Fairytales and Flowers

There is a favorite place we love to visit in the winter...

Carmel-by-the Sea...with it's fairytale cottages, abundant blooming flowers and blue pacific vistas, we never want to leave!   Sadly that's not our reality but we are happy to "live" in a fairytale if only for a few days!

The Bluebird Cottage was our  fairytale "home" last week and I adore this charming little place.  It has a dutch door and opens right on to Ocean Ave...two blocks from Carmel Beach and walking distance to

 everything in the village. 

I have shared these window boxes before from a previous trip..so pretty with pink cyclamens in terra cotta pots.

Even in January while we are snowed covered in Oklahoma...Carmel has bloomers everywhere..window boxes and flower beds line the Ocean Avenue shops and inns.  It's a welcome place for a gardener as it will be several months before I see anything blooming in my yard. 

Ivy growing up the posts of a Carmel inn. 

The courtyard garden at the

 Lamp Lighter Inn... the white trellis is so inviting.

Primroses in such bright and happy colors!

Rock-edged flower beds along

Ocean Avenue. 

The Secret Garden Shop...love the arched gate!! 

The garden patio at Casonova Restaurant voted the most romantic in Carmel. 

Additional dining surrounded by gardens. 

A view from the kitchen of the garden.... 

and a week later...

a view from my kitchen into my garden...

 thank goodness for fairytales and flowers!!

I'm linking this week with

Tootsie's  Fertilizer Friday

Cindy's Romantic Home Show and Tell Friday

Laurie's Favorite Things Saturday

and Susan's Outdoor Wednesday

Stay safe and warm this week ...we are still getting more snow!

Back from Florida and Computer Crashes

Home sweet home...well I'm back from a long blog break. (My computer crashed over the holidays)  I also spent two weeks in Florida visiting my Mom prior to Christmas and was able to see my son Ryan perform in his college Christmas program.  

 He attends the Baptist College of Florida and will  graduate in May with a degree in Contemporary Worship Music.   He is singing a solo in this picture and he is a gifted songwriter and pianist.   I am so proud he has devoted his gifts and talents to serve our Lord.

   

 It was unusually cold there but I still had a great time seeing my Mom, Ryan  and the beautiful Gulf of Mexico with it's sugar white beaches I grew up with...even though it was most often from the warmth of  the car or the condo!   

 I saw no evidence of the oil slick so please don't hesitate to vacation along the gulf coast if you are considering a trip...they really still do need the business!! 

I took my Mom to enjoy some getaway time in Panama City.  We enjoyed great shopping at the Pier Park Mall across from the beautiful white sandy beach.   

 We loved the condo we stayed at right on St. Andrews Bay.  Spacious 2 bedroom units with a fully equipped kitchen.  I loved the granite counter tops and mosaic backsplash!

The units have been recently redecorated and  the coordinating fabrics of blues and greens were so pretty mixed with the textures of the furnishings.      The dining banquet was roomy and very comfortable for six or more.  

 Even though it was cold outside we enjoyed our "tropical" oasis indoors!  Mom is not as mobile as she would like to be so our unit was handicapped
accessible as well.

We loved the screened-in porch every morning as we started our day with views of the pool and tropical plants that hadn't froze quite yet!

  
We tried several restaurants and the charming exteriors of the restaurants drew us in as well

as the reviews of good food.

One of our favorites was Ernie's in the historic district of St. Andrews (adjacent to Panama City)  This historical home was converted into a restaurant.  The view of the St. Andrews Bay was beautiful and the memorabilia that lined the walls made it an interesting place to visit. 

Very nautical seaside decor. 

 

 

I love this picket fence that had dolphins carved in the fence boards...too cute!

The porch swing and Christmas decorations were so inviting as we approached the entrance.  

I absolutely loved the porch!

 (Taken at Seaside, Florida...another fun place we love to spend time)

Good to be back and hopefully my computer is armed with an even better anti-virus program!

I'll be gone again for a week with my hubbie to his home state of California to see his family and our friends.  I'll be anxious to share pictures from San Francisco, Carmel and Napa and will check out a few places that Cindy from Cindy's Romantic Home has shared with us on her blog.
 Hope you have a lovely week!
 

(Pebble Beach)

Thanksgiving Table with Momoyama Kyoto China

  

I love setting our Thanksgiving table.  My mother gave me a lovely set of  china that I always use for our special meal.  

This year I went a little more formal and even used place cards!  My sons got a kick out of  that..it's not often they go to formal dinners, so I thought I would give them the experience at home.  I believe we should use our lovely things and not save them for someday.  Our families are our most precious possession and I love making our time together special! 

I found the pumpkin place card holders at Hobby Lobby for under $2 each and couldn't resist adding them to my table! 

I used linen napkins from my mother with delicate white embroidered flowers on them. 
The silverware belonged to my mother-in-law and  using it reminds me of her and the wonderful times we shared.   

I found this adorable little maple leaf salt cellar in one of my favorite shops...had to get it as we love coarse salts and this is the perfect way to serve our favorite salts.    

My centerpiece is a collection of silks I've acquired over the years, added little pumpkins from the grocery store, mixed with gerbera daisies and dried lime green hydrangeas from my garden.  I just added three pillar candles down the center of the table.  So easy and inexpensive to make.

I floated the gerbera daisies in crystal glasses along with some rose hips.

The brass chargers are brand new in a box that I found at an estate sale.  They were marked $19.99 per box from Linen's and Things and I bought them for $3 a box.   They add a layer of elegance and sparkle to gold rimmed  china.  Next year I hope to find some gold-colored flatware to complete the "gold" look.

My mother also gave me her crystal when she downsized and I added this stemware to complete my table.

 Hope your Thanksgiving Day was wonderful!
I am thankful I spent it with "my three sons" and my hubbie and three sweet fur-babies, watching football, cooking, eating and just enjoying our time together. 

I'm linking with

Laurie's  A Few of  My Favorite Things Saturday
 The Tablescaper's Seasonal Sundays
Marty's Tabletop Tuesdays
and
Susan's BNOTP Tablescape Thursdays