tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376319482024-03-07T10:09:24.805-08:00CelebrateTheSeasonsHeidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306674979528881706noreply@blogger.comBlogger356125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37631948.post-56544326766456269372009-06-18T08:25:00.000-07:002009-06-18T08:35:31.475-07:00All good things come to an endI have thoroughly enjoyed writing this blog. It has changed my perspective on life and helped me appreciate things even more. You see life and nature in detail as you blog about it. My blogger account is full and I am starting over with a clean slate and fresh ideas. I am having fun now with a new blog called <a href="http://thecranberrychronicle.blogspot.com/">The Cranberry Chronicle</a>. I hope you will follow the link and join me there from now on. <br /><br />To all who have commented on this blog over the years, I thank you. It has been wonderful to interact with you through here and I appreciate your comments. I treasure the online friendships I have made.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYLxFtCPAro8erIVpQF1vINwXm_sbzWFG8jEERlnpO6AuYRAh_TkQ7vcNEEeACSMzBiRXjR_L9CmermZp4VHi0x2TNc9I34UQaQbqDyve1VaZTb2lhaJTSc1tHOK3KgFrR5rc7Q/s1600-h/cranberries-main_Full.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYLxFtCPAro8erIVpQF1vINwXm_sbzWFG8jEERlnpO6AuYRAh_TkQ7vcNEEeACSMzBiRXjR_L9CmermZp4VHi0x2TNc9I34UQaQbqDyve1VaZTb2lhaJTSc1tHOK3KgFrR5rc7Q/s320/cranberries-main_Full.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348689590422535426" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/65/09821E3228AD74C42FB3D2530EC1EFC8.png" style="border: none; background: transparent;"/></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306674979528881706noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37631948.post-19174912957188323632009-06-17T05:47:00.001-07:002009-06-17T07:16:29.793-07:00Pink and black...<span style="font-weight: bold;">Pink and black really seem to add impact when you put them together. I did just that at my front door. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3z_iH50ZgkSMN5QFTsoAbduXidQNhyGr4ktocispafKfhQU-ficDAE_0SLPlOleTOT7K1AhfRuP6jU2NUYiSbBUf8sHfrTIOk4T_PDSqYx3faCyJME2tl7LLZ1JEdn3s5v6nQw/s1600-h/IMG_7440.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3z_iH50ZgkSMN5QFTsoAbduXidQNhyGr4ktocispafKfhQU-ficDAE_0SLPlOleTOT7K1AhfRuP6jU2NUYiSbBUf8sHfrTIOk4T_PDSqYx3faCyJME2tl7LLZ1JEdn3s5v6nQw/s320/IMG_7440.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348278435742680098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you remember me telling you about </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://celebratetheseasons.blogspot.com/2009/03/signs-of-spring.html">a garden project</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> that we had? We bought a wrought iron garden table stand and a cut iron table top which Jos steel brushed and painted in black. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKtHHE6KNmeBGO0dybMdV9EREsMNbwSF4ZzrlE6yVON7Fullx0tpEX1uJxEHAGKlTckUnXVdOjvlN7BEuzgCtGxAnAVrTpDyBZosFDs6k5tLBOFRjnF8uuxg1GC_QV6t18O9PiA/s1600-h/IMG_7439.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKtHHE6KNmeBGO0dybMdV9EREsMNbwSF4ZzrlE6yVON7Fullx0tpEX1uJxEHAGKlTckUnXVdOjvlN7BEuzgCtGxAnAVrTpDyBZosFDs6k5tLBOFRjnF8uuxg1GC_QV6t18O9PiA/s320/IMG_7439.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348278249437119874" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">The table came up a dream by the time Jos was done with it! It is very heavy and so decorative. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXIBigS4Dvt9gf8zEKf767h5ku7Nr6XMrkNYwsDEE53ZLTfJe65TkSxR9pBcOaKDtJoFmjrxdOwMs4oEG3GwIogBxWVXfPzN6NzpdZhL47SnpiKnItTJjLghHggsyIy8YnSlD5Q/s1600-h/IMG_7443modified.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXIBigS4Dvt9gf8zEKf767h5ku7Nr6XMrkNYwsDEE53ZLTfJe65TkSxR9pBcOaKDtJoFmjrxdOwMs4oEG3GwIogBxWVXfPzN6NzpdZhL47SnpiKnItTJjLghHggsyIy8YnSlD5Q/s320/IMG_7443modified.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348278047034678130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">I love dahlias and found these pretty pink ones in the garden center. They have a beautiful yellow tint in the center of the open flower petals. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__8lEP36QHjxyKYiCEdvvhNg53YlaoG1phHL8KGG1khVXeggb_EZA1k4i6rA0dqpzZ5_BB72kYrgHkDsAJyoR6wg9lvuPAgbZFv-bL8BeAlgaWq51OD1TifNlTlHdoKMgDyoKXg/s1600-h/IMG_7438.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__8lEP36QHjxyKYiCEdvvhNg53YlaoG1phHL8KGG1khVXeggb_EZA1k4i6rA0dqpzZ5_BB72kYrgHkDsAJyoR6wg9lvuPAgbZFv-bL8BeAlgaWq51OD1TifNlTlHdoKMgDyoKXg/s320/IMG_7438.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348277890190035666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">This flower combined with the decoration on the table is a wonderful accent to welcome people to our front door. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoS9F7xe2ccSoBuU4ZKidVPhLLO7PTrWpgxLCY6rcv1OVFQLWZezN2wT_KssCdK05hyNHKjUnkJlCQjNuKiTF6OPxT3ZiwBxGwHdwQzR7Y9IJwUGJ0nefTff-UlkqZ7lPoWqN11w/s1600-h/IMG_7441.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoS9F7xe2ccSoBuU4ZKidVPhLLO7PTrWpgxLCY6rcv1OVFQLWZezN2wT_KssCdK05hyNHKjUnkJlCQjNuKiTF6OPxT3ZiwBxGwHdwQzR7Y9IJwUGJ0nefTff-UlkqZ7lPoWqN11w/s320/IMG_7441.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348277681909105282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Update on our disaster ~ Good news and bad news...it looks like our wood floors will be okay and our floor in the cupboard is dry but our walls are still drenched and really smell. We have major damage to a wall which was just pastered so that will have to be totally redone. Thanks so much for all your kind words and support about the flooding. I do try to use my sense of humor to battle grey clouds in life and enjoyed that so many understood my choice in the Soggy Bottom Boys to sing to you while you read about my woes. *grins*</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">This will be my last blog entry on this blog. My account is full and I already started a new needlework blog. Once I have decided on a title, I will be starting my new home and garden blog also. I want to thank everyone who has read this blog and especially for the comments left. I have really enjoyed it! I promise to give you the link very soon right here so stay tuned. </span><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/3AA9E38C2CD83608D71687E617F6D99B.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306674979528881706noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37631948.post-50058502323566856602009-06-12T07:06:00.000-07:002009-06-12T08:34:11.630-07:00Disaster!<span style="font-weight:bold;">This is me today! I don't have my energy built up at all yet but today was a real test of my endurance. <br /><br />Yesterday our handyman showed up to install our over, hob and faucet. This morning, I got up and went downstairs only to walk into a puddle of water. I then realized there was a sound of water running. Here a pipe had burst and there was water everywhere. We called the man and he came right over. He found the problem and fixed it. He had a sweeper to sweep the water away. But then I realized that our cupboard under the stairs which is beside the kitchen was also flooded. He was long gone so I had to try and clean that up on my own. What a mess! </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKOaeez1CZUOpBrSu-AXfCmZrM5wHzmtQpCUD4RFvrtTq3oVaLBx3YGG1guiKS2wy8NuVs6_buoCuWUGe58k8aK74cH3pIm1lwVsgW9uvnTDxQT95GAuBuMJpN6XiJrM_HPfagnw/s1600-h/wife+cleaning.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 231px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKOaeez1CZUOpBrSu-AXfCmZrM5wHzmtQpCUD4RFvrtTq3oVaLBx3YGG1guiKS2wy8NuVs6_buoCuWUGe58k8aK74cH3pIm1lwVsgW9uvnTDxQT95GAuBuMJpN6XiJrM_HPfagnw/s320/wife+cleaning.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346463725925347522" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">So I have my new oven but no energy to use it at the moment. </span><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/65/09821E3228AD74C42FB3D2530EC1EFC8.png" style="border: none; background: transparent;"/></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306674979528881706noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37631948.post-74911141232529648742009-06-08T11:22:00.001-07:002009-06-08T11:50:13.780-07:00It arrived!<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Look what arrived in the middle of my living room today! We finally have our oven and hob. What a terrible time we had with this. First, the one we ordered was delayed a week. Then we were called to say it would be six weeks followed by a call that it would now be the end of July. They also told us there was no guarantee that it would arrive then either. We just gave up.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZq8y9v7wlgkhoB1-wpAU_rj6VtT22VafDBsJKEhTRnJZ_9gzNl3Uf70DCLrUP5u5j5jEDSKWkjjmmw48_WqWHgBbW7LCLzGC0ISYNoD58t9KIkn8uNBJlwkAa2Um0dUrq614cSQ/s1600-h/IMG_7407.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZq8y9v7wlgkhoB1-wpAU_rj6VtT22VafDBsJKEhTRnJZ_9gzNl3Uf70DCLrUP5u5j5jEDSKWkjjmmw48_WqWHgBbW7LCLzGC0ISYNoD58t9KIkn8uNBJlwkAa2Um0dUrq614cSQ/s320/IMG_7407.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345024700205754530" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The problem is that I want a nostalgic look oven in black and they are no longer in fashion. Things not in fashion in Holland are just impossible to find. A couple of companies are still making them but they are few and far between. I found this one which has a great oven and not so great fob. I want iron not metal for the fob but this had to be my comprise as the next choice would have been very much more money and I would have probably had to buy new pans as they would not have held up. That hob had an extra strong burner. So I made the comprise and the oven is sitting in my living room waiting our handyman's attention. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">He also has to replace our brand new faucet which is not working. It is faulty and we arranged for a new one (different model as this one is no longer being produced...go figure) and to be able to return the other one as soon as the handyman can switch them. They wanted us to bring it in when we picked up the new faucet but we told them we would have no water and have to pay our handyman for an extra visit. This kind of thing is fine when you can do this work yourself but not when you are paying someone. I will be so glad to see the last part of the kitchen come together. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">To top that off, my electric water cooker died this past week. I always said when it did I would not replace it with another. I want to go back to the old fashioned whistling tea kettle. I bought one for Cranberry Cottage and realized how much I miss waiting for my water to boil and hear that whistle blow. A simple pleasure in life. I have picked one out I would like but we have to get downtown which is not easy for me right now. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YFI1lsArlAWiBLhUShQzmo4KYF6nVEQJCj0Q7BYHq_hH0RY_4qn1nmFpII5ar_VxOwEN1Xr-kZ9wbbAKT2iCWwSEp1tiHvA6Q_8MeRR5Pyn4C9ye3-UuMolk7mpC89haRP9e_A/s1600-h/IMG_7408.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YFI1lsArlAWiBLhUShQzmo4KYF6nVEQJCj0Q7BYHq_hH0RY_4qn1nmFpII5ar_VxOwEN1Xr-kZ9wbbAKT2iCWwSEp1tiHvA6Q_8MeRR5Pyn4C9ye3-UuMolk7mpC89haRP9e_A/s320/IMG_7408.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345024548399795042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Did you know it is cherry season? Cherries are available now again in the shops here in Holland. Hard to believe that it was not that long again that I was posting about <a href="http://celebratetheseasons.blogspot.com/2009/04/apple-blossom-time-part-two.html">driving to see the cherry blossoms</a>. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjC3KPIVdEWFpMX2NPak1dFQR0ZusbgrMvYVCgGl4XShqxmZTxM0DePCTGwKG8fqzQvQ2_zGOqnM7mDTZS6DYbyBuOI0NxYVkELRBbgZmZS4mmlHlwmYmlG1O_t0JgIVTp5wrWA/s1600-h/IMG_7409.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjC3KPIVdEWFpMX2NPak1dFQR0ZusbgrMvYVCgGl4XShqxmZTxM0DePCTGwKG8fqzQvQ2_zGOqnM7mDTZS6DYbyBuOI0NxYVkELRBbgZmZS4mmlHlwmYmlG1O_t0JgIVTp5wrWA/s320/IMG_7409.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345024363686602322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jos loves warm cherry sauce on ice cream. He saw they had cherries in a jar on sale at the supermarket and brought home a jar which he left sitting on the counter for me to find. I place them in a saucepan with the liquid in the jar and simply add some cornstarch to bind them into a thicker sauce. It is a great treat on a summer's eve.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBw0-a8htcHXorQglACaol-9oS4S33AP6_gSGKW84o2bj_dMq3TAyc1z0Xe-gU4sPCihYfhqwgCIKN3NLFMHBqhHp9U37i64PLuPnsGqvyaVtNY3dH2JPGxiKETqwopcozCnjn2A/s1600-h/IMG_7410.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBw0-a8htcHXorQglACaol-9oS4S33AP6_gSGKW84o2bj_dMq3TAyc1z0Xe-gU4sPCihYfhqwgCIKN3NLFMHBqhHp9U37i64PLuPnsGqvyaVtNY3dH2JPGxiKETqwopcozCnjn2A/s320/IMG_7410.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345024212401040482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">A further note about my health ~ I had my check up at the hospital on Friday. I was told with two to four new higher dosages, I should be in balance again and start feeling better. If it ends up only two dosages are needed, that will be feeling better by autumn. The doctor told me to remain patient. I am not a person to only lie around on the couch and it is hard. I did get a little disheartening news in that my second biopsy is needed and has now been scheduled for August. I am scared this time as my thyroid is becoming hard as a result of the treatment. My doctor gave me something to take starting the day before the biopsy to help me relax. I will be very glad when this is over. </span><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54485/313/4E8A20A4101D845EC47913539B9EF61B.png" style="border: medium none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306674979528881706noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37631948.post-30949246857012251312009-06-05T09:20:00.001-07:002009-06-05T09:32:50.906-07:00My Edith Holden rose<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Ever since I discovered The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady in a bookshop when I was a girl, I have loved and admired Edith Holden. Her handwritten diary is a joy to read over and over each year. Her life was also one I admire. