ENJOYING THE BIRDS

 

I am sure you already know that

different seeds attract

different birds to your yard.

click here to learn more

In the case of bluebirds, one needs

to buy a bag of bugs (yes, meal

 worms) to attract them.

They are not seed eaters.  I never

would have believed I would be

buying a bag of dead bugs but we

sure have enjoyed seeing the

bluebirds come and go this winter.

I might mention that when filling

the bluebird feeder, I try not to

stare at the bag!

MARCH IRISH TEATIME

 Our March has been flying along

 so it's time to have a nice

cup of Irish Breakfast tea 

and take a pause in this day. 

I still have a vase of dried green

hydrangeas from last summer.

I have shared the tea cozy I made

years ago with my Grandmother's

linens she embroidered for me.  There

were quite a few napkins so I cut a 

couple of the stained ones up.

I pulled the March issues of the older

Victoria Magazines to enjoy:

A cup of hot tea and an old Victoria magazine

make for happy moments for sure.

We might get some snow tonight which

is no big thing compared to what many

of you have experienced lately.  I went

 out and took a few photos of some of

the bulbs that may not be so happy

about the snow.

I make collages for by Facebook page

but don't usually share them here so

today I leave one with you:

MEMORIES FROM OLD VICTORIA MAGAZINES & Carmel Cream Pie

 One way to survive winter while the 

garden takes a break and outdoor

activities slow down, is by finding

some craft projects or perhaps sewing

or baking something wonderful.  I decided to look at some old Victoria magazines and go back through the January and February issues before this month is 

over.  A cup of tea and a seat at the table were all I needed to get started through my magazines.

Last month I did some reflecting on the Scottish poet, Robert Burns and of course

I came across a lovely article in the January 1990 issue.

  In the same issue there was an article about a woman name Jeanne Gresham who had a shop on Cape Cod called "Horsefeathers" where antiques and beautiful tea wares mingled.  Now bear in mind we are talking about 1990 (not now) and a friend I knew in Colorado in the 90's told me she had visited this shop and raved about

it's beauty.

I'm sure you are aware that in January

and February the Snowdrops bloom

in England.

The cover on the January 1991 issue is

so very lovely.  I have been thinking about

looking for an older fire place screen to

soften the area in front of our gas

fireplace.  As soon as I opened this issue

 I saw a wonderful example of one in an

article called "Found By The Fire".  

Click here if you would like

to see the recipe for the

Carmel Cream Pie.

As February prepares to leave us

here in Missouri, we see bulbs popping

 up out of the ground.  We did a major pruning of the pussy willow bush in our 

front yard.  A few Hellebore plants

are blooming.  We know we have had

a relatively mild winter.

By doubling my recipe ingredients,

I had enough for a deep dish pie and

also more to make a little tart we can

take over to our senior neighbors.

(on a foil base for transporting)

FEBRUARY VIOLETS

 When February arrives we know that

Spring is not too far ahead and that

means the violets are coming.

This teapot above is an

English Crown Dorset.

I have always been fond of tea

wares with the violet theme.

The teapot on top of the cake

platter is from Japan.

We are having a cold, damp

and dreary day so violets will

certainly cheer things up.

I am starting to collect some purple

transferware but so far only have

4 plates.  It seems that is is rather

expensive. The teapot above lower

right is an English Crown Dorset.

This is one of the plates:

I am not fond of pieces from China

but did like this piece (from my 

former store) made in China for

Flowers & Balloons which became

Burton & Burton.

 

I just made a quick dash outside to

shake down the birdseed in the bird

feeder.  It could possibly snow here in

Missouri tonight.

VALENTINE TABLE SETTING

 My hubby and I decided to take some

days off this last week.  Our lives

are very simple and we don't travel

 very much but this week we took off and went east 

to St Louis one day to 2 mega size antique malls and then we

 went to all 3 smaller local antique

malls on another day. 

I had been thinking for a while about

looking for 2 antique oil lamps for

my dining room table.  My husband

asked if I wanted these and the answer

was "of course I do".  They came from Springfield, Missouri.

This is an area off our kitchen without

a wall separating the two called a

Hearth Dining Room.

I tried using the leaf in the

table but decided I preferred

it without the leaf. I can always

add it if needed.

ANTIQUE VALENTINE PLATE

 I was wondering if there was any such

thing as an antique or vintage Valentine

 plate and sure enough I found one.  In

fact, the one I found is #8 in a series, 

marked "Adams" and made in England.

I have since, seen a few

others on Ebay or Etsy.

I decided one was

enough to make me

happy and yes, this

one is a little stained

 but I'm ok with that since it is just going to be a decoration.

I haven't gotten my other Valentine's Day

Decorations out but am thinking of doing

some crafting of Valentines.  How

about you?