Easter Greetings

Hello everyone, spring is finally here! I hope all of you are doing well. Easter is a holy season, and a time of great joy in our home. I've decorated our table and planned our brunch menu for my blog photos. I hope this inspires you to set your Easter table, mixing and matching patterns for that cottage look so many of us love. I would love to hear your comments and, as always, I'll get back to all of you . We'll chat soon--Cathy

What would I do without my blackboard--I just love it.

The white feather tree with pink, purple, green, and yellow polka-dot eggs. It also has the pearl garland, and pastel colored curling ribbon. I made the Easter bonnet tree topper. It is covered with petite silk flowers and ribbon.

Easter bonnet topper with a surprise--a little chick that you only see up close. So sweet.

I made a bunny silhouette out of green, pink, and yellow poster board, decorated it with paint and ribbon, and added cotton balls for the tails.

Place setting with pink basket and a Lindt milk chocolate bunny. Pink chargers with chintz dinner plate and Royal Doulton blue floral dessert plate on top.

I also did blue baskets with blue polka-dot ribbons.

Centerpiece of the table is a pink woven basket with silk peonies, colored eggs, and of course Peter.

My daughter loves this tea set. So that makes me love it even more.

In front of everyone's place setting I've also included a cupcake holder, blue egg cup filled with jelly beans, and an Italian chocolate egg wrapped in pink or blue foil paper.

The cupcake holders are different colors and have malted chocolate eggs inside of them. Yum!

The salt and pepper shakers are Byrd Crystal from Germany.

The pink Fenton Art Glass basket has been a favorite of mine for many Easters. So Pretty.

This is called the blue butterfly dish from Fenton Art Glass also.

The Lemon Tart from David's Cookies is an Easter favorite in our home.

Full room view.

Close-up of side board with my favorite silver tray and clear vase with peonies.

Meggie's favorite tea set on a silver tray.

Corner side board holds the blackboard, a tall pink lovable bunny, and the baskets that will be used in the Easter egg hunt.

This curio cabinet showcases some of my tea cup collection alongside a Royal Albert Bunny from the Beatrice Potter Collection.

Chandelier ready for Easter.

Fenton Art Glass Easter basket in purple.

What would Easter be without an Easter egg hunt?

Hey! Where's the Easter Bunny?

There were plenty of milky way, butterfingers, snickers, and reeses peanut butter cups for all.

There's the Easter Bunny!

Hope you enjoyed the photos. Post your comments,
I'd love to hear them.--Cathy

P.S.
Happy Easter Sis, miss ya!

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day everyone.  For this years Valentine's Day post I've added blue into the regular mix of pink and red--a little unexpected, but very Cottage Style. However you decide to celebrate, cherish  your time together with your Valentine and make sure they know how much they mean to you.
Enjoy the photos.

Dinner featured the classic French Dish of Beef Bourguignon. It was a huge hit with everyone.

The plates are from the Spode Blue Room Collection.  They have a deep well that held the Beef Bourguignon nicely.  At each place setting a handmade cone served both as the seating card and a holder of special treats for each of the guests.

The cones were made from 12x12" craft paper. The favors contained caramel and white chocolate pretzels, candy sticks, raffaello confections, and a special note card.

What would a French meal be without wine and cheese?  My dinner featured imported triple cream cheese as well as Roquefort cheese accompanied by a delightful Bordeaux wine.

A full view of the table setting with the special Valentine's Day cakes.

A 6 layer white cake with raspberry filling and almond butterceam icing, and, of course, pink sugar crystals and coconut flakes!

What would Valentine's Day be without chocolate?  Here it's done in 6 layers of chocolate cake with almond buttercream and red sugar hearts for the special day.

The centerpiece of the table is a blue pitcher with two dozen beautiful red roses from my Valentine.

A handmade red bird window ornament decked out with its finest feathers for the occasion.

Valentine's Day Tree with Cupid and heart ornaments.

Our special guests to the Valentine's Day Party holding the treats sent home with guests in the homemade cones. The pretzels were dipped in caramel then white chocolate and then finally rolled in red or pink sprinkles. The candy sticks were sour cherry, strawberry, and cherry coke.

Our kitchen hutch with more of my favorite Spode dishes in pink floral patterns accompanied by Old Country Rose patterns and chintz coffee mugs.

A special handmade ornament tucked in with my favorite chintz dishes and Old Country Rose Plate.

Hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day.

We'll chat soon--Cathy

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Amidst all the hustle and bustle, the Christmas season is finally upon us. Thanks for stopping by and taking a look at my version of a cottage style Christmas.

Too cold outside for my favorite bunny.

 Looking outside the front window of the dining room.

 Entering the dinning room through the kitchen.

Johnson Brothers Christmas pattern.

Used red and green napkins. The poppers were filled with Harry London Chocolates.

Miniature cheesecakes. YUM!

Try this cheese, you will not be sorry.

 All the girls will take home their own canister pig.  I'll use mine for tea bags.

Full view of the dinning room.

Full view from the other side of the dinning room.

I will use this lantern in the garden too.

(Oh I do miss my garden. . .)

The chandelier!

  

The tree takes center stage in the dining room this year. My entire family will gather here for Christmas dinner.

 These are my kid's baby shoes -- a tradition on our tree.

Garden gnome in the guise of Santa. Anything that reminds me of my garden is a good thing.

From Bronner's Christmas store in Frankenmuth, Michigan. They have every kind of ornament imaginable.

 Our tree is whimsical with ornaments we've gathered over the years.

Christmas Tree at night.

Santa Cookie Jar.

Christmas touches all through the dinning room.

From my son's Nutcracker collection.

Burl Ives said it best: Have a holly jolly Christmas!

  This chair is a favorite of mine.

 A charmingly distressed table holds my second, and larger, blackboard. I've quoted Luke 2:11. Its the first thing my guests we'll see upon their arrival.

Welcome to the living room.

Looking the other direction.

Looking out the front window.

When choosing the size of wreath I didn't want it to get lost above the fireplace.

This wreath is 36" round and loaded with red bulbs. As if this wasn't enough, I added a plaid bow too.

These poppers are homemade and filled with Harry London

Chocolates; they have everyone's name on them and will be used in place of name cards for seating. The Christmas tea set is one that I have had for many years --

and of course my favorite silver tray.

All grown up my daughter still loves her Ruddie.

Tweet Sweet!

This blue rustic hutch is in my kitchen.

More Christmas in my large cabinet made for me by 

my Dad.

Last but not least the Feather Tree. It decorates my

kitchen and its decked out with multicolored lights.

I used gold curling ribbon and silver tinsel with yellow, white,

and red colored ornaments.

My family will gather at our home for Christmas this year and there will be 16 of us.  My dining room will be full. From now till Christmas day, I will be shopping, wrapping, and cooking. Mostly, though, I'm looking forward to having some fun times with all those I love so dearly. It's always nice to have everyone around.

Thank you for all your comments -- I really love hearing from all of you. 
Merry Christmas and we'll chat soon! --Cathy