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheU1U1WOIBtHB10KQ1S1SQEd3_niivpZXNOOrilsjW1ZOMoyX_rnEZRALObz_zonVCMwniftX1B8xi747ccuhE5xJhtMSaGlCfwKeCvWAqdMNjHwZ0GarqqM59f3-eJLOucAX35w/s1600-h/edithholdenathereasel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 204px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheU1U1WOIBtHB10KQ1S1SQEd3_niivpZXNOOrilsjW1ZOMoyX_rnEZRALObz_zonVCMwniftX1B8xi747ccuhE5xJhtMSaGlCfwKeCvWAqdMNjHwZ0GarqqM59f3-eJLOucAX35w/s320/edithholdenathereasel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343879554302062786" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">So when I found out quite by chance online that there was a rose named after her, I went on a search to find some for my garden. In the end, I found one nursery with them in Holland. I asked a friend who is from the area the nursery was if she had ever heard of the place. Not only did she know but her mother lived right next to it. She offered to have her mother go buy the rose bush for me and she would bring it back with her the next time she visited her mother. The bush is happily blooming again this summer. I just love it as I find it unique. So many ask me what rose is it as it is such an unusual color with a hint of brown in it. Up to this year, I kept it growing in a terracotta pot. I decided to plant it in the ground just under one of our maple trees this year. Edith is very happy there and blooming beautifully once again.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxZxTNDo6VG8IZAa7Kx0471dtFdLBe-j5aZFVjU70zajzm2PAesseylahZRc21Ni11tOGyG_aN_IjCJ3zQXcy9KU5Dq-jWQHfSPNMtStpJRwfRMeCGmHR4TQmZhCEogRakbNhWw/s1600-h/IMG_7290.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxZxTNDo6VG8IZAa7Kx0471dtFdLBe-j5aZFVjU70zajzm2PAesseylahZRc21Ni11tOGyG_aN_IjCJ3zQXcy9KU5Dq-jWQHfSPNMtStpJRwfRMeCGmHR4TQmZhCEogRakbNhWw/s320/IMG_7290.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343879405730021794" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/3AA9E38C2CD83608D71687E617F6D99B.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306674979528881706noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37631948.post-74972383479351551392009-05-29T02:36:00.000-07:002009-05-29T02:59:32.207-07:00For the love of books...<span style="font-weight: bold;">At the beginning of the year, I had set a few goals for myself. I wanted to get some of my quilting and stitching projects finished and started reading more of my books that had sat neglected on the shelf. You never know what time will bring to you and with not feeling well, I am able to concentrate more on two of those goals than I had ever anticipated. I stitch a good deal as that is easy for me to do while I rest on the couch and I am reading. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOuhu7pTmpyjY936AHnq4r0jc5bwcljrJeiRRNqcgRPGXSRZYjsTvScoy5HTJhlviNgXZkbVGKD3h_o71LhXIBt_mCoZO3zEeN5CNaA4i4zApZzh8HcOFI7_nk8GbTdnDE_-CJA/s1600-h/IMG_7386modified.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOuhu7pTmpyjY936AHnq4r0jc5bwcljrJeiRRNqcgRPGXSRZYjsTvScoy5HTJhlviNgXZkbVGKD3h_o71LhXIBt_mCoZO3zEeN5CNaA4i4zApZzh8HcOFI7_nk8GbTdnDE_-CJA/s320/IMG_7386modified.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341178334959887746" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">My goal was to try and read about two books a month this year as I have many books that I had not gotten to in the past couple of years. My mother and I are always sharing cozy mysteries with each other and I let them stack up lately. My mother reads at an incredible speed which I do not. Some of them are rather older ones in a series. I pulled them from my bookshelves and have been working my way through them. You may get the impression that these are the only books I read but it is simply that I have so many needing to be read right now that I have decided to concentrate on these mysteries. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivG1UJegN4Tg7jlzERXwbZSgLA9jSK9JmUIRZMmJdXnUvnzlz4kCNtmfT3_PNbUkZ5qX72bfMVgGXtFtlKGQJ9YgptivKWevM8b1bVOU1h3EwsSowEO0V_5PqXSNjO7zXtYCgwnA/s1600-h/IMG_7389.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivG1UJegN4Tg7jlzERXwbZSgLA9jSK9JmUIRZMmJdXnUvnzlz4kCNtmfT3_PNbUkZ5qX72bfMVgGXtFtlKGQJ9YgptivKWevM8b1bVOU1h3EwsSowEO0V_5PqXSNjO7zXtYCgwnA/s320/IMG_7389.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341178158376961522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">After having read three of them this month, I decided I need a break from mysteries and am rereading The Secret Garden as well as an Amish themed novel by Beverly Lewis. I want a change for next month's books. I am sure once I am feeling better, I will be up doing things and my pace of reading will slow down considerably. But for now, I rest with a cup of tea and a good book and it is not so bad at all. It is nice to see some open space again in my bookshelves for a change. It will bring me closer to my goal of adding more vintage books to my shelves if I can make more space as I pass on books to friends. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7H66QF2bXZgRy7UnJobKzA19SSICuKdCCHdJAM9My-qzFcfx8xyU-BQqMSrHaMlcqhq4dffha8MdfAEMpbYtZKyWUUlnRRdCtLeGTlreKC08Ehm-ofQsGBRJV6-21ScFWXK4xXA/s1600-h/IMG_7388.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7H66QF2bXZgRy7UnJobKzA19SSICuKdCCHdJAM9My-qzFcfx8xyU-BQqMSrHaMlcqhq4dffha8MdfAEMpbYtZKyWUUlnRRdCtLeGTlreKC08Ehm-ofQsGBRJV6-21ScFWXK4xXA/s320/IMG_7388.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341177882844260466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">What kind of books are on your bookshelves? Are you like me and have many on your 'to be read' shelf? Do you have a favorite classic book that you like to reread?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;" >"My test of a good novel is dreading to begin the last chapter. "<br /><br />~Thomas Helm</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Note to Andylynne: If you read this, can you email me once again. I cannot find your email and would love to email you back!</span></span><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/1AF19FA5C923B087495EBBF8B2232559.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306674979528881706noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37631948.post-4716302949700090932009-05-27T02:34:00.000-07:002009-05-27T04:41:25.421-07:00The Secret Garden<span style="font-weight: bold;">Welcome once again to our "secret garden". Our garden is at the front of our home as the house is built right in the water. We wanted to created a place that still felt secluded and mysterious even though it is on the road itself. Perhaps I have been influenced by a favorite children's book "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett.<br /><br />I find as the years go by, I am still fine tuning how I want the garden to feel and look (with the emphasis on the feeling in the garden). Many comment about this feeling when they visit our garden but I have not been able to put that into my photographs. I wish I could! Here are a few of the changes I was talking about in my last entry. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6E5Gq3ShU4l-ErDckb4tMc_rRMH8SAHkAru4eGzpIBxnL8nM-QMVwGE7BDktV0-ZX0_8BVBayxXW3hEFlUmTOCWQ2ZEuXnvzUHgzndgaepelk9I7KOjfV1ErB5xq8JOp-yraJlw/s1600-h/IMG_7377.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6E5Gq3ShU4l-ErDckb4tMc_rRMH8SAHkAru4eGzpIBxnL8nM-QMVwGE7BDktV0-ZX0_8BVBayxXW3hEFlUmTOCWQ2ZEuXnvzUHgzndgaepelk9I7KOjfV1ErB5xq8JOp-yraJlw/s320/IMG_7377.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340437560435898098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">As you may remember, we added the iron gate last year. My wisteria has bloomed and now the green leaves are taking over. As they grow and combine with our red birch hedgerow, they add to the idea that you cannot see the entry gate right away from the street. But like little Mary Lennox, if you can find the door amongst the growth, you can enter the secret garden and it will come to life...</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDdPNA6lrgpqMQ2h_7ayUz1Jb-_6sV64YZqupKTq1j4yKiVAv9AteE5gT4K3JTiRX6OhjqF8ksTQE6WZgmfZ3Fwn9fWka7L6TKqYLxFLNLu_gA-AP14zufohGU_nS4NN8-JalTQ/s1600-h/IMG_7365trimmed.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDdPNA6lrgpqMQ2h_7ayUz1Jb-_6sV64YZqupKTq1j4yKiVAv9AteE5gT4K3JTiRX6OhjqF8ksTQE6WZgmfZ3Fwn9fWka7L6TKqYLxFLNLu_gA-AP14zufohGU_nS4NN8-JalTQ/s320/IMG_7365trimmed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340437142947820114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">This year, we added a large urn which I have filled with pretty purple petunias. I love old fashioned flowers.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDqjgdiiQhR5YUOpOnv2qJ25dcdCRqeJK7DR-HMn8oq14QVbh7g-bGI8L7l_dZbLRHy38EGPC_Lj4C98GP13YPksdOAaNERAEjVFQxjxswr6hVFhNymgCYyY33ccJiCkCZ92u1w/s1600-h/IMG_7369.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDqjgdiiQhR5YUOpOnv2qJ25dcdCRqeJK7DR-HMn8oq14QVbh7g-bGI8L7l_dZbLRHy38EGPC_Lj4C98GP13YPksdOAaNERAEjVFQxjxswr6hVFhNymgCYyY33ccJiCkCZ92u1w/s320/IMG_7369.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340436676783691554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">We also hung a mirror on one of the walls to add more depth to our tiny city garden. I fell in love with this mirror which is shaped like a church window.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoFUJ1TPDF2LU2JaKIYsGvHa_bG8B9L5nouvJyw-JS8z9Z9wgfXBykVHQR9Dq79hhSjOzGeiMukQpYUfCl07Lr-NR-MXChgFH6Ncp6OuNTMjsDiriDRc-1EftXFY5F32Jqm0R-w/s1600-h/IMG_7371.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoFUJ1TPDF2LU2JaKIYsGvHa_bG8B9L5nouvJyw-JS8z9Z9wgfXBykVHQR9Dq79hhSjOzGeiMukQpYUfCl07Lr-NR-MXChgFH6Ncp6OuNTMjsDiriDRc-1EftXFY5F32Jqm0R-w/s320/IMG_7371.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340436108923382962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">I love the reflection of the flower filled urn in the mirror but it also gives the illusion that there is yet another garden room behind the wall. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjn5UTB6GYM8LaTyer-VXhPJJNo12yxjVVGNnrcCZm8YW3J5V6T5VaU1wmiXEvHBqeVJOkIzI0jyZxezeMRKcqnr3gNaLHuGpeFYt_YHGZxzGQDSTk-op8VKHhuOfu2bqSo-pNg/s1600-h/IMG_7368.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjn5UTB6GYM8LaTyer-VXhPJJNo12yxjVVGNnrcCZm8YW3J5V6T5VaU1wmiXEvHBqeVJOkIzI0jyZxezeMRKcqnr3gNaLHuGpeFYt_YHGZxzGQDSTk-op8VKHhuOfu2bqSo-pNg/s320/IMG_7368.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340435909323910098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">One thing I find important is to look for accessories in your garden that really touch you. Little things like the lantern, child's wooden shoes and abstract bird statue I have placed on the wooden bench are just as important as the flowers in the garden.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWrSy8qIHXXgMWkJ7q7nGwPI1SwgudDGSJhlFwezwVvjMVWlBXI9y2ZZIDDY-_ZEsZnnqqfvZ4BBBSX5ZiXfR7SdTuTf2UQYdjdnh9u3wocTxUWzuhWOjgqqp0HYYFvxWUBEMUg/s1600-h/IMG_7366trimmed.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWrSy8qIHXXgMWkJ7q7nGwPI1SwgudDGSJhlFwezwVvjMVWlBXI9y2ZZIDDY-_ZEsZnnqqfvZ4BBBSX5ZiXfR7SdTuTf2UQYdjdnh9u3wocTxUWzuhWOjgqqp0HYYFvxWUBEMUg/s320/IMG_7366trimmed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340435679141442434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">If you have never read the children's book "The Secret Garden", why not treat yourself this summer. The story is about Mary Lennox who comes to live with her uncle at Misselthwaite Manor on the Yorkshire Moors after the death of her parents. The characters come to life on the pages of this joyous book and a perfect summer read. Do it for the child that lives in you! Here is an excerpt from Chapter 8:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">"She looked at the key quite a long time. She turned it over and over, and thought about it. As I have said before, she was not a child who had been trained to ask permission or consult her elders about things. All she thought about the key was that if it was the key to the closed garden, and she could find out where the door was, she could perhaps open it and see what was inside the walls, and what had happened to the old rose-trees. It was because it had been shut up so long that she wanted to see it. It seemed as if it must be different from other places and that something strange must have happened to it during ten years. Besides that, if she liked it she could go into it every day and shut the door behind her, and she could make up some play of her own and play it quite alone, because nobody would ever know where she was, but would think the door was still locked and the key buried in the earth. The though of that pleased her very much." </span><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/3AA9E38C2CD83608D71687E617F6D99B.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306674979528881706noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37631948.post-32920900329970239132009-05-20T08:16:00.001-07:002009-05-20T08:48:35.335-07:00Changes<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Spring is the season of change, of growth. In spite of all that I am facing with not being able to do much, we have been working on the garden to make a few changes. Here are a few of them done so far.....</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlQcBtcnYWYoDLglD_3IWeDpqF2ZjMAty_mQ1BodisUOaXkACMj9dhMR32vRTZTymFFH3BTDCghL32hNHStwH4EO2BPoCgDQ0TVKS7YoGXOReYjPqqkUk7zz1WAfOFKJuI0q5QA/s1600-h/IMG_7380modified.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlQcBtcnYWYoDLglD_3IWeDpqF2ZjMAty_mQ1BodisUOaXkACMj9dhMR32vRTZTymFFH3BTDCghL32hNHStwH4EO2BPoCgDQ0TVKS7YoGXOReYjPqqkUk7zz1WAfOFKJuI0q5QA/s320/IMG_7380modified.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337927891135452978" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">A number of things have been repositioned like our sundial. I will reveal in the next post why we tucked it away in this spot now as we added some pretty new things to the garden. It no longer tells us the time where it is placed but we still love seeing it when we come into the garden. It was the first major thing we purchased for our garden after we got married and moved to Sweden over 22 years ago. We brought it back from there and have enjoyed it since. