Excuse Me, Please

I've had it up to my eyeballs with snow, and cabin fever, and... well, I don't know what else... but I just know that I need a few days off before I go postal here... So, forgive me, but I'm going to play hooky for awhile. Mosaic Monday will resume on March 8th.

See you mid-week, when hopefully I will be refreshed and ready for more blogging. :)

Friday Redux

It's amazing how many tiny blossoms you can get on one of these pots of miniature narcissus.

This one is sitting on my kitchen table, where we can enjoy it despite the nasty weather outside.

I seem to be making a habit of posting daffodil images on Fridays, and wishing for spring. We're in the middle of a nor'easter as I write this. By the time it posts on Friday morning, we could be on our way to quite a decent snow event, as the forecasters say. By Saturday morning, we could have 15 inches.

Ay Caramba!

Nancy Medina Art

New Hampshire Lilacs, by Nancy Medina

One of the greatest things about the blogosphere is the chance to "meet" talented people from all over the world. Today I am so thrilled to be able to show you the work of artist Nancy Medina.

Rainbow Blossoms Container Garden by Nancy Medina

Nancy paints the most wonderful florals and landscapes. Her exuberant, expressionistic style relies on bold colors and textures to portray a sense of vibrancy and movement.

Purple Obsession Iris by Nancy Medina

Nancy grew up on an organic farm in East Texas, and studied art history and color theory at Texas A&M University. She began her painting career in Santa Barbara, California, and now has a studio in the aptly named Flower Mound, Texas, which she shares with her three four-legged, wrinkly-faced assistants (the cutest pugs you have ever seen). :)

Sunflower Garden by Nancy Medina

Nancy has worked professionally in design and publishing for over 20 years. She now travels throughout Texas photographing and painting the state's unique flora. Her work is displayed in galleries across the United States.

Tranquil Garden Sunflowers by Nancy Medina

Nancy's art will be shown at The Good Art Company Gallery in historic Fredericksburg, Texas beginning on March 5th. If you happen to be in Texas Hill Country during the month of March, you might like to stop by and see it in person.

Arboretum Dancers by Nancy Medina

Nancy will also be a part of Artscape, a juried art show at the Dallas Arboretum, March 20th and 21st.

Glorious Glads by Nancy Medina

Nancy and I share a love of flowers. Last year, she asked permission to use one of my photos as inspiration for a painting she was doing. As a "thank you" she sent me a beautiful framed print of her work which hangs in my kitchen, where it's cheerful color brightens these dark winter days. :)

For more information visit Nancy's art website, and Nancy's art blog.

Mosaic Monday: Vintage Greens

The snow has finally begun to melt and we are just starting to see a little green/brown grass here in my part of New Jersey. We've still got a snow cover for the most part. So I've gone back through my archives to gather some spring and summer photos with a bit of a vintage feel. No bright greens here yet, but even the muted greens and browns are welcome after so many days of white. :)

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:

Everything Old Is New Again

By now, most of you will have appreciated the fact that I have, ahem, a slight problem with collecting dishes.

I may have a few more dishes than I know what to do with.

But that's where repurposing comes in, right? Bone dishes make wonderful ring holders. I have also used saucers as soap dishes, and platters as back splashes behind my kitchen faucet.

Everything old is new again. :)

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Please join me for Mosaic Monday -- Mr. Linky will be up by 9:30pm Sunday. I look forward to seeing all your wonderful and creative mosaics.

Happy Friday

Just a little bit of sunshine...

to brighten your day. Happy Friday, dear bloggers! :)

Where Did All This Blue Come From?

I just made a discovery -- I have a lot of blue transferware! Because my dining room is red, I tend to collect and display red transferware.

But as I was scrounging through my cupboards yesterday for something different to display on my dining room dresser, I realized that a lot of blue had found it's way into the Little Red House.

A few pieces are from my mother, including the blue spongeware pitcher, and several blue willow plates.

This little blue and white pottery cup (above) was my mother's, too.

I bought this antique platter (above) on Ebay last year.

There are some reproduction Spode dinner plates here as well. I just can't seem to resist buying a few when I see them in HomeGoods. :)

And I guess they are starting to add up, because apparently I have enough to make quite a large display.

This pitcher belonged to my mother, too. Imagine my delight when I found a miniature version (in one of the photos above) in the thrift store.

As some of you know, I collect silverplate pitchers and gravy boats as well. And I think they go nicely here with the blue and white.

This antique plate which belonged to my mother, is my favorite. I found it a few years ago when cleaning out one of our closets.

Which gives you an idea of the kind of housekeeper I am.

