A Bit o' the Green

Hello Dear Friends! 

In celebration of St. Patrick's Day 

and Spring, 

I've brought out a bit o' the green! 

I've always loved the color green and what better time 

to enjoy it than now.

It just reminds me of lovely green grass and leafy trees

and all things spring.

So come inside and I'll put on the kettle

and show you around the kitchen. 

My kitchen already has the basics with a green door, chairs

 (that need a new coat of paint), 

and my little rolling cart that holds my bowls and picnic basket. 

I'm so looking forward to having picnics again!

So nice to bake something yummy, make some sandwiches

with a carafe of something good to drink,

and bring it down to my picnic table

for a little break during the day. 

The grand-boys love picnics, although they only eat dessert :)

But right now, the weather is cold and wet, so that dream will have to wait.  

I've already outfitted the daybed in mossy greens. 

But I added some green checks to liven it up. 

A cozy place to sneak in a bit o' readin'.

xx

You might remember that I love memoirs, especially if 

they involve faraway places where I can pretend to live:)

This one just seems so appropriate right now!

The Mr. and I had Irish grandparents. 

 Or, how about this one?

Full of Irish sayings, and strange little stories.

 xx

 

I've had the green jar since I was a newlywed. 

Such a simple little thing, 

but for some reason I've brought it along 

 everywhere I've lived. 

It started out in New England and now, 

over 3000 miles away, and 50 years later, it still makes me smile.

I keep things like marbles or sea-glass in it, 

but it looks pretty, empty by the window, too.

This old hutch has stayed with me for many years, too.

 

It came from a tiny cottage we rented in Oregon

when we first moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1977.

The landlord was going to throw it away!

I was in need of something to store dishes in, 

so, it became mine. 

I did the painting and sewed the curtains and it's 

weathered the wear and tear of a busy family and many 

sets of dishes over the years. 

It still holds my everyday dishes and glassware and miscellaneous

baking pans and serving dishes.

 

It's like part of the family now. 

xx

My Irish Angel. 

My Kitchen Queen Hoosier cabinet is also part of the family. 

I found it in the early 80's to put in the antique shop

my mom and I had, as a display piece. 

 The shop was in the attic of a blue Victorian house. 

The owner had her shop downstairs, called 'Country Pleasures'. 

Our shop was called 'Under the Eaves'. 

When we closed the shop, it went home with my mother. 

She painted it mauve :)

When she remodeled her kitchen, she gave it to me and I 

repainted it this creamy white. Behind the drawers, I can see the original 

paint from the 1930's. 

It's a mossy green. 

What do you think? 

Should I repaint it?

The cream color does show off my dishes nicely, though. 

I have a few shamrock teacups that go well with my 

green depression glass. 

The sweet honeypot and little green teapot 

were gifts from my dear sis-in-law. 

xx

I just crocheted the shamrock garland. 

If you like to crochet, this little book has the sweetest 

crochet edgings. 

I used the same pattern to crochet the shamrocks in the door wreath. 

I just used a different yarn. 

I wrapped the garland around an existing wreath of white flowers.

 Shamrock cookie cutters. 

I have a thing for cookie cutters :)

I may or may not get around to baking with them this year. 

xx

I also love vintage potholders. 

They are perfect to put under a pretty bowl, pitcher or teapot. 

 

xoxo

My 'Easy Bake Oven' has a little touch of green, too. 

Vintage refrigerator dishes hold food thermometers,

egg timers, and other small helpers. 

My spice drawers hold cloves, cinnamon sticks, bay leaf, toothpicks, etc.

Some even have tiny treasures I stashed inside, 

like stray monopoly game pieces and Tetley tea figurines. 

Does anyone remember those? 

Green tea towels, of course. 

I have to be very creative with storage in my small kitchen. 

The 'Himself' and 'Herself' mugs 

were gifts from a dear one. 

xx

And of course, green plant pots! 

This is a north-facing window, so not too many plants 

like it here. 

The African violets won't bloom, so I need to find 

some more philodendrons, which seems to be very happy.

The green salt and pepper shakers were a gift from 

daughter, Heather. 

The lace trimmed vase was from daughter, Jennie. 

Love having sweet reminders of those I love. 

Speaking of those I love... 

It's a good thing that I love you, 

because you can be very naughty sometimes:)

The picnic table that waits for me :)

Signs of spring :)

Deer Baby

Then we woke up to this...

So, while we wait for the thaw, come back inside 

and we'll have something to keep us warm. 

Broccoli Cheese Soup

and Irish Brown Bread hot out of the oven. 

I added a couple of handfuls of golden raisins 

to the bread batter this time and it came out so 

delicious! 

It makes great toast in the morning, too. 

xx

May God give you...

For every storm, a rainbow

For every tear, a smile

For every care, a promise

And a blessing in each trial. 

For every problem life sends,

A faithful friend to share,

For every sigh, a sweet song

And an answer for each prayer

Happy St. Patrick's Day, 

dear friends, 

and Happy Spring! 

xx

 

 

 

Autumn

 

Hello, Dear Friends! 

Here we are, halfway through autumn, and I am 

just getting around to sharing my favorite season with you! 

Time is rushing by a little too quickly for me

and I am always hurrying to catch up. 

I've been busy with day-to-day life, 

something, I think, is so easily taken for granted. 

Many in this troubled world would be so grateful for 

the simple routines of daily living, 

and I am so very aware of how fortunate I am. 

xx

While I was clearing out my craft room upstairs to 

convert into a guest room, I found a stack of old 

phone books on a shelf filled with pressed leaves and flowers! 

I had completely forgotten about them! 

