Friday, March 30, 2012

Clementines



Still in the grip of writer's block here.




I am so BORING.




So, in lieu of any intelligent prose you might expect, here is a bright bit of color that caught my eye in the kitchen. ;)

Happy weekend, dear bloggers!

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Mosaic Monday: Spring is Beautiful



I spent most of last Monday morning at Willowwood Arboretum, which is about 20 minutes from my home. It was so beautiful, with signs of Spring everywhere. There were several different hellebores, but my favorites were these lovely rose-colored ones. The vine-covered stone house caught my eye, too. I've seen that vine in summer and, if I'm not mistaken, it is a climbing hydrangea.

The daffodils at Willowwood are spread throughout the garden, with some in formal flower beds, but more are planted in large swathes through the grass. Their cheerful yellow faces turn toward the sun.

We had such a beautiful week for the beginning of Spring, with temperatures in the 60's and even the 70's. The coming week will be a return to March -- 50's and rainy. But this is my favorite season, hands down. More spring pictures to come later in the week. :)

Here are the instructions to join today's post:
1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post. The post may be about any subject you wish. The only stipulation is that it include a collage, or mosaic of photos.
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 inlinkz box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate inlinkz 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

And a quick reminder: if you would like to join Mosaic Monday but don't know quite where to start, there is a tutorial on mosaic-making on my sidebar. Just scroll down, and click on the small blue mosaic.




Thank you for sharing your beautiful images with all of us at Mosaic Monday!  

1. LeAnne  24. Foot Fashion @ My Place to Yours  47. Jackie's life in Surrey, UK.  
2. Carol @ There's Always Thyme to Cook  25. Denise at Forest Manor  48. Tina´s PicStory  
3. Pat@Back Porch Musings  26. Life Images by Jill  49. ~ fungi ~  
4. The French Hutch  27. Gillyweed... Fav Online Magazines  50. Nature Trail  
5. Eileen  28. Ebie, CA  51. Yael - Home Garden Diggers (visiting Israel)  
6. Home is Where the Boat Is  29. Kim,USA  52. Gina, Art and Alfalfa  
7. Bess @ Fixing My Thoughts  30. Terri @ Fifty for Four  53. I've Got the Blues  
8. Lavender Dreams  31. Mary Howell Cromer  54. Puna@LifeSignatures  
9. Teresa  32. Sweet Nothings  55. Searching for Spring  
10. Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson  33. ellen b  56. Happy Hearts  
11. Vee  34. antique books  57. Simple Cori  
12. Dab of This and That  35. Sallie (FullTime-Life)  58. Rosas vermelhas no outono  
13. Podso  36. Beautiful Baubles  59. Diann @ The Thrifty Groove  
14. InaSandbox  37. What's Blooming @ New House, New Home, New Life  60. KaPa.Me without yoy, tea without a biscuit!  
15. {oc cottage}  38. Pat ~ Mille Fiori Favoriti  61. Edwards Granddaughter  
16. Romantic Cottage  39. QMM  62. ~my parent's yard~  
17. Wandering Thought  40. Ebie, CA (correct link)  63. shellybean101  
18. Black Eyed Susans Kitchen  41. Pondside - Sunshine Through the Trees  64. The Cottage Wren  
19. A Garden of Threads  42. Lorrie  65. Jayne's Country Garden  
20. Snap @ Twisty Lane  43. Teacup-In-The-Garden  66. Easter Decorating - Done!  
21. Crafty Gardener, Canada  44. Spring Picnic in the House @ My Cozy Corner  67. Agni, Greece  
22. A Taste of Las Vegas in Asia  45. Très Julie, Pink  
23. Rajesh, India  46. twiggy  

(Cannot add links: Registration/trial expired)

Friday, March 23, 2012

Cherry Blossoms



Hi everyone! I'm just checking in from my sofa, where I have spent the last few days with some sort of intestinal bug. Not my favorite thing to have, especially as this week has been so beautiful here in New Jersey. Luckily, I got out to a favorite area arboretum on Monday, and caught the cherry blossoms before they fade. :)

I wanted to let you know that I'm still considering doing some sort of photo meme or challenge with a different weekly theme. Or maybe a monthly theme would be more manageable. If anyone has any ideas, feel free to email me at mrcarroll(at)optonline.net or leave them in the comments. I'd love to hear from you.

