Pink Saturday

This little cotton candy colored tea set was waiting for me in The Logan Village Mall in Indiana. It made the ten hour trip home to Alabama with me, and now has me dreaming of a spring tea party.



I found this little crocheted basket at a thrift store and thought it would be perfect to hold my new pink and green linen napkins. But, I decided to use it for Spring decoration first. It is holding some of my home-made felt pretties, plus some little duck tag-alongs.











And, here's proof of my new saying, "Every cloud has a Pink lining.


Don't forget the whole pink clan at Beverly's. They're waiting for a visit from you on this Happy Pink Saturday!

The Rewards of a Busy Day

It's a good feeling to have something to show for a busy day. I had the privilege of staying home today; no carrying anybody anywhere, no errands to run, no groceries to buy. I love spending a day at home, and it's especially rewarding when I have something to show for my busyness.

I started out the day by doing a few cleaning chores and helping Taylor with his (home)school work. I was down to my last jar of jelly, so after lunch I started with my jelly making joys. I've mentioned before that my favorite breakfast is buttered toast with my home-made Cinnamon Apple Jelly and a cup (or two...or four) of good coffee. So I pulled out the ingredients for the jelly....



It's really easy and pretty fast to make. I pour 7 cups of unsweetened bottled apple juice into a large kettle, then add a pkg. of powdered fruit pectin, and 2 teaspoons of butter. I bring that to a full rolling boil on high heat while stirring constantly. Then I stir in 1 cup of red-hot cinnamon candies until they dissolve. Next, I stir in 9 cups of sugar and return the mixture to a full rolling boil. It boils for 1 minute, while I stir constantly. Lastly, I remove the kettle from the heat; skim off the foam and pour into hot sterilized jars, cap them, and process in a boiling-water bath for 5 minutes. And, voila! Breakfast jelly for many happy mornings.



It really didn't take long to make the jelly at all. I had enough time left over before having to start supper to practice a few piano pieces. Then, after supper, I finished up a project I started yesterday...making pink Peonies. I found the instructions in the April 12 issue of First magazine. The only materials needed are tissue paper, which I found at the local Dollar General...



... some florist wire, and hair spray.



I was very pleased with the finished project. They're the new centerpiece for my living room coffee table. They're much easier to make than the coffee filter roses I made a couple of years ago.



Throw in a walk with my sweet hubby and some fun time with my sons and it was a very good day! A day I am thankful for.

Linked to:  Eat at Home

Thoughts of Spring

Spring is playing Hide 'n Seek with us. We'll have one or two beautiful, sunny, warm days followed by several chilly, wet days. Today is one of those chilly, wet days. But, I got outside on one of those perfect days and made some pictures along with a few plans.

Our cherry trees are blooming. The little pink blossoms are so pretty against that blue, blue early spring sky.



I got my gardening gloves out and wore them around while I was outside. You know, just breaking them in a little for the warm weather. I'm just itching to get my seeds in the ground.



Want to know what I did on this chilly, wet day? I'll show you just as soon as I can get my pictures made and downloaded. Hopefully I can do that before the day is over. Be sure to check back!

Surprise!

DH and I are out for a little stroll, when I glance over at an old tree on our property. Peeking out of the exposed roots I see this happy little face.



I don't know where he came from but he sure makes me smile. I think I'll leave him there to give me a smile every time I go by. And, may I be reminded of how happy an unexpected smile makes me feel so that I'll be sure to give them away more freely.

It's Pink Saturday and I'm Back!!!

We had a wonderful trip to Indiana last weekend! It was very rainy outside but all sunshine and smiles inside. My sweet daughter had found a place that she knew Mama would love to visit, and was she ever right!

This is the prettiest shop I have ever seen. It's like walking into my dream home. And best of all was meeting sweet Miss Pinky herself. She is such a lovely and energetic lady. I truly enjoyed my visit to her shop. It is worth the visit if you live within a 100 miles of this beautiful shop. Here are just a few of her lovelies, and believe me when I say the pictures just do not do them justice.

And what did I buy you may ask. I wanted to bring the whole shop home, but it wouldn't fit on the back of our truck and it WAS still raining. So, I just bought this cute little souvenir. I have a (day) dream: Me, sitting on my big front porch, 75 degree temperature, drinking iced tea, and stirring up a gentle breeze with my beautiful little fan. Hope you'll join me!

Make sure to go by Beverly's for more Pink Posts!

It's Pink Saturday !

I am making my Pink Saturday post early this week because we are leaving out earrrrrrly Friday morning for Indiana. I get to see my girl and her hubby! You can't tell I'm excited, can you? I'm also excited about my Pink Saturday post today because I am showing you my favorite way to spend a late-winter's night.




First I wrap myself up in my fuzzy, cuddly, pink robe. (One of my very favorite thrift store finds. Ever!)




Then I slide my tootsies into their warm, pink booties.




Brew up a cup of chamomile tea. Serve it in my favorite mug...



pop in a fun, pink movie...



...and watch it with my sweet hubby. It doesn't get much better than that does it?

I won't get to make the Pink Saturday rounds this weekend, but I'm so glad you came by to visit me. I hope to be surprised with bunches of comments when I get home Monday. I enjoy them so much!

