HAPPY EASTER TO ALL...

 

Spring is here and Easter is on the horizon. 

 It isn't always a pretty sight 

as the sun plays hide and seek with the clouds

 but, on the days when the sun wins, 

it is more beautiful than you would think possible 

and The Olde Crow Homestead basks in its warmth.

The Lady Banks rose is ready to peek out 

from behind the lace curtains

 and pretty Cecil Brunner will not be far behind.

Inside the Cottage an attempt is being made

 to showcase a bit of Easter.  

The parlor mantel is a temporary home 

for a white bunny 

that I made many years ago 

during the "French faience" ceramic phase of decor. 

(Back in the 70's or 80's if I remember correctly.)

 I had a stable full of white ceramic farm animals 

but, with the exception of two sheep, 

this bunny, minus one eye and a few whiskers, 

 is all that is left.

The dining room is hosting 

the majority of Easter this year.  

Here are some of the vignettes sprinkled around...

...these little daffodils 

are the dried remains of 

the first spring blooms from the garden.  

If handled carefully, 

they can still linger for a while longer...

...and this sweet bunny is standing guard

 by a lamp that was put together 

with a candle lamp 

ordered from K.P. Creek

 and an old, rusty grain scoop 

that we have had laying around forever. 

A pretty cute and bright spot 

for only $12.

Two little spring chickens 

sit beside another lamp 

that the Captain put together 

from one of my crocks. 

 I bought the shade from Amazon.

If all else fails 

a small bouquet of old faux tulips

 will still bring a bit of brightness to the kitchen table.

I am forever trying to achieve

 the elusive watercolor painting.  

I will admit that it is becoming more comfortable to me 

but there is certainly a long way to go.  

The above are actually done with watercolor pencils.

My dad painted these little chicks 

when he was in the first grade.  

That would have been around 1918 or 107 years ago. 

 If you were to compare my abilities at age 85

to his at 6 years of age,

 I would say there is a really long way to go!  

BTW, the little ceramic bunny in the photo 

was a gift given to me on my first birthday.

The grass is continuing to green up...

...a spot of color surrounds the Secret Garden...

...and the fairies and dragonflies 

are eagerly awaiting this sign to become reality.

Remember the little pink house

 by the Secret Garden? 

 Papa Wren was perched on the garden gate 

with a piece of straw in his beak 

and Mama Wren flew out of the house. 

 They both flew off and I didn't get a picture

 but it looks like they might be 

setting up housekeeping. 

 I'll keep you informed. 

 We have noticed them 

flying around, casing the joint,

 so hope they decided to stay.

Have a wonderful and blessed Easter.

...xxoJudy...

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SPRING IS BUSTING OUT ALL OVER...

The beauty of springtime is upon us 

and we are all the better for it. 

 We need a reprieve from 

all the darkness that surrounds us

and I am declaring that this is it.

The garden, 

though not quite as beautiful as it soon will be,

 is making a statement 

by bringing exclamations of color 

that can brighten even the darkest corners.

As I add more blooms throughout the Cottage,

 I can feel the lifting 

of heavy burdens ever so slightly

 and a calmness is spreading out before me.  

The windows are open to let the sunshine back in 

and the lace curtains seem whitewashed by its warmth.

 

It feels good to be back. 

 I didn't ever mean for my time away to last this long 

but it did 

and I can't promise that it won't happen again.  

My thoughts are that after fourteen years,

 I'm just not as spontaneous as I once was 

and I don't want to become boring, 

so if that means a little time in between

 then that is how it shall be.

The garden is calling. 

 It is time for tidying up and feeling the sun on my back. 

 I certainly don't mean to oversimplify all that is happening around us now. 

 There is pure evil at work, 

trying to destroy our way of life, 

don't kid yourselves, 

and I know that a few colorful spring blooms

 won't change any of that

 but, if you let them, they and a little bit of sunshine, 

will put some beautiful magic 

where we need it most.

I hope all is well with everyone.

 I wrote this post last week

 but didn't make my time deadline for publishing.  

