A RAINY DAY KITCHEN...

Two steps forward and three steps back. 

 That seems to be the name of the Spring Game.

  You all seemed to enjoy our big red camellia bush

 so I thought I would pick some to bring inside

 to show you how they would brighten up the kitchen. 

 It was a very sunny day when I did that 

and by the time I was ready to take a photo,

 the sun had disappeared and the rain came down.

The lighting was so bad 

that you really couldn't tell 

exactly what color the flowers were

 so, I thought about the pretty 

red and white checked tablecloth 

that I used at Christmas

 and thought that might do the trick

 of brightening the room up...

...it helped a little but just not enough.

By this time, 

the camellias were falling off the stems 

and it was too wet to venture out to pick some more

 so, I added a few faux red poppies 

that I had stowed away 

and that seemed to do the trick.

"There's no use in grumbling

When the rain drops come tumbling

Remember, you are the one

Who can fill the world with sunshine. 

When you smile and you sing 

Everything is in tune and it's spring

And life flows along

With a smile and a song."

A Smile and a Song Published in 1937

By Frand Churchill and Larry Morey

Performed by Adriana Caselotti in the 1937 Disney movie, 

Snow White and the Seven Drawfs

Have a wonderful week.

...xxoJudy...

A little bit of sunshine

 on a painted piece of paper.

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Love Your Creativity Link Party #248 | Life and Linda

SNOW IN SPRINGTIME...

 

This was my view out of the

 kitchen window the other morning. 

 Quite a difference from last week 

but just as beautiful.

  I guess the small amount of spring 

we have been lucky to experience so far 

has changed my perspective on things.

  I don't mind a little change in the weather 

as I know the worst of it 

is in my rearview mirror...

...and for now,

 I am very happy to see

 little bright spots of pink 

peeking out through the sprinter landscape.

Growing Floret

 is starting a new season on Magnolia Network. 

 For anyone who loves to grow a garden, 

even if it is only in their heads (like me)

 and in their hearts (like me)

 this show is a must see. 

 First of all, the flowers are so beautiful 

and the photography is stunning. 

 The keepers of this wonderful property, 

Erin, her husband and crew,

 are such caring and talented people

 with a very down to earth and well managed approach to flower farming.  

The viewer is transported along the journey 

with the tiny seedlings 

and all of the worst and best scenarios

 that can happen

 during their growing process, and

to the most gorgeous display of Erin

 walking the rows of her fields

 with a large armload of the rewarding outcome. 

 It is a treat to listen and to see

 how Erin's thought process is played out in the way

 that she learns the right thing to do for the flowers 

and in the way that she cares 

about sharing them with the world.  

As I mentioned, the photography, done by her husband, is so stunning

 and I highly recommend the show to anyone who is

 a lover of all things beautiful and heartfelt. 

This is my first try at painting 

from a real live subject.  

This Vinca flower, which I grew up calling Myrtle, grows along the edge of our garden. 

I am happier with the outcome

 than I have been with any other attempt...

 

...and this rose is a little more to my liking also. 
 Just two more practice pieces
 that will help in the grand scheme of things.
 

Hope you are lucky enough

 to have a little springtime where you are 

without an earthquake! 

 What's up with that?

 Last Thursday we felt a pretty hard jolt 

from one that was a few counties over 

then I saw all kinds of reports 

from all over the place.

Come on Mother Nature! 

 Your only job is to bring springtime on now!

...xxoJudy...

A photograph of lilacs from the book,

 Floret Farms, A Year in Flowers, 

Erin Benzakein.

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Love Your Creativity Link Party #247a | Life and Linda

THE COLORS OF SPRING...

 

On Easter Sunday 

we had a small amount of rain earlier in the day 

but early evening brought a stunning pink sky

 that lit the Cottage from within with a rosy glow 

and that continued on the next day 

with blue skies and sunshine. 

 April showers are sure to come, 

but this was a beautiful part of the process.

This is one of our four camellia bushes 

that are in bloom now. 

 It stands against the side of the garage 

at the end of the Secret Garden. 

 I don't know how old it is but 

it was this large when we bought the Cottage

 over 30 years ago.

I showed this photo of the bunny painting 

in my Easter post. 

 I had first seen a similar one on Antique Farmhouse and fell in love with it, 

but not with the price tag 

which was pushing $90.   

Are you familiar with Temu? 

  I had seen it on Pinterest 

but, frankly, thought it might be

 a shopping experience better left alone!  

The first time I saw this item...

 ...around Christmas time,

 I debated over it a long while. 

 I really thought it was cute but, again, would it just be some cheap item that was better off left alone?

  I decided to send for it anyway as it was only $12 

and so didn't have much to lose.  

When it arrived I was really flabbergasted.  

 I just couldn't get enough of looking at it. 

 It is well made out of a kind of balsa wood 

but sturdy enough and the details are very sharp. 

 The colors were wonderful

 and when I put the batteries in 

it shines beyond belief.

  I ended up ordering Tami and Jacenda each one for Christmas. 

 Back to the bunny picture...  

When it popped up on the Temu site

 I couldn't believe it. 

 The fact is, it is smaller

 than the one on Antique Farmhouse

 but with a much smaller price tag,

 everything else looks exactly the same.  

Here, again, it is well made and very cute

and......the price was also $12! 

