Herbgirl of Calendula Court

Fragrant Blooms

2011-04-26T14:23:00.000-04:00

The fragrance from these hyacinths from the garden is so strong and lovely. I put a glass flower frog in this silver bowl and filled it with blooms that sucked up what seemed like tons of water the first couple of days.

I was happy to trade the watering

for the scent that filled my home.

So HaPpY...

2011-04-22T15:48:00.000-04:00

that spring has arrived and I'm finally getting all recuperated from having neck surgery. Been home and off work for close to a month now and finally able to get up and about to do things around the house.

I just received this present I got for myself (for having surgery and all)...

....I LOVE IT!

It is also in honor of the royal wedding.

It is from Etsy....another LOVE of mine.

Here are some old bottles I embellished with jute twine and vintage rhinestone jewelry pieces.

I think they tuned out pretty pretty, don't you?

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

Reduce, reuse, recycle ALWAYS

I really do want to get back to blogging more. Thanks to my readers.

Please leave me comments. I truly LOVE them!!!!!!!!

New Etsy Listings

2011-03-06T16:14:00.000-05:00

Truth is...........I've been downright lazy.

That's capital L A Z Y !

Something about winter blues and blahs etc......

~~~~~~~~~~***^^^***~~~~~~~~~~

Finally getting around to posting some vintage finds on Etsy.

Finds I've never shared as I found them at this auction and that flea market

this past fall and winter.

So here are just a couple of recently found items that are up for grabs

American Family Scales

Vintage wood sewing chest

thread included!

vintage Ball jar with 8 vintage wood spools with thread.

(Will list on etsy later this week to spread out the new listings)

I am addicted to finding

vintage treasures........

Cropped Paris

2011-02-12T20:35:00.023-05:00

Been playing around with photo editing programs and using the pics

from my 2009 Paris trip.

See what ya think.................

Window shopping in the 7th Arrondisment

One of MANY beauteous Paris balconies

Looking through a Versailles window.....

In the gardens of Versailles

Window shopping in Avignon in Provence

The program I used for cropping these pics is

photoscape

and it was way easy.

What's your favorite picture editor

for your blog?

2011-01-28T18:53:00.000-05:00

Being the cat lover that I am, I adore these pics of felines in fashions.

HAUTE CAT-URE

Cute......huh?!?!

I do LOOOVE Cats......

Do YOU?

images from Nowness

http://www.nowness.com/

Cheddar Chive Beer Bread Recipe

2011-01-16T12:05:00.000-05:00

This is one of my favorite 'quick' recipes and is so yummy with all the soups and hearty foods this time of year. I use fresh chives when in season and use chives I've frozen when I bake this bread all winter long.

Make sure you make a sandwich or two with this beer bread.

I love this bread with chicken, tuna, or

ham salad too.

Or just spread the warm bread with even more butter.....

.......is your mouth watering yet?

CHEDDAR CHIVE BEER BREAD

3 Cups self-rising flour

1/2 Cup sugar

2 T chopped fresh or frozen chives

3/4 Cup sheddred cheddar cheese

1 12 ounce beer

1/4 Cup butter, melted

Stir together first 5 ingredients; pour into lightly greased 9 X 5" loaf pan.

Bake @350 F for 45 minutes. Pour melted butter over top.

Bake 10 more minutes.

De-lish!!!

Paris Couture 1955

2011-01-05T21:15:00.000-05:00

Why O Why did this era end?

The glamour, the elegance, the poise, and

THOSE CLOTHES.

Enjoy this video of Paris Couture in 1955 and forget all about

t-shirts and jeans for a couple minutes.

glamourdaze from youtube

Now, wouldn't you have to agree?

Hopscotch Dandelions Blog Giveaway Winner........

2011-01-02T13:22:00.000-05:00

..........is MOI!

The generous giveaway by Amanda Richardson on her blog Hipscotch Dandelions is for a $35 gift certificate to CSN Stores. I've been browsing for days and finally decided on garment racks to organize my clothes.

Our home is 'closet challenged' being built in 1900 so I have no closet for my fashions. I have stuff stuck here and there and even under the bed so I am anxious for some serious organizing.

THANKS,

From one AMANDA to another!

Happy New Year 2011

2010-12-31T22:45:00.000-05:00

Thanks so much to my

followers, commenters, and readers

for a wonderful 2010 in blogland.

I'm excited for 2011 and all the possibilities......................

