Lunch for my Girlfriends

Last Friday my girlfriends came over for an early lunch. I love to do this a couple times a year...but it is so difficult for all 3 of us to have the same day and time free. That is sad I think...because these are really the things that matter in life!

My theme was a garden party. The lace tablecloth is full of flowers, I bought it on the streets in Mexico a few years back. Then I just gathered things I own that are garden themed. You have seen many of them individually before. My beehive candle, the little bee candle, lady bug kids garden gloves, a lady bug tealight holder, a little bird sign, a little bird, my chicken wire cloche, and my flower pitcher with the ivy in it.


I found these bird napkin rings at Hobby Lobby. However, while using them I found out they are extremely heavy and want to tip over.

Napkins are from Big Lots and are Laura Ashley. Plain white plates from the Dollar Tree and my old round placemats!

The dessert of flower decorated cupcakes in the little cup planters.

Our lunch was a delicious, and I mean really sweet and delicious fresh fruit.

Broccoli and cheddar quiche...from Costco...and it is worth every penny....

Peaches and creme corn on the cob......It was really fresh and good too!

We had such a good time, talking....and talking some more. My dear friend Amy always does some little jobs for me that I have trouble doing.....this time she wiped down my chandies...and boy, they needed it!

Linking up to Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday. Be sure to visit and see all the wonderful ideas....it will keep you busy for a week!

Summer stuff!

Summer is definately here in sunny AZ. I spent Sunday afternoon changing my outside pots to Vincas hoping maybe they will survive!

This sweet little cup and saucer is actually a planter. I had two of my closest girlfriends here in AZ for lunch on Friday. I decorated all in a garden theme. These little planters had their cupcake for dessert in them. I will show the whole table later this week.

I know most of you will remember my Valerie Parr Hill wreath from last year. It is on my door again this year. I just love this wreath....one of my favorites.

The little bicycle is the cutest thing. It makes me smile whenever I look at it!
Most of you know that my husband believes in spoiling me as much as he can. He had the newest VPH wreath delivered this week.

This one has a fence and a wagon. I have it hanging on the inside of the door right now, but I have a whole new buffet top planned. The cool thing about her new wreaths is that they can also stand.

I am always amazed at what you all find at garage sales. Last week after a quick rain, I took Bentley for a walk around the block. A neighbor was having a sale and I bought some greenery. I saw these on the sidewalk. They were wet from the rain, but I asked and he said - take them....ok...you don't have to tell me twice. They are old sewing machine drawers. I don't know exactly what I am going to do with them....but I like them!!

I am enjoying seeing all the great projects you all are accomplishing. As aways, amazed at all your talent in Blogland.

Have a great week!

My Laundry Room

Another entry in showing my home. Our laundry room is little more than a glorified closet. I love my washer and dryer, but it made the shelves for shorty me impossible to use for products. So what is a woman to do? Fill em up with old laundry stuff!

My hubs surprised me one day and hung up my Aunt's old ironing board. The outfits hanging on the line are my hubby and my baby outfits....the little clothespins are mine from childhood. I have my mom's old scrub boards and mommy and daughter washing picture. I would love to find a child's old ironing board from the 50's to go with my toy iron.....

Washing clothes isn't my favorite thing to do...but it is more fun with all the ole "stuff" around me!

Linking up to Marty's Tuesday Tabletop...

My Swap to Patti

I promised that as soon as I heard Patti received her swap package I would post the pictures of what I made for her. I tell you, this was so much fun and I was quite happy with how it turned out. I hope Patti will enjoy it.

The pillow was my something new. The vintage gloves were something old. Something "borrowed" was a vintage doilie, and something blue was a vintage brooch. The wedding picture is of my Grandparents double wedding in 1918.

I had not sewn in about 8 years! But I figured it out again, and I may have to make a pillow for me!!

Just Right!

My bear family needed to have a nice meal together....they decided to meet on the chaise and use the good dishes....monogrammed no less!

I am posting these sweet little bowls for Blue Monday. You know there has to be a story. 20 plus years ago when my children were soooo young, I had a friend, Sam, that we would go to all the country stores and dream. I saw these little bowls in a store in Plymouth Michigan and I wanted them so bad. But they were around $25.00 at the time. I could not take food from my babies mouths, so they were left for someone else. Fast forward to 2010 and across the country. My friend Candy and I have a resale shop we love to stop at. I was browsing through all the goodies, when I know I let out a gasp. There was this little set, perfect. How much I asked the clerk. $15.00. SOLD! I wasn't waiting another 20 some years.

Now I don't know about you, well, maybe some of you I do, but these are squealing material for sure for me!!

Happy Monday!

Swap Gifts

I was surprised today when the Postman came to my door with a package. It was my swap gifts from Patti. I had participated in the Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, and Something Blue Swap.

Dig through packing....

Everything was wrapped in darling wedding paper.

Here's my loot.

Patti knew I love teacups! I believe this are pancies.

Darling bracelet Patti made.

I loved this....pages from old magazines!

She counted cross stitch this little Rabbit sign.

Some lovelies for me!!

It was such fun to get a package in the mail. I will be playing with the papers and doo dads she sent too!

As soon as I hear she got my box in the mail, I will post what I did for her....oops, I almost typed something that would have gave it away!!!

Thank you Patti....this was a fun swap to do!

My Living Room

While talking in real to Marty today, she suggested I post my home and have it on my sidebar. So I am going to do a room each post and then it will stay up on the side - at least that is the plan. For you that have already seen my rooms, please bear with me!

I see Bentley Boy snuck in!! He is sooo spoiled!

One of the things we talked about was that living in AZ in homes with lots of windows and no basement, there isn't much room for changing of furniture. Aside from different vignettes, my room have to stay the same!

My style is growing to be Grandma Ceekay style. I keep what I like whether it "fits" the style of the room. I try to keep colors co-ordinated as much as possible.

We love our home just the way it is. Oh there are always "if we had extra money we would"...and maybe those days will come....but we are happy with it now too!

Please excuse me now...I have to make the next room picture perfect, or at least close to it!!

A Blue Wednesday

I have been cleaning out my closet today. I HATE doing it, but I have to once in a while! I found this shoe that my mom bought me probably 35 years ago. It has no marking, but it is similar to Fenton.

The flowers are hand painted on.

The reason I thought about the blue shoe is because while cleaning the closet my husband called with a message that made me blue. Anyone who lives in AZ knows Bill Austin from the famous morning show of Beth and Bill. I tell you, the two of them are hilarious. Many mornings driving to work I would seriously have to pull into a parking lot and compose myself because I was laughing so hard. Bill retired in February and has been missed. My husband and I knew he was suffering from some sort of cancer because we are familiar with "the look". Anyways, Bill passed away this morning. I am so sad. I had the privilege of meeting Beth and Bill about 5 years ago, and I have pictures from that meeting. He was so kind and funny that day as well.

Life is so strange sometimes. Even though I hardly knew the man, his passing has hurt my heart a bit. Maybe because I understand some of the thoughts and feelings he must have felt in these past few months. But I will never think about him without smiling and remembering his song about Beth and decorating for the holidays. It was like he was at my house!!