Teapots and Friendships

My dear friend Angelica who visited with her DH last weekend brought me this adorable gift. The teapot is solid glass, as heavy as a paperweight, with the flower embedded inside. Pretty enough alone but then, on opening a second box, there was this white wood stand which has a bulb inside and when plugged in it illuminates the teapot..............such a golden glow. I have it in my dining room now - it would also make a beautiful night light in a bedroom

Thank you dear friend - you always spoil me and give me such delightful gifts!

Speaking of friendships, most of us share special times with our women friends, many of whom we've been fortunate enough to live close to for many years. These are people we would miss so very much if we, or they, moved away. Even harder is going through a personal situation where not only have you moved and lost friends, you may have lost a spouse and be mourning. This has happened recently to a British born friend on the West coast who has just started a blog in hopes she can get through her grief by sharing her personal story, photography, and words. She also lost her dear Mother to Alzheimer's early this year so things have been really tough for her. If you visit her, or know friends who may be in a similar situation and would like to share thoughts, she would love to hear from you. You will find her at Blackpool Rocks

Fun Thrifting

Thursday, in 90 degrees and blazing sun, I spent two delightful hours with Susie and Anna, the fabulous gals who find such wonderful antique/vintage/shabby chic treasures for their charming shop

"SuzAnna's Antiques" . Among my bounty, two Euro size square pillows - down/feather forms - with perfectly faded floral Ralph Lauren linen shams with wide ruffles, a bargain at $30. the pair! They are now washed and fluffed and being used in the gazebo - sure make those wrought iron chairs more comfy to lean back in as we watch the garden grow!

The old wood corbel will go somewhere - the adorable metal bowl is on my dresser as it's the perfect blue grey for the bedroom. Another old wood sign was grabbed fast as the thoughts of marking a nook in the garden as the

"Secret Garden" was irresistible.

This "old man in the moon with nymph" is perfect on the back fence - there's a sun at the other end - and of course squirrels are already checking it thinking there's birdseed in it!

These are some pics showing the huge amount of fabulous treasure available at SuzAnna's......right now! Of course the displays hanging from walls, ceilings, fences, on tables, in cabinets, on shelves..........and of course the floor, change weekly as stock is sold and replenished. Some areas are for consignments from "cottage/antiques" vendors............all really neat, quaint collectibles and necessities for our homes and gardens ~~~~ or just to please our romantic thoughts and the need to "feather the nest".

Ooh! to think I threw out my huge collection of patterns just recently - I used to sew clothing constantly!


Below is the wonderful outdoor "hunting ground" at SuzAnna's. I love this space which seems to be extending out further so one is greeted by treasures immediately when jumping from the car in the parking area. Susie and Anna are usually out here busy painting cottagey furniture, touching up mirror and picture frames, planting every unusual type of container with flowers.

Notice the blue grey shutters top right pic, these are part of the set from which I bought the two for my bedroom (love 'em so much!). Guess what.......bought two more this week and will store them until Fall when I plan to make over the guest room - they may get a different paint wash color but will definitely be hanging in that room some day.

I also found this adorable oval mirror with unusual little "legs" which really hangs on the wall I think. The cream/gilt finish is perfect, few small scratches on the glass but that's makes it better. I will hang this in the guest room as part of the make over.

AND..................do you see them? More old copies of Victoria. Anna, bless her heart, found them for me and gave them to me as a gift - how fabulous is that! Guess what I'll be doing this afternoon while having tea in the gazebo..................lounging back on that pillow, reading Victoria and munching real English chocolate covered Digestive biscuits I found at World Market. Well a girl has to be bad sometimes!

Inspiration Friday

....................there was time to sleep, long lovely hours of night snuggled in a comfy bed, enveloped in a puffy duvet, lavender water scenting my pillow. However, somewhere along the way my bed time has become shorter and shorter because there is always so much to do and sleep seems at the bottom of the list! I know this is not a good thing so I plan to try to get more sleep, Now if only DH would stop snoring.............
These are some beautiful beds from French Country magazine.



So that's all for now........a little inspiration goes a long way.........I'm off to my bed right now as it's already Friday.

French Gateau Recipe

Several friends have requested the recipe for the very easy French cake which seems to have become a staple around here! Good just served plain for afternoon tea with a cuppa, or gussied up with whipped or pouring cream for a pretty dessert. Apparently the story behind this gateau style cake is that it's rustled up quickly to serve "pour le gouter" the afternoon snack when the children come home from school at 4 p.m. Dinner is served much later in France so I guess this yummy treat doesn't interfere with the evening meal!

Note the addition of ground almonds - these are used often in European baking and add nice moisture to a cake. I buy the pound bag of Bob's Red Mill Ground Almond Meal/Flour which I find available in most grocery stores in their health/natural foods section. Keep it in a zip bag in the 'frig. I use unsalted butter. Have tried using half Splenda for the sugar, however the cake looks a bit different in color, but tastes fine.

