~ Trenda
“Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August.” —Jenny Han
It’s hard to believe it’s the end of August and our golden, lazy, summer days are waning. Another summer filled with happy laughter, cannonball splashes. bobbing rafts, sunset boat rides, locust droning and warm breezes blowing against cooled bodies in wet bathing suits. Here are some of the good and magical moments of our summer.
Days of boating …

Feeding the geese and ducks …

PaPa’s First Mate and Skipper … This look on our little grandson’s face is priceless as he samples the duck food (pumpernickel bread) and tells me … “Grandma, this tastes yucky!” (: (: (:

Days of floating …

Precious lullaby moments …

These white herons flew in from their day wandering’s to roost and “bed down” in the boughs of this tree for the night.

Deer grazing on the green grasses beside the lake at twilight.

Watching summer sunsets tinge the lake color to shades of pink and purple.

There were summer “Cousin Days” and playing hide ‘n seek …

Riding piggy-back …

Riding skate boards … painting faces … climbing walls at the park … happy faces and happy hearts! “Your cousin is your very first friend.”

Enjoying fun family tradition’s … Sand Pail Ice Cream!

“PaPa and Grandma’s House … where cousins become best friends.” This is what king size beds were made for … sleepover’s with my grand babies snuggled next to me and sweet, little hands patting and holding mine in the night.

All in all, it was a never to be forgotten summer — one of those summers which come seldom into any life, but leave a rich heritage of beautiful memories in their going … ~L. M. Montgomery

Summer slips away in a lilac sky.

It was indeed “a good and magical time.” Goodbye summer, we’re going to miss you!
From my cottage to yours ~ Trenda

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This week I’m joining Chloe Crabtree with Celebrate & Decorate

The focal point of this tablescape is vintage minnow bucket that Richard found for me on one of our antique-ing excursions. Some time ago, I told him I was looking a for a minnow bucket though I had a certain “look” in mind for that bucket. I wanted an antique bucket with good coloring and with graphics that were still readable, but I didn’t want it to look all “beat up” so I could use it for arrangements. I was amazed when months after I mentioned it to him, he came to me smiling with this perfect gift in hand, complete with both the bucket and the minnow strainer and with the added bonus of a little rust to enhance the patina! Now, that my friends is a gift more romantic to me than a bouquet of roses! <3

























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





















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








