Black and White

Isn’t there just something so Crisp and Clean about Black and White?

 

It somehow has a soothing feel to it….a nice look for our upcoming Summer months. 

Today I am enjoying participating with Tam at The Gypsy’s Corner, showing Three or more of my black and white dishes.

 

 

The first bowl shown is a favorite of mine.  I purchased it from Nell Hill’s in Atchinson, Kansas.

Below is another favorite (Okay, I guess they are all favorites!)

This one I found at an antique store in Belhaven, NC.

Loved that store, and it has now gone out of business.

Aren’t the little flower bouquets precious?

And can you see the little handles on this platter?

Love it!  

 

 

The next black and white is a toile plate I found at

TJ Maxx.

 

 

Okay, just one more  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

Do go over and visit Tam and see what others have come up with today.

The Arms of Friendship

Hello Blogging Friends,

 

I am feeling so loved because I recently had two blogging awards sweetly sent my way.

 

The first comes from Laura at Hidden Promise.  The award is bestowed with the thoughts of someone with an “Attitude of Gratitude”.  I met Laura a few months back when she became a new blogger and am constantly amazed with her kind and giving spirit.  She is a pure delight and you really should go over and meet her.  You will be very glad you did!

 

Thank you Laura!!

This award just warms my heart that would Laura would think of me when sharing this award.  I truly have encountered nothing but warm hearts and a spirit of gratitude from everyone I’ve met since I began blogging.  For that reason I invite any and all of you to accept this award from me as well.  Please grab the picture and place it on your blog.  Thank you so very much, Laura!

 

And if I wasn’t already smiling big enough with that treat from Laura, I read on the same day that Suzanne from Southern Inspirations honored me with a second award.  It’s actually called Makes my Heart Smile.  If you haven’t checked out Suzanne’s blog, you must go over and meet her. She is a sweet Texan who has a heart of gold and I love her to death.

 

Thank you Suzanne!!

Blogging has done just that for me ~~  it makes my heart smile.  I smile every day when I read your comments and know you have taken the time to stop and leave a quick note.  That is such a part of why we blog, to share friendships with one another and exchange ideas and such.  Smiling comes too when I visit you at your blogs and see what’s on your mind on any given day.

I honestly have to say that all of you make my heart smile, so once again this award is for YOU as well.  Please grab it and place it on your blog.  Tell everyone it’s from me, because you do make me smile. 

I trust everyone is having a great Monday!  I know I am!

Basil Bliss

Do you like Basil like I like Basil?

 

I was at my local nursery this week and found a new form of this favorite herb.  It’s called                            

   Boxwood Basil

It’s just as cute as can be and can be pruned and clipped (and used) so that it forms more of a boxwood rounded shape.  It stays small, growing to a height of 12-16”.  Of course basil requires full sun and does so much better when cut and used before allowing the plant to flower.  I searched online and discovered this is an exclusive Burpee seed item and can be ordered if you can’t find it in your area.

I purchased a little pot to try but still plan to plant the traditional basil just in case.  I want to make sure I get my fill so I can make pesto later this season.

 

 

I will look forward to watching this small plant  grow and filling out to a rounded boxwood ball.  Oh, it smells so good!

While at the nursery I did a good share of browsing ~~ just anticipated a couple more weeks before I can really start purchasing flowers and herbs to plant.

I discovered this rosemary topiary!  Oh I love the charm of this look.  There is something about a topiary that has always appealed to me.  I love the little formed ball on top of the stem.  Do you just love the look of this patina pot???  It is just dripping with cottage charm!

This sweet topiary did not go home with me but I kept thinking about it.  I couldn’t remember if it was $26 or $36.  Passing near this nursery often, I decided to take another look today, thinking to myself I would splurge if it were $26.  Well, darn if it wasn’t  $36.  I was strong thinking how many dishes I could purchase for $36 ;)   and went home without it.

Recently I’ve been reading articles on how to achieve patina on your own clay pots.

Here’s one you might want to read and try for yourself:

 

                How to Add Patina to New Clay Pots

Gardeners love the look and charm of patina on their old clay pots, for some inexplicable reason, we aren't satisfied with the look of the clean, orangey-red color of new clay pots. We can't wait until our new clay pots have that lovely shade of green patina on them, and you don't have to

wait long, you can add patina to your new clay pots before you plant the first flower or flower seed in the new clay pot, here's how.
There are several methods to add patina to new clay pots, one of the simplest ways is to just let the new clay pot soak in water for a few weeks. Clay pots need to be soaked in water prior to adding potting soil and planting anything in them, or else the dry clay pot will absorb all the soil's moisture and dehydrate whatever you plant in it. Just make the initial water soak for your new clay pot a long soak to add patina. Place new clay pots in a container of water that is deep enough to cover the entire clay pot and place the container outside in a location that will receive plenty of sun. Algae will grow in the stagnant water, fueled by the sun, and add patina to your new clay pots. Leave the new clay pots in the water until they reach the desired patina look you want, which usually takes 4-6 weeks.
Another simple method to add patina to new clay pots is to use plain yogurt. You can use yogurt that has reached or passed it's expiration date for this patina method. Just slather on a thick layer of plain yogurt all over the new clay pots using your hands, sponge or paint brush, and set the clay pots in a shady location for 4-6 weeks until it reaches the color patina you want. Using this method to add patina will create an odor at first from the rancid yogurt, so place the yogurt covered clay pots in an out-of-the-way location so you can avoid the smell. The smell will be gone by the time the patina is on the clay pots.

   * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Martha had an article in her March magazine on this procedure.  It looks like a fun project to try.  I think I will do just that and perhaps make my own rosemary topiary in cottage charm fashion.

Do you grow herbs?  What are your favorites?

I’m so glad you stopped by today.  Please take just a minute to say hello so I know you were here!

Heirloom Dishes

 

Good Thursday Morning!  We are to have a beautiful spring day!  I’m so excited to be thinking about planting flowers and gardening once again.

In the meantime, we have tables to set, don’t we girls?  Well, that leads me to a question.  Each week Susan (we all know and love Susan) over at Between Naps on the Porch presents Tablescape Thursday.  Thursday is my new favorite day of the week. 

Oh! I got sidetracked (my middle name)~~  Here’s my question….how in the world do all you busy ladies find time to set a beautiful table complete with centerpiece and candles and SOMETIMES EVEN FOOD???  I love dishes!  Can I repeat that?  I LOVE DISHES!  I have a ton of them.  Dishes are always the first thing I look for while thrifting, garage sale searching or antiquing.  Each week I tell myself I want to participate in Tablescape Thursday, but I never feel like I have time to set a gorgeous table like all of yours.  Do you really set this up for a photo shoot?  Or are you expecting guests?  Or does your family get treated like loyalty to be seated at such a pretty tablesetting each week?  I would love to know your answer.

 

click to enlarge

Last night as I was looking through pictures on my computer I ran across this cropped version of an Easter tablescape I did for Easter a couple of years ago and decided maybe it could work!

These dishes belonged to my dear mother in law.  They are marked for Emily (dd#2 who also wants my fil’s map from yesterday).  While Emily isn’t using them, I might as well…right?  When she came home for this Easter meal she loved seeing these dishes actually on a table.  She would have to take them on a plane, so I feel they are “safe” with me for several more years!! *wink* *wink* ;)

The dish pattern is by Myott of England.  It is called Forget Me Not.  On the back of the plate it says, Fine Staffordshire ware.

The silver is my wedding silver called Silver Artistry.  Tablecloth is by Lennox.  Did you know Lennox makes tablecloths?  The napkins are some I found in an antique store in Richmond, Va.  Flowers by “The Silk Thumb”…

I hope you will enjoy my abbreviated Tablescape today.  Take some time to enjoy all the others who have participated in this event.  There are some gorgeous settings for all us dish lovers!

Traveling in the Bathroom

It’s time to join Barb once again at her blog, Grits and Glamour for a little What’s on Your Wall Wednesday fun.  It’s a great day to peek in each other’s homes and get ideas for walls.  What one person doesn’t think of ~~ someone else does, right?

 

Today let’s step inside my guest bathroom.  We have very high ceilings in here  10 or 11 feet and to complicate matters there is one of those fun but dreaded ledges.  Those pesky ledges add fun and a certain element when decorated, but am I the only one that finds them to be a real challenge?

 

My theme revolved around this old “vintage” map of the

United States.

 

click on picture to enlarge

 

 

This belonged to my dear, fun father in law.  When both of my in laws

passed away and we were going through the household, Emily (dd #2) put her

claims to this map.  You see it wasn’t just any map, it was a

framed map with colorful pins marking different cities across our

fine United States.  My father in law was a corporate pilot for a small

company and he placed a pin to show all the places in the United States

where he had actually flown the company plane.

 

 

I’m sure some pins have fallen out, but it really is a nice keepsake.

Well, like a few other things, dd#2 hasn’t taken this map with her yet, so it is in my home.  It has been stored in the attic for several years and I decided it was time to display this family keepsake.

 

I love this dark brown leather case that seemed to speak “travel”.

click on picture to enlarge

And I had this old vintage camera  ~~~~~

The globe was a gift I gave to Mr. Brown Socks one of the first

Christmases after we were married. Probably around 1971. It is very outdated by now, but doesn’t that add to the charm and interest?  It’s fun for someone who is into geography  like Mr. Brown Socks

and dd#2 to take a look and tell the rest of us this country IS no longer or has

been renamed or whatever they come up with.  I wish I were smarter!

 

Of course any decent silk plant lady must add some greenery to finish off a look.

 

 

 

On another wall, I have a picture that was actually taken in Washington, N.C.  It’s on Main Street.  This is the town where my dear mother grew up. It is a waterfront town.  I love “little Washington” as it is called and I think the fall leaves portray this street beautifully.  It also just happens to match my shower curtain.

 

remember to click!

 

 

Maybe you can get a better feel for how this room is set up by seeing the ledge above the doorway.

 

 

I am quickly learning that to be a great blogger, one must be a great photographer.  I am unfortunately lacking in that department.

 

Can you see the little light that is positioned on this shelf??  Funny thing, that little light is one of my favorite parts of my house!  It’s nice to have it shining dimly for guests to find their way to the necessary room  ~~

or when my mother spends the night, it is a perfect little nightlight.

Something so little and I almost didn’t splurge for it.

 

Remember, it is the little things!

 

Enjoy viewing all the walls of our fellow bloggers on this glorious Wednesday!