Cottages and Roses Paintings #4 for Pink Saturday

This is the 4th time I've edited this post!! I keep thinking of things I want to tell ya chicks or tips I want to share.
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I've been thinking on what I wanted to do with a corner behind me to the left of the desk in my office. I just couldn't come up with anything, but actually I hadn't given it too much thought as I've been super busy trying to find space for my sheets and towels.........here I go—getting off track!

Anyway, I was reading a blog the other day and she had a corner and "BOOOOOING", it hit me like a ton of bricks!! I don't know why because I've done this in my house in other places, but it just didn't hit me until I saw her picture. Donna "snapped a rubber band" at my head with the picture over on her blog today.......hmmmm, seems like yesterday though. Oh well............ I simply put a little lamp that has been sitting on the floor until I could find out what to do with it. This is the corner where my cable modem and wireless router sit and it looks just "blah" there. I've been thinking but it didn't sink in until her blog picture. I am going to cover the little tv tray it is sitting on. My office can't be configured many ways because of all the electronics I have hooked up to my computer so this is IT, chicks. It fills that corner AND gives me some light. But it was so short that I added the books to it for a bit of elevation. Works very well. DUH!!!

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I've had these millinery roses for years and years and they've kind of "settled or flattened" from being in a drawer for so many years.

Then I came across a tip from Heather several days ago—can't really remember when— and tonight I decided to test it out as I had nothing to do. Riiiiiight!!!! Hah. Anyway, I thought I'd share this tip/trick with all of you. It actually worked well as you can see in the pictures below of the before and after. They're actually very perky and pretty now.

The tip is to hold them upside down over a steaming kettle or pot. I used a pot with boiling water and held it over for a minute or so and voilà! They are back in shape.

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Okay, I got to thinkin' today, chicks. I wanna do a swap with only one person! Just me and someone else. I want to do a crown swap. Anyone wanna accept the challenge to do it with me??? Hmmmm??? Just email me today and let me know. I'm only going to do one person. I want to get to know one of you very well. By 5 pm tonight. I'll pick the name out of a hat and announce it after 5 pm TONIGHT. This is gonna be fun!!!

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I saw this darling prom gown and had to share. While certainly more modest than some I've seen, most of the teenagers I know wouldn't wear something without a sleeve. However, this dress is adorable with its net ruffles and being pink so I had to share.

I love hand bags like these below—all pink, satin and froufrou-y.

I guess men design these shoes. Women who actually wear them wouldn't design something so high you look like an elephant walking down the street. Just watch the women in these HIGH heels walking. They CAN'T! Why can't they design these in a shorter heel style so we don't ruin out feet later in life. Trust me on this ONE!!!! They are adorable though.

This looks like something designed by a man who hated women! Like maybe the Marquis de S*de!

You certainly won't break a heel in this one; you'll break your FOOT! Silly.

Seriously, chicks, can you REALLY see someone actually buying, wearing and walking in such a shoe??? This designer must REEEEALLLLY hate women! Idiot!
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How I love this magnificent huge rose bouquet!

Spending a summer afternoon watching sail boats drifting by while reading your favorite book and having a picnic lunch with someone special.

Spending some time at the sea shore watching the ocean ebb and flow in your solitude with the birds drifting overhead and a blue bouquet at your window. Feel the sand on your toes as you dig them into the sand.

A bouquet of roses freshly picked from the garden and tossed onto a side table until they can be arranged into a vase. She reminds me of Paul de Longpre and his luscious painting of roses in this one.

Another exuberant bouquet of picks from the garden on a summer morn with fresh berries and other fruit for a tête-a-tête.

Last of these paintings by Barbara Mock.
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Eye Candy Day For You!!

Some days don't you want to NOT hear me babble?!?!?! Well, enjoy today not listening to me. Hah

Cottages and Roses Paintings #3

As a lot of women have been emailing me about my blogging tutorial I've noticed a couple of problems they are having with their photos. I'm trying to help as much as I can and there are a few of you who have had direct questions about uploading them to the blog in a certain order and/or rearranging them. Therefore, I have added an update to my blogging tutorial at the very end concerning how to do it in the order you'd like. It has never ever failed me when I do this. It's a very, very simple thing to do and you can read about it on my blogging tutorial by clicking on the right hand side bar the 4th icon down—my little lamp. Check it out and if there are any questions, I'd be happy to try and help you.
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I love pink and it's my favorite color as you can see if you view my home on the right sidebar.

These are her peonies. I love peonies for their fragrance.

This so touched my heart because I collect birdhouses and have a log cabin one actually. Of course it's froufrou-ed up with roses and ribbons but not too far different from the one below.

Doesn't every one of us dream of this type of idyllic life? I do. A peaceful small cottage at the end of a stone path with beautiful trees surrounding it.

A couple of blue transferware pots of tulips, lilys, jonquils and pansies.

A wrought iron bench in a private walled garden and listening to the tinkle of the fountain.

More adorable birdhouses.

Another beautiful floral bouquet on an old hutch.

Waiting for your loved one to arrive home while sitting beside a tiny babbling brook.

Kids and Chocolate Strawberries

My daughter and granddaughter came to visit me recently and we had a "kicking" time together. We were obnoxious, stayed up late and talked and ate tooooo much junk. Chocolate strawberries, donuts, cake........uuuuhhhhh, you know the drill, right?!! AND you know you're in trouble when you make an emergency run to the local Chevron station/convenience store for candy and end up spending $14.97 for just candy to get ya through the evening! Sheeeeeesh........

