cottage – Page 3 – Cottage Green on the Lake

The Cottage Porch in Autumn and … Recipe for Easy, Cheesy Jalepeno & Pimento Dip

by Trenda

Welcome to the first day of autumn! In conjunction with the calendar, our temperatures in East Texas were cooler today with alternate periods of pouring rain … sunlight … or light rain pattering down on the still green leaves overhead. Our cooler weather inspired me to get our screened porch “dressed and ready” for the anticipated autumn days and evenings we’ll be spending out there.

A latticed topped table holds a mix of autumn colors and textures. The unframed canvas looks simple and charming painted in the “colors of the season.” Rustic textures are repeated in the bronze of the wire canoe candle holder … the bronze pine cone clock … and the bronze fish lamp – all against the rugged backdrop of the brick wall and the wooden shutters.

Daisy watches the falling rain against an array of pillows in autumn colors … soft plum, golden yellow, sage green, and crimson colored pillows are the background for a smaller fish pillow which continues the fishing theme of the cottage porch set by the Largemouth Bass on the lamp.

“A bad day fishing is better than a good day at work.”

Pillows and throws are an invitation to “sit a spell.”

A miniature screen door hangs on the brick wall with a tiny sign posted … “Home Sweet Home.”

After I got through cozy-ing up the screened porch, I pre-heated my oven and mixed up a delicious recipe of “Easy-Cheesy Jalelpeño & Pimento Dip” (recipe below) and slid it into the oven. While the dip was warming, I cut clusters of midnight black grapes and placed them in an antique berry bowl. Then, I washed and julienned my celery and stacked them on another sweet vintage dish. By then, the dip was ready and all golden, bubbly, cheesy-nes. (: I removed it from the oven and tucked Creamy Tomato & Basil Crackers and Sociables’ crackers into the dip, along the edges of the baking dish … then I placed “all” on a metal fish tray to carry out to the porch.

[SIDENOTE: I’m always on the lookout, when antiqu-ing, for unusual little dishes that are charming and make even the simplest meals seem special. Antique dishes, especially singles without a “mate” are surprisingly inexpensive. The little berry bowl with it’s pedestal legs and angular cut bowl was only 50 cents and the green serving dish with 2 glass handles and etchings on the bottom of the bowl that looks “perfectly, perfect” heaped with celery … olives … or pickled okra was less than a dollar!]

Bon appétit! (:

“Tête-à-tête on the screened porch.

A “Wecome to the Lake” DIY Fishing Wreath (instructions here) hangs on the French door and a gift from our dear son and DDIL … a fishing net with bobbers and carved wooden fish is “cast” over the door frame.

Afternoon raindrops and shadows …

Easy, Cheesy Jalepeño & Pimento Dip

Ingredients:

Price’s Pimento Cheese spread (I ONLY use Price’s)
Diced, Mild Jalepeño’s

(This is the simplest recipe and is really just a matter of stirring ingredients together … but it is so delicious! Heating the pimiento cheese makes it creamier and slightly sweeter.) I always try to keep the ingredients on hand for quick snacks and/or unexpected guests! (:

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees or use microwave
Stir together pimento cheese and desired amount of drained jalepeño’s (I used approximately 2 teaspoons of diced jalepeño’s for this small dish, but adjust the amount of peppers you use according to the “degree” of spiciness that you prefer and the amount of pimento cheese used!)
spread pimento mixture into an ovenproof, shallow dish, good for dipping
Microwave or cook until edges are bubbly
Tuck assorted crackers into the dip, around the edge of the serving dish and serve warm with crackers, veggies, or bread

Have fun decorating the nooks and crannies of your cottage and getting ready for “the cozy season” ahead because the crickets have been warning us … “summer is changing into autumn.”

