Mosaic Monday: Celebrate

I've been busy celebrating this past week. :)

Of course, it was my birthday (although I'd just as soon forget that) but it was also the beginning of a wonderful new creative outlet for me. I've started a 365 project (a photo a day for a whole year) with my friend Amanda.

We've never met, but we share the same birthday (although she is quite a bit younger than me). We also share a love of photography. Amanda is a young entrepreneur -- she and her husband have a growing portrait photography business -- and she also blogs about her daily life as a young mother of two beautiful girls. Last year I took her photography class, Bloom. When she asked me early this year if I wanted to join her in a 365 project, it was a no-brainer for me. What a wonderful chance to spread my artistic wings. :)

The photos in my mosaic this week are all shots I took last week for our project. The title of our project is beauty unspoken. We have a new topic every week to guide our work. We each interpret the subject in our own way. If you have a chance, come and take a peek; we'll be posting daily for the entire year. :)

Now let's have some mosaic fun! Here are the instructions:

1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.
That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll(at)optonline.net. I can't wait to see your mosaics! Here is Mr. Linky:

Surprises

As much as I don't really like winter, I still love to wake up to a surprise snowfall in the morning. I think it must be the kid in me, happy at the prospect of a snow day.

And surprise snow is the best.

The reflected light brightens your bedroom, as you push the covers aside and go to the window. And outside the world has been transformed into a magical place -- clean and bright and white.

Thursday morning brought a surprise snow. Just a few inches, but enough to create its own magic. I couldn't resist taking the camera out for a few shots. This beautiful stone bank house, in a nearby town, is one of my all-time favorites. Oh how I would love to get a peek inside. ;)

I have a few surprises for you all next week too. Just a little bit of exciting (for me, anyway) news, and maybe a little celebration that we can all share. Stayed tuned for more information. :)

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Please join me for Mosaic Monday. Mr. Linky will be up by 8:30pm Sunday. I look forward to visiting you all. :)

Tablescape Thursday: Playing With Dishes

Sometimes I set the table for a special occasion, and other times I just play with my dishes. You do that, right?

It actually saves time when you have to set a table for a special occasion, because it's like a dry run.

Truly.

And playing with dishes is therapeutic.

I swear.

All those pretty, shiny things...

Beautiful colors and textures...

Flowers and ribbons...

OK, so I might have a slight problem. :)

Many thanks to the beautiful Susan from Between Naps on the Porch, for hosting Tablescape Thursday. :)

salad plates: German antiques

dinner plates: Wedgwood "Hamilton"

water goblets: Waterford "Donegal"

wine glasses: thrift store, pattern unknown

flatware: assorted antiques, thrift and antique stores

Odds and Ends

First of all, I want to say "thank you" for all your wonderful comments and birthday wishes yesterday. Wow, you guys are the best!!! Several of you told me that you or one of your loved ones shared my birthday; I hope you all had a wonderful day!

Secondly, welcome to all the new faces I'm seeing here -- both at Mosaic Monday and in my Followers list. I'm so happy that you have chosen to spend some time at Little Red House!

Finally, I want to remind everyone that Mr. Linky remains up all week, so that if you didn't have time to post your mosaic earlier, you can still do so now. I look forward to visiting you all this week. :)

Now, is there something I'm forgetting? Something I promised to tell you about?

Oh yeah. The surprise. :)

Well, you all know how I love a good deal, right? The queen of the thrift store bargain? Here is my greatest moment, bar none.

My husband and I were driving home Saturday when we spied a piece of furniture that someone had left at the side of the road. It was a beautiful desk, in nearly perfect condition. We looked at each other, and then said that we had no room for it in our house. We drove on by.

At home later, I looked at our junky computer table, and had a bright idea. We could use the desk there! Now you have to know that my husband, while he shares my love of a good bargain, does not really like going to garage sales, or picking things up at the side of the road. So he really did not want to go back and get that desk. But it was my birthday (almost) and he knew that it was killing me to let that desk go. So we went back and picked it up.

We got it home, brought it inside, and realized that it would not fit up the stairs to the family room. Aaaaarrrgh! So with a bit of furniture shuffling, it is now residing in our tiny den. My daughter has apparently decided that it belongs to her, and has filled the drawers with office supplies. She has midterm exams this week, so it has become her study station. It is already covered with books and papers. I cleared it off to take this photo, which is blurry because it was so dark in the room. Sorry!

