GOLDEN GATHERINGS...

We interrupt 

this regularly scheduled report 

to bring you 

breaking news:

IT HAS SNOWED IN GRASS VALLEY

As The Captain and Kai

 were leaving on their 

usual morning walk at 5:30 AM on Monday,

 it was beginning to snow.  

It stopped at exactly 8:50 AM 

and this is what 

we were left with...

It was beautiful,

 it was cold 

and, 

according to Kai...

...it was fun...

...until 

he actually had 

to put his feet in it! 

 It was a fast track

 to his business

 and back!

Now

back to our

 regularly scheduled 

programming...

Did you watch the Olympics? 

 When the kids were young 

we would sit down as a family

 and watch them all, 

mainly summer games

 as those were the sports 

that the kids liked 

and were involved in,

 but I have always 

been in awe of the figure skaters

 so that is my most 

favorite part of the games.

 We did watch the opening ceremonies

 and they were really 

grand and beautiful. 

 In the few things 

that we did see, 

I think South Korea

 did a wonderful job.

 The USA 

didn't pick up as many gold medals

 as they have in the past

 but the curling team 

and 

women's hockey 

were spectacular.

Our weather

 has been so erratic

 around here lately. 

One day it will be bright and sunny,

 even smelling like spring,

 and then the next day

 might be dark, dreary and raining.

 I decided 

that we should have

 our own golden moments 

so that we can take advantage of 

those spring like days 

when they go missing.

Some gold 

and other light hues 

have been added to

 the garland...

...and a big gathering 

of springtime blossoms, 

in an old transferware pitcher,

 take center stage on

 the parlor mantle...

...along with 

a chorus line of 

cute bunnies.

A wreath of eggs 

and a few nesting related items 

spell out the place where

 we all feel 

most comfortable...

The sofa and wagon 

look basically the same 

as last week with only a

couple of exceptions...

The second pillow

 on the left side 

is one that I picked up at 

Home Goods awhile back 

and was turned over 

to the back side 

last week:

Such a sweet 

little addition to 

the pretty pillow.

I picked up a 

small bunch of daffodils 

at Trader Joe's

 as I have only had one 

from my garden so far.

I thought it would be fun 

to set the game table 

for a casual brunch.

 It is a very simple setting, 

not in the least fancy...

...almost everything 

on this table comes from 

Home Goods and

 I think the little "chirp" bowls

and the S&P chick shakers 

are so sweet.

Between the light

 coming in from the windows,

 the warmth of the stove, 

and the elegance of 

the long tablecloth

 this feels like something

 a little more special 

than it is. 

The report is

 that we should expect

 more snow on 

Wednesday and then, again, on Saturday 

but the sun is shining brightly

 on the snow today 

so until then...

GOOD MORNING, SUNSHINE!

...Judy...

He's magic!!

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PRECIOUS METALS...

The term precious metals 

usually means items of high value. 

 But, in this instance 

"precious" does not mean 

there is any monetary value involved,

 it only means

 these items are 

very dear and special to me...

...this little bunny 

is a replica of a candy mold

 but it was found at Michael's

 and is purely decorative. 

 A statement of 

spring time.

I've had this

 little chain of birds 

for a couple of years.

  When added to a pretty garland,

 along with sprigs of colorful blossoms,

 it is another visual 

of spring.

Some beautiful 

old pieces of silver 

that have been collected over time

 along with a delicate tray 

and the first camellia 

of the season.

Sitting on a silver tray

 that belonged to my mom 

are some metal frames 

holding photos

 of some very special people 

in my family.

A lantern from Home Goods 

makes a pretty pattern

 while the candle within

highlights one of the 

first daffodils from the garden, 

displayed in a metal basket vase. 

 A line up of blue pillows,

all from Home Goods,

 are shown in the background.

Another precious commodity 

around here 

is snow. 

 When it started falling yesterday,

 we thought it might last for awhile,

 but as shown in the picture above,

 it was very short lived.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The most precious of all 

are the young students 

standing up against

 gun violence in this country. 

 They have faced the unthinkable 

and now they are facing another hard fight.

  It is truly a shame 

that they have been put 

in this position 

by some of the adults 

who have not, and will not, 

protect them.

 This could be the turning point. 

 I wish I could hug 

each and everyone of them. 

 They are the 

true and precious heroes 

of the future.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I want to thank Katie 

at Let's Add Sprinkles

 for the feature last week.

 It was a real surprise 

and I appreciate it so much.

...Judy...

Sharing this week with:

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and

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KEEPSAKES FROM THE HEART...

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. 

 A day to feature the romantic

 in all of us.

 I have gathered together

 a collection of my sentimental favorites 

that have a connection to

 a day of romance.

 Words and pictures 

that all are 

keepsakes from the heart.

~~~~~💗💗💗💗💗~~~~~

"I believe flowers have souls.

  I've known roses 

that I expect to meet

 in heaven."

Lucy Maud Montgomery

A sweet bouquet of roses 

from the past summer's garden.

 A reminder 

that there is more beauty 

yet to come.

"Plant a rosebush every year

 and you will not have 

lived in vain."

Henry Bowen

~~~~~💗💗💗💗💗~~~~~

Lovely examples 

of the valentines we collected 

as young children in grade school

 and a well read post card 

sent to a very special someone 

from miles away.

~~~~~💗💗💗💗💗~~~~~

"All you need is love, 

but a little chocolate 

now and then 

doesn't hurt."

Charles M. Schulz

Art imitating life.

  A long kept card 

that reminds me so much of 

Tami and Jake 

from a few years ago.

~~~~~💗💗💗💗💗~~~~~

A collection of fabric hearts 

that come out of the cupboards 

from time to time.

"Love and magic

 have a great deal in common.

  They enrich the soul,

 delight the heart,

 and they both

 take practice."

Nora Roberts

~~~~~💗💗💗💗💗~~~~~

Some painted bouquets.

"Wait not till tomorrow;

 Gather the roses 

of life 

today."

Pierre de Ronsard

~~~~~💗💗💗💗💗~~~~~

A framed sentiment 

for someone special.

A pair of rustic love birds.

~~~~~💗💗💗💗💗~~~~~

A simple mail box 

that came with the Cottage. 

 A reminder of days long forgotten,

 when the postman would

 deliver our letters to the back door 

and would often be thanked, 

with a warm word or a cookie

 fresh from the oven,

 for his troubles.

~~~~~💗💗💗💗💗~~~~~

Have you been watching

 Victoria on Masterpiece Theatre?

 What woman could resist

 being lovingly courted 

with poetry,

 pictures of clasped hands 

and promises of paradise?

"He clasped me in his arms 

and we kissed again and again...

to be called names of tenderness 

I have never yet heard 

used to me before -

 was bliss 

beyond belief!"

Queen Victoria, in her journal

~~~~~💗💗💗💗💗~~~~~

And the 

sweetest and simplest message

 of all...

"A smile is a light

 in the window of the soul

 indicating that the 

heart 

is at 

home."

Author Unknown

~~~~~💗💗💗💗💗~~~~~

...Judy...

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO ALL

Sharing today with:

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and

Share Your Cup at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

~~~~~💗💗💗💗💗~~~~~