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30 August, 2009

Thrifty Treasures/Metamorphosis Monday...or...Vintage Tags and a Wine Storage Basket

monIt’s Monday again, so we get to display our thrifting finds and show how we spiffed them up into decorating treasures…at least, that’s what I hope I did! lol! I am doing a double post and hooking up with Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for Today’s Thrifty Treasures and also with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday!


IMG_7861 I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t put down my new Pottery Barn catalog when I saw their displays of baskets! Unfortunately, they are waaaay out of my price range, so when my friend Linda at Nina’s Nest and I went Goodwill hunting, I was on the lookout for some nice, big baskets. I didn’t have to look long! I spotted this one almost immediately…and only $3.93! My little wheels were already turning, because I had also noticed that some of the PB baskets were sporting vintage tags!


IMG_7854So I decided to make my own frenchy version. Inspired by some wonderful frenchy coasters that I had won from Lisa at Livin’ Louisiana, I took out my trusty stamps and waterproof ink from Hobby Lobby and a few shipping tags from Staples.


IMG_7856 First, I removed the string because I didn’t want to get ink on it, and then I applied a frenchy script. This stamp is called Le London and I love it because it’s actually French and not a bunch of gobbledygook!


IMG_7857 Next, I added a fleur-de-lis on top of the script.


IMG_7858 Then I used a cooled tea bag from some freshly brewed tea and dabbed it liberally on the stamped tag. (If you do not have waterproof ink, stain the tag with tea first, let it dry and then stamp it.) This helps to give it an aged appearance. You can stain it as dark as you like. I had previously soaked the string in the tea and reattached it.


IMG_7866 And here is the finished product attached to my GW basket. Oh là là!! C’est magnifique, n’est-ce pas?


IMG_7847 Now, I just add a few bottles of wine for that really frenchy touch…


IMG_7844 ...et voilà! I have now added a place to store wine and added a little frenchy pizzazz to my baker’s rack. I think it approaches the look of the PB baskets at a tiny fraction of the cost. What do you think?


page In fact, the frenchifying has continued to several other items in the house! Did I tell you that the package had 100 tags in it? Hmmmmm…


IMG_7881 Merci for stopping by! Please join Rhoda and Susan to see more thrifty treasures and amazing transformations from our very clever fellow bloggers! See you next time! A la prochaine!

The management wishes to thank Isabella for being such a sport and agreeing to wear our vintage tag, if only for 10 seconds, after which it was ferociously attacked. We would also like to thank our friend Carol for her suggestions for this post!

23 August, 2009

Mosaic Monday/Outdoor Wednesday...or...Bye Bye Birdies!

birdiesI promised to revisit the baby robins who took up residence in my cherry tree and I had to hurry because this was a very short process! It seems that from hatching to flying away is only about 14 to 16 days! I counted 11, but I am sure that those first few days I was unable to see them. Can you believe how quickly they grew up?


page On the left is the very first peek that I got of them…sort of scrawny and…well…less than cute, huh? The picture on the right was taken the day they flew away. There were only two of the original three left that day because, based on the amount of Mama Bird’s noise the previous day, one had already flown the coop! One little guy hung around in the tree all day, hopping from his nest to the nest of the previous brood. I tried to not bother him too much, since I didn’t want him to go before he was ready.


IMG_7786The next day, they were all gone, so I took a look at the nest. As I mentioned in my previous post, this is the nest that was falling out of the tree after a big storm, so my grandson and I reconstructed it as best we could and put it back into the tree. They added a lining of mud to hold it together before they laid the eggs.


IMG_7787 And this is the nest from the previous brood that was in the same tree. Hmmmm…they certainly are neater than we were! It is also lined with mud, but seems to have a little more of a grass lining than the one we helped build. They must not have minded our amateur skills too much though, since they used ours anyway!


IMG_7693 It was a lot of fun and my grandson and I really enjoyed watching them grow! Now when I see a robin helping himself to a big, fat worm in my yard, I will wonder if it is one of my babies!

Thanks for coming by! Please head on over to Mary’s wonderful blog Little Red House for Mosaic Monday to see one of her beautiful mosaics and to find out who else is playing along this week.

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Then stop by A Southern Daydreamer to pay a visit to our own Georgia girl, Susan for Outdoor Wednesday. You’ll be treated to her beautiful gardens and find a list of more fabulous blogs with lots of amazing places to visit and things to see. See you next time! A la prochaine!

