A Drive in the Country - Good Fences

I had to venture out 

 the other day to do some errands 

and thought I would take you along....

The Dandelions are in full bloom now - little drops of sunshine! 

A few in a lawn are one thing, but this whole field is quite amazing! 

This sweet little pop of pink peeks out

 from dark evergreens behind a pretty fence. 

I take this country road just to see this tree! 

A big-leaf Maple just now starting to leaf out. 

It sits majestically on a small knoll, 

overlooking lush fields and mountains in the distance. 

This weathered cattle barn resides nearby. 

These sweet, miniature donkeys look quite happy in their beautiful paddock.

The white horse in the background blends right in. 

A Christmas tree farm nestles safely behind a stern looking fence. 

I think it is to keep the deer and elk out more than people 

These little trees make tasty morsels.....

You can imagine what a herd of these magnificent creatures would do....

They are as large as horses.

This herd is making it's way to higher elevations for the summer. 

A favorite barn, now used for special events. 

Its beautiful, sturdy fencing takes advantage of a resident Douglas Fir. 

An April Shower catches this lane of flowering trees against some residential fencing. 

With darkening skies we make our way towards home in the distant foothills.

This charming little barn is a familiar landmark on our way.

Lingering raindrops drip down my windshield....

We make our turn onto the winding mountain road that brings us home, 

with Mt. Rainier peeking through the clouds. 

Home Sweet Home! 

Champ is happy to see us! 

Thank you, Dear Friends for coming along with me - I hope you enjoyed the ride! 

Today I am linking to: Good Fences

A Sweet Surprise and Some Spring Decorating

Recently, I was the fortunate winner of a Blog Give-Away at
 Lin's blog @ A Tiny Cottage In The Woods

This delightful package was almost too pretty to open,

but I carefully unwrapped it to reveal....

The Sweetest Surprise! How darling is this?

A lovely cross stitch in the softest hues of spring.

Thank you, Lin!

Lin is a very talented craftswoman and artist, and has the sweetest blog where she shares her beautiful designs, decorating and gardening, along with thoughts on living in her charming, tiny cottage in the woods.

Her lovely gift was the inspiration
 for some spring decorating of my own!

Her sweet wrappings were saved
and put to use to decorate this little basket of eggs.

These special treasures make me smile
and brighten my day.

I am hosting Easter Brunch for my family this year, 

and I know they will enjoy these little treasures as much as I do. 

Now that I have your undivided attention :), 

Come along and I will show you some of my spring decorating

 inspired by Lin's gift. 

My Kitchen Queen is host 

for some of my Dear Mother's wedding gifts. 

This pretty egg platter will be put to good use on Easter, 

filled with deviled eggs from her own recipe. 

The crystal egg is a recent vintage find. 

The cut branches are from my garden and are very fragrant.

I've draped this vintage dresser scarf over the cupboard door.

There is an identical basket on the other side.

I thought this was perfect for Easter.

I like to think about the sweet person who stitched this, many years ago.

My daffodils are putting on a show in the garden,
so I have gathered a few to brighten the table.

A tiny basket of glass eggs* share the hand thrown, 

blue glazed platter that I found for a song 

at my favorite vintage shop. 

My eldest daughter, Heather, buys me sweet eggs and gifts every Easter. As we go along, I will indicate her gifts with an asterisk *.  These little gifts are very precious to me. 

A decoupage wooden egg* nests in a blue berry basket. 

It came gifted in this sweet vintage style box. 

My sitting area gets a little spring decorating, also. 

Some sweet pansies keep a hand painted rock bunny company.

Floppy carries a basket of flowers and wears a rose and ribbon Easter bonnet.

This vintage bunny with pink glass eyes is from my childhood. 

I painted this handcrafted hutch many years ago. 

It once graced a tiny rental cottage we lived in when I was a young Mother. 

When we moved, the owner gave it to us as a gift

 for all the work we did on the little cottage when we lived there. 

A framed handmade card * on the hutch holds a dear sentiment. 

I fashioned the egg tree from branches and silk blossoms. 

It displays fragile glass and hand blown painted eggs*
gifted over time.

My flea market tool caddy 

holds a collection of Italian bottles vases. 

This vintage, scalloped doily, 

also has an embroidered basket design. 

 I've spruced up my 1961 Hotpoint
with some favorite blue collectibles for spring.

(Can you tell I love blue?)

Egg and custard cups, along with Franciscan Ware.