(I clicked on the site

 just to make sure I am giving the right address 

and I see the price is down to $9 now)

  Not everything is $12 on the Temu site 

https://www.temu.com/

but prices seem to be very reasonable. 

and I will be ordering again 

when something takes my fancy. 

 I am not being compensated

 for anything I say about the Company

 but am happy with their products and their service.

I have been practicing painting 

and even though I think I might be improving,

 that isn't always the case.

  I am still having trouble

 doing leaves for some reason, 

but I keep trying.

Hope you all had a Happy Easter.

...xxoJudy...

Sharing today at:

Love Your Creativity Link Party #246 | Life and Linda

 

HAPPY EASTER...

This is a favorite spot of mine. 

 When the morning sun comes in 

through the lace curtains 

and reflects off of the ceiling, 

I sit and drink my first cup of coffee 

and all seems right with my world.  

I could sit here all day and dream

 and it was so pretty this morning 

that I just wanted to share it with you.

As I was finishing up my post for last week, 

I glanced at the calendar

 and Easter smacked me right in the face.

  I don't know where the time went this month. 

 From the first day of spring until now

 has all passed by in a blur. 

 I have been planning out in my head 

what I was going to do for Easter 

and it seemed that I had way more time 

than I actually have.

I didn't want the time to go by 

without wishing you all a Happy Easter 

so here is an extra dose of cheer 

from the Cottage.

We are back to sunny spring days again. 

 So far the beautiful flowering spring trees

 have managed to bloom

 right in between an occasional windy and rainy day 

so they are holding onto their blossoms 

longer than usual this year. 

 I am fortunate to be able 

to look out my kitchen window

 and see my neighbor's tree in full bloom.

I added a small bit of Easter to the parlor...

 

...a little something more to the entry...

...and to the game table

 in the sitting room as well.

I have been writing this post

 over the last couple of days

 and what started out as beautiful sunny weather 

has now turned into something a little different. 

 Such is Springtime.

Have a Happy and Blessed Easter everyone.

...xxoJudy...

 

 ,

SPRINTER IS BACK...

Everyone laughed at this little birdie

 dressed in his rain gear.

  It was the first day of spring 

and the sun was shining so brightly, 

and he looked rather foolish to us 

who were so happy to see the sun 

that we didn't take into account the big picture. 

 Now who has the last laugh?

 Yes, it is raining again

 but we are looking at it through different eyes. 

 We now know that spring is really here 

so if we have to put up with a little weather 

that will bring on the flowers, 

we can do that.  

Happy days ahead.

One of our camellia bushes

 is really making a grand show now.

  We thought bringing some into the Cottage 

would take care of our Sprinter setback.

"The power of finding beauty in the humblest things 

makes home happy and life lovely."

Louisa May Alcott

 The game table, spring edition, 

is looking quite festive with a sponged pitcher

 full of faux greenery

 alongside a butterfly plate.

I had a comment from Pam last week 

when I showed our little piece of

 gallery wall in the entry. 

 She wanted to see more of it.

  In reality it is a very small wall

 just as you enter the Cottage 

and very hard to photograph 

because there isn't any room 

to get far enough away from,

 in order to take a decent picture. 

 I don't think I have ever shown the photos there

 for that reason. 

So above, you can get the idea of how it is laid out

 and below I will show you each individual picture and tell you a bit about the subjects.  

Of course, I am quite prejudiced 

as they are long ago members of our family, 

but thought you might like to meet them...

My paternal grandmother

My paternal great-grandfather

My dad

My mom

The Captain's paternal great-grandfather

My maternal grandmother

...I wish I had dates on these photos 

but am assuming they are 

from the late 1800's and early 1900's. 

 Isn't if fun that they all happened to pose

 with their animals?

I have picked up the paintbrush again 

and am following (or trying) along with 

a British artist on YouTube. 

 I think she is quite good 

and so far she is painting miniature subjects. 

 I think that is a helpful way to start out.  

It seems that painting this mini-pumpkin

 is more helpful to me

 as far as mixing colors 

and having control over the amount of water to mix in. 

 However, after enlarging the attempt for this space, 

I can see mistakes that I need to correct.

 It is easier for my eye that way. 

 I am fairly happy with this little piece 

and now can see the areas which need more work.

You may have noticed that I have been 

showing up as "anonymous" lately.

  Don't know why that happened 

and really don't know why I am back to normal either, 

but I am not looking a gift horse in the mouth, 

so am glad that it is straightened out.

 

Could it be some more

 of that wonderful springtime magic?

Hope Springtime has arrived at your home 

and that you have a wonderful week.

...xxoJudy...

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Love Your Creativity Link Party #245 | Life and Linda

THE MAGIC OF SPRINGTIME...

Exactly one year ago today

 this is what the front garden looked like... 

...but, today,

 beautiful, glorious, breezy today, 

this is what it looks like now.

As I opened the door so I could share with you

 the first sighting of a spring fairy

 basking in the sun, 

this happened...

...two robins mysteriously appeared from the sky

 to join her on the fountain, 

in celebration of the first day of spring.

If that isn't magic, I don't know what is.

Speaking of magic...

the entry got a few touches of spring herself. 

 Don't you just love when that happens?

As I chose a couple of green books 

to elevate the birdies

 as part of the spring celebration, 

look what title randomly came up.  

Another magical springtime moment.

We are doing some spring cleaning

 in each room as I decorate.   

The parlor and entry are the shining stars this week.

Hope your first day of spring is 

bright and beautiful 

with many magical moments.

...xxoJudy...

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