OK, I guess that's it for now. I have some more lovely spring photos from the Willowwood Arboretum to show you for Mosaic Monday. And I have listed one new cherry blossom photo in my etsy shop here. Feel free to take a peek!

Until later, my friends, have a marvelous weekend!

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Mosaic Monday: Almost Spring



I love the tiny blossoms of early spring. Oh yes, I know that according to the calendar, spring hasn't officially started yet. But trust me, it's here. :) We had a wonderfully mild winter this year (thank you, global warming) and this past week has seen the last snowdrops, more crocus and hellebores, and some pretty, tiny weeds growing up in our lawn. As for weeds in the lawn, we are definitely a "live and let live" kind of household. :) Anyway, here are a few of the tiny blossoms around our Little Red House. Happy almost-Spring, dear bloggers!

Here are the instructions to join today's post:
1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post. The post may be about any subject you wish. The only stipulation is that it include a collage, or mosaic of photos.
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 inlinkz box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate inlinkz 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

And a quick reminder: if you would like to join Mosaic Monday but don't know quite where to start, there is a tutorial on mosaic-making on my sidebar. Just scroll down, and click on the small blue mosaic.



Thank you for sharing your beautiful images with all of us at Mosaic Monday!  

1. Crafty Gardener, Canada  26. Leslie's Garden  51. Teacup-In-The-Garden  
2. Mary Tingsgrove, KY  27. That Country Place  52. Spring Mantelscape @ My Cozy Corner  
3. Lavender Cottage  28. Riet, Holland  53. Yael from Home Garden Diggers  
4. Spring Flowers  29. Terri @ Fifty for Four  54. Gypsea Nurse  
5. Life Images by Jill  30. The Cottage Wren  55. Denise at Forest Manor  
6. QMM  31. Rajesh, India  56. PrairieJill  
7. Pat --Mille Fiori Favoriti  32. Vee  57. clairejustineoxox  
8. Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson  33. Shirley LeMay  58. Normandy Life  
9. My Little Home and Garden  34. Lavender Dreams  59. mariateresa capo berti  
10. Pat@Back Porch Musings  35. Gillyweed... Color Blocking  60. Sunny in CHICAGO  
11. Podso  36. Jackie's life in Surrey, UK.  61. Puna@LifeSignatures  
12. Tina´s PicStory  37. Flower buds  62. Cass at That Old House  
13. Nature Sings @ My Place to Yours  38. one lonely blossom  63. karen, A Scrapbook of Inspiration  
14. ellen b  39. Diann  64. Elaine  
15. Wandering Thought  40. Accomplishing  65. Life Among Mountains  
16. Ebie, CA  41. Teresa  66. Diana @ velvet moth studio  
17. Snap @ Twisty Lane  42. Ahh-choo  67. Sall's Country Life  
18. A Garden of Threads  43. NHGarden  68. Orange you glad it is Spring?! Sujata, India  
19. InaSandbox  44. Sweet Nothings  69. shamrock race  
20. Home is Where the Boat Is  45. the tilt to spring...  70. Blossoms, Blue Birds, Bunnies & Butterflies  
21. Cathy  46. Kim,USA  71. shellybeans101  
22. THe French Hutch  47. Mary Lou  72. Jewels  
23. green  48. ~one lonely blossom~  73. Cathy  
24. Carol @ There's Always Thyme to Cook  49. {flower buds}  
25. Gina, Art and Alfalfa  50. Porch Days  

(Cannot add links: Registration/trial expired)

Thursday, March 15, 2012

For You


Experiencing major writer's block here this week... maybe it's the beautiful weather. In any event, here is just a little bit of spring in New Jersey for you. :)

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Mosaic Monday: Pretty in Pink



We've had a series of beautiful days here in New Jersey and, although we are nowhere near crabapple time yet, the lovely sunny weather has inspired me to create a pink mosaic this week. After all, what could be more beautiful than pink?