A very bad one. ;)

Edited to add: I am linking this post to Paula Grace's Timeless Tuesday. She always has wonderful design advice, so go and visit -- you'll be glad you did. :)

Mosaic Monday: Missing the Deck

Despite my recorded joy in snow days, I have to say that I'm really starting to miss dining on the deck. :)

These photos are from last summer -- a little luncheon table to celebrate the warm weather. I keep telling myself that the days are getting just a little longer and a little warmer as each week passes. Before I know it, I'll be filling the pots on my deck.

Right?

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:

Happy Valentine's Day

"I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you. I love you not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me. I love you for the part of me that you bring out."

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Happy Valentine's Day, dear bloggers !

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Please join me for Mosaic Monday this week. Mr. Linky will be up by 9:30pm Sunday. :)

Snow Scenes

12 inches. Fresh-baked focaccia, baked ziti and apple crumble. I love snow days. :)

Snow Day

As I write this on Tuesday night, we are expecting to get quite a bit of snow over the next 24 hours. By the time this posts at 6:00am, we may be snowed in.

Or not.

"Snowpocalypse" never materialized here in New Jersey over the weekend. But I think we are in for a big storm this time.

Now I would be the first one to say that snow is a giant pain in the butt. But still, there is something wonderful about being snowed in. Maybe it is being all together, in our warm home. Maybe it is sleeping in, and having a leisurely breakfast, and sitting down to while away the day with a good book. Maybe it is making cookies, and soup.

Or perhaps it is simply taking the time to look for beauty in the smallest things around us.

Happy Snow Day, dear bloggers! :)

Mr. Linky Disappears

(Blogland) -- The famously cranky Mr. Linky disappeared this morning from his residence on the post below. Linky authorities have been contacted, but in the meantime, please leave your link in the comments section.

Edited to add: As of 4:00pm Monday, Mr. Linky is now working. Yay!

Mosaic Monday: Think Spring

Since my new mantra is "Think Spring," I decided to make up a spring flower mosaic this week. We only got about three inches of snow over the weekend, but spring still seems a long way away. So here are a few spring flowers from my archives, to cheer your day. :)

I wanted to take a minute to thank everyone who participates each week in Mosaic Monday. I love learning about what is going on in your lives, about your passions and pursuits. Thank you for sharing your lives here. :)

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:

Think Spring

We're getting snow here in New Jersey today. As I compose this on Friday night, the weather forecasters don't quite know how much to predict. But whatever the amount, I'll be staying snug at home, with blueberry waffles for breakfast and tulips nodding over the table. "Think spring" is my new mantra. :)

Happy Saturday, dear bloggers. If you are getting the nasty weather, stay warm and safe. If you are lucky enough to have some beautiful weather, enjoy!

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Please join me for Mosaic Monday this week. We had some absolutely beautiful mosaics last week -- thank you all so much for making this such a fun party for me. :) Mr. Linky will be up by 8:30pm Eastern time Sunday.

Raspberry Breakfast

My in-laws gave me a wonderful gift basket for my birthday, filled with lots of yummy breakfast foods. I try very hard to eat healthy, but I have to admit to a weakness for jams. So I've been in breakfast heaven this week, sampling lots of different fruity spreads.

So far Raspberry Peach Champagne Jam is my favorite, but really they are all quite wonderful. :)

I've also been enjoying a bit of summer in February with these beautiful fresh raspberries. I have to admit that I bought them so that I could photograph them (how pathetic is that?!) but now I've been snacking on them. And that's healthy eating, right?

We're supposed to be getting a snow storm tonight into Saturday, so we're planning on sleeping in and making pancakes in the morning. With wild Maine blueberries, courtesy of my breakfast basket.

What's on the menu for breakfast at your house tomorrow? :)

A Garden In Winter

When we had our little snow last week, I decided to visit a garden I had never been to before. This is the formal garden at the Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center in Chester Township, New Jersey. I drive past it often to get to my sister-in-law's house, but until last week, I had never had time to stop and explore.

Now a part of the Morris County park system, the house was originally known as Merchiston Farm. The farm was the home of William and Martha Brookes Hutcheson from 1911 to 1959.

The gardens were originally laid out by Mrs. Hutcheson, who was one of the first female landscape architects in the United States. Morris County has just finished an extensive restoration, including new stone walls and plantings.

The land slopes gently down on three sides to a circular pool. It is a beautiful sight with a light dusting of snow. The pool holds reflections of this lovely winter garden.

The outbuildings are as beautiful as the house. There is such a sense of shelter and well-being here near the reflecting pool, surrounded by the gently sloping hills.

The house itself is used as office space for the park administration. Wouldn't it be wonderful if it were restored and decorated?

Ah well, I guess I can dream. The center hall has the most beautiful dark beams and white painted wainscoting. :)

There is also a beautiful view over the reflecting pool out to the hills beyond. The formal garden is surrounded by a deer-proof fence, but the center itself also has 100 acres of fields, woodlands and nature trails.

I can't wait to come back in the spring. And yes, I'll take more pictures. :)