Friday, February 28, 2014

Potpourri


On this last day in February
 I decided to go to my box of kisses to pick out a vintage postcard.


I laugh every time I see this postcard.
No artist or publishing date listed.
It is from a collection of postcards called 
A Box of Kisses published by Chronicle Books:
Charming vintage postcard reproductions of all sorts of smooches.
Mwah!

*

Outside my window...
It is cloudy today.
The last week has seen summer, winter and spring.
I'm not fond of guessing which season will appear each day
and would really like to enjoy a little spring before the dog days of summer arrive!


I am thankful...
for the nice soaking rain we got this week.
We need the rain. It's so easy to drop back into drought.


I am creating for...
Another postcard swap at June's.
Postcard Swap

The card on the left is from June and the one on the right is the one I made.
If you like swaps, check out June's blog, A Creative Dream.
She has a swap schedule for the year! 


One of my favorite things...
Is Terri Windling's beautiful blog.
Her name may be familiar to those of you who read fantasy.
Terri is a writer, artist, and book editor interested in myth, folklore, fairy tales, and the ways they are used in contemporary arts.
Myth and Moor is a daily journal for musings about art, myth, books, village life, and the world-wide community of folks who create and love Mythic Arts.
Full of beautiful words, beautiful art -- I could spend days there.


A peek into my day...

Tulip

I'm missing my tulips.
A trip to Trader Joe's for flowers is in order!



Thank you Nancy for hosting!

Thanks for visiting.
Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Monday, February 24, 2014

Pretty In Red!





For the last tea day in February,
I've pulled out an old favorite, some red transferware.


Transferware

My Granny called these luncheon plates.
Victorian Trading Company calls them tea and scone sets.
Tea and toast sounds good to me!


Flowers

Is Spring around the corner?
I hope so! 

that you might be interested in reading.

I'm joining some tea parties today:

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

Saturday, February 22, 2014

It's Baby Time!





It's baby time at the Houston Zoo.



Baridi

This is Baridi, the newest member of the Giraffe herd.
He was 6' 6" tall at birth and weighted in at 165 pounds.
Baridi means cold in Swahili. He was born on a very cold morning.


Baridi


Duncan

Meet Duncan, the newest member of the Asian Elephant herd.
He was 6 days old when I visited.
He's with his Mom, Shanti.

Camera Critters
Thank you, Misty!

And thank you Eileen at Saturday's Critters.

Wishing YOU well and much joy.


Tuesday, February 18, 2014

It's Party Time!






We get to pick 4 images from our blog that we think would make good note cards.

I think we are all looking forward to spring.
With that in mind, here are my four Note Cards.
The first three are from recent blog posts.



Iris


tulips


camellia

And last, but not least, from a Wednesday Wisdom post in 2013:

Fairies to Dance


Wishing YOU well and much joy!
I hope the sun is shining on you today! 


Monday, February 17, 2014

My World: Hermann Park Centennial



Hermann Park is undergoing a transformation.
A giant maze constructed from saplings can be seen sprouting out of the ground
near the Japanese Garden. Constructed with over 1000 volunteer hours, it is the first of nine works of art that will grace Hermann Park as part of the park's centennial celebration.The maze was designed and created by artist, Patrick Dougherty.

Fun!  


Public Art

Public Art

Public Art

Public Art

Public Art

I'd like to thank the wonderful hosts of My World.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!


Friday, February 14, 2014

Potpourri



Happy Valentine's Day!
I hope your Valentine's Day is full of hearts and flowers.


Valentine

Another reproduction vintage Valentine.
No artist listed, but this one had a suggested publishing date of 1910.
Thank you to Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday.

*


Outside my window...
The sun is shining -- finally!
Highs in the 70s ... what to do, what to do!!! 
Celebrate!


In the kitchen...
Have you visited Estelle's
You must go visit. The blog is named after her grandmother and there is always something delicious cooking. Too bad we don't have smell-a-blog! Then again, it's a good thing we don't. I'd gain five pounds with every visit! 


I am reading...
I've just started THOSE ANGRY DAYS by Lynne OlsonRoosevelt, Lindberg, and America's Fight Over World War II, 1939-1941. I read Bill Bryson's One Summer: America, 1927 and decided I wanted to learn more about Charles Lindberg. I found The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin, a lovely historical novel that gave me more of an insight into Anne Lindberg. I heard Lynne Olson on NPR and decided I needed to read THOSE ANGRY DAYS. Isn't it fun how one book can lead to another. 