So that is my big surprise -- a beautiful, almost new cherry desk. For nothing. Nothing. I tried to look it up online, and found a sideboard by the same manufacturer, half the size of the desk, selling secondhand for $1500.

Oh how I love a good bargain. ;)

Mosaic Monday: It's My Birthday

Making a flower mosaic for my birthday has become something of a tradition at Little Red House. January 25th -- all the excitement of the holiday season has faded and the winter weather has become a bit of a bore. It's a long time till spring. So I usually cheer myself up with a gathering of electronic blossoms.

My husband gets me some of the real kind, too. :)

I awoke this morning (Sunday, the 24th) to two armfuls of blooms -- white tulips and yellow roses. We're going out to dinner tonight, and I've been promised some gifts to unwrap tomorrow. I did get a sort of early birthday present on Saturday. But I want to surprise you with that story on Tuesday. Because you need a surprise in this dreary weather, don't you?

(And if you are enjoying lovely weather at the moment, please don't tell me. It would just be the last straw. Not that I'm jealous or anything... )

It's 34 degrees and rainy here tonight... lol

Now let's have some mosaic fun! Here are the instructions:

1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.
That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll(at)optonline.net. I can't wait to see your mosaics! Here is Mr. Linky:

Did You Ever Wonder...?

OK, I have a question for you. It has nothing to do with the picture of the roses. I just can't do a post without including a picture. But here is my question:

Have you seen the commercial for the new dog food that is billed as "appetizers for dogs?" I forget who the manufacturer is. My question is this: Who could possibly think that dogs need appetizers? I mean, they're dogs. They eat anything. They eat food off the floor. They lick their own butts, for God's sake.

Do they really need an amuse-bouche?

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Please join me for Mosaic Monday this week. (It's my birthday week!) Mr. Linky will be up by 8:30pm Sunday. Although I did not get a chance to leave comments for you all last week, I did visit and was amazed by the beautiful mosaics you made!

Red and White

Last week when I posted a formal luncheon in my dining room for Tablescape Thursday, several people asked me for a closer look at the dishes in my corner cabinet. So here they are. :)

I tend to change out the dishes here a few times a year. Right now, the cabinet is filled with red transferware and white milk glass. The transferware is mostly reproduction Spode, with a few vintage and antique pieces thrown in.

The milk glass is beginning to take over.

My kids think this cow creamer is kind of creepy, but I just love it. In fact, if I'm not careful, I might easily begin to collect these. ;)

The milk glass pieces appeal to my frugal nature -- none cost more than $28. and most were in the 50 cent to $4. range.

I found this little sugar bowl, minus it's lid, at a rummage sale. I think it was $1.50.

A few antique books help to stagger the heights of the pieces.

I think I've finally reached critical mass here. One more piece and the whole thing will come down. lol

Anyway, that's my little corner cabinet. I will probably change everything out this spring with some flowered dishes.

Stay tuned. :)

My Latest Obsession

You know that feeling you get when something just calls your name? Over the years, I've gotten that feeling with transferware, and silver gravy boats, and milk glass. Lately, it's been copper. I've begun to pick up a few pieces at rummage sales and at HomeGoods. I just love how it warms up my kitchen.

I seem to be drawn to the color black as well. In tole trays and anything made of wire. I just found these cute little wire candle sticks in the thrift store for $1.50 each.

Currently the wall above our Ikea butcher block cabinet is reserved for my black tole trays and copper, and a few of my favorite prints. I'd love to get a pot rack for the copper -- wouldn't it be wonderful to have a whole collection? ;)

Mosaic Monday: Quiet

Welcome to another Mosaic Monday. We had an amazing 115 participants last week, with offerings from all over the world. How cool is that?!

This week, I've done a compilation of some of my favorite photos from the past few years. I love to take pictures in the mist, and here I've collected some of my favorites. Flowers are also a perennial favorite of mine, and here I've gathered some tulips which cheered my spirits this past week. I'm loving the vintage-y feel here, and the soft, warm tones. I also think it is a very quiet mosaic, which mirrors how I'm feeling lately... waiting for some early signs of spring.