BM..........it's not what you think

2010-12-12T13:02:00.000-05:00

When it comes to blogging lately the motivation just has not been there so

I've diagnosed myself as having BM......... a Blog Mood.

 I've had  it before too so I know it's a real thing.

Some bloggers seem to know when they are going to get it as they kindly announce they are taking a blogging break. Not me.....I just stop cold-turkey and leave new-found blogging friends out in the cold.

I apologize for that.

I can feel my mojo coming back; slowly and surely.

I do love to visit y'all too and am slowly getting caught up with the

1000's of posts Google Reader has been saving for me.

Winding Down

2010-09-22T16:00:00.000-04:00

On vacation in Orange Beach, Alabama with hubby and 2 other couples. Doing a lot of this.......................

Reading these....................

and NOT catching any of these.................

Having never been a morning person, hubby is the one that catches the sunrises.

After all, this is vacation......................

Vignette Friday

2010-09-04T14:33:00.000-04:00

Vignettes................a few from around my relaxing spot.

Just grabbed the camera, ~~plopped~~ sat down in my usual spot on the loveseat and

started taking pics....so I can join in

Vignette Friday @ Color Outside the Lines

One thing I love about blogging is getting to see into others homes. I can never get enough of just checking out the pics y'all post of your homes and get so inspired to do projects around here.

Have fun checking our more vignettes......

Color Outside The Lines

Mission Complete

2010-08-02T22:13:00.001-04:00

Finally found my dream bookcase...............actually pretty much stole it......

.........at a most budget-minded price ever.............

Can you say $30?!?!?!?

Hard to swallow, I know.

So my mission to find a vintage bookcase has ended.

Had to share my find even though the door frames for it are still in the garage being held together by clamps as the wood glue dries.

Books are a passion of mine.

New Books~~~~~~Old Books

ALL BOOKS

Especially gardening books, interior decorating books, oh and definitely cookbooks!

I only dream that my home had a library......with built-in bookshelves.

That's the only thing that would be better than my new-found treaasure.

Taking off the book jackets really looks so much better.

Who knew that alot of books that hide under book jackets are in

shades of greens and blues.....perfect in my decor.

The doors will eventually encase chicken wire rather than glass....

so excited for that Frenchy touch.

I even love the stubby little legs!

Don't ya just love BOOKS?
link ups...............Southen Hospitality Thrify Treasures Party

M.B.

2010-07-21T22:30:00.000-04:00

“What? Another package from Avignon? Who can be sending these? I still haven’t found out who sent the one last month?! Shall I open it or stash it away in my trunk in the attic with the other one?”

These are the thoughts that ran through Mandy’s head as she fell asleep that hot July night. How could she ever open a package when she didn’t even know from whom it was sent? To whom would she thank for the mysterious gifts? Of course, first thing in the morning she would add this second delivery to that stored away trunk. Maybe the card got separated from the packages and soon she would have the answers.

When the third package arrived, then the fourth, and fifth, her trunk was so full she could not even close the top. Whatever shall she do? The gentleman on horseback who brought them each month was very tight-lipped. Working for The Pony Express did not mean he would know who actually sent these packages that always seemed to be scented of lavender. He would only smile and mumble a greeting in a whisper each time he came with one. He was no help in finding out where these were coming from.

November came and Mandy went to school outside Paris. The very cold snowy winter prevented her letters from reaching her home in Provence. Have there been any more deliveries? Has that handsome man returned on horseback?

She would write home weekly only for her letters to collect at the postal office. Oh what a long winter that year. She was still dying to know what those packages held!

flickr

School let out and she was so happy that after one more year she would graduate. She had always wanted to be an interior decorator and especially loved shabby chic style. One more year and her dreams would come true.

