So Excited!!!

 

This past Friday, I found a wonderful and unexpected comment on my blog. It was from Brenda, who  blogs at Cozy Little House..... She told me that she had featured my blog on Welcome Wagon Friday!

I was so happy, I couldn't stand it!! Honored! Proud!!

I ran around the house telling anyone who would listen that I had been featured on Brenda's blog! And... it was a weekend when the Xavier Ct. House was full! So... lots of people to share my excitement with.

Brenda has given me several good tips, especially about taking photos. The best tip she gave me was... take your pictures in natural light, if at all possible.  Photography is an area that I need to improve on. And I have started using my iphone to take pictures. My little digital camera is old and I have one the latest iphones.  It's a phone provided to me by my employer... thank goodness it's ok to use it for personnel use...it's a much better camera than my old digital one. Brenda suggested that I should keep my camera with me all the time. I keep it in my pocket and have started taking photos when I'm walking or out in the yard.

I sent Brenda an email thanking her for featuring my blog. However, I did want to publicly thank her as well! If you haven't visited Brenda's blog, you should... she has a wonderful etsy shop as well.

chris

Hoping Janelle is Proud!!!!

Saturday was the annual St. Tomas of Canterbury Ladies Tea. When I was struggling to come up with a theme, Janelle who blogs at Sweet Bee Cottage, suggested American Farmhouse.

With that in mind I headed to the fabric store... I seem to find inspiration and ideas when looking at fabric.
I found a fabric panel that was setup to make place mats... I set clear glass plates on top so the print would show. Wide mouth mason jars, were the drinking glasses with a gold burlap napkin tucked in. 

I decided that chairs needed a little something....how about blue jeans? When I think of farmers I think of blue jeans and a red bandanna.

I cut the legs off of the blue jeans, stitched the waist closed and slipped them over the back of the chair... added a red bandanna and I was done!
I like to set a favor of some sorts at the table when hosting tea.  In keeping with the farmhouse theme, I decided to give each guest a pair of garden gloves, and a pack of seeds.

A metal lime green watering can, filled with flowers, and two embellished flour sack dishtowels, are the centerpiece. I set a small oil painting of red barn up against the watering can. One lucky lady took home the centerpiece as a raffle prize.

On the menu for Saturday's tea were several different tea sandwiches.... cucumber, chicken curry, and egg. Ceasar salad, mini quiches, and of course, scones with jam, lemon curd, devonshire cream, and petit fours finish off the menu!

I loved Janelle's suggestion of American Farmhouse...it was easy to do and not too expensive! The fabric was on sale, plus when you add in, and I can't believe I'm even say this... my senior discount, the fabric was one of the most reasonable purchases I made! Garden gloves, and seeds from the dollar store... Gotta love the dollar store! The watering can from OSH and flowers were the biggest expense. All in all, not too bad! Oh, and the four gentlemen who work for me, each had to bring in two or three pairs of old jeans, so I could make the seat back covers.

Thanks again to Janelle for a great suggestion!! You can visit Janelle at Sweet Bee Cottage

chris

Busy, Busy, Busy!!!

This is a busy weekend for the McKinley's! Daughter number 1's baby shower is this weekend, hosted by two very close friends and the 4 aunties. Mama is coming from Atlanta, and the aunties are coming from Seattle, Reno, and Eugene. Auntie number 3 lives here in Santa Clara Valley, so she doesn't have too far to go. We will be busy going back and forth to the airport, both San Francisco and San Jose. I love it!!

The Xavier Ct. house will be full to the brim this weekend! Of course, Mr. Math and I can't wait to have all 5 girls home for the weekend.

I am looking forward to the shower, friends closest to our family will be there, as well as one of my cousins! I can't wait!!

I also have to decorate my table for the St. Tomas of Canterbury tea...and, of course it's this Saturday.
About a month ago, I did a post looking for suggestions for a theme... I was having a hard time coming up with an idea. The overall theme for the tea is Americana and Janelle, who blogs at Sweet Bee Cottage, suggested an American Farmhouse type theme. What a great idea!!

Sooooooo..

I have the placemats done, and the strips cut to embellish the dishtowel favors. I have the tea cups wrapped, the sugar and creamer filled....silverware and glassware packed carefully..

I feel like I'm in pretty good shape to get everything done in time.

I guess we'll see!!

Around the Block!!!