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPoEjcK6quHT3D-zFXWfSFL9bnzkuIVu76_BRP_2Wu72Exsknq7HM_IpEZzzpWtyppo5ub4XYyo8gCsUEjd3RU2k49vrznnCkOfkRAJAAkOnjG2mmrT1YfAPg8Oyc8YbXIZGgVFw/s1600-h/IMG_7363.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPoEjcK6quHT3D-zFXWfSFL9bnzkuIVu76_BRP_2Wu72Exsknq7HM_IpEZzzpWtyppo5ub4XYyo8gCsUEjd3RU2k49vrznnCkOfkRAJAAkOnjG2mmrT1YfAPg8Oyc8YbXIZGgVFw/s320/IMG_7363.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337927587679871010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">This year, I moved all the planting between the poles of our pergola in the middle of the garden and replanted some here in the garden while others moved to Cranberry Cottage. I wanted to have rows of Annabella's which is a type of hydrangea to line the little path to the second terrace. They are growing well and starting to show a few buds. I am excited to see how well they will do in their first year in the garden. At the moment, our spring bulbs, wisteria and azaleas are all finished blooming so the garden is looking very green. The clematis is growing in leaps and bounds up the middle pergola with a promise of a roof like cover of many tiny blooms to come. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw53hC9F2ptqumvPhRUFCCIlGBxTlHejV9djXOqQoni9tUfa7eFhE8SXuySZMUrElfnflxoB-uon5rBPt3yiXrR1H6Ak9Jzk61WEbrJaNVM6-o6b_-De1Dw7nRCv87MaeB58grwg/s1600-h/IMG_7379.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw53hC9F2ptqumvPhRUFCCIlGBxTlHejV9djXOqQoni9tUfa7eFhE8SXuySZMUrElfnflxoB-uon5rBPt3yiXrR1H6Ak9Jzk61WEbrJaNVM6-o6b_-De1Dw7nRCv87MaeB58grwg/s320/IMG_7379.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337927209802486002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">I have not planted as many vegetables and herbs this year. We have sage, basil and parsley all growing well... </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hN-aJsX87QClNPftfAsRsAvJqf6Kidp9XmQnoZL5tHCuUe83loZrwvLpA0Wfy4BY6wyBBvymF9HHuSxV3-Gs8eufTKNzQ29jlmQF25xAg4X2SjSfXEDLa9w52sSQYhax0d2FpQ/s1600-h/IMG_7378.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hN-aJsX87QClNPftfAsRsAvJqf6Kidp9XmQnoZL5tHCuUe83loZrwvLpA0Wfy4BY6wyBBvymF9HHuSxV3-Gs8eufTKNzQ29jlmQF25xAg4X2SjSfXEDLa9w52sSQYhax0d2FpQ/s320/IMG_7378.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337926695347643602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">...as well as two types of specialty leaf lettuces. We love eating salads in the summer and I find it fun as well as frugal to have these more expensive types of lettuce to pick leaves as I want them. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwC5Yd2xZz_Ec-EEnzi9pls9JW7aFpk_XCJqliWqkMQ2x66fiZHwyQJH_2BxlRU4prWlU4fiM0-1LkC9MsiL1aFHxgEuyt9vldAbIQBTrce2Q74lAVJbpiXa8OLi7Cgv6NLZIftA/s1600-h/IMG_7362modified.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwC5Yd2xZz_Ec-EEnzi9pls9JW7aFpk_XCJqliWqkMQ2x66fiZHwyQJH_2BxlRU4prWlU4fiM0-1LkC9MsiL1aFHxgEuyt9vldAbIQBTrce2Q74lAVJbpiXa8OLi7Cgv6NLZIftA/s320/IMG_7362modified.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337926214194078930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Our garden dame was disappearing among the growth so this year, we raised her up on a wooden pedestal which is already hidden among the planting. This is a statue that Jos just loved and bought many years ago. She has adorned 3 of our gardens and still looks lovely. Enjoy the words of this verse which to me paint a picture of the feeling of the season in our garden. </span><br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0);"><b><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" >"The young May moon is beaming, love.<br />The glow-worm's lamp is gleaming, love.<br />How sweet to rove,<br />Through Morna's grove,<br />When the drowsy world is dreaming, love!<br />Then awake! -- the heavens look bright, my dear,<br />'Tis never too late for delight, my dear,<br />And the best of all ways<br />To lengthen our days<br />Is to steal a few hours from the night, my dear!"</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">~ </span><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >Thomas Moore ~ <i><br /></i></span></span></p><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/1AF19FA5C923B087495EBBF8B2232559.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306674979528881706noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37631948.post-39280363529444900852009-05-13T05:18:00.000-07:002009-05-13T05:48:18.310-07:00Forget Me Not<span style="font-weight: bold;">Forget Me Nots are the sweetest little flowers. Suddenly each spring, they are somewhere totally new in your garden. Like foxgloves, perhaps not a plant for the fainthearted as they will go wonder through your garden as they wish. I love that about both foxgloves and forget me nots. It is as if the flower fairies have played with them in the night and then coaxed them out to surprise in the morning sunshine. A little elfin hide and seek. This year once again, they are looking very beautiful at Cranberry Cottage. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSHZxN09r2q_HmroLmp-om4zftLjWsmbb07E-H-tis4IjUezYidg_j-KJIFQzbKJWDtzEVwyCT6MIh6nq0MIlA86tzPZGF_JivsGudHGGLZY3JO5Gm2uamD9vk6uia3-NbVCZUA/s1600-h/IMG_7220.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSHZxN09r2q_HmroLmp-om4zftLjWsmbb07E-H-tis4IjUezYidg_j-KJIFQzbKJWDtzEVwyCT6MIh6nq0MIlA86tzPZGF_JivsGudHGGLZY3JO5Gm2uamD9vk6uia3-NbVCZUA/s320/IMG_7220.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335282623362968210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am sorry that it has been a large timespan between posts. I choose to share my forget me nots as I have not forgotten my dear blogging friends but had some complications as a result of the radioactive therapy done in March. The therapy was to try and shrink the enlarge thyroid which is otherwise health and functioning. Or it was until a couple of weeks ago. At Easter, I had fallen on the stairs and at the time thought it felt like I had no legs for a moment and just went down. I assumed it was my fibromyalgia. Only after seeing my doctor for my check up the same week, did she tell me that we had to watch out for certain symptoms including extreme muscle weakness and pain. Only later did it click that this probably caused my fall. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">At the time, I told her I would never notice the symptoms she mentioned as many mirror the fibromyalgia. I was so very wrong about this. I became actually sick and had to call the hospital. She asked if I had a way to get to the hospital right then and there. Luckily, Jos was working from home that day and he ran me over. They did up my blood work and she called me the next day to say she was faxing our local pharmacy to get me started on medication immediately. She said I have had an extreme reaction to the therapy and my thyroid has stopped. It will improve after I have been on the medicine for a while. She told me I will see an improvement before I go back in for my check up. I did have to run to the emergancy doctor's post this past weekend and was put on antibiotics for a severe sinus infection which was making the breathing from the enlarged thyroid worse. That has really improved how I feel also.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Right now, I spend my days on the couch feeling very cold so I am wrapped up in a quilt I just finished which you can <a href="http://needlenecessities.blogspot.com/2009/04/old-tales-made-new.html">read about here</a> on my other blog. I am not well but okay. I am so glad this problem is fixable with time so I keep myself occupied with DVDs and my stitching. I already finished a little sampler dedicated to my grandmother which you can <a href="http://needlenecessities.blogspot.com/2009/05/teatime-tuesdays-and-finish.html">see here</a>. I am enjoying watching my double DVD of the life of the Bronte sisters wishing I was well enough for us to go to Haworth once again. Since I do nap a great deal, I can just doze off and dream of going there. *grins*</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">All things considered, I am doing fine and just need to find patience to hold me through the coming weeks as I wait for my body to respond and it will. Thank you for your comments and emails. I am trying to visit a couple of blogs each day now that I do feel a little better. I miss it when I don't stop in to visit with you. </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-JKjO4KnXFKoD8sL1rwj0_ST8RStwDZ_r10QOa4sLmQWY9E1vzAp1Xfh64ur1-A3RIML77lYWBxhJYohuReBwogjhHq7CKq_SYudtFCanX2arTmcoWJJS3qdZBbItLnsv7Sw1Q/s1600-h/IMG_7219.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-JKjO4KnXFKoD8sL1rwj0_ST8RStwDZ_r10QOa4sLmQWY9E1vzAp1Xfh64ur1-A3RIML77lYWBxhJYohuReBwogjhHq7CKq_SYudtFCanX2arTmcoWJJS3qdZBbItLnsv7Sw1Q/s320/IMG_7219.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335282409002196018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">When bees hum in the linden tree</i><br /><i style="font-weight: bold;">and roses bloom in cottage plots.</i><br /><br /><i style="font-weight: bold;"> Along the brookside banks we see</i><br /><i style="font-weight: bold;">the blue wild forget-me-nots.</i><br /><br /><i style="font-weight: bold;"> ~ Patience Strong ~</i></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54485/313/4E8A20A4101D845EC47913539B9EF61B.png" style="border: medium none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a></span></span></p>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306674979528881706noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37631948.post-46676044345835581552009-04-29T11:24:00.000-07:002009-04-29T11:47:00.155-07:00Astonishing wisteria...Each year at this time, we are again astonished by the beauty surrounding our garden literally. Jos and I have always loved wisteria and never had success in growing it until we planted it in our city garden. This tiny garden hosts hundreds of heavenly scented blooms each year. Each year, we are awed once again by its pure beauty. The Dutch call wisteria 'blue rain' which is exactly as it looks right now. It started to really blossom on Sunday and is going to peak this weekend. I am happy it is timed just right with having a few Dutch needlework bloggers over to my house on Sunday for High Tea. <br /><br /><div><embed src="http://widget-42.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=3242591731723204674&site=widget-42.slide.com" style="width:400px;height:320px" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width:400px;text-align:left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=3242591731723204674&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-42.slide.com/p1/3242591731723204674/bb_t011_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=3242591731723204674&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-42.slide.com/p2/3242591731723204674/bb_t011_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=3242591731723204674&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-42.slide.com/p4/3242591731723204674/bb_t011_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a></div></div><br />We are making some subtle changes to our garden this year. Since I took these photos on Sunday, a few things have changed and I promise to share more about that later. What is happening in your garden this week?<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/1AF19FA5C923B087495EBBF8B2232559.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306674979528881706noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37631948.post-14782867318840804242009-04-27T03:16:00.001-07:002009-04-27T03:24:21.782-07:00Of wood and dandelions...<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">We had a very busy weekend up at Cranberry Cottage. Jos has long been wanting a woodshed to store our firewood. This weekend, the carpenter came and built the woodshed. It is just amazing. I joked right away that it looks so nice, I want to live in it. *grins* We have to now lay a bit of sand and either tile or gravel the bottom so we can place some pellets on it to stack our firewood on. I am just tickled pink with how nice it looks. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine it would look this nice when we discussed our ideas with the carpenter. Take a look for yourself...</span><br /><br /><div><embed src="http://widget-80.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=3242591731723017344&site=widget-80.slide.com" style="width: 400px; height: 320px;" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width: 400px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=3242591731723017344&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-80.slide.com/p1/3242591731723017344/bb_t043_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=3242591731723017344&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-80.slide.com/p2/3242591731723017344/bb_t043_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=3242591731723017344&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-80.slide.com/p4/3242591731723017344/bb_t043_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a></div></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhei9tKOGpBrvvN7EO-Hp628B4TYAmC9ZiA4V4y6OVOwwUyE3YHWfjYTFdtMxr31Dn5uvI2uLFruT011gxklQ9ln4ABSSstAcBggueshzdY7pzJPfjyWqt31JVYazgndW8qrGsMVA/s1600-h/IMG_7232.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhei9tKOGpBrvvN7EO-Hp628B4TYAmC9ZiA4V4y6OVOwwUyE3YHWfjYTFdtMxr31Dn5uvI2uLFruT011gxklQ9ln4ABSSstAcBggueshzdY7pzJPfjyWqt31JVYazgndW8qrGsMVA/s320/IMG_7232.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329313381295005890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Last week, I was talking to my friend Joni via Skype. We were talking about gardening. Now Joni believes that dandelions are a flower. I guess Mother Nature agrees with you Joni because we stopped the car so I could jump out and take these photos for you. It is a pretty field with yellow flower...yep, they are dandelions and I have to admit they are a sight of beauty like this!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhbpsfP9n713yCYhf2lgGxjhQD3sTkVjRBrL_ynUvT-PPYytBoqQYugpyofMDD7Zl0AtZ8567i1iyfgI5cnLfrGX0IWjC0C8t32Fv4WxILOJDOCHJx98Xsl9Hd0WN9JMBSNPHaw/s1600-h/IMG_7233.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhbpsfP9n713yCYhf2lgGxjhQD3sTkVjRBrL_ynUvT-PPYytBoqQYugpyofMDD7Zl0AtZ8567i1iyfgI5cnLfrGX0IWjC0C8t32Fv4WxILOJDOCHJx98Xsl9Hd0WN9JMBSNPHaw/s320/IMG_7233.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329313207353183410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">I wish you an inspiring Monday!