California Here We Come!

Vacation time is finally here!  We are excited to leave for California in the morning.  We'll fly into San Francisco and our vacation will take us up to Napa Valley first and then we will head back down to stay along the Pacific Coast Scenic Highway in Santa Cruz, Carmel and Avila Beach.

I'll be on a blog break but I'll take lots of pictures to share!

Are we there yet!

Spring has Sprung!

It's finally Spring and I've been so busy this week that I didn't get a new post finished.  I wanted to post something springy to CELEBRATE the first days of spring so this is a 

re-run of one of my favorite tablescapes.

One of my sweet girlfriends and her husband saw this adorable teapot in Cracker Barrel and thought I needed it for my collection!  Thanks Tina and Don ..so in honor of such a lovely gift I just had to set a little tea party table to celebrate!

The teapot's colors are perfect for my favorite flower petaled cake turned teapot stand, as well as the April Cornell placemats I purchased on my trip to Texas. 

I bought these knowing that my favorite dishes would match this pattern.  The placemats are reversible and plaid on the alternate side..I love that I can get two looks for the price of one!  

The napkins are in the plaid and I added another lime green napkin I've had for years as the color was a match.  I added the sweet little bunny napkin rings from Hobby Lobby.     

Layered favorites

The teacups are from Hobby Lobby (half-price) and actually have matching plates.  I used my little GW found rose petaled  soap dishes for a saucer and to perch the egg cups on.   

 

I bought this little topiary at JoAnn's Fabric on sale...it's perfect for a small spring/Easter centerpiece.

I found this pitcher at GW just last week for $4.98.  We used it for all the entries of my giveaway (see last post)  I love the shape and the flower motiff made it a perfect addition to my spring collection of dishes.   I use pitchers for flower vases, since they are heavier and the mouth is wider than most vases.   

This adorable bunny was given to me years ago. I just love her..she is so pretty and the colors in her outfit are soft and sweet.  I found the little candleholder/pedestal she is sitting on for $1.00 at a thrift store.    

I love her shoes......

and purse!

These little chicks were tossed in the bottom of my shopping bag in Texas ...without my knowledge and when I found them their little faces seem to say:

 Are you my Mother?? 

I guess I'm stuck with them since I took them across state lines!  In the meantime  I made them little nests in my egg cups until they are big enough to lay their own eggs!   

Hope you take time out of your busy schedule to make a cup of tea and enjoy spring..or better yet have a tea party of your own.   

 

I'm linking with Beverly's Pink Saturday
and
Tablescaper's Seasonal Sunday

Happy Spring!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

 Hope you are getting your green on today!

Wishing you lots o'blessings!

Shamrocks & Blessings

Everyone here is getting ready for Spring break.  It hasn't felt much like spring lately but tomorrow we are supposed to get to up 75 degrees!

What a blessing it will be to get out in the garden again.

I've been changing my vignettes in my little hutch

 for Saint Patrick's Day and pulled out one of my

 favorite teapots to put on display.

I've shared this teapot before and it was a

 special gift  from one of my best friends.

Her friendship is a blessing to me!   

She knew I had been admiring Belleek  but I just 

couldn't bring myself to spend that much money on a teapot.

She found this one ebay and I adore it.

It's vintage and Japanese.

I was shopping a few months ago in an antique mall and found this adorable salt and pepper for a great price.   It appears to have been made around the same time as the teapot.  The markings say 

'occupied Japan.'  

I think they look good together and I hope to continue finding more pieces to add to my little collection.  

I've got more to spring decorating to do and will get
 out the rest of my bunnies,  but I'm glad 

to get a little head start before my garden

 beckons me outdoors.

Spring is almost here!

I'm linking up with

Marty's Inspire Me Tuesdays 
Kathleen's St. Patrick's Day Crawl
and 
Tablescaper's Seasonal Sundays

   

Glimpse of Spring!

What a long brutal winter we have had!  I know many of us, especially the gardeners are counting

 the days until we can get out in our gardens. 

The wind is howling right now and it's suppose to be 15 degrees tonight.  Really?  Ice and sleet too!

I've been keeping myself busy and enjoyed creating a fun springtime birthday cake for a

 friend last week. 

I decorated the cake with pretty pink sweetheart roses and Belles of Ireland. 
   I found the little pinwheels at Michaels. 

Just thought I'd share a 

glimpse of spring!

I'm linking with 

Tablescaper's Seasonal Sundays

and
Beverly's Pink Saturday