by Trenda
“Dear old world … You are very lovely, And I am glad to be alive in you.” ~ from Anne of Green Gables
It’s May! The darling month when everything seems possible. Look at this sweet description of May Day from The Old Farmer’s Almanac established in 1792.
“With winter’s retreat, colts and calves kick up their heels and frisk over fresh grass, seedlings seek the sun, and birds call for mates….And we humans join their revels for one day: during spring’s “May Day” festival, even serious-minded folk put work aside to enjoy Nature’s exuberance!”
Still quoting The Farmer’s Almanac … “Here are some joyful May Day traditions marking the return of spring and the renewed gift of life.
- Neighbors may leave baskets of flowers on each other’s doorsteps or doorknobs.
- Kids can go barefoot on May Day for the first time.
- People will crown a “May Queen” for the day’s festivities.
- Beekeepers will move bees on May 1st.
- Fishermen expect to catch fish on May Day.
- On May Day morning, if a maiden gathers dew before sunup and sprinkles her face with it, she will enjoy luck and youthful beauty for the rest of the year.
- Farmers often plant corn, cucumbers, and turnips on this day.
- Villagers may hold theatrical battles between “summer” and “winter” that banish the winter.
- The Kentucky Derby starts off the month of May (the first Saturday of the month).
- On May 1st, people in Britain welcome spring by “Bringing in the May,” or gathering cuttings of flowering trees for their homes.
- May 1st in Hawaii is called “Lei Day,” and people will receive prizes this day for wearing the prettiest handmade leis.”
Hanging May Day baskets is an enchanting custom that is fun to incorporate into your own family traditions. Sweet paper cones made from stock card paper with scalloped edges and ribbons are easy to make and are a delightful surprise to find.
Supplies Needed:
- stock card paper (double sided paper if you want a pattern on the inside and outside of your May Day cone)
- scissors
- scalloped edged scissors
- ribbon
- shredded paper or tissue paper
- craft glue
- florist vials, if using fresh flowers
- candy, flowers, little gifts, etc.
Instructions:
- Cut stock card paper into a 7-inch square (I used double-sided stock paper to have prints on both the outside and inside of my May Day gift cones
- Use decorative scissors to cut scallops around the top edge of the square
- Place pencil tip at the bottom of the paper and begin rolling paper around pencil tip to form cone
- Secure outer flap of cone with glue
- Punch holes along scalloped edge approximately 1″ apart, beginning at the top front center
- Thread a 22″ – 24″ length of 1/2″ ribbon through the holes
- Tie ribbon into bow in the front … leaving a 6″ loop at the back of the cone for hanging
- If using fresh flowers, use florist vials and fill with water and flower stems to tuck into the cone, or fill with shredded paper or tissue paper and fill cone with silk flowers,candy, little gifts, etc.
What a lovely surprise to find hanging on your door … a May Day gift cone filled with silk flowers, a package of “Ferrero Rocher, fine hazlenut chocolates” and Unicorn Sparkle Nail Polish. (:
This sweet little May Day cone is filled with silk flowers, a tube of lipstick, and a small bottle of perfume.
Hope your May Day is filled with lots of sunshine and happy surprises!
From my cottage to yours ~ Trenda
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This week I’m joining:
Chloe Crabtree with Celebrate & Decorate
Gazing beyond the window at blue skies and spring blossoms, and inside … lace-y tree branches reflected on my grandmother’s glass-topped table … a dreamy place to work!
Instructions for dying Graham Cracker Crumbs
I love using cabin and lodge decor in our cottage. According to the dictionary, another synonym for cabin is cottage.
“Cabins are of many kinds …”
“There’s always the possibility of magic …”
“Everybody feels at home right away. A cabin’s furnishings are simple, often treasured family hand-me-downs. Its sleeping lofts, tucked under the eaves, evoke memories of childhood. Its fireplace or wood stove provides physical and emotional warmth.”
A peek inside our own cottage/cabin walls. Tartan plaid walls topped with crests and a trio of Loon Duck plates “nest” on the walls of our home on the lake. Lots of wood, books and collections exude that cabin-y feeling.