22 August, 2009

A Package, A Present...and...Party Preparations!

cloche The kindness and generosity of my fellow bloggers never ceases to amaze me! This week I received two wonderful packages in the mail. And needless to say, my staff thoroughly enjoyed them, too! The first was from Linda at My Shabby Rose Cottage. You see, I won her Shotgun House Giveaway! (If you are not familiar with shotgun houses, click here to visit Linda’s amazing blog and to find out all about them.) And do you see what I won?? A cloche…a real cloche! Now I can participate in Marty’s Cloche Party at A Stroll Thru Life! Woo hoo! Thanks, Linda!


IMG_7800I put it on one of my lace doily plates from Pier 1 and added a little bird’s nest filled with real bluebird eggs form an abandoned nest. Hmmmm…I think I will need to practice before I join Marty’s party.


page The second package came from my dear friend Gloria at Happy to Be! This package was “just because” from a very sweet and generous lady! Gloria said that these framed, hand painted plates reminded her of me. Aren’t they wonderful? They are from Helene Studios in Los Angeles in the 1950’s. The colors are perfect for my house, don’t you think? She also sent along this cute little oil and vinegar container. I can add these to my collection of items depicting regional costumes! Thanks, Gloria!

Aren’t our fellow bloggers wonderful people? I am so happy to be a part of blogland and to have the honor of knowing these warm and generous ladies! You add sunshine to my life on a daily basis!

LargeLogo[1]Thanks so much for dropping by! Be sure to join Marty for her second Cloche Party on September 11th! Her last one was such a success that everyone voted to do it seasonally. And this time I won’t have to post pics of cloches that I spied at a local antique shop…I will have my own thanks to Linda! See you next time! A la prochaine!

16 August, 2009

Mosaic Monday/Outdoor Wednesday...or...Butterflies and Sleepy Babies

page4 My butterfly bushes are in full bloom and attracting some beautiful visitors! My favorites are the Eastern Tiger Swallowtails. They hang from the shrubs like elegant Christmas ornaments! My grandson tells me this is the state butterfly of Georgia. He learned that in first grade. I didn’t even know we had a state butterfly! lol


IMG_7640 Isn’t it gorgeous? I love the way you can see the shadowy outline of the flowers through its delicate wings! The afternoon sun is streaming through them like stained glass windows.


IMG_7646 Even the underside is beautiful! I love the little blue edges and the soft, fat body, striped like a tiny zebra!!


IMG_7628 I also have some new babies in my ornamental cherry tree! The robins have built a second nest and have hatched another brood. The funny thing is that the nest was almost blown away before the eggs were laid and my grandson and I put it back. We had to rework it because it was such a mess. We must be good nest builders because the robins chose to lay their eggs in it anyway! Here are two of the three babies fast asleep.


IMG_7627 The third baby always sleeps like this with his beak propped up against the tree and his mouth open! I can almost hear Big Bird’s funny snore….snort…wah wah wah wah wah !


IMG_7629 Oh oh! It looks like I woke up two of them! Don’t you love those fuzzy mohawks???


IMG_7425 Now I’ve gone and done it! They’re all awake! I’d better get the heck out of Dodge before their mom and dad discover that I’ve been visiting! I’ll try to keep you up to date on their progress!

Thanks for coming by! Please head on over to Mary’s wonderful blog Little Red House for Mosaic Monday to see one of her beautiful mosaics and to find out who else is playing along this week.

Outdoor_Wednesday_logo_thumb[1] Then stop by A Southern Daydreamer to pay a visit to our own Georgia girl, Susan for Outdoor Wednesday. You’ll be treated to her beautiful gardens and find a list of more fabulous blogs with lots of amazing places to visit and things to see. See you next time! A la prochaine!

10 August, 2009

Thanks, Mrs. Magpie...or...A Surprise and a Giveaway

staffA box arrived at my front door today. I am sooo excited because the sender is my wonderful friend Mrs. Magpie (Sheila) at The Quintessential Magpie! We won her follower’s giveaway…and it happened to be on Baby Kitty’s birthday! In true feline form, the staff decides to give the box a closer inspection. It’s full of those wonderful packing peanuts that make very interesting toys!


IMG_7770 Baby Kitty generously shares the fun, but he knows that the package is addressed to him…and him alone…


IMG_7712 …because the first thing we find is a photo of BK himself…engaged in his favorite pastime…licking!


IMG_7771 Isn’t this a cute kitty frame? Baby Kitty loves it! So do I!