</span></span><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/3AA9E38C2CD83608D71687E617F6D99B.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306674979528881706noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37631948.post-41964020839414165422009-04-22T07:13:00.001-07:002009-04-22T11:34:31.512-07:00Old Dutch look kitchen...<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The kitchen is practically finished and I was excited to share some photos with you. The practically finished part will be revealed in a moment. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Click on the photos to enlarge them...</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtg1j-LvTUjkKcuiYY88nCMiHGNWWja4OSsLudg3lXBM6EXxikyUdGwEX9q7C19jQ_x4q8hA3g-P6c86vkw6Ytujtkh32_kza-Qq8CFpY4WeZ6xi-Mz_lLH8iTpRDM5LABq4ZTQ/s1600-h/IMG_6054.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtg1j-LvTUjkKcuiYY88nCMiHGNWWja4OSsLudg3lXBM6EXxikyUdGwEX9q7C19jQ_x4q8hA3g-P6c86vkw6Ytujtkh32_kza-Qq8CFpY4WeZ6xi-Mz_lLH8iTpRDM5LABq4ZTQ/s320/IMG_6054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327543307746260610" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">First, I searched for some photos of my kitchen as it was. I hated it. I lived with it for almost 13 years and tried to do things to make it feel cheerful and cozy while also creating light but I just could not make it work. Our living room is a U shape and the kitchen falls in the middle of the house with no window and no natural light. I called it "The Black Hole". </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9DVE5iI8U8BikXOLyGenjhs9iU866LpKAoLyWChxQnGpbOluyiaEtZHb2LFXRNpPrZY8ffsMx2JFuuHkIGy7bcnRXTECelBzeQBhNeKiqr0DE8vY95ugybPvw-ZiCG6dWZJL3A/s1600-h/DSC00084.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9DVE5iI8U8BikXOLyGenjhs9iU866LpKAoLyWChxQnGpbOluyiaEtZHb2LFXRNpPrZY8ffsMx2JFuuHkIGy7bcnRXTECelBzeQBhNeKiqr0DE8vY95ugybPvw-ZiCG6dWZJL3A/s320/DSC00084.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327542766808266162" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">I realize I must have really hated it as I cannot find a photo of the kitchen. Only this photo taken in the kitchen of a gift I made for my niece's baby. You get a pretty good idea from this photo how dark it was in there. I have not changed the lights and the cupboards are the same but it now is a different world to me at least. Gone are the teal plain doors that shined but still looked dark... Gone is the drab and heavy drainboard of beech that always looked dirty... Gone is the floral tile border we had put in as an attempt to cheer up the space...</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8C23M7yGq1S7SSq_nHSrM5bZYBLQZ8Gw53u-2SRPT6-JXTlJfGmFceejMMILUdcciSi6Vua2Ds6i9KTi144NDBwOdRsqqzUPw3nwTUTEGjY_b_UqFLZSM52QBE1o3FtjLzz7SaA/s1600-h/IMG_7177modified.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8C23M7yGq1S7SSq_nHSrM5bZYBLQZ8Gw53u-2SRPT6-JXTlJfGmFceejMMILUdcciSi6Vua2Ds6i9KTi144NDBwOdRsqqzUPw3nwTUTEGjY_b_UqFLZSM52QBE1o3FtjLzz7SaA/s320/IMG_7177modified.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327542577078539138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">I now have a kitchen that reflects my love of old Dutch. The "bones" of the kitchen have not changed but we have a "new" kitchen for a very budget price. We had fun searching for the elements which I knew I wanted to include in the kitchen. It really feels like my own creation since we did the remodel this way and not just go into a kitchen shop to order a new kitchen. Both Jos and I have enjoyed watching it come together.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2YZP-hYvI_x3M4qOvG0NYB00mpANuCorfECzeCuH-N6W2Wl6KdC6LboHBdedt9qqx-6Wx3xXdmHoMFd1cwSuc-ihz1OXP9HzpgWV2h6JuIiNau6S-UMnO8uqq3kSsRmxzuyKzA/s1600-h/IMG_7193.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2YZP-hYvI_x3M4qOvG0NYB00mpANuCorfECzeCuH-N6W2Wl6KdC6LboHBdedt9qqx-6Wx3xXdmHoMFd1cwSuc-ihz1OXP9HzpgWV2h6JuIiNau6S-UMnO8uqq3kSsRmxzuyKzA/s320/IMG_7193.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327542269349795202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">I knew a couple of elements I wanted to use including this tap which I matches the smaller version of our tap in the downstairs half bath or WC as we call it. I love the nostalgic look of the porcelain knobs with hot and cold. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Our new tiles are called "Hollandse witjes". These tiles are still being produced from as early as the 17th century. In order to be "witjes" they must measure 13 cm by 13 cm. They are all uneven and not necessarily perfectly square. They have a highly glazed finish which is why they were well loved. The tiles reflect light very well and created a light look to a dark kitchen back in the 1600s. What worked then, certainly works now. Our handyman stayed later than he intended the first day he did the finishing last week, even though it was his birthday. He wanted to see how the tiles were going to look so we did one wall before he left. I handed him the tiles in the order I wanted them put up. There are three shades which needed randomly placed. By enlarging this photo, you can really see how the tiles are uneven. This is what gives them their charm. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHS-qpcO4CPw_lalF9-9pUDYIU_R9BGbiHRliGF6MQk79XL9JM6roHSW4EmHu49E3DTE-M8Cw_62rNCLGjWLOlTZcAU1nHAIcqm_BbDm6psDmZWWUfBKRXfC09jbK57UyyVTNZqQ/s1600-h/IMG_7187.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHS-qpcO4CPw_lalF9-9pUDYIU_R9BGbiHRliGF6MQk79XL9JM6roHSW4EmHu49E3DTE-M8Cw_62rNCLGjWLOlTZcAU1nHAIcqm_BbDm6psDmZWWUfBKRXfC09jbK57UyyVTNZqQ/s320/IMG_7187.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327542083798716834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">These wooden knobs are also still being made and can be found in very old Dutch farmhouses. One of the first things we searched for was a wood turner who still makes these. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIquewaBzKbE-IkqY2Ro9QG5I1gWgNgQkRQPWhvt8QTPf-ibKJHgrBeyAooiaJpswmf947Zr2eKbLyoAazvuayCqNfJR86GzjaCcet3qHyDi_VVmiyORlfz1TRll1CI0J0dElUGg/s1600-h/IMG_7191.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIquewaBzKbE-IkqY2Ro9QG5I1gWgNgQkRQPWhvt8QTPf-ibKJHgrBeyAooiaJpswmf947Zr2eKbLyoAazvuayCqNfJR86GzjaCcet3qHyDi_VVmiyORlfz1TRll1CI0J0dElUGg/s320/IMG_7191.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327541894103395330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">I started out wanting a white sink but Jos talked me into going with the stainless steel again for ease of cleaning. I really like the shape of this sink now that it is in.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit24BtaPlZlhMUGPUZeHng6VYfVpQzBsav4mu6IoF4qUH-ubPLKJIWUDEiaLoVimaspE7EVWOc2QSNEXH7Fzw9La1Kt37SNZL7jbCPo14-9tXasvqaR_zCEyFkZTP-sjRXgGq2pQ/s1600-h/IMG_7178.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit24BtaPlZlhMUGPUZeHng6VYfVpQzBsav4mu6IoF4qUH-ubPLKJIWUDEiaLoVimaspE7EVWOc2QSNEXH7Fzw9La1Kt37SNZL7jbCPo14-9tXasvqaR_zCEyFkZTP-sjRXgGq2pQ/s320/IMG_7178.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327541516372557074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The drainboard is also the same look as found in original old Dutch kitchens. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNRWCVHSSH4CBakKKXrKyYgzoxYZ-1QH9THRbOo7TRYCWBAbwEYCqJVuobogENdoxxurg3kNOkivaHOu5gqOHw8Ucunc7G6jAfexlWU4z_7BxqN7feHyQeq8VFlXGGefQd8u_vQ/s1600-h/IMG_7183.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNRWCVHSSH4CBakKKXrKyYgzoxYZ-1QH9THRbOo7TRYCWBAbwEYCqJVuobogENdoxxurg3kNOkivaHOu5gqOHw8Ucunc7G6jAfexlWU4z_7BxqN7feHyQeq8VFlXGGefQd8u_vQ/s320/IMG_7183.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327539885993039362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">We choose a cream color when we had our doors sprayed. I am very happy with how they turned out. Jos just painted my shelves which were also antriciet. We still have to touch up the walls after putting the shelves back and we are finished. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6d9bnDchHxpwJr441VuF8ZPHZIQp_NX6rDBbKkEd-FgmxvQuEGYaQkzC7TS72L4kMH9K4ICvORncgJHLBuoLwLpBtlLANVONJloQOeeAcWatIce1cwFUYNm5kyNuwmUEqTNGPgg/s1600-h/IMG_7184.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6d9bnDchHxpwJr441VuF8ZPHZIQp_NX6rDBbKkEd-FgmxvQuEGYaQkzC7TS72L4kMH9K4ICvORncgJHLBuoLwLpBtlLANVONJloQOeeAcWatIce1cwFUYNm5kyNuwmUEqTNGPgg/s320/IMG_7184.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327539336369120546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Here is my great gaping hole where the oven will be. I choose an antriciet nostalgic look oven and hob which they don't keep stock as they are not ordered often according to the company. I will wait patiently as I am sure it will be worth it. But having to eat takeaways for more than a month is not an option for me. Jos drilled an opening for my gas to connect to a loose hob which we were able to buy cheaply secondhand until the appliances arrive. We just made sure the hole falls within the area that our new hob will be placed. After all, necessity is the mother of invention as the saying goes...</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfY0h3LWiXSVm2tH0QgObZL75tLkjTVUQcNltzjArS6bfDeHGnMSYH3ak-SHKkC9-_Y795-2pFuamBzYO1GbppaxZQ2K3ZOYPRN0H7K_T0LTqkrjCbtdSb58GaZmpRoLQlYWqVLQ/s1600-h/IMG_7185.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfY0h3LWiXSVm2tH0QgObZL75tLkjTVUQcNltzjArS6bfDeHGnMSYH3ak-SHKkC9-_Y795-2pFuamBzYO1GbppaxZQ2K3ZOYPRN0H7K_T0LTqkrjCbtdSb58GaZmpRoLQlYWqVLQ/s320/IMG_7185.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327539095834831202" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJX_gf2Mkt6KBHdSPl2N2gOhNP-UhnaamKoRZstjQrlXe9BbUZAqsDsA1TjiCIvP1XmbJ4DZ0V9dP1RctEhDjve4Zynz_X1rI0v4xrati1i6bjgzRXOqpQLcuieZSeD-iKhdXB9A/s1600-h/IMG_7181.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJX_gf2Mkt6KBHdSPl2N2gOhNP-UhnaamKoRZstjQrlXe9BbUZAqsDsA1TjiCIvP1XmbJ4DZ0V9dP1RctEhDjve4Zynz_X1rI0v4xrati1i6bjgzRXOqpQLcuieZSeD-iKhdXB9A/s320/IMG_7181.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327519628973967330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">My wall of speculaas moulds remains as it was. I really have a weakness for these beautiful cookie forms and the cookies themselves. *grins*</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88qTJjS4d5v7UrnIiYU5L3EK0Hx65QQL7eCgxsR_lV6uxSC3ScM4fW5wui02nacqOxD-MJApYhej8xofZGCPaPKzjW-YVWmBStEf8O2SwkJGZhW0Z_bZbTCQ_bIViPsGllwclog/s1600-h/IMG_7182.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88qTJjS4d5v7UrnIiYU5L3EK0Hx65QQL7eCgxsR_lV6uxSC3ScM4fW5wui02nacqOxD-MJApYhej8xofZGCPaPKzjW-YVWmBStEf8O2SwkJGZhW0Z_bZbTCQ_bIViPsGllwclog/s320/IMG_7182.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327519430900765282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">This cupboard used to go right up to the ceiling and extended out with hallogen spots to the other side. I was so glad to see the spots gone but also liked having the cupboard above the built in fridge gone also to create a more open feeling. The side was antriciet and we had it drywalled and skimmed so I could use the same paint as the rest of the room. This does not jump out at you now when you come into the dining area of our living room.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZZefXsvx33iWNXpIv71tnSwV20TD-xWzdEl4RYwA8J3dAkaQ4huD4coEMzQucb-ML0CB4Xpb0AJY6KvAeN-5xpio-bQv3x0birv5CdI9YzYJmcRZgFsgG5MTHogE7uA9bep_yA/s1600-h/IMG_7195modified.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZZefXsvx33iWNXpIv71tnSwV20TD-xWzdEl4RYwA8J3dAkaQ4huD4coEMzQucb-ML0CB4Xpb0AJY6KvAeN-5xpio-bQv3x0birv5CdI9YzYJmcRZgFsgG5MTHogE7uA9bep_yA/s320/IMG_7195modified.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327519182274207474" border="0" /></a>Edit: My mother just asked me if the tile are yellow but they look more so than they are in real life. They are the creamy color of real butter.<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54485/313/4E8A20A4101D845EC47913539B9EF61B.png" style="border: medium none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306674979528881706noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37631948.post-68815815010458218752009-04-20T05:57:00.001-07:002009-04-20T06:13:36.473-07:00In the pink...This time of year as things start to blossom, I like to add a few pink accents to the house.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrohtbpkHyunOj0isnL6z26gRzHaqRJE3RtcNQ0HACqL6wX-VFyoITIMj-vEw-Nd8uiH-JB3styBny_LvqqNgcO0NTWpaKx6Ca_5LHGLiSDjTpF5FxVUSgoH0h7oM-0RJe5nrcA/s1600-h/IMG_7168.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrohtbpkHyunOj0isnL6z26gRzHaqRJE3RtcNQ0HACqL6wX-VFyoITIMj-vEw-Nd8uiH-JB3styBny_LvqqNgcO0NTWpaKx6Ca_5LHGLiSDjTpF5FxVUSgoH0h7oM-0RJe5nrcA/s320/IMG_7168.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326758538648359378" border="0" /></a><br />Jos came home from buying some groceries for me on Saturday morning with a bouquet of pink tulips. Aren't they pretty?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBukHplhsbv-i2EaWFnUoLKiIOAWRKMoaQiD_I3xxeIq_1WkWKtoww7gDJ77xYmz00j0DhgpkTmwglQIRl_X_Xb-jC3BP5QRc7Tlc05lDwp0T-3LVPim2EjIzP_Zeo9am1NtTDg/s1600-h/IMG_7169.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBukHplhsbv-i2EaWFnUoLKiIOAWRKMoaQiD_I3xxeIq_1WkWKtoww7gDJ77xYmz00j0DhgpkTmwglQIRl_X_Xb-jC3BP5QRc7Tlc05lDwp0T-3LVPim2EjIzP_Zeo9am1NtTDg/s320/IMG_7169.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326758379788635282" border="0" /></a>I also like using some of my vintage books that pertain to the season along with nests for decorating.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTAkltnj-91pCtdzYeyxUIbhJWDX2ZDVihHxVi4VZUX-ghS5cbQxBxwP_2KD4J-59FebeQE9XBr5lxQfnFF3frQCoC3IJOvXVNAF0sJYCnIrrkLZT9b-CbnDj2N_mG__QklthxA/s1600-h/IMG_7170.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTAkltnj-91pCtdzYeyxUIbhJWDX2ZDVihHxVi4VZUX-ghS5cbQxBxwP_2KD4J-59FebeQE9XBr5lxQfnFF3frQCoC3IJOvXVNAF0sJYCnIrrkLZT9b-CbnDj2N_mG__QklthxA/s320/IMG_7170.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326758068368517602" border="0" /></a>Two pink quilts I made that work together on my couch for some spring color.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtxFod4dIE3DGVBfa7gbF0RyyEgue3pwykw1YngNqEuAvAVfITaWXqRJBi7N36U7BKF42KIcaDGguLui0JHH3xcJc5pXS-KcIpd37le1t0mKwJ5gVIeOkcvxstSustEPePCFV2iA/s1600-h/IMG_7172.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtxFod4dIE3DGVBfa7gbF0RyyEgue3pwykw1YngNqEuAvAVfITaWXqRJBi7N36U7BKF42KIcaDGguLui0JHH3xcJc5pXS-KcIpd37le1t0mKwJ5gVIeOkcvxstSustEPePCFV2iA/s320/IMG_7172.