Yes, I know it's only January. But I can dream, right? ;)

Now let's have some mosaic fun! Here are the instructions:

1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.
That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll(at)optonline.net. I can't wait to see your mosaics! Here is Mr. Linky:

Blessings

“Sometimes I go about pitying myself

And all the while

I am being carried across the sky

By beautiful clouds.”

Ojibway Indian Expression

I am reminded of the many blessings I have been given, especially in light of the terrible tragedy in Haiti. Please God, they have nothing. Watch over them and hold them in Your heart.

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We had an amazing 119 participants in Mosaic Monday last week. Thank you so much for your participation, and please join me for Mosaic Monday this week. Mr. Linky will be up by 8:30pm Sunday. :)

Tablescape Thursday: Formal Soup Luncheon

Cold weather calls for soup, so we are having a little formal soup luncheon today. :)

The antique transferware soup bowls were my can't-possibly-leave-the-store-without-them thrift store find. I got four of them for $24. You can read about it here.

I have paired them with another partial set of thrift store finds -- dinner plates made by Paragon, an old English manufacturer.

Dupioni silk placemats, Oneida silverplate soup spoons and antique bone-handled knives. They are a tiny bit worn, but I love the intricate monograms.

Rogers & Smith monogrammed dinner forks and RC Co. salad forks. Damask napkins and Target mother-of-pearl napkin rings.

Waterford water goblets and candlesticks, thrift store wine glasses, pierced creamware cachepots from Michael's and (I'm sorry to say) faux roses.

Would you like some soup?

Many thanks to our gracious hostess, Susan, of Between Naps on the Porch. Do visit Susan for more wonderful tablescapes. :)

Tulips, and a Winner

Tulips are my answer to cabin fever and the winter blues. I buy them at the supermarket when they are on sale, and I move them from room to room with me.

I also love to take pictures of them.

I have not actually gotten all my Christmas decorations packed up yet, but I'll get to them today. In the meantime, I'm having fun with the new camera I got for Christmas, and I'm enjoying my little vase of springtime. :)

So now, to announce the winner of last week's giveaway: Random.org picked number 35.

And number 35 belonged to Traci, of One Fell Out of the Cuckoo's Nest. Congratulations, Traci! Contact me at mrcarroll(at)optonline(dot)net to let me know your address, and which print you would like. :)

Mosaic Monday: Pillow Party

I've made a mosaic of pillows today, to join with Rhondi's Pillow Party, at her beautiful blog Rose Colored Glasses. I love needlepoint pillows, searching for them in thrift stores and antiques shops. The white roses (top left) was found in an antiques shop. The pink butterflies (top right) came from a flea market, and the grapes (bottom center) was found at a rummage sale. None cost more than $5. The primroses (bottom left) was a Mother's Day gift, and the urn of flowers (bottom right) came from HomeGoods.

One of the things I would love to do this year is learn how to sew, and maybe get a very elementary sewing machine. Fabrics fascinate me, and I would love to be able to make my own pillows.

To see some wonderful handmade pillows, visit Rhondi's Pillow Party at Rose Colored Glasses.

Now let's have some mosaic fun! Here are the instructions:

1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.
That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll(at)optonline.net. I can't wait to see your mosaics! Here is Mr. Linky

No Time for Tea

Today is the day we take down all the Christmas decorations.

Gulp.

It seems like a huge job, but I keep telling myself to break it into smaller tasks and it will be over before I know it.

Yeah, right.

Anyway, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, doing all those fun things that I will not be doing because I have to take down the stinking Christmas decorations. Not that I'm bitter or anything. :)

Oh, and don't forget to enter my giveaway. A comment gets you one entry, and if you post about the giveaway on your blog, that gets you a second entry. So come on, people, enter!

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I hope that you will join me for Mosaic Monday this coming week. Mr. Linky will be up by 8:30pm Sunday. :)

My New Etsy Shop and a Giveaway

No, it's not Mosaic Monday. :) I just wanted to announce that my favorite vintage-inspired winter prints are now displayed for sale in my Etsy Shop. I am also busy creating photo notecards, postcards, bookmarks and gift tags, and I will be listing them in the shop soon. And to celebrate the new items in my shop, I am holding a giveaway in this post. The winner may choose one 8" X 10" fine art photographic print from my shop.