Upon returning home to Provence in May, Mandy’s little sister ran down the lane to greet her. “Mandy, after the snow melted in Paris, we got all of the letters you wrote. Guess what else came? You got six more packages…… delivered by that man on horseback," she giggled.

Walking up the lane the two sisters held hands and shared stories of their time apart. Behind them they heard the sound of horses galloping. Turning around there was that man leading a white stallion with a package in his arms. “My, how handsome of a man!” Mandy whispered to her sister.

This time the man got off his horse, got down on his knee, and professed his love to Mandy.

“They’re from me……….all 10 of those packages.

You will get two more as my wedding gift to you……………..because I want to marry you!”

“Yes!” You are all I’ve thought about while I was away at school. I’ve had dreams that you were the one those packages were from. Tell me, what is in all these packages” as they made their way to that trunk in the attic to open them.

“Mandy Baker, that is what your name will be after you become my bride.” These are hand-embroidered chemises with the initials M. B.,” stated Mr. Baker. Once we get married you will have 12 so you can wear a different one
every month.....................

………..and they lived happily ever after!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now go over to

My French Country Home

and see what this silliness is all about.

Swap Vintage Listing

2010-07-14T16:23:00.000-04:00

I'm listing for the first time on SwapVintage.

Better Homes & Gardens

Meals with a FOREIGN FLAIR

1963

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Up for grabs are these vintage cookbooks.

Would love to swap for vintage tablecloths or

other linens, rhinestone jewelry....can be broken or have missing stones,

old glass bottles, or any other surprises that may get listed.

Better Homes & Gardens

SALAD BOOK

1965 printing.....Originally published 1958

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Betty Crockers

MONEY-SAVING DINNERS

1973-1974

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hamilton Beach

THE BLENDER WAY TO BETTER COOKING

1965

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Go visit Mitzi and see the awesome website she has developed.

And LET'S SWAP!!!!!

I See Sea Shells

2010-07-12T21:57:00.002-04:00

Sea shells are abundant around my house.

Shells of all sizes, shapes and colors.

I can't walk on the beach without picking

up the shells I see.
Their versatility is endless.

There's so many things you can do with shells.

(marthastewart.com)

Crafty things.............

(marthastewart.com)

Pretty things..........

(marthastewart.com)

Marry them with other pieces of nature.....

(marthastewart.com)

Entertaining things......

(marthastewart.com)

Simple things.......

(marthastewart.com)

So many different things!

(marthastewart.com)

I even pick them up at yard sales.

(flickr.com)

What do you do with the seashells you see?

And pick up to treasure forever?

Busy Buyer.......

2010-07-04T21:11:00.003-04:00

at yard Sales that is. I've been loving the many summer yard sales and have even got Hubby to stop at them when we see one!

(Well, some of them anyway).

Let's look at all the loot I've brought home.

I got a shoe box full of shells and these sand dollars were wrapped in a 1984 newspaper and were found in the bottom of the box. They had been bleached and were super fragile so I made an emulsion of Elmer's Glue and water and brushed on them to toughen them up.

Not sure what I will do with these yet.......couldn't pass them up for 50 cents.

They looked so pretty drying in my kitchen window sill.

Also found this terra cota canister set for $1. Hubby drilled drainage holes in the bottom for me so I can use as flower pots. So far only have one planted with rosemary and used some of the shells to cover the soil in it.

LOVE this pink picture frame that I found at a sale. I can see it being re-purposed as either a mini chalkboard with some chalkboard paint or maybe a jewelry organizer.

Next are some dishes...........an addiction of mine.

The pink floral plate says 'Made in Occupied China' on the back. The cream colored plates are Fiesta Ware and the white plates with the blue rims are metal ware.

I may sell these on Etsy or I may use as flower pot saucers. I can see all 12 of the metal ware plates lined down the center of an old farm table with flowerpots with colorful blooms.