IMG_7769 And what Mrs. Magpie didn’t know is that it will look so extra cute in my soon-to-be guest room! How do you like that for matching my decor? (Please ignore the painter’s tape! I will finish…one day….)


page And that’s not all! Baby Kitty thinks these are for him, but I am going to claim these! Mrs. Magpie told me that they are the Aristocats! (How did she know that’s one of my favorite movies?) Aren’t they wonderful? These Staffordshire-style kitties are right up my alley because, you see..


IMG_7749 …they match my favorite Quimper plate! They even have matching bows! Smile, everybody!


IMG_7732 And they also match my new sheep! I have been eyeing him for months and finally brought him home with me. The funny thing is that Mrs. Magpie saw him in a previous virtual shopping post and that’s the reason she chose the kitties for me! Isn’t she a dear? Can you say purrrfect?


crew Everyone else got in line to meet the new kitties. The other kitties say “Welcome!” The little babies from Kathysue at RMS think they have found a new mom and dad! Mr. Mouse even offers them some tea. But the little bunny box has hopped over because he knows he has a brother at Mrs. Magpie’s, so maybe they will feel at home when they see him.


IMG_7761 These beautiful kitties lived at Mr. and Mrs. Magpie’s nest for 15 years before coming here! They are very special kitties and will get lots of very special love and attention! Baby Kitty is making it his job to see that they feel welcome in their new home! He sends a big thank you to our dear friend Sheila, as do I! You are so sweet and generous to allow us to adopt your kitty babies and to send Baby Kitty a special picture frame for his birthday! We thank you and we are sending a big hug your way!

Be sure to stop by The Quintessential Magpie to pay Sheila a visit and to wish her a happy birthday, too! She is having an older than dirt giveaway in celebration of her birthday…but that can’t be! I’m the one who is older than dirt! lol Thanks for stopping by! See you next time! A la prochaine!

07 August, 2009

Julie and Julia...A Delightful Recipe!

pageI just saw Julie & Julia and I had to come straight home to tell you about it! I don’t normally review movies, but this is one you will not want to miss!! It stars the amazing Meryl Streep as Julia Child and Amy Adams as blogger/writer Julie Powell. You are probably familiar with the story line…Julie decides to cook all 524 of Julia’s recipes in Mastering the Art of French Cooking in 365 days…and blog about it!! We get a peek at the lives of the two women who, though separated by time, find courage and direction through cooking. But all you will need to hear is Meryl Streep saying Bon appétit! in Julia’s distinctive voice and you will be hooked!! She does an incredible job of recreating everything Julia…facial expressions, mannerisms, and especially her joie de vivre! Amy Adams is charming as a much less confident Julie who is searching for her identity through Julia’s recipes. You will love the blogger references, as Julie wonders if anyone is even reading her blog and her excitement at getting her first comments! I will buy this one when it comes out on DVD just so I can pause it to study the wonderful array of copper pots, beautiful dishes, and that fabulous farm house sink in Julia’s French kitchen, not to mention the scenes in Paris!! (photos from Sony Pictures)
Soooo… what did I do when I got home??



IMG_7651 I pulled out a couple of old friends, long neglected…



IMG_7656 …turned to page 315… and started my grocery list!! It’s been a while, so wish me luck!



IMG_7653 Ozzie says I need it!!
For the official web site for Julie & Julia, click here. There are even some recipes inspired by the movie!

02 August, 2009

Mosaic Monday/Outdoor Wednesday...or...A Fairy Ring

mush3It has been years since I have seen one of these…an almost perfect fairy ring! To my neighbors’ delight, this ring of toadstools sprouted in their garden…evidence that fairies were dancing in a magical circle on their lawn last night! Did I happen to witness the moonlight ball? Sadly, no. I was a sleepyhead and missed the festivities!



mush5But I know there was much whirling and twirling with gossamer gowns glistening and filmy wings shimmering in the moonlight!



IMG_7583 Then just before dawn, the fairy promenade meandered merrily two by two toward my dewy lawn…




IMG_7552 …leaving me one tiny parasol as a parting remembrance! Sigh!



IMG_7603I am waiting, dear little fairies! Please hurry back and visit my garden tonight!
Thanks for stopping by! Please join Mosaic Monday with our wonderful hostess Mary at Little Red House to see one of her beautiful mosaics and to find out who else is playing along!
Outdoor_Wednesday_logo_thumb[1] Then head on over to visit our own Georgia girl, Susan at A Southern Daydreamer to see some wonderful scenery for Outdoor Wednesday! I’ll see you next time! A la prochaine!
Photos taken with Canon Powershot SD630
M
osaics made with PhotoScape