Saturday, May 25, 2013

Goodbye Blue Transferware



The summer weather has me pulling up more blues from the archives. But I'm also doing a good-bye tribute to my set of Johnson Brothers transferware dishes that I passed on to my son and dil last week.




A big family gathering is a good time to get feedback on such things. The large family dining table also went to another son's family. There was a time when we had enough room to leave the oak trestle table extended to its ten foot length with plenty of room left to work around it in the kitchen. But now I'm looking forward to the search for just the right painted farmhouse table for the dining room.




We're into patio living big time until it gets impossibly hot. I still have the big vintage blue rose tablecloth to spread out for a cool looking soiree!





















I hope you're enjoying the long weekend inside or out!

Jacqueline






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Monday, May 13, 2013

The Back Door~Or Why Two Cabin & Cottage Blogs








We don't live in the kind of house with a back door that the family or friends use to enter the house. But my Grandmother had a farmhouse like that. In fact no one ever entered her house through the front door. But I love the idea of the presentable front, and the welcoming informality of the back door. I have a friend who lives in a part of the world where visitors knock and then let themselves right in. No one is left to stand waiting outside.




In the real world that wouldn't work for me at all! But it's a very nice idea in a way, and I actually think of this part of my blog like that. When I started this annex it was because I felt that my original web address was on the verge of collapse. It's still the only way I can leave a link to my FB page, for instance. But truth be told, I have always been one of those "one and a spare" types by nature. It's the coyote in me that wants two ways of entry or escape.




I find it disconcerting when blogs that I enjoy visiting just vanish from the landscape, and after three years in the traces I wouldn't want to leave that way if I had serious blogging problems to work out. So I knocked a hole in the wall of my old blog and made this portal to pass through. I'm sorry if it's proved somewhat confusing.




I recently found this wonderful old vintage screen door. Even though I don't have a place to install it yet, I keep it leaning against a wall of the guest room for now. It means the same to me that a back door would. And that's the message that I want to send to those of you who take the trouble to visit me here where it's a bit more intimate. Thank you, and welcome! There aren't that many that know the secret passageway yet. . . .













 











We're still dusting things off for a home wedding on Saturday. Family starts arriving tomorrow. We've been blessed with perfect weather so far, so all of the doors will be flung open. I know many of you have special events this time of the year. Best of luck with yours!

And come back soon!

Jacqueline









Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Happy May Day!



It's May! It's May! The lusty month of May, as Guenevere would sing in the musical Camelot... I'm off to buy flowers since that is what I am reduced to. Not a lot of bloom in the garden just now... But I am sharing a few snowballs from our own bush, and some new Forever stamps from the US Post Office to celebrate the day.




Commemorative stamps.









These vintage seed packet images are my favorite! There are eight different stamps.







Aren't they cheery?
 I hope your day is too!

Happy May Day!!

Jacqueline