Tablescape Thursday: Soup for Lunch

It's time for a spring soup lunch in the kitchen.   I've used one of my favorite colorful Provencal  tablecloths, which really sets off the creamware dishes.

 

This is a very casual table, overlooking the garden in the back yard.  Spring is proceeding apace, and sprays of yellow forsythia are perfect for this table.

A huge cabbage leaf tureen takes center stage.  This was one of our first purchases as newlyweds, when it seemed like a very expensive choice.  But 30 years later, I still love it every time I see it.

I put the forsythia in two "tulipieres" that I bought at the thrift store.  Do you suppose that makes them "forsythieres?"

The salt and pepper shakers are Mr. and Mrs. Fox, in hunting garb.  I can't remember where I got them.

The dinner plates are Baroque, by American Atelier at Home.  The soup bowls are from the Hera Collection, Roscher & Co.

The flatware is another thrift store score.  Oneida Community Plate.  No monograms, but I love those roses.  ;)

The water goblets are pressed glass, and belonged to my mother.  As much as I enjoy setting a very formal table in the dining room, it's these kitchen setting that I love best.  Life is short.  Make every day special.

Oh man, can I get any more Hallmark?  Sorry.  It's late, and I didn't get much sleep last night.

Thank you so much to our wonderful hostess, Susan.  Please take some time to visit Susan's blog, Between Naps on the Porch, to see lots of wonderful tablescapes.

A Bit of Pink Heaven

Crabapple blossoms, a little bit of pink heaven here at our Little Red House.  Happy Wednesday, dear bloggers.  :)

Sunday at the Park

I thought I'd take you along on our Sunday walk in the park.  This park is called Natirar, and is the former estate of socialite Kate Macy Ladd.  You can just see a peek of the mansion through the trees at the top of the hill.

There is a walk through the trees that follows the path of a pretty brook.  Sunday was very warm here -- in the 90's -- and the water looked very inviting.

This photo was taken a little further up the path, where the water was calm and reflective.  

The grass and the rocks at the edge of the water were dotted with wild violets.  

We are supposed to be getting a few more really hot days before the weather moderates a little.  It feels sort of odd to be seeing traditional spring flowers like violets and bloodroot when the temperature is in the 90's.  I'll be happy to get back to real spring.  :)

Mosaic Monday: My Favorite Things

Welcome to another Mosaic Monday.  :)  We had some beautiful sunny weather over the weekend, although it was a tad bit warm.  But spring is finally here, in all it's glory.  Here are a few of my favorite things.  

Make a Difference

I am forever amazed and thankful for this wonderful, supportive community of bloggers.  I will say it again -- you have lifted me up with your encouragement, friendship, gifts and prayers.  Just knowing that you are sharing my everyday experience makes a huge difference to me.

If you have a minute today, please visit here, and leave a word of encouragement.  Kelaya's story could belong to any of us, and I know that all of us, together, have the power to touch a life and perhaps make a difference.

Thank you, dear bloggers.

Bad Hair Day

What can I say?  Some days are just better than others here in Menopause Land.  Have a great weekend, dear bloggers!  :)

Tablescape Thursday: Impromptu Luncheon

We're having an impromptu luncheon for Tablescape Thursday this week, mainly because I forgot about it until the last minute.  :)

The flowers are my old stand-by faux roses, set in a pair of pierced creamware baskets from Michael's.  The silver and crystal basket in the center of the table is a thrift store find.

The dinner plates were my mother's good china -- Noritake.  I'm afraid I don't know the pattern.  The salad plates each have a different design.  The markings on the reverse say:  "From the Private Collection of Georges Briard."

You've seen my thrift store wineglasses before.  I was lucky enough to find six of them for $2. each.

You've also seen my husband's salt and peppers.  I love the classic shapes.

The napkins are embroidered linen, also a thrift store find.

Where would I be without my favorite thrift store?  ;)

Many thanks to our Tablescape Thursday hostess, Susan.  Visit Susan's blog,  Between Naps on the Porch, to see lots of wonderful table settings.  :)

The Big Picture

Several of you have asked me recently how I resize the photos on my blog, so I thought I would do a little tutorial today to show you how.  

The photo above is an example of the large size that Blogger automatically loads. 

 The photo below has been resized using the "Edit Html" option when creating a post.  

