Thursday, March 15, 2018

Irish Spring


Hello, Dear Friends, in honor of St. Patrick's Day, 
and the first day of spring, I have put away 
the roses of Valentine's Day in favor of 
a little 'Irish Spring'.


It's also a special anniversary for me. 
March 18th I will celebrate the start
 of my 7th year of blogging.  

Where does the time go? 

I feel so fortunate to have 'met' the sweetest, most 
creative and wonderfully interesting people through blogging. 
I've learned so many things, but most importantly
I feel privileged to share so much friendship 
with some of the kindest people on the planet. 


I've hung my banner to celebrate :) 


I've always loved the color green. 


It's such a hopeful, soothing color. 
The color of spring. 

Every year I find some new green treasures to add to my collection. 


This year I found a green glass luncheon set for four, 
complete with plates, saucers and tea-cups
in perfect condition. 


I found this Staffordshire creamer and sugar bowl, too. 

The goblets were last year's find. 



I also found these St. George, bone china mugs from England.

I found these at The Pink Rose Cottage


They fit perfectly here...... 


and work so well with my everyday china. 


This vintage needlework hangs above my coffee pot. 
It states, 'Glory in each morning'.
I painted the ugly, brown frame, green. 

I was with my dear Mother when I found this
many years ago. 
We loved to go to flea markets together. 

I had no idea the day that I started my blog, that my 
Mother would never get to read it. 

She passed away suddenly just a week later. 
My dear Father left us a year after that
after battling Alzheimer's for nearly a decade. 

Some days it was the kind encouragement of my readers 
that kept me going........

xoxo


I crocheted the shamrocks a few years ago. 
I wish I had used a brighter green. 
Oh, well! 


I painted and stenciled the rolling kitchen cart 
last spring. 


This vase reminds me of my Grandmother,
Beatrice Euphemie.

It would be something she might like, I think.
It was certainly her era - 1940's, when
she was a young wife and mother.

Maybe she would keep it full of flowers from her garden.
Perhaps lilac, gladiola or geranium;
 flowers that I remember in her gardens when I was a little girl.

I can still hear her yelling down to me and my sister from the front porch,
"You can play where you like as long as you stay out of my flowers!"

Do you have childhood memories of a loved one's special garden?


I love vintage crochet pot-holders, especially in green :)


This vintage runner has a sweet, crocheted edge. 

I found it at Pam's Etsy shop.
You can find her shop on her lovely blog, Virginia Retro.


More vintage potholders hang out by the stove. 

My daughter, Jennie made the shelf with drawers 
in a school wood-working shop. 
Not bad for a girl who was afraid of power tools! 
I love its charming imperfections. 

Ramblin' Man gifted me with the pale green tea-kettle 
for Christmas. 


Tiny landscape paintings and vintage cooking untensils
bring in a wee more green :) 


The solid green teapot was a gift from my sweet Sis-in-law. 

xoxo

The tiny drawers hold tea and spices. 


A painting with a cottage scene. 


Irish lace. 



Simple vintage stitching with its original 1940's 'blonde' frame.


Speaking of dogs.....
Whitey Bear looks out at the thin spring sunshine. 


Kai prances by. 


A 'garden folly' that I found at the 
Northwest Flower and Garden Show. 
Don't even ask me what it is.....
I just knew it would be perfect right here :)


You can see that the wild plum is starting to bloom,
(on the left) 
while we still have snow in the mountains.
The bears are coming out of hibernation. 
They announced it on the local news, 
complete with video of a big, black bear 
walking through someone's pretty back yard
to get to the bird feeder. 

One of the reasons I stopped feeding the birds. 
*-*
 0 

We are flirting with warmer temperatures,
 in the 50's and 60's during the day now, 
but the nights remain cold - near freezing. 


So while I wait for things to 'green up' outside, 
I will have to be content with a bit of 'Irish Spring' inside. 


Happy St. Patrick's Day, dear Friends!
And Happy Spring!  



An Irish Blessing for you! 

xoxo




31 comments:

  1. Enjoyed taking a round of your charming house and sharing your memories!Beautiful vintage items captured perfectly!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love it ALL! Your home is so lovely, soft and soothing surrounded by all of the wonderful wood tones, inside and out.

    Happy Spring ~ FlowerLady

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hello Karen, sorry for my belated comment in sending you condolences on the loss of dear little Weenie Baby. I know he was a loving part your family. You've done it again with your lovely decor for St.Patrick's day. I love your vintage decor. How fun to collect so these wonderful pieces. Sending you hugs, Pat

    ReplyDelete
  4. Greetings Karen, love all the wonderful pictures of your home, narration and decorating items. Enjoy the lovely sun.

    Hugs Diane

    ReplyDelete
  5. beautiful as always... and so sad to say goodbye to a little weenie baby you knew for 12 long years. It's always too soon to lose a loved one. Hugs to your poor daughter too... I know how it is. I pine still for Cole who's been gone a year and a half now, I miss him so.