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326757866422431970" border="0" /></a>Pink renoncules in my urns on the sidetable.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAoRXag0013RKCr_eaSNWfN_tYHYw3uxsJM36eL9DTRWUJNKCOm0Oyc0vHAk-jpS9e9o_RfxmoIiBi9EHnHlJr7KluFsi-12IthoUV8lS-uY872O2l3UjE5hEjba4rNDFpjk48Q/s1600-h/IMG_7165modified.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAoRXag0013RKCr_eaSNWfN_tYHYw3uxsJM36eL9DTRWUJNKCOm0Oyc0vHAk-jpS9e9o_RfxmoIiBi9EHnHlJr7KluFsi-12IthoUV8lS-uY872O2l3UjE5hEjba4rNDFpjk48Q/s320/IMG_7165modified.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326757683495463634" border="0" /></a>And this little man is in the pink soaking up the last rays of sunshine during a very busy time here. Our kitchen is just about done with Jos needing to rehang some shelves he painted. We also found a temporary solution to having no oven or hob until the order comes in. I hope that I can share some photos of it with you in the next day or so once our shelves are back in. We are both thrilled with how it has turned out. Dagi found it all to be a bit tiresome and even came downstairs to have a discussion with our handyman about all the 'goings on'. Perhaps all that meowing is what wore him out. *grins*<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54485/313/4E8A20A4101D845EC47913539B9EF61B.png" style="border: medium none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306674979528881706noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37631948.post-61470678262889315902009-04-16T13:01:00.000-07:002009-04-16T13:09:59.483-07:00Apple blossom time! - Part two<span style="font-weight: bold;">We now travel to the village of Ingen. This village is so picturesque that you just have to stop and take a look around. There is a beautiful ancient church, a windmill called 'Op Hoop Van Beter' (In Hope of Better) and amazing old homes. There are cherry orchards right in the middle of the village. Take a moment to walk around charming Ingen with me...</span><br /><br /><div><embed src="http://widget-15.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=3242591731722172693&site=widget-15.slide.com" style="width: 400px; height: 320px;" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width: 400px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=3242591731722172693&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-15.slide.com/p1/3242591731722172693/bb_t011_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=3242591731722172693&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-15.slide.com/p2/3242591731722172693/bb_t011_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=3242591731722172693&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-15.slide.com/p4/3242591731722172693/bb_t011_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a></div></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">My mother told me I needed to find the song Apple Blossom Time for my blog. The only version I found was so old and made her giggle. She says it is from my grandmother's time but I think a classic is always good. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Note: Our kitchen renovation is coming along nicely. We have the new worktops and faucet installed. I also helped our handyman with one wall of tiling before the day was over. I am afraid we got some bad news that the oven and hob that I picked out will not just be a week delayed but a month. Not fun as I have no oven or hob now. We put our heads together and I realized we have a stove top that is able to be brought down here from Cranberry Cottage. The handyman is going to drill a small hole where the new hob will be inserted so I can use this one until our new one comes in. It will mean improvising for a while but I don't want to change my choice in the oven and hob. More photos will come as things are a little farther along...</span><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/1AF19FA5C923B087495EBBF8B2232559.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306674979528881706noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37631948.post-41993944658177983452009-04-14T01:57:00.000-07:002009-04-14T03:20:23.359-07:00Apple blossom time! - Part one<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Easter long weekend holiday is behind us but I wanted to share our day out in The Betuwe, an area of Holland where the fruit orchards are. It is apple blossom time in Holland and with the sunny weather we had over the weekend, it was a great day out for our Easter holiday.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">We used the ferry to cross the river and stopped at the first farm that is a tea room. It is called Hofstede De Koningslinde in a village called Eck en Wiel. A link to the farm's website can be found </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.hofstededekoningslinde.nl/">here</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">. The farm is open as a Bed and Breakfast and also as a tea room. The owners are very friendly and welcoming. We enjoyed sitting in the sunshine while enjoying a piece of Yvonne's homemade apple pie. Take a moment to enjoy the slideshow for an impression...</span><br /><strong></strong><br /><div><embed src="http://widget-0d.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=3242591731721975309&site=widget-0d.slide.com" style="width: 400px; height: 320px;" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width: 400px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=3242591731721975309&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-0d.slide.com/p1/3242591731721975309/bb_t011_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=3242591731721975309&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-0d.slide.com/p2/3242591731721975309/bb_t011_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=3242591731721975309&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-0d.slide.com/p4/3242591731721975309/bb_t011_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a></div></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Next time, more on apple blossom time!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Note: Thank you for the many comments about my new header photo. The quilt is one that I did make myself. Some of the blocks were given to me from ladies in my quilt group when we held a log cabin block swap.</span><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/1AF19FA5C923B087495EBBF8B2232559.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a></span></span></p>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306674979528881706noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37631948.post-56526355311243173442009-04-12T04:23:00.000-07:002009-04-12T05:02:40.827-07:00The Easter bunny is remodeling<span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you remember back in November when I showed you the start of our kitchen remodeling project? You can read about it <a href="http://celebratetheseasons.blogspot.com/2008/11/what-busy-day.html">here</a> and <a href="http://celebratetheseasons.blogspot.com/2008/11/dutch-traditions.html">here</a>. A few have asked me since then if they missed the finish. No...we are still very busy working on it. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYz_bLtfMatKATILn4o21EJIE4wH18HOmE6VHtp8BOV0v0Fe8I4kACbvOOP53YgrpNyiApu-EeRJVI8Pe_8I8EUUdL_EUqEoFNnJQwVfLxIlm9UjOcTHH5zND3cDu7-bKo1o-ug/s1600-h/IMG_7100modified.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYz_bLtfMatKATILn4o21EJIE4wH18HOmE6VHtp8BOV0v0Fe8I4kACbvOOP53YgrpNyiApu-EeRJVI8Pe_8I8EUUdL_EUqEoFNnJQwVfLxIlm9UjOcTHH5zND3cDu7-bKo1o-ug/s320/IMG_7100modified.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323769717190143858" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When we finally decided on a worktop, we had to order and wait over 6 weeks for it to come in. Our tiles were the easy part to order as I knew I wanted "Hollandse witjes" which are reproductions of the old handmade Dutch tiles from the 16th century. We are using three shades ~ white, cream and beige. Now the beige is a darker cream to me but this will give the look you find in old Dutch kitchen. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Our handyman called to say he had time again between jobs and could come this week. This meant we needed to use this long holiday weekend to hack the old tiles off the walls. You can see the old tiles in the first photo. They are tiled over another layer of tiles so Jos had to get through both layers back to the bare walls. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAkfJ2aZ3U8Skcytz5uc2Vle3xIDceqCVUfhyphenhyphenbcNACHHcXGtqMLAA2vQyHLQCYQWBuIrO8YuFLzbPCv1ewPmWUKc8xcy12aFpz96CgXyBL_okmI2IdH1a0gaHYvyHpF6xHeCn9Q/s1600-h/IMG_7099modified.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAkfJ2aZ3U8Skcytz5uc2Vle3xIDceqCVUfhyphenhyphenbcNACHHcXGtqMLAA2vQyHLQCYQWBuIrO8YuFLzbPCv1ewPmWUKc8xcy12aFpz96CgXyBL_okmI2IdH1a0gaHYvyHpF6xHeCn9Q/s320/IMG_7099modified.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323769217093567410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">What a mess it made but after getting through inch by inch in the corners, he was able to get them off easily. They started coming off in big plates of three tiles and double layers at a time. We thought it would take him all weekend but instead he started at 2pm on Saturday and was all finished by 6pm including me cleaning the kitchen to be able to cook again. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHiaHYwUt1voO4tfJ2UYe-edEXeftVKIPwP177JYrfl1Gc3lHOYXtUeM7JbRroO8R1QK5FSTLC0VgyPdcfNy6AU_E8KfGabV4IP9fXFQ8mp25U7h37oZ153RK4HAMyfFJSpuo7iA/s1600-h/IMG_7102.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHiaHYwUt1voO4tfJ2UYe-edEXeftVKIPwP177JYrfl1Gc3lHOYXtUeM7JbRroO8R1QK5FSTLC0VgyPdcfNy6AU_E8KfGabV4IP9fXFQ8mp25U7h37oZ153RK4HAMyfFJSpuo7iA/s320/IMG_7102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323768717716616210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Of course, now our garden is a mess. We carried bucket after bucket outside. But I am so excited to see the rest of the kitchen come together now. I am saying a prayer that my new oven and stove top arrive by Thursday. Last week, my hot air oven died for the third time and we have decided it is not worth the money to repair it again. I think it was meant to work out this way as we can have the stove top placed in the new worktop now. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vwxMqgXlWOZ9RLCKNDbeGB4LLVeEQMGy83F9zEmedots76pHJ-iO_ZshCzE0z2m3Qj9AvBQ7WLHuiyulCOSAfiopAoPktjBADDg-Mn_0zM8gWxt3CqCbyQkbi-cSvT-rqW0YAg/s1600-h/IMG_7104.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vwxMqgXlWOZ9RLCKNDbeGB4LLVeEQMGy83F9zEmedots76pHJ-iO_ZshCzE0z2m3Qj9AvBQ7WLHuiyulCOSAfiopAoPktjBADDg-Mn_0zM8gWxt3CqCbyQkbi-cSvT-rqW0YAg/s320/IMG_7104.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323765612797880786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Coffee breaks did have a little Easter flavor to them. These bonbons are so adorable. I must admit that I did not like them though and Jos gets to eat the whole box. I don't think he minds that at all. *grins*</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjahxly9U-spUYb72Xgm2dh2snRIUuns4ZQW4WhWqZRScC5DA0P1ThppB1eHaOYcmxP4YHHHRR1e4W4-kUyi06jYe29p_V05myxbhBROaFv4lJM9lg47dQN_M7RFD_fG8camf8g/s1600-h/IMG_7106.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjahxly9U-spUYb72Xgm2dh2snRIUuns4ZQW4WhWqZRScC5DA0P1ThppB1eHaOYcmxP4YHHHRR1e4W4-kUyi06jYe29p_V05myxbhBROaFv4lJM9lg47dQN_M7RFD_fG8camf8g/s320/IMG_7106.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323765103447198146" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Easter morning was a quiet and relaxed time for us. We has our breakfast and spent time on our laptops. I was able to make some blog rounds to wish people a happy Easter. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiieS-gSnLVYINZogfxCCIMLJr0JB5sDE88PPvODcwnkjLvyAY1xMlPjRkFgWeuItQgNEZUkkHOUbsJtWHi0Lt6ASOMVW2RiU3Fzv3fat2iTWNSp_V42dg7s61f6TXeXK1PSwZJg/s1600-h/IMG_7111modified.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiieS-gSnLVYINZogfxCCIMLJr0JB5sDE88PPvODcwnkjLvyAY1xMlPjRkFgWeuItQgNEZUkkHOUbsJtWHi0Lt6ASOMVW2RiU3Fzv3fat2iTWNSp_V42dg7s61f6TXeXK1PSwZJg/s320/IMG_7111modified.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323764927044501554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Wishing you all a very Happy Easter!</span></span><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/1AF19FA5C923B087495EBBF8B2232559.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306674979528881706noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37631948.post-79409896971877309702009-04-10T04:49:00.000-07:002009-04-10T06:53:46.000-07:00A hidden violet...<span style="font-weight: bold;">On Good Friday, a tiny reminder of miracles and surprises of nature is found in my garden. I did not plant this sweet little violet but here it is blooming so prettily in a small corner. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Violets stand for modesty in the language of flowers. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">"This humble flower has been celebrated in poetry and romance from ancient time and is mmuch loved for its delicate powdery scent. It was widely referred to by Shakespeare, who called it "forward", for it blooms early and heralds the approach of summer. The plant is often described as modest for hiding it dark beauty away in the long grass and for flowering so fleetingly.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">There are many stories regarding the Violet's name, but it almost certainly originated in Greece where it is considered the flower of Zeus, the king of the gods. Legend has it that Zeus was in love with a beautiful maiden called Io and in order to protect her from Hera, his jealous wife, he changed her into a beautiful calf. Then in order to feed her with delicacies, he commanded the earth to bring forth a beautiful flower in her honour, which he named Ion, the Greek word for Viola." </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">~ from Penhaligon's The Language of Flowers</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQP3lKd9PCKvhkdFPFtVkyLHAn8d-bEO3LdzERc2J-t7y9A4cIwS6sfvdhOn1JAjdVpJjTwSqWmsYklPowqauZ7MWb19jxwBB_1kSeRyq5Zf7FZJD8NzcGdeJxUy7cn4V5GyDjPQ/s1600-h/IMG_7028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQP3lKd9PCKvhkdFPFtVkyLHAn8d-bEO3LdzERc2J-t7y9A4cIwS6sfvdhOn1JAjdVpJjTwSqWmsYklPowqauZ7MWb19jxwBB_1kSeRyq5Zf7FZJD8NzcGdeJxUy7cn4V5GyDjPQ/s320/IMG_7028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323028850350877522" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">“The splendor of the rose and the whitness of the lily do not rob the little violet of it’s scent nor the daisy of its simple charm. If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its lovliness.