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…” Ecclesiastes 3:1

From my cottage to yours ~ Trenda

Thank you for reading my blog! To have all my posts delivered to your email address, just click FOLLOW in my post above … or click on my site: cottagegreenonthelake.com

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Trenda@ cottagegreenonthelake.com

This week I’m joining:

Courtney at French Country Cottage

Carol from The Red Painted Cottage

Chloe Crabtree from Celebrate & Decorate

The Cottage Series – Part 3

~ by Trenda

Cozy and cottage go together like peas and carrots and a way to add some “cozy” to your home is to display the things you love to collect. In my first chapter of The Cottage Series and also in The Cottage Series Part 2 I’ve shown you some of the collections inside the crooks and crannies of Cottage Green and given you some decorating tips on how to add the “cottage look” to your home. My kitchen cupboards display a lot more than just the usual dishes! Nestled and peeking out among the plates and dishes of my kitchen hutch, you’ve seen an assortment of things I love to collect … salt cellars, silver spoons, Staffordshire creamers, thatched roofed sugar bowls, miniature tea sets, and Boyd’s Bear collectibles.

I have a collection of “farmyard fowl” that all began after my mother-in-law gave me the rooster and hen set I’d always admired that she kept on a little shelf in her kitchen. My husband said “as long as he can remember” this rooster and hen were displayed in their kitchen. I love that she gave them to me and I now have them in a little cubby Richard made in our kitchen, that I fondly call “the chicken coop.”

The coloring of the smaller rooster on the right, matched perfectly with the antique rooster and hen my mother-in-law gave me, so I grouped them all together. I can never resist antique dishes in green and white and I loved this plaid plate when I saw it! Though there was only one and I didn’t know yet, how I would use it … I bought it. After Richard made my little “coop” I placed the plate in the back of the shelf and loved the bold background and the way it contrasted with the colors of the roosters and hen.

The middle shelf is anchored with a quaint coffee mill, another cherished gift from Richard’s mother. A music box we bought in Switzerland – is not something you would usually find in a kitchen (; It plays the sweet tune of “Edelweiss” and is wood carving of a young boy in overalls, holding his pet rooster in one arm and a pail of feed in the other … with a trail of chickens behind him. The music box looks perfectly quaint, centered on the coffee mill and right at home in the kitchen with some smaller hens, ducks, baby chicks and geese I’ve collected and “scattered” for company on the shelf. Another plaid plate propped behind the farmyard scene is another orphaned plate I found!

Make sure your shelves don’t appear top heavy or out of balance. Decorations on your top shelf should appear visually “lighter” and simpler than the items placed on your lower shelves. A French inspired hen by Villeroy and Bach and a Colonial Homestead plate by Royal China is a simple and sophisticated “finial” perched above the other shelves.

On the other side of the kitchen, Richard removed the doors from these cabinets so I could display my collection of antique green and white dishes and other cherished pieces. The dishes are a mixture of patterns … Currier and Ives “The Old Curiosity Shop” … Old Colonial Homestead … and Green and White transferware from England but they’re lovely “mixed together” all in the same shades of greens.

Stacking dishes in your cabinets not only creates visual interest, but also gives you more room … a double bonus! (:

More roosters, ducks, chicks, and even eggs are a punctuation point on each shelf and a re-occurring theme. Each season, I replace these accent pieces with different decor. Red, white, and blue Americana is getting ready to replace the hens and roosters … which will later be replaced by autumn decor … which will be replaced by antique Thanksgiving turkeys … which will be replaced by Christmas treasures.

A beautiful pierced aluminum antique ceramic casserole dish belonged to my mother and was a present, I was thrilled she gave to me. The beautiful matching brass-handled casserole dishes on the top shelf were a gift from Richard, 40 years ago. ❤ Sweet memories I get to look at every day that are easily reached and are practical and useful decor!

Visually uniting my cabinets to my counter tops, I placed a Fitz and Floyd platter on the counter top that matched both the French Country cabbage serving bowl and the storybook, goat-topped dish in my cabinets. The canisters match the sugar and creamer set and the ceramic colander on the shelves.

By the way, open shelves are easy to “create” in your home by removing your cabinet doors, filling in the holes left from the hinges with wood filler, and then painting. Though open shelves definitely add a “cottage feel” to any home, I also use these decorating tips “behind closed doors.” (; It is delightful to open a cabinet door and see a vignette made up of sparkling dishes, artfully arranged.