My potholder collection hangs below a tole tray.

A favorite gray enamel tray hides behind.

Embroidered dish towels* -
a gift for my birthday last fall.

My dish shelf gets a nod to Easter
with a carton of blue egg candles.

The framed handmade card*
perfectly captures my kitchen.

I hope you have enjoyed the tour of my kitchen decorating
 inspired by my lovely gift from Lin.

Next time I will show you my spring mantel and living room.
Can you tell I had fun decorating?

Thank you for your sweet visits, Dear Friends, and welcome to all new followers.
xoxo


Friendship is a word the very sight of which in print makes the heart warm.

-Augustine Birrell-

Cottage Love

Yesterday I was finally feeling better and ventured out to mail a package, 

visit the market, and stop at the library.

It was a lovely, soft, spring day with filtered sunshine. 

Whenever I drive through my tiny town, I am always enchanted by the sweet little cottages. 

This town was founded on logging and coal mining at the turn of the last century. 

These sweet cottages are modest and small, but so charming. 

Come along with me and I will show you a few favorites!

This classic farmhouse style has lovely windows-the rectangular one of bottle stained glass. 

It was once part of a large farm, but the land was more valuable for building homes....

An ancient plum tree stands guard over a lovely yellow cottage. 

I love the little bump outs and the tiny panes in the front door. 

I can imagine a sweet bedroom under the eaves. 

This cottage on the corner also has a charming room under the eaves. 

The white picket fence and cherry tree caught my eye. 

If you can look past the recycling bins waiting for pick-up, this little charmer stole my heart. 

The tiny front porch with oval windowed door, and the little sun room brought back fond memories of my parent's very first home, which was also my first home. 

I have memories of sitting in a similar sun room with my Dear young Mother

 as she taught me to sew and where I learned the alphabet and colors. 

I can relive these moments when I see this cottage, 

complete with  the memory of a particular bird song that delighted my young ears. 

Sweet, sweet memories....

I don't know why this cottage has always captured my imagination.

Maybe it is the gorgeous blue, or the wood shingled roof. 

Or maybe the large brick chimney and picket fence. 

The tiny windows next to the chimney? 

Or the beautiful bay windows and covered porch?

All together, it reminds me of a story book cottage. 

This 100 year old cottage was once in a very bad state. 

I knew the woman who owned it and brought it back to life. 

I worked with her at a local diner - both young mothers 

looking to earn a few extra bucks to bring home to our families. 

Sadly, her husband died in an accident and she was left to raise two teenage boys. 

Not long after, a noble man from her church offered his hand in marriage. 

She asked me, 'Do you think I can marry a man that I don't love and make it work?'

My answer was, 'Maybe you can learn to love this man if he has good qualities and is kind.'

She married him, they finished the house, and not long afterwards they moved away. 

I often wonder if the marriage worked. 

She was beautiful, with long auburn hair, and a beautiful heart. 

I hope she found love....

This tiny charmer with its neat and tidy gardens overlooks my little mountain. 

A perfect little doll house! 

This is my idea of the perfect cottage. 

Picket fence, arbor, charming front porch, and look at that tree! 

My daughter's childhood friend lived here. 

It is just as charming inside as out.

Naturally, it resides on 'Cottage Street'! 

Also on Cottage Street, this lovely house of worship sits nestled among the cottages. 

Last, but not least, how beautiful is this little cottage, surrounded by spring's beauty? 

But I must bid the cottage tour goodbye and be on my way...

A stop at the post office and market and then ...

I pull up to the library with its beautiful blooming trees. 

It's pure joy walking under these blooming branches to get inside. 

I choose books on wildflower identification, Northwest gardening, 

bread baking, sewing purses, crochet, paper crafts, and of course, cottage decorating. 

I walk from the hushed, dim interior to the beautiful spring sunshine and make my way home.

This week I will be planting Sweet Peas - inspired by my painting that was once my Dear Mother's.

She loved this painting.

I hope to have my blue canning jars full to the brim....

Thank you, Dear Friends for coming along with me today.

I hope wherever you are, 

you are enjoying nature's beauty surrounding

the cottages of home. 

xoxo

Linking to:

My Garden Diaries

The Run A Round Ranch Report

And Spring arose on the 

garden fair,

Like the Spirit of Love felt

everywhere;

And each flower and herb

on Earth's dark breast

rose from the dreams of its

Wintry rest

- Percy Bysshe Shelley