BEATRIX POTTER FIGURINES

In the springtime I find myself always thinking

 about Beatrix Potter.  I loved that sweet movie

that came out years ago, "Miss Potter".  I

love so many different types of people from

the past:  Beatrix Potter, Tasha Tudor,

Jane Austen,  L. M. Montgomery, the

Bronte Sisters and Edith Holden.  It's not

 that I like every single thing about them but

 rather I choose to focus on the characteristics

I like best.  

We have been watching the Road to

Avonlea series recently and we just love it.

But we have our favorites episodes and our

 favorite characters.  I think what we love is

the idea of "community" - people who know

their neighbors and support one another.

Back to Beatrix Potter:

We have some daffodils and hellebores and

pussy willows so I did my first little bouquet.

I have been so excited to see some of the earliest

bulbs appear.  I do know that winter isn't over

 and tomorrow for example, is supposed to

 be ugly!

In Iowa maybe a blizzard - oh boy!

Doing this post,  I have pulled out these little

figurines which I collected many years ago.

This doll has stirred up memories for me

as I have a friend who is turning 80 years

old soon.  I met her when I was 17 and we

were both attending a small Iowa Bible

College.  During the 1980's she lived

in Toronto, Canada and we went for

several visits there to see her family and 

on one of the visits we went to a gal's

farmhouse who sold antiques and vintage

items and I 

purchased

this doll from her.

Beatrix Potter certainly left a wonderful

legacy which so many celebrate today.

I hope your springtime

comes very soon!

FIRST DAY OF SPRING HOPEFULNESS

 Today is the first official day of spring

and there is hope......it will only be in

the 50's but compared to some places

that is warm so I share a couple of

collages to encourage "spring".

These are older photos that

I played with in Pic Monkey.

I hope your weekend is sunny

at the very least.  Ours is sunny

and we are so glad it quit raining

but how can I complain when I know

that rain for us meant snow for many of

 you.  Hopefully, your bulbs are starting

 to come up.  Ours are up but just a few

 are blooming as  of yet.  I know it will

 be gorgeous in the coming few weeks.  This photo is from past

 times in the

 garden of course.

A PRELUDE TO SPRING DAY

Yesterday was a lovely day - 
nice and warm at 70 degrees!

We best not expect it to last though!
Last night it was as if the sky was falling
with hail everywhere in the middle of the night.

I set a little tea table down in
the tea room.  We are having some
cranberry
 and raisin oatmeal cookies
 I baked this afternoon.  If you
want the recipe follow the link.
  Just add
1 cup of craisins too!

Yesterday I was down in my sewing room
 ironing cloth napkins and vintage linens
 that have accumulated in the
 ironing basket this winter.

 Do you still iron? 

I haven't done any "spring

 cleaning" but I need too!

Just not today!

Please pick your cup and pour

 yourself some tea!

I have my first 5 flats planted with

 seeds.  I have everything to do 10

 more flats.  Now that I am retired this

 is the way to go!

I hope your week is going well!

VIOLET PICKIN TIME

I know that in some places violets

can become a nuisance in the garden

but not here in my yard.  I treasure

 each one I

find!

I also treasure violet cups and saucers,

teapots and any other items I come across.

Even these little violet ashtrays.

Violets were a common theme for

cups and saucers in the 50's.

They could be purchased at what

was called the "dime store" as gifts

for loved ones who collected them.