From my cottage to yours ~ Trenda

Thank you for reading my blog! To have all my posted delivered to your email address, just click FOLLOW in my post above … or click on my site: cottaagegreenonthelake.com

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Trenda@cottagegreenonthelake.com

Woodland Tablescape … DIY Centerpiece & Napkin Rings

I enjoyed doing some tabletop decorating last week and I combined two different decorating styles in my table setting. I love the look of fragile crystal and goldware mixed with chunky pottery, natural grapevine napkin rings and woven baskets. “Elegance meets Rustic” and “opposites, do indeed attract” (; … as this duo is lovely together and the contrast of styles makes a cozy woodland tablescape.To make the woodland centerpiece I took the plastic covering off of 2 blocks of floral foam and hot glued them into the bottom of a woven basket I had. Then I began filling the basket with a collection of grasses, cattails, pine cone floral stems, pheasant feathers and birch twigs I had “amassed” over the years. The tallest part of any arrangement should be in the center, so after anchoring my tallest pieces I began “fanning down” both sides from the center of the arrangement, inserting my filler into the florist foam. The last addition and focal point I added to the arrangement was a metal art piece … a copper stag among metal fir trees. For my place settings I used pieces of vintage Hull and Pfaltzgraff pottery, a treasure that Richard found and bought for me at an auction he went to with his brother, Bob. The dishes are a sweet remembrance for both of us since Bob passed away this past October. ❤ The pattern on this stoneware is known as “Brown Drip” pattern, a favorite of both the Hull and Pfaltzgraff Stoneware Companies during the 1930’s.These simple, rustic napkin rings are made using mini-grapevine wreaths. I downloaded my free woodland tags from Decorator’s Notebook by Bethan John. After printing and cutting out my tags, I punched a hole in each tag using a standard hole punch. Then I inserted a moss-green satin ribbon into the hole of each tag and tied the ribbon into a bow to the grapevine, making sure the tag was facing out as I pulled my knot of the bow, tight.I love these darling little bean pots and keep collecting them whenever I see them at antique stores. They look charming holding BBQ beans for autumn wiener roasts … filled with Chili con Carne on cold winter evenings … brimming with Stuffed Pepper Soup on breezy Spring picnics … or in the summer, filled with colorful Cajun Beans (recipe coming at a later date!) alongside grilled steaks! Crystal glasses and little goblets from Germany are etched with grapevines and are rimmed in gold and have golden bases. I love the look of the fragile crystal contrasting with the heavy pottery and the comparison makes the crystal seem even more delicate. And this hand painted canoe makes a darling caddy for sweeteners!A mixture of metals … the copper stag and the goldware add gleam to all the forest browns, moss greens and the deep brown dishes. For a final touch of coziness, I added this little lamp that looks like it was made for my woodland tablescape! The golden lampshade matches the carved canoe and also highlights the goldware and golden goblets while the dark silhouettes of the spruce trees and moose on the lamp shade adds more “depth” to my rustic theme.You know how I love using every day objects in unusual ways?! I pulled Richard’s cashmere muffler from the closet and thought it made the perfect table runner for my woodland tablescape! The softness of the muffler contrasted with the rough basket centerpiece and it’s color … the same browns and moss-green colors found in the forest!Juxtaposition/definition by Merriam-Webster: the act or an instance of placing two or more things side by side often to compare or contrast or to create an interesting effect. Hmmm … crystal next to pottery, textured, woven centerpiece sitting atop soft, luxurious cashmere, and rustic grapevines mixed with elegant goldware??? I love juxtaposition decorating! (:P.S. We saw 2 Bald Eagles, yesterday!!! Neither Richard or I had ever seen one except in books or film! Then, we saw 2 in one day! The first eagle we saw around noon just nonchalantly sitting in a tree and the second one we saw in a totally different area, near sunset, also perched in the top of a huge Sycamore Tree. After our second Bald Eagle flew off, our “Blue, Super Moon” was just begin to rise and it was gorgeous! I couldn’t help but think of the scripture I had just read that morning …“Praise the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.” Psalms 104:1-3

From my cottage to yours ~ TrendaThank you for reading my blog! To have all my posts delivered to your email address, just click FOLLOW in my post above .. or click on my site: cottagegreenonthelake.com