I looked forward to...
 The Westminster Dog Show.
I watch every year. I do love the dogs. I have three cats now, but when I was growing up we had dogs. The first dog I remember was named Brownie -- yep, a little brown dog. I was about 4 years old and I thought Brownie was huge -- she could stand on her hind legs and put her front feet on my shoulders. She wasn't huge, I was small. She also had a litter of puppies in my sandbox! I loved that the mutts appeared at the Westminster this year in the agility championships. 


A peek into my day...
The first camellia of 2014.

camellia


Thank you, Nancy!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!


Wednesday, February 12, 2014

On This Date



Three years ago today,
the LOVE of my life,
My Knight in Shining Armor, 
left this earthly home and traveled on to the stars.


Dick

We were together over 30 years.
I think I miss him more with each passing day.
Life goes on.


The Little Prince


Monday, February 10, 2014

Tulips and Tea





I went by Trader Joe's early Sunday morning.
I knew I could depend on Joe for fresh flowers -- especially tulips.
I am a happy camper!


tulips

This little teacup looks mighty fine (as my Granny would have said).
She's a sweet little gem for a Valentine Tea.


Sweet Pea Teacup


I found it at the thrift shop on my last visit -- many months ago.


Sweet Pea Teacup


It is the only hand-painted teacup that I have.
Lovely, isn't she?!
She has some wear, but that means she's been loved.


sweet pea tea cup

There is no artist signature.
In very small letters on the teacup it says:
April
Sweet Pea

I'm joining some tea parties today:

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



Friday, February 7, 2014

Potpourri






I finished one postcard swap and can now show you the cards.
This is the one I sent:


Year of the Horse

and this is the postcard I received in return:


Deb's Card

Isn't it fun?!!
I love the little feet.
It makes me smile.
Thank you, Deb!
You can meet Deb at Learning To Just Breathe.


**

Talking about postcards:
It's February and time for Valentine postcards.

Valentine

A reproduction vintage Victorian Valentine postcard.
No artist or publishing date was given.
Cupid is in attendance with his box of hearts.
Take care, Cupid!

Thanks to Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday.

***
I watched the first half of the Super Bowl and then switched to Downton Abbey.
In case you were wondering if the kitties and I had a favorite team
 -- this should answer that question.


Seahawks

My BSD (beautiful step daughter), her knight in shining armor and my amazing grandson live in the Seattle area. 
But I've been a Seahawks fan for a long time. 
I love the colors and the mascot! 

****

Not everything is baseball or football around here.
I attended part of the women's tennis match at Rice and came home with a new T-shirt.
A girl can never have too many Rice University T-shirts.
This one says Rice - Women's Tennis. 
The match was between the Rice Owls and the Stanford Cardinal.
Stanford is ranked #1 and the Owls #22.
Stanford won, but it was fun to watch the Owls give the Cardinal a good match.

*****

Still cold and damp and cloudy here.
A little sleet yesterday morning. 
I'm still doing some odds and ends around the house.
I was in bed, looking at the ceiling and the smoke detector and thought
"Yikes -- something else to do -- change out the batteries in the smoke detector!"
Do you do that, too -- have your best thoughts and ideas when you are almost asleep?!


It's always fun to visit with Nancy and the Random 5 bunch.
Thanks, Nancy!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!


Monday, February 3, 2014

Mug of The Month




When I posted about my new Emma Bridgewater mug,
I realized that I use a different mug each month for tea.
Thus - Mug of The Month!

For February,
here is another Emma mug:
Big Love.
Perfect for Valentine's Day.


Mug love

How about a little sugar cookie?

Big Love

The tea is a simple black tea with honey.

Love Mug

Big Love is sitting on my newly crocheted heart hot pads.

I'm joining some tea parties today:

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


Sunday, February 2, 2014

When The Red Red Robin



Came bob, bob, bobbing along --
he made an early morning visit to Musashi's Garden.
Not my usual visitor for the morning buffet.
He took a bath in the fountain.
No pictures -- although I did try -- he was just a blur.


Robin

Here he is sitting drying off. 
(I wonder where I put the tiny towels?)
The sun was just beginning to find the garden.
Pleased with himself, I think.

Come back again, Mr. Robin!

I'm joining the other sun lovers at Sun Lit Sunday.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!


Saturday, February 1, 2014

We Had a Photo Shoot






He is a natural poser.


Teddy

He sits in the sun looking like a King.


Teddy

Handsome, sweet boy.


Teddy

He likes to ignore the camera.
"What?
You were taking pictures of me? 
I never knew!"



Teddy

This is Sir Theodore.
Theodorable
Teddy


Camera Critters
Thank you, Misty.

And thank you Eileen at Saturday's Critters.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!