It's Peony Time!

Are peony's blooming yet where you live? They sure are here in Michigan and
I took the opportunity to do a couple photos shoots. I think my camera is on the way
"out", but I am trying to nurse it along and hopefully it will last for awhile yet.

I had to include some AQUA because I think pink and aqua are just meant to be
together!

I think these photos with the books are off color. The flowers look more lavender to me than the true pink,
but they are pretty anyway...that temperamental camera again. OR it could be the photo taker??? 

Every time I notice that a few more flowers are out in full bloom, I run and pick them and stick them all
over the house. I just LOVE peony's! Can you tell?

I am including a couple photos of my old fashioned roses also. The smell from these is just
heavenly! They have been on our property for decades and I have dug up several starts,
plopped them in the ground and they grow wonderful for me. These photos are from starts
that were planted.

Hubby picked these light pink ones for me along the roadside a few days ago.

I had a plant exactly this color , but it didn't survive so I need to find another one.
I think it was called Sarah Bernhardt and my bff gave me a start...hmm...maybe
she has another one. You never know. :)

I love mixing all the shades of pink from very light pink to dark. I would also
like to get some white peony's to plant...someday.

I hope you have a wonderful upcoming weekend. My oldest granddaughter turned 16 yesterday and I
will be going to a masquerade party for her. That should be FUN! The older I get the more I
enjoy doing fun things and I am really looking forward to it. I may not look young, but I can
still party. ha!

A Parisian Birthday...♫♪♫

Happy birthday to me...♪♫♪
Happy birthday to me...♫♪♫
Happy birthday dear meeeeeeeeeee...♪♫♪
Happy birthday to me!! ♪♫♪

It just so happens that I love anything to do with Paris or the French style so it was
a pure delight when my daughter surprised me with a Parisian style birthday party a
couple weeks ago.

{way back on March 8...my birthday is the 10th}

 The lighting wasn't that great for pics , but I did the
best I could and I loved every little detail. 

 She said she googled "Parisian brunch" and found out they have lots of pastries so that
is what the party was all about .

Cream puffs sprinkled with powdered sugar and croissants along with those little pastry sticks.

YUMM!!

She also used small goblets and served me sparkling juice...

and  she filled a second one with fruit and cream.

The main course was quiche and asparagus.

OH MY WORD!!! 

They were just delicious!!!

All made from scratch by her loving hands.

{ I gotta find me some "scratch" }

YES, I ate both pieces because they were two different kinds.

{that is my excuse anyway}

Swiss Chard Quiche

 and Bacon Quiche
{click on them to get the recipes}

She also whipped up some chocolate cupcakes with raspberry filling and icing.

The Eiffel tower chocolate...Yep she made that also!

In fact I forgot I have a couple of those!

Wait a minute while I run out to the kitchen and take a bite!!

Okay I am back. tee hee.

Just what I needed tonight.

 Seriously!!

As if that amazing meal wasn't enough, she also gifted me with these two huge mugs and I love them.

{along with a book and seems like something else, but I forgot what...haha!}

Oh, I forgot to tell you that we were out shopping that day and she said we had to stop at
one more store so she could run in for something. I waited in the car and when she got back
she said she had to dig through tons of these "things" to find the specific one she wanted and
they only had ONE in the print she wanted. I found out later it was the tablecloth with the
 coffee cups on it. She didn't miss one little detail!

Thank you Mandi...I love you!!!

Then on my actual birthday my son and his family brought me dinner and these cupcakes
that granddaughter Annika picked out for me.  I now have FOUR heart shaped rings...
one for two fingers on each hand. :)

They brought chicken, baked beans and coleslaw that was delicious as well.

I LOVE family times!

I was headed for bed that same evening and I received a phone call from my oldest
son Jason. I picked up the receiver and I said, 

"Hello"...

...nothing...

"Hello"...

...all of a sudden four precious voices started singing Happy Birthday to me.
 Mommy,daddy and grandchildren Kanaan and Keira.

 It was the perfect end to a perfect day. ♥

Today, my bff took me out for my birthday lunch and handed me this adorable card!!

{I love stretching my birthday out over several weeks because then it seems like I celebrate me all
 month long. lol}

She also gave me this belt which I absolutely L.O.V.E.

In fact I have it on right now.

Her and I quit exchanging gifts a few years ago and I reminded her of that , but she informed me
that she could get me something if she wanted to. haha!! Love you Peggy!!!

I just love it when my family and friends "get me" and understand what it is that I love.

Now, they may think that I am cracked, but they indulge me and that is fun.
After all, we all are unique creatures and that is what makes the world go round.

55 years old...oh my goodness!!
Where in the world did those years go? Funny thing is that I don't feel that old...at least
not most of the time. ha!!

Here's to another 55 years...bring it on!

Creating altered bottles once again

I have been trying to stay out of trouble, so therefore I have been creating a few altered bottles again
and these are the result.


Remember the post about all the fabulous old lace that I found at a sale?  Now I am thinking that I may have
 posted that on facebook and not on my blog? At any rate, I found some gorgeous lace!

I am very frustrated lately at the lighting in this house. It is not good at all. So bad that I have to turn
on lights in the daytime. ugh. So to get any kind of decent photos at all , I sat some books up on a stand
in my living room and taped a white poster-board on the window behind it. Still not real great, but much
better than what I had initially taken. lol.

I love to embellish old bottles and have had fun making these. This one is in honor of
PARIS!

This photo does not show the true beauty of this old lace, but I did what I could. I love simple
bottles so I try not to adorn them too much. I also love to add the lace to the bottle in the form
that I found it...thus this one is a diagonal swoop??   {this bottle is now sold}

Beautiful bottle top

There are so many of us kindred spirits in blog-land aren't there? I know I don't begin to create as many
things as a lot of others, but I do love the kinship that we all share.

Another beautiful bottle top

Delicate old lace with soft netting on this bottle

...along with scrunchy ribbon.

The original cork stopper in this one. I tried to take it out to wash it and part of it broke off so I left it unwashed and
glued that part of the cork back on. A girl's gotta do what a girls gotta do right?

This will probably land in my Etsy shop soon.Thanks for taking the time to view my handiwork. I do appreciate each
and every one of you so much!!

Happy Thursday!

Vintage Barn Market

I haven't shown you photos from my friend Marian's store called

VINTAGE BARN MARKET

for quite some time so here you go!

 I am amazed at the talent of my friend and I just love visiting her store, although I don't get there near as often as I would like to. I will let the pics speak for themselves...although I will say I just LOVE this bedroom setting above!!

Don't look too close or you will see "yours truly" in the mirror! Hate it when that happens. lol

Now, didn't the photos speak for themselves?!! You didn't need me blabbering on and on.

Marian has amazing decorating talent and it shows in everything she touches.

 If you ever get to Delta ,Ohio be sure to stop in and visit her gorgeous store. I am sure you won't be able to leave without purchasing an item or two.  Marian and her husband work hard at this and it is one amazing store!!

{219 West Main, Delta, Ohio}

Blessings~