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Trenda@cottagegreenonthelake.com

I’m joining Chloe Crabtree with Celebrate & Decorate

Carol from The Red Painted Wagon

Christmas at Cottage Green

What a special season Christmas truly is. It’s not just one day, but a culmination of days. Days of … cookie making, shopping and wrapping, decorating the house, watching Hallmark movies, drinking hot cocoa, setting up the manger, being with family and friends, caroling, and worship . Then, hanging up stockings, putting out cookies for Santa, sprinkling reindeer food on the lawn, and finally (there’s a sermon in here!) “joy, comes in the morning.” It’s a season of busyness, frenzy, stress, wonder, love, sadness of “memories of happy years gone by” gratitude, reflection, and marvel. Here’s a last tribute to our Christmas season and moments at Cottage Green. There’s lots to re-cap and lots of pictures, so get yourself a “cup of cheer” and make yourself comfy!

Silent night, holy night. All is calm, all is bright …

“Not a creature was stirring, not even a …” porcupine!

… or a hedgehog! (:

“Away in a manger, no crib for a bed. The little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head.”

“The stars in the sky look down where He lay The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.”

“Angels we have heard on high, sweetly caroling o’er the plains.”

“Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays”

“O Christmas Tree, o Christmas tree how lovely are thy branches …”

“Rockin’ around the Christmas tree …”

“Santa Claus is coming to town …”

“It’s a marshmallow world in the winter …”

“I’ll have a blue Christmas without you …”

“The holly bears a prickle, as sharp as any thorn, and Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ, on Christmas Day in the morn”

“Here we come a-wassailing …”

“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire …”

Then … family photos with little and big kids! ❤

“When it’s Christmas time in Texas …”

“It might just look like a summer day There may not be snow in San Antonio But it’s a Texas Christmas to me.”

“Thank God for Kids”

“Thank God for kids there’s magic for a while …

(grand son <3)

A special kind of sunshine in a smile …

(grand daughter <3)

Do you ever stop to think or wonder why? The nearest thing to Heaven is a child.”
“Daddy, how does this thing fly?”

“And a hundred other where’s and whys …”

(dear daughter-in-law DDIL <3)

“You really don’t know but you try, thank God for kids …”

(grand daughter and daughter <3)

“When you look down in those trusting eyes that look to you, you realize …”

It’s a love that you can’t buy thank God for kids.”

Thank God for kids, there’s magic for a while …

A special kind of sunshine in a smile …

Do you ever stop to think or wonder why? The nearest thing to Heaven is a child

When you get down on your knees tonight To thank the Lord for his guiding light And pray they turn out right, thank God for kids Thank God for Kids” ~ songwriters: Edward Futch/Edward G. Futch

(our kids <3)

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! ❤

From my cottage to yours ~ Trenda

Thank you for reading my blog! To have all my posts delivered to your email address, just click FOLLOW in my post above … or click on my site: cottagegreenonthelake.com

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Trenda@cottagegreenonthelake.com

This week I’m joining:

Chloe Crabtree with Celebrate & Decorate

Barbara from 21 Rosemary Lane

Christmas Advent Calendar “Countdown to Christmas” DIY Project

It’s hard to believe, but it’s time to,

"Deck the halls again now...
For we need a little Christmas
Right this very minute
Candles in the window
Carols at the spinet
And we need a little Christmas
Right, this very minute
We need a little Christmas now."


~ written by Jerry Herman for the Broadway musical Mame

The countdown to Christmas has begun and these miniature envelopes you make yourself (use free link below) are a charming way to mark off the days until Christmas.

The Last of Autumn … “Something Told the Wild Geese”

As I was taking a picture of this glorious Ash Tree, I recognized a sound above me, like the whoosh of a wave approaching the shore. I hurriedly snapped the picture and was thrilled when I saw I had “captured” these pelicans in flight! As I stood there and marveled, phone still poised and ready, 3 more “squadron” of pelicans flew over! I felt like I had just been presented with a gift … as indeed, I had! (: NOTE: A group of pelicans have many collective names … BRIEF, POD, POUCH, SCOOP, and SQUADRON … are all names for a group of pelicans.