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">~ Therese of Lisieux</span><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/1AF19FA5C923B087495EBBF8B2232559.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306674979528881706noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37631948.post-45792160612616631682009-04-07T04:43:00.000-07:002009-04-07T04:58:42.109-07:00Easter eggs appearing in our home...<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Is the Easter bunny on his way? Our home has suddenly starting showing signs of him. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKeHaf3TBIZug7S_rRcF4U91ezWIzymOqVe0j7yVQPFBbn_qnrNmpC3P4u1tiKHD6aUrLHJMzcRhop-_OHfQrwn-y8valX5ndHmVAbwDWS_g78jeF6svVJcePD-Qt5koABceDew/s1600-h/IMG_7030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKeHaf3TBIZug7S_rRcF4U91ezWIzymOqVe0j7yVQPFBbn_qnrNmpC3P4u1tiKHD6aUrLHJMzcRhop-_OHfQrwn-y8valX5ndHmVAbwDWS_g78jeF6svVJcePD-Qt5koABceDew/s320/IMG_7030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321915028141319282" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">There are fabric Easter eggs in our entrance hall. I just finished making these yesterday. They were great fun and easy to do. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmsx5m4IwuZiE-2b8kEhlhzmU8CYsX1mvKGJzcfLTyU4eYSlyRyYRR07kOcWlCwKWBDLtL53EoCuY7xo8Ehrnz7D-1bNsHDA4KHCuCqFnidwClzpNnFxIOE8if6WioMNPW8gwhA/s1600-h/IMG_7041modified.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmsx5m4IwuZiE-2b8kEhlhzmU8CYsX1mvKGJzcfLTyU4eYSlyRyYRR07kOcWlCwKWBDLtL53EoCuY7xo8Ehrnz7D-1bNsHDA4KHCuCqFnidwClzpNnFxIOE8if6WioMNPW8gwhA/s320/IMG_7041modified.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321914848537429074" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Then a find in a little shop in Havelte up north called <a href="http://www.welkom-thuis.nl/">Thuis(Home)</a>. I loved these little egg ornaments and decided I needed to do an Easter tree this year. I used to do an Easter tree each year and then stopped and gave away all my ornaments. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCukkiFPVdu6OXWEWabXAaSuSJ_AE9y0aDyw47_0rCKCPrzjWLh-2NYobM7LhINo1PlIpfYuww0wfHE4HEXglYHIvAQ2K8l2sWF7q5yzd6_dJz-WCvf8kCQVYa3vNZLfxLHcnfg/s1600-h/IMG_7039modified.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCukkiFPVdu6OXWEWabXAaSuSJ_AE9y0aDyw47_0rCKCPrzjWLh-2NYobM7LhINo1PlIpfYuww0wfHE4HEXglYHIvAQ2K8l2sWF7q5yzd6_dJz-WCvf8kCQVYa3vNZLfxLHcnfg/s320/IMG_7039modified.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321914615499462594" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">But these sweet little eggs tempted me. They are metal and I just love the cutouts on them as well as the aged effect. I will be looking forward to my next visit to this shop!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrtL0_vMsYHIjyrjZ6EVU_-B35lQ1H3hclKSM7_2XluYOLA265IRznwQe_xsAxqXeIXOQ5TDybyk4YEIP3D7iEv5iZvy_EFljx-9FWHIO0CN1SWpzeJOZqpjZ_one9vOT2ie24Q/s1600-h/IMG_7036modified.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrtL0_vMsYHIjyrjZ6EVU_-B35lQ1H3hclKSM7_2XluYOLA265IRznwQe_xsAxqXeIXOQ5TDybyk4YEIP3D7iEv5iZvy_EFljx-9FWHIO0CN1SWpzeJOZqpjZ_one9vOT2ie24Q/s320/IMG_7036modified.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321914505152360370" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/1AF19FA5C923B087495EBBF8B2232559.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306674979528881706noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37631948.post-73752616609779155702009-04-01T02:12:00.001-07:002009-04-01T02:27:13.008-07:00Flower fairies awaken<span style="font-weight: bold;">Ah! April is here and the earth is warming up and coming to life again. The Flower Fairies are also dancing about as things start to come into bloom. Just another month and this Columbine Fairy will be dancing happily amongst the sweet little 'granny bonnets' of the Columbine at Cranberry Cottage.<br /><br />We are discovering by trial and error what grows well at the cottage and what better in the city garden. Our rhododendrons looked very poorly here in the city garden and we took the two baby bushes to the cottage garden where they seem to thrive. We planted some French lavender last summer and I noticed that it had completely dried up and died at the cottage. I will be looking for something new to replace it. Perhaps the Flower Fairies can come and whisper in my ear what I should place there?<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUba7jniFnfMLkwpyRAmMFUnkQkx9oTA1u27X1jheRPB-k9SxoaTJsGW119dBxSrWUKMR1Kv_v7fIJAORZAG1Q8euELvZaVm0Y7YhN3WesjUlokTDqKO9FppHjnUjm5IBRIp1Jrw/s1600-h/ColumbineFairy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 231px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUba7jniFnfMLkwpyRAmMFUnkQkx9oTA1u27X1jheRPB-k9SxoaTJsGW119dBxSrWUKMR1Kv_v7fIJAORZAG1Q8euELvZaVm0Y7YhN3WesjUlokTDqKO9FppHjnUjm5IBRIp1Jrw/s320/ColumbineFairy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319648800543650082" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">"Who shall the chosen fairy be</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">For the letter C?</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">There's Candytuft, and Cornflower blue,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Campanula and Crocus too,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Chrysanthemum so bold and fine,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">And pretty dancing Columbine.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Yes, Columbine! The choice is she;</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">And with her, see, </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">An elfin piper, piping sweet</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">A little tune for those light feet</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">That dance among the leaves and flowers</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">In someone's garden.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Is it ours?)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">~ Cicely Mary Barker</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgug3sXihGjvs1KfH5th18yV-WzNOYo9-Z34dRZ5uoPLx1sTbekd6ucohYeEqgMTjEr-pO8BiSZ0wei-8qSXoazE4eF9iizx-JrpJZxNhXiX_o2f2QsTrhOuxicpJLRktX2osJh1A/s1600-h/IMG_6929.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgug3sXihGjvs1KfH5th18yV-WzNOYo9-Z34dRZ5uoPLx1sTbekd6ucohYeEqgMTjEr-pO8BiSZ0wei-8qSXoazE4eF9iizx-JrpJZxNhXiX_o2f2QsTrhOuxicpJLRktX2osJh1A/s320/IMG_6929.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319648552186740370" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When I got home from the hospital after my treatment in March, a gift came for me from a blogging friend Janneke. She sent me two vintage Flower Fairies books. I just love them! Thank you Janneke.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/1AF19FA5C923B087495EBBF8B2232559.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306674979528881706noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37631948.post-14483990291957951812009-03-30T06:05:00.001-07:002009-03-30T06:26:32.770-07:00The colors of early spring...<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">We took a drive up to Cranberry Cottage on Sunday to see how things are doing up there. It was the first time we went up since the hospital stay and my treatment. We want to try and go up this coming weekend and stay as it is our 22nd anniversary. We have a favorite restaurant in the area and my husband would really like to go there. I want to give it a try even though there have been no improvements so far with my breathing and eating. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JVVL7M4MBx_UX_7ijyglwgHnUwkKXPsoutZLZ7udcz2OW7ZuiW66T0fYtgGSeN-fZigJoeVSV3gXRtcyXiWs9fCFvOiXdCcLiDd2PQjykjXdL8ZT7zMDlV_HlJ2Cp4_SlfSvQQ/s1600-h/IMG_7014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JVVL7M4MBx_UX_7ijyglwgHnUwkKXPsoutZLZ7udcz2OW7ZuiW66T0fYtgGSeN-fZigJoeVSV3gXRtcyXiWs9fCFvOiXdCcLiDd2PQjykjXdL8ZT7zMDlV_HlJ2Cp4_SlfSvQQ/s320/IMG_7014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318967439094392402" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">We were glad we got to see a last few of our crocuses in bloom. Isn't it just beautiful? I love this deep purple in the green grass!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuHtgZJk3sKJJYf_IAnAdO9efryPRb65B6nOedCWIME4MAOKNVr-GB5PY65InfmQCkd6hUAKGowqjDZpSSQJo5zI5HuC44G0mZoMzHrY09acVW2PnhWVMKJ8xJ5OZgZUkigd4uQ/s1600-h/IMG_7013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuHtgZJk3sKJJYf_IAnAdO9efryPRb65B6nOedCWIME4MAOKNVr-GB5PY65InfmQCkd6hUAKGowqjDZpSSQJo5zI5HuC44G0mZoMzHrY09acVW2PnhWVMKJ8xJ5OZgZUkigd4uQ/s320/IMG_7013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318967293793026018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Another bloom in our garden at the cottage is lungwort. It grows there wildly. There is a spot in our gravel drive that it keeps coming up. I transplant it to the back in the garden and suddenly there is more coming up in its place in the drive. I have promised a friend to bring some back with me for her garden. It is such a cheerful little bell shaped flower and the bumblebees are enjoying an early spring drink of nectar as you can see if you enlarge the photo.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WjyqZcHxhQAHB5T_IeC02UOubqYYJOTp5rcBYWMUDPgKVwEj2YhDJBXUeJ75huxClM-4S5s9P1Kq4k9qn11BXMt6fNoC8bJikJUzGkk_PuTMiPDxEh266AFjvSLhcWo43U5wNA/s1600-h/IMG_7011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WjyqZcHxhQAHB5T_IeC02UOubqYYJOTp5rcBYWMUDPgKVwEj2YhDJBXUeJ75huxClM-4S5s9P1Kq4k9qn11BXMt6fNoC8bJikJUzGkk_PuTMiPDxEh266AFjvSLhcWo43U5wNA/s320/IMG_7011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318967134751925186" border="0" /></a><br /><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><b><span style="font-size:130%;">"And Spring arose on the garden fair,<br />Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;<br />And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast<br />rose from the dreams of its wintry rest."</span></b></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><b><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></b>~ Percy Bysshe Shelley<i><br /></i></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNUACeb_G83DAJ-fMPUMJOiggBmLiBFG1Zxyuo6Lyan79KbqY-09aXhaM0UQXeH4jyJXWwVhAbFTV0Og0umQYvM30DeUE8zxFz8He39-N4fOEKbCK-XN87nZiJkbrHYr6bRelwQ/s1600-h/IMG_7008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNUACeb_G83DAJ-fMPUMJOiggBmLiBFG1Zxyuo6Lyan79KbqY-09aXhaM0UQXeH4jyJXWwVhAbFTV0Og0umQYvM30DeUE8zxFz8He39-N4fOEKbCK-XN87nZiJkbrHYr6bRelwQ/s320/IMG_7008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318966747834580066" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Our forecast this week is for warm and sunny days so our daffodils will be out to shine for us when we arrive for the weekend. They were already starting to burst open and greet the sunshine. Do you have a favorite spring blossom in your garden?</span><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/1AF19FA5C923B087495EBBF8B2232559.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306674979528881706noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37631948.post-82999290472552197462009-03-23T04:01:00.000-07:002009-03-23T04:17:04.001-07:00A light exists in Spring...<span style="font-weight: bold;">What is it about March that sets us off in a light mood wanting to reflect that mood in our homes? Is it the change of smell in the air? Or increasing hours of daylight? Or seeing things outdoors come to life again? </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUw51B10EHZztb9eCLEbTAsXI3izI5fkP6r-j68WWoo7IMC-5zWs0khqf6lo5u13XFb0YnTJOEfV6jk9HsulbEOxMLqzylv9eM2l8MoPvl7cgZvVaoFicBV43lelliEoDCv8O2pg/s1600-h/IMG_7000modified.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 313px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUw51B10EHZztb9eCLEbTAsXI3izI5fkP6r-j68WWoo7IMC-5zWs0khqf6lo5u13XFb0YnTJOEfV6jk9HsulbEOxMLqzylv9eM2l8MoPvl7cgZvVaoFicBV43lelliEoDCv8O2pg/s320/IMG_7000modified.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316337687200044098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">I have been bitten by the decluttering bug and am editing my home from things I have no longer any use for. These items that don't bring a little money in from selling used items online will be donated to the thrift shop in our city. I like knowing there is perhaps someone else than can put these items to good use. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">And then I got bitten by the spring decorating bug and am puttering around my home creating lighter and cheerful vignettes. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht33qqmwCyxcUB2u3ad_IQFRWrCnqpyK7IONYI_198SXeNRRrdr2RKb3QVwfJKVL-dMwstLVHPoI2390cA11fH87_dwYmZg5Et0-bcIOumSZOPxu-u7PXAjtGMajzXkFKFf8X8Ew/s1600-h/IMG_6996.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht33qqmwCyxcUB2u3ad_IQFRWrCnqpyK7IONYI_198SXeNRRrdr2RKb3QVwfJKVL-dMwstLVHPoI2390cA11fH87_dwYmZg5Et0-bcIOumSZOPxu-u7PXAjtGMajzXkFKFf8X8Ew/s320/IMG_6996.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316337549508175794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">What a lace tablecloth and a spring floral arrangement can do to your home! I love making flower arrangements that are of the season. I have used freesias and violets with some greenery.<br /><br />I find this mix of lace, plain glasses with tea lights and flowers in a rusted urn I borrowed from my garden table a pretty mix of textures. They are all things I have in my home so the spring transformation costs me only my own creativity. Do you have items around the house that you can use to say spring?</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdirsxG22GLXjjEu2bxBWNUqp815NL4vZfM93Yv0z897ZnlXB9yVCLgXW_K1qYYdGG92lUAw2jruVyeubz9Mq1IoeSt8kcccThQOK3v-ohVnNqJ1ytvYmV-z2nQ3cO2dGwXUDDVw/s1600-h/IMG_6998.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdirsxG22GLXjjEu2bxBWNUqp815NL4vZfM93Yv0z897ZnlXB9yVCLgXW_K1qYYdGG92lUAw2jruVyeubz9Mq1IoeSt8kcccThQOK3v-ohVnNqJ1ytvYmV-z2nQ3cO2dGwXUDDVw/s320/IMG_6998.