the summer.
Perhaps I'm looking for warmer days?
(Shock! Remind me of this comment in UGHust!)

So, I hope these, at the very least, bring a smile to your face!




ICAD- Be Happy



ICAD - Giggle



ICAD- Stand Up






Many thanks to Vee for hosting.




A Haven for Vee




Wishing you well and much joy!


Sunday, January 13, 2013

Sunlit Sunday






It is cold, rainy, dreary.
The perfect time to look at some photos from a sunnier day!
Off to one of my favorite places and the beautiful Lady Lions at the zoo!


Snooze time!

Lioness



Sunlight is painting.
~Nathaniel Hawthorne


Lioness


I'm joining Karen at My Little Home and Garden and her SunLit Sunday Party.

Wishing you well and much joy!

(Photo editing with Ribbet.)


Saturday, January 12, 2013

Camera Critters: Mina



Doesn't Mina look sweet and innocent?!!! 
She likes her *house*.
It's a good place to hide and wait for her brother and sister to pass by.
Then -- watch the fur fly!!!!!



Mina


Thank you to Misty for hosting Camera Critters.

Camera Critters


Wishing you well and much joy!


Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Wednesday Wisdom







Lotus Blossom


"Nothing is permanent:
The sun and the moon rise and then set,
The bright, clear day is followed by the deep, dark night.
From hour to hour, everything changes."
~Kalu Rinpoche

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

I Love Owls


I love owls.
I've been collecting them since I was a very small girl.
I guess I've always loved the wise old owl often seen by Merlin's side.
Magical!




Lacey Owls Teacup



So, it is no surprise that Lacey Owl has been added to the owl and teacup collection.
This is a huge teacup.



Lacey Owls Teacup

So far in the cup I've had:
tea
hot chocolate
cereal
oat meal
tomato soup with half a grilled cheese sandwich on the plate
and I'm sure I'll find more drink/food to fit! 

I have a new favorite tea:
This is a white and green whole leaf tea blend in a sachet.

Thank you to our tea party hosts:

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Let The Light Shine





It's winter and many are waiting for the light to return.
Karen at My Little Home and Garden has started her Sun Lit Sunday Party again.
Please join us as we share the light: sun light, smiles, JOY!



Let The Light Shine


One of my favorite places:
The Japanese Garden in Hermann Park.
A wonderful place to walk.
A wonderful place to sit and dream.
A wonderful place to just BE.

Wishing YOU well and much joy.



Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Happy New Year!







Happy New Year




May the New Year bring happiness to your heart
 and give you many reasons to smile.

It's been great spending 2012 with you.
May 2013 bring all of us much joy.

Wishing YOU well.