The mirrored cubby in our German “schrank” which loosely translated means cabinet, holds another collection of “treasured family hand-me-downs” from the years we lived in Germany … a German music box, crystal decanters and mugs, pottery, a stein from Oktoberfest, hand painted glasses, a wooden “Smoker” and a special gift from our landlord and friend; a decorative piece that says “Stammtisch” which denotes a table reserved for the regulars.
“In a cabin retreat, pleasure overcomes duty for a little while.” ~ Bill Holm
A rustic blend of frames imbibes that “cabin” feeling … “Home Sweet Home”
In this bedroom the Adirondack decor, warm colors, and the quilted bedding adds cabin charm. A little tree “glows a welcome” and stays up all year decorated cabin-style … wooden bobbers, lures, hand-carved canoes, fish stringers, and twinkle lights adorn it’s boughs.
Cabin decor … Boat Rentals 1/2 Mile
A desk with lots of cubby’s and glimpses of “the outdoors” is tucked away in a little nook, perfect for writing or musing.
A sweet reminder of our own little fisherman.<3
Warm woods and shelves always add cottage and cabin charm.
A little twilight and cottage glow …
Then, what better way is there to add a bit of cabin coziness to a home than to have a Honey Bun Cake baking in the oven; the smells alone conjure up cabin luxury at it’s best! This recipe is an old standby adapted from a favorite Betty Crocker recipe. Our rainy, cool, foggy day in February seemed the perfect time to get out my mixing bowl. Just as the last of our day was slipping away, the fog lifted and the rain stopped in time for a beautiful sunset!
Hope your last days of February are warm and cozy in your own “version of the ten-foot thatched hut.”(: Last blog on “all things winter!” In 2 days, it will be MARCH and the season for all things SPRING … sunshine and shamrocks … bunny’s and The Lamb! 
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These little skaters, with their magnet pedestals actually pirouette around the iced pond when the music box is wound up and playing. 
After dinner coffee and Dutch Almonette cookies are waiting to be served. Crystal mugs, biscuit barrel, and sugar creamer set match the “icicle” look of the frozen pond and snow flocked trees.
White crocheted-edged napkins are tucked inside navy blue napkins and are tied with a simple gold cord which nonchalantly holds the salad and dinner fork. Individual little tealights glow in white holders covered in “snowballs” and personalize each place setting.
My mind still links Tomato Soup and cold winter days together and we had a “snow day” this week which made me want to make “Tuscan Tomato Soup.” 
Winter weather managed to push past the borders of Texas earlier this week, and obliged us with a deposit of sleet and snow! We were excited when the weather forecasters predicted the possibility of us getting a wintry mix and began to look expectantly for our guests’ arrival. At 10:00 pm Monday evening the sleet arrived, right on time and entertained us for 2 hours before tiny snowflakes began falling! Snow is always a thrilling sight in our area of TEXAS and Richard and I watched the enchanting display from our opened door until shivering, we reluctantly left our vigil to warm up, before checking again. We finally went to bed around 2:00 am; the flakes were still swirling and our driveway and deck were covered. The weather forecasters deserve a gold star … not only did they get their predictions correct, our winter guests were punctual and came exactly when expected! (;
Side yard and cobbled pathway …
Waiting for Spring …
Backyard and lake …
View from our bathroom the next, sunny but cold day!
Hope you have a wonderful weekend with moments enjoyed padding around in warm fuzzy socks, mugs of coffee in hand, snuggled under comforters, comfy within and without!
“I’ll have a blue Christmas without you …”
“Here we come a-wassailing …”
“Daddy, how does this thing fly?”
“And a hundred other where’s and whys …”
“When you look down in those trusting eyes that look to you, you realize …”
Do you ever stop to think or wonder why? The nearest thing to Heaven is a child
Oh, I hope you enjoyed seeing our Christmas at Cottage Green and I hope you had a wonderful, blessed Christmas filled with moments that will warm your heart throughout the year. Our grand daughter told me, “Grandma, I’m sad Christmas is over” … I’m sad Christmas is over, too, but I promised God I am keeping Christmas in my heart, all year long! <3