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316337298670671506" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;font-family:georgia;"><b style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;">"A light exists in Spring</span></b> <b style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> <br />Not present in the year</span></b> <b style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> <br />at any other period</span></b> <b style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> <br />When March is scarcely here."</span></b><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></b>~ Emily Dickinson<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/1AF19FA5C923B087495EBBF8B2232559.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a></span></span></p></div></div>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306674979528881706noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37631948.post-92218278233253678182009-03-20T07:05:00.000-07:002009-03-20T07:31:07.330-07:00A day at the opera<span style="font-weight: bold;">No, not for real but perhaps in my mind. Jos is not a fan of opera so I will simply enjoy the aria on my playlist for this entry. Not only can I enjoy the music but also a very dear gift given to me by a fellow blogger <a href="http://frenchvillagelife.blogspot.com/">Elizabethd</a>. She had emailed and told me that she wanted to give me her mother's opera glasses for my collection. I got the package on the day I arrived home from the hospital and they were a joy to open. She had told me there were not any special ones but I disagree. They are so lovely! </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKKg0z6QYNPFQjWfcwRhmzcmi0iahCAZqxdRLnvXcOLg0RUmZQJxYrpUCZQk-qR7U_q18EJ44kgFBa2eCqiK1IcGXNku-UDJtZHZh2KP-GdP4rqdGDEP8DetVxLGutG9VoFqQMw/s1600-h/IMG_6939.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKKg0z6QYNPFQjWfcwRhmzcmi0iahCAZqxdRLnvXcOLg0RUmZQJxYrpUCZQk-qR7U_q18EJ44kgFBa2eCqiK1IcGXNku-UDJtZHZh2KP-GdP4rqdGDEP8DetVxLGutG9VoFqQMw/s320/IMG_6939.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315272051021568354" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">These are lorgnette opera glasses with a sweet little case to hold them. I did not have anything like them in my collection. Elizabethd said her mother loved going to the theater and opera. She said this pair was well used in her mother's lifetime. I just love them and will cherish them in my collection. I find things I receive in this vein mean so much to me. I received lacemaking bobbins from my friend <a href="http://caroliensstitches.blogspot.com/">Carolien</a> and I love them more than any of my own bobbins, my aunt gave me some very old glasses when she cleared out her home which I treasure, another blogging friend <a href="http://devondesigns-mary.blogspot.com/">Mary</a> has given me an pair of vintage reading glasses and book both of which I adore, and a sweet gift I will show you next time from a blogging friend <a href="http://harten3-janneke.blogspot.com/">Janneke</a>. I love old vintage items and just find these gifts so dear to my heart. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpim4ZDFNzStxW8MuAqtkYvZZB_0IVoFz5htcTb0PgxWHkesKyHyeYR4mPUEAd_6FC8Fynv-ELnkTt5c-9ijOxy8522kgx2DUoU77AQpnFvG53QyGpUNGXXwqwXibuKuP4pZ9Sg/s1600-h/IMG_6937.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpim4ZDFNzStxW8MuAqtkYvZZB_0IVoFz5htcTb0PgxWHkesKyHyeYR4mPUEAd_6FC8Fynv-ELnkTt5c-9ijOxy8522kgx2DUoU77AQpnFvG53QyGpUNGXXwqwXibuKuP4pZ9Sg/s320/IMG_6937.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315271527370024178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Elizabeth spoiled me but sending along more little treats including a patchwork fabric bag. It will be a great thing to use to carry small projects along with me when I am traveling or off for a day out. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqPsYi4MbCVQz4vMlJucRPDkKffXdzAfrohOyRBHURpGIOmhiZ-ssuKQu9pLJnAnBsN30hX4xLSdi421Lyf1FulL4tv0JBIT-Z7-XwHrTaQq4P10X1J8xBadBm85AMa47L69H8w/s1600-h/IMG_6931modified.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqPsYi4MbCVQz4vMlJucRPDkKffXdzAfrohOyRBHURpGIOmhiZ-ssuKQu9pLJnAnBsN30hX4xLSdi421Lyf1FulL4tv0JBIT-Z7-XwHrTaQq4P10X1J8xBadBm85AMa47L69H8w/s320/IMG_6931modified.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315271275550260210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">And if you only could smell the scent of the French lavender from this handmade and stitched bag. The lavender is from her own garden even. It makes me long for a vacation in France. Who knows, maybe this year...</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvYeSDCLG_kJg_b4lYtDBTXnlW79PBw5na2eysHl-w_usnd4XQThlJWUzYfbT3o-uYPZiuWWXRONEo2uHFdA_bnmaLdVKGlukgls_fjx0CnipQbX1b0-R9axwZZ8WEUO7FZvb0Q/s1600-h/IMG_6932.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvYeSDCLG_kJg_b4lYtDBTXnlW79PBw5na2eysHl-w_usnd4XQThlJWUzYfbT3o-uYPZiuWWXRONEo2uHFdA_bnmaLdVKGlukgls_fjx0CnipQbX1b0-R9axwZZ8WEUO7FZvb0Q/s320/IMG_6932.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315271028343162930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thank you so much Elizabethd for your kindness to me! I love knowing the story of your mother behind these glasses. That makes them the most special pair I own along with my very first pair I ever bought. </span><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/3AA9E38C2CD83608D71687E617F6D99B.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306674979528881706noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37631948.post-27104142765165967512009-03-18T05:56:00.001-07:002009-03-18T06:35:43.055-07:00The meaning of art...Do you remember moments when something of intense beauty touched you very deeply? Do you find it travels with your very person and does not let you go? That is to me what great art is all about whether a painting or a poem. As a girl, I remember watching Anne of Green Gables and hearing Anne recite the famous Tennyson poem The Lady of Shalott. Years later, 18 years ago to be exact, I was visiting my neighbor for tea one afternoon and she told me I had to listen to a CD her husband just bought her as she was sure it was something for me. There is was! The poem set to the most beautiful music. It was a song by Loreena McKennitt which is now playing on my songlist. I have loved Loreena McKennitt's music ever since. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8DFtXmb6vriAnfE2_NKG0uV9wS3LToWQ8_KCU8TZuAlaOQsI4fSfCHa2zxnANHt4GrxD7nkU7cvS8Sfvt2UdAbuHx3tgwGVGqfnpPvPEY7TIiDAwN9tCSf5OPzJiaZsGggwGmLw/s1600-h/waterhouse_robinson_1891.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8DFtXmb6vriAnfE2_NKG0uV9wS3LToWQ8_KCU8TZuAlaOQsI4fSfCHa2zxnANHt4GrxD7nkU7cvS8Sfvt2UdAbuHx3tgwGVGqfnpPvPEY7TIiDAwN9tCSf5OPzJiaZsGggwGmLw/s320/waterhouse_robinson_1891.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314511365916518050" /></a><br />Around this same time, I had started to discover the Pre-Raphaelite movement. I love all things William Morris and found there were so many more like him in his philosophy. It was then that I first saw the Waterhouse paintings of The Lady of Shalott. He painted three over a number of years. Each is moving in its own right. Yesterday at the Groningen Museum, I finally got to see two of these huge canvases up close. To say they took my breath away would be an understatement! I was walking in one room and saw the third and last of his paintings of this subject from a distance. I stopped and left the room I was in drawn to that painting. You have never really seen it until you see the actual painting. It is amazing! It is so real that you can see, smell and feel all in this great work. I noticed things about the painting I had never seen before. I felt as though I could reach out and touch the water and it would move with my fingers. It was so real. I wanted to reach out and keep the third candle protected from going out so the Lady would live longer and see her Lancelot. I wanted to shed a tear for her and yet rejoice with her in the curse that now no longer had hold of as she left the tower and entered the boat which was to become her deathbed. <br /><br />Enjoy the three paintings this master Waterhouse created while listening to the moving music or reading the poem by Tennyson. Enjoy and escape for a little while to Camelot...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnk0sbhwTB9D0ES9172cmn6XB9aLE6QXDy76RatDv404XlqokOI3M0Jv79mYeC8y-kmieYNOuj0ocn8LScEjM1eRYZ8dzvj4dFDI5xxZU2GAjNE4yLn9PfnAGasfthDiE2Prqh6A/s1600-h/waterhouse_i_am_half_sick_of_the_shadows.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnk0sbhwTB9D0ES9172cmn6XB9aLE6QXDy76RatDv404XlqokOI3M0Jv79mYeC8y-kmieYNOuj0ocn8LScEjM1eRYZ8dzvj4dFDI5xxZU2GAjNE4yLn9PfnAGasfthDiE2Prqh6A/s320/waterhouse_i_am_half_sick_of_the_shadows.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314511290134642738" /></a><br /> On either side the river lie<br />Long fields of barley and of rye,<br />That clothe the wold and meet the sky;<br />And through the field the road run by<br />To many-tower'd Camelot;<br />And up and down the people go,<br />Gazing where the lilies blow<br />Round an island there below,<br />The island of Shalott.<br /><br />Willows whiten, aspens quiver,<br />Little breezes dusk and shiver<br />Through the wave that runs for ever<br />By the island in the river<br />Flowing down to Camelot.<br />Four grey walls, and four grey towers,<br />Overlook a space of flowers,<br />And the silent isle imbowers<br />The Lady of Shalott.<br /><br />By the margin, willow veil'd,<br />Slide the heavy barges trail'd<br />By slow horses; and unhail'd<br />The shallop flitteth silken-sail'd<br />Skimming down to Camelot:<br />But who hath seen her wave her hand?<br />Or at the casement seen her stand?<br />Or is she known in all the land,<br />The Lady of Shalott?<br /><br />Only reapers, reaping early,<br />In among the bearded barley<br />Hear a song that echoes cheerly<br />From the river winding clearly;<br />Down to tower'd Camelot;<br />And by the moon the reaper weary,<br />Piling sheaves in uplands airy,<br />Listening, whispers, " 'Tis the fairy<br />The Lady of Shalott."<br /><br />There she weaves by night and day<br />A magic web with colours gay.<br />She has heard a whisper say,<br />A curse is on her if she stay<br />To look down to Camelot.<br />She knows not what the curse may be,<br />And so she weaveth steadily,<br />And little other care hath she,<br />The Lady of Shalott.<br /><br />And moving through a mirror clear<br />That hangs before her all the year,<br />Shadows of the world appear.<br />There she sees the highway near<br />Winding down to Camelot;<br />There the river eddy whirls,<br />And there the surly village churls,<br />And the red cloaks of market girls<br />Pass onward from Shalott.<br /><br />Sometimes a troop of damsels glad,<br />An abbot on an ambling pad,<br />Sometimes a curly shepherd lad,<br />Or long-hair'd page in crimson clad<br />Goes by to tower'd Camelot;<br />And sometimes through the mirror blue<br />The knights come riding two and two.<br />She hath no loyal Knight and true,<br />The Lady of Shalott.<br /><br />But in her web she still delights<br />To weave the mirror's magic sights,<br />For often through the silent nights<br />A funeral, with plumes and lights<br />And music, went to Camelot;<br />Or when the Moon was overhead,<br />Came two young lovers lately wed.<br />"I am half sick of shadows," said<br />The Lady of Shalott.<br /><br />A bow-shot from her bower-eaves,<br />He rode between the barley sheaves,<br />The sun came dazzling thro' the leaves,<br />And flamed upon the brazen greaves<br />Of bold Sir Lancelot.<br />A red-cross knight for ever kneel'd<br />To a lady in his shield,<br />That sparkled on the yellow field,<br />Beside remote Shalott.<br /><br />The gemmy bridle glitter'd free,<br />Like to some branch of stars we see<br />Hung in the golden Galaxy.<br />The bridle bells rang merrily<br />As he rode down to Camelot:<br />And from his blazon'd baldric slung<br />A mighty silver bugle hung,<br />And as he rode his armor rung<br />Beside remote Shalott.<br /><br />All in the blue unclouded weather<br />Thick-jewell'd shone the saddle-leather,<br />The helmet and the helmet-feather<br />Burn'd like one burning flame together,<br />As he rode down to Camelot.<br />As often thro' the purple night,<br />Below the starry clusters bright,<br />Some bearded meteor, burning bright,<br />Moves over still Shalott.<br /><br />His broad clear brow in sunlight glow'd;<br />On burnish'd hooves his war-horse trode;<br />From underneath his helmet flow'd<br />His coal-black curls as on he rode,<br />As he rode down to Camelot.<br />From the bank and from the river<br />He flashed into the crystal mirror,<br />"Tirra lirra," by the river<br />Sang Sir Lancelot. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsx-MJcUCelRa526oy_nMvEMAWiiHqOG2ZFYXt0W5MWewTWlCdT7UZgGUUYpiTjuYvJcEptOKO0TM_pJw_3Zo1766I8FJ4sNxngCgoaSttLoEwrZvMBJXogp-2jyDpAcpE5uLKw/s1600-h/waterhouse_the_lady_of_shalott01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 190px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsx-MJcUCelRa526oy_nMvEMAWiiHqOG2ZFYXt0W5MWewTWlCdT7UZgGUUYpiTjuYvJcEptOKO0TM_pJw_3Zo1766I8FJ4sNxngCgoaSttLoEwrZvMBJXogp-2jyDpAcpE5uLKw/s320/waterhouse_the_lady_of_shalott01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314511204662817106" /></a><br />She left the web, she left the loom,<br />She made three paces through the room,<br />She saw the water-lily bloom,<br />She saw the helmet and the plume,<br />She look'd down to Camelot.<br />Out flew the web and floated wide;<br />The mirror crack'd from side to side;<br />"The curse is come upon me," cried<br />The Lady of Shalott. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcFkCSI9O_tHnd0_fhpldKd_mgQZqrRxrGqLukUlkDH6FRFAX_RbcN-BLtSS82Vdi-Tv_fVJDNmVs2TcaDezo4O14bvo2Zxzzhdy8MZ0IimhZQo8WuEfbSR_pXf8VEMGvhxXcHA/s1600-h/waterhouse_the_lady_of_shalott02.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcFkCSI9O_tHnd0_fhpldKd_mgQZqrRxrGqLukUlkDH6FRFAX_RbcN-BLtSS82Vdi-Tv_fVJDNmVs2TcaDezo4O14bvo2Zxzzhdy8MZ0IimhZQo8WuEfbSR_pXf8VEMGvhxXcHA/s320/waterhouse_the_lady_of_shalott02.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314511105386175522" /></a><br /> In the stormy east-wind straining,<br />The pale yellow woods were waning,<br />The broad stream in his banks complaining.