This is my daughter. She looks just like me but she'd probably croak if she saw it in print! Well, not really just like me as she's 5"11 and I'm 5'4 3/4" and have gray mixed in with my light brown, more wrinkles and have curly hair - thanks to perms! We snapped this picture in WM and I'll probably never be invited back to that store from being so giggly and obnoxious in there. *Sigh*........ But I think this is an adorable picture of her! Isn't she cute for "29"?!?!

This is my granddaughter a few years ago.

This is her today while we were canvassing for goodies at the local nursery. I thought the picture of her in that lime green sun hat turned out darling of her and being a proud grandmother of only 1 granddaughter (but 3 grandsons) I could show her off a bit. Isn't she cute for "29"?!?! And SHE is 29 in March. Hah. Daughter and I lie about our ages although it's getting harder with my wrinkles! My gorgeous daughter has no wrinkles! *Sigh*..........

This is her hair I photographed while waiting at the beauty salon for her mother to get hers colored and cut. She has been coming up about every 3 months to get her hair cut and colored here because she likes my hairdresser.

So far we've gone to the store 3 times to get things for ONE (1) meal! I never knew beef stroganoff could be so difficult to make from scratch, but when daughter says she wants to cook for us then I'm in heaven, chicks! So she'll get no guff from me on that one.

But she also grabbed 2 packs of strawberries and 2 bags of milk chocolate chips to make these for dessert. Ooooooh, I sure hope my pants can expand a little on this menu! Do these look good or what?!?!

Main Street in a Small Town

The last time my daughter came to visit we trekked main street in town. Although it's a town of about 80,000 it's considered a large small town. It's perfect for us anyway.

We went into a couple of shops—there aren't very many and only a few antique ones. When we asked this lady if we could photograph her store, she asked how much it would cost. We chuckled and said "nothing, it's free advertisement." She graciously consented. It's called "Aunt Hattie's Attic" and is just quaint. I plan on going back there today and perhaps making a purchase or two..........or three.......... *Wink*.........

I like this kitchen island but I'll have to measure and see if it will fit in our kitchen. I doubt it but one never knows, does one? Truthfully, I was so busy taking photos that day that I didn't even "spy" this island until I got home and was downloading the photos and editing them that I saw this island! Sometimes I can be very unobservant. DUH!

Plus I've been looking for a little side table for my comfy leather chair. There may be something here I could use.

I snapped these hats and didn't even "see" the vintage millinery on the pink one!! I can't believe I did that.

Just delightful stuff packed into a very small space.

A wedding gown, veil and a little child's stove.

I liked this wrought iron set but I have no clue what I'd do with it. My patio isn't big enough to put it on.

Since it was the holiday season she had a display of little cottages.

Lots of plates, but I truly prefer to get mine at yard sales—much cheaper!

This little wicker chest might just find its way to my home if the price is right. As I said, when I'm photographing that's all I do—photograph. I rarely see the items until I'm editing the photos.

I believe this is called blue transferware. I'm not even close to being knowledgeable on these kinds of things.

I'll take a closer look at this little table also. Hubs is gonna be surpriiiiiiiiseeeeeeed tonight, I think!!! Hah

Another distinct possibility. I can see this painted white, can't you?

Closer look at that wedding dress and veil. Bertieeeeeeeee........squeeeeeeeeeal!!!

I could get this for my great grandchild if my gorgeous granddaughter would get busy and give us one!!!!!!!

I see possibilities with this chair also. Painted white and reupholstered.

Just some other stops on Main street.

This kids pants were hanging below his b*tt! I swear I don't know how they can even keep them up. He gave us a dirty look but hey, ask me if I care.

This is where I buy books. I used them a lot until I found the book exchange bookstore. I get them so cheap there with an exchange it's hard NOT to use them. But this is my 2nd choice. I'm telling you they have hundreds of thousands of books in there. It's a delight to visit with them. It actually smells like an antique book store. It takes me "away" when I go through their doors—as if going through a time portal into another century. *Sigh*........ But books are very much a part of my life and I read voraciously.

An upscale men's store in town.

This is rather a unique place. In its former life it was a car dealership but some very creative people saw its potential and turned it into a coffee shop. I didn't go inside but it's only open part of the day for coffee, tea, drinks, pastries and sandwiches. The owners actually open the doors during warm weather. I'll try and get more pictures later to show you.

Just some more shops along Main street.

This place didn't have very much and was very overpriced in my opinion. We didn't stay long.

A view of Main street from one end. Mainstream America!

There are a couple of little cafes but we didn't eat at this one. We did, however, eat at one that gave us portions of food that none of us—except Love Bunny–could eat! Hubs finished everything on his plate. I've tried to cure him of this malady but after 48 years there's not much hope left. If I ate like that I'd weight 300 pounds!

This is our police department. I have a love and adoration for all men who want to protect us. I strive to obey traffic laws so as not to get a ticket as it might change my perception of them, but to me they are heroes. These young men and women put their lives on the line daily to protect us. I salute them, EMTs and armed forces. I just can't say enough. I thought they deserved to be honored in this post.

And here's Love Bunny and my son-in-law at the model railroad train club in the basement of that last antique store above. Good looking dudes, wouldn't ya say?! Hah...

He's here every wednesday night and a good part of the day on saturdays. It's his "down" time and I'd never begrudge him that. He needs and deserves it. Plus he ain't out smokin', drinkin' or carousing with wild cowgirls (or cowboys for that matter. Hey, ya never know anymore!).

Our post office—a little bit of Americana.

I just snapped pictures of a few houses on our drive back to the house. They all have a certain appeal to me. But this first one is truly gorgeous.