I'v been walking a lot lately...and there's lots to look at when walking through the neighborhood!

A yellow Rose.....

A climbing Cecil Brunner rose, on a white picket fence....

California Poppies

Wisteria

And my one of my favorites....

Nasturtiums!

What do you see when you take a walk around your block?

chris

DG Lesson #1

I've decided that once a week I am going to share a different Depression Glass pattern with you. I'll give a little history and I'll include a picture of the pattern too.

This week I'm sharing a pattern called Royal Lace. Royal Lace was made by the Hazel Atlas Glass Company, between the years 1934 and 1941. Royal Lace was made in Crystal, Pink, Green, Blue and Amethyst. Amethyst is very hard to find and only one piece is known to have been found, a sherbet dish. Royal Blue is a favorite color with collectors and it's fairly easy to find.

I have two pieces of Royal Lace. A Royal Blue cup and saucer, and a Pink cookie or biscuit jar. Another one of my cookie jars without a lid.

If you wanted to buy a set of Royal Lace in 1934, you would have paid $2.99 for a 44 piece place setting. Not too many families could afford to spend that kind of money during the Depression.

One little tip...when shopping for Depression Glass, be sure to check the inside rims of plates, bowls, and cups for chips and flakes which might have been caused by stacking. And..if you come across a piece that has a chip, be sure to make sure that the price reflects that.

Happy Collecting!!

chris

Successful Detective Work!!

About four months ago, Flea Market Friend and I were at our local flea market.... we found two antique wicker chairs. We were in love!

In speaking with Sharon the vendor, we found out that she was bunko friends with Flea Market Friend's sister-in-law. Flea Market Friend's sister-in-law, had moved out of the area years ago, but this vendor remembered her like it was yesterday. We sat in the chairs and tried to picture them in our homes. We thought they were too big and we knew they were too expensive. We took Sharon's phone number, just in case. After a month or so, Flea Market Friend called and said, I'm throwing her number away OK? I said yes go ahead. She tossed it.

I have often thought about those chairs.

Last week I went to the Flea Market by myself. As I was walking around I recognized Sharon. This time she was a shopper. I asked her if she still had the chairs and she said yes. I gave her my number and she said she'd call me in a week or so.

Sharon phoned my cell and I told her I would like to come take a look at the chairs on Saturday but needed to confirm my schedule at home.....I would call her back. When I tried to call her back the number did not work.... it was a record message!! From some business wanting me to buy a cruise! Not the person I was looking for.

Now I was in a panic... of course I wanted the chairs and I could not get a hold of Sharon. I did not know if she would call me back.....

THINK, THINK, THINK.....

I called Flea Market Friend to see if she still had the phone number.. Nope, she had really tossed it out! She said she had an idea...she'd call her sister-in-law to see if she still had Sharon's number.

Flea Market Friend called and said... Success!! Sister-in-law had a number...wasn't sure if Sharon still had the same number as years ago, but it was worth a try.

It worked! Flea Market Friend had found a number that worked!!

I borrowed a truck and went over this morning and picked them up. Sharon told me she traded sewing for the chairs 40 plus years ago when she lived in Minnesota. The neighbor that she traded with said that the chairs had been in his wife's family for years. Sharon thinks they are about 70 years old or so. One is a rocker and one is not. They have great cushions! And on one side of each chair is a place for your newspaper or magazines!

And she came down in price too!!

I am not sure if I will keep them outside for the summer or use them in the house. They are very comfortable!

I'm so happy that Flea Market Friend is such a good detective!!

chris

Mailman Mike!

A sweet book about a young boy named Timmy who is mailing
his Grandma a letter about his new puppy.

Mailman Mike brings letters, magazines and free samples to Timmy's house.
He brought packages and picture post cards from faraway places.

Timmy worries because it is taking so long for his letter to get to his Grandma. His letter has to travel by airplane and train!


One day, finally the letter is in Mailman Mike's mailbag

Mailman Mike is worried though... Timmy is not waiting for him today!

Mailman Mike rings the bell, looking for Timmy....

Mailman Mike is surprised to see Timmy has something better than a letter.... His Grandma came to visit!!

Timmy proudly tells his Grandma, Mailman Mike knows everything! And rain or shine, he always comes to see me by half-past nine!

I am just like Timmy... I love getting mail... maybe that's why I love the swaps so much!!

I'm linking up to Lil' Vintage Story Books.

chris