<br />Heavily the low sky raining<br />Over tower'd Camelot;<br />Down she came and found a boat<br />Beneath a willow left afloat,<br />And around about the prow she wrote<br />The Lady of Shalott.<br /><br />And down the river's dim expanse<br />Like some bold seer in a trance,<br />Seeing all his own mischance --<br />With a glassy countenance<br />Did she look to Camelot.<br />And at the closing of the day<br />She loosed the chain, and down she lay;<br />The broad stream bore her far away,<br />The Lady of Shalott.<br /><br />Lying, robed in snowy white<br />That loosely flew to left and right --<br />The leaves upon her falling light --<br />Thro' the noises of the night,<br />She floated down to Camelot:<br />And as the boat-head wound along<br />The willowy hills and fields among,<br />They heard her singing her last song,<br />The Lady of Shalott.<br /><br />Heard a carol, mournful, holy,<br />Chanted loudly, chanted lowly,<br />Till her blood was frozen slowly,<br />And her eyes were darkened wholly,<br />Turn'd to tower'd Camelot.<br />For ere she reach'd upon the tide<br />The first house by the water-side,<br />Singing in her song she died,<br />The Lady of Shalott.<br /><br />Under tower and balcony,<br />By garden-wall and gallery,<br />A gleaming shape she floated by,<br />Dead-pale between the houses high,<br />Silent into Camelot.<br />Out upon the wharfs they came,<br />Knight and Burgher, Lord and Dame,<br />And around the prow they read her name,<br />The Lady of Shalott.<br /><br />Who is this? And what is here?<br />And in the lighted palace near<br />Died the sound of royal cheer;<br />And they crossed themselves for fear,<br />All the Knights at Camelot;<br />But Lancelot mused a little space<br />He said, "She has a lovely face;<br />God in his mercy lend her grace,<br />The Lady of Shalott."<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/3AA9E38C2CD83608D71687E617F6D99B.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306674979528881706noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37631948.post-72466507999848276992009-03-16T06:03:00.000-07:002009-03-16T06:43:52.139-07:00Signs of spring!<span style="font-weight: bold;">This gift set on the bench by our front door by a friend gave me the idea for my post today. She had called me on Thursday after I got home from the hospital to ask how I was and said she was leaving me a little something at the door. What a cheerful sight to open the door to! </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1g4etTJtfQwIv4ghC-0sQBbv8PwCzv_YWxSgn6ZYyr0DEoZFTNv4xXO0W2KFXZ5tFHIB0iQsaBTqbOB4XYXXi3dyTK3scy_9v_itI30USbih6Tk3Pht9gSytHt9a6a889R3-8hA/s1600-h/IMG_6922.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1g4etTJtfQwIv4ghC-0sQBbv8PwCzv_YWxSgn6ZYyr0DEoZFTNv4xXO0W2KFXZ5tFHIB0iQsaBTqbOB4XYXXi3dyTK3scy_9v_itI30USbih6Tk3Pht9gSytHt9a6a889R3-8hA/s320/IMG_6922.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313773626690564626" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When I came home from the hospital, the first of these miniature daffodils was starting to peek its pretty yellow bonnet out to say hello. Since then, they are starting to flower well. The air has really taken on a change here in the last few days. Spring seems to have sprung!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQH13wx1JHHReWS5gE9Z1Q4WnCU02hrY33T1jiCPdqAVZOhMnPy32ZkueOOq-cK8F6EFT-Oas6wbSoVd4uJHUmku0RBJc78wEksemY42CJvzVS0Z1Pnh0v5v490kyM9q-d72ajw/s1600-h/IMG_6954modified.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQH13wx1JHHReWS5gE9Z1Q4WnCU02hrY33T1jiCPdqAVZOhMnPy32ZkueOOq-cK8F6EFT-Oas6wbSoVd4uJHUmku0RBJc78wEksemY42CJvzVS0Z1Pnh0v5v490kyM9q-d72ajw/s320/IMG_6954modified.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313773398657283890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">We have placed our large pot of daffodils in a sunny spot to encourage them to start to grow even more. This year, I planted four kinds of daffodils in the one pot. I am looking forward to seeing them bloom.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVEQZAcws54aCrDaH_Nxfpkl2S-dq4oLxFAIoygiI3Hs_yK5K1lis5qrz7reYJ0w7WTvDh3rMOVDTeSwuZt5vCilanPCgG4b5rZ8NRuUtYxPdl-Jh-A_bVDoZEqXG6o2JorXKjA/s1600-h/IMG_6952.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVEQZAcws54aCrDaH_Nxfpkl2S-dq4oLxFAIoygiI3Hs_yK5K1lis5qrz7reYJ0w7WTvDh3rMOVDTeSwuZt5vCilanPCgG4b5rZ8NRuUtYxPdl-Jh-A_bVDoZEqXG6o2JorXKjA/s320/IMG_6952.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313773244871560978" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">This area right beside our front door is all in pink this year. I normally don't use much pink in my garden but decided to use it by the door this year. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVf8ZWUN_lVlGu8pfct6PZZCPIAZU5Lrt8E6nIEwFK9yyuPcrTNGqTajB8xKJS4dkCbDdtp-JBleSUzq6helvLgJ3y5p8b7lNLUjPeQFKjbgsSYTOZ4gwKzcf8NA9l0XG-ZW-CQ/s1600-h/IMG_6949modified.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 154px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVf8ZWUN_lVlGu8pfct6PZZCPIAZU5Lrt8E6nIEwFK9yyuPcrTNGqTajB8xKJS4dkCbDdtp-JBleSUzq6helvLgJ3y5p8b7lNLUjPeQFKjbgsSYTOZ4gwKzcf8NA9l0XG-ZW-CQ/s320/IMG_6949modified.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313772960398206930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">We brought our little bench which is normally at Cranberry Cottage home to use here. I just love the hearts carved out of the side of the legs.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fXqgBTRa8bd5H1hdgidfSMZWyzjZMuXgWfWms2igs7k4kSPVF_JMjvyW2gY5_ULxyfuueoZAB97U3r0YQR092X9BQDrhE5xIDU5sjK5tvMP4MZ-s78XKkNpmbahxx2XH_xd9qg/s1600-h/IMG_6951.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fXqgBTRa8bd5H1hdgidfSMZWyzjZMuXgWfWms2igs7k4kSPVF_JMjvyW2gY5_ULxyfuueoZAB97U3r0YQR092X9BQDrhE5xIDU5sjK5tvMP4MZ-s78XKkNpmbahxx2XH_xd9qg/s320/IMG_6951.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313772663302203378" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_aX9D5L7sUVFlr15G-Kw0Y_gJTKRhgSWcYFFDa5qJhX6kq_MamzkjVR61kBHYe4HtbzebEPXY3ur0vHxznx5OE2maURCF9qbIFe4a4K_X7IfdWlQ4sz87Sc2t6hdjpIwaJGnWw/s1600-h/IMG_6962.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_aX9D5L7sUVFlr15G-Kw0Y_gJTKRhgSWcYFFDa5qJhX6kq_MamzkjVR61kBHYe4HtbzebEPXY3ur0vHxznx5OE2maURCF9qbIFe4a4K_X7IfdWlQ4sz87Sc2t6hdjpIwaJGnWw/s320/IMG_6962.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313772464004708978" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vpbz5MjttXJwBeXXMm9TxFewUrARLpmFMvfiFKG2R9Yo9w7viwJOqvv8Vv2Grix9TT7kHv63y2YndgEGqJr078BkSbWGQoxvFr8f1VUVI65dAb-T-XlCh1aenqqplaM-KC3DNw/s1600-h/IMG_6960.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vpbz5MjttXJwBeXXMm9TxFewUrARLpmFMvfiFKG2R9Yo9w7viwJOqvv8Vv2Grix9TT7kHv63y2YndgEGqJr078BkSbWGQoxvFr8f1VUVI65dAb-T-XlCh1aenqqplaM-KC3DNw/s320/IMG_6960.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313772100085710466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Our jasmine needed to be planted up in a larger pot with taller stakes this year. I am hoping it will grow much taller this year. If you peek in the background, you will see a project waiting for us. We got the heavy wrought iron table leg and the mismatched tabletop both for really great bargains. We plan to repaint it all black and refinished the chair beside it. I think it will be a cute little set once it is redone.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFdCYq3_DqtBmc892ARQYH1XO5GxmAYlOY-qMFhPkOQSvCjXMA2HdlQcFuJpM3E8Ijs1pK1c3Flzem9SEVE4ffeb-cHAPRg3yerJ24nuvgIEr3UyQMEn10uZKufFDjd6i-xyFmg/s1600-h/IMG_6956.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFdCYq3_DqtBmc892ARQYH1XO5GxmAYlOY-qMFhPkOQSvCjXMA2HdlQcFuJpM3E8Ijs1pK1c3Flzem9SEVE4ffeb-cHAPRg3yerJ24nuvgIEr3UyQMEn10uZKufFDjd6i-xyFmg/s320/IMG_6956.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313771909559232306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Our table on the terrace is fun to dress for various times of the year...</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZN4HEcZkbpWi-E5EcuhJUvuUtSuVUMruCcPw9HgXVzXCWK9gqUOENo9PSwG04qcWcveGXdYumA4Rh_KhC2Oc1M9vDHFpL1e6agMZseWaEQk7NP0oVZ_Its3q1nQE4RofP_PCCZw/s1600-h/IMG_6958.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZN4HEcZkbpWi-E5EcuhJUvuUtSuVUMruCcPw9HgXVzXCWK9gqUOENo9PSwG04qcWcveGXdYumA4Rh_KhC2Oc1M9vDHFpL1e6agMZseWaEQk7NP0oVZ_Its3q1nQE4RofP_PCCZw/s320/IMG_6958.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313771692724970770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Don't mind this snail at all. He never seems to bother any of our plants. *grins* Spring has definately come to our garden and we see things awakening slowly. I hope you find a glimpse of spring here a cheerful part of your day even if you are still in the throws of winter's end. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorgXByPm7BlJgmjoahonxj-pAho7WqdvACcmtiGq88JtZ0qCR3F-9dl_zNUDla9-03EmjgWjH5iPWHl-agri1n44P5Q-XIVmTnRD37OUr4CrNutxXz32NRsMnK1HlIZV1P-Je7Q/s1600-h/IMG_6959.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorgXByPm7BlJgmjoahonxj-pAho7WqdvACcmtiGq88JtZ0qCR3F-9dl_zNUDla9-03EmjgWjH5iPWHl-agri1n44P5Q-XIVmTnRD37OUr4CrNutxXz32NRsMnK1HlIZV1P-Je7Q/s320/IMG_6959.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313771461972094578" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;" >"And Spring arose on the garden fair,<br />Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;<br />And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast<br />rose from the dreams of its wintry rest."<br /><br />~ Percy Bysshe Shelley</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGhCjvI3gQ1bvp-0F7GrmoSTyDJQjmJGJsDfQbQ5uuf6XrZkGseW6gRvtTT9UBHaqH0oZyi4I2r6napaxafZiDHPAOO7ArnWRepWHXbzcBHMOFYLWRWOqydGSq9QQy4QiePKZPQ/s1600-h/IMG_6957.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGhCjvI3gQ1bvp-0F7GrmoSTyDJQjmJGJsDfQbQ5uuf6XrZkGseW6gRvtTT9UBHaqH0oZyi4I2r6napaxafZiDHPAOO7ArnWRepWHXbzcBHMOFYLWRWOqydGSq9QQy4QiePKZPQ/s320/IMG_6957.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313771276379675058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">I wish you all a very Happy St. Patrick's Day if you celebrate it. This is my last day of isolation and a friend and I are off to see an art exhibition tomorrow. I am excited to get out and cannot wait to see the paintings of Waterhouse up close. I have been looking forward to this since I found out the paintings would be coming to Holland. Thank you all for your comments on my last post! I appreciate all of your good wishes.</span><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/397/1AF19FA5C923B087495EBBF8B2232559.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306674979528881706noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37631948.post-22955216823590041682009-03-14T05:43:00.001-07:002009-03-14T06:08:06.146-07:00When you're a cat...<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">...life can be tough at times! Right now I am a very upset little kitty and decided to come on my mommy blog and tell you all about it. My mommy was released from the hospital on Thursday. Boy was she glad to come home. I got to talk to her on the phone on Wednesday evening but she was going a little stir crazy. I meowed really happily for her when she called my name but it did not help. The doctor says her body was doing a great job of disposing of the excess radioactive material so after he measured her, he told her she could call her husband (my daddy) to come pick her up. The poor lady in the room next to my mommy was still in there and going on her 5th day as her body was not letting any of the excess go. Mommy even had a shortened isolation period at home as it was going so well. Now there in lies the problem!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0h02sop5VNeBlpj_n9Z06XoMlzdGbQwg8tDY1CYdINgUbURpzJy4Sn09As30K8GWAhoYHakwhFHdfwuyuRLzdD4eLa5yP4zxvWR93cy-CxAaclQ_dKEp_NksS5oQpiiBfnRUww/s1600-h/IMG_6671.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0h02sop5VNeBlpj_n9Z06XoMlzdGbQwg8tDY1CYdINgUbURpzJy4Sn09As30K8GWAhoYHakwhFHdfwuyuRLzdD4eLa5yP4zxvWR93cy-CxAaclQ_dKEp_NksS5oQpiiBfnRUww/s320/IMG_6671.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313024728935500034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">I normally catnap on this bed which is my grandmother's room when she visits. Oh the joy of laying in the sun for my 20 winks of beauty sleep! Yes that is even important for us male kitties. But that door is shut to the room and I am no longer allowed in. The first day of my mommy being home, I just gave her my hurt puppy dog eyes to try and get her to pet and cuddle me. When that did not help, I figured I needed some stronger tactics on the second day......just plain mad! So I stayed up until 3am screaming and crying at her bedroom door. 'Let me in, let me in!' Normally this works a treat and I always get my way. I am the boss in this house after all. I finally had to give up and go cuddle up against my daddy in their bedroom. I just don't get it. Why does she have to sleep all alone. I could be taking very good care of her. She must be so lonely all by herself in that room. I always snuggle up and keep her warm. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">I keep trying to sneak up on her while she is sitting in the living room and sit on her lap. She keeps making me get off. Today she let me sit on her lap for a little while. She leaned back all funny to keep me far away from her neck but it was heaven. Then she made me get up AGAIN. I was not happy, I can tell you. She says she feels fine but just tired. Her neck is starting to become swollen today but we hope this is just temporary. Swallowing is more difficult so lots of soft foods are still in her diet. It will be 4 months at the earliest that we find out if the treatment will have any effect and a year before we know if it is successful. All I know is that I want her to start cuddling me again now!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCCo3LJFQTNmcPjuqOvMmHjRqaE9P84cq98B4yYvUo4lddPke8wGd91mcxXqwsoAbE0DkNjSKQdWoo0p3f5Rvw2W9gN3WdT5ceNPPIbd9Y7wCTvbpur3fcmMzFS3OB_OEWIdAsg/s1600-h/banner.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 68px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCCo3LJFQTNmcPjuqOvMmHjRqaE9P84cq98B4yYvUo4lddPke8wGd91mcxXqwsoAbE0DkNjSKQdWoo0p3f5Rvw2W9gN3WdT5ceNPPIbd9Y7wCTvbpur3fcmMzFS3OB_OEWIdAsg/s320/banner.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313024444663820610" border="0" /></a>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05306674979528881706noreply@blogger.com20