So, I decided to arrange them in a pretty window frame.

xx

The frame was a gift from my son, Dustin and wife, Jen

a few years ago.   

I made a little vignette with sunflowers, a candle from my daughter, Jennie,

 and a crow 'whirly-gig'

that my dear father made many years ago. 

My Dad has been gone 11 years now, but I still think of him 

nearly every day. 

xx

He was a kind, gentle, soft-spoken man, 

but strong, dependable and an incredibly hard worker. 

He would do anything for his family, 

but never demanded recognition, 

even as he was quick to give it to others. 

He loved to tell stories about his childhood, 

had twinkly, bright blue eyes, and a wonderful, self-deprecating

sense of humor.  

The last few years of his life, he suffered with Alzheimer's. 

It was incredibly hard, especially when he didn't 

recognize us anymore, but the very last time 

we saw him, he miraculously remembered, and the Mr. and I 

spent a wonderful afternoon watching him smile 

and squeeze our hands, as by then he had lost 

his ability to speak. 

It was one final gift. 

Sunshine on a beautiful fall day. 

Blue and gold are a combo I've never tried before,

but I like it! 

My old hutch. 

I haven't done too much fall decorating, just 

a few little touches here and there.

 I also changed some artwork. 

Some dear, fall gifts from my sweet Sis-in-law. 

xx

The wooden leaf was from my daughter, Heather. 

We bought a new refrigerator with a white enamel finish to match 

my vintage stove, but now my 'Kitchen Queen' cupboard looks rather 

dull next to its bright white finish. 

I might paint it, but want to research the colors 

of the 1930's, when the cupboard was built. 

I'm thinking a soft green, maybe. 

Any suggestions?

Vase, wicker ball, and basket was also from daughter, Heather. 

I gathered and dried a bunch of hydrangeas from my garden. 

They start out blue and with the cooler weather, 

they turn lovely shades of green and purple. 

I made my first fall soup; 

'Butternut squash'. 

So good with nutmeg and a dollop of sour cream. 

Here is the Recipe .

Some more gatherings from my garden. 

Allium and columbine seed-heads. 

The watercolor/ink prints are from the 50's, 

in their original frames. 

A lucky thrift store find. 

xx

The urn was a lovely gift from my family 

on my birthday quite a few years ago, 

from Pier One Imports. 

xx

Speaking of birthdays...

I recently celebrated mine. 

I am Scorpio with a Pisces moon sign. 

The phrase, "Still waters run deep"

perfectly describes Scorpio.

Scorpio gets a bad rap sometimes, and it's true, 

that if betrayed, we find it very hard to trust again. 

But we are true to our word and will stand by those we love, 

but don't dare lie to us, because we will 'know'. 

Just ask my kids.

Lol! 

xx

"We are born at a given moment, in a given place,

and like vintage years of wine, we have the

qualities of the year and of the season

in which we are born." 

- Carl Gustav Jung -

xx

What sign are you? 

A vignette on my mantel. 

The pottery bowl was crafted by my son, Gabe 

as a school boy. 

Speaking of loyal...

xx

Guest bath vignette. 

The pretty tray was a lovely gift from DIL, Erica. 

Library shelves. 

Don't you love looking at the books on people's shelves? 

I'm nosy that way. 

Lol! 

I inherited the beautiful, leather-bound books 

from my dear Mom. 

She was an avid reader and we used to share books. 

Our own little 'book club'.

 

The lower shelf holds children's books that

I loved as a child and shared with my own children. 

The green, matching set, are Louisa May Alcott's

'Little Women' series. 

Did you know that some vintage green books are poisonous? 

They contain arsenic!

You can read more about this 1800's poisonous dye, here.

I collected the gray urns, birds, frames and plaque over time. 

The plaque depicts 'The Three Graces' from Greek Mythology. 

Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia

personified

charm, grace and beauty. 

xx

More children's books, in pretty, fall colors.

Fall color on the deck. 

Sedum. 

Purple chrysanthemums. 

Winter Pansies.

You can see the faint outline of Mt. Rainier

amidst the misty skies. 

Barberry. 

I planted the golden Russian ash trees as saplings

years ago.

  

The cedar trees lose their needles and carpet the ground

this time of year. 

I spent a sunny afternoon harvesting the mini-pumpkins

in the barrels by the playhouse a couple of weeks ago. 

My faithful companions. 

xx

The 'harvest'. Lol! 

I planted some bulbs in the barrels for spring.

Daffodils and purple alliums. 

Two things that I know the deer won't eat! 

I harvested my tansy, too. 

Tansy in bloom - late summer. 

A nice harvest. 

After stripping the leaves and seed heads from 

the stems, (with gloves on) I ended up with two large baskets full. 

I brought them inside and dried the leaves 

right in the baskets. I 'fluffed' them twice a day, 

and they dried in 2 weeks. 

I will use the sharp, piney-scented tansy in moth-repellant sachets. 

I'm going to spread the seeds along the fence-line. 

Tansy is a drought and deer resistant perennial 

with yellow, 'button' flowers

in late summer. 

Tansy is not for internal consumption! 

Sunset illuminating the mist on the flanks of Mt. Rainier. 

Some local color. 

Full wolf moon. 

xx

Thank you for sharing the autumn beauty with me, dear friends,  

here in the Cascade mountains of Washington State. 

I hope that you are finding peace and comfort in the small pleasures 

of everyday life, as we struggle to make sense of this 

complicated world. 

xx

'The reason why the world lacks unity, and lies broken

and in heaps, is because man is disunited with himself."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson - 

"A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just."

- Pope Francis -

"If you want to change the world, start with yourself."

- Mahatma Gandhi -