Now, this week, 

the weather has gone back to gray skies 

and lots of rain so, just like bad pennies,

 the weather and I will show back up when you least expect it.

 

HAPPY SPRING DAYS...

...xxoJudy...

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A COTTAGE OF COMFORT AND JOY, PART THREE...

Did I mention that I am addicted to YouTube.

  I watch it every night in bed. 

 It is a relaxing end to my day. 

 I am enthralled by all the Christmas decor channels. 

 There is one, in particular, that caught my eye and got my decorating juices flowing 

to a time, long ago, that filled my days.  

I am a product of

 the country decorating era of the 70's and 80's.

  I crafted and did ceramics, and our home was filled with all the goodness of mauve and blue

 and lots of rustic touches. 

 When we came to the Cottage, I thought I would move on (or back, if you will) to the Victorian style. 

 I soon found that I didn't like the heaviness and limited my decorating style to 

country Victorian in the parlor only 

and sold most of my treasures. 

The channel that so interested me is

 Bridgett's Primitive Passion. 

 Bridgett Swindle is a real southern girl with a wonderful southern accent.  

She goes shopping with her Mama, who says

 "bless her heart" about a charming, handmade doll.  

I sure could be BFF's with these two.  

Bridgett has a beautiful home,

 decorated in the primitive colonial style 

and she showcases the homes of others 

that love the same style on her channel.  

Now, I know, that I am not 

a true, hard-core prim lover. 

 I admire all the ones who choose it

 for themselves and their families, 

but I prefer the softer side of the decor 

paired with country and colonial.

After the first episode I watched, 

I knew I was going to have 

a Prim Christmas dining room this year. 

 After getting rid of most of my good things, 

don't ask me how

 I managed to find enough to carry out my plan 

in all the nooks and crannies, but I did.  

  The only new things I bought were

 a wreath and a couple of small trees 

and two stencils to complete a couple of signs. 

 It may look much the same to you

 because there is a lot of the same

 but to me it is very different. 

I can see a lot of thrifting in my future from now on.

One of the little trees from the Dollar Tree. 

I removed the tin stand it was on 

and put it in a small crock. 

 We have had the standing lamp forever. 

We tried to sell it at a garage sale once upon a time, but nobody wanted it. Thank you very much. 

 I stole the shade from the kitchen lamp

 and will find a new one after the holidays.

Let me quit talking now 

and show you what it is all about...

The old crow has the place of honor

 on the tree top this year.

  I stenciled the sign on both sides. 

The other side says Old Thyme Christmas

 so passersby can see it from outside 

(no, this was not planned, 

as usual I was cheaply trying for

 two for the price of one)

 and after Christmas Olde Crow Homestead 

will hang on the wall.

I decorated the tree with orange slices

 and a few prim items this year. 

 I didn't use the flags but...

...you can see 

I didn't forget them.

Some day I hope to have

 more quilts to pile up.

Bridgett crafts all her own samplers.  

She found a way to photograph them 

that makes them look like the real thing,

 and I bought this one for $26.  

The original would certainly cost much more.  

For anyone who is unable to own one any other way, 

this is the perfect solution and, I swear, 

you can't tell by looking that it is not the real thing.

Another little tree

 

from the Dollar Tree.

Remember the little lantern that we used 

in my great-grandmother's stove in the parlor? 

Here it is warming up the dining room.

 We moved the anniversary sign 

that was hanging here to the sitting room 

and replaced it with the two folk art prints

 that we thrifted awhile back for $5 each.  

That is what started me on my newest adventure.

Another wreath and ribbon from Temu.

These are bells that I bought a couple of years ago and they were bright red. 

I went over them with some dark glaze 

and toned them down quite a bit

.   

Hope you enjoyed my 

Perfectly Prim Christmas dining room. 

 I can't wait to see how it will evolve

 after Christmas is all put away.

Have a wonderful holiday, everyone,

 and a happy and healthy new year.

Thank you for all your support throughout the year.  

I appreciate all your friendships. 

 Thank you, Linda, for including my kitchen post in your wonderful party, Love Your Creativity. 

 It is always an honor.

See you next year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

...xxoJudy... 

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