How to enter: For one entry, leave a comment with your email address. For a second entry, write about this giveaway on your blog and include a link to my etsy shop and to this giveaway. Leave me a second comment with the link to your post, and I will count it as a second entry.

Entries will be accepted till midnight Eastern time on Sunday, January 10th. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, January 12th. Good luck!

Note: International entries are welcome, too!

Come Drive With Me

So, we're going for a little drive today. The temperatures are freezing, but the skies are blue, and you'll be fine if you bundle up. Besides, my car has heated seats which, as far as I'm concerned, are the greatest advancement in automotive technology in... well, in forever.

Our first stop is the USGA Golf Museum (above) or the Golf House, as it's known around here. Despite having lived down the road since well before it's inception in the 70's, I've never before visited, and I know nothing about golf. But isn't the main building gorgeous? It was one of the finest estates in the area, and used to be home to former Secretary of State Cyrus Vance.

I'll have to actually go inside someday and learn about golf. :)

Next stop is my favorite park, called Natirar. This was also the site of a former estate. It once belonged to New York socialite Kate Macy Ladd. After her death, the house was used as a convalescent home for women, and was later sold to the King of Morocco.

How's that for hoighty-toighty? ;)

The house (shown here) has since been acquired by a group of investors including Sir Richard Branson. It is being developed as a luxury restaurant, spa and cooking school. The land, however, has been donated to the county park system and is open to all. It is one of my favorite places to walk, and to take pictures. :)

A few minutes away we will stop at my favorite thrift store, housed in the basement of this beautiful little church in Gladstone, NJ. I've been cleaning out our guest room, which has really gotten to be more of a junk room, and I've got to deliver some donations. But the little church is so lovely against the blue sky that I just have to snap a picture or two. :)

Of course, you can't just donate and not go in to browse. Or at least I can't. (Those words sound vaguely familiar. I think I've written them before.)

Oh, what do I spy?! Aren't these gorgeous? Be still my heart! And actually, the individual plates are marked at $6. apiece. So that's really just $24., right?

I hope you enjoyed our little jaunt. I'm thinking soup will be on the menu soon, and these beauties will be showing up in my next Tablescape Thursday post. :)

Have a beautiful day, dear bloggers!

Mosaic Monday: Vintage Winter

Well, it's definitely winter here in New Jersey. The temps for the past few days have not risen out of the 20's, and with the wind howling it often feels like only seven or eight degrees above zero. We have had snow off and on this past week, too.

I used to hate winter -- the snow, the cold, the ice and wind. Now I find that if I'm dressed warmly enough, it's kind of nice to get out and walk in the sun. And it has a sort of spare beauty that emphasizes light and shadow. And I appreciate the sun so much more when it shines above a landscape of snow and ice. :)

What is your favorite season?

Now let's have some mosaic fun! Here are the instructions:

1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.
That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll(at)optonline.net. I can't wait to see your mosaics! Here is Mr. Linky:

Hello Kitty, Not

My evil plot to take over the world continues apace. In an effort to weaken my humans, I have decided to wail outside their bedroom door every morning at 4:00 am. After a few weeks of this behavior, they will almost certainly give in to my demands.

I am also determined to weaken them economically. I will therefore refuse to eat the very smelly and very expensive special diet food that they have purchased from the veterinarian. And I will try my best to spit out the tiny pills they force down my throat every evening. Luckily for me, the pills tend to crumble once they have been ejected from my mouth.

I will look cute and innocent when I greet them each morning, presenting my belly to be rubbed. When I have lulled them into a false sense of security, I will unleash fangs and claws.

There will be blood.

I will continue my daily effort to add to their discomfort by shredding the furniture, and depositing copious amounts of hair over every available surface.

Finally, I will test the limits of my multi-cat-formula litter. Surely with a little application, I will be able to overwhelm the anti-odor formulation, and scatter it across the floor as well.

Soon the world will be mine.

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Will you join me for another year of Mosaic Monday? Mr. Linky will be up by 8:30 pm Sunday. As always, there is no required subject. You may post about anything you like. I look forward to seeing your mosaics. :)