    ReplyDelete
  6. O MY!! I love all of your pretty Green's! I especially love the green depression glass.....
    Thanks so much for stopping by!!
    Hugs,
    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  7. Catching up with you sweet Friend. First of all, so sorry about Weenie Baby - sending big hugs to you and Jennie especially!!
    And next, just wanted to say how much I love these posts about your beautiful and cozy home. Love all the green...so true that it's all so pretty and Spring-like. Such a hopeful color.
    I love your cozy kitchen so much. I especially love all the vintage treasures you share. And I have to say I just adore how you stenciled that cart. It is so cute!! And Happy early Blogaversary to you. ;) I feel so blessed I found you here in Blogland. I love spending time here visiting with you and sharing peeks into our lives.
    Have a blessed weekend Karen! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  8. OMG .. How warm and inviting is your “ Green “.. I’d just love to settle and cuddle on your couch with a cup of tea amongst the vintage memorabilia. I love the cabinet your daughter made .. infact... Your daughter is something special(ha ha) ... I have a story to tell you later !!! Everything makes me feel like family ... hum-m-m-m so I’m settling into your place for a cup of tea and a chat... You have painted your family into the essence of your home and shared it with others... It is so ‘ BEAUTIFUL “ /// Big Hugs

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a lovely series of green in your house! Congratulations on your bloggy milestone--here's to many more :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I like all these green things! It makes me feel warmer and more summery :)
    These wooden cupboards with all the stuff looks cosy. I would like to have home like this - wooden walls and xharming adds :) Maybe one day when I'll have some small part of garden (I mean some summer house) I'll be able to organize it like this!

    ReplyDelete
  11. And I'm really sorry about your dog :( I think I know how you feel, I've lost few cats in my life :(
    I'm writing here, because I can't add any comment below the post about your lost.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Beautiful vintage decor. I Love the green. Happy spring and happy weekend. Hugs.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Beautiful vintage items and I just love the green theme...
    Have a happy weekend, take care!
    Titti

    ReplyDelete
  14. Your home is filled with a happy feeling. You have another spell of cold. Please take good care.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Karen, I am behind in my visiting and my plan for the morning is to catch up. I love all your green touches. The milk glass is especially lovely. I don't think I have any festive greenery up yet so I so enjoyed visiting your sweet home. What an interesting garden piece that you choose. I like it. It reminds me of Cupid's arrow. Happy St Patrick's Day!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Your home is just lovely with all the splashes of green, I have a few fancy doilies like yours, my mother in law made them for me, they have pink roses all around, she starched them pretty good I haven't had to restarch them since she gave them to me :) Love your decorative item you got from the garden show. Happy Spring to you too and hope you don't see any bears close up.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Your green glass dish collection looks lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I just love how you can transform your pretty home with one color for the season. Your green things are so pretty and springy. What a breath of freshness! Happy Blogiversary! I too have met so many wonderful people here, you being on the top of my list. I am so sorry about your sweet grand-doggy. I was not able to comment on that post but I felt the sadness you feel at losing a beloved pet. ((hugs))

    ReplyDelete
  19. What a lovely post, Karen! Green is the colour of hope. :)
    For some reason my blog list (in the sidebar) is not showing your posts correctly... I'm working on it. It's too late to wish you a happy Saint Patrick's Day, but I'm in time to wish you a beautiful Sunday.
    Take care! xx

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi Karen: Your sweet home is so charming. It reminds me of an English cottage. You have some beautiful green pieces, so special for this time of year. I just read of your loss of your sweet little grandfurrybaby. I couldn't find anyplace to leave a comment so am adding it here. I think my Kai has some of him in his DNA along with poodle. He has the same short crooked legs and the longer body. I'm so sorry for your family's loss. It is so hard to let them go. Kai is running around like a little crazy so the meds are working, for now. Thank you for your visit and have a great week..Judy

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi,dear Karen!Your home is adorable!Everything is special...My blog list didn't show your new posts...Have a blessed week,darling friend!Happy bloggiversary!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Witam!!!
    Piękne zdjęcia!!!Wspaniałe dekoracje!!!Serdecznie pozdrawiam:))

    ReplyDelete
  23. I love all the touches of green. If you like Ireland, you should visit me in the next couple of weeks as I leave for Ireland on Saturday for two weeks. I am sorry to read that your mom never got to read your blog and that she passed away so suddenly.

    ReplyDelete
  24. So sorry to read about your loss, your previous post and it's lovely photographs are a fitting tribute ...

    The post here was so lovely to read and look at. You always transform your home so well. The years do fly by - happy blog anniversary - and here's to many more!

    Take care, my good wishes

    All the best Jan

    ReplyDelete
  25. Karen, your last two posts didn't show up on my side bar, not sure why, and the flower and garden show is showing up, hmmmmm. I like all your green lovelies. Your vases, green glassware, doilies, tea pot, all so charming and look perfect for St. Patrick's Day.

    I'm so sorry to hear about your dog, Weenie Baby. I know she was a special part of your family. I love that picture of her snuggled under the grey blanket, so precious. Thinking of you tonight and sending thoughts of comfort and love.

    ~Sheri

    ReplyDelete
  26. So much lovely Irish charm! Simply beautiful!♥

    ReplyDelete
  27. Goodness, what an incredible amount of lovely greens in your home! You have collected a beautiful amount of lovely green china. Just love your sitting room all done up in green too! I adore your stove, and the wood shelf your daughter made is just lovely too! I hope you had a wonderful St. Patrick's Day, sweet friend! And yes, spring is on its way here, and the bears are waking up. It's that time of year! Hugs and blessings :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Your home looks so warm and welcoming with its Irish spring decorations, Karen. I love the way you celebrate the seasons.
    Amalia
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  29. You amaze me ....I love how you decorate for every holiday! You do such a great job without it looking messy. I love you home also. Beautiful

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hi Karen, I do hope you had a nice time and fun celebrating St. Patrick's Day. I love the way you decorated the house with the accents of green.
    We are getting about a foot of snow today. I can't wait for warm spring days.
    Thanks for your visits and have a nice week.
    Julie xo

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hi Karen...
    First....so sorry about the loss of your grand dog 💔
    On a brighter note...you sure were decked out for St Paddy’s Day! Nice....
    Love all your green glass...I have a few the same, as I also collect it.
    Spring has sprung...still waiting for warmer temps...same weather as you!
    Enjoy the rest of your week...
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for stopping by! Your comments are important to me and are very much appreciated. xx Karen

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...