Pink just makes me happy. And the weather this week will be in the 60's and sunny. And my daughter is home for spring break. And that makes me happy, too. :)

Wishing you a wonderful week, dear bloggers. Once again, thank you for visiting Little Red House, and for all your kind comments! xoxo

Here are the instructions to join today's post:
1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post. The post may be about any subject you wish. The only stipulation is that it include a collage, or mosaic of photos.
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 inlinkz box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate inlinkz 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

And a quick reminder: if you would like to join Mosaic Monday but don't know quite where to start, there is a tutorial on mosaic-making on my sidebar. Just scroll down, and click on the small blue mosaic.



Thank you for sharing your beautiful images with all of us at Mosaic Monday!  

1. Kim,USA  25. Gina, Art and Alfalfa  49. doors & windows  
2. Pat@Back Porch Musings  26. "A Lady Prepares to Go Out " - Cloche  50. Tina´s PicStory  
3. Wandering Thought  27. Judy  51. suzyq-atthefarmhouse  
4. BailiwickStudio  28. Spring Cloche Party @ My Cozy Corner  52. Leslie's Garden  
5. Black Eyed Susans Kitchen  29. Shirley LeMay  53. Très Julie, Lampwork  
6. Mary Tingsgrove, KY  30. Week 11 Choosing to Accomplish  54. suzyq-atthefarmhouse  
7. Home is Where the Boat Is  31. Becky  55. hannah uk  
8. Birdie Under Glass  32. Diamonds  56. Crafty Gardener, Canada  
9. Candy @ The Little Round Table  33. QMM  57. Spring table with Ingrid  
10. Eileen  34. White Garden  58. Wibbly Wobbly Me  
11. Pondside  35. Riet,  59. Puna@LifeSignatures  
12. The Swans are Back  36. Teresa  60. Pot Holder Princess  
13. Pat -- Mille Fiori Favoriti  37. Terri @ Fifty for Four  61. PrairieJill  
14. Podso  38. Life Images by Jill  62. Yellow and Purple  
15. Karen, A Scrapbook of Inspiration  39. Copy Cat @bj's  63. Donna's Designs  
16. The French Hutch  40. JBigg - Irish Blessing  64. Schotzy@Wings of Eagles  
17. A Wee Bit of the Irish....  41. Lorrie  65. AnnA, Sweden  
18. Gillyweed...Store Fronts  42. Diann @ The Thrifty Groove  66. The Cottage Wren  
19. Lavender Dreams  43. Christine  67. Patricia  
20. Lavender Cottage  44. Blog it Forward ~ Pondside  68. Sall's Country Life  
21. Carol @ Always Thyme to Cook  45. Ingmarie We/Refugium  69. Linda H  
22. Rajesh, India  46. Teacup-In-The-Garden  70. snow day in March  
23. rainbow sherbet  47. Jackie's life in Surrey, UK.  71. My Quality Time  
24. Mary Lou  48. ~musically favored~  

(Cannot add links: Registration/trial expired)

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

The Winner



Thanks to everyone who participated in my giveaway to celebrate Leap Day!




Random.org chose comment #16, which was made by Lisa, of Sall's Country Life!! Lisa chose my misty path image entitled Follow Your Dreams. That's one of my favorites!




Congratulations, Lisa! I will get that print right out to you. I'm committed to adding new images to my etsy shop on a regular basis, so check back often. Thanks so much, everyone!