Too bad there is no long farm table in my future!

More metal ware......a colander and large pot.

Some milk glass that will get cleaned up and listed on Etsy and some Spanish moss. I love to use this moss to cover the soil in my flowerpots also.

I've been looking for something to cover the hideous stripped fabric that came on my chaise cushion and picked up this sheet with crochet trim for $1.25. I'm so happy with how it looks. I double folded it so that the dreaded strips would not peak through and love how the crocheted trim drapes off the end.

Books Galore! I am also addicted to old books and have found so many lately.

Isn't this some garage salen GOODNESS!!!

Linking up to

Debbie Doos Garage Salen Partay!
and
Southern Hospitality Thrifty Treasures
and
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm

Shipshewana Flea Market

2010-06-23T20:41:00.000-04:00

Shipshewana Flea Market

is in northern Indiana and exactly a two hour drive from home.

The town has shops galore and the biggest flea market around.

The flea is only open on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Pretties for the garden........

Pretty teapots.............

Every Wednesday auctions are held in Shipshewana.

I LOVED perusing the auction barn and spotted this pink and black fireplace mantle.

There were all kinds of treasures.........crocks, old iron bed frames, antique mirrors.................

True Hoosier cabinets from the Hoosier state.............

Lots of vintage goodies, I'm sayin!!!!!!

Great haul in the back of this truck.....too bad it's doesn't belong to moi!!!! I mean Lion's and ornate metal garden decor and the urn................to die for!

I can never get enough of vintage linens.

Another way of life is also evident in different parts of Indiana. We have parishes of Amish people.

Lots of Amish reside in the Shipshewana area and shop and work there.

I was respectful of their rule to not have their faces photographed.

The roads have an extra wide shoulder for the horse and buggies to share with vehicles.

Here's a few things I picked up there...........some vintage silverware, old bottles, and a slate garden ornament.Too late for pics of the fresh strawberries, sweet cherries, and asparagus.

They were quite delicious!

Be Gentle with the Earth....

.....a belief I'm sure I share with the Amish

Garden Shed Dreamin

2010-06-13T21:08:00.000-04:00

Now that I've added the garden arch that I've longed for

for years to my garden the next thing I 'm dreaming about

is a garden/potting shed.

Won't you dream along with me?

How could you ever pick a favorite amongst these beauties?

I especially love the ones with all the old windows and

I think the last one is my very fav of all.

Which one is yours?

Pics from Remodelingcenter.com

Sorority and Swap Vintage

2010-06-09T20:19:00.001-04:00

Bloggerette Sorority

Wanna join?
It's going to be a whole lot of fun.

AND

Swap Vintage

A brand new site for swapping vintage items. How cool is that?!

I'm excited to be participating in both.

Busy Bee......

2010-06-07T21:21:00.000-04:00

...........that's me! And what a good busy it's been. My Etsy shop sales have increased so I've been spending time in The B' Hive turning this...........

Into these........

BLOOM~N~Bottles.

Just need to finish up some tags and drop in some seeds and get listed on Etsy.

Then this past weekend I got this................

Wrought Iron Garden Arch.

I've been dreaming about getting one of these for several years and

finally found this lovely arch with scrolls and the best detail of all is the tippy, tippy top.

A Fleur de lis!

I've transplanted my lusciously fragrant honeysuckle to climb and eventually cover my arch.

Can't wait to sit in the garden and soak up it's scent!

And the Winner is...............

2010-05-30T19:09:00.000-04:00

JBlanton
of My Not So Hurried Life.

Thanks to each and every one of you that entered The 4th Annual Cottage Giveaway Event hosted by The Twice Remembered Cottage. I've met some amazing bloggers thru this event. One of the reasons I love blogworld so much is meeting all you people that 'get me' and understand our mutual passions.

Hugs to all my sweet new followers too!!

B & C

2010-05-29T19:21:00.003-04:00

B is for Ball jars........I came across this bag of 20 Ball jars at a yard sale and only wanted one very old jam/jelly jar.

The seller gave me an awesome deal for the whole bountiful batch though so I bought the whole thing!

