Hello, Dear Friends, Spring is upon us, although
you might be hard-pressed to find evidence of this,
depending on where you live!
Despite the weather, I've been inspired to redecorate
my little kitchen in a bit o' green to mark the occasion.
Every year I add one or two things to my bits o' green,
and this year I happened to find this beautiful jadeite
bowl. It's not vintage, but it is a Martha Stewart,
a one-only on the sale rack at my local
home-goods store. I cradled it like a treasure all the way
to the check-stand :)
It glows when the sun shines.
Some Irish lace to commemorate St. Patrick's Day.
I'm Irish, Scots and Welsh.
I made the little pillow and crocheted the trim.
A vintage needlework from a flea market and two love-birds from
my sweet Sis. My loved ones give me gifts that coordinate
with my decorating schemes.
xx
Shall we look inside the cupboard doors?
A collection of vintage finds, loving gifts and precious mementos
ready for a spot of tea and a little treat.
The green egg-cup and cookie cutter were my Mother's wedding gifts
from the 1950's. I think of all the years, children and moves that
they survived. They are just ordinary little things, but sentimental treasures to me.
The Irish Angel was a dear gift, as was the green honey-pot.
I have a large collection of green depression glass,
but it is all packed away deep in storage while
we have been remodeling the library/bedroom/bathroom wing.
"May you be blessed with love in your heart,
peace in your soul,
and Joy in your life"
The Beatrix Potter cookbook was the first addition
to my cooking library when we moved here in 1981.
I didn't have my kitchen yet, or a house for that matter.
We were living off the grid in a 32 ft. restored vintage trailer attached to our shed,
but we were young, full of dreams and most definitely a little crazy!
We had no idea how challenging life would be,
but we persevered and it has been the adventure of a lifetime
and a privilege to live and raise a family in this beautiful, wild place
overlooking Mt. Rainier.
The illustrations are charming and the recipes are her own.
Here, a sample of her handwriting that describes catching and preparing
pike to eat. I'm thinking, "yuck", but hey, to each his own.
I remember the first time I saw a pike. It was in a canal
in New England, long and slender (3 ft. long), with a fierce snout full of
sharp little teeth.
May the sun shine all day long, everything go right
and nothing wrong.
May those you love bring love back to you,
and may all the wishes you wish come true.
The pantry gets a vintage gingham apron from my collection, and the spice rack
gets green canning jars. A couple of years ago the canning
jar companies issued colored jars and I bought them
in several colors. These hold sprinkles for cupcakes.
xx
I have a soft spot for vintage crocheted pot-holders.
The tiny drawstring bag holds whole cloves.
My collection of shamrock mugs.
The middle one says 'Himself'.
This little cookbook is illustrated by Tasha Tudor.
It's part gardening book, part cookbook.
This side of the window has the 'Herself' mug.
Christmas gifts from a dear one.
The pressed glass egg plate was another wedding gift
to my parents that survived all these years.
My Mom has been gone 10 years this month.
I had just started my blog then.
She never got to read it.
My vintage 1961 Hotpoint.
My favorite cooking herbs :
Rosemary, Basil, Oregano, Thyme and Bay leaves,
some I grew myself.
More vintage potholders.
I use them as hot pads.
Flea Market paintings.
The little drawers hold whole spices.
It's snowing today, but not sticking.
We had beautiful, sunny weather in the 50's and 60's all last week,
which encouraged the wild plum trees to bloom.
I was able to get outside and work, cleaning
up the gardens, clipping blackberry vines (they even
grow in winter!) and gathering fallen branches.
I filled up four 8x10 tarps! I am achy and tired
and my hands are full of thorns despite my gloves (ouch), but it is
satisfying to get outside in the fresh air and work
out my anxiety.
There is a little hummingbird hovering to the top-right of the
mini-greenhouse. He likes to look inside.
When we were building the house, a hummingbird
got trapped inside this very same window
and I held him in my hand while his heart beat wildly
as I let him go.
The little red building was once my daughter's playhouse,
then a doghouse and now it is settling into the ground.
xx
Kai has a wild-eyed look here. He was intent on
something beyond the rail and I called his name...
The shamrocks are years old, growing in a pot.
I don't know about you, but my anxiety has sometimes
been out of control since the pandemic started.
We are scheduled to get our first vaccine at the end of
the month and I will be very relieved when we finally
get fully immunized, although I know that we will still
have to take precautions.
I will not be completely relieved until my whole family gets immunized.
xx
I've lost track of time and realized that Easter is in
just a couple of weeks, so I put out a few little things
that I managed to find in storage. (Can't wait to clean that out!)
I love fuzzy chicks.
xx
I made these little bunnies years ago for my children.
Don't go into Mr. McGregor's garden!
The hyacinth are faux.
The sweet little table and chairs were built by my Dad
and painted by my Mom
when my children were small.
We recently restored them for my grandchildren
after they were in storage for years.
Beloved Beatrix Potter books that belonged to my children.
The eggs are sidewalk chalk!
A pile of bun-buns and one chick.
I have to keep my eye on these so Kai doesn't
run off with them.
He chewed apart one of my vintage bunnies once.
Naughty Boy.
He thinks they are his.
xx
When you walk by these fuzzy chicks, their down flutters
from the slight breeze.
xx
Hopefully this will be the last Easter that we spend
in quarantine!
It's been a sad and challenging year.
We've lived and loved and lost so much.
xx
I'll leave you with my favorite prayer...
The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
As it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
If I surrender to His will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him
Forever and ever in the next.
Amen