Just a quick note: I asked if anyone was interested in participating in a photo-a-week meme. I will be working on that in the next few weeks, and will let you know the particulars as soon as possible. :)

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Mosaic Monday: Tennyson



"To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."

This last line of Alfred, Lord Tennyson's great poem Ulysses will be engraved in the 2012 Olympic village, to serve as inspiration to the world's athletes when they come to London later this summer for the Olympics. For the entire poem, which is one of my favorites, click here. It is a beautifully written dramatic monologue, in which the now aged hero of the Trojan War, and ruler of the kingdom of Ithaca, looks back on his past exploits and longs for the freedom to explore new worlds. (Yes, I am an English Literature nerd.)

The poem was originally published in 1842. My copy shown here is in an 1873 edition, published in Boston. The pages are thin and delicate, and hard to read. My favorite part of the book, though, is the inscription written on the fly-leaf. I always wonder about Emma and John -- were they friends, lovers? Was she happy with his gift? What were their lives like in 1874?

Of course I will never know the answers to any of my questions. But this is why I love antiques, for the real and undeniable connection to past lives and history. Come to think of it, that is probably why I love literature, too. :)

Don't forget to enter my giveaway here! Drawing to be held on Wednesday morning. :)

Here are the instructions to join today's post:
1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post. The post may be about any subject you wish. The only stipulation is that it include a collage, or mosaic of photos.
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 inlinkz box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate inlinkz 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

And a quick reminder: if you would like to join Mosaic Monday but don't know quite where to start, there is a tutorial on mosaic-making on my sidebar. Just scroll down, and click on the small blue mosaic.



Thank you for sharing your beautiful images with all of us at Mosaic Monday!  

1. Carol @ Always Thyme to Cook  24. Pat@Back Porch Musings  47. Dreaming of Summer  
2. Vee  25. The Cottage Wren  48. Très Julie, Muscari  
3. Kathy-Delightsome Life  26. Terri @ Quilternity's Place  49. Tina´s PicStory  
4. Lavender Dreams  27. Kim, USA  50. Agni  
5. eileen  28. QMM  51. Sallie (FullTime-Life)  
6. Black Eyed Susans Kitchen  29. Bluff Area Daily USA  52. A Little Pink & Green  
7. Home is Where the Boat Is  30. Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson  53. Thematic photos  
8. InaSandbox  31. lime and tangerine mosaics  54. Brenda  
9. Gina, Art and Alfalfa  32. Lavender Cottage  55. Color Chic  
10. Magnolia Cottage  33. Mary  56. Gillyweed... Island Style  
11. Snap @ Twisty Lane  34. Week 10 Choosing to Accomplish  57. Table Transformation  
12. Candy @ The Little Round Table  35. Sweet Woodruffs  58. Sall's Country Life  
13. Pat ~ Mille Fiori Favoriti  36. Diann @ The Thrifty Groove  59. Sunshine In My Soul  
14. A Garden of Threads  37. Teresa  60. Loui♥  
15. Bernie in Australia  38. JBigg - Look What I Won  61. It's Chili Night!  
16. Terri @ Fifty for Four  39. Perry, Scio,Or,US  62. Schotzy@Wings of Eagles  
17. Wandering Thought  40. A Montana Life  63. Farm Fresh  
18. Shirley LeMay  41. ~green & pink~  64. Signs of Spring  
19. Greening up at the Ranch  42. Maura@Lilac Lane Cottage  65. Mary Lou  
20. A Little Bit of Green @ My Cozy Corner  43. A Collection of This and That ~ Dayle  66. Mary Lou  
21. {oc cottage}  44. Teacup-In-The-Garden  67. suzyq-atthefarmhouse  
22. Rajesh, India  45. Jackie's life in Surrey, UK.  68. Hello Friends  
23. Ash Tree Cottage  46. Pondside-Soleil!  69. Tayet  

(Cannot add links: Registration/trial expired)