Tuesday, February 27, 2018

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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Tuesday, February 20, 2018

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...






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Tuesday, February 13, 2018

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





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~~~~~💗💗💗💗💗~~~~~