Terri Lee Doll's, First Crazy Quilt and A Vintage Apron

Don't you love this beautiful vintage apron. I purchased years and years ago.
It is one of the items I will be letting go on my Etsy site in the next few days.
I washed and hung it on the line yesterday and loved watching it blow in the wind.

I was walking past my tiny little guest room (8 x 10 to be exact!) with camera in hand and realized I kept many of my treasures and collections in there. I thought I'd share some of them from time to time with you.
Did you ever hear of a Terri Lee Doll?
They were beautiful dolls from the 1940's. I always wanted one cause ~ hey ~ my name is Terri Lee!
One Christmas about 10 years ago ~ my Mom bought me this one. Isn't she beautiful?
http://www.terrilee.com/
Next to her is my beautiful box from Pat Winter.

This is my first Crazy Quilt. It still has needles in it with thread ~ it is far from done.
I had NO idea what I was doing. I made BIG blocks so I would have a bigger quilt ~ my teacher giggled when I told her that ~ now I know why!
All my kids still lived home back then. I would sit in my chair half the day and from dinner to bed ~ stitching!
I gained 5 pounds that fall-winter!
My style has changed so much but one day soon I want to finish it.
That is why it is hanging ~ a nagging reminder ;)
It has pieces of my children's clothing, their pictures, pennies with my anniversary year and my birth year.
Silly as it looks to me now ~ it holds many special pieces of my life ~ including introducing me to an art that will continue to ease me through many of life's ups and downs.

Teddi & Jake

Oh my ~ I just had to share these with you!
Teddi our Yorkie and Jake our Brittney ~ my companions and little loves of my life.
(thank goodness my husband never reads my blog!)

Ted after getting groomed recently.

He get's so bored when I spend hours working outside ~ he goes up to the deck to watch me from there.

I caught him snoozing!

The start of the yawn ~

And off to dream land.

"Life, Laughter, and Love are best when shared ~

With a Dog."

Wanna Get Nosey???

The single best way to learn about a person is to see what books are sitting on their nightstand.
In my case that would be every nook and crany in my home
When I do stop to read ~ it is often in the room the sun happens to be shining at that time.
I surround myself with books, always reading a dozen at a time and rarely finish to the end!
SO ~ come get nosey in my home .........

This is the proverbial nightstand.I have current magazines, the newest Judith Montano book and two others pulled from my library shelf.
They are "The Friendship of Nature ~ A New England Chronicle of Birds and Flowers" and
"Connecting to Creativity" by Bergmann and Colton.

Next to the chaise in my room, my leather journal that I record miracles the Lord is doing in my life,
a bible (I have them all over the house ~ different versions and I read them all)," A Gift From The Sea " ,
"Companions for the Soul" ~ recorded writings dating back to the 1600's of the spiritual struggles and delights of many famous and not so famous folks of the day .

Under my bedroom window you will find books that I like to read in bed when I am tired of the nightstand variety.

These are in my tiny office area ~ all about money, debt and business.

This is a sampling from the bookshelf in my hallway.They run the gamut from historical, local history, poetry and books I'm not ready to put on my "real " library shelves yet.

The upstairs bathroom ~

and in the drawer where I store the tp ~ yikes ~ I'm runnin' low!

The downstairs bathroom ........

New books I want to read this summer ~

 On the coffee table in my sitting room  is the bible I read most mornings and as you can see I am currently planning my garden areas.

The outside deck table ~ lunchtime reading from yesterday.

In the kitchen ~ I am finally reading the books about kitchen appliances that I got 2 years ago!

I still don't get how to use the convection oven or get why my produce is freezing all of the sudden!
 

The cookbook nook holds just the recipe books I use most.

I keep lots of vintage ones on my library book shelves.

These are next to a chair in my dining room.

I know ~ I am an addict! The hardest part of tightening our belts financially is not buying books on Amazon and fighting that profound erge to spend  hours an hour or so at my local Barnes and Noble.

I can live without new clothes, food, make-up but never flowers and books!
And let me add to that ~ keeping my grey roots touched up.

Some words from my current read "Connecting to Creativity" ~

"You are unique, and

No one else can think what you think

Dream what you dream

Sing what you sing

Say what you say. "

So go a head,get off this darn computer you beautiful creature you  ~

GO DREAM some DREAMS!!!!

Martha's Glazed Lemon Cookies

Mmmmm ~ I 'm eating one RIGHT NOW!
They are thick like an Italian cookie but light at the same time.
Super size picture for recipe or go to Martha's web site.

You will add fresh lemon to the batter ~

Tip ~ I always keep used lemon in my sink for the rest of the day.

Each time I use the warm water ~ it gives off a wonderful scent!

When you are ready to glaze these cookies ~ I dipped each warm cookie right into the glaze.

After it dried ~ I glazed a second time.

I like every surface covered with the fresh lemony glaze!

These flowers are sitting on my window sill and matched the lemon on the cookies perfectly!

They were a gift from Franky's girlfriend ~ Ang.

" Never deprive yourself of a cookie!"

T.Takacs

My Nails Are Filled With Dirt & I LOVE It!

HI Everyone! I have missed you all so much. I have been bogged down with business stuff but who cares about that ~
Let's talk about the gardening!

Tulips came up everywhere in my yard this year ~ super size this and get lost in it!

My yard is filled with retaining walls and little garden rooms.

This is standing at the top looking down at one of the more level areas.

My little pond is just to the left out of sight.

Everything in a garden is fascinating ~ including this mob of ants climbing up a rock wall.

This tulip looks like it is singing a joyous song of praise!

When the leaves on the trees blow in the wind ~ I believe they are giving the Lord a mighty hand clap!

I can't remember names of stuff anymore ~ but this is that typical yet beautiful stuff you see climbing down rock walls.

Variegated hosta unfurling.

I love the movement in this photo.

One of my garden friends. Teddi chases these and sadly has bitten them a time or two.

It makes me sad but it is after all ~ the circle of life.

This tree is right outside my kitchen window. See my friend in the tree ~ he is the funniest squirrel I have ever "known!"

He has been building a twig nest just to the right. He does it so willy nilly ~ ever time he brings more twigs and pushes them in ~ the other ones fall and he scurries to catch them.

He sleeps in this hole in the tree most of the day.

I suspect he is the one biting off my favorite pink tulips and dropping them in one of the bird baths!

Remember ~ the more pansy's you pick ~ the more will grow.

I wanted to share this tip with you that has worked great for me for years.

I grow many of my peony plants under a rose bush.

The sharp thorns seem to keep the Peony bush straight and under control.

When the peonybush dies off ~ the rose bush is there to take over.

This is also a great idea with say a Lilac tree.

Try planting Morning Glory or Clementius underneath it.

After the lilacs are gone ~ the vine takes over and the tree appears to have blooms all summer!

All you see is the leaves of the tree and the blooms of the vine.

It's AWESOME!

One of the rock gardens exploding in bloom.

This tall fern came off of a 100 years old fern at a local museum.

All the ornamental trees are in bloom in front of my home.

Take time to enjoy Spring in your own special way!

".......i think the king is but a man,

as I am;

the violet smells to him as it does to me."

Henry IV ~ Shakespere