Now, as you know, I already have shelves full of old Ball jars in my basement. Don't have any idea what I will do with these. I do love them though....various sizes, they all have zinc lids, and mostly the blue colored jars so to the basement they will go.

Now for that awesome old jam jar........

Can you see the imprint on the bottom of the jar?

It is in the inside of the jar...........

It's a crown and an angel!!!!

Amazing!!!!!

I can't wait to make some jelly and invert it on a pretty serving saucer and see that imprint in it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

C is for chair......CHEAP!

I got this at a yard sale for one dollar.

It is acutally quite sturdy and would have been cute painted and put in the house.

Hubby cut out the seat for me though so I could make a garden chair.

I pulled this old chicken wire out of the garage to line the seat then realized I did not have enough sheet moss on hand to make a liner for the soil.

I stuck in some shards from broken clay pots for drainage, filled with soil, and ran to a local nursery for some plants.

I didn't like the wood seat peaking out from around the pot so I pulled out some dried moss I had.

Voila!

Don't forget to enter the Cottage Charm Event Giveaways.

Here's mine

Here's the rest at

Twice Remembered Cottage

Linking to Debbie Doos Garage Salen Partay

AND

Southern Hospitality's Thrifty Teasures

How to Prune Lavender and Lavender Recipes

2010-05-24T21:10:00.001-04:00

Can't wait to harvest Lavender from my gardens.

With all the flowers blooming early this year I should

be able to cut them 2-3 times.

I will put them in bundles and wrap the stem ends with a rubberband

and hang them upside down to dry. I have hammered nails into the backside

of the cornice above my kitchen sink as they are soooooo pretty and fragrant as they dry.....I want them within sight and smell to me!

I will use the cuttings for Lavender shortbread, put them in vases for Lavender bouquets, and for different uses in all types of creations.

I found this video on You Tube showing how to prune Lavender.

I do this type of pruning in early Spring to shape my plants and prune them in a mound shape rather than straight across as this video shows.

This pruning keeps the Lavender in a very attractive shape.

Previously I posted some wonderful
Lavender recipes. (<-<-<-<-<-<-Click to view)

Have you ever tried Lavender for culinary purposes?

It is a must try and I LOVE it!

The Lavender shortbread is a favorite of mine.
I'll be baking some Lavender cookies with my first harvest.
What will you do with yours?

Flowers and Finds

2010-05-18T19:51:00.001-04:00

Oh I so LOVE Spring and our weather here in central Indiana has been superb for the flowers. Everything is blooming about three weeks earlier than normal.

Peonies have been blooming for a week or so and I have been enjoying their fragrant blooms in bouquets in the house.

This one is on my kitchen window sill and I can't keep my nose out of it!

Don't you just love their sweet smell?

I can't get enough of it.

I got the biggest golden Lantana last weekend for $6.00..........a steal!

Too bad Lantana is an anual in my zone.

I trimmed it back when I potted it up for the garden and

stuck the trimmings in this blue Ball jar.

Pretty together, don't you think?

Some of my recent FINDS include this vintage faux animal skin round suitcase.

(Not sure what type of faux animal skin though.)

I will use it for storage in my craft room.

The inside is a tweed print. I scored this at a yard sale for $1.50.

It made my day!!!

Here's a close-up of the maker's tag.

Not been able to find much about it on the internet yet.

This fancy dancy birdcage is a Goodwill find.

It found a new home on the vintage column I have

stainding in the corner of my front porch.

Another Goodwill find is this silverplate stand that is beautiously ornate and it came with the glass frog insert.

I added the glass dome that I've had around for awhile and stuck in a dried pink rose. More Prettiness!

Sorry for these flash pictures......too dreary of a day today for natural light.

LOVE the pattern on this old china. Another yard sale find.....actually the same sale that the cute round suitcase was found.

Sorry sweet Grayson Boy..................

............No cat food to be had out of this bowl.

I also found these scales..................

AND

A leapard print hat (yard sale) and this pretty French pic.

WOWSY!!!!!