As I stood there reflecting on what I had just seen, I thought of this poem …

Something Told the Wild Geese

Something told the wild geese

It was time to go,

Though the fields lay golden

Something whispered, “snow.”

Leaves were green and stirring,

Berries, luster-glossed,

But beneath warm feathers

Something cautioned, “frost.”

All the sagging orchards

Steamed with amber spice,

But each wild breast stiffened

At remembered ice.

Something told the wild geese

It was time to fly,

Summer sun was on their wings,

Winter in their cry.

~by Rachel Fields

Here are the pictures I promised I would share with you of Autumn in November at Cottage Green on the Lake.

Golden leaves on this young Eastern Redbud and more golden leaves on our Ash tree down by the lake contrast beautifully with the red bark and the red roof on our boat dock and stand out brilliantly against a backdrop of green.

The red leaves of the Sweet Gum Tree and the golden yellow leaves of our Ash trees blaze against the blue of the lake and autumn sky. Fallen leaves cover the lawn in gold!

Chartreuse Sweet potato vine rambles over a treasured hand pump that Richard’s mother used in “days gone by.” ❤

Flowering Kale and Cabbage and sweet-faced pansies line the the paved sideyard.

Azaleas, Coleus, and Impatiens in varying shades of vivid pink.

“It was November … the month of crimson sunsets, parting birds, deep, sad hymns of the sea, passionate winds songs in the pines.” ~ L.M. Montgomery

” … let the whole earth be filled with His glory.” Psalms 72:19

Today is the last day of November and Autumn. I hope you enjoyed seeing “The Last of Autumn” on Cedar Creek Lake! Tomorrow is the beginning of Winter and December and I will be showing you how to make a fun and nostalgic Advent Calendar to begin the countdown to … C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S! (:

From my cottage to yours ~ Trenda

This week I’m joining:

Lisa from Feathering My Empty Nest

Thank you for reading my blog! To have all my posts delivered directly to your email address, just click FOLLOW in my post above … or click on my site: cottagegreenonthelake.com

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Trenda@cottagegreenonthelake.com

The Gentle Caress of Autumn Comes to the Cottage ………………… by Trenda

“… the gentle caress of autumn steals the sultry heat of summer …” author unknown

Autumn comes gently in the South with the days slowly becoming cooler and just the tips of burnished leaves can be seen shining in the golden sunlight.

Our Beauty Berry Bush is laden with brightly colored berries in a gorgeous shade of purple … autumn delicacies for our “feathered friends.”

A little birdhouse tucked among the leaves and blooms of an Encore Azalea that is putting on it’s “final act” with brilliant autumn blooms. A flying squirrel, while house-hunting, decided this little house was going to be his new home with it’s green roof, lichen covered walls, and view of the lake. Without waiting for “a showing” he gained entry by nibbling his way into the opening and took up residency! (;

The sunlight in autumn highlights the green of the grass and leaves against the azure blue lake and sky.

Lantana with harvest gold and red blossoms, red periwinkles, and Marguerite (ornamental sweet potato vine) “glow” in the autumn light.

“The gentle caress of autumn” can also be seen inside our cottage as I add some touches of the season.

Copper glittered ACORNS rest on golden leaves …

Are tucked into moss-lined nests …

… dangle from a display stand and top a Fitz & Floyd “trinket box.”

An array of soaps in scents of pumpkin “and spice and everything nice.”

Glossy pumpkins perch on chunky urns …

And contrast strikingly with blue and white Ginger jars …

And in the kitchen … a Swarovski crystal squirrel “gathers” provisions! (:

I love adding whimsical touches and reminders of the season to our home … and for all of us, this is just the beginning of all things pumpkin and harvest to come! Have fun using your imagination and “putting some autumn jewelry” on your house!

From my cottage to yours ~ Trenda

Thank you so much for reading my blog today! This week I’m joining:

Lynn of the Vintage Nest

Courtney with Feathered Nest Friday

Welcome to the Lake … DIY Wreath for the Summer!