Are you like me and can't ever get enough pink? If so, then you'll want to go to Beverly's blog for a long list of Pink Saturday participants.

I am a STAR!

Leslie, AKA Missus Smarty Pants, has my picture on her newsletter this week, as a "What to Wear!" Have you met Missus Smarty Pants? Meeting her three years ago changed my life for the better. She certainly has a way with style and loves to share it with others. She teaches you how to make the best of the body you're in, resulting in a healthier self-image. She loves what she does so much that a lot of her help is free! She has a free weekly newsletter that she will email right to you. She also has a weekly Blog Talk radio show which I download on my IPOD and listen to as I do my home chores. If you need more help you can purchase a profile and get lots more information every week, including a shopping guide. She is good for a girl on a budget. She tells you how to use your new-found fashion knowledge whether you are shopping at the mall or a thrift store. And, the best thing, if you have any questions about style, you can email her and she, or someone that works with her, will get back with you with an answer to your query. It's like having your own personal fashion consultant! Sorry for the advertisement, but I was just so excited about my picture being in her newsletter this week that I just had to share. Want to see? Here's the Link. (My picture is the second one down just in case you wonder. LOL) You won't want to stop with the newsletter though, check out her whole website, it's so much fun and she is so upbeat. Her radio show will be on this afternoon. Maybe you'll get a chance to listen. And, if you talk to her or email her, tell her Sherry from Alabama sent you. (Nope, no kick-back for me.)

I hope you're having a great week so far. I am preparing for a trip to Indiana to see my girl this weekend, but I'll have a post up for Pink Saturday. Hope you come back for a visit.

Blue Monday

Welcome to Blue Monday. I hope you had as beautiful a weekend as I did! Taylor and I skipped school for a little while early Friday morning for a wonderful indoor yard sale at a very large church in town. They had tons of items for sale at cheap, cheap, cheap prices! But, believe it or not, I only spent $4.50 and Taylor didn't buy anything.

Here is my favorite purchase. I found it as soon as I walked in the building and grabbed it right up before anyone else even spied it. I thought it would look wonderful in my kitchen and I didn't care if it worked or not. But, it does work! And the price? Fifty cents! I am so happy on this Blue Monday!

Pink Saturday

Welcome to Pink Saturday, and thank you for stopping by! I didn't have to leave home for my pink pictures this week. Won't you come in and stay awhile?

I rescued this vintage card, along with several others, from a sad ending. A thrift store moved into our little country neighborhood a while back and the owners were going through their stock and throwing away things they didn't want to keep. Would you believe they threw this beautiful card, and several others, away? They thought it was funny that I dug them back out of the trash can and hugged them to me like they were a great prize. The price? Free of course, it was just trash to them after all. One man's trash is a pink lover's treasure.


I got this beautiful rose night light at a thrift store in town for $1!


I love to crochet, and this little pink rose doily is one of my favorite creations. I learned to crochet about three years ago, and find it so relaxing.


This is my piano lamp. I recovered the shade with pink and white toile and added the trim so it would match everything else in my pink room.


This is another one of my crocheted doilies. I love my little white and pink corner of my living room. It looks so inviting to me. It's a good place to escape with a good book and a cup of hot tea.


I really didn't mean to have a "crochet" theme, but it seems to have turned into one. I actually crocheted this little drawstring purse for myself, but decided it looked like it was more for a little girl. I'm ashamed to say that I raveled it out and used the yarn some other way. I have wished many times that I had kept it and blessed some little girl with it. (I did keep the flowers and used them on another project.)



I'm so glad you joined me on this Pink Saturday. I visited Monica @ The White Bench this week. If you haven't visited Monica's blog, you need to check it out. You'll find such elegance there. She is previewing her own line of fashion totes and they are just beautiful! She is one talented lady!

Be sure to go by Beverly's blog for the complete list of Pink Saturday participants. And, while you're there leave Beverly a comment and let her know how special she makes all of our Saturdays. She's one sweet lady.

March...in like a lamb...

The daffodils are showing off!



March certainly has started out beautifully in the Heart of Dixie! It was cold this morning but has warmed up nicely. It is 52 degrees and sunny right now! These little yellow bits of sunshine are peeking up all over our front yard. They seem to get prettier every spring, and never have they been more welcome than this year. They're actually blooming a little later this year, usually popping up by late January and blooming by early February. It was just so cold then that they probably wanted to stay under their winter blanket a little longer.





This little fellow was in such a hurry to grow up that he grew right through a leaf!


I had to bring in a handful for my breakfast table, of course. I gathered this little bunch from the woods around our house. It's always so hard for me to cut any of the flowers that grow in the yard. They give me such pleasure.


Here is another yellow surprise that I found growing in my herb garden. I planted the pansies in the fall expecting them to bloom all winter like they usually do, but not so this year. We haven't had the typical mild Alabama winter this year.


And since I am showing flowers this beautiful day, maybe someone could help me name this wildflower. These little flowers grow profusely here in early spring, but I've never known what to call them. Does anyone know what they are?


Well, I'm off to enjoy the rest of this beautiful day. The rain is supposed to move in tonight with snow possible tomorrow and tomorrow night. I've always heard the saying about Alabama weather, "If you don't like the weather today, just stick around a few hours, it'll change." Hope you are having a sunny day where ever you are.