I now use all flexible silicon baking pans (KitchenAid has great ones - often on sale in TJMaxx/Marshalls/Homegoods). Love them for even cooking and easy release - this gateau pops right out on a plate inverted on top - nothing stuck behind in the pan!! Watch the cake carefully toward end of the baking time as it will start to brown quickly - I find 30 mins. is fine with the flexible pan - when I can see it pulling away from the edges. Hope you can click and enlarge recipe and start baking soon.

Enjoy!

I sometimes sprinkle with crushed pistachios or sliced almonds.
One of my favorite toppings for anything with fruit is Mascarpone Cream.

1/2 cup mascarpone cheese

2 tablespoons honey

1 cup heavy whipping cream

Have cream, medium bowl and beaters chilled.

Whisk together mascarpone and honey in small bowl.

Whip cream to medium peaks in chilled medium bowl.

Fold mascarpone mixture into whipped cream. Chill until ready to serve.

Makes about 2-1/2 cups.

Back to Reality

Today after dropping my DH at the airport for a business trip to Sacramento (he's actually "actively retired" and back as a consultant!), I desperately needed some "retail therapy" after back-to-back weekends with visiting friends..................loved having you but need to to get back to reality after all that talking, eating, drinking and gallivanting!!

Shopping area near the airport includes local Homegoods store next door to a TJMaxx - here's what I found....in TJM, the "Summer bag" for banging around and travel - genuine Fossil brand at 50% off (you know how we all look for bargains). Love this bag after looking for several weeks for one that met the criteria..............fabric, lightweight, lined in pretty floral cotton, many pockets. and looooooooooong adjustable strap for handheld, shoulder, and across the body when traveling. Too many backpacks being pilfered I hear - and I do love my backpacks for convenience.

The tablecloth is gorgeous for $7. on a clearance shelf! 100% cotton but looks like linen - love the striped border on the damask print. This is for the outdoor dining table on the deck - realized I need a long rectangular cloth which I can cut and velcro to go around the umbrella. Bit embarrassing when I set the new table for company and had to use two cloths!

At Homegoods the blue dishes were irresistible so I bought four for $12. - real Summer theme with starfish, shells etc. and I like them layered on these cream rustic dishes.

See those two tablecloths? Eclectic tablescape!!!!!!!My popular, easy to make, French gateau with fresh juicy pears (you can use apples, apricots etc.). This was quickly scoffed down slathered with whipped cream at afternoon tea in the gazebo. It was amazing to have two sets of dear friends visit for consecutive weekends and have gorgeous weather each time. We certainly enjoyed dining alfresco much of the time - I felt I was back in France or Italy - and of course nothing shabby in that. When enjoying those countries I loved eating and drinking meals under the sun, an umbrella, or a pergola covered with climbing roses and wisteria vines.

Inspiration Friday

I'm trying to keep up but the days are fleeting fast. For inspiration this week I'm sharing some pics of containers around the cottage - starting with this beautiful painting of a French pot. I love how this shot turned out with the writing from the background transferring to the reflection of my kitchen window blinds! Funny how a fluke can really inspire one - I now know I must work more diligently on becoming more creative in my photography efforts.

One of a pair of cast iron urns atop my pine armoire - love the rusty coloring and the shape.
A decorated wood shelf holding one of my decoupaged pots - with writing again, of course! One day I plan to get back to decorating my waiting stack of terra cotta pots.
Bought this pretty rusted iron basket and have never known what to put in it so leave it empty and just enjoy the design and color.
Found this charming beaded bowl last year on a Homegoods clearance shelf - holds different items at different times - decorative balls at Christmas, Easter eggs, fruit, mail, my car keys!! This bowl evokes that Bohemian look I like to mix with cottage items - what my decorating friends call "Elegant Shabby Cottage" - that's an oxymoron.
Hope your holiday weekend is wonderful - stay safe, especially if traveling, don't get burned at the beach and, like it or not, hot Summer weather is here - well in the South it is and we desperately need some rain.

Heavenly Hydrangeas

Some of you say you have not heard about the Endless Summer Hydrangeas so am sharing a little information on these wonderful plants. I've usually had good luck with all my Hydrangeas, my long time favorite being the Nikko Blue mophead. Then last year I read about these new plants and was able to find them locally and planted five around the garden. These two in the front bed by my porch are really prolific - blooming, as advertised, all Summer long and well into the Fall. I cut these back to about 18" in early Spring, only to have the lovely new growth zapped by the big Easter freeze. I was worried they would not do well this Summer however as you can see from these pics taken today, they are healthy and loaded with pale green blooms which are starting to turn blue in my acidic soil.
The new Blushing Bride is also available now - saw dozens in assorted size pots at my local Home Depot last week. I must find a spot for one of these which are very pretty and cottagey looking !


I really love Hydrangeas - they make a statement in the garden, are long lived and don't seem to suffer from any pest problems. They do of course love plenty of water during the hot Summertime. The flowers are beautiful in the house in that lovely china vase we all found at the thrift shop! The muted colors of the dried blooms are decorative throughout the Winter months.