~ Trenda

I was delighted when I saw this rustic looking ribbon covered with fishing terms in bold fonts! I had been wanting to make a wreath for our front door and the “discovery” of that ribbon set “the theme” for my whole wreath. After finding the fishing ribbon, the rest of the coordinating ribbons were easily found. A coarse textured, sage green ribbon, a loose weaved burlap colored ribbon, a rope-like ribbon, and a wooden fish and bobber finished my purchases and I was ready to begin making my wreath. A wreath that would “say” … “Welcome to the long days of summer at the lake!”

Here are supplies I used making my lake wreath:

straw wreath form
floral pins
scissors
ruler
ribbons – at least 3 different colors or widths
wooden fish and bobber

Only materials needed … scissors, a ruler, a straw wreath, floral pins, ribbon, and a wooden fish and bobber! (Note: Be sure to leave the clear plastic covering on your straw wreath to keep your wreath intact, and your straw from shedding all over your floor!)

Instructions: (see pictures above)

Measure a length of ribbon approximately 17″ long and cut. (Note: When you cut your ribbon, make a “pretty” diagonal cut since this will be the “tail” of your bow!)
Grasp the cut length of ribbon in the middle and put your thumb on the center of the ribbon.
Make a loop on each side of the center point (where you are holding the ribbon) These loops are the 2 loops your bow. Grasp where the 2 loops cross over each other, in the center.
Bunch the center of the ribbon together and place a floral pin over the “bunched” ribbon and push the “bow” into the straw form, pushing the floral pin all the way down. (Note: the “tails” of your bow add fullness to your wreath!)
Make your next bow, repeating the same steps but alternating the colors of the ribbon you are using.
To make your wreath fuller, place your next bow so one side of the loop goes between the “tails” of the previous bow, then pin. Switch the direction of your bow each time before pinning.
When your wreath is covered with bows, go back and fill in the sides and center where you see any gaps.

I added my “rope cord” filler by going back after my wreath was complete and floral pinning just a loose cord around the entire wreath. Last touch … I floral pinned my little wooden fish and bobber dangling on a piece of twine, near the top of the wreath so it would hang down in the center of my wreath.

“Welcome to the Lake!”

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19

Wishing you the best of summer’s!

From my cottage to yours ~ Trenda

I’m delighted you read my blog today! Please click on FOLLOW in the post above or on my site cottagegreenonthelake.com to have all my posts delivered directly to your email address. Also, I’m joining Kelly from The Essence of Home in a Share Your Style Link Party (click here to see other great sites)

Spring Cleaning and Cottage Decorating

by Trenda

For the last two weeks we have been cleaning out landscape beds, training wandering Wisteria along trellises … and raking, raking, raking! With our beautiful shade trees, there are a LOT of leaves! (: This mountain of leaves is just one our many heaps we burned from the gigantic pile of leaves Richard raked up! With all the debris we cleaned up, it’s hard to believe this is just the “remnants” or leftovers, after all our autumn raking! After our day of work, we sat in the twilight and enjoyed watching the last embers glowing … gazing as the last visage of our winter went up in smoke!

Inside the cottage … spring cleaning and decorating continues. (: I love this time of year and bring out my collections of birds and little nests filled with eggs. You can find them perching in unexpected places, peeking out of nooks and crannies, and on tabletop vignette’s.

A Saucer Magnolia swag drapes over the hall tree …

A little nest nestles at the base of this Angel garden statuary …

Down the staircase is a favorite picture … “The Lord is my Shepherd” and a metal vase filled with fragrant eucalyptus and peacock feathers.

A little alcove under the hall tree … another perfect nesting spot!

“Bird watching” (; … this vertigo green bird blends beautifully with the green shades of this collection of antique dishes from England.

Antique dishes on the lower deck … “The Old Curiosity Shop” by Currier and Ives.

A nest entwined with spring buds and new leaves is perched on a miniature bird bath filled with millet.

Little birds stand guard on a cake plate watching over two sweet eggs nestled on a bed of moss. A mercury glass bird and a fairy tale toadstool look charming together, sheltered under the glass canopy.

A blown glass cloche with a bird “finial” covers a little nest holding a glittered acorn.