Here is how I do it:

1. In order to have room for the resized photos, you must use the Minima Stretch template.  You may find that by clicking on "Customize" at the top of your blog, then by clicking on "Pick New Template."  You will find Minima Stretch in the first column, second row.
2. Load a photo, then click on "Edit Html."  Search through the html code to find the width and height.  This bit of code will read "width:400px; height:266px."  (That is for a horizontal photo; for a vertical photo the numbers will be reversed.)  Change the 400 to 640, and the 266 to 425.  Click on "Save Now."
3. Now find the bit of code that reads "s400."  Change the 400 to 640.  Click on "Save Now."

That's all there is to it.  I'm certainly no computer whiz; if I can do it, anyone can do it.  If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll@optonline.net.  

 

The Chicken Lady

In the past, I have collected roosters with a passion that my kids think incomprehensible.  Their friends loved to count roosters in my kitchen.  I think the high count was somewhere around 23.

Now I seem to be branching out to include chickens in a basket.  I'm not sure how this started.  

This rather large one, a sort of Fire King green, is a HomeGoods find.

And this little white lady was a gift from the beautiful BJ, of Sweet Nothings.  I can't remember where I got the one on the right.

Finally, this tiny white one is from my dear friend, Robin.  See, my friends are at least partly to blame for this new collection.  And my kids' friends will soon have something new to count.

And I guess you could call me The Chicken Lady.  :)  Tell me, what do you collect?

Mosaic Monday: Spring Sunshine

Well, it's that time again -- the time at Sunday night when Mary realizes that she doesn't have anything to blog about -- hence, another Mosaic Monday.  ;)

We've had a couple of really beautiful spring days here, which has gone a long way toward improving my general outlook since last week.  The sleepless nights are still plaguing me occasionally, but getting a decent amount of exercise out in the sunshine has helped a lot. I also tried extra vitamin D.  I have to check out the other remedies you all suggested.  

 Now if only I could stop eating everything in sight...

*****sigh*****

My Grand Decorating Plan

Do you have a plan when you decorate? Do you choose color and style, make an inspiration board, and shop with those in mind?

I'm afraid I don't.

I'm just not that organized.

What typically happens is that I see something I love and buy it, bring it home, and try to fit it in.  Of course I do keep in mind a general color scheme.  But I don't always have a conscious plan, and I tend to spend a lot of time afterward trying to find a place for my new treasures.

Here is a little leaf-shaped dish, made in Japan.  I found it at my favorite thrift store, along with the small covered dish pictured below.  Both have some lovely gold painted flowers on them.

From the same store, I also found a Bristol glass vase, with the same gold tones.  The painting on this is just gorgeous -- so detailed!  I was very lucky to have found this, and bought it for the amazing price of $12.50.

And finally, here is one of a pair of framed beaded embroidery panels.  I found these at my thrift store also.  Have you ever seen anything like them?  They are the perfect size for my library mantel.

So all of these thrift store finds have found a place on our mantel, and they go amazingly well together.  Almost as if I had planned it...  

Maybe I'm unconsciously planning everything.  Or maybe I'm just really lucky.  Now tell me all about your detailed decorating plans.  ;)

Tablescape Thursday: Forsythia Breakfast

I wanted to enjoy the forsythia this week, so I decided to cut a small bouquet to put on a tea tray for breakfast.

The tea cup is one of my thrift store finds -- Minton.

The small tea pot and creamer are Lenox.  They belonged to my mother.  The vase is Lenox as well.

The small bread plate is Spode.  Also a thrift store find.

Sorry, I couldn't resist a close-up of the tea pot handle.  

Isn't the creamer cute?  

I love the hand-painted bouquet on the Minton saucer.  

Sometimes a girl just needs to make breakfast feel special.  ;)

Please take some time to visit our wonderful hostess, Susan, at Between Naps on the Porch, for more tablescapes.

From a Friend

I just wanted to show you a couple of really cute spoons that my friend, Robin, gave me recently.  She knows that I have a thing for monogrammed flatware, and when she saw these two little cuties at an estate sale, she bought them for me.  How sweet is that?

They are really small.  It's hard to tell without a bigger spoon in the picture for scale, but the smaller one is about the size of a child's spoon.  I have no idea what they are for.  Can anybody enlighten me?

Look at these monograms!  Aren't they beautiful?  I can't help it, I just get weak at the knees when I see monograms like this.  ;)

Thank you so much, Robin.  I love them!