A silver bird perches on the edge of his nest … the perfect cache for a little treat of birdseed! (; The color of the millet matches the hues in the painting above and the in-laid wood of the tea cart.

A beautiful azalea from our own front yard almost “glows” in an antique bird planter. Under a “twiggy” lamp with a little wire nest ensconced in it’s branches, a cloche covers a pair of sweet owls and a moss-lined nest filled with speckled eggs.

The dusty red blossomed “trumpets” of Crossvine cover our fence and are climbing over an antique variety of Boxwood growing nearby. The buzzing bumblebees and bright blossoms seem to proclaim …

“WELCOME SPRING…!”

“FLOWERS APPEAR ON THE EARTH: THE SEASON OF SINGING HAS COME. THE COOING OF DOVES IS HEARD IN OUR LAND. THE FIG TREE FORMS ITS EARLY FRUIT; THE BLOSSOMING VINES SPREAD THEIR FRAGRANCE.” SONG OF SOLOMON 2:12-13

From my cottage to yours ~ Trenda

Thank you for spending some time with me today! Please click on the box marked FOLLOW in my blog above to have each new post delivered directly to your e-mail address. I’m joining Chloe Crabtree with Celebrate & Decorate (click here) and Lynn from The Vintage Nest (click here) for other great decorating ideas and DIY projects!

Cottage Decorating for Valentine’s Day, Romance and Spring …

by Trenda

After seeing the first coral blossoms on a Flowering Quince … a row of blooming daffodils … and a bluebird in our backyard hunting for a nesting spot, it’s time for the interior decor of our cottage to shrug out of it’s winter garments and get “dressed” for Valentine’s Day, Romance and Spring!

My decorating transformation began on our mantle … using a collection of blue and white porcelain pieces … a favorite over-sized clock with a Carolina Wren painted on it’s face … and two matching crystal decanters (bought near the Czech border) and serving as bookends on either end of the mantle. Then I took a swag that was covered with roses and eucalyptus and wove two strands of twinkle lights between the flowers – to add a little glimmer and magic (; before draping the swag across the mantle. I tucked in a few more grape clusters and moss covered bird nests “here and there” for additional cuteness!

A bird stands near his nest amidst the delightful setting of roses. A stack of gardening books is a base for a collection of blue and white porcelain pieces and a Delft Ginger jar bought and brought all the way from Holland!

Atop a porcelain box and tucked at the base of the clock are little nests filled with ferns, prickly statice, Scottish heather, and green speckled eggs.

Large Ginger Jars in blue and white porcelain.

I love the patina of this mirror! It used to be a gaudy-gold until Richard and I painted the entire mirror frame with white paint. After it dried, we “distressed” the surface with sand paper to let a little bit of the gold “peek through.” Now, it’s “one of my favorite things” and one of our keepsakes – it’s been with us since we bought our first home! (P.S. I love this picture showing the beautiful patina of our mirror and the reflection of our dining room chandelier and our kitchen in the background.)

Now, for the hearth! Same colors and spring mood are reflected in both the mantle and hearth. More blue and white porcelain and the “outside is brought in” with a green wreath bursting with white blossoms and sheltering an intricate obelisk.

A tiny birdbath is filled with mossy stones and more speckled eggs … a chunky white urn holds a white gardenia on a bed of moss … and two antique books serve as a base and staircase to a blue and white peacock plate. I love the blue and green book on the top of the stack; everything about is darling! … from it’s jacket covered in dainty flowers and blue and green striping, the green oval “cameo” of a ladies profile encircled in gold, and it’s charming title … Haps and Mishaps Blackberry Jam ❤

Well, here in East Texas, the ground hog did not see his shadow. It was 80 degrees today with warm weather predicted for the next 10 days! Here on the lake it definitely “feels like” spring and adding to my list and sighting’s of spring harbinger’s … today I saw Saucer Magnolia blooming … a beautiful red-violet blossom unfolding on my Encore Azalea … and my White Lady Banks Rose Bush is covered in buds!

From my cottage to yours ~ Trenda

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~ Trenda

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by Trenda

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by Trenda

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